Wednesday, July 19, 2006
POTBOILER
Today's NYTimes 1176 Best Film was
with Carole Lombard and Jimmy Stewart is a lot of sentimental claptrap from a story viewpoint.
The point of the film is more the acting by the two principals.
I figure that this is one of the few remaining Lombard films and when they made the list they had to put this in just to show us how luminescent she was.
It is not on the 2004 list; just the 2000. Different critics.
We have seen Garbo in even weaker vehicles and she shone, nevertheless.
Lombard died at age 34 in a plane crash on her way to a War Bond rally. But, in her short time, she still made 78 films.
I think we will see her again in a couple of others; at least To Be or Not To Be (1942) with Jack Benny.
I am surprised that They Knew What They Wanted is not on the list but that might be lost. It is shocking to find that most of the nitrate films are gone or going.
Oh yeah, Jimmy Stewart is also pretty good to watch. He seems so young but he is the same age (31) as Lombard.
The reproduction on this disc is shitty. The sound mushes. The visuals are OK.
Anyway, I will give it a 2 out of Netflix5 because it is a stinker and we have to work to hard to enjoy the acting.
Let's see how the others turn out.
