Reviews

For those not old enough to have seen this in it's premiere let me explain a few things.First, this was a huge hit in New York starring the incomprable Uta Hagan and Arthur Hill, in Los Angeles we got to see Nancy Kelly as the star, she was riding her success from the play The Bad Seed. Unfortunately we had to wait a few days to see her because President Kennedy was assassinated. When it was announced that Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton was to do a film version of this wonderful play needless to say we were a little disappointed. Sure, the Burton's were the most glamourous and bankable stars at that time but we wondered if Ms Taylor could play the part of a 50 year old woman. Later, we found that her character was suppose to be a younger woman and that started us thinking that Hollywood was going to tinker with one of our favorite plays. We went to the movie with a lot of misgivings and was pleasantly surprised at how close the screenplay was to it's original source, even to using some of the salty language. Richard Burton's approach was just right for the screen, he knew he had to save himself for the final third act. Ms Taylor did her best and deserved her Oscar for her performance, but I've always thought that the play demanded an older couple,for balance. After all, the contrast of Martha putting the make on that young man had a real meaning in the play while George's half hearted attempt at flirting with Honey worked on the stage. I have a copy of the movie but that's only because I love the dialog and as I said the film does retain some of the flavor of the great play. Richard Burton lost his Oscar bid to Paul Schofield who starred in the movie The Man for All Seasons but my vote really went to Mr Burton, he was the most believable character in the movie. All in all, I give the movie a six.

Yes folks, I actually worked in an office not unlike GGR, in Phoenix, Az. True, we didn't use the language thrown around in David Mamet's excellent play, and film, the rest was there. And after working in that kind of enviornment I can saftely say that GGR was true to it's premise. A lot of comments on these boards seem to come from people not familiar with this kind of environment or situation but believe me it does exist. The desperation and sweaty knowledge that you have to meet "that" daily, weekly, monthy quota can leave one panicky and exhausted. I only worked under that kind pressure for a little while, until my "real" job opened, but it was an experience, perhaps that's why I appreciate the tremendous acting done by these "pros." A lady friend was quite adamant bout there not being women in this play and after I explained to her that what was happening on the screen was quite real and that women would "never" put up with the abuse offered she relented and saw the light, as it were. Al Pacino is my very favorite actor outpacing even the great Marlon Brando, in my book, also, Ed Harris and the rest were every bit up to par with Pacino, even the obnoxious Jack Lemon. Mr Lemon was great in his comedies but when he turned to "acting" he gave me a pain. All in all Glengary Glen Ross is a roller coaster of fine acting based on real situations. Four Stars.

After all the hard work that went into the 1946 version of The Razor's Edge one would have to call it a masterpiece. Flawed. Well, that's a matter of opinion. After all, it was produced in it's own era and had to conform to the code of movies at that time. I was greatly influneced by the character of Larry Darrell when I read the book and vowed to be like him when I grew up. Of course, he replaced Paris Mitchell whom I wanted desprately to emulate, unfortunately Larry was replaced by Howard Roark who I insisted was the mirror of me, alas, none of my dreams came true on that score but my real favorite was Larry from The Razor's Edge. True, Tyrone Power was a mite too old for the part but then Gary Cooper was positively ludricious in the part of Howard Roark in The Fountainhead. Anyway, Power was my idea of Larry as was the stunning beatiful Gene Tierney who was absolutely right as the scheming Isobel. Anne Baxter won her Oscar and baffling her studio beyond words. but I always thought that Tierney should have won for her Isobel. Clifton Webb was just right as "that old cissy" as Sofie describe him and of course, Herbert Marshall was superb as Somerset Maugham just as he was playing the author in the film The Moon and Six Pence. The Razor's Edge is one my favorite films and I never get tired of watching it, I suppose the production values have a lot to do with that. Aside from the phony Himalyas scenes the rest of the sets were alright, again, considering the era. I now own a copy of the film on DVD. As noted, they don't make 'em like that anymore. And that's too bad.

The Big Country was passed over by the professional critics as being empty, ernest, and not enough sweep to be called a true epic. Well, I remember seeing The Big Country and was properly swept off my feet by the grand scale of the Big Country, the death feud between Burl Ives and Charles Bickford, the shaky and doomed romance between Gregory Peck and the spoiled Carroll Baker and the quiet understanding between Peck and the lovely Jean Simmons, but most of all, the thing that propelled me to see The Big Country over and over was the magnificant score by Jerome Moross. Sure, I could site many scores that have aided films to glory, Max Steiner for The Letter, Maurice Jarre for Lawrence of Arabia, Miklos Roza for an excellent score for a weak epic Land of the Pharaohs, and Hans Zimmer for an excellent score for a great epic Gladiator but I still say that for a western you can't get any better than the magnificant score for The Big Country. The sweep and majesty and the quiet moments of Jerome Moross's music sets the tone for this truly underated movie. United Artist released the music on LP and I wore mine out along with my neighbors complaints, I now own an excellent CD produced by SILVA SCREEN which I can't wear out. All in all see The Big Country on your big screen in Widescreen and give yourself a real treat. Who needs Giant?