I Just Watched...

[speedracer5]

9 hours ago, NickAndNora34 said:

THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA (1964) Score: 2.5/5 

Starring: Richard Burton, Ava Gardner, Deborah Kerr, Sue Lyon. 

Movie adaptation of Tennessee Williams' stage play. I have been meaning to see this for a while now, and I'm glad I made time for it. I enjoy Williams' work; I think it could be considered ahead of its time in many ways. I always love watching "racy" material from the 50s/60s. Of course, I enjoy all the movie musicals and comedies, but the dramas are an especially nice change of pace. 

 

I love the "racy" movies from the 50s and 60s too.  I also like Tennessee Williams' stories (granted I've only seen the filmed versions of his plays) because there always seems to be an underlying sleaziness that I enjoy. 

Re: The Night of the Iguana.  I couldn't agree with you more about Burton.  I don't see what the big deal is about him.  Like Laurence Olivier, I feel that Burton's strength is on stage and not in film.  Ava Gardner was my favorite part of this film and I think that she gave the best performance.  Her character was so much fun to watch and was such a great contrast from the uptight Deborah Kerr and the stiff Richard Burton.

[rosebette]

8 hours ago, TikiSoo said:

For you younger kids out there: Leigh's unnatural double barrel cone was the look in the late 50's early 60's. I remember my babysitter (later my sister-in-law) & her sister both sewing darts in the cups of their bras to achieve this! Of course the pendulum swung the other way in the next decade of "burn your bra" au naturale look.

And while I too think Cliff Robertson is an astounding actor, I hated CHARLEY too. We had to read it in school and even as a teen I found the story trite. Same theme but without exploitation was later AWAKENINGS '90.... a true story!

I didn't know they made those undergarments in the Middle Ages.  You might see above Tomjh's post of Olivia deHavilland as Maid Marian.  That Orry-Kelly gown is a  nice blend of 1930s bias cut and medieval costume, fitted to a woman's natural silhouette.  I never could watch Prince Valiant either because Robert Wagner is so awful in it.

[LawrenceA]

Senso aka The Wanton Countess (1954) - Italian historical melodrama, from Lux Film and director Luchino Visconti. The setting is Venice in 1866. The Austrian army has occupied the city-state, and will not allow it to unite with Italy. A small but increasingly vocal faction of Venetian revolutionaries are working toward rebellion, aided by the Prussians. It is with this background the main story unfolds, as Venetian countess Livia (Alida Valli), unhappily married to the much older Count (Heinz Moog), begins an affair with arrogant young Austrian officer Franz Mahler (Farley Granger). Mahler is using Livia as a diversion and for her money, but she becomes more and more obsessed with him, even as full-blown war erupts around them. Also featuring Massimo Girotti, Rina Morelli, Christian Marquand, Sergio Fantoni, Tino Bianchi, and Marcella Mariani.

This torrid romantic melodrama is best appreciated for Visconti's painterly compositions, the excellent location cinematography, and the detailed costumes and set design. The story itself is merely adequate, and the performances are uneven. Valli has some great moments, but in others she's asked to play it too wild-eyed and big. Granger is sneering and self-satisfied, but he loses it a bit in his big breakdown scene near the end. Visconti edited an English-language version which was re-titled The Wanton Countess and ran 30 minutes shorter. That version's English dialogue was written by Tennessee Williams and Paul Bowles. Among Visconti's assistants on this film were future directors Francesco Rosi and Franco Zeffirelli. This is one of the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.    (7/10)

Source: FilmStruck

[Fedya]

8 hours ago, Sepiatone said:

And too, I've always got a "kick" out of watching movies made around the time I was born, possibly out of some sense of ****

Now I'm curious as to what sense that is. 

 

[Hibi]

7 hours ago, cigarjoe said:

This one was a sleazy guilty pleasure, I'd rate it about a 7/10.

No mention of Grayson Hall (Miss Fellows)? she was nominated by the Academy for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Hall was later to star in her most Iconic role of Dr. Julia Hoffman in the TV soap opera Dark Shadows.
 

Yes, Grayson is a hoot in this film!!!

[LornaHansonForbes]

NIGHT OF THE IGUANA is one of the few films where I really enjoy Richard Burton, this may sound odd, but often times he was at his best in bad movies (which IGUANA isn't) , and Lord knows he made quite a few. AVA GARDNER Gives the best performance in the film though. I've never been a fan of hers really, but to me she gave the best performance by an actress in 1964.

"Shannon's out-Shannonin' Shannon, Hunny!"

[Hibi]

15 minutes ago, LornaHansonForbes said:

NIGHT OF THE IGUANA is one of the few films where I really enjoy Richard Burton, this may sound odd, but often times he was at his best in bad movies (which IGUANA isn't) , and Lord knows he made quite a few. AVA GARDNER Gives the best performance in the film though. I've never been a fan of hers really, but to me she gave the best performance by an actress in 1964.

"Shannon's out-Shannonin' Shannon, Hunny!"

Yes, I thought the whole cast should've been nominated. But only Grayson was.......

[cigarjoe]

3 minutes ago, LornaHansonForbes said:

NIGHT OF THE IGUANA is one of the few films where I really enjoy Richard Burton, this may sound odd, but often times he was at his best in bad movies (which IGUANA isn't) , and Lord knows he made quite a few. AVA GARDNER Gives the best performance in the film though. I've never been a fan of hers really, but to me she gave the best performance by an actress in 1964.

"Shannon's out-Shannonin' Shannon, Hunny!"

Agree, this is one film I like him in,

Another bad movie is Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) Burton playing Father Lamont has some ridiculous lines:

Father Lamont: Pazuzu, king of the evil spirits of the air, help me to find Kokumo!

Father Lamont: If he can teach me how he has survived Pazuzu... I'll come back and let you know.

Pretty far from Shakespeare, lol. 

 

[LawrenceA]

Sound of the Mountain aka Yama no oto (1954) - Japanese drama from Toho and director Mikio Naruse. Shingo Ogata (So Yamamura) is an aged business manager whose grown son Shuichi (Ken Uehara) and daughter-in-law Kikuko (Setsuko Hara) live at home. Shingo is very fond of the cheerful and helpful Kikuko, but his son is a lout who goes out drinking every night and is having an affair. As Shingo's admiration for Kikuko grows, he begins looking more into his son's activities so as to try and set him the right path, but what he learns may change him, and his entire family, forever. Also featuring Yoko Sugi, Teruko Nagaoka, Yatsuko Tan'ami, Chieko Nakakita, and Rieko Sumi.

This serious, dialogue-driven drama is dense with nuance and subtle emotional tones. The relationship between father-in-law Shingo and daughter-in-law Kikuko is multi-layered, a form of love without sexuality, but beyond traditional familial affection, too. Both Yamamura and Hara are outstanding, giving performances that are low-key, delicate, and when appropriate, devastating. Recommended.    (8/10)

Source: TCM. 

[LawrenceA]

Tennessee Champ (1954) - Lightweight boxing flick from MGM and director Fred M. Wilcox. When young man Daniel Norson (Dewey Martin) believes that he's killed a man in a street fight, he gets rescued from the victim's friends by shady hustler Willy Wurble (Keenan Wynn). Wurble decides to use Daniel in some of his fixed boxing matches, but the born-again Daniel, going by the ring name "the Tennessee Champ", refuses the fixed fights, instead boxing and winning, in the process becoming a minor celebrity due to his religious convictions. Willy's wife Sarah (Shelley Winters) tries to make sure Willy doesn't exploit Daniel too much. Also featuring Earl Holliman, Dave O'Brien, Yvette Duguay, Frank Richards, Jack Kruschen, Bruno VeSota, and Charles Bronson.

This goofy time-waster, shot in terrible "AnscoColor", is a waste of Winters and Wynn. I watched it for Bronson, who's barely in it, although he received rather high billing. For boxing fanatics or religious movie devotees only.    (5/10)

Source: TCM.

 

[LawrenceA]

There's No Business Like Show Business (1954) - CinemaScope musical from 20th Century Fox and director Walter Lang. The movie follows the lives and loves of the Donahues, a family of vaudeville performers: father Terrance (Dan Dailey), mother Molly (Ethel Merman), elder son Tim (Donald O'Connor), daughter Katy (Mitzi Gaynor), and younger son Steve (Johnnie Ray). They persevere through changing tastes, the stock market crash, and the start of WW2. Tim falls for co-star Vicky (Marilyn Monroe), while Katy finds romance with writer Charles (Hugh O'Brian), and Steve pursues a different calling. Also featuring Richard Eastham, Frank McHugh, Rhys Williams, Lee Patrick, Eve Miller, Robin Raymond, John Doucette, Gavin Gordon, Lyle Talbot, Henry Slate, and George Chakiris. 

The threadbare story merely serves to connect a series of elaborate musical numbers designed to make the best of the new widescreen CinemaScope format. Director Lang and choreographer Robert Alton turn in some excellent work, and Donald O'Connor reportedly called this his favorite of his films (over Singin' in the Rain?!?). I watched this for Monroe, who doesn't impress much here. She supposedly didn't want to appear in this, but did so in order to win the lead in The Seven Year Itch. This was one of Fox's most expensive productions to date, and despite selling a lot of tickets, it ended up being a money-loser. It earned Oscar nominations for (inexplicably) Best Story (Lamar Trotti), Best Score (Alfred & Lionel Newman), and Best Color Costumes (Charles Le Maire, Miles White, Travilla).    (6/10)

Source: Fox DVD.

[Bethluvsfilms]

16 hours ago, TikiSoo said:

And while I too think Cliff Robertson is an astounding actor, I hated CHARLEY too. We had to read it in school and even as a teen I found the story trite. Same theme but without exploitation was later AWAKENINGS '90.... a true story!

CHARLY was a watchable movie but I felt it didn't really do the original story enough justice.

It was remade in the 2000's with the original title FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON with Matthew Modine that stuck more closely to the story. But it has never been aired again, why I don't know.

[speedracer5]

11 minutes ago, LawrenceA said:

There's No Business Like Show Business (1954) - CinemaScope musical from 20th Century Fox and director Walter Lang. The movie follows the lives and loves of the Donahues, a family of vaudeville performers: father Terrance (Dan Dailey), mother Molly (Ethel Merman), elder son Tim (Donald O'Connor), daughter Katy (Mitzi Gaynor), and younger son Steve (Johnnie Ray). They persevere through changing tastes, the stock market crash, and the start of WW2. Tim falls for co-star Vicky (Marilyn Monroe), while Katy finds romance with writer Charles (Hugh O'Brian), and Steve pursues a different calling. Also featuring Richard Eastham, Frank McHugh, Rhys Williams, Lee Patrick, Eve Miller, Robin Raymond, John Doucette, Gavin Gordon, Lyle Talbot, Henry Slate, and George Chakiris. 

The threadbare story merely serves to connect a series of elaborate musical numbers designed to make the best of the new widescreen CinemaScope format. Director Lang and choreographer Robert Alton turn in some excellent work, and Donald O'Connor reportedly called this his favorite of his films (over Singin' in the Rain?!?). I watched this for Monroe, who doesn't impress much here. She supposedly didn't want to appear in this, but did so in order to win the lead in The Seven Year Itch. This was one of Fox's most expensive productions to date, and despite selling a lot of tickets, it ended up being a money-loser. It earned Oscar nominations for (inexplicably) Best Story (Lamar Trotti), Best Score (Alfred & Lionel Newman), and Best Color Costumes (Charles Le Maire, Miles White, Travilla).    (6/10)

Source: Fox DVD.

 

I like this movie.  It has fun music and I thought the cast was excellent.  I know that Marilyn didn't want to be in the film, but I thought she did a good job regardless.  I thought all three of her numbers: "After You Get What You Want You Don't Want It," "Lazy," and "Heat Wave" were wonderful.  Donald O'Connor's solo number with the statues is kind of weird though.  The title number is the best one, but I also love Mitzi Gaynor and Donald O'Connor's rendition of "Alexander's Ragtime Band."  I also love "Lazy."  I thought Johnnie Ray's song, "If you Believe" was great too.

There's No Business Like Show Business is not the best musical I've seen but I really enjoy it and always come away feeling very envious of Mitzi Gaynor's great figure! Her red strapless dress in the finale number is gorgeous.

[LawrenceA]

15 minutes ago, speedracer5 said:

There's No Business Like Show Business is not the best musical I've seen but I really enjoy it and always come away feeling very envious of Mitzi Gaynor's great figure! Her red strapless dress in the finale number is gorgeous.

Indeed, I too noticed how well Mitzi fit into her outfits. She was in better shape than Marilyn!

[speedracer5]

1 minute ago, LawrenceA said:

Indeed, I too noticed how well Mitzi fit into her outfits. She was in better shape than Marilyn!

I love Mitzi Gaynor.  She just seems like so much fun.  Her TV Specials (I've seen I think 3 of them and she made 8 or 9 I think?) are fantastic and very entertaining.  I watched her documentary, Mitzi Gaynor: Razzle Dazzle! The Special Years, and it was one of the most fun documentaries I'd seen in awhile.  I loved it so much, I may purchase my own copy. 

I wish CBS would release all her TV Specials on DVD/Blu Ray as a collection.  Or at the very least, GetTV should air some more of them, since that's where I saw two of the specials I'd seen.  TCM aired her "Mitzi...A Tribute to the American Housewife" special a few years ago when they had Mitzi on as a special guest.  TCM is where I first learned about her TV Specials. 

[hamradio]

"The Last Jedi" (2017) on DVD today, goodness only 8 bucks new.

Movie is fair, are these Star War stories "Rogue One" and "Solo" (whatever is next) are better than the main episodes today?

Like how that cruiser cut Snoke's ship in half. 

 

Lets see a last Jedi, sort of like a last Mohican, there is always one more  

 

[Tikisoo]

I find it interesting to see both Shelly Winters & Marilyn Monroe photos & movie reviews on the same page here-

As we all know, both were roommates together early in their careers-both were beautiful blondes and even shared their clothing for photo shoots. This is a perfect example of two similar people in the same biz where one takes off to superstar status, while the other not-so-much. Winters was most likely the "better", more serious actress while Marilyn created a "baby doll schtick" of breathy voice, big vapid eyes & pouty mouth. Don't get me wrong-both gals worked hard at their craft, both were highly intelligent and talented.
But Marilyn got some really plum roles that showcased her talent & beauty while Shelly was often cast as an unlikeable, whining trollop. That difference seems to have colored the public's perception and ultimately their career arcs.

I know from reading a lot about both that MM willingly went the "casting couch" route to further her chances while Shelly stuck more to real romance for her bed partners. Could this really be the difference between their career trajectory? Or possibly their personality or expectations of stardom be so different?
I'd love to know what classic film fans think about these two similar ladies/different careers.

[Sepiatone]

15 hours ago, Fedya said:

Now I'm curious as to what sense that is. 

 

Was supposed to be "m a s o c h i s m", which isn't really a profanity, so I don't understand the obliteration. 

Sepiatone                                                                                                                                                             

[LawrenceA]

3 hours ago, TikiSoo said:

I know from reading a lot about both that MM willingly went the "casting couch" route to further her chances while Shelly stuck more to real romance for her bed partners. Could this really be the difference between their career trajectory? Or possibly their personality or expectations of stardom be so different?
I'd love to know what classic film fans think about these two similar ladies/different careers.

Well, obviously Marilyn is the bigger star, and while she was talented in her own way, her enduring fame is partially based on her early death, the mysterious aura around it, and her connection to various powerful men. She became a tragic figure, and her death was nearly as symbolic as JFK's death in signalling an end of an era. 

Winters was a working actress. Sure she started out playing romantic parts, but she was almost always still very earthy. I confess to disliking her when I was younger, often just seeing her as a desperate ham who was either drunk or totally out of control with her histrionic style. That summation has changed over the years, especially after seeing more of her earlier work, and I respect her more, although I still wouldn't count her among my favorites. Off screen she was a great character, full of fun anecdotes, and the subject of many herself. 

[LawrenceA]

Valley of the Kings (1954) - Eastmancolor adventure from MGM and director Robert Pirosh. Rugged American archaeologist Mark Brandon (Robert Taylor) agrees to help Ann Mercedes (Eleanor Parker), the daughter of Brandon's deceased mentor, try to find a legendary Egyptian tomb buried somewhere in the desert reaches. They face all sorts of perils, both natural and man-made. Also featuring Carlos Thompson, Kurt Kasznar, Victor Jory, Leon Askin, Aldo Silvani, Frank DeKova, Laurette Luez, and Samia Gamal.

In the intro by Ben Mankiewicz, he discusses how this movie inspired Steven Spielberg and George Lucas when they were writing Raiders of the Lost Ark, and it's quite apparent while watching the movie, with some scenes carried over to that later film. Unfortunately this isn't anywhere near the quality of that later film, either, with some dull stretches, uninspired performances, and a clumsy conclusion. There is enough Egyptian flavor to keep things interesting for the most part, if not exciting, and from the reported troubles during the filming of the movie, it's a miracle things turned out as well as they did.   (6/10)

Source: TCM.

[CaveGirl]

21 hours ago, LawrenceA said:

Senso aka The Wanton Countess (1954) - Italian historical melodrama, from Lux Film and director Luchino Visconti. The setting is Venice in 1866. The Austrian army has occupied the city-state, and will not allow it to unite with Italy. A small but increasingly vocal faction of Venetian revolutionaries are working toward rebellion, aided by the Prussians. It is with this background the main story unfolds, as Venetian countess Livia (Alida Valli), unhappily married to the much older Count (Heinz Moog), begins an affair with arrogant young Austrian officer Franz Mahler (Farley Granger). Mahler is using Livia as a diversion and for her money, but she becomes more and more obsessed with him, even as full-blown war erupts around them. Also featuring Massimo Girotti, Rina Morelli, Christian Marquand, Sergio Fantoni, Tino Bianchi, and Marcella Mariani.

This torrid romantic melodrama is best appreciated for Visconti's painterly compositions, the excellent location cinematography, and the detailed costumes and set design. The story itself is merely adequate, and the performances are uneven. Valli has some great moments, but in others she's asked to play it too wild-eyed and big. Granger is sneering and self-satisfied, but he loses it a bit in his big breakdown scene near the end. Visconti edited an English-language version which was re-titled The Wanton Countess and ran 30 minutes shorter. That version's English dialogue was written by Tennessee Williams and Paul Bowles. Among Visconti's assistants on this film were future directors Francesco Rosi and Franco Zeffirelli. This is one of the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.    (7/10)

Source: FilmStruck

A fine movie deserves a great review, and yours fits the bill, Lawrence...so thanks!

[CaveGirl]

4 hours ago, TikiSoo said:

I find it interesting to see both Shelly Winters & Marilyn Monroe photos & movie reviews on the same page here-

As we all know, both were roommates together early in their careers-both were beautiful blondes and even shared their clothing for photo shoots. This is a perfect example of two similar people in the same biz where one takes off to superstar status, while the other not-so-much. Winters was most likely the "better", more serious actress while Marilyn created a "baby doll schtick" of breathy voice, big vapid eyes & pouty mouth. Don't get me wrong-both gals worked hard at their craft, both were highly intelligent and talented.
But Marilyn got some really plum roles that showcased her talent & beauty while Shelly was often cast as an unlikeable, whining trollop. That difference seems to have colored the public's perception and ultimately their career arcs.

I know from reading a lot about both that MM willingly went the "casting couch" route to further her chances while Shelly stuck more to real romance for her bed partners. Could this really be the difference between their career trajectory? Or possibly their personality or expectations of stardom be so different?
I'd love to know what classic film fans think about these two similar ladies/different careers.

If I recall correctly having seen Shelley many times talking on talk shows, about Marilyn as a roommate, Shelley said that personally she was looking to date men that she found attractive, like Burt Lancaster but when asking Marilyn who she would like to date, Marilyn would come up with names like Albert Einstein. The drift seemed to be that Marilyn was always looking at the men not so much as romantic partners, as Shelley was...but more as possible stepping stones or men who could be an aid to her career, as newsworthy individuals in their own right like Arthur Miller or the Yankee Clipper. Shelley was more into hunks who were appealing in their looks and personality and Marilyn seemed to want men of a more lofty professional status, from what I remember of what Shellley stated on shows. I mean, I'm sure if Marilyn dated Einstein it would certainly have made the news, but Shelley dating the likes of Vittorio Gassman would seem de rigueur for an actress of the time and not that newsworthy. Marilyn always knew how to work it, as in even having an affair with Yves Montand, though she was friends with his then wife, Simone Signoret. Interesting discussion, Tiki!

[NickAndNora34]

CROOKED HOUSE (2017) Score: 3/5 

Starring: Glenn Close, Gillian Anderson, Max Irons, Christina Hendricks, Terence Stamp, Stefanie Martini, Honor Kneafsey, Julian Sands, Christian McKay, Amanda Abbington, Preston Nyman, John Heffernan.

A newer take on the Agatha Christie novel of the same name; I enjoyed the fact that the plot of this stayed very true to the original story. The acting was very good. I particularly enjoyed Gillian Anderson in the role of the actress mother, who tends to put her career before her 3 children. 

Essentially, Irons played a young detective who is called by a former girlfriend to assist in discovering whether or not her eccentric grandfather was murdered by someone living in the large estate (be it family or help). 

[EricJ]

10 hours ago, hamradio said:

"The Last Jedi" (2017) on DVD today, goodness only 8 bucks new.

Movie is fair, are these Star War stories "Rogue One" and "Solo" (whatever is next) are better than the main episodes today?

Some say "No", and in Last Jedi's case, some say "Oh, HELL no... ?"

And after Solo, frankly, even Disney's not sure what's next besides the Ep. IX "finale", but smart money is that whatever it is, it'll be downgraded to the new streaming service.  There are very few examples of "the Franchise Killer", and you've just officially watched one.

Winters was a working actress. Sure she started out playing romantic parts, but she was almost always still very earthy. I confess to disliking her when I was younger, often just seeing her as a desperate ham who was either drunk or totally out of control with her histrionic style. That summation has changed over the years, especially after seeing more of her earlier work, and I respect her more, although I still wouldn't count her among my favorites. Off screen she was a great character, full of fun anecdotes, and the subject of many herself. 

I certainly wouldn't have cast Marilyn as Lolita's mother in the Kubrick film, if that's what you mean...

[LawrenceA]

White Christmas (1954) - VistaVision Technicolor musical from Paramount Pictures and director Michael Curtiz. Entertainers and WW2 buddies Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kaye) travel to Vermont to a ski lodge owned by their former commanding officer, Gen. Waverly (Dean Jagger). The place is struggling to stay open, so Bob & Phil, along with sister act Betty (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy Haynes (Vera Ellen), do their best to draw in customers by offering nightly shows. Also featuring Mary Wickes, John Brascia, Anne Whitfield, Grady Sutton, I. Stanford Jolley, Barrie Chase, Gavin Gordon, Percy Helton, Sig Ruman, and George Chakiris.

I found this entertaining despite it seeming old-fashioned for the time. It seems more like a mid-40's movie than a mid-50's one, but that's not a bad thing for me. Crosby croons, Clooney sings, Kaye brings the humor, and Vera Ellen has a few good dance numbers (choreographed by Robert Alton and an uncredited Bob Fosse). Crosby was starting to look old at this point, and was in fact older than "old man" Dean Jagger. This was the first film released in VistaVision, which is the "medium widescreen", larger than the old classic square ratio, but not as wide as CinemaScope.  The movie was nominated for the Oscar for Best Song ("Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep"). Stay to the end to watch everyone get sprinkled with asbestos.    (7/10)

Source: Paramount DVD.