Happy Valentine’s Day (Sunday, February 14) Everyone!

Just some thoughts on current happenings:

Our monthly feature of “Classic Film Screenings from around the world” remains suspended as there are no reliable reports of noteworthy classical film theatrical screenings during the Corona virus pandemic.

There are 17 recommended films to watch on Turner Classic Movies in the U.S. this month:

The first is Sam Peckinpah's Ride the High Country. The famous director's love for his characters and the Western frontier they inhabit greatly enriches this compelling tale (metaphorically suggested by the film's title) of moral redemption. The casting is inspired, not only of the actors but the technical crew as well. This is Top Ten Western #4 and has been previously reviewed here. It airs Friday, February 5 at 8:15 am PST.

(From left) Randolph Scott, Ron Starr, Joel McCrea

MGM contract player Robert Taylor appeared in a startling number of excellent films. Johnny Eager, a previous recommendation here, is one of them. If you haven’t seen this exciting film noir with its irresistible characters and situations, don’t miss the opportunity Monday, February 8 at 6:30 am PST.

There have been quite a few movies centred around boxing over the years from 1937’s Kid Galahad to 2018’s Creed II with plenty of standouts in-between such as 1956’s Somebody Up There Likes Me, 1962’s Requiem for a Heavyweight, 1972’s Fat City and 1980’s Raging Bull. None of these however get as straight to the punchline as 1949’s knockout noir The Set-Up, previously reviewed here and happening again on TCM Tuesday, February 9 at 9 am PST.

My next TCM, and February’s Blu-ray, recommendation (reviewed below) is 1948's Moonrise occurring Wednesday, February 10 at 5 pm PST.

This year saw the sad passing of Cicely Tyson (See End Credits) who made a genuine heartfelt impression in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, a previous TCM recommendation here. Viewers can realise a wealth of emotion by tuning in Wednesday, February 10 at 8:45 pm PST.

Cicely Tyson as Portia with Alan Arkin as John Singer in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter — Cicely Tyson as Portia with Alan Arkin as John Singer in *The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter*

Vertigo is a film that contentiously divides both experts and fans alike as to whether it should be included in the film noir category. Listing it as noir are the following: Film Noir Encyclopedia 4th Ed. (Silver, Ward, et al. '10), Dark City (Selby, '84), Historical Dictionary of Film Noir (Spicer, '10), Film Noir Guide (Keaney, '03), and Film Noir: Films of Trust and Betrayal (Duncan, ’02). For myself, I consider Vertigo not to be noir, the reasons for which are explained toward the latter part of my extensive review (meant for those who have seen the film) here. Either way, Vertigo is loaded with a wealth of multi-faceted insights and hidden rumination on human relationships. Viewers can enrich their lives Friday, February 12 at (early morning) 1 am PST.

Many readers have taken me to task for my inclusion of Casablanca on a list of “All that Glitters”: The Overrated. I would simply ask that they read what I wrote about this revered classic before judging me too harshly. There is much to praise about the film contained in my review and the weaknesses I've observed are, I feel, worthy of consideration. In any event, please indulge in this motion picture's magic and let me know if my criticisms have merit. The journey begins Friday, February 12 at 5 pm PST.

A true romance film and of the highest artistic calibre has been reviewed in Opening Up a Treasure: Brief Encounter. Director David Lean's emotionally stirring "encounter" will begin on Saturday, February 13 at (early morning) 1:30 am PST.

After the dramatic seriousness of the above TCM recommendation, it might be nice to indulge in a light-hearted and charming Christmas holiday treat: Ernst Lubitsch's The Shop Around the Corner.

Beneath an inventive situation comedy veneer, however, lies a serious underlying message regarding relationships and how concepts often get in the way of a more fulfilling union based on care and concern for one another. The Shop Around the Corner, previously praised here, will open Saturday, February 13 at 5 am PST.

One of David Lean's more ambitious projects may have turned out less artistically accomplished than its director intended. Still, it has many attributes making Doctor Zhivago well worth seeing. Afterwards, I'd be truly appreciative if readers had a look at my review here. This epic scale romance will begin Saturday, February 13 at 11:30 am PST.

What better way for film lovers to celebrate cinema's diversity after watching some of the more serious dramatic film romances here, than to lose oneself in the light-hearted, almost make-believe world of a Princess' Roman Holiday? One can indulge in this delightful fairy tale, previously reviewed here Saturday, February 13 at 5 pm PST.

For those who enjoy the best in creative romantic comedy, be sure to stay tuned for Pillow Talk (reviewed here) Saturday, February 13 at 7:15 pm PST.

Yesterday, I recommended, and linked to a past review of, Casablanca, which I criticised for its emotionally underwhelming Parisian flashback, partly due to the fact that we did not see the romance develop before these rather lukewarm scenes took place. Prior to this film, however, Casablanca's producer Hal Wallis and one of its contributing writers, Casey Robinson, made Now, Voyager where the romance witnessed from start to finish comes alive with fervour, maturity and elegance. Previously reviewed here, Now, Voyager will set sail Sunday, February 14 at 2:45 pm PST.

Later this Sunday, TCM will present Charlie Chaplin’s cinematic Valentine City Lights (previously reviewed here) Sunday, February 14 at 9:45 pm PST.

MGM's 1952 musical Singin' in the Rain was not adapted from a theatrical production, though the film was later turned into one, being first presented on stage in 1983. Its abundant creativity, innovation and driving energy place this film at the top of all cinematic musicals ever produced. Singin' in the Rain has been reviewed as a past Blu-ray selection here and will joyously dance its way onto TCM Thursday, February 18 at 7 pm PST.

(From left) Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Gene Kelly

Raoul Walsh's Colorado Territory is the impassioned director's artistically superior western remake of his previous film noir High Sierra. Readers can discover why I make this claim here, and for those familiar with the earlier Humphrey Bogart vehicle, decide for themselves when Colorado Territory is explored Friday, February 19 at 9 am PST.

Joel McCrea holding the Mayo… Virginia Mayo that is

One of film noir's finest is Gun Crazy, previously reviewed here. Noir's most distinguishing feature, a focus on their criminal participants' psychology, marks a major shift regarding motive. In the earlier "gangster" films, money and power provided enough reason for the pursuit of illegal gains whereas in noir, the internal cause behind the action is paramount, and runs so much deeper... and darker. See for yourself Friday, February 19 at 5 pm PST.

TCM's current monthly schedule can be confirmed by clicking on any of the above TCM related images. For those who live in parts of the U.S. other than the western region, the time zone can be adjusted in the upper right-hand corner of TCM's programme.

A Happy Birthday shout-out to the infinitely talented actress Joanne Woodward, who turns 91 on February 27th.

Since she was very young, all Joanne wanted to do was act. After winning some Georgia beauty contests and graduating from Louisiana State University, where she majored in drama, Joanne appeared in some small theatrical productions and studied acting with Sanford Meisner in New York. During her performances in various TV assignments and plays, she met fellow up-and-coming actor and future husband Paul Newman. Joanne made her motion picture debut in Count Three and Pray (1955). Prominent roles that followed (some alongside Paul Newman) were in the motion pictures A Kiss Before Dying (1956), The Three Faces of Eve (1957, a Best Actress in a Leading Role Academy Award Winner), The Long Hot Summer (1958), The Fugitive Kind (1960, costarring Marlon Brando), From the Terrace (1960), Paris Blues (1961), A Big Hand for the Little Lady (1966), A Fine Madness (1966, costarring Sean Connery) Rachel, Rachel (1968, directed by Paul Newman and a Best Actress in a Leading Role Nominee), They Might Be Giants (1971, costarring George C. Scott), The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (1972, also directed by Newman), Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams (1973, another nominee for Best Actress in a Leading Role), The Glass Menagerie (1987, again directed by Newman), Mr. & Mrs. Bridge (1990, still another Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role) and Philadelphia (1993).

My Soundtrack recommendation for the month of February is composer John Barry’s highly evocative score to 1969’s landmark film Midnight Cowboy.

This 2 CD expanded edition issued by Quartet Records, contains both Barry’s sweeping thematic underscore and songs (most notably “Everybody’s Talkin’” written by Fred Neil in 1966 and performed by Harry Nilsson) harmoniously blended into a rich and memorable aural tapestry for the Academy Award winning motion picture. More information including ordering from Intrada Records can be obtained by clicking on the accompanying image.

This month's Blu-ray selection is Moonrise (1948).

In the films of Frank Borzage, the director’s stylised atmospherics can, on occasion, detract from his narratives’ underlying theme of romantic salvation… flourishes that tip the scale toward melodrama away from true intimacy. 7th Heaven (1927) and A Farewell to Arms (1932) provide such examples. That’s hardly the case, however, with the prolific director’s film noir Moonrise where both elements are harmoniously integrated into a mesmerising, dreamlike yet attentively pitch-black character study. Moonrise’s reduced sentimental appeal is also due to the story’s romantic entanglement being less problematic to our protagonist Danny Hawkins’ main situational struggles.

This film’s artistic strength is abetted by the filmmakers’ (including Charles F. Haas’ adapted screenplay of Theodore Strauss’ novel) focus on, and insight into, Danny’s state of mind: one of anguish, guilt and resentment. Particularly commendable is the ingenious way Brozage, along with his director of photography John L. Russell and editor Harry Keller, mirror that trauma in Danny’s perceptions of his claustrophobic surroundings. A stand-out scene representative of the aforementioned qualities occurs on a carnival’s ferris wheel. There is no attempt to make Danny likeable. Borzage wants us to understand what is behind his extreme anti-social behaviour not excuse it. It’s difficult to cut deep into a troubled individual’s soul without some artifice or moral equivalence creeping in but Borzage denies both, pulling off his mise en scène with masterful fortitude, restraint and precision.

Danny is played by Dane Clark, whose non movie star appearance and manners, not to mention the actor’s contemplative, introverted delivery, lend further credibility to his character’s intense volatility and conflicted conscious. Gail Russell portrays Danny’s love interest with a genuine sense of cautious concern and blossoming attraction. Moonrise also benefits from the presence of one of Hollywood’s most complex and least stereotyped black supporting characters named Mose along with his heartfelt portrayal by Rex Ingram. There are, in addition, substantial contributions from actors Harry Morgan, Lloyd Bridges and Ethel Barrymore. William Lava’s music is mostly appropriate but on occasion, a bit intrusive.

Classic film noir typically deliver dark characters who, even though they might possess a troubled state of mind, convey a strong-willed authenticity due to the unapologetic light shed on their underhanded thoughts and behavioural transgressions. There’s no audience pandering, macho posturing or overt heroism in the way these sullied characters are unveiled and Danny Hawkins is no exception. The same unfortunately cannot be said regarding many of our more contemporary crime dramas. Moonrise’s fundamental integrity in presenting the darker side of humanity is not only a subject worthy of exploration, it’s a necessary one. Thankfully, this task is performed here with grace and subtle finesse lending a well earned emotional fulfilment to its conclusion and memorable afterlife.

(From left) Rex Ingram, Harry Morgan, Dane Clark

February’s recommended Blu-ray is to the long unavailable on video Moonrise (North America Region A) issued by Criterion. For more information including ordering from Amazon.com, click on the accompanying image.

A.G.

The Cinema Cafe

"Now Listen to Me..."