{"id":76571,"date":"2021-09-26T23:34:55","date_gmt":"2021-09-27T06:34:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=76571"},"modified":"2021-09-27T08:14:29","modified_gmt":"2021-09-27T15:14:29","slug":"i-am-a-camera-1955","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=76571","title":{"rendered":"I Am a Camera (1955)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been most divinely chaste!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Poster-198x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"198\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-76572\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Poster-198x300.png 198w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Poster-677x1024.png 677w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Poster-85x128.png 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Poster-178x270.png 178w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Poster.png 729w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 198px) 100vw, 198px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nIn 1931 Berlin, hedonistic, penniless nightclub singer Sally Bowles (Julie Harris) &#8212; living with aspiring young writer Chris Isherwood (Laurence Harvey) &#8212; wracks up terrible debt during a night on the town, and allows a wealthy American (Ron Randell) to wine and dine her. Meanwhile, a poor friend (Anton Diffring) hoping to marry into money woos one of Harvey&#8217;s students (Shelley Winters), but soon finds himself falling authentically in love with her.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Flashback Films<\/li>\n<li>Gold Diggers<\/li>\n<li>Julie Harris Films<\/li>\n<li>Laurence Harvey Films<\/li>\n<li>Shelley Winters Films<\/li>\n<li>Writers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nSouth African-born Henry Cornelius &#8212; director of <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=75796\"><em>Passport to Pimlico<\/em> (1949)<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=49604\"><em>Genevieve<\/em> (1953)<\/a> &#8212; helmed this adaptation of John Van Druten&#8217;s 1951 play, best known as one of the sources for Bob Fosse&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=76469\"><em>Cabaret<\/em> (1972)<\/a>. Given the time of its release, it covers some rather scandalous material &#8212; including pre-marital sex, promiscuity, and abortion &#8212; thus leading America&#8217;s Production Code Administration to deny its approval of the finished film. Those familiar with Liza Minnelli&#8217;s iconic, Oscar-winning portrayal of Sally Bowles in <em>Cabaret<\/em> will likely find it jarring to see Harris (so different looking!) in the role, but she&#8217;s ultimately convincing here and helps anchor the film in wackiness. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Harris3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Harris3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-76577\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Harris3.png 480w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Harris3-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Harris3-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Harris3-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Indeed, the entire affair has an air of comedy to it that underplays (while not entirely ignoring) the risk of rising Nazism: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Nazism.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Nazism.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-76575\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Nazism.png 480w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Nazism-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Nazism-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Nazism-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>What&#8217;s primarily missing from this iteration of the story is any hint of Isherwood&#8217;s sexuality or intimate involvement with either Sally or the character played by Randell. Meanwhile, Diffring and Winters&#8217; romance is simply glossed over quickly, and not given much weight or significance. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Winters.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Winters.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-76578\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Winters.png 480w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Winters-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Winters-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Winters-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>While this film remains notable for taking risks most others at the time wouldn&#8217;t dare consider, it&#8217;s only must-see viewing for those interested in Isherwood&#8217;s stories. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Julie Harris as Sally Bowles<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Harris.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Harris.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-76573\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Harris.png 480w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Harris-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Harris-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/I-Am-a-Camera-Harris-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo; this one isn&#8217;t must see. Listed as a film with Historical Importance in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0048188\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1955\/08\/09\/archives\/screen-i-am-a-camera.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/newspapers?id=A94QAAAAIBAJ&#038;sjid=EIwDAAAAIBAJ&#038;pg=6175%2C552228\">Village Voice Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been most divinely chaste!&#8221; Synopsis: In 1931 Berlin, hedonistic, penniless nightclub singer Sally Bowles (Julie Harris) &#8212; living with aspiring young writer Chris Isherwood (Laurence Harvey) &#8212; wracks up terrible debt during a night on the town, and allows a wealthy American (Ron Randell) to wine and dine her. Meanwhile, a poor friend (Anton Diffring) hoping to marry into money woos one of Harvey&#8217;s students (Shelley Winters), but soon finds himself falling authentically in love with her. Genres, Themes,&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=76571\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-76571","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76571","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=76571"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76571\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":76594,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76571\/revisions\/76594"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=76571"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=76571"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=76571"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}