I didn’t see a lot of movies in August, only nine, but I did watch an entire TV series and several episodes of others. In the hopes that you’ll tell me what you encountered in August, here’s what I saw:
First-time Watches
Wife vs. Secretary (1936) Clarence Brown - Warner Bros. DVD
Publishing executive V. S. Stanhope (Clark Gable) spends more time with his secretary (Jean Harlow) than he does with his wife (Myrna Loy). The script is too muddled for me as if the producers are unsure whether they’re making a comedy or a drama. But the picture sure is glossy. A young James Stewart has a few brief scenes. A catfight between Harlow and Loy might’ve done it for me, but, alas…
Julius Caesar (1979) Herbert Wise - Kanopy
I’m working through some of the reading lists of Rockbridge Academy where I’ll be substitute teaching again this fall, and there’s a lot of Shakespeare. I plan to watch film versions of the plays (probably between 5-7 on the list) and then read them. This 1979 production was the easiest to access and did the trick.
Preparations to Be Together for an Unknown Period of Time (2020) Lili Horvát - Library DVD
After an encounter with a doctor named János (Viktor Bodó) at a conference in New Jersey, neurosurgeon Márta (Natasa Stork) leaves her life and work in America to meet János in her native Hungary. When Márta finally tracks János down at an agreed-upon date and time, he has no memory of her or their previous meeting. Preparations owes much to the films of Polish director Krzysztof Kieślowski (Three Colours trilogy, The Double Life of Veronique, Dekalog), so if you enjoy his work, you’ll probably like Preparations.
Mr. Klein (1976) Joseph Losey - Criterion Channel
With the passing of Alain Delon just a few days ago, I knew I wanted to see one of his films, preferably one I hadn’t previously viewed. I’m glad I watched Mr. Klein, which could be Delon’s greatest performance. Delon plays Robert Klein, an unscrupulous art collector in WWII France. Klein takes advantage of Jews trying to sell their works of art to have money to flee Nazi persecution, yet the callous Klein pays them only a fraction of what their collections are worth. But Klein soon finds himself the object of scrutiny from the authorities who think he is Jewish. Klein learns there’s another Robert Klein in Paris, so it’s a clear-cut case of “the wrong man.” Or is it? Mysterious, labyrinthine, and intense, Mr. Klein is a great thriller, an important WWII film, and a personal look at director Joseph Losey’s feelings about his exile to Europe due to the HUAC hearings. I plan to pick up this Blu-ray soon, eager to explore the many layers of this fine film.
Nero Wolfe (TV - 2001-2002) Via Vision (Australia) DVD box set
I’ll have a separate review of this TV series in just a few days.
Morvern Callar (2002) Lynne Ramsay - Criterion Channel
Samantha Morton plays Morvern Callar, a young woman in a Scottish port town who wakes up on Christmas morning to find her boyfriend dead from suicide. He’s left Christmas presents, money for a funeral, a mixtape, and his unpublished manuscript. While I liked the tone of the film, the story requires far too much suspension of disbelief. (I can’t go into much of it without revealing spoilers.) Somewhat intriguing, but ultimately disappointing. Perhaps I’ll revisit this one in a few years.
Batteries Not Included (or *batteries not included, 1987) Matthew Robbins - Thrift store DVD
Batteries Not Included is a sweet little film about a New York East Village apartment complex and diner run by Frank and Faye Riley (Hume Cronin and Jessica Tandy). The neighborhood has fallen on hard times and needs a new look, so the building that’s been the Riley’s home is about to be demolished. But the pesky Rileys are among the few holdouts refusing to leave. And then… alien ships arrive. Batteries Not Included is touching without being too cute, which is a breath of fresh air. The film has a certain charm, and while you know where it’s going, it’s a pleasant experience (but about 15 minutes too long).
Counsellor at Law (1933) William Wyler - Universal Vault DVD
Based on a successful play by Elmer Rice, Counsellor (using the British spelling, for some reason) at Law follows George Simon (John Barrymore), a famous, successful, and very in-demand Manhattan attorney. The picture’s opening shows us a fast-paced law office with rapid-fire dialogue that makes His Girl Friday (1940) seem like slow-motion. Simon has far too much on his plate but finds he must make room for a rival who has discovered a secret from Simon’s past, an incident that could lead to disbarment. The picture includes a wonderful supporting cast and impressive early work from William Wyler. This film shows the type of performance Barrymore could deliver when he was on his game.
Rewatches
Circle of Danger (1951) Jacques Tourneur - Studio Canal (Region B) Blu-ray (2x)
Ray Milland plays Clay Davis, an American who takes his cut from a highly profitable Tampa, Florida salvage operation, and leaves it all to go to England. Why? He’s looking for a man named Alec Smithers, whom he hopes can answer some questions about the mysterious death of Clay’s brother Hank. Hank volunteered to join a British commando unit during WWII and was the unit’s only casualty, although the enemy was not attacking at the time of his death. The film may move too slowly for some, but the last ten minutes are white-knuckle moments as Clay finally arrives at the truth about his brother, and perhaps himself. Although many consider it a minor work from Tourneur, Circle of Danger is well worth tracking down. The new Studio Canal disc includes an audio commentary by Imogen Sara Smith.
Shane (1953) George Stevens - Eureka/Masters of Cinema (Region B) Blu-ray (3x)
Research for an upcoming project. Stay tuned for more info.
Favorite Discovery = Mr. Klein
Favorite Revisit = Circle of Danger
Okay, tell me what you watched last month. The comments are open, so let’s go…