Genre: RomanceBased on: The novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane AustenReview: The story is perhaps the most entertaining romance I have seen (or read). Matthew Macfayden makes an excellent Mr. Darcy, the best that I’ve seen in all of the versions. He has the right look (handsome but not in a glamorous movie star kind of way) and a very nice British accent. Keira Knightley is fine as Elizabeth, but Jennifer Ehle in the A&E version is much better. All in all this is probably the second best Pride and Prejudice, with the best being the A&E mini-series.Director: Joe WrightStarring:
Costarring:
- Rosamund Pike as Jane Bennet
- Simon Woods as Charles Bingley
- Brenda Blethyn as Mrs. Bennet
- Donald Sutherland as Mr. Bennet
Random Facts:
- To get used to the house they used for the Bennet house the cast members played Sardines
- Jane Austen was 21 years old when she wrote Pride and Prejudice
- It was called First Impressions before it was published
- She really wasn’t too fond of men when she wrote Pride and Prejudice
After you’ve watched the movie…Men do not change that drastically, so was Mr. Darcy ever actually a conceited fool? What will be the outcome of Kitty’s marriage? Will Mr. Collins throw the women out when he inherits the house? No, you may not use the fake sequels people have written. For Jane Austen Fans…Which character is Jane Austen most like? Did she model any of Elizabeth’s sisters after her own, Cassandra?
posted by gretchen at 9:03 am
Genre: Romantic DramaAdapted From: The play “Everybody Comes to Rick’s”, which was never produced.Review:Very likely the best film ever made. I agree with Jeff Siegel in his book The Casablanca Companion, “If one movies defines how Americans think of themselves, it’s Casablanca.” Many old movies have been remade, but not Casablanca. It seems that just about everybody agrees that it was as near perfect as possible. There isn’t a better Rick than Humphrey Bogart and Paul Henreid does very well as Laszlo. Even though I don’t really like Ingrid Bergman she does play Ilsa well. There is no doubt that every girl wants to be the one Rick loves.Director: Michael CurtizStarring:
Co-starring:
- Claude Rains as Captain Louis Renault
- Sydney Greenstreet as Ferrari
- Peter Lorre as Ugarte
- S.Z. Sakall as Carl
- Dooley Wilson as Sam
- Madeline Le Beau as Yvonne
- Joy Page as Annina Brandel
- Curt Bois as the pickpocket ( I liked him)
After you’ve watched the movie…Thoughts to Ponder:Who does Ilsa really love? Yes, the obvious answer is Rick, but think about it. If she really did love Rick could she bear to part with him, knowing that it would be forever? Or does she love him so much that she knows it is necessary to never see him again? I’m not quite sure, but I say that she really loves Laszlo even if she doesn’t know it yet.Not quite so deep…
- Would Ronald Regan have made a good Rick?
- Would Dennis Morgan have made a good Laszlo?
- What about Hedy Lamarr for Ilsa?
- Or Sam played by Lena Horne? A prefer a guy Sam…
Random Facts:
- Only three of the main actors are American
- Dooley Wilson was a drummer not a pianist ( but really good at acting like one)
- Sam’s place in the movie was almost filled by a woman
- Joy Page was Jack Warner’s (head of Warner Studios) stepdaughter
- Humphrey Bogart was a wonderful chess player (he’s playing chess in his first scene)
posted by gretchen at 5:01 pm