richardchatten
Joined May 2016
Badges8
To learn how to earn badges, go to the badges help page.
Ratings3.8K
richardchatten's rating
Reviews3.7K
richardchatten's rating
It has long been a matter of record that Max Schreck was a veteran stage actor of the twenties and thirties who died in Munich in February 1936 at the age of 56.
Although certainly memorable 'Shadow of the Vampire' - a highly fictionalised account of the making of 'Nosfertu' - perpetuates the preposterous notion that Schreck was a genuine vampire who came and went from nowhere. Willem Dafoe provides a good account of himself as Schreck; but am I alone in thinking that John Malkovich - who here plays Murnau - would have been even more suitable to have played Schreck?
Although certainly memorable 'Shadow of the Vampire' - a highly fictionalised account of the making of 'Nosfertu' - perpetuates the preposterous notion that Schreck was a genuine vampire who came and went from nowhere. Willem Dafoe provides a good account of himself as Schreck; but am I alone in thinking that John Malkovich - who here plays Murnau - would have been even more suitable to have played Schreck?
One of those films over which the Grim Reaper cast a long shadow, since the director and and the star had gone to meet their maker within five years; while Martine Carol would later die in her forties.
Described by the late David Shipman as "the sad, botched last film of Preston Sturges", 'Les Carnets du Major Thompson' - based on Pierre Berninos' popular novel about the foibles of the English however remains fondly remembered in France and is much much better than its reputation would have you believe.
Described by the late David Shipman as "the sad, botched last film of Preston Sturges", 'Les Carnets du Major Thompson' - based on Pierre Berninos' popular novel about the foibles of the English however remains fondly remembered in France and is much much better than its reputation would have you believe.
Preston Sturges' only Technicolor production is usually dismissed as simply a further stage in his decline. But if any other director had been responsible it would today probably be much better thought of. The broad characters - notably two gangling hillbillies - in colour at times makes it resemble a live action cartoon; while a running gag with Porter Hall repeatedly getting shot where it hurts remains pretty funny.
Insights
richardchatten's rating
Recently taken polls
13 total polls taken
