Tcm mark 2

[Johann]

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.

[Johann]

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.

[Chris Knipp]

Sounds fun - except for the Melania Trump memory.