What classics did you see last week, August 15 to August 21?
Aug 23, 2021 1:18:51 GMT
teleadm, wmcclain, and 2 more like this
Post by marianne48 on Aug 23, 2021 1:18:51 GMT
The Fabulous Dorseys (1947)-Bandleader brothers Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey play themselves in this "inspired by actual events" film bio. Some basic information about their childhood in Pennsylvania, where they were encouraged by their coal miner farmer to become professional musicians, their early success, their breakup and estrangement, and eventual reunion are embellished with a tacked-on romance between singer Janet Blair and pianist William Lundigan, which is ho-hum and takes up too much of the movie's screen time. Mom and Dad Sara Allgood and Arthur Shields play the usual supportive parents, admiring their sons' careers and making scrapbooks of their musical clippings. The Dorsey brothers' acting skills aren't much, but when they finally get to the musical numbers, the movie shines. There are brief scenes of such legendary musicians as Paul Whiteman and Art Tatum, and a few great musical numbers, especially "Green Eyes" sung by Bob Eberly and Helen O'Connell. Best bet--fast-forward through the romance part to get to the last half of the movie, which showcases the music.
Sid and Nancy (1986)--While I'm familiar with the Dorsey music, I knew nothing about the music of the Sex Pistols or the early lives of the two title characters, and after seeing this, I didn't learn much. Almost the whole movie consists of Gary Oldman as Sid Vicious and groupie/girlfriend Chloe Webb shooting up heroin, stumbling around streets and hotel rooms, and the screeching tirades of Webb as the mentally unbalanced Nancy Spungen. The highlight of the film is Sid and Nancy's visit to Nancy's grandparents and relatives, who politely try to contain their horror while entertaining the pair at their home. By the time Sid is spewing bodily fluids and Nancy is violently flailing and swearing, it's apparent that this is a film for those who like true-crime stories rather than musical bios.
The Last of Robin Hood (2013)--Another horror film, this one about the unsung villains of Hollywood--the ambitious, greedy parents who sell out their own children to questionable Hollywood personalities. In this case, alcoholic mom Susan Sarandon, realizing that her teen daughter (Dakota Fanning) isn't likely to make it in Hollywood on talent alone, signs her over to aging star Errol Flynn (the perfectly cast Kevin Kline), knowing he has a thing for teenage girls, and not telling him until later that she's only 15. Unsavory, ugly--and true--story,
but sadly not so uncommon in Hollywood. Well acted, but icky.
Return of the Hero (2018)-Jean Dujardin is a handsome, charming, unscrupulous jerk who becomes betrothed to the daughter of a local French family, then rides off to war, promptly forgetting all about his fiancee. When she becomes deathly ill from heartbreak, her clever sister decides to write love letters to her, forging them with the name of the captain, with the final one implying that he is soon to be killed heroically in battle. Some years later, with the sister recovered and happily married, the forger (Melanie Laurent) encounters the captain, who had deserted soon after his departure. Now admired as a hero by everyone, he plans to take advantage of them all as well as disrupt his ex-fiancee's happy life, and it's up to the sister to outwit his plans; lots of plot twists make this a cute, entertaining French farce.
Sid and Nancy (1986)--While I'm familiar with the Dorsey music, I knew nothing about the music of the Sex Pistols or the early lives of the two title characters, and after seeing this, I didn't learn much. Almost the whole movie consists of Gary Oldman as Sid Vicious and groupie/girlfriend Chloe Webb shooting up heroin, stumbling around streets and hotel rooms, and the screeching tirades of Webb as the mentally unbalanced Nancy Spungen. The highlight of the film is Sid and Nancy's visit to Nancy's grandparents and relatives, who politely try to contain their horror while entertaining the pair at their home. By the time Sid is spewing bodily fluids and Nancy is violently flailing and swearing, it's apparent that this is a film for those who like true-crime stories rather than musical bios.
The Last of Robin Hood (2013)--Another horror film, this one about the unsung villains of Hollywood--the ambitious, greedy parents who sell out their own children to questionable Hollywood personalities. In this case, alcoholic mom Susan Sarandon, realizing that her teen daughter (Dakota Fanning) isn't likely to make it in Hollywood on talent alone, signs her over to aging star Errol Flynn (the perfectly cast Kevin Kline), knowing he has a thing for teenage girls, and not telling him until later that she's only 15. Unsavory, ugly--and true--story,
but sadly not so uncommon in Hollywood. Well acted, but icky.
Return of the Hero (2018)-Jean Dujardin is a handsome, charming, unscrupulous jerk who becomes betrothed to the daughter of a local French family, then rides off to war, promptly forgetting all about his fiancee. When she becomes deathly ill from heartbreak, her clever sister decides to write love letters to her, forging them with the name of the captain, with the final one implying that he is soon to be killed heroically in battle. Some years later, with the sister recovered and happily married, the forger (Melanie Laurent) encounters the captain, who had deserted soon after his departure. Now admired as a hero by everyone, he plans to take advantage of them all as well as disrupt his ex-fiancee's happy life, and it's up to the sister to outwit his plans; lots of plot twists make this a cute, entertaining French farce.