Burton and Liz Taylor were good, and the movie got a raft of Oscars and noms, including Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress (Sandy Dennis). But it's much better on the stage. Not quite right as a movie. I watched it disappointed: nothing could match the amazing play experience. I remember standing around at intermission time dazed, awestruck, looking at other people and thinking, Isn't this amazing? You can't imagine. It was revolutionary to hear dialogue like this on the stage back then.
Last edited by Chris Knipp; 04-17-2023 at 06:37 PM.
Jack Warner clashed with the censors. He insisted on keeping the "adult" content adult.
No one was allowed admission unless you were 18 accompanied by an adult.
"Set the controls for the heart of the Sun" - Pink Floyd
A transitional period, no doubt. Then, words and gestures still meant something and had the power to shock (or enlighten).
BLACK LEGION (1937)
Warner Brothers had a record of making movies that stood up to fascism and racism.
Black Legion is one of those movies. The KKK even sued Warners, and lost.
Humphrey Bogart got a chance to shine here, 4 years prior to his superstardom.
He plays Frank Taylor, a factory worker looking to move up to foreman.
He doesn't get the promotion, a hard working Polish immigrant does.
Frank, kinda lost, joins the Black Legion, a mysterious hooded and robed group who put the squeeze on immigrants.
They raid the Polish man's farm, and Frank eventually gets the foreman post.
Long story short, he is suspected of oppressing immigrants. Ultimately he kills a man he knows under orders from the Legion. Frank goes on trial, and he tells all, getting life sentences for all Legion members.
Short movie at 83 minutes.
"Set the controls for the heart of the Sun" - Pink Floyd
ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS (1948)
Doris Day's film debut. She stayed at Warner brothers for 9 years, making the studio a fair amount of money. This was a musical/comedy directed by Michael Curtiz, whose filmography impresses me more everyday.
A lightweight comedy, its about a couple who suspect each other of cheating. One hires a private investigator, the other goes on a cruise to Rio only with Day in her place. Both think they will catch each other in the act.
The songs are sugary, with "It's Magic" becoming a hit for Day.
I enjoyed this, despite being dated and hokey at times.
It's one of those "take you away from your troubles" films that the 40's were good at.
"Set the controls for the heart of the Sun" - Pink Floyd
EAST OF EDEN (1955)
This was a special screening of the restored 4K version of Elia Kazan's classic.
Introduced by two directors (Joanna Hogg & Wes Anderson), this was a biblical story of a family in turmoil.
James Dean plays Cal Trask, in competition with his brother for his father's approval/affection in 1917.
The whole film is building up to an explosive series of events, and it is well acted.
Kazan resisted Cinemascope, but when he finally used it for this film, he maximized each shot. You can study this film just on composition and framing alone. The colors are really bright too.
Loosely based on the John Steinbeck novel.
"Set the controls for the heart of the Sun" - Pink Floyd
COME SEPTEMBER (1961)
Robert Mulligan directs Rock Hudson and Gina Lollabrigida in this tame rom-com.
I found it worth watching for Bobby Darin’s film debut- he even sings.
Rock plays Talbot, a rich mogul who vacays in Italy once a year.
He owns a villa, but the caretakers have sneakily turned it into a hotel for when he’s not there.
He finds out, fires all the staff, and ends up chaperoning some young kids (Darin, Sandra Dee & 8 others). The humour stems from the generation gap and how Talbot is a hypocrite.
Gina Lollabrigida is gorgeous, a real beauty…
Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee fell in love while making this movie.
Gina’s accent reminded me of Melania Trump.
Fairly light and fluffy movie-harmless all the way.
"Set the controls for the heart of the Sun" - Pink Floyd
Sounds fun - except for the Melania Trump memory.
JEWEL ROBBERY (1932)
The star of the month for May at TCM is William Powell.
This heist/romance by William Dieterle shows us Powell's charm as a leading man.
He robs a jewelry store in Vienna and a bunch of screwball antics play out, including scenes of smoking marijuana.
This film is rather blah, but thankfully short at 70 minutes. Hopelessly dated.
"Set the controls for the heart of the Sun" - Pink Floyd
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