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| Marj |
 Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 3:59 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
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I've found lately that what draws me into a film is first and foremost the script. Acting and cinematography tend to come later and for the really great films they all mesh beautifully together and at once.
The Winslow Boy 1948 has such a wonderful script with such excellent dialogue, one is compelled to watch it. The story concerns a young British lad who is expelled from the Royal Naval College for stealing a five shilling note. It is a legal and family drama. And what begins as a minor occurrence transcends into major news and into a full blown trial. One which leaves its mark on all those involved.
That's all one really needs to know other than it is filled with wit, cast thankfully against type, and is one of the best films I've seen in some time. It wasn't until after I'd finished watching it that I found that it had been a play first. And the playwright was Terrance Rattigan who also wrote the screenplay. Any wonder I was so enraptured.
I understand there is a 1999 version with Jeremy Northam with a screenplay by David Mamet which I plan to see. But I do highly recommend the 1948 version. |
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| billyweeds |
| Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 4:37 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
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| The 1948 version is still the best. I'm curious as to what you mean by "cast against type." Can you elaborate? |
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| Marj |
| Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:23 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
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Location: Manhattan
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I think there were a few instances, Billy. But I was most taken by Cedric Hardwicke's performance. When I first saw that he was playing the father I expected all gruff and growl. But although these are the kinds of roles he often plays, that wasn't the case here.
I loved how he related to his children, especially his free spirited daughter. And I was also surprised that Margaret Leighton who was a bit long in the tooth, played her. But in the end she was absolutely perfect.
The one role that had me stumped was the boyfriend. I didn't see Basil Radford as much of a match for Margaret Leighton. And in the end, I was proven right. But didn't love the dialogue at the end, Billy?
Of course when I saw Robert Donat as the barrister, I thought, perfect.
It was also wonderful also to see Stanley Holloway and Cyril Ritchard in small roles as themselves. |
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| billyweeds |
| Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:58 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
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| Have you seen The Browning Version? If you like The Winslow Boy you will probably also enjoy TBV. |
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| Marj |
| Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 8:10 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
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I happen to have it in my queue. But now, I'm going to move it up!
Thanks, Billy. |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 8:19 pm |
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| I actually heard The Browning Version as a radio play, way way back, before I saw the movie, also way way back. Very moving story. |
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| Marj |
| Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 10:44 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
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Thanks Gary. I didn't know it was a play.
I just looked it up. And now I know why you recommended it, Billy and Gary. It's a Terrance Ratigan play, screenplay and an Anthony Asquith production.
I can hardly wait! |
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| gromit |
| Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 2:51 am |
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Joined: 31 Aug 2004
Posts: 9010
Location: Shanghai
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Ghulam wrote: The documentary Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson is a fascinating study of the talented writer, destroyed by alcohol, drugs and his inner demons. A severe critic of Nixon and Bush, he was an active participant in the campaigns of McGovern and Carter. He became increasingly frustrated and cynical about American politics and political figures, including Democrats such as Humphrey and Muskie.
I thought this film was just okay.
It had promise but just kind of did a lot of quick hits and moved on. For instance, it's cool that they interview Pat Buchanan who knew Hunter from back in the Nixon days, but he just kind of chuckles at a desk in a suit and says Jeez, Hunter he was one of a kind [cut]. I knew more about their relationship from HST's writings.
Maybe that's the problem. It's another one of these recent docs* where I was disappointed because I knew too much of the background info already.
* (along with Enron, Standard Operating Procedure, etc.)
It's probably best for someone not that familiar with the Good Doctor. And if there is anyone like that here, they should immediately start reading Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail. |
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Killing your enemies, if it's done badly, increases their number. |
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| billyweeds |
| Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 7:19 am |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
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| Resisted watching Marley and Me for a while because I knew it was about the life of a dog, puppyhood to death, and the memories of Abner are still very fresh. But the movie was somewhat cathartic, not to mention humorous and only minimally sentimental. Owen Wilson is uncharacteristically down-to-earth and Jennifer Aniston, who I usually like on screen (though I have a feeling I wouldn't feel the same about the real-life Jen) are charming and warm and lovable as the couple who raise Marley and three children and go through lotsa stuff. It's a true-life saga and a sweet one. And you can get through it without barfing on treacle. |
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| gromit |
| Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:08 am |
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Joined: 31 Aug 2004
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Location: Shanghai
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Nearly finished watching The Inn of Sixth Happiness (I'm praying it's nearly over).
What a terribly scripted and plotted film. I've already laughed at a few inappropriate moments -- unless it was supposed to be funny when the old missionary lady dies.
It also starts off with a bunch of strange premises: Ingrid Berman is supposed to be a plain jane, Curt Jurgens is a half-Chinese Koumintang officer, and Robert Donat hams it up as a Chinese village mandarin. The cook, who serves as comic relief, is the only actual Asian with a role of any size. Oddly, Bergman's character is determined to go to China as a missionary, though we have no idea why, as she has absolutely no backstory and never seems especially religious.
So, we see Ingrid take over the inn and overcome hardships to become a valuable member of the rural community. Then there's a voice-over by Ingrid talking about how the years went by. And next thing she's single-handedly quelling a prison riot. Amusing.
The film also seems to get entangled in an odd dance of the language barrier. Across Russia and early on in China, the natives speak their own languages, and we see her confusion and pluck. Then:
- In China, the village official speaks fluent English with the mixed race army man, but then only speaks to Ingrid in Chinese and through a translator.
- The old lady missionary tells the Bible stories to the travelers in basic Chinese. But later the cook tells the stories to the Chiense travelers in English (after it was explained that he'd tell the stories until Ingrid got her Chinese up to snuff).
- Then Ingrid breaks up the prison riot all in English, which the rebellious prisoners all seem to understand and respond to.
Later in the film, all pretense of any language barrier is dropped, and Ingrid goes to the nearby poor isolated mountain villages (in 1930's China) and everybody speaks English quite fine thank you. But then again the film begins with Ingrid and her continental accent portraying a lower-class English working woman. And though she appears middle-aged at the start of the film (and the same age throughout), the dialogue hints that she is supposed to be 20-something.
It gets sentimental, and romantic, and Ingrid always has nice make-up and hair. The best I can say is that the sets look good and it will end soon. [Edit: it ended on another hokey note] |
Last edited by gromit on Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:56 am; edited 1 time in total
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Killing your enemies, if it's done badly, increases their number. |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:28 am |
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I saw The Inn of Sixth Happiness when it was current. I can't remember exactly why I saw it because I remember not wanting to see it. I think a girlfriend at the time probably wanted to see it.
Just terrible!!!!!! |
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| billyweeds |
| Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 6:03 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
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Location: New York City
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marantzo wrote: I saw The Inn of Sixth Happiness when it was current. I can't remember exactly why I saw it because I remember not wanting to see it. I think a girlfriend at the time probably wanted to see it.
Just terrible!!!!!!
Couldn't agree more! It is the essence of a lousy 1950s movie, Fox style. Cf. Love is a Many-Splendored Thing, Three Coins in the Fountain, etc. |
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| gromit |
| Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:04 am |
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Joined: 31 Aug 2004
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Location: Shanghai
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Yes, Inn of the 6H's was quite bad.
I forgot to mention that the score was intrusive and overwrought.
It's based on a true story, and the commentary about the real Gladys Aylward and Ingrid Bergman was much more interesting than the film's romantic hokum.
They originally tried to arrange to shoot it in Taiwan, but when that fell through they did a nice job of filming in Wales and England and constructing an expensive Chinese village set.
Nice set design and costumes.
It also helped popularize the song "This Old Man" in the US (with an assists from Mitch Miller). |
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Killing your enemies, if it's done badly, increases their number. |
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| Marc |
| Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 1:14 am |
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Joined: 19 May 2004
Posts: 8424
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| I just watched a film from 1980 that I somehow missed called INSIDE MOVES directed by Richard Donner with a stellar cast including John Savage and Diana Scarwid. It's absolutely wonderful. Unabashedly sentimental and at times hokey as all get out, INSIDE MOVES still manages to suck you in and move you with its sublime cast. What a pleasant surprise. |
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| billyweeds |
| Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 5:40 am |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
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| Inside Moves more than incidentally also features the only performance by Harold Russell (the Oscarwinning disabled actor) except for The Best Years of Our Lives. |
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