TCM
TiVo ALERT
For
February
1–February 7
DAVID’S
BEST BETS:
WUTHERING
HEIGHTS (February 1, 12:00 pm): TCM is showing some
of the finest films on February 1 from one of cinema's greatest
years, 1939. You can't go wrong with any of the films airing that
day. One of my favorites from not only that year, but of
all-time, Wuthering Heights, is on at noon. Based on the
classic Emily Bronte book, the movie version uses less than half of
the 34 chapters and doesn't include the second generation. Despite
that, it's a brilliant film with Laurence Olivier delivering one of
his greatest performances (which says a lot) as Heathcliff. The rest
of the cast is outstanding, particularly Merle Oberon, David Niven
and Geraldine Fitzgerald.
BABETTE'S
FEAST (February 4, 6:00
pm): This 1987 Danish movie (and the Oscar winner for Best Foreign
Film) is one you shouldn't miss. It's a special film about loyalty,
passion, faith, sacrifice and love. The title character moves to a
small village and lives there for 14 years as the cook of two elderly
sisters who had found true love decades earlier, but didn't marry
because their father, the leader of a religious sect, didn't approve.
The sisters and the rest of the village become very fond of Babette,
and she feels the same. She wins 10,000 francs in a French lottery.
Rather than take the money and return home, she spends it on an
extravagant feast for the sisters, their lost loves and others in the
village. The story is beautiful, the acting is exceptionally strong,
and the message is powerful.
ED’S
BEST BETS:
GEORGY
GIRL (February 6, 10:30 pm): It’s the picture that
made Lynn Redgrave into a star, and few others than Redgrave would
even attempt this sort of role – playing a homely young lady
from whom millionaire James Mason has a strange attraction. Redgrave
is wonderful in the role, and it’s one of the last of the “Swinging
London” genre of the mid-60s. Charlotte Rampling and Alan Bates
also shine as Redgrave’s icy, self-absorbed roommate and her
boyfriend. In fact, Rampling almost steals the movie right out from
under Redgrave, and their scenes together have good chemistry. Those
that have seen it will probably want to see it again, while those
that have never seen this wonderfully quirky film are strongly
advised to do so.
THE
LAVENDER HILL MOB (February 7, 4:15 pm): Granted,
there’s no such thing as the perfect film, but this one comes
darned close. Alec Guinness is near perfect in his role as the
fussbudget bank clerk who, along with newly acquired friend Stanley
Holloway, robs a bank of a million pounds in gold bullion. And almost
gets away with it, to boot. How they slip up is a thing of beauty to
watch, as is the chase near the end. This is a keeper for the ages
and even those who are “hard” on comedy will smile at this one.
WE
DISAGREE ON ... A STAR
IS BORN (February
3, 8:00 pm)
ED:
A+. Most of the
time, remakes of good movies are not so hot. They rarely achieve
anything near the life and pulse of the original. But Judy Garland’s
third husband, Sid Luft, was convinced that the story would play just
as well as a musical and would make an excellent comeback project for
Judy. On both counts he was right. Luft also guaranteed the success
of the film by handing the directorial reins over to George Cukor,
who had directed the original story in 1932 as What
Price, Hollywood? Also
on hand was Moss Hart to fashion the screenplay, which he did
magnificently by drawing on his knowledge of Garland and her career.
With the able support of James Mason as the doomed Norman Maine,
Garland shines as Esther Blodgett, transformed by Hollywood into the
glamorous Vicki Lester. Add a few well-staged songs and the sharp
cinematography of Sam Leavitt, and A
Star is Born is a
remake that equals the original.
DAVID:
C+. There's
nothing horribly wrong with this 1954 movie, much like What
Price Hollywood?, a 1932
film that is quite similar to it, or the first A
Star is Born from 1937
with Janet Gaynor and Frederic March. (Don't get me started on the
1976 version with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.) But
there's really nothing special about this film. I've never been a fan
of Judy Garland and she does nothing to change my assessment of her
with this movie. Garland was 32 years old at the time of the film's
release. That's a little old for this particular role, and you add
her addiction problems and other medical issues, and Garland looks
considerably older. I also don't care much for musicals. While this
is not a pure musical, there's plenty of songs in it, and does
nothing to change my assessment of the genre. James Mason as Norman
Maine, a former matinee idol who's drunken outbursts are no longer
tolerated by his studio and the public with his career in full
nosedive, is solid. But it's not enough to make this movie anything
more than a couple of steps above mediocre. Also, the film is way too
long at three hours with plenty of scenes, including the insufferable
and overdramatic "Born in a Trunk" sequence, that should
have been on the cutting-room floor.
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