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Of all John Ford's great films, this is his pen-ultimate great western. John Wayne (Ford's frequent star) plays a Civil War vet, who goes on a long search for his niece (Natalie Wood), who has been kidnapped by Indians. The search spans many years, with Wayne gathering a gallant group of allies. Among them, a part-Cherokee cowboy (Jeffrey Hunter), a cynical minister-Texas ranger (Ward Bond) and a senile old Indian scout (Hank Worden). Their adventures take them into dangerous areas of the wilderness, and they have to use every last wit they've got to survive, as well as rescue Wood.From the magnificent opening shot, this is a triumph of skills from master film director Ford, and towering star Wayne. An excellent supporting cast (Bond, Hunter, Wood) helps a great deal. The cinematography is brilliant, as is the delightful screenplay by Frank Nugent. One of the last great Hollywood westerns, this is a movie that is perfect for classic film buffs.
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The first film that helped create the legend of James Dean, it's basically an updating of the biblical story of Cain and Abel to California, during the WWI years. Dean plays a troubled youngster, who is involved in a heated rivalry with his brother (Richard Davalos) for the love of their father (Raymond Massey). Dean believes his father thinks of him as a bad seed, and he stoops to the lowest means of getting his father to think of his son as a somebody. However, Dean simply further complicates things, which aren't helped by the fact that he's falling in love with his brother's girlfriend (Julie Harris).Extremely fine performances by all, including Dean, Harris, Massey and Jo Van Fleet (in an academy-award winning role) as Dean's mother. This has an element of realism that still holds up today. The subject never fails to strike a nerve among decades of young people, who I think this film is well geared to. Stay tuned this week for further reviews of James Dean films.
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The movie that introduced one of the finest actors of all time, Marlon Brando stars on the brutal lout, Stanley Kowalski. At the time of it's release, the movie (based on the Tennessee Williams play) seemed to focus on the leading female character, Blanche Dubois (Vivien Leigh), a sexually repressed woman, driven to insanity by the animalistic behavior of Brando. That's what it seemed like at the time.Now, thanks to a recent re-edited edition, the focus turns towards Brando and his relationship with the other characters besides Leigh's. His treatment towards his wife (Kim Hunter) and his buddy (Karl Malden) offer some truly harrowing moments. But the final segments involving Brando's attack on Leigh still astound and anger after all this time. Brando, Leigh, Malden and Hunter give spellbinding performances (all but Brando won Oscars for their roles) and Elia Kazan's relentless direction of the proceedings come off magnificently. The moody black-and-white cinematography by Harry Stradling is perfect for the atmosphere of Williams' depressing world. You should definitely see this movie! Mainly because it was the movie that introduced Brando, an actor who gave a voice ("STELLLLLAAAA!!") to a whole new generation of actors and to the ones that came afterward.
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The second James Dean film this week, this is the movie in his brief career for which he is most remembered. The story opens with a scene that introduces us to the three main characters, a trio of messed-up teens. Dean portrays the oldest of the group, a guy who is having difficulty communicating with his parents (a thing that hasn't changed much over the years), as well as trying to see past their faults to see that they really love him and are trying to watch out for him. Natalie Wood plays Dean's love interest, a girl who is also having parental troubles and is trying to find a stable relationship in Dean. Sal Mineo plays the one who seems most likely to self-destruct. He feels suicidal, has trouble with the bullies at school and is very lonely. Then Dean walks into his life, and nothing will ever remain the same.The brilliant performances by the three leads broke new ground for films about youth and the angst of growing up in an adult society, which feels incredibly oppressive among young people's lives. The story offers a fantastic, once-in-a-lifetime dramatic performance by Jim Backus (of Mr. Magoo fame) as Dean's father. Nicholas Ray also adds some brilliant touches to this revolutionary movie, which will stick out in your minds, long after you've seen it. If you want to start watching James Dean films, this is the perfect one to start with.
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Not only is this the greatest musical ever made, but also a touching tribute to a Hollywood of a bygone era (the 1920's silent films). Gene Kelly plays a major silent star, who's studio is going through a crisis, thanks to the smash hit "talkie", The Jazz Singer. The next project for Kelly is definitely going to be a talkie, since that seems to be what the public wants. Only things are complicated by the blonde bombshell, Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen, giving her funniest performance to date), a non-talent when it comes to vocal acting; Thanks in part to a screeching voice, that could tear your eardrums apart in two seconds. But a young stage actress (Debbie Reynolds) and Kelly's sidekick (Donald O'Connor) may hold the key to the next film success.I could name about two dozen scenes in this movie which are pure magic! Kelly performing the title number; O'Connor's uproarious "Make em' laugh" segment; The hilarious projection malfunction at the sneak preview of Hagen and Kelly's new talkie, etc. This is what musicals are and have always been about. Spectacular numbers, great one-liners, funny sight gags, fine dancing and singing performances by the cast and certainly wonderful songs! No matter how many times you see this movie, you'll still want to see it a thousand times more.
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John Ford's tribute to Irish-Americans, this great comedy-drama stars John Wayne (at his most appealing) as a retired boxer, who returns to his native Ireland to settle down and finds trouble in the form of the hulking Will Danaher (Victor McLaglen). Things go from bad to worse, when Wayne falls in love with McLaglen's feisty sister (Maureen O'Hara), which causes the bullheaded lout to try and pick a fight with Wayne.Surly a triumph for Ford and the actors involved. The moments in here, like in most Ford films, are beautifully filmed giving this an epic feel. The best acting comes from McLaglen's portrayal of a man that is a bit thick-headed, but who still remains lovable. Stay for the climax. It's a real dandy!
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The last film of legend James Dean's tragically short career, this epic movie based on the novel by Edna Ferber, follows the lives and loves of two Texas barons (Rock Hudson and Dean). Like most epics, the time span follows two generations of Texas residents and the trouble that comes from the long-running rivalry of cattle baron Hudson and oil baron Dean. Elizabeth Taylor is the woman that comes between the two millionaires and their way of life.A brilliant ensemble of some of the finest actors in Hollywood history, Dean stands out as always. He plays a role that (had he lived) would have made sure he would never have been typecasted as juvenile punks for the rest of his life. But thanks to an incredibly fast drive in his Porsche on September 30, 1955, we'll never know whether he had any good roles to play and stories to tell. But then again, his popularity still endures long after his death and he is still one of the greatest acting phenomenons that has ever lived. Long live the Giant! Long live the Rebel! Long live the Legend!
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