noir friday

[theholyinnocent]

Remember Ernest and Bertram? No? Well, with all the recent chitter-chatter amongst the flist about The Children's Hour, I found a clip on YouTube of the scene that inspired E & B:

Oh, Martha. I see why you fell for her. That voice, the arch of her neck. I wish I had been there to make you a drink and say, Choose it, Martha. Choose that life. You needed a Mephistopheles on your shoulder telling you to knock James Garner upside the head with a milk jug, kiss that girl, and run off to Italy with her. She would've gone for it, sweetheart. Sure, she may have dumped you sooner or later, but hell, there are other frosty little brunettes in the sea.

Great way to end Gay Pride Month, huh?

Bonus item. Take two of my favorite things, the film A Touch of Evil and Nina Simone, and :

Marlene Dietrich: Has ever a woman done so much with such a tiny role? And can you beat Heston playing a Mexican? WWCS? (What Would Charo Say?)

Comments

[return2zero.livejournal.com]

Aw yes, "The Children's Hour"... the masterpiece that effectively sent and entire generation of lesbians into the closet for 40 years.
Was the movie INTENDED to portray lesbians as confused lusty creatures? Under what guise was the film even released? I LIKE the film for its 'innocence' of the time, but I never got around to the insight of what its purpose was...

And do confessions like that ("I did love you. I DO love you! In the way they said!") *ever* work?? Never worked for me... :P

[maroukian.livejournal.com]

My goodness, I have got to watch my sarcasm! THI would never take me seriously (on most things), but I forget that others might read my irreverent, ridiculous comments. First, I feel compelled to say that I have a great deal of respect for "The Children's Hour"-- its most overt message being about the dangers of hearsay, gossip and what a disastrous and hurtful impact trashing the reputations of others can ignite. (a VERY relevant message today-- almost 75 years after it was written.)

Was the movie INTENDED to portray lesbians as confused lusty creatures?

I don't think so! If so, the casting of demur Hepburn and girl-next-door McClain was a catastrophe! I don't know too much about the screenplay other than it was based on the play, "The Children's Hour" by American playwright Lillian Hellman. Hellman was a liberal and long-time friend of Dorothy Parker... so my guess is she didn't have a iota of a problem with lesbians-- lusty or not! :)

but I forget that others might read my irreverent, ridiculous comment

[return2zero.livejournal.com]

I just never read about what the reaction to the movie (at the time) was... so I was kinda curious!!!

[maroukian.livejournal.com]

...what the reaction to the movie (at the time) was... so I was kinda curious!!!

and now I am too! :) Here is a review of the film, in the context of it being a "remake" (of sorts) of the play...

http://www.brightlightsfilm.com/29/childrenshour1.html

veddy interesting...

[return2zero.livejournal.com]

I can't even comment; my jaw is on the floor... oh, the changes they made...!

GOOD article! Gracias!!!