Colourful

 

This is National Colour Day and it got me thinking about one of my favourite directors or, in this case a duo known for their use of colour to enhance the story. I am speaking about Mike Powell and Emeric Pressburger, 2 of the best directors who made some beautiful films, writing, directing and producing them. They loved creating film and using colour almost like a character in their films.

1. A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH-1946

This is such a different film even if it's a romance, fantasy, courtroom, drama-comedy. This film stars David Niven as a pilot during WW2 who's plane is going down. He jumps out without his parachute, but, instead if dying, he wakes up on the beach and realizes he's...alive. He meets up with June, the lady he was speaking to before he jumped from the plane, and they soon fall in love. Unfortunately, Niven is informed by his angel that he was supposed to die and must go with him. Niven disagrees and asks to be heard why he should live and why. A trial is set and we wonder if l9ve will triumph. In the States, this film is called " Stairway To Heaven" ( I wonder if Led Zeppelin  got their song title from this movie) because of the famous sequence where we see these wondrous stairs that, seamlessly, going on forever. I love Fantasy films and this is right up there especially using the colour sequences when they are on earth and heaven is in black and white. The colours are vibrant while on Earth with love, conviction and fight to live making us believe that Heaven is here on Earth. This is a timeless film and we'll with the watch.

2. BLACK NARCISSUS- 1947

Yeah, I spoke about this film more than once and here I go again. A group of nuns led by the beautiful Deborah Kerr decide to set up shop high up in the Himalayas in an old palace. The 4 nuns are taken in by the perfume of this place surrounded by mountains and the erotic paintings all over the walls if this old palace. It doesn't help that we have handsome hunk, with violet eyes, David Farrar, as a liaison of the British Government. He is one bad boy with a beautiful singing voice who doesn't give a F%#! What anyone thinks she he strides away on his donkey. Carnal thoughts abound around the luminescent surroundings. I swear I can smell Jasmine and incense while watching this. It's a great film. 

3. THE RED SHOES-1948

Talk about colour! This film is considered one of the best films ever made and I agree. It is the film debut of Moira Shearer as a ballerina( she was a ballerina in real life) who is hired by Boris, played by Anton Walbrook, as the head and owner of his premier ballet company. He hires Moira and a director, Marius Goring, to create their new ballet called "The Red Shoes" about a ballerina who wears these red shoes and must keep dancing until she dies. Soon, Moira and Marius fall in love much to Anton's fury. He wants to keep Moira as his ballerina, but can he and can she choose between the love if her life and the love of her life, her dancing. The colours and costumes come to life along with Shearer's delicate beauty and vibrant red hair. It is a superb film. With reality and fantasy taking charge just like the other 2 films. 

Have you seen these films? What colourful films come to your mind?

By the way, yesterday's who won the Oscar? The Muppet song won and Rio was nominated. Nothing else was nominated!! Only 2 which caused the rules to change or loosen. Apparently, the songs had to garner over 825 points or something like that. So Mary J. Blige's song wasn't even eligible! Neither was Madonna's for W. E. And others. Personally, I loved the song from " The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo". How did that Warren chick get nominated so many times then?