This movie was playing during an Ingrid Bergman 100th birthday series. Since I had never seen any of her films with her then-husband, Roberto Rossellini, and since I also really like George Sanders, I decided to see "Journey to Italy."
My first thought, uncharitable as it may be, was that Bergman made a mistake when she became involved with Rossellini, and went into exile from Hollywood. "Journey to Italy" certainly wasn't lacking in realism, either in the conflicts between the couple whose story was featured, or in the footage of Pompei and Naples, but it felt unfinished and rough, lacking the polish of the, I believe, far superior films Bergman made in Hollywood, such as "Notorious," "Gaslight," "Casblanca," and the others.
There's a lot to be said for movies that have polish. I essentially adopt the Hitchcock view of film-making. He once said, "Some directors make films that are slices of life. Mine are slices of cake."
I believe art, and that includes cinema, shouldn't merely reflect reality, it should reflect on and heighten reality, otherwise it might as well be journalism or a documentary. While the conflict between the couple felt real and plausible, and their shared experience in the ruins of Pompei was insightful, I did not feel much moved as I watched those scenes. The insight gained was essentially abstract and intellectual.
However, I did think that the film resembled a couple of other noted "marriage" movies - "Two for the Road," and "The Awful Truth." I have to say I think both are superior to "Journey to Italy," in spite of the intriguing cast and premise.
My first thought, uncharitable as it may be, was that Bergman made a mistake when she became involved with Rossellini, and went into exile from Hollywood. "Journey to Italy" certainly wasn't lacking in realism, either in the conflicts between the couple whose story was featured, or in the footage of Pompei and Naples, but it felt unfinished and rough, lacking the polish of the, I believe, far superior films Bergman made in Hollywood, such as "Notorious," "Gaslight," "Casblanca," and the others.
There's a lot to be said for movies that have polish. I essentially adopt the Hitchcock view of film-making. He once said, "Some directors make films that are slices of life. Mine are slices of cake."
I believe art, and that includes cinema, shouldn't merely reflect reality, it should reflect on and heighten reality, otherwise it might as well be journalism or a documentary. While the conflict between the couple felt real and plausible, and their shared experience in the ruins of Pompei was insightful, I did not feel much moved as I watched those scenes. The insight gained was essentially abstract and intellectual.
However, I did think that the film resembled a couple of other noted "marriage" movies - "Two for the Road," and "The Awful Truth." I have to say I think both are superior to "Journey to Italy," in spite of the intriguing cast and premise.