had center stage this time.... In 2 weeks I watched just a few films all the way through. They are:
Alexanders Rag Time Band (1938) Alice Faye, Tyrone Power, Don Ameche, Ethel Merman. Grand black and white musical film from 20th Century Fox. Irving Berlin songs. Story starts before WWI with the 3 main characters getting together and forming a ragtime band, with Faye doing the singing. Their trials, separations, and finally finding success and each other again, is the basis for about 20 or more songs, with lively Merman in the last third of the film. Hollywood never warmed to her style and she went back to Broadway and super stardom. A look at the way Hollywood could cram films full of the songs people heard on the radio, and make crowds of them flock to see it on the big screen. The leads are terrific and if you want a look at the way the studio could surround them with the best character actors, great sets and costumes, this is a treat. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029852/
Kiss Of Death (1947) Victor Mature, Brian Donlevy, Richard Widmark, Coleen Gray. Great film noir of a small-time gangster (Mature) who gets caught in a jewelry robbery and is put in prison. After his wife commits suicide and Nick finds out his lawyer has not done as promised and seen that his family is taken care of, which was the price for keeping still about who else was in on the job, he contacts the Assistant District Attorney(Donlevy) who had told him he could help if he talks. With Nick now an undercover man and out working in New Jersey, married again and with his little girls, he and the family are in danger from crazy thug, Tommy Udo (Widmark). When I was a teenager and saw this for the 1st time, Widmark scared all of us to death. He was an amazing presence on screen and there was no one like him. The film has been a favorite on mine all these years. Can't think of a thing that needs changing, so ---10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039536/
Pickup On South St. (1953) Jean Peters, Richard Widmark, Thelma Ritter, Richard Kiley. In 1953 when I was as young woman working in a large office in the middle of a large city, I would go to the latest films at one of the downtown movie palace. This one was a kick in the teeth. About petty criminals, shady ladies and the dirty city streets, with not one character as wholesome and admirable. We thought it was great! The story of a pickpocket, just out of jail, and a tramp who he nabs a wallet from, while on the subway; plus her boyfriend who just happens to be a red, and who was sending a illicit microfilm using her as his courier. Skip and Candy are tough and both circle and claw at each other during their negotiations. The two actors are fun to watch as they parry and thrust, and Widmark socks Peters in one scene - and it looks so real you wince. Thelma Ritter as Moe, tired and worn out, selling ties to the dregs as she wanders the streets, gives a remarkable performance in her debut in film. Still think it is great even with all the red baiting. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046187/
My Favorite Year (1982) Peter O'Toole, Mark Linn-Baker, Lainie Kazan, Joseph Bologna. O'Toole as Alan Swann, an Errol Flynn type actor on the skids, is booked on King Kaisers' (Bologna) live TV comedy show. Benjy (Linn-Baker) is assigned to stay with him and make sure he shows up for all the rehearsals and the broadcast. He ends up taking Swann to Brooklyn to his family's weekly dinner. Their trip back ends up with a horseback ride through Central Park. When Swann discovers at the last minute the show is live, he panics and leaves. In the meantime, gangsters are after Kaiser because he is using laborers not affiliated to his union and is threatening him and his show. Swann shows up and the two fight their way to center stage and win the day! The live broadcast is a marvel of good writing, timing and acting. O'Toole is just great and seems to be having lots of fun. Bologna matches him in their scenes. Just a funny, loving look at 1954, and live TV. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084370/
Snow on the ground again from weekend fronts passing through. Fireplace and wine, food and films. It'll do for a while.......
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