Daily Archives: July 18, 2015

The Woman in Question (AKA “Five Angles on Murder”)
Directed by Anthony Asquith
Written by John Cresswell
1950/UK
J. Arthur Rank Organization/Javelin Films/Vic Film Productions
First viewing/Hulu

[box] In England when you make a movie, even the weather is against you. In Hollywood the weatherman gets a shooting schedule from all the major studios and then figures out where he can fit in a little rain without upsetting Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer too much. — Anthony Asquith[/box]

Here is another take on the Rashomon theme for 1950 with five versions of the character of a murder victim.  Not an entirely successful treatment, but interesting.

A small boy discovers the strangled body of his mother’s lodger Agnes AKA “Madame Astra” (Jean Kent) in her London flat.  Scotland Yard has very little to go on and begins by inquiring into the life and associates of the victim.  They begin with landlady Mrs. Finch (Hermoine Baddely) who tells the story of a “real lady” who, like her, is worrying about a chronically ill husband and is beset her horrible sister and an awful American caller.

We then get the story as told by the sister and the American (Dirk Bogarde)d, both of which portray a malicious harridan.  Then we hear from a couple of very different admirers, middle-aged pet shop owner Mr. Pollard who did odd-jobs for her and Irish seaman Michael Murray who hoped to marry her.  Just about all of these people had reason to hate the woman and the different interviews also reveal clues to the murder mystery.

This is actually more of a gimmick for telling a murder mystery story rather than anything more profound.  That being the case, one would hope that the mystery itself would be more intriguing.  I guessed the identity of the culprit fairly early on and didn’t care much who did it actually. Your mileage may vary.  Dirk Bogarde certainly could do a convincing American accent.

The Baron of Arizona
Directed by Samuel Fuller
Written by Samuel Fuller
1950/USA
Deputy Corporation
First viewing/Hulu

[box] [repeated line] James Addison ‘The Baron’ Reavis, aka Brother Anthony: I’ve known many women, but with you, I’m afraid.[/box]

Early in his career director Samuel Fuller was making nice low-budget Westerns like this one and was developing some of the style that would characterize him later.  As a bonus, we get Vincent Price as a scoundrel.

The film was based on the true story of James Addison Reavis, here played by Price, who attempted to gain title to most of the then-Territory of Arizona by forging Spanish land grant documents.  Reavis started his career as a humble government clerk who was appalled to see that the federal government recognized the validity of Spanish land grants. He made up his mind to profit from this.

Reavis’s elaborate plan spanned decades.  First, he befriends Pepito (Vladimir Sokoloff) and his little adopted daughter Sofia.  He tells them that Sofia’s parents were the descendents of the Peralta famiily who had been granted most of the current territory of Arizona by King Ferdinand of Spain back in the 18th Century.  This makes Sofia the Baroness of Arizona.  Reavis promises to make her claim a reality and sets to work.  Sofia falls in love with her benefactor when he gives her her first piece of candy.

First, Reavis goes to Mexico and creates a grave and monument for the Peraltas.  Then he sets off for Spain where he gets himself accepted as a monk in the monastery at which land grants of the period were enscribed and preserved.  Through years of patient effort he finally becomes one of the scribes himself, enabling him to use the monastery’s ancient supplies of ink and paper to forge his document.  He then tells the monks he is not cut out for the life and flees.  It turns out another copy of the records was preserved at the home of an aristocrat, so he must enlist the help of some gypsies and seduce the aristocrat’s wife in order to steal these.

His documents secured, Reavis returns to Arizona and marries the patiently waiting Sofia (Ellen Drew).  He presents his proof that she is the Baroness of Arizona and proceeds to extort money from railroads and other entities wishing to do business on “his” land.  This goes pretty well for awhile.  What Reavis had not counted on was the violent reaction of the common settlers to anyone, legitimate or not, taking their farms away from them.  And then there’s that pesky forgery expert who works for the Department of Interior …

I thought this was an interesting story and would like to learn more about the real Reavis.  You have to admire someone who would go to such lengths for long-term gain!  Some of Fuller’s flamboyance in staging is coming through here, as is shown by the huge Arizona map dominating Reavis’s office.  Price is deliciously hammy as always, though he doesn’t go too overboard here.  Worth seeing.

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