The Heartland USA finally had some nice weather to do some garden cleanup, get the birdbaths filled, and just sit a spell and watch the birds. Lovely!
But I did watch the following films:
The Guardsman (1931) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021931/
Stage greats recreate their hit show on film. A curiosity, showing not only one of the greatest couples on the New York stage, but also how far technology has come since this was made. The antics they had to go through to get the voices on film must have driven great actors like these, mad.
The story is of a jealous actor thinking his wife and stage partner, is unfaithful. He devises an elaborate disguise and tries to seduce her to prove it. At the end we are left to wonder, did she or didn't she?
Very attractive people, and they do well enough to have received nominations for their performances, but the way they have filmed this made me fall asleep before it was over. Had to rewind and try again. 6/10
The Chocolate Soldier (1941) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033464/
Nelson Eddy and Rise Stevens in a musical version of the same "Guardsman" story, with the music from the title story, with a Vincent Youmans score. But they could not get permission to use the story for the film so used "The Guardsman". Works very well. Great production values, costumes, and one of the best performances Eddy ever gave. His rendition of "The Flea" in Russian, while dressed as a Guardsman Count is a highlight. He is very funny trying to seduce his wife.
Both stars have great solo arias, and the final "My Hero" is devine. 8/10 I enjoyed this version much the better.
Samson & Delilah (1948) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041838/
Cecil B. DeMille's lavish film of the story from the Bible. Hedy Lamarr is a delicious Delilah, and Victor Mature, robust and virile as Samson.
This was a road show production. When it arrived in my city, it was at one of the lavish downtown movie palaces for weeks. There was a complete traveling show of the costumes and jewelry used in the film. There was a color program. We dressed up, like we were going to a play. The music from the film was playing in the lobby and the restrooms. DeMille was a showman and gave us something special, whether it was critically acclaimed or not. I don't remember how many times I went to see it at that theater, but multiple times. George Sanders makes a great and sardonic King. Angela Lansbury is beautiful as Delilahs sister. And the magnificent scene of the temple falling down is still fine. Todays technology makes it seem rough, but for the late 40s - it was something to see! 8/10
Gone Baby Gone (2007) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0452623/
Writer/Director Ben Affleck stars his brother, Casey, in a twisted tale of kidnap and murder. Or is it? With Ed Harris, Morgan Freeman, and Amy Ryan in an Oscar nominated performance. The story is of a child gone missing and the young private eyes who the grandparents hire to help the police find the little girl. Set in the working class neighborhoods of Boston, the atmosphere is captured by Affleck. He knows his way around this place and I felt the closed in, secrets, and unhappiness of some of the characters. They are not nice people. But the writer and the actors try to show that it is the 'choices' made that can make the difference. It isn't easy and sometimes doesn't turn out for the best, and then these people have to pay the price. Even our young protagonist learns maybe he made the wrong choice, for the right reason. 8/10
With some rainey and cool days predicted this week, maybe I'll want to look at more films. We'll see. Still catching up with the Oscar nominated films.
No comments:
Post a Comment