voteforgracie-IBTimes-India

1. Sense and Sensibility (Ang Lee, 1995)
How can you dislike a film involving Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, and Hugh Laurie as they put their superpower rings together to create the best Austen film I have seen? No, it is not the most faithful of adaptations, and yes, Thompson was too old for the part (though they did change the age of Elinor Dashwood to late 20s, meaning that she was still too old) but after spending years of labor and love on the screenplay for the film it is crystal clear that she had such an understanding of the character and for me this absolutely shines through. It should be noted that I am biased, as I will defend Greer Garson's Elizabeth Bennett until my dying day. Ang Lee's direction is very understated and I love that, as with his best known work Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, nature has a harmonious place in the world of the Dashwoods. It's also fun to see Hugh Grant playing something other than the cad.

2. High Noon(Fred Zinnemann, 1952)

3. Network (Sidney Lumet, 1976)
I don't think I ever completely appreciated William Holden's talent as an actor until I saw this film. Without a doubt this is one of the greatest films of all time, one of the greatest screenplays of all time, and I wish that in such a time of unrest we would revert to smart, gritty films of the 70s instead of pretty colors and compositions with little substance. This film also proved that Faye Dunaway was an excellent actress, beret or no beret. Watch for Cindy Grover's one big scene as William Holden's wife, it will absolutely take your breath away. This film is a must watch, and is especially frightening in its very accurate prediction of the takeover of reality television, the continued downsizing of the individual, and how ratings and mindlessness have taken over popular culture and our society.

By tomorrow, he'll have a 50 share, maybe even a 60. Howard Beale is processed instant God, and right now, it looks like he may just go over bigger than Mary Tyler Moore.

4. When Harry Met Sally (Rob Reiner, 1989)
For me this film is a perfect example of a script making all the difference in a film. I've never been a big Meg Ryan fan (Billy Crystal is always fantastic in my book) and there's nothing all that artistic about the filmmaking, but I think that's because Rob Reiner knew it was all about the relationship between these two characters and not any weird camera angle he could come up with. It is a chick flick but the well structured, incredibly well written script elevates this film to its standing as one of the greatest romantic films of all time.

The fact that you're not answering leads me to believe you're either (a) not at home, (b) home but don't want to talk to me, or (c) home, desperately want to talk to me, but trapped under something heavy. If it's either (a) or (c), please call me back.

5. The Nightmare Before Christmas (Henry Selick, 1993)
I have a special place in my heart for animated films (and Tim Burton), and paired with a catchy musical score and unique premise I found this film irresistible. Not only does it mix together two of my favorite holidays, it has a rather gothic style all its own that is a feast for the eyes and walks an interesting line between the darkness of its design and the lightheartedness of its premise and plot. Great for kids but still enjoyable for adults.

You know, I think this Christmas thing is not as tricky as it seems! But why should they have all the fun? It should belong to anyone! Not anyone, in fact, but me! Why, I could make a Christmas tree! And there's not a reason I can find, I couldn't have a Christmastime! I bet I could improve it, too! And that's exactly what I'll do!

I hardly ever remember celebrity birthdays, and wouldn't have without glancing at Lolita's page, but because I now know, and because I always seem to be up for gushing about Barbara Stanwyck, here we be. If you want to look at some amazing scans, The Classic Maiden has aplenty for the occasion (her stanwyck collection is a sight to see).

Note: Instead of being a day late and a dollar short as is my usual custom, I choose to be the day early bird that catches the worm because the day of I will be at work, and tomorrow evening (yes, I openly admit it) I'm seeing the Harry Potter Movie.

I imagine the abridged version of Barbara's life would read something like this:

Barbara Stanwyck was born Ruby Catherine B.A.M.F in training tough as nails will cut you like the Queen Stevens (you can see why they changed it) July 16th in Brooklyn, NY 102 years ago, and I imagine if she had it her way she would still be working. Smoking kills, kids. She was the consummate professional, and garnered tremendous amounts of praise from practically everyone she worked with. There were no "you rock, don't ever change" remarks made in her acting yearbook, but a verifiable love fest as gathered together by Ella Smith in her book Starring Miss Barbara Stanwyck. In a special on the making of The Thorn Birds, Richard Chamberlain said that she was everything that you have ever heard about her and more. He then went on to say how honored he was that he seemingly turned the old girl on in his nude scene and laughed in a really creepy way, but I digress.

Though she is best known for her performance as that femme fatale of all femme fatales Phyllis Dietrichson in Double Indemnity, or even for her role as Victoria Barkley on the tv western The Big Valley (and I adore both), for me Babs was at her best in comedy.

My Favorite Babs Performances:

1. Ball of Fire (1941): It's just pure 40s fun and was the film that made me a fan. It features a host of fantastic character actors, and babs and gary cooper are adorable.
   
2. The Lady Eve (1941): A Preston Sturges classic. I think these two scenes speak for themselves.
   
3. Baby Face (1933): In this racy pre-code Babs quite litereally sleeps her way to the top of an established bank. Ohh the censors had trouble my friends. Right there in New York City.
   
4. Clash By Night (1952): Babs in all of her melodramatic glory (and an early performance of Marilyn Monroe). Pure 50s angst.
   
5. Lady of Burlesque (1943): How can you hate a ridiculous B movie based on a book by Gypsy Rose Lee called The G-String Murders? And if I can do splits and cartwheels when I'm 36 I'll be in pretty good shape.
   

Honorable Mentions: Titanic (1953) and any of her work with Frank Capra from The Miracle Woman (1931) and The Bitter Tea of Genera Yen (1933), two startlingly gritty Capra before Capra pictures, to her later work in Meet John Doe (1941). Basically I've never run into a Stanwyck film I didn't like. Well, except for The Bride Walks Out, which I wish I could kick in the teeth.

Much as I love Meryl Streep, Bette Davis and Katharine Hepburn, she definitely has my vote for best actress of our time.

"Barbara Stanwyck, who lives for today and tomorrow and only seldom for yesterday, did, however, sit up late one night talking with me about her childhood. And some of the things she said are now permanently etched in my memory."

I cannot recall, Shirley," she said, "ever hearing anyone say to me as a child, 'I love you!'" Barbara spoke of having no memories of her father or mother, since both had died soon after she was born. "I tell you this," she continued, "only to make you aware of how fortunate you are to have been surrounded by so much love all your life. Both your parents who love you are still alive. You have your husband, your two children, and even members of your husband's family who adore you."

But I'm grateful for what I do have. Every night before i go to sleep I thank God for what he has given me. When I awake each morning I again thank God for being here this day."

Barbara Stanwyck, that night, made me totally aware of how lucky I have been all my life. Until she underlined everything, I now know I had been taking all those blessings for granted."

-Shirley Eder

(scanned by me)

As someone who hates most of the horror genre, specifically many of the recent films of the mindless slasher, torture porn variety, it is very rare that I come away from a film that truly chills me to the bone. It is also strange that this should happen twice in once week with British director Jack Clayton's The Innocents (1961) and Charles Laughton's one hit wonder The Night of the Hunter (1955). Both in my opinion are film masterpieces that deal with the corruption of children, utilizing every aspect of filmmaking from manipulations of sound, light, music, composition, and performance in a skillful manner.

The Innocents is the story of an English governess (Miss Giddens), played by the legendary Deborah Kerr, who takes a post as caretaker for two children living in their uncle's mansion in the english countryside. As with many horror films looks are deceiving, and the fairytale grounds and darling children, Flora (Pamela Franklin) and Miles (Martin Stephens) become grotesque when Miss Giddens suspects that they are being controlled by their former governess and her lover who want to enter the children's bodies to continue their affair in the flesh. Giddens finds out that the two were not careful about their relationship, potentially corrupting the children even if no witchery is involved. Everything the children do appears sinister and adult as she takes up the crusade for their souls. In the end it remains unclear whether Miss Giddens has simply gone mad or the children are truly possessed.

Deborah Kerr was a perfect choice for the sexually repressed English governess who becomes increasingly paranoid and unstrung as the film progresses. She combined her ability to play the perfect, proper lady with a vulnerability and sensuality that created a very unsettling effect in her scenes with young Miles (Martin Stephens) who became a man child that seemed to view Miss Giddens as his lover rather than his governess. In an extremely creepy scene, one that gave 20th Century Fox pause 50 years ago and still resonates today, Miles kisses Miss Giddens goodnight on the mouth in a way that a child would and should not kiss a woman, leaving Giddens speechless and frightened. Though the children are potentially corrupted in the film, Jack Clayton kept the real children innocent by never showing them the script in its entirety. The cast is excellent across the board, with two of the finest children's performances I have ever seen.

Also of great note in the film is the art direction and work of cinematographer Freddie Francis in creating the perfect gothic nightmare, from the bright, airy beginnings and beautiful grounds of the house, to the more odd and unsettling compositions as Giddens suspicions arise, to the increasingly claustraphobic end and denoument.

What I love about this film is the fact that, as is the case with a more recent and equally brilliant horror film El Orfanato (Juan Antonio Bayona, 2007) the viewer is left to decide if they want to view the film on a completely supernatural or completely realisitic level, with evidence to support either theory. But even if the viewer decides that ghosts have really taken over the children, the real and terrifying prospect of how adult behavior can harm an impressionable child is ever real and present.

Stay tuned for pt 2 (The Night of the Hunter)

Ok, I admit it. Even though I knew it was silly and childish, for a long time I was biased against Deborah Kerr. It had nothing to do with her acting ability (though she did seem a bit stuffy to me, having only watched The King and I) but because of my allegiance to another one of my personal favorites, Irene Dunne. Yes, deep down I knew that Deborah couldn't have done this intentionally, but I still find it incredibly bizarre that two of Irene's films were remade into film classics starring Deborah Kerr, practically leaving the legacy of Dunne in the dust.

Let's look at the facts. Irene Dunne starred in 1939's Love Affair. The famous remake, starring Deborah Kerr? An Affair to Remember. Dunne then starred in Anna and the King of Siam. The famous remake/musical reinvention, starring Deborah Kerr? The King and I.

I still call conspiracy.

The winds began to change a few weeks ago when I watched The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp from one of my favorite film teamings, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger (who are also behind one of my favorite films, The Red Shoes). In the film she portrays three different women, from a turn of the (20th) century Englishwoman who marries Clive Candy's German best friend played by Anton Walbrook, to Clive Candy's young wife who happens to look exactly like the love he lost to his best friend (shocker), to Clive Candy's WWII chauffer who also looks remarkably like his deceased wife who looked remarkably like his long lost love (but who's on first?).

This was the gateway drug, which led to a Kerr movie marathon yesterday that involved The Night of the Iguana, From Here to Eternity, and The Innocents.

After viewing these films it became clear that Kerr was a far better actress than I ever gave her credit for, and than history largely gives her credit for as the prim English rose. She's another one of those actresses, right up there with one of my other favorites, Barbara Stanwyck, who knows how to act with her eyes. But unlike Barbara, she can go from proper lady to nymphomaniac in less than 60 seconds, and leap tall buildings in a single bound (where Myrna Loy would kill villains with her stare reserved for bigots and conservatives, and Babs...Babs would just cut them. Brooklyn style).

So my apologies to you, Deborah Kerr, if you can hear me at that tea party in the sky (that is always held promptly at 4pm, because I'm sure Greer Garson says so).

Coming Soon: A review of The Innocents, and my adventures in Hollywoodland if I ever remember to upload my pictures.

Just wanted to write a quick note wishing everyone in the states a happy 4th! Today should be an exciting, or at the very least an interesting day, because for the first time in all the years I have lived adjacent to the nation's capital I am going to attempt to watch the concert at the capitol and fireworks on the mall with some friends. So here's to a day of jostling crowds, security checks, bugs, excessive amounts of sun screen, the potentiality that we may get there too late to find a good spot, and what will hopefully be a great adventure.

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