Movies, Mom & Me

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    I am really looking forward to this film! I discovered it this morning as I was looking through a list of films released in 1951 (my birth year) after having catalogued films already in my collection that were released in that year. There's quite a bit of information about this unusual sounding film (unusual for its time, anyway) and I became so intrigued that I decided, despite it being a bit pricey, I'd like to not only watch it but add it to my collection.
    I'm a bit concerned, actually, because of a few buyer comments at a few sites that mention that the quality of the packaging, and the disc, itself, left something to be desired, but all those comments are some years old, so, you know, we'll see. If necessary, I can always contact the seller for a better copy. I really hope I don't need to do that, though.
    While the descriptions I've read of the movie are provocative, I haven't gotten much of a sense of what it's "about", except that it takes place in a girls' school and involves intertwining relationships among teachers and students.
    Anyway, I should be receiving it shortly and will watch it as soon as I receive it. And report back. Of course.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Edwige Feuillère	Mlle. Julie	Simone Simon	Mlle. Cara	Marie-Claire Olivia	Olivia Dealey	Yvonne de Bray	Victoire
  Suzanne Dehelly	Mlle. Dubois	Marina de Berg	Mimi	Lesly Meynard	Frau Riesener	Danièle Delorme	Une ancienne élève
  Rina Rhéty	Signorina	Tania Soucault	Georgie	Elly Norden	Laura	Nadine Olivier	Cécile

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1951
    Directed by Jacqueline Audry.

Labels: birth-year

# posted by gail @ 04:30    0 comments    email......this post

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  Commentary:  Under construction.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Michael Redgrave	Andrew Crocker-Harris	Jean Kent	Millie Crocker-Harris	Nigel Patrick	Frank Hunter	Ronald Howard	Gilbert
  Wilfrid Hyde-White	Dr. Frobisher	Brian Smith	Taplow	Bill Travers	Fletcher	Judith Furse	Mrs. Williamson
  Peter Jones	Carstairs	Sarah Lawson	Betty Carstairs	Scott Harold	Rev. Williamson	Paul Medland	Wilson

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1951
    Directed by Anthony Asquith.

Labels: birth-year, Criterion7, teaching

# posted by gail @ 17:05    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Bette Davis	Janet Frobisher	Gary Merrill	George Bates	Emlyn Williams	Dr. Henderson	Anthony Steel	Larry Stevens

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1951
    Directed by Irving Rapper.

Labels: bette-davis, birth-year, film-noir3, goflexA, melodramaB, thriller4

# posted by gail @ 17:01    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    Another movie released the year I was born.
    In order to access the full article on this movie linked in the title of this post, you'll need to click into the beginning of it on TCM. It's worth it.
    Here is a shorter, kinder review.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Lana Turner	Fredda Barlo	Ezio Pinza	Mr. Imperium	Marjorie Main	Mrs. Cabot	Barry Sullivan	Paul Hunter
  Cedric Hardwicke	Bernand	Debbie Reynolds	Gwen	Ann Codee	Anna Pelan	The Guadalajara Trio	Themselves

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1951
    Directed by Don Hartman.

Labels: birth-year, debbie-reynolds, goflexA, marjorie-main, musical2, romance5

# posted by gail @ 04:37    0 comments    email......this post

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  Commentary:  This is one I'd seen before and it didn't disappoint the second time around.
    I'm glad I own it (not only because it's a good movie, but because it was released in the year I was born. In my post about Ace in the Hole I mention my interest in watching films from that year).
    Psychologically dastardly.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Farley Granger	Guy Haines	Ruth Roman	Anne Morton	Robert Walker	Bruno Antony	Leo G. Carroll	Senator Morton
  Patricia Hitchcock	Barbara Morton	Kasey Rogers	Miriam Joyce Haines	Marion Lorne	Mrs. Antony	Jonathan Hale	Mr. Antony

  
    One of Roger Ebert's Great Movies.
    Originally published in this journal on 081416.
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1951
    Directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

Labels: alfred-hitchcock, birth-year, film-noir3, melodramaB

# posted by gail @ 01:37    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Anita Björk	Miss Julie	Ulf Palme	Jean	Märta Dorff	Kristin	Lissi Alandh	Countess Berta
  Anders Henrikson	Count Carl	Kurt-Olof Sundström	Julie's fiancé	Åke Fridell	Robert	Max von Sydow	Hand

  
    Here is the link to the Wikipedia article on this movie.
    Release Date: 1951
    Directed by Alf Sjöberg.

Labels: §, birth-year, Criterion3, max-von-sydow, romance4

# posted by gail @ 21:01    0 comments    email......this post

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  Commentary:  I didn't know anything about this film when I first checked it out for viewing. I was on a binge, at the time, of watching movies that were made the year I was born and this was one of them. I barely remember any of the other movies I found (not a lot; our county library system is a bit short of 1951 films, even though there were plenty made, according to this list, 1,744, to be exact). This was not the only 1951 movie Kirk Douglas made, and it's not the only 1951 movie I own, but it's a doozy.
    If you think the late 1960's through the early-to-mid 1970's had the bead on socially relevant movies, watch this one. The behavior depicted (brilliantly, in my estimation) in this film is so ubiquitous, now-a-days, not only by individual journalists (of which there are many Chuck Tatums) but by entire media corporations, that many don't even realize there is a problem ... until, that is, they watch this 68 year old movie. If you entertain, even a little bit, a healthy skepticism of today's media, you should treat yourself to this movie.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Kirk Douglas	Chuck Tatum	Jan Sterling	Kirk Douglas	Kirk Douglas	Herbie Cook	Porter Hall	Jacob Q. Boot
  Frank Cady	Mr. Federber	Richard Benedict	Leo Minosa	Ray Teal	Sheriff Kretzer	Lewis Martin	McCardle
  John Berkes	Papa Minosa	Frances Dominguez	Mama Minosa	Gene Evans	Deputy Sheriff	Frank Jaquet	Sam Smollett
  Harry Harvey Sr.	Dr. Hilton	Bob Bumpas	Radio Announcer	Richard Gaines	Nagel	Bert Moorhouse	Josh Morgan

  
    One of Roger Ebert's Great Movies.
    Here's the link to the Wikipedia write-up for this film.
    Release Date: 1951
    Directed by Billy Wilder.

Labels: birth-year, Criterion1, drama2, film-noir1, journalism, kirk-douglas, melodramaB, political1, psychological1, suspense1

# posted by gail @ 11:24    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Why did I come by this one? Hmmm ... one day about a month ago I decided to check out La La Land from the library. Mind you, other than it being a musical that was heralded and had won lots of awards, and who starred in it, I knew nothing about it. Hadn't read anything on it, laudatory, critical or otherwise. I happened to mention to my niece, the actor with whom I share a love of films, that I'd borrowed it for a line-up of movie watching. She confessed to me that it was her favorite film and asked to know my reactions once I'd watched it. I trust her tastes and instincts so I was ready to love the film. As well, I knew it was written and directed by the same guy who is responsible for Whiplash, a movie I loved, so I was excited to see it. Still and all, it took me a couple more weeks to get around to watching it. By that time, my anticipation level was through the roof. I should have remembered my experience with Mary Poppins decades ago. Oh well.
    Certainly, I enjoyed watching La La Land, but my anticipation was not satisfied. I did, however, notice significant correlations with Singin' in the Rain, which I own, and An American in Paris, which, at the time, I didn't own. I decided I wanted to do a comparison of La La Land with both. I borrowed An American in Paris from the library, watched it and was reminded of how intriguing and masterful that film is. That's when I looked it up, found a reasonably priced copy and decided to buy it. Although I've noticed, since buying and watching it (twice, and once for all the special features, which are very interesting), that Singin' in the Rain is celebrated more than An American in Paris, well, let's just say, An American in Paris is such a treat I'm surprised we never bought it when Mom was alive.
    Since watching it, I've become curious about musicals as a form in themselves, and have been working my way back through my own meager collection and checking even more out of the library. Considering what I own, this is a worthy addition.
    In case you're curious, here's what my initial verdict on La La Land was to my niece:

    I just finished my first viewing of "La La Land". I say that because I'm convinced I'll have to watch it again, probably tomorrow, while it's fresh in my mind. That's because I'm, well, ambivalent.
    I was prepared to love it because it was written and directed by the same guy who wrote and directed "Whiplash", which I absolutely loved. When I learned that he is responsible for "La La Land", without knowing anything about the movie (including before I watched it this evening) [I know, hard to believe but I didn't look it up anywhere before I watched it and didn't run across any material about it prior, even though it was such a smash], except that it is a musical, I figured the movie must have a really interesting take on Hollywood musicals because, well, holy shit, this guy did "Whiplash"! So, I was shocked to discover how wrong I was. That realization is taking some getting used to. It is obvious, though, that the writer/director has serious chops, being able to do "Whiplash", then turn around and do "La La Land".
    Right off the bat, here are some things I loved about the movie. Ryan Gosling, for one, but, I love him in anything. He could play a mushroom and I'd love him. "The Fools Who Dream" song, for another; that whole sequence, in fact. Sounds like my theme song! Sounds like I'm Mia's aunt, except for the whole Paris thing. Even better, though, I'm your aunt, and Emma Stone is merely a stand-in for you in that movie! I'll just go to Paris, and invite you!
    The movie is clearly a revival of the old-time Hollywood musical. I easily recognized many parts of "An American in Paris" (which I saw with Mom too many times to recall, on TCM; it was a regular, so we never needed to own it) and just about every Ginger Rogers/Fred Astaire movie in existence (all of which I saw more than once with Mom on TCM). The brilliant color is taken right out of just about every musical Gene Kelly ever made. Sadly, neither Emma Stone nor Ryan Gosling are very good singers or dancers. [Frankly, Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire were only passable actors, but Ginger Rogers was good; even more so, Leslie Caron.] That was mildly disturbing. But, I think I can forgive them that, since both are, clearly, well developed and flexible actors. It would have been nice, though, if great actors who were also stellar singers and dancers had been given the parts. Hollywood should spend more time checking out stage musical actors. I'm not sure why such people weren't sought out for roles like this. I really like those old musicals, too, so I was ready to be wowed by this reinterpretation ... but I wasn't. I loved how Chazelle worked in the day-dream sequences, how he introduced them, what he did with them. The final one when Mia and her husband were watching Sebastian in his club was lovely. That's right out of "An American in Paris", including the use of the road. He must have a thing for that movie. In fact, I'm surprised he didn't attempt to resurrect Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron. To be fair, there was stuff from "Singin' in the Rain", too, specifically Gene Kelly's work. And, the dancing on stars and clouds? Ginger Rodgers and Fred Astaire.
    Initial impressions of the story: Sad, sometimes sober, sometimes delightfully silly, sweet, sweet, sweet. The music? Aside from the "The Fools Who Dream", which I loved, okay. Definitely enjoyable. The production was made for the big screen, rather than the home screen, I think. My TV screen sometimes had trouble with the spotlighting techniques used. It seemed to me that there were places where the movie story went flat, but it never stayed that way and I'm willing to concede, upon a second viewing, that it may have just been me.
    One more tiny, tiny thing about the movie: The end disappointed me. I don't usually have problems with movies in which initial relationships wither and evolve into others, like the branches of a tree. For some reason, though, and I'll have to reconfirm this with a second watching, Chazelle did not prep his audience well for it in this movie. It was, frankly, an unpleasant denouement to see Mia with a throw-away husband and kid, even as she was a famous actor. And the suggestion that Sebastian was alone in his personal life. Yes, I know, I saw the two something-or-others he was frying up in the pan before going to his nightclub, but, where was his throw-away wife and kid? Better yet, there never was a really good explanation for why Mia and Sebastian weren't married to each other with a kidlet, and an international acting career, and a successful night club. Not good story construction. Chazelle needs to work on crafting realistic, believable and successful love relationships.

    Frankly, I prefer An American in Paris, Singin' in the Rain and, dare I say it, all the other musicals I own, over La La Land. But, it was the watching of La La Land that has launched me on a serious consideration of musicals (I've made a list of several I'm planning on borrowing within the next months) and the ownership of yet another, this one. For that, I'm grateful.
  Update 11/18/21:  By the way, each mention of the name of this movie in this write-up is linked to a different review (including the last link, which is the Wikipedia write-up). This is such a famous movie and so many people are familiar with it, I thought it would be fun to scatter the availability of internet reviews throughout this write-up. I know, my sense of fun doesn't have much to recommend it, but it's mine and I enjoy it.
  Update 6/4/22:  Yet another movie made during the year I was born!
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Gene Kelly	Jerry Mulligan	Leslie Caron	Lise Bouvier	Oscar Levant	Adam Cook	Georges Guétary	Henri Baurel
  Nina Foch	Milo Roberts	Eugene Borden	Georges Mattieu	John Eldredge	Jack Jansen	Anna Q. Nilsson	Kay Jansen

  
    An American in Paris [Wikipedia write-up attached] is breathtaking. I'm glad I own it.
    Release Date: 1951
    Directed by Vincente Minnelli.

Labels: birth-year, dance, dream1, fantasy1, film-art1, mom-favorite1, musical1, popcorn-and-soda2, romance1, spectacle1

# posted by gail @ 05:42    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  I'm putting no labels on this collection other than the "collection" label, since this write-up includes four very different movies. It is interesting to note that the collection is named "Romantic Dramas" by TCM, who put it together, which I like because, having watched all of these movies at least once, they are romantic in the old tradition. Yes, they include relationship material, but in a much more complicated way than we tend to think of "romance" today. In addition, each of these films, in one way or another, follows the old, nuanced definition of "romantic": "marked by the imaginative or emotional appeal of what is heroic, adventurous, remote, mysterious, or idealized". This is not a collection of Pretty Woman fantasy type romantic dramas. This is a collection of "real life" romantic drama.
  Update 5/26/21:  Well, I put another label on this collection, popcorn-and-soda2, which is appropriate to all four movies, especially if watched on a binge-worthy afternoon.
  Update 8/3/21:  And, another label, I finally relented and placed these in the romance4 category.
    This Collection Includes:
  
  
  
  East of Eden:  To my mind, this is a good adaptation of the second half of the novel. My preference is for the novel, but the film is excellent, as well, and handy to keep in mind as you read the novel.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Julie Harris	Abra Bacon	James Dean	Caleb Trask	Raymond Massey	Adam Trask	Richard Davalos	Aaron Trask
  Burl Ives	Sheriff Sam	Jo Van Fleet	Kate Ames/Cathy Trask	Albert Dekker	Will Hamilton	Harold Gordon	Gustav Albrecht
  Nick Dennis	Rantani	Lois Smith	Servant Anne	Timothy Carey	Henchman Joe	Barbara Baxley	Nurse

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1955
    Directed by Elia Kazan.
  → lois-smith, elia-kazan
  
  
  
  Cat on a Hot Tin Roof:  This is my favorite film adaptation of this play. Sometimes film adaptations of Tennessee Williams' plays don't hold my interest, but this one does. Paul Newman adds a vulnerability to Brick that is hard to beat and Elizabeth Taylor as Maggie is perfect. The convolutions revealed, as lies unravel, is compelling. This is a true troubled family drama. The only characters outside of family who appear in this are the clean-up crew, so to speak.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Elizabeth Taylor	Margaret Pollitt	Paul Newman	Brick Pollitt	Burl Ives	Harvey Pollitt	Judith Anderson	Ida Pollitt
  Jack Carson	Cooper Pollitt	Madeleine Sherwood	Mae Flynn Pollitt	Larry Gates	Dr. Baugh	Vaughn Taylor	Deacon Davis

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1958
    Directed by Richard Brooks.
  → southern-gothic, paul-newman
  
  
  
  A Streetcar Named Desire:  Although I enjoyed the acting, it's certainly stellar, I studied this play in college and found the film adaptation confusing and lacking. Read the play, or see it in the theater, before watching the movie.
    Here's what Three Movie Buffs have to say about this film. Interesting, informative reviews from all three.
    In addition, look! Another 1951 film I didn't even realize I had!
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Vivien Leigh	Blanche	Marlon Brando	Stanley	Kim Hunter	Stella	Karl Malden	Mitch
  Rudy Bond	Steve	Nick Dennis	Pablo	Peg Hillias	Eunice	Wright King	Collector
  Ann Dere	Matron	Edna Thomas	Mexican Woman	Richard Garrick	Doctor	Lyle Latell	Policeman

  
    A miscellaneous note ripped from the Wikipedia page, linked below: As of May 2022, Mickey Kuhn, who played The Sailor and is not listed in the Actor/Role table, above, is the last surviving cast member of this movie.
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1951
    Directed by Elia Kazan
  → marlon-brando, southern-gothic, birth-year, elia-kazan
  
  
  
  Rebel Without a Cause:  Perhaps I wasn't the right age when I first saw this movie, well into my 50's, but it just doesn't attract me. As far as James Dean's acting is concerned, my favorite movie is Giant. That one makes me wish his life had been longer so he could develop as an actor. This movie, well, I'm sure it was a money maker, and I guess he acted well, but I found the story tedious and his character nothing to write home about. I know. It's sacrilegious to say that, but, well, I'm glad he got two other really involving films under his belt before he died.
    Roger Ebert christened this movie as one of his Great Movies. I've linked his review to the of this movie.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  James Dean	Jim Stark	Natalie Wood	Judy	Sal Mineo	John Crawford	Jim Backus	Frank Stark
  Ann Doran	Carol Stark	Corey Allen	Buzz Gunderson	William Hopper	Judy's Father	Rochelle Hudson	Judy's Mother
  Edward Platt	Ins. Ray Fremick	Marietta Canty	Crawford Family Maid	Virginia Brissac	Grandma Stark	Dennis Hopper	Goon
  Jack Grinnage	Moose	Frank Mazzola	Crunch	Ian Wolfe	Dr. Minton	Beverly Long	Helen
  Robert Foulk	Gene	Jack Simmons	Cookie	Tom Bernard	Harry	Nick Adams	Chick

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1955
    Directed by Nicholas Ray.

Labels: birth-year, elia-kazan, karl-malden, lois-smith, marlon-brando, natalie-wood, paul-newman, popcorn-and-soda2, romance4, southern-gothic

# posted by gail @ 18:37    0 comments    email......this post