I Just Watched...

[LornaHansonForbes]

If my moniker wasn't available I probably would have some reference to cats in my name here.

 

[LornaHansonForbes]

WATCH ON THE RHINE (1943)

 

I hate this movie and next-to-nothing about it works...well, I guess Beulah Bondhi and George Coulorous (sp?) are okay- but nothing else works. 

 

The direction is limp and lethargic- many scenes come to a screeching halt- abrupt edits and the soundtrack just stopping dead in its tracks serve as the transition to a new scene more than once. It's static and stagey- about 90% of the action takes place on a standard, overly opulent Warner Bros. mansion set (the message- and conflict of the film would, I think, be easier to digest were these people not so obviously filthy rich and priviledged. )

 

The performances are awful- Lucille Watson (who I usually like, although she always seemed to be playing the same role)- comes off particularly bad, it's a smug, contrived performance and most of her scenes are played with a corsage so massive, it seems like a camellia bush is pinned to her b o s o m. Bette Davis- who I love- apparently (according to every source)  took on the "supporting part" of the wife because she believed in the material, it is not a supporting part- she has more screen time that anyone else, and it is- at many moments- one of her most mannered and out-of-control performances (and that is saying a lot)- on the flip side, she's waaaay too sedate and maudlin in many other scenes. the actors playing her kids- the number of which seems to change throughout the film, by the end it seems like she and Lukas have almost as many as the Duggars- are stilted and forced. Geraldine Fitzgerald- a marvelous actress- is given a terrible role and some awful dialogue.

 

apparently the director of the film was a first timer and that explains a lot (esp. when it comes to allowing Davis to overdo it).

 

what explains even more is this trivia entry i found about the film on imdb:

 

A first time film director, Herman Shumlin had to be constantly reminded that he couldn't do repeated takes of each scene as there was a war on and celluloid film had to be rationed.

 

Boom. That explains a lot- especially the biggest fault in the movie, which is the just barely adequate performance given by Paul Lukas, who is visibly struggling with his English in every scene (he sounds like BELA LUGOSI) and who infuses the part with not so much as an ounce of the same charisma that Paul Henreid or Charles Boyer (hell, even CONRAD VEIDT) would've brought to the role. There is not so much as a hint of nuance to Lukas's work, watching it, one would get the impression he was an utter novice to both the role and the acting profession.

 

WATCH ON THE RHINE is a simplistic, heavy-handed, ham-fisted mess of a film and the fact that Lukas won the Oscar over  BOGART IN CASABLANCA  (who in every way gives the subtle, complicated, nuanced performance that Lukas could only dream of giving) is one of the worst injustices in the entire history of The Oscars.

 

*1/2 out of four

[EugeniaH]

So true!  I didn't like it along the way and then got into it.  It got better, I thought.

 

[ Talking about "The Poseidon Adventure"... ]

 

It did get a little better, and the special effects were good.

 

But among other things, I couldn't believe it when, at the beginning when Rogo's wife Nonnie is shown sick in bed, you can actually see white pancake makeup all over her face!  (I noticed this on my friend's 42" TV, not to mention what people must have seen on a movie screen...)  Everyone, including the reverend, also swore an awful lot - which I didn't care about in and of itself - but it sounded so contrived, like they were 'packing all the words in' for effect, because the censor board said they now could. 

[film lover 293]

EugeniaH--Oh, but "The Poseidon Adventure" (1972) Delivers on the Special Effects!

[EugeniaH]

EugeniaH--Oh, but "The Poseidon Adventure" (1972) Delivers on the Special Effects!

 

On this they were great.  They could do disaster, but they had trouble showing a seasick person! 

[film lover 293]

EugeniaH--Stella Stevens and Ernest Borgnine should have won Special Oscars for "Funniest Couple Snarling Their Way Through a Disaster Movie".  Stevens especially is hysterically funny as she alternately snarls, coos, and shrieks her way through the film.  Those two make the film; the Special Effects are icing on the cake, LOL.

[EugeniaH]

EugeniaH--Stella Stevens and Ernest Borgnine should have won Special Oscars for "Funniest Couple Snarling Their Way Through a Disaster Movie".  Stevens especially is hysterically funny as she alternately snarls, coos, and shrieks her way through the film.  Those two make the film; the Special Effects are icing on the cake, LOL.

 

As I was watching Borgnine's acting particular I did think to myself, "It's been a downward slide from Marty..."

[Kid Dabb]

...should have won Special Oscars for "Funniest Couple Snarling Their Way Through a Disaster Movie"...

That's a great line.

 

In that genre there must have been at least 50 couples up for that award each Oscar year. I couldn't help that remark. With very few exceptions, I feel nearly all of those disaster movies were all about people "snarling their way through.." one thing or another - not even related to 'the disaster'.

[Bogie56]

As I was watching Borgnine's acting particular I did think to myself, "It's been a downward slide from Marty..."

 

I don't think you should look at it that way.  Ernest Borgnine almost didn't get Marty.  So, really it was a moment in the sun for a jobbing actor like him.  And there's nothing wrong with that.

[GregoryPeckfan]

Have you ever seen EYE OF THE CAT, the 1969 Universal movie?  There's plenty o'puddy tats in this suspense tale. 

No.  I'll add that to my to-see list.

[GregoryPeckfan]

Watch Harry and Tonto

Yes, that is one of my favourites.

[Fedya]

I really enjoy Shelley Winters' character in The Poseidon Adventure.

 

She seems to have had a lot of trouble with water throughout her career:

 

Meeting John Garfield at a public swimming pool in He Ran All the Way

Going for a boat trip with Monty Clift in A Place in the Sun

Her final shot in Night of the Hunter

And The Poseidon Adventure

[Casablanca100views]

Too Late For Tears   (1949)

 

By the title, it sounded like a woman's weepy (maybe a melodrama?), but it's anything but!  It is late 40's noir.  The movie starts very women's film sort, with Arthur Kennedy and lovely wife Lizabeth Scott.  But cool-headed Jane (Lizabeth Scott) is the sort of woman a man doesn't want to be left trusting her for anything.  Surprisingly, she ends up matching wits with the like of Dan Duryea and Don DeFore as story moves.  

 

Rounding out the cast is at least the sweet, good girl to counter the evil Jane; sister-in-law Kathy (Kristine Miller).  Family tensions indeed.

 

And there's a nice little subplot about what really motivates the police to get involved. Very noir-ish to me, indeed.  I enjoyed it. 

[cigarjoe]

The Spider (1945) Directed by Robert D. Webb Starring Richard Conte, Faye Marlowe, Kurt Kreuger (The Dark Corner), Ann Savage (Detour), Mantan Moreland, John Harvey, Martin Kosleck and Walter Sande. Interesting low budget film that was Richard Conte's first Noir, set in New Orleans. He plays a private detective who is hired to retrieve a letter for a client. The letter is held by his sometime partner Ann Savage who unfortunately is soon murdered. Mantan Moreland provides some eye popping stereotypical shtick as Conte's associate. 5/10

[GregoryPeckfan]

Too Late For Tears   (1949)

 

By the title, it sounded like a woman's weepy (maybe a melodrama?), but it's anything but!  It is late 40's noir.  The movie starts very women's film sort, with Arthur Kennedy and lovely wife Lizabeth Scott.  But cool-headed Jane (Lizabeth Scott) is the sort of woman a man doesn't want to be left trusting her for anything.  Surprisingly, she ends up matching wits with the like of Dan Duryea and Don DeFore as story moves.  

 

Rounding out the cast is at least the sweet, good girl to counter the evil Jane; sister-in-law Kathy (Kristine Miller).  Family tensions indeed.

 

And there's a nice little subplot about what really motivates the police to get involved. Very noir-ish to me, indeed.  I enjoyed it. 

I saw this for the first time last year.  Despite the title, I would never have gotten the genre confused because the female lead was Lizabeth Scott who died last year.  She was best known for being in film noir titles.  I loved it.

[darkblue]

EugeniaH--Stella Stevens and Ernest Borgnine should have won Special Oscars for "Funniest Couple Snarling Their Way Through a Disaster Movie".  Stevens especially is hysterically funny as she alternately snarls, coos, and shrieks her way through the film.  Those two make the film; the Special Effects are icing on the cake, LOL.

 

Almost as funny as the hilarious-just-to look-at couple of Nick and Loretta (played by Dan Hedaya and Jean Kasem) on 'Cheers'.

[MCannady1]

I saw this for the first time last year.  Despite the title, I would never have gotten the genre confused because the female lead was Lizabeth Scott who died last year.  She was best known for being in film noir titles.  I loved it.

Great film.  You would love I Walk Alone with Kirk Douglas,  Liz Scott and Burt Lancaster.  That one is great too with wonderful background music.  Kristine Miller is in that one too. 

[LornaHansonForbes]

Great film. You would love I Walk Alone with Kirk Douglas, Liz Scott and Burt Lancaster. That one is great too with wonderful background music. Kristine Miller is in that one too.

I also recommend DESERT FURY, (1947) which is in very bright Technicolor and has some gorgeous Western scenery. In spite of the color, it's definitely a noir and Lizabeth stars with Mary Astor, Wendell Corey, & I think maybe John Hodiak in a film that has some decidedly gay undertones.

 

It hasn't shown on TCM- maybe ever, but if you check online you may be able to find it there.

[GregoryPeckfan]

Great film.  You would love I Walk Alone with Kirk Douglas,  Liz Scott and Burt Lancaster.  That one is great too with wonderful background music.  Kristine Miller is in that one too. 

Thanks for the recommendation.  I have seen I Walk Alone.   It is a favourite of mine.

[Fedya]

I also recommend DESERT FURY, (1947) which is in very bright Technicolor and has some gorgeous Western scenery.

As opposed to Captain Queeg not getting his second helping of strawberries, which would be DESSERT FURY.

[JamesJazGuitar]

Thanks for the recommendation.  I have seen I Walk Alone.   It is a favourite of mine.

 

While there is a lot to like about I Walk Alone I feel the ending is a cop-out.   The Douglas character is a new type of gangster.  One that uses accountants and lawyers to gain wealth instead of hoods (a fairly common noir theme).   The Lancaster character is an old type of hood; one use to using his fists instead of his brains.      

 

Lancaster gets out of prison and finds out he doesn't have any leverage to get his cut.    I really enjoy the film up to that point but towards the end the Douglas character abandons being a new type of gangster and goes back to his old ways.    The end result is Douglas going down while Lancaster and Scott go off in the night.    I would have preferred a noir ending where Lancaster has no choice but to use violence and the ending is Scott looking over both of their dead bodies. 

[LornaHansonForbes]

As opposed to Captain Queeg not getting his second helping of strawberries, which would be DESSERT FURY.

Tee hee, tee hee.

[GregoryPeckfan]

Now that the spam is cleared up, I wanted to say that I saw the WWII movie SQUADRON 633 for the first time earlier today as it aired on Silver Screen Classics.

 

This 1964 movie stars Cliff Roberson and George Chakiris with Harry Andrews and lots of great character actors.

 

The squadron is fictional, and the movie is based upon a novel.

 

I enjoyed the movie and would watch it again if it aired on television.

 

I had a lot more to say about this earlier, but now I am getting ready to watch my copy of Charade in honour of George Kennedy.

[MCannady1]

While there is a lot to like about I Walk Alone I feel the ending is a cop-out.   The Douglas character is a new type of gangster.  One that uses accountants and lawyers to gain wealth instead of hoods (a fairly common noir theme).   The Lancaster character is an old type of hood; one use to using his fists instead of his brains.      

 

Lancaster gets out of prison and finds out he doesn't have any leverage to get his cut.    I really enjoy the film up to that point but towards the end the Douglas character abandons being a new type of gangster and goes back to his old ways.    The end result is Douglas going down while Lancaster and Scott go off in the night.    I would have preferred a noir ending where Lancaster has no choice but to use violence and the ending is Scott looking over both of their dead bodies. 

Yes, I see what you mean about Kirk's character.  He certainly used Frankie!  That was awful that Burt's character Frankie lost his brother (an early good performance by Wendell Corey) in the final shoot-out.   I do like some of Kirk's early roles too.  He made a good victim in Martha Ivers.  

 

I was really charmed by the background music in I Walk Alone (sadly uncredited) by a wonderful band in the nightclub.  I love their rendition of Heart and Soul and Lizabeth Scott's singing in the film.  (This may have been dubbed, but was just lovely).

 

The first time I saw the film I really thought Lancaster would finish off Douglas.  He was so filled with anger and justifiably so at his friend's betrayal,  Douglas was indifferent to his friend being stuck in jail a number of years because of him. 

 

Kristine Miller was certainly different in this film. She was going to buy off Douglas with her money (and sex), but he vacillated between both women.   Of course Liz Scott's character went for Frankie. 

[MCannady1]

I also recommend DESERT FURY, (1947) which is in very bright Technicolor and has some gorgeous Western scenery. In spite of the color, it's definitely a noir and Lizabeth stars with Mary Astor, Wendell Corey, & I think maybe John Hodiak in a film that has some decidedly gay undertones.

 

It hasn't shown on TCM- maybe ever, but if you check online you may be able to find it there.

Love Desert Fury too which is very lovely in Technicolor. I really like the story and the great acting.  It is a very good Film Noir with Lizabeth Scott, Mary Astor and Wendell Corey.  I think John Hodiak was very effective too with sudden violent moods.  (I am naive and didn't see the undertones, but felt he was a scary boyfriend to have.  I'd prefer Wendell instead).

 

Mary's home had a stunning picture window like a terrarium with multi-colored cactus plants.

 

Sad thing that John died all too soon.  He did leave us a legacy of good films; Desert Fury, Somewhere in the Night and Homecoming.  I read that he was married to Anne Baxter for awhile.