Change Your Image
lullabythree
Reviews
The Prize (1963)
Edward G. Robinson
Edward G. Robinson's acting is superb. Even considering the help of makeup, his amiable, proud "real" Nobel Prize winner Dr. Stratman is quite different from the flinty-eyed, unsmiling, nasty "not real" Dr. Stratman. To me, the other actors are merely good to very good. Of course, Elke Sommer is a rare beauty, and few men look as beautiful as did Paul Newman then, in his physical prime. I must say, though, that his acting sometimes came close to clunky. I wonder if today Newman would assess his own performance that way. Still, like Elke, he was good to watch. Thank you to the above reviewer who reminded me of the auction scene with Cary Grant, because as I watched The Prize and the nude seminar scene, I knew I'd seen it before, but couldn't recall where or when. It's fun to look back 40+ years, see what was considered high suspense.
The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945)
It affected me deeply
A dark and brooding film, one I remember to this day. In 1945 it was not considered slow, so it's interesting to read the other comments and try to guess the age of the commentator: the youngest, I'll bet, are the ones who found it to be painfully slow. Today, I can understand that. Still, the film was grand (a descriptive we don't use often these days, either!) I'd hesitate seeing it again because of how well it depicted horror. It's a must-see for those who value the truth, and value film history. Whatever may be said about Angela Lansbury, pro or con, by other reviewers, think what a wondrously long career she's had. Amazing. As for the homosexual undertones of Dorian that others found, I was too young to have found that in 1945, so guess I'll have to view it again. It's wonderful - sometimes - the way some things go over the heads of the young.
A Life of Her Own (1950)
Watching the stars.
Call me an old romantic fool, but I liked this film. If you've ever been foolishly in love, you'll relate. But just watching the beautiful Lana ~ though yes, age was creeping up ~ you knew she was a favorite of audiences NOT only because she was gorgeous. Ray Milland plays it tightly, but good heavens, in those days men did not emote, so give the guy a break. Barry Sullivan, always a loved slightly seedy fellow, handsome as ever, and Jean Hagen and Margaret Phillips lent solid support. Phillips, who played the disabled wife, died at age 61; now I have to go research how and why. She was a very active performer. And how about the unusually elegant Tom Ewell? Great stuff. Enjoy it on a rainy Sunday morning.