Lost In Translation; a Hitchcock, etc---

---this week I watched:

Above Suspicion (1943) Joan Crawford, Fred MacMurray. Spy story is okay, but I never feared that our young newlyweds wouldn't come out okay. Not as suspenseful as some spy stories during WWII. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035605/

Dangerous Beauty (1998) Catherine McCormack, Rufus Sewell, Oliver Platt. Story of the cortesans of Venice in the 1500s. Sewell is too small for the lead. McCormack too much a modern looking woman and overwhelms Sewell. Naomi Watts in a small part looks like a woman of the time. Lots of beautiful sets and costumes - and nudity. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118892/

The Pledge (2001) Jack Nicholson, Patricia Clarkson, Aaron Eckhart, Robin Wright. Retiring Police Chief Jerry Black (Nicholson) pledges to a mother to find the killer of her young child. But although he is obsessed with the case, years pass and he has no leads. He buys a roadside service station and convenience store, and becomes the protecter of a woman, and her little girl, who is victimized by her violent husband. A case study in the losing of a mind and reality, through drink, age and fixation on impossible goals. Cast is first rate. The end wraps up the case, but in such an off-hand way, I had to replay it to get what was happening. 7/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0237572/

Lost In Translation (2003) Scarlet Johansson, Bill Murray, Giovanni Ribisi. A meandering and quiet film, focusing on two out-of-place lonely people who connect in a warm friendship. This is one of those films that you either love and understand immediately, or hate and disparage and some can't even get through one viewing. That is the way with films sometimes. For me, it was a a joy to watch and savor. As Bob (Murray) leaves in the car, we see Charlotte (Johansson) walking away. He has the driver stop and hurries back and catches her and whispers in her ear. Fans have gone to great lengths to find out what it is he says:
Whispered words> "Promise me, no matter how hopeless things get, keep on trying, okay? Keep coming chin-up, okay? "
Perfect. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335266/

National Treasure: Book Of Secrets (2007) Nicolas Cage, Jon Voight, Helen Mirren, Ed Harris, Harvey Keitel. Second film in the adventures of Ben Gates and his father, Patrick. This time with Mom, Emily helping them along the way. Watched with half a brain on a hot, humid July day in the Heartland USA. Just the ticket - especially with all the water scenes. I wished I was there too. Splash ME! LOL. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465234/

Storms, heat and other sounds of summer....

Greer Garson, Natalie Wood, Dorothy Maguire---

---in films I watched recently:

All seen on TCM:

The Valley Of Decision (1945) Greer Garson, Gregory Peck, Lionel Barrymore, Donald Crisp, Marsha Hunt, Dan Duryea, Preston Foster, Jessica Tandy. Great cast in a story about Pittsburg in late 1800s and two families caught up in the labor strife at the steel mills. One family owns a mill; the others men all work in the factory. The daughter of the Rafferty family(Mary) goes to the big house as a maid. The son Paul (Peck) of the Scott family also goes to work in the steel mills and the two gradually fall in love. Because old Mr Rafferty(Barrymore) hates the Scotts and blames them for his being crippled in a plant accident, there seems no way to bridge the hatred, so Mary goes off to England with the daughter of the house when she marries an English Lord when he visits the Scotts to see their mills. Mary is gone for two years, but old Mr. Scott sends for Mary and she comes home and plans are made for a wedding. Then the workers are having a face to face with management and strike breakers appear and start breaking heads. Old Mr. Rafferty is killed. Mr. Scott is badly hurt and also dies.. Mary says it is because of the curse her father put on her and Paul. She won't see him or marry him. Paul marries childhood friend, Louise Kane(Tandy) from across the road and they have a son. Another 5 or so years pass, and old Mrs. Scott calls on Mary in her dress shop and tells her she is leaving Mary her share of the steel mills because she knows Mary will hold out against the 3 who want to sell and give Paul a chance to hold the mill together. It is a great American story, about immigrants who came to America and made lives and history. Great cast. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038213/

My Name Is Julia Ross (1945) Nina Foch, Dame May Whitty, George Macready. A "B" picture with good performances and the usual creepy old cliff side mansion, locked doors, and people who keep telling you you are married to someone you don't remember or know. Keeps your interest. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037932/

Gun Crazy (1950/ Original title "Deadly Is The Female") Peggy Cummins, John Dall. Two gun nuts find each other and start robbing, stores, banks, payrolls. Not a pretty story. But as a tale of youth, lust and violence it is pretty good. Cummins was darling even if she was a killer. Dall was as good as I've ever seen him. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042530/

Invitation (1952) Dorothy Maguire, Van Johnson, Louis Calhoun. This was a Matinee' Ladies film. Story of a woman who has had rheumatic fever as a child which left her heart damaged. Doctors give her a year to live. Her wealthy father wants it to be a happy year, and knows she wants a husband and her own home, so he propositions one of her friends, offering a job and lots of money if he marries her and she never knows. Of course, things don't go as planned. Good cast does its' best, which is very good. Ruth Roman as the bad gal almost steals the show. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044751/

Trapeze (1956) Burt Lancaster, Gina Lollobridgida, Tony Curtis. Great story of a trapeze artist(Curtis) who want to learn the triple somersault and comes to Paris to the only man(Lancaster) who ever did one, to learn how it is done. He has to talk Mike into being his catcher, but once he does they work day and night. Just about the time they are ready to show their act, Gina(Lola) starts worming her way into the act and getting the two men fighting. Great shots of trapeze work, Gina is worth the price of admission, and the guys are not bad either. I love it. And the circus music! 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049875/

The Journey (1959) Deborah Kerr, Yul Brynner, Jason Robards Jr., Robert Morley, Anne Jackson, E.G. Marshall. One of my favorite Brynner films. He is Russian Major Surov and when a busload of people who had been at the airport in Budapest trying to leave the country during the uprising, are rerouted to Vienna and have to pass through the border town where he is stationed, he is in charge of seeing that there are no Hungarians in the group trying to get over the border. In checking all of the passports, he takes special interest Lady Diana Ashmore, who speaks for the ill passenger, Paul Kedes, who she has been helping. Over several days, the cat and mouse game continues, until it becomes dangerous and decisions have to be made. The two stars are very good and the sexual tension between them is extreme. A fast paced and interesting story and right out of the headlines at the time it was made and released to theaters. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052950/

Inside Daisy Clover (1965) Natalie Wood, Christopher Plummer, Robert Redford, Ruth Gordon, Roddy McDowell. Story of teen-ager in the 1930's who lives on a California boardwalk in Santa Monica, with her bipolar mother, and makes a record and sends it in to a studio contest. Soon a car and Raymond Swan, head of his Hollywood studio is there taking Daisy away to make her his new little star - America's Valentine. A cynical and devastating look at the studio system when you signed up you more or less belonged to them. I have watched this film a number of times and is it wrong to turn the sound off on those two musical numbers they have our Daisy do? I just can't take it anymore. But I do enjoy the look of old Hollywood and the star system. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059314/

Finally caught up with my viewing of the last two weeks. Onward.....

Dunne, Grant, Scott and Lorraine Day-----

---in films from my high school days:

My Favorite Wife (1940) Irene Dunne, Cary Grant, Randolph Scott. Wife(Dunne), missing 7 years, shipwrecked with a handsome scientist(Scott) who was collecting specimens with, returns to hubby(Grant) and her 2 children, who were babes when she left, only to find he has that very day married another woman{Gail Patrick}. The mix ups and befuddlement of Grant as the hubby, is half the fun. Funniest scenes are in the courtroom of Judge Bryson (Granville Bates), who is the crotchety and funny man who has to declare one wife alive, and the other annulled, all the while sneering at "the Harvard man; I'm a Yale man myself." My only quibble is the last 5 minutes when it gets all cutesy with the Santa outfit, the squeaking bed, and Grant trying to get Dunne to let him get in her bed. I have to quit watching after suffering through it many times. That's what that darn code did to lots of films - made the last 5 minutes unwatchable. Dang. Otherwise, 8/10. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029284/

The Locket (1946) Loraine Day, Brian Ahearn, Robert Mitchum, Gene Raymond. At a wedding a man shows up and tells the groom he is marrying a sociopathic liar. Of course, he is not believed, especially when the bride confronts him and says she never did what he is accusing her of. And so begins a very intricate tale of deception and death. Day, with her innocent air, and lovely speaking voice, carries off the role to perfection. Naturally, in this type of 40s film, it is all about what happened when she was a child. One by one, her reinventing herself and each time, a new man wants to rescue her. The cast is very good and this was a favorite of my high school days. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038700/

War, corporate espionage & Sherlock----

The Informant (2009) Matt Damon, Melanie Lynskey, Scott Bakula. Corporate corruption. Based on a real case and the FBI getting fooled as badly as other victims of this charlatan. The lies and manipulation becomes so involved no one can keep track of who is doing what. Damon is very good. The issue of ADD and or bi-polar disorder is very well portrayed by Damon, and the frustration of his wife and all the other people he has contact with at AMD is amusing and sad. He was a maddening character to all. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1130080/

Sherlock Holmes (2009) Rental DVD. Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong. Robert Downey Jr. is always Robert Downey, Jr. with a bit of a smirk and wink but I always find him worth watching. Jude Law was good too.
Watched the whole thing on my 2nd attempt. It put me to sleep after 30 minutes the first time. Maybe because I had just had dinner.? What can I say --- I'm old!
My complaint is the way film makers make Edwardian and/or Victorian England seem sooooo dirty and disgusting. Every scene in this version there is Sherlock in disarray and dirt. I haven't picked up a Sherlock book since school days, but I don't remember anything about how dirty and unkempt everyone and thing was. I may be wrong but that is my complaint. Strongs villain is interesting.
As an action film it is passably enjoyable. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0988045/

Green Zone (2010) Matt Damon. The invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the desperate search by squads for the WMDs that were the reason for our going to war. Damons(Millers) squad is seen in the first 10 minutes frantically and dangerously looking in alleys, buildings, warehouses and discovering no WMD's. Men are killed and wounded and Miller is more and more frustrated. He hooks up with a CIA operative looking for the truth and finds corruption in both governments. The early scenes are chaotic, just like I would imagine real combat is, and the whole film is fast paced. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0947810/

Have more films to go-----

Two to start----

---catching up with posting the films I have seen that last 2 weeks:


Love Affair (1939) Irene Dunne, Charles Boyer. Director McCareys first version of this story. The charm of Boyer and the wonderful playful manner of Dunne are perfect for these two sophisticated souls who meet on shipboard and fall in love. The light touch is needed and both stars are just perfect. Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. technicolor, and that dang song, make An Affair To Remember the Christmas staple, but this is the one I always pull out and watch. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031593/

The Turning Point (1977) Shirley MacLaine, Anne Bancroft, Leslie Browne, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Tom Skerritt. Ballet story told from the viewpoint of two aging ballerinas, one who married and one who had the great career. Now 20 years later they somewhat envy each other and harbor some resentment. Which leads to a knockdown drag out of a fight between Dede(MacLaine) and Emma(Bancroft). But it is the music and dance that star here. Great excerpts of ballets throughout. The final segment of the finale of Don Quixote is just wonderful - perfect. And Browne dancing over the credits at the end brings tears it it so beautiful. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076843/

To be con't.....

Gone With The Wind & other classsics, plus---

---a few from the last few years:


Maytime (1937) Nelson Eddy, Jeanette MacDonald. Beautiful, lavish film with the sensations of Hollywood at the time. MGM pulled out all the stops, except for color, and the costumes and sets are spectacular. The duo's greatest scene from opera, and they nail the passion both characters feel by the time of the final reel. For TCM's tribute to both stars' birthday month, this is always a treat. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029222/

Sweethearts (1938) Nelson Eddy, Jeanette MacDonald, Frank Morgan. Finally MGM filmed our stars in technicolor and it is glorious. Story is contemporary to the time it was filmed so the sets and clothes are modern. And what clothes Jeanette gets to wear! In the middle of the film we have a fashion show, with her trying on clothes for a trip. Just gorgeous. They are going to Hollywood, leaving their successful stage play after a 6 year run. Mix-ups and split ups and reuniting ensue. A joy to watch which I do for the holidays, and didn't mind at all watching again for the birthday celebration. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030817/


Gone With The Wind (1939) Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, Olivia de Havilland, Leslie Howard, Hattie McDaniel. My 1989 50th Year Anniversary video copy, beautifully boxed, with certificate, booklet, etc. May someday replace with a Hi-def version, but this is great to get off the shelf and relive the joy I felt when it came in the mail back in 1989.
I have little-girl memories of seeing this with my little sisters and Mom and Dad back when it was first at our downtown Heartland city's Loew's Midland theater, a palace with red velvet everywhere, red plush seats, gold angels, tall mirrors and 16th century furniture in the mezzanine ladies lounge - which was huge. The experience of all that splendor plus the music as you entered (with an usher), still colors my mind and I just go back in time as I watch. The first re-release was when I was in high school and my galpals and I went often. It was a rite-of-passage to see Rhett carry Scarlett up those stairs and imagine what was happening. We all had raging hormones ( although we did not know what to call it back then - LOL) and it was delicious thinking about what Scarlett was simpering and singing about the next morning.
Still love Scarlett, the costumes, the music...the whole cast. My little girl self loved Bonnie Blue and cried buckets when she was killed. For my money, Scarlett was a forerunner of the strong business women of today. She was as ruthless as any man and not only got herself, but her father, sisters, in-laws and various others through the war and Reconstruction, she made everyone come out on top. They may have hated her, and Rhett may have left, but Scarlett has her sails full and will sail on. Amen, brother! 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031381/


The Solid Gold Cadillac (1956) Judi Holiday, Paul Douglas. Cute story of a small stock holder who drives the board nuts at a stock-holder meeting to elect the new board, which is supposed to be cut-and-dried. The heroine, Laura Partridge, is such a pest, with all her questions about executive compensation, that she is finally given a make work job (Director Of Shareholder Relations), doing nothing, to keep her happy and out of the way. Our former CEO and owner has become a dollar a year man in Washington, and thought he had left his company in good hands. But he eventually has to come back and save the day for Laura and the rest of the good guys. As an early film on corporate corruption it only does a few pokes, but has quite a lot to say for the time it was made. Good cast. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049777/


Time Limit (1957) Richard Widmark, Richard Basehart, Delores Michaels, Martin Balsam, June Lockhart, Rip Torn, Carl Benton Reid. Superb performances by the whole cast in a tightly woven story of the Korean War era, and an ex-prisoner of war. He has been court-marshaled for collaborating with the enemy. The investigator from the JAG office, begins to think there is more to the case than the facts as presented in the documents he has been given. On top of that, the Commanding Officer of the unit was the father of one of the fellow soldiers of the accused, and was killed in the camp. Naturally, he is bitter and wants this man convicted ASAP. Fine actor Karl Malden directed this film and gets the best from his cast. Basehart never was better. Lockhart is perfect as the heart broken wife. Widmark and Michaels also. And the speech Reid makes about "that is why we have the code" is a true statement of the way military men are taught. But the final questions by Basehart to Widmark; "a man is brave a thousand days and then on that one he finally breaks. Shouldn't there be a time limit?" - are heart breaking and are still being ask today. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051083/


Nine (2009) Danial Day-Lewis, Judi Dench, Kate Hudson, Penelope Cruz. Awful film, awful music, just a bore. Turned it off after the first hour - which seemed like 3. 2/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0875034/

Valentine's Day (2010) Stars listed by alphabet in a story about what happens to various characters on - yep - Valentines Day. Not funny, not awful, not great, not memorable. But I didn't hate it - as I did with Nine. So 7/10. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0817230/

Summertime and the humid days and nights. We are having some rain this week, which is good. More light films for the season.