Night Train To Munich (1940) / Madeleine (1950) / Family Plot (1976) / A Girl Must Live (1939) / The Golden Salamander (1950) / Fanny By Gaslight (1944) / I See A Dark Stranger (1945)
Night Train To Munich (1940) Stylish and involving comedy thriller with genuine humour and tension. Margaret Lockwood and Rex Harrison create real sparks, the storytelling is sharp and visuals are often evocative. Highly entertaining.
Madeleine (1949) Sublimely made, intelligently revealed drama,
with an impressively ambiguous Ann Todd. Visually and aurally
intoxicating, culminating with a gripping, claustrophobic courtroom
sequence and an everlasting stare.
Family Plot (1976) Without the distinctive visual mastery, a
strangely anonymous and woolly Hitchcock, reliant on individual
performances and occasional set pieces. Some genuine laughs, an
energetic music score and a playful twist maintain interest.
A Girl Must Live (1939) Opening features Margaret Lockwood, Renée
Houston and Lilli Palmer introducing themselves to camera. This slight
comedy maintains a light, knowing wink throughout, featuring energetic
dancing and a fun behind-the-scenes feel, even as the central romantic
narrative creaks to a happy ending.
The Golden Salamander (1950) Despite an authentic Tunisian
location shoot, the romantic thriller never finds its tone and drifts
through plot mechanics. Anouk Aimée provides some emotion and a final
fight some grit, yet a true creative spark remains missing.
Fanny By Gaslight (1944) Polished and evocative production values
are the wrapping for a ripe melodrama that explores issues of class
divide as well as sexual brutality and family guilt. Told with relative
restraint and hugely enjoyable.
I See A Dark Stranger (1945) Surprising and intelligent comedy
thriller that for the most part maintains a precarious tonal balance and
keeps its focus through a spirited, committed star turn from Deborah
Kerr. Terrific fun, beautifully crafted.
No comments:
Post a Comment