The Jungle Book (1967)

The Jungle Book has been one of my favourite films ever since I was a child, and whilst I haven't seen the recent remake, I did recently re-watch the classic 1967 animation.
As a film The Jungle Book holds up just as well today as it did in the late sixties, re-watching it I was again taken by the wonderful characters, fantastic music and beautiful backdrops. It honestly leaves more recent Disney offerings, such as Frozen, for dead!

One of my favourite things about old Disney films is the beautiful backdrops, they are literally like watching a painting come to life. They are visually stunning films.

The Jungle Book fully captures the mysterious beauty of the jungle, its eeriness and its danger. It also has some of the strongest characters in any Disney film, even minor ones, such as the elephants and the vultures are integral and enjoyable (especially the Beatle-esque vultures!). Baloo, is and always has been, my favourite. He's a free spirit, with a gentle heart and a loyalty that exceeds differences and fear. In many ways the film encapsulates the free spirit and nostalgic sadness of the sixties.

It's a powerful story of friendship, and on a more subtle level, it is a look at the relationship between man and beast. There is a touch of sadness as Mowgli returns to the man village. What will he grow up to be? Will he use fire the way other men have?

Also I'm pretty sure this has one of the greatest soundtracks of any Disney film ever! I do feel Disney has lost some of the magic it once had, I'm probably alone in this belief, but their more recent films are just not as wonderful as the old ones. I think they lack a visual beauty and an honesty.
But now for some fun little facts!
If you thought the vultures where like The Beatles you wouldn't be wrong. Originally The Beatles were asked to do the voices of the vultures but they turned it down. Still Disney kept with the theme and in the final film they bear more than a passing resemblance to the mop-topped Liverpudlians.
Shere Khan was voice by George Sanders, whom you may remember as Addison DeWitt in All About Eve. 
And if Baloo's voice sounds familiar that's because he was voice by Phil Harris who also voiced Thomas O'Malley in The Aristocrats and Little John in the animated Robin Hood. 
Bruce Reitherman, who voiced Mowgli, was the son of the director.
And finally The Jungle Book was the final film that involved Walt Disney, he died during production.

So if you haven't seen this film for awhile it's time for a re-watch, and if you have never seen it you are in for a treat-it's truly one of the finest films of any genre.
SaveSaveSaveSave

Summer Reading Challenge

I'm excited to say this year I have signed up to take part in Out of the Past's 2016 Summer Reading Classic Film Book Challenge. The aim is to read 6 classic film books before September 15. (However I must admit that it will sadly be Winter in my part of the world!)

The six books I have chosen are:

1. Bendigo Art Gallery & Twentieth Century Fox Present Marilyn Monroe: This is the book that accompanied the exhibition held at the Bendigo Art gallery, its a quick read, but has some interesting reflections on Marilyn's life and career.
2. Double Feature by Terence Stamp: Having read both 'Stamp Album' and 'Coming Attractions' this was next on my list! This is the third autobiography written by Stamp and deals with his life and career in the sixties, particularly his relationship with Jean Shrimpton. Having read and enjoyed his other books I am looking forward to this one!
3. By Myself and Then Some by Lauren Bacall: I have heard good things about Bacall's autobiography, and I am really looking forward to learning more about her life.
4. From Shane to Kill Bill-Rethinking the Western by Patrick McGee: Westerns are my favourite film genre and I think they are often misrepresented and sidelined in modern film analysis, so I am hoping this book might shed some new light on this often complex genre.
5. Natalie Wood by Rebecca Sullivan: This is a new book (and I'm hoping it arrives on my doorstep before September!) From the blurb it sounds fantastic, Sullivan aims to highlight how Natalie was often the face of the changing mores of the fifties and sixties and how her films shifted the way females were viewed.
6. The Hustler by Walter Tevis: I'm looking forward to seeing how the book compares with the classic film (and if it can live up to Paul Newman's epic-ness!)

                                                       (Not seen-Natalie Wood)

If anyone else is interested in taking part in the challenge all the details can be found at Out of the Past's blog.
Happy Reading!

Marilyn Monroe Exhibition

If there are any Classic Hollywood fans out there in Australia, I cannot recommend the Bendigo Art Gallery's Marilyn Monroe exhibition enough! It is fantastic!

The exhibit is full of fascinating artefacts from Marilyn's life. These include costumes worn in her films,  several clothing items from her personal wardrobe, as well as her film scripts, makeup, photos, books and much more!
It is a beautiful look at both the public and private personas of this enigmatic star.

And don't forget to take a look at the 'Forever Marilyn' statue situated in Bendigo's Rosalind Park, it's 8 metres tall and has come all the way from America where it usually resides in California.

Its a must see!

Happy Birthday Audrey!

Today would have been the 87th birthday of Audrey Hepburn!

There are not really enough words to describe how much I love this woman! Her grace, compassion, dedication and humour are a continuing inspiration to this day. Audrey was a fashion icon, and a brilliant actress, but she was also a tireless humanitarian. Her work for UNICEF is perhaps her greatest achievement and is an inspiring legacy.
So a very 'Happy Birthday' to this wonderful lady!

Billy Budd (1962)

"There are many ways to lie, Mr Claggart, but there is only one way to tell the truth"

Billy Budd (Terence Stamp) is a young merchant seaman who is requisitioned by a man of war ship. Billy is optimistic and kind to everyone, and with his simple ways he is able to win over the rest of the crew. All except Master at Arms, Claggart (Robert Ryan). Claggart is cruel and bitter, he enjoys torturing the men, all of whom live in fear of him. Billy attempts to win Claggart over, and almost succeeds, but alarmed by Billy's kindness Claggart becomes determined to punish him.

Peter Ustinov directed and starred in the film and it was Stamp's first major film role. He was nominated for an academy award for best supporting actor for his role as the titular character. The film is a battle between good and evil, with Claggart becoming more tormented as the film moves on. Stamp described Billy as 'an angel' and there is certainly an angelic, almost otherworldly, presence to him. Billy is truthful, cheerful and unfailingly kind. He doesn't really believe that people can be evil, and stammers when he becomes anxious, admitting he cannot always find the words to say what he wishes.

Claggart unfairly accuses Billy of mutiny, Billy is unable to form words in his defence.  Pushed beyond endurance, (and perhaps coming to the realisation that Claggart is evil), Billy strikes and accidentally kills him. The Captain (Ustinov) is torn between his duty to the law, and the knowledge that Billy was justified in his actions. The film raises moral questions-what constitutes good and evil? Can killing ever be justified? The Captain spends most of the film knowing that Claggart is no good and is despised by the men, however believing Claggart to be good at keeping law and order, the Captain does nothing to hinder Claggart's maliciousness. Billy is put on trial and is found not guilty by three members of the court, the fourth, the Captain, whilst wanting Billy to go free, believes he must hang because it is their duty to keep the law. Fore-tellingly at the beginning of the film Billy is taken from a ship called the 'Rights of Man'. As a viewer the officers dedication to the rules and laws of the army is frustrating, they kill Billy despite not wanting too, the 'rules' are more important than their humanity. Yet Billy's strange peace and lack of resentment towards them means that they will be forever haunted by what they have done. Billy may not live but his spirit leaves an undeniable mark on those who have known and wronged him.
Perhaps the irony is that Billy is too good for the world.

Ustinov searched all over for a young unknown who could play Billy Budd. Stamp thought he was not angelic enough to play Billy and upon his interview with Ustinov was so overcome he was unable to speak. Ustinov was delighted as he knew Stamp would be able to portray Billy's inability to speak in times of distress. The film also co-stars Melvyn Douglas and David McCallum. 

4/5

Blue (1968)

Blue/Azul (Terence Stamp) has been raised by Mexican bandits after the murder of his parents when he was five years old. The bandit leader raises him as one of his own and Blue takes part in their murdering and pillaging. When the bandits decide to raid a town on the American side of the river Blue is confronted by his past. After rescuing the daughter of the local doctor from one of the bandits, Blue is taken in by them, and tries to renounce his past.

Upon it's release Blue was panned by the critics, and most hold the same view today, and I really do not understand why! I loved it!

Like most films made in the mid 60s Blue is something of a revisionist Western. It has a darker thread running through it than the majority of Westerns, and has more complex characters, Blue is definitely an anti-hero, who goes through a complex redemption during the course of the film. It is also grittier and more realistic than some Westerns (for example, the injured tend to be really injured and are unable to go on fighting spectacularly!).

Directed by Silvio Narizzano and with a cast that includes Karl Malden and Joanna Pettet Blue is a thought provoking film. Visually it is quite beautiful, although alas my dodgy screen caps don't really do it justice!

Pettet's character, Joanne, is a major catalyst not just for the general plot line, but also for Blue himself. As a character she breaks down some of the traditional boundaries put on women in Western films. She is strong, caring, forgiving, and with a great sense of justice. She is able to look past what other people see and find good. 

Blue is generally silent, his actions speak louder than his words. Stamp doesn't speak until about 40 minutes into the film but his face portrays his thoughts. As he is further confronted by the settlers way of life Blue begins to remember things. The scene in which he bashes away at the piano is the first moment he lets his guard down and it becomes evident that there is something more to him than just a lawless bandit. Upon his initial arrival at the farm he is almost mute, and it is hard to know if this is through spite, or because he simply finds it hard to speak his thoughts. After all he speaks little with the bandits. When he wishes to stay with Joanne and her father, he is unable to tell them, he simply begins ploughing their field, and Joanne comes to the realisation that this is his way of talking. As he and Joanne fall for each other, he opens up more, he reveals his past and it becomes evident that the death's of his parents still impact him. And there seems to be a lost element to Blue, one that belongs neither to the settlers or the Mexicans, after all he admits that Blue is not even his real name, and it remains unknown if he remembers his real name or not. In his final confrontations with his bandit father, and even through his love for Joanne, Blue is constantly torn between the two warring parts of himself, the past and the present, and throughout the film he is in a constant struggle between wanting to change and believing he is not able to change. I thought Stamp did a wonderful job of portraying Blue, roguish and tender at the same time. 

Blue is an underrated gem of a film and I wish more people could appreciate it! 

4/5

Hello, Dolly! (1969)

Dolly Levi (Barbra Streisand) is a widow who spends her time 'arranging things', mainly marriages. Whilst helping bachelor Horace Vandergelder (Walter Matthau) find a wife Dolly finds herself falling for him herself. Along the way she meddles in the lives of Horace's niece, Ermengarde, her boyfriend, Horace's two shop keepers, Cornelius and Barnaby, and two hat makers Irene and Minne.

Hello, Dolly! was directed by Gene Kelly and so it should come as no surprise that the dancing in the film is superb. I enjoyed it even more than the singing, although Streisand is wonderful. The film was based on the Broadway production of the same name. The film was nominated for seven academy awards and won three.

With a colourful cast including Michael Crawford, Danny Lockin, Marianne McAndrew, Joyce Ames and E.J. Peaker, Hello, Dolly! is a fun, joyful romp through New York. Whilst it is not the greatest musical in the world it is enjoyable and Streisand brings a fast paced life to the character of Dolly.

3.5/5