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The Nurse's Office
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At The Movies Most of the films reviewed here would fall into the "oldies" category. They should be available for rental at any good video store.
Anna Christie
Greta Garbo's first "talkie". While Garbo's interpretation of Eugene O'Neill's protagonist is somewhat histrionic, she turns in a credible performance. Marie Dressler's reading of the supporting character of Marthy is stunning. Charles Bickford portrays Anna's suitor with an honesty and straightforwardness rarely seen in films today. The sound is a bit scratchy, but after your ears get used to it you will enjoy this 1930 American film classic.
Dinner at Eight
This 1930s adaptation of the stage comedy by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber is a winner on all counts. A stellar cast of film greats of the period - Lionel and John Barrymore, Marie Dressler, Billie Burke, Wallace Beery, and the incomparable Jean Harlowe - turns in stellar performances that fairly take your breath away. Michael Curtiz directed this excellent piece of American film craft. You will love it.
Oedipus Rex
The story of the ill-fated king retold in the words and through the eyes of Pier Paolo Pasolini. The dialogue is sparse, Pasolini relying on visual images to tell the bulk of the story. Faithful to the play by Sophocles and filmed in Morocco against a backdrop of sand-colored ancient cities, this 1967 work is definitely worth more than one viewing. Strong, focused acting and tight direction move the story along briskly. As is common in his work, Pasolini used mostly unknown actors to create Sophocles' characters. The only name American audiences might recognize is Silvana Mangano (Jocasta). The film is in Italian with English subtitles.
Macbeth
Directed by Roman Polanski, this 1971 telling of Shakespeare's play, though betraying Polanski's preoccupation with "blood and guts", is superbly interpreted by Jon Finch and Francesca Annis as Macbeth and his ambitious consort. Filmed in Wales, it is a faithful rendition of the original play done in such a way as to make the characters (even the "three wierd sisters") completely believable. You don't have to like Shakespeare or even know anything about his work to enjoy this thoroughly engrossing film. One of Polanski's best screen efforts - though some might find the "blood and guts" a little hard to take.
The Virgin Spring
Under the direction of Ingmar Bergman and with the stunning camera work of Sven Nykvist, Max von Sydow, Birgitta Petterson, Birgitta Valberg and Gunnel Lindblom, together with an outstanding supporting cast, bring a 14th century Swedish legend to life in this 1960 Academy Award winning film. A young woman is on her way to church to bring candles for the Virgin Mary. On her way she falls victim to unscrupulous goatherds who rape and kill her. They meet their "reward" by unwittingly taking refuge for the night at the home of the slain girl's parents who eventually discover their malfeasance and take swift uncompromising retaliation. Bergman and Nykvist paint an austere picture of medieval life in Sweden's hinterlands. The film's cold passion and non-gratuitous violence leave the viewer stunned. This is among the best of Bergman's work and should not be missed.
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