1946
Directed by Tay Gurnett
I suppose if you want to plot you can go to the Ossessione page on my blog.
I personally liked this version better. People say that it isn't as gritty as the Italian version but I really don't know why; this isn't exactly a sunny fairy tale. There is certainly the standard Hollywood polish on this movie; the people are more attractive, the dialogue is snappier, and the editing is cleaner. This is also worth a watch just for Lana Turner's performance. A fun film noir.
RATING: ****-
Interesting Facts:
Since there was french kissing in the film, it caused quite the stir among audiences.
Lana Turner's favorite role.
I love this movie because I'm a sucker for the bombshells. She is just so cool, especially her first entrance. Love it!
ReplyDeleteRachel .. we have got to stop meeting like this .. I think Amanda is started to suspect us.. especially if we keep agreeing on great old films like this..
ReplyDeleteAmanda .. one I guess i should have dug back and commented on as I really rate this and agree with all you say.
Haha I love a good bombshell too and Ray, your comment made me laugh out loud.
ReplyDelete:) Always pleases me when you say I raised a smile .. or better still, a laugh.
ReplyDeleteFeed back on the feedback is always appreciated (lets us know you have seen it.. even if you disagreed with it!)
Amazing how kissing in old movies could stir people. The Italian version goes way further than that.
ReplyDeleteOld movies kisses are so weird. It's strange that the style of kissing changed.
DeleteI started watching this film with that question: Is it better or worse than Ossessione? And so at the beginning I just noticed that it lacked the electricity of attraction between the leading pair that the Italian film did. But, in fairness, they're two different films that just happen to have the same plot. One is a tortured tragedy, the other is American Noir. Once I came to terms with that, I started to enjoy this film properly.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem a bit unfair that you credit this with more "snappy dialogue" than the other. We can't compare spoken words with subtitled translations, let alone when the snappiness is a key factor. That said, let's be honest, it is easier to enjoy a film when you're not staring at the bottom of the screen the whole time. You have more time to let your eyes and attention drift on to other areas like body language, the scenery etc. Some dialogue-heavy foreign films like Rome, Open City can feel like reading a film script as much as watching a film in places. Say what you like about arty, foreign films with long, moody silences, but they're a lot easier to keep up with.
Well the long moody silences sometimes bore me into a stupor and then I lose track of things.
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