Tuesday, November 05, 2019
Klute
- Commentary: I love, love, love this movie! I did not see it originally in the theater, although I was certainly old enough to see it (on Guam, where I was living at the time, age restrictions on adult material were rigorously enforced). I don't remember it even playing on Guam, which isn't surprising because, frankly, movies were a few-and-far-between entertainment for our family when I was growing up. It was probably shown on Guam. One of my sisters and I saw Midnight Cowboy and I am Curious (Yellow) on Guam. For some reason, though, I wasn't aware of Klute coming out.
I don't really remember when I first saw it, but it's been a staple of my movie diet since. I don't think Mom ever saw it. I think I may have "hidden" it from her when I checked it out while she was alive. I was probably being too cautious, but, then again ... well, you just never know, when you're dealing with a "pure spirit". Still, thinking about it, now, I don't think she would have liked it, or even been interested in following it.
I have several reasons for loving this movie. The acting is spot on. The atmospherics are spot on. The cinematography is spot on. It isn't a surface movie, one of the reasons I appended the tag "economic" to this movie ... it is a movie about the economics of women, which is the reason I also appended the tag "women's-movie" to it. It's definitely a multilayered drama. I'm glad I own the Criterion edition of this movie. The special features are interesting and well thought out.
For my money, though, it's one of my favorite creepy thrillers, if not my most favorite (and, I'm not really sure what my favorite creepy thriller is).
For your information, for fun (movie mavens find our "fun" in strange ways) the 3rd tier of the Actor/Role table below is later famous actors who played bit parts in this movie. All but Jean Stapleton are uncredited. I think you'll find it as interesting as I did.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Jane Fonda Bree Daniels Donald Sutherland John Klute Charles Cioffi Peter Cable Roy Scheider Frank Ligourin Dorothy Tristan Arlyn Page Rita Gam Trina Nathan George Trask Vivian Nathan Psychiatrist Jean Stapleton Goldfarb's Secretary Veronica Hamel Model Kevin Dobson Man at Bar Sylvester Stallone Club Patron
Release Date: 1971
Directed by Alan J. Pakula.
Labels: alan-j-pakula, Criterion1, detective1, donald-sutherland, drama2, economic, neo-noirA, paranoia-trilogy, suspense1, thriller1, women's-movie1
