krishkmenon Blog

It Happened one Night

krishkmenon — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 05:06:11 GMT

It still keeps happening as this film continues to enthrall and enjoy audiences all over even 70 years after it was made. It has been copied in its entirety in many languages and the theme has been depicted in various forms but the original is unique.

A madcap heiress escapes from the clutches of her domineering father to join her lover a 1000 odd miles away. A down-under newspaper reporter who has just been fired recognizes her and offers to help her reach her destination in exchange for her story exclusively. The fun begins when they board the bus and the hilarious misadventures are side-splittingly funny. The Walls of Jericho is folklore and the scene where the rich heroine is made to wait in queue to attend her toilet was way ahead of its time. The transition of the spoilt rich girl into a likeable pleasnt lady and her falling for the reporter are a treat to watch.

Claudette Colbert was the perfect choice for the heiress and Clark Gable quite different from other roles he palyed. Both of the stars come out excellently. Special mention must be made about Roscoe Karns as a fellow traveller and Walter Connoley as the enraged father who dtests his future son-in-law and chooses Gable.

A winner all the way and one would expect nothing less than this from the incomperable Frank Capra. Undoubtedly his greatest screwball comedy.

Krishna Kumar Menon, Chennai(Madras), India.

Rebecca

krishkmenon — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:56:11 GMT

The master once again delivers a suspenser that marks his class and caliber. Not the first time that Hitchcock had adapted Daphne Du Maurier, he had done it earlier in England with Jamaica Inn which is mostly forgotten but had in its offering a newcomer who would be lapped up in Hollywood-Maureen O'Hara and as a villain Charles Laughton. The film is supposed to have been a failure but its brooding photography and direction was in a class of its own.

In Rebecca he once again converts the book into a great film with astounding performances by Joan Fontaine & Laurence Olivier. The novel is adapted in its entirety with the ending changed to protect the image of the hero from that of a murderer which spoils the climax a little. In the book the climax where Mrs DeWinter realizes that her husband is a killer transforms her character and the reader is left to imagine the life that she has to live with him in later years. In the movie the entire episode is projected as an accident and the hero is made to look as absolved of any attempt to kill.

Joan Fontaine is explicitly photographed as the terrified young wife, Mrs.Danvers (Judith Anderson) is frightening. All the characters from the book come alive and the musical score is excellent. A must see.

Krishna Kumar Menon, Chennai(Madras) India

Lawrence of Arabia

krishkmenon — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 03:48:25 GMT

A giant of a movie and a portion of history in film making. The legendary director David Lean delivers another classic with his team mate photographer. The musical score is great.

The film captures the expanse of the Mespotamian desert, the crafty designs of British Empire Building and the easy machinations and greed of the Arab rulers during the Turkish campaigns of World War 1. Peter OToole is Lawrence to the core and Alec Guiness makes a near perfect Prince Faisal. Omar Sharif is cast well. The attack scenes are phenomenally photographed and one savors the beauty of the desert in its loneliness. A film to see and pass on to the next generation.

Krishna Kumar Menon Chennai(Madras), India

My Fair Lady

krishkmenon — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 03:39:50 GMT

Pygmalion it is not but undoubtedly the similarities are wonderfully delivered to the audience. A wonderful adaptation of Pygmalion in musical form though the original with Leslie Howard & Wendy Hiller was known to be Bernard Shaws favorite.

Audrey Hepburn as always comes out vivacious and appealing as Eliza and Rex Harrison is impeccable as Professor Higgins. The movie is long but you never feel the length as it moves. The songs are legendary and who can forget The Rain in Spain or All I want is a Room Somewhere. The ending probably as the audience wanted it is now folklore-"Eliza where the Devil are my Slippers?" but would evoke angry reactions from the feminist organisations of today.

A movie for the entire family to watch over and over again.

Krishna Kumar Menon Chennai(Madras), India

An Affair to Remember

krishkmenon — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 03:30:19 GMT

Though the film stars my favorite Grant and also co-stars the lovely Deborah Kerr this version loses sheen before the original "Love Affair" starring Charles Boyer & Irene Dunne. The original was also directed by Leo McCarey but in this version the real romance of the story slips for what reason I cannot tell as Cary is as debonair as ever but the voicing of dialogues were better when Boyer & Irene did it. Also Deborah Kerr does not come out both as lively and appealing as Irene Dunne. The film is visually beautiful in color but my vote is for Love Affair of the 1930s

Krishna Kumar Menon Chennai(Madras), India

The Lady Vanishes

krishkmenon — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:56:27 GMT

One of the most repeated themes in films was originally perfected by Hitchcock in this masterpiece. The stories of people going missing without a trace and a lonely soul fighting against all odds to prove that the missing person exists has been retold after Lady Vanishes umpteen times and most recently in the Jodie Foster film "Flight Plan" but none of them can come anywhere near Hitchcock.

The fast pace of the film its excellent actors and the settings in Black and White make it memorable. The "Secret Agent" Miss Froy itself is the most unlikely spy one may think of but the story telling and the Director makes it plausible. The period setting of the film makes it obvious that the villains are Nazis but steers away from calling them so but does not restrain itself in depicting them as despicable villains telling the world in 1939 what it was in store for.

What more than to call it an unforgettable Classic.

Krishna Kumar Menon, Chennai(Madras), India.

Rear Window

krishkmenon — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:44:37 GMT

The great master of suspense delivers another beauty. This is a movie that no one should miss. It does not age any bit and retains its form even 40 years after it was released.

The ultimate "Peeping Tom" story carries its suspense till the end and leaves the viewer glued to his seat. The pairing of an aeging Jimmy Stewart with the glamorous blonde Grace Kelly works great and the chemistry shows when sparks fly during the conversations that they have. One wonders how any sane human can stay aloof from the advances of such a female as Grace Kelly and the double entendre in the dialogues are simply classic.

Thelma Ritter is another character that comes out with flying colors. Hitchcock delivers and how. One of the greatest from Hollywood and also from the master.

Krishna Kumar Menon, Chennai(Madras), India

Mr and Mrs Smith from Alfred Hitchcock

krishkmenon — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:17:14 GMT

This film is a surpise from the master of suspense as it is his only foray into actual comedy though he has blended comedy into most of his suspensers earlier.

The plot is more of a bedroom farce without actually entering it as was the code in the golden era. Carole Lombard and Robert Montgomery are paired beautifully and the subtle innuendos in the dialogues are incredibly funny and also outlive its age as they are relevant today.

The master proves that he can handle the genre as well as others. Unfortunately the movie is not available and mostly prone to be mis-identified with the Brad Pitt film.

Krishna Kumar Menon Chennai(Madras), India

Guns of Navarone

krishkmenon — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:08:24 GMT

A great war movie excellently adapted from Alistair McLeans novel of the same name. The plot is as usual - British Commandos are sent as saboteurs to eliminate some guns that are targeting British ships in the Mediterranean. It is vital that the Commandos succeed in misleading the Jerries that they plan to evacuate the British troops on Crete after they destroy these guns and the raid itself is a ploy to ensure that the Germans are diverted in attention to enable the Royal Navy to undertake its task.

The casting of Gregory Peck as a British officer is a little hard to swallow but one must admit that he lives up to the task. David Niven as the Professor turned sabotage expert is as usual great and Anthony Quayle is quintessentially the stiff upper lip English officer to the core. Alltogether the movie is a War classic

Krishna Kumar Menon Chennai(Madras), India.

Gone With The Wind

krishkmenon — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 03:53:13 GMT

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