"The book is a film that takes place in the mind of the reader." ~ Paulo Coelho
Showing posts with label Alan Ladd. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alan Ladd. Show all posts

Monday, July 1, 2019

Movie Review: The Proud Rebel (1958)

Hello, everybody!

One of my favorite actresses is Olivia de Havilland, and today is a big day for her... she is turning 103!! She is so amazing. Because this I am reviewing one of her movies (obviously). I actually watched this movie for Alan Ladd, and was pleasantly surprised to find that she was in it!

"Come now, I'm not going to hurt thee."


My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning.


The Proud Rebel (1958):
Based on: the story Journal of Linnett Moore (featured in The Country Gentleman) -by James Edward Grant.
"Bitterness can become a bad habit."
John Chandler is roaming with his 10 year old son, David, looking for a doctor who can heal David, who has been mute ever since he saw his mother killed. In Illinois they find Dr. Enos Davis who knows a friend who might just be able to do the job, but he will need money. David's best friend in the world is his dog Lance. After a fight, John ends up in court. He gets the help of Linnett Moore, and works out a deal to work for her. But Harry Burleigh really wants Lance because he knows that there has never been a better sheep dog. Will he stop at nothing to get him? Will John be able to make enough money to help David?
"Is money the only way to pay for something?"
Genre: Western.
Length: approx. 103 minutes.
Costumes: 8. "A woman without a hat is only half blessed."
Script: 10, no bad words (I'm pretty sure)!
"He's got a mind of his own."
Crew:
Directed by: Michael Curtiz.
Written by: Joseph Petracca & Lillie Hayward.
Starring:
Alan Ladd as John Chandler.
Olivia de Havilland as Linnett Moore. "You're a strange woman, mam."
David Ladd as David Chandler.
Dean Jagger as Harry Burleigh.
Cecil Kellaway as Dr. Enos Davis.
James Westerfield as Birm Bates.
Henry Hull as Judge Morley.
Dean Stanton as Jeb Burleigh.
Thomas Pittman as Tom Burleigh.
Eli Mintz as Mr. Gorman.
King as Lance.
Cinematography: 8, this had some very cool shots!
Cinematography by: Ted D. McCord.
Music: 6, uh, I really don't remember it. I think that it moved the film along nicely, but I can't tell you what it was.
Music by: Jerome Moross.
Quotes: 9, "A lot of wars begin before shooting starts."
Storyline: 7, there is fighting, death, and one suggestive thing.
Good For: Western lovers, people who are suffering with loss, and people who are fans of the actors.
Age Range: David is 10, so I definitely think that anyone of that age would like it. Maybe even lower, it is a very sweet story.
Overall Score: 8!
Bonus thoughts:
I watched this thinking that it was going to be your typical western, but I was wrong! It is a very sweet story about the relationship between a man and his son. I greatly enjoyed it. The only thing is that the ending wasn't my favorite, it was okay, I just thought of a better one (in my opinion). Also, the title of this movie doesn't make a lot of sense. It is set after the Civil War, and John was a soldier then so does that have something to do with it? He also is very unwilling to accept help so that may be part of the "proud".
It was so cool to see Alan Ladd and his son David Ladd work together! They were great.


In honor of Olivia, Phyllis Loves Classic Movies and In The Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood are hosting a blogathon! This is their fourth year, and I have participated in 2017 and 2018. Make sure to check out all of the other entries HERE or HERE.
Miss De Havilland plays the role of Linnett wonderfully! She is so kind and loving, I can't picture anyone else!


(Sorry, the photos that I could find are not great.)


Thank you so much for reading! A big thank you Phyl and Crystal for hosting this!

Happy Birthday Olivia de Havilland!

MovieCritic

Friday, September 1, 2017

Movie Review: My Favorite Brunette (1947)

Hello!
Today marks the start of Hamlette's Alan Ladd Blogathon!!!! (Wow, MC you are actually participating on the first day instead of the last minute? Shush.) Be sure to check it out HERE.
So, I had never seen anything with Alan Ladd in it but when Hamlette announced this I knew that this was my chance! Digging through our DVD and VCR collection (and it is digging, we have a lot) I found one, starring Bob Hope with a cameo by Alan Ladd. I was worried that it wouldn't be enough, but he has a big enough part to actually have a character name!
It was actually really enjoyable, and I was laughing quite a few times!

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless it says so.

My Favorite Brunette (1946):
"All my life I wanted to be a hard boiled detective like Humphrey Bogart, or Dick Powell, or even Alan Ladd."
Ronnie Jackson, baby photographer, wants to be a detective. When Sam McCloud, the next door detective, goes away for awhile he leaves Ronnie the job of answering the calls. Ronnie is messing around in there pretending he is a detective when Baroness Carlotta Montay comes in asking for help finding her relative. Ronnie plays the part, pretending he is Sam McCloud because she is so beautiful and this is his chance. He gets into a lot more then he thought he would...
"You don't have to pull a gun on me to kiss me."
Genre: Comedy, Film Noir, Mystery, Romance.
Length: 88 minutes (approx.)
Costumes: 6, there are parts where people are just wearing towels or bathrobes.
Costumes by: Edith Head.
Script: 9, "Well, let me tell you something...I like long drives."
Crew:
Directed by: Elliott Nugent
Produced by: Danny Dare
Screenplay by:
Edmund Beloin
Jack Rose
Starring:
Bob Hope as Ronnie Jackson. "He'll take any kind of a role."
Dorothy Lamour as Carlotta Montay.
Peter Lorre as Kismet.
Lon Chaney, Jr. as Willie.
Alan Ladd as Sam McCloud.
Frank Puglia as Baron Montay
John Hoyt as Dr. Lundau
Charles Dingle as Major Simon Montague
Reginald Denny as James Collins
Ann Doran as Miss Rogers
Music: 8.
Music by: Robert Emmett Dolan.
Quotes: 7, "Nutty as a fruitcake with all that beautiful frosting."
Notes: Kismet at one time asks, "Can either of you tell me who the eighth president was?" But we never get the answer. Right off the top of my head I can tell you Martin Van Buren.
My favorite scene is the one where Ronnie is "looking" for evidence.
Who doesn't want a camera like that!?
Storyline: 7, there is some suggestive stuff, death, kissing, smoking (bleh!), and drinking(gross!). But this is a hilarious film, and it is a good one!
Overall Score: 7!

Sorry that my pictures are sort of blurry!

Thank you so much for reading! Be sure to check out all the goings on HERE!

MovieCritic
"If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, where you stop your story." -Orson Welles