A Breath of Scandal ***** 1960 Starring: Sophia Loren/John Gavin/Maurice Chevalier
A fun romp that takes us back to turn-of-the-twentieth-century (1907) Vienna.
OMG! Sophia Loren is breathtakingly beautiful. Her eyes, her figure alone make watching this movie worthwhile. The fashions are fabulous with one drawback and that is the feathered hats the women of the courts wore. To me they seemed authentic to the period when many birds came close to extinction for the name of style. Just how sad is that?
The movie opens with us learning that Princess Olympia (Loren) has been banished to the country due to an undisclosed scandal. Life is boring in her amazing castle and out for a ride one day, she has a close encounter with an automobile driven by an American. (Gavin) She falls off her horse and fakes an injury, making the handsome Charles Foster feel guilty. Luckily there is a hunting lodge nearby to which he takes her. Heavy flirting and a fake name makes 'Charlie' believe she is of peasant stock. When she feigns pains, he unwittingly drugs her and she passes out. He knows then and there that he is in love with her.
Awakening the following morning, she realizes the error of her way and runs away, receiving good news when she returns to the castle--she can go home to Vienna and quickly she departs.
Charlie is devastated, to say the least.
Upon Olympia's arrival, she learns of a ball that will take place in short order where she will be offered to Prince Ruprecht as an intended bride. She accepts this proposition as it is the right thing for a woman of her birth and class to do, but she knows she has lost her heart to the American.
Charlie arrives in Vienna with a proposition of his own (he's a millionaire from Pennsylvania who wants to see Olympia's father about a business deal) and it's then he finds out Olympia's true identity.
When it's least expected, Charlie makes a presence and refuses to give up on the woman he loves. He woos, he's stubborn and eventually gets her to admit her love for him. And here you'd think of a happy ending, but she says she will still marry Ruprecht and use Charlie for a good-time-lover.
Instant refusal and he leaves and next we see Olympia going to court to see the emperor who says all her past and current scandalous activities are forgiven and she is free to marry Ruprecht. Olympia seeks counsel from her father who prompts her to go with the love she feels for the American.
Love wins out and she hurries to Charlie who happily accepts her and together they drive off in his car.
JudyBug says: I found this movie to be quite entertaining. No only is Sophia Loren a pleasure for the eyes, she is a talented actress. I found it amusing that this film was set in Vienna, but no one seemed to speak with a German-type accent. The principal actors spoke with Italian, French, English (British proper) and English (American) accents.
The sets, costuming and stars were all beautiful The story was enjoyable. It is a fun "chick flick" that isn't dated and I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes to get lost in some innocent diversion.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Review #1
Indiscretion of an American Wife **** 1953 Starring: Jennifer Jones/Montgomery Clift
Set in Rome in "modern" times, this movie unravels the tale of a married woman and her Italian lover.
The affair, at least in her mind, is over. Mary Forbes realizes her need to return to her family in America, yet she longs to say one last farewell to Giovanni Doria, the man who has stolen her heart. The pain in her eyes, the trembling of her hands tells us she can't bear the thought and with her finger poised inches from the apartment buzzer, she pulls back and flees.
The lovers connect (By chance?? How in the world did he know she would be there??) in the very crowded Rome train station, one in which there are nuns, priests, peasant families, singing tourists, leering policemen, marching soldiers and a multitude of others to contend with.
Giovanni gets angry, slaps her and leaves. She runs and hides. Minutes pass and we are shown her kind side wherein she helps an ailing woman. More minutes pass and we see him fruitlessly searching for his Maria. Then . . . he sees her across the tracks and foolishly risks his life to be with her again. Turning to leave, she reconsiders and falls into his embrace. All is forgiven.
They need to talk, so he takes her to an empty car, an empty compartment and are spotted entering. Inside they kiss and whisper endearments to each other when suddenly light is invading the darkness and they are under arrest--for "making love" in public!!!!
Marched through the station, they must endure the stars and insinuations--the shame. After the police commissioner reviews the case he relents as long as Mary leave on the 8:30 train to Paris. She agrees and has 10 minutes to retrieve her bags and get to Track #7 and makes it with just moments to spare.
Giovanni helps her board and says he must leave, but she holds on until the last possible moment, expressing her regrets but not her good-byes. As he leaves the train, he stumbles and falls, watching the train race off into the night. Slowly he rises and with head bowed in sorrow, walks off, knowing he will never see her again.
JudyBug says: This was a good movie. It was believable in all aspects except one, and that was having Montgomery Clift in the part of the Italian lover. Yes, he was a credible actor, but accents were NOT his strengths! An actor that comes to mind who would have been a good choice to play the lead is Rossano Brazzi. Handsome, suave and Italian to boot! What is Hollywood thinking when they miscast like that? The hustle and bustle at the train station was a tad mind-boggling, yet listening to the native Italians and watching their mannerisms were well worthwhile. Also, the early '50's fashions and hairstyles were pretty cool as was the intensity in the chemistry of the characters. I recommend this movie if you can find it and have a hour to kill. (You read that right--this movie is only 63 minutes long!) So, get a G.U.S. and some F.F. popcorn and enjoy!
Set in Rome in "modern" times, this movie unravels the tale of a married woman and her Italian lover.
The affair, at least in her mind, is over. Mary Forbes realizes her need to return to her family in America, yet she longs to say one last farewell to Giovanni Doria, the man who has stolen her heart. The pain in her eyes, the trembling of her hands tells us she can't bear the thought and with her finger poised inches from the apartment buzzer, she pulls back and flees.
The lovers connect (By chance?? How in the world did he know she would be there??) in the very crowded Rome train station, one in which there are nuns, priests, peasant families, singing tourists, leering policemen, marching soldiers and a multitude of others to contend with.
Giovanni gets angry, slaps her and leaves. She runs and hides. Minutes pass and we are shown her kind side wherein she helps an ailing woman. More minutes pass and we see him fruitlessly searching for his Maria. Then . . . he sees her across the tracks and foolishly risks his life to be with her again. Turning to leave, she reconsiders and falls into his embrace. All is forgiven.
They need to talk, so he takes her to an empty car, an empty compartment and are spotted entering. Inside they kiss and whisper endearments to each other when suddenly light is invading the darkness and they are under arrest--for "making love" in public!!!!
Marched through the station, they must endure the stars and insinuations--the shame. After the police commissioner reviews the case he relents as long as Mary leave on the 8:30 train to Paris. She agrees and has 10 minutes to retrieve her bags and get to Track #7 and makes it with just moments to spare.
Giovanni helps her board and says he must leave, but she holds on until the last possible moment, expressing her regrets but not her good-byes. As he leaves the train, he stumbles and falls, watching the train race off into the night. Slowly he rises and with head bowed in sorrow, walks off, knowing he will never see her again.
JudyBug says: This was a good movie. It was believable in all aspects except one, and that was having Montgomery Clift in the part of the Italian lover. Yes, he was a credible actor, but accents were NOT his strengths! An actor that comes to mind who would have been a good choice to play the lead is Rossano Brazzi. Handsome, suave and Italian to boot! What is Hollywood thinking when they miscast like that? The hustle and bustle at the train station was a tad mind-boggling, yet listening to the native Italians and watching their mannerisms were well worthwhile. Also, the early '50's fashions and hairstyles were pretty cool as was the intensity in the chemistry of the characters. I recommend this movie if you can find it and have a hour to kill. (You read that right--this movie is only 63 minutes long!) So, get a G.U.S. and some F.F. popcorn and enjoy!
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