Week 22- David Lean
Works Viewed:
Hobsons Choice
Brief Encounter
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In Which We Serve
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This Happy Breed
Blithe Spirit
Henry Hobson (played by Charles Laughton) owns a bootmaker shop in 1800s England. He has a soft spot for the pubs and has three daughters. He wishes for the two youngest to have a marriage, but doesn't want to pay the fee. He wants to hog the oldest Maggie for himself and the shop. Basically nothing goes Hobsons way. The most comedic element for me of this whole film was Charles Laughton himself. I just found him hilarious in his role of the wretched Hobson, and just his facial expressions could make me laugh. I never did reach the pity from him that I believe David Lean was trying to reach by the end, just because I couldn't take the character seriously. This had its ups and downs as far as how I viewed the film. I couldn't finish this in one sitting though. Not that the film is dull in pace, but it's not the most exciting adventure. Which is fine since it gives the movie a cozy feel. The characters outside of Hobson are one-dimensional. The three daughters are predictable. Willy developed to an extent, but the rest just stayed in place. This was in total a decent comedy, and David Leans first impression on me.
I've come to the conclusion that I've watched Brief Encounter at the wrong time. It seems like a movie to view on a rainy day, while I watched this when it was sunny and I was full of energy. Therefore David Leans Brief Encounter just brought me down. While my rating isn't awful, it doesn't match what one would predict for the film that's #2 on the BFI British films list, and perhaps the most acclaimed on Leans early works. It's not only that I didn't watch this in the most suitable time on the other hand. I personally don't have empathy for characters who practically abandon their families for a love affair. So the two protagonists of this film weren't ones I was fond of. I credit this film with amazing dialogue, in it's adaption of Noel Cowards play. The thoughts and speech of Laura are realistic and relatable. You can notice this from the opening train scene. Secondly the narration is held in high regards, and rightfully. Told as a story, and begins at the near end. I'll put this title alongside Rashomon and Midnight Cowboy as a film I should rewatch the fully grasp
Fun fact: In Which we Serve used condoms as bullets. This war film directed by David Lean and partner Noel Coward had a lot of cool moments and ideas. If you watch this I'd recommend the Criterion edition as it holds some enlightening interviews. This isn't a great eerie war film and is a bit dated. This patriotic effort would probably be a joy for me if I was a Brit, but I don't have that kind of enthusiasm of British patriotism. This film uses the 40s cliche of flashbacks, but it makes the movie better than it'd would be. I'm didn't like Noel Coward as a ship captain as he didn't feel serious or strict enough. I suggest this if one is looking for a spirited war movie.
Another David Lean, Noel Coward adaption, This Happy Breed follows the life of a suburban family between the two world wars. A two decade long epic this film has great character development and shows marriage, death, abandonment, and the rest of the occasions a family goes through. It has some funny snip bits of dialogue, and I especially like the communist/anarchists discussion. The film is somewhat dry, but it remains touching and relevant.
My final David Lean, Noel Coward adaption I viewed was
Blithe Spirit. I fell in love with this movie. There's no paranormal movie quiet like this. It's elegant in humor and moves quickly. There are no scares, it's more in depth on the idea of the other world, and a humorous view of how life is after you die. David Lean morphed the dead with the living, when an estranged wife comes to "visit" her husband and his second wife. She terrorizes the family through this, and a quote brought up early in this movie really summarizes it well. " It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit". Not only is it a great line but it is perfect in the film. Harrison, Cummings, and Hamond have great on screen chemistry, making this an amazing feel good comedy.
Despite most of the ratings being middle lurkers I did enjoy these two weeks as they were lighthearted and classy. The first four film were not the most on the edge of your seat movies, but they moved along well enough. I still have to see David Leans later (and longer) works, and my exploration is not completely halted as I'm going to watch the rest of the supplements on the discs I own. I plan on doing more British directors in the future, but I'm going back to an arthouse director for the remainder of the week.
Next Week: Hollis Frampton
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Really a great movie that leaves you with a lot to think about in terms of love, religion, philosophy, body language, etc.
