TCM
TiVo ALERT
For
February
23–February 28
DAVID’S
BEST BETS:
PYGMALION (February
23, 12:15 am): It's hard to believe this splendid 1938 comedy
starring Leslie Howard (who co-directed it) and Wendy Hiller is the
same story (from George Bernard Shaw's play) as My Fair Lady,
a 1964 musical and the most overrated film of all time. The latter is
boring, ridiculously long, and filled with poor songs that were
outdated when the movie was released. The former is witty, charming,
entertaining and funny. Howard is often overlooked in comparison to
other actors of his era, but he proved time after time that he was
among the elite in his day and this film is an excellent example of
his talent.
IN
COLD BLOOD (February 25, 10:15 am): Largely based on
Truman Capote's book of the same name, which is largely based on the
true story of two hoods who kill a family of four in Kansas for
money, that isn't there. Told in flashbacks and filmed in black and
white, this 1967 movie, done in documentary style, is gripping and
fascinating, even though we know the outcome almost immediately. It
conveys the coldness that some people have toward others in society.
It's also proof that Robert Blake, who plays one of the killers,
could act when given an interesting role.
ED’S
BEST BETS:
THE
ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (February 23, 8:00 pm): When
one looks up the term “action picture,” a still from this film
should be under the definition. Quite simply, this is the role Errol
Flynn was born to play, and he’s quite good in it. Give him
such villains to play against as Claude Rains and Basil Rathbone, and
this film just can’t be beaten. Olivia de Havilland shines as Maid
Marian, with Una O’Connor and Herbert Mundin in fine form as the
comic relief. The best thing about the film is its refusal to take
itself seriously, which amps up our enjoyment even more. Michael
Curtiz directed with a nearly flawless style. It’s simply one of
those rare films I can watch over and over without growing bored.
THE
SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD (February 24, 1:15 am):
In the 1960s, espionage movies came in three categories: spy spoofs,
spy films that didn’t take themselves all the seriously, as witness
the Bond franchise, and spy films of a serious nature. This is in the
last category and is one of the best not only of the ‘60s, but also
in the history of film. It is faithfully adapted (as best as
possible) from John LeCarre’s excellent spy thriller and concerns a
burnt-out officer in British Intelligence (wonderfully portrayed by
Richard Burton) whose last assignment is to ferret out a mole in the
organization operating out of a Communist cell in East Berlin.
Intelligently directed by Martin Ritt with solid supporting
performances from Claire Bloom, Oskar Werner, and Peter Van Eyck.
It’s simply a “can’t miss” movie.
WE
DISAGREE ON ... THE LAST PICTURE SHOW (February
25, 2:45 am)
ED:
B. On only his
second attempt, director Peter Bogdanovich hit the Academy lotto, and
I have to agree with those who say he never managed to top this
masterpiece. A wonderful coming-of-age film set in the desolate town
of Anarene, Texas, it’s based on a novel of the same title by Larry
McMurtry. McMurtry’s earlier novel, Horsemen,
Pass By, was adapted by
director Martin Ritt into the award-winning Hud in
1963, and there are many similarities of mood between the two films.
But there are two reasons why I’m not giving this film an “A.”
One is that this film is not as good as the earlier Hud,
and two, Cybill Shepherd’s performance pulls the film down a notch.
Ben Johnson, Timothy Bottoms, Ellyn Burstyn, and Cloris Leachman are
all fine, but I got the distinct feeling that the director was using
his camera to act for Ms. Shepherd. Too bad, for overall, this is a
fine film.
DAVID:
A+. I agree with Ed that director Peter Bogdanovich
never made a better film than this 1971 classic, but when you make
one of the finest movies of all-time it's pretty difficult to top
yourself. It's a perfect examination of life in a small, dying West
Texas town in the early 1950s largely centered around two high school
seniors, played by Timothy Bottoms and Jeff Bridges. The two young
stars are excellent and are helped by the older supporting cast –
particularly Ben Johnson and Cloris Leachman (who both won Best
Supporting Oscars), and Ellen Burstyn. Filming it in black and white
(just like In Cold Blood) was an excellent decision that
enhances the bleakness of not only the dying town, but its residents
who are also dying along with it. The characters, many who are lonely
even if they are married, engage in sexual relationships for
companionship, to try to recapture an excitement for life, to dull
the pain of their existence or to get what they want. As for Cybill
Shepherd – who plays Jacy Farrow, a popular girl desperate to
find a rich boyfriend to marry – she is ideal for the role. A
stunningly beautiful woman in her first film, Shepherd does a great
job of conveying the character's vulnerability while still being
manipulative, sometimes doing so without saying more than a few
words. The acting is superb and Bogdanovich's ability to juggle
several different storylines without confusing the audience make this a very special and memorable film.
No comments:
Post a Comment