Johann
12-12-2003, 01:22 PM
William Fox presents a song
You might hear it anywhere, anytime
Sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet
This silent film won an Academy Award in the first ever ceremony(1927). I saw it twice last night at the pacific cinematheque.
It opens with a melange of images depicting vacationists. Murnau chose to show us the "woman from the City" first, Margaret Livingston, a drop-dead gorgeous woman. She is delivered to us by a vampy scene where she lights a cigarette from a candle and runs her fingers thru her jet-black hair (a bob style, so sexy, used to great effect in films like Chicago). She's riveting to look at.
A young beautiful couple (George O'Brien & Janet Gaynor) are struggling. They own a farm, owe money, have a son, and they stand to lose everything if something doesn't change.
Something does, but it's not what you'd expect.
Through twists of fate (and Maggie's whistles), hubby has thoughts of leaving his present situation. This "vamp" has bewitched the tied-down farmer. They meet by moonlight in the bulrushes, where she tempts him:
"Sell your farm...come with me to the city"
He stares at her.
"And my wife....?"
"Couldn't she get drowned?" purrs the vamp.
They plot the murder.
Hubby skulks home, carefully makes his way to bed, dreaming of drowning his wife and life with his new mistress.
I won't say anymore. There's a lot more to tell you, but I won't spoil.
F.W. Murnau. German poet and master filmmaker.
This is indeed one of the best films ever made.
If you want to see it on DVD, you have no choice but to cough up the scratch for the 20th Century Fox box set "Studio Classics" containing How Green Was My Valley & All About Eve. Fox wisely did this, because film freaks like me must own this movie. They won't release it as a single-you must pay more! Greedy bastards, but I understand. I don't mind supporting classic films in this way.
You might hear it anywhere, anytime
Sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet
This silent film won an Academy Award in the first ever ceremony(1927). I saw it twice last night at the pacific cinematheque.
It opens with a melange of images depicting vacationists. Murnau chose to show us the "woman from the City" first, Margaret Livingston, a drop-dead gorgeous woman. She is delivered to us by a vampy scene where she lights a cigarette from a candle and runs her fingers thru her jet-black hair (a bob style, so sexy, used to great effect in films like Chicago). She's riveting to look at.
A young beautiful couple (George O'Brien & Janet Gaynor) are struggling. They own a farm, owe money, have a son, and they stand to lose everything if something doesn't change.
Something does, but it's not what you'd expect.
Through twists of fate (and Maggie's whistles), hubby has thoughts of leaving his present situation. This "vamp" has bewitched the tied-down farmer. They meet by moonlight in the bulrushes, where she tempts him:
"Sell your farm...come with me to the city"
He stares at her.
"And my wife....?"
"Couldn't she get drowned?" purrs the vamp.
They plot the murder.
Hubby skulks home, carefully makes his way to bed, dreaming of drowning his wife and life with his new mistress.
I won't say anymore. There's a lot more to tell you, but I won't spoil.
F.W. Murnau. German poet and master filmmaker.
This is indeed one of the best films ever made.
If you want to see it on DVD, you have no choice but to cough up the scratch for the 20th Century Fox box set "Studio Classics" containing How Green Was My Valley & All About Eve. Fox wisely did this, because film freaks like me must own this movie. They won't release it as a single-you must pay more! Greedy bastards, but I understand. I don't mind supporting classic films in this way.