From weddings to immortals....what a trip! I had to think about this one and my hubby can attest from the smoke coming from my ears. This week it is all about immortals and, as one often knows, being immortal isn't all that's cracked up to be. So let's get on with the show...Here are my 3 listed below and if you want to check out what the others have chosen, head on over to Wandering Through The Shelves.
1. THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY-1945
I just re-watched this film about a month ago and I love it. Hurd Hatfield plays a very pretty but creepy Dorian Gray who is being painted by his artist friend (not him but a portrait..it's for 1945 audiences). His friend comments that he feels this is his best work ever done and when they continue talking Dorian realizes and wishes to stay young forever. Dorian takes his portrait home with him and often gazes upon it wishing he could stay young while his portrait ages. He goes out to the lower end of town and enters a pub where he becomes enchanted with the songstress, played by a young Angela Landsbury (of Murder, She Wrote Fame). They quickly fall in love...or more she with him as he considers her more a plaything than anything else. His lack of being able to love her and actually hurt her doesn't show up on his face but rather on the painting and he notices this. He hides the painting away so no one can see it. The years go by but he doesn't age. It is remarkably well acted and I love George Sanders who plays Gray's other friend. The gothic noir is really captured in this and the cinematography is excellent especially the use of colour in certain spots. I would hope Oscar Wilde, who wrote the book, would have enjoyed this version.
2. PANDORA AND THE FLYING DUTCHMAN-1951
A romantic adventure that has cruelty and a don't care attitude from the wild wench played by the Ava Gardner, at its core. It takes place on an island with some British ex-patriots who watch the many love affairs of Pandora roll out in front of them. She uses these men and has them get rid of something they cherish for her, only for her to turn her back to them..yup what a bitch! Anyhoo, along comes this Dutch Captain from his nearby ship and he is taken with the beautiful Pandora and so is she with him. The one Ex Patriot realizes that this captain is none other than the doomed Captain of the Flying Dutchman cursed to roam the oceans forever unless he can find a woman who will love him and sacrifice herself for him. It is moody, romantic and a bit wild. Ava Gardner, always had a thing for bull fighters so she did have an affair with the bull fighter who had a part on this film and then said "Smell Ya later".....just like Pandora:)
3. HIGHLANDER-1986
I am betting this will be everywhere today as it should be. This is a great movie with great adventure, some fun and a whole lot of sword fighting. It opens with the star of the film living during the middle ages fighting with other clans from his country (Scotland). He finds out he is immortal and is taught by a Spaniard, played by Sean Connery, about the ways of the immortals and that they must fight each other until there can only be one. Of course, there is always a villain and that role is played wonderfully by Clancy Brown who just chews up every scene he is in. The music is great (love that song by Queen) and the story is unique. This was such a great hit that more films followed each worse than the last which actually defeats the meaning of the first film. There was even a TV series which was...not that good overall. I would say to just watch this one and skip the rest. Oh, I love it that Christopher Lambert is blind as a bat so he had to be very careful in those dueling scenes.
Which films would you pick??
I love Highlander! Great film. I do like to read stories about immortals. Last year I read Nora Roberts Trilogy 'Morrigan's Cross' - lots of action, immortals, vampire and a load of thrills. I hope the smoke has stopped coming out of your ears now Birgit :)
ReplyDeleteHighlander is great and the smoke sometimes stops and other times billows out thick:)
DeleteYes, I'm sure Highlander will be on many lists. Saw it in the theater when it was released. Cool film.
ReplyDeleteI'd say Underworld and that franchise. Or any film with vampires. Plus remember the movie Death Becomes Her? Twisted, but they were immortal.
Death Becomes her is big this week. I saw Highlander when it came out first as well. Underworld is a great choice!
DeleteHighlander looks thrillinng, like Outlander.
ReplyDeleteHighlander is great! You should check it out
DeleteHighlander! I also picked that, though a different one from the series. I used to watch the TV show with my dad.
ReplyDeleteI watched the TV show but never got into it. The original is always my favourite
DeleteHighlander was sure the first that popped into my mind. The sequels were pretty awful indeed, especially 2, just soooo bad.
ReplyDeleteYes the sequels were bad especially those freaky things from another planet-stupid
DeleteI think I saw Pandora, it's so long ago. I definitely saw Highlander but once again, a looong time ago. Good stories, both of them.
ReplyDeleteThey are good:)
DeleteI wasn't crazy about Pandora & the Flying Dutchman. I love both stars and it wasn't bad but it was a bit draggy.
ReplyDeleteHighlander was a silly fun ride but once was enough for me.
We have a match again!! Dorian Gray is beautifully made with Sanders and Lansbury standing out though Donna Reed does well with the little she's given. I just wish they would have cast a more charismatic actor than Hurd Hatfield in the lead. MGM did consider doing a gender switch at one time so that Greta Garbo could play Dorian, now that would have been worth seeing.
These sort of films are usually fun if done properly and can go in many directions. Here's the three I came up with.
The Mummy (1999)-Slightly flaky but endearing librarian Evelyn (Rachel Weisz) with a knowledge of antiquities heads to the ancient city of Hamunaptra when her fun but conniving brother Jonathan (John Hannah) turns up with a trinket that could lead to great discoveries. Needing a guide they rescue Rick (Brendan Fraser) an adventurer who has knowledge of the area and also discover there is another band of explorers heading in the same direction and the race is on. Once they get there they accidentally awaken an ancient mummy who is hell bent on restoring his equally ancient girlfriend to life. Hijinks ensues. Deep? No. Fun? Yes.
The Seventh Sign (1988)-Abby Quinn (Demi Moore) and her husband Russell (Michael Biehn) are awaiting the birth of their child, an event of great joy but some trepidation since Abby has lost a baby before. They rent their garage apartment out to a quiet unusual wanderer who Abby comes to believe is there to kill her baby and bring about the apocalypse and seeks to avert either happening. During the same period the Vatican assigns Father Lucci to investigate the various signs that are appearing but Father Lucci has reasons of his own to seek the truth.
The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945)-Young and beautiful Dorian Gray mentions to his reprobate friend Lord Henry that he wishes the portrait he has just had painted could age while he stays eternally young and lives a life of debauchery. Inexplicably his wish comes true and he turns into a hedonistic cad who is left unmarked by his callous behavior. Solid adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s story with a touching performance from an impossibly young Angela Lansbury as the ill-fated Sibyl Vane. She scored her second Oscar nomination for it before turning 21, the youngest person ever to do so, a record that still stands.
I know what you mean about Hurd Hatfield...I found him just creepy. Garbo would just have been perfect! A young Robert Taylor may have been better in the role. This is still a great film and Lansbury is so sweet in this film and heart wrenching. I love The Mummy and find it great fun. An old fashioned adventure yarn. The Seventh Sign I have never seen but I wonder what makes her jump to the conclusion that he is this evil menace instead of just a murdering a hole
DeleteHave never been interested in Highlander at all, although that could be because my only exposure to it was ads for and occasionally stumbling upon the TV show, and as you said... TERRIBLE.
ReplyDeleteLOVE The Picture of Dorian Gray and this movie version (which I also picked!) is excellent.
Don't go by the TV show and only watch the original film...it's good..in my eyes anyway. Yes we match with Dorian gray which is such a great film.
DeleteFor me, the Picture of Dorian Gray is all about the portrait, painted by master artist Ivan Albright, famous for painting flesh that looked like it had been in the grave for months. His work is incredible, especially his masterpiece "Into the World there Came a Soul Named Ida."
ReplyDeleteI will have to look this up
DeleteI've only seen the first one, and long ago I read the story on which it's based.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Great story and film
DeleteOf course Dorian Gray! I actually completely forgot about this one. Pandora sounds good though and yes I;m betting oh Highlander will be popular.
ReplyDeletePandora is good-a romance with some fantasy thrown in. I am seeing more Death Becomes Her than Highlander
DeleteI like the sound of the Picture of Dorain Gray, I actually stumbled across upon my research for this week's theme.
ReplyDelete"a Spaniard, played by Sean Connery"
This made me snort with laughter, I haven't actually seen the film so I only imagine how ridiculous it must be
Yup...a Spaniard...hahahahaaa. I know and he doesn't, thankfully, attempt to try an accent. He just wore an earring. Dorian Gray is great and worth watching
DeleteOh, I loved the Highlander TV show. That's what got me to see the original movie. (Never saw it back in the day.)
ReplyDeleteI never got into the tv show but love the movie
DeleteHaven't seen any of these but I love The Picture of Dorian Gray so I might have to check out the film, it really sounds like a good adaptation.
ReplyDeleteIt's an excellent adaptation and love George Sanders
DeleteThe films are so different I can't really pick one, unfortunately. Highlander was a fun romp. I disliked the sequels but enjoyed the TV show. The Picture of Dorian Gray deserves its "classic" status, and I loved Pandora and the Flying Dutchman when I first saw it on TV in my youth.
ReplyDeleteGlad you saw all 3. I guess, yes, they are all different but with that theme
DeleteHighlander is understandably popular this week. Fun flick. Dorian Gray is also popular this week. I suppose I should break down and watch it. Haven't seen your other pick, either. Sounds interesting, though.
ReplyDeleteThe first one is a romance but I like it. Dorian Gray is a classic and love Highlander but just the original.
DeleteBram Stoker's Dracula - Winona Ryder.
ReplyDeleteI keep planning to read the book for Dorian Grey, but I never get around to it.
I love that version of Dracula. I have been meaning to read that book as well. I love Oscar Wilde
DeleteNever heard of Pandora! Might miss it off my list though.......
ReplyDeleteIt's a good movie and I love James Mason
DeleteI think I'm the only person in the world who's never seen Highlander. Obviously I need to remedy that. I didn't even know there was a Dorian Gray movie! Such an amazing story.
ReplyDeleteHighlander is a good movie but I love the Dorian Gray film. It is very well done. I hope you see it
DeleteBelieve it or not, I've never seen Highlander. Don't know why. It's a title I know well. Saw Dorian Gray pop up elsewhere. Need to check that one out as well.
ReplyDeleteThe picture of Dorian Gray sounds familiar, but I don't recall seeing it. Does something happen at the end to the picture causing him to age finally? If not, perhaps it was a twilight zone episode I'm thinking of.
ReplyDeleteYes, I loved Highlander. I'm so glad you mentioned how each progressive film got worse, because it did. However, I did watch much of the TV series and I did like it at the time. But I doubt I'd pick it up on DVD. If anything, I'd get the first film and end it at that.
Yay for Highlander...and I love the theme song too.
ReplyDeleteI love TPoDG...the book. Maybe that's why I don't like the movie and I tend to find acting in black and white films exaggerated which I found in this too.