I just caught the "new" version of the movie tonight. Terry promptly reminded me that I needed to see the original as well. I'll have to get that on my short list.
astroguy--the original is quite an eerie film for its time. For me it holds up as perhaps the best of the early Universal horror films, excepting "Bride of Frankenstein". Some amazing photography in that one as well--it was directed by a German director, Karl Freund, who was a master of a dark expressionism--the flashback scenes of Karloff's character in ancient Egypt mske it worth a look.
Oddly enough, Brenden Fraser of "The Mummy" films also appeared in a recent Hollywood Gothic film with Sir Ian McKellen called "Gods and Monsters", which was a biopic about James Whale director of the first three sound Frankenstein films. That film is a must for fans of older American horror classics.
crabbyman--I totally concur with you on Audrey Hepburn, needless to say. There is just something about her that I find hard to define--more than just beauty. I only wished she hadn't been a smoker so she could have seen her grand kids, and received more tributes. One of the classiest people ever to reach film stardom, period.
If you liked the newer movie, I think you will find this film worth a look. Karloff is wonderful and the film has a dark and eerie quality. (Please see my other comments on the main part of this photo set.)
I hate to say it but sometimes it was better some died young. Would James Dean have the same image if he lived to be a cranky 90 year old. We remember Audrey Hepburn with all her beauty and elegance. Do we remember Paul Neuman as the young Butch Cassity and Cool Hand Luke or the older man in Nobody's Fool and as the father in Message in the bottle. Time seems to blur our memories. What we saw last we remember most
I know what you mean: its not that anyone wants another person to die young, its just that it isn't often an actor's persona gets better with age. Newman is a good example. Seing him as an old codger in "Empire Falls" or "Nobody's Fool" is kind of depressing.
A smart friend I know once said while we were watching "Some Like it Hot" (1959) , "Could you imagine people would have found Marylyn Monroe so interesting if she had lived long enough to be an old lady guest star on "The Love Boat"?
Oh the Classics, Mate, this is excellent, you could not have chosen a better 6 pack of actors if you tried. I haven't seen many of Boris though. Well done... cheers mate
I have to agree, Bogey packed a great percentage of fine performances into his fifteen years as a star, and even earlier, than modern star actors who have much more control over their careers. John Huston said of Bogart during his eulogy, "he is quite irreplaceable".
Chutzpah is the right word. She fought her studio tooth and nail for better roles and when she could get them , there was "Jezabel", 'The Letter", "Of Human Bondage", "All About Eve", et al. Wow. She was the first woman to receive an American Film Life Achievement Award and how appropriate.
I just caught the "new" version of the movie tonight. Terry promptly reminded me that I needed to see the original as well. I'll have to get that on my short list.
ReplyDeleteI love(d) Audrey Hepburn. She was sexy personafied! She had an air about her that caught your attention.
ReplyDeleteastroguy--the original is quite an eerie film for its time. For me it holds up as perhaps the best of the early Universal horror films, excepting "Bride of Frankenstein".
ReplyDeleteSome amazing photography in that one as well--it was directed by a German director, Karl Freund, who was a master of a dark expressionism--the flashback scenes of Karloff's character in ancient Egypt mske it worth a look.
Oddly enough, Brenden Fraser of "The Mummy" films also appeared in a recent Hollywood Gothic film with Sir Ian McKellen called "Gods and Monsters", which was a biopic about James Whale director of the first three sound Frankenstein films. That film is a must for fans of older American horror classics.
crabbyman--I totally concur with you on Audrey Hepburn, needless to say. There is just something about her that I find hard to define--more than just beauty. I only wished she hadn't been a smoker so she could have seen her grand kids, and received more tributes. One of the classiest people ever to reach film stardom, period.
ReplyDeleteIf you liked the newer movie, I think you will find this film worth a look. Karloff is wonderful and the film has a dark and eerie quality. (Please see my other comments on the main part of this photo set.)
ReplyDeleteI hate to say it but sometimes it was better some died young. Would James Dean have the same image if he lived to be a cranky 90 year old. We remember Audrey Hepburn with all her beauty and elegance. Do we remember Paul Neuman as the young Butch Cassity and Cool Hand Luke or the older man in Nobody's Fool and as the father in Message in the bottle. Time seems to blur our memories. What we saw last we remember most
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean: its not that anyone wants another person to die young, its just that it isn't often an actor's persona gets better with age. Newman is a good example. Seing him as an old codger in "Empire Falls" or "Nobody's Fool" is kind of depressing.
ReplyDeleteA smart friend I know once said while we were watching "Some Like it Hot" (1959) , "Could you imagine people would have found Marylyn Monroe so interesting if she had lived long enough to be an old lady guest star on "The Love Boat"?
Oh the Classics, Mate, this is excellent, you could not have chosen a better 6 pack of actors if you tried. I haven't seen many of Boris though. Well done... cheers mate
ReplyDeleteThank you Rod.
ReplyDeleteBette is one of my favorites. She had real chutzpah
ReplyDeleteSimply the best. Nobody has had so many quality performances as Bogey
ReplyDeleteI have to agree, Bogey packed a great percentage of fine performances into his fifteen years as a star, and even earlier, than modern star actors who have much more control over their careers. John Huston said of Bogart during his eulogy, "he is quite irreplaceable".
ReplyDeleteChutzpah is the right word. She fought her studio tooth and nail for better roles and when she could get them , there was "Jezabel", 'The Letter", "Of Human Bondage", "All About Eve", et al. Wow. She was the first woman to receive an American Film Life Achievement Award and how appropriate.
ReplyDelete