It's sweltering in Hollywood, which is of course when Savant chooses to do some serious house-rearranging and minor construction. Three reviews this morning ...
Mk2/Warner continues its Chaplin line with Limelight, a great film that will be a stretch for non-confirmed Chaplin fans. The sentiment is pretty thick, with an icing of self-worship that tries the patience. But it's still an effective comedy-drama, and perhaps his best piece of conventional direction. With the collection's usual set of excellent extras.
Columbia TriStar's Die! Die! My Darling! is meaty Grand Guignol, with Hammer films steering toward the trend for aging stars in grotesque horror roles. Clueless Stephanie Powers doesn't cut and run at the first signs that her hostess Tallulah Bankhead is a maniacal monster, and winds up with a pair of scissors stabbed into her chest. With an early Donald Sutherland appearance, just before he made a splash in The Dirty Dozen.
Image's 365 Nights in Hollywood is a clunky Alice Faye vehicle with an amusing tinseltown setting. She tries to channel Jean Harlow, but her distinctive personality shines through. A rare film in a rather battered surviving print.
Savant apologizes for not having Billy Wilder reviews up - as Mick said, ya can't get everything that you want, at least not when you want it. They'll drift in soon, though ... I'm eager to talk about this batch of sometimes maligned, great movies. Glenn Erickson
Posted by DVD Savant at July 16, 2003 09:24 AM