The reign of King Henry the VIII has enough drama to fill up a life time of books. That has proven to be so with the amount of information in our history books about him and his reign. We mostly hear about just him and the his wives. We don't really hear much about the people in his inner circle. We don't hear about the controversies when it comes to him changing wives so many times against the church's wishes. A Man of All Seasons sheds some light on a man by the name of Sir Thomas More. He was Lord Chancellor of England that is until King Henry decides to overstep he bounds. Henry was becoming upset that his wife, Queen Catherine of Aragon, was not producing a male heir. He starts sneaking off to be with the now legendary Anne Boleyn and declares that he would like a divorce so he can marry Anne. He starts to ask the members of his counsel to put pressure on the church so they will grant him a divorce. Everyone is with the King and his decision, except for Thomas More. He is a man a faith that does not believe that the king should be able to do whatever he wanted because it is what he wants to do. He should be held to the same standards of faith as everyone else. When Henry is not granted a divorce his counsel comes up with a plan to have King Henry declared the "Supreme Head of the Church of England" by parliament so he can do what he wanted and get a divorce to marry Anne. When More neglects to go to the wedding the King claimed him to be a traitor. When a new oath starts to circulate More must make a choice to sign it and go against everything he believes in, or not sign and be charged for treason.
The most dramatic part about filming A Man of All Seasons was probably learning about the life of King Henry VII. When is comes down to it this film appears to have been shot very smoothly with nothing out of this world happening. What ever Columbia did it worked because they took home top prize at the 39th Annual Academy Awards beating out: Sheldrake Films' Alfie; United Artists' The Russians Ae Coming, the Russians Are Coming; 20th Century Fox's The Sand Pebbles; and Warner Brothers' Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.
Most of the time when I comes to biological movies they either are not that great or they become epics! This is one of those that does not fit into either category. This film in more interesting than anything else. Paul Scofield, who plays More, is so very well spoken and is so captivating when he speaks that he alone keeps your attention through the whole film. His speech at the end is one of the best to very appear on the screen. I am not one for biological films but if presented this film to watch again I totally would.
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Best Picture of 1965: The Sound of Music
Rogers and Hammerstein must have done "something good" in their childhood because when Sound of Music hit the big screen in 1965 they had a hug smash on their hands! The story is that of young aspiring nun named Maria. She is a passionate girl who can not seem to get a handle on being a nun. She is constantly running around, and breaking the rules of the Abby. When she is called into the office Mother Abbess her world is tuned upside down. The Mother knows that Maria would be much happier living a life outside of the Abby. Maria has always wanted to be a nun and is disappointed when she finds that it is just not her calling on her life. Mother finds that there is a need to a temporary governess at the von Trapp household. Captain von Trapp is a widower with seven children who has lost his way since the loss of his wife. His children are unhappy that the house being run like a navy ship instead of a home and have gotten a reputation of being "brats" and play cruel tricks on their governesses. Maria, being a big personality herself, finds a way to crack through their defenses and starts to rebuild a family that felt like was falling apart.
This film had a journey to go through itself. The biggest obstacle that they had to overcome was how "sweet" the original stage production was. Julie Andrews did not originally want to do the film because she thought that the play was "too sweet" but when Director Robert Wise told her that they were working on the script and it was not going to be as sweet she agreed to do the film. Christopher Plummer did not want to do the film for nearly the same reason. He thought that the Captain's role was not a strong as it needed to be. When Plummer was told that he would be able to work on the character with the writers to make improvements to his character. 20th Century Fox knew what they were doing because this film took home the Best Picture award beating out: Vic Film's Darling; MGM's Doctor Zhivago; Columbia's Ship of Fools; and United Artists A Thousand Clowns. The Sound of Music was also honored in 2001 by being selected for preservation by the National Film Registry.
What can I even begin to say about this film that hasn't already been said? I say that you can never go wrong when the names of Rogers and Hammerstein are in play. They proved that with this film that is for sure. If you don't even know their names you know their music by this film alone. This is a film that more people watch the more they love it! It's a great love story that keeps a smile on your face through most of the movie. They did an amazing job of not only keeping the sense of family alive but the sense of nationality as well. The more I watch this film the most I fall in love with the character that is Captain von Trapp. His role is so much more poignant every time I watch it. He has so much more whit that what I give him for and I find that he emotional depth to his character is deeper with every viewing experience. This film will always be one that I will enjoy watching and enjoy learning about every chance I get.
This film had a journey to go through itself. The biggest obstacle that they had to overcome was how "sweet" the original stage production was. Julie Andrews did not originally want to do the film because she thought that the play was "too sweet" but when Director Robert Wise told her that they were working on the script and it was not going to be as sweet she agreed to do the film. Christopher Plummer did not want to do the film for nearly the same reason. He thought that the Captain's role was not a strong as it needed to be. When Plummer was told that he would be able to work on the character with the writers to make improvements to his character. 20th Century Fox knew what they were doing because this film took home the Best Picture award beating out: Vic Film's Darling; MGM's Doctor Zhivago; Columbia's Ship of Fools; and United Artists A Thousand Clowns. The Sound of Music was also honored in 2001 by being selected for preservation by the National Film Registry.
What can I even begin to say about this film that hasn't already been said? I say that you can never go wrong when the names of Rogers and Hammerstein are in play. They proved that with this film that is for sure. If you don't even know their names you know their music by this film alone. This is a film that more people watch the more they love it! It's a great love story that keeps a smile on your face through most of the movie. They did an amazing job of not only keeping the sense of family alive but the sense of nationality as well. The more I watch this film the most I fall in love with the character that is Captain von Trapp. His role is so much more poignant every time I watch it. He has so much more whit that what I give him for and I find that he emotional depth to his character is deeper with every viewing experience. This film will always be one that I will enjoy watching and enjoy learning about every chance I get.
Best Picture of 1964: My Fair Lady
"The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain" is probably the line that anyone who has seen My Fair Lady knows by heart. In fact when I told my co-worker that he got a song from My Fair Lady stuck in my head earlier today he laughed and said just that... "the rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain". The fact that a metal head who dislikes musicals not only has seen the movie but remembers that line shows how long of a shadow that this film has cast since it release in 1964. When a phonetic scholar named Rex Harrison runs into a fellow scholar, Hugh Pickering, he starts to boast about how he can pinpoint where and how people grew up just by how they talk. He uses an example of Eliza Doolittle, a young woman with a thick British accent, of how she is unsuitable to work in a flower shop because she does not have a very ladylike way of talking. Harrison makes a wager with Pickering that he could take Eliza out of the dirt and just by changing her clothes and her accent that she can presented to the Duchess at the upcoming embassy ball. The kicker is that he only has three months to undo about 20 years worth of habits. This musical comedy takes you on a hilarious rags to riches journey.
My Fair Lady is one of the most beloved musicals to ever embrace the screen. For many people nowadays it likely one of the first musicals that they ever watch while they are growing up. It's has everything you need for it to be as loved as it is, a love story, great costumes, great cast, hilarious movie moments and of course one of the best musical scores ever to be in film. It is really easy to see how Warner Brothers took home the Oscar that year over Paramount's Becket, Columbia's Dr. Strangelove or: How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb; Disney's Mary Poppins; and 20th Century Fox's Zorba the Greek.
This is not the first time I have seen this film, like I said earlier it was one of the first musical that I remember seeing growing up. However, when I first say it I did not like it at all. It did make much sense to me and I didn't think it was that funny. This is the second time that I have seen that film. My verdict this time..... still not a crazy huge fan. Granted I did like it so much better this time around, mainly I was a little older to understand it. However, it is not in my all time favorite musicals or movie list. I still can watch it and understand why its so highly regarded. I think this is just going to one of those films that, for me, I will never fall in love with it as the rest of the world has.
My Fair Lady is one of the most beloved musicals to ever embrace the screen. For many people nowadays it likely one of the first musicals that they ever watch while they are growing up. It's has everything you need for it to be as loved as it is, a love story, great costumes, great cast, hilarious movie moments and of course one of the best musical scores ever to be in film. It is really easy to see how Warner Brothers took home the Oscar that year over Paramount's Becket, Columbia's Dr. Strangelove or: How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb; Disney's Mary Poppins; and 20th Century Fox's Zorba the Greek.
This is not the first time I have seen this film, like I said earlier it was one of the first musical that I remember seeing growing up. However, when I first say it I did not like it at all. It did make much sense to me and I didn't think it was that funny. This is the second time that I have seen that film. My verdict this time..... still not a crazy huge fan. Granted I did like it so much better this time around, mainly I was a little older to understand it. However, it is not in my all time favorite musicals or movie list. I still can watch it and understand why its so highly regarded. I think this is just going to one of those films that, for me, I will never fall in love with it as the rest of the world has.
Best Picture of 1963: Tom Jones
They say that people do crazy thing when they are in love. This movie questions what in the world does the word love mean? Tom Jones is a young man who is was adopted when he was born. While he was growing up he never really paid much attention to his studies. He never really paid much attention to anything really other than girls, and himself. He is the quintessential idea for a young man who wants to have fun. When a member of his family blackmails him and his adapted father sends him away Tom must learn how to survive on his own. Yet, he does it was he boyish charm and magically skims by on his good looks. Right before he is sent off he finds that his is in love with the wonderful girl who is in love with him. Because he has been disinherited he is no longer welcome to marry the girl of his dreams. In a search to find a way to win the love, and his life, back he goes on an adventure that is cleverly entertaining every step of the way.
Tom Jones is a movie that became wildly popular with the public but not so much with the people that made the film. The film was originally going to be shot in black and white but the production company decided that color would be better. When they made that choice the company soon went bankrupt. That is when United Artists came through and financed the film. When the film was finally all said and done Tony Richardson, the director, ended up hating the film. He said that he felt the film was incomplete and every botched. He knew that everyone loved the film and it was a great success but whenever he thought of it he would always cringe on the inside. A great deal of many people must of thought it was a wonderful film because it beat out another United Artist film Lilies of the Field as well as Warner Brothers' America America, 20th Century Fox's Cleopatra, and MGM's How the West was Won.
This came totally out of left field! You think I am kidding? re-read that list of other nominations from that year! Where in the world did this film come from! I have never even heard of this film until I made the Best Picture list! The only way I can really describe this film is.... I mean.... Ok if you gave the Three Stooges a week to make a movie and they were not allowed to be in it this is what they would have come up with. The film is funny and wild and it does keep you guessing a bit. However, I do not understand the appeal in it to be among the best movies of all time. It is not even a classic comedy really! Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a comedy classic that all kooky comedy classic should strive to be like, but this film should be on the list for one of the worst Best Picture films of all time. The movie is charming in its own right but it is not near worthy of an Oscar.
Tom Jones is a movie that became wildly popular with the public but not so much with the people that made the film. The film was originally going to be shot in black and white but the production company decided that color would be better. When they made that choice the company soon went bankrupt. That is when United Artists came through and financed the film. When the film was finally all said and done Tony Richardson, the director, ended up hating the film. He said that he felt the film was incomplete and every botched. He knew that everyone loved the film and it was a great success but whenever he thought of it he would always cringe on the inside. A great deal of many people must of thought it was a wonderful film because it beat out another United Artist film Lilies of the Field as well as Warner Brothers' America America, 20th Century Fox's Cleopatra, and MGM's How the West was Won.
This came totally out of left field! You think I am kidding? re-read that list of other nominations from that year! Where in the world did this film come from! I have never even heard of this film until I made the Best Picture list! The only way I can really describe this film is.... I mean.... Ok if you gave the Three Stooges a week to make a movie and they were not allowed to be in it this is what they would have come up with. The film is funny and wild and it does keep you guessing a bit. However, I do not understand the appeal in it to be among the best movies of all time. It is not even a classic comedy really! Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a comedy classic that all kooky comedy classic should strive to be like, but this film should be on the list for one of the worst Best Picture films of all time. The movie is charming in its own right but it is not near worthy of an Oscar.
Best Picture of 1962: Lawrence of Arabia
War. This has been the subject of many of the Best Picture films that I have come across so far, and will be the subject of many more to come. Up until this point you have war talked about or portrayed in movies as the same war we have been taught in school. It's the same story of one side against the other and the same side always wins. We rarely are every taught, or even talk about, the other battles or issues that happen during the war. That is what make the winner for the Best Picture of 1962 Lawrence of Arabia so wonderfully different. During World War I there was another fight going on that was never discussed or looked up much in history books. The movie is based off real attacks that happened on Aqaba and Damascus and the real happenings of the Arab National Council. The reason that this story is so amazing is because most of these events would not have happened if it weren't for one man, T.E. Lawrence. Lawrence is a well have a taste of experience the world and it's many different cultures. One that he has grown fond of would the Arab culture. When he heard of the issues that they were having he started working with the councils in charge of that area to convince his superiors to let him go and help in Arab. When he was allowed Lawrence went to do great things in helping the Arab people and slowly they accepted him as one of them. They came to look for him for guidance and leadership in the years to follow. However much Lawrence loves the culture, and the people he has come to meet, is knows that he is still very loyal to Britain and he feels that he is loosing himself. He was a man who was not very fond of violence and he was a very high strong man with very high ideals of himself and the world. By going this far to help these people in crisis he realized he stated to change along the way.
This film is a true classic. It's a film that has some of the greatest passion pieces that have every been seen. The Academy must have thought so too because it was nominate for 10 awards that year. This film had the perfect storm of creativity. From the actors, writers, director, to the cinematographer nothing in this film was left untouched by creativity. In every scene that is shot you can experience the pride that it took to make create that scene. They did everything that they could to make it not only see and hear their work but almost feel the sun beating down on your head, or the smell of the dry sand as it blows in the wind. It is because of these experiences that Columbia took home the top prize of 20th Century Fox's The Longest Day, Warner Brothers' The Music Man, MGM's Mutiny on the Bounty, and Universal's To Kill a Mockingbird.
Lawrence of Arabia is a film that has become one of the most influential films to ever grace the silver screen. The care that was put into every line, every costume, and every set in this film is clearly shown. There is not one scene in which you don't marvel at it's captivating beauty. How film creators can make war and mayhem look so enticingly beautiful I will never know. I am not usually one to say lets go to the desert but after seeing this film again it makes me want to go. Other films when it comes to war scenes they are very bloody and gruesome. The shock and horror are make you not want to look away. Not this film. This film was clearly handled with care in every shot. They took the time to make it beautifully poetic. The grace and beauty that were brought to a story about soul crushing war would be something I never thought could really truly be accomplished. If I could turn back time to when this film was being produced I would be truly honored to watch them create every single detail come to life as it was happening.
This film is a true classic. It's a film that has some of the greatest passion pieces that have every been seen. The Academy must have thought so too because it was nominate for 10 awards that year. This film had the perfect storm of creativity. From the actors, writers, director, to the cinematographer nothing in this film was left untouched by creativity. In every scene that is shot you can experience the pride that it took to make create that scene. They did everything that they could to make it not only see and hear their work but almost feel the sun beating down on your head, or the smell of the dry sand as it blows in the wind. It is because of these experiences that Columbia took home the top prize of 20th Century Fox's The Longest Day, Warner Brothers' The Music Man, MGM's Mutiny on the Bounty, and Universal's To Kill a Mockingbird.
Lawrence of Arabia is a film that has become one of the most influential films to ever grace the silver screen. The care that was put into every line, every costume, and every set in this film is clearly shown. There is not one scene in which you don't marvel at it's captivating beauty. How film creators can make war and mayhem look so enticingly beautiful I will never know. I am not usually one to say lets go to the desert but after seeing this film again it makes me want to go. Other films when it comes to war scenes they are very bloody and gruesome. The shock and horror are make you not want to look away. Not this film. This film was clearly handled with care in every shot. They took the time to make it beautifully poetic. The grace and beauty that were brought to a story about soul crushing war would be something I never thought could really truly be accomplished. If I could turn back time to when this film was being produced I would be truly honored to watch them create every single detail come to life as it was happening.
Monday, September 18, 2017
Best Picture of 1961: West Side Story
"Crazy! Cool! Go!". No normally the words that you sing after you where apart of a double murder. However, the Jet's did just that in the 1961 Best Picture West Side Story. The concept of the story is be have been a modernized Romeo and Juliet, the story ended up being loosely based off the original story. The biggest change is that the film is a musical. The story is set on Manhattan Island in New York. There are two rival gangs constantly fighting over the small amount of turf that they have. The Jets and the Sharks can not stand the sites of each other. The area that they live in is so small, however, they can barely turn around and see someone from the other gang there. The Jets finally had enough of the Sharks and they want a war counsel to settle this fight once and for all. Everything is going according to plan, they gangs chose the best hand to hand fighter in each group and that was going to settle who was going to rule the turf! That is until Tony, the one time leader of the Jets, falls in love with Maria, the little sister of Bernardo the leader of the Sharks. Tony does everything he can to try and stop the fight and ends up taking the fight farther than anyone expected.
West Side Story was originally a play that had a very hard time getting off the ground. It took a lot of faith for the play to be made. Right before they were getting West Side Story into production the producers play they were showing was going into the dirt. The backers backed out or West Side Story and it was almost never made. During that time no one ever thought that the play would turn into a United Artist musical film. Certainly, no one thought that film would not only win the Best Picture but to hold the record, even to this day, for winning a total of 10 Academy Awards. In order to take home the top award West Side Story beat out: United Artists' Judgment at Nuremberg; Warner Brothers' Fanny, Columbia's The Guns of Navarone; and 20th Century Fox's The Hustler. For it's merits, West Side Story was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry in 1997.
This film has always had a special place in my heart. When I first experienced it I fell in love with the music. I was a little young to totally understand the storyline, but I enjoyed watching it. Now, that I have grown up and understand what is really happening more, I feel way more connected to the film. Which made me appreciate the film that much more. This strongly touching story is one that needs to be experience as often as you can. The music is the best part of the film. Every song can get stuck in you head at any moment. You find that yourself thinking that "that song was so good there is no way any other song can be any better". Yet, somehow they make the next song even better. When musicals are made they rarely get very emotional or dark at all. Musical are fairly light when it comes to the story. However, when a musical can make you feel a range of all emotions in a matter of hours, and do it in such a way that makes you want to experience it again, is something only magic is made of. That is one of the many reasons that his film not only won Best Picture, but also has become such a classic is today's day and age.
West Side Story was originally a play that had a very hard time getting off the ground. It took a lot of faith for the play to be made. Right before they were getting West Side Story into production the producers play they were showing was going into the dirt. The backers backed out or West Side Story and it was almost never made. During that time no one ever thought that the play would turn into a United Artist musical film. Certainly, no one thought that film would not only win the Best Picture but to hold the record, even to this day, for winning a total of 10 Academy Awards. In order to take home the top award West Side Story beat out: United Artists' Judgment at Nuremberg; Warner Brothers' Fanny, Columbia's The Guns of Navarone; and 20th Century Fox's The Hustler. For it's merits, West Side Story was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry in 1997.
This film has always had a special place in my heart. When I first experienced it I fell in love with the music. I was a little young to totally understand the storyline, but I enjoyed watching it. Now, that I have grown up and understand what is really happening more, I feel way more connected to the film. Which made me appreciate the film that much more. This strongly touching story is one that needs to be experience as often as you can. The music is the best part of the film. Every song can get stuck in you head at any moment. You find that yourself thinking that "that song was so good there is no way any other song can be any better". Yet, somehow they make the next song even better. When musicals are made they rarely get very emotional or dark at all. Musical are fairly light when it comes to the story. However, when a musical can make you feel a range of all emotions in a matter of hours, and do it in such a way that makes you want to experience it again, is something only magic is made of. That is one of the many reasons that his film not only won Best Picture, but also has become such a classic is today's day and age.
Best Picture of 1960: The Apartment
Love affairs are never easy. When it comes to the hiding and the sneaking it's hard to have one. That is when The Apartment comes in. C.C. Baxter, the owner of the apartment, is set on a crazy adventure when several of his co-workers find out that he has a wonderful apartment, a little out of the way, and the perfect place to conduct their affairs without their families knowing. Everything is working out mostly well until the personnel director, Jeff Sheldrake, finds out about the apartment. Sheldrake is cheating on his wife with a woman from the office. He has been stringing this poor girl on for over a year. When Sheldrake is given the Apartment for his affair he goes a step too far and breaks the girls heart. When Baxter is finally allowed to come home he find that the girl has overdosed on sleeping pills in an attempted suicide.
The last few films that I have gone over have been known to have all the myths and crazy facts about the movie. This film was way less dramatic to make. The producers originally wanted to make the film in 1940 but the Hayes Code during that time made it impossible to do so. Sexual promiscuity was not permitted to be filmed during those times. However, after the film was released it did change the career of one man in the film, Fred MacMurray. According to MacMurray, a woman one day berated him about darker role in this "dirty filthy movie" and hit him with her purse. After that he never did a role that dark every again. This is movie is also very special for the times that we are in. Over the next few years the use of Black and White films were fading. Since the release of this film in 1959 only two films shot in black and white have won the Best Picture Award: Schindler's List and The Artist. In addition to beating out United Artists The Alamo and Elmer Gantry; 20th Century Fox's Sons and Lovers; and Warner Brothers' The Sundowners, this United Artists' film was also selected for preservation by the National Film Registry in 1994.
Jack Lemmon is just one of those people who you love to watch for a good laugh. When I first saw that he was in this movie I was very excited. However, when I saw that this film was a drama I got very worried. I have never seen him in a drama and I thought he was not going to be that great. How often to we forget though that the comedians that we love are also human beings as well and experience all of the emotions that we do? We forget that they specialize in being funny but they are capable of being some of the most dynamic actors we have seen on film. Jack Lemmon proved just that in this film. After seeing his performance it didn't shock me that he was nominated to Best Actor for his role. This was not the film I was expecting to watch but it's a film that I am very glad that I got to experience.
The last few films that I have gone over have been known to have all the myths and crazy facts about the movie. This film was way less dramatic to make. The producers originally wanted to make the film in 1940 but the Hayes Code during that time made it impossible to do so. Sexual promiscuity was not permitted to be filmed during those times. However, after the film was released it did change the career of one man in the film, Fred MacMurray. According to MacMurray, a woman one day berated him about darker role in this "dirty filthy movie" and hit him with her purse. After that he never did a role that dark every again. This is movie is also very special for the times that we are in. Over the next few years the use of Black and White films were fading. Since the release of this film in 1959 only two films shot in black and white have won the Best Picture Award: Schindler's List and The Artist. In addition to beating out United Artists The Alamo and Elmer Gantry; 20th Century Fox's Sons and Lovers; and Warner Brothers' The Sundowners, this United Artists' film was also selected for preservation by the National Film Registry in 1994.
Jack Lemmon is just one of those people who you love to watch for a good laugh. When I first saw that he was in this movie I was very excited. However, when I saw that this film was a drama I got very worried. I have never seen him in a drama and I thought he was not going to be that great. How often to we forget though that the comedians that we love are also human beings as well and experience all of the emotions that we do? We forget that they specialize in being funny but they are capable of being some of the most dynamic actors we have seen on film. Jack Lemmon proved just that in this film. After seeing his performance it didn't shock me that he was nominated to Best Actor for his role. This was not the film I was expecting to watch but it's a film that I am very glad that I got to experience.
Friday, September 15, 2017
Best Picture of 1959: Ben-Hur
There are very few films in history whose legacy is so monumental that it lives to becomes an epic. Amongst those legendary films is a movie known as Ben-Hur. A story love, adventure, torture, slavery, racing, hatred, forgiveness, family but above all else its a story of faith. Judah Ben-Hur is a prince peacefully living in Jerusalem. We open our story on a happy day when Judah's childhood friend comes home from Rome as commander of the Roman garrison. Messala loves his friend but believes in the Roman cause in expanding the empire. Messala seeks out Judah's help when the parade for the new governor comes through Jerusalem. When some shingles accidentally fall off of Judah's house taking out the governor Messala arrests the whole family and sends Judah off to be a slave on a war ship. Over the next several year we travel with Judah as he make his way out of slavery and back to his family, and witness the story of Jesus Christ.
MGM really out did themselves when they made this film. They said that they were going to make this film in 1952 and because of a ton of unforeseen circumstances the film did not begin production until 1958. The production took almost a year, and three months alone for the nine minute long chariot race. When the film was completed there was over I million feet of film that needed to be cut down to three and half hours of film. thousands of animals, extras, and costumes were needed to complete the film, and it all worked to create on of the most memorable and top rated films in history. This film is surrounded many different myths, the most popular being that someone died during the chariot race scene. Other crazy facts were that the actor spent months learning how to chariot race so that they could really be in the race in the movie. All of this worked out because Ben-Hur beat out: Columbia's Anatomy of a Murder; 20th Century Fox's The Diary of Anne Frank; Warner Brothers' The Nun's Story, and Remus Films' Room at the Top to take home Best Picture. Ben-Hur was also selected for preservation by the National Film Institute in 2004.
This is one of the best films I have ever seen. I have seen it a number of times before but there is something new to see or learn about this film every single time that you watch it. I think that learning about how the film was made was the best part of this experience. There was so much that I learned about the actors, writers, directors, and how they did everything in a short amount of time. The massive amount of people and props that it took to make this film I still can not wrap my head around. I will love to watch this film again soon so I can use all of the stuff that I learned about this film and appreciate it in a different way.
MGM really out did themselves when they made this film. They said that they were going to make this film in 1952 and because of a ton of unforeseen circumstances the film did not begin production until 1958. The production took almost a year, and three months alone for the nine minute long chariot race. When the film was completed there was over I million feet of film that needed to be cut down to three and half hours of film. thousands of animals, extras, and costumes were needed to complete the film, and it all worked to create on of the most memorable and top rated films in history. This film is surrounded many different myths, the most popular being that someone died during the chariot race scene. Other crazy facts were that the actor spent months learning how to chariot race so that they could really be in the race in the movie. All of this worked out because Ben-Hur beat out: Columbia's Anatomy of a Murder; 20th Century Fox's The Diary of Anne Frank; Warner Brothers' The Nun's Story, and Remus Films' Room at the Top to take home Best Picture. Ben-Hur was also selected for preservation by the National Film Institute in 2004.
This is one of the best films I have ever seen. I have seen it a number of times before but there is something new to see or learn about this film every single time that you watch it. I think that learning about how the film was made was the best part of this experience. There was so much that I learned about the actors, writers, directors, and how they did everything in a short amount of time. The massive amount of people and props that it took to make this film I still can not wrap my head around. I will love to watch this film again soon so I can use all of the stuff that I learned about this film and appreciate it in a different way.
Best Picture of 1958: Gigi
Love. One of the most powerful forces on the earth is love, and to the Parisians everything revolves around love. Well, at least that is what Gigi thinks. The French teenager is not a big fan of Love. She is not against it but she thinks there is so much more to the world than just falling in love and having a family. She goes as far as singing as song saying "I don't understand the Parisians" because all they want to do is focus on love. Not everyone in Paris is focused on love. Gaston, Gigi's rich friend the provide to families needs on occasion, knows that he should marry to he can have an heir but love, and all of the doing that goes with him, he thinks is a bore. When he tells Gigi he is going to his beach house for a few weeks to escape the every impending drama that comes with love, Gigi convinces him to take her and her family with him. The question then becomes will Gigi and Gaston realize that love can be as fun as everyone says it is as long as it's with the right person?
This film has one of the best casts, and film sets, ever to be put in the movies. However, it was not easy to set up the film to become what we see today. Author Freed jumped through a lot of hoops in order to get the film into production to begin with. The Hays Codes where still in effect as of this time and the story of Gigi was not "Code Friendly". The codes were starting to relax a bit in the 60s but were not totally gone yet either. So, telling a story of a young teenager and a 30 year old man falling in love was not something the code was going to ease up on. While he was fighting them Freed also had to fight to get the rights of the book so MGM could make the movie. The widow of the Author of Gigi sold the rights to a rival company. In order for Freed to get the rights to MGM he had to pay a whopping $87,000 to them. Then when it came who would play the title character there where two names flying about: Audrey Hepburn and Leslie Caron. Freed really wanted Caron to play the role because he loved her work in An American in Paris. However, others thought Hepburn was a better choice. When Hepburn declined the role they were sent to go and talk with Caron in London about the role. Caron was playing Gigi in an unsuccessful play and when she learned that the movie was going to be vastly different from the play she took the role. They started shoot with an unfinished script and musical score, which make making a musical extra hard. The score was almost complete but the musical team could not figure out a title number. Alan Lerner, the screenplay writer, was with Frederick Loewe, the composer, in mid-July working on the score. When Learner was in the bathroom Loewe starting playing a random melody. Learner jumped up, with his pants still around his ankles, and came as fast as he could to the living room telling Loewe to play that tune again. That tune ended up being the title song for Gigi. For all what the film went through it ended up being worth it. The success of the film took home a record breaking 9 Oscars home from the 31st Annual Academy Awards. One of those 9 awards was the Best Picture Award beating out: MGM's own Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; Warner Brothers' Auntie Mame; Kramer's The Defiant Ones; and United Artists Separate Tables. Gigi was also selected for preservation by the National Film Registry in 1991.
I fist saw this movie years ago and I have to tell you it gets better as you watch it. I didn't really understand what was going on the first time I watched it. I was really young too so the had a large part for that reason I am sure. I think this movie is very witty and cleaver. The jokes get funnier every time you experience it because you catch more of what is going on. This has to be one of the most beautiful movies to ever be put on the screen. The costumes and the set are glorious, and all fo the acting is divine! There is not doubt to me that when you are watching this film you are truly watching something very special.
This film has one of the best casts, and film sets, ever to be put in the movies. However, it was not easy to set up the film to become what we see today. Author Freed jumped through a lot of hoops in order to get the film into production to begin with. The Hays Codes where still in effect as of this time and the story of Gigi was not "Code Friendly". The codes were starting to relax a bit in the 60s but were not totally gone yet either. So, telling a story of a young teenager and a 30 year old man falling in love was not something the code was going to ease up on. While he was fighting them Freed also had to fight to get the rights of the book so MGM could make the movie. The widow of the Author of Gigi sold the rights to a rival company. In order for Freed to get the rights to MGM he had to pay a whopping $87,000 to them. Then when it came who would play the title character there where two names flying about: Audrey Hepburn and Leslie Caron. Freed really wanted Caron to play the role because he loved her work in An American in Paris. However, others thought Hepburn was a better choice. When Hepburn declined the role they were sent to go and talk with Caron in London about the role. Caron was playing Gigi in an unsuccessful play and when she learned that the movie was going to be vastly different from the play she took the role. They started shoot with an unfinished script and musical score, which make making a musical extra hard. The score was almost complete but the musical team could not figure out a title number. Alan Lerner, the screenplay writer, was with Frederick Loewe, the composer, in mid-July working on the score. When Learner was in the bathroom Loewe starting playing a random melody. Learner jumped up, with his pants still around his ankles, and came as fast as he could to the living room telling Loewe to play that tune again. That tune ended up being the title song for Gigi. For all what the film went through it ended up being worth it. The success of the film took home a record breaking 9 Oscars home from the 31st Annual Academy Awards. One of those 9 awards was the Best Picture Award beating out: MGM's own Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; Warner Brothers' Auntie Mame; Kramer's The Defiant Ones; and United Artists Separate Tables. Gigi was also selected for preservation by the National Film Registry in 1991.
I fist saw this movie years ago and I have to tell you it gets better as you watch it. I didn't really understand what was going on the first time I watched it. I was really young too so the had a large part for that reason I am sure. I think this movie is very witty and cleaver. The jokes get funnier every time you experience it because you catch more of what is going on. This has to be one of the most beautiful movies to ever be put on the screen. The costumes and the set are glorious, and all fo the acting is divine! There is not doubt to me that when you are watching this film you are truly watching something very special.
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Best Picture of 1957: The Bridge on the River Kwai
When you are captured in the war you have two options. You can either do what you are told, keep your head down and try to make the best out of the situation or you can escape. For the British soldiers caught in a POW camp in Japan neither was really a good option. When it came down to it the soldier made their choice. When Lieutenant Colonel Nicholson is told that all soldier, no matter the rank, had to work of the construction of the bridge over the Kwai river he was furious. According to the Geneva Code officers are not allowed to do manual labor. Colonel Saito, the man who runs that camp, did not want to follow the rules of the code and punishes Nicholson until he obeys. Upon seeing what is going on at the camp three soldiers decide that they are better of to escape or die trying. Commander Shears is the only one who manages to escape the camp with some injuries. When he is nursed back to health and is sent off to a military base to try and get back home. With both men thinking they are doing what is best for the war they are pivoted against each other even though they are on the same side of the war.
This film seems like it had to fight its own war just to be made. First off there were two writers for the screen play. Now, that does not seem so strange because there are a lot of writing teams, however, this film was unique. The two writers never actually collaborated with each other. Carl Foreman was the first, and originally the only, writer of the film. When Director David Lean was not happy with Foremen's work he was replaced Foremen with Michael Wilson. The biggest problem that Lean had with both of the writers you ask? Both were living in England and had to work on the script secretly because both of them were blacklisted in Hollywood for being communists. So, when the Academy nominated the film for Best Screenplay they honor went to Pierre Boulle, and it was he who accepted the trophy when it won the award. The writing was not the only problem that this film had to overcome. The musical score was another issue entirely. When Malcolm Arnold was told that he was going to be doing the score to the film he had a whopping 10 days to do it. Even though he won the Academy Award for his score he says that it was the "the worst job I have ever done in my life". When it came to the explosion of the bride it almost ruined everything. The timing of the train was off because one of the camera men could not get of the way in time and the train crashed into a generator that ran everything. The whole set had to be rebuilt overnight in order to shoot it again in the morning. The problem did not stop there. After the filing of the bridge explosion was done they shipped the reels off to London so they can be kept safe. They usually would put them on a boat and send them right over, however, they could not do this at the time. The crew was forced to send them by air freight and the reels never made it to London. Thus, a worldwide search for the reels was executed. One horrifying week later, the reels were found sitting out in the hot sun on a tarmac in Cairo. Luckily, the film was not exposed to the sun but due to the colour stock being heat sensitive, they thought that all of the shots were could to be discolored and ruined. By some miracle, none of the scenes were discolored. Despite all of the dramatics that this drama had to go through to be made, this Columbia film beat out: United Artist 12 Angry Men and Witness for the Prosecution; 20th Century Fox's Peyton Place; and Warner Brothers' Sayonara to take home the Oscar for Best Picture at the 30th Annual Academy Awards.
I am not going to lie. By the time I got to this film I was sooooooooooooooooo sick of war films. I understand, just by making the list of Best Picture Winners, that war films make for amazing movies. However, when trying to watch them all in a year it's very hard to stay focused on another war film after a while. What I do have to say about this film is that it presented a very different side to war films. It's the first of the Best Pictures to show what it was like to be a captured soldier and what all of that entails. It showed the stubbornness of one man doing what he thinks is right and it leaves you questioning "is this really what is right for your men or you not wanting you pride to be hurt"? it's a film that is going to make me think for a while if what he did was right or wrong. If he really wanted to rally his men to stay alive, or just to show off his own leadership skills. I am glad I stuck out this film because I almost didn't watch it because I saw it once before a long time ago. I am glad a watched it because it was a very different film than what I had remembered.
This film seems like it had to fight its own war just to be made. First off there were two writers for the screen play. Now, that does not seem so strange because there are a lot of writing teams, however, this film was unique. The two writers never actually collaborated with each other. Carl Foreman was the first, and originally the only, writer of the film. When Director David Lean was not happy with Foremen's work he was replaced Foremen with Michael Wilson. The biggest problem that Lean had with both of the writers you ask? Both were living in England and had to work on the script secretly because both of them were blacklisted in Hollywood for being communists. So, when the Academy nominated the film for Best Screenplay they honor went to Pierre Boulle, and it was he who accepted the trophy when it won the award. The writing was not the only problem that this film had to overcome. The musical score was another issue entirely. When Malcolm Arnold was told that he was going to be doing the score to the film he had a whopping 10 days to do it. Even though he won the Academy Award for his score he says that it was the "the worst job I have ever done in my life". When it came to the explosion of the bride it almost ruined everything. The timing of the train was off because one of the camera men could not get of the way in time and the train crashed into a generator that ran everything. The whole set had to be rebuilt overnight in order to shoot it again in the morning. The problem did not stop there. After the filing of the bridge explosion was done they shipped the reels off to London so they can be kept safe. They usually would put them on a boat and send them right over, however, they could not do this at the time. The crew was forced to send them by air freight and the reels never made it to London. Thus, a worldwide search for the reels was executed. One horrifying week later, the reels were found sitting out in the hot sun on a tarmac in Cairo. Luckily, the film was not exposed to the sun but due to the colour stock being heat sensitive, they thought that all of the shots were could to be discolored and ruined. By some miracle, none of the scenes were discolored. Despite all of the dramatics that this drama had to go through to be made, this Columbia film beat out: United Artist 12 Angry Men and Witness for the Prosecution; 20th Century Fox's Peyton Place; and Warner Brothers' Sayonara to take home the Oscar for Best Picture at the 30th Annual Academy Awards.
I am not going to lie. By the time I got to this film I was sooooooooooooooooo sick of war films. I understand, just by making the list of Best Picture Winners, that war films make for amazing movies. However, when trying to watch them all in a year it's very hard to stay focused on another war film after a while. What I do have to say about this film is that it presented a very different side to war films. It's the first of the Best Pictures to show what it was like to be a captured soldier and what all of that entails. It showed the stubbornness of one man doing what he thinks is right and it leaves you questioning "is this really what is right for your men or you not wanting you pride to be hurt"? it's a film that is going to make me think for a while if what he did was right or wrong. If he really wanted to rally his men to stay alive, or just to show off his own leadership skills. I am glad I stuck out this film because I almost didn't watch it because I saw it once before a long time ago. I am glad a watched it because it was a very different film than what I had remembered.
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