Flickers in Time

Picnic
Directed by Joshua Logan
Written by Daniel Taradash from the play by William Inge
1955/USA
Columbia Pictures Corporation
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Helen Potts: At a picnic everybody disappears. Don’t you remember, Flo?[/box]

This movie just screams 50’s steaming repressed sexuality.  And I mean that in the best possible way.

Drifter Hal Carter (William Holden) hits a small town on the morning of it’s Labor Day picnic and gets every woman he meets into an uproar.  There is Milly Owens (Susan Strasberg), a bookworm and tomboy, seething with resentment at her older sister Madge (Kim Novak) “the pretty one”.  And Madge herself, praised only for her looks, and being thrown at the richest guy in town (Cliff Roberts).  The Owen’s roomer Rosemary Sidney (Rosalind Russell), a spinster school teacher whose bravado conceals a host of insecurities, can’t take her eyes off him either.  He makes the girls’ mother (Betty Fields) very, very nervous and even old Mrs. Potts next door does not hide her soft spot for the man.

Truth to tell, Hal has plenty of problems of his own.  He grew up in squalor and got to college on a football scholarship then flunked out and has struggled ever since.  He can’t seem to keep out of trouble.  He has come to town to see if his former college roommate, Madge’s boyfriend, will give him a job.

Hal’s sexual magnetism interferes with everybody’s plans at the picnic.  While Madge and Hal are drawn ever closer, Rosemary’s frustration reaches the breaking point.  With Arthur O’Connell as Rosemary’s boyfriend.

The scent of Freudian psychology wafts strongly over the entire plot and dates the picture. However, the performances are so strong that I didn’t mind.  Holden seems about ten years too old for his part but, when he takes his shirt off so many times, I really can’t complain.  For me, the most memorable player is Rosalind Russell.  Her desperation is almost painful.  I read that she asked not to be pushed for a Best Supporting Actress nomination, because she had always been a star.  I love the score.  Recommended.

Picnic won Academy Awards in the categories of Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color and Best Film Editing.  It was nominated in the categories of Best Picture; Best Director; Best Actor in a Supporting Role (O’Connell); and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture.

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The dance – sexier than 99% of the post-Code sex scenes IMHO

The Long Gray Line
Directed by John Ford
Written by Edward Hope based on “Bringing Up the Brass” by Marty Maher
1955/USA
Columbia Pictures Corporation/Rota Productions
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental

Old Martin: Do you have the Irish, woman of the house?
Mary O’Donnell: I have.

This is John Ford at his most Irish, patriotic, and sentimental.  Nonetheless, I enjoyed it.

This is based on the true story of Marty Maher who spent 50 years as a non-commissioned officer at West Point training and coaching cadets in various sports.

Maher (Tyrone Power) is fresh off the boat when he is hired as a waiter at the Point. His main talent seems to be breaking dishes.  He finds it is cheaper to enlist than continue to pay for his breakages.  Soon after, he gets into a slugfest with one of the cadets and is spotted by the “Master of the Swords” Captain Kohler (Ward Bond) for his wicked right cross.  After a try out, he starts training the cadets in boxing.

Early on, Maher falls in love with Mary O’Donnell (Maureen O’Hara), a recent Irish emigre whom the Kohler’s have hired as a cook.  After a comic and one-sided romance, they are wed.  Maher wants to return to Ireland but Mary eventually gets her way by bringing his father (Donald Crisp) and brother over.

The story continues in a Good-Bye Mr. Chips-type vein through generations of new cadets, all of whom grow to love the avunclar Maher.  Good times and bad times abound all accompanied by regular doses of choral singing.  With Robert Francis, Harry Carey Jr., and Peter Graves as cadets and Betsy Palmer as one of their girls.

This is all pretty calculated but it did bring a tear to my eye.  Somehow Ford makes things work for me that really shouldn’t.  It’s always nice to see his stock company together again.  I thought Power was excellent and did well with his Irish accent.

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Lady and the Tramp
Directed by Clyde Geronomini, Wilfred Jackson et al
Written by Ward Greene, Erdman Penner et al
1955/USA
Walt Disney Productions
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Si, Am: We are Siamese if you please. We are Siamese if you don’t please.[/box]

What’s not to like?

Jim Dear surprises Darling with a special present at Christmas.  It’s a Golden Cocker Spaniel puppy that the couple name Lady for her dainty ways.  In between tending to her owners, Lady makes friends with the Scottish Terrier and Bloodhound  who are neighbors. She is very proud when she turns six months old and gets to wear a license on her collar.

Then the owners start acting funny and paying less attention to her.  The mutt Tramp, who has an eye for the ladies, shows up about this time to inform Lady that this signals the arrival of a newborn who will be nothing but trouble.

After the baby is born, the couple leave him and Lady with a relative while they take a short trip.  This relative is a cat lover who misinterprets Lady’s every move.  Lady flees and Tramp shows her the wonders of a carefree and collarless life.  With the voice of Peggy Lee, who co-wrote the music, as Darling, the cats Si and Am, and the dog Peg.

This is not up there with the earliest Disney features but is thoroughly enjoyable.  The Italian restaurant scene is iconic and those cats kill me.  Recommended.

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To Hell and Back (1955)
Directed by Jesse Hibbs
Written by Gil Doud from Audie Murphy’s autobiolgraphy
1955/USA
Universal International Pictures
First viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Kerrigan: [after a jumpy Murphy shoots at his own image in a mirror] Man, that’s the first time I ever seen a Texan beat himself to the draw.[/box]

Here is a rare biopic in which the subject is played by himself.

This is the story of Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier in U.S. combat history.  He is raised by an abandoned single mother and quits school at age twelve to take a full time job with a nearby farmer and help care for his numerous younger siblings.  The farmer is an ex-marine who constantly bemoans leaving the service.  Pearl Harbor is attacked. Audie’s mother dies shortly thereafter and his brothers and sisters are placed in foster homes because Audie is still a minor.  He tries to enlist as a seventeen-year-old and is rejected by the Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force before being accepted by the Army.

Audie gets his wish and is assigned to combat duty.  His commanding officer does not think he will be fit for combat based on his medical history but Audie prevails and stays with his unit.  The unit is sent to North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and France in turn.  The remainder of the story is devoted to the young soldier’s rise through the ranks and the acts of heroism that earned him 27 U.S. medals, including the Congressional Medal of Honor, and several honors from France and Belgium by the time he was 19 years old.   With Marshall Thompson as Audie’s army buddy and Susan Kohner, in her debut, as an Italian who befriends him.

Aside from his devotion to duty, Audie Murphy was blessed with good looks and fair acting ability.  This is nothing earth shattering but is an enjoyable combat film.

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Princess Yang-Kwei Fei (Yôhiki)
Directed by Kenji Mizoguchi
Written by Ching Doe, Matsutarô Kawaguchi, Yoshikata Yoda, and Masashige Narusawa
1955/Japan/Hong Kong
Daiei Studios/Shaw Brothers
First viewing/Hulu

“China is a big country, inhabited by many Chinese.” ― Charles de Gaulle

Mizoguchi’s first color film features another tale of female suffering and sacrifice, this time in 8th Century China.

The story begins with a scene of the aged Emperor Xuan Zong (Masayuki Mori) reflecting on his life and pining for the eponymous heroine.  We then segue into the flashback which lasts for almost all of the film.

The emperor spends his time grieving over the loss of his favorite wife and composing music.  A General from the Yang family thinks he can capitalize on the situation.  He spots a distant relative (Machiko Kyô) working as a scullery maid and after cleaning her up finds she has a striking resemblance to the dead wife.  Not consulting her desires, she is immediately packed off to the palace.

The emperor is less than enthusiastic but discovers that the girl is a decent human who doesn’t like the situation any more than he does.  He then falls in love with her and marries her.  She receives the title of Princess and her greedy relatives all get positions at court.

The emperor and princess enjoy some hours of pleasant company before tragedy strikes. The army works up a great rage against the corrupt officials from the Yang family.  Can the emperor protect his beloved princess?

This looks good and is well acted.  I can’t think of much else to say.  I did feel a lot of sympathy for the leads so it worked pretty well on me.

Love Me or Leave Me
Directed by Charles Vidor
Written by Daniel Fuchs and Isobel Lennart, story by Fuchs
1955/USA
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
First viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Martin Snyder: [Indignantly to Ruth] Now look here, you stupid little broad, do you know who I am? Do you think I let dames talk to me that way?[/box]

Strong performances by James Cagney and Doris Day raise this musical biopic above the average.

It is the Roaring Twenties.  Marty (‘The Gimp’) Snyder (Cagney) runs a laundry to restaurants and clubs in Chicago that mainly functions as a protection racket.  Ruth Etting (Day) is working as a dancer in one of the clubs he “services”, a job at which she has no talent.  Marty spots her in the line and decides she will make a great next girlfriend.  The feisty Ruth gives him the brush off until he figures out what she really wants – to be a singer.  With his contacts in the city, he offers to get her work.  Ruth needs the help but resists Martin’s sexual advances. Pianist Johnny Alderman (Cameron Mitchell), who is sweet on Ruth, warns her against getting trapped by Marty.

Marty is surprised to discover that his protege has real talent.  Once she has a venue, she is a big hit.  Foolishly, however, Ruth continues to rely on Marty’s management.  Eventually, he gives her no choice but to take their relationship to the next step.  They marry soon after.

Once Ruth hits the big time, Marty changes from an asset to a liability.  He cannot break the habit of getting what he wants with his fists.  She is totally miserable in the marriage but retains a kind of loyalty to the man, partly based on fear.  Can she free herself before succumbing to despair and alcohol?  With Robert Keith as Ruth’s agent and friend.

James Cagney is excellent in this movie.  He brings a lot of humanity to his very unsympathetic character.  Day is very good as well and sings a series of standards from the era.  I enjoyed it a lot.

Love Me or Leave Me won an Academy Award in the category of Best Writing, Motion Picture Story.  It was nominated in the categories of Best Actor; Best Writing, Screenplay; Best Sound, Recording; Best Music, Original Song (“I’ll Never Stop Loving You”); and Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture.

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The Trouble with Harry
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Written by John Michael Hayes based on a novel by Jack Trevor Story
1955/USA
Alfred J. Hitchcock Productions
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Jennifer Rogers: He looked exactly the same when he was alive, only he was vertical.[/box]

If nothing else, this movie gave us Shirley MacLaine.  But it’s light and amusing as well.

Harry makes a highly inconvenient corpse but is mourned by nobody.  In fact, everybody thinks they may have killed him.  Captain Albert Wiles (Edmund Gwenn) stumbles upon the body while he is out rabbit hunting and thinks a stray bullet has killed Harry.  He doesn’t have a chance to hide the body because a succession of people come out of nowhere to discover it.  Finally, he comes clean with local spinster Ivy Gravely (Mildred Natwick) and she invites him for coffee and muffins.

Along the way we discover that Harry is the unlamented late husband of Jennifer Rogers (MacLaine).  She beaned him when he came to reunite with her.  The murder brings Jennifer together with painter Sam Marlowe (John Forsythe).  The witnesses/murderers all team up to help each other while burying and unburying the body over and over as new clues develop.

This is super slight and purely fanciful.  It’s a pleasant watch but nothing more.

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The Seven Year Itch
Directed by Billy Wilder
Written by Billy Wilder and George Axelrod from Axelrod’s play
1955/USA
Charles K. Feldman Group/Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental

Richard Sherman: Miss Morris, I’m perfectly capable of fixing my own breakfast. As a matter of fact, I had a peanut butter sandwich and two whiskey sours.

This is not one of Billy Wilder’s most highly rated films but I think it’s one of his funniest.

Richard Sherman (Tom Ewell) is a man with a vivid imagination who is a bit of a Walter Mitty.  He sends his wife (Evelyn Keyes) and son off to Maine for the summer while he toils at a pulp fiction publisher in hot, humid Manhattan.  He has strict instructions from his wife and his doctor not to smoke or drink.  Naturally, his resolve withers the minute he is on his own.  Then it crumbles completely when confronted with his new upstairs neighbor  played by a luscious Marilyn Monroe and named in the credits only as The Girl.

The Girl’s apartment has no air conditioning and she is suffering mightily from the heat. Richard’s has air conditioning in every room.  Even Richard’s wildest dreams could not have come up with the situation that falls into his lap.  With Sonny Tufts as an imaginary rival, Oskar Homolka as a psychiatrist, and Robert Strauss as a randy building superintendent.

The title refers to that stage in a marriage when the parties’ attentions supposedly start to wander.  Monroe reveals herself to be an expert comedienne as the temptation in question but your reaction to the movie will probably depend on your views on Tom Ewell’s performance.  I think it is absolutely hilarious.  He’s so lame and full of himself all at the same time.  Recommended.

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This Island Earth
Directed by Joseph Newman
Written by Franklin Coen and George Callahan; story by Raymond F. Jones
1955/USA
Universal International Pictures
First viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Dr. Ruth Adams: My mind is my own, and nobody’s going to change it! I’m not going into that room![/box]

Some interesting special effects accompany a plodding and puzzling screenplay.

Dr. Cal Meacham (Rex Reason) is a genius nuclear scientist who also pilots his institute’s private jet.  He is about to make a major breakthrough in harnessing nuclear energy. When he returns from a conference, his plane goes haywire and is finally landed by unknown forces.  Soon enough, he begins getting shipments he hasn’t ordered.  He begins to piece together the parts and finally constructs an “interroceter”.  Unknowingly, he has passed an intelligence test contrived by the planet Metaluna which is looking for nuclear scientists such as himself.  He begins communicating with the alien Exeter (Jeff Morrow) who tells him his plane will be flown to Metaluna at a certain time.  Not one to pass up a challenge, Meacham agrees.

When he arrives on Metaluna, Meacham is met at the airport by Dr. Ruth Adams (Faith Domergue), who he had a fling with at a conference previously.  She denies she ever met him and generally acts very paranoid.  Eventually we find out that Metaluna has gathered many of the earth’s scientists to solve its nuclear energy problems.  The planet has been protected up until now from meteor attacks by an enemy planet by a force field powered by atomic energy.  Its energy reserves are dwindling rapidly.  The rest of the film is occupied with Ruth and Meachum’s adventures and attempts to escape.

For 1955, I thought this had some OK special effects.  It’s fairly talky though and it was never satisfactorily explained why a civilization as superior as Metaluna required Earthlings to solve its problems.    It passes all tests for cheesy late night viewing, however.

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