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Reviews
The Pleasure of His Company (1961)
The Pleasure Is All Ours!
Here is a movie that will never stop being funny, charming, moving and very contemporary. If you are a fan of Lilli Palmer, Fred Astaire, witty lines combined with humorous situations but also endearing and moving moments, this is not one to miss! Also if your dream was to see Lilli Palmer dancing with Fred Astaire and them having the best chemistry as characters who are exes who have not exactly gotten over each other, you are in great luck!
I cannot recommend this movie enough! Lilli Palmer is a revelation here. If you have followed her career you know how charming and talented she is but in this movie apart from looking drop dead gorgeous (who could blame poor Pogo for not getting over her), she funny, witty and there is actual physical comedy involved execute perfectly. She makes it look so effortless as if she's Kathrine in real life. While her character sees through Pogo's schemes at the same time she has loved this man and loves him still in a way, he is her daughter's father after all and she takes her time to explain to her daughter what is going on with her long estrange father.
The chemistry of all character is excellent and the casting is superb. Even though Debbie Reynolds was probably a bit old to play Palmer's daughter, due to their great rapport it is believable.
From Katherine's father with his smartly placed comments and her husband who is far more trusting of Pogo that Katherine herself is, to Jessica's fiancé and all the way to Toy this movie entertains and keeps you guessing until the very end.
It is a great pity that the DVDs existing are not of the best quality. This movie HAS to done in Bluray!
Leviathan (1961)
An honest look into the human nature!
This movie was so ahead of its time! Thinking of how it was released in the 60s and portraying the "weaknesses" and "faults" of human nature in such a raw and honest way remind us that sometimes it is good to look into the past to find the future. Lilli Palmer in her performance is extraordinary. Her character is not one that we should like but rather pity or relate to in a way. Having watched several of her movies I believe that there could be no character that Mrs. Palmer could not tackle! Her performance here as the cold, sadistic, desperate for all consuming passion and love middle aged married woman is so on point that it steals the scene from the tragic couple of Paul and Angele.
In my opinion the cast of the movie is beautiful although Marie Laforet was not convincing throughout the movie.
The cinematography is superb and the music adds to the drama of this film.
I think it's a classic and should not be missed.
La residencia (1969)
A Cult of the genre!
--Spoilers ahead--
This movie is a must see for all the horror/slasher fans and given that it was released back in 1969 it's quite ahead of its time for a few reasons.
You might think you have your classic boarding school of the time, but early on we come to understand that this is not like the usual boarding schools. In fact this boarding school is actually a place where "delinquent" young women (of 18 and over) are sent by their parents to be "straightened"
out! "Impossible" like Lilli Palmer's character Madam Fourneau says to her son.
And of course when you get an all girls school you cannot avoid a little bit of lesbian relations going on. Now the surprising or taboo part here is not the girl engaging in sexual relations amongst themselves but rather the implication that apart from the physical punishment that Madam Headmistress (Lilli Palmer) is not afraid to deliver (albeit not by her own hand - which is notable) there is also the suggestion that she herself has partaken is some decidedly amorous adventures with one of the students, Mademoiselle Izzy, who is intentionally challenging her at every turn trying to get a rise out of her (and succeeding) whilst pointing out actions that have happened in the past which (sadly) are not privy to.
On the other hand there is also the incestuous relationship between Madame Fourneau and her teenage son who is also in the boarding school but forbidden to engage with these "marked" girls because all he needs is a woman exactly like his mommy.
As if all the above was not enough, enter in the mystery of several girls going missing, supposedly escaped and the "mean girls club" giving the new students Theresa a rather "warm" welcome.
And of course since all that was not enough there is also the fact that the girls who are all young hormonal women with sexual urges bursting have found a way to engage in "sordid" sexual acts with the woodsman.
It is impossible to get bored watching this movie whilst all this is happening and of course not to mention having Lilli Palmer as an incredible lead bringing her A game and acting circles around everybody, being as mysterious, cruel and yet sexy ice Queen of a headmistress. Her performance is so spot on and even when there are no lines to delivery her facial expressions and body language say even more! Her portrayal of the slightly jaded and frosty Headmistress is flawless and as expected Lilli Palmer is not afraid to dip her toes into taboo territory adding to the versatility of the roles she had taken in her vast career.
(If you have not watched Mädchen in Uniform you might want to, as The House That Screamed feels oddly like what might have been a darker continuation of that)
I know that Theresa, portrayed by Galbo is supposed to be the main protagonist after Lilli Palmer but to me Mary Maude's Irene Tupan steals the show from her, having and excellent back and forth with Madam Fourneau and transforming throughout the movie until her untimely end.
There is gore but not as much as to be disgusting, just poignant and though it's true that there are few suspects to be considered for the crimes and as the movie develops you are pretty certain who is responsible, still the ending does not fail to be shocking and disturbing in a way that will have this movie remain with you long after you have watched it!
La tua presenza nuda! (1972)
Underrated Psychological Thriller
--Spoilers ahead---
For the era that this movie was released it's really ahead of its time.
Our 12 year old protagonist supposedly found his mother laying dead in the tub after a heart attack. Marcus feels off from the moment we meet him. You can immediately that he is not quite the innocent young boy his father presents him to be. It is confusing and yet somehow logical how his father even though he knew of the things he did in school he kept cajoling him as he felt that his child has been problematic ever since his mom died. What Paul did to rectify this? Sends him off to boarding school and basically avoids dealing with him. He does not even bother to clue in his new wife about the situation and the poor woman is in for a rude awakening.
The atmosphere of the movie is properly eery and there is suggestiveness rather than gore which very much creates this air of the psychological thriller rather than a horror movie. Let's not forget that for its era the movie is dealing with quite the taboo, what with the erotic undertones of the boy trying to get into his stepmother's pants from moment one.
Although there are some holes in the plot the movie holds your interest and I just have to note here Lilli Palmer's excellent performance in the role of the psychiatrist! Her facial expressions during her session with Elise are what you didn't know you needed! Even though she's only a guest star in this film her presence is more than felt, ever elegant, smart and beautiful! You truly feel that you are witnessing a true session and you soon realize that the good doctor is not analyzing Marcus but rather analyzing Elise.
The finale of the movie was also a plot twist that was totally unexpected and yet somehow satisfying and even though it offers closure it also leaves you thinking about how well Elise is really and how her being released from the hospital might not be a very sound decision.
Mädchen in Uniform (1958)
Outstanding performances in a touching dramatic story about love
Where to even begin to review this film! From the exceptional casting for all parts involved (every single part was well thought out and casted impeccably), to the beautiful photography, the slightly nostalgic colours or the way the director masterfully added depth where words could not? I've seen some reviews doubting Lilli Palmer's talent and I was really surprised! Perhaps whomever said "she thought she could do anything" missed the immense body of work both film AND theater globally Lilli Palmer has done! Her performance here is not an exception as it is so poignant! Every look and expression plays a huge part in the interpretation of the character where the words in the script are lacking. This version does not offer everything on a silver platter, but rather it let the viewer read between the lines and this can only be accomplished but what the actors convey. Elizabeth von Bernburg finds herself feeling drawn and especially protective of the new student. She's trying really hard to balance being aloof and yet trying to be a friend to her students. To inspire them and urge them to follow their hearts and talents rather than succumb to a future of just being a soldier's wife or mother! She in fact does not reject Manuela's kiss! She saw it coming and accepted it when she could have avoided it very easily. Her eyes close when it happens and she reluctantly backs away realizing that things have gone too far as Manuela is indeed her student and a minor. The producer Mr. Brauer in his interview states that they went into great efforts to make this movie tasteful and sensitive rather than tawdry and in that he succeeded whilst maintaining the undertone. Romy Schneider gives an truly amazing and believable performance. Though it is obvious she's not 14 (as the character should be as per the book, however nor did the actress in the original look 14 at all) she has a way of conveying innocence in several scenes, her tears feeling very much real and her distress heartfelt. This is not a great romance of the erotic kind. This is a much more complicated story. Whereas it is understood that Manuela's feelings are not platonic at the same time they are not fully erotic either. Elizabeth is not rejecting her love but rather treats it with understanding, however she is forced to leave the school for Manuela's sake rather than her own when Manuela naively in her drunken state openly shares not only her feelings but also her thoughts about how her feelings are reciprocated by her teacher. As we can see in the beginning of the movie nobody (students or staff) is surprised that pupils have been crazy with Elizabeth in the past and in the present. The difference is that they were doing so in silence whereas Manuela yells it from the rooftops so to speak.
As someone who has watched both the original, the remake and the Mexican version and knowing that the original is closer to the book, I still love this 1958 version more because of its subtlety and because of the cast.
This movie is a must watch, a must have as it is a classic and also one that begs for closer attention and study. 10/10.