krishkmenon's film blog - Archive

Gone With The Wind

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Gone With the Wind (1939)

The name says it all. What more can one write about this masterpiece expect praise it on all counts. The greatest casting, Best of acting, Brilliant adaptation of the novel, great scripting, wonderful photography, marvellous color for the period, legendary musical score and great direction. No movie has all these qualities combined. You have to search unsuccessfully for any flaw in this great movie.

Need one have to say anything about Gables Rhett, Viviens Scarlett or Leslies Ashley and not to forget Olivia or Hattie McDaniel all of whom bring Margaret Mitchells characters to life. MAx Steiners score has set the trend for similar music for decades after GWTW.

Keep watching this movie every time you feel that you have forgotten it as it grows on you.

Krishna Kumar Menon Chennai(Madras), India

Posted Monday, October 06, 2008 11:53 PM by krishkmenon | with 0 comments

Twentieth Century

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Twentieth Century (1934)

The title refers to the train that used to operate between Chicago and Los Angeles before air travel was the preferred means of transport by the gliterazzi.

In this movie the hilarious performances by John Barrymore (The Great Profile Legend), Carole Lombard (The greatest of screwball comedy actresses), Roscoe Karns and Walter Conolley make it a treat to view. The story revolves on a producer who creates a Cinderella and loses her to competition as he is too demanding and overbearing. Now down on his luck he conspires with his two cronies to woo her back and this is achieved on board the Twentieth Century when the entire group travel together. Get ready to laugh your heart out non-stop and take care not to miss out on the screwball dialogues. Every scene is hilariously funny and the direction first-rate. Anything more to be said on this movie is just SEE IT TO EXPERIENCE IT.

By Krishna Kumar Menon Chennai(Madras), India

Posted Monday, October 06, 2008 11:38 PM by krishkmenon | with 0 comments

The Spy who Came in From the Cold

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The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)

An underrated brilliant film about the Cold War era. The scene is Berlin opening with a defection from East to West which ends in disaster. The British operative in charge seemingly turns an alcoholic and is ready to defect thru a bookstore lady. The staged defection turns out to be a sinister plot to enable a East German to retain his cover. The alleged Britisher who defected gets scent of this double-cross an tries to rescue his accomplice ending in both their deaths as thouands of others trying to scale the Berlin Wall.

Richard Burton turns in an outstanding performance as the Brit spy and Claire Bloom his accomplice. The atmospheric settings are brooding and speak of an era long gone. John Le Carres novel is adapted with care.

By Krishna Kumar Menon Chennai(Madras), India

Posted Monday, October 06, 2008 6:23 AM by krishkmenon | with 0 comments

Casablanca

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Casablanca (1943)

My entry for the greatest film ever made and an all time favorite.

Who can forget the opening line where the refugee route from Europe to Casablance and on to Portugal is announced.

Who can forget the introduction to Ricks. Who can forget the dapper Louis Renault (a poor corrupt policeman). Who would not fall for the lovely Ilsa Lund. Even the most cynical of men would nurture a sentimental place in their hearts for Casablanca.

The cynical non-intefering Rick is made to change into a hero by his lost love. Who can forget Sydney Greenstreet swatting a fly after the exit of Ilsa & Victor Lazlo. One can go on and on about Casablanca and would have more to say. It improves with every viewing .

By Krishna Kumar Menon, Chennai(Madras), India.

Posted Monday, October 06, 2008 6:00 AM by krishkmenon | with 0 comments

Dr Zhivago

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Doctor Zhivago (1965)

The adaptation of Boris Pasternaks novel is lovingly brought to the screen by the great David Lean. Wonderfully photographed and excellent casting makes this a must see classic.

The film itself is told in flashback by Dr Zhivagos half-brother Alec Guiness who meets his neice after the revolution. The movie spans over 6 decades and the role of Dr Zhivago is understandingly potrayed by Omar Sharif. Julie Christie is excellent as always but Geraldine Chaplin is my personal pick. Jack Cardiff captures the grandeur of the Russian mountains as no other and the colors are wonderful. The overlong length of the film is one of its drawbacks but it is evident that such a novel demanded this.

By Krishna Kumar Menon, Chennai (Madras), India.

Posted Monday, October 06, 2008 5:49 AM by krishkmenon | with 0 comments

Long Voyage Home

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The Long Voyage Home (1940)

What can one say about this movie more than call it one of the greatest movies ever made. There can be no greater director of the 20th century than John Ford and in the 30s and 40s he gave the cine going public classics like The Informer, The Lost Patrol, Stagecoach and in 1939 The Long Voyage Home before he went on to make The Grapes of Wrath etc. Most of these films are low-budget efforts which harvested huge profits to the studios that produced.

In this movie he adapted 3 Eugene O'Neills palys and combined them to the events on British ship that is returning to England at the outbreak of the Second World War. The performances of all the stars are truly superb. The icing on the cake is the directors accumen in bringing out one of the most stellar portrayals of John Wayne who until then was always touted as a cowboy.

A must see movie before you die but unfortunately not many prints are in circulation

Posted Monday, October 06, 2008 5:12 AM by krishkmenon | with 0 comments

krishkmenon Blog

Gone With The Wind

Twentieth Century

The Spy who Came in From the Cold

Casablanca

Dr Zhivago

Long Voyage Home

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