Boom! 1968
Posted by spheer2002 | Filed under Film, Films of the 1960's
Some of us Invite Death…
…..and some of us try to escape it on a lonely island surrounded by the sea, scorched by the eternal sunshine,
‘Sissy’ Goforth (Elizabeth Taylor)the richest woman in the world lives on her luxury island somewhere in the Mediterranean and rules over all like a great dying monster, while dictating her autobiography , a poet( Richard Burton) washes up upon her great island, a poet who has been nicknamed”Angelo Del Morte” or The Angel of Death, because all woman he encounters are ( as Noel Coward puts it) a few steps away from the Grave Digger.
Based off an unsuccessful Stage Play By Tennessee Williams‘ from the early 1960’s that had starred Talulah Bankhead and Tab Hunter, its a wonder any producer would have put any money into it at all ,aside from the fact it was a ”Tennessee Williams” Play and it was to star Power Couple Liz + Burton,
It at the end of the day quite a minimalist play similar to Night of the Iquana , and is set catastrophically on an unnamed private island in the middle of the ocean where Taylor Sunbaths her Dying Body in the sunshine, but there are some redeeming qualities,Noel Coward makes good with his interesting little role as ”the Witch of Capri” essentially playing… Himself and Sports quite a primitive, but interesting score by John Barry ( Born Free, and the James Bond Theme) which to this day is incredibly popular with collectors.
This Film Interestingly enough is Praised most loudly by John Waters who has screened the last remaining print of the film in several parts of the states , has sited it as (along with Imitation of Life) as one of the greatest influences and a testament to his craft
Like Most Taylor Burton Films of the late 1960’s this one bombed most horribally , and was one of their last great screen apperaences together, it had been ravaged bu critics everywhere, and was seen to be a ”Folly” for everyone conserned, However as a film which deals with isolation Dying and or death as a metaphor, its one of the best there is.
Tags: Based off Play, Death, Decadence, dying, fate, Island, Melancholy, metaphor, Noel Coward, Tennessee Williams
Three Blind Mice 2008
Posted by spheer2002 | Filed under Film, Films of the 2000's
Three Blind Mice is the directorial debut of Matthew Newton , and
covers 24 hours in the Lives of three young Navy officers on shore leave, Sounds familiar? Well Its not, No Gene Kelly or Frank Sinatra to be found, The film delves well into dark territory of Navy bastardization and friendship.not since before the Director George Marshall who brought us Destry Rides Again ,The Blue Dahlia and The Forest Rangers (especially) have we seen such an effortless sway between Comedy and Dire Tragedy ,This was like watching ‘On the Town” with out the singing and dancing , having your guts wrenched out and a moment later being wildly tickled by them to the point of hysteria.Starring Ewen Leslie (Kokada),Toby Schmitz (Somersault) and as well as directing Matthew Newton (“Changi” and Looking for Alibrandi) as the seemingly fearless Three traveling through the slings and arrows of Outrages Fortune ,involving prostitutes, Swinging Middle aged future Parents Inlaw, and broken bady parts, But aside from this it deals with the darker subject matter of friendship after abuse, alla “the Kite runner’ emotional self sacrifice, redemption through acceptance, and maybe Love?
This is not a Taratino humor nor a Melinda and Melinda,,its anxious rollercoster ride of fear, and humor that can change in a wink of an eye and still really work. Cast also Includes Gracie Otto as the leading love interest throughout the film,who shines in every scene with a script that rips through the likes of ‘Network’ and seems more spontaneous,(she also edited this film),Brendan Cowell, as a side of the armed forces we are not willing to acknowledge, Pia Miranda as the shirrty fiancee,Alex Dimitriades (Head On), Marcus Grahem( “Underbelly” and Mulholland Dr. ,Jacki Weaver (Picnic at Hanging Rock) Barry Otto( Strictly Ballroom)and the Great,Charles ‘Bud’ Tingwell ( Murder She Said, and ‘Breaker’ Morant) and inhabits a Musical score by John Foreman.Everyone you can think of was here and aside from the three blokes have their own moment to shine. A stella cast (Aside from the absence of Jack Thompson and Noni Hazelhurst)all take their turn to make bloody good Cinema, Aside from ‘the Black Balloon’ this is one of the best Australian films to be received this year if not the last 5 years,.
I have to assure , I didn’t not watch and review this film on the basis of its ‘lineage’ because , its made by the son of ‘this person’ or the daughter of ‘that person’, its better than most American films Ive seen this year.This film needs to be seen overseas ,it maybe set in Australia, but these things could happen , and have happened everywhere. After you have seem it you wont be crying and you wont be pissing yourself , but you will feel Different, and better for it.
Tags: Abuse., Alcoholism, Black Comedy, Comedy, Friendship, Military Abuse, Sailor, Self Sacrifice
The Paradine Case 1947
Posted by spheer2002 | Filed under Film, Films of the 1940's
‘Disclaimer’ Any relation to ‘Body of Evidence’ is purely coincidental…
Highly successful London barrister Anthony Keane (Gregory Peck)takes on the case of Italian Maddalena Paradine (Alida Valli) who is accused of poisoning her blind military hero husband. Keane Starts by defending her but becomes increasingly bewitched by her, threatening both his marriage and his career. As as details in the case come to light ,Madame Paradines Veil begins to slip for all but her Champion , Her Lawyer
We have at least two love triangles in this film, and they not as obvious as you may think.
This is the Final Collaboration between Hitchcock and meddlesome Producer David O Selznick Who Brought him to America and Helped Create his first major American Film Rebecca , After The contract Expired with Paradine Hitchcock gained Creative Freedom of shorts and went on to experiment with new styles of editing such as in ‘Rope” and “under Capricorn”Hitchcock also pioneers the use of multiple cameras with live action almost a forerunner to what Television would do in Studios some Years later
Paradine was Considered in the “lesser Category” of the Cannon of Hitchcock However it does showcase his technique and the Entered of Louis Jordan is till one of the most startling is Cinema History. Gregory peck Plays Another Lawer, whos sexual frustration begins upon meeting the Beautiful Mrs Paradine Joan Tetzel Plays an Interesting role of the sudo lesbian Daughter of A Solicitor who dosnt wont the Market woman to hang as she ”hates breaking pretty things” louis Jordan Plays the Anti social Woman Hating Vallet of the Murded Mr Paradine Ann Todd aka Mrs David Lean as the Long Suffering ‘Good Wife’ Perhaps the Suspended Belief that Gregory Peck would Sacrifice everything for a Woman he had not even kissed seems a little slim, However as a Vehicle Created for the Mystique of Greta Garbo (who was offered the role first ) it may be been slightly more believable She Turned it Down after another film role Famously saying “No Mommies No Murderesses” ,Alida Velli Stills holds the attention of the Audience as the Mysterious Manipulative Passive Aggressive Madame Paradine , if you ever wondered what ‘Rececca’ may have been like in the flesh and why she seems to capture the hearts of Woman and Men give Mrs Paradine a look.
As well as a resemble to Mrs Paradine Gorgeous Music of Franz Waxman which dominated the film of Rebecca Suffocated the Paradine case in wonder and Mystery
Its is to be appreciated for the things which Hitchcock alone brings to the film even in the little scenes that make this a very engaging film to watch
Tags: Accusation, Bi, Femme Fatale, Franz Waxman, Hitchcock, Infidelity, Love Triangle, Movies Garbo Rejected, Mysterious Death, Trial
The Seven Year Itch 1955
Posted by spheer2002 | Filed under Film, Films of the 1950's
Here Comes The Breeze from the Subway
A Window into a cultural phenomenon perhaps long past
In the summer in New York during the hottest Month The Husbands of New York Send off their Wives and Children on Holiday to the beach for at least a month, in that time the Husbands shave, buy a new shirt get a facial, and go ‘Wild” ,they go get plastered on alcohol they stay out all night they get tattoos, and pick up women. ‘The Apartment’ and The Seven year Itch’ Chronicles this perhaps forgotten mid century pastime. Richard Sherman (Tom Ewell,” Adams Rib”) Like many of his fellow New Yorkians has sent his wife and kid off for the summer with stick instructions not to drink too much and not to smoke,Richard is a mind mannered man in a publishing company who is nearly sitting on 40 , Alone in his family’s apartment his imagination goes wild , he starts to imagine many beautiful women throwing themselves at him ,but rejecting them all on the basis of him being married, all of a sudden who walks into his life but
but one of the most sexy woman of the 20th century.
An unnamed girl (Marilyn Monroe) moves into the apartment upstairs,and gets her Fan , stuck in the doorway (so to speak) from then on Richards imagination runs wild with the possibilities .He struggles between finding excuses to for her to come down to his apartment by luring her over with his apartment air conditioning and the guilt about feeling the need of cheating on his wife, Marilyn was never better in fact if any reason at all if you’ve never heard of Billy Wilder the director or Saul Bass the maker of the main titles (who did work for Hitchcocks Vertigo,Pyscho, and for Martin Scorsese Cape Fear and Casino) You will see this film because of the famous scene with Marilyn in her white Gown with the wind from the subway blowing up which is featured on every poster of this film.
Tom Ewell plays the same midlife crisis man he always seemed to play and well and Evelyn Keyes (Gone with the wind)who has some scene stealing moments . This could be culturally appropriated today on stage and you could cast Pamela Anderson for all anyone cares but Pam could not hold a Candle to the moments of sensitivity and sensuality especially in that quarter where the veil drops and reveals the girl isnt just a bubblehead but actually quite deep in her thinking and empathetic ,this film today still stands as the ultimate Mans Midlife crisis film and how differently he uses his energy to have a last gasp at youth, some men come to the same conclusion as Dorothy in the wizard of Oz ‘that at the end of the day there’s “no place like home’ and others use adultery to change partner and their lifestyle for good for good . Perhaps when Im older I may Appreciate this film a little more as someone who feels the need to be invigorated by the youth or the attraction of another to show men a different reflection in another’s eyes, but unfortunately it wont be Marilyn Monroe.
Tags: Based off Play, Billy Wilder, Comedy, Dream Sequence, Imagination, Infidelity, Marilyn Monroe, Midlife Crisis, New York, Temptation
Making Love 1982
Posted by spheer2002 | Filed under Film, Films of the 1980's
Before Brokeback mountain There was another Great Juggernaut of GLBT film that broke new ground for Gay Men In Cinema this was
‘Making Love made in 1982
Successful young L.A. doctor Zach (Michael Ontkean ‘Clara’s Heart) and his equally successful television-producer wife (Kate Jackson ”Larceny”) find their ’seemingly’ Perfect Marriage ripped open when Zach suddenly deals his long repressed Gay tendencies .Enter Bart (The Gorgeous Harry Hamlin’Clash of the Titans’), a regular mans man, man-whore drop dead gorgeous novelist,, who walks into Zach’s workplace one day and opens up a new window , and Zach falls in Love almost at first site .He cancels his dinner dat with his wife and share a couple of beers and tongue kisses with Bart. But the problem of the future arises nad while Zach wants to stay in Bert but burns seems to have a more world weary and distant about a commitment,
This may seem slighty soap operaish but even these days when this is shown on tv (Foxtel) its alwasy on at 2 oclock in the morning this was not made for tv this was the first major film to deal positively with love sex and relationships among men, it even had a disclaimer shown before it when it was first shown in the style of the psychedelic drug films of the 60’s,
and unlike today It almost totally the carers of those involved
which seems really sad , the performances are sound and it isn’t a melodrama like a Douglas Sirk film.
Like ‘Boys in the Band’ This should be seen for its Historic Value as a Major motion picture to show Gay man is normal People who live and Love, not as Stereotypes ,or swishy handbag holders and camp sexless comic relief,(like that guy in Mean Girls), its not an exploitation films. It Chronicles a real Live triangle and a relationship continues after love.
Tags: Divorce, Gay, Groundbreaking, Love Triangle, Of Gay Interest, Self Discovery
Mildred Pierce 1945
Posted by spheer2002 | Filed under Film, Films of the 1940's
Mink Clad Murder
Mommie Knows Best…..
In time middle of the night in a beach house on the upper side of town shots ring out, The Dead Man crys out……..Mildred!……and falls to the floor its seems an open and shut case,,,,but what really happened?
Mildred Pierce (Joan Crawford Strange Cargo)a housewife spoils her daughters Especially the eldest while husband Bert looks over the fence for some afternoon delight while his buddy Wally Fay(Jack Carson’A Star is Born) trys to get is paddle in(In Vain) . They soon divorce, leaving Mildred to raise the girls on her own. Elder postwar class driven daughter (Biatch)Veda (Anne BlythThe Great Carouso) goads her mother about their lack of money and in response Mildred proposes opening a small restaurant. one thing leads to another,and she becomes incredibly successful and even love seems to be around the corner, but money soons starts to by love in the manner of clothes, education, and payoffs all of which leads to the beginning of the film in classic noir style .Also in the cast a wonderfull sardonic Eve Arden (Grease) is the wise cracking sidekick to joan crawford to give humor to this black film.
Its only that sort of mother loving that Joan Crawford can deliver…….
What Price a Mothers Love ?
Tags: Alcoholism, Based off Novel, Divorce, Gun, james m cain, Joan Crawford, Love for Children, Love Triangle, Marriage, Max Steiner, Mother Daughter Relationship, Murder, Noir, Rise and Fall, Self Made Woman, Self Sacrifice
Juliet of the Spirits 1965
Posted by spheer2002 | Filed under Film, Films of the 1960's
Mommie Dearest
Juliet of the Spirits (Italian: Giulietta degli spiriti) is a film directed by Federico Fellini
Juliet is a 40 something bored married woman who after a strange experience during a New Aged Séance , starts to feel a contact with Spirits as she did as a child She soon becomes aware he husband is having an affair and starts to explore her spititual and sexual self through daydreams and Nightmares,
Described by “Annie Hall” as the smoking gun of Fellinis self indulgence , (he was experimenting with LSD at the time) it is however a film that profiles how people who have forgotten how to live either through career or marriage and become lifes Wallflowers can deal be helped to deal with their own psychological hang ups and empower themselves to live without guilt or shame.
Tags: Decadence, Fellini, Infidelity, Marriage, New Age, Porn Star, Psychotherapy, Séance, Spiritualism, Supernatural
Notorious 1946
Posted by spheer2002 | Filed under Film, Films of the 1940's
The Keys to the Kingdom….
Notorious 1946 is a film Directed By Alfred Hitchcock
Following the conviction of her German father for treason against the U.S., socialite Alicia Huberman (Ingrid Bergman “Casablanca”)becomes a party girl. After a boozie night out she is approached by a undercover government agent T.R. Devlin(Cary Grant”North by Northwest”) who asks her to spy on a group of her father’s Nazi friends operating out of Rio de Janeiro. A romance develops between Alicia and Devlin, but after finding out the lengths Alicia will need to go through and the previous relationship between herself and the man they are trying to track (Claude Rains’ Casablanca) , Devlin cools off , this drives Alicia to the Very heart of Evil being prepared by the breakaway Nazi group and Her life hangs in the balance without anyone to help her.. Its got the humor and the man woman society incapability , with a great heightened suspence especially when Ingrids Veil Starts to slip, watch out also for Leopoldine Konstantin who plays Claude Rains Vindictive dominating mother, perhaps even a vision of what ‘Mrs Bates’ Could have been like when Alive.
This Film is always famous for “That Crain shot” which is one of the most remarkable zooms without editing or special effects in Cinema History.
check it out dont get caught!
Tags: Cary Grant, Espionage, Hitchcock, Ingrid Bergman, Love Triangle, Mystery, South America, Spy
Lizzie 1957
Posted by spheer2002 | Filed under Film, Films of the 1950's
Dont You Look at Me That Way!
the ‘three faces of Eve’ gene
Elizabeth (Eleanor Parker, ‘The Sound of Music”) Is Just your Average Girl, From your neighborhood, shes works a dull job, she has a boyfriend and lives with her aunt, and shes in her early twenties , The trouble with Young miss Bess is that’s she continues to have reoccurring headaches and slight cases of insomnia , often sleeping in her on set of clothes and waking up in other set .
Almost overnight he starts to receive threatening letters left in places she will only know where to look signed by a ”Lizzie” , a name she is apparently not familiar with in her day to day life .Her Mental condition starts to wither away rapidly and her Aunt (Joan Blondell,”Grease”,Nightmare Alley “)decides to take her to a Dr. Wright (Richard Boone) who after seeing her decides to put her under hypnosis . Unknown to all, Deep in her subconscious, Dr. Wright finds that Elizabeth carries three personalities around with her ,One is Elizabeth, the shy one that everyone knows,” Lizzie”, the wild ,tarty ,nymphonical , sociopath .And three ,Beth, the good asexual moral guardian that Elizabeth feels she should have been. Dr. Wright must find a way of exorcising the other two personality’s and help create a dominant personality to help rule ,
this ones ”VERY” camp, in a 1950’s sort of way (which we Love) and lets face it, between Joan Blondell and the three personalities of Parker ,someones gonna choke from trying to chew up all the furniture,
But on a serious note along with “three faces of Eve” strangely also released in 1957 and ‘Possessed” (1947) released a good ten years before one of the earliest films (aside from the Jekyll and Hyde franchise)that explores Multipal personality Disorders as a serious medical disorder.
Eleanor Parker , who is usually good at playing both side of the field, either self sacrificing wives (Above and Beyond 1952)or , people with twigs up their ass (”Scaramouche” , the baroness from ”The sound of Music” ) , or people who are bordering on a multiple Personality (See ”Woman in White” on this Blog), although considered to be in second place to Joanne Woowards portrayal in ‘Eve” its certainly worth a look ,its not a lesser film , it seems to fall in the shadow.
Tags: Madness, Multiple Personality, sickness
Something’s Got to Give 1962
Posted by spheer2002 | Filed under Film, Films of the 1960's
'An Unfinished Life'
One of The Most Famous Unfinished films in Hollywood History Something’s Got to Give is the Last Marilyn Monroe appeared in.
A Remake of ‘My Favorite Wife’ it was directed by George Cukor and Starred Dean Martin Cyd Charisse its was one of only two films being shot by 20th Century Fox the other being Cleopatra (which was running massively Budget) The Story Involves a man who has recently remarried 5 years after his wife’s apparent death in a shipping accident, after returning from his honeymoon he soon learns his first wife(rescued from a desert island) is alive and well which creates one or more complications due to complications with Monroe Cukor, and the studio the production was halted shortly after Monroe would soon be dead.
Only a few years later it would be revived an renamed as Move Over Darling directed by Michael Gordon and would Star Doris Day, in the Marilyn role, and would give Day two New songs for her Future Live Shows.
Somethings Gotta Give was released on dvd in the most completed chronological form form in 1999 featuring Monroe’s famous nude scene (The first of a Major star at the time) its a glimpse of that might have been if completed,
Tags: Comedy, Divorce, George Cukor, Marilyn Monroe, Marriage, Presumed dead, screwball, Unfinished
