tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post1967739376841184829..comments2024-02-10T04:53:42.121-05:00Comments on Tales of the Easily Distracted: How Christina and Nicole Spent their Weekend VacationDorianTBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-34826971316867720082012-07-18T18:46:13.234-04:002012-07-18T18:46:13.234-04:00Rick, thanks for your positive comments on my DIAB...Rick, thanks for your positive comments on my DIABOLIQUE post! It was one of the earliest subtitled foreign-language films I ever saw, too (the first one being Jean-Paul Belmondo's 1964 comedy-adventure THAT MAN FROM RIO, for the record). I watched DIABOLIQUE again on TCM's "The Essentials" to prepare myself for my blog post, and I not only enjoyed Robert Osbourne and Drew Barrymore's intros and outros, but I was also pleased that the subtitles were easy to read! :-) I've been meaning to catch up with GAMES; surely with that cast alone, it must be worth at least a look!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-45161921910277033392012-07-17T22:43:09.261-04:002012-07-17T22:43:09.261-04:00Dorian, well-done review of one of the first forei...Dorian, well-done review of one of the first foreign-language films I ever watched. It was a poor-quality print and I remember missing out on crucial subtitles because they were superimposed over a white objects such as a table (these days, they'rd made those subtitles yellow). DIABOLIQUE holds well today, in fact much better than its American semi-remake GAMES, also with Simone (which I just watched recently).Rick29https://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-89682678511197748582012-07-11T12:52:46.020-04:002012-07-11T12:52:46.020-04:00Le, thanks for your kind words about our Blogathon...Le, thanks for your kind words about our Blogathon my review of LES DIABOLIQUES, as you folks call it in France! I agree, it's interesting that Alfred Hitchcock himself nearly got the rights to the film before Clouzot got it first. I wonder if moviegoers of the time thought of it as a "copycat," or if they were too busy having fun being scared during the movie? Thanks so much for participating along with us!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-57233110911808657072012-07-11T09:49:26.098-04:002012-07-11T09:49:26.098-04:00Even admiring and writing about Truffaut, I still ...Even admiring and writing about Truffaut, I still have a gap in French cinema. I've already heard about Les Diaboliques, but never seen.<br />It's interesting that a movie so close to Hitch's touch was made during his directing career, not after as a tribute. And more interesting is that he wanted to purchase the rights for story!<br />Thanks for hosting this amazing blogathon, Dorian!<br />LeLêhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02419693749682458647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-59986988574552937672012-07-10T20:50:16.954-04:002012-07-10T20:50:16.954-04:00Aurora, sorry it took a while to find the comment ...Aurora, sorry it took a while to find the comment section; the well-meaning folks at Blogger are always tinkering away in their attempts to improve their whistles and bells! But Blogger isn't anywhere near as scary as DIABOLIQUE! :-) I confess that when I first watched it a few years back, I kept chickening out, too. Finally, my husband Vinnie watched it with me and did a playful MST3K riff on it, and since then, I've been able to enjoy DIABOLIQUE for both its terror and its dark humor (witness my captions :-))! :-)DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-67984352000393966042012-07-10T20:00:27.619-04:002012-07-10T20:00:27.619-04:00Dorian!
Great piece. I've started to watch DI...Dorian!<br />Great piece. I've started to watch DIABOLIQUE several times and have turned away. I'm a sissy - scared the bejeesus outta me. But I may well take a look after reading your insight.<br /><br />Only took me forever to find how/where to comment. I'm exhausted! <br /><br />AuroraCitizen Screenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11596338896095275116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-3352886296019476742012-07-10T13:01:37.940-04:002012-07-10T13:01:37.940-04:00Joey, a MonsterGirl by any name is still as fun as...Joey, a MonsterGirl by any name is still as fun as you are gracious! :-) Thanks a million for your enthusiastic praise for my DIABOLIQUE blog post, and also, thanks for not only enjoying our Blogathon labor of love, but for being part of it yourself! I see you've already posted your ROAD GAMES/KARLOFF'S THRILLER two-fer, so I'm gonna head right over and enjoy your post! :-)DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-30308319127284180142012-07-10T12:24:37.968-04:002012-07-10T12:24:37.968-04:00Dorian!
I thoroughly enjoyed your post on Diabol...Dorian! <br /><br />I thoroughly enjoyed your post on Diabolique- you nailed it on it's eerie head. I think the Best Hitchcock films Hitchcock Never Made is a smashing success and I'm thrilled to be joining you clever and humorous folks who make reading about the love of film as enjoyable as watching them!<br /><br />See you soon: MonsterGirl (Joey)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-36323775028816792152012-07-10T12:17:55.369-04:002012-07-10T12:17:55.369-04:00Dorian!
I thoroughly enjoyed your post on Diabol...Dorian! <br /><br />I thoroughly enjoyed your post on Diabolique- you nailed it on it's eerie head. I think the Best Hitchcock films Hitchcock Never Made is a smashing success and I'm thrilled to be joining you clever and humorous folks who make reading about the love of film as enjoyable as watching them!<br /><br />See you soon: MonsterGirl (Joey)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-16751564397934514372012-07-10T11:35:59.896-04:002012-07-10T11:35:59.896-04:00Christian, thanks so much for your positive feedba...Christian, thanks so much for your positive feedback about my take on DIABOLIQUE! I'm a great believer in keeping shocking movie secrets, or if worse comes to worst, great big Spoiler Alerts! :-) I agree with you that not only is DIABOLIQUE one of the darkest (literally!) suspense films ever made, but it also earns its chills and thrills the good old-fashioned way, with great acting, plotting, and atmosphere -- no CGI whistles and bells required. And yes, I like Simone Signoret, too; indeed, I remember my dear late mom talking about Signoret and her hubby Yves Montand; they sounded like quite a couple! I'm looking forward to reading your upcoming post about THE STRANGER!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-6719211093810499972012-07-10T02:56:07.737-04:002012-07-10T02:56:07.737-04:00Great post Dorian. And thats commendable that you ...Great post Dorian. And thats commendable that you didn't give the plot away - it has to be seen in its complete evolution of shock and horor. Though in black and white and with it's forlorn beginning, it seems like it could be an ordinary French movie. But not this one. It's still one of the darkest movies I've ever seen - done with an honest and old-fashioned plot development that needs no bursts of sound or trick photography to chill you to the bone. You are right about the two great actresses, and by the way, Simone Signoret was Yves Montand's wife for many years. Thanks for this great post and great blogathon.Christian Esquevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04442827724576856379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-87286338707251795922012-07-09T22:45:30.987-04:002012-07-09T22:45:30.987-04:00Yvette, I'm honored by your praise of my "...Yvette, I'm honored by your praise of my "movie maven-ness" and my daffy turns of phrase! Many thanks, my dear friend! I'm glad upi enjoyed reading my DIABOLIQUE post! If you're feeling feisty and you can get your adorable granddaughter to bed, you and your daughter could have a mom-daughter movie night with DIABOLIQUE! With you gals hugging each other in fright, it'll be a real bonding moment! :-) On a related note, one of these days I'll have to review the comedy-thriller WHO IS KILLING THE GREAT CHEFS OF EUROPE so I can tell you (and our fellow bloggers) about our family anecdote about how Mom and I stayed after ...CHEFS... to see a little movie that was then in previews, called HALLOWEEN -- another scary yet hilarious bonding moment! :-)<br /><br />You've also reminded me that I must catch up with LA BELLE ET LA BETE soon, as well as revisiting DIVA, which I've been wanting to see again for ages! Looking forward to ABOVE SUSPICION! :-)DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-27534235102538622242012-07-09T22:22:51.700-04:002012-07-09T22:22:51.700-04:00Great review, Dorian. Just the usual I've come...Great review, Dorian. Just the usual I've come to expect from your movie maven-ess. (That's like 'duchess' but different.) I could swear I've seen this film sometime in the misty long-ago. Probably couldn't watch it today though, too intense for my feeble old nerve-endings. HA!<br /><br />'...leading lady in real and reel life...' LOVE it, Dorian.<br /><br />I do love French films too. You know, I think I've told you, that two of my all time favorites are DIVA and LA BELLE ET LA BETE. ONLY in French with subtitles, bien sur.<br /><br />I'm playing catch-up now going around and seeing all the different posts. Great BLOGATHON, ladies.<br /><br />Oh, all right, maybe I will watch this one of these days. :)Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-37203847139395287502012-07-09T14:43:02.554-04:002012-07-09T14:43:02.554-04:00Dave, many thanks for your praise! I agree, DIABOL...Dave, many thanks for your praise! I agree, DIABOLIQUE is definitely one of those films whose suspenseful moments always feel fresh and unpredictable, no matter how many times you've seen it!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-39380977568603685002012-07-09T14:39:33.913-04:002012-07-09T14:39:33.913-04:00Thanks for your kind comments, Dawn, you're a ...Thanks for your kind comments, Dawn, you're a pal! If you love movies that scare you, trust me, DIABOLIQUE will fill the bill, big-time! :-) Looking forward to your upcoming FOUL PLAY review!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-21258375342594592582012-07-09T08:53:53.072-04:002012-07-09T08:53:53.072-04:00Great post Dorian. I saw DIABOLIQUE again not lon...Great post Dorian. I saw DIABOLIQUE again not long ago and realized that no matter how many times you watch it, the suspense is still there. And the couple upstairs from the murder scene are a hoot!!! The film is just amazing ...Dave the Movie Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10706646923615786483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-11033569336381329252012-07-09T07:49:26.182-04:002012-07-09T07:49:26.182-04:00Thank you, for a wonderful review to a film I have...Thank you, for a wonderful review to a film I have not yet seen. This film, sounds like it has lots of scary twists and turns. Also, the pictures you picked look pretty scary!!!Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476174860119487509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-40507180402220187522012-07-08T18:06:32.437-04:002012-07-08T18:06:32.437-04:00CFB, I hope you get another chance to watch DIABOL...CFB, I hope you get another chance to watch DIABOLIQUE again (it turned up on TCM recently). It's well worth another look, especially with the surprise ending (which I won't reveal!) I agree with you wholeheartedly about Vera Clouzot; she was the kind of actor who truly acted with her eyes, making you feel like you were in her shoes. On a related note, thinking about DIABOLIQUE got me thinking about OSSESSIONE, Luchino Visconti's Italian film version of James M. Cain's THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE, because it too was inspired by film noir, yet had a more earthy feel to it. Thanks so much for your comments; feel free to join the TotED chat with us anytime, with or without Blogathons! :-)DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-53870031851042223652012-07-08T17:51:39.127-04:002012-07-08T17:51:39.127-04:00Eve, you make excellent points about Hitchcock'...Eve, you make excellent points about Hitchcock's Technicolor/VistaVision vs. Clouzot's richly dark, stunning black-and-white. I'm reminded of Henry Hathaway's thriller NIAGARA, which had a gorgeous bright color palette, while still having the black heart of a film noir. Perhaps noir-style gloom and doom are in the eye of the beholder? :-)DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-72365910803233600202012-07-08T15:38:52.303-04:002012-07-08T15:38:52.303-04:00As I read the Boileau-Narcejac (an English transla...As I read the Boileau-Narcejac (an English translation) novel "D'Entre Les Morts," I visualized it much more in the style of Clouzot (existentially gloomy, in b&w, etc.) than Hitchcock's pyrotechnical "Vertigo." What Hitchcock did, of course, was take a well written piece of genre fiction and, imposing his creative vision and technical ingenuity, created an absolutely dazzling Technicolor/VistaVision masterpiece. (I'd still be curious to see what Clouzot would have made of it, though)The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-62466620182422098862012-07-08T14:56:04.693-04:002012-07-08T14:56:04.693-04:00Great post on a terrific film. Haven't seen it...Great post on a terrific film. Haven't seen it in years but I do recommend it to people. Vera Clouzot's eyes say it all in this film; she is so good, and it's a difficult role. I'm not sure any Hollywood actress at that time could have done it justice.Classicfilmboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01278928051994100842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-37964844051991000782012-07-08T13:03:38.695-04:002012-07-08T13:03:38.695-04:00You know, Caftan Woman, I bet you're right tha...You know, Caftan Woman, I bet you're right that Clouzot's DIABOLIQUE even gave Hitchcock the willies (especially since I've read that Clouzot was a tough taskmaster in real life)! Well, I guess that, to paraphrase the Perdue Chicken commercials, it takes a tough man to make a terrifying movie! :-) I'm looking forward to your EXPERIMENT IN TERROR tomorrow!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-37677516984718882882012-07-08T09:02:32.815-04:002012-07-08T09:02:32.815-04:00"...sinks into your gut and haunts your dream..."...sinks into your gut and haunts your dreams..." I'll wager it even gave Hitch nightmares!Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-3719744831540688512012-07-07T22:48:54.264-04:002012-07-07T22:48:54.264-04:00Eve, many thanks for your positive comments about ...Eve, many thanks for your positive comments about my DIABOLIQUE post! It makes sense to me that Alfred Hitchcock would have seen DIABOLIQUE (heck, Hitchcock came THISCLOSE to grabbing the rights to the original Boileau-Narcejac novel); a savvy filmmaker like him would surely want to see what the competition was turning out! :-) You also make an excellent point about the particularly strong horror elements in Clouzot's work. Every filmmaker has his/her own take on the same stories, when you get right down to it.<br /><br />While we're on that subject, I know you were concerned about the Blogathon, and I truly hope you'll still be participating as originally and beautifully planned. Remember, several of us are blogging about the same films for this Blogathon, even me, and just as no two readers truly read the same novel, no two bloggers truly write and read the same blog post on the same movie! :-) Please stay; the Blogathon wouldn't be as much fun without you!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-509497574816685109.post-27253411977574421022012-07-07T22:30:43.731-04:002012-07-07T22:30:43.731-04:00whistlinggypsy, thanks a million for your kind pra...whistlinggypsy, thanks a million for your kind praise AND for your delightfully witty comments! I usually try to be open-minded and give a remake a fair shake, but the original DIABOLIQUE has me spellbound every time. As the saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Moreover, I absolutely love what you said about the futility of lackluster remakes of classics: "...In future the response should be 'Honey, have we not learned our lesson from the remake of 'The Women?'" :-) I can hardly wait to see your Blogathon post, THE WHITE ANGEL!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.com