Howard Orr
27Dec11
I agree that Black Narcissus and Days of Heaven are about neck for the most beautiful film ever made. But, if it isn't inapporopriate to mix colour and b/w, I'd also add Lean's version of Oliver Twist as worthy of contention, imo.
Wall
Displaying wall posts 1 - 30 of 51 in total
Joona Kivirinta
28Apr12
I think these guys were just clever lovers of kitsch, smart enough to plant little meanings here and there for the scholars to enjoy. The most obvious example being the classroom scene with the children repeating: "gun", "bayonet"... My feeling was that Douglas Sirk did the same with more sophistication. Still, this is a unique film and deserves to be celebrated in all its silliness.
Yuki Aditya likes this
Howard Orr
25Dec11
To me this sums up everything that has been lost in cinema: rich and simple in its means of expression without *being* simple. Cinema as ballet; distainful of realism but anchored in warm human gestures and emotions.
Zach Eastman
1Dec11
A haunting tale of repressed passion and growing madness. An elegant psychological thriller with beautiful cinematography
WhatsUpWill
12Nov11
Quite possibly the most beautiful film ever made. It sure gives Days of Heaven a run for its money! Deborah Kerr gives a career defining performance. The story is subtly complex. It's impossible not to be seduced by this wonderful master work of a film. My favorite Powell & Pressburger so far.
Christopher Connell
27Aug11
Just saw it on the big screen at MFA. Seeing it tomorrow too. The print was scratched, faded and crackled like a firecracker, but still the happiest big screen experience of my life.
agostinellips likes this
Ace Craven
13Jul11
The expression in the faces surpasses just about every other film: taut and controlled yet loud and emotional -and there's the eyes which add a whole other layer. The colors, cinematography, the production design -all amongst the greatest ever exhibited. You really do feel that a great more is at risk in that whore house. =)
Trevor
11Jul11
One of my all time favorites! Cardiff's Technicolor photography is a remarkable achievement by itself. The controlled atmosphere is both realistic in feeling and expressionist. The script, an oft overlooked element in P & P's films. The cast is great, from the sexy Simmons to the smoldering Farr, and especially Robson, who rips the movie away from everyone in her marvelously mad performance.
msmichel
24Jun11
Beautiful cinematography by the great Jack Cardiff is this picture's true taste of immortality. The basic story is that of melodrama and the performances all over the wall. Kerr perfectly cast but some of the overacting and mugging in this picture ...oh my. Big fan of "The Archers" but overall this one left me kind of cold. Give me "Stairway to Heaven" , "Tales of Hoffmann" or 'Red Shoes" anyday.
David Lara
25May11
They don't make em' like this anymore! What other film can have such rich cinematography, nun drama, and an ending fit for a horror film! Wow.
Grant likes this
Dave
24May11
That screen cap is a perfect example of the visual beauty found throughout this film. The Criterion blu-ray is an absolute must-buy. Despite strong competition, it remains my favorite Archers film. The uneasy feeling that bubbles under everything that happens is unnerving, to say the least.
catch_33
2Apr11
Who ever though a film about a convent could be as interesting as this. A dark yet beautifully photographed film about what happens when people attempt to control their environments. The sexual tension is perfect as is the thematic use of colour, allowing the film to linger and bubble until the explosive finale which is honestly, demented and frightening. The Archers have yet to disappoint me yet.
