Things I Saw This Week
John Stahl’s chilling 1946 film Leave Her to Heaven starring Gene Tierney, Cornel Wilde, Jeanne Crain and Vincent Price. The complexities are too many to list in a capsule review, but suffice it to say the movie brings up a strong response and I found myself actually getting nervous as I watched the events unfold. Tierney at her most gorgeous, her most mysterious and intense, and Vincent Price is great in his couple of scenes. Beautiful Technicolor, horrifying and yet entertaining plot, with an ambiguous ending. The movie is hard to shake. I want Gene Tierney’s blue bathrobe.
I had never seen Waterworld. I only made it through 20 minutes. I was baffled by Jeanne Tripplehorn’s Les-Miserables “Lovely Ladies” outfit, complete with heaving cleavage and big chunky necklace, perfect attire for a post-apocalyptic universe. You’re trapped on a ramshackle ship in the middle of the globally-warmed ocean, and you dress like you’re a jolly “milady” at a Ren Faire? Also, why were her armpits shaved? I realize I am obsessed with body hair, I have mentioned it before (if you’re a tiresome TMI-type, then consider yourself warned). In the midst of end-of-the-world survival, you … what … take the time to scrape your pits with the rusty edge of a garbage can? You have razors on board? Clearly I was not even focusing on the plot, so obsessed was I with her necklace and perfectly smooth armpits in the middle of an apocalyptic universe. Not to mention her daughter’s Mowgli-inspired bikini. Kevin Costner has one moment where he has to grab hold of a tube and swing across to another portion of his boat, and the look on his face as he did that particular action was almost mortified. Like: “Sorry. I have no idea how to be an action hero. Sorry. Doin’ my best here. But not really. I hate swinging. I feel like an asshole.”
A favorite of mine, on TCM’s Carole Lombard day. The lunacy of that movie never fails to strike the perfect chord in my comedically-inclined nature. The mother shouting over and over in the first scene, “I HAVE A GOAT. I HAVE A GOAT. I HAVE A GOAT. I HAVE A GOAT.” The poor father. He is hilarious. Carlo is ridiculous and I love him entirely. He is so morose. I never get sick of watching how once Carole Lombard falls in love with William Powell (because why wouldn’t you?), her face follows him around the room as he moves. Whenever he is in her vicinity, she never once takes her eyes off of him. It is both pathetic and touching. I have often FELT that way about a man but I try to keep it under wraps. Carole Lombard knows no such compunction. I love her for it. William Powell is so sexy.
Things I Read This Week
Leave Her to Heaven conversation: This conversation between Kim Morgan and The Self-Styled Siren about the aforementioned Leave Her to Heaven, which I had never seen and promptly ordered it from Netflix before I even finished reading their fascinating conversation. One of the things I love most about these two brainiac obsessives (Kim and Siren) is that while their skill as writers is beyond compare – the skill does not hide the passion. There is no cloak of words distancing them from what they love (a common problem with a lot of people who write about films). You can feel the passion. They write as experts, yes, but they also write as the ultimate fans, and it is why I go back to their sites again and again and again.
Elvis Obituary: I became obsessed by Lester Bangs’ famous obituary of Elvis Presley this week called “Where Were You When Elvis Died?” It is an extraordinary piece of writing, with a type of power and brute honesty I aspire to. Not only is it an obituary for Presley, but an obituary for an era. I hope someday to be able to write something that even comes close to what Lester Bangs does in that piece. Mind-blowing.
Jaws: A feast for a shark lover! Jason Bellamy and Ed Howard converse about Jaws in their latest Conversations feature over at HND. I’ve been parsing it out over the week. Definitely go check it out.
Villette
NY1’s coverage of Irene: A really good piece by Tom McGeveran, analyzing the role of local news station NY1 in the recent tropical storm and how essential it was for those of us who were here. McGeveran interviews the reporters and anchors at NY1 about how it all went down. I had drinks with McGeveran yesterday, it was only our second time meeting (he’s one of my editors at Capital New York), but within 25 seconds of sitting down with our cans of beer and our shots of Jameson’s, James Joyce had come up. Of course he had. But I had been wanting to highlight McGeveran’s piece anyway, so go check it out.
Take Me To Town: The indispensable Marilyn Ferdinand on Take Me To Town. I always look forward to hearing whatever Marilyn Ferdinand has to say about, well, anything. Check out her observation here:
However, this is Ann Sheridan we’re talking about. Sheridan is one of the most talented actresses to come from mid-century America, infusing clichéd scripts with nuance and showing a willingness to play against the grain of the story. She’s given exceptionally good dialogue in the smart, full script by Richard Morris (who rather specialized in good-time girls, with The Unsinkable Molly Brown and Thoroughly Modern Millie to his credit). And she makes the most of it, treating the boys’ declaration that they are “looking for a woman” with a little surprise, but a lot of understanding and dignity. She’s a hard taskmaster to the townspeople as she rehearses them like the pro she is for a fundraising theatrical she has organized. When Edna quits, taking her piano with her, Vermillion is venomous to her. While we might understand Vermillion’s emotional outburst based on how she’s been high-hatted and put down by Edna, there’s an edge to Sheridan’s attack that makes it clear she’s got a strong streak of nasty in her that is pushing some good people too far. She’s also a sensualist who dances uninhibitedly and displays her sexual attraction to Will openly. Thus, Sheridan risks alienating our good will toward her character for the sake of a more truthful performance.
I love that Lester Bangs piece. Along with James Taylor Marked for Death and his piece on The Clash, it’s probably my favorite thing by him. It’s vicious in how unvarnished and exalting it is, even as it nails down better and more bluntly than anyone why Elvis was and deserved to be an icon. He actually made me understand Elvis better through words than I ever did through those ubiquitous videos of the King gyrating. It made me see beyond the dated outrage to see that, really, those button-down parents weren’t terrified ENOUGH. I love that it can be so critical, yet it’s probably what made me give Elvis a serious shot after initial disinterest (he’s still not a favorite, but now I do really like to listen to him now and then).
Yeah, it’s a great great piece. The jumpsuit comment is an amazing observation – his honesty about the sexual power of the guy and how everyone felt it – it was for everyone, not just the teenage girls … and the letdown he felt, etc. But the ending … the powerful elegy of that ending … Just blows me AWAY.
I think Bangs’ Elvis obit is the best writing he ever did, and along with Greil Marcus’ review of “Born to Run,” the best rock writing I’ve ever read. There’s also a great Bangs obit on John Lennon (it’s in the “Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung” collection) that is worth seeking out.
You evil woman. Soda is not, I repeat NOT supposed to go anywhere near one’s nasal cavity.
I suspect the Jungle-kini costuming was a last ditch attempt to keep the male audience in their seats for more than 12 seconds. They HAD to know they’d invented a tool of torture before release.
If I had my druthers, I’d druther go a courting Lucy Snowe over Jane Eyre in any and all parallel universes.
Doc – Lucy Snowe is wonderful, I am so in love with her. She’s so FUNNY!
Lion – “Junglekini” hahahahahahaha
If the movie had any pretense at being campy and theatrical (ie: Mad Max) then the costume would make sense. But the movie’s tone was so pretentious and serious – and dreary and dark – they seemed to really think they were making something meaningful – so those ridiculous Mowgli slash Madame Thenardier costumes were so stupid! Of course I might have forgiven it if she had had hairy armpits. I might have thought: “Oh hey, look, how realistic!”
Great – I finally get my sister in-law to read your site and you have a “Waterworld” review. Meh – I love bad movies. I actually spent a weekend with a friend, (later girlfriend), watching “Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence” . Takeshi Kitano is great, but the movie is so disjointed. (Watch “Brother” )
That kind of movie drives me crazy – so bad, yet could be so good with the right help.
Please convince my sister in-law that marrying into an Irish family has its intellectual points.
Bob – nothing could help Waterworld. I love bad movies, too – but I don’t like DEAD movies.
In the same post as I wrote about Waterworld, I also discuss a Charlotte Bronte novel. This isn’t an “intellectual” site. Sometimes I write about American Idol. Sometimes I write about James Joyce. Sometimes I write about my family, sometimes I write about men. Sometimes I write a post about my Swiffer and how much I love it. Please tell me you don’t have an expectation that I only write about certain kinds of topics. I do a giant book review about a Bronte biography, or a giant book review of a Patricia Highsmith biography – and then one paragraph about Waterworld fills you with dismay? (I know you’re probably kidding, but I will take this opportunity to make a serious point.) As long as everyone who reads me knows how to use the scroll button to go past things they don’t like, everything should be fine.
Sorry – Once again I’m reminded that sarcasm doesn’t work in type. Your site is wonderful and every single person that I know, who have read your words, go back to fond memories of high school and college Lit classes.
Mr. Hitchens can do written sarcasm, and you are no slouch. I’m still stuck with making remarks at pubs. Sorry I can’t work with the written word. It would be nice. Thanks for trying to teach me. You are a pleasure to read; unfortunately, I can’t come close to duplicating your writing skills.
My sister in-law loves your writing and is trying to pass the love of writing to her three little ones. Thank you so much.
Bob – Ugh. I am so sorry I completely misread your tone. Yuk. I feel terrible – will you accept my apology?
Aaah Sheila I’m so excited for you to be reading Villette! It’s my favourite.
Catherine – I am freaking out! It’s so good!!! The whole letters-section – where she is waiting for a letter from Dr. John – it reminded me so much of times in my own life when I was eating my heart out waiting for an email from some dude. It was so accurate, so heartwrenching …
I have about 150 pages left. I am now in the Paul Emmanuel section. Not sure what’s going to happen there.
Re William Powell: yes! And the Thin Man movies still stand as a unique film contribution to the idea that married people can be intelligent, equal, and affectionate.
Leave Her to Heaven is one of my favorite movies. Gene Tierney is absolutely chilling, the scene in the rowboat gives me the shivers whenever I think of it. I love Tierney, something about the angles of her face, I think she is one of the most beautiful women ever to grace the movies. Can’t take my eyes off her when she is on the screen.
Maureen – She definitely has the most memorable face angles in movie history. Nobody looks like her. Those eyes!
Sheila – You have to admit it’s fun to be Irish. I can’t count how many receptions we disrupted in a sarcastic manner. Maureen O’Hara was my grandmother as in “Only the Lonely”. In Irish tradition we should punch each other – I fear that you would win hands down.
Oh gosh, I remember seeing “Waterworld” in the theater with my late friend J, and while we said the movie was awful, in the same breath we raved about Tina Majorino. It was great to see her act in “Veronica Mars” and “Napoleon Dynamite” (I hear she’s in a cable series but it’s a channel I don’t get).
O.M.G. You’re reading Villette! Where have I been?? I have thought of you so often while reading it — Lucy reminds me so much of you in so many ways. My forward progress stalled out a bit over the last few days because of personal stuff, so we might actually be at about the same point in the book. We must have a post-Villette pow-wow!
So excited you’re reading it!!
Oh, and I slogged through the first bit as well. There were moments when I was like, “What the hell???” but I’m SO glad I stuck with it.
Tracey – where are you at now in the book??
Ok, so you mean the huge book I have on my credenza at work, collecting dust, of the complete novels of Charlotte and Emily Bronte including Villette the only one I haven’t read is a must read?! I tried once and couldn’t get going on it either! I’ll try again…and Waterworld it’s the only movie I can remember actually muttering a “tsk tsk” how awful.
Oh, and Gene Tierney….The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, for some reason this one gets me everytime. Silly I know….but romantic!
I love The Ghost and Mrs. Muir! So romantic!
Lisa – in re: Villette: The first four or five chapters are really prelude before the book gets going – but, of course, all of that information eventually pays off as you go on further through the book. If you can make it through those initial chapters, the book takes off like a rocket!!
I’ll give it a shot again! You haven’t steered me wrong yet!
Tried to find where TCM is playing Laura again, they don’t have it on the schedule, love that Tierney movie also!
Oh Laura is wonderful!! I own it!
Just wanted to take a second and say I’m thinking of you all down there in Texas. Hoping those fires get put out soon. The footage is horrifying. Stay safe!
Thank you! It was horrible here north of us. My future step son is in Bastrop County and so far they are ok. Everyone please pray for rain!!
It’s raining here and has been for 24 hours – I so wish I could send some your way. Hoping for some relief for you all soon!!
I would love that! We finally broke the 100 degree streak, but it’s still so dusty and dry. Even in the city it’s bad. All the trees have lost their leaves as they are in hibernation mode trying to conserve. This is the worst summer we’ve had in a long time. We worried about you during the hurricane. If I had a twitter account I would have tweeted you to pack up and come to Texas.
Sheila! Thank you for the link!
I realized that this article had been buried in the tree trunk that keeps my old blog safe. Took out a pickaxe and re-published it, here:
http://rooful.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/02/re-acquaintance.html
I’m so excited you’re reading this book. It’s a sucker-punch– starts off so slow you almost doze off, that knocks you off your feet.
Maybe I’ll do another re-read…
Roo!! Love to see you here – and thanks for the link again – that book blew me away. It affected me on an even deeper level than Jane Eyre, and I wouldn’t have thought that possible. It is one of the most accurate and heart-rending depictions of loneliness – and what it can do to a personality – that I have ever read. Amazing!!
:)
I’m here more often than I comment. I like this place.
Me too with your place. :)