Breezy (2 stars)

Breezy, an R-rated film from 1973, is a May-December romantic drama starringWilliam Holden and Kay Lenz.  One of the earliest directorial works of Clint Eastwood, this film was one I recently watched for the first time for my William Holden viewing month.  While I rarely watch post-1965 (or R-rated) films, with my desire to see all the works of my #1 guy, I decided to take a chance on this one---and my decision to pretty much avoid those kinds of films was reconfirmed.

After a night of passion with a young man named Bruno, kind-hearted, guitar-playing "hippie" teenager, Edith "Breezy" Breezerman" (Kay Lenz), hitches a ride into the valley with a middle-aged man.  Frightened by the things the man has said to her, Breezy dashes from his car, while at a stoplight, and races away from him---and right into the life of another middle aged man---divorced real estate agent, Frank Harmon (William Holden).  Although Frank tells her he doesn't pick up hitchhikers, Breezy climbs into his car anyway and proceeds to chatter non-stop as they make their way to town.  Frank, a loner who enjoys his privacy, finds Breezy rather a nuisance, but seeing something in him she likes and trusts, Breezy isn't put off by his initial coldness.

Having left her guitar in the backseat of Frank's car, Breezy makes a visit to his house to pick it up, and though Frank is rude and somewhat unkind, Breezy's warmhearted nature begins to charm him---he feeds her, allows her to use his luxurious walk-in shower, and, at her request, provides her with her first-ever view of the Pacific Ocean.  Before long, Breezy is in love with Frank and has moved in to one of the guestrooms of his home.

Returning home from a party one night, Frank discovers Breezy waiting for him in his bed, asking him to make love with her.  As the two of them embark on a sexual relationship, Frank begins to struggle with the age difference between them---he is mistaken as her father when he takes her clothes shopping, and he is highly embarrassed when he takes Breezy to a movie (Clint Eastwood's High Plains Drifter, no less!) and runs into friends at the theatre.  Telling his friend he feels like a child molester, Frank determines that the best thing to do is break things off with Breezy.  How it all plays out is the balance of the film.





Breezy was a total turn-off to me for a number of reasons.  First and foremost---the nudity.  While such a view is out of sync with most movie-goers nowadays, I am unashamed to admit that I don't prefer nudity in the movies I watch.  I find it completely unnecessary.  Especially when you consider that earlier decades gave us passionate---even sensual---films, and they did so without nudity or graphic sex, you realize that those things are SO unnecessary to make a point.  (A Place in the Sun, From Here to Eternity, and Picnic being just a few examples of that.)  Sadly, as society's moral standards changed through the 60's and into the 70's, Hollywood's offerings reflected that change, and while a decade earlier, things would have been left to the imagination, by the time Breezy was made, nudity was not only accepted, but expected as well; here in Breezy, there were three or four nude scenes (female), all of which could have been left out.  Instead of adding to the romance or passion, those scenes only made the film trashy to me.

Another turn-off for me was the Holden/Lenz romance.  While I have no problems with May-December romance and even really love other May-December romance movies (Middle of the Night and Ten North Frederick being among my ten favorite movies), this particular older man/younger woman romance was quite unappealing to me.  Breezy was filmed in late 1972, when my beloved Bill was 54 years old; however, much as it pains me to say it since I completely adore this man, he looked to be about ten years older than that.  On the other hand, Kay Lenz, though 19 here, looked much younger...perhaps 15.   For me, a 15 year old girl and a 65 year old man is pushing the envelope, so I just didn't find myself rooting for them.  While he was thought to be her father in one scene, quite honestly, he looked more like her grandfather.  (This film was released when I was 12 years old; even if I had been allowed to see an R-rated movie at that age, I can assure you, I would have been "grossed out" by this relationship.)

Finally, I'm not a fan of "hippie" movies.  I quite hate that time period and the things which go with it.  To be honest,  William Holden---and my desire to see all of his films---is the only reason I chose to watch Breezy.  Had another man had the lead part, I would never have given it even a minute of my time, and it is only my love for Mr. Holden which keeps this film at 2 stars rather than 1. (Mostly because I feel, nudity aside, this film had to be a rather bold and courageous career move for him, and I am rewarding him for that.)

Since I want to have something positive to say about this film, I will acknowledge that the acting of both William Holden and Kay Lenz was very good (as is always the case for Mr. Holden).  Miss Lenz also consistently offered an incredibly bright and beautiful smile. Clint Eastwood's direction was very good, and although I found the love scenes a turn-off and even fast-forwarded through them, they appeared to be filmed well.  William Holden's son, Scott, makes an appearance in the film...as the veterinarian.  Father and son shared a scene together.

Oh, there were two occasions I found myself laughing hysterically.  First, Breezy has just told Frank that smoking was worse for someone his age than for someone younger.  Right after that, she asks him if he is married.  His response, "No.  There's very little call these days for old, decrepit, one-foot-in-the-grave smokers."  Later, she asked him if he thought God was dead, and he responded, "I didn't even know he was sick."  For some reason, those two exchanges quite hit my funny bone, and I giggled hysterically.

Bottom-line---because of the excessive and unnecessary nudity and the early 70's attitude towards free and easy sex, Breezy is not a film I feel comfortable recommending.  However, should you desire to watch it, the film is out on DVD, plus it is available through Net Flix instant viewing.

The Lion (2 stars)

The Lion, from 1962, is an action/adventure film starring William Holden, Trevor Howard, and Capucine, with juvenile actress, Pamela Franklin, in a supporting role.  As a die-hard William Holden fan, I am making it my goal to see as many of his movies as I can, so when I saw that The Lion was making its TCM premiere last night, I excitedly set my DVR.  Alas, I was disappointed; however, I'm not sorry I watched it, and I don't consider it time wasted.  Anytime I have an opportunity to see my beloved Bill Holden in a "new-to-me" film, I consider it time well spent.

Robert Hayward (Holden) and his ex-wife, Christine (Capucine), have been divorced for several years, with Chris having custody of their young daughter, Tina (Pamela Franklin).  While Rob has been living stateside since the divorce, Chris and Tina have been living in Kenya, where Christine's new husband, John Bullit (Trevor Howard), manages a game preserve.  Concerned because of Tina's isolation and her strong attachment to a full-grown lion, Chris requests that Rob make a trip to Africa to judge the situation for himself.

Though Rob at first thinks Tina is bright and well-adjusted, he comes to realize that Chris is right...Tina does, in fact, have an unhealthy attachment to the lion---and he does to her as well, even, in a dramatic moment, choosing Tina over a lioness.  Additionally, Tina is strongly connected to the tribal customs of the local natives, something which greatly concerns her mother.  Rob realizes that Tina needs to be removed from the game preserve and brought to the states to live with him; however, since his connection with his daughter had been severed when she was very young, and she now looks upon Bullit as her father, will Rob be able to convince her to leave Africa and live with him?  Making matters even worse is the fact that Rob violated the natives' tribal laws by saving a man who had been left to die.  And on top of it all is Rob and Chris's realization that they still love each other.  How everything plays out is the balance of the film.

The Lion was filmed entirely on location in East Africa.  William Holden, part-owner in a Kenyan game preserve, had long-wanted to be involved in a film such as this.  Truly, it was his passion, and, in fact, according to Robert Osborne's informational snippets, he is the one who spearheaded the effort to have this film made.  Despite his zeal for the project, though, the film didn't do it for me.  I don't generally do well with animal films...for what are probably obvious reasons.  In this movie, it appeared that Trevor Howard's character was taunting the animals with his vehicle.  Perhaps it was meant to be just playfulness, but it was a turn-off for me.  Also, I didn't feel there was much chemistry between any of the stars---funny because Holden and Capucine were involved with one another at this point in their lives (said Robert Osborne).  I didn't see their off-screen love playing out in the film.

Just because I didn't enjoy this film, though, it doesn't mean others won't love it---especially those with an interest in Africa or safari animals.  (The scenery is stunning, and the animals are completely awesome.) While I don't believe the movie is out on DVD, I am willing to part with my copy.  Given that it was a William Holden film, I assumed I would love it, so I recorded it to disc as I watched it; however, it's not a movie I will ever watch again, so I am happy to send my recorded disc to anyone who wants it.  Please don't hesitate to ask.

Happy viewing!!

Another Man's Poison (2 stars)

Another Man's Poison, from 1952, is a mystery/drama starring my absolute #1 gal, Bette Davis, and her then-husband Gary Merrill.  This film was made in England, with the Merrills making the trip there at the request of the movie's producer, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.  Directed by Irving Rapper, Another Man's Poison had been on my must-watch list for the past three years, but since I haven't been able to locate it on DVD and since TCM never has it on their schedule, I haven't had the opportunity to catch it...until recently, when I discovered it on YouTube.  Thrilled beyond belief to have finally tracked this movie down, I settled in to watch it with my daughter the other night; however, much as it pains me to say it, both daughter (who also loves the fabulous Bette) and I were extremely disappointed.  (I believe this is the first Bette Davis film I have ever 2-starred.)

Mystery writer Janet Frobisher (Davis) receives an unexpected, unannounced late night visitor---one George Bates (Merrill), who is looking for Frobisher's estranged husband, George Preston.  Bates and Preston had pulled off a robbery together, with Bates being fingered as the shooting suspect, and hoping to clear himself, he is in search of Preston.  Only problem is, Janet killed her husband that very morning. 

Convinced that the answer to his problems is to pose as Preston, Bates disposes of the body and then begins to masquerade as Janet's husband.  The charade is very much against Janet's will, however, as she not only despises Bates, but is also involved with another man.  She is determined to get Bates out of her life for good, and accomplishing that may just prove to be her undoing.

While Another Man's Poison sounds like an extremely interesting film, the plot is painfully slow-moving; also, much as I hate to say it, I found zero chemistry between Davis and Merrill.  While they had sizzled together in All About Eve, that same fire just wasn't anywhere to be found in this film.  Bette, as always, was in top form, but even a fabulous actress can't redeem a bad script or an agonizingly slow-moving plot.  The final four or five minutes, when all the twists and turns play out, is the most interesting part of this film.

As a major-huge Bette Davis fan, I absolutely had to view this movie, and I figure all Davis fans probably feel similarly.  So if you want to give this one a try, HERE is its YouTube link, where you will find the film in its entirety.

Happy viewing!!

Classic Films I Just Don't Get

We all walk to the beat of our own drum on occasion, and my recent From Here to Eternity post really reminded me of that.  One of my friends said in her comment that while most everyone else seems to love From Here to Eternity, that film just doesn't do it for her.  She's seen it once...and that's enough...she never has to see it again.  My 21-year old daughter is in that same camp...she thinks From Here to Eternity is highly over-rated, and she really doesn't care if she ever watches it again.

My daughter's and my friend's comments got me to thinking.  There are plenty of classic films that most everyone else seems to love that just don't do it for me, movies that definitely have me feeling like a "lone ranger," since I'm about the only person on the planet who doesn't like them.  In most cases, I will 2-star those films, but a few of them, I will actually 1-star.  Just for kicks, I thought I would share a few of my "don't like it even if everyone else does" movies with all of you.

Rear Window---I am probably the only person in the world that doesn't like this movie.  Awhile back, I waded through over 200 Net Flix reviews, and I found only one person who gave less than 4 stars to this film (they gave 3)...most people gave it 5 stars.  I do love Thelma Ritter here and, of course, the beautiful Grace Kelly, but that's it.  I don't like the idea of a Peeping Tom being a hero; my son tells me it's the "neighborhood watch" program in action, but, still, I just don't like this one and give it 2 stars.

The Maltese Falcon---Yes, I know this is one of Humphrey Bogart's most iconic roles, but I just could not get into this movie.  I tried it twice, and both times, I found it confusing and difficult to follow.  Plus, I didn't much care for any of the characters.  I'll be generous and go 2 stars on this one.

His Girl Friday---Comedy is not my genre of choice anyway, but I totally hate this movie...the mile-a-minute dialogue was a real turn-off.  One of my 1-star films.

The Thin Man---While Myrna Loy is easily among my top 7 favorite actresses, and while I adore her and William Powell together and think they had amazing chemistry, I don't like this series at all.  I'll be honest, I've only seen three of the films, and I haven't enjoyed any of them.  I kept trying another one, hoping I would get into it, but, alas, after three 2-star (for me) movies, I've decided that The Thin Man is not for me.  I know, I'm one of the few people in the classic movie community who does not like this series. 

On the Waterfront---Yes, I know, this won the Best Picture Academy Award for 1954...Marlon Brando won for Best Actor, and Eva Marie Saint won for Best Supporting Actress, but it didn't work for me, perhaps in part because I'm not a Brando fan.  I'll go with 2 stars on this one.

The African Queen---Another of my 1-star movies.  I absolutely cannot stand this film; additionally, I find it hard to believe that Humphrey Bogart won an Academy Award for his role in it.  (Especially considering that one of his competitors was Montgomery Clift for A Place in the Sun.)  I think Bogey had many wonderful performances, but, for me, this was not one of them.  I know, I know, I'm walking to the beat of my own drum here.  

So what about y'all?  Are there some classic films that everyone else seems to love but which you absolutely cannot get into?  Films that make you feel like the "odd man out" because you seem to be the only one on the entire planet who doesn't like them?  I'd love to know what's on your list.  Please share some of your "can't stand it even if everyone else loves it" movies with me...even if they happen to be some of the movies that are near and dear to my heart.  You won't hurt my feelings by thinking differently than I do...after all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so we all aren't going to like (or dislike) the same things.

Happy viewing!!

Born to Be Bad (2 stars)

Born to Be Bad, from 1934, is a pre-code drama starring Cary Grant and Loretta Young.  While there is a 1950 film of the same name, starring Joan Fontaine, Zachary Scott, and Robert Ryan (reviewed HERE), this film is not the original of that.  Though the two films have the same name, they are two completely different movies, with completely different storylines. This film is quite short...running time is only 61 minutes.

Letty Strong (Loretta Young) is a single mom of a seven-year old boy named Micky.  Having had her son when she was fifteen years old, Letty has been on her own ever since.  The boy is quite a juvenile delinquent...smoking, skipping school, and running with a rough crowd.  One day, while roller skating, Micky gets hit by a milk truck, and though he wasn't badly injured, Letty instructs him to pretend that he was so that he will get a large settlement.

Malcolm Trevor (Cary Grant) is the man who hit Micky, and at his trial, it comes out that Micky wasn't injured at all, that he has been faking it.  The judge deems Letty, who encouraged her child to lie, an unfit mother and removes the child from her care.  Malcolm, feeling somewhat responsible for all that has happened, asks the court to give him and his wife custody of the boy.  Letty, meanwhile, is determined to get her son back...no matter what it takes, no matter who gets hurt in the process, no matter if she has to seduce Malcolm in the process.  How it all plays out is the balance of the film.

This was not a film I enjoyed at all.  While I am a huge fan of both Cary Grant and Loretta Young, I absolutely did not like either of them in this.  Loretta was beautiful---maybe more beautiful than ever---but her character was totally unlikeable; never for a minute did I like her, care about her, or want her to succeed.  And Grant's character...well, he started off as a decent guy, but he very quickly became someone I couldn't root for or care about.  (I can't say more without giving away the rest of the story.)  Oh, and I never really cared about or liked the little boy either.  So for me, when I want a "sacrificial mommy movie," I'll go with the 5-star Stella Dallas or Madame X.

If Born to Be Bad sounds like a film you are interested in seeing, it is available on Net Flix instant viewing.  I've also seen it on TCM's schedule fairly regularly.

Happy viewing!!

Internes Can't Take Money (2 stars)

For Joel McCrea's November 5th birthday, I decided to watch Internes Can't Take Money, from 1937, a drama in which Joel stars with Barbara Stanwyck.  (The fabulous Miss Stanwyck actually gets first billing here, and the film is available as part of the Barbara Stanwyck Collection.)

Janet Haley (Stanwyck), the widow of a bank robber, is newly out of jail.  While she had no part in the robbery, she was given a 2-year sentence for not turning her husband in.  She couldn't turn him in, though, because in order to keep Janet quiet, her estranged husband had kidnapped their 11-month-old daughter.  He died before ever revealing to her where the child was, so now that she's out of jail, Janet's sole goal in life is to locate her daughter.  The only people that know the little girl's location, however, are the gangsters with whom her husband ran, and they won't help Janet for free---it's either $1,000 or her as a mistress.

Dr. Jimmy Kildare, a hospital intern who recently treated Janet for a burned wrist, happens to be sitting in a bar when a shooting occurs.  Wanting to keep the shooting from the police, the victim's friends convince Dr. Kildare to operate on the man right there in the bar, something to which he reluctantly agrees.  Janet, who had been in the same bar in order to meet with one of her late husband's gangster friends, acts as nurse for the surgery.  There is a definite connection between Janet and the doctor.

The shooting victim survives and, grateful, he gives a $1,000 cash payment to Dr. Kildare; however, since internes are not allowed to take money for their services, the doctor knows he cannot keep it.  But when Janet discovers that the doctor, with whom she is having dinner at her apartment, has $1,000, she decides to steal it.

Does Dr. Kildare, who is attracted to Janet, discover the theft?  Does Janet ever find her little girl?  These are the questions that play out in the remainder of this film.

Internes Can't Take Money never really interested me all that much.  While I totally love Barbara Stanwyck and really enjoy Joel McCrea, the film just fell flat for me.  I just never really got into their characters.  I do own this film since it's part of the Barbara Stanwyck Collection, but I will probably not ever watch it again.

Happy viewing!!

Alaska Seas (2 stars)

Alaska Seas, from 1954, is a crime-drama starring Robert Ryan, Jan Sterling, and Brian Keith.  This was a film I discovered in Net Flix instant viewing, solely because I was looking for Robert Ryan films, and I will be honest, Ryan is the only reason I watched until the end. 

The setting is a remote Alaskan fishing village in 1924.  Ne'er-do-well Matt Kelly (Ryan) has just finished serving a 6-month jail sentence for poaching seal skins.  Upon his release, Matt is handed a $920.60 bill from the local boat repairman; however, since Matt can't pay the bill, he sneaks off into the night, intent on returning to his home village and his old girlfriend, Nicki (Jan Sterling).

Matt's return home is met with contempt.  No one in the village likes or trusts him, and they don't want him joining in the fishing cooperative.  Add to that, Nicki, with whom Matt hopes to reconcile, is engaged---to Matt's old friend, Jim (Brian Keith).  Nicki and Jim both are willing to give Matt a chance, and despite the fact that Matt continually shows himself as untrustworthy, his old friends repeatedly stand up for him.  Eventually, though, Matt takes things too far, and Jim and Nicki are forced to acknowledge Matt's wickedness.

This film dragged for me; in fact, I was going to turn it off when there were about 30 minutes left---only my regard for the fabulous Robert Ryan kept me going.  As always, Ryan is extremely good and solid in the role.  He definitely played the unlikeable cad to perfection.  Maybe the subject matter just didn't interest me, I don't know.  I just know that with the exception of the final two minutes, which were exciting, the last half of the film was hard to get through. (And the first half wasn't a whole lot better.) I didn't hate the film, though.  For me, a "hate it," 1-star rating is a film that I detest so much I turn it off.  This one was just rather boring.  (That's why there are no 1-star films on my blog...I don't watch 1-star films...I just turn them off and, thus, don't know enough about them to review them.)

However, we're all unique, so what may be boring to me, someone else may like.  So, if Alaska Seas sounds interesting to you, you can catch it on Net Flix instant viewing, or perhaps it will be on TCM's schedule in the near future.

Happy viewing!!

Submarine Command (2 stars)

Hard as it is to believe, I DO occasionally give William Holden films less than 4 and 5 stars.  Sometimes, as in the case of Submarine Command, I actually give the film only 2 stars.  Of course, it kills me to do that, but sometimes, even Holden's gorgeousness can't turn the movie into a winner for me, and rather than just blindly giving a thumbs-up to all of his films, I put my "objective hat" on and give it the "didn't like it" rating.

From 1951, Submarine Command pairs Holden with Nancy Olson, who starred opposite him in three other films.  Don Taylor and William Bendix co-star in this post World War II/early Korean War film.  The movie begins in mid-August, 1945, just before the end of the Japanese portion of the war.  The submarine Tiger Shark is out in the Pacific, where its commander and another man are attempting a lifeboat rescue of a downed airman, having left Ken White (William Holden) in command during their absence.  Before the men are able to make it back to the sub, there is a Japanese air strike, and White is forced to take the sub down...leaving the men behind to die, an action which causes him to incur the wrath of one of his crew.

Though the war is soon over, Ken's war has just begun.  Besides incurring the resentment of one of his crewmen, who believed Ken should have stopped the dive and returned for their captain, Ken has his own doubts about his actions.  And when, a few years later, as a career Navy man he needs to show a reporter around the Tiger Shark, Ken's demons resurface, causing him to be angry and difficult.  As his wife, Carol, tells him, he's at war with his job, himself, and her.

With his marriage in shambles, Ken is on the verge of leaving the Navy, when North Korean activity begins to build.  The Tiger Shark is called back into action, with Ken in command...and the crew member who detests him part of his team.  Is there any hope for Ken to overcome his demons?  To save his marriage?  To gain the respect of a man who hates him?

Though I love William Holden and think he was very good in this role (not to mention fabulously good-looking!), this movie just didn't do it for me.  For one thing, I thought there was zero chemistry between him and Nancy Olson.  While I think they had great chemistry in Sunset Boulevard, I didn't find their love believeable here in Submarine Command.  As a result, I just didn't even care about their marriage.  I could have cared less if they got back together or not.  And Don Taylor's character was pointless to me.  He added nothing to the storyline, and I think he was wasted in the film.

Also, though it wasn't called by that name, I believe Ken was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and the message of the movie was that he could overcome its effects by sheer will and determination.  I think the film missed a great opportunity to enlighten the audience about a very real disorder that has affected so many veterans.

Of course, as a William Holden fanatic, I HAD to see this film.  After all, I want to see every one of his films if possible.  So, I'm glad I watched this one...I'm just sad that I didn't enjoy it.  If you are a major Holden fan, or if you like sub movies, you will probably want to see this one.  I would be interested to hear what you think of it.

By the way, I watched this through Net Flix instant viewing.  I don't think it's out on DVD, but TCM does air it periodically.  Happy viewing!!