This is one of the movies that starts normally and gets out of control very quickly. First we have a normal schoolteacher who has to get a second job as a cab driver too make extra cash. Suddenly, we have a man that is addicted to drugs who wants to kill his wife and mother, The Shining style.
Yet another film that takes a crack at suburban life. I am not complaining, but we have had quite a bout of these movies lately; I guess the idea of suburbia has lost its charm.
Let's start with my complaints. First of all, I am used to tacked on endings because of the production code. Still, this film really needed a different ending. I will not go on further because of my spoiler policy.
As for the rest of the movie, James Mason is a great actor and the middle part (the ending was stupid) was genuinely exciting. The film also has a great line: God was wrong.
RATING: ***--
Interesting Facts:
Marilyn Monroe had a brief cameo but it was ultimately cut from the movie.
Rebel Without A Cause
1955
Directed by Nicholas Ray
For some odd reason, it has become some sort of trend for women my age to be really into James Dean. Most have only seen this film, of course, but a lot of women I know have various James Dean paraphernalia. I say it is odd, because these women have no interest in any other films from this time and it just seems really random. It probably has something to do with Dean's early tragic death and that fact that he is insanely handsome. Still, it is kind of weird because I have always thought that though Dean's career was too short, he was a merely okay actor.
I guess that is one of a million things that I don't understand about my fellow humanoids. Anyway, let's move on with the actual film.
This is a story of teenage angst and the feeling of being a complete ass without any real reason to be one (hence the "without a cause" part). Within the film, Dean gets the girl, defies his parents and bullies, makes friends with the underdog, and is the indirect cause of some gruesome deaths.
I have quite a few problems with this movie. First, like I said, I think Dean was an okay actor, but not terrific. I also think that Natalie Wood was an okay actor, on the verge of being hammy.
Now, onto what I like. I like seeing this side of American youth. When you think of 50s kids, you think poodle skirts, Grease, and malt shops. This is certainly a more accurate and gritty depiction. I suppose this film is also suppose to remind you of your own feelings when you were a teenager. Now, I was a complete loser-nerd in high school who never left my house, so I really could not relate. However, I am sure most people can.
Overall, I will give it four stars. Warning: even if you like this movie, you will walk away feeling slightly disturbed and possibly sick.
RATING: ****-
Interesting Facts:
Nicholas Ray rode around with Los Angeles gangs for research.
Real switchblades were used in the fight scenes and the actors were protected by chain mail.
T-shirts sales soared after the release of this film.
All three young actors in this film had early unnatural deaths.
Plato was intended to be gay. Although they could not say it outright because of the production code, there were heavy hints throughout the movie.
There has been a bit of a hiatus between this and the last post since I had not been successful in tracking down this movie until yesterday. Rest assured, I have been watching just as many flicks as always and will be catching up with my posts soon.
This movie is very interesting if you are interested in the western genre; otherwise, it might seem slightly ridiculous. Vienna (Joan Crawford) owns a saloon somewhere in the west. The locals, led by an insane woman, believe she is associated with a gang of outlaws and attempt to kill her. Wackiness ensues.
In a lot of ways, this western is pretty standard. Bad guys wear black and good guys wear bright colors (see above revolting blouse). The only difference here I suppose is the fact that the protagonist and antagonist are both women. Of course, in a lot of ways it is still pretty sexist. The fight is mostly over a man and men still end up having to save the day.
It also is a bold criticism of the McCarthy era with the policemen being little more than bloodthirsty wackjobs.
This is a pretty fascinating film; it's a pity that it is not more available. I am not a big Joan Crawford fan, but I still enjoyed this movie a lot. It is refreshing to see a western starring women. However, I cannot get too excited over feminism in films because Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is up soon. Yikes.
RATING: ****-
Interesting Facts:
Intended for 3D viewing.
Crawford and McCambridge fought constantly off camera. On night, Joan Crawford took all of McCambridge's clothes and scattered them along the highway. The cast and crew had to pick them up.
At another point in filming, Crawford was so jealous of the attention McCambridge got for a scene that she broke into her dressing room and slashed all of McCambridge's clothes. Psychopath.
This is an incredible film that I have had never heard about until today. There are some pretty big names associated with it so this could be due more to my ignorance than the obscurity of the film. Still, this is movie is now possibly my favorite Bogie film (although it is a tough call between this and African Queen).
This story is about Dixon Steele, a screenwriter with a nasty temper. He is a suspect in a murder involving a young woman but is saved from being arrested by Laurel Gray, a neighbor who gave the police a statement about where he was during the murder. They, of course, fall in love as attractive people in movies do. Soon, however, she becomes more and more scared of him and his temper.
Where to begin? This is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. The acting is incredible, of course; Bogie plays perhaps the darkest character of his career so well that I even I was afraid of him. Gloria Grahame, a rather underrated actress, is also amazing. By the end of the film, she had managed to make me really emphasize with her character. Though I was never in such an extreme situation, I too have been genuinely frightened of a man but at the same time I wanted to spare his feelings. Scary situation.
The dialogue is also incredibly; my favorite line being something that Bogey's character writes: "I was born when she kissed me. I died when she left me. I lived a few weeks while she loved me." Truly an amazing film that is both dark and exciting.
Interesting Facts:
Gloria Grahame was separated from her husband, the director, during filming. She later ended up marrying her stepson (?).
In the book, Steele was a serial killer and a rapist.
People who knew Bogie thought that this role was closest to how he was in real life. Yikes.
