Post by mikef6 on Nov 27, 2019 19:07:33 GMT
Back in 1960 there is no way anybody could have forced me to see this movie in 1960. What!? A sentimental, simplistic, squeaky-clean, goody-goody Disney film for little kids? For a 15 year old tough guy like me? Uh-uh. BUT, when I finally did see it about 40 years later, it turned out that this is just the warmest, wisest, most wonderful movie about finding the good in everything. I was truly and authentically moved. This particular movie is much removed from the dark film noir I usually review on the weekly thread, I know. It is something of an anomaly with me, but I wanted to share it just for that reason.
As written and directed by David Swift and acted by Haley Mills, Pollyanna is not the arrogant know-it-all that I was expecting. Neither was she sickly sweet. Instead, she is a girl who has experienced some tragedy and disruption in her own life but who remains upbeat and who makes simple, direct observations about what she sees. Karl Malden is tops among a cast of fine actors who react to Pollyanna’s straight talking with life changing results. Malden is the town’s fire and brimstone preacher (“DEATH COMES UNEXPECTEDLY!”) who learns that the “glad” verses in the Bible – passages about giving thanks, having joy, receiving mercy – far outnumber the wrath of God chapters. Close behind Malden is Adolphe Menjou as the recluse and local boogie man who lives in the “haunted house.” Pollyanna, though, is not impressed with his bluster. Agnes Moorehead is an extreme hypochondriac and Jane Wyman is Aunt Polly, the town’s nobility. Kevin “Moochie” Corcoran is not only tolerable, but good. The best he ever was.
The open ending was not at all what I was looking for; it is totally unexpected. Discovering “Pollyanna” was an amazing experience. When I added this title to my alphabetical list of Best of 1960 I found that “Pollyanna” fell between “Plein Soleil” (Purple Noon) above and “Psycho” just below. She is nestled in between Tom Ripley and Norman Bates. Her work is cut out for her.
The picture on this DVD cover makes Haley look a little scary.
As written and directed by David Swift and acted by Haley Mills, Pollyanna is not the arrogant know-it-all that I was expecting. Neither was she sickly sweet. Instead, she is a girl who has experienced some tragedy and disruption in her own life but who remains upbeat and who makes simple, direct observations about what she sees. Karl Malden is tops among a cast of fine actors who react to Pollyanna’s straight talking with life changing results. Malden is the town’s fire and brimstone preacher (“DEATH COMES UNEXPECTEDLY!”) who learns that the “glad” verses in the Bible – passages about giving thanks, having joy, receiving mercy – far outnumber the wrath of God chapters. Close behind Malden is Adolphe Menjou as the recluse and local boogie man who lives in the “haunted house.” Pollyanna, though, is not impressed with his bluster. Agnes Moorehead is an extreme hypochondriac and Jane Wyman is Aunt Polly, the town’s nobility. Kevin “Moochie” Corcoran is not only tolerable, but good. The best he ever was.
The open ending was not at all what I was looking for; it is totally unexpected. Discovering “Pollyanna” was an amazing experience. When I added this title to my alphabetical list of Best of 1960 I found that “Pollyanna” fell between “Plein Soleil” (Purple Noon) above and “Psycho” just below. She is nestled in between Tom Ripley and Norman Bates. Her work is cut out for her.
The picture on this DVD cover makes Haley look a little scary.
