tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18814440.post2045604609819394315..comments2024-02-16T10:27:42.320-08:00Comments on Krell Laboratories: Down with the Dead MenVulnavia Morbiushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04722740955194993451noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18814440.post-8633987945853384552011-02-17T08:40:19.007-08:002011-02-17T08:40:19.007-08:00Dr. Morbius:
Forgive me: in rushing to speak of ...Dr. Morbius:<br /><br />Forgive me: in rushing to speak of "J'ai epouse une ombre," I neglected to say how much I liked your review of "No Man of Your Own." It's difficult to think that Stanwyck was also Thelma Jordon the same year that she was Helen Ferguson...<br /><br />...but then again, she was a spectacular actress, so maybe it shouldn't cause any amazement.<br /><br />Ellison contributed an introduction to a Woolrich anthology in the 1970s and pointed out that his stories often had holes you could drive a truck through. Raymond Chandler called Woolrich "the best idea man in the business" but added that you had to read him quickly...no doubt because the plotholes would get to you if you lingered.<br /><br />All I know is that when his game goes well, you accept completely what he gives you, that "first you dream, then you die" (as Nevins succinctly summed it up)<br /><br />*Deadline at Dawn* I had to read in an omnibus -- but as it was a pure Woolrich (or William Irish) omnibus, with *Phantom Lady* and a bunch of fine short stories ("Marihuana," "After-Dinner Story" and "Murder Story," among others, but, alas, Vanwall, not "One Drop of Blood," which I think I've read in an Ellery Queen anthology: the prince marries the chocolate-bar-with-peanuts heiress?), who's complaining?<br /><br />Truffaut's "Bride Wore Black" was a disappointment, but not so much of one that I wouldn't like to see what he did with Woolrich's *Waltz into Darkness* in "Mississippi Mermaid."<br /><br />Woolrich in color can work. If the director is Alfred Hitchock, the leading man is James Stewart, the leading lady is Grace Kelly and the supporting cast includes Thelma Ritter and Raymond Burr, that is!Charles J. Sperlingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18814440.post-86919223378479093522011-02-17T06:16:46.091-08:002011-02-17T06:16:46.091-08:00Hi, Charles,
I never did find a copy of Deadline...Hi, Charles, <br /><br />I never did find a copy of Deadline at Dawn, though I did see the movie version some years ago. <br /><br />Hmm...sunnier and in color? Interesting. Not promising. I'll find the French version eventually, but this doesn't bode well.Vulnavia Morbiushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04722740955194993451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18814440.post-67227561948648589912011-02-17T06:12:57.544-08:002011-02-17T06:12:57.544-08:00I guess I do things differently, because while I h...I guess I do things differently, because while I haven't seen "No Man of Her Own" or "Mrs. Winterbourne,"I have seen "J'ai epouse une ombre," the French version of Cornell Woolrich's *I Married a Dead Man.* In fact, I saw it in Paris in 1983.<br /><br />It has a fine performance from Nathalie Baye (so great in "La Balance," not to mention as the woman who might leave a guy for a film but who'd never leave a film for a guy in "Day for Night") at its core, but it lacks the dread and unease of the book I read many years later. The couple "lost" for Woolrich. The outlook is much sunnier in the movie.<br /><br />And it's in color, too, which given my great love for "Phantom Lady" just seems so wrong.<br /><br />Come to think of it, all the Woolrich I've read came out of libraries, which meant that people had to return it or risk a fine. I never found *Deadline at Dawn* at a flea market as I found the Ellery Queen-edited *Hammett Homicides* (which contains three stories not collected in hardcover until *Nightmare Town* fifty years later).Charles J. Sperlingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18814440.post-69557923836056956542011-02-16T15:59:19.636-08:002011-02-16T15:59:19.636-08:00Hi, Tinky! Thanks for stopping by. And you have a ...Hi, Tinky! Thanks for stopping by. And you have a FOOD blog! Awesome...<br /><br />I think the change the filmmakers made to the ending of No Man of Her Own contributes to the impression that it's a women's picture. And it IS a women's picture. You're right, it can be both. <br /><br />I'll see if I can find the French version.Vulnavia Morbiushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04722740955194993451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18814440.post-88905450011958909012011-02-16T14:59:03.321-08:002011-02-16T14:59:03.321-08:00I've only read a little Woolrich, but you'...I've only read a little Woolrich, but you've certainly given me a taste for more. It's interesting to read about this film, which seems to me so much more of a womens picture than a noir--but there's no reason why it can't be both. Do try watching the French version--it's softer, but very appealing.Tinkyhttp://www.ourgrandmotherskitchens.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18814440.post-73585127362161659662011-02-16T09:59:38.020-08:002011-02-16T09:59:38.020-08:00Hi, Vanwall! I was just reading your big post on W...Hi, Vanwall! I was just reading your big post on Western noir. Good, good stuff!<br /><br />I haven't read "One Drop of Blood", unfortunately. Now I need to find it. <br /><br />Welcome back, Mykal! Stanwyck is so good in so many movies. I hesitate to name a favorite, really, because I'll change my mind in a few minutes. She's great in Clash By Night. I think the difference between Crawford and Stanwyck (and Bette Davis, too, for that matter) is that Crawford was a star first and an actress second. Not that there's anything wrong with that.Vulnavia Morbiushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04722740955194993451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18814440.post-77886857253735403932011-02-16T09:17:27.265-08:002011-02-16T09:17:27.265-08:00Dr. Morbius: I have not seen this film but will no...Dr. Morbius: I have not seen this film but will now (God Bless Netflix); since you make it sound so good. I enjoyed your observation about Stanwyck not barnstorming a scene, just nailing a character dead to rights instead. It made me consider other performances, including my favorite Stanwyck number, <i>Clash By Night</i>; in which her non-barnstorming is certainly in evidence, as well as her pitch-perfectness. Her sympathetic scenes with Robert Ryan in <i>Clash</i> are so effective because of this quality – made the conflict so much more tense. I am imagining for contrast Joan Crawford’s style. She is fun to watch and a big ton of talent, but she did love to throw her shoulders around in a scene. <br /><br />Damn good post!Mykal Bantahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12148489896145024134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18814440.post-54042373315150440492011-02-16T09:15:22.269-08:002011-02-16T09:15:22.269-08:00Great stuff! I'm a Woolrich lover from way bac...Great stuff! I'm a Woolrich lover from way back, too! I love his short stories - have you ever read "One Drop of Blood"? It's like a distilled version of every noir detective story. I've spent years wandering second-hand bookstores looking for his work, and have a quite a trove. I've even got a couple of his Jazz Age stories, one of which may be the bleakest of all those in the genre - I think it's partially a noir as much as any of his. <br /><br />Stanwyck is great in "No Man of Her Own", it's on of the better Woorich adaptations if not the best. Woolrich is much more of an influence in noir than a lot of people give credit for. At one time, what with TV episodes, he was one of the more adapted authors in the medium.Vanwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14606489784189165989noreply@blogger.com