Although Marius was primarily written for the stage, Pagnol brilliantly adapted this very theatrical piece to the screen. With the complicity and mastery of Korda's impeccable direction, while talkies were still in their infancy and sound recording was still a challenge, Marius flawlessly delivers high quality dialogues with superb photography of pre-war Marseilles accompanied by a suitable musical score. What is timeless in this masterpiece is the depth of the characters, their emotions, their trials, their flaws and their yearnings, all bathed in the humour unique to Pagnol and the spicy flavour of Southern French. I saw this movie for the first time when I was 9 years old - I was in awe - and for fifty years since have seen it a number of times. I don't think I'll ever grow tired of watching it again and again. A timeless piece!
Reviews
6 Reviews
Thoroughly Modern Millie
(1967)
Camp at its best!
30 March 2003
Sammy Cahn's lyrics still crack me up! (it's odd and sodom-n-gomorrahble...) And Julie complaining about her fronts being too full... Hello? Everything in that movie is thoroughly over the board. And well done too! Just seeing Bea Lillie's make-up and blue frock (Jean-Louis at his worst? best?) is enough too put you in the mood for more camp... And there's plenty more, including fireworks, car chases, air acrobatics and politically incorrect racial innuendos. They couldn't remake it as is anymore. Too bad! That's entertainment!
Captain Scarlett
(1952)
Skip that one!
9 July 2002
One of the worst movie I have ever seen. The script is awful, the acting is awful, the direction is awful, the sound is awful and the colours are awful. Seems that they put all their talents together to produce the worst movie ever made...Wonder if "The Producers" was based on that exercise???
To Catch a Thief
(1955)
The movie I watch when I'm home sick
22 June 2001
This very stylish Hitchcock showcases the best of what the Cote d'Azur had to offer back in the fifties. So forget the very simplistic plot, the seemingly thin characters and the lack of suspense and enjoy the view! It takes me back in time to when, as a little kid, I had been allowed to stay up late and watch the spotlights illuminating the "Baia dei Fiori" estate where the fancy dress ball was filmed. My home town never looked grander!
Moulin Rouge!
(2001)
Smart musical/visual fusion hiding a very sappy plot
21 June 2001
This very elaborate production left me wondering. It was as if "Les Parapluies de Cherbourg" met "Pennies from Heaven" with the help of "Wild Wild West". If this is where the new century musicals are heading, then give me back "The Sound of Music"...
The Razor's Edge
(1946)
Great movie made from a bad adaptation of a great novel!
5 June 2001
A perfect example of Hollywood propensity of destroying a superb literary masterpiece while producing a classic that showcases many talents. The spiritual quest of Larry which is in fact at the core of Maugham's novel is occulted by the secondary characters' lives and tribulations. Yet the brilliant performance of Gene Tierney, Anne Baxter and above all Clifton Webb, turns this misadaptation of Maugham's work (by Maugham himself!) into pure cinematic pleasure. Unfortunately, Tyrone Power for whom the movie was slated, does not live up to the performance of his co-stars...
Tell Your Friends