Captive Wild Woman (1943)

Captive Wild Woman (1943)

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“What will you have? A human form with animal instincts!”

Synopsis:
A mad scientist (John Carradine) transforms an ape (Ray Corrigan) into a beautiful but mute woman (Acquanetta) with a strange power over wild animals. She provides invaluable assistance to a circus performer (Milburn Stone) working with lions and tigers, but seeks jealous revenge when she realizes he’s already in love with his fiancee (Evelyn Ankers).

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Carnivals and Circuses
  • Edward Dmytryk Films
  • Horror Films
  • John Carradine Films
  • Mad Doctors and Scientists
  • Primates

Review:
The first of three “ape woman” sci-fi/horror flicks made for Universal Studios during the early ’40s, this innocuous potboiler features statuesque B-actress “Acquanetta” — a.k.a. “The Venezuelan Volcano” (despite being born in Cheyenne, Wyoming):

— co-starring with character actor Milburn Stone (cast because of his resemblance to real-life trainer Clyde Beatty) and the ever-reliable John Carradine as a villainous medical kook determined to commit glandular manipulation on his “patients”.

There’s little to the hour-long story, which is essentially concerned with relating the folly and danger — a la The Island of Lost Souls (1933) — of attempting to merge animal and human “forces”:

It evokes the general aura of Val Lewton’s RKO films, but without their psychological depth. Instead, it’s padded out by plenty of footage of Stone (actually Beatty) working with wild tigers and lions — footage which at times seems to go on for a bit too long. With that said, director Edward Dmytryk manages to add some atmosphere to the proceedings, and fans of the genre will certainly be curious to check it out once.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • John Carradine as Dr. Walters

Must See?
No – but it’s worth a look by fans of Universal horror flicks.

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Mystery of Edwin Drood (1935)

Mystery of Edwin Drood (1935)

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“We cannot always do what we wish without harming others.”

Synopsis:
An opium-addicted choirmaster (Claude Rains) is jealous of his nephew’s (David Manners) betrothal to a beautiful young girl (Heather Angel). When a stranger (Douglass Montgomery) comes to town and falls in love with Rosa (Angel), further rivalries ensue, and Edwin Drood (Manners) suddenly disappears.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Charles Dickens Films
  • Claude Rains Films
  • Love Triangle
  • Mysterious Disappearance

Review:
Charles Dickens never finished his final serialized novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, about a young man who goes missing and may or may not have been murdered. For this cinematic adaptation, Universal Studios came up with a feasible ending, one which ultimately turns …Drood into a spooky murder mystery. The first half of the film is fairly standard fare, as we’re introduced to the trio of “suitors” interested in sweet Rosa Bud: it’s clear that while she has some affection for her life-long fiancee (Manners), she’s genuinely smitten with the handsome new arrival in town (Montgomery):

… and finds the covetous stares of her fiance’s uncle (Rains, excellent as always) utterly creepy. It’s not until the second half of the film that the story’s more atmospheric horror elements come into play, as we question how and why Drood has disappeared, all while suspecting that Rains — given his shadowy dealings with a cemetery caretaker, and his addiction to opium — may play a critical part in the mystery.

While Mystery of Edwin Drood isn’t essential viewing for all film fanatics, it’s certainly recommended, particularly for Dickens fans — and Rains’ performance is, as always, well worth a look.

Note: Director Stuart Walker, who died of a heart attack in 1941, also helmed the Peary-listed titles The Eagle and the Hawk (1933) and Werewolf of London (1935).

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • Claude Rains as John Jasper
  • Zeffie Tilbury as “The Opium Woman”
  • Fine period detail
  • George Robinson’s atmospheric cinematography

Must See?
No, but it’s recommended.

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Choose Me (1984)

Choose Me (1984)

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“Men fantasize about her; women trust her.”

Synopsis:
A mysterious drifter (Keith Carradine) enters the lives of a renowned radio talk show host (Genevieve Bujold) and a bar owner (Lesley Ann Warren) in Los Angeles.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Alan Rudolph Films
  • Genevieve Bujold Films
  • Keith Carradine Films
  • Looking for Ms./Mr. Right
  • Mistaken Identities
  • Radio

Response to Peary’s Review:
As Peary notes, this “zany film” about “troubled characters who make coincidental connections with each other, put up false fronts, act crazy, and are hopelessly confused and worried about sex, love, marriage, and their inability to communicate” is a sleeper favorite of many — possibly because we can all relate to feeling this way ourselves at one point or another in our lives. The “preposterous” ensemble storyline (written by Rudolph) nonetheless “has the ‘logic’ of crazy real life”, and “we willingly suspend our disbelief because we’re touched by the characters and root for them to make it out of their misery”. This is due in large part to the “superb” cast, with Lesley Ann Warren giving perhaps her most vulnerable performance, and Genevieve Bujold digging deep into the neuroses of her character — a famed sexologist who, ironically, has never experienced satisfying intimacy herself. Carradine essentially plays yet another a variation on his standard womanizing persona, but, as Peary notes, in this film we “believe him each time” he “tells [a] woman that he loves her and wants to marry her”:

… and we’re relieved that he ultimately “manages to be a positive influence.” Adding to the film’s dreamlike ambience are Jan Kiesser’s cinematography (evoking a nighttime L.A. unlike any other I’ve seen) and the jazzy soundtrack by Teddy Pendergrass, whose “Choose me, baby” refrain emerges at strategic, emotionally loaded moments.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • Genevieve Bujold as Dr. Love/Ann
  • Lesley Ann Warren as Eve (voted one of the best actresses of the year in Peary’s Alternate Oscars book)
  • Lush, evocative visuals

  • Teddy Pendergrass’s background score

Must See?
Yes, as perhaps Rudolph’s most memorable film.

Categories

  • Important Director

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Moment by Moment (1978)

Moment by Moment (1978)

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“I don’t even know what the word love means anymore.”

Synopsis:
A young drifter (John Travolta) falls for an older wealthy woman (Lily Tomlin), and an unconventional romance ensues.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Cross-Class Romance
  • John Travolta Films
  • Lily Tomlin Films
  • May-December Romance

Review:
This notoriously panned turkey (dubbed a Camp Classic in the back of Peary’s book) co-stars a hunky young John Travolta — fresh from his success in both Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Grease (1978) — and Lily Tomlin, three years after her Oscar-nominated performance in Robert Altman’s Nashville (1975). Much of the film’s unintentional humor comes from the utterly improbable romantic pairing of these two lookalike actors — and not just because of their difference in age.

With no offense meant, Tomlin (whose partner, Jane Wagner, wrote and directed the movie) simply isn’t the most fetching of women, so it’s difficult to understand why a young hunk like Travolta would fall head over heels for her. Indeed, during the intriguing first half hour of the film, we’re convinced, much like Tomlin’s “Trisha”, that “Strip” (yes, that’s Travolta’s name here, and it’s good for a few laughs) must be a con-artist out to abuse her wealth; once it’s revealed that he’s genuinely in (puppy)-love with her, all disbelief must thereafter be suspended. With that said, Moment by Moment isn’t nearly as bad as its critics would have you believe: Tomlin is fine, if a tad one-note, as a depressed housewife whose husband has cheated on her, and Travolta is actually quite charming as a young drifter with no one to cling to but Trish. While the soaper storyline is utterly predictable (Tomlin is ashamed to be seen with Strip — who knew?!):

… you may be surprised to find yourself rooting for this unconventional couple by the end of the film.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • John Travolta as Strip

Must See?
No — but it’s not nearly as bad as its reputation would lead you to believe.

Links:

Little Princess, The (1939)

Little Princess, The (1939)

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“Sara has no mother, and we’ve never been separated for more than a few days.”

Synopsis:
When her father (Ian Hunter) leaves to fight in the Boer War, Sara Crewe (Shirley Temple) is sent to a boarding school run by snooty Miss Minchin (Mary Nash). When notice arrives that Captain Crewe (Hunter) has died a penniless man, Sara becomes a servant at the school — but she refuses to believe her father is really dead.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Boarding School
  • Cesar Romero Films
  • Historical Drama
  • Ian Hunter Films
  • Search
  • Shirley Temple Films

Response to Peary’s Review:
Despite its generally acknowledged status as “one of Temple’s best films”, Peary isn’t a big fan of this Technicolor adaptation of Frances Hodges Burnett’s Victorian children’s novel. He argues that “while it is lavishly produced and features what was [Temple’s] last impressive performance as a child actor, the story is flimsy and predictable”, and notes that by 1939, “it was getting tiresome watching Temple’s little girls suffer.” Modern viewers, however, won’t have to experience the same sense of fatigue, given that we can pick and choose which of Temple’s many childhood films — Peary lists just five of her earlier hits in his book — we want to see. Diehard fans of Burnett’s book may be disturbed by the many changes made in the screenplay, but the spirit of the novel remains intact, and Temple (who looks nothing like Burnett’s description of the protagonist) brings a much-needed air of optimism and spunk to the role of poor Sara Crewe. Equally impressive is Temple’s co-star, Sybil Jason, who plays a young Cockney maid. [It’s interesting to note that Temple was, in fact, jealous of Jason’s performance, given the adulation heaped upon her by the film’s crew.]

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • Shirley Temple as Sarah
  • Sybil Jason as Becky

Must See?
No, though it’s worth a look as one of Temple’s most famous films.

Links:

Star Wars (1977)

Star Wars (1977)

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“The force will be with you, always.”

Synopsis:
In a galaxy far, far away, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) joins the rebellion against the Empire by teaming up with Jedi master Obi-Wan Kanobi (Alec Guinness) and rogue pilot Han Solo (Harrison Ford) to rescue kidnapped Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) from the clutches of evil Darth Vader (David Prowse/James Earl Jones).

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Alec Guinness Films
  • Androids
  • Harrison Ford Films
  • Kidnapping
  • Peter Cushing Films
  • Revolutionaries
  • Science Fiction
  • Space Opera

Response to Peary’s Review:
As Peary notes, writer-director George Lucas’s Star Wars — which borrows liberally from countless other films (including Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress and The Wizard of Oz) and pop culture references (serials such as “Flash Gordon” and “Buck Rogers”) — is “arguably the most influential film ever made, although one can legitimately question whether its profound effect on future movie product [design], in Hollywood and worldwide, has been positive”, given that we’ve all “overdosed on special effects, toys, and intergalactic wars”. Peary (ever the ’70s liberal!) accurately argues that the film unfortunately “makes war look like fun”, and that the characters are, regrettably, designed to be shallow — Mark Hamill is particularly annoying as callow, whiny Luke Skywalker (though it could be argued that he’s well-suited for the role).

Sophisticated modern viewers seeing Star Wars for the first time may actually wonder what all the fuss is about, given that much of it comes across today as either campy (i.e., the infamous “cantina scene”) or dated, and the special effects — while revolutionary at the time, and still largely impressive — have since been surpassed.

With that said, the film is, as Peary notes, both “craftily made”, and (with the possible exception of Hamill as Skywalker) “brilliantly cast”, effectively balancing veteran and young actors. It deservedly won a passel of Oscars: for special effects (the final battle sequence — while it goes on for too long — is especially well done), costume design, sound effects, art direction, editing, and best original score (by John Williams). Harrison Ford is hunky and memorable in his breakthrough role as Han Solo; Carrie Fisher (only 17 years old!) is effectively spunky as Princess Leia (those buns!); and Alec Guinness couldn’t have been better cast as the “wise and noble Jedi warrior Ben ‘Obi-Wan’ Kenobi”. Film fanatics, regardless of their personal connection with the movie, will doubtless agree that its “tremendous spirit, sense of fun and adventure, excitement, hip humor, imaginative characters, and fast-paced, uncomplicated story” deservedly “touched a universal nerve”, and that Star Wars remains indispensable “must see” viewing.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • Harrison Ford as Han Solo
  • Alec Guinness as Obi Wan
  • Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia
  • C3PO (Anthony Daniels) and R2D2 (Kenny Baker)
  • Memorable sets
  • Groundbreaking special effects
  • John Williams’ rousing score

Must See?
Of course.

Categories

  • Cult Movie
  • Historically Relevant
  • Oscar Winner or Nominee

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

Links:

Farewell, My Lovely (1975)

Farewell, My Lovely (1975)

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“She’s cute — cuter than lace pants.”

Synopsis:
Private eye Philip Marlowe (Robert Mitchum) is hired by a hulking ex-con (Jack O’Halloran) to locate his missing girlfriend, Velma.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Charlotte Rampling Films
  • Detectives and Private Eyes
  • Harry Dean Stanton Films
  • John Ireland Films
  • Robert Mitchum Films
  • Search
  • Sylvester Stallone Films
  • Sylvia Miles Films

Review:
Raymond Chandler’s iconic fictional detective Philip Marlowe has been portrayed by a diverse array of actors over the years, including Dick Powell in Murder, My Sweet (1944), Robert Montgomery in Lady in the Lake (1947), James Garner in Marlowe (1969), Elliott Gould in The Long Goodbye (1973), and — most famously — Humphrey Bogart in The Big Sleep (1946). Sad-eyed Robert Mitchum was the last Hollywood star to be cast as Marlowe, in this and 1978’s The Big Sleep (not a Peary title), and he’s entirely believable as the cynical, wisecracking detective:

Unfortunately, however, the film itself is merely serviceable, and not one of the more inspired adaptations of Chandler’s work. The primary problem is David Goodman’s well-meaning but overly literal screenplay, which relies far too heavily on Chandler’s original text: entire passages are read aloud as voiceover, which eventually comes across as simply lazy screenwriting. Dick Richards’ rather flat directorial style doesn’t help matters any, either, and — with the exception of Oscar-nominated Sylvia Miles as an alcoholic informant — the supporting players (including stiff Jack O’Halloran in his debut as “Moose”:

… and Charlotte Rampling unwisely trying to channel Lauren Bacall:

… fail to leave much of an impression. With that said, there’s plenty of fine period detail throughout, and Mitchum’s performance makes the entire affair worth a look. Chandler fans will certainly want to check it out at least once.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • Robert Mitchum as Marlowe (nominated by Peary as one of the best actors of the year in his Alternate Oscars book)
  • Sylvia Miles as Jessie Florian
  • Fine ’40s period detail

Must See?
No, but it’s definitely worth one-time viewing. Listed as a Personal Recommendation in the back of Peary’s book.

Links:

Little Theatre of Jean Renoir, The (1970)

Little Theatre of Jean Renoir, The (1970)

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“Nothing is more exciting than other people’s troubles… They make life bearable.”

Synopsis:
Jean Renoir tells a trio of semi-comedic stories: an elderly homeless couple (Nino Formicola and Milly) find comfort in each other and their memories on a cold Christmas night; a housewife (Marguerite Cassan) obsessed with waxing her floors accidentally causes the death of her husband (Pierre Olaf); and an older man (Fernand Sardou) must decide what to do when his beloved young wife (Francoise Arnoul) cheats on him with the village doctor (Jean Carnet).

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Episodic Films
  • French Films
  • Homeless
  • Housewives
  • Infidelity
  • Jean Renoir Films

Review:
Jean Renoir’s final, made-for-TV film is a gentle ensemble of short stories, ranging in tone from melancholy to satirical, yet all sharing an underlying concern with exploring the ties that bind couples together. The first heartbreaking vignette, based on a story by Hans Christian Andersen, is essentially an adult variation of “The Little Match Girl”: on Christmas Eve, an insensitive diner pays a homeless man (Nino Formicola) to stand outside the window of a restaurant and stare in longingly; as he explains to his friends, this spectacle should make them appreciate their food all the more. Formicola’s willingness to participate in this disturbing charade ultimately yields him a fancy dinner for two, which he shares with his beloved partner (Milly) while reminiscing about the past. While Renoir comes dangerously close to romanticizing poverty in this opening vignette, he nonetheless trenchantly demonstrates man’s ability to cope under the worst of circumstances, simply through the power of love and imagination.

The second story — dubbed by Renoir an “opera” of sorts — involves a chorus of singing onlookers commenting on the marital woes of Emilie (Marguerite Cassan) and Gustave (Pierre Olaf). Shrewish Emilie (who surely has OCD) insists that an immaculate floor is what every housewife yearns for, and threatens to go live with her mother unless her henpecked husband gives in to her request for a personal floor waxer; when he does, circumstances eventually become more and more untenable, until Emilie finally makes the ultimate sacrifice for her beloved new tool. It’s an openly satirical, strangely satisfying little morsel about the dangers inherent in loving machines more than humans. At this point, Renoir proudly announces that Jeanne Moreau will sing a song — which she does, shakily and to minimal effect; it’s best ignored altogether, and fortunately lasts just a few minutes.

The final vignette may be the most heartfelt and personal of the bunch. In it, Renoir tells the story of an elderly villager (Fernand Sardou) who is deeply in love with his beautiful younger wife (Francoise Arnoul), and she with him — but she’s feeling oddly restless and dissatisfied. When she realizes than an affair is exactly what she needs to satisfy her “itch”, she turns to a visiting doctor (Jean Carnet) who is equally smitten with both her and the gentle Sardou. Much like in Bertrand Blier’s Oscar-winning Get Out Your Handkerchiefs (1978), this vignette lovingly demonstrates that a willingness to flout societal norms can lead to unexpected happiness in love and romance. It’s a fitting capstone to Renoir’s long and illustrious career as a filmmaker.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • Three enjoyable vignettes about life, love, and tolerance


Must See?
No, though it’s worth a look as Renoir’s swan song — and is certainly must-see for Renoir fans.

Links:

Hill, The (1965)

Hill, The (1965)

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“Roberts, the court martial broke you, but I’m going to finish the job. I’m gonna bust you wide open.”

[Note: The following review is of a non-Peary title; click here to read more.]

Synopsis:
During World War II, a sadistic military prison warden (Harry Andrews) in North Africa makes life miserable for a group of detainees — particularly “busted” Sergeant-Major Roberts (Sean Connery).

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Harry Andrews Films
  • Michael Redgrave Films
  • Play Adaptation
  • Prisoners of War
  • Ruthless Leaders
  • Sean Connery Films
  • Sidney Lumet Films
  • World War Two

Review:
Based on a T.V. play by Ray Rigby, Sidney Lumet’s film about a ruthless military warden making life miserable for his minions in the heat and dust of North Africa is brutal, uncompromising fare, and often difficult to stomach — but ultimately so powerful in both its message and its delivery that it’s worth viewing. Sean Connery — hoping to shift away from his suave James Bond persona — took a break between Goldfinger (1964) and Thunderball (1965) to play Joe Roberts, a sergeant-major censured for hitting his superior and refusing to send his men into a suicidal battle mission.

Because he and his cellmates (Ossie Davis, Alfred Lynch, Roy Kinnear, and Jack Watson) are presumed to be cowards hoping to get out of active military service, Andrews and his equally sadistic chief officer (Ian Hendry) do whatever they can to break the men’s spirits and bodies — including sending them pointlessly up and down the film’s titular manmade dirt “hill”. The increasingly grim situation finally comes to a head when one of the new inmates dies from heat stroke, and Hendry is accused by the prisoners of murder.

The subject matter is harsh, but the performances are superb — particularly Connery and Andrews, as well as Ossie Davis in a supporting role as a soldier from the West Indies who must put up with merciless racism on top of other indignities. Meanwhile, Oswald Morris’s crisp black-and-white cinematography is the perfect choice for such a bleak historical setting, and Rigby’s scathing dialogue is smartly conceived. (Note, however, that even native English speakers will want to have the subtitles on, since it’s often difficult to make out what the actors are saying.) Ultimately, while The Hill isn’t a film for the light of heart, those interested in exploring military power dynamics taken to a fatal extreme will surely be interested to check it out. It’s a surprising omission from Peary’s book — especially given that he awards Connery an Alternate Oscar as best actor of the year in his Alternate Oscars book.

Note: Watch for Michael Redgrave in a small but effective supporting role as a sympathetic military doctor.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • Sean Connery as Roberts
  • Harry Andrews as RSM Wilson
  • Ossie Davis as Jocko
  • Oswald Morris’s b&w cinematography

Must See?
Yes, for Connery’s noteworthy performance.

Categories

  • Noteworthy Performance(s)

Links:

Latino (1985)

Latino (1985)

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“When the compas come, they get rid of you and your Somozan soldiers — paid in U.S. dollars.”

Synopsis:
A Green Beret soldier (Robert Beltran) is sent to the Nicaraguan border to help fight against the Sandinistas — but he soon discovers that not all Nicaraguans are happy about America’s involvement with the Contra rebels.

Genres:

Review:
The primary problem with writer-director Haskell Wexler’s Latino is that the entire story is predictably telescoped ahead of time: we know from the beginning that our hunky Latino protagonist will enter the Nicaraguan conflict with the best of patriotic intentions:

… have his eyes opened to the horrors of American interventionist tactics, and (naturally) experience conflicted romance with the tall, sexy drink of water (Annette Cardona) he conveniently meets right away.

It’s equally clear that the Sandinistas in the film — or at least their humble peasant contingency — will be presented as exclusively righteous and noble, while the Contras will be merely violence-prone jerks. Although there’s likely an enormous grain of truth to this latter sentiment, Wexler piles on his heavy-handed vignettes far too liberally — as when we watch innocent teenagers being kidnapped, tortured, bullied (“One sound, Sandinista bastard, and you’re dead”), and lied to in an attempt to convert them (unsuccessfully, of course) to the Contra-cause; meanwhile, none of the native Contras are humanized or given a chance to speak their voice, and Beltran’s American compatriots are simply piggish boors. With all that said, Wexler’s well-meaning attempt to infuse his film with a palpable air of realism is admirable: it’s refreshing to see natives cast as extras on location, and to hear an appropriate mix of Spanish and English being spoken by the characters. In addition, Beltran is sympathetic in the lead role as an “ugly American” who comes to realize the error of his country’s ways, and Cardona is a fine romantic match for him. It’s too bad, then, that the strength of Wexler’s convictions prevented him from creating a more nuanced and compelling film about such an important topic in recent American history.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • Robert Beltran as Eddie
  • An authentic look at the suffering and anger experienced by locals during a revolution

Must See?
No; skip this one.

Links: