MUSINGS, PONDERINGS, RUMINATIONS AND FANCIES

[CinemaInternational]

Oh, Frenzy's rape/murder was much more sick than Marnie's scene was, even though the one in the earlier film was grotesque. With the exception of that scene, I kind of liked Marnie. Tippi does give a wonderful performance, the score is good, and its interesting so see a different type of film from Hitch.

With Vertigo, I generally think the reason why Judy goes through with the later humiliation (which leads to her death) is because, while pretending to be Madeleine, she fell for Scotty and feels bad at what she put him through.

That particular scene in FRENZY gave me nightmares.

When Judy opens her hotel door in VERTIGO she has no reaction. Did she already spot him out of the corner of her eye while chatting with those co-workers?

I must admit I do like MARNIE even though I cannot stand Sean Connery's performance. So obnoxious. I as well thought Tippi was perfect in the role and now cannot imagine Grace Kelly as Marnie, even though Grace had that natural icy and remote quality which did suit the character. But Tippi has a kind of plastic, wooden brittleness that works for me here, and compliments the whole "artificialty" of the movie, if that makes any sense.

Could you see the citizens of Monaco watching that film with Grace in the role???? I wonder how she could've even entertained the idea...

The only other time that I can recall Princess Grace really wanting to get back to making another film invoved The turning point in the 1970s. She really wanted to do that one, and her co-star was supposed to be Audrey Hepburn. But then Grace couldn't do it, Aurey dropped out because Grace did (although she would later regret it), and the film ended up with Shirley MacLaine (replacing yet another actress, Joanne Woodward) and Anne Bancroft.

[Hibi]

Well, admittedly the same could be said for most of the other films done by Paramount that year. Paramount bankrolled King David that year, and pretty much the only bona fide financial hit Paramount had that year was Witness with Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis. Clue later became a cult favorite, and Summer Rental with John Candy still has an appeal with 80s kids (like Speedy), but of their other titles that year, what others are really familiar to audiences?

For the record, the remaining Paramount titles of 1985 were:

Compromising Positions (pretty good light mystery vehicle for Susan Sarandon)
Rustlers Rhapsody (spoof of old Roy Rogers fims, with Tom Beringer and Andy Griffith)
That Was Then This Is Now (teen melodrama)
Silver Bullet (Steven King werewolf horror)
Young Sherlock Holmes(really a Victorian set remake of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom)
Macaroni (starring vehicle for Mastroianni and Jack Lemmon)
Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (schlock horror)
Explorers (kiddie sci-fi with River Phoenix and Ethan Hawke)
DARYL (more kiddie sci-fi)

Not the most memorable group.

I don't even remember most of the films on that list! I did see Compromising Positions as I read the book. (the book was better).

If its any comfort, I'm not familiar with most of them either. I saw Witness (very good), Compromising Positions (good), King David (middling), Clue (very funny), and Young Sherlock Holmes (a big letdown). The western spoof could be fun I guess, and while I'm curious about the Lemmon/Mastroianni film, it has seemingly vanished from the face of the earth and cannot be found anywhere except on expensive videotapes.

What an odd combo (Marcello and Lemmon). It must've been pretty bad to disappear like that. I didn't see WItness at the time, but did later on tv.

[Hibi]

That particular scene in FRENZY gave me nightmares.

When Judy opens her hotel door in VERTIGO she has no reaction. Did she already spot him out of the corner of her eye while chatting with those co-workers?

I must admit I do like MARNIE even though I cannot stand Sean Connery's performance. So obnoxious. I as well thought Tippi was perfect in the role and now cannot imagine Grace Kelly as Marnie, even though Grace had that natural icy and remote quality which did suit the character. But Tippi has a kind of plastic, wooden brittleness that works for me here, and compliments the whole "artificialty" of the movie, if that makes any sense.

Could you see the citizens of Monaco watching that film with Grace in the role???? I wonder how she could've even entertained the idea...

The only other time that I can recall Princess Grace really wanting to get back to making another film invoved The turning point in the 1970s. She really wanted to do that one, and her co-star was supposed to be Audrey Hepburn. But then Grace couldn't do it, Aurey dropped out because Grace did (although she would later regret it), and the film ended up with Shirley MacLaine (replacing yet another actress, Joanne Woodward) and Anne Bancroft.

At least that film wasn't tawdry like Marnie. Nothing really anyone in Monaco could complain about. I'd heard she was considered as was Audrey, for The Turning Point, but not sure it ever got beyond the talking stage. Audrey didnt want to leave Rome at the time to film in the U.S. (Robin and Marian being filmed in Spain close by).

[CinemaInternational]

Just thought I would share this.

I received my first "Shut up, fag" response on X (formerly known as Twitter).

I feel honored.

Hopefully there won't be more of those instances for you.

[txfilmfan]

That particular scene in FRENZY gave me nightmares.

When Judy opens her hotel door in VERTIGO she has no reaction. Did she already spot him out of the corner of her eye while chatting with those co-workers?

I must admit I do like MARNIE even though I cannot stand Sean Connery's performance. So obnoxious. I as well thought Tippi was perfect in the role and now cannot imagine Grace Kelly as Marnie, even though Grace had that natural icy and remote quality which did suit the character. But Tippi has a kind of plastic, wooden brittleness that works for me here, and compliments the whole "artificialty" of the movie, if that makes any sense.

Could you see the citizens of Monaco watching that film with Grace in the role???? I wonder how she could've even entertained the idea...

The only other time that I can recall Princess Grace really wanting to get back to making another film invoved The turning point in the 1970s. She really wanted to do that one, and her co-star was supposed to be Audrey Hepburn. But then Grace couldn't do it, Aurey dropped out because Grace did (although she would later regret it), and the film ended up with Shirley MacLaine (replacing yet another actress, Joanne Woodward) and Anne Bancroft.

Would have been interesting to see Hepburn paired with Maclaine again, though I don't know if they were in the running at the same time. Hepburn would've made a more believable aging ballerina than Bancroft, but Bancroft could pull off the bitchy scenes better. That casting might have changed the tone of the film a bit.

[Bronxgirl48]

Oh, Frenzy's rape/murder was much more sick than Marnie's scene was, even though the one in the earlier film was grotesque. With the exception of that scene, I kind of liked Marnie. Tippi does give a wonderful performance, the score is good, and its interesting so see a different type of film from Hitch.

With Vertigo, I generally think the reason why Judy goes through with the later humiliation (which leads to her death) is because, while pretending to be Madeleine, she fell for Scotty and feels bad at what she put him through.

That particular scene in FRENZY gave me nightmares.

When Judy opens her hotel door in VERTIGO she has no reaction. Did she already spot him out of the corner of her eye while chatting with those co-workers?

I must admit I do like MARNIE even though I cannot stand Sean Connery's performance. So obnoxious. I as well thought Tippi was perfect in the role and now cannot imagine Grace Kelly as Marnie, even though Grace had that natural icy and remote quality which did suit the character. But Tippi has a kind of plastic, wooden brittleness that works for me here, and compliments the whole "artificialty" of the movie, if that makes any sense.

Sean Connery was one of those actors who really improved the more he aged. He's OK in many of the 60s films (although I quite like Woman of Straw with Gina Lollobrigida and some of the Bond films), but hes really at his best later on in Robin and Marian and The Russia House.

As for Frenzy, that horrible scene killed the whole movie for me. It still remains one of the most painful and uncomfortable scenes I have ever seen, and I cannot put myself through that film again.

Agree about Sean (although I haven't seen THE RUSSIA HOUSE or ROBIN AND MARIAN). I really like him in WOMAN OF STRAW -- Lollo too.

Yeah, I can't watch FRENZY again...much too disturbing. Afterwards, whenever I saw Barry Foster in another film I'd freak out.

[Bronxgirl48]

Just thought I would share this.

I received my first "Shut up, fag" response on X (formerly known as Twitter).

I feel honored.

So sorry.

[dianedebuda]

Sean Connery was one of those actors who really improved the more he aged. ... hes really at his best later on in Robin and Marian and The Russia House.

Agree about Sean (although I haven't seen THE RUSSIA HOUSE or ROBIN AND MARIAN).

Agree about Sean getting better with age. Wasn't excited about Robin and Marian, but love Russia House - partly because of the score.

[Bronxgirl48]

A MAJORITY OF ONE arrives soon.

New York Jewish widow (Roz Russell) develops a relationship with a lonely Japanese businessman.

Guess who's coming to dinner?

Unfortunately it is not Sessue Hayakawa.

[I Love Melvin]

Sean Connery was one of those actors who really improved the more he aged. ... hes really at his best later on in Robin and Marian and The Russia House.

Agree about Sean (although I haven't seen THE RUSSIA HOUSE or ROBIN AND MARIAN).

Agree about Sean getting better with age. Wasn't excited about Robin and Marian, but love Russia House - partly because of the score.

Not sure what Sean was thinking with Zardoz (1974)....



but I like Sean a lot in Outland (1981) as the "sheriff" in the outer-space "western" with the great Frances Sternhagen. Peter Boyle also.

[kingrat]

Agree about Sean (although I haven't seen THE RUSSIA HOUSE or ROBIN AND MARIAN).

Agree about Sean getting better with age. Wasn't excited about Robin and Marian, but love Russia House - partly because of the score.

Not sure what Sean was thinking with Zardoz (1974)....



but I like Sean a lot in Outland (1981) as the "sheriff" in the outer-space "western" with the great Frances Sternhagen. Peter Boyle also.

I'm guessing that Sean borrowed the Zardoz outfit from Burt Reynolds. Sean is given a very Burt-like look in that shot.

I love the quietly attractive look that Connery has in that still from Outland. It's not a movie star look, and more appealing for that very reason.

[HoldenIsHere]

A MAJORITY OF ONE arrives soon.

New York Jewish widow (Roz Russell) develops a relationship with a lonely Japanese businessman.

Guess who's coming to dinner?

Unfortunately it is not Sessue Hayakawa.

I guess we can be thankful that it's not Mickey Rooney . . .

[Hibi]

Perennial foreign character actor, Alec Guiness!!

[Bronxgirl48]

A MAJORITY OF ONE arrives soon.

New York Jewish widow (Roz Russell) develops a relationship with a lonely Japanese businessman.

Guess who's coming to dinner?

Unfortunately it is not Sessue Hayakawa.

I guess we can be thankful that it's not Mickey Rooney . . .

Oh God yes. "Miss GoRightRy, I protest!"

Although if I'm remembering correctly, Alec Guinness also converts his l's to r's. Plus I think they put latex on his eyes to give him that "authentic", "Asian" look.

[jamesjazzguitar]

Sessue Hayakawa also plays foreign characters. The other night when TCM showed Daughter of the Dragon, Hayakawa played a Chinese detective.