Had myself a little Vincent Price/Gene Tierney marathon the other night...watched:
Laura (1944)
Honestly? I was a bit let down. It's a damn solid film-noir, no question...but I had been led to believe it was the be-all-end-all flick of it's genre...and let's face it, it's not. The plot has some nice twists, but the characters are all severely underdeveloped. As much as it pains me to say it, Price wasn't even in top form here...he did a good job with the character, but had a tough time hanging on to the Kansas accent. I did enjoy it for the most part - and man, you have to love the score - but I was hoping for more.
Leave Her to Heaven (1945)
Wow...Tierney gives the performance of her career in this one. Brilliant little thriller, and a great character study of a disturbed young woman. Price is also fantastic in a supporting role as the district attorney and Tierney's jilted lover.
This one has lots of twists and turns and is probably one of the best movies of it's kind. A must see for sure.
Dragonwyck (1946)
Ah, an all-time favourite. Price probably gives his absolute best non-horror performance in this one, as the charismatic but shadowy aristocrat Nicholas van Ryn. It's the kind of performance that lights up the entire film: his presence permeates every moment of the picture, whether he is on screen or not. Anyone who just sees Price as a schlocky horror star has to check this one out, because it really proves that he was a master of the craft.
Price isn't the only draw though...Joseph Mankiewicz's direction builds a beautiful gothic atmosphere and gives us scenes filled with nerve-shattering tension. The only flaw in the film is some poor pacing at times, but it's easily forgiven.
Curiosity's sake: any here seen Hudson's Bay (1941)? It's the only other movie that they did together, and I'd love to get my hands on it.
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"There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness." - Friedrich Nietzsche
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