Movie review: A star is born (1937)

Last night I re-watched A star is born and remembered I had written a review like two years ago, that was never published. Now I'm sharing this review, with some improvements. It's great to realize that the way I write reviews has changed; I used to tell the whole movie and consider that a review :)

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I thought this movie was about a completely frivolous girl that wanted to become a star (obviously) by any means and it would have a lot of musical acts (one of the songs would be "A star is born", where hundreds of dancers would move around the girl, and a chorus would say something like "A star is boooorn, and you are the staaaaar, etc"). BUT -at least the version I watched, the one from 1937- was completely the opposite.

It made me cry. It made me laugh. I loved it.

So what's about? Well it's about a not-frivolous girl, Esther Blodgett (Janet Gaynor), who loves stars and dreams of becoming an actress. The problem is that she lives with an awful aunt, a mocking cousin, and a passive uncle, who don't believe in her at all and "encourage" her to get a husband. But she also has a really cool granny, (May Robson) who gives great speeches (For every dream of yours you make come true, you'll pay the price in heartbreak) and has money saved. Yay.

A story like this could have had a really soppy treatment, but the acting is great that we don't even stop to think about it. You see how the old granny gives her granddaughter all her savings, you see her waving at the train station in a cold dark night...you instantly root for the girl: she *must* go to Hollywood and be a star!

And  you suffer when you see that things in Hollywood are not too easy; that are hundreds of people who want the same, that despite the granny's sacrifice, Esther hasn't enough money to pay the rent (that also gives you the opportunity to visualize better how things worked then). And you're glad when she finds a good friend, Danny McGuire (Andy Devine) who tries to help her even when he's equally broke. And you're totally happy when she meets gorgeus famous actor Norman Maine (Fredric March), who helps her to get a contract with head of studio Mr. Oliver Niles (Adolphe Menjou) and become the great star Vicky Lester...

One of my favorite things from the movie is, obviously, Norman + Vicky: Their relationship is delightful and the script puts them in very original situations (like talking about marriage in the middle of a box fight). Both are funny (the scene where Esther is preparing her lines is priceless) and charming, and you see that Norman, a big star at the moment, who loves drinking and has problems with paparazzis is also very sweet and says things like:

"Hey!...Do you mind if I take just one more look?"

"You know, I'm a screen...I'm a... you know...but whatever I do I still respect lovely things and you're lovely"

Another amusing scene is their honeymoon, wich remind me of Mickey's Trailer (1938). Mickey/Vicky are trying to cook in the moving trailer while Goofy/Norman are driving annoyingly indifferent. And then Donald/Norman tries to get a shower, etc.

But the strongest point is that the main drama still feels very real and relevant. It makes you comprehend a little bit more what famous people have to deal with, why is so difficult for them to overcome addictions and pressure. Fredric March could play drunk people in a very natural, believable way, without overacting (see also Merrily we go to hell). He makes the ending of this movie memorable.

A star is born (1937) is an excellent movie, with great actors/characters, moving interpretations, realistic but original situations and emotive scenes.

CMBA Comedy Classics Blogathon: "The Richest Girl in the World"

First thing about the film I selected for this blogathon: I had seen it like two years ago. I remember I enjoyed it very much, but two years ago I had barely seen classic comedies, therefore my mental map has changed since then.

Was it as good as I remembered it? Let's see.

The Richest Girl in the World (1934) is about the richest girl in the world. Seriously. As we all know normal rich people have a lot of problems to deal with, like losing kids inside their mansions, having to assist to dreaful ceremonies and parties, not knowing what to buy next, not knowing what kid to adopt next, etc. But they also have sentimental problems. Especially if you're Miriam Hopkins, the RICHEST girl in the world.

Miriam founds herself continually asking: this guy that says he loves me, is in love with me or with my money? So after her honest fiancé says he won't marry her because he's in love with another girl, Miriam starts thinking. She also sees her dear secretary Fay Wray deeply in love with her husband and she wants something like that for herself.

For security reasons she's pretending to be her secretary, while her secretary pretends to be her. In that situation she meets Joel McCrea, an impossibly tall, tanned, athletic, handsome, cute guy, who says he couldn't care less about the RICHEST girl in the world. Hope is born in Miriam's heart. And a kitten just died because that last cliché. Well, Miriam will prove Joel's will by throwing the fake richest girl in the world in his face.

One of the things I like about this film is how writer Norman Krasna gave a little background and humanized the character of the girl with a lot of money. First, we learn that her parents died in the Titanic (no, her dad wasn't Leo DiCaprio) and that a good ol' man took care of her (one of the bests scenes is when Henry Stephenson, the protector, tells this story). Then we learn that she's practical, not spoiled, that she's a good friend, doesn't have a lot of clothes and has a good humor. So you root for her.

I also like the way Miriam Hopkins acts...most of the time. She gives naturalness to her character and a playful presence. The are few secondary characters, but they make a good group: Fay Wray being always supportive, her husband (Reginald Denny) being a good sport about the whole incognito deal, and the mentioned Henry Stephenson, also very effective and funny. 

The negative side: in a movie that was in this "humanized" trail, some scenes are out of place. For example, in a moment of anger, Miriam goes after Joel and her secretary/fake rich girl that were in a canoe. With her motorboat she makes the little canoe overturn. That would work in a normal screwball comedy, but not in this one. There are other scenes in which she drinks with Joel that were a bit repetitive, long and didn't add much to the story. Maybe this would have been less notorious if the movie had some kind of music, but it just have two songs in dance scenes. And, in my very humble opinion, Joel is very handsome and all but he's very wooden as actor. Except for a few moments.

Anyway, Norman Krasna got an Oscar nomination for Best Original Story. He was 22. He says he attended to the ceremony with Groucho Marx and his first wife, Ruth. Norman didn't win and got drunk. Suddenly he rises and shouts "Everybody!". Silence. Then he invited everyone to his place, even when she just had a can of sardines at home. Groucho had to take him home. 

Closing lines. Maybe this one is not really a HA-HA film, but is very enjoyable little comedy anyway. The end :)

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Written for the CMBA Comedy Classics Blogathon.

All my film reviews of 2011...in 2 lines or less

In 2011, I wrote 61 reviews, that's a movie every 5 days (and I only reviewed a few of all the films I saw). While making this post I noticed that most of the films I watched were good, mostly thanks to recommendations from fellow bloggers. 

I hope you enjoyed this ride with me and I hope this list helps you to find new awesome films...and some so bad that are hilarious :)

All the titles are linked to the original posts.

BAD (5/61)

You only live twice (1967): “LOL”

The princess and the pirate (1944) “Stuff the plot with lots of pirates jokes, Virginia Mayo singing, some unconnected scenes, a very stupid ending and you have something to sell.”´

Tea for two (1950) “There are some musicals that understand that the music and dance sequences should fit the action and seem natural. And some that don't.”

The Garden of Allah (1936): “Marlene Dietrich is dumped by her monk husband...in Technicolor".

Duel in the sun (1946) “Bad Gregory has a super idea: wanna go swimming? And she's like offended and rides her horse back home yelling "I WON'T, I WON'T" (but we get that someday SHE WILL, SHE WILL).”

SO-SO (16/61)

The sea hawk (1940) “The first part of this movie is very boring; then it takes off (...) but too late “

The Black Swan (1942) I couldn't forget that coward slap at the beginning so it was hard to root for Tyrone...and the movie.

The painted veil (1934) : “Herbert seemed to be distant (and boring) the whole movie”

The bigamist (1953): “A guy marries Joan and then Ida. The end.”

In the good old summertime (1949): “The shop around the corner and You've got mail are better in my opinion”

The Naked Jungle (1954): “Or how to make an entertaining... mess”

The long gray line (1955): “I just didn't get Tyrone's adoration for the institution”

Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962): “It lacked charm.”

Our man in Havana (1959): “It had fun moments but its dark atmosphere didn't let me enjoy it completely"

The scarlett Empress (1934): “How can you stand this level of creepiness?”

What a way to go (1964) “Maybe the plot is pretty weak, maybe some of the parodies are not very elaborated, but it was a fun film with an all-star cast to watch once.”

The fountainhead (1949): “The movie is about a young architect that loves to design buildings his own modern way. Like if you say, 'hey Coop, I'd like to put a prettay entrance to my new house, maybe a Greek column or something' he'd kill you and throw the drafts to the mud.“

Sleep My Love (1948) “I expected more from this film, it was a bit messy.”

The Golden Arrow (1936) “Some parts seemed too forced to serve the script”

Doctor in the house (1954) “It was too bland, too circumstantial and not very surprising”

Week-end at the Waldorf (1945) “AVERAGE Ginger Rogers movie. It's a remake of Grand Hotel only with less brilliant performances, mood, dialogue, stories, etc.”

GOOD (40/61)

The parent trap (1961): “Entertaining and charming”

Torn Curtain (1966): “This movie should definitely be more appreciated”

Since you went away (1944): “I didn't find any flaw.”

Scarlett Street (1945): “The bad: Only that I wanted the bad guy to suffer more.”

Caged (1950): “I saw it twice. Eleanor Parker was surprisingly awesome in this film”

Son of Fury (1942): “Super fun (...) Tyrone and Gene are cute and effective together”

Cactus Flower (1969): “I laughed out loud many times...Ingrid Bergman steals the show”

Night and the city (1950): “Achieves a great dark, heavy atmosphere.”

That darn cat (1965) : “I enjoyed it, even when at some points it got very silly”

The moon-spinners (1964): “An entertaining teen mystery film”

Against all flags (1952): “Errol and Maureen look great together and they ooze energy and chemistry.”

Sitting pretty (1948): “I loved it (...) the new nanny is a strict man with mysterious hobbies"

This land is mine (1943): “There's tension, suspense, sacrifice, love for freedom and an unusual point of view of occupation. I really recommend it”

The flame and the arrow (1950): “Another reason to love Burt Lancaster”

Buona sera. Mrs Campbell (1968) “Gina is fun to watch and the script was perfect for her”

The great race (1965): “A very entertaining, well-acted film (...) you just have to enjoy the ride without asking questions”

Holiday Affair (1949): “There are terrific Mitchumovies in which Robert plays creepy characters that want to kill boys and nice Mitchumovies in which his characters are great with kids.“

Cry Wolf (1947) “Spooky! (...) a fun movie with interesting performances if you can forgive some plot holes.”

Beloved Infidel (1959) “Gregory Peck and Deborah Kerr are superb as Scott and Sheilah”

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939): “Charles (Laughton) is one of the reasons why this film is so memorable. What a terrific performer he was”

White Heat (1949) “Terrific movie (...) A very well told story, with a great ending.”

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947) “A really fun comedy”

Ivy (1947) “a super engaging...I don't know, drama? thriller?”

The three lives of Thomasina (1964) “It was fun, kept you intrigued and the kids from Mary Poppins play the main characters here too.”

I wake up screaming (1941) “Makes you wonder, makes you change your opinion with every flashback and then root for the innocents”

My reputation (1946) “My favorite things from this movie are Eve Arden's awesomely well delivered jokes and Barbara Stanwyck's usual terrific acting skills”

This above all (1942) “I liked it because they [the main characters] enjoy their love and give a leap of faith, facing social prejudice (....)and their own fears.”

Way of a Gaucho (1952) “...And the last reason why I loved this film is that the characters almost almost almost got to Chile”

Dragonwyck (1946) “If you're in the mood for a "fantasy/mystery" film with very real/historical interpretations, this one is a good option. “

People will talk (1946) “The chemistry between the main stars is great and you really root for the couple”

Heaven Can wait (1943) “a memorable movie”

Romance in Manhattan (1935) “GREAT (and kind of unknown) Ginger Rogers movie (...)It was surprising to see Ginger in this kind of role”

Manpower (1941) “It shows things how they are: the characters try to change, to take the right decisions, but that's not always enough”

The Russians are coming, the Russians are coming (1966) “hilarious!”

The Stalking Moon (1968 ) “He's like a ninja merged with a samurai mixed with Harry Potter using the invisibility cape: you just are able to follow his blood trail (...) And he's coming after Gregory and company.”

36 hours (1965) “1 hour and 15 minutes of entertainment”

The Naked Edge (1961) “The ending was thrilling and frightening. I think that's the main reason why I really liked this film.”

Paris when it sizzles (1964) “Everything about it was bad. Until it wasn't.”

I’ll be seeing you (1944) “There are so many moments from this movie that stay in your mind.”

Lady on a train (1945) “There are a lot of funny/thrilling scenes and lines and of course three songs beautifully sung by Deanna”

Happy New Year, see you on the other side kids!

I'll be seeing you (1944): a great "Christmas movie"

Ahhh, the holidays. The season where you feel socially compelled to buy and eat. A lot. The season where you ask little kids if they believe in Santa and they don't. But you do. Kind of. The season where you listen to Christmas songs and they finally make sense (yep, I listen to Christmas music all the year, The Elf soundtrack is amazing). 

Seems that it was also the season where people returned home from the war or jail and a little brat not so little Shirley Temple was there to point her judgmental finger at you.

What a great movie I'll be seeing you is (and what a great song it has). It's a film that, just like The best years of our lives, shows what war does to people, without even showing the battlefield, without any patriotic speeches given by a character looking to the horizon. It also shows the life of the people who stayed, old people, young people, some showing the calmness that being accustomed to resignation projects, others trying to help with written messages of hope for people fighting abroad. And, very surprisingly, it also tells the story of a imprisoned woman that is paying for a mistake, an accident, even when the result wasn't her fault.

Director William Dieterle (Portrait of Jennie, The Hunchback of Notre Dame) and the writers constructed a measured movie. It feels real. 

It shows people that laughs at the table at spontaneous, not so funny jokes. People that try to maintain their dignity even when their circumstances are difficult and not always succeed. Characters, like Shirley's, that aren't sweet and kind, because usually adolescents are not. They have too many things to deal with. Ginger, the inmate that goes home for the holidays, tries to combine her few clothes to look normal for a while and makes an effort to answer difficult questions, overlook prejudices...or just tries to hide her situation from new acquaintances. And one night Joseph Cotten, the troubled soldier, tries to control his mental and physical scars, to calm down, talking to himself, but completely fails, and just lays there, sweaty, tired. 

There are so many moments from this movie that stay in your mind. For example, the dog attack is so well filmed that the scene shocks you, just like reality. It occurs without warning, in a moment that was preceded by a calm walk, with no suspense music. The actors are so well in they roles that you empathize with their humanity (after watching this film, my dad said that Ingrid Bergman is no longer his favorite actress).

And it happens to be Christmas time, and everyone is making an effort to forget and smile, to share a supper, a song, a present, a smile. Whatever. Because sometimes life is tough and you just have each other to hang on. And, sometimes, like in I'll be seeing you, life smiles you back, even if it's for a moment, outside the prison where you live.

----Written for Sally's 12 Days of Christmas movies. Have a great Christmas people, enjoy yourselves and leave milk & cookies for Santa!!

 

Lady on a train (1945): a goofy comedy thriller

Last night I was finally able to watch this film starring Deanna Durbin and David Bruce. It wasn't quite what I expected, but it was entertaining and it takes place during Christmas, so it was a good pick.

In a nutshell, Deanna plays a rich Nancy Drew-ish character that witnesses a murder from a train and then she investigates by herself because William Frawley is playing a lazy cop.

First of all, to completely enjoy this film, you have to expect a lot of unlikely situations, like a girl breaking and entering in a creepy mansion, wearing a cowhide (almost literally), lots of feathers in her hat and high heels, because that's how you discreetly investigate a murder. 

If you accept things like that, then you can start enjoying the contagious good humor and goofy personality of Deanna's character; David Bruce's charm (he was handsome, reminded me a bit of Michael Redgrave), Edward Everett's usual absent minded character and Jacqueline deWit's comedy timing (she has a presence like Eve Arden's).

The movie maintains a good pace: it's never slow thanks to a script filled with many different and interesting situations (like Deanna pretending to be a club singer/heiress/chair to investigate...you'll get it when you see it).

It also keeps you intrigued, trying to guess which of the suspects --Ralph Bellamy, Dan Duryea, etc-- is the criminal (although I correctly guessed at once...please, please, no applauses). 

There are a lot of funny/thrilling scenes and lines and of course three songs beautifully sung by Deanna (they are all in Youtube: Silent Night,  Night and Day & Give me a little kiss )

In conclusion, if you haven't seen this one and you're looking for a very light and quite funny film, I recommend this one to you. 

Here some photos from my wall:

With "Fred"

At the cinema: one of the funniest scenes.

With Ralph Bellamy.

With Edward Everett, Fred Astaire's usual best friend.

Siiiiilent Niiiight....

Have a great weekend!

PS - I'd like to know if you guys know more about director Charles David, seems that he just directed two movies in his whole life.

Darling Deborah Blogathon: The Naked Edge (1961)

OK, I confess it: I had no faith in this film. I didn't even know it existed, and that's saying a lot when Gary Cooper AND Deborah Kerr play the main parts.

Anyway, I did it for Sophie and her Darling Deborah Blogathon: I wanted to check a new movie from Miss Kerr.

First main idea: this movie is like Hitchcock's Suspicion and Shadow of a Doubt. You know, it follows a certain female character and how she starts suspecting that someone very dear is a criminal (her husband in this case). There are many things she starts to see that would confirm this suspicion, and we, like her, start feeling puzzled and scared.

The script was written by Joseph Stefano, you know, the same guy who adapted a novel for Psycho.

Someone killed Gary Cooper's boss and stole a lot of money. In the trial he accuses some colleague: he's sure because he chased him after he heard his boss screaming. This colleague goes to prison but the money never appeared. A year later Gary creates a super expensive company, with money, he says, he won gambling. Another year later, Deborah Kerr, her wife, opens a delayed letter. In it, someone is blackmailing Gary, saying that he wants money or he'll tell Gary committed the crime. [Deborah's suspicious mode: on]

The way the story is presented is very suffocating: the shots are close; the lighting is always dark, the music tense. Most of the scenes occur in closed rooms: offices, bedrooms, a crowded restaurant, a bookshop crammed full of books. The few secondary characters are vicious, gossipy people.There's no comic relief like in Hitchcok's movies.

And Deborah starts investigating. For example, she visits the prisoner's wife in the slums of London (yes, the movie takes place in that capital). And you have never seen London so poor and crowded like in that visit. The contrast with Deborah's expensive clothes and refined pose is shocking, powerful. The woman says her husband was innocent and that Gary was the real murderer. Deborah is impressed to hear her suspicions being shared for other person.

Director Michael Anderson used that effect in a very intelligent way. Now Deborah feels lost, in despair, scared. In a state of mind like that you start seeing everything distorted (like when Snow White escapes through the woods). Check that scene:

Other scene that caught my attention is when Gary and Deborah are discussing their situation. Well, they discuss their situation several times, but in this particular moment she says for the first time she has thought about killing herself. And when those particular words come out Deborah's mouth, the emotion surfaces and her voice trembles. That detail was so real and human that it impressed me:

As you can see in the clip, just like in Hitchcok's movies, the main actor had to play his part leaving place for doubts. Gary never gives a proper, solid answer. He just talks about receipts that are lost. And maybe that's the weaker point in Suspicion and in this one, the doubts rely in the ambiguity of information. Another weak parts are when Deborah and Gary discuss his guilt in a car, while the chauffeur listens to the conversation or in his office, without closing the door!

But I have to say the movie poster doesn't lie: the ending was thrilling and frightening. I think that's the main reason why I really liked this film. I think that the way directors wrap up their movies has a main importance in the way I remember them.

On a side note, it was funny hearing classic actors saying things like:

Gary: Could a woman live with a man sleep with him and not know he's a murderer?
Deborah: Do murderer's make love differently?

Gary: You can't be a littlle suspicious. It's like virginity, you either are, or aren't.

So, yes, I recommend this movie. It was very well filmed, has great performances and an exciting-very-Hitchockish-plot.
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Click here to check the rest of the Darling Deborah Blogathon entries :)

"Duel in the Sun": In my own words (PART II)

Previously on "Duel in the Sun"

• Tanned Jennifer Jones suffers from a bipolar love: looks in love with Charming Joseph Cotten but goes wild with Bad Gregory Peck.
• Lillian Gish looks fragile.
• Selznick, Vidor and the dozen writers forgot this one was a western.
• Lionel Barrymore always preferred Bad Gregory, but now he exiled Charming Joseph from his ranch
  
• Bad Gregory visited Tanned Jennifer one night. And we literally see lightnings and hear thunders...

Poor Charming Joseph says goodbye to his mom, Fragile Lillian Gish. She's very sad and looks like a little bird. Joseph wants to say goodbye to Jennifer, too. He politely knocks the door.

Silence.

Then Tanned Jennifer asks him to go away.

Then Bad Gregory invites him to come in.

Then another person talks from the inside. A dog barks. A whale...makes its sound. A fourth person laughs...Just kidding. Just the whale...made its sound.

Poor Charming and Lawyer Joseph. He knows what lightnings and thunders and this music mean in a movie. He enters the room. Jennifer cries, Bad Gregory smiles. He politely apologizes for the interruption and walks away.

Jennifer goes after him. She literally says that Bad Gregory is hard to resist and she's trash. Joseph says that's too bad because he loved her and wanted her with him. But he won't forget this night of thunders and lightnings. He goes away, but before leaving the ranch, he politely slaps his brother Gregory.

Some minutes later...Jennifer...I don't know how to describe this scene, see for yourself...

TEST: SCENE COMPREHENSION. In the previous scene... (multiple selections allowed)

Fifth day at her new home (can you believe so much time has passed? Time flies)

Jennifer Jones just freed her wild passion for Bad Gregory. Now she's a big fan of him and every two seconds gives him weird looks and assumes weird poses that according to her acting codes means she's very attracted/but regrets it.

Now she's the one that wants to go to the pond. But when she sees lightnings and thunders approaching she refuses to stay in the storm. She wants to marry Bad Gregory before. They decide they will announce they engagement in a super barbecue Lionel Barrymore is organizing.  

The day of the barbecue

So many things happening.

1. Tanned Jennifer is very happy. She's wearing a pretty white dress. 

2. Lillian Gish is informed that Charming Joseph has become a very successful personality in the city.

3. Bad Gregory is calming down his pops Lionel: he's just fooling around with Jennifer Jones.

Bad Gregory starts dancing with Jennifer Jones. She asks him when are they telling the happy news. And Bad Gregory is all "what happy news? what are you talking about?".

They go to discuss to a little office.

In this little office Jennifer's dreams and hopes are completely shattered. Basically Bad Gregory tells her to stop nagging, he won't marry her, and she can go away if she wants and adds some racist comment

Jennifer Jones leaves. Not really, she goes to the garden. And cries. Then a man approaches. He's a new worker and says that he doesn't really like balls (dances). He looks like an old Joseph Cotten:

Jennifer decides he's a good guy...to make Gregory jealous. So they go back and dance to the techno music while Bad Gregory looks at them (trying to copy their techno moves).

Some days later...

Old Joseph Cotten Look-Alike, the worker, asks Jennifer to marry him. He's really a good guy. He offers her a modest but happy life. She says yes.

More days later...

The Real Charming Joseph Cotten arrives in a train...with his Charming Bride. Some cowboy notifies him of Jennifer's situation: she is going to get marry the worker ...only if Bad Gregory wants to.

Then one day....

Apparently Bad Gregory didn't want to: she shoots Old Joseph Cotten Look-Alike. Now he's an outlaw and a reward is offered for his capture. In the funeral, we can see in Jennifer Jones' eyes she wants revenge.

In the ranch...

Lionel Barrymore is arguing with Lillian Gish. She looks more fragile than ever. They blame each other. He wants Jennifer out; she says she will stay as much as her.*Coughs*

Then in some secret place...

Lionel asks Gregory to stay away for awhile. The situation is serious. He asks his son to take care of himself.

Then in some railroad...

Bad Gregory didn't quite get the message. From the words of his dad he understood: "provoke an accident in the train and make it explode". So he does.

Then he visits Jennifer in the ranch.

In the ranch...

Jennifer is definitely bipolar, she forgot everything about her revenge and wants Gregory back.

The sheriff or someone like that arrives to the ranch asking for Bad Gregory. Lionel doesn't know, Fragile Lillian Gish doesn't know, Jennifer doesn't know...well, she knows that Bad Gregory is hiding behind her door, but she doesn't want to say. 

When he's safe, he decides to go away again to Mexico. She wants to go with him. He doesn't agree: he just want to visit her some nights and nothing more.

Jennifer is being treated like trash (again). But now she takes the pieces of her shattered pride and puts them together. She won't accept this situation anymore, she's a good girl and her pride means a lot to her...she...

Just kidding...she says she won't talk about marriage anymore, that she will be his servant, that she can't love another man...and takes his leg, while he walks, cleaning the floor with her pjs (now she has pajamas)...

PLEASE, TAKE ME WITH YOU, BAD GREGORY!

Bad Gregory kicks her and then almost hits her head with door when he leaves (Jennifer's health: -4). She stays on the cold floor, abandoned.

In Lillian Gish's bedroom...

She's dying. I told you she looked too fragile and delicate.

Lionel is there, and Lillian points out that is the first time he's been there since she tried to abandon him, many years ago. He starts getting angry, while she starts dying in a very silent-film-way. Then he recognizes that everything was his fault and gives a long speech about how much he really loved her...while dying Lillian crawls to his side.


*Dies*

Some days later...

Charming Joseph wants to see her sick mother. The only problem is that she passed away already. Now he talks to Jennifer. He understands everything. He wants to take care of her. With his bride.

In some near town

Charming Joseph Cotten receives a message from Bad Gregory: he's pissed off because he took Jennifer away. If she doesn't go back, he'll be there next morning.

The next morning...

Gregory arrives. He orders Joseph to take a revolver, he will start shooting from a distance anyway.

Joseph doesn't take the revolver and Gregory shoots him from a distance anyway.

*Falls wounded*

(You think that was the most boring DUEL IN THE SUN ever)

Then in front of a fake painting of mountains

Lionel Barrymore recognizes before a friend that Bad Gregory was bad and Charming Joseph was good.

Back in town....

Tanned Jennifer meets the Charming Bride. She realizes Charming Bride is very kind and the perfect wife for Charming Joseph (he's recovering from the attack). She also realizes she had forgotten her revenge. She wants it NOW!

DUEL IN THE SUN!

Tanned Jennifer gets more tanned, because she wants to "meet" Gregory before he crosses the border, so she rides her super horse under the hot sun.

She arrives, and Gregory says hello from the hill...

She shoots him.

She thinks he *died* and kind of regrets it. But he didn't die and starts calling her names. Now she's pissed off again and wants more revenge. She starts climbing the hill and very cleverly stands in a rock in her discrete red skirt.

He shoots her.

She's wounded. Her chest is bleeding. She falls, hitting the dusty rocks (Jennifer's health: -500).

He thinks she *died*. He first smiles but then kind of regrets it. Starts calling her name.

He receives another shot for an answer.
He starts crawling in her direction. Then she starts crawling in his direction to finish her work.

When Jennifer, with her bleeding heart has crawled 70% of the hill (according to Imdb real Jennifer Jones' health: -20). Gregory calls her: he's really dying.

Now Jennifer forgets everything again. She forgets that she was there to kill him. And now she "rushes" by his side.

By the time she reaches Gregory's dying place, she's dying too.

He: Let me hold you
She: Hold me.

They hold and *die*

(Jennifer's health: N/A).

THE END.

"Duel in the sun" (1946): In My Own Words! (PART I)

For those who don't know what "IN MY OWN WORDS!" implies: when I see a movie that's so strange (like The Fountainhead) or bad (like The Garden of Allah), I re-tell it, from beginning to end...in my own words. So obviously there are spoilers ahead.

Well, the other day I was doing a bit of research for my post on Prissy, played by Butterfly McQueen. In her filmography I noticed she worked in a movie called Duel in the sun with this minor cast:

• Gregory Peck
• Joseph Cotten
• Jennifer Jones
• Lionel Barrymore
• Lillian Gish
• Herbert Marshall
• Walter Huston
• Otto Kruger

You know...little people. I thought: "OMG, I need to watch this". And I did, obviously, otherwise I wouldn't be writing this...thing.

So here it goes....DUEL IN THE SUN

David Selznick's usual grandiose titles:

[Epic Music] Ahhh, this is so epic...this the story of Pearl who died young. Ahhh.[/Epic Music]

The place: it doesn't matter. Picture this: cowboys, Herbert Marshall, Indian/Mexican women (Hollywood doesn't care about the differences) on a set.

The people:

a) Really tanned Jennifer Jones aka Pearl. The daughter.

b) Herbert Marshall as a very refined gentleman. The father.

c) Some Indian/Mexican woman dancing wildly and then getting a room with some random guy (obviously). The mother.

Chapter 1. Jennifer becomes an orphan

b) kills c) and then he dies because it's the law. a) is sent to live with her dad's rich ex- girlfriend, Lillian Gish. 

First day at her new home. 

a) is very happy, because she meets Lillian's son, who is very polite and nice and a lawyer and Joseph Cotten (altogether: sighs). Lillian is a very kind lady too (and looks fragile as a little bird) and makes her feel at home and gives her a free tour around the house (like: these are the cows and those, the horses).

But Lionel Barrymore, Lillian's hubby and owner of the ranch, hates Jennifer and doesn't want her there because: 

1. She's the daughter of his wife's ex.

2. Because she's half breed.

3. Because Jennifer Jones is too tanned. 

4. He was tired of being the nice uncle in every movie he made.

When a) thinks that she finished meeting new people...another Lillian's son, Gregory Peck looking super young, arrives in his horse. And when you're thinking how nice Gregory always is...he isn't. HE'S THE BAD GUY! You can tell by the way she looks at a), it's like "I want you with fries on the side". Obviously, Lillian doesn't notice the evil look in her son's eyes.

Anyway, Lillian plays the piano for Jennifer Jones and then she sends her to bed. It's been a long day, but before arriving to her room, Jennifer makes three stops to be:

1. Harassed by Lionel Barrymore ("How did they come to name you Pearl? Couldn't have much eye for color, couldn't they? HAHAHA!")

2. Impressed by Joseph Cotten's good looks and charm and kindness (she looks in love with him).

3. Practically abused by Bad Gregory Peck.

Everything in less than 10 minutes.

Second day at her new home.

Bad Gregory Peck starts showing off his riding skills to impress a). For some reason, she is still talking to him, especially after he gave her a super horse. The only problem is that she doesn't know how to control a horse and she falls (Jennifer's health: -1). And for another reason we don't get, she falls and stays this way:

So obviously Bad Gregory has a super idea: wanna go swimming?. And she's like offended and rides her horse back home yelling "I WON'T, I WON'T" (but we get that someday SHE WILL, SHE WILL).

Joseph Cotten is more puzzled than us, of course. But Jennifer says she doesn't care about Bad Gregory and urges Joseph to go for a walk by the light of the moon (looking in love with him)...while Gregory pretends he's singing and playing the guitar (and you think: "oh, so Gregory and Joseph are gonna be in a DUEL IN THE SUN").

Third day at her new home

Some sweaty cowboys are finishing their work in the ranch. Jennifer decided to go swimming by herself, but for some reason we don't get she makes herself very visible. 

Because she couldn't ride behind the hill, right?

One of the cowboys notices her riding to the pond and alerts Bad Gregory. He arrives to the pond and sees naked Jennifer swimming (you could sell bathing suits and become a millionaire). Annoying Gregory stays there, watching.

And that's basically how the third day is spent: Jennifer can't come out all naked, even if she's very tanned.

Finally, she arrives all wet to dinner, furious and very late. Delicate and fragile Lillian Gish politely asks if she went swimming with Gregory and she says no. Bad Gregory enters and is all: "oh, what fun we had swimming, etc etc".

Awkward.

Lillian is shocked.

Later that night.

Lillian invited a priest to talk to Jennifer. Apparently, she didn't like to use a proper pjs (you could sell pajamas and become a millionaire). The priest doesn't seem to mind that fact. 

He says some words to save her soul and gives her a medallion. Lillian is relieved.

Fourth day at her new home.

Selznick, King Vidor and the dozen writers they had working in the script, remembered this one was a western and introduced some random action: some guys wanted to build a railroad in Lionel Barrymore's land and he goes riding with like 1,345,567,597,400 of his workers to stop them. 

Joseph Cotten is against this fight and he agrees with the train people. Then the army arrives and the dispute is over. Lionel Barrymore always preferred Bad Gregory Peck, but now he just hates Joseph Cotten: he can't live in his ranch anymore.

That night. 

We see Jenifer Jones washing the floor in her room. Bad Gregory Peck arrives with his evil face. He has the worst intentions. And she doesn't fight anymore. Quite the opposite really.

[Lightings and thunders on the background.]

And then...

To be continued...here.

CMBA Guilty Pleasures Movie Blogathon: "Paris when it sizzles"

These are selected opinions of reviewers who apparently didn't enjoy this movie and make of Paris When It Sizzles (1964; Richard Quine) a guilty pleasure:

• "Paris when it stinks"
• "Beyond stupid. A waste of time. Avoid."
• "Incredible mess"
• "Give this one a pass."
• "Nothing sizzles" 
• "No style or substance"
• "3/10 is being generous."
• "A big disappointment in all departments"
• "Oh dear!"
• "Paris When it Fizzles- This Sizzler A Dud"
• "One of the worst films ever"
• "Why did I buy it ? It was part of a set."
• "I gave this one ten minutes"
• "Paris when it ... SNORES!"

All quotes from Imdb reviewers who didn't like this story --adapted by George Axelrod from a French story/movie-- about a writer (William Holden) that has only a few days to finish a script helped by his new assistant, typist Audrey Hepburn. A film-within-the film: any idea William has becomes the movie you're watching, even if it's crazy or developed by a drunk character.

Here are a few more quotes:

• "Makes fun of classic movies, when the film itself is not very good"
• "The script is bad"
• "At the end there are two stupid scripts: the fictional and the real one"
• "Lacks fluidity"
• "Some scenes are unimportant but really long"

Those are from an unpublished review written by...me.

Yes, I hated the film the first time I saw it. I also knew this one was Audrey's least favorite movie of her filmography and that some years later she almost didn't film Two for the road: she was done with movies that experimented with the storytelling. I had also read that William Holden was drinking heavily during the filming of this movie and had to enter an alcoholic clinic.

Everything about it was bad.

Until it wasn't.

The third time I saw this film I started watching it from a new point of view: here we had a powerful studio, Paramount, plus several stars making fun of themselves. They were all laughing at the way movies are made; showing how obvious the business in which they worked can be when it's made for commercial purposes, how superficial famous people can be...

Everything started to make sense. Audrey didn't mind the lines that made fun of her movies, like Breakfast at Tiffany's and My fair lady; William and Tony Curtis didn't mind playing parts in which, for example, they made clear how important looks are for leading actors, and how narcissist they can be. And that's awesome, it's like saying: "hey, don't take us too serious, this is all about pretending and having fun".

The dialog is filled with movie techniques cliches, exaggerated to made them obvious. And because William Holden is writing a screenplay, there are cliches from the main title to the end. I love, for example, how William describes the opening credits of his new movie, The girl who stole the Eiffel Tower:

Superimpose: ''An Alexander Meyerheim production''. Cut to the Eiffel Tower. The main title.The trumpets segue into the inevitable title song. Maybe we can get Sinatra to sing it. There follows an interminable list of other credits acknowledging the efforts of all the quote little people unquote, whom I shall graciously thank in my acceptance speech at the Academy Awards.

Or how he explains to Audrey how a fade out works:

Over the years, the audience has been conditioned to understand that when a scene fades away, like an old soldier, before their very eyes, and another scene gradually appears to take its place, a certain amount of time has elapsed.

Or what a kiss really is in the commercial movie business:

The final, earth-moving, studio-rent-paying, theatre-filling, popcorn-selling...kiss.

The list goes on and on and you actually learn something about screenwriting process.

With director Richard Quine.

Besides the fun provided by desconstructing a movie script, Audrey and William are a delight to watch together. Knowing about their impossible love during the filming of Sabrina, it was nice to see them working in a fictional hotel in sunny Paris. Even when Audrey didn't like the film, she called it "a joy to make". And even when William said of the first day he arrived to Paris: "I realized that I had to face Audrey and I had to deal with my drinking. And I didn’t think I could handle either situation", they seem at ease and relaxed.

Despite what some reviewers have said, I think Audrey --dressed and "perfumed" by Givenchy here too-- had a great timing for comedy, I love the way she delivers her lines, and how she responded to the scenes which required physical comedy. Because everything was a parody, she  exaggerated her movements, especially in the sequence where, drunk, her character starts to invent a parallel story. Vampires, horse races, aviators, everything was included in her crazy sequence, maybe the most criticized of the film. I found it hilarious.

William as a vampire...

..seconds later the action takes place in the sky...

All the genres conventions are parodied in Paris When It Sizzles: detective stories, horror movies, slapstick, romance, etc etc. For example, if the next frame, a man and woman in bed, fades out...

...it obviously means...that they were playing Parcheesi!

I also loved the bits about the French New Wave, movies where, according to the screenwriter, nothing happens.

Audrey aka Gaby: The picture's terribly interesting. Very avant-garde. About people who go to this party and decide not to play Scrabble. lt was called The Scrabble Game Will Not Take Place. His next one's about a girl who won't have a birthday party - Blow Out No Candles. Roger believes what's important on screen is what doesn't happen.

There are great cameos: Marlene Dietrich and Mel Ferrer; supporting players include Tony Curtis and Noel Coward; Frank Sinatra sings the title (literally) The girl who stole the Eiffel Tower; there's a song by Fred Astaire that introduces a tong-in-cheek dance sequence that's abruptly interrupted because this one is not a musical...

Tony Curtis as an egocentric Method actor (video)...

Marlene as...Marlene Dietrich.

George Axelrod, who also wrote the screenplay for Breakfast at Tiffany's, included a crazy party scene here too. Although it's not as memorable as the one in B@t, it has some great moments and costumes:

Mel Ferrer as Dr. Jekyll...

...and then as Mr. Hyde...

Another great thing of this film is the music, although it doesn't have a great presence throughout the movie. It was composed by Nelson Riddle and I think it captures the light spirit of the film. One of the themes that stand out is Gabrielle (hear)

TCM said of this movie "Over the years, however, the film has earned a reputation as a guilty pleasure for those who enjoy in-joke movie spoofs and an absurdist storyline played out against the glorious backdrop of the City of Light".

I don't even feel guilty anymore :) In my opinion, Paris When It Sizzles was ahead of its time and therefore, underrated and a commercial failure. I think of it as an antecedent of films like Airplane! and Monty Python's movies, only classier.

So, yes, maybe this movie is a mess. But a delightful and sunny mess, if you decide to relax, give it an opportunity and go "absolutely ape" watching how these unforgettable people enjoy living.

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Written for the CMBA Guilty Pleasures Movie Blogathon.Check the rest of the entries here.

PS: It's funny that writer George Axelrod provided another guilty pleasure  to this blogathon :)