WHAT FILMS HAVE YOU SEEN LATELY?

[Ann Harding]

Fanfan La Tulipe was staple feature of French TV when I was a child. Now it's become rather rare... Thanks God some important Gérard Philipe features have just come out on DVD: Le Rouge et Le Noir, La Beauté du Diable and even better, Le Diable au Corps is coming out in September.This marvelous film had never been released before.

[feaito]

When I was watching Fanfan, the plot seemed familiar to me and then I realized it had been remade (2003), because I saw the remake on TV a couple of years ago, starring Vincent Pérez and Penélope Cruz. The remake is a good adventure film, but I prefer the Philipe version of course.

I hope that "Le Diable au Corps" will be released at least with English subs...

[feaito]

I watched the documentary on Gérard Philipe that's included on the DVD release of Fanfan, and an interviewee stated in it that the Nouvelle Vague directors, notably Truffaut, disliked intensely Gérard Philipe and he wondered what would have been of his cinematic career if he had lived (he died in 1959) during the Nouvelle Vague Era. Many Classic French Actors who were not liked by these New Wave directors were out of work. I knew Philipe was a renowned stage actor & one of France's leading stage actors, but anyway I was impressed to know about all the roles he played and his prestigious and illustrious career. I also did not know anything about his well-off background and his political sympathies. A most enlightening and informative mini-documentary.

Today I revisited, thanks to Alison, the delightful comedy with dramatic touches "Tovarich" (1937) with Claudette Colbert and Charles Boyer as impoverished Russian Aristocrats working as servants in the household of the daffy, zany, Bourgeois family of a banker (deftly portrayed by Melville Cooper). I just realized that Isabel Jeans, who played his wife (delightfully indeed) is the same actress who portrayed Gigi's (Leslie Caron) sophisticated courtesan aunt in "Gigi" (1958); she looks so radically different in this comedy. I know that in between both films there are 20 years but everything about her is so different in this film... which demonstrates her skill and talent as an actress, and her ability to get immersed completely in a role. Basil Rathbone, as usual plays a rather charming villain. Utterly entertaining. I checked on imdb and realized that the author of the play upon which the film is based -Jacques Deval- directed a film based upon the same play in 1935 in France.

[Ann Harding]

I checked on imdb and realized that the author of the play upon which the film is based -Jacques Deval- directed a film based upon the same play in 1935 in France.

Oh yes, I've seen this one. It's not as well paced as the American remake, but it contains some great characterizations. Particularly Pierre Renoir as the Soviet commissar: he is much more interesting than Basil Rathbone's monochord villain.

[feaito]

Thanks for that infomation Christine.

[charliechaplinfan]

Feaito, which version of Fanfan le Tulipe carries a documentary on Gerard Philipe? When we were in France last year I made Chris drive me to the village where Philipe was buried, it's a village on a hill above St Tropez, there's nothing grand about his grave, it's in ordinary graveyard, we had to search a bit to find it, I'm glad we did though.

I watched a film you sent me, The Dark Angel with Fredric March, Merle Oberon and Herbert Marshall. I loved this tale of three childhood friends, the two boys knowing that Kitty would marry one of them when she grows up, she choses Allen played by Fredric March but is unable to marry him before he goes back to war. This film has some splendid moments, one of them in the hotel room before Allen departs for war, Kitty and Allen are sat looking out of the window, spending their last moments together before he's called to war. A cousin knows Allen has spent time with a woman before he departs for war, this sparks a misunderstanding that leads to Allen being missing presumed dead. Another of the best scenes in the film is one at the end, it feels a little like An Affair to Remember, the same hoping that everything will turn out all right. The performances of Fredric March and Merle Oberon are so touching they make this film, the art direction is stunning, I really feel like I'm in the country home of the well to do.

[charliechaplinfan]

Having a rest from Bergman this evening I watched Les Enfants Terribles directed by Melville and scripted by Cocteau, the result is as intriguing as it sounds, in small parts it's difficult to watch, very claustrophobic in parts. The story tells of a invalid brother, Paul and his sister, Elisabeth and their complicated realtionship. Elisabeth has to look after him and their mother and after their mother dies they don't leave the house apart from one trip to the seaside, they live in one room together along with a friend Gerard and Agathe who resembles Dargelos a boy at school who threw the snowball at the brother Paul at the beginning of the film, a boy who Paul was enthralled by. In turn he falls in love with Agathe, who in turn loves him but Elisabeth can't bear to have them together and manipulates the situation to drive them apart, in turn her deceipt is discovered. Not a shot is wasted by Melville in this film, it fits so well with the narration by Cocteau and the rather noisy but suitable soundtrack of Bach and Vivaldi.

[feaito]

Feaito, which version of Fanfan le Tulipe carries a documentary on Gerard Philipe? When we were in France last year I made Chris drive me to the village where Philipe was buried, it's a village on a hill above St Tropez, there's nothing grand about his grave, it's in ordinary graveyard, we had to search a bit to find it, I'm glad we did though.

Alison, It's the Criterion Release.

I'm glad you liked the 1935 version of The Dark Angel. The 1925 silent version with Ronald Colman and Vilma Banky is apparently lost.

[feaito]

I watched Billy Wilder's "A Foreign Affair" (1948) and I loved it: Marlene Dietrich, Jean Arthur, John Lund and Millard Mitchell are brilliant in it and the fact that most of the movie was filmed on location was an added asset. A great, absorbing story, a clever script, deft direction, Dietrich's allure, boldness, sexyness, Arthur's sensitivity and skill; John Lund standing hiw own ground aganist these two giants of the Classic Era and Millard Mitchell perfect as the Colonel. Absolutely enjoyable.

[charliechaplinfan]

I just saw your post about A Foreign Affair, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I liked it more than I thought I would, I like the juxtaposition of Jean Arthur and Marlene Dietrich, they worked so well as opposites.


I started watching Andrei Rublev but found it too trying to watch in one go so I went for a nice easy going film and I rewatched I Married a Witch, enjoying it far more the second time round. I just like the whimsy and particularly the ending. I couldn't think of anyone better to be cast as a witch as Veronica Lake in what I believe is her break through role. Fredric March is reliable in support as always, showing that there is no end to his versatility.

[feaito]

I just saw your post about A Foreign Affair, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I liked it more than I thought I would, I like the juxtaposition of Jean Arthur and Marlene Dietrich, they worked so well as opposites.

I agree Alison. The contrast between both actresses is most rewarding to watch! I've read that some critics thought that Dietrich was just playing herself and Arthur was unnerving in her role of a prissy congresswoman and that her transformation by means of "love" was too abrupt and unbelievable, but for humble "me" they were very good in their respective roles and their very distinctive styles. I read in Jean Arthur's biography that they did not get along & that she disliked Dietrich very much, but Dietrich did not think or care much about Jean Arthur. Well what is a star-studded picture without a small feud?

[feaito]

And talking about mutual disliked...what about Fredric March and Veronica Lake. They could not stand each other. Human relationships are so complex and when egos collide.....

[charliechaplinfan]

Ah but they looked so good together and had great chemistry despite their animosity. Jean Arthur and Dietrich are diametrically opposed in the A Foreign Affair so their feud was to the benefit of the film.

[feaito]

You are completely right there.

[feaito]

Not properly a film but the first episode of the miniseries "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" (2010), one of the most preposterous and ludicrous things I have ever seen! I did not have much expectations, but I was really let down. The dialogue and acting amateur, the words used by the characters seem out of place -especially the cursing-, the CGI are too obvious and badly done, the battle scenes are done with abuse of slow-motion and there's blood in excess and mutilations galore, but everything seems totally fake. The fighters look like tough models instead of real gladiators. The women do not look like women from that Era. The abundant sex scenes look like something out of a high-quality porn film, unreal and like if they were choreographied. In all a complete disappointment. I won't continue watching these miniseries. "Rome", although not perfect, was much, much better.