It was strange, but interesting watching this movie. Deborah Kerr plays an American Red Cross volunteer who pulls strings to get assigned to the South Pacific to find out the circumstances of her husband's death on Guadalcanal. Thelma Ritter (excellent as always) plays her supervisor who becomes close to Kerr and is not liking what is going on. William Holden (who is unrecognizable, except for the voice) plays sadistic Colonel Black, who is attracted in to the upper middle class Deborah Kerr. It is an unusual role for Holden since his roles typically are suave, sophisticated and the handsome leading man type of parts. Compared to movies from current adolescent-minded writers, directors and producers, it is palatable.
Reviews
5 Reviews
No Man of Her Own
(1950)
Rarely Shown Barbara Stanwyck film
11 December 2010
Surprisingly I found this film on Netflix. It was good to see it again after some 30 years. It is a good story and has a great cast. Barbara Stanwyck plays a pregnant and spurned lover of Lyle Betteger (who is good a playing slimy and villainous characters). She tracks him down in NYC and not wanting to talk with her face-to-face, he slides an envelope under the door with $5 and a ticket to San Francisco (her hometown). Phyllis Thaxter and Richard Denning, have small but significant parts in the plot; and John Lund becomes Barbara's love interest. It is worth watching and unless you have seen the movie before, you really don't know who the murderer is until the end.
American Experience
(1987– )
Surpasses the History Channel by a miles
18 November 2010
American Experience is a superior program on PBS (no commercials, thank goodness) about events in American history that have been largely forgotten in recent history. Consider watching: The series on the Presidents shows the humanity of the man in the White House and how he shaped America to vision, sometimes successfully, and many times unsuccessfully.
Steven Foster,a pre-Civil War songwriter who was the first mega-star. He was the first to popularize African-American style music into mainstream society, and tried to become a respectable composer. By the time at the outbreak of the Civil War he was a has-been, and tragically died in 1864.
The Orphan Train was about the history of the New York Children's Aid Society (founded by President Theodore Roosevelt's father) and their mission to get children off the streets of New York and place them in homes in the Midwest and Southwest. The interview with people who had been transported was fascinating and heart wrenching.
The Dust Bowl was about the devastation in the 1930's that involved the plains of the Midwest. After watching, you begin to appreciate novels/movies about this period such as Grapes of Wrath and Three Faces West; and those who lived in the affected areas and what hardships and tragedies they endured.
Jonestown Flood, another tragic event in American history which in growing up I had heard about, but did not know the extent of events and how horrible it really was.
Steven Foster,a pre-Civil War songwriter who was the first mega-star. He was the first to popularize African-American style music into mainstream society, and tried to become a respectable composer. By the time at the outbreak of the Civil War he was a has-been, and tragically died in 1864.
The Orphan Train was about the history of the New York Children's Aid Society (founded by President Theodore Roosevelt's father) and their mission to get children off the streets of New York and place them in homes in the Midwest and Southwest. The interview with people who had been transported was fascinating and heart wrenching.
The Dust Bowl was about the devastation in the 1930's that involved the plains of the Midwest. After watching, you begin to appreciate novels/movies about this period such as Grapes of Wrath and Three Faces West; and those who lived in the affected areas and what hardships and tragedies they endured.
Jonestown Flood, another tragic event in American history which in growing up I had heard about, but did not know the extent of events and how horrible it really was.
Rebecca
(1979)
faithful to du Maurier's book
27 October 2010
If you loved the book Rebecca, you will love this version. You get the feeling that the Rebecca is pulling the strings of everyone involved at Maderly even though she died the year before. You also become aware of her true character when she was alive as the story progresses. It even explains what really happened to Rebecca and why. Forget Hickcock's adaptation, and the 1997 BBC production; this one lovingly follows for the most part, the book. Also the casting was perfect down to the bad guys, Anna Massey as Mrs. Danvers, and Julian Holloway as Jack Favell; and Jeremy Brett as the the brooding Max de Winter and Joanna David as the meek 2nd Mrs. de Winters. Even the exterior shots make you believe that it really is Manderly.
I wish BBC would reissue it and stop selling the 1997 version which was a Cliff Notes version of the story and made the ghastly mistake of getting creative.
I wish BBC would reissue it and stop selling the 1997 version which was a Cliff Notes version of the story and made the ghastly mistake of getting creative.
Whirlpool
(1934)
Notable Jean Arthur film, worth watching to see the beginning of an actor's successful career
9 October 2010
Jack Holt is OK in this film but Jean Arthur saves it. The plot is unbelievable, but is noteworthy since it was Arthur's first film for Columbia after her return to Hollywood from the New York stage. Her previous films at Universal were forgettable. According to her biography, it was when executives saw the daily rushes, that they offered her a long term contract.
This movie is also notable in that Frank Capra reviewed her scenes and decided to offer her the part as Babe Bennett in the now classic Mr. Deeds Goes To Town. You can understand why he picked her. It was the beginning of a successful film period, which lasted 20 more years.
It is also interesting and funny to see Allen Jenkins, in a typical side kick role, particularly when he is doing knee bends in front of a window in his underwear.
This movie is also notable in that Frank Capra reviewed her scenes and decided to offer her the part as Babe Bennett in the now classic Mr. Deeds Goes To Town. You can understand why he picked her. It was the beginning of a successful film period, which lasted 20 more years.
It is also interesting and funny to see Allen Jenkins, in a typical side kick role, particularly when he is doing knee bends in front of a window in his underwear.
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