What classics did you see last week ? (22 Apr - 28 Apr 2018)

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948) 8

Taking a role written for Irene Dunne,Myrna Loy gives a bubbly performance as Muriel,whose sly,dead-pan smile Loy uses to nicely balance the physical comedy of Jim. Appearing together for the third time, Loy and Cary Grant play off each-other like a well-oiled machine,as Grant dives into the lively physical snap-stick,whilst engaged in a war of one-liner exchanges with Loy.

Loosely inspired by Eric Hodgins's autobiography ,the screenplay by Norman Panama & Melvin Frank build the troubles unfolding in the making of the dream house with whip-smart pace, with cracks appearing early as Jim hilariously tries to remember where the house is getting built,and gathering pace with each cash-strapping measure placed on the roof. Working on solid foundations, director H.C. Potter and cinematographer James Wong Howe stylishly use dissolves to tease every mishap Jim Blandings will step on in the fight to build his dream home.


French flicks highlights:




Brigitte Lahaie duo:

Parties fines (1977) 10

Jess Franco's Je brûle de partout (1979) 6

Pulling Jenny into her net of sin,Brigitte Lahaie makes her short appearance count, with a sultry, tempting performance as Lorna. Completely caught up in the waves of seedy sex and lust at the brothel,Susan Hemingway actually does very well in retaining a sense of innocence with Jenny,that reverberates in an unplanned family reunion. Left uncredited, the writers strip Jenny of all her dreams in the outside world with sex scenes that push her into being a plaything,that when unthreaded,cleverly links Jenny to the rest of Franco's film "universe." Dashing the flick out in 6 days (!) leads to auteur Uncle Jess being at his most care-free, via Jess and cinematographer Alain Hardy poking at the steamy sex scenes with Jess's trademark zoom-in button bashing & whip-pans. Gliding on the slick Jazz from regular collaborator Daniel White, Jess finds space in the limitations for artful asides,from a funny Disco intro,to fellow sex workers gliding over the body of Jenny like poisonous snakes.

Jean Gabin duo:

Les vieux de la vieille (1960) 7

Le jardinier d'Argenteuil (1966) 6

Franju duo:






Judex (1963) 7

Abridging the 12 hour run-time of the 1916 original in their modern adaptation, the screenplay by Jacques Champreux and Francis Lacassin brilliantly keep to the spirit of the films roots,with the ransom demand, the kidnapping of Jacqueline and the end of reel heroic rescue by Judex hitting the frantic atmosphere of classic cinema serials. Keeping close to the pace of a serial, the writers struggle to get out of a disjointed tone,as the plan by the baddies becomes stretched out,and Judex is saved to appearances at the end of acts.

Lovingly paying tribute to Feuillade with Silent-movie style fade-ins and a classy dedication, director Georges Franju & cinematographer Marcel Fradetal build upon the Fantasy stylisation of Eyes Without A Face,with the bird mask intro of Judex and the climbing up of walls by him and his gang. Whilst the cast have more alluring costumes, Franju twists his visceral horror of Eyes into the serial origins with the return of a bird cage as a motif, Diana's kidnapping of Jacqueline holding tension on a knife-edge,and an astonishing shot following someone falling to their death.

Eyeing another collaboration with Franju, Edith Scob gives an excellent,expressive performance as Jacqueline,whose face gets caught in a wide-eyed state of fear. Creeping around dressed as a nun, Francine Bergé gives an outstanding performance as Diana,who is given a ruthlessness by Bergé which shines each time she pulls a knife out. Swinging into action at every end of act, Channing Pollock gives a dashing performance that keeps the heroic Judex flying in the air.

Nuits rouges (1974) 4

Other French films:

Icy Breasts (1974) 8

Poil de carotte (1973) 6




L'été meurtrier (1983) 9

Not making anything else until a segment in 1991's Lest We Forget,director Jean Becker shows here what could have been,with a highly distinctive style,that retains the elegance of his dad Jacques production, but is proudly it's own creation. Wiggling Elle into the Montecciari family life, Becker and his cinematographer brother Étienne give the first half a lush Erotic rural Drama atmosphere,with sharp outdoor lighting giving the many naked appearances of Elle a sensually-charged mood,and the warm,golden glow within the Montecciari household colouring the cold shoulders and snide remarks Elle gets from family members. Closely working with editor Jacques Witta,Becker undresses Elle's flirting with tightly-coiled editing that brings to light a mystery in her family life, that gains clarity with each note Elle hits on a secret that her parents have locked from her sight.

Adapting his own novel,Sébastien Japrisot wonderfully draws each member of the Montecciari family with quirks that abrasively rub against Elle, from the hot and cold romance of Pin-Pon and the frozen glances from the mother, to the fragile attempt at friendship from a half-deaf relative. Gathering the pieces to Elle's family life, Japrisot displays an excellent maturity to the horrors inflicted on her family,with exchanges between Elle and her locked behind a door dad allowing Japrisot to peel open the psychological damage that the secret has had on Elle. Looking ravishing from her first appearance,Adjani gives an incredible performance as Elle,who is given a sexual swagger in the naked scenes,which keeps the mental fragility just underneath the skin during this one deadly Summer.