The Prisoner of Zenda (1952)

The Prisoner of Zenda---so far---is in no danger of losing its status as my favorite Stewart Granger film.  Although many blog readers thought Scaramouche---which I caught for the first time last week and will be reviewing later this month---would usurp that #1 position, it didn't. Oh, I liked the film tremendously, and I thought Mr. Granger was more handsome in that film than in any other I have seen (and I think he's always gorgeous---at least when he is clean-shaven); however, The Prisoner of Zenda is so dear to me that it was able to withstand the competition and remain my favorite Stewart Granger film.  Loving that film as I do, I thought re-working and expanding on its previous post was a definite must for Mr. Granger's centennial celebration here at They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To.

Based on Anthony Hope's 1894 adventure story, The Prisoner of Zenda has seen several film adaptions through the years.  Perhaps the best known of them is the Ronald Colman/Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. one from 1937; this lavish Technicolor 1952 version---which stars Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr and features Louis Calhern, Jane Greer, and James Mason in support---is, according to Robert Osborne, nearly the exact likeness of the 1937 film.  In fact, the same script was used, as was the same Alfred Newman score.  The only differences, according to Osborne, were a new cast and the addition of technicolor.  Many people prefer the '37 film; I, however, have not yet seen that one, so I cannot compare the two and am basing my rating solely on how this particular film affected me.

The film begins just before the coronation of Rudolph V, king of the fictional country of Ruritania.  Just happening to be on his way through the country at the time is a distant cousin of the king, an Englishman who also bears the name of Rudolph.  Except for the fact that the Englishman has a mustache and is graying at the temples, he is the exact image of the king. (Stewart Granger plays this dual role.)  The Englishman is invited to dine with the king on the eve of the coronation.  In his usual fashion, the king drinks to excess; later, however, he collapses...having been poisoned through his wine.

King Rudolph's allies know that the king's half-brother Michael, who wants the crown for himself, is likely the one behind the poisoning; they also know that if the coronation does not go on as scheduled, Michael will be crowned instead.  Since Rudolph the Englishman looks virtually identical to the king, it is suggested that he impersonate the king for the coronation ceremony, after which time, the effects of the poisoning will have worn off, and Rudolph can take his throne and the Englishman may continue on his journey, with no one ever knowing that it was not the real king who was actually crowned. Convinced that the plan will work, Rudolph the Englishman takes the king's ring and the plan is set in motion, with the real king being hidden away in the wine cellar.

Is Rudolph the Englishman successful at convincing everyone that he is the real king?  And what about when he meets the Princess Flavia (Deborah Kerr), the woman promised to the king?  Do Michael and his cohorts sit back quietly and allow their plans for Michael to usurp the throne to be thwarted?  These are the questions which play out in this exciting little film. The dashing (and beautiful voiced) James Mason portrays one of Michael's partners in crime, and there is a terrific fencing scene between him and Stewart Granger.




According to Stewart Granger's autobiography, Sparks Fly Upward, it was his idea for the remake.  While he and Jean (Simmons) were dining with Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Colman, Mr. and Mrs. David Niven, and Deborah Kerr and husband one evening, Mr. Colman ("Ronnie," as Granger refers to him) asked if they would like to see one of his old films, and since Mr. Niven had also appeared in The Prisoner of Zenda, that is the film the guests were shown.  Enthralled with the film, Granger announced that he was going to suggest to Dore Schary (Metro) that he buy the rights and do a remake, which, of course, he did and Mr. Schary did. Though Granger had no illusion that "he could ever compete with Ronnie Colman as an actor, at least (he said), he could fight better"...or so he thought.  At one point in the filming of the sabre fight, he forgot to "parry to the left" and was caught in the mouth by the sword.  Though not a serious injury, it spilled forth quite a bit of blood and required a few stitches; however, the next day, Granger was able to get back to filming, and in only twenty-eight days, this extravagant Technicolor version of The Prisoner of Zenda was completed.  "Bloody hard work but great fun," according to Granger.  Sensational, captivating, and charming, according to me! I absolutely love this film!

Out on DVD as part of the Literary Classics Collection, The Prisoner of Zenda should be quite easy to track down.  Additionally, it is on TCM's schedule for Monday, June 24th, at 2:00 p.m. (ET).  Definitely, try to see it...it's an exciting, entertaining, 5-star gem of a film.

Happy viewing!!

NOTE:  All quoted material derived from Sparks Fly Upward, by Stewart Granger, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1981.

The Reckless Moment (3 stars)

The Reckless Moment, from 1949, is a crime drama/film noir starring James Mason and Joan Bennett, with Geraldine Brooks taking on a supporting role.  Directed by Max Opuls, this film made its TCM premiere earlier this month, and given that I've recently fallen in love with the smooth-as-silk voice of Mr. Mason, I was excited to catch it.

Quite upset about the company her teenager daughter, Bea (Geraldine Brooks), is keeping, Lucia Harper (Joan Bennett) pays a visit to one Ted Darby.  Telling him there is nothing she won't do to keep him from her daughter, Lucia offers the man money to stay out of Bea's life.  After Darby expresses interest in such an offer, Lucia is triumphant, for if Bea knows her beau was willing to be bought off, surely she will realize he's a ne'er-do-well.

That evening, Bea sneaks out of the house to rendezvous with Ted, and after he admits that her mother told her the truth---that he would, in fact, take money from her---Bea, furious, strikes at him.  Though Bea's blow doesn't kill Ted, he does end up dying, and both Bea and Lucia believe that Bea killed him.  Terrified, Lucia takes it upon herself to dispose of the body in a nearby swamp.

Although Lucia is confident that she left no trail and that no one will connect her or Bea with Darby's death, she soon finds that she does, in fact, have reason to worry.  Bea had written dozens of love letters to Ted, and the man had used the letters as collateral in an unscrupulous loan; the current holder of the letters---Martin Donnelly (James Mason)---knowing they are incriminating evidence against Bea, is demanding $5,000 from Lucia in order to keep the letters from the police.  With her husband out of town, though, and unable to sign for a loan, Lucia is finding herself unable to meet Donnelly's demands.

Will Donnelly go to the police?  Will Bea or Lucia be implicated in Darby's death?  These are the questions that play out in the balance of this film.  (This video clip is the first of six parts.)

While The Reckless Moment is not a spectacular film, I did find it interesting and enjoyable.  The storyline was exciting and mildly suspenseful and even offered a surprise twist at the end.  And, of course, there's the beautiful voice of James Mason.  All those things work together to make this a very solid 3-star film.

To my knowledge, this film is not out on DVD, so it might be a bit difficult to track down.  It is, however, available in its entirely on YouTube (in 6 parts). 

Happy viewing!!

Caught (3 stars)

Caught, from 1949, is an interesting soap-opera-ish drama starring Robert Ryan, James Mason, and Barbara Bel Geddes.  What drew me to this film was the fabulous Robert Ryan.  Though #1 and #2 guys, William Holden and Gary Cooper, aren't in danger of being toppled from their positions, Robert Ryan isn't far behind.  Some days I think he's my #5 guy, other days, he's #6.  Since he's so high on my list, I'm always on the lookout for a film of his that I haven't seen, and I discovered this one on Net Flix instant viewing.

The film begins with working girl Leonora Ames (Barbara Bel Geddes) enrolling in a charm school.  Leonora's hope is to graduate from the school, land a modeling job, and meet (and marry) a millionaire; in short order, it appears that her dream is coming true, because, while modeling a mink coat, she gets invited to the yacht party of wealthy businessman Smith Ohlrig (Robert Ryan).  Feeling cheap and out of her element, Leonora's first thought is to skip the party; however, her roommate manages to convince her that the party would provide a wonderful opportunity to meet great men, so she dons an evening gown and heads to the pier.

Before arriving at the party, Leonora is approached by a man she doesn't know, and upon discovering he is none other than Smith Ohlrig, she agrees to go for a drive with him.  It's an uncomfortable drive, with Smith gruff and demanding the entire time; when he pulls up in front of his house, Leonora insists that she is not that kind of girl and just wants to go home, a request to which Smith angrily complies.

Shortly afterwards, Smith visits his analyst, who tells him that his heart attacks and angry outbursts are the direct result of having his will thwarted.  He tells Smith that he is a man who wants to control all things and all people, so when anything obstructs his plans, he will be vehemently angry and, perhaps, even have heart attack-like episodes.  And, says the doctor, since Leonora was unable to be controlled, Smith has descended into a fit of rage.  Furious with the doctor's opinion, Smith is determined to prove him wrong and vows to marry the girl, which is exactly what he does.

Nearly a year later, Leonora, lonely and living on pills, wishes things were different.  Telling her friend that she really loves Smith, that she didn't marry him just for his money, she laments that he's never home and doesn't spend any time with her.  When he does come home, bringing several business associates with him, Smith expects Leonora to play hostess for him.  She does, even willingly, but after Smith is rude to her in front of his guests, she walks out on him...a situation that triggers one of his spells.

Moving from her fancy Long Island mansion to a shabby Eastside apartment, Leonora begins life apart from Smith.  Using her maiden name and not wearing a wedding ring, she takes a job as a receptionist for Dr. Larry Quinada (James Mason), a kindly pediatrician.  Before long, Dr. Quinada has fallen in love with her, but suddenly, Smith comes back into Leonora's life, pleading for another chance, assuring her that he missed her,  promising that things will be different.  But will they?  Has Smith really changed?  Does he really love Leonora?  Those questions (and more) will play out through the balance of the film.

Robert Ryan was totally fantastic in his role (as I think he almost always was).  His character was supposedly based on the life of Howard Hughes; however, I don't know enough about Hughes to know if that's true or not.  Suffice to say, his character was wealthy...and powerful...and totally sadistic.  Boy, could Robert Ryan play those kinds of characters to perfection!  I found him magnificent here.  James Mason, who I am just beginning to discover, was very good in his role. Oh, that voice of his!!  Like velvet!  As for Barbara Bel Geddes---besides Miss Ellie on Dallas, I have never seen any other of her works.  In fact, I didn't know she had ever made movies.  She was okay in her role...a bit stiff and not quite believable sometimes, I thought, but for the most part, I liked her.

Caught grabbed me instantly, and I enjoyed every minute of it.  Quite honestly, I thought I would give it 4 stars; however, the ending was lame and somewhat ridiculous, so I decided to give 3 stars.  It's a very solid 3 stars, though, so I definitely recommend it.

Happy viewing!!

Bigger Than Life (4 stars)

Bigger Than Life, from 1956, is a hard-hitting drama which explores the very real problem of addiction to prescription drugs.  This film stars James Mason, who gives a totally amazing performance, and Barbara Rush, with a young Walter Matthau in a supporting role.

Kindhearted schoolteacher Ed Lavery (James Mason) is having some health issues which cause him extreme pain and even, sometimes, to black out.  A trip to the hospital reveals that Ed is suffering from a rare arterial disease, one which has an extremely poor prognosis.  In fact, the disease usually proves to be fatal; however, his doctor tells him about an experimental drug which might be effective.  Of course, Ed and his wife, Lou (Barbara Rush), are open to trying the drug, since it is really the only option they have.  So, with a warning from his doctor about following the very strict dosage instructions and being aware of any behavior changes in himself, Ed is released from the hospital.

Early on, Ed's behavior begins to change; however, instead of mentioning these concerns to his doctor, Ed takes more than the proper dosage of pills.  On two occasions, he even lies so as to get another prescription of the medication.  One time, when asking his doctor for a refill ahead of schedule, he tells the doctor he dropped several pills down the drain; another time, he impersonates a doctor and writes a prescription for himself.

As Ed continues taking more than the prescribed dosage of medication, his personality completely changes---he becomes paranoid, angry, arrogant, condescending.  His wife and son take the brunt of his behavior, and it all comes to a head one weekend when the doctor is away and unable to be reached.

I found this movie gripping.  From about minute one, I was hooked, and it didn't let me go until the very end.  James Mason, who I am only just now really getting to know, was spectacular here.  I've only seen about six of his films thus far, but, surely, Bigger Than Life has to be the performance of his career.  I read several reviews of this film on Net Flix, and many of the reviewers seem to think that this movie was a scathing indictment of  the 1950's moral and social climate.  I don't know, maybe it was, but if so, that message was lost on me.  I didn't see that at all.  To me, this was simply a powerful film which depicted the dangers of improperly taking prescription medication.

This film is out on DVD...it's part of the Criterion Collection.  It should be readily available and quite easy to track down.  Happy viewing!!

East Side, West Side (4 stars)

East Side, West Side, from 1949, is a soap-opera kind of drama which features four big names in its cast.  Top billing goes to Barbara Stanwyck, with James Mason, Van Heflin, and Ava Gardner rounding things out.

Stanwyck and Mason are Jessie and Brandon Bourne, a married couple who have weathered the storm of the husband's infidelity.  The viewer is made aware that prior to the start of the movie, Brandon had an extra-marital affair with model Isabelle Lorrison (the gorgeous Ava Gardner).  Said affair ended, however, and Isabelle left town, and because Jessie knew that even if she divorced Brandon, she would never stop loving him, she chose to forgive his unfaithfulness. Though all is well in the Bourne's marriage at present, a friend asks Jessie what would happen if Isabelle returned to town.

Isabelle does, indeed, return to town and, in short order, begins her pursuit of Brandon once more.  At first, Brandon, determined to be faithful to his wife, resists Isabelle's advances, but she is relentless in her pursuit, and, in the end, he succumbs to her seduction, causing him to stand Jessie up at a party.

Jessie is devastated by Brandon's failure to arrive at the party, particularly when she phones his office to check on him and learns he had left hours earlier with Miss Lorrison.  To her rescue comes a new acquaintance, Mark Dwyer (Van Heflin), who has very quickly fallen in love with Jessie.  He escorts her home, where he cooks dinner for her and even manages to make her smile.  Mark tells Jessie that although he loves her, he is not in the wife-stealing business, so it's a good thing he will soon be leaving town.  When Brandon returns home that night and is confronted by Jessie about his infidelity, he is broken and repentant, and he promises to never see Isabelle again.

Can Brandon keep his promise?  Isabelle is sure that all she has to do is phone Brandon and he will come running.  Will he?  What about Jessie?  Can she forgive Brandon for, once more, being unfaithful to her?  And what about Mark?  Will he gracefully bow out of Jessie's life?  These are the questions that will play out in the film.

         
I thought the cast of this film was totally fantastic.  For starters, I am already a huge Barbara Stanwyck fan...she is my third favorite actress...and I enjoy almost anything she does.  James Mason...what can I say, except, wow, what a voice!  I have only recently discovered how much I like him...can't wait to see more of his work. Van Heflin is likeable and totally charming...very much the romantic.  And Ava Gardner is her usual stunningly beautiful self.  Each of these four was perfect in the role they played.

East Side, West Side is a very interesting, thoroughly entertaining film, and I highly recommend it.  Out on DVD, it should be readily available and quite easy to track down.  I hope y'all get a chance to see it.

Happy viewing!!