krishkmenon

Under discussion:

It Happened One Night  (1934)

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.

Under discussion:

Lawrence of Arabia  (1962)

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

Under discussion:

An Affair to Remember  (1957)

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

Under discussion:

Rear Window  (1954)

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

Under discussion:

The Guns of Navarone  (1961)

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.

Under discussion:

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

Under discussion:

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.

Under discussion:

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

Under discussion:

The Snows of Kilimanjaro  (1952)

Loosely based on Ernest Hemmingways novel the film is visually a treat to watch. Gregory Peck gives a low key performance and makes his character evoke sympathy from the viewer. Hemmingway allegedly was not at all happy with the change in the ending.

Ava Gardner is beautiful and also portrays her character with conviction.

The color and photography are a treat to the eyes.

By Krishna Kumar Menon, Chennai(Madras), India

Under discussion:

Samson and Delilah  (1949)

As expected Cecil B DeMille offers us a great entertainer of the Biblical story of the legendary Samson.

The production as with any DeMille film is opulent to say the least. Victor Mature is slightly wooden in his acting. He was in his peak as Dr.Holliday in My Darling Clementine. He has delivered his role of Samson adequately but the hamminess in his performance is noticeable.

Heddy Lammarr was, is and will be the ultimate Delilah. She is superb in her role - alluring and seductive(if the term is allowed for the period) and lives it to perfection.

DeMilles direction is also above average but does not match his earlier films. Totally to sum it up a movie not to be missed and viewed allowing some glitches here and there.

By Krishna Kumar Menon , Chennai(Madras), India

Under discussion:

Passage to Marseilles  (1944)

Definitely not a movie that will be relished by the Bogie fan of which I am unashamedly one. A definite waste of the re-casting of Bogart, Claude Rains and others from Casablanca and last but not least a Michael Curtiz  who fails to deliver due to an insipid screenplay.

The film still has its interesting moments depicting Hollywoods brand patriotism of the 1940s wartime and also the the way Devils Island was shown to harbor innocents also.

Certainly not a classic but one that you can sit thru on a Sunday afternoon or a late weeknight to view  an era of Hollywood with your favorites.

By Krishna Kumar Menon, Chennai (Madras) India

Under discussion:

Kim  (1950)

A die-hard Errol Flynn fan I would be a little biased if I called this movie a classic as it lacks the Flynn touch of the 30s or the 40s but certainly puts his inimitable mark on the film.

A not so well adapted tale of Rudyard Kipling the film is still an interesting one to watch and we are given a once more fleeting glimpse of the Flynn who was in his role of a British soldier in disguise in the days of the Raj.

The photography is quite good but most memorable is the viewing of Errol in probably his last role as a swashbuckler which he delivers with panache. Why did he have to leave so soon?

Reviewed by Krishna Kumar Menon Chennai India