“They may not admire my person but I assure you, they dote on my purse.”

Sometimes I struggle with my looks.. I am used to that.. Sometimes I struggle with the looks of Hollywoodstars - especially when they are supposed to be ugly - and still look gorgeous.. - or when the make-up-department changes some familiar and usually very distinctive faces - e.g. look at this nose:

This, dear friends, is your hint for the film I am going to talk about.. Any ideas yet?

Hm.. ok...

Then I'll go on:

Once upon a time.. ..Charlotte Brontë wrote a book which became a beloved classic and which was adapted for the big screen several times – one time it was rewritten by the great Aldous Huxley, John Houseman and Robert Stevenson, who was a member of the Brontë-society - and who also directed the film, which was brought to you by 20th Century Fox. You might know it:

JANE EYRE (1943)

hm.. this film poster seems to give the wrong oomph!pression..

not much better.. Still floating hair and a naked shoulder?? Please! This isn't Brontë-porn, folks!

aah - yes, that's the kind of image that fits it at least a bit better...

In a nutshell:

Jane Eyre (Peggy Ann Garner) is an orphan. Because her aunt by marriage Sarah Reed (Agnes Moorehead) wants to get rid of the rebellious child she sends it to Lowood – a school headed by rigid Mr. Brocklehurst (Henry Daniell) whose very strict rules lead to the death of Jane’s only friend Helen (Elizabeth Taylor).

Years later the grown up – but still a bit stubborn - Jane (Joan Fontaine) starts to work as a governess for Adèle (Margaret O’Brien - speaking with a very cute French accent) at Thornfield Manor. Little Adèle is the ward of Mr. Edward Rochester (someone who resembles and sounds like Orson Welles .. ;"p .. ) – owner of Thornfield Manor and a bit uneasy to be with.

Nevertheless he and Jane go very well with each other and finally fall in love – but there are some obstacles: like the very pretty heiress Blanche (Hillary Brooke) who is after Mr. Rochester and there is also a dark secret in Mr. Rochester’s past, which might be related to the strange screams at night and the accident which almost burned Mr. Rochester during his sleep…

~ you think this is the final scene? Ha! You have no idea... ~

Watch out for:

• Elizabeth Taylor as Helen - her appearance is rather short and she is just sweet and not very much Martha of WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?-ish. (->1966)
  
  
• Star of silent movies Mae Marsh as Leah.
  
  
• Hillary Brooks performance as Blanche Ingram - nasty lady that blonde.. Just btw - though she spoke through her whole career with an English accent - Miss Brooks actually hailed from Astoria, New York - she just wanted to have kind of a trade mark.. - isn't that simply marvellous?
  
  



• Agnes Moorehead – as always excellent – and I adore her saying “wicked”.. ;”)
  
  
• Henry Daniell as Mr. Brocklehurst – I love to hate that man! Honest: I think he is always great when he is mean!!

Schmooze:

• Though you might get the impression while watching this film: the beginning which is read from the pages of a book called JANE EYRE (I wonder why..) – it is not the original beginning of the novel - so please don't try to impress someone by memorizing this as the novel's beginning.. ;")

• There are some relations with Daphne Du Maurier’s REBECCA (which is apparently loosely based on JANE EYRE): a plain looking and kind of mousy heroine, a hero who is a bit uneasy, dark secrets in his past, the very similar end.. – well, and Joan Fontaine played the heroine in JANE EYRE (1943) as well as in REBECCA (1940).
  
  
• This was Elizabeth Taylor’s third appearance in a movie - the 7th flick for Peggy Ann Garner and the 8th film Margaret O'Brien did.
  
  

~ Look: other females have hairstyles
-

Peggy Ann Garner and yours Irene just have hair.. ~

• Joan Fontaine’s sister Olivia de Havilland played Charlotte Brontë in DEVOTION (1946).

• The German title is DIE WAISE VON LOWOOD (= The orphan of Lowood) and it was released in Germany in 1947 - which is comparatively early: e.g. THE THIN MAN SERIES weren't released here till 1969..

• Edith Barret who personated Mrs. Fairfax – a lady of “a certain” age – was actually 36 – just ten years older than Miss Fontaine..

~ this, dear friends, is the Hollywood idea of a plain looking female.. *sigh* anyone carpooling with me to a plastic surgeon?? - maybe we'll get a group discount.. ~

Let’s face the music:

Bernard Herrmann who wrote the score for this film also used parts of this for the opera he started to write – WUTHERING HEIGHTS after the novel of Charlotte Brontë’s younger sister Emily…

You should watch this film if you..

• .. wish to know the story (well the main part..) of a classic novel – without fighting your way through a bit dull passages (yeah – I said it: There are passages in JANE EYRE that I found actually dull to read.. the whole passage about several chapters what Jane lives through after she left Thornfield Manor.. that really gave me a hard time.. I was very fine with the Rochester and gothic atmosphere parts though.. but after all I am more of a WUTHERING HEIGHTS girl.. )
  
  
• .. like your main characters not too lovely.
  
  
• .. want to see each and every movie in which little girls talk with phony French accents and try to make grownups watch them dancing.. (Yes, I am talking to you Miss O'Brien! Go to your room!! )
  

~ awww... look at all these fluffy frills.. Somewhere in there is a child - I am pretty sure of that..~

• .. have a soft spot for mad women.
  
  
• .. like mystery gothic romances.

Quotes corner:

Maybe one of the best-known-literary-children-quotes ever - when asked how to avoid to end in hell little Jane Eyre answers:

“I must keep in good health and not die.”

No more questions, your honor...

Never ending story:

There are soo many adaptations of this novel - I just learned that I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE (1943) is losely based on it, too.. Great idea for a double feature show, isn't it?

Let's have a look:

~Don’t you just adore that girl in the beginning of the clip – and all those novels?? I love that! ~

Uhm.. ok. I got to confess that – not caring about what you will be thinking of me..: I am mesmerized by Orson Welles' fake nose in this film! I am frequently staring at him..

Anyway: I love this story. I love that the heroine shouldn’t be overwhelming beautiful.

Yeah – it’s Joan Fontaine – not quite an unattractive woman.. that’s true.. but they at least tried to make her look a bit more boring.. Problem is: Joan Fontaine has a beautiful face! That lady looks like an angel!!

~ oh my gosh! This woman is incredibly ugly! Quick - lets give her an paper back to hide that grotesque face..

?!?!?

Yeah, sure... ~

The hero is supposed to be unattractive – which actually means: very attractive to yours Irene.. Yeah, ok.. Orson Welles isn’t really my cup of anything.. I am struggling with myself whether I do like him or not.. – but he doesn't look like Orson Welles and it's Rochester and it's mighty dark in the halls of Thornfield Manor.. – anyway: it’s the thought that counts, isn’t it?

I love the scene in which Jane is thinking that she hears Mr. Rochester calling for her in the thunderstorm – actually it makes me always a bit chuckling.. which can be related to the pathos in it.. And I simply adore Mr. Rochester’s Great Dane Pilot.

And though this film has with Joan Fontaine, Elizabeth Taylor and Agnes Moorehead three of my favourite actresses and I love it – I still must confess, that this isn’t my favourite version of JANE EYRE – that would be the 1996 version with Ciarán Hinds as Mr. Rochester..

..well, till now that is.. – because the 2011 version will released in Germany not before December – it was aired in the USA in March.. (!!! – IN FRIGGIN MARCH!!! .. ~ curse you, German cinemas!!! ~) anyway - this could change everything:

Because Mr. Rochester is personated by one of my modern favourites: Michael Fassbender – plus one of my favourite modern actresses Sally Hawkins is in it, too – yeah.. a great cast beside them with Judi Dench, Jamie Bell and Mia Wasikowska – but: aren’t you listening?? Michael Fassbender!! Blimey.. Hm.. I think I know one film I will write about in December – in case it will be actually in German cinemas then.. Oh! Woe is me..

Well, till then I still can watch this very cute version of JANE EYRE with such a beautiful cast - and so many great talents. Maybe woe isn't that much me..

~ Don't you just love this picture? Looks like Orson Welles told Joan Fontaine a dirty joke - and she is not amused.. ~

The End? - Wait and watch..

Thank you very much for listening!

Yours (very well and ) truly

Irene

- not even plain looking in a Joan Fontaine way..

"Boobies, boobies, boobies. Nothing but boobies. Who needs them? I did great without them."

Based on Jacqueline Susann's best-selling novel (<- read my review here!) Mark Robson directed VALLEY OF THE DOLLS (1967).

In a nutshell:

Three girls and their way to fame - and additcion of downers (which are called dolls in here.)

Anne (Barbara Parkins) is a New England Lady who starts her carreer as a secretary and becomes a famous model - with a not so fabolous love-life with her ex-boss Lyon Burke (Paul Burke).

Jennifer (Sharon Tate) is a showgirl who will be earnig fame by acting in European (speak: nudie-) films. (boy, these Europeans! ...) - and all because her beloved husband - a poor man's Frank Sinatra - Tony Polar (Tony Scotti) has a serious medical condition.

Neely (Patty Duke) is a talented singer - with an enormous ego - and a never ending feud with Broadway-Star Helen Lawson (Susan Hayward).

And all three of them have to deal with their liability to grab some "dolls"...

Schmooze:

• Sharon Tate received a Golden Globe for best Newcomer in 1968.


• Judy Garland was first casted as Helen Lawson, but was fired (accordingly she showed up at the set drunk) - so Susan Hayward received her part. Another actress was supposed to replace Miss Garland: Bette Davis! Nonetheless Judy Garland kept her costume and would go on wearing it during her concerts. Gee - that gal had chutzpah! ;")
  
  
• There is a 1981 remake for Television called JACQUELINE SUSANN'S VALLEY OF THE DOLLS with Jean Simmons as Helen Lawson.
  
  
• Susan Hayward's resp. Helen Lawson's singing voice was deliverd by Margaret Whiting, but because she was under contract at another label Eileen Wilson is heard on the soundtrack album.
  
  
• 1994 a TV Series was started but lived only for 65 episodes - here Helen Lawson was also Jennifer's mother. (I guess when they make another series Anne will be Jennifer's uncle..)
  


• After the murder of Sharon Tate in 1969 this film was re-released - with enormous success...
  
  
• Raquel Welch tested for the role of Jennifer North which would eventually go to Sharon Tate.
  
  
• Patty Duke was the youngest actrice ever to have a TV series with her own name in the title: THE PATTY DUKE SHOW (1963-1966) - Patty Duke was 16 back then.
  
  
• Lucille Ball was originally supposed to play the Helen Lawson-part.
  
  

A nodding acquaintance:

• .Costume designer Diana Eden appeared as one of the dancers.
  
  
• Richard Dreyfuss has his debut as assistant stage manager. It was not credited.
  
  
• Barbara Parkins played Betty Anderson and Lee Grant acted as Stella Chernak in TV-series PEYTON PLACE (1964-1969).
  


• Joey Bishop has a cameo as Telethon emcee.
  
  
• Martin Milner is amongst others known as Karl Robinson from THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON (1975-1976)
  
  
• Jacqueline Susann has a cameo as a journalist after one of the main character's death. (No, I won't spoil it for you.)


• George Jessel has a cameo at the Grammy awards.

It'll stay in the family:

• When Sharon Tate married Roman Polanski in 1968 Barbara Parkins was her maid of honor.
  
  
• From 1972 - 1985 Patty Duke was married to John Astin (Gomez from TV series: THE ADDAMS FAMILY) and her son Sean Astin (whose father is NOT John Astin) became famous as Samwise "Sam" Gamgee in LORD OF THE RINGS. (2001 - 2003)
  
  

Sight-read:

• Oscar Nomination for best film score 1968.


• André Previn received a Grammy for best score.
  
  

Sing a song:

Dionne Warwick sings the Theme - on the Soundtrack album Dory Previn is singing it - because Ms Warwick was under contract at another record label.

Barbara Parkins suggested that Dionne Warwick should sing the theme - and it became one of Ms Warwick's biggest hits:

Murphy's Law:

• There is a scene where Anne clothes become fully wet because of the ocean - when she walks into her house a few minutes later she is completely dry. - Where can I learn how to manage this with my own clothes??
  
  
• This film is supposed to show several years in the girl's lives - but wether clothes nor the hairstyles ever change from 1967's style. ;")
  
  

Scene to see:

Uhm.. Hard to say. Every scene with Patty Duke in it! :")

Quotes Corner:

"Who’s stoned? I am merely traveling incognito."

There are of course some meanderings of the book's story - but it is okay with me. It was not okay with Harlan Ellison, who wrote the original screen play: He resigned from it after so much changes - he insisted that his name was deleted from the credits.

I think Hollywood has made this picture a lot more lovelier than the book, which is more cruel - even the end is happier in the film than in the book. Actually I like the book better, because of its sadder tone - and because in the book Jennifer has more depth (if I may use this phrase..). But I do love the film. It’s incomparable!

This film is dubbed as one of the baddest films ever made - and I love to show it at my "girls' nights" - kind of a crazy twentie-somethings slumber party. - I show many films of the sixties at these occasions.. ;") This film is called trash – and we love it. It is great fun to re-enact scenes (We especially love the Neely and Tony scene in the sanitarium..) It’s our private little ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW.. ;”)

"I had a rotten night."


The End? Wait and watch!

Yours (well and) truly


Frl. Irene Palfy

"Let them shoot me... - I am not afraid... - I am a good target!"

The first musical film, which is about to be reviewed in this blog, is based on an operetta by the same name: THAT LADY IN ERMINE (1948).

In an nutshell:

Italy in 1861: 300 years ago Countess Francesca (lovely Betty Grable) saved her castle and her folks by seducing and stabbing an adversary officer. Now her look-alike great-great-great-great-granddaughter Angelina (Betty Grable in a double role) marries Mario (most attractive: Cesar Romero), a baron she knows since their childhood. In their wedding night the castle is charged by the Hungarian army, lead by Colonel Teglash (handsome Douglas Fairbanks, jr.). Mario disguises himself as a gypsy, but is soon caught by the Hungarians. While the Colonel occupies the castle, he and Angelina get attracted to each other, though her sense of duty (as a sovereign and wife) doesn't allow her to give in. So her ancestor Francesca has to interfere...

Watch out for:

Walter Abel as Horvath - even if you have no memory for names: this one you will learn immediatetly. - and Reginald Gardiner as Alberto, Francesca's husband.

Schmooze:

• Ernst Lubitsch died shortly after filming was started of a heart attack and the film was completed under direction of Otto Preminger, who insisted that Lubitsch should receive sole credit.
  
• The operetta was filmed twice before: In 1927 as THE LADY IN ERMINE starring Corinne Griffith and Einar Hanson and in 1930 with Walter Pidgeon and Vivienne Segal - then movie than was called BRIDE OF THE REGIMENT.
  
• The song "This is the moment" - music by Friedrich Hollaender (credited as Frederick Hollander), words by Leo Robin - was nominated for an acadamy award but lost to "Buttons and Bows" (from THE PALEFACE) by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans.
  
• Otto Preminger wasn't very fond of the story and the movie.
  
• Ernst Lubitsch wanted Jeanette MacDonald for the female lead.
• 20th Century Fox chief of production Darryl F. Zanuck prefered Gene Tierney and for the male lead Rex Harrison or Cornel Wilde.
  
  
  

My favourite characters:

Mario and Horvath, who is devoted to his wife and children. I love Cesar Romero and Walter Abel!!

Scene to see:

Mario, as a gypsy, reading palms. Cesar Romero is hilarious!

Window shopping:

I am a sucker for anything concerning nightwear: So I'll go for Betty Grable's negligees and her dressing robe - plus that little box on the piano: I have a friends who just loves boxes.

Quotes Corner:

If you saw the film this quote sticks in your mind forever: "Horvath!"

A lovely little movie, which doesn't make anyone thinking to hard. Silly little tricks like the sun acting as if it was a cartoon sun and some really good special effects. And of course: you'll see Betty Grable's famous legs - insured for $ 1,000,000! And all brought to you in glorious Technicolor!! :")

Goodbye - I'll go and watch another movie or this one again?

"I don't care if he'll get shot or you'll get shot or I'll get slightly wounded."

"I did it with a razor."

When the small thriller MISCHIEF by Charlotte Armstrong was released in 1950 it was not predictable that it would become the movie DON'T BOTHER TO KNOCK (1952) by British Director Roy Ward Baker - which was the first film for Anne Bancroft.

In a nutshell:

Pilot Jed Towers (Richard Widmark) looks out for a little female company after his girlfriend, the barsinger Lyn Lesley (Anne Bancroft), has left him. Vis-à-vis to his hotel room he spots Nell Forbes (Marilyn Monroe) in Room 809, who upon the recomandation of her Uncle Eddie (Elisha Cook, jr.) - the lift-attendant -, is baby-sitting Mrs. and Mr. Jones' (Lurene Tuttle and Jim Backus) daughter Bunny (Donna Corcoran). Jed walks over to have a flirt (and more) but Nell - who can't handle the death of the man she wanted to marry - is highly certifiably insane and dangerous - esp. for a little girl like Bunny..

Whatch out for:

• Jeanne Cagney - younger sister of some James Cagney (you may have heard of him..) performing as Rochelle, the switchboard operator.
  

Schmooze:

• In the novel Nell's and Eddie's family name is Munro, which was changed when Marilyn Monroe was casted. Guess why..
  
• The film events take place in real time.
  
• Anne Bancroft, who was 20 when this film was released, is probably best-known as Mrs. Robinson in THE GRADUATE (1967).
  
• You may know Elisha Cook, jr. as Wilmer Cook from THE MALTESE FALCON (1941).
  
• Jim Backus was the original voice of MISTER MAGOO of the TV series by the same name - resp. the following series THE FAMOUS ADVENTURES OF MR. MAGOO.
  
• The German title is VERSUCHUNG AUF 809 what means - translated literally - "Temptation in 809". In the novel the events take mainly place in the room next to 809..
  
• If you think the title music sound familiar - it is: It originated from 1950's PANIC IN THE STREETS.
• Donna Corcoran is the only member who is still alive - you may know her from MILLION DOLLAR MERMAID (1952)- she portayed the 10 year old Annette Kellerman.
  
• It was Marilyn Monroe's 18. movie and her first leading part.
  
• It is said that because of a very small budget every scene was only shot once.
  
• 1991 there was a remake for TV - this time it was named: THE SITTER.
  
• There is another movie called DON'T BOTHER TO KNOCK /WHY BOTHER TO KNOCK from 1962 with Elke Sommer and Judith Anderson which is not related to this one.

Sight-read:

• You can hear Anne Bancroft sing "How About You", "A Rollin' Stone", "Chattanooga Choo Choo", "How Blue The Night", "There's A Lull In My Life" and my favourite: "Manhattan". Boy, do I like that song..

Celebrate the celluloid:

• Drink rye or coke (or both if you like it..) and eat some sweets..

Scene to see:

This time it is really hard for me to pick one single scene, so I say you'll make see this one: Uncle Eddie gets suspicious - and knocked out. Naughty, naughty Nell..

Window shopping:

I have a soft spot for Marilyn Monroe's wardrobe - in any film of her - so: I adore the negligee Nell is "boworring" from Mrs. Jones and also like that inornate dress she wears in the beginning.

Quotes Corner:

"Little girls aren't to be up at this hour."

Though I think the novel is much more suspensful - I like this film. Of course there are some modifications: The Anne Bancroft part was no singer, Jed was no pilot and they made Nell's background story more tragic - in the novel she is not mourning because of a loss of a beloved person. No, she is really mean and much more disturbed: it seems that she had killed her parents by burning down their house - and of course for this film they melt down some minor characters.. In the novel there is no clue about Nell being suicidal like it is in the movie.

I enjoy to see a more darker (mood not haircolour!) Marilyn Monroe. Not so much of her famous smile in here.

Goodbye - I'll go and watch another movie - or this one again?

"You won't cry anymore, will you?"

"I doubt that you played Russian Roulette all the time with your father!"

Preston Sturges wrote and directed a pitch-black screwball comedy, which was his first film for 20th Century Fox: UNFAITHFULLY YOURS (1948). Though it recieved rave reviews, it was no box office hit.

In a nutshell:

With assistance of his brother in law, August (Rudy Vallee), the famous conductor Sir Alfred de Carter (Sir Rex Harrison) comes to the conclusion that his wife Daphne (Linda Darnell) commits adultery with his secretary Tony (Kurt Kreuger).

While conducting a concert, Sir Alfred imagines how he could satisfy his thirst for revenge by a) killing his wife b) forgiving her in a noble way and become the moral winner or c) playing russian roulette with Tony.

After the concert he tries to put his ideas in action but fails in every way. Finally he recognizes that his wife is faithful to him and he is coming down with a heavy cold, which will not prevent him from going dancing with his wife.

Schmooze:

• Lionel Stander, who plays Sir Alfred's manager, is known as Max in the TV-series HART TO HART (1979-1984) and as Cornelius Cobb in MR. DEEDS GOES TO TOWN(1936).
• Barbara Lawrence, who plays Daphne's sister, is a distant cousin to Nelson Eddy and has also played Linda Darnell's little sister in A LETTER TO THREE WIVES (1949). She is still alive.

Sight-read:

• In this movie you can hear Rossini's "William Tell Overture" and "Semiramide", Wagner's "Tannhäuser Overture" and "Francesca da Rimini, Op. 32" by Tchaikovsky. You can also hear parts of "Jingle Bells" - played by a musical box.

Murphy's law:

• At the rehearsal you can hear the orchester laughing but you don't see any laughing face. Rather disciplined!
  

My favourite feature:

The internal door of Sir Alfred's closet - mighty practical! I like that there's a mirror inside in height of the head. And all this little panels! Handy, indeed!

Scene to see:

Sir Alfred commits the perfect murder! You've got to see that! It is as cross as two sticks and really amazing! (who said I am a good girl??)

Wishlist:
Linda Darnell's evening gown and "the purple one" but without "the plumes on the hips".

Quotes Corner:

"You handle Händel like nobody handles Händel. And your Delius - delirious!"

Though I don't allways get along with slapstick, I enormously enjoy this comedy:

The finale is quite hilarious! I am also no fan of Sir Rex Harrison, but I love his perfomance in this film: He is pretty darn funny! I adore Linda Darnell pretty much, so she was the main cause for me to watch this movie for the first time. - Beside the fact, that this is a Preston Sturges flick! - Since then I saw it several times and still like it. And that Charles LeMaire was in authority for the wardrobe is also a bonus. There's only one thing that causes trouble at my home, when I turn on this film: that home recorder makes a sound that makes my cats flip out and run like smoke.. :")

Goodbye! I'll go and watch another movie..

Keep in mind: "So simple it operates itself!"