sksolomonb Reviews

Sweet Land (2005)

Captions and translations are needed for all dialogue

[8/10 · 28 April 2024]

When I saw this film on television today, I was disappointed because I had a very hard time understanding the dialogue and the plot. The film foremost should have translations and captions for the dialogue in German and Norwegian and captions for all the dialogue in English. These were not available on my current TV system.

Some reviewers have been mistaken about the time of the setting as some believe it is in 1920. In the opening scene, the two young immigrant women are approached by a man who asks them to sign a petition in favor of women's suffrage or the right to vote. (They do not understand a word of English, but they sign anyway). Women's suffrage became legal before the Presidential election of Warren G. Harding in 1920, so petitions obviously were being signed a few years earlier. Also, one who is knowledgeable about fashions and automobiles can identify the era from the clothes and cars the characters wear and drive, respectively.

Well into the movie, a character mentions trouble with Germany that is brewing in Europe and which will lead to World War I. The assassinations of the Austrian archduke and his wife happened in 1913 and the full-fledged war began in 1914, so the film story begins around 1913 or in early 1914. A bit later in the film, a character mentions the unrest in Russia which developed as an offshoot of Russia's involvement in World War I. This unrest eventually would lead to the Russian Revolution of 1917. Yes, it is a good idea to know something about history when watching a "period" movie.

A reviewer on another internet site was incorrect when she criticized the elements of farming shown in the film, so I will mention some details viewers should notice. This certain reviewer did not believe field corn is harvested when the stalks are dry and dead, but it certainly is. I know this because I come from several generations of corn farmers and have seen many corn harvests. The reason is that field corn is a monocot or starch that is grown for feeding livestock and must remain in edible condition while in dry storage, as in a corn crib. In field corn, there is just one ear of corn per stalk, and this is why the stalks are cut down during harvest. As the corn stalks dry and die, moisture and the green color leave the plant, and the same process occurs when the kernels and the ears of corn lose their green color and moisture and become very dry and hard. If the corn was picked when green or simply not sufficiently dry, the moisture in the stalks and ears would cause spoilage and rot. This is why farmers make sure the stalks are dead and the ears and kernels have dried and hardened completely before they harvest the corn..

The above-mentioned reviewer obviously did not know the difference between field corn (a starch grown for livestock feed) with sweet corn (grown for human consumption). The fact is, sweet corn is a dicot or sweet, and it has several ears on one stalk. The green ears are harvested by removing the mature individual ears from the green stalk, leaving smaller or younger ears to mature during the growing season. Because it is green and moist, the sweet corn must be refrigerated until it is time to cook it in boiling water.

I agree with other reviewers about the depth of the film, its many themes, and the portrayals by the actors. I certainly would like to see it again, but I do hope to find a DVD or TV version with the language translations and captions for all the dialogue.

Claudia and David (1946)

Father DOES NOT know best!

[8/10 · 18 April 2024]

I agree with the other six user reviewers about this baffling, inconsistency-laden film that somehow became a smash hit in the late 1940s, just as the world was rising from the ashes of World War II. As one reviewer stated, the film no doubt was a welcome relief after the dangers, trials, and concerns Americans had endured during the war years.

Most reviewers have recognized Claudia as a rather immature, dim-witted young woman who needed someone to look after her. Personally, I recognized her as an upper-class, fashionable, and younger version of "Edith Bunker." Apparently Claudia had been protected and watched over by her parents and never had to fend for herself. Once on her own, except for the "snoopervision" of her husband David, she takes unwise and dangerous chances and has to face the fact that tragedy and death loom all around her but are unseen in her idyllic world. She does begin to grow up when she acknowledges the pain she felt over her father's death and her mother's unfortunate diagnosis and eventual death. She further matures when she becomes the mother of little Bobby and must deal with a childhood disease that could have proven fatal to her precious child. She also shows maturity when she sympathizes with Mrs. Dexter about the tragic death of the Dexters' only child, an event that has caused emotional problems for the bereaved Dexter couple.

While watching the film, I was appalled by the self-centeredness and "know-it-all" attitude exhibited by David, something other reviewers did not mention. As a viewer, I was angered by the way he chided Claudia for her motherly concern and made light of Bobby's serious illness. To me, it seemed he saw the child as the latest toy or source of entertainment for Claudia and something he personally saw as a nuisance and an annoyance. Quite a few times he criticized Claudia for paying attention to the child, and his words and actions struck me as terribly childish, selfish, insensitive, and irresponsible. I thought of the caring, supportive father Robert Young later portrayed in the "Father Knows Best" TV series, and that is why I gave my review the title that reads "Father DOES NOT know best!"

While it is true that the film shows the limited gender roles accepted and exhibited by the young adults of the World War II generation, the film leads today's viewers to realize how the generations since that time have benefited from world-wide communication, practical approaches to education in public school, counseling, parenting classes, and the new ideas about gender roles and the concept of marriage and responsibility. Yes, we all have come a long way and are much more grown up now.

This Is Tom Jones (1969–1971)

Wonderful variety series

[10/10 · 5 April 2024]

For decades I have been a fan of Tom Jones, and I did enjoy seeing his variety show and TV specials. I also would like to have the complete series and specials on DVD, and I hope someone can direct me to finding the DVDs for sale.

For decades I have believed Tom Jones would be excellent as the blacksmith Joe Gargery in a production of "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens. Even at his advanced age, I believe Mr. Jones, with the aid of hair coloring and make-up, could handle the role in this classic. In regard to this idea, I hope someone who does casting in Hollywood or the British film industry sees my post and offers Mr. Jones this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Man from Del Rio (1956)

A Pilot for Gunsmoke?

[10/10 · 29 December 2023]

Reviewer Lechuguilla described this film as a typical "Gunsmoke" story, and I agree 100 percent because the film very well could have served as the pilot for "Gunsmoke." I noticed the street scene is the same as that of Dodge City, Kansas, in "Gunsmoke," with the saloon that rivaled the Long Branch being used in the saloon in this film. There also is the town physician named Doc Adams in the cast.

I agree that parts of the plot are similar to the action in "High Noon," another highly acclaimed film of the 1950s, with Anthony Quinn portraying Dave as a gunslinger-turned-lawman in an attempt to civilize and save the town. I especially was touched by Katy Jurado's portrayal of a single (widowed) mother and medical assistant to Doc Adams, and I loved watching the romance between Quinn and Jurado's characters unfold. This western was somewhat ahead of its time, but I believe today's viewers see it as a nostalgic, classic western.

Biography (1961–1964)

I have the same question

[10/10 · 8 July 2023]

My husband and I have the same question as "Outnaway" about the photo of the woman in the lower right of the collection of pictures for the "Biography" channel. I personally doubt that the lady is anyone "Outnaway" lists as possibilities in his/her comment, for all that there is a distinct resemblance to Hollywood Golden Age actress Greer Garson. My guess is that the individual might Irene Dunne, a different Hollywood Golden Age actress, because Miss Dunne was involved in work for the United Nations in her later years and was the first woman to hold such an office at the U. N. However, I do hope someone can give all of us the correct answer.

The Accidental Husband (2008)

A Modern Comedy of Errors

[10/10 · 20 May 2023]

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, but I would need to see it again to keep track of all the plot twists and comedy of errors elements. Right away I saw the film as a spoof of Uma Thurman's real-life background as her father is a psychologist, and in this film she portrays a writer (and perhaps a psychologist) who hosts a romance advice radio program and doles out her "recipes" for happiness. The Indian family I also saw as a spoof of Deepak Chopra, a psychologist and counselor of Indian descent, whose books and advice were popular a couple decades ago.

I believe basically the film is somewhat like "Notting HIll," with the theme being, "Do you love a person for himself or for his image?" Colin Firth's character Richard is a conventional, upper middle-class person and the owner of a publishing company, the sort of "safe and established" man most women would want to date and eventually marry. Patrick, on the other hand, is a working-class fireman with limited means so that he must rent a room from the Indian family who live above their restaurant. When Emma becomes attracted to and interested in Patrick, she is confronted with the dilemma of choosing between the safe and conventional publisher Richard and the less wealthy, comical, unpredictable, and charming Patrick.

As for Patrick's fiancee' and her second thoughts that prompted her to ask Emma's advice, it seems to me that Emma had the usual doubts about making a lifetime commitment to a marriage and was insecure and unsure enough to call off the wedding. As anyone can see, it was this conversation with Emma that served as the catalyst for the complicated plot.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film, and I plan to see it more than once to get all the details straight in my mind. It is one of the most refreshing comedies I have ever seen, and I recommend it to anyone who likes romantic comedies.

Head (1968)

Amazing Should-Be Cult Classic

[10/10 · 5 February 2023]

I saw "Head" today, and I agree with other reviewers that it is a unique film that should become a cult classic. I loved the series of vignettes that were accompanied by various styles of music performed by The Monkees as a group and as soloists. Most of all I enjoyed Davy Jones' song-and-dance number in the style of a ballad usually performed in a music hall in England. I carefully watched the dance number he and his female partner performed, and it included ballroom dance and moves performed in large production dance routines. In fact, it is one of the best dance routines I have ever seen. I do wish I had seen some of his live performances on Broadway. Truly the late Mr. Jones was talented in vocal and instrumental music and in dance. It is a shame he and his talents were not appreciated more during his lifetime.

Daydream Believers: The Monkees Story (2000 TV Movie)

Wonderful Bio-Pic

[10/10 · 5 February 2023]

I watched the film for the first time today, never expecting it to be so accurate in portraying The Monkees as a group and as individuals. I would have to disagree with Tbirdy because I LOVED the inclusion of The Monkees video of "Daydream Believer." Due to a hearing loss, I had the closed captions on, and for the first tie I was able to read and understand the unusual but beautiful lyrics. I also am glad that the actors actually sang the songs and sounded just like the original Monkees. I especially loved George Stanchev's portrayal of the late Davy Jones! I regret I was not more of a fan when the TV show aired in the 1960s and when the first recordings were made, but I had left home for college by then. However, my younger brothers and sister were fans, and I occasionally would see "The Monkees" TV program and listen to the music with my siblings during breaks. The film. Brings back a lot of memories and leads me to appreciate the talent so much more than I did then.

Grace of Monaco (2014)

A trip down Memory Lane

[9/10 · 20 January 2023]

I enjoyed the film, in which I believe Nicole Kidman gave an excellent portrayal of Princess Grace. As a child, I loved Grace Kelly's movies, and the Monaco/French dispute in "Grace of Monaco" took place in October of 1962 when I was 15. Most Americans at that time were concerned with the Cuban Missile Crisis, so the American press said virtually nothing about Prince Rainier's dispute with President Charles DeGaulle of France. I do believe the explanation of this historical dispute is a strong part of the film.

I was pleased with Ms. Kidman as Princess Grace and Paz Vega as Maria Callas. However, I was quite disappointed in Tim Roth as Prince Rainier. In the photos of the 1950-60s era, the prince was shown as a very handsome man with sparkling eyes, a beautiful smile, and a youthful attitude. Mr. Roth's portrayal, however, featured a dull, deadpan expression and a stiff, negative attitude, making the "Rainier" of the film look like a sour-puss Leo G. Carroll as "Topper." I cannot think of any contemporary actor who could match the warmth and charm found in photos of the real Prince Rainier, but George Brent and Leo Carrillo in their day would have been wonderful.

Except for the flat portrayal of Prince Rainier described above, I did enjoy the film for the performances of Ms. Kidman and Ms. Vega, the beautiful fashions, the palatial dwellings of Monaco, and the scenery. The exploration of the political difficulties between Monaco and France was most instructive and full of suspense.

The Innocents (2016)

The question of "true" innocence

[10/10 · 20 January 2023]

I am glad I saw the film today, but it is not one I wish to see again. I agree with the excellent elements of the film such as the great acting, the setting, and the commentary on the social issues. However, the elements that upset me most were the hypocrisy, judgmental attitude, twisted thinking, and deceit of the Mother Superior. Most of the nuns seemed to heal from their tragic experience, but the damage the Mother Superior ultimately caused to everyone in the situation was unforgivable. Although the film was set in post-war Poland, I can understand how the emotional reactions and fears faced by the nuns are the same as those experienced by rape victims of any era. The element that impressed me the most was the compassion and dedication of the medical personnel who worked tirelessly to take care of the nuns and their infants.

The River's Edge (1957)

Love triangle in a great thriller

[10/10 · 18 August 2021]

Today I saw "The River's Edge" for the first time, never having heard of it before, but already it is one of my favorite Anthony Quinn films. A few reviewers were surprised by Ray Milland as the cold-heart criminal on the run, but they should view "Dial M for Murder" of 1954, in which Milland is a disenchanted husband who wants to murder his innocent and ever-so-proper wife, portrayed by Grace Kelly. After seeing "Dial M, " no one should be shocked at the depths to which Milland can go when cast as the cold and calculating embodiment of evil.

Some reviewers also questioned how a young woman, portrayed by Debra Paget, could be attracted to the 50-something character portrayed by Milland. However, the reviewer should remember that the young woman must have been insecure to serve as the thief's partner in crime and that, as a result, she had done time in prison. Perhaps she had a father fixation and was attracted to older men, especially if the men had money, even stolen money. Throughout the film she is torn between her recent marriage to a rancher, portrayed by Anthony Quinn, who has given her hope for a future, and the former partner in crime, portrayed by Milland, who represents her sordid past and sets out to blackmail her.

I agree the film is something like "Treasure of the Sierra Madre," another of my favorite movies. I am glad to know "The River's Edge" is available on DVD so that I can see it again.

Dear Ruth (1947)

Great comic relief for WWII Era

[10/10 · 14 August 2021]

I loved this movie which brought humor into the "doom and gloom" atmosphere of the World War II era, and I wish it were shown on TCM more often and made available on DVD. I once suggested the theatrical version to the director of the local high school drama department because I knew the World War II generation and history buffs would appreciate the background of the play. However, the drama department director failed to see the significance of the work. Sadly, most of the World War II generation who would have identified with the work have passed away.

The witty dialogue keeps the play/film moving, and the real clincher is the very last line of the dialogue. Truly the play and the movie are of historical significance and should be designated as classics.

I Want You (1951)

The same "verse" for every war

[10/10 · 11 April 2021]

So many reviewers have missed the mark in reviewing this film which I started watching again just a few minutes ago. The intrusion of war, with its unfairness, waste, and death, shown in this film reminded me so much of the Vietnam era which I lived through as a young woman of the baby-boomer generation. As a result, I felt compelled to write this review.

Oceanchick accurately described so many factual aspects of the film, but I believe she misinterpreted the objectives of the plot and dialogue. Other reviewers claimed many scenes were underplayed, but I believe this kind of understatement was intentional so that the viewer's mind could expand to envision the deceit, horror, and.death about to be unleashed on the innocent, trapped characters. I saw so much of this.tragedy looming in my peers' lives during Vietnam, along with the ignorance, selfishness, and indifference of parents who willingly wanted to be lied to, to be told the war would bring prosperity as World War II had, and to be told their sons were being sent to an "adventure" no more dangerous than a church picnic or Boy Scout Camp. Of course, everything was wrapped in the flag of patriotism. The worst cruelty was the feigned indifference of a draft board so that the local big-wigs serving on it could use the war as a way to eliminate young men they considered losers, young men they did not like, or young men they believed "unworthy" of their daughters. If I were to put the whole scene into a nutshell, I would call it "Lies and Death.".

Some reviewers called this film a pro-war propaganda film, but I believe it is just the opposite: a war protest film that shows how a war impacts everyone in a society and how a draft board is a merchant of death. If there ever was an advertisement for an all-volunteer army, this film is it.

Latin Lovers (1953)

Cute story, but Lana looks too old

[9/10 · 9 February 2021]

The plot of "Latin Lovers" is cute and a bit contrived, but what really spoils it is how old Lana Turner's character looks. The clothes are more suitable for a woman in the senior citizen bracket, and the stiff up-do hairstyle makes Lana look old and hardened by life. Her cynical attitudes about money and men In are those of a disenchanted, older woman who has had too many disappointments in life. In contrast, youthful and lithe Rita Moreno as Christina (ten years younger than Lana) looks like a much more suitable love interest for Roberto (Ricardo Montalban) whose boyish smile and feigned naivete make him charming and younger in appearance than Nora (Lana Turner).

It is a shame a younger and more carefree actress was not chosen for the role of Nora.

The Wedding Planner (2001)

One of my favorite romantic comedies

[10/10 · 2 January 2021]

I am a bit surprised to learn several reviewers did not like "The Wedding Planner." However, they just did not "get" the way the plot is constructed, blending the plot of "Cinderella" in reverse and adding bits of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare. Very early in the film, Mary loses her shoe in a manhole grate and is rescued by Dr. Steve, just as Cinderella loses her shoe toward the end of the fairy tale and then has it replaced by the Prince. In both plots, there is the element of "love at first sight," something that charms every fan of romantic stories.

Soon Mary learns her "Prince" already is engaged to Fran, her most important client. Of course, this brings an element of disappointment as we want the neglected, down-trodden girl to get the "Prince" in the end, but how will this happen? Some reviewers accused Steve of cheating on his fiancee', but actually the engagement is proving to be lackluster and a mistake from the beginning because Steve and Fran want totally different things from life. Steve is a "people person" with altruistic values who unselfishly cares for and about his patients. Fran and her rich parents are "users" who invested in some sort of medical corporation, and they expect Steve to give up his medical practice to become their spokesman. Steve is totally unaware of this hidden agenda, and this adds to the tension as the viewer realizes Steve is about to be victimized.

Another element of the "Cinderella" plot is the ball, which takes the form of the ballroom dance lesson, led by Fred Willard, in which Mary and Steve dance together. Fran's indifference to her own wedding is shown when she devotes the dance lesson time to making a business call. This scene shows that Fran and her parents are all about money and using people to make more of it, whereas Steve and Mary are sincere, people-oriented individuals who know love is the greatest gift.

The elements of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" are the movie-in-the-park scenes which resemble the forest in Shakespeare's play. Furthermore, he elderly friends of Mary's father are like the sprites who encourage and confuse the two pairs of lovers in the play. At first, the two blonds (Fran and Steve) are a couple and the two brunets (Mary and Massiimo) are a couple, and then the switch takes place when Mary and Steve spend more time together. The reverse-switch takes place when Mary and Massimo briefly consider marriage, and then Mary realizes Steve is her true love after all.

The "Cinderella" plot in reverse comes to fulfillment in the later scenes of Mary at home with her father and his friends and when someone explains how Mary has been affected by her mother's death. In "Cinderella," this is told at the beginning and shortly after the "Once upon a time" opening line of the story.

I really cannot say enough about the beauty of this film in regard to the settings, wardrobes, romantic music, chemistry between the romantic leads, and the way it combines the two classic plots of "Cinderella" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream." I believe it truly is a gem of a film and always will be my favorite.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

Timeless, classic musical

[10/10 · 29 July 2020]

I cannot say enough good things about this film, except to say I agree with other reviewers who commented on the talent and beauty of Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe, the brilliant colors used in the gorgeous costumes, the music and dancing, the witty dialogue, and the assembly of a perfect cast. A few evenings ago I saw this film again and realized how timeless and relevant it is for being made 67 years ago, when I was six, the same age as child actor George Winslow who stole the show. Yes, it has the timeless theme of the female's quest for "Mr. Right" for marriage and her motive, whether she wants to marry for love or money, as the two leading ladies' characters demonstrate throughout the film. Yes, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" is a must-see classic worth watching again and again.

Mildred Pierce (1945)

Ineffective husband as the catalyst for plot

[10/10 · 16 May 2020]

I agree with tjonasgreen in the assessment of Mr. Pierce (portrayed by Bruce Bennett) as Mildred's first husband, who proves to be an ineffective character and the catalyst for the conflict and action in the plot. As the reviewer pointed out, Mr. PIerce appeared to be an Okie who found his way to California after the dust bowl era in Oklahoma and never really succeeded as a businessman. I could not agree more.

Perhaps it was disappointment over having two daughters and no son that shaped Mr. PIerce's attitude and role in the film. In my opinion, he came off as a detached and indifferent husband and father, except for moments when he was critical and unappreciative of his wife and daughters. The character was very true to what I observed in the men who came back from World War II, men who expected perfection from other people all the time in spite of their own lack of talent and/or success. Perhaps it was their rigid military training or horrors of war they tried to block out of their minds, but it was no joy to have such an individual as a father or even as an acquaintance.

Upon seeing the film recently, I noticed especially the caustic and critical remarks Mr. Pierce made to Mildred when he complained about the advantages she had tried to give the daughters. Even worse, he mocked and belittled the talent and good qualities the girls did have. From this part of the dialogue, I could understand Mildred's viewpoint and her motive. During the war many women went to work in factories to support he war effort. Others had to put their marriages and other plans on hold while most men were serving in the military. This led to women's having to take on responsibilities and finding identities for themselves instead of being an appendage of the men in their family or social circle. Clearly, Mildred wanted something more for herself and the daughters, and Mr. Pierce could not accept this change or cope with it. One can only imagine the flaky "traditional" woman down the street that he chose for an affair and a way out of them marriage. Mr. Pierce also was a coward when his real estate development business went downhill and when the situation revealed how incapable he was of finding some other kind of work. His "solution" was to leave MIldred and the girls to fend for themselves.

When the police assume Mr. Pierce was the shooter in the beach house scene, MIldred is quick to describe how "kind and loving" Mr. Pierce is and "how he never could harm anyone." While it is true he would not do any bodily harm, he certainly hurt his wife and daughters with his coldness, constant criticism, and selfish demands. Tragically, he was responsible for the death of younger daughter Kay because he let Kay go swimming in cold weather, even after Mildred had expressly told him not to let the child go swimming. In short, the man was a disaster waiting to happen, and circumstances forced Mildred to make a life and a living for herself and the daughters.

Fallen Angel (1945)

Who is the fallen angel?

[10/10 · 3 May 2020]

I saw this film for the second time today and read several reviews on this website, and my interpretation has changed. In the first viewing, I had assumed the "fallen angel" was the Linda Darnell character because she was the brunette, perhaps of Mediterranean heritage, and the girl from the "wrong side of the tracks." Such girls were assumed to be already fallen, wild, and bad in the 1940-50s era that made such women the targets of prejudice. In contrast, Alice Faye's character is the angelic-looking blonde and assumed innocent church organist who lives with her unmarried and protective older sister.

After this second viewing, I have come to the conclusion that the fallen angel is the Dana Andrews character, patterned after the angel Lucifer who became greedy and envious toward God and wanted to usurp God's position, as told in Isaiah 14. Once Lucifer is thrown out of heaven, he lands on earth and becomes Satan, the origin of all evil and negative situations in the world. Andrews as Satan, the fallen angel, moves into the Eden-like small town of Walton, CA, where the way of life is diametrically opposed to everything he is, thinks, and wants to do. The first clue is his waking up in a rented room next to the church where Faye's character is the organist. He cannot stand the sight of the church or the sound of the hymns, so he closes the window and pulls down the shade. When he meets the two women, he immediately starts questioning their view of life and what they believe is good and wholesome in their past-times and goals for the future. This is akin to Satan or the serpent in Genesis 3, in which he asks Eve, "Did God really say this?" Also in the manner of the serpent, he gives both women the idea that their lives lack something and that only he can give them more. He also tries to convince them that they need something they do not want and that he alone is the fulfillment.

Instead of seeing Faye's character as the fallen angel, I believe she is a fallen Eve type, being corrupted by the Andrews character and falling more and more into his evil thoughts and ways of doing things. The plot does portray the Biblical truth that "the love of money is the root of all evil" as the characters are led into the web Andrews continues to weave as a trap.

Needless to say, I must see the entire movie again as I get something different from it each time. Once it is available on DVD, I want to add it to my collection.

The Incident (1967)

Regrettably Realistic

[19 April 2020]

Some of the reviews mentioned the Kitty Genovese case inspiring the 1967 "Incident". To those that don't know, this was when a young lady was killed in NYC on March 13, 1964 when 38 people who could have helped did nothing What had not been noted is that the 1967 movie was already shown as an NBC TV movie on December 1, 1963 under the title "Ride With Terror." I was present in front of the theater in NYC when the movie premiered on Sunday, Nov 5, 1967. Everyone was interested how Ed MacMahon would perform in his first movie. At that time he was Johnny Carson's Tonite show sidekick. Johnny would often kid him about his "new career" in movies. As a New Yorker and someone who used the subway exclusively I can say this is something that is too realistic. The people involved and how they reacted are portrayed accurately. Passengers in a city of millions on a subway train are not connected in any real sense. They are wayfarers going from one point to another. The people that showed some effort to help were those of an earlier generation when there WAS a responsibility felt for others. Gary Merrill trying to intercede to the harm that Martin Sheen could cause the derelict. Jack Gilford telling them "There are decent people here," Jan Sterling asking them "Why don't you let these people off this train?" However the fear of being hurt, or even killed, in addition to being absorbed by their own issues, getting off the train soon, plus having more involvement, AFTER everything is over with authorities and the purveyors of the terror, were very valid reasons for not doing ANYTHING, . The only intervention would have to come from an outsider, a Samaritan.

Underground (1941)

Stands the Test of Time

[11 April 2020]

I first saw "Underground" on WOR Channel 9 New York TV's "Million Dollar Movie." At the time I felt it was a very powerful film. This was 1959 and I was 12 yrs. old. At the time I thought it was a powerful and thought provoking movie. Yesterday April 10, 2020 I saw it again and felt it was more powerful. Reading the previous positive reviews, there isn't much to add. The story at the time was current, being released in June 1941. Before the U.S. entry into World War II. The Rudolf Hess flight to England and the sinking of the Bismarck was in May. The scenes as brutal and chilling as they were, turned out to be nothing compared to what was inflicted by Nazi Germany on everyone and everywhere they controlled. The message is of warning and of hope to all people everywhere. Each of us should ask ourselves how we would act if confronted with what these same issues. We may have to whether we like it or not. The cast, direction, script, etc. was excellent. Even though Lynn and Dorn are brothers and don't sound like brothers isn't really anything that diminishes from the message throughout the picture. Kaaren Verne was excellent as the girl caught between the brothers. Mona Maris excellent and Martin Kosleck fabulous as the ultimate evil Nazi. Hans Schumm's menace cannot be minimized. All in all "Underground" rates along with "Confessions of a Nazi Spy" as a shining example of the best of the film industry to warn this country what they would soon be up against and what we all need to examine in our individual lives.

Child of Divorce (1946)

Such bad parents!

[8/10 · 11 March 2020]

When watching this film, I was appalled at the lack of emotional maturity and sense of responsibility on the part of the parents. They behaved as if their relationships were on the level of junior high school romances and intrigues, and they did not hesitate to bail out of a marriage when they "didn't love each other any more." Any marriage has its ups and downs, but emotionally mature people have enough sense to know they have a responsibility to their children and to "ride out the storm" for the sake of the children and the home or family unit.

Throughout the film the parents brought the little girl luxurious gifts as if something material was all the child needed. This practice showed how shallow and uncaring they were, and perhaps they were, in fact, incapable of love. When the parents realized how the child took a toll on their lives, they resorted to sending her to boarding school, as if she were a toy they could place on a shelf and forget.

In the end, the child was shown to be much more in touch with reality and responsibility than the parents when she resolved someday to be a better parent than her parents had been. The child's own goal of responsible, loving motherhood was the one glimmer of hope at the conclusion of the plot.

Another reviewer called lynnlav wondered about the child's age and grade in school as mentioned in the film. As a baby-boomer, I can remember children who started first grade at age five after they had passed an entrance exam. As a result, the child in the film very well could be eight years old and in fourth grade, having skipped a grade.

Black Widow (1954)

Black widow weaves a web

[10/10 · 5 February 2020]

At first I was puzzled by the title of the film, but on reflection it denotes the web spun by Nanny Ordway (played by Peggy Ann Garner), an aspiring young writer who uses and cons various people (mostly men) in the climb toward her idea of happiness and success. At first her goal is assumed to be her dream of becoming a writers. However, she is attracted to men old enough to be her father, and her aim of nailing such a man is the real objective.

Some reviewers question the part Skip Homeier and Virginia Leith play in the plot, but they serve well as the young woman's peers and the kind of friends one generally would expect a 20-year-old girl to have. Homeier is the young man Ordway strings along and then lets down when she tells him she really is interested in an older, married man who has a famous wife named Iris. The young man and his sister assume she means Van Heflin's character, whose wife Iris (portrayed by Gene Tierney) is an actress. The married couple think of Ordway as a favorite niece or the daughter they never had, and little do they suspect the girl is anything but sweet, honest, and wholesome. I also would like to say I found it refreshing to see Tierney, who usually played a scheming woman, be the loyal, upstanding wife in this film. Her shock at finding Ordway dead is one of the best "performance" moments in the film.

I also would like to point out a mistake in the cast list as Cathleen Nesbitt is named as a Mrs. Colletti. Actually, she portrayed Mrs. Clay, the maid of Heflin and Tierney's characters. There is no "Mrs. Clay" listed as a character, and in the dialogue, the maid was addressed as "Mrs. Clay" several times.

Some reviewers mentioned the film was a decade too late as a drawing room mystery, but I believe that really has no bearing on the quality of the film or the choice of old-time stars who appear in it. I do believe the film is excellent in depicting the danger of sociopathic people like Ordway's character and the severe damage they can cause after becoming involved in people's lives and weaving their webs of multiple plots.

The Age of Innocence (1993)

The Age of Hypocrisy

[10/10 · 21 December 2019]

I would like to point out some things about "The Age of Innocence" which most reviewers have not mentioned. Edith Wharton's book and the film deal with the era depicted in the novels of Henry James, a time when the noble class of European society had lost its wealth and influence due to changes in government and society caused by the decimating European wars of the 19th century. At the same time, the rising working and middle classes of Europe, thanks to the Industrial Revolution and international trade and colonialism, heralded the breakdown of the rural-based feudal system that for centuries had made the nobles and monarchs wealthy and powerful. In many cases, all the nobles had were their titles, their crumbling ancestral homes, and the desire to be "top dog" again. In desperation, they looked to the nouveau riche class of northeastern America, the Americans who had become rich from the Industrial Revolution and from supporting and winning the American Civil War in 1865. At the same time, the nouveau riche of America wanted the culture and titles of the European nobility and, as result, emulated the rigid, unforgiving European class system.

Time moves on to 1870, and one meets the gentle and helpless Ellen Olenska who has fallen Into a web of intrigue spun by her ambitious nouveau riche relatives They have squandered Ellen's life by making her the "sacrificial lamb" and using her marriage to Count Olenska as the ticket for their "ego trip." When the count proves to be an abusive husband and a faithless womanizer, Ellen is encouraged to stay in the marriage and "make it work" so that the family's ego trip can continue without scandal.

When Ellen returns to New York, everyone knows the marriage has failed, and the family treats Ellen as the "loser" who could not make the marriage work. In short, the relatives consider her a disgrace and a disappointment. How dare Ellen be unhappy over something that the family wants?

Another victim caught in the web is Newland Archer, a patent attorney who has become wealthy through writing, registering, and safeguarding the patents on new inventions and machinery vital to the Industrial Revolution. As a result, the expansion of industry and increasing mechanization and innovation dramatically change every day life as the American economy moves from the agricultural base of the pioneer era. Needless to say, the new industrial base of the American economy ushers in a progressive or modern way of life. The people on the ground floor of this change, such as Newland and his peers, are the new elite -- the leaders and captains of industry -- and the rich only get richer.

After Newland meets Ellen, he becomes torn between the prospect of an arranged marriage to May Welland and his feelings for Ellen, who is May's older cousin. The arranged marriage has been promoted by the Welland and Archer families, who have intimidated Newland to some extent. He struggles throughout intermittent bouts of sympathy he feels toward Ellen, a woman whose needs were not met in an arranged marriage that failed and cast her aside as "damaged goods." Should he marry the much younger and seemingly innocent May, or should he marry Ellen, a woman closer to his age, and offer her a second chance at love, children, and happiness?

The dilemma Newland faces reminds me of the similar crisis in "Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy. Anna is an unhappy woman, married to Karenin, a man old enough to be her father. Long gone is the time when Karenin was in his prime and young-looking enough to attract the infatuation of the very young Anna. The marriage has produced a son, but Anna is too bored by her life with Karenin to care.

Anna tries to find fulfillment as a mentor and "older sister" figure to her young niece Kitty. Anna cheerfully attends the engagement party of Kitty and Count Vronsky, but the mood changes when Anna is attracted to the handsome and charming Vronsky, who is near her age. In so many words, Anna thinks, "I should have married someone like this instead of an old man."

In 19th- century Russia, the setting of Tolstoy's works, every milestone in life was considered a spiritual or sacred event accompanied by a Russian Orthodox church service rich in ritual. Imagine the shock when Anna and Vronsky fall in love -- or lust -- during the engagement party and run away to carry on their romance, live together, and to have a child?

In Tolstoy's novel, Anna is the villain who has broken society's rules and who is punished in the end. In Edith Wharton's novel, Newland marries the virginal May Welland and becomes the dutiful father of their children while pretending to be happy. However, for the rest of his life, he is tormented by guilt over his lack of commitment, his failure to "do right" by marrying Ellen for love, and to fall short of achieving his own fulfillment. Whether Newland made the right choice in the long run is up to the individual reading the novel and/or seeing the film.

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)

Struggles of Mid-life Crisis and Good vs. Evil

[10/10 · 2 August 2019]

Actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and stunt man Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) are two best friends having a mid-life crisis in 1969 Hollywood. Dalton, who stars in a TV western series, "Bounty Law," reflects on his life and believes he should have done better as an actor and should have been offered more challenging roles. Booth, once suspected of killing his wife, also believes he should have achieved more in life. Dalton is somewhat bitter, but both men exhibit an ability to care about the people around them. They also have a certain degree of decency and morals and the wisdom to recognize evil when they see it. This is especially true of the scene in which Booth visits the Spahn Ranch and recognizes the evil atmosphere perpetrated by the hippies who live there. After forcing one hippie to change his flat tire, Booth escapes certain death by driving away from the ranch just as Tex Watson, intent on killing any trespasser, returns on horseback from a tour of the ranch. For all that their own lives have been less than fulfilling, Dalton and Booth use their acting and action skills to become real-life heroes by defeating evil at the end of the film.

Jack and Jill (I) (2011)

I agree with Setting the Record Straight

[8/10 · 9 July 2019]

I agree with Setting the Record Straight, who found the movie very funny. Everyone has an "ugly duckling" relative who does not fit in with the family, and everyone tries to be nice in an attempt to compensate for what appears to be "Nature's mistake." Jack looks OK for a guy, but the same features and athletic body build make Jill a freak or "loser" in the eyes of most people. What makes the movie funny for me is the way Jack's movie-star handsome, celebrity friends find Jill fascinating and attractive because she is big and strong enough to participate with them in male-dominated sports and actually wind the games. Could it be men really do not like the sweet and feminine type like Jack's wife? Could it be they really like the opposite, such as Jill? It seems Jack's friends are so smitten with Jill that they cannot get enough of being around her. It is the men's unusual reaction that makes the movie funny in an ironic way.

Without giving away too much, I found the jet ski scene incredibly funny. Jill tries too hard in everything she does, and the jet ski overshooting the swimming pool is the most hilarious slapstick bit of humor I have seen in a long time. My husband considered the film too much of a chick flick, but I have recommended the film to my friends, and we hope to see it on DVD on our next "girls' night out."