Reviews

"Carnival in Flanders"

This a clever, charming film that depicts the womenfolk of a Flemish village winning over Spanish invaders. The mayor's wife rallies the women to use all their power and resources to seduce the Spaniards--and it works!

There are some very funny moments involving the vigil for the "deceased" mayor (especially when the court midget blackmails him). Most films about the 17th Century are pretty stodgy, but "Carnival" is delight.

I recommend this film.

Mother's Day is this Sunday, and one of my favorite traditions is to curl up in front of the set and watch Faye go on a rampage! Her above-and-beyond-the-call-of-duty performance as Joan is sight to behold. The costumes are a spectacle as well.

Everyone has their memorable moments & favorite lines--mine is the part later in the film where Joan stands-in for Christina on the soap opera ("The Cue Cards! Hold 'em up where I can see 'em!" and "It will be GRAAAAAND!").

After seeing this film, you'll never look at a Joan Crawford film the same way. In fact, whenever I see a celeb doing a 'heartwarming' family promo, I always wonder what goes on after the cameras are turned off.

An uncanny thing about Joan & Faye is that their careers have taken similar paths--both made film-bombs in their later years. So one has to ask, where does Joan Crawford start and Faye Dunaway end...?

YOU FIGURE IT OUT!

I was hoping this film would have the sardonic humor of 'Smile' - a film that parodied beauty pageants. No such luck! The movie quickly goes downhill after the opening cheer sequence. In the first 15 minutes you know who the winning squad is, so rest of it is a bunch of whining and in-fighting among the vapid blondes. The only interesting character is Huntley Ritter's Les, the gay yell king with the gorgeous smile.

When I saw this film nearly 15 years ago, I immediately became a fan of Miranda Richardson. Her unforgettable performance reminded me of a young Bette Davis in 'Of Human Bondage' (another story of a tragic, doomed woman). Few actresses could have matched the intensity of her Ruth.

As a child, The Patchwork Girl of Oz was my favorite Oz book. This silent film version is a charming look at how Oz was envisioned by it's creator--L. Frank Baum produced the film. The story however does stray from the book and some of the scenes are a bit disjointed. Motion pictures were in their infancy in 1914--most films were stagebound dramas, so to see a fantasy film from this period is unique.

The Patchwork Girl or "Scraps" is played by French acrobat Pierre Couderc. The part where Scraps catches the eye of the Scarecrow is very amusing. Also, the Yoop character is a forerunner to the Winged Monkeys who terrorized Judy Garland 25 years later.

In the video version I saw, the pivotal scene where Scraps is brought to life and tips over the Liquid of Petrification, is missing or destroyed--but the rest of the film is intact however.

A very amusing tale (or tail) about a man, a woman and a pig! Great portrayals by Dame Maggie Smith, Michael Palin, and Denholm Elliot as the snooty doctor. Maggie's best lines are in reference to her senile mother: "...She's 74 and it's past her bedtime!"

A very well-cast film version of Elizabeth Kata's novel. Jerry Goldsmith's score blends beautifully with the film's poignancy. Outstanding debut by the late Elizabeth Hartman; she is unforgettable as the blind Selina D'Arcy. Poitier is terrific as the insightful Gordon, and Shelley Winters gives a blistering portrayal as Selina's abusive, bigoted mother (Winters won Best Supporting Oscar).

It's Halloween as I write this and I wish 'The Pit and the Pendulum' was on the tube to add to the effect! I remember seeing this as a kid and having the daylights scared out of me! Even the opening scene with the baronial castle in the distance sends shivers up your spine. Vincent Price's character is both tragic and sinister at the same time. And the scene of Barbara Steel at the end is enough to give you nightmares for weeks!

Cry of the City has good performances by Richard Conte and Victor Mature. Conte is great with his soft-spoken voice and shifty eyes. The best scenes though are with the bigger-than-life HOPE EMERSON! Her entry down the long corridor, eating the pancakes, and trying to strong-arm Conte are all memorable, cult-ish moments.

A wonderful story enhanced by a memorable score, stunning effects, and a superb & stellar cast. Julie Andrews & Dick Van Dyke shine. Also a great ensemble of character actors: Reginald Owen, Arthur Treacher, Elsa Lanchester, Ed Wynn, Reta Shaw, and (in her last film) Jane Darwell. It's the type of movie you don't want to end!

Song of Bernadette has a terrific cast. The story is an idealized re-telling of the events that occurred in Lourdes in the late 1850's. Good performances by Vincent Price and a wonderful portrayal of the wicked Mother Vazau by Gladys Cooper! Hauntingly good score as well.