More Vivien; Beckinsale & Farmiga---

This post catches me up for Sept. Finally!

TCM-Vivien Leigh Day:

Fire Over England (1937) Vivien Leigh, Lawrence Olivier, Flora Robson. Another story with Queen Elizabeth a central figure, this time played by Flora Robson. It is 1588 and Spain is threatening England. The Queen sends the son of a man killed by the Inquisition, to Spain, as an undercover spy to find out what they plan to do. Michael is in love with Cynthia, a lady-in-waiting at court, and both women fear for the young man and England, as there is a great Armada sailing for England. The title is the way the English save the day, by burning their own ships and sailing them into the Armada. It works. The young stars are beautiful. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028872/combined


That Hamilton Woman (1941) Vivien Leigh, Lawrence Olivier, Gladys Cooper. The story of Emma Hart who rises from dance hall girl, to cortesan, to ambassadors wife, to Lord Horatio Nelsons mistress. Beautifully filmed, and the two leads are gorgeous, even if Olivier has a patch over one eye. The battle scenes at sea are well done. The court of Naples, with the children of the King and Queen - a dozen or so - is chaotic and fun. Costumes and score, fine. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034272/combined

REELZ CH:

Force 10 From Navarone (1978) Robert Shaw, Harrison Ford, Edward Fox. Another story of a team being sent behind German lines to blow up a key bridge. The story is how they manage, with resistance fighters who betray them, being captured at least twice. So-so cinematography. Pacing is erratic. Ford, a year after his Star Wars super stardom. Here, he isn't even exciting. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077572/combined


Rental DVD:

Nothing But The Truth (2009) Kate Beckinsale, Vera Farmiga, Matt Dillon, Alan Alda, Angela Bassett. Terrific film about a young reporter, Rachel, who discovers a plot and the CIA agent involved. Her story causes a quick indictment from a government prosecutor, Patton Dubois, who wants the name of the source. From the first it is a battle of wills between the reporter, the prosecutor, the judge and her lawyer, Alan Burnside (Alan Alda). Similar to the Valerie Plame incident, a real outing of a CIA agent. The story here follows Rachel to jail, where she stays for a year. After being released, after the death of the agent, Dubois re-arrests her and she is sentenced to federal prison for 2 years. At the very end, it is revealed why she will not give up her source. Very good film of its' type. Cast great. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1073241/combined



A full moon and the Jupiter/Uranus combined star power, made a beautiful night sky for the first week of autumn. The hummingbirds, killdeers and other migratory birds will be leaving the Heartland soon. Some have already gone. The hummers have been especially fun this year.



The female deer have been gathering in groups. We see them in the woods above the river some days. Since this is park and conservation land we abut, no hunting is allowed and there are too many deer for the forage available. Soon there will be bow hunters allowed to take a female to thin the herd. Sad, but starvation is a sure thing if the winter comes with this over-population.



Have picked out films to watch next. I'm going through my list and picking tapes and DVDs I have not watched for 4 or 5 years. Or longer.