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Cyrano (2021)
Why?
Why does anyone believe they have the right or the talent to 'improve' (in their opinion) anyone's prose for a movie?
Especially a classic.
Should probably mention that I love the play, and believe Jose Ferrer's version is the best film version.
It stuck pretty close to the English translation of the play with some alteration for the modern audience.
Then we come to this Cyrano.
I couldn't get through act 1 scene 2.
The dialogue was bad enough, But the 'singing'?. . . .
I then fast forwarded to the end to see how they would mangle it.
My expectations were met.
Peter Dinklage is an outstanding actor, and in my opinion could have pulled off the part as the romantic tragedy that it is by changing the nose references to height:
Cyrano: Do you look down your nose at me sir? What is there to stare at? What do you see?
The Boor: 'But I was careful not to look--knew better.
Cyrano: And why not look at me if you please?
The Boor: I was. .
Cyrano: Oh! I disgusts you!
The Boor: Sir!
Cyrano: My height seems unwholesome to you?
The Boor: No, on the contrary!. . .
Why then that air. Disparaging?--perchance you think I shouldn't be allowed in public?
Etc.
Then there is the lighting. Just because it's set in the 17th century, doesn't mean you can't use some incandescent lighting so we can see.
My rankings of cinema Cyranos:
!. Jose Ferrer's version,
2. 'Life of an Expert Swordsman, Toshiro Mifune's version. I went to see it just because it's a Toshiro Mifune samurai movie. During the opening act, I kept thinking 'I've seen this before.' but knew I hadn't.
Finally dawned on me, 'This is Cyrano!' Shows how closely the original had been followed.
3. Gerard Depardieu's version
4. Peter Dinklage version.
I don't count Steve Martin's 'Roxanne'.as a 'Cyrano'.
So my question remains:
Why?
In the Valley of the Rhine (1953)
Too Soon?
This was released in 1953, eight years after the war ended.
As I watched happy Germans dancing in a 'local wine garden'; I couldn't help but think of the effect it may have had on American veterans, or their widows, orphans and relatives in the audience when this was unexpectedly sprung on them,
Of the more than 16 million Americans who served, 2 million served in Europe, of which there were 552,117 U.S. casualties in the European theater of operations. Of those, 104,812 were killed in action.
I believe this would have brought back too many bad memories to too many people in the audience, and was ill-advised.
Marines, Let's Go (1961)
Are you kidding me?
Caught the movie while surfing, and would've kept on looking except they mentioned they were going to Yokosuka Japan for leave. Having been stationed in Yokosuka the year it was released, I had to stick around to see if they'd show any part of it. The movie kept mentioning the Ginza, which of course, is in Tokyo.
They probably were trying to refer to Honcho Street in Yokosuka, which was the main sailor bar street, and was definitely not the street they showed at night in the movie.
When they entered an alleged Yokosuka bar, I almost fell out of my chair laughing. Instead of a small, dingy, crowded bar with tables, booths and bar girls hustling fleet sailors for drinks, it was like a 50's night club in America, complete with tablecloths and lamps on tables with a stage and chorus girls.
IOW, nothing like any of the bars I saw in the two years I was stationed there. We base sailors, at the Naval Communications Station there had our own bar, the Bar Midnight, which was an all-night bar, not subject to cinderella liberty rules, as were the Honcho Street bars.
My first question was 'Why name Yokosuka as a destination city for leave, which they constantly referred to as 'furlough', an Army term..If you arrive by ship, perhaps, but Tokyo would've been the destination for R&R from Korea, not Yokosuka.
There was a Marine barracks on the base, but their main duty was guarding the Main Gate, running the Brig and firing the 105 mm howitzers at ceremonies, not running an 'intelligence unit' on base. And come to think of it, I don't remember ever seeing a Marine Shore Patrol unit off-base.
My second question was 'Who the hell wrote this . . . crud?'
A very derivative movie, nothing original or truly funny.
Dr. Yes (1965)
James Bond spoof
I saw this movie in Olongapo, Philippines in 1966. I do not speak a word of Tagalog, but it was not necessary. The comedy was so broad and physical, I laughed all the way through. I think it would be as watching a Laurel and Hardy movie without the dialog cards. Not necessary. It was a great spoof of the Bond movies. Wish I could see it again.
If you have ever heard of the phrase "thigh slapper",(something so funny you slap your thigh), this is it. The only problem here was that the girl who took me to see the movie, would double over in laughter, and slap MY thigh. Sore for a week.
Just as an afterthought, I went to see Thunderball in Manilla. There were signs in the lobby asking everyone to please check their pistols before entering the theater. Apparently there were incidents where patrons tried to help James out.