A movie to be commended on a number of counts, is the 20th Century-Fox 9/10 DVD of Frank Borzage's Liliom (1930) in which the superbly noirish cinematography contributed by Chester Lyons and the impressively impressionistic sets save the movie from the players.
Sadly, it is true to say that with a few notable exceptions (particularly H.B. Warner and Lee Tracy), the actors either underplay (Rose Hobart) or overplay (Estelle Taylor) their roles.
Actually. I thought Farrell did a capable job as Liliom and even out-classed Charles Boyer who starred in Fritz Lang's 1934 version.
In fact, I would class Lang's version as somewhat of a poor man's remake, with none of the Botzage versions great sets and striking effects.
True, Florelle's wonderfully sinuous Madame Muskat puts Estelle Taylor in the shade and Alcover makes a wonderfully seedy Alfred, but the script's attempts at humor were as tiresome as Boyer's mugging in the title role.
Sadly, it is true to say that with a few notable exceptions (particularly H.B. Warner and Lee Tracy), the actors either underplay (Rose Hobart) or overplay (Estelle Taylor) their roles.
Actually. I thought Farrell did a capable job as Liliom and even out-classed Charles Boyer who starred in Fritz Lang's 1934 version.
In fact, I would class Lang's version as somewhat of a poor man's remake, with none of the Botzage versions great sets and striking effects.
True, Florelle's wonderfully sinuous Madame Muskat puts Estelle Taylor in the shade and Alcover makes a wonderfully seedy Alfred, but the script's attempts at humor were as tiresome as Boyer's mugging in the title role.