Reviews

I am getting ready for bed, its a cold Colorado night, 2 degrees tonight again.

And they suddenly announce, "Dragonwyck", was on next. I had seen it 20 years before and found it charming, like "Rebecca", "Laura", "The Razer's Edge" and "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir".

So I go crazy finding a video tape in less than 5 minutes!

As I taped the AMC broadcast, fine print, I was amazed at the lighting, the movement within a scene, the set designs, costumes, pacing of the dialog and ESPECIALLY Alfred Newman's haunting film score.

The music taunted the listener, seductive, withholding, and always leaving the listener wanting more?

I have read the user comments above, and agree with them. Vincent Price is an excellent craftsman in the theater arts, and often over looked.

Gene Tierney always "got me", I fell under her spell from the start. I love watching her spin her magic in any film regardless.

I feel I like her best in "The Razer's Edge". Yes, "Laura" is special, and "Leave Her to Heaven" or "Shanghi Gester", are truly grand showcases for her persona and theater skills. But "The Ghost and Mrs. Murir" still touches me deeply and Bernard Herrmann's film score is one of his all time best. Herrmann wrote an opera, "Wuthering Heights" and uses much of the "The Ghost and Mrs. Murir" music there as well. He said it was his "personal favorite" of all his film scores.

"Shanghi Gester" is rarely seen, but is a rare treasure, and a must see if you love Tierney's range of screen powers.

But I digress from "Dragonwyck", which is not often available to be seen, and is its own rare treasure. The studios must make them available for us to buy them, and I am grateful someone saved "Dragonwyck" for future fans.

Having had a film class or two, I am sensitive to all the dimensions of art production around the actors and the theatrical development.

Vincent Price and Gene Tierney listen to each other and react to each other face to face and create an authentic presence, that charms me into caring about them.

Again the Alfred Newman, film music, is deliciously "Gothic", like a twisted two edged dagger, that cuts one's heart strings, so sweetly like the thorns of a rose upon the lips?

This tends towards the purple prosaic shades, forgive me.

"The Razer's Edge" and "Dragonwyck" were made the same year, 1946, right after the war. The American psyche wanted to loose itself, in Gothic drama, dark shadows and strange feelings of love.

"Dragonwyck" delivers what it promises. The Director, the composer, the actors, and the art production are excellent across the board. BRAVO Would like to see the sound track up for sale, as they did recently, with "All About Eve" and "Leave Her to Heaven". SARGE

Gilbert Rowland must have had some dirt on someone to get this picture. He has been around since silent films, and a close friend of Raymond Novaro. Gilbert Rowland knew lots of people, off to the side, never the big lead, but in the action just the same.

Saw him once in a Chinese restaurant in Beverly Hills called the Fortune Cookie near the Beverly Center, on Fountain. 1979 I forget.

He and his wife came in and he sat in the back facing the café. He noticed that I noticed who he was and we just grinned at each other. I learned while living in Hollywood, to leave them alone, as they know that you know who they are. So at the super market, dry cleaners, and the West Hollywood car wash place, you nod and let them go about they lives.

Gilbert seemed amused that someone remembered him. My pleasure to make him grin three tables away.

So here is the French Line, and I found it amusing Gilbert Roland is in a musical with Jane Russell. He was great and when he pulls up his cuffs, there is the wrist band he usually wore. Women, breasts, gowns by the ton were coming at you 24/7 in this piece of 1950 fluff. Abrabs would go to hell if they were caught watching such a film.

Rowlands voice is dubbed, he lip cynics well, and carries himself, delivers his lines, very professional, and I hope he got tons of money.

He had a small house in Beverly Hills near down town Rodeo Drive. He managed his career well, stayed out of the papers, knew everyone from the golden age of film, Garbo would have been comfortable with him as well. Rowland adored John Gilbert, and took his first name, Gilbert from John.

Gibert Rowland is "Hollywood Royality", was a gentleman, kept everyone's secrets, was respected by stars, and I wish he had written a book. I believe he is entombed at Glendale Forest Lawn. John Gilbert is there as well He did a film with Barbara Stanwick, a western, and he should have gotten an Oscar for his performance.

I believe he had more fun and durability with his career, than being the big star, "hot dog", macho stud. Gilbert was macho without being TOO macho, and was fondly remember for his quality classic style and quiet masculine character actor. Bad and the Beauty, and Beneath the 12 Mile Reef are also good examples of his craft. BRAVO Gilbert Rowland. VSS

The Innocents implies, but Nightcomers delivers the rare emotional flesh of the under belly of Henry James story.

It is appropriate to the tale for the audience to experience the sexual paradox of SM, to understand the true power of Quant over the children.

What will these children be like when they mature into adults? Or will they develop into adults ever? Fascinating story. Brando was perfect for this story, and I am sure, his own psychology included such behaviors.

Prick ones body to find ones soul? The levels of pain and pleasure become blurred as in real SM experiences....one does not know where one begins and the other ends. A valid depiction of the pain +pleasure paradox is soundly explored. The audience is given a crash course to SM which enables the intelligent observer to taste and enmesh the aspects of this paradox. All feelings are permitted to be touched. I am sure it will be unsettling emotionally far after one leaves the theater or the click of your remote. Its excellent theater and well told with a master teacher in Brando as your spiritual guide.

I was ten when I saw this film for the first time, Prairie town Mid West Kansas. Richard Burton appears on the screen at the Colonial Theater, Junction City, Kansas. Later Burton shows up in The Robe.

Already he had such intensity, almost anger, with his Dance of Life,trained in the world of literature and theater. You "noticed" him.

Olivia de Havilyn... held her ground on the screen with Burton. She was not "intimidated by Burton", and the two of them made this story memorable.

Well paced staging, great camera work, sound, and they held their "power", sustaining their even performances, which comes only from polished craft over time. After "Gone with the Wind", Clark Gable and Erryol Flynn, who was this Burton person? ha

"Rebecca" belonged to Laurence Olivie and "My Cousin Rachel" belongs to Richard Burton. I don't think these two actors would have "switched" roles. Burton is rough and full of fury, and Olivie is smoother and wistfully melancholic, its just their "natures".

They taught Brando sustain that personal psychological power during a scene, I am sure. And he them? These three, will most likely, we will not see their likes again.

I was more impressed with the photography, lighting, sets, the coastal setting, gardens, and movement. The jewels were awesome and appropriate for the times. It was most believable to me and provided a great space for the actors to glide through the story. Well thought out, with just the right touches, attention to detail. The atmosphere of the sets?

Of course Waxman's music is magical, like "Rebecca" brooding mystery in the mists of the coastal waters. Just right.

Would like to see this film reserved for DVD to protect it from being lost.

Some comments belittled this film's effectiveness, but one must erase the influence of films that "followed" this film, as never seen, and judge this film from what went before it, not after it. This would have been an "independent film", if made today. Art piece, bitter-sweet, as a study of wild youth and seasoned maturity as Blind Love? Old films are not pale before todays films. Are the emotions believable, are the performances valid, even today, is a better question of its power to be a historic legends.

This is a study of its times and values of its times. "My Cousin Rachel" belongs with "Rebecca", "Kings Row", "Citizen Kane""The Ghost and Mrs. Muir", "Wuthering Heights", "Now Voyager" and can not be appropriately understood outside its times. Like a bottle of old wine.

"Star Trek" full of fire and music, "stimulation and lasers"....kills a black and white Gothic drama. We are talking "vintage" not breathtaking mind blowing visual rape of the senses, kids. Burton unknown, here before us, as a nobody, long before "Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf" or "Night of the Iguana" ...like seeing James Dean on the screen for the first time in my youth.. who is this guy. Well they became Mythic Stars for all time. Elizabeth Taylor liked this film...so there...

No, its not James Bond, and big color epics,like "Ben Hur", that would drown a little Gothic "dessert" pastry, like "Rachel" Delicate cake does not work with mustard and Ketsup, as it were, kids? I was delighted to see AMC present "Rachel" and taped it for my library, for one of those cold Colorado winter nights, when a good brandy and a fire, is just right for my psyche. Enjoy. Worth another close look.

You have to been there. We lived in Tuscan AZ when the movie crew came in with stars arriving later. Hollywood had arrived and we didn't know quite what to think. Our (Davis Monthen ) Air Force base hosted a cast party, with my parents. (A year before the 1947 Crash in Roswell by the UFOs)

Westerns were "Horse Operas" the bad guys wore black and the good guys wore white, the daughter and rancher lost the ranch to the bank, the villain, came to take over and make the rancher's daughter his trophy wife. Stranger arrives, fights the villain, wins the ranch back from the bank, wins the respect of the town, daughter and rancher. Kisses his horse and leaves them all behind as he rides into the sunset.

"Dual in the Sun" was so bad it was good. Do you get my drift? The script smelled in Hollywood, but Selznick like Howard Hughes, liked it that way. Over the years it has gained an underground following, and has become a Great moment in Film History.

Jennifer Jones was married to Selznick at the time, so she would do anything he thought would make her a big star. She may have forced him to make this film for her, who knows. Ask her, she still lives in Pasadena with her Millions. I love her and she never made a bad film.

Look at the cast, the production costs, the money they threw at this at this turkey and it is now on DVD and is discussed in film class to date.

You got to have a sense of humor about this film. We loved seeing our stars, playing this junk with straight faces and the music was just icing on this cake. What do you expect, its a dry run for "Giant".

I am sure Peck and Jones, Cotton, Barrymore and Gish, must have laughed on the set and were scolded for not following the script. I bet the drinks flowed at night, to keep this turkey from dying. Great Turkey mind you.

Imagine the work, the artistic academic drama techniques, they all had to remind themselves to use, to keep this Emotional Glider in the air and make it fly no matter what. ha. God Bless them.

Herbert Marshall got out early and must have spent the rest of his life, explaining in a dark saloon, how the money made him do this film?

Like "Madame Bovary" another Jennifier Jones film, it too was so bad, with great moments, like the ball room window breaking scene, that make this film, make it on to DVD. I was pleased to see this film is on DVD. Turkey films need love too, and can be GREAT, if you have compassion and patience with the film industry of the 1940s?

Both are worth seeing again and again, as sweet memories of the 1940s and how desperate we were for amusement after the WW2 depression. Go back to 1943, and look at Jennifer in "Since you Went Away" with Joesph Cotton. "Dream of Jenny" and "The Letters" all with Cotton. Jennifer Jones is wonderful with Cotton. Then we have "Duel in the Sun" and you have to love them to sit thru it. Gregory Peck said this was one of his favorite roles, next to "To Kill A Mockingbird" Jennifer later did "Man in the Grey Flannel Suit" with Peck. They must have had a hell of a good time making "Duel". VSS

Cast was perfect. Densch and Connilly earned our love.

I am convinced the story was close to the truth and love does not always need sex, to be love.

John Brown saved Victoria's life, by breaking through the protocol, and guiding her back to life.

We have often seen like situations between a Royal and a common servant, where the common sense wins over divine responsibilities in Royality.

"Roman Holiday" comes to mind. "Eliabeth and Essessex" is another.

Royals are attracted to blue collar life, as Royals are so withdrawn from the freshness of sunlight, stimulation, that their false sense of duty, slowly pulls their vitality right out of their bones.

Royals loose contain with the "Street" and are kept apart from Life's parade.

Princess Diana, is a good example, of how a Royal can rebel and go out amongst them, meet people of low birth, AIDS patients, and the children of the poor.

Like "Mother Theresa" one's divinity is actualized, by touching the people of real life.

John Brown could have moved more carefully, in breaking social barriers, and survived, perhaps, but to play it safe, would not be true to his characteristics, his nature. Prince Albert adored John Brown for his recklessness, his carefree, masculine freedom to be a MAN against Victorian falsehoods.

Like Howard Hughes, the genius, became a hostage and a victim, to his Morman staff. Protecting himself from life, germs, and villains imagined in his own mind, Hughes, is a prisoner of his own design.

Mrs. Brown gives up a rare view of Queen Victoria, crippled by her fears of her beloved husband's death. She would have a place setting for Albert, at every meal, got into Spiritualism, trying to talk with Albert without success Queen Victoria sought help and guidance from Christian Science, by contacting Mary Baker Eddy in Boston. The two women became good friends. A little known relationship between two famous women.

Mrs. Brown is worth several viewings, as it has many emotional levels that bear fruit. VSS

Just remembered the title: "Sunday and Cybel".

This film had a major haunting impact upon my life.(Boston 1962)

What a beautiful story and "Sunday and Cybel" needs to be preserved on DVD.

The childlike trust, and human bond that develops between two "wounded human beings" without a hint of inappropriate sexuality, needs to be seen again and again.

I was deeply pleased, that others have found this film as lovely as I did. It warms my heart to see others recognize such tender humanity between a child and an adult.

"David and Lisa" has a similar sense of love between damaged Souls, out of darkness into the light of emotional "healing".

Being a family psychotherapist, only restores my faith in the psyche to find love in a cruel world of distrusting authorities who only know how to kill flies with hammers, and destroy people they do not understand.

Bravo to the perfect cast, direct and writers, with brilliant cinematographer, to enrich the story into a rare masterpiece. VSS

"The Miarcle Worker", "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "David and Lisa", arrived in theaters in the same season and all black and white, all intense, human stories...that influenced me to dedicate my life to becoming a "wounded Healer". This little film, hit me hard, by first confronting my own demons, my family of origin, the dry 1950's in the Mid West Kansas prairie. Not like the "Snake Pit", this exploration of mental illness, was warmer, more understandable and approachable with the human heart. Meinger's Clinic was nearby in Topeka, Kansas, and they were doing the best clinical work in the world to date.

The movie theater was our only source of connection with the outside world emotionally. Yes, radio and later TV, just one channel CBS, brought to our living rooms, words, pictures and ideas, some painful some joyous.

A small Kansas wheat farming community can be a "closed information system", that is thrown into conflict, by new ideas about humanity, God, the larger World out there.

We were "shaped" emotionally more by film than TV or Radio. Cinema Scope presented a window on the world, in sound and images 60x our physical being and we were enmeshed on many psychological levels by film. That is the power of film, especially in a theater with other people.

James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, in "Giant", Kim Novak and William Holden, in "Picnic", made down the road from our town, were only the tip of the iceberg. "Best Years of Our Lives" and "Since You Went Away", were more than just images on the silver screen in a dark movie theater....that was 'US' up there, that was our story, our lives. We were "known, validated perhaps" by these images.

We were "defined" by fashion, haircuts, musicals, songs, dance, social conflict and reminded us of our humanity, the HUMAN COMEDY, that we lived in our local patterns, in our own words and behaviors.

I later became a "theater major" at the University of Colorado. Theater helped me understand human behavior, human motivation and the human masks of tragedy and comedy. Sports were important for character and physical glory and the Olympics, But Theater showed "why" the hero, the villain, the plots enriched our daily emotions.

Psychology was a dimension of theater. "David and Lisa", I was like them "both" in my way and was led to explore my own shadow and my teenage demons. Like "Rebel Without a Cause" we found these films to be therapeutic and healing on many levels. Walt Disney had lied to us and westerns no longer held my interests. As a teenager my hormones were creating a new me, a new sense of personality and the purpose of being alive. I had to "know" who I am and who I am not...for some reason. "Why are we here on the dirt prairie?" No, not "Oklahoma" again? ha

I never take a client that is "sicker" than I am. ha And felt I should drop out my first year in graduate school, because I saw myself on every page. "I feel I am too sick to be a therapist", I told my professors. They smiled.

"We are more concerned about students, who never see themselves on any of the pages in the DSM", they added.

I have not regretted becoming a therapist and "David and Lisa" helped build the bridge to that island, called the "Unconscious".

The cast is perfect. The performances are influenced by the 1950s and like ...'Without a Cause', parents were that emotionally dead to us even then.

I am pleased this film has survived and is on DVD. Music is lovely and fits the action, Kier should have been nominated for an Oscar as well as the actor who played "Lisa" can't remember her name. I actually become a close version of the psychiatrist in my way. VSS

Read all the comments. They all felt what I feel about this dark little treasure...it must be preserved on DVD. The music was as "haunting" as the story. In my youth, Boston in the 60's,..I went to see this film and it opened a new dimension of love/lust, to this Mid-western farm boy. I had just found Felini, Ingamar Bergmann, George Stevens and foreign films as well.

Intense, passionate, angst of sexual love and lust, made even "juicer" by it being your father's wife. The sexual betrayal is really about having sex with your father thru his wife's body.

Oedipal twist, struggling with jealousy, self-doubt, with one's father's mature sexual powers, his mother's attraction, and needing to be like Dad, to "top" Dad, but too afraid to try, he goes for his father's object of lust/love? Fritz Perls knew what to do.

To save the son from his fearful gay feelings for his father, she, the woman "sacrificed herself", for "them"... besides, she lonesome too.

And this emotional fog, with all its questions, only makes the story even better and more convoluted and "delicious" to me. ha

Mother feels the struggle between the men, and in a maladaptive action to move toward "wholeness" empathetically, shares her bed with her son.

Son finds a "temporary comfort" in having his sexual "audition", with his father's "other half". The son then realizes he has crossed the line, and now all hell breaks loose and he, of course, is sentenced by Life, to die. Praedra must be killed, and Dad must commit suicide I guess?

Triangles always are painful. They ALL lose here.

The upside-down unconscious gay connection to his father, and by using the female body of his mother, only hides the real problem, and all are destroyed by this sexual adventure. Feelings are facts they say.

It would have been "healthier" for the son to be "invited" into his parent's bed and resolve his "ambiguous" sexual orientation issues, in the arms of his father and his mother. There's a huge erotic bomb here for all? ha How would Woody Allen directed this story?

I realize this comment is not going to win me any flowers from others, but that's my perception and it could happen just as I have outlined.

I am pleased others found this film, a great treasure, and hopefully will be released on DVD.

Anthony Perkins's wife, was a photo-journalist,knew he was gay, and was on one of the jetliners that were hi-jacked and flown into the World Trade Center on 9-11. The Perkins' sons are now adults. VSS

Caught this film late one night, cold Colorado winter night, and could not walk away to a warm bed.

Well done, cast and crew deserve to be proud of themselves, if this is the director's wish. Never knew much about Swedish foreign film.

Bergman, of course, but not this director. Echoes of Bergman were felt.

The actors who played the leads, Martin and Barabara were perfect and carried the story. I felt their love and pain.

The summer picnic conversation around Mozart's The Magic Flute, was the metaphysical key to the lock for me. Two questions are discussed, light overcomes darkness and even the departed, are still alive and above all love survives all.

Watching the different levels of old timers pull them down into its oblivion, we see the struggles of the two lovers grasping the threads of their love, against the winds of madness.

Nancy Reagen, remarked, "They know from their side, that they are being taken away, against their will, and the look of desperation is haunting. It is the worst stage of the disease." In the last scene, Barbara moves in to Kiss Martin, and he mistakes this movement, to mean food, and opens his mouth, like a bird....its poignant and sweet.

Would own this DVD, as it gave me something I want to keep. I want to know more about the director, and the two major actors now.

SARGE

I agree with the other com-mentors. It's a masterpiece of sorts.

I did not fight it, just yielded and enjoyed the haunting performances.

Caught it for the first time yesterday and have not stopped thinking about it. Irons is brilliant and looks awful, but his appearance is the reflection of the mess inside him.

The location of the story is wonderful. I liked the way the present slipped into the past and remained in the present. Wonderful technique to tell this wistful sad tale of the human comedy. Had a Ken Russell feel to the camera work, you have to give up trying to make sense of the scenes, just give in and let it take you over.

A must see. SARGE

Yes, you had to have developed an appetite for Ken Russell's visions. Mahler works beautifully for me. I happen to like Mahler's music and historically, Russell, captures the juice of this man's genius.

Russell moves behind the music, into the skin of Mahler, his wife, Alma, and the tragic circumstances that surround them.

Mahler would have smiled when experiencing Russell's image of him. Thomas Mann's book, Death in Venice, is about Mahler, and Russell includes the railroad station scene, with the young boy and the business man, courting a bit, and then the camera, goes to Mahler, who understands whats going on here, and smiles, in amusement. Clever touch for Russell, but is most likely lost on the general audience. Not to say Mahler liked little boys, but his sexual orientation was ambiguous, at best.

Alma was like that, and the officer, whom she was having an affair, was most likely that way? Mahler went to see Freud over this affair in reality. Russell always takes us inside the psychological drama and visualizes, the inner Hell, Mahler feared regarding his wife and his coming death.

Alma had affairs after Mahler's death, and was a star f...ER, and had marriages and affairs with Europe's most brilliant geniuses, for real. She loved bright men, but loved herself, the most, I think? Later Erich Wolfgang Korngold, wrote a violin concerto for her, in Hollywood.

The film's tracking of the creative process regarding the music, is most likely right on, though the little composing hut, was not on the lake shore, but on a hill top, overlooking the lake.

Over all the film is historically correct, and emotionally, shows it as it most likely was for them as a famous couple. Alma did harbor jealousy, and stopped composing her music. Of late a CD has been released of her music and her music is acceptable, but pales compared to her husband's giant compositions.

I would have liked for Russell to include Richard Strauss's music, and their personal friendship. Both composers often talked about their troubles with their music and their wives. Strauss and Mahler are often similar in their musical genius, and understood each other's vision musically. It would have been nice to have the two together more in this film's history.

You have to have a taste for Mahler and Russell, to really get the humor and the brilliance that lies just beneath of surface. At least, Mahler, did not turn out to be another TOMMY...ha Bravo to Ken Russell and I am so glad he came along in my life time. Cast was perfect as well.

After all these years, of Peter O'Tool's brilliant, costly giving of his Soul, film after film, at last, Hollywood tosses him an Oscar recently.

Country Dance showed up one night late, and of course, blew me out of my complainant niche in my alleged "Life". How does he do it?

York again also is brilliant in this kind of play. Both psychological battleships loaded for bear....

Bravo to author, director, cast, and camera crew. No wonder the Nazi's lost to these Irish, Scot, English blends....brutal honesty hurts...back in the 70's, when I personally believed "honesty" was pure and absolutely vital to trust. I have modified my edgy extremes, and will settle for more human, warm flaws within myself and others.

Forgiveness allows humanity to have a reverse gear, and allows us to fix our own bull headed egos and erotic mistakes....

They should warn you before putting this kind of film on at 2 am? Did not even know who Dan Fetterman was. And this little soft bomb is slid under my door on a cold winter night.

"What in the Hell is this...?" But it was too late and they had hooked me, and the roller coaster began to move a real unreal mind f--- as they say...you had to pay attention for dear life....

Velvet dynamite with a kiss? I will never be the same, thank Goodness

My collection of great films, moved over one after this film finished, me off that night. Whew.

Dan Fetterman, director, screen play all deserved an Oscar, instantly. Fellini and Bergman should have seen this film...it is like what they made in their early film careers...that powerful.

One of Glenn Fords best performances. Andre Previn's musical score one of his best.

Studio troubles, politics seemed to interfere with the production.

I wanted it the film to be better, but still give it a 10.

Boyer is great and so is Tuilin, in the role of the war wife. Hendric Hendicx is fine, but too small a part.

Based on a true family I understand.

MGM was struggling and running out of money, after Cleopatra's over runs. The music almost defines, why this is a great film, it tells us more than the camera shows, but together you receive the true gift in the performances and script.

Herbert Marshall is splendid, as usual. The cast, is perfect, the cottage is my ideal fantasy home. Have tea and cookies when you watch this, and use your best china, silver, cloth napkins, on a rainy night, when you need to withdraw from the cold cruel world of reality.

Allow this magical cottage to heal you as well. Thoughts are things and things are thoughts here. Expect something warm and wonderful to happen to your psyche.

Music is like the secret guest, its there and here, always pulling your mind and heart into its haunting melody. Allow yourself to open up to enjoy its promise. Roy Webb won the Osacr for this musical score, so there.

Best little 40's film, perhaps, so drop your rages of time and vain ego head trips, and kiss your demons hello?

The Razer's Edge is not a light film, dark and inspirational, and requires your full attention.

Clifton Webb's best performance, even better than Laura, perhaps. Ms. Tierney's best performance, even better than Laura, as well.

When I was growing up in Junction City, Kansas, Ms. Tierney, was at Menninger's Mental Health Hospital. She was working in a dress shop, in Topeka, Kansas, as part of her therapy.

I have always loved The Razer's Edge, Herbert Marshall, is splendid, and provided the key support, for Webb and Tierney's performances.

They all seemed to feel this picture was important, and did their best to bring the words to live on the screen. Ensemble acting by the group made this film, fly and become a hidden treasure in film history of its time, 1945-46. Perfect film for returning warriors from WW2, as a bridge of hope, to find themselves and repair the wounded souls of war.

Alfred Newman's musical score, is one of his best. Bravo to them and what a treat for students of film, to learn from its presentation.

After you see Vertigo, then watch Bell, Book and Candle, made within months of each other.

My second favorite Kim Novak film, with Picnic, coming in as third.

All three performances are great, Vertigo, being the best, of all.

They came to my nowhere Kansas Prairie town, near by, at Salina, Kansas in the 50s, to film, Picnic.

Bell, Book and Candle's musical score, I believe is one of Alex North's. Perfect for this bit of comedy.

After Vertigo, Stewart and Novak, did this comedy, how amusing to note the dramatic contrast.

Worth your time, if you like Kim Novak. The Greta Garbo of my youth.

If this was the last copy of "Vertigo" on earth, I would go into a burning building to save it, without question.

I first saw this film in original release in 1958, small town in the middle of Kansas. Blew my teenage mind away.

And when the film company came to a town next door, in Salina, Kansas, with Kim Novak, to film "Picnic", I was in shock. In vertigo, when Novak shows, Stewart, her driver's license, it says, Salina, Kansas.

"Vertigo" just gets better each time I see it. And with the new restoration of the print and soundtrack, now on wide screen DVD, well thank goodness I lived to see this happen.

"Gone with the Wind" was the first film I ever saw.

What's cute bit of trivia, Kim Novak and Jimmy Steward, finished "Vertigo" and within a few weeks, turned around and did "Bell, Book, and Candle" and the contrast is amusing, and would make an interesting double feature.

Hitchcock and Novak felt it was their best film, ever. How wonderful for us.

Bernard Hermann's haunting musical score, is responsible for this film being a masterpiece. I have studied Hermann's history and his opera, "Wuthering Heights". "Ghost and Mrs. Murir" was Hermann's favorite film score, and of course, "Vertigo".

I have watched this film several times. It still holds its power over me. Earl Holloman, made "Giant" in 1956, "The Rain Maker" and now here he is again, doing a great job. Bravo Earl. Stood next to him at Sherman Oaks Tower Records, and out of respect, didn't say a word. If you like them, you allow them, their private lives. They know you know who they are, and are grateful, you don't bother them. The best zoo in the world, this Hollywood community?

Geraldine Page deserved an Oscar. Yes, "Sweet Bird of Youth" is fine as well, but in "Summer and Smoke", she is brilliant as Alma.

Ms. Page carries the film alone.

Tennesse Williams, said, "He was all the women in his plays", and I believe it.

Ahhhh...the battle with the flesh and the Soul, timeless struggle, that no one seems to win, completely. Life happens between rounds, somewhere in the middle perhaps? Elmer Berstein's score is haunting and one of my favorites, next to his "To Kill a Mockingbird". See his website.

Alma represents the part of our collective psyche, that fights our sensual wild desires, that eventually, becomes "intergrated" into our whole self. The battle is white hot, on some summer nights. Summer is a sensual season, as our armor, mask, are shed, from the heat of the night, exposing our flesh, that screams to get loose, and thrive. Winter, where this battle resolves, allows these desires to be blanketed by heavy clothes, brisk winds, and we bury our self to put to sleep our pseudo-selves.

Summer seems to be a favorite season for Tennessee Williams, "streetcar Named Desire", again sweat, blood, and tears, leave us naked with our demons of desire. In the hot Southern nights, where Bible passages, do not quiet the beast, blood fires burn hot, and white linen grows damp with passions.

"Summer and Smoke" changes me a little each time I allow myself, to become enmeshed in its desperate struggle. "Night of the Iguana" again, a hot summer night, seems to finally, release us, from "Summer and Smoke" and we are redeemed, refreshed, anew...from "the night of the blue devils". Bravo to the cast for this splendid theatrical presentation on film.

Ann Sheridan, Robert Cummings, Claude Raines, and Reagen spin a charming piece of magical story telling.

"Since You Went Away", "The Human Comedy", and "The Bishop's Wife" kind of movie... your favorite dessert, (?), which you would not want "everyday", but when its right, its "FABULOUS".

Snow bound, or want to be, nights, settled in on the big protective sofa, perhaps a fire place, hot drink, dim the lights, solitude, you alone with these, wonderful human beings, who have a story to share with just YOU?

Trust me, you will not lose two hours of your life, with this film, but instead, feel as if a gift has been handed to you, to hold and share with others, later. You will know them when you meet them....Ynez paw? Erich Wolfgang Korngold's score is one of his best ever. Being a big fan of Korngold, I recently cleaned his tomb stone, and was compelled, to taste a small lump of dirt from his grave. But that is another story. ha ha. Korngold died in 1957 and he and his wife are at Hollywood Forever Memorial Park, near DWGriffth and Cecil B. DeMille.

Ever had a well made coffee cake pastry, from scratch?... Flaky, not too sweet, fresh apples, spices, with just a touch of lemon in the icing? There it is .. "King's Row".... "It's so nice you dropped by tonight.....

May I get you another slice of Dutch Apple pastry...while I'M up, filling your cup? (Cream...?) I thought so.....

Charming series of stories aboutthis wonderful family of friends, who live together in a boarding house, and their adventures.

If you have ever lived in San Francisco, in the 70's, this will bring back all those good times. What compassion and dignity of the human comedy, that teaches ethics, and enriches our human experience.

Magical, similar to "Vertigo" the Hichcock film, this story is wonderfully human and you wished that this family actually existed.

Bravo to cast, writer, and director, as Larry Kramer's script, keeps the magic of the original books.

A slice of the River, from those childlike days of Hippie touches, that reminded me of my years in San Francisco in my youth.

Thank you Billy Campbell for your risking in taking on this role. Solid performances from all. After several viewings, this film maintains its power, charm and brilliance. A must see and a must own film.

After all Kirt Douglas has done, this little masterpiece is his personal favorite.

"The Bad and the Beautiful" I think is another of his films you would adore.

Shot in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1960's, in black and white...Kirt Douglas and Gena Rolands created a sweet piece of art.

As the West, of real men and women, is being paved over, for housing developments, Malls,...these characters find themselves caught in between, their love and dreams dangerously disrupted.

Integrity and personal ethics at war with inhuman cruelty.

Kirt Douglas's beautiful horse, deserved an Oscar, as did the horse in "Cat Ballu". "The Misfits" was being shot at the near the same time, and has the same "quiet desperation", of Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable's last work. An Existential crisis that cuts to the bone.

In an interview...Kirt said, "of all my grand history of making film, this little known film, was his personal favorite." Deserves to be saved on DVD. Bravo to the cast and crew. This masterpiece will be an underground classic, that film classes will show for a 100 yrs.

First of all...forget comparing the book with a camera. Never happen. The camera creates its own book form. Well done performances, great shots, music and sense of the times. Two Oscars went to Nelson Riddle for the soundtrack and to Mr. Wilson, the betrayed husband and murderer.

Redford holds up well, with such an ambiguous character. Farrell, was surprising perfect for this vague, scatter brained goddess. Sam Waterson is excellent. Dern's performance is great.

The music says more than the cinematography.

The tea party with white roses and the scene with the colored silk shirts still takes away my breath and brings a tear.

The real tragedy is that F. Scott Fitzgerald, died believing his book had "failed". In all his works, he still tries to fix Zelda and himself, over and over. Gatsby is Scott and Daisey is Zelda and it was never resolved, ever. Fitzgerald's "love" of Ernest Hemmingway, was the missing piece, in his strange relationship with Zelda. This missing piece of the story, was not understood even by Scott, and did him in, as "Cat On a Tin Roof" impaired Paul Newman's relationship with his wife?

His masterpiece is now considered one of the greatest books in the English language, and perhaps, the finest All American novel ever written. But Scott did not live long enough to see this acknowledgment.

"The Great Gatsby"the 1974 attempt, comes closer than any attempt before and deserves credit for its beauty and depth. I am glad to see its on DVD, as it should be.