scruffy58

This film has been a favorite of mine for nearly 45 years now and I have seen it countless times. The comedy is gentle - not laugh-out-load - and the quieter moments are full of grace. As a matter of fact, the comedy actually supports and enhances the drama, and it is these moments in which the film really shines. The casting is perfect - Rosalind Russell makes for a very believable Mother Superior, a woman who is not without her faults but who is filled with humanity and patience. Haley Mills as Mary Clancy and June Harding as Rachel Devery make a terrific duo as mischievous students. In particular, Mary's growth and transition throughout the film are filled with wonderful details for those with an eye for such things. The supporting cast is terrific as well with Marge Redmond a standout as Sister Liguori, a close friend and confidant of Mother Superior, and the ever reliable Mary Wickes as Sister Clarissa, whistle and all. The direction by the great Ida Lupino is assured and understated and the memorable score by the great Jerry Goldsmith is full of warmth and charm. Each time I view this film, it is like visiting an old and dear friend. The visit is filled with humor, pathos and bittersweet moments, much like life itself.

I recently attended a screening of "Gojira" at a local theater. I have seen it many times on DVD and Bluray, but this was my first opportunity to see it on the big screen. The film was just beautiful - the print itself cleaned up and the soundtrack sounding much better than I had expected it to. The film is a real treat to see on the big screen, as one can see greater attention to detail. There are some gorgeously framed and filmed compositions of the characters and the emotional context of the film - the triangular love story set against a very strong anti-war statement - was actually quite palpable and had a greater impact. The acting was all first-rate (some of the cast had already worked with Akira Kurosawa), the nighttime attacks actually nightmarish and the musical score by Akira Ifukube is, in my opinion, one of the greatest scores ever written for cinema. The film is, at times, very uncomfortable to watch: the radiation burns of the survivors in triage, the mother clutching her children as they are about to die, the heroic death of one of the major characters, the camera pan of a devastated Tokyo mimicking film footage of the burned and shattered remains of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The only things that didn't work on the big screen were the jet fighters - one could easily see the wires. Other than that, I truly feel the film is a masterpiece and one to treasure.