Category Archives: 1957

Black River (Kuroi kawa)
Directed by Masaki Kobayashi
Written by Zenzô Matsuyama; story by Takeo Tomishima
1957/Japan
Shochiku Eiga
First viewing/Hulu

[box] No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man. –Heraclitus [/box]

Kobayashi attacks post-War degeneration.

Nishida, a student, moves into a squalid tenement to save money.  The landlady (Isuzu Yamada) is a grasping crone who constantly harasses the tenants for the rent.  Most of these are involved in prostitution and other criminal pursuits connected to the nearby U.S. naval base.

Nishida is decent and normal.  He attracts the attention of sweet Shizuko.  Unfortunately, she has already caught the eye of Jo (Tatsuya Nakadai), the thoroughly heartless leader of all the area’s criminal activities.  He plots to have her by sending a gang of his thugs to attack and rob her.  He then “rescues” her and while she is barely conscious has his way with her.  Rather than going to the police, Shizuko begs him to marry her the next day.  He thinks this is hilarious and roughs her up.  So naturally she becomes his “woman”.

Jo and the landlady start conspiring with some corrupt businessmen and government officials to tear down the tenement in order to put up a love hotel.  This requires the consents from all the tenants but those that cannot be obtained are forged.

Meanwhile, Shizuko is miserable and keeps trying, and failing, to meet with her true love Nishida.  Finally, she is tempted to take drastic action to extricate herself from her relationship with Jo.

This is a savage film featuring characters, other than the two young lovers, that represent the absolute dregs of humanity.  Nakadai is fabulous as the personification of evil.  I wasn’t crazy about the dissonant modern jazz score but otherwise I liked Black River, though it’s not something I need to see again.

Curse of the Demon (AKA Night of the Demon)
Directed by Jacques Tourneur
Written by Charles Bennett and Charles E. Chester from the story “Casting the Runes” by M.R. James
1957/UK
Columbia Pictures Corporation/Sabre Film Productions
Repeat viewing/Amazon Instant

[box] Dr. John Holden: Well, after this afternoon, I must confess there are a few things I don’t know. [/box]

This scary movie would have been even scarier without the demon.  Nonetheless, it is pretty darn scary.

As the movie opens, Professor Harrington pays a call on Julian Karswell (Niall MacGuiness) to tell him he was absolutely right.  But it is too late.  As he leaves, he sees a flash of light, followed by the apparation of a huge demon which slays him.  His death is chalked up to electrocution by a falling power pole.

Segue to the arrival of Dr.  John Holden (Dana Andrews) in London.  Holden is a famous skeptic about paranormal activities and was invited to present a paper at a conference hosted by Harrington.  He goes to the British Museum to do some research in a rare book on witchcraft.  He is informed that the book is missing and was the only one of its kind.  But Karswell appears in the reading room to tell Holden that he has a copy and, by the way, he will die on Oct. 28.  Holden remains a skeptic.  He meets Harrington’s niece Joanna (Peggy Cummins) at the funeral. Joanna is a believer and they team up to visit Karswell.

On arrival at Karswell’s country estate, the couple finds him performing magic tricks for children as the world’s creepiest clown.  The rest of the movie follows the many horrifying events that eventually persuade Holden of the error of his ways.

Tourneur didn’t want to show the demon but he was vetoed by the studio.  The studio was wrong.  The demon isn’t half bad but is obviously mechanical.  Tourneur could have done much more with his lights and shadows.  Nonetheless, Curse of the Demon delivers several genuine thrills. It is my second favorite of the director’s films after Cat People.  Highly recommended.

Trailer

Bitter Victory
Directed by Nicholas Ray
Written by Rene Hardy, Nicholas Ray, and Gavin Lambert from Hardy’s novel
1957/France/USA
Columbia Pictures Corporation/Transcontinental Films/Robert Laffont Productions
First viewing/Netflix rental

Capt. Leith: You’re afraid to go in and kill with your bare hands. That’s what makes a soldier and destroys you as a man.

I wasn’t crazy about this one.

The setting is WWII Cairo.  A general must decide which of two men will head a highly dangerous mission to Bengazi to steal Nazi secrets.  Major Brand (Curd Jürgens) is a career soldier and doesn’t speak Arabic.  Captain Leith (Richard Burton) is a recruit and spent years in the Middle East as an archaeologist.  Early on we discover that Leith had an affair with Brand’s wife Jane (Ruth Roman) before the war and her marriage.  She is still in love with him.  Their reunion was pretty public so the whole base knows.  In the end, the general decides to send both men on the mission, with Brand in command.

On the mission, several Nazi guards must be knifed and Brand proves himself to be incapable of killing at close range.  Leith needles him about his cowardice for the rest of the movie.  Brand finds numerous ways to retaliate.

I felt that this movie didn’t have enough story to fit the running time.  We get the same situation and even approximately the same dialogue over and over again.  Curd Jurgens casting did not help.  He just can’t help coming off as darned macho and stolid, probably more so than Burton.  He doesn’t make you believe in his cowardice or his treachery.

Clip

Time Without Pity
Directed by Joseph Losey
Written by Ben Barzman from a play by Emlyn Williams
1957/UK
Harlequin Productions Ltd.
First viewing/Hulu

[box] Brian Stanford: I got the impression you were about to write the greatest novel ever written. Did you?

David Graham: In common with quite a lot of other writers… I had been about to write it for a very long time. [/box]

I loved the acting and direction but thought the story let the film down.

As the movie starts, we witness Robert Stanford (Leo McKern) go into a rage and murder a dancer.  We segue to the present.  Novelist David Graham (Michael Redgrave) returns to England.  He is met at the airport by his son’s lawyer Jeremy Clayton (Peter Cushing). David’s son Alec is to be executed the next day.  David rushes to the prison.  Alec is not happy to see him.  David had been in a sanitarium recovering from his chronic alcoholism and had not written to the boy since before the murder.  Alec is resigned to his fate and does not want his father to rock the boat now.

David, however, cannot resist trying to prove his son’s innocence in the few hours remaining to him.  The investigation centers on the Stanford family, with whom Alec lived. Obviously, Robert is not anxious to help David but his wife Honor (Ann Todd) loves Alec and defies her husband.  The investigation does not start well and at each setback David starts drinking again.  Can he stay sober long enough to clear his son before the hangman gets to him?

This movie looks good and this cast is a strong one.  The problem is the plot.  It is far too complicated for something that is supposed to span only a few hours.  When all the drinking is added in as a challenge, it becomes completely implausible.  I thought the ending was a cheat as well.  Pity as I was looking forward to this.

Clip

Mister Rock and Roll
Directed by Charles S. Dubin
Written by James Blumgarten
1957/USA
Aurora Productions LLC
First viewing/Amazon Prime

[box] It’s natural that kids should look for excitement and thrills. Well I’d rather that they find it in the theater than in street gangs. I say that if kids have any interest in any kind of music, thank God for it. Because if they have the interest, they can find themselves in it. And as they grow up, they broaden out and come to enjoy all kinds of music. – Alan Freed[/box]

Let’s just say that Alan Freed had a pretty square definition of rock and roll.

The music is woven around the standard plot.  An evil newspaper editor condemns rock and roll as Satan’s music and Alan Freed proves it is wholesome.  In this case, he calls on all teenagers to donate to the Heart Fund in support of their favorite music.  There is also a romance.

To start out with the positive, we do get to see Little Richard and Chuck Berry perform “Lucille” and “Baby Doll”, respectively.  Aside from that, it’s pretty dire.  There are way too many drippy ballads and too much dippy comic relief.  Some of it comes from boxer Rocky Graziano, who is more likable than the actual comedians.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1OAe-4Lmfk

Clip

Jailhouse Rock
Directed by Richard Thorpe
Written by Guy Trosper; story by Nedrick Young
1957/USA
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Avon Productions
First viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Vince Everett: That ain’t tactics, honey. It’s just the beast in me.[/box]

This better-than-average vehicle for Elvis is a lot of fun.

Vince Everett (Elvis Presley) is minding his own business in a bar when he is forced to come to the defense of a lady who is being manhandled by her boyfriend.  In the ensuing fistfight, the man dies and Vince is convicted of manslaughter and sent to the pen.  There, he shares a cell with the prison’s deal-maker Hunk Houghton (Mickey Shaughnessy), an ex-country singer.  Hunk shows him the ropes.  Vince eventually shows some talent for singing.  Hunk contrives to hide his popularity from him and they agree to become 50-50 partners after their release.  A whipping makes Vince hard and bitter.

After Vince is released, he looks up Hunk’s old manager, who refuses to give him a chance.  He gets on stage to prove his stuff and Peggy Van Allen, a pretty record promoter, takes him on.  They are clearly on the road to romance but Vince’s obsession with fame and money stands in the way.  Vince’s stardom makes him more obnoxious than ever.  When will he ever see the light?

This has more of a plot than a lot of these things, some classic songs by Lieber and Stoller (the title tune, “You’re So Square”, and “Treat Me Nice”) and the “Jailhouse Rock” production number, in which Elvis shows off some pretty impressive dance moves.  I had fun watching it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qka6JrKUM5U

Clip

Pyaasa
Directed by Guru Dutt
Written by Abrar Alvi
1957/India
Guru Dutt Films Pvt. Ltd.
First viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Vijay: Apne shauk ke liye pyaar karti hai aur apne aaram ke liye pyar bechti hai. [Love, for her, is a hobby that she can barter for material pleasures][/box]

IMDb users rate this Bollywood extravaganza very highly (8.5/10), so I was hopeful.  Alas, it was not for me.

Vijay is a poor, struggling poet.  He has written a book dedicated to his college love Meena.  When he tries to sell his manuscript, the publisher sells it as waste paper.  A rich girl buys the book from the waste paper seller and falls in love with Vijay from afar but his heart still belongs to the venal Meena, who has married an evil rich guy.  Vijay has some evil brothers.  There is also a comic character who peddles scalp massages in the street.  A lot of singing and two hours of plot precedes the happy ending.

I don’t have a lot to say about this one.  Nothing about it grabbed me.  On the other hand, if you are looking for a Bollywood musical you could definitely do worse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKcaNydkNMg

Clip

The Three Faces of Eve
Directed by Nunnally Johnson
Written by Nunnally Johnson from a book by Corbett Thigpen and Hervey M. Cleckley
1957/USA
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Eve Black: Honey, there are a lot of things you’ve never seen me do before. That’s no sign I don’t do ’em.[/box]

The psychiatry is perhaps a little dated but Joanne Woodward is worth the price of admission.

Ralph White (David Wayne) is concerned about his mousey wife Eve (Woodward).  She has been having spells she can’t remember, during which she has been behaving very oddly.  Her doctor refers her to a psychiatrist, Dr. Curtis Luther (Lee J. Cobb).  Despite his misgivings, Ralph takes her.  Luther treats Eve for some time.  Suddenly, he witnesses one of her spells and Eve Black introduces herself.  The extroverted, hard-drinking, provocative Eve Black says she is the one responsible for the odd behavior.  She knows all about Eve White but Eve knows nothing about her.  Thus, Eve is finally diagnosed with multiple-personality disorder and hospitalized.  Luther explains her condition to Ralph but Ralph is a sceptic, believing that his wife may be faking to get away with forbidden behavior.

The road to health for Eve is a long one.  Eve Black’s encounter with Ralph eventually leads to the couple’s divorce.  Before the story is over, a third personality will emerge.

Woodward, a new-comer at the time, is pretty spectacular.  I think Eve Black is supposed to be the scary villain of the piece but Woodward makes her so much fun you are almost sad to see her go.  One gets the feeling that Eve’s problems and treatment must have been much more complicated than could be portrayed here. The film succeeds in entertaining – all anyone can really ask.

Joan Woodward won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in The Three Faces of Eve.

Trailer

The Wings of Eagles
Directed by John Ford
Written by Frank Fenton and William Wister Haines based on the life and writings of Frank Wead
1957/USA
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
First viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Frank W. ‘Spig’ Wead: [while trying to regain nerve control of his toes in the hospital] I’m gonna move that toe![/box]

Obviously, the filmmakers thought a lot of Spig Wead.  Pity they couldn’t make his story more exciting.

This is the story of a man who championed Naval aviation both in the sky and in Hollywood.  As the story begins, Spig (John Wayne) is a cadet in the first class of naval aviators.  He married to Min (Maureen O’Hara) and has a baby son.  Before he has qualified to solo, he takes the controls in a “borrowed” plane with an army pilot and then crash lands into the admiral’s tea party. As we follow his story, we learn that Spig is big on brawling, drinking and insubordination.  Despite this, he is universally loved – even by the brass.

The one person who is not a total fan is his long-suffering wife.  She hates the Navy and refuses to move to Washington when Spig is assigned there.  Nevertheless, it is obvious that she loves him passionately.

Spig had been scheduled to participate in an Army v. Navy contest to fly around the world.  The Navy is forced to drop out.  He is on the winning team in another competition.  Then he reunites with Min and his two girls but a tragic accident means his flying days are over.

We watch his lengthy struggle to walk again.  He is retired from the Navy and becomes a novelist.  Then he is called to Hollywood to write pictures about the Navy.  World War II gives him an opportunity to return to active duty.

The plot has several strands but each of them just kind of peter out in the end.  Ford is in comic mode for most of the film – not his forte.  The stars are their usual charming selves.

No good clip or trailer so here is a tribute to the collaborations of Wayne and O’Hara