September 18th, 2009
Adam Scott and Joel Bissonnette portray reunited brothers in the day-in-the-life road movie “Passenger Side,” directed by Matt Bissonnette (”Looking for Leonard”), and debuting currently at the Toronto International Film Festival.
“Amreeka” director Cherien Dabis chats to Michael Archer of Guernica about “her feel-good (sort of) movie, Palestinians in the Windy City, and how personal experiences can trump political arguments.” “Amreeka,” which stars Nisreen Faour and Melkar Muallem as a mother and teenage son who move from the West Bank to rural Illinois, will continue to open in wider release throughout North America in September and October.
For “Rage,” an intimate glimpse into the fashion world, filmmaker Sally Potter (“Orlando”) assembled a superlative cast, including Steve Buscemi, Judi Dench, Eddie Izzard, David Oyelowo, and Dianne Wiest. But special awe must be bestowed on the stunning, almost unrecognizable Jude Law. Described as “the world’s first multi-venue interactive premiere,” the film debuts later this month, even on phones.
In a wonderful, wide-ranging interview with Kira Cochrane of The Guardian, Judi Dench says she was drawn to “Rage” because “I like to do something that’s not expected, or predictable. I had to learn to smoke a joint, and I set my trousers alight.”
One Film Wonder: Born in Paris in 1942, Claudine Longet moved to Las Vegas in 1960 as the lead dancer in the Folies Bergère revue. Married to singer Andy Williams from 1961 to 1975, she made intermittent guest appearances on American television shows until she was cast as Michelle Monet, the sweet Hollywood newcomer who befriends Peter Sellers’ smitten Hrundi Bakshi in Blake Edwards’ 1968 romp, “The Party.” Later the same year, she had a role in a film titled “Massacre Harbor,” before returning to television parts in shows such as “Love, American Style” and “The Streets of San Francisco.” She also enjoyed a modestly chart-successful singing career during the late 60s. Her final appearance was in the 1975 made-for-TV movie “The Legendary Curse of the Hope Diamond,” as Marie Antoinette.
On March 21, 1976, Longet shot and killed her boyfriend, former U.S. Olympic ski racer Vladimir “Spider” Sabich, in Aspen, Colorado. Charged with reckless manslaughter, she was convicted of a lesser offense, misdemeanor criminal negligence, and served 30 days in jail. Longet would later marry her defense attorney.
Posted in Beyond the Reel |
Tagged Adam Scott, Amreeka, Andy Williams, Blake Edwards, Cherien Dabis, Claudine Longet, David Oyelowo, Dianne Wiest, Eddie Izzard, Guernica, Joel Bissonnette, Jude Law, Judi Dench, Kira Cochrane, Looking for Leonard, Love American Style, Massacre Harbor, Matt Bissonnette, Melkar Muallem, Michael Archer, Nisreen Faour, One Film Wonder, Orlando, Passenger Side, Peter Sellers, Rage, Sally Potter, Steve Buscemi, The Guardian, The Legendary Curse of the Hope Diamond, The Party, The Streets of San Francisco, Toronto International Film Festival |
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The Ladykillers
May 10th, 2009
Dear Mum,
I remember the first time we watched “The Ladykillers.”
For so long it was one of those Ealing Comedies you never expected to see on American television. But one day we happened upon it on the WGN schedule, and even though the copy was a bit worn, the brilliance of the 1955 comedy classic shone through.
Directed by Alexander Mackendrick, “The Ladykillers” is the perfectly executed caper of five bank robbers posing as a string quintet whose plans for an ingenious heist go horribly awry with the unwitting interference of their genteel landlady. I know that it has a special resonance for you because it captures a familiar street view of the post-war London of barrow boys and the last vestiges of rationing from your youth.
A story of exquisite simplicity chockfull of the screwball and the macabre, the film has haplessness and coincidence combining to conspire to foil the five. (As a bogus quintet they have to throw a record on the turntable, but in an inspired comic touch, they only have a single recording. For days afterwards, Boccherini’s Minuet burrows in as a melodious earworm.) The script by William Rose, who said that he visualized the entire plot in a single night’s dream, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
The cast is tremendous. Alec Guinness slinks about as the thieves grotesque mastermind, Professor Marcus. The rest of the gang are a casting director‘s tour de force: Peter Sellers in his first breakout role as Harry, the jittery Teddy Boy; Danny Green as the kindhearted giant “One Round;” Herbert Lom as the oily, suspicious Louie; and Cecil Parker as urbane Major. But special mention must go to Katie Johnson as Mrs. Wilberforce. She reportedly was passed over initially for the part because of fears that she was too old and may not survive the filming. (A younger actress was cast; she died before filming commenced.) The film is buoyed by cameos from comedians such as Frankie Howerd and Kenneth Connor.
Two years later, Mackendrick directed the dark, atmospheric American classic “Sweet Smell of Success,“ which is especially laudable for James Wong Howe’s evocative black and white photography and penetrating performances from the formidable Burt Lancaster and the exquisite Tony Curtis. Amazingly, Mackendrick directed his last film in 1967. He left the industry, as Patricia Goldstone has written, after he “found himself spending more energy on making deals than on making films,” and taught filmmaking at the California Institute for the Arts for the next 25 years.
Since that first viewing we’ve seen “The Ladykillers” several times. Invariably, I’m grinning the whole way through, smiling in the moment while awaiting those particularly cherished scenes. Here is the original trailer for “The Ladykillers.” It doesn’t include our favorite line. (That’ll remain our oft-quoted joke.)
“The Ladykillers” is a great film and whenever I think about it I think about you and how much I love you.
Happy Mother’s Day,
Matthew
Posted in Essay |
Tagged Alec Guinness, Alexander Mackendrick, Burt Lancaster, Cecil Parker, Danny Green, Frankie Howerd, Herbert Lom, James Wong Howe, Katie Johnson, Kenneth Connor, Peter Sellers, Sweet Smell of Success, The Ladykillers, Tony Curtis, William Rose |
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