Monthly Archives: December 2017

The Fire Within (Le feu follet)
Directed by Louis Malle
Written by Louis Malle from a novel by Pierre Drieu La Rochelle
1963/France
Nouvelles Editions de Films
First viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Alain Leroy: Tomorrow, I kill myself.[/box]

Well-made but too damned depressing.

Alain LeRoy is thirty-something and for four months has resided in a sanitarium in Versailles where his estranged wife placed him for his alcoholism.  His doctor regards him as cured yet Alain is reluctant to leave, believing he will relapse quickly.  The movie begins with a first trip to Paris where he sleeps with a friend of his wife.  He returns to the sanitarium where he begins to plan his suicide for the next day.

Instead of shooting himself, Alain makes another trip to Paris to say good-bye to old friends, mostly from his drinking days.  Despite all the joy and life of Paris and the obvious love of his friends, Alain relapses.  What will happen the next day?

I don’t know what it is about 1963 but it seems to have been dominated by madcap comedies and complete downers.  This falls into the later category.  Malle shows us some stunning views of Parisian life but can’t overcome his plot.

I have a real problem with suicide in general.  I know that the people are mentally ill by this point but it seems like the ultimate act of selfishness to me.  Thus I had little empathy for Alain and his self-absorbed plight.

Clip

Tom Jones
Directed by Tony Richardson
Written by John Osborne from the novel by Henry Fielding
1963/UK
Woodfall Film Productions
Repeat viewing/FilmStruck

[box] Narrator: Heroes, whatever high ideas we may have of them, are mortal and not divine. We are all as God made us, and many of us much worse.[[/box]

Although the young Albert Finney continues to be very easy on the eyes, I don’t think this film has aged all that well.

The film is based on the ribald picaresque Georgian novel and is set in the same period. Tom Jones (Finney) was found abandoned in the bed of Squire Allworthy, adopted and raised as Allworthy’s own son.  The bastard grows up to be a scamp and babe magnet who can’t resist bedding his many conquests.  His heart, however, belongs to the fair Sophia (Susannah York), daughter of Allworthy’s neighbor Squire Western (Hugh Griffith). She loves him too but may be unwillingly forced to marry Tom’s rotten cousin.  Eventually the cousin arranges to trick Allworthy into kicking Tom out of his house.

The remainder of the story covers Tom’s many adventures, both romantic and otherwise, on the road.  Sophia has run away from home and has some adventures of her own before the two are reunited.  With Edith Evans as Allworthy’s sister; Diane Cliento as a wild poacher’s daughter; Joyce Redman as the randy Mrs. Waters; and Joan Greenwood as Lady Belleston, an aristrocratic conquest of Tom’s.

This movie is an epic comedy that is mainly various set pieces strung together as a story.  I remember it being better than it seemed to me this time around.  The comedy is broad and didn’t work as well.  There’s a kind of dated flavor of “Swinging Sixties” “Swinging England”. On the other hand Finney and the scenery are gorgeous and the various supporting actresses are accomplished.

Tom Jones won Academy Awards for Best Picture; Best Director; Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium; and Best Music, Score – Substantially Original. It was nominated in the categories of Best Actor; Best Supporting Actress (Diane Cliento, Edith Evans and Joyce Redman); and Best Art Direction – Set Decoration, Color.

Trailer

I Fidanzati (The Fiances)
Directed by Ermanno Olmi
Written by Ermanno Olmi
1963/Italy
22 Dicembre/Sicilia Cinematografica/Titanus
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental

[box] “Absence makes the heart grow fonder, but it sure makes the rest of you lonely.” ― Charles M. Schulz[/box]

This is a charming combination of a unique kind of love story with tender travelogue of Sicily.

Milanese Giovanni has accepted an 18-month transfer to his company’s plant in Sicily.  It will mean a promotion for him and separation from his long-time fiancee Liliana.  She is now barely speaking to him.  They part on very tense terms.

In Sicily, the lonely Giovanni begins to pine for his sweetheart.  The two begin a tentative correspondence in which they both reveal the feeling that had been surpressed by over-familiarity.  Giovanni also explores the wonders of an alien way of life.

It’s a simple story, sweetly told.  I was thinking I could have used more love story but I wouldn’t have wanted to miss any of the gorgeous shots of Sicily either.

Clip – this was my favorite part!

Johnny Cool
Directed by William Asher
Written by Joseph Landon from a novel by John McPartland
1963/USA
Chrislaw Productions
First viewing/YouTube

[box] Johnny Colini: In your hills you have been a glorious success, we’ll now see what you do with a mountain, America. You prove you can be the son of Colini and in a few years when I have gone, you will inherit my kingdom.[/box]

Is this the first American Cosa Nostra film?

As the movie begins, the police seem to have shot down Salvatore Giordano (Henry Silva), a Robin Hood type gangster who works in the hills of Sicily.  American mobster Johnny Colini AKA “Johnny Cool” has actually spirited Giorgano away to Rome.  In return, Johnny expects to train Giordano in the ways of America and turn him into a killing machine to do away with the men who double crossed him.

Years pass and Giordano is ready to roll.  He adopts his mentor’s moniker and cleverly and violently goes about his business.  Will bad girl Darien Guiness (Elizabeth Montgomery) be his undoing?  The film was produced by Peter Lawford and includes small parts for Rat Pack members Sammy Davis Jr. and Joey Bishop.

With a title like Johnny Cool, how could I resist!  In reality this is just OK though it was fun to see the always execellent Silva in an all too rare leading role and Elizabeth “Bewitched” Montgomery as a hussy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRkVFbwwS60

Trailer

The List of Adrian Messenger
Directed by John Huston
Written by Anthony Veiller from a story by Philip MacDonald
1963/USA
Joel Productions
First viewing/YouTube

[box] Adrian Messenger: There’s nary a conspiracy. And if I’m right about this, it’s a far older sin than politics.[/box]

John Huston makes a wildly improbable mystery fun.

Adrian Messenger asks his friend retired MI-5 officer Anthony Gethryn (George C. Scott) to investigate the whereabouts of eleven people on a list.  He refuses to say what the people have in common or why he needs to know.  Gethryn agrees.  Before he can report back, Messenger has been killed in a plane crash that looks suspiciously like it was due to a planted bomb.  Eventually, Gethryn discovers that all but one of the men on the list has died in an “accident”, all of which now could be explained as murder.

It is not a spoiler to reveal that a heavily disguised man played by Kirk Douglas had a hand in all the murders.  I won’t reveal his true identity or motive.  With Dana Wynter as Messenger’s cousin, Herbert Marshall as an MI-5 man and a bunch of surprise cameos by big stars of the period.

It defies belief that a person could hope to be successful in the extremely labor-intensive mass murders committed in this film. Even without suspending my disbelief, I really enjoyed the film.  George C. Scott is excellent as usual and Huston makes the whole thing look good and move along nicely.  Recommended.

Clip – may be a spoiler but takes place early in the film