A Life of Her Own (3 stars)

A Life of Her Own, directed by George Cukor, is a 1950 romantic drama starring Lana Turner and Ray Milland.  While I had never been much of a Lana Turner fan, I discovered this movie on TCM about a year ago and was interested in it solely for Ray Milland.  Since then, though, I have developed a real appreciation for the beautiful Miss Turner, and I now count her among my 20 favorite actresses; therefore, I recently enjoyed a re-watch of the film, this time, concentrating more on Lana than on Ray.

Lily James (Turner), an aspiring model from a sleepy little Kansas town, goes to New York, hoping to make it big, which, in due time, she does.  Through a friend, Lily meets wealthy mine-owner Steve Harleigh (Milland), who is in town on business.  Though Steve is married, he and Lily hit it off and begin spending time with each other---at first, Lily is rather Steve's tour guide around New York.  Before long, though, the two are in love with one another, which makes for an agonizingly painful parting when Steve's business is complete and he departs for home.

Steve's next trip to New York brings him into Lily's life once more, and despite being cautioned that his wife can't take another tragedy, Steve can't stay away from Lily, nor she from him.  In fact, Lily moves into a new apartment, since her previous living arrangements didn't allow for men to be in "after hours."  Their affair doesn't bring happiness, though, as Steve is torn between his love for Lily and his commitment to his wife, who, it turns out, is crippled.  In an effort to get Steve's wife out of the picture, Lily plans to confront her with the truth of their affair.

Will Lily tell Steve's wife that he has been unfaithful to her and that he doesn't love her?  Will Steve leave his wife in order to be with Lily?  Will either of them find the happiness they are seeking?  These are the questions that play out through the remainder of the film. 

While A Life of Her Own isn't a spectacular movie, it is interesting and entertaining and it tackles the question of "Can I obtain my happiness through someone else's unhappiness?"  I think both Lana Turner and Ray Milland were very good in their roles.  I could easily see Milland's agony of conscience as he struggled with what to do.   The two of them had pretty good chemisty together as well.  While there was an occasional scene where their love didn't seem totally believable, for the most part, I thought they were great together. 

It occurred to me as I watched this movie that there are hundreds of movies all with the same theme...married man falls in love with another woman.  Just by changing a few small details as well as the actors and actresses in the film...voila...all the movies seem quite different.

Anyhow, for those that are Turner or Milland fans...or just a lover of the "romantic triangle" kind of film, you might enjoy A Life of Her Own.  The film is not out on DVD, though it is on VHS.  Also, TCM airs it fairly regularly.

Happy viewing!!

Come September (4 stars)

Come September, from 1961, is a romantic comedy starring Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida, with Sandra Dee, Bobby Darin, and Walter Slezak taking on supporting roles.  This totally adorable film is the one which began the Dee/Darin romance.  The two were married shortly after completion of Come September.

Rich American playboy, Robert Talbot (Rock Hudson), owns a villa in Italy; however, he only uses it for one month every year...in September.  The rest of the year, the villa is in the hands of his major domo, Maurice (Walter Slezak), who, unbeknownst to Talbot, has been turning it into a 5-star hotel...La Dolce Vista...for the eleven months of the year that the owner is gone.

This particular year, however, Robert returns to Italy in July instead of September, and his unannounced, unexpected visit causes much craziness, for a group of teenage girls and their chaperone are in residence.  Though Robert instructs Maurice to get the girls out immediately, since there are no vacancies in town, they have nowhere else to go.  Robert has no choice but to let them stay.

Robert has an Italian girlfriend, Lisa (Gina Lollobrigida), who, though on the verge of marrying another, hightails it over to Robert's villa the moment she learns he has returned to Italy.  Their rendezvous doesn't go as hoped, however; since the American schoolgirls are occupying so many rooms, Lisa is forced to bunk in with one of them, and it seems that every time she gets near Robert's bedroom door, the girls' chaperone is right there to make sure no inappropriate activity is taking place.  After said chaperone injures herself in a fall and requires hospitalization, Robert begins to see himself as the protector of the young ladies' virtue, especially when a group of teenage boys is suddenly underfoot and wanting to make time with the girls.

Sandra Dee portrays one of the girls, and Bobby Darin is one of the boys, and as their characters feel attraction for one another, Rock works hard to keep them apart, lest the boys cross the line of decent behavior.  However, as Rock counsels Sandra to be on guard against boys who are after only one thing, Gina begins to apply those words to Rock's and her relationship as well.

This movie is sweet and fun and a total delight.  My daughter and I recently enjoyed it for a "chick flick" movie night, and we smiled and laughed through the whole film. Rock is his usual gorgeous, fabulous, romantic comedy self.  We loved him.   Gina Lollobrigida is certainly no Doris Day, and I don't think she and Rock had anywhere near the same chemistry he shared with Doris; however, Gina is definitely beautiful, and with her being Italian, she worked  perfectly in this role. Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin were totally adorable, and seeing them, I was inspired to learn a bit more about them both.  What a shame that Darin died so young.  By the way, Darin does some singing in this movie.

Just have to say this...part of the counsel given to Sandra Dee's character was this:  "The bedroom is like a wedding gown...it's bad luck to let him see you in it before you're married."   In the sexually permissive society we live in nowadays, lines like that are laughable to us, but that's part of why I find the old movies so refreshing. 

If you are a Rock Hudson, Gina Lollobrigida, Sandra Dee, or Bobby Darin  fan, I feel sure you will enjoy Come September.  The film is out on DVD, so it should be fairly easy to track down.  Also, it's available on Net Flix instant viewing. 

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!!

From Here to Eternity (5 stars)

With this coming Wednesday being the 70th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor bombing, I thought it would be the perfect time to talk about From Here to Eternity, the sensational wartime romantic drama from 1953.  This fabulous film, directed by Fred Zinnemann, won a total of eight Oscars that year, including best director and best picture.   All five of the movie's major stars---Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr, Frank Sinatra, and Donna Reed---received nominations for their roles; Sinatra and Reed, both nominated in the supporting actor/actress category, walked away with statues for their work.  Lancaster and Clift, both of whom were nominated in the lead actor category were upset by William Holden's performance in Stalag 17, while Deborah Kerr was upset by newcomer Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday.  Despite not taking the lead actor and actress categories, though, From Here to Eternity was the big winner for 1953, and, I think, rightfully so...it is a blockbuster of a movie.

There are several storylines going on in this film, which is set at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii only weeks before the Japanese attack.  First, there's Sgt. Robert E. Lee Prewitt, otherwise known as Prew (Montgomery Clift).  As the film begins, Prew, a bugler who has played "Taps" at Arlington on Armistice Day, has transferred in from another unit. 

A very good boxer in his former unit, Prew is being pressured to take on that role in his new regiment...something he does not want to do.  The regiment's captain, however, won't take "no" for an answer, and he begins piling on extra duties in the hopes of breaking Prew and causing him to give in.

There's Karen Holmes (Deborah Kerr), whose marriage to the regiment's captain is in shambles.  Despising her unfaithful husband, she has been involved with a number of men through the years, but she now finds herself falling in love.

Sgt. Milton Warden (Burt Lancaster) is the man with whom Karen Holmes is falling in love, and the feeling is quite mutual.  Despite the career damage it could do for him to be discovered with his superior officer's wife, Warden cannot stay away from her.

Private Angelo Maggio (Frank Sinatra) is a good-natured, fun-loving guy who, simply because he has an Italian name, gets on the bad side of the stockade sergeant (Ernest Borgnine); when Angelo skips out on guard duty one night and is sentenced to the stockade for punishment, the sergeant is determined to destroy him.

Finally, there's Lorene, also known as Alma (Donna Reed), a hostess at one of the local clubs.  Though Prew loves her and wants to marry her, Lorene won't let anything deter her from her plans of making alot of money and marrying well.  Marrying a soldier is simply not on her radar.

On top of all these stories is the arrival of the "Day of Infamy."  As bombs are dropped on Pearl Harbor, lives will be changed.  Who, if any, will survive?

From Here to Eternity is a really terrific film, with superior acting by all the leads.  The chemistry between everyone was great too.  Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr were wonderful together...really the passion between them was totally believable.  Also, the chemistry between Montgomery Clift and Donna Reed was just as fabulous as the chemistry Clift had with Elizabeth Taylor in A Place in the Sun.  Frank Sinatra, who I really like as an actor, was sensational as well.  I know there are many people that think Sintra couldn't act...I am definitely not one of those people. He is easily in my top-15 list.  I think he was fantastic in several films, and I wholeheartedly believe he deserved the Academy Award he received for this role. 

No surprise...TCM will be airing From Here to Eternity on December 7th, at 8:00 p.m.  If you have never seen this film, I highly recommend trying to catch it then.  Or look for it on DVD.  It's really a blockbuster of a movie.

Happy viewing!!!

Christmas Eve (5 stars)

With it now being December and Christmas very much on everyone's minds, I want to spotlight a Christmas movie every now and then.  While our family watches more than just Christmas movies in December, we do have several must-watch films, some of them not very well known.  In the hopes of helping all of you discover some new holiday gems, I will share a few of our family's favorites during the coming week.

First up is Christmas Eve, a 1986 made-for-TV movie.  Yes, this "really don't like post-1960's movies" gal is recommending a film from 1986.  That's because it stars two classic movie greats...Loretta Young and Trevor Howard.  And I must say this...Loretta Young aged beautifully and gracefully.  She was 74 years old in Christmas Eve..and looking beautiful and elegant.

Briefly, the story is as follows:   Amanda Kingsley (Loretta Young) is a wealthy, somewhat eccentric widow, who lives in a posh New York apartment with her butler, Maitland (Trevor Howard, who was 73 years old in this film).  Amanda has a 50-ish son, Andrew (Arthur Hill), and three adult grandchildren.  Because Arthur is a cold-hearted, money-and-power-hungry, controlling man, he has long been alienated from his children.  Due to their dislike of him, they have all moved away.  Though they love their grandmother, they haven't seen her in years because they don't want to come in contact with their dad.

This particular year, however, as Amanda's health begins to decline, she hopes to unite the family in her apartment on Christmas Eve.  At the same time, though, Andrew, tired of his mother's generous giving to the less fortunate, intends to have her declared mentally incompetent.

Will Amanda's fondest wish come true?  Will she be able to track down her grandchildren?  Will she be able to convince them to come home for Christmas?  Will Andrew be successful in having Amanda declared incompetent?  How it all plays out is the focus of this touching movie.

I found this clip on YouTube...just see how totally gorgeous Loretta Young was at 74 years of age!!

I remember watching this movie when it aired on TV back in 1986. I was 25 years old, newly married, and absolutely NOT into classic movies. (At that point in my life, I was completely about all things modern!) However, I was extremely close to my grandparents and had even lived with them for a few years before getting married. And they, of course, having been born in the 1910s, were very much into classic movies. (From the recesses of my mind I can recall that Ray Milland was my grandmother's top guy...wouldn't she love to know that Milland makes my top dozen list!). Anyhow, my grandmother was beyond excited about the TV movie...it would be the first film appearance of Loretta Young in years. Though I didn't know the names Loretta Young and Trevor Howard from Adam, because I loved my grandmother, I was willing to watch the movie with her, and I remember really enjoying it and being touched by it.

Fast forward to the mid 2000's. I had gotten into classic movies and was looking for Christmas movies. After watching (and totally loving!) The Bishop's Wife, Loretta Young was on my mind, and from the stores of my long-term memory, Christmas Eve came forth. Though I hadn't thought about this movie in all those years, I remembered that Loretta Young was in a made-for-TV Christmas movie in 1986. I did a search and found that the film was out on VHS...and my local library had a copy. So, for four years (2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009), our family enjoyed this tender and touching film as part of our holiday viewing. Sadly, though, this film is not out on DVD and since our VHS player bit the dust in December, 2009, we were not able to enjoy this beautiful movie last year. (Additionally, our library has purged their VHS collection, so even if our player worked, the movie is no longer in their inventory.)

For those that have a working VHS player, I highly recommend trying to track down this movie.  It is really beautiful...and those that love classic movies will enjoy seeing two wonderful stars in their twilight years.  In preparing this post, I have discovered that Lost Holiday Classics (HERE) has this film available on DVD, but I don't know if that is a reputable site or what the quality of the DVD is.  Even so, though, I love this movie, so I think I'm going to take a chance on purchasing through them...because Christmas movie viewing just isn't the same without it.

By the way, I see used VHS copies available through Amazon.  And of the 12 reviews posted there, 11 of them call this a 5-star film; the other review calls it a 4-star.  Very definitely, a must-see holiday movie!!

ADDENDUM:  Since this post, I have purchased through this company, and I am completely satisfied with their service and quality.  (I purchased the Robert Ryan film,  Inferno, so read that review HERE, which contains a link to the company's non-holiday movies.)

SECOND ADDENDUM:  Because I am completely comfortable with the quality and reliability of Rare Classic DVD's, I have ordered several films from them...including Christmas Eve.  This beloved film is now, once again, a regular part of my family's holiday viewing.

Happy viewing!!