Thursday, May 13, 2021

Thursday Movie Picks: Period Dramas

 

Who doesn't love a good drama, as long as it is not dull as dirt. I always had a wish to play dress up and what better way than in some of these beautiful outfits the actresses got to wear, mind you, knowing my luck, I would be dressed as a washer woman. This week, it is all about Period Dramas over at Wandering Through The Shelves and there are a ton of period dramas so, without further adieu, here are my 3...

1. CAMILLE-1936


A period drama would not be right without a Greta Garbo film. She was one of the most famous film stars ever and simply known as Garbo. She started in silent films and was one of the last stars to transition to sound since she had a Swedish accent but she did well. This is considered one of her most famous roles as Camille, The doomed courtesan (aka high class hooker), who loves fine jewels and a good time until she meets the equally beautiful Armand, played by Robert Taylor. She, at first, toys with him but she succumbs to his ardent love and feels stronger being with him until his daddy comes a knockin' at the door unhappy with this arrangement. It is wonderfully acted, with some beautiful costumes and a great love story.  

2. THAT HAMILTON WOMAN-1941


This film is also known as "Lady Hamilton" which stars Vivien Leigh and Lawrence Olivier who married when they were making this film. This film is done in flashback from the old eyes of Lady Hamilton, who talks about her famous and doomed love affair with Lord Horatio Nelson, the greatest Naval Hero from Great Britain. We see how they meet, fall in love and are separated by death. This is based on a true story about the famous love affair between Nelson and Lady Hamilton. As he continues to be glorified, she has faded into obscurity. She was loved by more than one man like George Romney, a famous artist. 


3. GREAT EXPECTATIONS-1946


I have to see this wonderful film again based on the book of the same name by Charles Dickens. A young boy helps an escaped convict before he is captured again as well as falling for Estella who lives in this decaying mansion with the decaying Miss. Havisham. Miss. Havisham is the doomed old lady who lives in her wedding dress, jilted many years before at the altar, who teaches Estella to trust no man. As Pip grows up, he has a mysterious benefactor who helps Pip become a Gentleman getting all the best teachings. It is so well written and acted that only the English can do when it comes to a Dickens novel. I always wondered how smelly Miss Havisham must have been because...really! She must have been one truly crusty old broad and that is meant literally. 

Which 3 would you choose?

29 comments:

  1. Hi, Birgit!

    I hope you are well and in good spirits, dear friend! I am here to join you in the balcony "At The Movies."

    I have seen Great Expectations but not the other two films featured in this post. Great Expectations is another film I studied at college, but my first exposure was reading the book in 9th grade English class.

    As I watched the trailer for Camille, I was reminded that movie audiences of the mid 30s were much less sophisticated (perhaps jaded is a better word) than today's audiences. Can you imagine a modern trailer plastering giant graphics on the screen that read: "Your heart will thrill with excitement"? Unless it was played strictly for laughs, deliberately mocking the old school style of trailer, it would be met with loud boos and perhaps trigger a mass exodus from the theater. And how about the dignified, formal narrator voice on That Hamilton Woman? You'd be hard pressed to find a 21st century trailer that uses the technique other than for the sake of humor.

    One of my pet peeves is when filmmakers slip modern words and phrases into the dialogue of period pieces. The use of anachronistic terms, either due to sloppy writing or a calculated effort to make the characters more relatable to today's viewers, is insulting. It underestimates the audience. Fortunately there are many fine movies and TV shows that carefully avoid that pitfall. One of the greatest motion pictures I have ever seen is the epic period Civil War drama Gettysburg starring Martin Sheen and Jeff Daniels. The language and mannerisms of all the characters are authentic to the period. Mrs. Shady and I are plowing our way through British TV period dramas. Some of the great ones we have recently watched include Downton Abbey, The Crown, The Bletchley Circle, Father Brown, Upstairs Downstairs, Grantchester, Ordeal by Innocence and My Mother And Other Strangers.

    Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend BB!

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    1. Oh gosh yes! The kids today would be booing and making snide comments and then walking out of the theatre because Garbo doesn’t take a sub machine gun half way through...well in the first 5 minutes and blow a few party goers away. I love British shows especially Downton Abbey. Doc Martin and Poldark are also great. I love Gettysburg which is so well acted and so agree with you about keeping it real.

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  2. I remember reading the book but I've never seen Great Expectations the movie.
    Would Braveheart be a period drama? That's all that's coming to me at the moment...

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    1. Braveheart is perfect and so is Gladiator

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  3. Vivien Leigh is just stunning. I haven't seen your first two picks, but that still of her in the thumbnail is gorgeous. I have seen Great Expectations, we watched that in school after reading the book. I wasn't crazy about it at the time, but I think I'd feel differently about it now if I re-read it.

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    1. Yes, that movie is not one for teens etc because it’s artsy and not full of action. Vivian Leigh was so beautiful but also highly intelligent, cultured but so fragile.

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  4. Nice picks. Vivien Leigh is one of my favorite actresses... and she's so beautiful! I've never seen this version of Great Expectations but I may have to give it a watch.

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    1. Leigh is stunning and so intelligent which comes across. I love her films as well. She made a great Anna Karenina. I want to see Great Expectations again as it’s been a while.

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  5. I enjoyed Camille and am intrigued by Great Expectations and Hamilton Woman.
    YOU have a great one.

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    1. Camille is a good film and I hope you see the others.

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  6. I’m a sucker for a Jane Austen adaptation. I like the Keira Knightly Prude and Prejudice and the Emma Thompson Sense and Sensibilty. Not so keen on Gwyneth Paltrow as Emma (though I did like her in Shakespeare in Love).

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    1. I still have to see that Pride & Prejudice. I’d like to watch all versions to be honest. Sense is a great film and love everyone in it, Alan Rickman grabbed my heart i this film. I didn’t mind Paltrow in Emma and Shakespeare even though I like to slap her usually.

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  7. I LOVE period dramas but I haven't seen any of these! I've seen other Great Expectations adaptation but not this version.

    Boy I need to see THAT HAMILTON WOMAN, esp w/ Vivien and Lawrence together! I went with miniseries for my period drama picks, I wonder if you've seen them or not.

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    1. I have visited and love your picks. I hope you see the Vivien Leigh movie.

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  8. Hi Birgit, I do like a period drama, and I did like That Hamilton Woman, mainly because of the actors. Great Expectations is my least liked Dicken's book and film, in the film it's John Mills that I didn't like, don't know why really I've just never liked him as an actor. Hope all is well with you, Kate x

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    1. That’s interesting that you never liked John Mills. Funny how we dislike some actors/actresses. I always like Great Expectations and loveThat Hamilton Woman with 2 lovers in real life playing great lovers from the past.

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  9. LOVE your choices Birgit!!!

    Camille is my favorite Garbo picture. She's at the height of both her beauty and powers in it, she truly seems to understand the tragic Marguerite. Taylor is equally beautiful but oh so callow. It's Henry Daniell who stands out in support.

    I prefer several of Vivien's other films more, especially Waterloo Bridge, but That Hamilton Woman is a fine film and she is also at the peak of her loveliness.

    I like this version of Great Expectations though as Dickens stories go its no Christmas Carol or Tale of Two Cities. One interesting tidbit of this is whereas Jean Simmons played Estella here in the '89 miniseries she portrayed Miss Havisham (being Jean Simmons she was wonderful in both of course!)

    I love period films as well and took the opportunity to do a theme within the theme using the Revolutionary War as the setting for all three.

    Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)- Attempting to forge a life and livelihood out of the central New York wilderness as the nation is born Lana and Gil Martin (Claudette Colbert & Henry Fonda) are besieged by Tory, Indian and British forces but they persevere. A depiction of the dangerous rigors faced by settlers on the frontier during the Revolutionary War.

    The Scarlet Coat (1955)-Benedict Arnold (Robert Douglas), Commander of the Continental Army at West Point conspires with Redcoat Major John Andre (Michael Wilding) to surrender defense of the fort to the British for a large sum of cash as the Revolutionary War rages. Sensing trouble American Major John Boulton (Cornel Wilde) undertakes a counter-intelligence operation to stop the deal from going through.

    1776 (1972)-The events and personages involved in the lead up to and signing of The Declaration of Independence all set to music. Though there is some artistic license taken this adaptation of the Broadway hit, which is scheduled for a revival later this year, captures the essence of the story.

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    1. I’m always ticked when you love my choices and Camille, I felt, had to be mentioned because Garbo excelled in period dramas. I have a soft spot for That Hamilton Woman which got me interested in the art of Romney. The relationship between her and Olivier just sizzles. I always liked this Dickens novel and film. You know that I had the theme of doomed Heroines in this post. I love your theme but I have not seen any of your picks. They all look so good and would love the see Drums Along The Mohawk. Another one that has, so far, gotten away.

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  10. I haven't seen any of these versions, although I did read Great Expectations back in the day. So many great period pieces to choose from. (Scarily, period pieces can now be made of eras which I remember.)

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    1. OMG! I never thought in that way so now I feel old. Hahahaaa.

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  11. My wife and I have watched many period dramas. We saw That Hamilton Woman a few months back and loved it. After the film (like I often do with such films), I set out on a research mission to find out more about the story. So interesting!

    There are so many of these that I've seen and I'll try to remember a few.

    Les Miserables--not the musical version which we watched this past weekend and were not impressed. My absolute favorite version was the BBC series, but the other versions were all pretty good.

    Pride and Prejudice--all the versions I've seen have merit, but my favorite is the one from the forties.

    Gone with the Wind--my wife's favorite film and one that I enjoy as well. I've seen it several times and despite the reputation it's gained from all the crybabies in our time I still think it's a damn good film.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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    1. The story of That Hamilton Woman is a great story which I looked into too when I first saw the film. Les Mis is a film I liked but I want to see the film from the 1930s and others like the miniseries. Pride has been done often so I would love to see all versions. GWTW is an excellent film that still surpasses all other films when you put the dollars they made into today’s amount. All of them nailed the character even Leslie Howard’s insipid Ashley and he hated the role. I think we need to look at the films from years ago, as well as tv shows, and take them for the times they were made. Too many are waiting to be offended that it has become too difficult to even say you like films like this one. All In The Family and The Jefferson’s would never be made today because they miss the point of these shows which is making fun of the bigot.

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  12. I saw That Hamilton Woman and loved it. Vivian Leigh was a joy to watch, both for her acting and her beauty. I love period dramas. My choices: 1. Sense and Sensibility (1995) -- Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet are so good. Ang Lee directed. Emma Thompson won an Oscar for her screenplay. 2. Emma (2020) -- Can you tell I like movies based on books by my favorite author, Jane Austen? I did not like the version of Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow. The most recent Emma stars Anya Taylor-Joy, who also stars in The Queen's Gambit on Netflix, which is an excellent series. Emma was nominated for the Academy Awards for Makeup and Hairstyling, and Costumes. 3. Okay, I can't help myself. Pride and Prejudice (1995) -- It's not a film. It's a mini-series and it's the best ever. Colin Firth is the definitive Mr. Darcy. It's the reason I fell in love with him. Jennifer Ehle is the perfect Lizzie and won a BAFTA for it. She also has a small part in The King's Speech, for which Colin Firth won his Oscar.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Vivien was so striking, intelligent and cultured who also led a sad life. You have some great choices and I so want to see this Emma. I still have to see Colin Firth in this miniseries.

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  13. I haven't seen any of these and probably never will because I'm not a fan of period dramas. That Hamilton Woman does sound intriguing though.

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    1. Oh wow...most people love period drama. Look at you going against the grain:). If you read about the love affair between Nelson and Lady Hamilton, you will see that this film is pretty spot on which is rare especially for an old movie.

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  14. I haven't seen any of these, and haven't even heard of the first two. However, I always love your synopses. Hope you are well.

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    1. If you ever get a chance to see the first 2, I hope you watch them. I’m glad you like what I write. 😁

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  15. Great Expectations - Not a fan of this adaption. Anyway people just don't bathe as often as we do now, so however smelly Miss Havisham was it would not have distressed them as much it would us.

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