Tuesday, August 06, 2024
3:10 to Yuma - 1957
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Glenn Ford Ben Wade Van Heflin Dan Evans Felicia Farr Emmy Leora Dana Alice Evans Henry Jones Alex Potter Richard Jaeckel Charlie Prince Robert Emhardt Mr. Butterfield Sheridan Comerate Bob Moons George Mitchell Mac Robert Ellenstein Ernie Collins Ford Rainey Marshall of Bisbee George Mitchell Bartender
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1957
Directed by Delmar Daves.
Labels: henry-jones, western
Friday, July 09, 2021
The Bad Seed
- Commentary: Yes, yes, yes. Patty MacCormack and Nancy Kelly's acting was waaay overdone. I think this might have been because both forgot to wash the stage off before they stepped in front of a camera. It also may have happened because the stage play received so much attention that the film director thought keeping stage performance acting would increase interest in the film. And, yes, in places, the story seems so preposterous that even I, alone, at home, watching the movie last night (not my first watching by any means) grinned a lot, and sometimes chuckled aloud. Still and all, this is one movie I love to watch! There is something about watching the story of a perfectly devlish child, regardless of how the story ends. My preference, by the way, is that the child survives, so that I, as a member of the audience, am allowed to speculate on further horrors that child may perpetuate. I am always aware, when I watch the film, that the stage play, in fact, doesn't end with "sweet" Rhoda's death, but, rather, her mother's death, and the assumption that Rhoda continues her murderous life. Considering that it has survived as a novel, a stage play and a couple of movies, including one that is said to have been inspired by it, The Good Son, I suspect I am not the only person with this preference, since the change of ending for the film was not dictated by a clear thinking director but by the Production Code Administration.
I'm not sure I understand what the appeal of devlish children is. Perhaps it has something to do with all the anger toward life one acquires in childhood that is never resolved and, after childhood, never really thought about, again, and, yet, does not simply disappear. Which is, I think, precisely why there is so much psycho-babble in the script, often through the character of "Aunt Monica" (excellently played by the way, in the movie).
I was surprised that the edition I purchased was widescreen. I have memories of watching this on TV in full screen rather than widescreen. Those memories, though, may be erroneous.
You might also find TCM's notes on the film interesting, rather than my usual Wikipedia article, although, if you're curious, you can find Wikipedia's write-up here.
Quick Administrative Note: This movie is the first in my collection to which I've applied the label "melodrama". I was surprised to discover that I've never used that label and had to add it to my label list. I guess that means I don't have, nor am I attracted to, melodramatic movies. Except this one. The fact that it's a melodrama is what makes it so much fun!
There is something alluring about this film. It's one I've checked out of our public library occasionally in the past several years. It's one I watched on TV with my mom when she was alive, who, by the way, enjoyed it, too, despite her pure soul, love of children and having been an enthusiastic, top-flight teacher of older elementary school children. In the Wikipedia article about this film there is an "Analysis" comparing the this movie with The Good Son. It's short, but interesting, and may, in part, explain the durability of this film and the idea behind it. And, yes. I found a free copy of the novel, downloaded it, and intend to read it one of these sooner days, just because, well, I want to know if the novel speaks about childhood wickedness in the same way the play and the movie do.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Patty McCormack Rhoda Penmark Nancy Kelly Christine Penmark William Hopper Col. Kenneth Penmark Henry Jones Leroy Eileen Heckart Mrs. Hortense Daigle Frank Cady Henry Daigle Jesse White Emory Shelley Fabares Margie
Release Date: 1956
Directed by Mervyn LeRoy.
Labels: film-noir3, henry-jones, horror1, melodramaA, psychological1
Tuesday, March 06, 2018
Vertigo
- Commentary: Believe it. The first time I saw this movie, in my life, was late last year. What can I say, part of my Alfred Hitchcock ambivalence, I guess. I was driven to check out the movie and watch it when I was watching a review of old films on YouTube and saw a cut of Jimmy Stewart's face from this movie looking very much like that cut of horror on his face in It's a Wonderful Life when he is on the brink of suicide. Hmmm... I thought. I'd like to see more of that. I always enjoy a Jimmy Stewart performance that pits his nice-guy image against his horrified image, even if it was a Hitchcock film and, thus, previously a point of avoidance for me.
Well, I was riveted from the beginning. Firstly, it's a treat for me to watch a movie for the first time that is decades old and made with completely different techniques across the board. This movie was not a disappointment. Secondly, it's a fucking good movie! In fact, I understand why it's considered a great movie. Thirdly, the swing of the movie is so active and masterful that it completely involved me right up to the end. There wasn't a second, from the benign beginning to the surprisingly melodramatic ending, that allowed me to look away. It was a no-brainer that I would add this movie to my collection. I've already watched it twice since it entered my house. I just can't get enough of it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role James Stewart John Ferguson Kim Novak Judy Barton/Madeleine Elster Barbara Bel Geddes Marjorie Wood Tom Helmore Gavin Elster Henry Jones The Coroner Raymond Bailey Ferguson's Doctor Ellen Corby McKittrick Hotel Mgr. Lee Patrick Car Owner mistaken for Madeleine
One of Roger Ebert's Great Movies.
Just in case, here's the Wikipedia write-up on this film.
Release Date: 1958
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
Labels: alfred-hitchcock, drama4, film-noir3, henry-jones, james-stewart, melodramaC, popcorn-and-soda2, suspense1, thriller1, tragedy1
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
The Mary Tyler Moore Show 1st - 4th Seasons
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: This show has "an incident" to recommend it: See the one "Mention". I have to admit, there is something addictive about this show. And, despite the active argument in which several critics are indulging, this show wasn't so innocent as all that. It still isn't. I'm pissed that they recorded a new cover of the theme. I miss the brightness of the old arrangement and the final chord.
We'll probably collect more of this show's seasons.
This is kind of an update, but I don't want to call it that. Suffice it to say, I'm writing it on 8/15/21. It's often hard to find legitimate reviews of television shows, and this has proved true for this show. I did, however, find reasonable rundowns of the four seasons we own: season one, season two, season three and season four. Be forewarned, about the only reviewy writing I could find is a short article linked to the title of this post. That'll have to do. Or, perhaps, the fact that I have never purchased any more seasons of this show is a review, in itself.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Mary Tyler Moore Mary Richards Ed Asner Lou Grant Gavin MacLeod Murray Slaughter Ted Knight Ted Baxter Valerie Harper Rhoda Morgenstern Cloris Leachman Phyllis Lindstrom Georgia Engel Georgette Franklin Baxter Betty White Sue Ann Nivens
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1970-1974
Directed by several men and one woman for two episodes in Season 4. "That's all, folks."
Labels: buddy, comedy2, female-director2, henry-jones, mom-favorite2, TV2
