The Unfaithful - 1948 - USA

The Unfaithful - 1948 - 6/10

 
The prowler forced his way into the house.
Chris, whose husband was away, feared for her life.
The dagger found its way into her hand, then into him.
Open and shut, self-defense, right?
First third of this is Noir, dominated by John Hoyt as the detective.
Middle is the not-so-fast mystery angle, slowly revealed.
Last third is ladies melodrama, peppered with Eve Arden as the barb tongued viper.

Saltychikha - 2017 - Russia

Saltychikha - 2017 - 6/10
AKA - The Bloody Duchess // Krovavaya Barinya // Кровавая барыня

From an early age, Darya had been placed (institutionalized) in a convent.
Her mother had been homicidally mad, and the father feared the trait was inherited.
Nevertheless, business competitor want an alliance, a marriage of wealth.
Whereupon Darya is wedded to the troll, not the handsome stud.
Following the first murder, she begins to spiral.

 
True, there are forces moving against her.  Assassination attempts and kidnapping.
She flees to the countryside, then vents her fury and insanity on her serfs.
The woodland witch ingratiates herself; she has grievances against the villagers, as well.

 
Handsome Russian production suffers melodrama at points.
Based on the real Darya Nikolayevna Saltykova who tortured and killed almost 200 servants.

The Oval Portrait - 1973 - Mexico

The Oval Portrait - 1973 - 4/10

 
“Ah, Rebecca as I painted her, wasn’t she lovely?”
War Between The States over, Confederate soldier Joseph returns to his Yankee bride.
Too late, as she has died during childbirth / miscarriage.
Such is the extended backstory.  The bookends are the relatives coming for the will.
Experiencing the haunting of the manor.
So much is so wrong in this Mexican production filmed in Canada.
Interiors too modern, one of the heroines much too old, bad hair, intrusive music by Les Baxter, scenes milked for every drop of melodrama, over-acting, poor directing, bad editing.
This has NOTHING to do with the 2-page Edgar Allen Poe story.
I liked the two lovers and Mrs. Warren.  Otherwise, this is a so-bad-it’s-fun movie.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3370780

Wicked As They Come - 1956 - UK

Wicked As They Come - 1956 - 6/10

 
“Girls like me don't usually get proposals, just propositions.”
Working-class Kathy cons a pair of men to win a beauty contest.
Prize: Trip to England and $1000.
Once there, she sets her sights high, then higher.
Targeting fat bank account holders.
In an earlier era, this would be Baby Face or Red-Headed Woman.
Here, despite a smoldering Arlene Dahl, this a groping melodrama.
Similar to Douglas Sirk fare.
English subs = https://sub-scene.com/subtitle/3369080

Within Our Gates - 1920 - USA

Within Our Gates - 1920 - 6/10

 
Sylvia waits for her fiancé to return, unaware her cousin wants him, too.
Also unaware her cheap thug male cousin desires her.
Tawdry melodrama soon shifts to the Jim Crow South, where an earnest pastor tries to educate black children.
Fully aware that there are elements who don’t want no uppity minions.
Film wobbles for quite a while, but bores full throttle after a killing.
Lynching, rape, pursuits, rough justice, blind to mercy or truth.

The Empress - 1917 - USA

The Empress - 1917 - 6/10

The painting “The Empress” makes artist Louis rich.
He invites his model Nedra to the country, where he tries to assault her and the landlord’s daughter.

 
Meanwhile, the landlord snaps photos for later blackmail, since who knows the tomorrow brings.
For famous model Nedra, tomorrow brings a rich husband, followed by steady blackmail.
Old-fashioned Melodrama creaks along and harks to the Edwardian era.
Inter-titles missing (as is music), although the attentive will have no trouble following.

The Locked Door - 1929 - USA

The Locked Door - 1929 - 6/10

 
Ann accompanies Frank to one of those offshore, floating casinos.
A classic masher, Frank attempts to get her drunk and disrobe her.
Yet an unexpected police raid catches all in the net.
Within a year Ann, married to the stuffy Lawrence, sees Frank seduce her sister-in-law.
Stodgy Talkie melodrama bogs down once we leave the casino.
Menzies sets are worth studying, and the sweeping bar seems a precursor to Shanghai Lil.
Barbara Stanwyck, barely in her twenties, is captivating.

The Carpetbaggers - 1964 - USA

The Carpetbaggers - 1964 - 6/10

 
Having recently watched Nevada Smith, I opted to take another look at the predecessor.
Although this is set roughly a generation later, and Smith a faded film star.
The real story is of Jonas Cord, the arrogant, powerful son of Smith’s old mentor.
Cord is a thinly disguised, glamorous version of Howard Hughes, during his enfant terrible period.
Filmmaking, working on aircraft, enjoying the gusher of oil.
George Peppard plays despicable to the hilt, but he wears the role like a glove.
Carroll Baker plays his sexpot stepmother, and the two together sizzle.
Best is, perhaps, Alan Ladd in his final role.
Trashy, titillating potboiler, tamer than the book by Basil Fawlty’s favorite author.

A Window On Washington Park - 1913 - USA

A Window On Washington Park - 1913 - 6/10

 
The young millionaire (in 1913!) suffers ennui, stares out at the wintry park.
Spies an older man, clearly a gentleman, now enduring harder days.
Invites him inside, shares a meal, hears the story.
Of an over-possessive father, whose sternness caused his daughter to elope.
Silent tale brushes Melodrama with broad theatrical strokes.
Spare sets and painted backdrops.
I predict Artificial Intelligence will routinely clean print damage in a few years.

If Footmen Tire You, What Will Horses Do? - 1971 - USA

If Footmen Tire You, What Will Horses Do? - 1971 - 4/10

 
Should America abandon God, so too shall God abandon America.
Alcohol, dancing, drug use, sex, ways of the flesh, even cartoons!
Bibles unread, teachings forsaken for lascivious behavior, lewd attire.
Until, without warning, Communists have overcome the nation.
Vast swathes of the populace are machine-gunned down, children indoctrinated, females raped.
Dire warnings!  Potentially camp film flawed by constant proselytizing by Rev. Estus Pirkle.
That, and ignoring the reality of gun-happy America where millions of citizen own firearms.

The Wind - 1928 - USA

The Wind - 1928 - 6/10

 
Southern belle Letty arrives from Virginia into Texas prairie.
The homestead ain’t much and outside breezes are more like gales.
Winds blow and blow and blow.  (Being a Silent, one cannot experience how noisy this is.)
Worse for her, love struck menfolk start vying for her hand in marriage.
Prime Melodrama borders on hysterical and ham, seems more like theatre from the previous era.

Of Human Bondage - 1934 - USA

Of Human Bondage - 1934 - 6/10

 
Aspiring artist Philip is advised he lacks talent, imagination.
Disappointed, he returns to London and eventually becomes a doctor.
Well and good, until he meet, and becomes smitten with, trashy waitress Mildred.
From this point, this becomes a soapy melodrama.
Why would a doctor …?  And why would a waitress spurn advances from a rich physician?
Leslie Howard well cast as the human doormat, Bette Davis as the disdainful idol.
Although everyone knows characters like this is real life, the lengthy attraction here seems incomprehensible.

The Mystic - 1925 - USA

The Mystic - 1925 - 6/10

Why hoodwink Hungarian villagers for loose change, when you can go to the States and fleece rich Americans?
Madame Zara and her Gypsy act arrive in New York and start the big swindle.

 
Aside from the swells at the private séance, there is a young heiress.
As well as her older guardian, quietly embezzling to play the stock market.
A Tod Browning film, this lacks the callous bite his output is usually steeped in.
Acting is fine, although one can envision Lon Chaney and Lionel Barrymore in key roles.

The Bigamist - 1953 - USA

The Bigamist - 1953 - 6/10

 
Once Eve and Harry start the adoption process, the secret starts to emerge.
After all, there are deep background checks.
Salesman Harry, dividing his time between San Francisco and Los Angeles, has things to hide.
Hey, reference the title!
Narrative shows how Harry came to have two better halves.
Marked as Noir, this is not.  This has enough soap for a bubble bath.
Still, a good Ida Lupino film and, I think, the last feature she directed.

Last Warning - 1928 - UK

Last Warning - 1928 - 6/10

 
During the climactic moment, the lead actor and owner is struck dead.
Curtain lowered, the audience confused, the police arrive.
Whereupon the body disappears, and is never found.
The building is now cursed, and lies dormant for years.
Until a new producer decides to revive the doomed play, “The Snare”.
Lively shocker is full bore Gothic, undermined by melodramatic, hammy acting.

The Bells - 1926 - USA

The Bells - 1926 - 6/10

 
Innkeeper Mathias, determined to be village burgomaster loans money, gives free drinks.
Up to his eyes in debt to Franz, who is poised to hurl Mathias and family onto the street.
Arriving during a blizzard is the stranger, wearing a thick money belt.
No one knows him, no one misses him, until the locals realize he has been murdered.
Creaky Silent benefits from Lionel Barrymore’s theatrical performance.
Also Boris Karloff as a mesmerist, appreciated by all, save the guilty.

Satan’s Rhapsody - 1917 - Italy

Satan’s Rhapsody - 1917 - 6/10
AKA - Rapsodia Satanica

 
Merry party-goers leave Alba’s Castle of Illusions, while she, despondent, pines for her youth.
Out steps Mephisto, offering her youth and beauty, but she must not fall in love.
Of course, Alba is adored and soon has handsome admirers, including two brothers.
Slowish Silent melodrama is noteworthy for Pietro Mascagni’s only film score
Likewise the hand-coloring of Alba in fuchsia and olive green, and Mephisto is crimson.
Running less than an hour, Silent fans ought to give this a look.

At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul - 1964 - Brazil

At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul - 1964 - 5/10
AKA - À Meia-Noite Levarei Sua Alma

 
Zé, village undertaker (who dresses like a carnival magician) knows how to mesmerize others.
So that he can injure, main, or murder them.  He is, after all, superior.
Despite having a wife / girlfriend, Zé fancies friend Antonio’s fiancée, Terezinha.
Girlfriend disposed of, Antonio disposed of, Zé forces himself into Terezinha.
Throughout, the village witch warns him.  As if he cares.
Melodramatic, cheap, hammy.
So bad to be most enjoyable.

The Pleasure Garden - 1925 - UK

The Pleasure Garden - 1925 - 6/10

 
Having lost her letter of introduction, Jill pleads with the stage manager to give her a chance.
Chorus line girl Patsy takes her home, then gets her onstage.
Grateful, Jill?  She’s now a star!  Being courted by a Russian prince.
Morality tale set amidst theatrical boards.
Choices and dubious menfolk, along with a South Seas siren.
Very early Hitchcock borders on Melodrama, but the tempo perks up midway.
Plenty of tossed off sight gags that fans of this director will appreciate.

The Eye Of Envy - 1917 - USA

The Eye Of Envy - 1917 - 5/10

 
Young “Ambition” works as a blacksmith in Sleepy Hollow.
A stream of travelers constantly hurry past on the road to Success.
Including the couple, “Innocence” and “Avarice”.
At the wishing tree, Ambition asks to have Innocence as his girlfriend, along with Avarice’s money.
Silent parable is a preachy melodrama, and an example of those that give Silent films a bad name.