whatsupomar

If you read the other reviews you know by now that this film is about prostitution. I saw "Madeleine" many years ago in German with English subtitles and I was very impressed by the way it handled the subject matter, by the cinematography, and by the acting. Director Kurt Meisel also managed to create a compelling atmosphere that is fascinating and stays with you long after viewing the film. Also impressive are the performances of the two female leads, Eva Bartok as the experienced but sad Madeleine, and Sabine Sesselmann as the student who decides to help her and the other ladies trapped in the world prostitution. Since then, I have been trying to find a copy on home video that matches the original film but it has been impossible. The DVD badly dubbed in English and sold under the title "Naked in the night" is a total disaster. Do not buy it! The scenes in the film are out of order and you might have a tough time understanding it. Let´s hope that someday "Madeleine" receives the treatment it deserves in home video. The ideal is to be able to watch it in the original German with English subtitles. None of that laughable, distracting dubbing which cheapens an otherwise good movie.

This little known1945 production could very well be the best in the filmography of film pioneer and director Ramón Peón. Based on a play by Federico Gamboa and with a script by Emilio Fernández, Mauricio Magdaleno and Carlos Velo, "Entre hermanos" is truly a satisfying movie experience.

The story could be easily taken as a customary Mexican melodrama since it starts as the classic romantic tale of two men in love with the same woman. However that is where the similarity ends since the story, as written by the illustrious Federico Gamboa, develops into what seems a bona fide Greek tragedy. Two men, Ramón and Gerardo, are brothers who have known Pilar, the woman they both love, since childhood. The brothers are very serious about their love and intentions for Pilar but she is not so sure of her own feelings. The Mexican Revolution breaks out and both brothers go to fight in the front but, after a while, Ramón, plays a trick on his brother, deserts the army, and returns home to pursue his seduction of Pilar. Meanwhile, in the background there is the wailing Soledad, a mysterious woman who might be alive or dead but whose presence casts a shadow of doom over all.

While Geraldo becomes a hero of the Revolution, Pilar realizes that she is really in love with Ramón and marries him. Of course, that is not the end of the story because after that Gerardo will show up when you least expect it and Pilar tries some witchcraft from Soledad. You will surely be treated to more suspense, mystery and shock but I don´t want to spoil it for you. The cast of "Entre hermanos" was assembled from some of the greatest actors in Mexican cinema who were also favorites of the public. Pedro Armendáriz, Rafael Baledón, José Elías Moreno, etc. are all very good, but I would like to highlight the performances of the lead females Carmen Montejo, Anita Blanch and Isabela Corona. Those ladies turn out excellent performances, the kind that stays with you long after watching the film.

"Entre hermanos" takes place in rural Mexico at the beginning of the 20th Century and veteran cinematographer Jack Draper gives us images that transports us to the precise place and time. There are a few precious moments of visual excellence like the dance of "sowing seeds on the soil" by a group of female dancers wearing typical Indian customs. The sequence was artfully shot and is simply enchanting. I just hope this film gets the attention it deserves from cultural institutions such as Mexico´s UNAM, and from the home video industry. Maybe someday we can enjoy "Entre hermanos" digitally remastered and restored to the way it was originally conceived and filmed by director Ramón Peón and his crew.

I first saw this film in 1959 at age 13 and it made quite an impression. The image of a blonde beauty, bare-breasted in a car in the shadows of the night, was simply too much and it stayed in my mind forever. At the advent of the home video industry, a re-encounter with the nasty little film seemed possible but I had to wait three decades for it to become true. I am happy to report that thanks to the Gaumont folks in France, "Toi, le venin" came out in style, a magnificent print in black & white, in Blu-ray no less. The edition includes an original trailer and an interview with Marina Vlady talking about her character in the movie. Often, films that impressed us when young are as huge disappointment when we see them as adults. Thankfully this is not the case with "Toi, le venin" since, apart from the bare-breasted blonde, it is a fine film that will maintain your attention from beginning to end. Don´t miss it! They don´t make movies like this anymore.