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WELL FOLKS, after a pummeling semester and a vacation away from everything, it's high time to revamp this dying monster we call a film club. This time, however, with a lil' something new, which you will all learn about soon enough.....
Anyhoozen, as if I didn't alienate enough of you yet, the theme this month will be strong female casts, primarily because quality films of this type are hard to come by and they should be known, so throw away your razors and let down your ponytails, it's about to get ugly.
Caged (1950)
"The" woman prison film/noir, where a women is sent to prison wrongly, and allows her innocence to transform into something darker, after dealing with the other prisoners and the corruption of the system. Stars Eleanor Parker who most know from the Sound of Music, so here's a fun contrast.
Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969)
Starring Maggie Smith (or as you know her Professor McGonagall), she plays a radical private school teacher who aims to teach her girls how to be independent and other romantic virtues, which turns itself on its head as the film progresses. It's a great experience, loving/hating the characters as they explore the extent of their power, the main student becoming more and more complex, while the teacher becoming more and more simplistic. Most people know Dead Poet's Society, but this film tackles more issues, and in some ways more profoundly, though still in different ways. Less-discussed, but highly praised.
Cries and Whispers (1972)
Bergman's "fade to red" film deals with three sisters who are being torn apart by something unspoken. One of the sisters is dying, but the other two cannot really come to sympathize, and as the film progresses we find out why. I'd call this a warning from Bergman, rather than a cold hopeless observation as some who hate it say, but speaks remarkably about the effects of loving yourself to love others, as well as showing a weakness as a motivator. Also highly praised.
In This Our Life (1942)
Bette Davis leaves her fiancé and runs off with her sister's husband under the direction of John Huston (Maltese Falcon, Treasure of Sierra Madre, African Queen) and music of Max Steiner. But that's the upside of the story, as the disfunction only escalates. Also notable for portraying a black man with a brain in the 40s, wrongly blamed for the suicide of said husband. Impressive, undiscussed melodrama.
Whatever Happened To Baby Jane (1962)
Bette Davis again! This time playing against Joan Crawford, sisters again, but a little more psychologically heated. One was a child star, one is a cripple, but now they're older and live in a decrepit mansion, a formula for the ultimate sibling rivalry, even battle royale later on. All the more more fun because these two hated each other in real life.
Anyhoozen, as if I didn't alienate enough of you yet, the theme this month will be strong female casts, primarily because quality films of this type are hard to come by and they should be known, so throw away your razors and let down your ponytails, it's about to get ugly.
Caged (1950)
"The" woman prison film/noir, where a women is sent to prison wrongly, and allows her innocence to transform into something darker, after dealing with the other prisoners and the corruption of the system. Stars Eleanor Parker who most know from the Sound of Music, so here's a fun contrast.
Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969)
Starring Maggie Smith (or as you know her Professor McGonagall), she plays a radical private school teacher who aims to teach her girls how to be independent and other romantic virtues, which turns itself on its head as the film progresses. It's a great experience, loving/hating the characters as they explore the extent of their power, the main student becoming more and more complex, while the teacher becoming more and more simplistic. Most people know Dead Poet's Society, but this film tackles more issues, and in some ways more profoundly, though still in different ways. Less-discussed, but highly praised.
Cries and Whispers (1972)
Bergman's "fade to red" film deals with three sisters who are being torn apart by something unspoken. One of the sisters is dying, but the other two cannot really come to sympathize, and as the film progresses we find out why. I'd call this a warning from Bergman, rather than a cold hopeless observation as some who hate it say, but speaks remarkably about the effects of loving yourself to love others, as well as showing a weakness as a motivator. Also highly praised.
In This Our Life (1942)
Bette Davis leaves her fiancé and runs off with her sister's husband under the direction of John Huston (Maltese Falcon, Treasure of Sierra Madre, African Queen) and music of Max Steiner. But that's the upside of the story, as the disfunction only escalates. Also notable for portraying a black man with a brain in the 40s, wrongly blamed for the suicide of said husband. Impressive, undiscussed melodrama.
Whatever Happened To Baby Jane (1962)
Bette Davis again! This time playing against Joan Crawford, sisters again, but a little more psychologically heated. One was a child star, one is a cripple, but now they're older and live in a decrepit mansion, a formula for the ultimate sibling rivalry, even battle royale later on. All the more more fun because these two hated each other in real life.
Last edited by wintertriangles; 02-01-14 at 02:38 PM.
