Latest Updates - Ava Gardner

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Comment by Magic Marmalade:

There's still time.. Brother.

Well, this is a pretty bleak movie!

In fact that's why I've been meaning to see it for a while, to see if it was as depressing as it's reputation suggests, and yup, it is pretty grim.

It's not graphic, or horrific to watch, obviously, due to the time it was made, primarily, as well as the stars who appear in it would never do anything like that...It's just the whole setup, the whole premise, and situation is quite a lot to invite into your brain, especially in times like these... But perhaps that's exactly what may make this the most timely movie to watch.

So, humanity has destroyed itself globally in a nuclear war, with only Australia surviving, and an American sub, captained by Gregory Peck is heading in there as their last resort... what with home being destroyed... but nobody in this part of the world has truly escaped, and are in fact, doomed anyway, as the global fallout radiation is heading their way in just a matter of months, when they will all die from that.

(Happy thoughts everyone!)

But this is not a Mad-Max type of post-apocalyptic mutant wars scenario; Rather this is a character study of people who, though they all know what is coming, are trying simultaneously to carry on as normally as possible - after all, what else can you do? - while trying to push such thoughts of impending doom aside.

Peck's Captain lives in denial that his wife and children have perished at home, and so refuses the attentions of a barely-holding-it-together Ava Gardner, who just wants companionship, and connection in her final months. Fred Astaire's scientist has invested his remaining time in building a Ferrari to race, and enjoy what remains to him, and bleakest of all, Anthony Perkins is trying both to keep composed, while planning for the end for him, his unaccepting wife, and baby through the procurement of certain pills to speed them painlessly on their way when the time comes.

The doom and uncertainty means there's no happy ending here, and the movie was clearly intended at the time to shock audiences into abandoning the lunacy of nuclear proliferation, by painting a very effective portrait of the un-survivable aftermath of such a final devastation.

All performances are strong, including Fred Astaire in a straight up dramatic, non-dancing or singing role, but especially Ava Gardner, who steals the whole movie with charm and charisma.

One of those movies that's perhaps important to watch, but once would probably be enough.

Otherwise a very powerful, haunting movie, who's pointedly significant motif lingers long in the memory after it's ended:

There's still time.. Brother.

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Comment by Magic Marmalade:

A very "talkie" drama.

Not much by way of cinematic pizzaz with regards dramatic visuals and scenes, mostly interior dialogue scenes, but very mesmerising nonetheless.

The story of a poor Spanish girl plucked from her hometown and transported to Hollywood to be transformed into a star by some mega-rich wannabe Howard Hughes type, with the intention of working with Bogart's down on his luck director.

Alas, she won't play the game the way Hollywood wants exactly, being strong willed, self possessed, yet lacking a certain something in her life.

Her story is told through the narrations of three principal characters at her funeral (not much of a spoiler, as that's where the movie begins!), as this tragic tale unfolds.

One impressive thing about this is the relationship between Bogart and Gardner's characters... initially threatening to be of a romantic nature, it then progresses and continues throughout the rest of the movie as a purely platonic relationship, in the manner of allies, confidants, and friends, although you do feel a strong love between them... not something you often see in a movie like this, or of this time, but it's excellently handled.

So a nice, easy paced, engrossing tale of a rise and fall of a tragic heroine.

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Comment by jakal68 ●:

[YouTube Video]