When the ship comes in, however, there is nothing left after Father's debts have been paid. Forced to return home empty-handed, he becomes lost in the forest, coming across a seemingly empty castle with gates and doors opening magically by themselves. A loud roar frightens him but before he leaves, plucks a rose for his beloved daughter, Belle. The Beast (Jean Marais), a creature that is half-man and half-animal, suddenly appears, condemning Father to death for theft. But he will be spared only if one of his daughters takes his place.
When he returns home, Father explains the tragic events that has occurred to his family. Against his wishes, Belle decides to takes her father's place, returning to The Beast's castle. She is frightened and horrified by his appearance yet over time is captivated by his gentle soul. The Beast falls deeply in love with Belle, asking her to marry him but she refuses.
Many fairy tales were originally pretty morbid stories, filled with gore, brutality and dismemberment. But these tales were altered slightly over time through various cultures to make them simpler and easier for children to digest. This story sticks closer to the more commonly retold version by Beaumont but Cocteau has added his own bold dream-like elements to this tale. With spare dialogue, the director beautifully captures the wonderment of a classic romantic fantasy yet a sinister undercurrent is always near the surface. Actors are used as moving statues and candelabras for stunning impact, inventively pushing the boundaries of visual effects of the day. The look of The Beast is quite impressively elaborate, with claws, long teeth and moving ears, requiring many long hours for the costume to be applied to Marais (who also plays Belle's suitor, Avenant). If you are seeking an extraordinary magical experience, this "Beauty and The Beast" should not be missed.
"The Poseidon Adventure" (1972)
I recently re-watched, "The Poseidon Adventure" for the first time since I was a ten year-old kid when it was originally released in theaters. And the story of a luxury ocean liner that is overturned by a giant tsunami with some of the surviving passengers trying to reach the top of the flipped-over ship still managed to really stress me out. This action-thriller, directed by Ronald Neame and produced by Irwin Allen, was one of the early all-star disaster films that were popular in the 1970's where we would see movies involving a massive LA earthquake, damaged airplanes, a flame-engulfed skyscraper, bombs on rollercoasters and a swarm of killer bees.
Set on New Year's Eve, the S.S. Poseidon is in route to Athens and we meet some of our key passengers. Reverend Scott (Gene Hackman), a minister who questions his faith; a long-time married couple (Jack Albertson and Shelley Winters) who are going on to Israel to meet their first grandchild; a gruff police detective (Ernest Borgnine) and his wife (Stella Stevens), a former prostitute; a teenager (Pamela Sue Martin) and her younger brother (Eric Shea) who are going to join their parents; a health-conscious retailer (Red Buttons) on board looking for love and the singer (Carol Lynley) of the ship's band. An earthquake has set off a tsunami and the Captain (played by Leslie Nielsen who I still have a hard time taking seriously due to his role in the disaster-movie spoof, "Airplane") is unable to move the ship out of the path of a massive wave. After the Poseidon capsizes and floating upside-down, Reverend Scott tries to persuade the survivors to move up to the hull. Only a small number agree to go with him and with an injured waiter (Roddy McDowall), they begin their dangerous journey in an attempt to be rescued.
The less said about the formulaic script by Stirling Silliphant and Wendell Mayes the better. Yet despite this setback, these gifted actors are still able to deliver moving performances that make us care about these characters with Ms Winters even earning a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination. But let's be real; "The Poseidon Adventure" is all about the tension-filled adventure, enhanced by impressive visual effects. And these special effects (which would win a Special Achievement Academy Award since visual effects were not a regular category at the time) have held up very well, especially since they had to be created on set.
"The Bride Wore Black (La Mariée était en noir)" (1968)
While there are plenty of holes in the plot, Truffaut has made an entertaining film; an intense and thrilling ride that successfully bridges French cinematic sensibilities and Hitchcockian intrigue. But it is Moreau who elevates this material with her graceful and self-assured performance. The actress, who made her name for her work in Louis Malle's, "Elevator to the Gallows", Michelangelo Antonioni's "La Notte" and Luis Buñuel's "Diary of a Chambermaid" (to name just a few), is force of nature, coolly and methodically taking down each man who has deeply wronged her, never reconsidering her task for one moment. Watching this film did make me think of Quentin Tarantino's action-thriller, "Kill Bill" which shares some similar plot points right down to the Bride carrying a little book with the names of her potential victims which she crosses off once she's completed her mission. And while I know there were many movies that inspired him in the creation of "Bill", Tarantino claims to have never seen "The Bride Wore Black" and it's just a coincidence (which I find seriously hard to believe).
No comments:
Post a Comment