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Bethluvsfilms

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Posts posted by Bethluvsfilms

    TCM and Other Sources for Classic Film

    in General Discussions

    Posted

    8 hours ago, TopBilled said:

    KINGS ROW is quite good, though watered down considerably since much of what was in the novel was censored by the production code office.

    True, but a lot of films based on novels in the studio era were watered down, particularly  James Cain's novels MILDRED PIERCE, DOUBLE INDEMNITY and THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE.

    Great movies, but they all had to be watered down considerably because of the Production Code being enforced at that time.

    I Just Watched...

    in General Discussions

    Posted

    20 hours ago, Fedya said:

    Designing Woman (1957).

    MGM remade Woman of the Year, because they could.  Lucas McCain gets to essay his native Brooklyn accent as a gangster who threatens sportswriter Gregory Peck.  Lauren Bacall is as bland as ever as the fashion designer Peck hastily marries and who flies off the handle because Peck, horror of horrors, might have had a girlfriend before marrying her.

    Competently made, but nothing special.  6/10

    As much as I like WOMAN OF THE YEAR, I actually like DESIGNING WOMAN a bit better. I didn't find Lauren all that bland, though I do agree her reaction to Peck's previous entanglements before they got married, is ridiculous.

    I also love how (SPOILER ALERT) Lauren's pal, the one a bit on the nerdy side and whom Peck had no use for, actually helped to save the day in the end.

    As for IN A LONELY PLACE, Gloria Grahame turns in what I consider THE best performance of her career and should have been nominated for it. Bogart was great in it too.

    (Again, SPOILERS)….Dixon was a dangerous, unpredictable man but I also think he was beaten down by the PSTD he suffered from the war. Which is why he lets Laurel dumps him without a fuss and walks out of her apartment (and presumedly her life).

    • Like 1

    Somewhat Off-Topic: What have you been reading lately?

    in General Discussions

    Posted

    Yes, I too have been reading THE STAND by Stephen King.

    Nothing like reading a story that kills 99 percent of the world while in real life a real epidemic, Covid-19,  has hit us, huh? (Though the death toll, while high, still nowhere near the billions of death that are caused by Captain Trips, the name of the deadly virus in the story).

    It is a long book but totally worth it. I'd avoid the mini-series though, a lot of good story and character development ended up get sacrificed, even with the 8 hour running time, and despite the fine cast in it.

    on svengoolie tonite

    in General Discussions

    Posted

    7 hours ago, Det Jim McLeod said:

    It still works. Sven mentioned  Young Frankenstein a few times , though I think Bride is very funny on it's own. Young F was an amusing spoof, but I only saw it once, I saw the original dozens of times and still love it. 

    Several people have mentioned that YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN have ruined the original Universal films for them, but not for me.

    I still can appreciate Whale's stylish filmmaking and Karloff's memorable tormented turn as the monster without being thinking of Mel Brooks.

    I Just Watched...

    in General Discussions

    Posted

    Just now, TikiSoo said:

    Last night I watched BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT '56. It stars fave Dana Andrews and not fave Joan Fontaine. It's well acted, beautifully shot and very well edited, making a great introductory film for anyone not familiar with classic film or noir.

    It's a story of the controversy of capital punishment. Can someone innocent be convicted on circumstantial evidence? 

    Of course as I watched, realized I had seen it numerous times before. I suppose the reason why it's not in my Fritz Lang "collection" is because it somehow rings hollow. The twists & turns are great, as is the tension it builds, but I just can't stand Joan Fontaine's whiney charactor. I did find the portrayal of "loose women" a hoot, though-talk about stereotype!

    There's only a few crime noirs that still work once you know the ending, CAPE FEAR, DOA are the best example that comes to mind. I'd chalk BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT up as "great for first viewing, good for second viewing, but once you know the ending, forget it."

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    beyond2.JPG

    Could she BE any more skeletal? Look at those big hands!

    Andrews and Fontaine are great, but I agree the movie falls way short to be able to fall into classic status.

    (SPOILER) At the end of the film, when it turns out that Andrews' character did indeed commit the crime, I kind of saw it coming. But I guess I've been spoiled by too many other movies with a 'surprise' twist.

     

    on svengoolie tonite

    in General Discussions

    Posted

    7 minutes ago, Swithin said:

    To your point about seeing little of the Bride, the word "Bride" has a double meaning. It also refers to Elizabeth, the character played by Valerie Hobson, who is the soon-to-be bride of Dr. Frankenstein.  The movie opens with Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley, and Lord Byron. It's clear from the way the scene is shot that Lord Byron is coming between Mary and her husband, just as Dr. Praetorius comes between Henry Frankenstein and Elizabeth.  Remember what Minnie says, when Dr. Praetorius arrives: "He's a very queer looking gentleman."

    James Whale knew what he was doing.

    Wow, I never thought of that before. Much food for thought.

    I always wondered though if Clive hadn't died as young as he had, would he have been brought back for 1939's SON OF FRANKENSTEIN (they would have had to portray Henry as a much older character by this time). With the creation of the monster, and all the murder and mayham that came with it in the first 2 films, Henry did a bang up job of ruining the Frankenstein name, so I think it made sense that (SPOILER) as we learned in SON, Henry died in disgrace when Wolf was still a boy so basically speaking Henry's presence really wasn't needed in SON.

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