Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Mary, Queen of Scots
- 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
Anne of a Thousand Days
- 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
Kiss Me Deadly
- Commentary: Under construction.
DVD Savant has written some articles on this movie, including about its restoration. I've connected a link to a search of his site in the title of this post, but, below, I've linked each article individually, by title:
The Restoration of Kiss Me Deadly
Kiss Me Deadly Savant Blu-ray Review
DVD Savant Review - Kiss Me Deadly
Kiss Me Deadly - DVD Savant finds a lost conclusion to a classic Film Noir
DVD Savant - The Lost Conclusion to a Classic Film Noir FOUND
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Ralph Meeker Mike Hammer Albert Dekker Dr. G.E. Soberin Paul Stewart Carl Evello Juano Hernandez Eddie Yeager Wesley Addy Lt. Pat Murphy Maxine Cooper Velda Wakeman Cloris Leachman Christina Bailey Gaby Rodgers Lily Carver/Gabrielle
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1955
Directed by Robert Aldrich.
Labels: Criterion5, film-noir1, melodramaD
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role William Shatner Adm James T. Kirk Ricardo Montalbán Khan Noonien Singh Leonard Nimoy Cpt Spock Walter Koenig Pavel Chekov Bibi Besch Carol Marcus Merritt Butrick David Marcus Paul Winfield Clark Terrell Kirstie Alley Cmdr-in-Training Saavik
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1982
Directed by Nicholas Meyer.
Labels: bibi-besch, leonard-nimoy, science-fiction2, star-trek
Shoplifters
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Lily Franky Osamu Shibata Sakura Ando Nobuyo Shibata Mayu Matsuoka Aki Shibata Kairi Jō Shota Shibata Kirin Kiki Hatsue Shibata Miyu Sasaki Yuri/Juri Hojo/Rin Sosuke Ikematsu 4 ban-san Naoto Ogata Yuzuru Shibata Yoko Moriguchi Yoko Shibata Aju Makita Sayaka Shibata Yūki Yamada Yasu Hojo Moemi Katayama Nozomi Hojo
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2018
Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda.
Labels: economic
