Moonfleet (1955)

When I think of Fritz Lang, I think of gritty noirs, but as 1955's Moonfleet bears out, he was quite capable of other things as well.  An action/adventure period drama starring Stewart Granger and child star John Whiteley, Moonfleet is based on J. Meade Falkner's 1898 novel of the same name.  Featuring George Sanders, Joan Greenwood, and Viveca Lindfors in support and a terrific Miklos Rozsa score, this film is right up there with The Prisoner of Zenda as my favorite Granger film.  (I have yet to see Scaramouche, so things could soon change.)

In 18th-century coastal England, young John Mohune (John Whiteley) makes his way, by night, to the little town of Moonfleet, where, directed by a letter from his recently-deceased mother, he will be able to find Jeremy Fox (Stewart Granger), who according to the letter, will be a friend to him.  Recently returned from the colonies and now living in the home once belonging to the dead woman's family, Fox and the woman appear to have been in love in their youth.  Though her family drove Fox away and married her off to a more suitable man, the dead woman is confident that Fox's former love for her will cause him to help her now-orphaned son.

Not the law-abiding man the writer of the letter once knew him to be, Fox is now the leader of a band of smugglers, with no interest in the everyday responsibility of a young boy. Wanting to be rid of the child, yet wanting to do the right thing by his mother, Fox intends to send him away to be educated; however, convinced that Fox is his friend, the lad is just as determined to remain in Moonfleet.  The little boy's unconditional love and trust eventually work their magic on Fox's cold, selfish heart.  At one point, Jeremy is forced to spar with one of his own gang in order to keep John alive.




Though in his autobiography, Sparks Fly Upward, Mr. Granger refers to Moonfleet as "another dreary costume epic, directed by the once brilliant Fritz Lang," I don't agree with his opinion at all.  I quite enjoyed this film---it is interesting, exciting, and well-acted.  Complete with a long-lost diamond, a coded treasure map, a supposedly-haunted graveyard, a cutthroat hideaway, and a short, but exciting, swashbuckling scene, this film is pretty much non-stop action.  Add to that, Mr. Granger never looked more handsome, and little John Whiteley is a charmer.  There were even a couple of touching moments which got me misty-eyed.  For me, this is easily a 4-star movie...and very close to 5.

Having never read the book upon which the film is based, I can't compare the two.  However, whether the two stories differ from one another matters little to me. In fact, it never bothers me if a film is significantly different from the book which inspired it; I see them as two separate entities, both of which can stand on their own.  I'm not sure why people get so bent out of shape when a story is changed---after all, both can have merit.

Out on DVD, Moonfleet should be fairly easy to track down.  Adventure-loving film fans ought to greatly enjoy it.

Happy viewing!!

Salome (1953)

First up for Stewart Granger month is the lavish, Technicolor Biblical epic, Salome.  From 1953, this beautiful William Dieterle film stars Rita Hayworth in the title role, with Mr. Granger as her co-star and Charles Laughton, Judith Anderson, and Alan Badel in support.  Featuring gowns by Jean Louis, this film is loosely based on the Biblical story of Princess Salome, who danced for King Herod in exchange for the head of John the Baptist.

In the time of Tiberius Caesar (Cedric Hardwicke), King Herod (Charles Laughton) and his wife, Herodias (Judith Anderson), are on the throne in Galilee.  Because their marriage is adulterous in the eyes of God, they are regularly and publicly condemned by the prophet, John the Baptist. Enraged by the Baptist's preaching, Herodias demands that her husband put the man to death; however, believing that the wrath of God and the people will fall on him if he lays a hand on John, the king is unwilling to arrest him.

Meanwhile, in Rome, the beautiful princess, Salome (Rita Hayworth), has incurred the emperor's wrath.  Herodias's daughter by a previous marriage, Salome has been living in Rome since she was a child.  Because the emperor's nephew and she have fallen in love and wish to be married, and since the law is clear that a Roman must marry a Roman, a request is made of the emperor to allow  an exception in their case.  Furious that his nephew wishes to marry a "barbarian," the emperor banishes Salome from Rome, sending her back to Galilee.

Also sailing from Rome, are the new Judean governor, Pontius Pilate, and Commander Claudius (Stewart Granger), a Roman soldier stationed in Galilee.  Though a Roman, Claudius is secretly a follower of John the Baptist and, ultimately, Christ.  Although his relationship with the beautiful Salome starts off on an angry, hateful note, eventually, the two fall in love.  With Claudius wanting to protect the Baptist, her mother hoping to have him executed, and her stepfather, Herod, inflamed with lust for her, Salome must determine where her true loyalties lie.

This film is lavish and beautiful and well-acted.  Charles Laughton is so very believable as the lecherous old man who lusts after his stepdaughter.  He may have been a bit over the top, but I think the role called for that.  Judith Anderson plays nasty so well, and I think she's good here, though not quite on par with her performance as housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, in Rebecca. Stewart Granger is great here and very believable in his role, plus he's incredibly handsome and wears the Roman garb beautifully.  Rita Hayworth is completely stunning, and her "Dance of the Seven Veils" is undeniably sensual.



Much license is taken with the true facts, so if that bothers you, you will probably not like this film. It didn't bother me, as I see the film for what it is---a story based on history, not an actual history lesson.  I'm going with 3 stars on this, but it's more like 3.5.

Incidentally, when I was watching this, my son walked into the room.  Since I was on my laptop, he couldn't see the screen...he could only hear it.  He said to me, "What are you watching?  Ben-Hur?"  I had thought the same thing---that the score sounded very Ben-Hur-like on occasion. It really must have if, without any prompting from me, my son thought the same thing.

Although not on the TCM schedule in the near future, Salome is out on DVD, plus it is available in its entirety on YouTube (HERE).  I hope you get a chance to see it.

Happy viewing!!

Showcasing Stewart Granger

The month of May brings one more centennial birthday observance to They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To.  Stewart Granger is another of those 1913 babies, and it is he who will be taking center stage this month.

Though late 2006 saw me beginning my addiction to classic films, Stewart Granger was one of those actors who did not cross my radar until just a little over two years ago.  In fact, to be honest, I had never heard his name or seen his face until spring 2011, when I was finishing up my quest to see every film on Grace Kelly's filmography.  Green Fire was one of the remaining two films I needed to see, so when I noticed it on the TCM schedule, I immediately programmed my DVR, despite not having a clue who co-star Stewart Granger was.  I found the film somewhat boring and his character fairly annoying, so I didn't come away from that film enamored of him and wanting to see more of his work.  However, at least at that point I knew who Stewart Granger was...plus, I did find the man himself (not his character) to be rather appealing.

Several months later, I happened upon a few more of Mr. Granger's films, including The Prisoner of Zenda, which I found completely captivating.  I began seeking out more of his works, and as I did so, he made his way onto my favorite actor list, where he firmly occupies a place in the 20-25 section, in the company of such men as Joel McCrea, Van Heflin, Audie Murphy, Richard Widmark, and Claude Rains.

Although I'll also be reviewing films of others, as well as a couple baseball films I didn't get to in April, Mr. Granger will be seeing the lion's share of the action here in May, as I celebrate his centennial year.  I hope you'll join me in the celebration.

The Stratton Story (1949)

The career of baseball pitcher, Monty Stratton, is the basis for 1949's The Stratton Story.  With Jimmy Stewart in the title role, and June Allyson as his wife, this Sam Wood film---which won a Best Writing Academy Award---features Frank Morgan and Agnes Moorehead in supporting roles.

The film begins in Wagner, Texas, in the early 1930's, as cotton farmer, Monty Stratton, is pitching for the local amateur baseball team, the Wagner Wildcats.  Agent Barney Wild (Frank Morgan) happens upon the young man and, impressed, informs him that he has a chance to play baseball professionally.  With Barney promising to do what he can to get him a tryout and his cousin agreeing to take care of the farm, Monty heads west to California, where he meets up with the Chicago White Sox.

The Sox are impressed enough to offer Monty a contract, and after a bit of a rough start, he settles in and becomes not only an all-star, but the leading right-handed pitcher in the American League.  With coaches making statements such as "What a future that boy's got" and "Right now, I wouldn't trade him for any other pitcher in baseball," Monty enjoys great success in the years 1934-1938.

At the height of his career, though, tragedy strikes, as, while on his property hunting, Monty's gun discharges, sending a bullet into his leg.  In order to save his life, doctors must remove Monty's leg; for a man whose legs are his life, the loss of the limb is a bitter blow, and for a time, Monty is overwhelmingly depressed and without a will to do anything.  Eventually, however, he comes to terms with his handicap and, with a prosthetic leg, seeks to pitch in the big leagues once more.



The Stratton Story isn't a spectacular movie, but it is interesting, touching, and inspiring.  I count it among my top 5 baseball movies.  Jimmy Stewart is terrific in the role, and his chemistry with June Allyson is wonderful.  (The two of them would be paired together twice more---in The Glenn Miller Story and Strategic Air Command.)  I adore both Jimmy and June...although I can never watch a single June Allyson film without hearing "Christopher Columbus" every time she utters a word.  (She is and always will be Little Women's Jo March to me.)

A few real-life baseball players make appearances in this film...Bill Dickey, Gene Bearden, and Jimmy Dykes.

Out on DVD as part of the James Stewart Signature Collection, The Stratton Story ought to be fairly easy to track down.  It is also on the TCM schedule for Sunday, July 21st, at 8:00 a.m. (ET).  If you like Jimmy Stewart, baseball, or inspiring, uplifting stories, you're sure to enjoy this.  I give it 4 stars.

Happy viewing!!

Love Me or Leave Me (1955)

Another film in which Doris Day has an opportunity to show that she's more than light, fluffy comedies is Love Me or Leave Me, a musical romantic drama from 1955.  Also starring James Cagney and featuring Cameron Mitchell, Robert Keith, and Tom Tully in support, this Charles Vidor film is based on the life of 20's and 30's singer, Ruth Etting.  The film received six Academy Award nominations in all, coming away with the win in the Best Writing category.

In 1920's Chicago, taxi dancer Ruth Etting (Doris Day), tired of being pawed by men and wanting to embark on a singing career, is hoping for her big break, which soon arrives, in the person of Marty Snyder (James Cagney). Called "The Gimp" because of the limp he has, Marty---who is a local gangster---uses his connections to get Ruth first a dance gig, then a singing one.  Although Ruth's piano player, Johnny (Cameron Mitchell), warns her that Marty is bad news and that his help will come with a price, Ruth blows him off.  She knows she could eventually make it on her own, but since doing so means success won't come as quickly as she wants, she's willing to let Marty pave the way for her.

With Marty as her manager, Ruth soon finds herself on the radio and part of the Ziegfeld Follies. She has become the sensation she always dreamed of being, but Marty, wanting to maintain control of Ruth's career, makes a scene, which embarrasses Ruth and brings her to the place of trying to break from him.  For Marty, though, it's time for Ruth to payoff---he brought her where she is, and he won't be pushed aside any longer.  The two marry and head to Hollywood, where Marty has obtained a picture deal for Ruth.

As the film plays out, Ruth is reunited with piano player Johnny, causing the angry, hot-tempered Marty to explode in a jealous rage.





Neither lead character in this film is particularly likable.  While Day's character is not physically abusive as Cagney's is, I, nevertheless, found her to be an unlikable sort.  Ruth was a user, taking Marty for what he could do for her career, then dumping him when she no longer needed him.  I found it hard to root for her.  Despite unlikable characters, however, Love Me or Leave Me has many other things going for it.

First of all, the acting is brilliant.  Both Miss Day and Mr. Cagney are magnificent. Mr. Cagney received his final Academy Award nomination for his work here, and Doris, while not being recognized by The Academy, was praised by Mr. Cagney.  In his autobiography, Cagney by Cagney, he says "She had matured into a really exceptional actress, and I told her so.  I said, "You know, girl, you have a quality that I've seen but twice before.  There was a gal named Pauline Lord who created the title role in Eugene O'Neill's, Anna Christie, and I'm also thinking of Laurette Taylor.  Both these ladies could really get on there and do it with everything.  They could take you apart playing a scene.  Now, you're the third one."   He further went on to say that "After Love Me or Leave Me, Doris went into the Pillow Talk things, and I for one have always considered that one hell of a waste."  Doris had to be thrilled with those words.  To have James Cagney---whom I think may be the finest actor there has ever been---praising one's abilities has to be almost as wonderful as receiving an Academy Award.

The music in this film is spectacular!  Doris sings close to a dozen songs, including "It All Depends on You" and "You Made Me Love You."  It's always a joy to hear her beautiful voice in song. Additionally, Miss Day's gowns are simply stunning, though definitely not the "girl next door" type fans had come to expect to see her in.  According to Doris's autobiography, Love Me or Leave Me was the film she considered to be her best.

Mr. Cagney was enamored of the script for Love Me or Leave Me at first glance.  According to his autobiography, it was one of those "rare, perfect scripts that needed nothing added to it, nor nothing taken away from it."  It was a role that had at first been offered to Spencer Tracy, who turned it down.  Mr. Cagney never knew why Mr. Tracy had turned the role down, saying that "it was a damned good part."

According to Robert Osborne, when this film was originally in the works, George Cukor was to have directed and Ava Gardner was to have been the female lead.  For whatever reason, those roles went to Vidor and Day, and when Cukor and Gardner saw the film, they were wowed, and Ava said something to the effect of "We made a big mistake" to which Cukor responded, "No, we didn't.  If we had made it, it wouldn't have been that good."

Even if you've never heard of Ruth Etting, this film is definitely worth seeing, especially for Doris Day and James Cagney fans.  It's easily a 4-star film in my mind (more like 4.5...and extremely close to 5 stars).  Out on DVD, it should be fairly easy to track down.

Happy viewing!!