Thursday, May 13, 2010

A Movie Post

GR&DF it has been a few days without any mention of the flickers - not that I haven't been watching them - just not mentioning them her on the Blog. So I think today will be all about the flicks.

First up will be "Too Late the Hero" - 1970 - starring Michael Caine and Cliff Robertson. Set in the middle of WWII on an island in the Pacific the story is basically about a British unit plus one American who must destroy a Japanese communications station on a island. The mission for all purposes is impossible. A bit long in spots but the overall picture was pretty good.

Next up is "Out of the Ashes" - 2003 - a TV film starring Christine Lahti, Beau Bridges and Richard Crenna. A true story of Dr. Gisella Pearl based on her book "I was a Doctor in Auschwitz." The movie is told in flash back and covers the years leading up to WWII and Pearl's family incarceration and destruction in the concentration camp. While in the camp she must make good/bad "choiceless choices" for her and others to survive. A powerful story with a great performance by Lahti.

Another film was "In Harms Way" - 1965 - Otto Premingers war/soap opera epic set against December 7th attack at Pearl Harbor and its aftermath ... with lots of stars and cameos - including John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Patricia Neal, Paula Prentiss and Dana Andrews. Based on a book the story is a skilled blend of war drama and soap opera in the best sense of that term. I enjoyed the rekindled chemistry that Wayne and Neal had and shows that love ain't just for the young!! They starred in 1951 together in "Operation Pacific."

Here is the movie trailer narrated by Otto Preminger - with lots of explosions!!



One of non-war films was "The Yellow Rolls Royce" - 1964 - starring Ingrid Bergman, Rex Harrison, Shirley MacLaine, Jeanne Moreau, George C Scott, Omar Shariff and Art Carney. The story is actually three stories connected with the ownership of a yellow 1931 Rolls Royce Phantom II. Directed by Anthony Asquith and written by Terrance Rattigan this visually beautiful film is slow in places but a real treat. I read somewhere it is the best 1940's movie made in the 1960's - and that about tells it all - it has the feel of a much older movie and the story had been done before but the actress trio of Moreau-MacLaine-Bergman sparkles in dialogue and story lines - well worth a look.

Another war film "The Lost Battalion" - 2001 - starring Rick Schroder and Phil McKee - this TV film is a fact-based war drama about an American battalion of over 500 men which gets trapped behind enemy lines in the Argonne Forest in October 1918 France during the closing weeks of World War I. A very real war film with all - and I mean ALL - of the gore and dirt and deprivation that involves. A really good film and one of the best made in recent years -highly recommend.

The last film today will be "As Young as You Feel" - 1951 - starring Monty Wolley, Thelma Ritter, Jean Peters, Constance Bennett, Marilyn Monroe and a very young Russ Tamblin. Although part of a Marilyn Monroe DVD collection it really is not her movie as she has only a few scenes playing a beautiful and efficient secretary. The film is really a Wolley film where he plays a printer in a large company owned by an even larger company who is forced retiree but who is going to do something about getting his job back - a cute and shortish film a little predictable but some fun performances.

The you go sports fans - some pretty terrific films to catch - all of them are available on DVD. Thank you for stopping by do come again!!

Take care,
edgar

6 comments:

  1. Hello I find the embroidery at the beginning magnificent what a work, I also saw your love of small dogs! They are magnificent!
    Best regards of France

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  2. Alain Delon in "YRR" Love that movie.

    Elizabeth in SoFla

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  3. I really liked In harms Way and the Yellow Rolls Royce, they are both going films. But I love Bergman, Harrison and MacLaine in The Yellow Rolls Royce I agree its a treat to watch.
    Have a good week end.

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  4. Oh cool, thanks for the list...putting them in the netflix que. :)

    Hugs, cookie
    BTW...my Mom is in love with your blog too, now :)
    MA TK

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  5. oh boy...Edgar you are going to turn me into a film freak. I'm already obsessed with Stitching and books, I don't know if I can afford another obsession!!! Stop it!!! LOl! I've not seen these, but I will make a note of them, and keep my eye open for them! Thanks for some great reviews on these!

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  6. Young As You Feel and Yellow RR sound the most interesting to me out of the batch! I keep meaning to order some of these that you mention through our library, but it's "let me finish that project/do that cleaning/finish that book" first and don't quite get there!

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