Re: CHARLES BOYER
Posted: March 16th, 2012, 7:03 pm
Dear Ali,
Thanks for bringing up "The Magnificent Lie" (1931), a film I've been curious about for years and years, being one of the few films Ruth Chatterton starred in in her short film career and also being Boyer's first English-Language film. I watched it today on youtube and I liked it very much. I think that Ruth Chatterton's performance is pretty good and fresh, spirited and displays lots of humor. Ralph Bellamy is fine as the ex-soldier suffering from poor eyesight (and later....) due to shell-shock in WWI. It's also one of the few opportunities to watch the lovely Françoise Rosay in her prime in a Hollywood film; she's fine as the Theatre Diva. It's good to see Boyer playing and oily character for a change (he played another one in "Le Capitaine Fracasse" as I seem to recall?) and yes, apparently he's not wearing a toupee in this film so he looks with less hair than usual... The film is directed by Berthold Viertel, Salka's husband (who was Greta Garbo's friend and played Marie Dressler's role in the German version of "Anna Christie" (1930) and also scripted some of her films...) As far as I remember they were Peter Viertel's parents, who married Deborah Kerr.
I'd love to see Viertel's "The Man from Yesterday" (1932) in which Boyer has a bigger role opposite Claudette Colbert and Clive Brook; I've read it's a very good film.
Finally I have to say that I'm always in awe of Theresa's ability to write and put down so well her diverse opinions in relation to everything...You are so witty and cultured Theresa, when I read your essays I feel so "basic", truly. God Bless You. And Mesdames Moira, Alison, Christine, Paula, Lynn, April, Nancy, Wendy.... are in that category too. It is a pleasure to read your thoughtful, well-written posts and your witty exchanges...You make me realize that women are superior to us men in that league![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
Thanks for bringing up "The Magnificent Lie" (1931), a film I've been curious about for years and years, being one of the few films Ruth Chatterton starred in in her short film career and also being Boyer's first English-Language film. I watched it today on youtube and I liked it very much. I think that Ruth Chatterton's performance is pretty good and fresh, spirited and displays lots of humor. Ralph Bellamy is fine as the ex-soldier suffering from poor eyesight (and later....) due to shell-shock in WWI. It's also one of the few opportunities to watch the lovely Françoise Rosay in her prime in a Hollywood film; she's fine as the Theatre Diva. It's good to see Boyer playing and oily character for a change (he played another one in "Le Capitaine Fracasse" as I seem to recall?) and yes, apparently he's not wearing a toupee in this film so he looks with less hair than usual... The film is directed by Berthold Viertel, Salka's husband (who was Greta Garbo's friend and played Marie Dressler's role in the German version of "Anna Christie" (1930) and also scripted some of her films...) As far as I remember they were Peter Viertel's parents, who married Deborah Kerr.
I'd love to see Viertel's "The Man from Yesterday" (1932) in which Boyer has a bigger role opposite Claudette Colbert and Clive Brook; I've read it's a very good film.
Finally I have to say that I'm always in awe of Theresa's ability to write and put down so well her diverse opinions in relation to everything...You are so witty and cultured Theresa, when I read your essays I feel so "basic", truly. God Bless You. And Mesdames Moira, Alison, Christine, Paula, Lynn, April, Nancy, Wendy.... are in that category too. It is a pleasure to read your thoughtful, well-written posts and your witty exchanges...You make me realize that women are superior to us men in that league
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)