New acquisition: Written on the Wind (1956)

 

Douglas Sirk

Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Sirk

Summer Storm (1944)

 

 

In this filmed Chekhov adaptation, Olga is an alluring peasant woman who lures cynical aristocrat Fedor away from his milquetoast fiancée, with tragic consequences. 

 

From memory: Grand Hollywood adaptation of Chekhov's novel with excellent performances by Sanders, Darnell and especially Horton is well staged, but somehow doesn't quite fit the tone of the book.

 

Halliwell*: "One Hollywood's occasional aberrations, an attempt to do something very European in typical west coast style. An interesting failure."

 

Maltin**: "Darnell gives one of her best performances...Dreary adaptation...enlivened by Horton as an amoral Russian count." 

Far from Heaven (2002)

In 1950s Connecticut, a housewife faces a marital crisis and mounting racial tensions in the outside world.

In all departments masterful reimagination of a Douglas Sirk melodrama contrasting its artificiality and the protagonists' superficial restraint with the lowdown of the issues that are still relevant even today.

Halliwell (no star): "Elegantly designed and shot and acted, and made in the style of a Douglas Sirk melodrama, this subverts the form by bringing to the fore what would have been the subtext of the movie in the 1950s; it is undeniably clever, but too often feels like an exercise in style."

Maltin***: "Fascinating filmmmaking exercise in which writer-director Haynes replicates the look and feel of a Douglas Sirk Technicolor soap opera, while tackling issues that would have been taboo in that era...Not so much a parody as a recreation, as if a 1957 movie were being made in 2002, with art direction, camerawork, costuming, music, and color that recall such films as ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS."

Written on the Wind (1956)

An alcoholic playboy millionaire marries the woman secretly loved by his poor but hard-working best friend, who in turn is pursued by the husband's nymphomaniac sister.

It's pulp for sure, but meticulously made and played, a classic of its genre.

On second view: splendid over-the-top melodrama.

Halliwell**: "The sheerest Hollywood moonshine: high-flying melodramatic hokum which moves fast enough to be very entertaining."

Maltin***: "Florid melodrama...Irresistible kitsch."

Take Me to Town (1953)

A saloon entertainer and her former partner in crime escape from a train ride to prison and hide out in logging town Timberline