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francisbschultz
Reviews
Bells Are Ringing (1960)
Fun movie with sobering subtext
I have always been a fan of the delightful Judy Holliday and I have seen this film many times. On the most recent viewing I noticed how many references are made to suicide. Some are slightly oblique but most are straight forward. I know that Betty Comden and Adolph Green wrote the stage play especially for Judy Holliday to help her get over her depression due to a broken relationship. Don't be fooled by the comedic touches in the Sutton Place park when they sing "Just in Time". Dean Martin's character had made so many earlier comments about killing himself that we know exactly what was avoided "just in time". These comments are not intended to detract from what is clearly an uplifting musical but rather to show that great comedy can have serious and profound suubtext as well. Unfortunately they don't make em like this anymore.
Dames (1934)
Are you or have you ever been?
I love this musical as much as I despise the H. U. A. C. and the horrible blacklisting that followed. That being said, this movie is quite over the top in terms of beating up capitalism. Uncle Ezra is the epitome of a business tycoon and he is also a totally smug moron. Guy Kibbee and Zasu Pitts are also only interested in the money to be made. Even Ruby Keeler is a tad transactional when ahe suggests that Powell wait until Ezra dies before he gets involved in things Ezra disapproves of. The show's initial producer was a scam artist and the Golden Elixir was simply high octane booze. With all of the titles , real or fictional , to choose for the play they decided on The Merchant of Venice, hardly an endorsenent of business. "I Only Have Eyes for You" is one of the most beloved and time honored songs ever written anywhere. I like the way the film audience is led to believe that after it is sung on the ferry they will not hear that beautiful melody again in the movie. If only they knew what awaited. By the way, the anti capitalism was a justified reaction to the Great Depression as there were no whispers of communisn in the film, just saying.
The Four Feathers (1939)
Very Misunderstood
This film has been assaulted for assuming there was nothing wrong in British colonialism in Egypt and the Sudan. This is a knee jerk reaction from critics who pay little or no attention to the dialogue. There is no question that Faversham is the hero of the story and the voice of reason. When he explains to his fiance the reason for his resignation he denounces England's colonial assumptions and supports doing more at home for the people. It was already established in the movie that he is widely read and respects great writers. The scene in which his father and the other retired officers celebrate the horrors of war is very sarcastic and even over the top as they say. We have no problem understanding that in the War Room scene in Dr. Stangelove or the Mcgready/Menjou scenes in the palaces in Paths of Glory! This is made very clear when C Aubrey Smith consistently identifies himself with a pineapple and turns out to have been a liar all along. The scenes of the British soldiers proudly marching to the ships should not be taken literally. The sergeant 's baby knows it will never see it's father again and the wife is already dressed as a widow. Pay Attention!
Fort Apache (1948)
A film full of Gems
There are so many small things that make this film more textured than it first appears. The expression on the face of Pedro Armendariz when John Wayne makes a fool of Henry Fonda when those two first meet is priceless. The vague backstory between the colonel and Collingswood is a nice little mystery. The fact that Henry Fonda is caught offguard when he has to perform the high kicking dance at the NCO ball but then does it perfectly ( while wearing spurs!) is a nice surprise. While everyone else is glum Shirley Temple radiates that great Shirley Temple smile throughout the ball scene. The acting of John Wayne in this film might be his best ever. A lesser actor would have come off as preachy in the scene where Wayne goes after the Indian Ring while berating Meachum. It is interesting to see Wayne's character so sympathetic to the Apache in contrast to the public perception of Wayne. The bufooning of the newspaper reporters who get it all wrong ( while John Ford the director got it all correct) n regard to the Indian attire is brilliant. I just cannot figure out why Collingwood doesn't want the colonel to finish his story about Jeb Stuart. Ford's mastery of film making is evident toward the end when the soldiers are tipping their hats to the movie audienc e on the pretext of doing it for the wives left behind.
Obsession (1976)
Atmospheric Beauty
As a first year law student in 1972 New Orleans I saw a film crew shooting at night at a large white mansion on St Charles Ave. That home is used as the residence for the president of Tulane University. Four years later when I saw the film I recognized the scene as it was the home of John Lithgow's character. Maybe that prejudiced me a bit but although I am a huge fan of Hitchcock ( especially Vertigo) I still think this was an excellent example of a deep mood movie. I an aware of the negative comments about Cliff Robertson suggesting he was too interested in his own apoearance and not spending enough time rehearsing with Bujold. The sources are allegedly Bujold and DePalma. This may well be true but Robertson's smugness ( and it is obvious) works well in this film. After all, he did keep the money when told by the kidnappers not to play games.
Desperate Journey (1942)
Insipid
Errol Flynn made very fine propaganda films during World War Two. These include Northern Pursuit, Objective Burma,Edge of Darkness and even Uncertain Glory. These films were serious but contained acceptable degrees of humor. This movie literally is unwatchable. It looks like the screenplay came from a rejected Bowery Boys project. Alan Hale Sr was well liked because his comedy, although over the top, ended just before it became tiresome. Not in rhis film. The same goes for Ronald Reagan. Even Sig Ruman was more ridiculous here than in the Marx Brothers movies. World War Two veterans complained that Hogans Heroes trivialized their experiences. At least that TV show was long after rhe war. That this nonsense was made during the war is unfathonable.