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It's a shame
that when I was younger, I didn't give movies made
before 1977 a chance. My mom has been a huge fan of
those "classic old movies" that used to adorn our
television on weekend afternoons. Because we had one
television for many years, she tortured me with movies
about men who where men and women who were women. She
tortured me with the sight of Audrey Hepburn in lovely
dresses, and the lovely black-and-white photography of
those films of long ago.
Fortunately age and maturity have made me more
respectful of my elders. In this case, elders mean those
fabulous movie stars of yesteryear. Now I can finally
appreciate why audiences admired and sometime adored
actors like Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Humphrey
Bogart and William Holden. Paramount has gone back into
their storied film vaults and produced the tremendous
"Centennial Collection" to spotlight some of the
fantastic films that made Paramount such a grand studio
in the 1950s.
"Sunset Blvd.," "Roman Holiday," and "Sabrina" are now on
special edition 2-disc DVDs.
Paramount has lovingly restored these films with respect
to the original work. Despite my preference for Blu-ray,
these DVDs are spectacular. The picture quality is
excellent without appearing overly manipulated to make
the films look like they were made today. My favorite
out of the three movies, "Sunset Blvd.," highlights John
F. Seitz's excellent cinematography well.
But this review isn't about how these look and sound.
The movies themselves are masterpieces and should be
seen by today's generation of film lovers. Better yet,
some of today's filmmakers and screenwriters should look
at these films to see how the masters did such wonderful
work.
SUNSET BLVD.
This film is a dandy. Billy Wilder, who co-wrote the
film with Charles Brackett and D.M. Marshman, Jr.,
delectably sends up Hollywood's facade. Gloria Swanson
plays reclusive silent screen actress, Norma Desmond,
with enough fire to give Bette Davis a run for her
money. Swanson is truly amazing in the role. Her
character is absurd, and over-the-top, but after
watching her performance, we actually feel bad for her.
Her would-be beau, William Holden, is an out-of-work
screenwriter who happens to stumble upon her madness. He
gets involved with her charms of seduction. Holden was
also an amazing actor who more than does the job here.
Director Eric von Stroheim plays Desmond's butler, Max.
He's brilliant.
We've seen the clips of Desmond descending the staircase
of her mansion to give her famous "Mr. DeMille" line.
The movie goes far beyond that, revealing a scathing
picture of the Hollywood dream factory and its victims.
The movie is nearly as fresh today as it probably was
back in 1950. It goes to show that the movie business
has always been cruel, even to its brightest stars.
Isn't it crazy that today non-stars like Paris Hilton
and Jessica Simpson still get hired and receive lots of
press. Yet, even an imaginary actress like Desmond, as
sad of a case as she is, is forgotten. One of the
ironies of "Sunset Blvd." is a short scene that features
not only the fictional Desmond, but real silent film
stars like Buster Keaton! The movie that Desmond forces
Holden's character to watch is itself a forgotten relic
from the silent era, von Stroheim's own troubled
production starring the real Gloria Swanson, "Queen
Kelly." This is a movie deep with intricate plot details
and brilliant jokes.
ROMAN HOLIDAY
"Roman Holiday" is a film that could be considered "high
concept" today. Take a bored princess out of her royal
castle and have her meet a handsome journalist, you have
the makings of a contemporary movie. The difference is
that William Wyler's film is smart and sweet.
Long before Audrey Hepburn became an icon that adorns
commercials and products, she was a magnificent actress
who had simple beauty and charm. She's delightful as
Princess Ann. In the hands of a modern actress like Anne
Hathaway, a role like this would be derailed and
overacted. Hepburn dives into her character and lets it
flow with ease. Every time she's on-screen, you're
focused on her.
Peck and Albert are comical buddies who never let their
lines or actions get in the way of the story. My
generation is probably more familiar with Peck and
Albert in their senior years. I tend to remember Albert
in those Ecotrine commercials or re-runs of "Green Acres." However, he was a
talented actor long before then. Peck is very good in
the role of Joe Bradley. It's hard to believe he was
only in his 30s when he made this film. He's always been so commanding and mature in his roles.
Wyler was a strong director and could direct drama,
comedy, epic stories and romances with a sure hand.
"Roman Holiday" is no exception. This is one of the rare
films from the early-50s that was shot on location in
Rome. Wyler guides our characters through Rome with
ease. The audience doesn't feel like they're given shots
of Peck & Hepburn faking their joy of riding a scooter
through the Roman streets. Nor does Wyler depend on
second unit shots of famed locations. He brings us into
the heart of the love story and takes us on a journey
through a grand city. This is escapism at its best.
SABRINA
Oddly, this is my least favorite film
out this bunch, and that's only because I find the
pacing a bit slow. This is still a delightful film.
Under Billy Wilder's direction, he lets Bogart, Hepburn
& Holden act. Nothing they do is overboard or overdone.
There is some real Hollywood star power in this film,
but none of the stars oversteps their bounds. Certainly,
Bogart has his trademark voice and look. Hepburn has her
sweet look. And Holden was one of the more underrated
actors of his time. Watching "Sabrina," I can see why so
many film historians and fans have put these actors on a
pedestal.
The film is romantic and sweet. There's a lot of
dialogue, but it all ties together nicely in the end.
The production design and cinematography represent the
glossy style that was prominent in many early-50s films.
Bill Kallay
Special thanks to Click Communications
Photos: © Paramount Pictures. All rights reserved.
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