Mildred Pierce

Tags

1940's, Ann Blyth, Drama, Eve Arden, Film Noir, Joan Crawford, Melodrama, Michael Curtiz, Mildred Pierce

Film Title

Mildred Pierce

Director

Michael Curtiz

Cast

• Joan Crawford as Mildred Pierce
• Jack Carson as Wally Fay
• Zachary Scott as Monte Beragon
• Ann Blyth as Veda Pierce
• Eve Arden as Ida Corwin
• Bruce Bennett as Bert Pierce

This film will always be remembered as the film that helped relaunch Joan Crawford’s stalling career, but there is more to this film that at first meets the eye. It is one of the quintessential women’s pictures of the 1940’s that effortlessly blends moments of film noir to heighten its dramatic tale of a mothers self-sacrificing journey to provide for her spoiled daughter. Strikingly photographed, superbly acted and featuring an evocative and intensely dramatic score by Max Steiner, Mildred Pierce is an emotional soap opera that never falls into sentimentality but keeps you glued to the screen as you watch the great Joan Crawford in her excellent comeback role that earned her a Best Actress Oscar.

Mildred Pierce begins with a literal bang, in a classic noir influenced moment. Gun shots ring out as a man clutches his bleeding chest and falls to the floor. Before he dies he breathlessly utters one word “Mildred”. The scene then switches to show the eponymous Mildred, clad in a stunning mink coat and walking a pier, tears beginning to stream down her face. This scene is outstanding as we don’t know whether Mildred has killed the man or not? The audience is unsure of her character at this point as she appears to be the epitome of the femme fatale commonly featured in film noir. We are unsure whether to sympathise with her or loathe her. As the story continues and she is taken into questioning by the police, she begins to narrate her story in flashback up until this point. This is where the film switches gear and examines the dramatic existence of Mildred and how she has changed considerably. She tells of how she slaved away as a waitress before opening a successful chain of restaurants, her sheer determined personality aiding her. Along the way she met rich playboy Monte, who fell for her but used her when he had money trouble. All of the events leading up to Monte’s opening death are influenced by the conniving Veda whose insatiable need for the expensive things drives the story of her determined mother Mildred.

Among the things that drew me to the film was its combination of melodrama with noir, I think this makes for an interesting combination. The performances also drew me in particularly the ones portrayed by Crawford and Blyth. As the determined Mildred, Crawford is outstanding as she embodies this hard-working character who will do anything for her daughter and runs the whole gamut of emotions throughout the movie.Her character is made very believable because of Crawford’s connection with her, many critics have said that Crawford was outstanding in a role when she related to it. I agree with this, but whatever the case Crawford delivers a memorable performance that proved  to Hollywood that she was a force to be reckoned with.  Equally impressive is the young Ann Blyth as the sneering, materialistic and spoilt Veda Pierce. The whole plot is influenced by her expensive needs and desires as Mildred does everything in her power to provide for her. Blyth makes an impressive mark as Veda, imbuing her with an arrogant and snobbish quality that is a clear difference from her self-sacrificing mother. Crawford and Blyth have a natural chemistry that makes their relationship interesting, especially in the moments when Mildred realises how spoilt and down right nasty her daughter really is.

Many would think that with all this highly charged drama there would be no let up. This isn’t the case as there are two characters that lighten up the proceedings. The first is Wally, a man who used to be in business with Mildred’s first husband who also has a soft spot for the eponymous Mildred. He has the most laughs in the film as her romantically chases her.  Jack Carson clearly has a laugh as Wally and his numerous unsuccessful attempts to woo Mildred. The other character is Ida Corwin, the wise cracking friend of Mildred who helped her when she was staring out. Her scenes with customers and lawyers in the restaurant are particularly funny as her dry sense of humour is often mistaken by others. Eve Arden creates a wise-cracking and charming chum that runs parallel with the determined and driven character of  Mildred.

Mildred Pierce can be viewed today as a melodrama that is very believable but also a story of a mother’s love and determination no matter what the cost. Even if old movies aren’t your thing, Mildred Pierce may change your mind with its stellar cast and outstanding production values.

Dangerous Liaisons

Tags

1980's, Dangerous Liaisons, Glenn Close, John Malkovich, Keanu Reeves, Michelle Pfeiffer, Period Drama, Romance, Stephen Frears, Uma Thurman

Film Title

Dangerous Liaisons

Director

Stephen Frears

Cast

• Glenn Close as Marquise de Merteuil
• John Malkovich as Vicomte de Valmont
• Michelle Pfeiffer as Madame de Tourvel
• Swoosie Kurtz as Madame de Volanges
• Keanu Reeves as Le Chevalier Raphael Dancerny
• Mildred Natwick as Madame de Rosemonde
• Uma Thurman as Cecile de Volanges

A lavish and enthralling look at lust, betrayal and revenge, Dangerous Liaisons is brought to the screen with an acerbic wit and a dramatic power by director Stephen Frears and an outstanding screenplay by Christopher Hampton. The film succeeds in that it is splendid and breathtaking to look at, but at the same time compelling because of its decadent ,dramatic story and excellent central performances that dominate the proceedings.

The central plot revolves around Marquise de Mertueil, an aristocratic woman in 18th Century France. To the rest of society she is an intelligent and kind woman, but beneath the mask that she wears so well for the outside world is a cunning, vicious woman who delights in the suffering of others for her own personal enjoyment. Her conspirator is the seductive and cynical Viscomte de Valmont who revels in the plans she concocts up. Their latest scheme involves the ruining of an innocent and virginal young girl named Cecile who is soon to be married to one of the Marquise’s former lovers. If Valmont succeeds in this plan, the Marquise will offer him a personal reward. Valmont has other ideas as he has set himself the more difficult task of seducing the virtuous, convent-bred Madame de Tourvel. Things don’t go to plan however when Valmont unintentionally falls for the unsuspecting Madame.

Despite the film being a period piece, its classic themes of power and love still resonate in the present day. The theme of  differences between men and women in society and in general is carefully examined with an acute and critical eye. A strangely sinister tone lingers over the film as a result of the deceit and mendacity displayed on screen.The costumes and sets are second to none and create a clear and  beautiful evocation of pre-revolution France. Frears takes the audience on an enthralling trip through the various hypocrisies of the upper-class and exposing the evil and deceit beneath the facade.But above all, it is the script and acting that lingers longest in the memory after the credits have finished.

As the Marquise, Glenn Close is delightfully conniving and poisonous. Close oozes with a sinister and tart charm, allowing a sharp intellect and viciousness to be shown. It’s a plum role for an actress who never lets me down and Glenn Close is on fire with an imposing and imperious portrayal that ranks among her best. The chemistry between her and Malkovich is electrifying as well as the numerous quick-witted remarks that fly between them. Malkovich brings a slimy and reptilian quality to the suave Valmont and has one of the most sinister smiles on the screen. Yet vulnerability is there with Malkovich as he grows a spine and experiences love for perhaps the first time, leaving his previous plotting in tatters. But in my opinion, the real standout in the film is Michelle Pfeiffer as the victim in the twisted game and embodiment of grace and purity. Playing a character that could have been uninteresting, Pfeiffer turns this round to create a poignant portrayal of a virtuous and god-fearing woman who’s calm and peaceful resolve is shattered forever with the arrival of Valmont into her life. Her face is used for so many important moments in the film and in each she has an emotional intensity that grips like a powerful vice. Throughout the film each character changes somewhat, but the greatest change is Pfeiffer as Madame De Tourvel who has the biggest challenge of whether to stick to her morals or throw caution to the wind. In an early role, a young Uma Thurman portrays the virginal Cecile, another unwitting pawn in the deceitful game who is ruined by Valmont but becomes very carnal as a result of it. Keanu Reeves appears as another pawn in the deceptive game and is unfortunately not really given a lot to do it must be said .

The best scenes in the movie are the ones in which Merteuil and Valmont devise their deliciously,devious plans. The brittle and caustic dialogue seems to just come natural to each as they carefully decide what pain they will inflict on their chosen victim. The two make for a memorably villainous double act who see life as an arena in which their manipulative psychological games are the main entertainment.

A period piece with a surprisingly contemporary and sexy edge to it, Dangerous Liaisons is a splendor for the eyes in terms of visual design, but a handsomely mounted drama and love story that makes you think.

Chicken Run

Tags

2000's, Chicken Run, Comedy, Imelda Staunton, Jane Horrocks, Julia Sawalha, Mel Gibson, Miranda Richardson, Phil Daniels, stop motion, Timothy Spall

Film title

Chicken Run

Directors

Peter Lord & Nick Park

Voice Cast

• Julia Sawalha as Ginger
• Mel Gibson as Rocky
• Miranda Richardson as Mrs. Tweedy
• Tony Haygarth as Mr. Tweedy
•  Jane Horrocks as Babs
• Imelda Staunton as Bunty
• Lynn Ferguson as Mac
• Benjamin Whitrow as Fowler
• Timothy Spall as Nick
• Phil Daniels as Fetcher

Synopsis: A band of desperate chickens trapped in a prison-like farm, seek the help of a cocky American rooster in order to escape from being made into chicken pies by their sadistic owner and her oafish husband.

A glorious stop-motion send-up to Prisoner of War movies such as “The Great Escape”, Chicken Run possesses something for every one of every age to enjoy. It has the comedy to engage young children but a serious, emotional side that adults can equally relate to. There is humour, pathos and thrilling action sequences that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The stop-motion is just fantastic to look at.

The main aspect I liked about this film was the array of different characters. The film establishes the five man band rule commonly featured in Prison Dramas;

• There is the main focal point and hero Ginger

• The perfect foil to the hero Rocky

• The big guy and local cynic Bunty

• The ditzy chick of the bunch Babs

• The smart one in the form of Scottish Mac

The old school Fowler, who always speaks of his RAF days, acts as a mentor to the other chickens as he introduces discipline to them and eventually comes up with the main method of escape.  

This reminded me of how humans are usually in one way or another put into groups such as this with each individual having a unique or special quality.  I also think that the various nods to POW films are funny and inventive, this is clearly shown in the opening scene in which Ginger and the others attempt another escape at night, only to be thwarted by Tweedy and her two evil dogs.  The scene is a clear homage (and spoof) of “The Great Escape”.

Poultry Prison

Whilst the humour is hysterical throughout the film, there are equally emotional and sad moments as well. The many escape attempts of the chickens make the audience feel sympathy for them. One of the most memorable scenes occurs near the beginning of the film; the chickens have all lined up as the evil Mrs. Tweedy comes to inspect their egg count. The scene is reminiscent of POW films in the set-up of the chickens behind a chain-link fence and being under the rule of another power. The scene is deliberately filmed from low-angle shots to give the sense that Mrs. Tweedy is the one in control and the chickens are cowering beneath her. As she continues to menacingly patrol up and down the lines, she notices on her records a shortage of eggs from a certain chicken named Edwina. The terrified Edwina is then taken away to what all of the chickens refer to as “The Chop”, in other words where they are to be killed. Ginger leaves the line and climbs to the roof of one of the pens. Although we don’t actually see Edwina being killed (we just see the shadow of Tweedy raising the axe), it’s the sad reaction of the other chickens as the thud of the axe comes down that leaves a lump in the throat and a tear in the eye. The scene is further saddened as an upset Ginger watches a flock of birds fly over the fence, symbolizing her desire to escape from the farm and live in freedom.   

Rocky the Rhode Island Red

Despite this, or maybe because of it, Ginger tries to boost morale with another escape attempt, to which the others are not so sure. This leads the way for the arrival of Rocky, a rooster who, unbeknownst to the rest of the chickens, can’t fly but has been blasted from a cannon as part of a circus act. He promises to teach them how to fly but later has a crisis of judgment with himself.  Rocky makes for an interesting character as shown by his brittle arguments with his polar opposite Ginger. He is the perfect foil to the character of Ginger. They are like chalk and cheese in terms of personality.

 Tweedy’s evil plan

One of the most exciting sequences comes after the arrival of the pie machine. Before this, the selfish and heartless Mrs. Tweedy has grown tired of collecting eggs and seeks a new way of making money for herself.  With the machine built, Tweedy wants to test it out and takes Ginger to be the first victim. The reaction of the other chickens as they panic intensely lightens the mood before the action begins. Rocky then decides to rescue her and he silently enters the farm. Ginger is strapped to restraints as the machine starts and edges her closer towards the dropping chute.  The music that underscores this scene adds an adventurous and action-packed feeling. Rocky then finds himself searching for Ginger whilst trying to avoid the various instruments of death such as the roller to flatten the pastry. To slow the machine down, Rocky sticks a carrot into the gravy producer causing the pressure to rise. After finding themselves in the oven, Rocky falls into the pies whilst Ginger manages to find the exit. To stop the exit from closing Ginger uses a spanner to wedge it open; she then goes back and manages to save Rocky just in the nick of time.  After escaping from the machine they find a poster of Mrs. Tweedy’s chicken pies and decide to show the other chickens what she is up to.

Rocky becomes a hero

The scene changes how Ginger sees Rocky as a character. Before this she sees him as being arrogant, but after saving her she starts to see him as a hero and takes a shine to him. This is also when Rocky begins to feel like a fraud and starts to feel for the other chickens. This is especially evident after Fowler, who originally looked at Rocky with a disdainful eye, gives him a medal of honour for his rescue of Ginger. After this, Rocky decides to run away, this is a move that upsets the chickens, as they all believed he was the answer to their prayers. Fowler non-intentionally gives them an escape idea of building a crate to fly out of the farm.  They work against the clock to build it whilst Mr. Tweedy attempts to repair the machine for his merciless wife. In this quest, they are aided by two sticky-fingered rats known appropriately as Nick and Fetcher, who provide some great comic scenes.  As they attempt to fly away, Tweedy tries to thwart the plan but Rocky heroically returns and aids them.  By doing this, Rocky has gone from being the anti-hero to the hero.  A nail-biting climax follows as a demented and evil Tweedy again tries to cut off the escape plan in psychopathic fashion.

If you are looking for a film that has laughs, sadness and glorious effects then “Chicken Run” is the film I would advice you watch. This film will seriously make you reconsider eating chicken pie ever again.

All About Eve

Tags

1950's, All About Eve, Anne Baxter, Bette Davis, Celeste Holm, Drama, George Sanders, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Thelma Ritter

 

Film Title

All About Eve

 Director

 Joseph L. Mankiewicz

Cast

• Bette Davis as Margo Channing
• Anne Baxter as Eve Harrington
• George Sanders as Addison DeWitt
• Celeste Holm as Karen Richards
• Gary Merrill as Bill Sampson
• Hugh Marlowe as Lloyd Richards
• Thelma Ritter as Birdie Coonan

Synopsis: A young, scheming and manipulative ingenue insidiously worms her way into her theatre idol’s social circle, armed with a cunning plan to replace her and take her acting crown from her.

All About Eve is the ultimate backstage drama, brimming with acerbic wit and as many quotable lines as that great playwright Shakespeare.  Starring the legendary Bette Davis in a role that fits her just like a glove, All about Eve is one of the most critical, wittiest and darkest insights into the word of show business and the ways in which you can become famous in an underhand way.

Flashbacks of a fake

The film begins with a scene of the theatre awards. As the camera pans around the room, the theatre critic Addison DeWitt delivers a knowing voice over that explains something about each of the principal characters that will appear in the film. This also gives an insight into his own character as he has a suave and slightly haughty voice.  When his voice over finishes, an award is presented to the eponymous Eve. As she accepts the award with an innocent and girlish bow, the film freezes and everyone else’s reaction to her acceptance is shown, mostly with a hint of disdain. The film then goes to a flashback to explain how the seemingly innocent and graceful Eve managed to accomplish this high and extremely prestigious honour.  This is one of my favourite scenes in the movie, as I like how the story starts at the end and then goes back to the beginning to explain what is happening in the present. The way in which the camera moves about the room as Addison gives his blunt view on each of the important characters is amazing.  The audience sees what Addison wants us to see and they see the characters from his viewpoint, as we don’t know anything about them except what Addison is telling us.

Margo’s monologue

But one of the best and most memorable moments in the film comes when after her car breaks down and she can’t make it to the theatre to perform, Margo opens up to Karen about herself and how insecure and full of doubt she is. I find this moment very reflective, as the character of Margo comes across as she does on the stage, perfect and outstanding.  Although she can be bitchy and defensive, beneath this façade she has the same troubles as everyone else. Her monologue is amazing in its honesty and shows her vulnerable side that she has hidden away from others to survive in the theatre industry. Her whole life is the theatre and she knows that she isn’t going to be young forever, so this adds to the melancholy tone of her monologue.  The last lines of her self-reflective monologue are especially revelatory of how much the theatre means to her, “Slow Curtain . The end”. This is clearly referencing the end of traditional plays or motion pictures.

Backstage bickering

One of the main aspects of the film that makes it so memorable is its caustic and witty screenplay. I especially love the part in which at a party Margo, who is starting to grow suspicious of Eve, delivers the now famous lines to her guests “Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy night”.  This kind of cynical wordplay is heard throughout the film; it also helps make a satire out of the various unjust ways of becoming a star. The biting bitchery and numerous barbed exchanges between the characters in the film are just fantastic to watch.

Identity theft- theatrical style

The theme of identity is apparent in many ways throughout the movie. Eve makes numerous attempts to take Margo’s place as the queen of the theatre. She is her obsessive number one fan who will stop at nothing to become a star.  She is basically trying to take Margo’s theatrical crown. Eve will stop at nothing to become a star and she knows exactly how to get it.

The deceptive identity of Eve

Also, the ways in which Margo’s friends perceive Eve.  She is deceitful and ruthless but comes across as an adoring and naive young woman.  There are only two people who see through Eve’s lies at the beginning of the film, Addison and Birdie.  Later on in the movie, the others begin to see the real Eve behind the mask of innocence and how she has used them for her own personal gain.

The performances are uniformly excellent, especially those of Bette Davis and Anne Baxter. I find it interesting that one character is eventually getting older and her career is fading while the other is very youthful and her career is just about to begin. The eponymous Eve appears to have had a hard life and be a sweet and naive girl but her real motives are to become a big star no matter what the cost. Baxter brings a girlish charm to the conniving and cunning character of Eve, a trait that helps her character infiltrate her idol’s social posse with a charming and shy disposition. Thelma Ritter lights up the supporting cast and provides the cynical humour as Margo’s assistant, Birdie. Her clipped reply to Eve’s sob story when she meets Margo “What a story!  Everything but the bloodhounds snapping at her rear end” provides a knowing quality to her, as she is the first to see through the young fan’s deception. Celeste Holm is glowing as the woman taken in by Eve, but ultimately used by her without her noticing.

Out of the few men in the film, George Sanders as the poisonous critic Addison stands out. He is pitch perfect as the caddish and dishonest critic who also sees through Eve’s sly deception but helps her ultimately become a star.

Even if you don’t like old movies, one cannot resist the charm and brutal wit in All About Eve.  If you want to watch a film with fantastic dialogue and equally outstanding performances, All About Eve is definitely the film for you.  Movie trivia buffs should look out for a cameo featuring Marilyn Monroe in one of her first movie roles.

Judgment at Nuremberg

Tags

1960's, Burt Lancaster, Courtroom Drama, Judgment at Nuremberg, Judy Garland, Marlene Dietrich, Maximilian Schell, Montgomery Clift, Nuremberg, Nuremberg Trials, Richard Widmark, Spencer Tracy, Stanley Kramer

Film Title

Judgment at Nuremberg

Director

Stanley Kramer

Cast

• Spencer Tracy as Judge Dan Haywood
• Burt Lancaster as Ernst Janning
• Richard Widmark as Colonel Tad Lawson
• Marlene Dietrich as Madame Bertholt
• Maximilian Schell as Hans Rolfe
• Judy Garland as Irene Hoffman Wallner
• Montgomery Clift as Rudolph Peterson
• Werner Klemperer as Emil Hahn

Synopsis: At the end of World War II, a New England judge is sent to Nuremberg,Germany to preside over the trial of four men accused of carrying out Nazi crimes.

Judgment at Nuremberg is the riveting, shocking and powerful courtroom drama that presents a fictional account of one of the many Nuremberg trials. Stanley Kramer, who was known and sometimes decried for his so-called message movies, proved that he could direct a film with real meaning and careful handling of an extremely controversial issue with this film that was nominated for eleven Oscars. The film won two, one for Best Actor for the then unknown Schell and one for Abby Mann’s script. As director and also producer Kramer assembled a once in a lifetime cast headed by Spencer Tracy; no matter how big or small the role is in the movie each actor brings something special to the part.

What I liked most about the film was the way in which it presented a controversial issue and didn’t leave out anything important or cover it up. Whereas some courtroom dramas can drag on and become monotonous, Judgment at Nuremberg kept me glued to the screen throughout its lengthy running time.

Courageous Cameos

One of the most important things that drew me into the film was the various performances. For a movie with a starry cast it didn’t relegate anyone to the side lines but let each member give something unique to the film. In a performance that lasts for around ten minutes, a barely recognizable Judy Garland gives an emotional and heart wrenching weight to the film as Irene Hoffman, a German woman whose friendship with a Jewish man had her imprisoned and him murdered.  The moment, in which she breaks down after being intensely questioned during the proceedings, is sad to watch, one needs only to look at her eyes to see the pain it is causing her.

Montgomery Clift also gives an equally harrowing and poignant performance as Rudolph Peterson; a man considered feeble-minded who was sterilised for this reason by the Nazis. When I viewed the scene in which Clift nervously recounts what happened to him, and vehemently tries to deny that he is not feeble-minded, I was shocked and repulsed at how things such as this could have happened to people.

 Opposing Views

Another aspect of the film that I found interesting was the clear difference of the two men in charge of the proceedings, the American Colonel Lawson and the German Hans Rolfe. One of them wants every Nazi to pay for what they did while the other says that the men accused were merely following the orders given to them.  This presents an interesting point as there are no easily identifiable bad guys in the film and the proceedings that follow are enthralling because of this.  Both Widmark and Schell are outstanding as polar opposites who often verbally clash during the Trials. Marlene Dietrich is also outstanding and convincing in a role not usually associated with her; her general role was as the femme fatale or the seductive cabaret girl. But in this film she portrays a German widow whose Nazi husband was killed during another trial. I think her character is interesting as she is the flip side of what people saw at the time as the stereotype of German people and she tries to convince Judge Haywood that Germans are not all monsters. Although he doesn’t talk a lot in the film (except his two highly dramatic monologues) Burt Lancaster is amazing and barely recognizable as one of the four men accused of carrying out the atrocities. Star Trek fans should look out for William Shatner in a small early role as a captain.

Stereotypes and Identity

Nuremberg investigates the theme of national identity. At the time of the film’s release, German’s where not seen in a good light. This is why the character of Madame Bertholt is featured in the film. She is there to show that not all German’s believed in Nazism during the World War.

Identity is also apparent throughout the court proceedings, it is examined in the case of Irene’s friendship with a Jewish man that had tragic and horrific consequences. The court looks at the way in which Jew’s were treated during the Holocaust.

The horror of the Concentration Camps

The main scene that has stayed with me is when Lawson shows real footage from concentration camps as evidence in the court proceedings; it is a haunting and extremely dramatic scene that lives long in the memory.  Up until this point in time, hardly any footage from the Camps had been shown, so one can imagine the audience reaction when the film was shown in 1961.  I remember how shocked I felt when I watched this scene; it was one of those moments where something is so shocking that you must continue watching it. I thought that it was a bold and brave move to feature this footage as the Nuremberg Trials and the Holocaust where issues that needed to be addressed. The film didn’t shy away from dealing with the issue honestly and the results are fantastic and extremely realistic.

The real star though for me is Tracy, he brings a dignity to the character of Judge Haywood who the burden of the case lies on.Tracy brings his usual understated personality to the part and he is the person who is most conflicted throughout the proceedings. In the end the difficult decision falls upon his old and wise shoulders.

Judgment at Nuremberg is a fantastic courtroom drama that deserves to be better known. This film is a prime example of how a drama about a serious issue can still be enthralling and thought-provoking without being boring.