Happy Birthday to
Barbara Barrie
79 today
There aren't many actors who've had their birthdays celebrated 2 years in a row here on runs_like_a_gay, yet for some reason (purely chance) Barbara joins them. There's not a lot else I ca say about her, no forthcoming projcts of interest. I suppose I could ask if you knew she had a brand of chutny on release, or that she has written 2 children's books? All part of life's tapestry.
Showing posts with label Barbara Barrie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Barbara Barrie. Show all posts
Sunday, 23 May 2010
Barbara Barrie
Saturday, 23 May 2009
Barbara Barrie
Happy Birthday to
Barbara Barrie
78 today
Not sure why I'm celebrating for Barbara, can't say I know here work. Although I certainly be seeking out her episode of Pushing Daisies (pictures). Maybe it's just because I haven't done a birthday in nearly a week.
Monday, 21 July 2008
Giant
1956. Dir: George Stevens. Starring: Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Carroll Baker and Jane Withers. ●●○○○
Giant is the sort of sprawling epic that they just don't make any more. Only they do make them like this, except they make it cheaper with less well known stars and put it on television 3 times a week. That's right; if it looks like soap, sounds like soap and feels like soap it must be soap.
The action opens in Dr. Lynnton's northern estate where Jordan Benedict (Hudson) is buying a horse. The horse is a favourite of Lynnton's daughter Leslie (Taylor) and it soon becomes clear that Benedict won't be returning to Texas alone. Once the action shifts to the Raela ranch we are introduced to Bendict's sister Luz (Mercedes McCambridge) and employee Jett Rink (Dean).
Characters come, go and die, inherit, get rich, have children (who grow up marry and have their own children), and pretty soon 3 hours of your life have gone.
The film isn't short of good ingredients, though.
It's themes of gender and racial equality are important to make but Dennis Hopper's leaden speeches aren't enough and the promise of Taylor leading female emancipation in the partriachical Texas society is never exploited. Liz Taylor is luminous (even if her wardrobe is unflattering). McCambridge gives a pitch perfect performance, although this too is wasted because every tiem she speaks the camera cuts to an extreme close up or she appears somewhere way off centre.
The best elements of the film come and go quickly - James Dean striking oil (bizarrely cut with a party at Reala), McCambridge riding the new stallion in silhouette, the interior of Reala until the Benedict's start striking oil.
The bad points are much more prevalent: In the later stages of the film Dean and Hudson stop acting and let their make-up do all the work as their characters age and the script lurches from one melodramtic speech to another. Generally the entire production seems ham fisted and amateurish.
Bizarrely this film was nominated for 10 oscars, winning one for George Stevens' direction, and is regularly voted as one of the best films of all time. I can only hope they have been wacthing another film.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
