The Lodger 1926
Posted by spheer2002 | Filed under Films of the 1920's
At Age 27 after three films (two of which are lost, the other, which was ”The Pleasure Garden”) Hitchcock Culminated his first seminal quintessential film ,it was raised in the schools or Berlin and Was hailed as the Greatest British Picture Ever Made at the time, Its A theme He would Return to many years later in Frenzy made outside the golden age of his successes in Hollywood.
It was Hitchcock first major Success and one of two films in the 20’s (the other was ”Blackmail”) that gave him an enormous reputation , It offers a possible explanation for”Jack the Ripper” and shows the beginning of many Hitchcock trademarks such as the Wrong Man on the run, fetishistic sexuality and murder, Death and Pleasure,
In the Dark Thick Fog, London is awash with fear and loathing over a serial sex murder known as “The Avenger” who targets Blond Woman in particular and leaves their warm corpse lying in the street ,He always strikes on a Tuesday, his Face is covered, and Leaves his calling card always tucked away in the victims pocket,
On a Tuesday night Daisy Bunting(June Tipp) a Model comes home to her little flat she shares with her family, her boyfriend(Malcolm Keen) the local chief of police is there boasting how he’s going to catch the”avenger killer while flipping a coin in the air, Suddenly the Gas meter switches off and while Daisys Father (Arthur Chesney) goes to insert another coin in , The house goes dark All of A sudden their is a knock on the Door and Mrs Bunting (Played beautifully by Marie Ault) Opens the Door to a pall faced Tall man with his face Covered (Ivor Novello) inquiring about the room for let upstairs,The Pale Antisocial Asexual Unnamed man begins his association with the family and starts More trouble than they can possibility imagine, especially when we seems to take Interest in Daisy who Just Happens to be Fair Haired.Suspicion Falls upon the odd Introvert and coincidence seems to follow fact as Tuesday Night Comes Around Again and another scream is heard in the Depths of the London Fog.
Fritz Langs film work work particularly “M” (a film about a child molester and Serial Murderer) made a profound impression on the Work of Hitchcock .It would be a strange coincidence that in his Last American Film Frtiz Lang Would Pay Homage to him in ”Beyond Reasonable Doubt”
This film has all the trademarks of the latter Hitchcock s films and is greatly enhanced by the great use of film montage of German Expressionist Films to which Hitchcock learned his trade and made a point of his style This Film has been Remade four times as recently as 2009 and the second even starred Novello himself however there’s is no comparison There are some who say Hitchcock was always a bit of a silent film director with his use of great lengthy scenes without dialogue, and if you watch this u can see why everything in the stories plot comes across clear as a bell its not a dodgy DW Griffith with too much montage to millions of Credit cards to Tell you whats happening, you can see exactly whats going on, you can tell when something horrible is going to happen to the sweet blond victim , and you are given that same ’suspend belief’ that’s in all the Great Hitchcock Films of his Golden Period .
Its a Silent film but as the voyer you can still see everything that goes on you are looking through a crack in the floor of a second story apartment at a ”Killer” Passing above your head waiting to strike,
Tags: Accusation, Hitchcock, Love Triangle, Murder, Mystery, Noir, Psychological Thriller, Serial Murderer
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 Devils 1971
Posted by spheer2002 | Filed under Film, Films of the 1970's
If you Like films about Crazy nuns and people who are absolutly Nuts this is for you, camp as a line of tents…….The Devils (1971) is a film directed by Ken Russell starring Oliver Reed and Vanessa Redgrave, and based on the 1952 book The Devils of Loudun by Aldous Huxley and the 1960 play The Devils by John Whiting, also based on Huxley’s book. Derek Jarman was responsible for the film’s production design. It tells the story of Urbain Grandier, a 17th century French priest executed for witchcraft.
watch out for Vanessa Redgrave .she is hysterical !
Tags: Accusation, Aldous Huxley, Based off Novel, Based off Play, Derek Jarman, Ken Russell, Madness, Nuns, Trial, Witch Hunt
Mr Smith goes to Washington 1939
Posted by spheer2002 | Filed under Film, Films of the 1930's
One of the Most Powerful Political films ever made banned by the Communists the Nazis and the fascist’s,
Heavily criticized by American Politicians and members of ‘Their’ press, shows how much a man can suffer in body and spirit for what he believes to be truth (A frank Capra Style) referenced in films from to Legally Blonde and tv shows like the Simpson’s its a touchstone for both sides of politics
and recommended by Henry Rollins You Have to see this one before you die!
Tags: Accusation, Corruption, David and Goliath, Frank Capra, James Stewart, Media Corruption, Politics, Trial by Media, Washington DC
Legend of The Lost 1957
Posted by spheer2002 | Filed under Film, Films of the 1950's
Directed by Henry Hathaway
Paul Bonnard (Rossano Brazzi “South pacific”)arrives in Timbuktu in search of a guide to escort him into the Sahara desert. American Joe January (John ‘
Duke’ Wayne) a jolly drunkard takes the job despite misgivings about Bonnard’s plans. Dita,(Sophia Loren) a prostitute who has been deeply moved by what appears to be Bonnard’s spiritual nature, follows the two men into the desert. Eventually the trio arrives in the ruins of a lost city, where Bonnard hopes to find the treasure his father sought years earlier before disappearing. But what Bonnard finds alters him in unexpected ways, with tragic results
A remake with jolie could be interesting but Loren’s shoes are hard to fill
with the bulk of the film reaches the desert, ‘cabin fever sets in , you can tell the cinematographer was a little bit in love with Loren because there is no point in the film where she looks bad, she and the duke play well off each over,almost better than Cary Grant in Houseboat this ones a”lust in Dust” film
dont get sand in your undies!
Tags: Accusation, Alcoholism, Cowboy, Crisis of Faith, Desert, Femme Fatale, Love Triangle, Madness, Treasure
All This And Heaven Too 1940
Posted by spheer2002 | Filed under Film, Films of the 1940's
Warning…. will empty a tissue box really quickly
This fits into the Mary poppins /sound of Music gene of Nanny comes into home and brings happiness to family with two exceptions, No singing and ends in a grisly Murder/ Based of a true event
a governess in 19th Century France, who lands a position working for Theo, Duc De Praslin (Charles Boyer) and his family. The childern adore the new, governess, but Boyer’s psycho bitch wife, the Duchesse (Barbara O’Neil), is resentful of the intrusion into the family. The new addition to the family works her magic on everyone but the Duchesse. Theo and Henriette, predictably, begin to fall in love, which further complicates things, sending the crazy wife into even more rages of insanity. All of this builds momentum until a climactic crime of passion takes a life.
its been forgotten but is really a good story, It shouldnt be remade but it is was it could win a swag of oscar
Tags: Accusation, Forbidden Love, Love for Children, Madness, Max Steiner, Nanny, Self Sacrifice, Trial
