Two Words, One Answer.
George Stevens
 Georges Bizet: Carmen (Complete Recording) $35.98 If you are considering downloading the Mp3, please beware that the digital copy truncates Mica¸«³la's climactic dramatic moment. You hear her tell Don Jose that she has something to tell him and that it will be her final word. Unfortunately, the music stops at that point and you don't get to hear the sorrowful news, nor Don Jos¸«±'s reaction: Mica¸«³la Ta m¸«²re, h¸«±las! ta m¸«²re se meurt... et ta m¸«²re ne voudrait pas mourir sans t'avoir pardonn¸«±! Jos¸«± Ma m¸«²re! elle se meurt! Mica¸«³la Oui, Don Jos¸«±! Jos¸«± Partons! ah! partons! (¸Ŗ¢ Carmen) Sois contente... je pars... mais... nous nous reverrons! Licia Albanese's stunning performance is the main reason to buy this recording. The missing moments are operatic tragedy indeed! Four stars for the performance, one for the sad state of the digital file!  A Damsel in Distress $2.99 If ever a film deserved to be released on DVD, this delightful treasure should be DVD'd at once! It amazes me it is not yet released! Maybe the reasons are copyright issues or some such film business. Fred minus Ginger are more than made up for with George Burns and Gracie Allen who are hilarious. They also demonstrate their versatility in two dance numbers with Astaire and hold their own admirably keeping up with him! The "Stiff Upper Lip" number with the Fun House mirrors is among the most ingenious things I've seen in a musical and is alone worth viewing the movie. I own a barely viewable copy taped off Public TV in the nineties. One piece of trivia mentioned was that Joan Fontaine was paired with Astaire because he and Ginger's latest movie had 'fallen off a bit' at the box office. Fontaine' role is bland at best (her potential as a a dramatic actress was yet to be revealed, it seemed). Also present for further comical antics are British Big Band leader Ray Noble and Reginald Gardner. This movie is a first-class collector's treasure!  George Stevens - A Filmmaker's Journey $19.98 Just one look at the film works of George Stevens, and it becomes obvious that he was an important director. His movies have become classics that have inspired other film makers. Here, his son and the stars that worked with him remember a man who was dedicated to his craft and who helped to shape the movie industry. We start with Alice Adams, by now a classic Katharine Hepburn film. The pacing is discussed, its innovations are covered, and Stevens' knack for comedy is praised. Hepburn provides additional commentary. Next is Gunga Din, then Hepburn's teaming with Spencer Tracy, and the impact WWII had on Stevens' work as a director. This change is illustrated by his next movies including I Remember Mama, A Place in the Sun, Shane, Giant, The Diary of Anne Frank, and finally The Greatest Story Ever Told. Fans and collegues bring the experiences of making the films to life. Some of his career is ignored, including his first stint with Hal Roach's Boy Friend series. As a fan of those films, some coverage would have been great to see. Hardly any of Stevens' personal life is mentioned, so the documentary comes off slightly hollow. Anyone could dig up the films and make their own impressions. It would have been more exciting to hear about the man behind the movies. Still, there are some interesting bits, so this documentary is not a total loss. It will never be a must-have, though. |
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