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mdenison57
Reviews
Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
..just a thought,,,,,,,,
I have not seen the film, though I am aware of Florence Foster Jenkins. It is only that someone gave a revue, that was not a revue. Not using a name, this person gave a warning not to see the film. This sort of tactic has been used before. The Catholic church condemned the last film that Garbo made, Two Faced Woman. The only thing wrong with Two Faced Woman, are the pathetic cuts to try to make the film acceptable to an audience of Catholics: that really were drawn to the film because of its condemnation. The film made money!
Meryl Streep has a wide diverse collection of characters to her credit. Aside from the awards and the nominations there sits this great body of work. People were warned to not see Garbo dressed as she was in her last film. "They" said she wasn't good in the film, like seeing your mother being abused. I think Garbo was never as good as she was in Two Faced Woman.
Will I see the Streep film being discussed? YES! I will treasure her performance as I do in all of her films. Will it be my favorite? I am not sure. Time will tell. But this warning stuff, don't see it, is just not a review: it is a warning. m.d.
Flame and the Flesh (1954)
a rare look at Lana
All these things come pouring out at once..Pier Angeli and Marissa Pavan co-starred with Lana. Pavan in the 1956 ''Diane''. The two actress's were sisters. Are Lana's films as a body of work being preserved as they would have been had Lana lived a bit longer? The American film Institute should have a copy of all her films. Museum of Modern Art should have a copy of each of her films. Lana Turner should be able to be studied by all of the children that are two years old today.....when said children are surprised to see one of her films for the first time,,, and hear the soft velvet voice.
My copy of ''Flame and the Flesh'' is green/yellow in color, the sound is fair. With poor visual quality..I think it is a bit funny. Was intended to be funny. Richard Brooks. ''Cat on a hot tin Roof''. Same director,, and as ''Cat''can be funny at times. So might ''Flame and the Flesh'' if we could only see it.
Lana Turners work must be preserved as was Davis,Crawford,Taylor,Stanwyck,. The woman worked over thirty years and she was constantly working for over that period of time. I would love to say more about the film,,, but it seems to be lost. A 60 year old film no more, lost. ............. Lana Turner deserves better. Find and restore this film. Do it while her daughter is still alive and able to be a part of the celebration.
Betrayed (1954)
better than one is let to believe
The film makes sense on several levels. The plot and the way it is explained makes sense to me. Ms. Turner is believing every moment, my favorite is at the end. She always was intense and sincere in the way she addressed her work. Gable is different in this role. I suppose he was encouraged to look worn out. ''Mogambo" of the same year recharged his career to the point that MGM offered then to renew his contract, and that Gable declined. I believe it was Lucille Ball that said; ''if you believe in the role and the script, so will the audience"... well something to that effect. Lana always gave her best. View ''A Life of her Own''. The film Cukor made with her 1950. Lana does some wonderful things in the film. What MGM was thinking I do not know, control of these people perhaps. I think Lana was quite unique. Her career lasted for a good thirty years, and she must have had something the audience wanted to see!!! Enjoy, this film is a treasure. Now bring Lana Turner' " The Flame and the Flesh" to video, please.
By the way, the color photography is so wonderful in the film. The vague northern light is so true. The interiors often give the impression of looking at a very rare Vermeer painting. The light and shadows coming through the windows. Wanted to throw that in to the mix.
Two-Faced Woman (1941)
wait..please
OK........ Adrian did the clothes for the film..which were rejected. Adrian quit MGM. The idea of the film was excellent until ??? A married woman pretends to be her twin sister and by doing so wins her husbands interest back. This idea says something funny about men. The film it seems, was ready to go.. BUT .. the catholic legion of decency condemned the film. MGM started hacking away at it... there are still photograph's that survive of Garbo and Ruth Gordon, two: of something that is not in the film. Mick LaSalle added some wonderful insight in his book. ''Complicated Women''. According to LaSalle ,,, it is painful here. The point of the edited film was to make Garbo silly, no one wants to look silly. Any lost footage was destroyed in one of the frequent MGM mergers. Or? I like Garbo here. She was never like this before. Once you know what was tampered with, you can turn the sound off and begin to see what was intended. Garbo does not wear the clothes well in the movie. But then again, one is mostly looking at her face, and a lovely face. Cukor hated when someone said, Two Faced Woman,is very interesting, and it is interesting. I have it on VHS, and DVD. Wish they hadn't trashed all the MGM data...... Always someone will contribute lost footage, or dialect. The cherry in Garbo's career. Enjoy.
Her Cardboard Lover (1942)
Norma and bob.... really.
I love it but wait! It doesn't have a real story to tell. Four or five people talking,,, and it makes no sense,, except at the end,,, by then it doesn't matter.
Why didn't someone convince Shearer to play Mrs Minniver,, better,, or both,,, Hall Wallace wanted her for ''now,voyager''. at Warners.
1940 ''Escape'' also with Taylor, the critics love this film. When it was released on VHS/DVD....... viewers appreciated the film.
.....1941 Taylor and Lana Turner in; Johnny Eager''. And Robert Taylor almost always looked good.
.........As Garbo, Crawford, Shearer, Garland, Monroe. Cukor was directing many of these ladies end of carrier, films. I fail to see how he was so helpfull to lady stars.
.....Norma Shearer was wonderful, beautiful here,,, even if her clothes were not particularly flattering. Had Shearer gone on to a film-noir,, but then she was gone. ......................... It is a lovely film,, better the second time. And she seemed to not want to work again.................. But Norma Shearers early silent films as her early Talkie's before the code. Re-discovered... Her beautiful voice......She lived in to the 1980's....... ''escape'' is wonderful, Norma was... oh.. still wonderful.