301. Lola Montes

Lola Montes
1955
Directed by Max Ophuls

You would think that a film about a prostitute recounting her life as a circus attraction would be quite an interesting movie.  You would be wrong.

Some parts of the movie are quite beautiful.  There is a great use of Technicolor here, almost too the point of being gaudy but hey, it's the circus.  To make you feel like part of the action, the director put objects in front of the camera so you feel as if you are watching the circus.  However, if I was at the circus watching this performance, I would have gotten up and walked away because it was so freaking boring.

This is a really short review, but really my feelings can be summed up this: sets good, story bad.  After all, brevity is the soul of wit.  So says Polonius anyway.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Max Ophuls final film.

255. Madame de...

Madame de…
1953
Directed by Max Ophuls

Firstly, to clear up any confusion, The Book is the only source I have found that lists this movie as Madame de…. Everywhere else, including Netflix and IMDb, lists it as The Earrings of Madame de… I think that is more fitting of a title because the earrings are much more of a character than the Madame is.

Madame doesn't have a name, mostly because she represents every boring rich woman in high society.  This is a really hard plot to describe.   Basically, Madame sells the earrings her husband gave to her at the beginning of the film to pay off her debts.  The earrings than have a magical adventure changing hands (and learning a little something about themselves along the way).  There is also love and social commentary.

This is a magnificent film; it is extremely difficult to find fault with it.  The acting is superb and natural, the camera work is flawless, and the plot is intriguing.  It is mostly a melodrama but strangely enough, I didn't feel like killing all the characters!  You can't beat that.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

Max Ophuls only agreed to do the film because Danielle Darrieux was starring in it.

Boyer and Ophuls were at each others' throats for most of filming.

220. A Reckless Moment

A Reckless Moment
1949
Directed by Max Ophuls

Film noir has never been the most unique genre out there.  There is a strict formula that most movies adhere to, which makes constant viewings of these films a bit tedious.  However, this one was noir with a twist of the "whaaaaaattt????" factor that made it quite worth the watch.

The plot of this movie is a bit complicated and I fear that what I say will spoil it for you.  Suffice to say, a blackmailer falls in love with a blackmailee (just made up that word; deal with it) and and attempts to stop the blackmailing process.  Well, the other blackmailer will have nothing of that.  Hilarity ensues.  Just kidding, it is actually pretty gruesome.

Anyway, this movie is worth watching if only for analyzing each character and their motivations.  First of all,  James Mason, the guy who plays the enamored blackmailer, is a puzzle.  They really give no reason for him to fall in love with Joan Bennett.  Did he just think he was in love because subconsciously he was not a bad guy and wanted to back out of the plan?  And Joan Bennett.  Was she actually in love or was she manipulating him?  According to film noir laws, probably the latter because all women are bitches in that genre.

The film leaves these questions quite open ended and it is pretty much up to you to decide.  I would like to discuss my opinion with someone but if I met anyone I knew who had seen this movie I would drop dead of shock.  Check it out.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

The producer, Walter Wanger, and Joan Bennett were married from 1940 until 1965.  In 1951, Wanger shot Bennett's manager because he thought they were having an affair.  And they didn't get divorced until 1965?!?!

202. Letter From an Unknown Woman

Letter From an Unknown Woman
1948
Directed by Max Ophuls

Wow, just wrote ten of these in a row.  I should stop being so awesome and watching so many movies.  Actually, seriously, I should because I have spent like two hours on this blog today and I have other work to do.

Anyway, this is my last one for the day so let's churn this out.  I absolutely love stories of unrequited love.  There are frankly, not enough.  As someone who has to deal with this all the time (including this very minute) I find it incredibly relatable and sweet.  This is probably one of the best films I have ever seen depicting this feeling.

At the very beginning, we are introduced to Joan Fontaine (who always looks adorable; how can you not love her?) writing a letter to a man who barely remembers her.  She tells him she is dying and begins to tell her story.  She has really loved him all her life but when he finally noticed, he just used her and discarded her.  Very sad.

A relatively unknown movie but it was excellent and just what I needed after the ordeal I recently went through (I like a guy who has a girlfriend, fill in the rest of the story for yourselves with various Taylor Swift songs).

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

Joan Fontaine's favorite movie.

Not available on Netflix or YouTube.  You will have to go to...ahem...other sources.