Thanks for the rec on the film noir front, Hec. I'll have to tell TiVo to grab those.
Clash by Night is notable in that it was written by Clifford Odets and directed by Fritz Lang. Stanwyck's role is really interesting from a feminist perspective. She's restless and doesn't really want to settle down. Robert Ryan gives a great supporting performances. It's a bit soapy and melodramatic but still a great movie. Also young Marilyn Monroe.
Crime of Passion also has an intriguing feminist slant. It was written by a woman, Jo Eisinger (who also did Gilda and Night and the City, so she's got more classic noir behind the camera credits than almost any other woman not Ida Lupino), and Stanwyck plays a career woman who gets bored and bogged down being the suburban wife after she marries for love. Lots of odd subtext in this one. Also old Fay Wray.
Not to mention that, implausible as he is, Bogart has smokin' chemistry with Davis during that one tipsy scene in the tackroom.
I have to agree. I wish she had run off with him. Still, I cry like a baby at the end of that movie, even with unintentional hilarity.
From WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY back,
In high school, the first soundtrack for Les Miz that I heard was the London cast, and I listened to it repeatedly. But a bunch of my friends had the American cast, and it SOUNDED WRONG to me. I didn't like listening to that version at all.
Tep, the one with Roger "My Speaking Voice Makes Both Tony Head and Benedict Cumberbatch Sound Sexless By Comparison" Allum?
I remember being sniffly when I first saw the movie as a youngster but the movie just gets funnier with successive viewing. By the time we get to the blind gardening (!), I'm usually on the floor, giggling helplessly.
Bogart did have great chemistry with Davis, but my brain just has trouble getting past the whole "lovesick Irish stable boy" thing. Totally agreed on whasshis name who plays the doctor, the condescending prick who needs to DIE IN A FIRE.
Stanwyck -- Don't overlook The Mad Miss Manton, where she plays a debutante who (1) with her friends, solves a couple of murders, and (2) shares some snappy dialogue with Henry Fonda as a nosy journalist. Not one of the greatest screwball comedies, but certainly worth seeing.
Clark Gable as an evil chauffeur -- hee!
He introduces himself thusly:
"I'm Nick." (dramatic pause) "The chauffeur!"
I remember being sniffly when I first saw the movie as a youngster but the movie just gets funnier with successive viewing. By the time we get to the blind gardening (!), I'm usually on the floor, giggling helplessly.
I do have to say I have not seen this in about 10 or 15 years, so I may find it funnier now!
All you Roger Allam fans need to see him in
Parade's End,
in which he stars with... Benedict Cumberbatch. It's a non-singing part, though.
(He's also in
The Thick of It).
