Last week I watched the following:
DVD Rental:
Easy Living (1937) Jean Arthur, Edward Arnold, Ray Milland, Mary Nash. The great Preston Sturges wrote the screenplay from a story by Vera Caspary. A Wall Street mogal, J.C. Ball(Arnold) gets angry at his extravagant wife, Jenny(Nash) for buying yet another fur coat - a sable for 20 thousand dollars. He tells her to take it back and she refuses. He grabs it and throws it out the window. It falls down to the double-decker bus onto the head of Mary Smith(Arthur) and breaks the feathers on her hat. She's mad and gets off the bus to find who is responsible, and thus starts one of the cleverest screwball comedies of the era. The very rich and those who feed off them, selling them things they don't need, are skewered. Milland is Ball, Jr. and falls for our gal, naturally. The scene in the elaborate bathtub when they are trying to figure out how it works is very funny. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028816/
2 from TCM:
Mrs. Parkington (1944) Greer Garson, Walter Pigeon, Agnes Moorhead, Edward Arnold. Greer as an old lady tells the story of her life starting out as a maid in a mining community, where she meets the owner of a mine. He falls for her and marries her and takes her to a storybook life of riches. This film is told in flashbacks and is episodic and I wasn't very interested. The two leads have been better in their other vehicles. IMO. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037096/
2 From My Video Collection:
Mother (1996) Debbie Reynolds, Albert Brooks, John C. McGinley. John and Carl are brothers who compete for the attention of their Mother. John is a writer in the midst of his second divorce and has just settled, losing all his furniture but one chair in the living room and the house. He has writers block and decides he needs to go back to his home and live with his Mother to try to discover why his relationships never work. A very droll and funny film, with many chuckles. Brooks and Reynolds are very good together. McGinley as the righteous brother who does everything right, is very good. I liked spending a couple of hours with these people. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117091/
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) Haley Joel Osment, Frances O'Conner, Jude Law. Taped this off HBO way back when it was first playing after the theater release. Never watched it after the day I taped it and I really did not like it this time either. But back then it was considered an important film so ..? The whole story is just creepy and I can't stand the idea of throw away anything that have been programed to have human reactions. I think this is a video I can never watch again. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0212720/
This takes me to the weekend when I watched lots more and will catch up soon.
August 31, 2010
August 21, 2010
Deanna Durbin, Ann Sheridan,
This week I watched:
My Collection:
First Love (1939) Deanna Durban, Robert Stack, Helen Parrish, Eugene Paulette. Retelling of the Cinderella story. The wicked step sister played with relish by Parrish makes our heroine miserable, but Deanna(Connie) is so good-hearted and chipper, we just know, with the mice's (butler, maids, cook and cop boyfriend) help, she will go to the ball and win the Prince/Ted's hand. Paulette as Dad, is wonderful. His final explosion and takedown of the lazy doofus of his son, played with bored stupidity by Lewis Howard, is a joy to watch. And Deanna singing Amapola (my pretty little poppy), an aria or two, Home, Sweet Home, and a lovely Strauss Waltz, makes this a must have for her fans and lovers of great singing. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031311/
TCM's Ann Sheridan Day:
City For Conquest (1940) Ann Sheridan, James Cagney, Arthur Kennedy, Donald Crisp, George Tobias, Frank McHugh, Elia Kazan. Kids grow up among tenements and the mean streets and promise they will always be there for each other. Older brother Danny boxes to keep his brother Eddie having music lessons and off the streets. Girlfriend Peggy has dreams of having a career dancing. One night the couple are out and there is a contest. Murray Burns (Anthony Quinn) is the local star, and asks Peggy to partner with him. They win, and are offered a contract for a tour. Peggy see the bright lights and can't say no. She leaves without telling Danny. He decides to go for the big time and tells manager(Crisp) that he wants to get a title fight ASAP. Which results in Danny losing his sight. From there on the melodrama of how Peggy and Danny get back together, and Eddie having a successful concert, is gripping, even if it is pure corn. Annie, baby, sure can dance. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032342/
George Washington Slept Here (1942) Ann Sheridan, Jack Benny, Charles Coburn, Percy Kilbride. I was struck by how much I liked this film. I remember seeing it when I was just a kid and thinking it was stupid. Actually, it reminds me somewhat of Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, and since it was quite a few years before that one, I wonder if they 'borrowed?' Anyway, New Yorkers are continually asked to move from apartments because of their dog. Finally, Connie Fuller gets hubby Bill, to agree to move to the country. To a ramshackled house - with no water. Scenes of big machinery digging a well. Neighbor informs them they have no access to the road because he owns the land. So they have to jounce over hill and dale through the woods. Finally move in and have scene where he finds out the commuter train leaves at 5:30 am instead of 7:30. So it goes. Amusing and loved Ann trying to work things out. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032342/
The Set Up (1949) Robert Ryan, Audrey Totter, George Tobias, Wallace Ford. I saw this on its' first run and left the theater knowing I had seen a great little film. Ryan was always on my radar ever after. Boxing films are not my favorites, and usually I have to squint to watch the more brutal parts. However, somehow they managed to make the most intense fighting not too unsettling. Perhaps because the director used the whole ring and long shots more that closeups? Don't know, but it was more palatable. The story of the wife and her angst waiting for the fight to be over, and her walk around the seedy arena area, intensified our anxiety. Great character actors in all the secondary roles. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041859/
Inglorious Basterds (2009) Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz (Oscar), Melanie Laurent, Diane Kruger. O.M.G. is it wrong to be BORED by this film? What has happened to my cute Brad baby? Can ya tell? I hated this movie. The two women were the only redeeming factors for me. Tarantino is a juvenile fan-boy of violence and shows it lovingly on the screen, in close up and long takes. But his fan base loves it all too, so he will keep getting funds to make these piles of dung. The opening sequence at the farm house is suspenseful and starts things off well. We dread what we know will happen to the Jews hiding under the floor boards. But by the time the young woman is running across the field, and it just ends with the officer yelling at her, things have already started to go wrong. At least to me. So much of the rest is just disjointed and makes you want to scream - get on with it! - too many long meaningful looks, too many in jokes that I for one didn't get. 4/10 only for his good actors doing their best. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361748/
A couple of cooler days and last night a lot of rain. Days are getting shorter too. Lots of light hearted films to watch.
My Collection:
First Love (1939) Deanna Durban, Robert Stack, Helen Parrish, Eugene Paulette. Retelling of the Cinderella story. The wicked step sister played with relish by Parrish makes our heroine miserable, but Deanna(Connie) is so good-hearted and chipper, we just know, with the mice's (butler, maids, cook and cop boyfriend) help, she will go to the ball and win the Prince/Ted's hand. Paulette as Dad, is wonderful. His final explosion and takedown of the lazy doofus of his son, played with bored stupidity by Lewis Howard, is a joy to watch. And Deanna singing Amapola (my pretty little poppy), an aria or two, Home, Sweet Home, and a lovely Strauss Waltz, makes this a must have for her fans and lovers of great singing. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031311/
TCM's Ann Sheridan Day:
City For Conquest (1940) Ann Sheridan, James Cagney, Arthur Kennedy, Donald Crisp, George Tobias, Frank McHugh, Elia Kazan. Kids grow up among tenements and the mean streets and promise they will always be there for each other. Older brother Danny boxes to keep his brother Eddie having music lessons and off the streets. Girlfriend Peggy has dreams of having a career dancing. One night the couple are out and there is a contest. Murray Burns (Anthony Quinn) is the local star, and asks Peggy to partner with him. They win, and are offered a contract for a tour. Peggy see the bright lights and can't say no. She leaves without telling Danny. He decides to go for the big time and tells manager(Crisp) that he wants to get a title fight ASAP. Which results in Danny losing his sight. From there on the melodrama of how Peggy and Danny get back together, and Eddie having a successful concert, is gripping, even if it is pure corn. Annie, baby, sure can dance. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032342/
George Washington Slept Here (1942) Ann Sheridan, Jack Benny, Charles Coburn, Percy Kilbride. I was struck by how much I liked this film. I remember seeing it when I was just a kid and thinking it was stupid. Actually, it reminds me somewhat of Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, and since it was quite a few years before that one, I wonder if they 'borrowed?' Anyway, New Yorkers are continually asked to move from apartments because of their dog. Finally, Connie Fuller gets hubby Bill, to agree to move to the country. To a ramshackled house - with no water. Scenes of big machinery digging a well. Neighbor informs them they have no access to the road because he owns the land. So they have to jounce over hill and dale through the woods. Finally move in and have scene where he finds out the commuter train leaves at 5:30 am instead of 7:30. So it goes. Amusing and loved Ann trying to work things out. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032342/
The Set Up (1949) Robert Ryan, Audrey Totter, George Tobias, Wallace Ford. I saw this on its' first run and left the theater knowing I had seen a great little film. Ryan was always on my radar ever after. Boxing films are not my favorites, and usually I have to squint to watch the more brutal parts. However, somehow they managed to make the most intense fighting not too unsettling. Perhaps because the director used the whole ring and long shots more that closeups? Don't know, but it was more palatable. The story of the wife and her angst waiting for the fight to be over, and her walk around the seedy arena area, intensified our anxiety. Great character actors in all the secondary roles. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041859/
Inglorious Basterds (2009) Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz (Oscar), Melanie Laurent, Diane Kruger. O.M.G. is it wrong to be BORED by this film? What has happened to my cute Brad baby? Can ya tell? I hated this movie. The two women were the only redeeming factors for me. Tarantino is a juvenile fan-boy of violence and shows it lovingly on the screen, in close up and long takes. But his fan base loves it all too, so he will keep getting funds to make these piles of dung. The opening sequence at the farm house is suspenseful and starts things off well. We dread what we know will happen to the Jews hiding under the floor boards. But by the time the young woman is running across the field, and it just ends with the officer yelling at her, things have already started to go wrong. At least to me. So much of the rest is just disjointed and makes you want to scream - get on with it! - too many long meaningful looks, too many in jokes that I for one didn't get. 4/10 only for his good actors doing their best. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361748/
A couple of cooler days and last night a lot of rain. Days are getting shorter too. Lots of light hearted films to watch.
August 12, 2010
Errol Flynn, Pirates and the Merry Men----
---recently I have watched:
Adventures Of Robin Hood (1938) Errol & Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone and Claude Rains. Robin and the Merry Men of Sherwood Forrest fight evil King John. Rousing action, gorgeous Technicolor in the restored print. Never a dull moment and sheer fun. 10/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029843/
Sea Hawk (1940) Errol & Basil Rathbone, Brenda Marshall, Claude Rains, Flora Robson. Pirates for England and the Queen, against the Spanish. Robson is a great Queen Elizabeth and Marshall a beautiful Dona Maria who hates/loves our pirate. Great fun, but the sword fights get just a tad tiresome. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033028/
Frenchmans Creek (1944) Joan Fontaine, Arturo de Cordova, Basil Rathbone. Daphne du Maurier's romance novel gets a loving film, again made in gorgeous Technicolor. Pirates, the landed gentry in 18th century England with mansions, sailing ships and a romantic music score. A favorite for years and years. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036840/
Against All Odds (1984) Rachel Ward, Jeff Bridges, James Woods, Jane Greer, Richard Widmark. Remake of the great "Out of The Past (1947)" with Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas. Jane Greer played the Rachel Ward part in the original. She was deadly. Original 10/10. Remake - 6/10 It had great scenery. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086859/
Blood Work (2002) Clint Eastwood, Jeff Daniels, Anjelica Houston. FBI profiler has a heart transplant and while recovering runs across clues to a serial killer. Sounds like a better story than it is. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0309377/
Elegy (2008) Ben Kingsley, Penelope Cruz, Dennis Hopper, Patricia Clarkson. A college prof falls for and beds a beautiful student. He becomes more and more possessive and she leaves him. But the films goes on and on. His son hates him until he too becomes embroiled in affairs. Then they connect. LOL. After two years, his girl comes back and tells him she has breast cancer. Which gives them an excuse to have Cruz and her breasts on screen for about 10 minutes. Our prof manages to stick by her at the fade out after her surgery. Knowing his history of banal self indulgence, will he stick?/ Doubtful. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0974554/
Looking forward to TCM's Gene Tierney day later this coming week. Still trying to stay cool and collected.....LOL
Adventures Of Robin Hood (1938) Errol & Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone and Claude Rains. Robin and the Merry Men of Sherwood Forrest fight evil King John. Rousing action, gorgeous Technicolor in the restored print. Never a dull moment and sheer fun. 10/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029843/
Sea Hawk (1940) Errol & Basil Rathbone, Brenda Marshall, Claude Rains, Flora Robson. Pirates for England and the Queen, against the Spanish. Robson is a great Queen Elizabeth and Marshall a beautiful Dona Maria who hates/loves our pirate. Great fun, but the sword fights get just a tad tiresome. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033028/
Frenchmans Creek (1944) Joan Fontaine, Arturo de Cordova, Basil Rathbone. Daphne du Maurier's romance novel gets a loving film, again made in gorgeous Technicolor. Pirates, the landed gentry in 18th century England with mansions, sailing ships and a romantic music score. A favorite for years and years. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036840/
Against All Odds (1984) Rachel Ward, Jeff Bridges, James Woods, Jane Greer, Richard Widmark. Remake of the great "Out of The Past (1947)" with Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas. Jane Greer played the Rachel Ward part in the original. She was deadly. Original 10/10. Remake - 6/10 It had great scenery. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086859/
Blood Work (2002) Clint Eastwood, Jeff Daniels, Anjelica Houston. FBI profiler has a heart transplant and while recovering runs across clues to a serial killer. Sounds like a better story than it is. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0309377/
Elegy (2008) Ben Kingsley, Penelope Cruz, Dennis Hopper, Patricia Clarkson. A college prof falls for and beds a beautiful student. He becomes more and more possessive and she leaves him. But the films goes on and on. His son hates him until he too becomes embroiled in affairs. Then they connect. LOL. After two years, his girl comes back and tells him she has breast cancer. Which gives them an excuse to have Cruz and her breasts on screen for about 10 minutes. Our prof manages to stick by her at the fade out after her surgery. Knowing his history of banal self indulgence, will he stick?/ Doubtful. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0974554/
Looking forward to TCM's Gene Tierney day later this coming week. Still trying to stay cool and collected.....LOL
August 06, 2010
The wonderful Kay Francis in-----
Confession (1937) Kay Francis, Basil Rathbone, Ian Hunter. Kay as a fallen woman, being tried for the murder of the man (Rathbone) who caused her to lose her husband and baby daughter. One of Kays best performances in a remake of a German film. The trial and Kay telling her story about losing her daughter and killing the man who caused her downfall when she sees him with the girl, sways the Judge and jury and at the end she is sentenced to time served plus two years. Rathbone is suitably charming and despicable at once. Ian Hunter is fine in a small role as the warrior who comes home without an arm and discovers his wife has been unfairthful. One of Kays best roles. She wears her usual great wardrobe and her walk down the long prison hall, all shadows and dust in the air, is one of the great endings for a womans film. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028737/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)