Mildred Pierce (2011 - 5 part series) Kate Winslet, Guy Pierce, Evan Rachel Woods, Mellisa Leo. Well, I learnd something new. I never knew this story was based on a book by James M. Cain. But I'm a great fan of the film noir version with Joan Crawford. This one may be accurate to the early 1930's and the depression era, but the feel of the 1945 version is more accurate. I was a depression era baby and the fact that Mildred could order a new dress from a store and have it sent was so far removed from the experience of the people in my city neighborhood, I sort of gave up on the whole thing. Kate is a good actress. But she can't hold the screen the way Crawford can. i was not impressed, but I did stick with it the whole way. And I may watch it again. But I'm not saving it to my DVR. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1492030/
Mildred Pierce (1945) Joan Crawford, Jack Carson, Zachary Scott, Ann Blyth, Eve Arden. I have loved this since the first time I saw it as a teen when it first came out. Great performances by all the principals. And I am glad the story was turned into a film noir. Much more interesting. Joan is a dynamo. Ann Blyth the grown up child we all dread. Jack Carson is perfect as the snake who tells it like it is; Eve Arden as the best friend we all need; and Scott, charming and deadly. The lighting, music score, and art direction and cinematography - shadows, angles; it doesn't get much better than this. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037913/
April 20, 2011
Ginger, Paulette, Ann, Kate, & Jessica......
----it's ladies days. Recently I watched these films;
The Major & The Minor (1942) Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland, Diana Lynn, Rita Johnson. Ginger went from the melodrama that won her the Oscar to this delightful rom/com where she starts out masquerading as an 11-12 year old at a boys military academy. Milland and Lynn are great too, but Ginger is the one who carries the film. Rita Johnson is one great biotch. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035019/
The Crystal Ball (1943) Paulette Goddard, Ray Milland, Virginia Field, Gladys George, William Bendix. Good Screwball comedy in the Bringing Up Baby mode. Plot is all about a gal who wins a contest at home in Texas, gets to NYC broke, lands a job with a fortune teller and meets a guy she chases the rest of the film, until he catches her. Best sequence in in the hallway of a penthouse our gal just picked out to pretend she lived in the building, where we keep having characters get there just in time to run into uncreditied actress Mabel Paige in the hallway, walking her small pekinese dog. First she just happens to see Paulette's get her dress ripped off by the true occupant.
"Totally hoodwinked by this half-undressed gold-digger, the New York swell(Milland) sends his man back to the same penthouse the next day with a giant box of flowers for Miss Hog County. This time the husband answers the door, assumes his wife is having an affair with the sender of this floral tribute, and crushes the box on the head of the messenger. The hapless latter man emerges into the hallway, where Mabel tells him "You're very fortunate; the last one had her clothes torn right off of her!"
Upon learning about what happened to his flower delivery, the duped society man races over to the high-rise suite himself, where the ubiquitous Mabel asks him "Are you going in there?" to which he replies "Yes;" "You don't mind if I watch?" she concludes hopefully. The jealous husband again answers the door and quickly decks the swine lady's suitor with a punch to the nose. Staggering away once and for all, the ubiquitous Mabel chortles to him "Ha ha ha ha--you were the best of any of them!"
Magnifico! A delight. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035771/
Maisie Goes To Reno (1944) Ann Sothern, John Hodiak, Tom Drake, Ava Gardner. Reviewed before. Ann is a delight. And Ava in her small role was already lighting up the screen. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037040/
Without Love (1945) Tracy & Hepburn, Lucille Ball, Keenan Wynn. A favorite commented on here before. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038256/
Kitty (1945) Paulette Goddard, Ray Milland, Constance Collier. Gainsborough paints her straight off the street and men immediately flock around. From the gutter to the palace of a Duke. A very popular novel made into a perfect role for beautiful Paulette. Ripped bodices, drawing rooms, tea with the swells, balls and learning to talk like a lady. Lots of fun. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037849/
Tales Of Hoffmann (1951) Moira Shearer, Robert Rounseville, Robert Helpmann, Pamela Brown. The great Powell/Pressburger film of the stories of Hoffmann. The color and sets, costumes and fantasy effects are perfection. For any day, 1951 or 2011, this is a treat for the eyes and ears. Has there ever been a more enchanting ballerina? Her mechanical doll dance is wonderful. And the Barcarole is so lush and saturated with color we just about get delirious. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044103/
Cousin Bette (1998) Jessica Lange, Elizabeth Shue, Hugh Laurie, Bob Hoskins. Having never read Balzac, I watched this film just as I would any period costume drama. And I thought is was interesting and that Lange was fine as a mistreated, poor, cousin. When she is continually passed over and snubbed, it isn't too hard to see how revenge would soon be of importance to her. I remember seeing this back when it first made it to cable and this week it was shown on the Sundance Ch. Not for anyone wanting action but it weaves its' spell slowly. And Bette, it seems to me, ended up with what she had always wanted. She has the house (partially closed), the man(a wreck mentally and physically), and the child (of her one true love). And! SHE is in charge. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118894/
Spring is having a hard time staying warm. But the narcissus are blooming and the fruit trees. Grass is emerald. Lookin' good!
The Major & The Minor (1942) Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland, Diana Lynn, Rita Johnson. Ginger went from the melodrama that won her the Oscar to this delightful rom/com where she starts out masquerading as an 11-12 year old at a boys military academy. Milland and Lynn are great too, but Ginger is the one who carries the film. Rita Johnson is one great biotch. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035019/
The Crystal Ball (1943) Paulette Goddard, Ray Milland, Virginia Field, Gladys George, William Bendix. Good Screwball comedy in the Bringing Up Baby mode. Plot is all about a gal who wins a contest at home in Texas, gets to NYC broke, lands a job with a fortune teller and meets a guy she chases the rest of the film, until he catches her. Best sequence in in the hallway of a penthouse our gal just picked out to pretend she lived in the building, where we keep having characters get there just in time to run into uncreditied actress Mabel Paige in the hallway, walking her small pekinese dog. First she just happens to see Paulette's get her dress ripped off by the true occupant.
"Totally hoodwinked by this half-undressed gold-digger, the New York swell(Milland) sends his man back to the same penthouse the next day with a giant box of flowers for Miss Hog County. This time the husband answers the door, assumes his wife is having an affair with the sender of this floral tribute, and crushes the box on the head of the messenger. The hapless latter man emerges into the hallway, where Mabel tells him "You're very fortunate; the last one had her clothes torn right off of her!"
Upon learning about what happened to his flower delivery, the duped society man races over to the high-rise suite himself, where the ubiquitous Mabel asks him "Are you going in there?" to which he replies "Yes;" "You don't mind if I watch?" she concludes hopefully. The jealous husband again answers the door and quickly decks the swine lady's suitor with a punch to the nose. Staggering away once and for all, the ubiquitous Mabel chortles to him "Ha ha ha ha--you were the best of any of them!"
Magnifico! A delight. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035771/
Maisie Goes To Reno (1944) Ann Sothern, John Hodiak, Tom Drake, Ava Gardner. Reviewed before. Ann is a delight. And Ava in her small role was already lighting up the screen. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037040/
Without Love (1945) Tracy & Hepburn, Lucille Ball, Keenan Wynn. A favorite commented on here before. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038256/
Kitty (1945) Paulette Goddard, Ray Milland, Constance Collier. Gainsborough paints her straight off the street and men immediately flock around. From the gutter to the palace of a Duke. A very popular novel made into a perfect role for beautiful Paulette. Ripped bodices, drawing rooms, tea with the swells, balls and learning to talk like a lady. Lots of fun. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037849/
Tales Of Hoffmann (1951) Moira Shearer, Robert Rounseville, Robert Helpmann, Pamela Brown. The great Powell/Pressburger film of the stories of Hoffmann. The color and sets, costumes and fantasy effects are perfection. For any day, 1951 or 2011, this is a treat for the eyes and ears. Has there ever been a more enchanting ballerina? Her mechanical doll dance is wonderful. And the Barcarole is so lush and saturated with color we just about get delirious. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044103/
Cousin Bette (1998) Jessica Lange, Elizabeth Shue, Hugh Laurie, Bob Hoskins. Having never read Balzac, I watched this film just as I would any period costume drama. And I thought is was interesting and that Lange was fine as a mistreated, poor, cousin. When she is continually passed over and snubbed, it isn't too hard to see how revenge would soon be of importance to her. I remember seeing this back when it first made it to cable and this week it was shown on the Sundance Ch. Not for anyone wanting action but it weaves its' spell slowly. And Bette, it seems to me, ended up with what she had always wanted. She has the house (partially closed), the man(a wreck mentally and physically), and the child (of her one true love). And! SHE is in charge. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118894/
Spring is having a hard time staying warm. But the narcissus are blooming and the fruit trees. Grass is emerald. Lookin' good!
April 12, 2011
What I saw recently ----
Kitty Foyle (1940) Ginger Rogers(Oscar), Dennis Morgan, James Craig, Gladys Cooper. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032671/
Play Girl (1941) Kay Francis as a professional gold-digger.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032916/
Tom, Dick & Harry (1941) Ginger Rogers, Burgess Meredith, George Murphy, Alan Marshall. 7/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034299/
Rage In Heaven (1941) Ingrid Bergman, George Sanders, Robert Montgomery. Sanders shines as a romantic lead for a change. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034078/
True Grit (1969) John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glenn Campbell, Robert Duvall. Darby was a charmer. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065126/
Emma (1996-TV Mini-series) Kate Beckinsale, Mark Strong. The leads are good. Strong very good. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118308/
A Time To Kill (1996) Matthew McConaughey, Samuel Jackson, Sandra Bullock. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117913/
Comments coming if I have time.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032671/
Play Girl (1941) Kay Francis as a professional gold-digger.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032916/
Tom, Dick & Harry (1941) Ginger Rogers, Burgess Meredith, George Murphy, Alan Marshall. 7/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034299/
Rage In Heaven (1941) Ingrid Bergman, George Sanders, Robert Montgomery. Sanders shines as a romantic lead for a change. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034078/
True Grit (1969) John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glenn Campbell, Robert Duvall. Darby was a charmer. 8/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065126/
Emma (1996-TV Mini-series) Kate Beckinsale, Mark Strong. The leads are good. Strong very good. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118308/
A Time To Kill (1996) Matthew McConaughey, Samuel Jackson, Sandra Bullock. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117913/
Comments coming if I have time.
April 11, 2011
Once again----
---I watched the gals, this time on HBO----
Sex & The City 2 (2010) Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Catrell, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Chris Noth. Further adventures of the fab 4. Outrageous fashions, silly, trivial problems of 4 women who have it all - they are good looking, rich, have successful careers if they choose, and men when they want. Having it all doesn't mean we are satisfied. But we don't have to feel sorry for these gals, or outraged just because they are superficial. What we see is a fun movie with gorgeous scenery - that we don't have to be sorry about - no animals or humans were hurt in making this film. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1261945/
I have lots more movies I have watched but don't have time for comments now. Spring and flowers and all that - and genealogy too----
Sex & The City 2 (2010) Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Catrell, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Chris Noth. Further adventures of the fab 4. Outrageous fashions, silly, trivial problems of 4 women who have it all - they are good looking, rich, have successful careers if they choose, and men when they want. Having it all doesn't mean we are satisfied. But we don't have to feel sorry for these gals, or outraged just because they are superficial. What we see is a fun movie with gorgeous scenery - that we don't have to be sorry about - no animals or humans were hurt in making this film. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1261945/
I have lots more movies I have watched but don't have time for comments now. Spring and flowers and all that - and genealogy too----
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