[Update 11/14/2021: Need to redo this review completely. Fix the screenshots also.]
With so many great films under his belt it's hard to pick my favorite Preston
Sturges film, but if I had to narrow it down to one I would choose THE LADY EVE.
It's not as screwball as
THE MIRACLE OF MORGAN'S CREEK
or
HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO, that's not to say there isn't plenty of laughs, but he thing that pushes it
above his other films is the intelligence of the script and the impressive
performances by the leads, especially Barbara Stanwyck. She's great!
Not only does she play two completely different characters, but one of them is
living a lie, so that adds an entirely new level to her performance.
In the opening scenes she plays a card shark who's out to ripoff the innocent
and naive Henry Fonda, but even though it's not spoken you can tell just by
looking at her eyes that she's quickly falling in love with him. Or is that part
of her act? I used to think that, but the line she says at 11:38 indicates that
she's thinking about him when he's old, so I believe that shows that she's
already fallen in love with him.
Anyway, I'm just rambling. I don't want to give any more of the plot away than I
already have, but just take my word for it: if you like classic cinema,
especially screwball romances, then you're gonna love this movie! I give it my
highest recommendation. Maybe one day when I'm smarter I'll come
back and write a real review.
Showing posts with label Charles Coburn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Charles Coburn. Show all posts
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
THE MORE THE MERRIER (1943)
During WW2, Washington, D.C. had a housing shortage, so Jean Arthur feels it's
her patriotic duty to rent out the extra bedroom in her apartment. She intended
on renting it to a female, but older gentleman Charles Coburn fast talks her and
before she knows what's going on he's unpacking. Not knowing that she's engaged,
Coburn decides to play Cupid and rents out half of
his room to a military guy (Joel
McCrea) who's about to be shipped overseas. Romantic hijinks ensue...with Arthur
not Coburn.
The story is pretty standard stuff, but watching these three together is a delight. McCrea and Coburn's chemistry together is a lot of fun to watch and Arthur is simply wonderful. If you're a classic movie fan then this is a must watch. Highly recommended.
The story is pretty standard stuff, but watching these three together is a delight. McCrea and Coburn's chemistry together is a lot of fun to watch and Arthur is simply wonderful. If you're a classic movie fan then this is a must watch. Highly recommended.
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