fitzsweetpea

The genius of Michael Powell's artistry is in full flower in this fantastic adaptation of Jacques Offenbach's beautiful and unusual opera. Balletic, colorful, enchanting stories told by the poet Hoffman about his three great loves lost: Olympia, a dancing wind-up doll; Giullietta, concubine of a satanic magician; and Antonia, a composer's daughter doomed by the evil intentions of a wicked physician, Doctor Miracle. This movie is an amazing synthesis of extraordinary performances in Drama, Dance, Opera, Art, Theater, and Film. Even if you are not the sort to normally enjoy opera, you should give this movie a chance. One of the favorite movies of both Martin Scorcese and George Romero(Night of the Living Dead).

I watched 'Speak Easily' one night and thought it was o.k., but missing something. Maybe Buster Keaton strangely speaking threw me off, or the labored line delivery of a leading lady. The next day I kept thinking about the movie, though. I couldn't get Durante's song out of my head, I kept trying to better remember Thelma Todd's first scene, I considered that maybe Keaton did do some funny falls and physical comedy. The next night I watched a scene with Thelma Todd as a conniving chorus girl trying to impress Buster and Jimmy with her sex appeal. A very funny scene, the actors excellent, their faces, their eyes, their silly expressions. So I watched another scene, their show is opening on Broadway. Buster in his blissful innocence botches every act. Again, I was laughing out loud, appreciating Keaton's clowning and tumbling. So the next night I watched the whole movie again, and this time I see it for the first time: It's Stupendous! It's Sensational! It's Sublime! Three great comedians! Todd dances! Durante sings! Keaton speaks! Sure it ain't poifect...but there's a lot of laughs in this picture.

This is a superb short movie written and directed by Rolf Forsberg with a touch of genius. Excellent British actor Jack Hawkins plays a misanthropic carnival owner who returns to the old country to cleanse himself of a lingering Christian guilt. This flick is atmospheric, full of odd angles and strange sounds, dreamlike. Hawkins, who had throat cancer when Stalked was made and never utters even a single line in the movie, gradually realizes the nightmarish quality of his empty existence. The Jesus character was beardless, but he did have a moustache. i thought he looked like a dutch Kevin Costner. Think Jesus as Wyatt Earp in wooden clogs. This movie was produced by the Lutheran Church, but non-religious film buffs will like this flick too. This movie can be viewed via netflix, under the title, The Educational Archives: Religion.