Sydney Greenstreet’s first movie role was Kasper Gutman in the Maltese Falcon.
About to sell out Wilmer, his young gunsel, he offers cold consolation and forsakes his chances of being nominated as surrogate father of the year:
Well, Wilmer, I’m sorry indeed to lose you. But I want you to know I couldn’t be fonder of you if you were my own son. But, well, if you lose a son, it’s possible to get another. There’s only one Maltese Falcon.
Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet represented a step forward in story-telling from Strictly Ballroom, with the power of the story stronger than the stylistic idiosyncracies that I think overwhelm the characters and narratives of his later movies.
The support actors are all superb. Especially Pete Postlethwaite and Miriam Margolyes.
And Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes are wonderful and well-matched as the titular characters, especially in light of how their respective careers have grown from these performances. DiCaprio’s skill is more easily discernible without the distraction of his teen idol reputation clouding perceptions.
Although, on the whole, Rosaline did well to hold out and give him the cold shoulder.
Guys And Dolls is an interesting musical. The third and fourth leads, Frank Sinatra and Vivian Blaine are much stronger singers than first and second leads, Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons; yet Brando and Simmons are better actors which lends the whole piece more gravity than might be expected from such an unlikely story.
All four leads do not sing together, the two female leads don’t interact at all.
The closest thing to a closing number is led by a side-character Nicely-Nicely Johnson, played by Stubby Kaye.
In a revival meeting.
Giving testimony.
This is a bit different to our church.
Not that I want to cause any waves.
Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ The Boat.
The performance of Stubby Kaye’s career.
I Will Sing The Wondrous Story features on EMU Music’s new album of traditional hymns Praise Without Ceasing.
I’m featuring these, even though I’ve had most of the hymns that are part of the album on Sunday Songs before.
In the case of I Will Sing The Wondrous Story it was back in November 2011.
EMU’s version is not too slow. Let’s call it ‘thoughtful’ or ‘reflective’. The tune HYFRYDOL has been simplified a bit, but is still quite recognisable and if you know it you’ll be able to adjust quickly enough. (And there’s no added chorus. yay)
I think it’s meant to be celebratory and joyful, but there you go.
