Beautifully photographed and historically accurate, this production nevertheless suffers from a major flaw, namely, the lack of chemistry between the romantic leads. In particular, the actress who portrays Margaret seems to have only one or two expressions on her face throughout the entire series. Most notable is the fact that she loses her idyllic home in the South and must live in reduced circumstances in a filthy industrialized town, she then loses her mother, her best friend, the respect of the man she loves, and her father, and yet not a single tear is seen. This depth of loss, which normally causes a person to change in deep and dramatic ways, thus does not register onscreen for the audience and entirely ruins the story arc, which causes the 4th episode to fall flat at the exact time when her true wishes can become reality. She is not believable in the role.
Reviews
11 Reviews
Weird, Unbelievable story.
6 May 2024
The premise is implausible with a newlywed wife strangled for seemingly no reason. This occurs in a small town in Mexico. The chief of police knows who the murderer is but has no proof, so sends the young husband on a dangerous quest to get proof. He finds his wife's killer, who then kills him. So, two friends of the slain couple seek revenge for the slayings of the newlyweds. Ridiculous storyline and ludicrous ending.
Strangely, the killer, actor Albert Salmi, actually killed his wife in real life in a drunken incident. He had been physically abusive before.
Another Hitchcock episode features Gig Young, who ALSO murdered his wife in REAL LIFE in a drunken rage. What is it with Hitchcock and drunks who kill?
Have you ever seen a Hitchcock episode where cocktails or beer were NOT consumed? Very odd.
Strangely, the killer, actor Albert Salmi, actually killed his wife in real life in a drunken incident. He had been physically abusive before.
Another Hitchcock episode features Gig Young, who ALSO murdered his wife in REAL LIFE in a drunken rage. What is it with Hitchcock and drunks who kill?
Have you ever seen a Hitchcock episode where cocktails or beer were NOT consumed? Very odd.
Untamed
(1955)
Shockingly Bad
4 May 2024
One of the worst epics ever. Who gave the go ahead for this Gone With the Wind wannabe? The direction is anemic, the cinematography has no flow. The editing is choppy, the up close scenes have fake backgrounds, Tyrone Power barely stumbles through his role and is on screen for only a few minutes. Even his closeups seem hazy and unfocused. It makes you wonder who hated who to make his part so terrible. Susan Hayward over acts to the point of hysteria, she and Ty have no chemistry, none of the characters are sympathetic, the storyline is ludicrous and unrealistic and the result is a laughable mess.
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
(1962–1965)
What a Disappointment.
1 March 2024
I watched the entire series of 30 minute AH shows. The acting was impeccable, the stories were tight and writing superb.
In fact, I consider the 30 minute series to be some of the finest television ever made. Each story was so unique.
I was really anticipating diving into the hour long shows.
I tried 8 of these. I could not believe how bad they were.
BORING.
You can see the ending coming in the first 5 minutes. No real surprises or twists. The acting is just ok. The stories are all just downright depressing and the bad guy or girl frequently gets away with it. Don't waste your time. What a downer.
In fact, I consider the 30 minute series to be some of the finest television ever made. Each story was so unique.
I was really anticipating diving into the hour long shows.
I tried 8 of these. I could not believe how bad they were.
BORING.
You can see the ending coming in the first 5 minutes. No real surprises or twists. The acting is just ok. The stories are all just downright depressing and the bad guy or girl frequently gets away with it. Don't waste your time. What a downer.
Persuasion
(2007 TV Movie)
A Very Strange Adaptation
15 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
First. Anne Elliot is well cast but her brunette hair is a disaster. It always looks greasy and is very unflattering. Considering the wealth of her family, why is her wardrobe so shabby? It's not up to par with the other characters and there is no reason for this. Her sister is too old and so is her father's love interest. Both blondes and terribly wrong for their roles.
Captain Wentworth is miscast. Too young, too good-looking, too nice, too well-dressed. No chemistry between the two. No depth.
The flow from scene to scene is awkward and unbalanced.
Moving the dialogue from where it naturally falls in the book makes the whole screenplay choppy and odd.
And that kiss. Unromantic and bizarre, she leans up closer and closer desperately, for what seems like an eternity, in public, while he remains upright and unreachable. One of the worst and most unrealistic climactic scenes ever.
Watch the version with Ciaran Hinds. Perfect.
Captain Wentworth is miscast. Too young, too good-looking, too nice, too well-dressed. No chemistry between the two. No depth.
The flow from scene to scene is awkward and unbalanced.
Moving the dialogue from where it naturally falls in the book makes the whole screenplay choppy and odd.
And that kiss. Unromantic and bizarre, she leans up closer and closer desperately, for what seems like an eternity, in public, while he remains upright and unreachable. One of the worst and most unrealistic climactic scenes ever.
Watch the version with Ciaran Hinds. Perfect.
Jane Eyre
(1997 TV Movie)
Two Great Leads With Zero Chemistry
20 August 2023
What a waste of great material. Both Ciaran Hinds as Rochester and Samantha Morton as Jane are well-suited in their characterizations, but the two don't mesh as actors. It's quite strange. Morton has Jane's look and manner quite right, although she is just a bit too self-assured in Rochester's presence. She seems too normal and likeable as Jane, who should carry much sadness due to her past. The grief of her upbringing forges her personality and in the book makes her grave and unusual, but Morton's portrayal does not touch on these depths of Jane's character. Ciaran Hinds chews the scenery excessively, seeming almost off-kilter in his bizarre reactions. This I think creates too great an imbalance between the leads, as they are unable to match each other's style and strike the right chord. The other performances are commendable and the set design and scenery are gorgeous.
Harriet Craig
(1950)
The Only Watchable Joan Crawford Movie
10 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Here, Crawford plays herself. No acting is required, as her personality was EXACTLY like Harriet Craig. Entertaining and not draggy, it builds to a smashing (literally) climax, as Harriet's perfectly controlled world is shattered.
One area of the characterization is puzzling. Joan is in her perfectly pressed, wide shouldered expensive suits, which show not a trace of beauty or femininity, and her butch, literally shaved hairstyle will make you burst out laughing. She has two side horns on the top of this practically shorn head.
Yet, she is repeatedly described as beautiful, acts as if she were, and the husband is under her sexual spell. She looks like a dominatrix, minus the whip, not a soft cooing female. Really, this makes no sense at all in the context of the plot.
One area of the characterization is puzzling. Joan is in her perfectly pressed, wide shouldered expensive suits, which show not a trace of beauty or femininity, and her butch, literally shaved hairstyle will make you burst out laughing. She has two side horns on the top of this practically shorn head.
Yet, she is repeatedly described as beautiful, acts as if she were, and the husband is under her sexual spell. She looks like a dominatrix, minus the whip, not a soft cooing female. Really, this makes no sense at all in the context of the plot.
The Oklahoman
(1957)
Historically False and Ludicrous.
11 July 2023
The main character played by Joel McCrea, a doctor, is asked to stay on at the home of a VERY wealthy widow as there are very few doctors in the Oklahoma Territory. Her home is a mansion compared to what ANYONE IN THAT TIME PERIOD would have owned in the Territory. The scenery is NOTHING like Oklahoma whatsoever, and the town is far too built up to be realistic. This was before statehood, and the lands were populated by outlaws and thieves. At the Land Run in the late 1800s, more white folk showed up to steal more land from Native Americans. There was nothing at all civilized about the Territory. Her home is completely incongruent with the times. It could not have existed. I could go on but the setting is so unbelievable that the movie was unwatchable.
About Mrs. Leslie
(1954)
Booth should have played Robert Ryan's Mom.
24 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The casting here of Shirley Booth as Robert Ryan's side piece is ludicrous.
She is 11 years older than he, and looks it. His trim, athletic dark looks are a stark contrast to her pillowy form and puffy, motherly face.
This incongruent pairing is made worse by her turn as a local singer/entertainer, (not good, I had to hit the mute button). Why this glaring goof of the casting office is never addressed in other reviews is another mystery.
Everything else here, the acting, directing, cinematography and costumes are fine.
Shirley Booth is a very talented actress. Why she agreed to be shoehorned into this embarrassment I'll never know.
I couldn't get beyond the first 30 minutes of this miscast misfire.
She is 11 years older than he, and looks it. His trim, athletic dark looks are a stark contrast to her pillowy form and puffy, motherly face.
This incongruent pairing is made worse by her turn as a local singer/entertainer, (not good, I had to hit the mute button). Why this glaring goof of the casting office is never addressed in other reviews is another mystery.
Everything else here, the acting, directing, cinematography and costumes are fine.
Shirley Booth is a very talented actress. Why she agreed to be shoehorned into this embarrassment I'll never know.
I couldn't get beyond the first 30 minutes of this miscast misfire.
The Last Sunset
(1961)
Rotten to the Core
9 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
One of the worst Westerns ever made. We have a manic Kirk Douglas, a far too laid back Rock Hudson, the great Joseph Cotten in a throwaway role, a ranch (we only ever see the porch and a shed), with no grassland in sight for the cattle, all clothing and hairstyles are from the 1950s (story is set a decade after the Civil War), an implausible 15 year old girl with chopped off hair and boys clothing, and a story that doesn't hang together. No chemistry between ANY of the actors. The scenery sucks big time as well. Throw in some good old-fashioned incest and the YUCK factor is off the charts. Read the history on the making of this "film" and see why it was such a dud. Robert Altman directed because he needed cash, and the normally awesome screenwriter Dalton Trumbo took off halfway through filming. Kirk Douglas was enraged and had violent tantrums on set. A complete disaster.
Emma.
(2020)
Unlikable and Cartoonish
15 February 2021
A fluffy bit of cotton candy with no depth, this version of Jane Austen's Emma has too much frosting and not enough cake. A multiplicity of joyous colors and frocks are spashed across the screen while rosy-cheeked females romp in innocence and summertime splendour, while the depth of attachments between the couples in this story is trotted out and then withdrawn at will, all to cleave the people to the music, sets and colors, and not the other way around. The two leads were neither interesting, likable or particularly attractive, and the romantic climax of the movie is ruined by a weird and unfunny nosebleed. A bumpy mess.
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