tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post3868616904463138582..comments2023-07-23T09:45:33.199-05:00Comments on the last lullaby (and) peril: 1954: The Barefoot Contessa (Joseph Mankiewicz)Jeffrey Goodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-5934347778318686102010-03-03T18:23:11.224-06:002010-03-03T18:23:11.224-06:00Doniphon, I never put that together that Cardiff w...Doniphon, I never put that together that Cardiff was the DP of CONTESSA. Makes a lot of sense though. It definitely has some of the same mind-blowing effect of NARCISSUS, for instance. <br /><br />I'll be curious to hear how it strikes you on a re-visit. Nothing makes me happier than to hear you say my post makes you want to see it again!<br /><br />And yeah I need to catch up with JOHNNY GUITAR soon. Somehow that's one that's eluded me to this point.<br /><br />Thanks, Doniphon. Always great to hear from you!Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-35235711516604977582010-03-03T16:16:09.342-06:002010-03-03T16:16:09.342-06:00Jeffrey, The Barefoot Contessa was shot by Jack Ca...Jeffrey, The Barefoot Contessa was shot by Jack Cardiff, who would get my vote as the greatest cinematographer of all time, and he is probably far more responsible for the striking colors than Mankiewicz. You make me really want to re-watch this. I liked it, and it features two of my all-time favorite actors, and maybe on re-watching I'll love it. Definitely on my to-do list.<br /><br />Gotta go with Johnny Guitar though. Definitely one of the greatest westerns ever made.Doniphonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02407443845368110678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-77893233747020175812010-03-03T14:20:43.179-06:002010-03-03T14:20:43.179-06:00Dave, I completely understand the love for REAR WI...Dave, I completely understand the love for REAR WINDOW. It's one of my favorite Hitchcock films, too. Just so much fun!<br /><br />Please let me know about your experience with THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA. That'd be great. <br /><br />Thanks, Dave. Always awesome hearing from you!Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-31079289490818112222010-03-03T13:47:25.050-06:002010-03-03T13:47:25.050-06:00Rear Window is probably my favorite movie ever mad...Rear Window is probably my favorite movie ever made, so it's a no-brainer for me... although, this is a really strong year. Becker's Touchez pas au grisbi is amazing, as is On the Waterfront, Sansho the Bailiff, Les Diaboliques, Johnny Guitar, and Ordet. I never hear '54 discussed as much as other banner years ('39, for example) but it's incredibly strong.<br /><br />I have The Barefoot Contessa recorded and waiting to be watched, I just haven't had the chance yet... I'll check back in after I see it. I'm a huge Mankiewicz fan, so I need to check it out soon.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-65569185824426877802010-03-03T07:36:34.181-06:002010-03-03T07:36:34.181-06:00John, "authorized voyeurism", I love tha...John, "authorized voyeurism", I love that!<br /><br />I love the Hitchcock, too, and certainly understand that choice. Of the others you mention, I haven't seen THE CAINE MUTINY either. I have seen DIAL M, which I like, but probably just a little less than the others I mentioned. <br /><br />I'm happy to hear that you had a good experience with AMBERSONS! Isn't that opening narration fantastic? <br /><br />Thanks so much, John! Always wonderful to have you here.Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-16620385520021793472010-03-03T07:31:54.118-06:002010-03-03T07:31:54.118-06:00Sam, I really need to see this Mizoguchi film! Ba...Sam, I really need to see this Mizoguchi film! Based on my previous experiences with his work, I can only imagine that I'll love it nearly as much as you. <br /><br />Thanks for not beating up CONTESSA too much. It's a fragile, little film, and I was happy to give it a little love. <br /><br />The others on your list that I've seen but didn't mention are SENSO and LA STRADA. I've struggled with both of them a little in the past but will certainly revisit at some point down the road. <br /><br />Unfortunately, I have ORDET for 1955 so I'll talk about it tomorrow. <br /><br />Still to see, the Kinoshita, Naruse, other Mizoguchi, SEVEN BRIDES, THEM!, the Sirk, and Sjoberg you mention.<br /><br />Thanks so much, Sam! Another great year indeed!Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-55687088655613621152010-03-03T07:18:18.114-06:002010-03-03T07:18:18.114-06:00Jeffrey,
I have not seen “The Barefoot Contessa” ...Jeffrey,<br /> I have not seen “The Barefoot Contessa” in many years and really need to revisit it. This use to be on TV all the time when I was a young teenager on one of the local stations that showed movies all day on Sunday’s. The film has great pedigree so I cannot imagine being disappointed.<br />1954 was a great year for films, Les Diabolique, On the Waterfront and Seven Samurai to a name few. My own # 1 choice is Hitchcock’s “Rear Window.” It’s pure cinema, after all what is cinema except authorized voyeurism.<br /><br />As an aside, last night I caught up on one of my many omissions and watched “The Magnificent Ambersons,” visually stunning, beautifully edited and wonderfully acted. I guess we can only wonder how grand a film this would have been without the studio interference.<br /><br />#1 Rear Window<br /><br />Runner ups<br /><br />Seven Samurai<br />Les Diabolique<br />On the Waterfront<br />Bad Day at Black Rock<br />Johnny Guitar<br />Dial M For Murder<br />The Caine Mutiny<br />Them!<br />La StradaJohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808503055317962289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-89333292264205995132010-03-03T07:11:37.823-06:002010-03-03T07:11:37.823-06:00Somehow I forgot to list Kurosawa's SEVEN SAMA...Somehow I forgot to list Kurosawa's SEVEN SAMAURAI, which of course is a supreme masterpiece of the cinema, among the runners-up. So I'm officially adding it here.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-40286284492682199032010-03-03T07:07:44.290-06:002010-03-03T07:07:44.290-06:00My Own #1 Film of 1954:
Sansho the Bailiff (Mizog...My Own #1 Film of 1954:<br /><br />Sansho the Bailiff (Mizoguchi)<br /><br /><br />Runners-Up:<br /><br />Rear Window (Hitchcock)<br />Twenty-Four Eyes (Kinoshita; Japan)<br />Ordet (Dreyer; Denmark)<br />Late Chrysanthemums (Naruse; Japan)<br />Les Diabolique (Clouzot; France)<br />Chikamatsu Monogatari (Mizoguchi; Japan)<br />A Star is Born (Cukor)<br />On the Waterfront (Kazan)<br />Wuthering Heights (Bunuel)<br />Bad Day at Black Rock (J. Sturges)<br />La Strada (Fellini; Italy)<br />Senso (Visconti; Italy)<br />Johnny Guitar (Ray)<br />Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Donen)<br />Them! (Douglas)<br />Touchex Pas Au Gribisi (becker; France)<br />Magnificent Obsession (Sirk)<br />Karin Mansdotter (Sjoberg; Sweden)<br /><br />SANSHO THE BAILIFF (SANSHO DAYU) is for me the greatest film of the 1950's and may well be the greatest film ever made. It's a shattering and transcendent work, and as beautifully crafted as any of the cinematic masterpieces, and once seen it will will be remembered for the rest of your life. The final scene is one of the most emotionally electrifying in the cinema.<br /><br />While I am not particularly a big fan of THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA, I respect it, and I admire teh reasons why you hold it in such high esteem. Needless to say there are some very great films this year including the masterpieces from Hitchcock and Kinoshita.<br /><br />Great expression here of personal conviction and passion.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.com