John Garfield
Now that the 31 days of oscar is over mini birthday celebrations are starting again on TCM. The first one of the month is John Garfield. They showed the quintessential The Postman Always Rings Twice, which is a great film. I really like the look that John gives Lana Turner when he first sees her. Steamy.
I was able to watch They Made Me a Criminal staring John Garfield and the “Dead End” Kids”. It co-starred Claude Rains and Ann Sheridan. John plays a winning boxer with a seemingly pure life. After winning a match he says hello to his mother on the radio and that he will be home soon. He tells the reporters that he stays away from women and booze. That night while he is drinking with Ann Sheridan and friends he states that it is all the made up. One of the people there is a reporter who can't resist the story. John and the reporter fight and John gets knocked out (possibly passed out). Another man hits the reporter in the head and the man dies. The man and Ann take John to another house and leave him to recuperate. They take his money and watch. They end up dying in a car accident. The man has John's watch and they think it is him. John wakes up the next day and sees the story in the paper. The paper actually turns on screen as he turns the paper to read the rest of the story (I don't remember seeing that done before). He goes to his agent to get his winnings, but the agent only gives him part, keeping the rest as basically a bribe. John goes across country running from the law. There is a montage of a map and John walking across county. He ends up at a date farm in the southwest. He passes out and stays at the farm. The “dead end” kids are at the farm as part of church program. John teaches the boys how to really box and the boys look up to him. To get money John enters a boxing match. Claude Rains is the only police man who doesn't think that John is dead. He tries to find him. Claude had an unfortunate incident and has little credibility. With the promotion for the boxing match Claude finds him. After the match the Claude takes John to the train station to take him back to face charges. Claude decides to let John go. I wasn't expecting that. John did not kill the man and the killer did die, but the police think that John killed the man. I really don't understand why Claude let John go.
I also watched Pride of the Marines. John plays a man who is blinded in WWII. There is great dialog that really would apply today, probably any war. Men trying to re-figure their lives after being injured in war. Some well enough to go back into battle. Some wounded like John to figure out what to do with the rest of their life or even how to live with their disability.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
March 5
Happy Birthday to Rex Harrison and Dean Stockwell.
On Saturday TCM did show Storm in a Tea Cup with Rex Harrison. I fell asleep at the beginning, but woke up when all the dogs in the house of the film started barking. I can't imagine what it was like on the set that day or days all those dogs were there. It seemed like every dog in England as in that film. To celebrate Rex Harrison's birth date I watched Unfaithfully Yours. The film also started Linda Darnell as Rex's wife, Rudy Vallee as Rex's brother-in-law and Barbara Lawrence as Linda's sister. The film was written, directed and produced by Preston Sturges. Rex is an orchestra conducter who went out of the country on a tour. While he was gone he asked Rudy to keep an eye on Linda. Rex meant to take her out if she was lonely, but Rudy had a detective follow her.
The detective comes to Rex's rehearsal to give him the report and Rex burns the papers and cause a fire. Rex goes to the detectives office to complain and finds out that the wife went to another apartment in the middle of the night. He rips up the report, but suspicions are raised in his mind. During the performance, the camera goes into a close up of Rex's eye, a unique way of going into his mind. As the music plays Rex and Linda back home after the performance and Rex convinces Linda to go dancing with his assistant Tony. As Linda gets ready Rex plans the way that he is going to kill her and blame Tony. He kills her, gets Tony's fingerprints on the razor and leaves apartment. Tony goes into the bedroom, knocks over the phone which goes to the switchboard. The switchboard calls the police. Fast moving the trial has Tony sentenced to die, proclaiming his innocence. Rex starts laughing in the court room and the camera goes back away from his eye and he is still laughing as he conduct. This is always the hardest one to watch. You don't see any blood, but you see him slashing and you see Linda's hand moving as she struggles. I don't know the music, but it is very strong and loud.
The second time they are once again home after the performance. Rex lets her go and gives her a check so she won't have to worry about anything. The music is very soft and somber.
The third time Rex, Linda and Tony are at their apartment after the performance. Rex plays Russian Roulette. Rex ends up killing himself. The music is kind of a fast confusing piece.
It is the end of the concert and Rex leaves without a final bow. He goes home and recreates or at least tries to recreate his first vision of killing Linda. Nothing works as well as his vision. The music is similar to the first piece of the concert, but there are a few sound affects when things don't go well. He tries to record his voice on a record low and slow so that a different speed it will sound like a female screaming. The recorder is on a a top shelf. He can't get it down and when he does he knocks things off the shelf onto the ground. He breaks the chair he is standing on. He knocks the recorder on the balcony breaking a window. Turns out it is not the recorder but a game set. He can't figure out how to make the recorder work. He keeps knocking over the phone and you hear the switchboard operators voice. Finally Linda and Tony come home. Linda and Rex argue. Rex goes into the bathroom to get ready for bed. He sees the razor strap and searches all through the cabinet to find a razor. Linda comes into the bathroom as he is testing the razor, startles him and he cuts his thumb. He decides he can't kill her and will forgive her and write her a check. He spills ink all over the checks. He decides to challenge her to Russian Roulette. He can't find bullets. Linda tells him that her sister went to visit Tony. She went to tell her sister that Rudy was looking for her. Rex realizes that he was all wrong and how much they really loved each other. The music has switched to a patriotic anthem.
I like how the music played in the background, as part of the orchestra that Rex conducts or just as background as Rex attempts to make the first sequence come true. Admittedly the first Unfaithfully Yours I saw was the 1980's version with Dudley Moore as a first run film. It was good and modern version of the story, but the original I think is better.
On Saturday TCM did show Storm in a Tea Cup with Rex Harrison. I fell asleep at the beginning, but woke up when all the dogs in the house of the film started barking. I can't imagine what it was like on the set that day or days all those dogs were there. It seemed like every dog in England as in that film. To celebrate Rex Harrison's birth date I watched Unfaithfully Yours. The film also started Linda Darnell as Rex's wife, Rudy Vallee as Rex's brother-in-law and Barbara Lawrence as Linda's sister. The film was written, directed and produced by Preston Sturges. Rex is an orchestra conducter who went out of the country on a tour. While he was gone he asked Rudy to keep an eye on Linda. Rex meant to take her out if she was lonely, but Rudy had a detective follow her.
The detective comes to Rex's rehearsal to give him the report and Rex burns the papers and cause a fire. Rex goes to the detectives office to complain and finds out that the wife went to another apartment in the middle of the night. He rips up the report, but suspicions are raised in his mind. During the performance, the camera goes into a close up of Rex's eye, a unique way of going into his mind. As the music plays Rex and Linda back home after the performance and Rex convinces Linda to go dancing with his assistant Tony. As Linda gets ready Rex plans the way that he is going to kill her and blame Tony. He kills her, gets Tony's fingerprints on the razor and leaves apartment. Tony goes into the bedroom, knocks over the phone which goes to the switchboard. The switchboard calls the police. Fast moving the trial has Tony sentenced to die, proclaiming his innocence. Rex starts laughing in the court room and the camera goes back away from his eye and he is still laughing as he conduct. This is always the hardest one to watch. You don't see any blood, but you see him slashing and you see Linda's hand moving as she struggles. I don't know the music, but it is very strong and loud.
The second time they are once again home after the performance. Rex lets her go and gives her a check so she won't have to worry about anything. The music is very soft and somber.
The third time Rex, Linda and Tony are at their apartment after the performance. Rex plays Russian Roulette. Rex ends up killing himself. The music is kind of a fast confusing piece.
It is the end of the concert and Rex leaves without a final bow. He goes home and recreates or at least tries to recreate his first vision of killing Linda. Nothing works as well as his vision. The music is similar to the first piece of the concert, but there are a few sound affects when things don't go well. He tries to record his voice on a record low and slow so that a different speed it will sound like a female screaming. The recorder is on a a top shelf. He can't get it down and when he does he knocks things off the shelf onto the ground. He breaks the chair he is standing on. He knocks the recorder on the balcony breaking a window. Turns out it is not the recorder but a game set. He can't figure out how to make the recorder work. He keeps knocking over the phone and you hear the switchboard operators voice. Finally Linda and Tony come home. Linda and Rex argue. Rex goes into the bathroom to get ready for bed. He sees the razor strap and searches all through the cabinet to find a razor. Linda comes into the bathroom as he is testing the razor, startles him and he cuts his thumb. He decides he can't kill her and will forgive her and write her a check. He spills ink all over the checks. He decides to challenge her to Russian Roulette. He can't find bullets. Linda tells him that her sister went to visit Tony. She went to tell her sister that Rudy was looking for her. Rex realizes that he was all wrong and how much they really loved each other. The music has switched to a patriotic anthem.
I like how the music played in the background, as part of the orchestra that Rex conducts or just as background as Rex attempts to make the first sequence come true. Admittedly the first Unfaithfully Yours I saw was the 1980's version with Dudley Moore as a first run film. It was good and modern version of the story, but the original I think is better.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
March 1
David Niven
To celebrate David Niven's birthday I watched The Pink Panther. I always like the Pink Panther series. The great music, the stealing of the jewels and the great Peter Sellers. David Niven is the star of the film, but Peter Sellers steals the film. David plays a sophisticated English man who may or may not be the thief Phantom.
To celebrate David Niven's birthday I watched The Pink Panther. I always like the Pink Panther series. The great music, the stealing of the jewels and the great Peter Sellers. David Niven is the star of the film, but Peter Sellers steals the film. David plays a sophisticated English man who may or may not be the thief Phantom.
March 2
Jennifer Jones
To celebrate Jennifer Jones' birthday I watched Beat The Devil. Jennifer is almost unrecognizable as a blonde British wife of a soon to be coffee planter. She falls in love with the married Humphrey Bogart. I wouldn't say this is her best film, but her talent does show through.
To celebrate Jennifer Jones' birthday I watched Beat The Devil. Jennifer is almost unrecognizable as a blonde British wife of a soon to be coffee planter. She falls in love with the married Humphrey Bogart. I wouldn't say this is her best film, but her talent does show through.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
February 28
Happy Birthday to Charles Durning, Zero Mostel, and Ben Hect.
I watched Wirlpool in honor of Ben Hect. He is a great screenwriter who wrote comedy, drama and action films. The film has a great cast of Gene Tierney, Richard Conte and Jose Ferrer and directed by Otto Preminger. Jose catches Gene stealing from a store and blackmails her and hypnotizes her to get her to bend to his will, which even subconsciously she will not follow his lecherous plans. Gene is framed for murder. Richard who plays her husband is the only one who really believes that Gene is innocent and tries to prove his wife's innocence. I won't give away the film noir, but it is very well plotted.
In my days of wanting to be a screenwriter I read a biography of Ben Hect. He had quite a life. One of my favorite quotes on Hollywood writing is by his friend Mankiewicz, “In a novel a hero can lay 10 girls and marry a virgin for a finish. In a movie this is not allowed. The hero as well as the heroine, has to be a virgin. The villain can lay anybody he wants, have as much fun as he wants, cheating and stealing getting rich and whipping servants, but you have to shoot him in the end.”
I watched Wirlpool in honor of Ben Hect. He is a great screenwriter who wrote comedy, drama and action films. The film has a great cast of Gene Tierney, Richard Conte and Jose Ferrer and directed by Otto Preminger. Jose catches Gene stealing from a store and blackmails her and hypnotizes her to get her to bend to his will, which even subconsciously she will not follow his lecherous plans. Gene is framed for murder. Richard who plays her husband is the only one who really believes that Gene is innocent and tries to prove his wife's innocence. I won't give away the film noir, but it is very well plotted.
In my days of wanting to be a screenwriter I read a biography of Ben Hect. He had quite a life. One of my favorite quotes on Hollywood writing is by his friend Mankiewicz, “In a novel a hero can lay 10 girls and marry a virgin for a finish. In a movie this is not allowed. The hero as well as the heroine, has to be a virgin. The villain can lay anybody he wants, have as much fun as he wants, cheating and stealing getting rich and whipping servants, but you have to shoot him in the end.”
February 27
Happy Birthday to Elizabeth Taylor, Franchot Tone, and Joanne Woodward.
To celebrate Elizabeth Taylor I watched Butterfield 8. What a great film. Over the opening credits the camera stays on Elizabeth who is a sleep, for the entire time. When she wakes up, that scene is wonderful. She looks around for cigarettes, not finding any she smokes a cigar, chokes and goes for a glass of alcohol. She goes into the (hideous pink) bathroom, puts the toothbrush in the alcohol, brushes her teeth and gargles with alcohol. She explores the rooms and you can tell it is not her apartment. She finds her purse and the man left her $250. Upset she writes “no sale” on a wall mirror with lipstick. She leaves the money and takes a mink coat. Her dress is ripped so she leaves in her slip and the mink. This between 5 - 10 minutes long, no dialog and you are just amazed in watching her move. She goes to her friend Eddie Fisher to get her car and gets his girlfriend to bring some cloths for her to wear. She leaves the fur coat, which Eddie hangs up in the closet. I have to admit, he is pretty good in the film. Laurence Harvey is the man that Elizabeth is involved in. No one seems to like the life they have. Laurence's wife comes back and discovers the mink is missing. He realizes that Elizabeth took the mink. He is upset, he doesn't want to divorce his wife, but he feels guilty about being involved with Elizabeth and tries to cheapen the relationship. There is a great argument scene in a restaurant. They go to a hotel and Elizabeth changes her mind and leaves. Laurence chases after her. Her car goes off the road and she dies at the hospital. I really didn't expect that. It did reminded me of a John Gilbert/Greta Garbo film.
To celebrate Elizabeth Taylor I watched Butterfield 8. What a great film. Over the opening credits the camera stays on Elizabeth who is a sleep, for the entire time. When she wakes up, that scene is wonderful. She looks around for cigarettes, not finding any she smokes a cigar, chokes and goes for a glass of alcohol. She goes into the (hideous pink) bathroom, puts the toothbrush in the alcohol, brushes her teeth and gargles with alcohol. She explores the rooms and you can tell it is not her apartment. She finds her purse and the man left her $250. Upset she writes “no sale” on a wall mirror with lipstick. She leaves the money and takes a mink coat. Her dress is ripped so she leaves in her slip and the mink. This between 5 - 10 minutes long, no dialog and you are just amazed in watching her move. She goes to her friend Eddie Fisher to get her car and gets his girlfriend to bring some cloths for her to wear. She leaves the fur coat, which Eddie hangs up in the closet. I have to admit, he is pretty good in the film. Laurence Harvey is the man that Elizabeth is involved in. No one seems to like the life they have. Laurence's wife comes back and discovers the mink is missing. He realizes that Elizabeth took the mink. He is upset, he doesn't want to divorce his wife, but he feels guilty about being involved with Elizabeth and tries to cheapen the relationship. There is a great argument scene in a restaurant. They go to a hotel and Elizabeth changes her mind and leaves. Laurence chases after her. Her car goes off the road and she dies at the hospital. I really didn't expect that. It did reminded me of a John Gilbert/Greta Garbo film.
February 23
Peter Fonda
I celebrated Peter Fonda's birthday by watching Buster Keaton's The General with live accompaniment of Mont Alto Orchestra. I finally had time to watch a Peter Fonda film on 27th. I watched Easy Rider. I didn't get the film. I understand the sense of freedom and the open road. I liked the music, photography and the transitions but I really didn't get it. I don't get the hippy thing the drug thing. I can see why it was so popular, but not my taste.
I celebrated Peter Fonda's birthday by watching Buster Keaton's The General with live accompaniment of Mont Alto Orchestra. I finally had time to watch a Peter Fonda film on 27th. I watched Easy Rider. I didn't get the film. I understand the sense of freedom and the open road. I liked the music, photography and the transitions but I really didn't get it. I don't get the hippy thing the drug thing. I can see why it was so popular, but not my taste.
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