The Artist (2011)

Silent film star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) finds his fame plummeting during the coming of talkies, while actress Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo) becomes a great success.

Interesting Note:
Jean Dujardin won a well-deserved Best Actor award at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.

Thoughts:
I finally saw The Artist!  I'd been eagerly anticipating its US release last month, only to find that it wasn't playing anywhere near me then.  But at last it opened up in theatres in my state -- so this afternoon I got to watch it, along with my sister and mother.  Thanks to you both for going with me!  : )

I'd been wondering if this film could possibly live up to the hype!

The Artist was a different sort of experience.  It's a great achievement and certainly a fine tribute to the time period of 1927 through the early 1930s, when sound was first dismissed as a fad and then later took over completely.  So many actors and actresses really had their careers destroyed when talkies came about -- only a few were able to successfully make the transition from silents to sound.

Jean Dujardin was perfect as George Valentin -- he not only looked as though he belonged to the time period while embodying a sort of combination of John Gilbert and Douglas Fairbanks (favorites of mine), but was entirely convincing as a silent actor!  Body language and facial expressions were so important in silents and his were very engaging throughout all facets of his character's success and later downfall.  I felt so sad for him as the film progressed and his career waned -- it all felt so real because things like that actually did happen to so many people.

I loved Uggie as George's amazing Jack Russel Terrier / sidekick / best friend -- he also won a prize at the Cannes Film Festival: the Palm Dog Award for best performance by a canine.  He was wonderful.

When I first saw the film's trailer, I thought that Bérénice Bejo looked much too modern to really fit well in the story's time period.  My opinion on that hasn't altered, but her character certainly was charismatic and a great contrast for George.  Their entwined, yet distant, careers were fascinating to watch unfold.

The black-and-white cinematography was quite striking!  There were so many gorgeous shots that fit ideally with all the action that was going on in the film -- from George's self-assurance in the beginning, to his and Peppy's first meeting, the shock of being let go from the studio, his determination to finance his own film, the spiral downwards of losing both money and his career, his nightmares of talkies, the huge amounts of attention given to Peppy's movies, George's desperate suicide attempt by setting fire to his old films . . .

I don't want to give away the ending, but let's just say I was surprised by how it all turned out!

I definitely recommend seeing The Artist in theatres if you get the chance.  Thanks for reading!

Rating:
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ½

Favorite Christmas Films

These are my favorite holiday films that I enjoy not only around Christmastime, but during any time of the year!

Remember the Night (1940)

An assistant district attorney and a shoplifter fall in love after they end up spending the Christmas holidays together.

Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck are perfect together in this lovely story, which itself is a great combination of fun and dramatic moments, charmingly sentimental holiday traditions, and a heartwarming romance which shows the true meanings of love and hope.

Christmas in Connecticut (1945)

A magazine columnist known as the perfect housewife is forced to invite a war hero and her boss over to her farm for Christmas -- which presents a problem since everything she's ever written so far has been a lie!

This film is sweet, hilarious, and entirely entertaining, with its fast-paced and fun plot, and great performances from the entire cast, especially Barbara Stanwyck and Dennis Morgan, who are so charming together throughout!

The Lion in Winter (1968)

During Christmastime in 1183, King Henry II and Queen Eleanor battle over which of their sons will become the country's next ruler.

This is such an epic movie!  I'm always blown away by the dark, powerful story and incredible acting performances, the combative relationships and biting dialogue, and the flawless musical score.

Holiday (1938)

After a young man becomes engaged over a vacation, he returns home at Christmas and discovers that he is falling in love with his fiancee's sister.

This is my favorite Katharine Hepburn / Cary Grant picture, and an underrated gem at that!  The story is wistful and sweet, well-written, and superbly acted.  The ending is perfect.

*          *          *          *          *

Thanks so much for reading!  Here's wishing my wonderful readers a very Merry Christmas filled with good times!

The African Queen (1951)

Missionary Rose Sayer (Katharine Hepburn) and boat captain Charlie Allnut (Humphrey Bogart) team up in Africa during WWI and plan to sink a German ship.

Thoughts:
I just realized [after seeing this post] that The African Queen premiered on December 23, 1951, sixty years ago today, in Los Angeles!  I saw this for the first time years ago (on a VHS tape, which I still have) when I was just starting out with classic Hollywood, and it will always remain of my favorites.

The story is just such a great blend of adventure, suspense, and romance -- it all feels very timeless and exciting.  Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, in their only screen pairing, were wonderful together from their characters' initial dislike to eventually falling in love.  They had so many memorable moments over the plot -- though my favorite is probably the ending twist.

Humphrey Bogart won a well-deserved 'Best Actor' award for this film -- surprisingly his only one over his career.  And what's even more surprising is that Katharine, though nominated for her role as Rose, didn't win for 'Best Actress' -- that darn Academy made so many mistakes over the years, it's ridiculous.  : /

The Technicolor in this film is gorgeous.  I found it amazing even in my old VHS copy, but the restoration in the DVD release really is breathtaking.  I'd rented that edition when it first came out, but now I'm pleased to say that I'm to receive the commemorative boxed set for Christmas!  : )

The film was based off a novel by C.S. Forester.  Though I enjoyed reading it a while back, The African Queen is one of those rare films that is much better than the original book.

Rating:
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Happy Birthday, Irene Dunne!

Happy Birthday to the lovely Irene Dunne!
(December 20, 1898 - September 4, 1990)

She was born Irene Marie Dunn on December 20, 1898 in Louisville, Kentucky.  Always musically inclined, Irene studied piano and vocal training from a young age, with a goal to pursue a career as an opera singer following her graduation from school.  But after failing an audition at the Met (the reasoning being that her voice was too 'slight'), Irene turned instead to the theatre in 1921, and had a nine-year run as a musical comedy actress.

She then entered films, and proved her skills as a dramatic actress with her role in 1931's Cimarron.  That success brought her a number of parts in serious dramas, which she excelled in and found to be rewarding.  In 1936, Irene starred in her first comedy Theodora Goes Wild.  Although initially hesitant about accepting that change of pace, Irene's excellent performance showed that not only could she shine as a dramatic actress, but as a comedienne too.

Irene then did additional screwball comedies, including her famous ones with Cary Grant: The Awful Truth and My Favorite Wife.  But her body of work was definitely one of great versatility, and in edition to lighter stories, she still was able to do many dramas which were her favorites because they were more challenging.  The film she liked best was 1939's Love Affair, her first pairing with Charles Boyer.

Following her final picture in 1952, Irene was devoted to causes supporting the Republican party and her Catholic faith, as well as spending time with her husband Dr. Frank Griffin (they were married happily from 1928 until his death in 1965) and her family.  She died peacefully on September 4, 1990.

*     *     *

Irene is not only one of my very favorite actresses, but is also among the people I love and respect most.

She was divinely talented in both dramas and comedies, yet incredibly underrated and often rightly described as 'the best actress never to win an Oscar.'  Irene's performances, from precodes to dramas to screwballs, were consistently sincere and wonderful.  "I always believed in my characters.  I lived them," she said.

There are so many adjectives with which to describe Irene -- beautiful, classy, poised, witty, charismatic, warm, generous, charming, and a true lady.  I will always admire her.

Happy Birthday, darling Irene!

The Age of Innocence (1934)

In the 1870s, attorney Newland Archer (John Boles) is torn between duty and his love for beautiful Countess Ellen Olenska (Irene Dunne), who has caused a scandal by leaving her husband.

Thoughts:
Edith Wharton is one of my favorite authors, and The Age of Innocence was the first thing I'd read out of all her works.  I've also watched the 1993 film version with Michelle Pfeiffer and Daniel Day-Lewis.

But I'd been wanting to see this 1934 one for ages, and finally got to recently.  It's quite faithful to the novel and successfully showcases the developing romance between Ellen and Newland, as well as society's concerns over anything of a seemingly scandalous nature.  It's one of those frustrating sort of stories at times, for sure though, because of what happens to the two throughout the plot.  Irene Dunne is luminous as Ellen, by far the best performance of the film!

Rating:
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Anna Christie (1930) (1931)

Anna (Greta Garbo) hasn't seen her father, now a captain on a coal barge in New York, for years ever since he sent her away to live with relatives, and resents that he hasn't visited or helped her.  After she comes to see him, the two reconcile and Anna begins to love sailor Matt, who changes her ideas about men -- though all that may change when Anna's past is revealed.

Thoughts:
Greta's first talking picture was the 1930 version of Anna Christie.  It was a huge hit, and she became one of the few silent film stars to successfully make the transition to talkies.  It was filmed again in German, with a different supporting cast and director, released in 1931.

Although I like both films (and find it interesting to contrast the two), the German one comes across as better.  The performances seem more natural, as does the mature handling of the story.

Rating:
1930: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
1931: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ½

The Trespasser (1929)

Marion Donnell (Gloria Swanson), a stenographer for lawyer Hector Ferguson (Purnell Pratt), happily elopes with Jack Merrick (Robert Ames).  But their honeymoon is interrupted when Jack's wealthy and selfish father finds out and not only wants to annul the marriage, but insults Marion as well.  Marion angrily leaves and, a few months later, decides to raise her and Jack's child alone.  She keeps her son a secret from Jack until circumstances force her to reveal the truth.

Interesting Note:
Gloria Swanson received a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her performance.

Thoughts:
Gloria's first talking picture!  I had been wanting to see The Trespasser for ages and was so thrilled to record and watch when TCM showed it today, courtesy of the George Eastman House.

Oh, this film was amazing.  I had been anticipating this showing for so long and The Trespasser entirely surpassed my expectations.  It was a huge hit in its release, and I can see why!  Gloria was absolutely marvelous in her wonderful talkie debut, and I can't help thinking it's such a shame she didn't do more in sound.  Her character was so beautiful, brave, self-sacrificing -- and heart-breaking.  Gloria was already one of my very favorite actresses and I love her even more after seeing her in this.

The story was so moving, the little details made it even more special, all the acting was flawless, Gloria was spectacular, and I don't think I could ask for anything more in one picture.

Many thanks to both the George Eastman House and TCM for showing The Trespasser today!  I sincerely enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to see it.

Rating:
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Gambling Lady (1934)

After the death of her father, Jennifer 'Lady' Lee (Barbara Stanwyck) takes a job playing for a gambling syndicate -- and she only takes part in 'on the level' games.  She refuses a proposal from, but remains friends with, dishonest gambler Charlie Lang (Pat O'Brian).  After an initial misunderstanding, Lady weds wealthy Garry Madison (Joel McCrea), though their happy marriage faces trouble shortly afterwards, first initially from Garry's father Peter (C. Aubrey Smith) who has reservations about the match, socialite Sheila Aiken (Claire Dodd) who wants Garry for herself, and even from Garry himself who wonders if Lady and Charlie are more than just friends.

Thoughts:
I saw this for the first time when TCM aired it some months ago -- I'm glad to have recorded it so I could re-watch Gambling Lady again recently.  I really enjoy this quick-paced film!  Barbara, as always, is lovely and gives a flawless, natural performance.  Her character is entirely likeable -- very young-looking and sweet, yet quite able to take care of herself.  Barbara and Joel McCrea are always so good together!  This was the first of their joint films, and I think it's one of my favorites.  Their characters have some great moments together, starting off with calling one another 'Bermuda' and 'Norway' right up to the perfect ending.  C. Aubrey Smith is excellent as Peter, and Claire Dodd is certainly ideal as conniving Sheila.  Watch for Lady to keep all of Sheila's jewelry after winning at cards!

Rating:
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Dangerous (1935)

Don Bellows' (Franchot Tone) life was changed after seeing Broadway actress Joyce Heath (Bette Davis) in a memorable performance -- he was inspired to do something creative.  Since then, he has become a successful architect.  When Don sees Joyce and realizes she is now a careless alcoholic, he's determined to rehabilitate her -- and falls in love with her in the process.

Interesting Note:
Bette Davis won her first Academy Award for her performance in this film.

Thoughts:
Although Bette herself thought Katharine Hepburn should have won the Academy Award for Alice Adams (and I do agree!), this performance in Dangerous is still one of Bette's most impressive.

Franchot Tone was excellent as the conflicted Don, but really the film belongs to Bette's Joyce Heath.  She has plenty of great moments -- from appearing unkempt in the beginning when we as the audience know she once was successful, so desperate for a drink that she smashed through a glass case to get to the alcohol, becoming clean after spending time at Don's, talking about sprites with him, reading Forever Ends at Dawn, Don's kissing her in the rain, when they realize they love each other, the excitement they both had over Joyce's upcoming play But to Die.

I do have mixed feelings about the film's conclusion.  I have to say I really liked the first hour -- right up to the final rehearsal we see as Joyce practices for But to Die.  I suppose I was disappointed after that scene because I knew then what I wanted to happen -- and I was really surprised by what actually occurred next.  But my appreciation for the majority of the movie [mostly] outweighs any negativity I have towards the finish.

Quote:
"I'm bad for people.  I don't mean to be, but I can't help myself."

Rating:
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

The Little Foxes (1941)

Regina Giddens (Bette Davis) spars with her brothers (Charles Dingle, Carl Benton Reid) and ailing husband (Herbert Marshall) over potential wealth from an anticipated cotton mill and the future of her daughter (Teresa Wright).

Thoughts:
What an amazing story -- such an intricate and well-crafted portrait of what lust for wealth can do to people.  The story centers around Bette's Regina Giddens, a fascinating character who is so determined in her goals that nothing or no one will stand in her way.  Maybe it's just me, but like with Gene Tierney's Ellen in Leave Her to Heaven, I found myself fully realizing the motives behind Regina's actions so that I wanted her to succeed and to see how far she would go to do so.

And yes, Regina went pretty far!  Those barbs with her brothers were quite intense, but hardly anything can compare to the scene when she realizes how easily she could let her husband die by withholding his medicine.  It was so suspenseful and I literally watched with bated breath throughout the whole thing and wondering what was going to happen!

Quote:
"I hope you die.  I hope you die soon.  I'll be waiting for you to die."

Rating:
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ½

The Letter (1940)

Leslie Crosbie (Bette Davis) claims to have killed a man in self-defense.  Her husband Robert (Herbert Marshall) believes her, and lawyer Howard Joyce (James Stephenson) does too -- until a letter turns up that threatens the validity of Leslie's story.

Thoughts:
I found The Letter to be so exciting and suspenseful, and surely one of Bette Davis' many excellent pictures that I've seen so far.  The story pulled me in right away -- I don't think I've seen any other films where the action starts right off with someone being killed!  And her character was really fascinating -- so calm and poised in the beginning, appearing to be delicate yet quite in control, and then later showing more vulnerability as her plan began to unravel.

There were so many atmospheric instances that stood out to me throughout the story -- Leslie's composed telling of her story to the police, the unforgettable shot of Leslie's face in shadow through the blinds that gave the illusion of being imprisoned in jail, her nearly obsessive hobby of lace-making that really reminded me of the Fates from mythology, the gorgeous lace shawl, the superb Max Steiner score.

I liked Herbert Marshall as Leslie's husband; he really was very loving (though a bit naive in spots) in spite of everything and he did forgive her.  James Stephenson was excellent as the determined lawyer.  My seemingly unpopular opinion is that I didn't like Gale Sondergaard's character in this at all; I rather thought her annoyingly odd just standing around without saying anything and giving no clues as to why Hammond would have gotten involved with her.  And then the ending is of course somewhat typical of having to pay for crimes in the days of the Code era, and I was a bit bothered that Leslie would have gone through so much already to have to story conclude that way.

I seem to lately only like parts of a bunch of films I've recently watched -- but still, this is really excellent and I certainly recommend it.  TCM is airing The Letter a couple times early next year, so be sure to give it a try!

Quote:
"He said 'You have very pretty eyes.  It's a shame to hide them under those ugly spectacles.'"

Rating:
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Tovarich (1937)

Russian royals Tatiana (Claudette Colbert) and Mikael (Charles Boyer) flee their country after the revolution and find work in Paris as servants.

Thoughts:
Tovarich (Russian for 'comrade') is quick-paced and thoroughly entertaining!  I really enjoyed seeing Claudette Colbert and Charles Boyer in a picture together -- the two were completely charming and convincing in their roles as Russian royalty.  Claudette plays a Romanov Grand Duchess, a niece of the Tsar, so she is higher in rank than Boyer's minor prince who married into the family -- so after some rounds of entertaining bantering, Tatiana often has the final say on decisions throughout the film.

It is she who announces that they are to take jobs as servants in a Parisian household, since they have currently been living in poverty and have had to resort to stealing -- with unexpected consequences!  Although Tatiana and Mikael do have access to a fortune entrusted to them by the Tsar, they decide not to spend any of it, since they hope to have plans in using it for Russia one day.  The scenes when the two (under the names of Tina and Michel) start work at their employers are hilarious -- first the amusing family seems entirely chaotic and demanding, but then they're completely won over by Tatiana and Mikael.

Shortly after that the story goes from being rather light-hearted and comedic to much more serious when their employers host the Soviet commissar for dinner -- and it turns out he's the one who tortured Tatiana and Mikael back in Russia, and also the one they resent for the loss of all they loved.  I wasn't sure how much I liked the abrupt switch in mood -- certainly the atmosphere at the table was incredibly tense.  But Tatiana's decision for the use of the money was fitting and the ending came off to me as fairly satisfying, given the conditions of the rest of the story!

I think this movie's a bit rare, I had been wanting to see it for months and only recently saw it online -- unfortunately it has since been removed.  : (   But I definitely recommend seeing it if you find it!

Rating:
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Little Women (1933)

While their father is away during the Civil War, the four March sisters Jo (Katharine Hepburn), Meg (Frances Dee), Beth (Jean Parker), and Amy (Joan Bennett) experience a variety of changes in their own lives at home.

Thoughts:
When I was little, I received my grandmother's edition of Little Women -- it had been one of her Christmas presents when she was ten years old.  I thought it to be the loveliest book I'd ever owned, with its beautiful hardback cover and colored illustrations throughout.  That was certainly one of the first classic books I'd ever read as a child.

I always enjoy this film adaptation of the story -- it's actually the only one I've ever seen, and I certainly don't wish to watch any others!  While the novel was lengthy, the movie remains fairly fast-paced and keeps in the important parts while centering on my favorite character -- Jo.  I always liked her best even while reading the book years ago; not only was she the most interesting of the girls, but she was also a writer and that was always one of my own ambitions too.

And with one of my favorite actresses playing that favorite character, Little Women couldn't be more perfect in that respect.  Katharine Hepburn was ideal to be Jo, I think director George Cukor said something along the lines of Katharine being born to play that part.  She was incredibly delightful to watch in this, part free spirited girl and part sensible woman, and always very caring and sweet.

One of the greatest things about Little Women is how devoted the sisters are to one another, though they differ vastly from each other.  Certainly Katharine Hepburn's Jo rightly stands out the most, consistently putting others above herself and still remaining interested in her writing.  But Frances Dee as eldest sister Meg, Jean Parker as frail Beth, and Joan Bennett as often unsympathetic Amy do portray the sisters quite well while keeping to their characters in the novel.  Spring Byington is excellent as the girls' beloved mother.

I really liked Douglass Montgomery as Laurie.  He and Katharine made for marvelous playmates together in the film's beginning, and it always bothers me a bit that they didn't wind up together in the end!  Though Paul Lukas really did make Professor Baer to be quite likeable in this, so that Jo's falling in love with him was believable, something that I personally never fully felt from the novel itself.

Overall -- such a charming and timeless story that I always enjoy seeing.  TCM will be airing Little Women on the 18th of this month, so be sure to give it a try if you haven't seen it yet!

Rating:
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥