yelsnebynot

It is hard to believe that for the past eight years, we have been treated to the goings on of Dr. Gregory House, MD and his ever-changing hired/fired/rehired medical team! An engrossingly, entertaining ride it has been, to say the least! On the one hour Swan Song retrospective that aired tonight, it was stated that out of all the characters, in order for the show to work, they had to get the Gregory House character nailed perfectly! I still laugh every time I read or hear about how the producer commented about how he was glad an "American" actor nailed the video audition, as he didn't have to worry about him (The very British Hugh Laurie!) not understanding the medical terms! Rather than give a long-winded review (I had to type the minimum 10 lines required by IMDb.com), I will simply state that this is one of the most truly bizarre, yet ultimately satisfying, and oddly endearing endings any series has ever had!

While this film is hardly the classic that Ninotchka is, it can be hardly faulted for it, as even Garbo could hardly be expected to top her stellar performance in that great comedy! I was actually quite surprised how good this film is, especially given the volume of negative press it has received through the years. Garbo, even in a slightly lesser effort, is still leagues ahead of most actresses of her day (I find Joan Crawford to be especially overrated!). Besides her forever enigmatic image, she was, perhaps surprisingly, quite adept at comedy. This film actually did very well in its day.

The reasons of Two Faced Woman ultimately being Greta Garbo's last film are a bit complicated and multi-faceted. A big reason why she didn't make any films after this one was the especially strong European Box Office returns that her films enjoyed during the 20's and 30's were, with few exceptions stopped dead in their tracks by the coming of the Second World War in 1939. No doubt, the U.S. entry near the end of 1941 also impacted in a number of ways, effectively keeping Greta out of films during the remaining war years.

Garbo was actually coming out of retirement in 1949 to do a film for MGM. Sadly, the project got cancelled, and Greta was apparently humiliated by the experience, and didn't wish to be in that position ever again.

There are likely other details that I have missed. Suffice it to say, the film itself had nothing to do with Garbo's permanent retirement from film! If you haven't seen Two Faced Woman and get the chance to do so, check it out!

Having recently viewed the outstanding Spanish version of Chickens Come Home (Politiquerias), I decided to view the Spanish version of Blotto (La Vida Nocturna). I did this, having read a review stating that, unlike the exceptional performing acts that lifted the former, the really bad acts in the latter served to bring it down. Unfortunately, I have to agree with that reviewer's assessment. The four performing acts were bookended by the pointless opening & closing (& utterly unimpressive!) solo dancers. The horrible second act was a definitely not attractive female (or female impersonator--frankly, I couldn't tell which!) dancer slapping a balloon around until it breaks. There was absolutely nothing redeeming about it, the clothing was beyond awful, & the performance was clumsy in an utterly unfunny way. I've seen kids in a park do funnier things with a balloon without trying. Its my understanding that the performance was meant as an Isadora Duncan ballet parody. As she died in 1927, she must have been writhing in her grave over this sad act! I know it seems as if I'm being mean here, but honestly, what was the casting director thinking when he/she let this act in? I had to watch it twice to make sure it really was that bad!! It was a shame that the following act, a male singer, who was obviously the best of the bunch, was mostly unseen. It was also the one instance where the English language would have helped this gringo to better appreciate the message behind the song that moved Stan to tears!

Despite all of this, I give this film a six out of ten, because the acting performances are all very good. Linda Laredo (who sadly died in 1931 at the young age of 24 from peritonitis!), turns in a very good performance as Stan's cunning & vindictive wife. I did notice though, that she seems to be trying not to laugh during the scene at the nightclub when she's at her table with her rifle. An untrained eye probably wouldn't notice it, however (I watch too many movies, LOL!).

Watching this film & Politiquerias back to back gives one an interesting perspective on how performing acts can raise or bring down the level of a movie. While Politiquerias works on so many levels, La Vida Nocturna is more for Laurel & Hardy completists of which I am admittedly among.