I just watched Gorky Park the other night. You figure out pretty soon after meeting Marvin's character that he's the bad guy, but he plays it so patiently, so smartly, you just can't wait for him to be back on screen. Damn, he was one of a kind.
[1] Marvin's first, I think. Ford's character to me is problematic, though his performance ranks high. He lives at the end of the movie, pensions intact, but look at what happens to all of the dames he comes in contact with. And he recovers much too quickly from his wife's murder, though the scene in the kitchen is strong. I think of him when I eat a steak and drink a beer.
Recently saw this at Univ of Vermont/continuing ed prog as part of a noir film festival, then revisited Metropolis and M and Mabuse. Great to put the Lang eras in perspective. Tried a couple of biographies of Fritz. Unsatisfying. But his story, either the myth or the real, could make a good tale. How did he get out of Germany? No one knows for sure.
You gotta love the monocle, eh. Very Hollywood of the 50's. Joe Girardi would look great wearing one. Actually, Bobby V would look betta.
It's funny - look at all those great directors who came out of Germany or Austria before WWII and how many of them had highly suspect stories. Weren't the "vons" for Stroheim and Sternberg totally made up? I think all those guys saw a chance to totally reinvent themselves.
Billy Wilder? There's some doubt as to some of his life (i.e. had he been a gigolo) in Vienna before coming here, but he was essentially who he claimed to be.
As much as this is remembered by many for the Gloria Grahame-Lee Marvin coffee hi jinks, it's really Glenn Ford's picture. Good stuff.
True, I just love that strange Marvin still.
Never apologize for highlighting Lee Marvin.
I just watched Gorky Park the other night. You figure out pretty soon after meeting Marvin's character that he's the bad guy, but he plays it so patiently, so smartly, you just can't wait for him to be back on screen. Damn, he was one of a kind.
[1] Marvin's first, I think. Ford's character to me is problematic, though his performance ranks high. He lives at the end of the movie, pensions intact, but look at what happens to all of the dames he comes in contact with. And he recovers much too quickly from his wife's murder, though the scene in the kitchen is strong. I think of him when I eat a steak and drink a beer.
Recently saw this at Univ of Vermont/continuing ed prog as part of a noir film festival, then revisited Metropolis and M and Mabuse. Great to put the Lang eras in perspective. Tried a couple of biographies of Fritz. Unsatisfying. But his story, either the myth or the real, could make a good tale. How did he get out of Germany? No one knows for sure.
You gotta love the monocle, eh. Very Hollywood of the 50's. Joe Girardi would look great wearing one. Actually, Bobby V would look betta.
It's funny - look at all those great directors who came out of Germany or Austria before WWII and how many of them had highly suspect stories. Weren't the "vons" for Stroheim and Sternberg totally made up? I think all those guys saw a chance to totally reinvent themselves.
[5] Great point. What about the guy who did Double Indemnity, among others?
Billy Wilder? There's some doubt as to some of his life (i.e. had he been a gigolo) in Vienna before coming here, but he was essentially who he claimed to be.