Monthly Archives: August 2017

Dr. No
Directed by Terence Young
Written by Richard Maibaum, Johanna Harwood, and Berkeley Mather from the novel by Ian Fleming
1962/UK/Jamaica
Eon Productions
First viewing/My DVD collection

[box] [James Bond’s first scene, winning a game of chemin-de-fer] James Bond: I admire your courage, Miss…?

Sylvia Trench: Trench. Sylvia Trench. I admire your luck, Mr…?

James Bond: Bond. James Bond.[/box]

A ton of fun right out of the starting gate!

James Bond (Sean Connery) is a “00” agent for the British M16 with a license to kill.  He’s also quite a lady killer when he isn’t dodging the henchmen of Dr. No, the leader of SPECTRE.  Dr. No has plans to disrupt a U.S. space launch and he will kill as many of his foes as necessary to accomplish his mission.  Bond’s mission is to coordinate with the CIA’s Felix Leiter (Jack Lord) to stop him.

Dr. No’s headquarters are located in mysterious Crab Island off the coast of Jamaica. After successfully defeating many assassination attempts, Bond makes it to the island where he meets Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress) collecting shells on the shore.  The two are easily captured by Dr. No.  Fortunately, like all Bond villains, when it comes to Mr. Bond himself, No would rather talk awhile before getting rid of his adversary.  With Bernard Lee as M, Anthony Dawson as a bad guy, and numerous beautiful women

This low-budget effort started the series with all the wit and action that characterized the Sean Connery Bond years.  I have never been able to truly get behind anyone else in the part.  The only things missing are Q and his awesome gadgets.  The DVD came with a very interesting commentary track featuring many of the participants, excepting Connery. Recommended.

Trailer

Kanchenjungha
Directed by Satyajit Ray
Written by Satyajit Ray
1962/India
NCA Productions
First viewing/YouTube

[on whether or not he is a humanist] Not really. I can’t think of being anything else but what is represented by my films. I am not conscious of being a humanist. It’s simply that I am interested in human beings. I would imagine that everyone who makes a film is to some extent interested in human beings… I’m slightly irritated (laughs) by this constant reference to humanism in my work – I feel that there are other elements also. It’s not just about human beings. It’s also a structure, a form, a rhythm, a face, a temple, a feeling for light and shade, composition, and a way of telling a story. — Satyajit Ray

I can’t imagine not liking a film by Satyajit Ray.  I liked his first color film but doubt that I will remember it long.

Wealthy Bengalis vacation in the hill town of Darjeeling in Kashmir.  It is a romantic location and the story concerns three potential romances. The central story concerns Monisha.   Her wealthy father is trying to arrange her marriage with a business man.  Her mother is worried and wants Monisha to decide for herself.  It is clear fairly early on that the self-absorbed and boring intended fiance is not the proper match for the beautiful, sensitive English major.  She strikes up a friendship with an unemployed man of about her age.

There is a side story about the attempts of an unfaithful actress to reconcile with her husband.  My favorite part, naturally, was a minor character who spends his time bird watching and his explanation of his love of birds.

This is quite OK.  If it had focused on just one story it probably would have had more impact.  The color on the YouTube video had lost much of its saturation.

Clip

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner
Directed by Tony Richardson
Written by Alan Sillitoe based on his short story
1962/UK
Woodfall Film Productions
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Colin Smith: Look, I’m nobody’s favorite.[/box]

This was the era of Angry Young Men films in Britain.  So far, I have mostly found the alienated youth to be more infuriating than angry.  Tony Richardson and Tom Courtney make this protagonist totally understandable.

As the film begins teenager Colin Smith (Courtney) is being taken by van to a juvenile detention facility or “Borstal”.  Throughout the film we will get glimpses of his life before incarceration via episodic flashbacks.  The old-school governor of this institution (Michael Redgrave) believes that athletics can channel the boys’ anger into a constructive outlet and give the athletes a sense of pride.  Newer staff, with a bent toward psychology, think that life might be more complicated than that.  At any rate, the governor has finally gotten a local public (read private) school to agree to participate in a Sports Day with his boys. He is determined that they will take the Challenge Cup in cross-country running.

Witnessing Colin’s performance in a friendly soccer game convinces the governor that he has found his runner.  Soon Colin is the governor’s blue-eyed boy and has many special privileges.  In his short life, Colin as never been in such a position.  In fact, the whole thing seems surreal to him as do all his encounters with authority figures and glimpses of middle and upper class life.

Colin comes from a chaotic working class home ruled by a stubborn father and a venal mother.  The father dies a painful death, made more painful by his refusal to go to the hospital or take pain medicine.  The minute the body is cold the mother collects 500 pounds insurance money and throws it away on small luxury items and her new boyfriend.  Colin, already a petty thief, teams up with a friend to “borrow a car” from which they pick up girls.  Later, they take the till from an unattended bakery, landing Colin in his current predicament.  Will Colin take a chance to improve himself or stay true to his origins?

This film works so well because Richardson makes us share Colin’s frustration.  The staff of the Borstal, presenters on television, etc. are so disconnected from the problems of someone like Colin as to seem almost like folks from another planet.  It also helps that Courtney has the sensitivity to show us Colin’s humanity and struggle to find his way in a hard world.  He knows something is wrong somewhere but has no idea how to fix it.  The photography has a semi-documentary quality while remaining beautiful and the music supports the story well.  Very highly recommended,

This was Courtney’s first film.

Trailer

Gay Purr-ee
Directed by Abe Levitow
Written by Chuck and Dorothy Jones
1962/USA
United Productions of America/Warner Bros.
First viewing/Netflix Rental

[box] Meowrice: [singing] When teacher can’t teach you, and preacher can’t preach you, when agents can’t reach you… the money cat can! The money cat knows where the money tree grows![/box]

When I put together my list I was surprised never to have heard of this Disney animated feature.  Might be because it’s not Disney.

Mewsette (voiced by Judy Garland) lives on a farm with her ardent admirer Jaune-Tom (voiced by Robert Goulet) and wise-guy kitten Robespierre (voiced by Red Buttons).  She overhears a friend of the farm owner talking about the high life in Paris and soon starts putting on airs.  She stows away on the friend’s carriage.  Jaune-Tom and Robespierre go off in search of her.

The first cat Mewsette meets is the evil Meow-rice (voiced by Paul Frees).  He puts her into courtesan training with Mme. Rubens-Chatte (voiced by Hermoine Guingold) after which he plans to sell her as the “wife” to a rich, fat old American cat.  Meow-rice also promptly captures Jaune-Tom and Robespierre on their arrival and sells them as ships’ cats.  How will good triumph?  This was Goulet’s first film.

From the cast list and the Harold Arlen/Yip Harburg score you would think this would be great.  I’m in the minority here, perhaps, but I thought it was pretty terrible.  The dialogue and songs just didn’t appeal.  The animation recalls a mish-mash of French painters in the backgrounds.  Your mileage may vary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16KOBWct0CQ

Clip