....and a few I'd never seen before.
The Bitter Tea Of General Yen (1933) A film that was a scandal because of the Chinese General falling for Barbara Stanwyke, his American missionary prisoner. And she became pretty interested in him too. A no-no back then, for sure. Atmospheric, and rather repetitive. After reading about it for so long, I was a bit disappointed. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023814/
The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934) the lavish black & white version with Merle Oberon, and Leslie Howard in the fop/hero role. He was perfect. Story of the French Revolution and the beheading of the aristocrats. Sir Percy Blakeney(Howard), is an 18th century English aristocrat who leads a double life. He appears to be merely the effete aristocrat...but he goes to Paris regularly, in disguise, and brings out as many of the doomed as possible. He and his wife are not on good terms because he thinks she has betrayed friends of his, and she thinks he has turned into a fool only interested in his cravat. Howard is terrific as the fool, spouting his little rhyming ditty to all the ladies of the court. All's well that ends well, and the sets, costumes and music make a first-rate black and white film. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025748/
Bachelor Mother (1939) Ginger Rogers, David Niven, Charles Coburn. Cute film that shows how different things were back in the depression era. Today, the baby in question would have never just been foisted off on a woman who says she doesn't want him and isn't his Mother. But for the time it is a warm hearted film and Ginger is gorgeous. The baby is adorable. Charles Coburn is his usual gruff, bad tempered self, but he does comedy like an old pro. Not much happens - just the usual mixups. But the long scene of Times Square on New Years - with some actual newsreel footage - is fun and interesting - to see how it was back then. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031067/
San Antonio (1945) Errol Flynn, Alexis Smith, S.Z. "Cuddles" Sakall, Florence Bates. Gorgeous stars, two of the best comic relief specialists in Bates and Sakall; scenery of all kinds; nice musical numbers and costumes for Alexis; gunfights, fistfights, chases on horses, for Errol and the villeins, Victor Francen and Paul Kelly. A favorite western of mine since my school days in '45 and we drooled over the movie mags at the corner drug store soda fountain. Fond memories and still fun. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038048/
The Ghost & Mrs Muir (1947) One of my all time favorites was shown on FMC and I just had to drop everything and sit down and watch. The stars, Gene Tierney and Rex Harrison; the music score - it is just a perfect romance. Story of an early 20th century young widow who buys a dead sea captains house by the sea. To her surprise he haunts the house because he wants it to be left for retired seaman. When she falls on hard times and may lose the house, he dictates his memoirs to her and sends her to London to a publisher who loves the sea. Her adventures with the book and the rest of her life is shown in montage and all ends on a happily hopeful note. Perfect! 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039420/
(Note) Gerry Butler would be a great Daniel/The Captain, but it probably should never be remade.
Miracle On 34th St. (1947) My tape of the original black & white version with Edmund Guinn as Kris Kringle. Lovely fairy tale. Watch it every year. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039628/
Mr. 880 (1950) Edmund Guinn, Burt Lancaster, Dorothy Maguire. Based on a true story of the longest counterfeiting case the Secret Service ever had. They couldn't catch him because he only passed one dollar bills when he was completely out of money, and never in the same place repeatedly. Guinn is great as the old retired seaman who doesn't want to cause anyone any trouble; Lancaster is more subdued than usual, and has good chemistry with Maguire in their little romance. A pleasant film, and lovely to watch the pros go through their paces. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042742/
Shane (1953) Alan Ladd, Van Heflin, Jean Arthur, Brandon DeWilde, Jack Palance. One of the best westerns of all time. A lone rider(Alan Ladd-Shane) comes to the farm of homesteaders, the Staretts(Heflin, Arthur & De Wilde) has a drink of water, and is about to ride on. But after the Ryker bunch come riding through Staretts garden and threatens them, we see Shane is leaning against the cabin watching and Ryker sees him too - and the gang rides away. The farmer asks pardon for not showing hospitality to the stranger, and thus begins a great story of redemption. Every role is cast to perfection. And De Wilde's heartbreaking call to Shane at the end reminds us of the lonely child in us that cries out for that person in our life that we had to let go of and never see again. Perfect. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046303/
Baby Boom (1987) Diane Keaton, Sam Shephard, Sam Wanamaker, Pat Hingle, James Spader, the Kennedy twins as baby Elizabeth. Very funny story of a woman on the fast track to become a partner at a cut throat Ad agency when she is suddenly left her distant cousins child after the parents are killed in a car accident in England. How she copes, and the mess this development makes in her controlled life, is very funny. But the real fun begins when she has to change her complete lifestyle and buys a house in Vermont. Some hysterically funny scenes as only Keaton can do them, and of course the darling baby girl wins her and us completely. All the actors are spot on and it is a fun time at the movies. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092605/
Dirty Dancing (1987) Jennifer Grey, Patrick Swayze, Jerry Orbach, Jack Weston. Doctor Houseman(Orbach) and his family vacation at a resort in the Catskill Mountains. The youngest daughter, Frances/Baby(Grey), becomes infatuated with the dance instructor, Johnny(Swayze) and involved in the problems of his dance partner. The location scenery, music and dance scenes, and chemistry between the leads, make for a good time at the movies. Still a pleasure after 22 years. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092890/
Enchanted April (UK/1992) Miranda Richardson, Josie Lawrence, Joan Plowright, Polly Walker. Four women decide to ditch husbands, and assorted other encumbrances, to rent a castle in Italy for a month long holiday. They do and we tag along. Nothing much happens, beautifully! Languid and peaceful - except for one amusing scene of one of the husbands who joins the ladies and becomes a buffoon while taking a bath. For a nice, quiet evening by the fire and dreaming of sunny Italy. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101811/
Winter begins tomorrow(21st) and the season has gotten off to a bang in some parts of the USA. Blizzards in the east; damp cold in the Heartland. Good to have a warm house, and fireplace and lots of good movies to watch. Sez I!
December 20, 2009
December 10, 2009
Over two weeks of films.....
Lady With Red Hair (1940) Miriam Hopkins, Claude Rains, Laura Hope Crews, Helen Westley. Mrs. Leslie Carter, famous actress of the Gay '90's and how she became a success. A socialite in Chicago, she is divorced by her husband and in the resulting scandal, loses her son's custody. Determined to get him back, she needs money and decides to go on the stage with little experience. She meets the famous empresario David Belasco in New York and he gives her a chance. Hopkins delivery of lines was always a bit off to me, but she is good as the frothy young woman who becomes the great actress. Crews and Westley as the mother and boarding house owner almost steal the movie. Two old pros who knew the real Mrs. Carter. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032687/
Christmas In Connecticutt (1945) Barbara Stanwyke, Dennis Morgan, "S.Z. Cuddles" Sakall. Fun film to start off my Holiday viewing. TCM had it on Thanksgiving week, and I watch it every year. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037595/
The Strange Love Of Martha Ivers (1946) Barbara Stanwyke, Van Heflin, Kirk Douglas, Judith Anderson, Lisabeth Scott. Great film noir with black and white cinematography that is a primar of what it's all about. Three kids are friends and hang out at the freight yard. The poor boy lives hand to mouth. The rich girl hates her guardian aunt. The wimpy son of her tutor rounds out the the deadly trio. On a stormy, rainy night (always good for murder) the kids get picked up by the police and the two are returned to the mansion and the mean aunt. One thing leads to another and murder happens. 20 years later, while driving across the country, guy runs his car off the road and what-do-ya-know? It's near his old home town. And what happens next is a very satisfying story of lust, greed and retribution. Cast couldn't be any better. Douglas's first major film role, and he is wonderful. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038988/
The Bishops Wife (1947) Loretta Young, Cary Grant, David Niven. Another of my Christmas season films. Perfect in every way. I watch it every year. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039190/
The Perils Of Pauline (1947) Betty Hutton, John Lund, Constance Collier, Billy DeWolfe. The film is loosely based on the life of silent screen star Pearl White, who was a super star of the silent era. I loved this as a kid when it came out. But even though I have it in my collection, I found I was irritated with every one of Betty's song numbers (I fast forwarded most of them), except the love ballad "I Wish I Didn't Love You So." That was lovely. The look at the way the silent movies were filmed right next to each other, and with all the bedlam going on, was a very funny scene, and done in one long tracking shot. Good stuff. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039698/
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Drew Barrymore, Robert Macnaughton, Peter Coyote. Beloved little E.T. just wants to go home. Haven't watched this in years, but decided the holiday period was a good time for a visit. Not as great as when we first saw it, but still love the little grey fellow. Cast is so good and Henry was perfect. "I'm keeping him." Spielberg hit a homerun. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083866/
The Bride With White Hair (1993-HongKong "Bai fa mo nu zhuan") Brigitte Lin, Leslie Cheung, 1) Awful screenplay. 2) Atrocious action choreography. 3) Dreadful editing. I could not get interested in the story. It takes 15 minutes to set up that the two main characters love each other - endless spooning in the water. Bad. So disappointed after reading many times that this was a favorite Hong Kong film of many. I've seen both leads in much better films. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106342/
The Great Debaters (2007) Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Denzel Whitaker. Very engrossing film about the teacher who developed a great debate team at a small college back in the 1930's, that took on all state comers and won. They then debated other colleges in other states and finally were asked to debate the Harvard debate team and won the big trophy. While there was some changing of facts, it is true that this small college did win its' most important debates and had an outstanding set of students on the team. They all went on to achieve much during the civil-rights movement. Very moving and thought provoking film. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427309/
The Ugly Truth (2009) DVD with Extras. Gerard Butler, Katharine Heigl. Very funny R rated comedy. Uptight TV producer Abby Richter(Heigl) has to contend with new hire call-in host Mike Chadway (Butler) who represents everything she hates about men. The dialog and banter is funny and Abby and Mike slowly begin to warm to each other as they try to get Abby's doctor neighbor for her boyfriend. As a different take on the rom-com formula, this is an enjoyable one. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1142988/
Have some of my other favorite holiday films out ready to watch. And "the weather outside is frightful, and the fire is so delightful, and since I've no place to go, let it snow" -----
See you at the movies - in cyber space!
Christmas In Connecticutt (1945) Barbara Stanwyke, Dennis Morgan, "S.Z. Cuddles" Sakall. Fun film to start off my Holiday viewing. TCM had it on Thanksgiving week, and I watch it every year. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037595/
The Strange Love Of Martha Ivers (1946) Barbara Stanwyke, Van Heflin, Kirk Douglas, Judith Anderson, Lisabeth Scott. Great film noir with black and white cinematography that is a primar of what it's all about. Three kids are friends and hang out at the freight yard. The poor boy lives hand to mouth. The rich girl hates her guardian aunt. The wimpy son of her tutor rounds out the the deadly trio. On a stormy, rainy night (always good for murder) the kids get picked up by the police and the two are returned to the mansion and the mean aunt. One thing leads to another and murder happens. 20 years later, while driving across the country, guy runs his car off the road and what-do-ya-know? It's near his old home town. And what happens next is a very satisfying story of lust, greed and retribution. Cast couldn't be any better. Douglas's first major film role, and he is wonderful. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038988/
The Bishops Wife (1947) Loretta Young, Cary Grant, David Niven. Another of my Christmas season films. Perfect in every way. I watch it every year. 10/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039190/
The Perils Of Pauline (1947) Betty Hutton, John Lund, Constance Collier, Billy DeWolfe. The film is loosely based on the life of silent screen star Pearl White, who was a super star of the silent era. I loved this as a kid when it came out. But even though I have it in my collection, I found I was irritated with every one of Betty's song numbers (I fast forwarded most of them), except the love ballad "I Wish I Didn't Love You So." That was lovely. The look at the way the silent movies were filmed right next to each other, and with all the bedlam going on, was a very funny scene, and done in one long tracking shot. Good stuff. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039698/
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Drew Barrymore, Robert Macnaughton, Peter Coyote. Beloved little E.T. just wants to go home. Haven't watched this in years, but decided the holiday period was a good time for a visit. Not as great as when we first saw it, but still love the little grey fellow. Cast is so good and Henry was perfect. "I'm keeping him." Spielberg hit a homerun. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083866/
The Bride With White Hair (1993-HongKong "Bai fa mo nu zhuan") Brigitte Lin, Leslie Cheung, 1) Awful screenplay. 2) Atrocious action choreography. 3) Dreadful editing. I could not get interested in the story. It takes 15 minutes to set up that the two main characters love each other - endless spooning in the water. Bad. So disappointed after reading many times that this was a favorite Hong Kong film of many. I've seen both leads in much better films. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106342/
The Great Debaters (2007) Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Denzel Whitaker. Very engrossing film about the teacher who developed a great debate team at a small college back in the 1930's, that took on all state comers and won. They then debated other colleges in other states and finally were asked to debate the Harvard debate team and won the big trophy. While there was some changing of facts, it is true that this small college did win its' most important debates and had an outstanding set of students on the team. They all went on to achieve much during the civil-rights movement. Very moving and thought provoking film. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427309/
The Ugly Truth (2009) DVD with Extras. Gerard Butler, Katharine Heigl. Very funny R rated comedy. Uptight TV producer Abby Richter(Heigl) has to contend with new hire call-in host Mike Chadway (Butler) who represents everything she hates about men. The dialog and banter is funny and Abby and Mike slowly begin to warm to each other as they try to get Abby's doctor neighbor for her boyfriend. As a different take on the rom-com formula, this is an enjoyable one. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1142988/
Have some of my other favorite holiday films out ready to watch. And "the weather outside is frightful, and the fire is so delightful, and since I've no place to go, let it snow" -----
See you at the movies - in cyber space!
November 22, 2009
Only one of note......
....a quiet little film of middle aged people meeting and spending time together. This week I watched these films all the way through and didn't fall asleep.....
Turner & Hooch (1989) Tom Hanks, Mare Winningham, Craig T. Nelson. A big ugly slobbering dog wins the day for his cop friend in this amusing comedy. When his original old coot owner is killed and he is to be taken by animal control, if they can, our detective decides to keep him because he can identify the old mans killer. Hooch proceeds to eat our heros house, his car and wreck the police station, but he is darn loveable doing it. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098536/
Havoc (2005) Anne Hathaway. The only reason to see this indy film is because it is an early film of Hathaway. She is a presence, and the camera loves her. Story is about rich kids, bored out of their minds, trying all the drugs and dangerous lifestyle choices they can. As always, they will be saved by their money and connections, while those without their resources will end up in a trash heap. Lots of nudity and awful crude dialog. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0285175/
Last Chance Harvey (2008) Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman. Nice litlle film about 2 lonely people connecting after a chance meeting at the airport in London. Nothing much happens, but we enjoy spending time with these two people finding their way in a beginning relationship. Two fine actors charming us to come along. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1046947/
Taking Of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009) Denzel Washington, John Travolta, John Turturro, James Gandolfini. Remake of the 1974 thriller is okay but not as good as the earlier version. The director got in all the crashing vehicles he could, but the tension just wasn't there like in the earlier film. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1111422/
Turkey day approaches here in the USA and then the Christmas madness. I'm just trying to stay healthy - and hope everyone will stay home if ill. I hate to hear people hacking away but know it is not always possible for people to take a day off to get well. Anyway, films to get into the h0liday frame of mind these next weeks.
Turner & Hooch (1989) Tom Hanks, Mare Winningham, Craig T. Nelson. A big ugly slobbering dog wins the day for his cop friend in this amusing comedy. When his original old coot owner is killed and he is to be taken by animal control, if they can, our detective decides to keep him because he can identify the old mans killer. Hooch proceeds to eat our heros house, his car and wreck the police station, but he is darn loveable doing it. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098536/
Havoc (2005) Anne Hathaway. The only reason to see this indy film is because it is an early film of Hathaway. She is a presence, and the camera loves her. Story is about rich kids, bored out of their minds, trying all the drugs and dangerous lifestyle choices they can. As always, they will be saved by their money and connections, while those without their resources will end up in a trash heap. Lots of nudity and awful crude dialog. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0285175/
Last Chance Harvey (2008) Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman. Nice litlle film about 2 lonely people connecting after a chance meeting at the airport in London. Nothing much happens, but we enjoy spending time with these two people finding their way in a beginning relationship. Two fine actors charming us to come along. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1046947/
Taking Of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009) Denzel Washington, John Travolta, John Turturro, James Gandolfini. Remake of the 1974 thriller is okay but not as good as the earlier version. The director got in all the crashing vehicles he could, but the tension just wasn't there like in the earlier film. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1111422/
Turkey day approaches here in the USA and then the Christmas madness. I'm just trying to stay healthy - and hope everyone will stay home if ill. I hate to hear people hacking away but know it is not always possible for people to take a day off to get well. Anyway, films to get into the h0liday frame of mind these next weeks.
November 15, 2009
Bollywood and Sex & The City.....
Finding old video tapes I made when TCM was doing a series showing Bollywood films all night once a week, usually with a guest director, I watched two recently:
Awaara (1951/India) D. Raj Kapoor. Black & White Bollywood film has lots of music but also more story than usual. The title translates to 'aimless jerk' which is what the main character becomes because of the circumstances of his birth, and the actions of a bad judge. But in the style of these films, there are generous helpings of music, singing and dancing throughout the film. The central and longest segment is a dream sequence, beautifully shot, elaborate and enchanting. The director is also the lead and is a good comedian as well as doing the drama. His own father plays the Judge who turns out to be his real father. All in all, interesting and worth seeing, but at almost 3 hours, I had to have an intermission. Over two days. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043306/
Junglee (1961/India) Early Bollywood style film shot in color. Interesting scenes of the main characters playing in the snow, sledding etc. The plot is not that important. It is the usual - troubles between the generations and who marries who. The songs, costumes and dancing are all good but like so many Bollywood films, Junglee is overlong. I'm afraid I dosed off near the end. I think the fans in India certainly get their money's worth. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055035/
The Game Plan (2007) Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Madison Pettis. Cute little girl shows up at big football stars penthouse door saying she is his daughter. As long as the two are interacting the film is fun and not too awful. When other characters get in the picture, it bogs down. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0492956/
Sex & The City (2008) Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Catrell, Chris Noth, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Jennifer Hudson. The girls are living and lovin' and wearing outrageous styles, and OMG! shoes with 5 in heels! Also having man troubles. And babies. How will it all end? Not a serious moment in the film -- well -- Mr Big going all wimp and chicken about the wedding day - yeah that was pretty serious. But! As Mr. Shakespeare wrote "All's well that ends well." 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1000774/
The Proposal (2009) Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds. In this one our Sandy is a high-powered something or other in a publishing company (I think) and is a real 'meany', screaming at underlings and doing all kinds of things that make you dislike her. Her gofer, Reynolds, takes the hateful stuff because see, he wants to be a powerful editor or something and thinks it will happen somehow or other. Why is she so mean? Dunno. But before long it becomes necessary for her to be married so she won't be deported (she is Canadian) so she tells her boss she and the Ryan person are getting married. Then she forces doofus to take her home to his families place in Alaska, where it turns out his family is Fabulously Wealthy. Got all that? How will it end? You must buy or rent or look it up and find out. Sandy needs to get a new character - she's done this one to death. Beautiful scenery. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1041829/
Raining and chilly and good to have the fireplace on and something hot to drink. Turkey day coming up. Gobble, gobble.
Awaara (1951/India) D. Raj Kapoor. Black & White Bollywood film has lots of music but also more story than usual. The title translates to 'aimless jerk' which is what the main character becomes because of the circumstances of his birth, and the actions of a bad judge. But in the style of these films, there are generous helpings of music, singing and dancing throughout the film. The central and longest segment is a dream sequence, beautifully shot, elaborate and enchanting. The director is also the lead and is a good comedian as well as doing the drama. His own father plays the Judge who turns out to be his real father. All in all, interesting and worth seeing, but at almost 3 hours, I had to have an intermission. Over two days. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043306/
Junglee (1961/India) Early Bollywood style film shot in color. Interesting scenes of the main characters playing in the snow, sledding etc. The plot is not that important. It is the usual - troubles between the generations and who marries who. The songs, costumes and dancing are all good but like so many Bollywood films, Junglee is overlong. I'm afraid I dosed off near the end. I think the fans in India certainly get their money's worth. 6/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055035/
The Game Plan (2007) Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Madison Pettis. Cute little girl shows up at big football stars penthouse door saying she is his daughter. As long as the two are interacting the film is fun and not too awful. When other characters get in the picture, it bogs down. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0492956/
Sex & The City (2008) Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Catrell, Chris Noth, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Jennifer Hudson. The girls are living and lovin' and wearing outrageous styles, and OMG! shoes with 5 in heels! Also having man troubles. And babies. How will it all end? Not a serious moment in the film -- well -- Mr Big going all wimp and chicken about the wedding day - yeah that was pretty serious. But! As Mr. Shakespeare wrote "All's well that ends well." 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1000774/
The Proposal (2009) Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds. In this one our Sandy is a high-powered something or other in a publishing company (I think) and is a real 'meany', screaming at underlings and doing all kinds of things that make you dislike her. Her gofer, Reynolds, takes the hateful stuff because see, he wants to be a powerful editor or something and thinks it will happen somehow or other. Why is she so mean? Dunno. But before long it becomes necessary for her to be married so she won't be deported (she is Canadian) so she tells her boss she and the Ryan person are getting married. Then she forces doofus to take her home to his families place in Alaska, where it turns out his family is Fabulously Wealthy. Got all that? How will it end? You must buy or rent or look it up and find out. Sandy needs to get a new character - she's done this one to death. Beautiful scenery. 7/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1041829/
Raining and chilly and good to have the fireplace on and something hot to drink. Turkey day coming up. Gobble, gobble.
November 02, 2009
My last 10 films in 10 days----
---This is what I watched recently-----
Faithless (1932) Tallulah Bankhead, Robert Montgomery. Interesting pre-code look at how the great depression affected a very wealthy young woman and her fiancee, a guy with a good paying middle class job. He wants them to live on his $20k salary(over 290k today). She will have none of it and sees no reason why she can't use her money and live as she always has. Audiences in 1932 would know that she is being unreasonable. Most were living on a few thousand a year. The couple splits up and soon the crash on wall street wipes out the girls wealth and her trust account. Not content to live in poverty or 'work' she chases the good life and rich men to all her old haunts. She becomes ones mistress and ends up being thrown out of a rich hostesses home. After our couple get back together, he forgives her and they marry. And the soap opera begins with his accident on the job he finally got, and her having to become a street walker to save them. Best scene and very subtly done, is her talk with her landlady who realises what she is up to and tells her to put on her makeup and fix her hair. They say nothing about why, but both know.
Bankhead and Montgomery are good pros and handle their roles well. The man who plays the brother must have been someones relative to get a speaking role, because he is terrible. A fine look at a film before the censors started messing with films in the 30's. 7/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022873/maindetails
American Madness (1932) d. Frank Capra. Walter Houston, Pat O'Brien, Kay Johnson, Constance Cummings. Another pre-code film, this one about a banker who is above reproach in his dealings with customers and his employees. When a crisis develops involving his neglected wife, an employee and a robbery, there is a run on the bank. Pre FDIC also, so all the small depositors panic, as who wouldn't? This is an early Capra film and has many of his touches which he became famous for - especially large crowd scenes. The run on the bank is pure chaos with thousands of extras, which he films pulling back and up to an overhead shot, to see the pushing, shoving; and one woman caught and shoved against a wall, who goes down under the stampeding feet. Houston is very good and the story is not too melodramatic. Worth a look to see early Capra and why the U.S. congress enacted some of the laws it did in the 1930s. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022626/
The Letter (1940) d. William Wylers. Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall, James Stephenson, Gale Sondergaard. One of Davis's best performances which I have commented on before. The music score by Max Steiner adds greatly to the atmosphere. One of the great 'studio' films, where they had the stars, the crew and sets to make magic, all on Warners back lot. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032701/
Shadow Of A Doubt (1943) d. Alfred Hitchcock. Joseph Cotton, Teresa Wright, Patricia Collinge, Henry Travers, Hume Cronyn, MacDonald Carey, Wallace Ford & Edna Mae Wonacott. Great cast in a fine film. Hitch had been in America only a few years and made one of the best films featuring small town life. Also one of the only times Joe Cotton played a sinister villain. He's very good at being bad. The young Wonacott is perfect as the young sister, who "knows everything about everyone." Cronyn as the neighbor who visits Travers every evening with a new way to murder his friend, is very droll. Such a great screenplay, with many normal family life scenes, all with the undercurrent of menace. One of Hitches best. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036342/
Quartet (1948-UK) W. Somerset Maugham stories. Dirk Bogard, George Cole, Cecil Parker. None of the stories were outstanding. The Kite, with Cole, was the best, which isn't saying much. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040335/
Uncle Silas (1948-UK) Jean Simmons, Katina Paxinou, Derrick De Marney. Gothic melodrama, all old mansions, hoop skirts, cobwebs, sinister musical climaxes, and Jean in peril but an innocent throughout. She was just 17 and lovely. Hollywood came calling and the rest is history. Paxinou is so over the top she is ridiculous. Like the witch in Wizard Of Oz all she needed was the broomstick. De Marney is not much better. He would be fingering a mustache in the melodramas of old. Outlandish is too mild a comment. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039492/
Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) Madonna, Rosanna Arquette, Aidan Quinn. Still laugh throughout after all these years. Just see it - you'll be glad you did. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089017/
Gladiator (2000) Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Derek Jacoby. Can't help myself. Whenever it is shown on TV, I usually end up sitting and watching it once again. Great action woven into a good story of one mans betrayal and capture, to end up in the arena in Rome. The score is wonderful at setting the mood of melancholy and the end speeches - perfect. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172495/
Dracula 2000 Gerard Butler "& some other actors." Hard to believe that this film was to showcase a bunch of young actors who were given top billing. Johnny Lee Miller, Justine Waddell, Jennifer Esposito, and Omar Epps are listed top of the DVD. No mention of Drac/Butler, who has gone on to become a true STAR. The tale of the vampire Dracula (Butler) has be brought forward to present day and New Orleans at Mardi Gras, perfect location and time for all black floor sweeping coats and long hair. For my Halloween movie, I choose this one. Cheesy, pretty young things all over the place, and no need to pay attention if the doorbell rings with little goblins, you won't miss a thing. 8/10 that's how much I enjoy it and get my giggles. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0219653/
The Upside Of Anger (2005) Joan Allen, Kevin Costner. Enjoyable film on the family dynamics after the father goes missing. Wife assumes he has taken off with his secretary for Sweden. Her anger and unhappiness keep the four daughters in constant conflict with her. Her neighbor and friend, Denny (Costner) drinks with her and offers a hand with her girls. Over the next few years they struggle along until a discovery at a new building site makes some things clear to all. Good little drama. Costner is very good as the charming drunken friend. Allen is so good at anger you almost hate her. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365885/
Daylight time is over. Days are short. Trees almost bare. Goblins and ghosts are gone again and winter is just around the corner. We'll see what develops.......
Faithless (1932) Tallulah Bankhead, Robert Montgomery. Interesting pre-code look at how the great depression affected a very wealthy young woman and her fiancee, a guy with a good paying middle class job. He wants them to live on his $20k salary(over 290k today). She will have none of it and sees no reason why she can't use her money and live as she always has. Audiences in 1932 would know that she is being unreasonable. Most were living on a few thousand a year. The couple splits up and soon the crash on wall street wipes out the girls wealth and her trust account. Not content to live in poverty or 'work' she chases the good life and rich men to all her old haunts. She becomes ones mistress and ends up being thrown out of a rich hostesses home. After our couple get back together, he forgives her and they marry. And the soap opera begins with his accident on the job he finally got, and her having to become a street walker to save them. Best scene and very subtly done, is her talk with her landlady who realises what she is up to and tells her to put on her makeup and fix her hair. They say nothing about why, but both know.
Bankhead and Montgomery are good pros and handle their roles well. The man who plays the brother must have been someones relative to get a speaking role, because he is terrible. A fine look at a film before the censors started messing with films in the 30's. 7/10
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022873/maindetails
American Madness (1932) d. Frank Capra. Walter Houston, Pat O'Brien, Kay Johnson, Constance Cummings. Another pre-code film, this one about a banker who is above reproach in his dealings with customers and his employees. When a crisis develops involving his neglected wife, an employee and a robbery, there is a run on the bank. Pre FDIC also, so all the small depositors panic, as who wouldn't? This is an early Capra film and has many of his touches which he became famous for - especially large crowd scenes. The run on the bank is pure chaos with thousands of extras, which he films pulling back and up to an overhead shot, to see the pushing, shoving; and one woman caught and shoved against a wall, who goes down under the stampeding feet. Houston is very good and the story is not too melodramatic. Worth a look to see early Capra and why the U.S. congress enacted some of the laws it did in the 1930s. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022626/
The Letter (1940) d. William Wylers. Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall, James Stephenson, Gale Sondergaard. One of Davis's best performances which I have commented on before. The music score by Max Steiner adds greatly to the atmosphere. One of the great 'studio' films, where they had the stars, the crew and sets to make magic, all on Warners back lot. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032701/
Shadow Of A Doubt (1943) d. Alfred Hitchcock. Joseph Cotton, Teresa Wright, Patricia Collinge, Henry Travers, Hume Cronyn, MacDonald Carey, Wallace Ford & Edna Mae Wonacott. Great cast in a fine film. Hitch had been in America only a few years and made one of the best films featuring small town life. Also one of the only times Joe Cotton played a sinister villain. He's very good at being bad. The young Wonacott is perfect as the young sister, who "knows everything about everyone." Cronyn as the neighbor who visits Travers every evening with a new way to murder his friend, is very droll. Such a great screenplay, with many normal family life scenes, all with the undercurrent of menace. One of Hitches best. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036342/
Quartet (1948-UK) W. Somerset Maugham stories. Dirk Bogard, George Cole, Cecil Parker. None of the stories were outstanding. The Kite, with Cole, was the best, which isn't saying much. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040335/
Uncle Silas (1948-UK) Jean Simmons, Katina Paxinou, Derrick De Marney. Gothic melodrama, all old mansions, hoop skirts, cobwebs, sinister musical climaxes, and Jean in peril but an innocent throughout. She was just 17 and lovely. Hollywood came calling and the rest is history. Paxinou is so over the top she is ridiculous. Like the witch in Wizard Of Oz all she needed was the broomstick. De Marney is not much better. He would be fingering a mustache in the melodramas of old. Outlandish is too mild a comment. 5/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039492/
Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) Madonna, Rosanna Arquette, Aidan Quinn. Still laugh throughout after all these years. Just see it - you'll be glad you did. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089017/
Gladiator (2000) Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Derek Jacoby. Can't help myself. Whenever it is shown on TV, I usually end up sitting and watching it once again. Great action woven into a good story of one mans betrayal and capture, to end up in the arena in Rome. The score is wonderful at setting the mood of melancholy and the end speeches - perfect. 9/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172495/
Dracula 2000 Gerard Butler "& some other actors." Hard to believe that this film was to showcase a bunch of young actors who were given top billing. Johnny Lee Miller, Justine Waddell, Jennifer Esposito, and Omar Epps are listed top of the DVD. No mention of Drac/Butler, who has gone on to become a true STAR. The tale of the vampire Dracula (Butler) has be brought forward to present day and New Orleans at Mardi Gras, perfect location and time for all black floor sweeping coats and long hair. For my Halloween movie, I choose this one. Cheesy, pretty young things all over the place, and no need to pay attention if the doorbell rings with little goblins, you won't miss a thing. 8/10 that's how much I enjoy it and get my giggles. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0219653/
The Upside Of Anger (2005) Joan Allen, Kevin Costner. Enjoyable film on the family dynamics after the father goes missing. Wife assumes he has taken off with his secretary for Sweden. Her anger and unhappiness keep the four daughters in constant conflict with her. Her neighbor and friend, Denny (Costner) drinks with her and offers a hand with her girls. Over the next few years they struggle along until a discovery at a new building site makes some things clear to all. Good little drama. Costner is very good as the charming drunken friend. Allen is so good at anger you almost hate her. 8/10 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365885/
Daylight time is over. Days are short. Trees almost bare. Goblins and ghosts are gone again and winter is just around the corner. We'll see what develops.......
October 31, 2009
Law Abiding Citizen - Take 2.....
Law Abiding Citizen (2009) d. F. Gary Gray. Gerard Butler, Jamie Foxx. After my second viewing I am sure the protagonists are well matched. Foxx as the Assistant District Attorney Nick Rice, in charge of the murder case involving the wife and child of Clyde Shelton (Butler), is so sure he is doing the right thing by doing a deal, that he forgets justice. It takes ten long years of planning for Clyde to bring his plan to fruition. But after he has killed both men who murdered his family, and tells Nick he has only just begun, doubts begins to form in Nicks bosses mind, and his assistant attorneys,Sarah Lowell. She says to him in a key scene "I'd like to know it was for more than just the conviction rate. I like to feel some of it was for justice." The slow dawning on Nick that maybe, just maybe, there is something more important than his career and that is what Clyde is showing him with all the mayhem. Foxx shows with very subtle expressions that he does get it and by the end in the cell with Clyde, both men are resigned to what will come. Nick leaves, and lets the fire bomb go off and Clyde, resignation and weariness on his face, awaits the holocaust.
Terrific film with two fine performances. The scene of the first killing by Clyde is gruesome but Butler and Grey subtly show the madness that ten years of waiting for justice has brought this man. Each step of his plan to kill those responsible for the injustice done to him and his family shows his brilliance, but also his descent to the dark side. Butler is spot on in the courtroom scene where he tells off the judge who went along with Nicks plea bargain and let the killer off with a 5 year sentence. Clyde's 10 years of plotting and planning, and reading the law, makes for a riveting scene and dialog.
The scenes of gritty warehouse areas in the grey dawn, or at night, bring to mind the great black and white films of the past. F. Gary Gray and his cinematographer have captured the film noir quality of light and dark, wet pavements, the shadowy faces, the bleak factory/warehouse areas, and the cold, physical and emotional, of the great 'classics' like "Kiss Of Death" or "White Heat."
I score it a 9/10. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1197624/
Terrific film with two fine performances. The scene of the first killing by Clyde is gruesome but Butler and Grey subtly show the madness that ten years of waiting for justice has brought this man. Each step of his plan to kill those responsible for the injustice done to him and his family shows his brilliance, but also his descent to the dark side. Butler is spot on in the courtroom scene where he tells off the judge who went along with Nicks plea bargain and let the killer off with a 5 year sentence. Clyde's 10 years of plotting and planning, and reading the law, makes for a riveting scene and dialog.
The scenes of gritty warehouse areas in the grey dawn, or at night, bring to mind the great black and white films of the past. F. Gary Gray and his cinematographer have captured the film noir quality of light and dark, wet pavements, the shadowy faces, the bleak factory/warehouse areas, and the cold, physical and emotional, of the great 'classics' like "Kiss Of Death" or "White Heat."
I score it a 9/10. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1197624/
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