The Front Page (1931)
“The Front Page” is a film about hypocrisy, idiocy, manipulation and double crossing. It was written by Ben Hecht, an American journalist, novelist, screenwriter, playwright, and director. A powerful movie with shocking scenes. It is a very frank film, it holds a mirror in front of the viewers and it has no hesitation on shocking the audience in the rapid sequences, rapid conversations among the character and brutal behaviors by some of them. According to Hecht’s biographer, he was an avid reader of Baudelaire, Mallarmé and Gautier. It is quite obvious in the film and the viewers can see the traces of Baudelaire philosophy in the film. It is a masterpiece to watch.
The film is an adoption of 1928 play, “The Front Page” by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur. There are many subsequent adoptions such as in 1940 that is called “His Girl Friday”. It is an interesting comedy version of the original play that is very amusing and funny. But it lacks the frankness and powerfulness of 1931 version. This wonderful movie was directed by Lewis Milestone and produced by Howard Hughes.
In 2010, this movie was selected by the Library of Congress as a very significant film. It is in the public domain and people can watch it on the the Wikipedia website page for The Front Page (1931). The characters in the film are very fast talkers and it is intentional: it started from the original play in 1928 and the following movie adoptions in 1931, 1940 and 1974 version directed by Billy Wilder; all have the same pattern.
The original play was opened at The Time Square Theater in New York in August 1928 and ran 278 performances. It was a well deserved hit. It is recommended to watch the original play of 1928 on DVD, if you are lucky enough to find it.
Vittorio De Sica
Italian director and actor, De Sica, was one of the most influential directors in the history of filmmaking. He began working in the theatre first before directing wonderful movies such as “Bicycle Thieves” and “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”.
De Sica’s favorite film was “Umberto D”. He dedicated it to his father. It is a very human and touching movie that makes a considerable impact on the viewers. The skillful screenwriter Cesare Zavattini wrote it and De Sica directed it in 1952. It is the story of a lonely retired man in Rome who is struggling financially; and throughout the film he is desperate to keep his rented room and prevent the eviction.
This film was also Ingmar Bergman’s favorite as saying:”I have seen Umberto D. a hundred times.” This movie is a must see because its script is unique and it is powerfully directed. Two human and talented figures in Italian cinema: De Sica and Zavattini created this masterpiece that will last for the future generations to view and enjoy.
The Long Goodbye directed by Robert Altman
The Long Goodbye directed by the American director, Robert Altman in 1973 is one of the greatest movies ever made. It was written by Leigh Brackett based on the 1953 novel by Raymond Chandler. The protagonist is Philip Marlowe and Chandler wrote the novel while he was living in the beautiful coastal neighborhood of San Diego, La Jolla. “The Long Goodbye “ was his favorite novel and was awarded as the best novel in 1955.
Once Robert Altman called “The Long Goodbye” as an example for “satire in melancholy.” It is one of the rare films that all the scenes are relevant and meaningful. There are lots of ironic and dark humors in the movie that both amuse and shock the viewers. Altman did a great job of directing this movie and skillfully arranging the “The Long Goodbye” song to differ according to the mood of each scene. All the dialogues are very precise and appropriate. The characterizations of each individual in the film and the relevant settings have made it a powerful movie.
In 2021, this film was selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as one of the “culturally, historically and aesthetically significant” movies of all time. This film deserves the greatest praise. The viewers can watch it several times and still enjoy it.
Classe Tous Risques
Classe Tous Risques (The Big Risk) was directed by the competent French director, Claude Sautet in 1960. It is an amazing film and a typical movie by Sautet portraying a good natured lonely character. Lino Ventura and Jean Paul Belmondo play the main characters of the film. No doubt without these two talented actors, the film could not have the same powerful impression on the viewers. It is based on a novel by José Giovanni. It is a French noir about a bank robber, a good natured and family man played by Lino Ventura. The viewers are on the side of the robber because of his noble character and see him as a victim too. A decade earlier he had sincerely helped his friends in their troubles, now he needs help and finds himself alone and forgotten. Only another noble character played by Jean Paul Belmondo is impressed by his story and tries to help him. But there is no happy ending and he had to face the consequences of his actions. It is a must see movie that makes a long lasting impression on the viewers.
Mario Monicelli
Mario Monicelli was a grand master director of Italian cinema especially commedia all’italiana( Italian Style Comedy). Only a genius such as Monicelli could make two different films such as “Big Deal on Madonna Street”(1958) and “Parenti Serpenti”(1992). Watching “Big Deal on Madonna Street”, the viewers can’t stop laughing especially with the funny and talented Marcello Mastroianni playing one of the main roles. On the other hand, watching the powerful, harsh, shocking, deep and illusion free “Parenti Serpenti” makes the viewers shocked for a long time. This shows the uniquely artistic ability of Monicelli.
There is one barely noticed shame in the film industry that some producers change the content of the adopted novels, even some famous classics, and turn it to a good feeling and happy ending film! It is definitely an insult to the writers of the novel, to the culture itself and to the intellect of the viewers. It just creates illusions and delusions and a sense of deviation from reality. Mario Monicelli had a great respect for the viewers by avoiding the illusion of “happy endings”.
Citizen Kane
Citizen Kane is an American movie written, directed and produced by the talented Orson Welles. Welles also plays the role of the main character: Charles Foster Kane in 1941. The most interesting and striking part of the film is when Kane holding a snow globe mentions his last word: “Rosebud” and then passes away. This creates a mystery throughout the film and the viewers are in suspense to find out about the meaning of the “Rosebud”. At the last scene of the movie, the viewers see a sled that was given to him by his mother and on which Kane as a child was playing at the time he was taken from his home. On the top of the sled, the trade name is visible and the word is “Rosebud”. It is a fantastic movie to watch especially because the role of Kane was played artistically by Orson Welles. This film can be watched again and again and is one of the lasting masterpieces of the film industry.
Le Clan des Siciliens
The Sicilian Clan is a 1969 French-Italian film that is based on the novel by Auguste Le Breton. It is a fantastic and somehow unique movie because of its actors, director and music composer. It was directed by Henri Verneuil who was a very competent director. The music score was composed by the uniquely talented Italian Ennio Morricone. And the main roles in the movie were played by three exceptionally talented and likable French actors: Jean Gabin, Lino Ventura and Alain Delon. It is a rare film to cast these three together in a film. That is why it is a huge successful movie and it is one of the exceptionally interesting films that you can watch hundreds of time and each time to discover a new aspect and enjoy it.
The director, composer and two main actors all passed away, only talented Alain Delon is alive and recently he has been encountering many problems with his greedy and sly partner who used to steal from him (fortunately he got rid of her) and his ungrateful and idiot sons: the talentless actors who whenever they can, make fools of themselves. But fortunately and luckily Alain Delon has a unique daughter, Anouchka, the apple of his eye. She takes care of him with compassion, competence and dedication. Well done Anouchka!
Film
An Cailín Ciúin
This film was the main motivation for creating this page by CTR.
An Cailín Ciúin (The Quiet Girl) is 2022 Irish film written and directed by Colm Bairéad. It is based on a 2010 short story by Claire Keegan called: Foster. Catherine Clinch is the main character in the movie and playing the role of Cáit. The film is in Irish language. It has won many awards and has broken the Box Office records for an Irish Language Film.
It is a sublime, delicate, deep and human film. It is one of the best movies produced in the decades! Colm Bairéad has proved that he is a wonderful screen writer and director. All the scenes are delicates, appropriate and meaningful. That is a rare quality for a film. The viewers who don’t know the Irish language, are able to watch the film ,even without subtitle, and still appreciate and impressed by the humanity of the movie. Catherine Clinch who plays the role of the small school girl, the main character, plays so impressively that melt the hearts of the viewers.
It is one of the rare film that respect the viewers intellect and the human dignity in general. This film was the main motivation for creating this page by CTR. It is too good to be missed watching it. Listening to the Irish language is very pleasant to the ears too. There are many talented people in the Irish film industry: among them are the talented Cillian Murphy, Caitriona Mary Balfe, and of course the child actor, Jude Hill.
Watching this movie is recommended to the viewers who are careful about what to watch and enjoy true films played and directed by the Real Stars, NOT the fake and cheap ones. This movie will have a considerable impact on them and refine their taste for the better. Once again a huge Bravo and hearty clapping for the director: Colm Bairéad. Well done!