Daily Archives: May 28, 2018

Seven Up! (1964)

Posted on May 28, 2018 | Leave a comment

Seven Up!
Directed by Michael Apted
1964/UK
Granada Television
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Nicholas Hitchon: If I could change the world, I’d turn it into a diamond.[/box]

Director Michael Apted has made documentaries of the lives of the same English people every seven years for the last six decades. The beginning was this half-hour TV program.

The premise of the documentary is to cover seven-year olds from all regions and social strata of England – the people that will be 40 in the year 2000. He sure chose well.

I love this entire series. It’s fascinating to see how the kids change and stay the same.

56 Up Trailer includes clips from this film

The Locked Door (1929)

Posted on May 28, 2018 | Leave a comment

The Locked Door
Directed by George Fitzmaurice
Written by C. Gardner Sullivan from a play by Channing Pollock
1929/USA
George Fitzmaurice Productions/Feature Productions
First viewing/YouTube

[box] Frank Devereaux: Oh, I like you in a temper. I want to hold you close, knowing you don’t want to be held.[/box]

Barbara Stanwyck’s first credited movie role was the lead in this clunky early talkie.

Cad Frank Devereaux (Rod LaRoque) lures nice girl Ann Carter out to dine on a floating saloon that stays in international waters. He has set up a private dining room and locks the door when she rejects his advances. She is saved only by a police raid on the boat, which has drifted into U.S. waters.

A couple of years later, Ann has married her wealthy boss. Frank surfaces again to seduce his sister to run away with him. This time it’s Ann to the rescue …

This melodrama may set the record for most unbelievable ccincidences in the last ten minutes. Even Stanwyck comes off somewhat stilted. I lay the blame on early sound technology.

Montage of clips

Only Yesterday (1933)

Posted on May 28, 2018 | 2 comments

Only Yesterday
Directed by John M. Stahl
Written by William Hurlburt, Arthur Richman and George O’Neill from a play by Frederick Lewis Allen
1933/USA
Universal Pictures
First viewing/YouTube

Perhaps I’ll get used to this bizarre place called Hollywood, but I doubt it. — Margaret Sullavan

This is an OK melodrama but more of interest as Margaret Sullavan’s screen debut.

Southern belle Mary Lane (Sullavan) has loved Jim Emerson (John Boles) from afar for years. One fateful night he declares his love and they have what is to be a brief fling. He is called up to service in WWI the next day. She is left pregnant. When he returns he does not even recognize her. She decides to keep the child a secret. He marries shortly thereafter.

Ten years later they meet again. Jim, still oblivious, attempts another seduction … With Bille Burke as Mary’s free-thinking aunt.

The plot has many similarities to Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948). It is played for maximum pathos. Sullavan started out strong and got even better when she had a chance to do comedy.