Monday, March 18, 2013

Star Of The Month: Greer Garson.


Desire Me (1947). Shortly after WWII, flashbacks tell the story of Marise, her husband Paul and Jean, who was imprisoned with Paul in a German camp:

While attempting to escape from the camp Paul is shot and killed, Jean goes to see Marise.

Jean has fallen in love with Marise through the stories Paul told him and wants to stay with her in the seaside town Brittany.

Video: First of 10.





Julia Misbehaves (1948). A romantic comedy film. Cast: Greer Garson, Elizabeth Taylor and Walter Pidgeon.

In 1936 London, showgirl Julia Packett, threatens suicide to swindle some money out of a male friend to pay her bills. Then, she receives a wedding invitation from her daughter Susan.

Julia had married wealthy William Packett. However, his disapproving mother breaks them up. Julia returns to show business, but left her baby daughter with her husband.

On the boat trip to France, she meets and becomes attracted to Fred Ghenoccio, an acrobat.

Later, Fred proposes to her as her train pulls away from the station. When Julia reaches her destination, she is penniless, so following her usual methods, she gets a stranger, Colonel Willowbrook, to give her money, supposedly for a negligee and other clothing. However, she sneaks away before Willowbrook tries to become better acquainted with her.

Her mother-in-law is less than pleased to see her, but Julia manages to see Susan, who insists she stay. As time goes by, William's love for Julia revives.

Meanwhile, Julia observes that Susan has strong feelings about lovestruck painter Ritchie Lorgan, though he is not her fiance  Though Susan claims to be merely annoyed, Julia sees that Susan loves the young man and does her best to bring the two together. It works.

Meanwhile, Julia remains skeptical of William's restored love, unable to forget the past. Complications arise when Fred shows up to claim his "fiance". However, when William encounters his old friend, Colonel Willowbrook, he learns of Julia's misdeed.

William persuades his friend to pretend to not know him and interrupt their breakfast. The revelation of Julia's questionable method of raising funds sends Fred packing.

Eventually, Susan takes Julia's suggestion and elopes with Ritchie. When William chases after them, followed by Julia, they discover they have been tricked into going to the wrong place. Following Susan's instructions, servants drive away their cars, leaving them stranded for 48 hours in their isolated honeymoon cabin. Julia tries to walk away in a rainstorm, but ends up in the mud. When William comes to her rescue, he ends up sprawled in the muck as well, leaving them both laughing at their predicament.

Video: Movie in full.





That Forsyte Woman (1949). Romance. Cast: Greer Garson, Errol Flynn, Walter Pidgeon, Robert Young and Janet Leigh. Walter Plunkett and Arlington Valles were nominated for an Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Color. The original music score was composed by Bronislau Kaper.

Irene is the wife of Victorian "man of property" Soames Forsyte, having married without love but after many proposals. Rebelling against her husband's preoccupation with material possessions, a list in which she is included, Irene falls in love with unconventional architect Philip Bosinney, who is engaged to Soames' niece June, one of Irene's closest friends.

Soames learns of Irene's affair with Bosinney, and rather than allowing Irene to leave him, he reasserts his physical rights. When Soames and Bosinney discover that Irene has run away, Bosinney rushes out in the foggy London streets after her, only to be run over in an accident. After Irene learns of Bosinney's death she takes refuge with Soames' cousin Young Jolyon, who is June's estranged father but has sympathy for Irene's plight. Irene and Young Jolyon eventually marry, after Irene spurns Soames' attempts at reconciliation..

Video: A scene from the movie.






The Miniver Story (1950). Is the sequel to the 1942 film Mrs. Miniver. Cast: Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon.  Filmed on location in England. The film was directed by H.C. Potter and produced by Sidney Franklin, from a screenplay by George Froeschel and Ronald Millar based on characters created by Jan Struther. The music score was by Miklós Rózsa and Herbert Stothart, with additional music by Daniele Amfitheatrof (from Mrs. Miniver) (uncredited) and the cinematography by Joseph Ruttenberg.

Kay), Clem, Reginald Owen (Mr. Foley) and Henry Wilcoxon (Vicar) played their original roles. Also in the cast were Peter Finch (Polish officer) and James Fox in his first film appearance (Toby Miniver).

 The story, told partly in flashback and narrated by Clem Miniver, commences on VE Day as Clem and Judy return home from war service and Toby returns from a foster family in America. Judy, a corporal driver, is loved by Tom Foley, a captain in the Royal Engineers, but she is besotted with a general (Leo Genn) married but separated and twice her age.

Kay Miniver has also conducted a brief and innocent affair with an American colonel. Clem is now restless and dissatisfied; he successfully applies for a design contract in Brazil. But Kay, unknown to him, has developed a major cardiac condition and has one year at most to live.

Despite this, she persuades the general to return to his wife, leaving Judy free to marry Tom. The wedding goes ahead. Clem, now aware of Kay's medical condition, decides to stay in London and brings Tom into his architectural practice. Satisfied that her family are safe and happy, Kay dies.

No mention is made of the eldest Miniver son, Vincent, who appeared in the earlier film, possibly because Greer Garson and Richard Ney (the actor who portrayed Vincent) had married and been divorced (1943–1947) by the time The Miniver Story was produced in 1950.

Video: A scene from the movie.






The Law And The Lady(1951). A comedy film directed by Edwin H. Knopf. Cast: Greer Garson, Michael Wilding and Fernando Lamas, and based on the play The Last of Mrs. Cheyney by Frederick Lonsdale.

A former housemaid now works as a confidence trickster, but her plans for a big job in California go awry.

Video: Movie trailer.









Julius Caesar (1953). Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, who also wrote the uncredited screenplay, and produced by John Houseman. The original music score is by Miklós Rózsa. The film stars Marlon Brando as Mark Antony, James Mason as Brutus, John Gielgud as Cassius, Louis Calhern as Julius Caesar, Edmond O'Brien as Casca, Greer Garson as Calpurnia, and Deborah Kerr as Portia.

The assassination of Julius Caesar the would be ruler of Rome, by Brutus and his men and has tragic consequences.

Video: A scene from the film.








2 comments:

  1. I've actually seen only bits and pieces Julius Caesar, but never watched it all the way through.Julia Misbehaves sounds like the kind of classic romantic comedy that I usually like to see.

    Thanks for posting this Dawn!

    -B

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mighty B, From this list Julia Misbehaves, is my favorite film.

    ReplyDelete

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