victorsargeant

I am getting ready for bed, its a cold Colorado night, 2 degrees tonight again.

And they suddenly announce, "Dragonwyck", was on next. I had seen it 20 years before and found it charming, like "Rebecca", "Laura", "The Razer's Edge" and "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir".

So I go crazy finding a video tape in less than 5 minutes!

As I taped the AMC broadcast, fine print, I was amazed at the lighting, the movement within a scene, the set designs, costumes, pacing of the dialog and ESPECIALLY Alfred Newman's haunting film score.

The music taunted the listener, seductive, withholding, and always leaving the listener wanting more?

I have read the user comments above, and agree with them. Vincent Price is an excellent craftsman in the theater arts, and often over looked.

Gene Tierney always "got me", I fell under her spell from the start. I love watching her spin her magic in any film regardless.

I feel I like her best in "The Razer's Edge". Yes, "Laura" is special, and "Leave Her to Heaven" or "Shanghi Gester", are truly grand showcases for her persona and theater skills. But "The Ghost and Mrs. Murir" still touches me deeply and Bernard Herrmann's film score is one of his all time best. Herrmann wrote an opera, "Wuthering Heights" and uses much of the "The Ghost and Mrs. Murir" music there as well. He said it was his "personal favorite" of all his film scores.

"Shanghi Gester" is rarely seen, but is a rare treasure, and a must see if you love Tierney's range of screen powers.

But I digress from "Dragonwyck", which is not often available to be seen, and is its own rare treasure. The studios must make them available for us to buy them, and I am grateful someone saved "Dragonwyck" for future fans.

Having had a film class or two, I am sensitive to all the dimensions of art production around the actors and the theatrical development.

Vincent Price and Gene Tierney listen to each other and react to each other face to face and create an authentic presence, that charms me into caring about them.

Again the Alfred Newman, film music, is deliciously "Gothic", like a twisted two edged dagger, that cuts one's heart strings, so sweetly like the thorns of a rose upon the lips?

This tends towards the purple prosaic shades, forgive me.

"The Razer's Edge" and "Dragonwyck" were made the same year, 1946, right after the war. The American psyche wanted to loose itself, in Gothic drama, dark shadows and strange feelings of love.

"Dragonwyck" delivers what it promises. The Director, the composer, the actors, and the art production are excellent across the board. BRAVO Would like to see the sound track up for sale, as they did recently, with "All About Eve" and "Leave Her to Heaven". SARGE

Gilbert Rowland must have had some dirt on someone to get this picture. He has been around since silent films, and a close friend of Raymond Novaro. Gilbert Rowland knew lots of people, off to the side, never the big lead, but in the action just the same.

Saw him once in a Chinese restaurant in Beverly Hills called the Fortune Cookie near the Beverly Center, on Fountain. 1979 I forget.

He and his wife came in and he sat in the back facing the café. He noticed that I noticed who he was and we just grinned at each other. I learned while living in Hollywood, to leave them alone, as they know that you know who they are. So at the super market, dry cleaners, and the West Hollywood car wash place, you nod and let them go about they lives.

Gilbert seemed amused that someone remembered him. My pleasure to make him grin three tables away.

So here is the French Line, and I found it amusing Gilbert Roland is in a musical with Jane Russell. He was great and when he pulls up his cuffs, there is the wrist band he usually wore. Women, breasts, gowns by the ton were coming at you 24/7 in this piece of 1950 fluff. Abrabs would go to hell if they were caught watching such a film.

Rowlands voice is dubbed, he lip cynics well, and carries himself, delivers his lines, very professional, and I hope he got tons of money.

He had a small house in Beverly Hills near down town Rodeo Drive. He managed his career well, stayed out of the papers, knew everyone from the golden age of film, Garbo would have been comfortable with him as well. Rowland adored John Gilbert, and took his first name, Gilbert from John.

Gibert Rowland is "Hollywood Royality", was a gentleman, kept everyone's secrets, was respected by stars, and I wish he had written a book. I believe he is entombed at Glendale Forest Lawn. John Gilbert is there as well He did a film with Barbara Stanwick, a western, and he should have gotten an Oscar for his performance.

I believe he had more fun and durability with his career, than being the big star, "hot dog", macho stud. Gilbert was macho without being TOO macho, and was fondly remember for his quality classic style and quiet masculine character actor. Bad and the Beauty, and Beneath the 12 Mile Reef are also good examples of his craft. BRAVO Gilbert Rowland. VSS

The Innocents implies, but Nightcomers delivers the rare emotional flesh of the under belly of Henry James story.

It is appropriate to the tale for the audience to experience the sexual paradox of SM, to understand the true power of Quant over the children.

What will these children be like when they mature into adults? Or will they develop into adults ever? Fascinating story. Brando was perfect for this story, and I am sure, his own psychology included such behaviors.

Prick ones body to find ones soul? The levels of pain and pleasure become blurred as in real SM experiences....one does not know where one begins and the other ends. A valid depiction of the pain +pleasure paradox is soundly explored. The audience is given a crash course to SM which enables the intelligent observer to taste and enmesh the aspects of this paradox. All feelings are permitted to be touched. I am sure it will be unsettling emotionally far after one leaves the theater or the click of your remote. Its excellent theater and well told with a master teacher in Brando as your spiritual guide.