pauldeboef

Wonderful gay movie. Really one of the best I have ever seen. Great acting, especially by the protagonist. In the first scenes he is riding on his bicycle through the streets of San Francisco. Then he enters a ferry to Sausalito. There's a perfect cohesion between the images and the music of Sid Ramin (Stiletto soundtrack), creating a wonderful dreamlike atmosphere. Near Sausalito he meets another guy on a bicycle. They find a quiet and remote place to have sex. Then they move to his apartment in San Francisco. They call up two other guys to join them. Together they have some naked playtime fun.

It's a realistic story without comedy. There are only four actors and they improvise a lot. The guys are very beautiful, and pretty unknown. This was fifty years ago and I wonder what has become of them. They were so happy together. Are they still alive?

THE CRASH is a wonderful short film from start to finish. It is directed by William Dieterle in a very sophisticated style. The Warner Archive Collection DVD-R is an excellent transfer.

"Ruth Chatterton has given the finest portrayal of her career" says George Brent in the trailer. I agree and consider this film as her best. She was miscast in some of her films, in ''Lilly Turner" for instance, but the character of Linda Gault fits her like a glove. Chatterton does not act in this film, she IS her character. Her perfect acting is a knock-out in every scene. I never saw her any better.

Linda Gault is a spoiled rich woman, bored with life. When she is telling a lie to her husband she gets in big trouble. Eventually it will change her life completely.

CHATTERBOX is a combination of drama and comedy.. The film was less predictable than I thought. Jenny (Anne Shirley), a young girl from Vermont, wants to be an actress. Her mother was an actress and her most famous role was in the 1890's stage play "Virtue's Reward". Jenny is a bit otherwordly, living in a world of her own, the bygone world of the 1890's. She meets a young artist/painter Phil (Phillips Holmes). She is secretly in love with him. He appears to be not interested in her. Reluctantly he takes her to a theatrical company in New York where she can get a part in her favorite play "Virtue's Reward": This melodramatic play has now become a comedy, but she doesn't know that and she takes the part very seriously. Phil worries about what will happen when she finds out the truth about the whole thing.

This is a wonderful film from start to satisfying finish. Perfect acting by the entire cast. Young Anne Shirley gives a terrific performance. She's very intense and she makes even the comedy parts dramatic and honest. Her trustfulness and enthusiasm are poignant. The very talented Phillips Holmes (now undeservedly degraded to B-films) is also surprisingly good and totally convincing. A remarkable film. I am hoping for a DVD release for a better print quality!