The success of Gregory's Girl made movies in Scotland, for a time, a thing - here is the star of that movie, playing another gormless type. He's a photographer who gets bored with his girlfriend, who is too hot for him, so they break up.
It's an impossible film to dislike. Even if very light.
Do people still watch this movie any more? It's fun. I mean, it's long, but it gave people their money's worth in 1956. Length! Colour! Widescreen! Stars!
David Niven is a lot of fun as Fogg (the film put him back on top) and Cantiflas engaging as Passporteu. The cameos range from fun - Noel Coward, John Gielgud - to "whatever" - Fernandel, Charles Boyer.
1) Perviness - lots and lots of vouyerism
2) Old Hollywood - famously Hitchcock but also gangster movies, broad comedies, musicals
3) Leftist politics - Greetings, Redcated, Casualties of War - soldiers are bad, it's a conspiracy, etc etc
4) Satire - of American politics but also business, gangsters
5) Wacky comedy - related to above - most notorious in Wise Guys but also in other films like Home Movies, Greetings
6) Genuine artist - when De Palma gets chits he blows them in interesting ways: anti-war movies, student films, video
John Sexton had success with the horsey Phar Lap but this didn't do so well despite a lot of good things - the beautiful photography, horses, locations, costumes. Imported star Jeff Fahey fits in fine. The problem is the story. The female lead Tuskha Bergen doesn't have anything to do except be passive- she should be galloping around being feisty.
Coward's adventures in the war makes compelling reason in part because he simply went so many places - Poland, Russia, Finland and Norway before the war, Paris after it started, Australia.
A movie that managed to unite hawks and doves with its blood and guts hero - isn't he great vs isn't it awful. Some terrific fresh bits like the opening with Patton talking to troops in front of the flag. Others are more conventional such as people going "tell me about Patton" and Germans giving exposition. Karl Malden's Bradley is dull.
There are fresh things, or at least fresh at the time - the more realistic depiction of how battles were fought in World War Two.
Whit Stillman is an idea adapter of Jane Austen. I'm not familiar with the novel but it's clear enough - Kate Beckinsale is a flirt with no money who wants to find a husband for herself and her daughter. Beckinsale plays the best character although there's a funny idiot aristocrat. Xavier Samuel suits this sort of story. The daughter is under cast. Chloe Svegniy feels underused as the best friend - it's good to see her but maybe she would've been better as the antaognist sister in law.
I like the use of titles. It skips emotion. This is my second time watching. It doesn't register for some reason. It's good though. I'm aware this is contradictory.
