Vivien Leigh

 

ph: Alex Stewart

Dark Journey (1937)

During World War I, a German spy and a French spy meet and fall in love.

Above-average WWI espionage romance is mildly entertaining with good chemistry between the two lovers, but the plot is way too convoluted to hold one's attention.

Halliwell*: "Unconvincing but entertaining romantic adventure with good star performances."

Maltin***: "Engrossing love story...Young Vivien is radiant."

Vivien Leigh

Vivien Leigh

Vivien Leigh photographed by J.W. Debenham at The Old Vic Theatre during her performance in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1937)

Vivien Leigh

The movies I watched in December

The Arrival 1996  5

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 2016  6

Il compagno Don Camillo 1965  6

Contagion 2011  6

Don Camillo e l'on. Peppone 1955  6
Don Camillo monsignore... ma non troppo 1961  6

Dr. Cyclops 1940  7

 

The Fabulous Baker Boys 1989  6

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir 1947  6

Gone With the Wind 1939  8

 

The Ice Harvest 2005  6

Kong: Skull Island 2017  6

Lakeview Terrace 2008  6

Land of the Pharaohs 1955  6

The Last Sunset 1961  6

Monsters 2010  6

The Night the World Exploded 1957  4

Nightcrawler 2014  7

 

 

The Peanuts Movie 2015  6

The Princess Bride 1987  6

A Sound of Thunder 2005  4

Steve Jobs 2015  7

 

Twin Peaks 2017  9

 

War for the Planet of the Apes 2017  7

 

Woman Times Seven 1967  6

Gone With the Wind (1939)

A manipulative woman and a roguish man conduct a turbulent romance during the American Civil War and Reconstruction periods.

An epic Hollywood masterpiece showing excellence in all departments (production, casting, storytelling, cinematography) - complete with a disquietening intrinsic and unabashed racism.

Halliwell****: "The only film in history which could be profitably revived for forty years: 'still pure gold', said the Daily Mirror in 1975. Whole books have been written about it: its essential appeal is that of a romantic story with strong characters and an impeccable production. The widescreen version produced in the late sixties ruined its composition and colour, but it is to be hoped that the original negative still survives."

Maltin****: "If not the greatest movie ever made, certainly one of the greatest examples of storytelling on film, maintaining interest for nearly four hours."

Vivien Leigh

ph: Dorothy Wilding

New Stuff: Anna Karenina

Vivien Leigh

A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

Disturbed Blanche DuBois moves in with her sister in New Orleans and is tormented by her brutish brother-in-law while her reality crumbles around her.

Superbly directed and photographed adaptation of the classic Tennessee Williams' play does capture the atmosphere, but the major performances are a bit over the top.

Halliwell**: "Reasonably successful, decorative picture from a highly theatrical nut influential play; unreal sets and atmospheric photography vaguely Sternbergian."

Maltin****: "Stunning production...Oscars went to Leigh, Hunter, and Malden for their flawless performances, as well as for the art direction-set decoration - but it's Brando who left an indelible mark on audiences."

Vivien Leigh

Caesar and Cleopatra (1945)

Cleopatra hasn't been on the throne of the Pharoahs of Egypt very long when Julius Caesar pays a visit.

Splendid, but stage-bound production, Vivien Leigh steals the whole show.

Halliwell **: "Britain's most expensive film is an absurd extravaganza for which the producer actually took sand to Egypt to get the right colour. It has compensations however in the sets, the colour, the performances and the witty lines, though all its virtues are theatrical rather than cinematic and the play is certainly not a major work."

Maltin **: "Two fine stars suffer through static, boring rendition of George Bernard Shaw's play, which seems to go on forever. Occasional wit and intrigue can't keep this afloat."