jwbaker Reviews

Blues in the Night (1941)

Feverish mix of melodrama and music: A worthy effort . . .

[9 September 2000]

This fast-moving film is not at all typical of most musicals of the period. Jazz musicians, gangsters, stool pigeons, and canaries populate Anatole Litvak's interesting -- and little seen -- story of a pianist who tragically attempts to transform an off-key singer (Betty Field, over-the-top and enjoyable as all get-out) to replace the pregnant vocalist (Priscilla Lane). All of the performances are interesting (Lloyd Nolan, especially), and the face-off between Lane and Field is worth a look. Highly recommended -- if you can find it.

The Last Voyage (1960)

Close, but no cigar -- er, life jacket.

[28 February 2000]

Robert Stack, Dorothy Malone, and George Sanders star in this 1960s pre-disaster film. The director staged much of the action aboard a ship which was actually being sunk. There is much to recommend -- Malone is quite effective as a frenzied, trapped passenger; Sanders maintains his hubris, but is touching in his final scenes. However, I am bothered by a couple of things: In many ways, a "staged" sinking would probably have been more effective, as the set designers would have maintained "a look," "a feel." "The real ship" is oddly undramatic in its appearance. (Also, that tousled Annie-lookalike daughter looks like an overgrown doll.) Worst of all is the narration -- heavy and lumbering like the ship itself. However, the actors respond well to the situations at hand.