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Reviews
Mildred Pierce (1945)
The first time...
I saw this film on a college campus in an auditorium built in the 1930's. It was over twenty years ago, yet I can still feel the emotion and experience of seeing a Joan Crawford movie for the first time. This film was, and still is, one of the best on many levels. The film noir connection is evident. The supporting players, Jack Carson, Eve Arden, and Ann Blyth, among others, were perfect. Joan's portrayal of the mother who had to work in a restaurant was real. Blyth was the ultimate bitchy daughter and deserved the Oscar as supporting actress.I learned later of Crawfords huge comeback with this film, and not knowing her successes previously, it made perfect sense. She really had it. It's a shame that Faye Dunaway couldn't project this part of Crawford's life and career.
St. Elmo's Fire (1985)
Thank goodness for Mare Winningham
I saw this in a Lowes theatre when it came out and at the time was in the age group represented. I felt then as I do now (and I have given it a real chance over the years) that this is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Other than Mare Winningham and Andie McDowell (yeah, just a model, but very good in this part), it was ridiculous. Mare Winningham was already an established actress at this point and proved herself yet again. The Rob Lowe and Demi Moore angst just put this in a category by itself. Their relationship was not at all believable. Judd Nelson and Ally Sheedy were marginal and Andrew McCarthy was, well, Andrew McCarthy. If someone saw this and was moved by it (positively), please fill me in. What was I missing?
Middle of the Night (1959)
One that stays with you...
I saw this 20 odd years ago on broadcast/cable television. That is one of the reasons why I think this is a great movie; I did not see it in 1959, as it made an impression on me in the forgettable late 80's! It may have been TNT in 1988 or AMC when it started back in the mid 80's. It has stuck with me all these years, and I have been hoping it would come out on VHS/DVD. Kim Novak was a favorite, but Frederich March, even at the end of his career was extraordinary. Novak was ALWAYS good; March was even better. It being filmed in B&W made the relationship between two unlikely lovers even more 'special.' I've always compared this Novak performance with that Technicolor architect movie which escapes me; Novak did it with Kirk Douglas. It was great also, but this is much more touching. All you Novak fans need to find this one. You MUST.