Daily Archives: September 19, 2015

Bellisima (1952)

Bellisima
Directed by Luchino Visconti
Written by Suso Cecci D’Amico, Francesco Rosi, and Luchino Visconti; story by Cesare Zavattini
1952/Italy
CEI Incom
First viewing/Amazon Instant

[box] It’s difficult being a child actor. I don’t think everything beautiful has to be exploited. Some things can be beautiful and left beautiful. — Rick Schroeder[/box]

This had some nice moments, especially near the end, but way too much yelling to be enjoyable for me.

Maddelena Cecconi (Anna Magnani) lives with her blue-collar worker husband and their only child, Maria.  She contributes to the household income by giving injections to diabetics and to people looking to build up their strength.  When Maddelena hears that a director at Cinecitta is holding an open audition for a little girl to appear in his next film, she is right there with Maria.

Maddelena isn’t too smart but she is absolutely determined. She soon finds herself surrounded by vultures who are offering their services to improve Maria’s chances in her call-back. One of these manages to get hold of the money that the family had saved to buy a house. Maddelena is also blind to Maria’s lack of enthusiasm for the entire project.

I like Anna Magnani as an actress but she shouted continuously during this movie – even when she was not necessarily angry. I think it’s an accurate presentation of a certain type of Italian woman but it still got on my nerves. She has some nice moments at the end (see clip). My favorite character was her husband. This is a highly rated movie and other viewers might love it.

 

Clip – no subtitles but will be a spoiler if you understand

Monkey Business (1952)

Monkey Business
Directed by Howard Hawks
Written by Ben Hecht, Charles Lederer, and I.A.L. Diamond; story by Harry Segall
1952/USA
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
First viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Lois Laurel: [at her secretrial desk, responding to Barnaby’s remark that she is at work early] Mr. Oxley’s been complaining about my punctuation, so I’m careful to get here before nine.[/box]

I don’t think I’ve ever really liked a comedy with a chimpanzee in it.

Dr, Barnaby Fulton (Cary Grant) is the epitome of the absent-minded scientist.  His wife Edwina (Ginger Rogers) understands him completely.  Today they can’t even get out of the house to go to a dance.  Barnaby is preoccupied with his experiments on an anti-aging drug.

Barnaby’s boss Mr. Oxley (Charles Coburn) is getting on in years and is eager for results. Barnaby has been experimenting on chimpanzees.  The audience is allowed to know that a mixture created by one of the chimps and dumped in the water supply as changed an old chimp into a frisky six-month old.  Barnaby doesn’t know this and decides to test the formula on himself.  It works immediately, turning him into a 20-year-old with perfect vision. He gets a youthful haircut, wardrobe and convertible and goes on a spree with Mr. Oxley’s secretary Lois (Marilyn Monroe).

In a few hours, the formula wears off.  Barnaby intends to continue his experiments but before he can drink down an additional done, Edwina downs it herself.  It works a treat on her as well.  Increased doses later turn both of them into young kids.  Hijinks aplenty ensue. With Hugh Marlow as a family friend with a crush on Edwina.

This is just the sort of silly, frenetic fifties comedy with lots of double entendres that just isn’t for me.  Your mileage may vary.

Trailer