This is the second of my film blogs following on from my original (filmfantastique.blogspot.com) which was shut down recently. My blog is a way to record films I see so that I can double check later on. Normally with horror films I watch them and then immediately forget what they are called! I watch all kinds of films, from classic, world cinema, thrillers and anime. Very rarely does a day pass without me seeing a film of some sort! All comments and film discussion welcome. Enjoy my ranting!
Showing posts with label Helen Twelvetrees. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Helen Twelvetrees. Show all posts
Tuesday, 23 December 2014
Young Bride - 1932 ***
Helen Twelvetrees is yet again walked all over here, but this time by a poncy idiot who looks like he's wearing too much mascara. Her character Allie, is a timid and shy librarian, who is persuaded by her party-loving friends to go out one evening to try and cheer her up after mourning the death of her mother. Once there, she meets a loutish cad named Charlie, who has ridiculous and unrealistic expectations about life, love and money. When he first tries to seduce her, she refuses which sends him into a rage. But over time she is sweet-talked by him, and eventually succumbs, all the time being told by Charlie that he is on the verge of a big break that will make him rich. When Allie announces that she is pregnant, this doesn't go down well with Charlie, and he does what any pathetic weasel of a man does in a tricky situation - he goes after another woman, leaving Allie devastated. The lead man comes across as being almost identical to a young Jimmy Cagney, which probably boosted his career no end. Twelvetrees is worth a watch alone.
Millie - 1931 ****
Going out on a limb, beautiful redhead Millie marries a prominent businessman, expecting a life of glitter and glamour. By the time she has had a daughter she realises that the life she hoped for will never materialise, and when she discovers that her husband has been playing away, she leaves him, and plunges headfirst into a life of affairs, drinking and careless love. Sadly however, she is always betrayed, let down or disappointed, but things really take a turn for the worse when one of her old flames (a man of now advancing years) makes a pass at her beautiful daughter.
Helen Twelvetrees is a bit of a revelation for me. I had only heard very briefly of her but am amazed how 'modern' her attitude is and how much I like her acting. She has a definite air about her that keeps me mesmerised by ever scene she is in, and she really is very beautiful. Some critic once remarked that she had 'the saddest eyes in all of Hollywood' and although she smiles constantly, you can see exactly what that critic meant.
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