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Reviews
Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
Greatness and nicely flawed
The wonderful earthy, gritty, black-and-white photography only adds to the natural feel of this film. The Ellington score's contribution cannot be overestimated. The acting is so consistently good and natural - beyond the scope of consistency of most films - that it becomes totally compelling and demands many viewings. The biggest and most notable fault is Preminger's typical carelessness as far as filming equipment and personnel appearing in the film - compare to his "In Harm's Way" for example, where there are shadows, stills, reflections of crew and equipment in the film. This is also evident in this film, and one has to either reject or accept the director's faults in view of the total effect. There are so many moments of visual detail and stunningly subdued acting that it seems hard not to place this as one of the great - and happily not grand - films of all time.
The Great Man's Lady (1941)
Outdated
Unfortunately, whatever production values this film contains are generally spoiled by the passage of time and fortunate changes in perspective. For those of us watching now are happily forewarned in the narrator's introduction to the film in which it is not only explicit as to the woman character's subordinate position to her "great man" but also at least implicit as to the role of any woman in the life of her "great man." Of the many "flash-back" films where the character re-hashes their past, this is certainly melodramatic in its acting and characterizations. The action does not seem compelling to watch, as if one could fast-forward to get to the punch line, which does not really satisfy - the principal male character's life is summed up in such high regard as to make one wonder if the viewer had just seen the same film! One has to wonder how female audience members felt about the general message (such as it is) of this film when it opened in theatres, although Ms. Stanwyck most likely held her own in her stubbornness by standards of the time.
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Music
Certainly Jarre's score is to be applauded as are the orchestrators, who in most film scores go underrated and disregarded. Without the orchestrators, you have little of the score's impact. Imagine hearing the soaring tunes being played on a piano! And it must be said that providing a score for such a long film is a daunting task (as some of the recent collaborators in film scores have attested). However, I must declare that hearing the sprawling main theme becomes ad nausium as the film progresses, and takes away from the theme's impact and use. One only need refer to the innovative use - and the all important RESTRAINT - of musical motives by Richard Wagner to begin to understand the potency of themes in any theatrical event.
Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969)
Wonderfully funny
The film sets up an iconic old West setting. Character actors, often known for their dramatic roles, begin to deliver wonderfully inventive dialogue that is so surprisingly hilarious but logical and appropriate to the moment. There is such an unrelentingly casual, non-devisive banter between characters that constantly surprises the listener, and the highest acolades go to such a witty screen play that never tires in multiple viewings over time. And the ever clever parody of Western film-style music is an essential part of makes for one of the most gloriously funny films of all time. James Garner and Harry Morgan deliver their most simplistic yet outrageously funny performances.
In Harm's Way (1965)
Music
Jery Goldsmith's score certainly deserves great credit for boosting this film's status in spite of its flaws primarily in such simple matters as editing, continuity, factual blunders, and shadows of filming equipment showing up in a number of places. Of particular note in the Goldsmith score is the very compelling "San Francisco" theme music (a name I give for the sake of this commentary) as Paula Prentiss is seen grabbing a trolley car to meet "Mac" two-thirds of the way into the film. The french horn passage incorporated into that as Tom Tryon disembarks from the hospital ship is a crowning glory - a great set piece of film music!