FilmFanatic.org

Synopsis:
A shell-shocked veteran (Robert Ryan) engaged to a local girl (Nan Leslie) falls for the seductive wife (Joan Bennett) of a recently blinded painter (Charles Bickford). Soon Ryan becomes convinced that Bickford isn’t really blind, and sets out to prove this to Bennett.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Blindness
• Charles Bickford Films
• Femmes Fatales
• Jean Renoir Films
• Joan Bennett Films
• Love Triangle
• Robert Ryan Films

Review:
Jean Renoir was forced to drastically edit Woman on the Beach, his final American film; the result is an atmospheric yet narratively flawed noir romance. As many have noted, there’s (sadly) potential here for something much greater, with Bennett and Ryan giving particularly noteworthy performances as the would-be lovers; but the script fails them (and us) by neglecting to elaborate upon either’s motivations. With that said, Renoir’s unique directorial touch remains a pleasure to watch, and there are several powerful moments scattered throughout the film: Ryan leading Bickford along the cliffs in an attempt to prove that he isn’t really blind; Ryan and Bennett viewing Bickford’s approach through the porthole of an abandoned ship; Bickford and Bennett discussing their enduring — if dysfunctional — love for each other. It’s too bad that none of the edited footage from this overly-short 70-minute film remains, because a reconstruction of Renoir’s original vision seems in order.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

• Joan Bennett as the seductive femme fatale
  
• Robert Ryan as the smitten veteran
  
• Creative direction, heightening the love triangle tensions
  

Must See?
No, but it’s recommended for noir fans.

Links:

• IMDb entry
• NY Times Original Review
• TCM Article
• Time Out Capsule Review

Synopsis:
A naive American hitchhiker (Sydne Rome) is sexually humiliated by the denizens of a warped Italian villa, including an ex-pimp (Marcello Mastroianni) and a dying millionaire (Hugh Griffith).

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Black Comedy
• Dumb Blondes
• Hugh Griffith Films
• Living Nightmare
• Marcello Mastroianni Films
• Roman Polanski Films

Review:
This hideously awful “black comedy” by Roman Polanski possesses almost no redeeming qualities: it’s sexist, dull, offensive, and poorly acted. Although some have described What? as a variant on “Alice in Wonderland”, the comparison is unmerited: while Carroll’s pre-pubescent Alice experiences humorously bizarre encounters with creatures from alternate universes, Rome is simply preyed upon by countless lechers; but, since she’s a prototypical “dumb blonde” hippie, she gives in rather than fighting back, and thus we have almost no sympathy for her. When she inexplicably starts experiencing “deja vu” — and we’re forced to watch some of the same exact scenarios all over again — it’s literally painful. Perhaps most upsetting of all is how gorgeous Polanski’s production values and settings are, as always — what a waste!

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

• The beautiful Italian setting
  

Must See?
No. Film fanatics shouldn’t have to suffer through Polanski’s mistakes.

Links:

• IMDb entry
• The Onion A.V. Club “My Year of Flops” Review
• Cinematic Threads Capsule Review
• Four Word Film Reviews
• Time Out Capsule Review

Synopsis:
After accidentally hitting a bicyclist with their car, a wealthy married woman (Lucia Bose) and her lover (Alberto Closas) flee the scene of the accident. When a blackmailer named Rafa (Carlos Casaravilla) threatens to tell the woman’s husband (Otello Toso) that he has seen her with Closas, they fear he has witnessed their crime.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Blackmail
• Catalysts
• Guilt
• Infidelity
• Spanish Films

Review:
Death of a Cyclist — the best-known film by Spanish director Juan Antonio Bardem (uncle of actor Javier Bardem) — opens with the tragic titular event, which forces two complacent lovers to question the ultimate survival of their affair. Meanwhile, the weaselly Rafa represents a generalized malevolence towards the bourgeoise; his character — almost a caricature, but an effective one — wants nothing more than to get revenge against what he views as a privileged, careless class. Though a subplot revolving around Closas’ increasingly threatened position as a university professor doesn’t always ring true, it helps moves the plot along to its tragic ending. The final scene is especially poignant — you’ll find yourself muttering “touche” in admiration.

Note: Cyclist won raves at the Cannes International Film Festival, but was inexplicably panned by New York Times reviewer Bosley Crowther upon its American release.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

• Luminous cinematography
  
• Judicious use of editing and close-ups to create emotional tension
  
• Carlos Casaravilla — who looks and acts uncannily like Peter Lorre — as the creepy blackmailer
  

Must See?
Yes. This powerful story of guilt and infidelity should be seen by all film fanatics.

Categories

• Foreign Gem

Links:

• IMDb entry
• NY Times Original Review
• TCM Article

Synopsis:
When a mother (Joan Bennett) mistakenly believes that her teenage daughter (Geraldine Brooks) has killed her lover (Shepperd Strudwick), she hides the body in a “reckless moment” of panic. Soon, however, Bennett is approached by a blackmailer (James Mason) who demands $5,000 in exchange for letters connecting her daughter to the dead man .

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Blackmail
• Hiding Dead Bodies
• James Mason Films
• Joan Bennett Films
• Max Ophuls Films
• Suffering Mothers

Review:
The Reckless Moment was Max Ophuls’ fourth and final American film, and shows clear evidence of his distinctive style (note the classic Ophuls “sweeping shot” as Bennett ascends the staircase in her home). It’s a gritty, fast-moving thriller with effectively stark noir cinematography and good use of outdoor locales. Bennett (who, with her sunglasses on, looks for all the world like Myrna Loy):

… makes a strong lead, and it’s refreshing to see her playing a self-sufficient mother. The film’s primary problem lies in its script, which neglects to adequately explain the motivations behind Mason’s immediate infatuation with Bennett — he’s an intriguing character, and we want to know more about him.

Note: The Reckless Moment gained renewed attention in 2001 when it was updated with Tilda Swinton in Bennett’s role, and renamed The Deep End.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

• Joan Bennett as the determined mother
  
• Effectively atmospheric cinematography
  
  
• Good use of outdoor locales
  

Must See?
No, but it’s recommended.

(Listed in 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die)

Links:

• IMDb entry
• NY Times Original Review
• Time Out Capsule Review (spoilers warning)

Synopsis:
An ambitious young lawyer (Bradford Dillman) in love with the wife (Juliette Greco) of his renowned mentor (Orson Welles) defends a lower-class woman (also Greco) accused of killing the father (also Welles) of her children in order to marry her younger lover (also Dillman).

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Courtroom Drama
• Infidelity
• Lawyers
• Love Triangle
• Murder Mystery
• Richard Fleischer Films

Review:
This melodramatic courtroom thriller is primarily notable for its gimmicky use of lead actors in dual roles. Director Richard Fleischer tries hard to make an overt comparison between the two parallel love triangles, ostensibly to demonstrate that class is irrelevant (who knew?!) when it comes to deception and matters of the heart. But ultimately this cinematic device is more distracting than revealing; when listening to Dillman’s lawyer commenting glibly to his lover that her lower-class counterpoint “isn’t pretty”, or upper-class Greco reacting with horror upon hearing that her lower-class doppelganger has carved up Welles’ body, one simply wants to groan. Crack in the Mirror is partially redeemed by its performances — Juliette Greco in particular is a joy to watch, and Welles’ final courtroom speech is stunning — but the clunky script makes it more frustrating than thrilling.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

• Juliette Greco as Eponine
  
• Orson Welles as Lamerciere
  

Must See?
No. This melodramatic murder mystery is a minor disappointment.

Links:

• IMDb entry
• NY Times Original Review

Synopsis:
A detective (Yves Montand) in Paris investigates the murder of a beautiful young woman (Pascale Roberts) on a train.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Costa-Gavras Films
• Detectives and Private Eyes
• Murder Mystery
• Simone Signoret Films

Review:
This fast-paced murder mystery was Greek director Costa-Gavras’ only stab at “pure entertainment” films before turning to political thrillers such as Z (1969), State of Siege (1973), and Missing (1982). While Murders garnered raves from critics upon its release, but it hasn’t aged well. The film’s two ostensible leads — Catherine Allegret (Simone Signoret’s real-life daughter) and Jacques Perrin as young lovers who meet on the train — are annoying:

… and while Signoret provides some moments of campy enjoyment as a self-absorbed actress, she (along with nearly everyone else) is too quickly killed off. To its credit, The Sleeping Car Murders does keep one continually guessing as to the identity of the killer — but the ultimate resolution of this mystery is unsatisfactory, and the plot has become so convoluted by this point that it’s hard to care.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

• Simone Signoret as an aging actress
  

Must See?
No. Though it holds some historical interest as Costa-Gavras’ directorial debut, this is not “must see” viewing.

Links:

• IMDb entry
• Time Out Capsule Review

Synopsis:
An Australian boy (Simon Burke) comes of age at a Catholic boarding school in the 1950s.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Australian Films
• Boarding School
• Coming-of-Age
• Fred Schepisi Films
• Priests and Ministers
• Sexuality

Review:
This episodic coming-of-age tale by Australian director Fred Schepisi is inaccurately marketed as a sensationalized tale of sexuality — indeed, one DVD cover features a strategically-chosen, non-representative still which immediately evokes the threat of pedophilia.

In actuality, this subject is never dealt with; instead, the priests in Devil’s Playground are portrayed as well-meaning, eminently human, and (for the most part) kind. (One particularly surprising scene shows two priests out on the town, tempted to pick up women they meet at a bar).

While the narrative in The Devil’s Playground is concerned with sexuality — as is nearly every movie about adolescence — its portrayal is honest and multi-faceted rather than prurient. This remains a worthy entry in the vast coming-of-age genre.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

• Simon Burke’s appealing, natural performance
  
• A refreshingly humanizing look at priests
  
• A sensitive portrayal of male adolescence and sexuality
  
• Fine period detail
  

Must See?
No, but it’s recommended.

Links:

• IMDb entry
• NY Times Original Review

Synopsis:
A union representative (Doris Day) at a pajama factory falls in love with its new superintendent (John Raitt), but clashes with him over an imminent strike.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Corruption
• Doris Day Films
• Labor Movements
• Musicals
• Romance
• Stanley Donen Films
• Workplace Drama

Review:
This technicolor Doris Day musical is most notable as one of choreographer Bob Fosse’s earliest cinematic efforts, and the dancing is indeed distinctive. Unfortunately, however, the story itself — about romance amidst labor negotiations at a pajama factory — is a frustratingly glib treatment of a complex issue. Indeed, it’s somewhat disturbing to see downtrodden workers depicted as such a cheery, colorfully dressed clan; they’re reminiscent of characters in Soviet-era propaganda musicals.

In addition, though the songs in The Pajama Game are fun while they last, none of them are particularly memorable; and the performances by romantic leads Day (who, as amusingly noted in Slant Magazine’s review, sports a “fetching [?] bull-dyke pompadour”) and Raitt are serviceable at best.

The Pajama Game will likely remain one-time viewing for most film fanatics.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

• Many cleverly executed musical tunes and choreography (by Bob Fosse)
  
  
• Colorful costumes and sets
  
• Carol Haney’s whacked-out performance as Day’s colleague
  

Must See?
Yes, simply to see Fosse’s early work.

Categories

• Historically Relevant

Links:

• IMDb entry
• NY Times Original Review
• DVD Savant Review (scroll down)
• Time Out Capsule Review

Synopsis:
When a new teacher (David Hemmings) at a British public school is told by his students that they killed his predecessor, he cannot get his headmaster (Douglas Wilmer) to take him seriously; soon he is intimidated into letting the boys run his classroom.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Boarding School
• Bullies
• “No One Believes Me!”
• Play Adaptation
• Psychological Horror
• Teachers

Review:
This quietly frightening tale of mass intimidation represents every instructor’s worst nightmare: although the idealistic Hemmings wants nothing more than to be a teacher, he quickly finds himself bullied by his own students, who possess an eerie sense of entitlement. Perhaps most disturbing is the fact that the boys — who, for the most part, are presented en masse rather than as individuals — remain deferential on the surface (they never neglect to call Hemmings “sir”), yet confidently maintain the upper hand, never doubting that they will get their way. While some have argued that the story — based on Giles Cooper’s radio play-turned-television drama — is unsatisfying due to its lack of definitive resolution, I think it holds interest throughout, and remains intriguing viewing.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

• David Hemmings as the tormented new teacher
  
• A creepy tale of psychological intimidation
  
• The frightening scene in which Hemmings’ wife (nicely played by Carolyn Seymour) is nearly gang-raped by the boys
  

Must See?
No, but it’s recommended.

Links:

• IMDb entry
• NY Times Original Review

Synopsis:
When beloved handyman Monk Johnson (James Whitmore) is hideously scarred in a fire, nearly all the town’s citizens turn against him in fright and disgust.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Cameron Mitchell Films
• Disfigured Faces
• James Whitmore Films
• Small Town America

Review:
Based on Stephen Crane’s short story “The Monster”, Face of Fire is a reasonably effective fable about human fickleness and small-town mob mentality. B-director Albert Band does a nice job establishing Monk’s status as a handsome, admired citizen who women drool over and children want to spend time with:

It’s all the more tragic, then, when nearly everyone turns against him after he has heroically rescued the son (Miko Oscard) of a doctor (Cameron Mitchell) from a burning house. Unfortunately, this collective change of heart is much too drastic to seem authentic: while Peter Lorre’s disfigured watchmaker in The Face Behind the Mask (1941) somewhat realistically scares those he meets for the first time, it’s much more difficult to believe that an entire town would suddenly be frightened of — and disgusted by — someone they’ve known for years. Nonetheless, Face of Fire‘s uneven screenplay (perhaps a function of its source material, though I haven’t read the original story) is redeemed by Band’s creative direction, effective cinematography (shot in Sweden!), and a handful of excellent performances.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

• Cameron Mitchell as the guilt-ridden doctor
  
• Wiry character actor Royal Dano as a henpecked villager
  
• Creative direction
  
• Atmospheric cinematography
  
• Eric Nordgren’s score — particularly in the opening scenes

Must See?
No, but it’s worth seeking out.

Links:

• IMDb entry
• SciFilm Review