An Excellent Lake View and Hollywood Story

What were you doing at age 19?  Veronica Lake, at age 19, was starring in Sullivan's Travels.  Her co-star and romantic interest, Joel McCrea, was almost twice her age.  No matter, it works! Perhaps it works so well because it is almost impossible to make Lake look like a teenager.  Even pigtails would probably not make you think "teenager."  Veronica Lake, she of the "peek-a-boo" hairstyle, had that special "thing" that Hollywood movie producers and directors desired in a leading lady.  Something more than beauty.  The something that Lake delivered on screen is best described as "sultry."  The dictionary definition of the word "sultry" is "extremely hot."  That just about says it all!   However, Sullivan's Travels is much more than Veronica Lake.  It is a delightful satire of Hollywood.  The film was released in December of 1941.  Surely, it offered movie patrons a welcome respite from America's violent entry into World War II on December 7.  More than seventy years later, Sullivan's Travels is still a good trip!          John Greanias, Copyright 2013.

Wow, This Film Achieved 100% on the Tomatometer!

The Americanization of Emily (1964) is one of my enduring favorite films.  It is a love story, a war story, and a comedy.  The movie never seems to be prominently featured in any film venues, so I have long concluded that it must have some special appeal for me that others fail to perceive.  I decided to check a resource that I have found to be respectable, responsible and reliable, the Rotten Tomatoes website.  I was gratified to find that I am not alone in my adulation of this movie. The fact that it is filmed in black and white is a large part of the allure.  Monochrome is the perfect medium for this film set in England during World War II.  Julie Andrews is the English Emily, and James Garner is the U.S. Navy officer responsible for the "Americanization."  Both Andrews and Garner have designated this movie as one of their favorite performances.  It is a beautiful and entertaining story, and 100% on the Tomatometer is as good as it gets!
John Greanias  Copyright 2013

Make It In Black & White

Grey is a color mid-way between black and white.  A monochrome film is the perfect medium to highlight "battleship grey."  If you make a Navy war film, make it in black and white.  As my evidence of this fundamental truth, I submit for your viewing pleasure In Harm's Way (1965).  Great stars (John Wayne, Patrica Neal, Henry Fonda, Kirk Douglas, Dana Andrews, Burgess Meredith, George Kennedy, and even Larry Hagman in a small role) and an exciting action story!  The action begins with the attack on Pearl Harbor.   Actually, the action begins the night before the Japanese attack when Bond Girl, Barbara Bouchet, makes her appearance. In 1951, John Wayne and Patrica Neal were featured together in another Navy war film, Operation Pacific (filmed in black & white, of course).  They make a credible couple in both films.  Although the film is fictional (based on a book) the general storyline is a composite of true major events of the war in the Pacific theater.  The way to see an excellent example of monochrome filmmaking is In Harm's Way.                                                                            John Greanias Copyright 2013

Before There Was Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus came late to the party of Disney-developed performers with famous fathers.  In the 1960's Hayley Mills became a very popular child actress by appearing in a series of Disney movies, including Pollyanna and The Parent Trap.  Her father is John Mills, who performed in more than 100 films and was knighted by the Queen of Great Britain for his achievements.  The Disney films were very entertaining; however, my favorite Hayley Mills film was her first feature role and, of course, it was in black and white. The movie is Tiger Bay, and it was released in 1959.  The film also features Hayley's father and German actor Horst Buchholz.  The movie is best described as a drama/crime story.  The character played by Hayley Mills in complex and fascinating.  A real bonus is the location filming which will give you a real life experience of visiting a port city in England 50 years ago.  Movies are wonderful time machines, and this one is authentic and thoroughly entertaining.  For a good time, put your eye on the Tiger.
John Greanias Copyright 2013

Put Your Money Where Your House Is

Are you thinking about remodeling your home, or purchasing a fixer-upper that may (or may not) have good bones?  If you answered yes (or even maybe), then I have a film to recommend.  Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House may be more than 60 years old, but it is as relevant today as a jumbo mortgage.  Gary Grant and Myrna Loy combine their unique comedic talents to make you smile at their suffering.  There have been other films about the perils of home construction, but none deliver the charming interplay between husband and wife that is perfectly executed by Grant and Loy.  For a good time visit this House!  
John Greanias Copyright 2013

The Truth Will Come Out?

A United States Senator decides to come clean about his personal history, but then the media engages in a cover-up.  Is this a story about life in Washington, D.C.  No, it is another John Ford directed Western masterpiece (93% on the Tomatometer).  The film is The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.  The theater poster announced "James Stewart and John Wayne, TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME" (the second time was 12 years later in The Shootist).  Gene Pitney recorded the top 10 hit song, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.  The movie has a surprise ending, but another big surprise is the fact that the top 10 Gene Pitney song, based on the movie, was not used in the movie.
John Greanias Copyright 2013

Stealthy Sex Appeal

Sink The Bismarck! (1960) is a film based on a great wartime sea adventure.  It is a true story, about guys and their ships and their glory.  So, as a film producer, how do you work a beautiful woman into this adventure story to help ensure commercial success.  Answer; take one classic film beauty (Dana Wynter), put her in a well fitted navy uniform, and make sure she hangs with the guys.  In my two most recent posts, I reviewed a war film without any significant female roles and a film in which a woman was a significant part of the story.  Bismarck is a hybrid.  The role played by Dana Wynter in Bismarck could have been written for a male, but why spoil the fun for the mostly male audience expected to be attracted to the war film.  Wynter takes the first place prize for the all time best woman in uniform in a movie (second place goes to Demi Moore in A Few Good Men). Moving beyond Dana Wynter as eye candy, Bismarck is a truly outstanding film.  It tells an exceptional story, and tells it very well.  Great Britain was devastated when its biggest warship (HMS Hood) was sunk in an 8 minute gun battle with Bismarck.  Only 3 of the 1,421 crew survived the summary destruction of HMS Hood.  How did Great Britain achieve its revenge and salvage its reputation as the supreme naval power?  To find out, view Sink The Bismarck!, which will make you feel as though you were actually there in May of 1941 for four days of suspense and adventure on the high seas.
John Greanias Copyright 2013