March 29, 2011
Kay Francis suffers in Stolen Holiday...
---what else? And Ian Hunter the romantic lead. Love his voice and presence. Rains his usual great villain. Stolen Holiday (1937) Kay Francis, Claude Rains, Ian Hunter, Alison Skipworth. Kay was The Star. Her name all alone above the title and her male co-stars together after the title. This is one of her roles that fit her to a T. Lots of great clothes (she owns a shop and designs all the gowns.) Story begins with her a model at a fashion house who is picked by Rains, as a con-man, to front for he and his partners money laundering schemes. Of course, she is not part of the scheme and sticks by him through thick and thin. During her first days modeling, she has also met Hunter, a diplomate, and when they meet again they fall in love. He is sent away by her because scandal would ruin his career. Before the fade, all works out. Warners could not let Kay suffer at the end - her fans would have come with pitch forks. My Mom included. Now I love her too. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028310/
March 20, 2011
Five about women, for women---
This week I have watched:
Smarty (1934) Joan Blondell, Warren William, Edward Everett Horton, Claire Dodd. Vicki(Joan) is married to Tony{Warren), but she is so ditsy he finally clips her on the chin. Her attorney-friend (Horton) secure her divorce and marries her himself. But she really isn't through with first hubby so makes a complete pest of herself at his apartment as he is trying to entertain others. I know Joan is supposed to be funny and fun, but was really irritating in this film. Pre-code, so gowns push the limits of being what upper class wives would wear. Not one of Joans usual delights. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025803/
First Lady (1937) Kay Francis, Anita Louise, Preston Foster, Verree Teasdale, Walter Connelly. Kay is a Washington wife of the Secretary of State who thinks he should be the next President. Her rival in D.C. women's circles is the wife of a stuffy Supreme Court Justice, who hates it and wants a divorce. Except the powerful owner of a huge newspaper chain is picking him for the next Republican candidate. So she does an about face in order to become first lady, which makes Mrs. Sec. furious. Kay and Verree are great as they get off their putdowns of each other and zingers and the looks are like daggers to the heart. Anita Louise is simple lovely and should have become a huge star, she is so fragile and sweet. First rate production from Warners. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028874/
The Women Men Marry (1937) George Murphy, Josephine Hutchinson, Sidney Blackmer, Claire Dodd. Investigative reporter marries the wrong woman, who cheats with the editor of the newspaper, while his lady partner is in love with him. All the while they are trying to get the goods on a charlatan who is duping people into giving lots of money to become part of his cult. It all works out by the end. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029793/
Diary Of A Chambermaid. (1964) Le journal d'une femme de chambre (French title) Jeanne Moreau. Boring. Moreau has one expression for everything -dour -, but she can smile but doesn't very often in this film. She is the maid who arrives on a train in the village at the beginning. We see her interact with the members of the household and the neighbors. A child is helped by her and then sent off home. In the woods her body is found later. Raped. Nothing is done, so Moreau decides who she thinks did it and contrives to frame him. But he is never convicted and the film ends with the symbolism of angry workers marching through the streets into - the future with Naziism and horror. I was not impressed. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058249/
A Good Woman (2004) Helen Hunt, Scarlett Johannson, Tom Wilkinson. Oscar Wilde's play of 'good' woman, 'bad' woman and their men and what they had to do to keep them, is moved from late 1800's England to 1930's Riviera. Hunt and Johannson are fine as Mrs. Erlynne and Lady Windermer, but the old guys steal the show. Cecil, Dumby and Tuppy (Wilkinson) are so likable and droll even as they make nasty remarks, we enjoy being with them as we do all gossips. Even when we know it is wrong. In the same vein as Gosford Park - it is the era, the costumes, the music of the times - that weave a spell. If you let it. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379306/
Keeping up with the news these days make me want to cry, but I had to buck up and send a donation to the Salvation Army International for Japan. Now we have another war. Has this earth ever had all its peoples at peace at the same time. The more I know of history, the less likely it seems. Hopefully, we will have some good news soon. Meanwhile, comedies for this coming week!
Smarty (1934) Joan Blondell, Warren William, Edward Everett Horton, Claire Dodd. Vicki(Joan) is married to Tony{Warren), but she is so ditsy he finally clips her on the chin. Her attorney-friend (Horton) secure her divorce and marries her himself. But she really isn't through with first hubby so makes a complete pest of herself at his apartment as he is trying to entertain others. I know Joan is supposed to be funny and fun, but was really irritating in this film. Pre-code, so gowns push the limits of being what upper class wives would wear. Not one of Joans usual delights. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025803/
First Lady (1937) Kay Francis, Anita Louise, Preston Foster, Verree Teasdale, Walter Connelly. Kay is a Washington wife of the Secretary of State who thinks he should be the next President. Her rival in D.C. women's circles is the wife of a stuffy Supreme Court Justice, who hates it and wants a divorce. Except the powerful owner of a huge newspaper chain is picking him for the next Republican candidate. So she does an about face in order to become first lady, which makes Mrs. Sec. furious. Kay and Verree are great as they get off their putdowns of each other and zingers and the looks are like daggers to the heart. Anita Louise is simple lovely and should have become a huge star, she is so fragile and sweet. First rate production from Warners. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028874/
The Women Men Marry (1937) George Murphy, Josephine Hutchinson, Sidney Blackmer, Claire Dodd. Investigative reporter marries the wrong woman, who cheats with the editor of the newspaper, while his lady partner is in love with him. All the while they are trying to get the goods on a charlatan who is duping people into giving lots of money to become part of his cult. It all works out by the end. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029793/
Diary Of A Chambermaid. (1964) Le journal d'une femme de chambre (French title) Jeanne Moreau. Boring. Moreau has one expression for everything -dour -, but she can smile but doesn't very often in this film. She is the maid who arrives on a train in the village at the beginning. We see her interact with the members of the household and the neighbors. A child is helped by her and then sent off home. In the woods her body is found later. Raped. Nothing is done, so Moreau decides who she thinks did it and contrives to frame him. But he is never convicted and the film ends with the symbolism of angry workers marching through the streets into - the future with Naziism and horror. I was not impressed. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058249/
A Good Woman (2004) Helen Hunt, Scarlett Johannson, Tom Wilkinson. Oscar Wilde's play of 'good' woman, 'bad' woman and their men and what they had to do to keep them, is moved from late 1800's England to 1930's Riviera. Hunt and Johannson are fine as Mrs. Erlynne and Lady Windermer, but the old guys steal the show. Cecil, Dumby and Tuppy (Wilkinson) are so likable and droll even as they make nasty remarks, we enjoy being with them as we do all gossips. Even when we know it is wrong. In the same vein as Gosford Park - it is the era, the costumes, the music of the times - that weave a spell. If you let it. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379306/
Keeping up with the news these days make me want to cry, but I had to buck up and send a donation to the Salvation Army International for Japan. Now we have another war. Has this earth ever had all its peoples at peace at the same time. The more I know of history, the less likely it seems. Hopefully, we will have some good news soon. Meanwhile, comedies for this coming week!
March 18, 2011
March madness means---
---not many films. Too busy with genealogy with my sister. We're looking for our grandfather, who dissapears sometime between 1918 and 1920, when my grandmother remarries. No records for the 2 missing years, so far. So, movies are taking a backseat to a real mystery!
This month so far, I have watched:
Love Me Tonight (1932) Jeanette MacDonald, Maurice Chevalier. This may be the best of their films together, but I like it the least. She's a Princess who suffers fainting fits. He is a tailor who comes to her estate to collect debts from her relative who has cheated all the tradesmen in town. She is snooty. He charms all the people on the estate except for his rivals for her affection. A few of the songs are favorites - Lover, the title song, and Mimi is a romp, but as for the humor and charm - I don't see it. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023158/
She's Got Everything (1937) Ann Sothern, Gene Raymond, Helen Broderick, Victor Moore. My favorite "B" movie actress with a great supporting cast of "A" character actors and a breezy script, makes an enjoyable 90 minutes. Story is of an heiress who discovers she owes a fortune instead of inheriting one. Trying to get a job and pay her debts, mixups and sillyness ensues. Fun and funny. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030741/
Lara Croft II (2003) Angelena Jolie, Gerard Butler. Rewatch of the adventure comic book film. The scenery is great (the stars) - landscapes too. Mindless afternoon watch, while doing other things. Background noise. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0325703/
Street Kings (2008) Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitacre, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans. Average cop corruption tale with the only good guy able to blow away perps at will with no consequences. If that is your cuppa tea, this is a film you will enjoy. From the first half hour I was pretty sure the Whitacre character was gonna be a douche. Laurie irritated me so I was not enthralled with this story at all. If you like stories where no one has a moral compass, this is it! 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421073/
Robin Hood (2010) Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett. Well, The Russ is always watchable and Cate can do no wrong for me, but the tale told is not the legend, so was boring to me. We get the pre-Sherwood Forrest Robin of Locksley. Which is not uninteresting, but is a slow slog. Give me the green leggins on great thighs, swinging in on a vine with a wink and a nod - every time. The last two versions have been ugly, dirty-looking and bad. This one is intersting but not what I was looking for in Robin Hood. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0955308/
I'm DVRing films I want to watch later, but having too much fun with my family mystery to watch fiction films. Onward.....
This month so far, I have watched:
Love Me Tonight (1932) Jeanette MacDonald, Maurice Chevalier. This may be the best of their films together, but I like it the least. She's a Princess who suffers fainting fits. He is a tailor who comes to her estate to collect debts from her relative who has cheated all the tradesmen in town. She is snooty. He charms all the people on the estate except for his rivals for her affection. A few of the songs are favorites - Lover, the title song, and Mimi is a romp, but as for the humor and charm - I don't see it. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023158/
She's Got Everything (1937) Ann Sothern, Gene Raymond, Helen Broderick, Victor Moore. My favorite "B" movie actress with a great supporting cast of "A" character actors and a breezy script, makes an enjoyable 90 minutes. Story is of an heiress who discovers she owes a fortune instead of inheriting one. Trying to get a job and pay her debts, mixups and sillyness ensues. Fun and funny. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030741/
Lara Croft II (2003) Angelena Jolie, Gerard Butler. Rewatch of the adventure comic book film. The scenery is great (the stars) - landscapes too. Mindless afternoon watch, while doing other things. Background noise. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0325703/
Street Kings (2008) Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitacre, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans. Average cop corruption tale with the only good guy able to blow away perps at will with no consequences. If that is your cuppa tea, this is a film you will enjoy. From the first half hour I was pretty sure the Whitacre character was gonna be a douche. Laurie irritated me so I was not enthralled with this story at all. If you like stories where no one has a moral compass, this is it! 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421073/
Robin Hood (2010) Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett. Well, The Russ is always watchable and Cate can do no wrong for me, but the tale told is not the legend, so was boring to me. We get the pre-Sherwood Forrest Robin of Locksley. Which is not uninteresting, but is a slow slog. Give me the green leggins on great thighs, swinging in on a vine with a wink and a nod - every time. The last two versions have been ugly, dirty-looking and bad. This one is intersting but not what I was looking for in Robin Hood. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0955308/
I'm DVRing films I want to watch later, but having too much fun with my family mystery to watch fiction films. Onward.....
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