Daily Archives: April 11, 2016

Le coup du berger
Directed by Jacques Rivette
Written by Jacques Rivette, Claude Chabrol, and Charles H. Bitsch
1956/France
Les Films de Peliade
First viewing/Hulu

[box] “Unseen in the background, Fate was quietly slipping lead into the boxing-glove.” ― P.G. Wodehouse, Very Good, Jeeves![/box]

This is short, sweet, and amusing – a little like an O. Henry story.

A married woman receives a beautiful fur from her lover and would like to take it home and wear it.  But how?  The two cook up a scheme involving a suitcase and a “lost” claim ticket.  Things don’t work out as planned.

The plot is narrated as moves in a chess game.  The movie is only 28 minutes long and lighter than air.  I enjoyed it.

This film was Rivette’s first using 35 mm and sound.

Clip – no subtitles

Rock Around the Clock
Directed by Fred F. Sears
Written by Robert E. Kent and James B. Gordon
1956/USA
Clover Productions
First viewing/Netflix rental

[box] If it’s illegal to rock and roll, throw my ass in jail! — Kurt Cobain [/box]

I wouldn’t recommend this for the plot or dialogue but I had a lot of fun with the music and dancing.

Steve Hollis (Johnny Johnston) has been managing dance bands.  This particular band has been fired again from its latest gig.  Steve explains that people don’t like to dance any more – they prefer to listen.  The band fires him before he has a chance to quit and Steve and the bass player head back to New York where he has an uneasy relationship with a female booking agent.  They stop overnight on the way in a small town.  Everybody there is heading to a big dance.  Steve wants to see what all the commotion is about and is introduced to Bill Haley and His Comets and rock and roll music.  Steve sees this as the future of music and arranges to manage the band and the brother-sister act they have leading the dancing.  He falls for the sister half of the act.

In New York, the booking agent, who lusts after Steve, conspires to ruin him and his act. Finally, Steve looks up real life DJ (“Mr. Rock’n’Roll) Alan Freed who owes him a favor. They put together a review with the Comets, another white rock group, and The Platters, who sing Doo-Wop.  Everyone lives happily ever after.

Bill Haley has never been a big favorite of mine but he made me tap my feet along with the beat here.  The Platters are also great.  It’s completely predictable but enjoyable if you share my affection for the music.

Clip