Book Ed Rosenbaum, scr Robert Caswell
William Hurt (great as always), Christine Lahti, Mandy Patinkin, Adam Arkin, Elizabeth Perkins
Ph. John Seale
Takes getting cancer for doctor to become better human being. Actually could apply to any profession.
Monday, 31 December 2012
Something's Gotta Give ( 2003 Nancy Myers & scr)
Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton (praised in this by Woody Allen), Amanda Peet, Frances Macdormand. Keanu Reeves
Ph Michael Ballhaus Second film today dedicated to recently deceased father (Myers'). Rather long. Restaurant in Paris featured is Le Grand Colbert
Ballhaus is restrained. Might have benefitted from a more golden look like Rotunno or di Palma?
Ph Michael Ballhaus Second film today dedicated to recently deceased father (Myers'). Rather long. Restaurant in Paris featured is Le Grand Colbert
Ballhaus is restrained. Might have benefitted from a more golden look like Rotunno or di Palma?
Play It Again Sam (1972 Herbert Ross)
Screenplay Woody Allen (from his play).
Woody Allen, Diane Keaton (with GF1, her big films), Tony Roberts, Jerry Lacy (Bogart), Susan Anspach and coincidentally Jennifer Salt.
Not as funny as it used to be. Roberts constantly giving phone number has great pay-off when he says he's moving to Alaska.
Ph. Owen Roizman.
 |
| Still: Kristian Goddard |
Not as funny as it used to be. Roberts constantly giving phone number has great pay-off when he says he's moving to Alaska.
Ph. Owen Roizman.
Eat Pray Love (2010 Ryan Murphy)
Written by Murphy and Jennifer Salt.
Julia Roberts, javier Bardem, Richard Jenkins, Billy Crudup, some foreign people.
Ph. Robert Richardson
Long, rather dull and flabby story of soul-searching.
But... "dolce niente" (the sweetness of doing nothing).
Julia Roberts, javier Bardem, Richard Jenkins, Billy Crudup, some foreign people.
Ph. Robert Richardson
Long, rather dull and flabby story of soul-searching.
But... "dolce niente" (the sweetness of doing nothing).
Boys' Night Out (1962 Michael Gordon)
MGM. Kim Novak, James Garner. Tony Randall, Howard Duff, Howard Morris, Jessie Royce Landis, Oskar Homolka.
Ph. Arthur E. Arling, 'Scope.
Music Frank de Vol
Men take apartment so they can be unfaithful with Kim.
Ph. Arthur E. Arling, 'Scope.
Music Frank de Vol
Men take apartment so they can be unfaithful with Kim.
Sunday, 30 December 2012
The Apartment (1960 Billy Wilder)
One of the 10 best films ever made. If you look up 'bittersweet' in the Film Dictionary, this is what you'll get.
Here are some other dates when I've watched this film.
27 December 1977.
30 December 1978.
29 December 1980. (The BBC were very reliable in those days.)
January 1992.
7 May 1992.
16 August 1993.
24 December 1994.
27 December 2003.
11 December 2004.
17 December 2006.
29 March 2009.
18 June 2010 (to get over the disappointment of the England Algeria game).
15 October 2011.
13 October 2012.
Some thoughts:
She says 'check your nose'. He checks it in the glass of Sheldrake's office, sees the secretary. It all drives the plot along.. Such as her face, when she sees Sheldrake at the Chinese. The direction serves the screenplay and so there's not a shot wasted.
"I'd like to get her on a slow elevator to China." It's written by Wilder and IAL Diamond and they won the Oscar for their perfect screenplay. Billy also won another two for directing and producing. Also Alexandre Trauner for the sets (Mark Cousins points out the giant office is a reference to The Crowd) and Daniel Mandell's editing. The British Academy were more generous to the stars, giving both Jack Lemmon and Shirley Maclaine the award for Best Foreign Actor. Joseph Lashelle's photography is beautifully luminous, like Charles Lang's.
Great cast. Jack Kruschen was nominated also (Dr Dreyfuss: "Mind if I cool this off?"). And you have to love Fred MacMurray for two reasons. One, risking his safe Disney career for Wilder (for the second time, cf. Double Indemnity when he went against type to be the bad guy). Two, the scene where Lemmon accidentally squirts cold medicine at him and he doesn't break the moment.
Kirkeby: David Lewis.
Vanderhoff: Willard Waterman.
Eichelberger: David White.
Dobisch ("What's buddy boy ever done for us?"): Ray Walston.
Baxter's pissed date is Hope Holiday, Joyce Jameson the blonde who sounds like Marilyn, Joan Shawlee is Kirkeby's date. Edie Adams is Miss Olsen.
Everyone has unfolding papers.
The importance of the key. The perfection of the cracked mirror (my favourite shot in a Wilder). He was not a technical, tricksy director, but even he was pleased with this. Because it is a major plot moment, but also reflects his conflict:
In the Sight and Sound poll's Top 10 of Richard Ayoade, Coppola, Hazanavicius and Asghar Farhadi (A Separation). Naturally. one of Cameron Crowe's Top 10.
We don't know Baxter's first name. I realise Baxter is Hil, and that makes us laugh a lot!
Interesting watching the the filming: great use of widescreen and deep focus means less need to cut.
Great music by Adolph Deutsch (Some like It Hot, The Maltese Falcon).
Here are some other dates when I've watched this film.
27 December 1977.
30 December 1978.
29 December 1980. (The BBC were very reliable in those days.)
January 1992.
7 May 1992.
16 August 1993.
24 December 1994.
27 December 2003.
11 December 2004.
17 December 2006.
29 March 2009.
18 June 2010 (to get over the disappointment of the England Algeria game).
15 October 2011.
13 October 2012.
Some thoughts:
She says 'check your nose'. He checks it in the glass of Sheldrake's office, sees the secretary. It all drives the plot along.. Such as her face, when she sees Sheldrake at the Chinese. The direction serves the screenplay and so there's not a shot wasted.
"I'd like to get her on a slow elevator to China." It's written by Wilder and IAL Diamond and they won the Oscar for their perfect screenplay. Billy also won another two for directing and producing. Also Alexandre Trauner for the sets (Mark Cousins points out the giant office is a reference to The Crowd) and Daniel Mandell's editing. The British Academy were more generous to the stars, giving both Jack Lemmon and Shirley Maclaine the award for Best Foreign Actor. Joseph Lashelle's photography is beautifully luminous, like Charles Lang's.
Great cast. Jack Kruschen was nominated also (Dr Dreyfuss: "Mind if I cool this off?"). And you have to love Fred MacMurray for two reasons. One, risking his safe Disney career for Wilder (for the second time, cf. Double Indemnity when he went against type to be the bad guy). Two, the scene where Lemmon accidentally squirts cold medicine at him and he doesn't break the moment.
Kirkeby: David Lewis.
Vanderhoff: Willard Waterman.
Eichelberger: David White.
Dobisch ("What's buddy boy ever done for us?"): Ray Walston.
Baxter's pissed date is Hope Holiday, Joyce Jameson the blonde who sounds like Marilyn, Joan Shawlee is Kirkeby's date. Edie Adams is Miss Olsen.
Everyone has unfolding papers.
The importance of the key. The perfection of the cracked mirror (my favourite shot in a Wilder). He was not a technical, tricksy director, but even he was pleased with this. Because it is a major plot moment, but also reflects his conflict:
In the Sight and Sound poll's Top 10 of Richard Ayoade, Coppola, Hazanavicius and Asghar Farhadi (A Separation). Naturally. one of Cameron Crowe's Top 10.
We don't know Baxter's first name. I realise Baxter is Hil, and that makes us laugh a lot!
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| For some reason, G. Nius Qued puts this together with A Clockwork Orange! |
Great music by Adolph Deutsch (Some like It Hot, The Maltese Falcon).
Saturday, 29 December 2012
Restless (2012 Edward Hall)
Screenplay William Boyd, from his novel (& exec prod.)
Hayley Atwell, Rufus Sewell, Michelle Dockery, Charlotte Rampling, Michael Gambon ("Never bring peanuts with whisky. Never."), Thekla Reuten, Adrian Scarborough
Ph. David Higgs. Music Lorne Balfe.
The team is being "rolled up".
Hayley good as self-sufficient heroine who can't shake off paranoia.
Hayley Atwell, Rufus Sewell, Michelle Dockery, Charlotte Rampling, Michael Gambon ("Never bring peanuts with whisky. Never."), Thekla Reuten, Adrian Scarborough
Ph. David Higgs. Music Lorne Balfe.
The team is being "rolled up".
Hayley good as self-sufficient heroine who can't shake off paranoia.
The Groove Tube (1974 Ken Shapiro)
Written by Sapiro and Lane Sarasohn.
Ken Shapiro, Richard Belzer, Chevy Chase.
Uneven, yes. A relic of the stoned seventies, yes. Crude and rude, yes.
And yet there is something unforgettable about the film's best bits. Every time I'm listening to a discussion on Radio 4 and I hear the click of a teacup I think of the TV interview that is overtaken by coffee and cake.
Did Seth Macfarlen see this? I have a funny feeling he did.
Other highlights:
Krupps vegetable shortening (those wonderfully expressive hands):
Various ads for Uranus Corporation.
Sex Olympics ("a beautiful curl".)
"Wonderful you" in the pink suit (and where the cop joins in a la Singin' in the Rain).
Keystone Cops / Vietnam.
Ken Shapiro, Richard Belzer, Chevy Chase.
Uneven, yes. A relic of the stoned seventies, yes. Crude and rude, yes.
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| Richmond Baier: poetry in motion (her only film, sadly) |
Did Seth Macfarlen see this? I have a funny feeling he did.
Other highlights:
Krupps vegetable shortening (those wonderfully expressive hands):
Various ads for Uranus Corporation.
Sex Olympics ("a beautiful curl".)
"Wonderful you" in the pink suit (and where the cop joins in a la Singin' in the Rain).
Keystone Cops / Vietnam.
Friday, 28 December 2012
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011 Guy Ritchie)
Scr. Michele and brother-in-law Kieran Mulroney.
Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris, Naomi Rapace, Stephen Fry, Paul Anderson (rather good as the assassin), Kelly Reilly, Rachel McAdams.
Good music by Hans Zimmer, lovely ph. Philippe Rousselot (Panavision).
Usual complaint about too fast and tricksy editing, slow mo scenes are beautiful, good script. Though why didn't Holmes and Watson blow up the munitions factory?
Very funny ending.
Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Jared Harris, Naomi Rapace, Stephen Fry, Paul Anderson (rather good as the assassin), Kelly Reilly, Rachel McAdams.
Good music by Hans Zimmer, lovely ph. Philippe Rousselot (Panavision).
Usual complaint about too fast and tricksy editing, slow mo scenes are beautiful, good script. Though why didn't Holmes and Watson blow up the munitions factory?
Very funny ending.
The Tuttles of Tahiti (1942 Charles Vidor)
Charles Laughton, Jon Hall, Peggy Drake, Victor Francen (doctor), Florence Bates, Curt Bois (dealer; Casablanca's pickpocket), Adeline de Walt Reynolds (granny)
Music Roy Webb, Ph. Nick Musuraca (RKO).
Well shot storm.
Laughton very likable.
Music Roy Webb, Ph. Nick Musuraca (RKO).
Well shot storm.
Laughton very likable.
Love Actually (2003 Richard Curtis & scr)
Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon, Bill Nighy, Gregor Fisher, Liam Neeson (a powerful irony), Colin Firth, Sienna Guillory, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kris Marshall, Martin Freeman, Andrew LIncoln, Kiera Knightley, Chiwetal Ejiofor, Joanna Page, Heike Makatsch, Laura Linney
Ph. Michael Coulter.
Impossible to argue with.
The Prime Minister we wish we had.
Ph. Michael Coulter.
Impossible to argue with.
The Prime Minister we wish we had.
Thursday, 27 December 2012
The Girl (2012 Julian Jarrold)
Scr. Gwyneth Hughes from a muck-raking book by Donald Spoto.
Toby Jones does a great job as Hitch, Sienna Miller is Tippi, Imelda Staunton as Alma...
... though it doesn't chime with what I and Kim Novak believe he was like.
The days of bird endurance are well shot.
Also Penelope Wilton, Carl Benkes as Jim Brown, on whose interview this was based, though his widow denies he would have been anti-Hitch.
Good, but not a great dramatic piece.
Ph. John Pardue.
Toby Jones does a great job as Hitch, Sienna Miller is Tippi, Imelda Staunton as Alma...
... though it doesn't chime with what I and Kim Novak believe he was like.
The days of bird endurance are well shot.
Also Penelope Wilton, Carl Benkes as Jim Brown, on whose interview this was based, though his widow denies he would have been anti-Hitch.
Good, but not a great dramatic piece.
Ph. John Pardue.
The Birds (1963 Alfred Hitchcock)
So then we watched THE BIRDS, which always did have too many special effects and process shots that Blu-Ray now emphasizes.
It takes a long time building (50 minutes before an attack) and feels very much like the later zombie film cycle. With the danger not emanating from people for a change, it's Hitch's most atypical piece. It doesn't have quite the same sense of style as his best films, e.g. in the petrol station explosion the cuts between Tippi's turning face look absurd.
Some great pure horror scenes and a somewhat anticlimactic ending.
Rod Taylor on good form as always. Jessica Tandy keeps looking like Lili Palmer as over-protective mother who finally accepts motherless Tippi. Also Suzanne Pleshette, Veronica Cartwright (kid), Ethel Griffies (ornithologist).
Still, note wonderful silent film sequence as Tippi rows out to Rod's place. Usual multiple camera positionings / angles in diner sequence. Classic sequence at school playing ground.
It takes a long time building (50 minutes before an attack) and feels very much like the later zombie film cycle. With the danger not emanating from people for a change, it's Hitch's most atypical piece. It doesn't have quite the same sense of style as his best films, e.g. in the petrol station explosion the cuts between Tippi's turning face look absurd.
Some great pure horror scenes and a somewhat anticlimactic ending.
Rod Taylor on good form as always. Jessica Tandy keeps looking like Lili Palmer as over-protective mother who finally accepts motherless Tippi. Also Suzanne Pleshette, Veronica Cartwright (kid), Ethel Griffies (ornithologist).
Still, note wonderful silent film sequence as Tippi rows out to Rod's place. Usual multiple camera positionings / angles in diner sequence. Classic sequence at school playing ground.
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| Poster: Saul Bass |
Wednesday, 26 December 2012
Double Indemnity (1944 Billy Wilder)
Written by Wilder and Raymond Chandler from the novel by James M. Cain, plot is perhaps best summarised by its own quotation: " I killed him for money - and a woman - and I didn't get the money and I didn't get the woman. Pretty, isn't it?"
Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray, Edward G. Robinson.
Film was nominated for Oscars for Best Picture, Director and Screenplay. Also for best Actress, Music, Cinematography* and Sound. Legendary cameraman John Seitz**, who started in silents on Rex Ingram films, shot some of the best Sturges and early Wilders (all his films for the latter were Oscar nominated). This is one of Miklós Rózsa's finest scores and he too worked again with Wilder, perhaps trumping all earlier work with his Private Life of Sherlock Holmes in 1970.
The dialogue is absolutely crackling, e.g. the "There's a speed limit in this state" exchange.
"You're not smarter, just a little taller."
"The time for thinking had run out."
And the memorably eerie line: "I couldn't hear my own footsteps. It was the walk of a dead man."
All three leads are particularly credible in their respective roles.
* The fact that this film lost to Laura, which was only partially
shot by the credited camerman Joseph Lashelle, is rather unfair (in fact
Lucien Ballard had completed 75% of it before he and Rouben Mamoulian
were removed, see Leonard Maltin 'The Art of the Cinematographer' 1978 ed. p. 110).
** John SEITZ (from 1916).
Notable credits:
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (21)
Prisoner of Zenda (22)
The Divine Lady (29)(nom)
Another Thin Man (39)
Sullivan's Travels (41)
Five Graves to Cairo (43)(nom)
Miracle of Morgan's Creek (44)
Double Indemnity
Hail the Conquoring Hero (44)
Lost Weekend (45)(nom)
Sunset Boulevard (50)(nom)
When Worlds Collide (co-ph)(52)(nom)
Rogue Cop (54)(nom)
Miklós Rózsa (born Budapest)
Met Korda in London, 1935.
Knight Without Armour (37)
Thief of Bagdad (40)(nom)
Lydia (41)(nom)
Sundown (41)(nom)
Jungle Book (42) (nom)
The Woman of the Town (43)(nom)
Double Indemnity (nom)
Blood on the Sun (45)
The Song to Remember (45) (nom)
Lost Weekend (45) (nom)
Spellbound (45) (won)
The Killers (46) (nom)
Brute Force (47)
A Double Life (47) (won)
Criss Cross (49)
Asphalt Jungle (50)
Quo Vadis (51) (nom)
Ivanhoe (52) (nom)
Julius Caesar (53) (nom)
Ben Hur (59) (won)
El Cid (61) (nom)
Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (70)
Fedora (78)
Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray, Edward G. Robinson.
Film was nominated for Oscars for Best Picture, Director and Screenplay. Also for best Actress, Music, Cinematography* and Sound. Legendary cameraman John Seitz**, who started in silents on Rex Ingram films, shot some of the best Sturges and early Wilders (all his films for the latter were Oscar nominated). This is one of Miklós Rózsa's finest scores and he too worked again with Wilder, perhaps trumping all earlier work with his Private Life of Sherlock Holmes in 1970.
The dialogue is absolutely crackling, e.g. the "There's a speed limit in this state" exchange.
"You're not smarter, just a little taller."
"The time for thinking had run out."
And the memorably eerie line: "I couldn't hear my own footsteps. It was the walk of a dead man."
All three leads are particularly credible in their respective roles.
 |
| Fred MacMurray admiring Barbara Stanwyck's ... ankle bracelet. |
** John SEITZ (from 1916).
Notable credits:
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (21)
Prisoner of Zenda (22)
The Divine Lady (29)(nom)
Another Thin Man (39)
Sullivan's Travels (41)
Five Graves to Cairo (43)(nom)
Miracle of Morgan's Creek (44)
Double Indemnity
Hail the Conquoring Hero (44)
Lost Weekend (45)(nom)
Sunset Boulevard (50)(nom)
When Worlds Collide (co-ph)(52)(nom)
Rogue Cop (54)(nom)
Miklós Rózsa (born Budapest)
Met Korda in London, 1935.
Knight Without Armour (37)
Thief of Bagdad (40)(nom)
Lydia (41)(nom)
Sundown (41)(nom)
Jungle Book (42) (nom)
The Woman of the Town (43)(nom)
Double Indemnity (nom)
Blood on the Sun (45)
The Song to Remember (45) (nom)
Lost Weekend (45) (nom)
Spellbound (45) (won)
The Killers (46) (nom)
Brute Force (47)
A Double Life (47) (won)
Criss Cross (49)
Asphalt Jungle (50)
Quo Vadis (51) (nom)
Ivanhoe (52) (nom)
Julius Caesar (53) (nom)
Ben Hur (59) (won)
El Cid (61) (nom)
Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (70)
Fedora (78)
Tuesday, 25 December 2012
Rear Window (1954 Alfred Hitchcock)
On Blu-Ray, exposing both the colour of Wendell Corey's eyes, and showing off that amazing track from dog to Stewart to its best advantage. Use of set and sound phenomenal.
Monday, 24 December 2012
Four Christmases (2008 Seth Gordon)
I hated this obnoxious film. Hoped would improve when Vince Vaughan and Reese Witherspoon leave Robert Duvall's house, but it actually gets worse. People in it are so horrible it just isn't funny (unless babies puking on people is funny).
Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989 Woody Allen)
Thankfully we had CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS, as serious as a Bergman (and indeed he uses Bergman's cinematographer Sven Nykvist), though manages to be funny as well (note Alda's memos to himself).
Interesting bits. Theme of eyes, film of professor of philosophy (Martin Bergman, a real professor), climactic meeting of Allen and Landau all come together beautifully, with irony of Farrow / Allen story.
Also with Claire Bloom, Anjelica Huston, Sam Waterston, Jerry Orbach (killer).
This is the one Woody famously wrote on holiday on scraps of hotel stationary, and quite a list it is:
Interesting bits. Theme of eyes, film of professor of philosophy (Martin Bergman, a real professor), climactic meeting of Allen and Landau all come together beautifully, with irony of Farrow / Allen story.
Also with Claire Bloom, Anjelica Huston, Sam Waterston, Jerry Orbach (killer).
This is the one Woody famously wrote on holiday on scraps of hotel stationary, and quite a list it is:
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| Photo from Eric Lax, Conversations with Woody Allen |
Sunday, 23 December 2012
It's A Wonderful Life (1946 Frank Capra)
James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi (mother), Gloria Grahame
Written by Frances Goodrich & Albert Hackett.
Photographed by Joseph Walker (a Capra collaborater from the old days) and Joseph Biroc (a newcomer).
Music Dimitri Tiomkin.
Liberty Films.
Another one we never watch at Christmas:
23 December 2009.
20 December 2010:
There's a great moment when Stewart's greeted at the door of his new 'house' by hat tip trick: he lowers the brim and rain falls off.
A long, serious film that may have emanated from A Christmas Carol.
The telephone scene between Stewart and Reed is one of several highly effective long takes (and Capra's positioning of them so close together charges it erotically).
21 December 2011
"Boys and girls and music.. who needs gin?" asks Lillian Randolph as she steps artfully into close up (Stewart does this too). It's a good trick.
23 December 2012
Lose control of tear ducts the moment it begins.
Written by Frances Goodrich & Albert Hackett.
Photographed by Joseph Walker (a Capra collaborater from the old days) and Joseph Biroc (a newcomer).
Music Dimitri Tiomkin.
Liberty Films.
Another one we never watch at Christmas:
23 December 2009.
20 December 2010:
There's a great moment when Stewart's greeted at the door of his new 'house' by hat tip trick: he lowers the brim and rain falls off.
A long, serious film that may have emanated from A Christmas Carol.
The telephone scene between Stewart and Reed is one of several highly effective long takes (and Capra's positioning of them so close together charges it erotically).
21 December 2011
"Boys and girls and music.. who needs gin?" asks Lillian Randolph as she steps artfully into close up (Stewart does this too). It's a good trick.
23 December 2012
Lose control of tear ducts the moment it begins.
The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942 William Keighley)
Not much of a Christmas favourite:
23 December 2010
22 December 2011
23 December 2012
3 January 2010
Adapted by Julius J. and Philip G. Epstein from the play by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman.
Monte Woolley (his best part), Bette Davis (her most sympathetic role), Ann Sheridan ("the oomph girl, here?"), Richard Travis, Jimmy Durante ("did you ever get the feeling that you wanted to stay?"), Billy Burke and Grant Mitchell (the beleagured parents), Mary Wickes (Nurse Preen: "Mister White Side!"), George Barbier (the doctor, who actually starts looking like a penguin), Reginald Gardiner.
The plot timing is wonderful. The arrival of Ann Sheridan and her CDNs (censor defying nipples). Then the timely appearance of Jimmy Durante.
Tony Gaudio's photography is a particularly beautiful grey and white, inside and out.
Fantastic lines. "Mr Stanley's been arrested for peddling dope. Go away!"
"He announces the time every few minutes."
Richard Travis on being kissed by Bette "Say, I'll write another right away!"
23 December 2010
22 December 2011
23 December 2012
3 January 2010
Adapted by Julius J. and Philip G. Epstein from the play by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman.
Monte Woolley (his best part), Bette Davis (her most sympathetic role), Ann Sheridan ("the oomph girl, here?"), Richard Travis, Jimmy Durante ("did you ever get the feeling that you wanted to stay?"), Billy Burke and Grant Mitchell (the beleagured parents), Mary Wickes (Nurse Preen: "Mister White Side!"), George Barbier (the doctor, who actually starts looking like a penguin), Reginald Gardiner.
The plot timing is wonderful. The arrival of Ann Sheridan and her CDNs (censor defying nipples). Then the timely appearance of Jimmy Durante.
Tony Gaudio's photography is a particularly beautiful grey and white, inside and out.
Fantastic lines. "Mr Stanley's been arrested for peddling dope. Go away!"
"He announces the time every few minutes."
Richard Travis on being kissed by Bette "Say, I'll write another right away!"
Saturday, 22 December 2012
The Passionate Stranger (1957 Muriel Box)
Box co-wrote with Sydney.
Ralph Richardson, Margaret Leighton, Carlo Giustini, Patricia Dainton.
This print (can't remember where it even came from now) was found on the bottom of someone's shoe. It's so bad, it's difficult to differentiate between day and night, so impossible to judge Otto Heller's photography. According to Wikipedia, the fantasy scenes were in colour - not in this print.
Idea is fun and bad. (About writer who turns her Italian servant into a torrid love story).
Film should be called "The Stupid Italian".
Love the way RR says a wheel chair.
Ralph Richardson, Margaret Leighton, Carlo Giustini, Patricia Dainton.
This print (can't remember where it even came from now) was found on the bottom of someone's shoe. It's so bad, it's difficult to differentiate between day and night, so impossible to judge Otto Heller's photography. According to Wikipedia, the fantasy scenes were in colour - not in this print.
Idea is fun and bad. (About writer who turns her Italian servant into a torrid love story).
Film should be called "The Stupid Italian".
Love the way RR says a wheel chair.
Grace is Gone (2007 James C Strouse & scr)
Man tries to tell two daughters mummy is dead. Another film that has the wrong title: should be called "Just tell them!!"
Not the most helpful review on earth.
John Cusack, Shelan O'Keefe, Garcie Bednarczyk.
Ph. Jean-Louis Bompoint
Music by someone called Clint Eastwood.
Not the most helpful review on earth.
John Cusack, Shelan O'Keefe, Garcie Bednarczyk.
Ph. Jean-Louis Bompoint
Music by someone called Clint Eastwood.
Friday, 21 December 2012
China Seas (1935 Tay Garnett)
Scr. Jules Furthman (lots of Hawks, von Sternberg, since 20s), James Kevin McGuinness
Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Wallace Beery, Rosalind Russell, Lewis Stone, Dudley Digges, C. Aubrey Smith, Robert Benchley, Edward Brophy (The Thin Man), Akim Tamiroff, Hattie McDaniel.
Ph. Ray June
Good model work in exciting storm scene.
Great fun. Nasty boot torture. Great cast. MGM.
Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, Wallace Beery, Rosalind Russell, Lewis Stone, Dudley Digges, C. Aubrey Smith, Robert Benchley, Edward Brophy (The Thin Man), Akim Tamiroff, Hattie McDaniel.
Ph. Ray June
Good model work in exciting storm scene.
Great fun. Nasty boot torture. Great cast. MGM.
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| Stills courtesy doctormacro.com |
Thursday, 20 December 2012
The Shanghai Gesture (1941 von Sternberg)
Gene Tierney, Walter Huston, Victor Mature, Ona Munson (Mother Gin Sling, the madame 'Belle' from GWTW), Phyllis Brooks (who's good), Albert Basserman, Mike Mazurki, Maria Ouspenskaya (silent), Eric Blore, Michael Dalmatoff.
Ph. Paul Ivano (B movies)
Music Richard Hageman
Terrible picture and sound (UK DVD, Cornerstone Media) masks ornate detail, Munson's hair sculptures amazing. Has some wry dialogue and a Casablancery air, with JVS exoticism (girls in baskets, dragons) but not much in the way of sympathetic characters. Quite weird, of course
Ph. Paul Ivano (B movies)
Music Richard Hageman
Terrible picture and sound (UK DVD, Cornerstone Media) masks ornate detail, Munson's hair sculptures amazing. Has some wry dialogue and a Casablancery air, with JVS exoticism (girls in baskets, dragons) but not much in the way of sympathetic characters. Quite weird, of course
Susan Slept Here (1954 Frank Tashlin)
Dick Powell, Debbie Reynolds (aged 22, two years after Singin in the Rain), Anne Francis (girlfriend), Glenda Farrell, Alvy Moore
Ph. Nicholas Musuraca
You don't often see a colour RKO title nor a film narrated by an Oscar.
Dance number made me think that The Red Shoes/The tales of Hoffmann were very influential on musicals.
Film is nonsense fun, like strawberries and pickles.
Ph. Nicholas Musuraca
You don't often see a colour RKO title nor a film narrated by an Oscar.
Dance number made me think that The Red Shoes/The tales of Hoffmann were very influential on musicals.
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
Turn the Key Softly (1953 Jack Lee)
Novel John Brophy, Scr. Lee & Maurice Cowman.
Yvonne Mitchell again (cf. Woman in a Dressing Gown) in a completely different part, Kathleen Harrison (granny), Joan Collins, Terence Morgan.
Ph. Geoffrey Unsworth, particularly good in night scenes.
Three women simultaneously released from Holloway prison, atmospherically told. Nice touches e.g. baby dropping cushion, daughter dropping flowers. When Morgan forces her into crime we were FURIOUS! Gripping rooftop finale.
Yvonne Mitchell again (cf. Woman in a Dressing Gown) in a completely different part, Kathleen Harrison (granny), Joan Collins, Terence Morgan.
Ph. Geoffrey Unsworth, particularly good in night scenes.
Three women simultaneously released from Holloway prison, atmospherically told. Nice touches e.g. baby dropping cushion, daughter dropping flowers. When Morgan forces her into crime we were FURIOUS! Gripping rooftop finale.
Rings On Her Fingers (1942 Rouben Mamoulian)
Source novel (info not known) was originally adapted by Emeric Pressburger as a vehicle for Elizabeth Bergner, who ended up appearing in 49th Parallel instead. The credited screenplay is by Robert Pirosh, Joseph Schrank & Ken Englund - whether there's any Pressburger left is unknown, but either way it is a very entertaining piece of work, e.g. Fonda on the phone describing a yacht whilst Tierney is lying in front of him sunbathing, and the two descriptions seem to go together!
It's a sort of reworking of the previous year's The Lady Eve, in which dope Henry Fonda is suckered by professional con artists (the great) Laird Cregar and Spring Byington, who have roped in gorgeous shopgirl Gene Tierney. John Shepperd, Frank Orth (detective) and Henry Stephenson (Colonel-ish casino owner) also feature.
Examples of film's wit:
Byington describing their somewhat illegal activities as a "supertax".
Fonda to Tierney: "If you didn't have a face like that our quarrels would last a lot longer".
When Honda 'holds up' the accomplices and Laird says "How corny was that?"
Incredible dancing scene.
Film is quite risqué, and highly recommended.
Photography: George Barnes.
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Examples of film's wit:
Byington describing their somewhat illegal activities as a "supertax".
Fonda to Tierney: "If you didn't have a face like that our quarrels would last a lot longer".
When Honda 'holds up' the accomplices and Laird says "How corny was that?"
Incredible dancing scene.
Film is quite risqué, and highly recommended.
Photography: George Barnes.
Tuesday, 18 December 2012
Alice Adams (1935 George Stevens)
In Katharine Hepburn's capable hands we initially feel so sorry for Alice Adams where she gamely attempts not to feel lonely at a snobbish dance, though she becomes annoying trying to cover up the family poverty. Able support from Fred Stone, Anne Shoemaker and Frank Albertson (Sam Wainwright in It's A Wonderful Life), along with Fred MacMurray and, too briefly, Hattie 'McDaniels' as a particularly slow maid.
Ph. Robert de Grasse, Music Roy Webb, so it must be RKO.
Katharine is the only actor to have won four Oscars: Morning Glory (33), Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (67), The Lion in Winter (68) and On Golden Pond (81). Lion in Winter looks great: former editor Anthony Harvey directing, John Barry, Douglas Slocombe on camera, Anthony Hopkins, Peter O'Toole, widescreen. Danish Blu-Ray £25.
Ph. Robert de Grasse, Music Roy Webb, so it must be RKO.
Katharine is the only actor to have won four Oscars: Morning Glory (33), Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (67), The Lion in Winter (68) and On Golden Pond (81). Lion in Winter looks great: former editor Anthony Harvey directing, John Barry, Douglas Slocombe on camera, Anthony Hopkins, Peter O'Toole, widescreen. Danish Blu-Ray £25.
Saturday, 15 December 2012
Woman in a Dressing Gown (1957 J. Lee Thompson)
Scr Ted Willis, who created Dixon of Dock Green and much else on TV.
Yvonne Mitchell, Anthony Quayle, Sylvia Sims.
Kitchen sink drama with lovely photography by Gilbert Taylor, contrasty and wide-angled.
The film is quite modern, but almost a three-hander play.
The wife is a nightmare.
Yvonne Mitchell, Anthony Quayle, Sylvia Sims.
Kitchen sink drama with lovely photography by Gilbert Taylor, contrasty and wide-angled.
The film is quite modern, but almost a three-hander play.
The wife is a nightmare.
Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1972 Gene Saks)
We had never before encountered this Neil Simon comedy (clearly based on a play like most of his stuff), in which Alan Arkin attempts to seduce Sally Kellerman, Paula Prentiss and Renee Taylor in his mother's apartment. Cue amusement with Arkin's drinking voice, pot smoking etc. Much better than rated.
Music Neal Hefti, ph. Victor J. Kemper.
Music Neal Hefti, ph. Victor J. Kemper.
Friday, 14 December 2012
American Graffiti (1973 George Lucas)
I daresay I'll upset lots of people by saying this is Lucas' only good film (he also co-wrote it).
Richard Dreyfuss, Ronny Howard, Charles Martin Smith (all pictured below), Paul Le Mat, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Bo Hopkins and Harrison Ford are 1950s adolescents on the cusp of change, metaphorically through night into day. With Wolfman Jack.
Haskell Wexler is 'visual consultant' and Walter Murch is involved in the sound editing (there's a wonderful stereo shriek that travels from the left to right spectrum). Verna Fields is editing. So lots of good creative people on the team.
Has a bitter final title scene after an ironic ending.
Richard Dreyfuss, Ronny Howard, Charles Martin Smith (all pictured below), Paul Le Mat, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Bo Hopkins and Harrison Ford are 1950s adolescents on the cusp of change, metaphorically through night into day. With Wolfman Jack.
Haskell Wexler is 'visual consultant' and Walter Murch is involved in the sound editing (there's a wonderful stereo shriek that travels from the left to right spectrum). Verna Fields is editing. So lots of good creative people on the team.
Has a bitter final title scene after an ironic ending.
Sunday, 9 December 2012
Great Expectations (1946 David Lean)
Adapted by Lean, Ronald Neame (who produced), Anthony Havelock-Allen, Cecil McGivern and Kay Walsh (Mrs Lean 1940 - 49).
With John Mills, Bernard Miles (a perfect Joe Gargery), Finlay Currie, Jean Simmons - who slightly disappointingly becomes Valerie Hobson, Francis L. Sullivan, Alec Guinness (his debut), Tony Wager (young Pip), Eileen Erskine (Biddy; and Vi in This Happy Breed) and Martita Hunt as Mrs - I mean of course Miss - Havisham.
A far more cinematic event that you might expect with very clever use of sound; and I had greatly underestimated the music of Walter Goehr (whose few credits include Hitchcock's Spellbound)*.
Wonderfully lit by Guy Green, including remarkable, memorable shots of the coast and St Mary's Marshes, Rochester, after Krasker was fired for not being up to the task. Lean also suggested the kids should be shot in wide 35 and 24mm lenses, then longer (50 and 75mm) when they were adults, giving the effect of making the sets look much bigger. Lean was also complimentary about John Bryan's forced perspective set designs. (This info from Chapter 18 of Kevin Brownlow's house-sized book on Lean.)
With many clever touches, such as the experimental scene before Pip collapses, and much humour (young Pip's fight with Herbert Pocket!)
As well edited as you'd expect though as credited editor Jack Harris complained to Kay Walsh he wasn't contributing anything we can deduce that Lean was all over it (Brownlow again).
With John Mills, Bernard Miles (a perfect Joe Gargery), Finlay Currie, Jean Simmons - who slightly disappointingly becomes Valerie Hobson, Francis L. Sullivan, Alec Guinness (his debut), Tony Wager (young Pip), Eileen Erskine (Biddy; and Vi in This Happy Breed) and Martita Hunt as Mrs - I mean of course Miss - Havisham.
A far more cinematic event that you might expect with very clever use of sound; and I had greatly underestimated the music of Walter Goehr (whose few credits include Hitchcock's Spellbound)*.
Wonderfully lit by Guy Green, including remarkable, memorable shots of the coast and St Mary's Marshes, Rochester, after Krasker was fired for not being up to the task. Lean also suggested the kids should be shot in wide 35 and 24mm lenses, then longer (50 and 75mm) when they were adults, giving the effect of making the sets look much bigger. Lean was also complimentary about John Bryan's forced perspective set designs. (This info from Chapter 18 of Kevin Brownlow's house-sized book on Lean.)
With many clever touches, such as the experimental scene before Pip collapses, and much humour (young Pip's fight with Herbert Pocket!)
As well edited as you'd expect though as credited editor Jack Harris complained to Kay Walsh he wasn't contributing anything we can deduce that Lean was all over it (Brownlow again).
* No they don't, that would be a different Spellbound altogether, a 1941 British film about spiritualism.
Sweet Liberty (1986 Alan Alda & scr)
Alan Alda, Michael Caine, Michelle Pfeiffer, Bob Hoskins, Lillian Gish (a sprightly 93), Saul Rubinek (good as director)
Very similar (though not as good) as later State and Maine. Bob has non-role as writer, The 80s music now sounds appallingly dated.
Very similar (though not as good) as later State and Maine. Bob has non-role as writer, The 80s music now sounds appallingly dated.
The Ipcress File (1965 Sidney J Furie)
Michael Caine, Nigel Green, Guy Doleman, Gordon Jackson.
Incredible photography by Otto Heller in his distinctive hue of colours and featuring some of the widest shots ever seen.
Music John Barry (sensational). Editor Peter Hunt.
Won BAFTAs for best film, photography and art direction (Ken Adam).
The film was apparently taken away from Furie at the editing stage by producer Harry Saltzman.
Caine's glasses are Teviot 74s.
Incredible photography by Otto Heller in his distinctive hue of colours and featuring some of the widest shots ever seen.
Music John Barry (sensational). Editor Peter Hunt.
Won BAFTAs for best film, photography and art direction (Ken Adam).
The film was apparently taken away from Furie at the editing stage by producer Harry Saltzman.
Caine's glasses are Teviot 74s.
Saturday, 8 December 2012
The Perfect Furlough (1958 Blake Edwards)
aka Strictly for Pleasure.
Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh (they divorced in '62), Linda Cristal, Keenan Wynn.
Ph. Philip Lathrop, CinemaScope, Eastmancolor.
Music Frank Skinner.
I'll wager none of the cast were ever in back-projected Paris. Comedy is forced as MPs endeavour to keep Curtis and Cristal apart.
Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh (they divorced in '62), Linda Cristal, Keenan Wynn.
Ph. Philip Lathrop, CinemaScope, Eastmancolor.
Music Frank Skinner.
I'll wager none of the cast were ever in back-projected Paris. Comedy is forced as MPs endeavour to keep Curtis and Cristal apart.
Sunday, 2 December 2012
J. Edgar Daffodil (2011 Clint Eastwood, & music)
Leonardo di Caprio, Naomi Watts, Armie Hammer, Judi Dench
Sensational ph. by Tom Stern, almost b&w.
Editors Joel Cox & Cary Roach. Written by Dustin Lance Black (Milk).
Not sure at first, but grew more interesting. Time jumps are engaging but don't really add much. Mr Eastwood's own score a bit too plinky. Leo great as usual. We don't really care about J. Edgar or anyone else and film is too long like 'serious' Hollywood films always are.
Sensational ph. by Tom Stern, almost b&w.
Editors Joel Cox & Cary Roach. Written by Dustin Lance Black (Milk).
Not sure at first, but grew more interesting. Time jumps are engaging but don't really add much. Mr Eastwood's own score a bit too plinky. Leo great as usual. We don't really care about J. Edgar or anyone else and film is too long like 'serious' Hollywood films always are.
Man's Favourite Sport (1964 Howard Hawks & prod)
Rock Hudson, Paula Prentiss, Marin Perschy, John McGiver, Chalene Holt, Roscoe Karns, Norman Alden (John Screaming Eagle).
Music Mancini. Ph. Russell Harlan.
Hawks proving you could make an old-fashioned 40s style comedy in the 60s by essentially reworking Bringing Up Baby. Most enjoyable fishing scenes, bear on bike, Prentiss wonderful as Kate Hepburn character.
Music Mancini. Ph. Russell Harlan.
Hawks proving you could make an old-fashioned 40s style comedy in the 60s by essentially reworking Bringing Up Baby. Most enjoyable fishing scenes, bear on bike, Prentiss wonderful as Kate Hepburn character.
Ted (2012 Seth MacFarlane & co-scr)
Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis. Seth MacFarlane, Joel McHale, Giovanni Ribisi, Sam Jones
Not as fast or as funny as a good episode of Family Guy but v. enjoyable. Resurrection of FLash Gordon inspired.
Music by Walter Murphy sounds like a 60s TV show. Rich images by Michael Barrett (Bobby).
We watched the unrated version, naturally.
Not as fast or as funny as a good episode of Family Guy but v. enjoyable. Resurrection of FLash Gordon inspired.
Music by Walter Murphy sounds like a 60s TV show. Rich images by Michael Barrett (Bobby).
We watched the unrated version, naturally.
Saturday, 1 December 2012
Viaggio in Italia (1954 Roberto Rosselini, & co-scr)
A bit like an early Antonioni, with an alienated couple trying to connect to life through people (Sanders) and history (Bergman) with the backdrop of Napoli and around. Memorable scenes with statues and sulphur pits.
Restless (2011 Gus Van Sant)
In Gus Van Sant's Restless (the only screenplay of Jason Lew) Mia Wasikowska is befriended by Henry Hopper and his kamikaze ghost Ryo Kase (thereby invoking a Japanese sub-text). Harris Savides shoots fabulously like every scene takes place on a late Autumn afternoon. Whether Van Sant's alternative silent version works is for another day.
The fact that Savides died on October 9, aged 55, of brain cancer, is a tragically ironic footnote. The beautiful, mournful style of this works better than any eulogy.
The fact that Savides died on October 9, aged 55, of brain cancer, is a tragically ironic footnote. The beautiful, mournful style of this works better than any eulogy.