Spellbound

This movie is one of my Hithcock favorites, and one of my all-time favorites. I can't explain it, there's just something in it that makes me marvel at it and never tire seeing

it time and time again. Here's my plot summary:

Psychoanalist Dr Constance Peterson (Ingrid Bergman), who works in a mental hospital, meets with her new boss, Dr Edwardes (Gregory Peck). They fall in love after a very short time, but she soon notices strange things about him, such as his phobia of parallel lines against a white background. It is soon revealed that the real Dr Edwardes is missing, and the man she fell in love with (whose initials are JB) has a guilt complex and assumed his identity. They hide from the police and set out to help him and prove he did not murder Dr Edwardes.

I thought the plot great and very well told, and the acting is fantastic too. This is one of the most romantic movies I've ever seen, because I think the couple of Bergman and Peck works so well (a bit, I must confess, because of my teenage crush on Gregory Peck - hehe. I have the most stupid luck with my teenage actor crushes, since they're almost all dead by now).

I loved the way "JB"'s phobias and amnesia was portrayed. Two other great performances I must include were those of Leo G. Carroll as Dr Murchison, and Michael Chekhov as Dr Brulov, Constance's old teacher, who helps them i

n the movie. Might I add he is one of the funniest characters I've seen!

The shot in the end with Dr Murchison is in my opinion very peculiar and worth seeing (not going to spoil it though!) and, also in the end, the several shots of only Constance's face through all the police and courtroom proceedings remind me of the similar shots in Dial M For Murder with Grace Kelly's face. Something important to mention is that the movie features a dream sequence which sets are by surreal artist Salvador Dalí.

And at last, I must speak of one of my favorite aspects of the movie - the soundtrack. By Miklos Rózsa, it won an Oscar and I believe it is one of the most beautiful soundtracks I've heard. It is one of the first to include a theremin, too, which I believe is very adequate with the story. (For any of you out there that play piano like me, here is a site with the musical score: http://www.classicscore.hut2.ru/R.html (it's sheet number 4057). However, Hithcock didn't like the music! As quoting Rózsa, "Alfred Hitchcock didn't like the music - said it got in the way of his direction. I never saw him since".

The director is Alfred Hithcock, the year 1945, and it was nominated to 5 Oscars: Best Director, Best Picture, Best Effects, Best Cinematography and Best Actor in a supporting role (Michael Chekhov). Here's a link of the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3Ury2w2ncw

By the way: Hithcock's cameo appearance: he can be seen coming out of an elevator at the Empire State Hotel, carrying a violin case and smoking a cigarette, about 37 minutes into the film.

Remember, comments are always welcome! Hope you liked it, and see you next week for more! :)

The Philadelphia Story

There comes a time when you fatally realize that today's mainstream romantic comedy is far, far, sadly faaaaar from the quality level of yesterday's mainstream romantic comedy. I found out about this movie by myself and started watching it alone too, and I wasn't sure what to expect - I was almost afraid it might be bad. Of course, I forgot that the proportion of bad movies "today" is much higher than the proportion of bad movies "yesterday".

As it turned out, I was rolling on the floor laughing for most of the movie or grinning irresistibly. This had so many excellent actors I don't even know where to start. But first, the short story!

Tracy Samantha Lord Haven (Katharine Hepburn) is a wealthy Philadelphia socialite who had divorced C. K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant), a member of her social set, because he did not measure up to her exacting standards. She is about to marry nouveau riche "man of the people" George Kittredge (John Howard). Spy magazine publisher Sidney Kidd (Henry Daniell) is eager to cover the wedding, and enlists Dexter, one of his former employees, into introducing reporter Macaulay "Mike" Connor (James Stewart) and photographer Liz Imbrie (Ruth Hussey) as friends of the family so they can report on the wedding.

Let delightful madness ensue! This was one of the funniest movies I've seen, and I've got to say it was all thanks to the actors. Katharine Hepburn is great, of course (one of my favorites), and Cary Grant has a somewhat different role from what I'm used to see: more quiet and observant, but always with his awesome and hilarious expressions and lines. ("But first, could I interest you in some blackmail?"). I loved Tracy's younger sister Dinah (Virginia Weidler, as well as her Uncle Willie (Roland Young). The photographer Liz Imbrie and her usually placid way of being was fantastic ("Oh, no, I'm just a photographer, I can't afford to hate anyone"). And James Stewart has one of the funniest scenes I can remember: when he's drunk. In fact, let me present to you this list of my modest opinion (and limited experience):

Best Drunks In Movies:

Cary Grant (North By Northwest), Audrey Hepburn (Breakfast At Tiffany's), Katharine Hepburn and James Stewart (The Philadelphia Story)

And the list is ever growing, ladies and gentlemen!

The director is George Cukor (you might know him for My Fair Lady) and the year 1940. Still not sure you want to watch this? I can guarantee you a light, hilarious and witty comedy. Plus, it was nominated for four oscars (Best Director, Best Picture, Best Actress in a supporting role (Ruth Hussey - I told you she was great!) and Best Actress in a leading role (Katharine Hepburn) and won two: Best Actor in a leading role (James Stewart) and Best Screenplay (Donald Ogden Stewart). Perfectly agreed!

I didn't like mainstream romantic comedies because I didn't know the old ones!

Here's a trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CtquHsxoZo

See you soon for more movies! :)