Movies, Mom & Me

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Keira Knightley	Elizabeth Bennet	Matthew Macfadyen	Mr. Darcy	Brenda Blethyn	Mrs. Bennet	Donald Sutherland	Mr. Bennet
  Rosamund Pike	Jane Bennet	Jena Malone	Lydia Bennet	Tom Hollander	Mr. Collins	Penelope Wilton	Mrs. Gardiner
  Judi Dench	Lady Catherine de Bourgh	Simon Woods	Charles Bingley	Carey Mulligan	Catherine Bennet	Talulah Riley	Mary Bennet

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2005
    Directed by Joe Wright.

Labels: donald-sutherland, judi-dench, period7, romance6, rosamund-pike

# posted by gail @ 10:58    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    So, here I was, a few minutes ago, adding an entry to my continually expanding catalog of owned discs, talking about why I don't own Fiddler on the Roof, even though I seek it out on streaming at least once or twice a year. I looked it up online to see when and where I can catch it streaming, next, because, you know, thinking about it suddenly made me want to watch it, again, and I noticed that Amazon, who is usually streaming it, has begun playing a lot (if not most, or all) of their "content" "with ads", including Fiddler on the Roof, and I decided, well, f**k and g*dd*mn*t, I forgot about that, let me see if I can find a cheap copy of it to add to my personal collection. And I did. I also realized why Amazon, likely, has decided to run ads as a matter of course. Maybe it's not satisfied with hard copy sales, anymore, since "everyone" (an exaggeration, of course; I subscribe to more than a few movie review vlogs that lately have been promoting ownership of "physical media" even as it seems that "everyone else" is trying hard to promote their [ad supported] streaming) is streaming, with ads. Sorry, Media Moguls. I can only barely tolerate ads, anymore. So, if I can afford it and can find a copy that fits into my budget, it's "physical media" for me. I'm guessing I'm right because, as ads have been added, prices for physical copies have been dropping. More on this later, likely.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Chaim Topol	Tevye	Norma Crane	Golde	Rosalind Harris	Tzeitel	Michele Marsh	Hodel
  Neva Small	Chava	Molly Picon	Yente	Paul Mann	Lazar Wolf	Leonard Frey	Motel Kamzoil
  Paul Michael Glaser	Perchik	Ray Lovelock	Fyedka	Elaine Edwards	Shprintze	Candy Bonstein	Bielke
  Zvee Scooler	Rabbi	Louis Zorich	Constable	Vernon Dobtcheff	Russian Official	Tutte Lemkow	The Fiddler

  
    Just a note, here. The cast is huge with many excellent actors (and dancers). So, above in the table, I whittled it down to the ones who play memorable parts. At the film's 50th anniversary, critics came out of the woodwork to reevaluate the film. I've peppered this write-up with some of those re-reviews. Here's one more by yet another critic. I'm telling you, people can't seem to walk away from this film. This movie will likely live on for decades to come. Nell Minow at Roger Ebert's site reviewed the documentary on the movie in 2022, one year beyond the original movie's 50th anniversary. I haven't yet found this documentary for free anywhere, which, I suppose, makes sense, although it mightily annoys me. If I should find a free venue for it, I'll post it. It may take a few years, though, for it to show up for free. Considering the prices quoted for it, I doubt that the documentary is worth the price, to rent or to buy, even though it may very well be interesting.
    Okay. Last word on accessing the documentary mentioned above, and, another, Fiddler: Miracle of Miracles, both of which run about 90 minutes. If you have a public library card, it's likely that your library has a subscription to kanopy, a movie streaming service to which libraries can subscribe, and, if they do, so can you. At the moment, kanopy is streaming both the above mentioned documentaries. I have an account through my local public library, and, as it turns out, although I've lost my pin number so I can't access it through my computer, I'm still logged in on my television version of kanopy and have access to both documentaries. Over the next few days I'll watch both and report back.
    You'll notice, as well, that this is the second time I've owned this movie. I used to own it because my mom loved it. Then she died and I donated it to our local library, feeling exactly the same way I described in the write-up of it in yellow, just above this listing in my Alpha Index to the left on this page, and in the aforementioned entry. Oh, well. Live, and learn, and try to avoid streaming service ads. That's my new motto.
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1971
    Directed by Norman Jewison.

Labels: historical5, musical2, period7

# posted by gail @ 02:26    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    Leonardo DiCaprio won what is considered by the industry to be a long overdue Best Actor Oscar for his performance in this film. The film, in fact, garnered more than a few Oscars.
    Because of its Oscar wins, the film was written up at Roger Ebert, in full three times and in part by being mentioned in a few other wordy articles covering the 2015 Oscar wins.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Leonardo DiCaprio	Hugh Glass	Tom Hardy	John Fitzgerald	Domhnall Gleeson	Andrew Henry	Will Poulter	Jim Bridger
  Forrest Goodluck	Hawk	Paul Anderson	Anderson	Kristoffer Joner	Murphy	Duane Howard	Elk Dog
  Melaw Nakehk'o	Powaqa	Arthur Redcloud	Hikuc	Lukas Haas	Jones	Grace Dove	Hugh Glass's Wife

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2015
    Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu.

Labels: historical5, leonardo-dicaprio, period7, survival

# posted by gail @ 13:26    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    Although Roger Ebert rated this movie a "mere" 3.5 stars, (his review is linked to the title of this post, above), being the Scorsese fan that he is, he was fascinated enough with this film to interview Scorsese about the making of this movie. It's an interesting, occasionally provocative interview in which Scorsese admits how he played with history in order to increase the tension in the movie. If you find this film at all worthy of attention, you should check out that interview.
    By the way, you'll notice that the Actor/Role table (below) for this movie is stacked. This movie is full of historical personages that I wanted to list, I wanted to make sure the one named child actor was represented, as were as many of the female actors as possible and as many racially diverse actors as possible were included in the table.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Leonardo DiCaprio	Amsterdam Vallon	Cian McCormack	Young Amsterdam Vallon	Daniel Day-Lewis	William "The Butcher" Cutting	Cameron Diaz	Jenny Everdeane
  Jim Broadbent	William "Boss" Tweed	John C. Reilly	Happy Jack Mulraney	Henry Thomas	Johnny Sirocco	Liam Neeson	"Priest" Vallon
  Brendan Gleeson	Walter "Monk" McGinn	Gary Lewis	McGloin	Stephen Graham	Shang	Eddie Marsan	Killoran
  Alec McCowen	Reverend Raleigh	David Hemmings	John F. Schermerhorn	Lawrence Gilliard Jr.	Jimmy Spoils	Cara Seymour	Hell-Cat Maggie
  Roger Ashton-Griffiths	P. T. Barnum	Barbara Bouchet	Mrs. Schermerhorn	Michael Byrne	Horace Greeley	Giovanni Lombardo Radice	Mr. Legree

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2002
    Directed by Martin Scorsese.

Labels: gang-movie, historical4, leonardo-dicaprio, martin-scorsese, period7, violence5, war3

# posted by gail @ 13:06    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    The films in this series are:
  
  
  
  
      
  
  Once Upon a Time in China
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Jet Li	Wong Fei-hung	Yuen Biao	Leung Foon	Jacky Cheung	So Sai-man	Rosamund Kwan	13th Aunt
  Kent Cheng	Lam Sai-wing	Yuen Kam-fai	Ling Wan-kai	Yen Shi-kwan	Iron Vest Yim	Jonathan Isgar	Jackson

  
  Here is a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
  Release Date: 1991
  Director: Tsui Hark.
  
  
  
  Once Upon a Time in China II
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Jet Li	Wong Fei-hung	Donnie Yen	Nap-lan Yun-seut	Rosamund Kwan	13th Aunt	Max Mok	Leung Foon
  David Chiang	Lu Haodong	Hung Yan-yan	Priest Gao Kau-kung	Zhang Tielin	Sun Wen	Yen Shi-kwan	Governor Chung

  
  Here is a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
  Release Date: 1992
  Director: Tsui Hark.
  
  
  
  Once Upon a Time in China III
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Jet Li	Wong Fei-hung	Rosamund Kwan	13th Aunt Yee Siu-kwan	Max Mok	Leung Foon	Hung Yan-yan	Kwai Geuk-chat
  John Wakefield	Tomanovsky	Lau Shun	Wong Kei-ying	Chiu Chin	Chiu Tin-bak	Wong Tak-yan	Yan

  
  Here is a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
  Release Date: 1993
  Director: Tsui Hark.
  
  
  
  Once Upon a Time in China IV
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Vincent Zhao	Wong Fei-hung	Jean Wang	14th Aunt May	Max Mok	Leung Foon	Hung Yan-yan	Kwai Geuk-chat
  Lau Shun	Wong Kei-ying	Billy Chow	Iron Fist	Chin Kar-lok	Duen Tin-lui	Wang Jinghua	Miao Sanniang

  
  Here is a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
  Release Date: 1993
  Director: Yuen Bun.
  
  
  
  Once Upon a Time in China V
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Vincent Zhao	Wong Fei-hung	Rosamund Kwan	13th Aunt Yee Siu-kwan	Max Mok	Leung Foon	Kent Cheng	Lam Sai-wing
  Roger Kwok	So Sai-man	Hung Yan-yan	Kwai Geuk-chat	Jean Wang	14th Aunt May	Lau Shun	Wong Kei-ying

  
  Here is a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
  Release Date: 1994
  Director: Tsui Hark.
  
  
  
  Once Upon a Time in China and America
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Jet Li	Wong Fei-hung	Rosamund Kwan	13th Aunt Yee Siu-kwan	Hung Yan-yan	Kwai Geuk-chat	Power Chan	So Sai-man
  Jeff Wolfe	Billy	Joe Sayah	Mexican Bandit	Richard Ng	Uncle Han	Lau Kar-wing	Lion Dance Drummer

  
  Here is a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
  Release Date: 1997
  Director: Sammo Hung.
  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film series.
    Release Date: 1991 - 1997
    Directed by Tsui Hark, Yuen Bun, Sammo Hung & Lau Kar-wing.

Labels: Criterion5, period7, super-hero3, violence5, wuxia

# posted by gail @ 23:32    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  I watched this movie a couple of days ago. Because this movie was packaged with Anne of a Thousand Days and I watched that movie first, I settled in for a second royal treat. Wow! Was I whipped about! Despite my admiration for quite a bit of Vanessa Redgrave's work, well, let me put it this way: having seen (and owning) at least three other characterizations of Mary, Queen of Scots, knowing that she was at least as troublesome as depicted in all four characterizations, and probably more so in real life, I was not impressed with Vanessa Redgrave's characterization of her. Perhaps it's the more accurate, it's hard to know at this point in time. But, the impression Vanessa Redgrave leaves is that of a blitering idiot (excuse my French). Considering how determined Mary, Queen of Scots was to be a reigning Royal and how much support she had, the characterization in this movie portrays her as someone who had no ability to scheme and no initiative that wasn't urged by her supporters. Knowing a bit about Royal history in this era, many people were executed for many dubious reasons, but I can't recall anyone who was executed for deluded stupidity, and, yet, that's what this movie implies happened to Mary, Queen of Scots. I couldn't help but contrast this with the portrayal of her in Elizabeth I in which she is displayed as someone who is intelligent, knowledgeable, and so devious and dissembing in her desperation to consolidate and conserve whatever power she imagines herself to possess that, as a viewer, you not only understand her execution, you understand that Elizabeth I's reluctance to execute her was not because she didn't consider Mary, Queen of Scots dangerous, she clearly was, but that Elizabeth I was in sympathy with the idea that royalty must remain untouchable from the point of view of execution, even if a royal's threat to the throne is obvious and worthy of imprisonment.
    In this movie, Glenda Jackson plays Elizabeth I, one of two times she played this role in 1971, the other being in the BBC TV production Elizabeth R. Frankly, I don't remember her reactions to the idea of executing Mary, Queen of Scots in Elizabeth R, so it looks like I have some delightful homework ahead of me rewatching it. It's been a few years, so I'm excited. I will report back.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Vanessa Redgrave	Mary Queen of Scots	Glenda Jackson	Queen Elizabeth I of England	Patrick McGoohan	James Stewart 1st Earl of Moray	Timothy Dalton	Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley
  Nigel Davenport	James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell	Trevor Howard	Sir William Cecil	Daniel Massey	Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester	Ian Holm	David Riccio
  Frances White	Mary Fleming	Tom Fleming	Father Ballard	Katherine Kath	Catherine De Medici	Beth Harris	Mary Seton

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1971
    Directed by Charles Jarrott.

Labels: elizabeth-I, historical4, period7, royals

# posted by gail @ 23:52    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  My interest in this movie has nothing to do with a personal interest in Anne Boleyn. It is, more, about Geneviève Bujold's performance in this movie and the interplay between her Anne and Richard Burton's Henry VIII, a man, who, among other, more admirable, qualities, just couldn't keep his dick in his pants and spent much of his mental energy in figuring out how to bed yet another young woman. Trust me, his sexual proclivities had little (possibly nothing) to do with engendering "a son".
    The review attached to the title, above, is a double review of this movie and Mary, Queen of Scots. The two movies came packaged together, which explains why the same cover picture is on both of my write-ups.
    Despite this, Geneviève Bujold's and Richard Burton's performances and interplay sweep me away. I can't explain why. Much of the story is crass and highlights the contemptible extremes royals were (and are?) allowed (in England, anyway) in exercising their power. The details of Anne's own crown climbing are laughable, however true they may be. Despite all this, though, I was so anxious to watch it I put it in the DVD player moments after I received it. And, I was satisfied. Good movie! Absolutely liquid acting!
    It is interesting to note that Roger Ebert does not review this movie, although he mentions it more than a few times, without any respect, in his review for Mary, Queen of Scots. That review is attached to the title of my write-up for that movie, as well as being linked to the movie's mention in the previous sentence.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Richard Burton	King Henry VIII	Geneviève Bujold	Anne Boleyn	Irene Papas	Queen Catherine of Aragon	Anthony Quayle	Cardinal Thomas Wolsey
  John Colicos	Thomas Cromwell	Michael Hordern	Thomas Boleyn	Katharine Blake	Elizabeth Boleyn	Valerie Gearon	Mary Boleyn
  William Squire	Sir Thomas Moore	Nicola Pagett	Princess Mary	Terence Wilton	Lord Percy	Gary Bond	Mark Smeaton

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1969
    Directed by Charles Jarrott.

Labels: historical4, period7, royals

# posted by gail @ 23:43    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    As you peruse reviews for this film, you'll notice that critics were sharply divided on it, despite the fact that audience attendance christened it "a hit", in the trades. The review attached to the title of this post swings both ways and provides, as well, a fascinating review of the making of the film and its impact. This review is an excellent example of the derision the film provoked. If you're looking for a reason why sword and sandal spectable epics took a long hiatus before coming back with the slam-dunk Gladiator in 2000, this movie suggests a reason.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Joan Collins	Esther	Richard Egan	Ahasuerus, King of Persia	Denis O'Dea	Mordecai	Sergio Fantoni	Haman
  Rik Battaglia	Simon	Renato Baldini	Klydrathes	Gabriele Tinti	Samuel	Rosalba Neri	Zeresh
  Robert Buchanan	Hegai	Daniela Rocca	Vashti	Folco Lulli	Tobiah	Ennio Antonelli	Jewish Man

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1960
    Directed by Raoul Walsh.

Labels: bible-movies1, goflexA, period7, spectacle2

# posted by gail @ 17:51    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    I'm in the process of watching this movie today, 11/24/22. It may be a bit before I finish it and include a decent write-up. So far it is choked with characters and a little confusing. I find myself constantly rewinding this sentence or that exchange.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Miriam Hopkins	Becky Sharp	Frances Dee	Amelia Sedley	Cedric Hardwicke	Marquis of Steyne	Billie Burke	Lady Bareacres
  Alison Skipworth	Miss Crawley	Nigel Bruce	Joseph Sedley	Alan Mowbray	Rawdon Crawley	G. P. Huntley Jr.	George Osborne
  William Stack	Pitt Crawley	George Hassell	Sir Pitt Crawley	William Faversham	Duke of Wellington	Charles Richman	General Tufto
  Doris Lloyd	Duchess of Richmond	Colin Tapley	William Dobbin	Leonard Mudie	Tarquin	May Beatty	Briggs

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1935
    Directed by Rouben Mamoulian.

Labels: goflexA, historical4, melodramaA, miriam-hopkins, period7

# posted by gail @ 08:15    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    Keep in mind, this movie could be said to have "a cast of thousands". That, of course, is an exaggeration: It only has a credited/uncredited actor cast (over at IMDb) of 140, or thereabouts. It is, as well, more than a movie. It is an attempt (some say successful, some not) at an historical and contemplative presentation of the fate of the depression era Federal Theater Project production The Cradle Will Rock. At any rate, in the table below I've included actors/roles that seem to me to be important in the play, those I recognize and those who play themselves. Take a deep breath. This could take awhile.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Hank Azaria	Marc Blitzstein	Rubén Blades	Diego Rivera	Joan Cusack	Hazel Huffman	John Cusack	Nelson Rockefeller
  Cary Elwes	John Houseman	Philip Baker Hall	Gray Mathers	Cherry Jones	Hallie Flanagan	Angus Macfadyen	Orson Welles
  Bill Murray	Tommy Crickshaw	Vanessa Redgrave	Countess Constance La Grange	Susan Sarandon	Margherita Sarfatti	Jamey Sheridan	John Adair
  John Turturro	Aldo Silvano	Emily Watson	Olive Stanton	Bob Balaban	Harry Hopkins	Jack Black	Sid
  Kyle Gass	Larry	Paul Giamatti	Carlo	Barnard Hughes	Frank Marvel	Barbara Sukowa	Sophie Silvano
  Steven Tyler	Lehman Engel	John Carpenter	Power - William Randolph Hearst	Gretchen Mol	Marion Davies	Ned Bellamy	Paul Edwards
  Lynn Cohen	Silvano - Mama	Dominic Chianese	Silvano - Papa	Gregg Edelman	Blitzstein - Dream Larry Foreman	Carrie Preston	VTA - Administrator
  Karen Lynn Gorney	Dancer (uncredited)	Tim Robbins	Voice On Film Reel (uncredited)	Franklin D. Roosevelt	Self (archive footage)	Haile Selassie	Self (in pith helmet)

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1999
    Directed by Tim Robbins.

Labels: §6, goflexA, historical4, john-turturro, paul-giamatti, period7, political5, tim-robbins

# posted by gail @ 22:05    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    This is about the Soviet war drama released in four installments from 1966-67. The cast is huge. I should probably treat it as a series in four parts, thus being able to highlight more cast members and commentary specific to each part. Stay tuned for that.
    The director of each part of the series, by the way, is the same for the entire series. That information is reflected in the final Wikipedia link at the very bottom of this write-up.
  
    Part I - Andrei Bolkonsky
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Sergei Bondarchuk	Pierre Bezukhov	Vyacheslav Tikhonov	Andrei Bolkonsky	Nikolai Tolkachyov	Kirill Vladimirovich Bezukhov	Boris Zakhava	Mikhail Kutuzov
  Irina Skobtseva	Hélène Kuragina	Oleg Yefremov	Fyodor Dolokhov	Vasily Lanovoy	Anatole Kuragin	Anastasiya Vertinskaya	Lisa Bolkonskaya

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of Part I.
    Release Date:1966
  
    Part II - Natasha Rostova
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Ludmila Savelyeva	Natasha Rostova	Vyacheslav Tikhonov	Andrei Bolkonsky	Anatoly Ktorov	Nikolai Bolkonsky	Vasily Lanovoy	Anatole Kuragin

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of Part II.
    Release Date: 1966
  
    Part III - The Year 1812
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Boris Zakhava	Mikhail Kutuzov	Vladislav Strzhelchik	Napoleon	Vyacheslav Tikhonov	Andrei Bolkonsky	Sergei Bondarchuk	Pierre Bezukhov

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of Part III.
    Release Date: 1967
  
    Part IV - Pierre Bezukhov
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Viktor Stanitsyn	Ilya Rostov	Ludmila Savelyeva	Natasha Rostova	Vyacheslav Tikhonov	Andrei Bolkonsky	Sergei Bondarchuk	Pierre Bezukhov

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of Part IV.
    Release Date: 1967
  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the entire series.
    Release Date: 1966-67
    Directed by Sergei Bondarchuk.

Labels: §5, Criterion4, dramaF, historical4, period7, romance5, violence5, war3

# posted by gail @ 20:58    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  I haven't watched this series, yet. I'm expecting to receive it today (7/15/22). I have to mention, though, despite its continued popularity, no film critics considered "accomplished" by film media reviewed this series; not then (back in the 1980's) and not now, despite the high caliber talent engaged, the fact that it continues to be lauded as the second most popular mini-series in history (the first one being Roots) and, besides these, it won several major awards. Even its Wikipedia write-up dispensed with its usual "Reception" section on this movie, although it did include a stocked Awards section, of which, might I add, this production was nominated for and won several. Despite this, I had to scrounge to find two reviews, one attached to the title of this post and the other here, written on the occasion of the release of the DVD of the series in 2004. Both are excellent and informative. If you read reviews of video media, you'll appreciate both. In addition, the DVD version I'll be receiving includes a "Commemorative Documentary" that I can barely wait to watch.
    The above linked reviews, despite the fact that I'll be receiving a few more DVDs/Blu-Rays in the same package, guarantee that this series will be the first into which I dive. I find it so incredibly curious that no "critic of prominence" wanted to weigh in on this series. I suspect I will discover why top tier critics were afraid to review this series (even though I'd put good money on the proposition that all of them saw it) and that it will have something to do with being afraid of somehow getting their minds dirty. I mean, a mini-series about a priest falling in love with a woman ... starring the likes of Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward, Christopher Plummer, the list goes on and on ... somehow, I can imagine lots of critics cringing, shaking their hands frantically and squealing, "Eew!"
    So, Dear Reader, stay tuned. Although this post remains "Under construction", I'll be completing and polishing it soon.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Richard Chamberlain	Ralph de Bricassart	Rachel Ward	Adult Meggie Cleary	Sydney Penny	Child Meggie Cleary	Barbara Stanwyck	Mary Carson
  Richard Kiley	Paddy Cleary	Jean Simmons	Fee Cleary	Bryan Brown	Luke O'Neill	Mare Winningham	Justine O'Neill
  Philip Anglim	Dane O'Neill	Ken Howard	Rainer Hartheim	John Friedrich	Frank Cleary	Dwier Brown	Adult Stuart Cleary
  Vidal Peterson	Child Stuart Cleary	Piper Laurie	Anne Mueller	Earl Holliman	Luddie Mueller	Christopher Plummer	Archbishop Vittorio di Contini-Verchese
  Brett Cullen	Bob Cleary	Stephen W. Burns	Jack Cleary	Barry Corbin	Pete	Holly Palance	Miss Carmichael
  John de Lancie	Alastair MacQueen	Allyn Ann McLerie	Mrs. Smith	Richard Venture	Harry Gough	Antoinette Bower	Sarah MacQueen

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1983
    Directed by Daryl Duke.

Labels: §4, barbara-stanwyck, christopher-plummer, coming-of-age2, erotic, jean-simmons, john-de-lancie, period7, piper-laurie, religion2, spiritual2, TV3

# posted by gail @ 10:15    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  My father was the Johnny Cash fan when I was a preteen and teenager, not I, although I can't say I disliked his music. Being securely encased in the heyday of sixties rock, I just didn't notice him, except for his monster crossover hits. My father was, as well, a down and dirty old time Country Western fan, which probably figures, since he hailed from North Carolina. He didn't play hardly any of this music at home, but his conversation was peppered with phrases like The Great Speckled Bird and Ring of Fire. So, when I stumbled upon this movie some years ago on TV, finding nothing else in that night's line-up that I wanted to watch, I tuned in. I still have memories of being blown away by the story, the music and the spot on performances of the stars.
    I just received the movie and haven't yet rewatched it. I'll be doing that momentarily. So, any kind of a write-up is going to have to wait on me refreshing my memory as to why, when this movie popped into view at an unbelievably low price, I felt the urge to procure it. Let's just say, until later this evening, or, possibly, tomorrow, this write-up is still Under construction.
    In the meantime, here's an article, Finding the Voice of Johnny Cash, written by Roger Ebert, that is based around a short but revealing interview he conducted with Joaquin Phoenix about playing the part of Johnny Cash.
    Back later.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Joaquin Phoenix	Johnny Cash	Reese Witherspoon	June Carter	Ginnifer Goodwin	Vivian Cash	Robert Patrick	Ray Cash
  McGhee Monteith	Reba Cash	Dallas Roberts	Sam Phillips	Dan John Miller	Luther Perkins	Larry Bagby	Marshall Grant
  Shelby Lynne	Carrie Cash	Tyler Hilton	Elvis Presley	Waylon Payne	Jerry Lee Lewis	Shooter Jennings	Waylon Jennings
  Sandra Ellis Lafferty	Maybelle Carter	Johnathan Rice	Roy Orbison	Johnny Holiday	Carl Perkins	Lucas Till	Jack Cash

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2005
    Directed by James Mangold.

Labels: §4, biography3, historical4, joaquin-phoenix, musical2, period7, reese-witherspoon

# posted by gail @ 17:35    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction, although, I must mention, I just acquired this film today (6/18/2022) and I'm really looking forward to spending the afternoon with it, so expect a write-up of it soon.
    By the way, in addition to the review linked to the title of this post, yes, from RogerEbert.com, the site also published this interesting interview with director Joe Wright. In it Mr. Wright talks about, among other subjects, the many adaptations of this nineteenth century play based on the life of a seventeenth century French novelist, playwright, epistolarian, and duelist.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Peter Dinklage	Cyrano de Bergerac	Haley Bennett	Roxanne	Kelvin Harrison Jr.	Christian de Neuvillette	Ben Mendelsohn	De Guiche
  Bashir Salahuddin	Le Bret	Monica Dolan	Marie	Joshua James	Valvert	Anjana Vasan	Sister Claire

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 2021
    Directed by Joe Wright.

Labels: §4, ben-mendelsohn, historical4, period7, peter-dinklage, romance5

# posted by gail @ 10:45    0 comments    email......this post