tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post6149107379550541185..comments2024-03-27T21:42:56.131-05:00Comments on 1001plus: A Different Kind of LoveSJHoneywellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-41111897207132085972019-03-19T05:01:39.576-05:002019-03-19T05:01:39.576-05:00On Belle de Jour I do not think Severine joins the...On Belle de Jour I do not think Severine joins the brothel out of boredom and, though everybody seems to think so, I do not think she is particularly infatuated with Marcel.<br />I think Severine instinctively knows that she needs to come to terms with her sexuality and degrading herself may make her more open and receptive. In her locked up state sex is a horribly demeaning thing that disgusts her, but if she can climb down from that tower she can embrace sexuality. Marcel is a symbol of going too far in that direction, of becoming "bad". If she gets consumed by this trip of hers she will end up with him instead of Pierre.<br />It is a smart movie and a lot of psychology. In the end however I think it takes symbolism too far. A common problem in movies from the sixties. TSorensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12208153011927807857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-36594251840808002762016-01-17T10:14:59.742-06:002016-01-17T10:14:59.742-06:00I think that's a fair assessment. It's muc...I think that's a fair assessment. It's much more a fun and entertaining movie than it is a great movie. I won't comment on Stewart's win here (I've got two to still review for that battle), but I think it's safe to say that I'll likely agree with you on that. I love Stewart, but this doesn't seem like an Oscar performance.<br /><br />Gable and Tracy would have been interesting, but I don't know that there was ever anyone better suited to light comedy than Cary Grant. In addition to his distinctive voice and devastating good looks, Grant possessed nearly perfect comic timing. Even many of his more dramatic roles featured his ability to play comedy. Both Tracy and Gable had their virtues (although I'm not a huge Clark Gable fan), but this is the sort of role that Grant was built to play. <br /><br />I knew that Virginia Weidler had given up film at a young age, and that's a loss for everyone. For me, she's far and away the best part of the film. SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-4086873259120533782016-01-16T21:50:21.641-06:002016-01-16T21:50:21.641-06:00I really like The Philadelphia Story but I can'...I really like The Philadelphia Story but I can't say I love it or that it's one of my favorites of any of its stars filmographies. I think it has something to do with Hepburn being such a hard case for a good deal of the film even if she softens at the end, she's hard to warm to until the party scene. Cary Grant & Jimmy Stewart both do well by their parts, though Stewart winning an Oscar for this is absurd, but it's fascinating to wonder what it would have looked like if Hepburn, who owned the rights to the property, had been able to have her original picks for those parts, Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy. I love Ruth Hussey as Liz but Shirley Booth did it on Broadway and I think her unique personality would have put an interesting spin on the character. But I can't fault any of the work of the ultimate choices.<br /><br />So glad you pointed out Virginia Weidler's wonderful performance as Dinah. What a scene stealer! That introduction scene is brilliant but she pulls the focus whenever she's in a scene with a wicked slyness. She was such a significant talented child actress but within three years of this she was finished which I've never understood. I can't see her making it as a conventional leading lady but she had a strong comedic touch which would have seemed a natural for parts similar to those Eve Arden played. Perhaps it was a personal choice, she didn't work in show business much past the end of her Metro contract and never made another film after leaving the studio. She also had a bum ticker, she was only 41 when she died of a heart attack, so maybe that played a role as well. Be that as it may she's dynamite in this film.joel65913https://www.blogger.com/profile/14526657073681774683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-35539100007752609812012-11-25T10:28:50.212-06:002012-11-25T10:28:50.212-06:00Just wait until you get to High Society. It's ...Just wait until you get to <i>High Society</i>. It's the same damn thing with additional characters.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-75659902852794422612012-11-25T05:44:17.617-06:002012-11-25T05:44:17.617-06:00I like the term "a love pile-up". It is ...I like the term "a love pile-up". It is getting really confusing who is really in with who and why and why not. But I guess that is the point. We should become as dizzy as the characters, who are getting the shake up of their lives. Nice review. I like Dinah too.<br /><br />TSorensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12208153011927807857noreply@blogger.com