Casablanca.
1942 Warner Bros. Pictures & Turner Entertainment.
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Conrad Veidt, Dooley Wilson
Director: Michael Curtiz
Available from Amazon as a single DVD (snapcase!), or as a two-disc special edition, which I own. Casablanca is also part of two box sets: the first Humphrey Bogart Signature Collection, and the Best Picture Winners installment of TCM's Greatest Classic Films Collection. Or, you could always invest in the ultimate collectors' edition.
"Here's looking at you, kid."
"Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
"Play it, Sam. Play As Time Goes By." *
"Round up the usual suspects."
"We'll always have Paris."
"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine."
One of the all time classic American films. Casablanca won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and Best Director for Michael Curtiz.
Humphrey Bogart is Rick Blaine, a nightclub owner in Casablanca during the early days of World War II. Rick's Café Américain is an upscale nightclub slash gambling den that attracts a wide base of customers, notably Vichy French and Nazi officials, as well as refugees and thieves. One day, a petty criminal called Ugarte (Lorre) shows up in the club with "letters of transit" that he got after two German couriers were murdered. These documents will allow the bearer to travel as they pleased through Nazi-controlled Germany, into neutral Portugal, and from there into the United States. Obviously, these are very valuable and highly coveted, and Ugarte plans to make a killing by selling them to the highest bidder who is eager enough to get out of Casablanca, but the criminal is arrested by the local police under the command of the corrupt Captain Louis Renault (Rains) before he could sell. He still entrusts Rick with the letters (Ugarte dies offscreen while in police custody).
And then, Ilsa Lund (Bergman) arrives in the club with her new husband Victor Laszlo (Henreid), a fugitive Czech Resistance leader. Rick and Ilsa were lovers, but she left him without explanation. Ilsa and Victor need Rick's letters to eventually escape to America so Victor can continue his work, and the German Major Strasser (Veidt) shows up to make sure Laszlo doesn't succeed. Laszlo has also met with Rick's business rival, Signor Ferrari (Greenstreet), voicing his suspicion that Rick has the letters. When Laszlo and Rick meet privately, he refuses to hand over the letters, suggesting that he ask his wife for the reason. Just then, Stresser and his fellow officers begin to loudly sing "Die Wacht am Rhein". Laszlo, with Rick's approval, gets the house band to play the French national anthem, "La Marseillaise", triggering long-suppressed patriotic fervor in the crowd, and quickly drowning out the Nazis. Strasser retaliates by having Captain Renault shut the nightclub down.
Later, Ilsa confronts Sam and demands the letters, but he refuses to hand them over. She tries to shoot him, but can't bring herself to pull the trigger, confessing that she still loves him. The truth comes out: Laszlo was believed killed in a concentration camp, but as the Germans were on the brink of capturing Paris, Ilsa learned that Laszlo was still alive; hence her wordless break-up with Rick, she left to tend to an ill Laszlo. Rick's bitterness towards Ilsa fades, and he agrees to help, making her believe that she will stay in Casablanca with Rick when Laszlo leaves for America.
Rick, as everyone knows, has other ideas, and his future does not involve a permanent reconciliation with Ilsa.
There's really not much else I can add. Of course, this one is highly, highly, highly recommended.
* Often mistaken for the simpler "Play it again, Sam".
Showing posts with label michael curtiz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label michael curtiz. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Night and Day
Night and Day.
1946 Warner Bros. Pictures & Turner Entertainment.
Starring: Cary Grant, Alexis Smith, Monty Woolley, Mary Martin, Jane Wyman, Eve Arden
Director: Michael Curtiz
Available at Amazon as a single DVD, or as part of the Cary Grant Signature Collection.
Michael Curtiz directed this biographical film about the life and career of Cole Porter which understandably (for 1946 audiences) left out any hint of Porter's homosexuality. Those looking for a more realistic film about Porter should perhaps look into De-Lovely, starring Kevin Kline, Ashley Judd, and Jonathan Pryce.
Night and Day covers the years 1912 to 1946, when Porter (Grant) attended Yale, and found himself uninterested in studying law, so he became involved with amateur theatricals under the tutelage of Monty Woolley, who plays himself. Cole signs up for the army and becomes an ambulance driver in World War I, and he meets his future wife Linda Lee (Smith) while stationed in France. After the war, Porter becomes a prolific songwriter, writing hit after hit, and drawing inspiration from mundane things like rain falling and the ticking of a grandfather clock. His marriage begins to suffer, as Linda starts feeling neglected when Cole's career takes off.
Later, Porter is seriously injured in a polo accident, but refuses to have his useless legs amputated and makes a big comeback, which draws praise from none other than a World War I veteran who just happens to be an amputee.
Recommended for fans of Cary Grant, although no one who comes across this one should expect a serious and 100 percent accurate biopic of Cole Porter.
1946 Warner Bros. Pictures & Turner Entertainment.
Starring: Cary Grant, Alexis Smith, Monty Woolley, Mary Martin, Jane Wyman, Eve Arden
Director: Michael Curtiz
Available at Amazon as a single DVD, or as part of the Cary Grant Signature Collection.
Michael Curtiz directed this biographical film about the life and career of Cole Porter which understandably (for 1946 audiences) left out any hint of Porter's homosexuality. Those looking for a more realistic film about Porter should perhaps look into De-Lovely, starring Kevin Kline, Ashley Judd, and Jonathan Pryce.
Night and Day covers the years 1912 to 1946, when Porter (Grant) attended Yale, and found himself uninterested in studying law, so he became involved with amateur theatricals under the tutelage of Monty Woolley, who plays himself. Cole signs up for the army and becomes an ambulance driver in World War I, and he meets his future wife Linda Lee (Smith) while stationed in France. After the war, Porter becomes a prolific songwriter, writing hit after hit, and drawing inspiration from mundane things like rain falling and the ticking of a grandfather clock. His marriage begins to suffer, as Linda starts feeling neglected when Cole's career takes off.
Later, Porter is seriously injured in a polo accident, but refuses to have his useless legs amputated and makes a big comeback, which draws praise from none other than a World War I veteran who just happens to be an amputee.
Recommended for fans of Cary Grant, although no one who comes across this one should expect a serious and 100 percent accurate biopic of Cole Porter.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Angels With Dirty Faces
Angels With Dirty Faces.
1938 Warner Bros. Pictures & Turner Entertainment.
Starring: James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, Humphrey Bogart, Ann Sheridan, George Bancroft, The Dead End Kids (Billy Halop, Bobby Jordan, Leo Gorcey, Gabriel Dell, Huntz Hall, Bernard Punsly)
Director: Michael Curtiz
Available from Amazon as a single disc, or part of the Warner Gangsters Collection, Volume 1 set.
Two childhood friends, Rocky Sullivan (Cagney) and Jerry Connolly (O'Brien), rob a railroad car. Jerry is saved from being hit by a freight train by Rocky, but he is soon nabbed by the police. Jerry, who could run faster than Rocky, manages to elude the cops. Rocky grows up to become a notorious gangster, while Jerry has become a priest. He returns to the old neighborhood, where Jerry is running a home intending to keep young boys away frm a life of crime. Six of Jerry's charges (the Dead End Kids) idolize Rocky, and Jerry tries to keep his old chum from corrupting them.
However, Rocky may be undone by two of his newest associates, a crooked lawyer named Frazier (Bogart), and Keefer (Bancroft), a shady businessman and municipal contractor. Rocky foils an attempt on his life by finding Frazier and Keefer's record book with their lists of bribes to city officials. After Rocky ignores Jerry's advice to skip town before he informs the authorities, Jerry himself goes public with the information. Frazier and Keefer plot to kill Jerry, but Rocky protects his old friend by killing them both himself, which he is arrested, convicted, and sent to the electric chair for.
Before Rocky is to die, Jerry asks him to die pretending to be a screaming cowards, which would end the boys' idolization of him. Rocky refuses, but suddenly changes his mind when it's finally time to go, and needs to be dragged to the chair. The boys hear about this, and decide Rocky was a coward after all. Jerry asks them to say a prayer for him, "for a boy who couldn't run as fast" as he could.
Recommended old school gangster movie.
1938 Warner Bros. Pictures & Turner Entertainment.
Starring: James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, Humphrey Bogart, Ann Sheridan, George Bancroft, The Dead End Kids (Billy Halop, Bobby Jordan, Leo Gorcey, Gabriel Dell, Huntz Hall, Bernard Punsly)
Director: Michael Curtiz
Available from Amazon as a single disc, or part of the Warner Gangsters Collection, Volume 1 set.
Two childhood friends, Rocky Sullivan (Cagney) and Jerry Connolly (O'Brien), rob a railroad car. Jerry is saved from being hit by a freight train by Rocky, but he is soon nabbed by the police. Jerry, who could run faster than Rocky, manages to elude the cops. Rocky grows up to become a notorious gangster, while Jerry has become a priest. He returns to the old neighborhood, where Jerry is running a home intending to keep young boys away frm a life of crime. Six of Jerry's charges (the Dead End Kids) idolize Rocky, and Jerry tries to keep his old chum from corrupting them.
However, Rocky may be undone by two of his newest associates, a crooked lawyer named Frazier (Bogart), and Keefer (Bancroft), a shady businessman and municipal contractor. Rocky foils an attempt on his life by finding Frazier and Keefer's record book with their lists of bribes to city officials. After Rocky ignores Jerry's advice to skip town before he informs the authorities, Jerry himself goes public with the information. Frazier and Keefer plot to kill Jerry, but Rocky protects his old friend by killing them both himself, which he is arrested, convicted, and sent to the electric chair for.
Before Rocky is to die, Jerry asks him to die pretending to be a screaming cowards, which would end the boys' idolization of him. Rocky refuses, but suddenly changes his mind when it's finally time to go, and needs to be dragged to the chair. The boys hear about this, and decide Rocky was a coward after all. Jerry asks them to say a prayer for him, "for a boy who couldn't run as fast" as he could.
Recommended old school gangster movie.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Dodge City
Dodge City. 1939 Warner Bros. Pictures/Turner Entertainment.
Starring: Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Bruce Cabot, Alan Hale, Victor Jory, Ann Sheridan, Frank McHugh
Director: Michael Curtiz
Available from Amazon: Single DVD. Or, as part of the Errol Flynn Signature Collection.
Filmed in glorious Technicolor. This was the first western filmed with that process.
A few years after the railroad's arrival, Dodge City, Kansas is a rowdy cattle town; "the town that knew no ethics but cash and killing". Jeff Surrett (Cabot) and his boys literally get away with murder while they have control over the new outpost (they've even installed one of Surrett's friends as a sheriff).
Wade Hatton (Flynn) leads a large group of settlers from the east. Hatton is also surprised at just how out of control life in Dodge City really is. He is asked by several citizens to take over as sheriff, which he finally agrees to after a young boy is accidentally killed by Surrett and his men. Teaming up with his sidekick Rusty (Hale), Wade gradually cleans up Dodge City, and finds himself having to persuade a mob from lynching one of Surrett's thugs after his arrest.
In the end, Hatton and his new love Abbie (de Havilland) settle down in the newly civilized Dodge City, but when he is asked to become sheriff of Virginia City, Nevada, they quickly join the next wagon train.
This is actually a very influential western movie, influencing dozens of movies in that genre, as well as more importantly, Blazing Saddles. Recommended.
Starring: Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Bruce Cabot, Alan Hale, Victor Jory, Ann Sheridan, Frank McHugh
Director: Michael Curtiz
Available from Amazon: Single DVD. Or, as part of the Errol Flynn Signature Collection.
Filmed in glorious Technicolor. This was the first western filmed with that process.
A few years after the railroad's arrival, Dodge City, Kansas is a rowdy cattle town; "the town that knew no ethics but cash and killing". Jeff Surrett (Cabot) and his boys literally get away with murder while they have control over the new outpost (they've even installed one of Surrett's friends as a sheriff).
Wade Hatton (Flynn) leads a large group of settlers from the east. Hatton is also surprised at just how out of control life in Dodge City really is. He is asked by several citizens to take over as sheriff, which he finally agrees to after a young boy is accidentally killed by Surrett and his men. Teaming up with his sidekick Rusty (Hale), Wade gradually cleans up Dodge City, and finds himself having to persuade a mob from lynching one of Surrett's thugs after his arrest.
In the end, Hatton and his new love Abbie (de Havilland) settle down in the newly civilized Dodge City, but when he is asked to become sheriff of Virginia City, Nevada, they quickly join the next wagon train.
This is actually a very influential western movie, influencing dozens of movies in that genre, as well as more importantly, Blazing Saddles. Recommended.
Monday, March 16, 2009
The Adventures of Robin Hood
The Adventures of Robin Hood. 1939 Warner Bros. (First National) Pictures/Turner Entertainment.
Starring: Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains, Patric Knowles, Eugene Pallette, Alan Hale
Directors: Michael Curtiz & William Keighley
Two-disc special edition DVD available at Amazon.
Welcome to Sherwood, my lady!
King Richard is captured by Leopold of Austria while returning from the Crusades. His brother Prince John (Rains) takes power in his place, and begins oppressing the commoners. He also raises taxes, allegedly to raise to pay for Richard's ransom, but he does it only to secure his position on the throne.
Eventually, John raises the ire of Robin, Earl of Locksley (Flynn), who begins his crusade by saving Much (Herbert Mundin) from arrest for poaching one of the king's deer. Robin meets with Prince John, and announces to he and his assembled supporters, which includes Maid Marian (de Havilland) that he opposes him, and will do anything possible to restore King Richard to the throne. After escaping, Robin takes refuge in Sherwood Forest with Will Scarlet (Knowles), and starts recruiting followers, notably Little John (Hale) and Friar Tuck (Pallette).
At first, Marian is disdainful of Robin and his band of "cutthroats", but after she is captured along with a large party transporting collected tax money through the forest along with the Sheriff of Nottingham (Melville Cooper), she realizes that Robin is fighting the good fight. While Prince John is scheming to find a way to be rid of Robin, Richard (Ian Hunter) returns to England disguised as a monk. He is quickly exposed, but Richard goes underground to join Robin and his men. Can they stop Prince John from being crowned king and save an abducted Marian?
How many people can think of Robin Hood, and not have Errol Flynn come to mind. The film is a good one, and Warner Bros. did a stellar job restoring it (the colors are sharp and vivid) and transferring it to DVD. Highly recommended movie.
Starring: Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains, Patric Knowles, Eugene Pallette, Alan Hale
Directors: Michael Curtiz & William Keighley
Two-disc special edition DVD available at Amazon.
Welcome to Sherwood, my lady!
King Richard is captured by Leopold of Austria while returning from the Crusades. His brother Prince John (Rains) takes power in his place, and begins oppressing the commoners. He also raises taxes, allegedly to raise to pay for Richard's ransom, but he does it only to secure his position on the throne.
Eventually, John raises the ire of Robin, Earl of Locksley (Flynn), who begins his crusade by saving Much (Herbert Mundin) from arrest for poaching one of the king's deer. Robin meets with Prince John, and announces to he and his assembled supporters, which includes Maid Marian (de Havilland) that he opposes him, and will do anything possible to restore King Richard to the throne. After escaping, Robin takes refuge in Sherwood Forest with Will Scarlet (Knowles), and starts recruiting followers, notably Little John (Hale) and Friar Tuck (Pallette).
At first, Marian is disdainful of Robin and his band of "cutthroats", but after she is captured along with a large party transporting collected tax money through the forest along with the Sheriff of Nottingham (Melville Cooper), she realizes that Robin is fighting the good fight. While Prince John is scheming to find a way to be rid of Robin, Richard (Ian Hunter) returns to England disguised as a monk. He is quickly exposed, but Richard goes underground to join Robin and his men. Can they stop Prince John from being crowned king and save an abducted Marian?
How many people can think of Robin Hood, and not have Errol Flynn come to mind. The film is a good one, and Warner Bros. did a stellar job restoring it (the colors are sharp and vivid) and transferring it to DVD. Highly recommended movie.
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