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alanma
Reviews
Let's Make Love (1960)
casting
Yves Montand was right for the part, but the writing and development so dire that he has no chance to shine.There is no chemistry between Montand and Monroe. Perhaps they were trying to conceal their affair. One wonders why Frankie Vaughan, is never even mentioned by American reviewers. Is it because, like Montand, he is a foreigner ? He gives a first rate performance of the title-song, and "Specialisation", and partners Marilyn beautifully. Some of the closeups of Marilyn,especially in "Daddy", are badly lit and cruelly emphasise her age. Was Cukor, who disliked Marilyn, taking revenge for past misdemeanours? In the CD version of "Specialisation" there are verses not in the film. Were these added for the CD or edited out of the film? If so,why? All in all, a galaxy of star performers could not make a silk purse from this sows ear. A remark made by Marilyn about a beautiful but personally unpleasant film actress sums it up well - poison is still poison, no matter how beautiful the bottle.
The Prince and the Showgirl (1957)
factual error in review
Yardsigns comments on "Prince and the showgirl" contain errors.
There are no shouts of "Violence!" The cry is "Vivat - Vivat - Vivat" followed ,though not in the film, by "Rex",=King] or "Regina",= Queen, as appropriate; meaning "The King ,or Queen,Lives!" There are no thundering "canons".A "canon" is a priestly appointment. Yardsign obviously means "Cannon". The Abbey scenes are an incompetent mix of studio fake, and real shots of Queen Elizabeth's coronation in 1953. The whole caboodle was shoved in to boost ticket sales in the U.S.A. as "Olde Englande" was very popular with American audiences at that time. Being an ill-conceived add-on. the Abbey scenes are weak and let the film down. I would nominate the seduction scenes as best displaying Marilyns genius as a comic actress. What a shame she had only a short and witless dance routine and that dreary fourth-rate apology for a song. A waste of her talents.