JACK'S BACK, and this time it's personal!
DATE AND STATUS: Wednesday, September 5th, 2012, and I'm frustrated, (no Lola, not that kind!)
I spent most of the day yesterday, trying to include a trailer of the film, "The Band Wagon," into my post. I followed Blog Spot's instructions to a T, but still failed in my endeavours.
I was able to put the trailer into a separate file/new post, but I wanted the movie trailer in my post, and not a separate post. Two days ago, I somehow managed to put a trailer of the movie "Strangers on a Train" into my post. l'll be darned if I know how I did it. Consequently, I'm frustrated!
I'm feeling rather fatigued as I haven't been sleeping well, you'll pardon me if I jump right into my write of "The Opposite Sex."
Although Clare Boothe's "The Women" was filmed in 1939, it has aged gracefully, to judge by "The Opposite Sex," the remake that is the subject of today's post, it is as classic a story, but not nearly as good.
Although some aspects of the original investigation of the well-endowed Park Avenue-Broadway echelon have changed, "The Opposite Sex" basically is still the story of "the jaded, frenetic women" whose meat is gossip and whose wine is divorce talk, it's just interpreted this time, in song.
It is also still the soigne tale of Kay Hilliard (June Allyson) who is a former nightclub singer, married ten years, and mother of a young daughter, who learns her Broadway producer hubby Steve Hilliard (Leslie Nielsen) had an affair with one of the chorus girls, Crystal Allen (Joan Collins.)
Through the beauty parlor grapevine, a vile manicurist, played by Alice Pearce, (television show Bewitches Gladys Kravitz,) drops the gossip of Steven's philandering to customer Sylvia Fowler (Dolores Gray), who can't wait for Kay to find out so she lets it get back to Kay through the socialite set that they both belong to, which includes, Edith Potter (Joan Blondell), who appears to be the only one happily married; seems she's always pregnant, and confirmed bachelourette Amanda Penrose (Ann Sheridan) who is Kay's only true friend.
From Steve's perspective, his unfaithfulness was a one night stand mistake, (don't caught, cheating husbands always say that,) but Crystal is a man-eater who wants what she doesn't have. Kay plays him right into the chorus girl's hands when, after learning of an incident involving their eight year old daughter Debbie (Sandy Descher), pride causes her to leave her husband for (42 days in) Reno and a divorce, which I believe is a common mistake.
Barbara Jo Allen (the name sounds like she is a character on Petticoat Junction?) plays Dolly DeHaven, the society columnist that breaks the story and splashes it across the newspapers.
On the train to Reno, Kay meets another first-time would-be divorcee Gloria Dell (Ann Miller,) who neither sings nor dances, which is a big flaw of the film, and serial chew ‘em up and spit ‘em out Countess D’Brion (Agnes Moorehead).
Lucy (Charlotte Greenwood) runs the ranch where the ladies stay in Nevada; Buck Winston (Jeff Richards) is the womanizing ranch hand that preys on these newly unattached women.
Soon, Sylvia shows up at the ranch and finds that, coincidentally, her husband is leaving her for Gloria; a prolonged cat fight ensues. Once Kay's divorce is final, Amanda arrives to give her an update on Steve, and some sage advice, but it takes a while for her to heed it.
All the ladies return to New York, Sylvia with Buck on the hook; she plans to fund his singing aspirations. The two of them become social friends with Steve and the new Mrs. Hilliard, Crystal. Meanwhile, Kay's former agent Mike Pearl (Sam Levene), finds her work as a singer once again; she'd been retired 10 years while married.
When lovelorn Kay learns from her daughter that her husband's second marriage is less than ideal, that Crystal is fooling around behind his back (once a slut, always a slut) with Buck, she takes action, utilizing Dolly to her advantage, so that the predictable reconciliation (and happy ending) can take place before the film's end.
The venomous mixture of deadly females vs. deadlier females, sharp dialogue and songs is a surface inspection of a segment of Manhattan society rather than the deep dissection it once was. One might not want to live in this plush "jungle" but the principals, who keep the cat fights going briskly, make it an interesting place to visit.
I thought "The Opposite Sex" was a pale remake of George Cukor's witty 1939 "The Women," it's glossier and the satire is softer; it also adds Cinema scope, music and men, but to no avail.
The songs are forgettable, with only "Young Man With A Horn" (sung by June Allyson with Harry James) being bearable. David Miller does a workmanlike job directing the film. The script by Fay and Michael Kanin drains all the vinegar out of Luce's play, just keeping it bitchy and witless.
Most of Miss Boothe's comedy still drips vitriol, and the fangs and claws of its decorative vixens are almost as terrifying as they were two decades ago.
Speaking of the ladies, it might be added that the lush wardrobes, enhanced by excellent colour photography, provided for this covey of dames, is enough to drive distaff viewers to distraction.
Joan Collins' performance as the two-timing, bombshell bitch who snatches Miss Allyson's husband is eye-filling but hardly inspired. Dolores Gray, as the blond gossip monger who loses her mate to Ann Miller is capable, but wasted; Ann Sheridan, as a sympathetic, unattached writer who knows all about the opposite sex is inspired, surprisingly; Joan Blondell, in an all too-brief role as the gentle matron who is making a career of motherhood can almost be called a cameo, and Agnes Moorehead, also wasted, as a brassy, much-married countess, lends spice to the palaver, and punch to the battles.
The film is of value only because it descended into camp, and there's probably an audience for that sort of thing. But I found it unfortunate, it took a marvelous comedy and made it into a film that can be enjoyed mostly for its colorful costumes and catty acting from its cast.
What was wonderfully caustic dialogue in the first adaptation devolves into something a bit more tame, and very disappointing, it could have been good.
UPCOMING MOVIES FOR REVIEW:
"Elmer Gantry." Both Burt Lancaster and Shirley Jones received academy award nominations for their work here. I want to see if they deserved them, you know how the Academy can be.
"Adam Had Four Sons." This movie stars Ingrid Bergman and Susan Hayward, two of my favourites, and that is reason enough for me to watch this movie. But I bet I end up liking this movie for all sorts of reasons, and not just because of Miss Bergman and Miss Hayward.
"Blow Dry." For no other reason that when I saw the title of this movie in the television guide, it intrigued me.
"Thief." This film stars James Caan and is reported to be one of Mr. Caan's personal favourites. Well, now it is time for us to decide if we want this movie to make our favourites list.
"An American in Paris." I love musicals, and this one gets great reviews from practically everyone, we'll see what I think very soon.
"The Maltese Falcon." I've avoided seeing Humphrey Bogart and Peter Lorre in this story of murder and intrigue for far too long, (I'm supposed to be a film buff!) The time is now for me to see it, so I shall.
FILMS COMING SOON: Exodus, The Sand Pebbles, Giant, Big Night, can't wait to see all of them!!!!
DATE AND STATUS: Wednesday, September 5th, 2012, and I'm frustrated, (no Lola, not that kind!)
I spent most of the day yesterday, trying to include a trailer of the film, "The Band Wagon," into my post. I followed Blog Spot's instructions to a T, but still failed in my endeavours.
I was able to put the trailer into a separate file/new post, but I wanted the movie trailer in my post, and not a separate post. Two days ago, I somehow managed to put a trailer of the movie "Strangers on a Train" into my post. l'll be darned if I know how I did it. Consequently, I'm frustrated!
I'm feeling rather fatigued as I haven't been sleeping well, you'll pardon me if I jump right into my write of "The Opposite Sex."
Although Clare Boothe's "The Women" was filmed in 1939, it has aged gracefully, to judge by "The Opposite Sex," the remake that is the subject of today's post, it is as classic a story, but not nearly as good.
Although some aspects of the original investigation of the well-endowed Park Avenue-Broadway echelon have changed, "The Opposite Sex" basically is still the story of "the jaded, frenetic women" whose meat is gossip and whose wine is divorce talk, it's just interpreted this time, in song.
It is also still the soigne tale of Kay Hilliard (June Allyson) who is a former nightclub singer, married ten years, and mother of a young daughter, who learns her Broadway producer hubby Steve Hilliard (Leslie Nielsen) had an affair with one of the chorus girls, Crystal Allen (Joan Collins.)
Through the beauty parlor grapevine, a vile manicurist, played by Alice Pearce, (television show Bewitches Gladys Kravitz,) drops the gossip of Steven's philandering to customer Sylvia Fowler (Dolores Gray), who can't wait for Kay to find out so she lets it get back to Kay through the socialite set that they both belong to, which includes, Edith Potter (Joan Blondell), who appears to be the only one happily married; seems she's always pregnant, and confirmed bachelourette Amanda Penrose (Ann Sheridan) who is Kay's only true friend.
From Steve's perspective, his unfaithfulness was a one night stand mistake, (don't caught, cheating husbands always say that,) but Crystal is a man-eater who wants what she doesn't have. Kay plays him right into the chorus girl's hands when, after learning of an incident involving their eight year old daughter Debbie (Sandy Descher), pride causes her to leave her husband for (42 days in) Reno and a divorce, which I believe is a common mistake.
Barbara Jo Allen (the name sounds like she is a character on Petticoat Junction?) plays Dolly DeHaven, the society columnist that breaks the story and splashes it across the newspapers.
On the train to Reno, Kay meets another first-time would-be divorcee Gloria Dell (Ann Miller,) who neither sings nor dances, which is a big flaw of the film, and serial chew ‘em up and spit ‘em out Countess D’Brion (Agnes Moorehead).
Lucy (Charlotte Greenwood) runs the ranch where the ladies stay in Nevada; Buck Winston (Jeff Richards) is the womanizing ranch hand that preys on these newly unattached women.
Soon, Sylvia shows up at the ranch and finds that, coincidentally, her husband is leaving her for Gloria; a prolonged cat fight ensues. Once Kay's divorce is final, Amanda arrives to give her an update on Steve, and some sage advice, but it takes a while for her to heed it.
All the ladies return to New York, Sylvia with Buck on the hook; she plans to fund his singing aspirations. The two of them become social friends with Steve and the new Mrs. Hilliard, Crystal. Meanwhile, Kay's former agent Mike Pearl (Sam Levene), finds her work as a singer once again; she'd been retired 10 years while married.
When lovelorn Kay learns from her daughter that her husband's second marriage is less than ideal, that Crystal is fooling around behind his back (once a slut, always a slut) with Buck, she takes action, utilizing Dolly to her advantage, so that the predictable reconciliation (and happy ending) can take place before the film's end.
The venomous mixture of deadly females vs. deadlier females, sharp dialogue and songs is a surface inspection of a segment of Manhattan society rather than the deep dissection it once was. One might not want to live in this plush "jungle" but the principals, who keep the cat fights going briskly, make it an interesting place to visit.
I thought "The Opposite Sex" was a pale remake of George Cukor's witty 1939 "The Women," it's glossier and the satire is softer; it also adds Cinema scope, music and men, but to no avail.
The songs are forgettable, with only "Young Man With A Horn" (sung by June Allyson with Harry James) being bearable. David Miller does a workmanlike job directing the film. The script by Fay and Michael Kanin drains all the vinegar out of Luce's play, just keeping it bitchy and witless.
Most of Miss Boothe's comedy still drips vitriol, and the fangs and claws of its decorative vixens are almost as terrifying as they were two decades ago.
Speaking of the ladies, it might be added that the lush wardrobes, enhanced by excellent colour photography, provided for this covey of dames, is enough to drive distaff viewers to distraction.
Joan Collins' performance as the two-timing, bombshell bitch who snatches Miss Allyson's husband is eye-filling but hardly inspired. Dolores Gray, as the blond gossip monger who loses her mate to Ann Miller is capable, but wasted; Ann Sheridan, as a sympathetic, unattached writer who knows all about the opposite sex is inspired, surprisingly; Joan Blondell, in an all too-brief role as the gentle matron who is making a career of motherhood can almost be called a cameo, and Agnes Moorehead, also wasted, as a brassy, much-married countess, lends spice to the palaver, and punch to the battles.
The film is of value only because it descended into camp, and there's probably an audience for that sort of thing. But I found it unfortunate, it took a marvelous comedy and made it into a film that can be enjoyed mostly for its colorful costumes and catty acting from its cast.
What was wonderfully caustic dialogue in the first adaptation devolves into something a bit more tame, and very disappointing, it could have been good.
UPCOMING MOVIES FOR REVIEW:
"Elmer Gantry." Both Burt Lancaster and Shirley Jones received academy award nominations for their work here. I want to see if they deserved them, you know how the Academy can be.
"Adam Had Four Sons." This movie stars Ingrid Bergman and Susan Hayward, two of my favourites, and that is reason enough for me to watch this movie. But I bet I end up liking this movie for all sorts of reasons, and not just because of Miss Bergman and Miss Hayward.
"Blow Dry." For no other reason that when I saw the title of this movie in the television guide, it intrigued me.
"Thief." This film stars James Caan and is reported to be one of Mr. Caan's personal favourites. Well, now it is time for us to decide if we want this movie to make our favourites list.
"An American in Paris." I love musicals, and this one gets great reviews from practically everyone, we'll see what I think very soon.
"The Maltese Falcon." I've avoided seeing Humphrey Bogart and Peter Lorre in this story of murder and intrigue for far too long, (I'm supposed to be a film buff!) The time is now for me to see it, so I shall.
FILMS COMING SOON: Exodus, The Sand Pebbles, Giant, Big Night, can't wait to see all of them!!!!
I trust your opinion - not being in to musicals that much anyway, I'll leave this one alone and watch that wonderful original "The Women" instead. When it comes to a fascinating and horrifying look at THE OPPOSITE SEX, there's nothing like it.
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