Concludes with the single most satisfying shot in the American cinematic canon:
A lengthy close-up of Ronald Reagan's face being repeatedly pummeled like it were a speed bag, while Jane Wyman jumps up and down, clapping with glee as she enthusiastically cheers on the violence
The most convincing piece of evidence I have to my argument that Jane was an actor ahead of her time
I’m in love with the Jeff Donnell aesthetic:
- Born in a boy’s reformatory
- Legally changing your name from Jean Marie to ‘Jeff’
- Making a career out of playing rowdy tomboys, confident servicewomen, and spirited cowgirls
- Having clearly so, SO much fun crossdressing (and totally rocks her Stetson and spurs)
- Is obviously so much more confident and comfortable playing ‘Jesse’ than ‘Jessie’
- Proceeds to sulk the rest of the movie when forced back into a…
The question of how to spend father-daughter time:
Most Dads: Go to the park, watch a movie, go biking, build a dollhouse, have a tea party.
Starevich: Create an animated feature of a selfish anarchist asshole taking on a corrupt authoritarian military state filled with adultery, public executions, assassination conspiracies, mutilation, inefficient bureaucracies, murder, religious sacrilege, and questions about the afterlife
The Gloria Grahame Dilemma:
- Being strong-armed into a film that will single-handedly derail your entire career
- Being directed by your ex-husband who hates your guts
- Being given a character with no consistent motivation, characterization, or development
- Being given a role that is intentionally trying to make you look unattractive by comparing you to the 'prettier' Jane Russell (spoilers, it backfires)
- Having to deal with Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell making up their own lines because…