Sunday, April 16, 2006
LOVE NOTE
We saw Joseph L. Mankiewicz'
today. It is a NYTimes Best Film.
Three pals, on a boating day trip, get a letter right before they embark; Linda Darnell, Ann Sothern and Jeanne Crain.
An old rival has run off with one of their husbands. They have to get on the boat (forget why) and so each has a chance to think about why and how it might be their man. Three stories; three reasons for a split.
It sounds a little cheesy but the stories are pretty good and the lines are excellent and it is fun to watch the couples have it out.
Kirk Douglas is one of the husbands. Was he ever that young? I guess so! Well, I looked. He was 33; b. 1919. It is the same year that he made Champion.
The best thing about it is that it has my old favorites Thelma Ritter and Paul Douglas.
Can't get enough.
It is a classic forties post-war film. Pure Hollywood.
It is fun and breezy and has a great ending; top of the form.
There is also a wonderful running joke with an over-the-tracks apartment that vibrates every time the train goes by. It is a great sight gag and unbelievably well constructed. Everything jumps. Even Paul Douglas' jowls.
I will give it a 4 out of Netflix5.
This film happens to be the favorite film of a dear friend so I watched it in some dread that I would not like it much.
No chance.
I may not have liked as much as he does but I am not the Ann Sothern fan that he is. She is very good. They all are.
