Posts Tagged ‘aristocracy’

Royal Scandal, A (1945)

Monday, December 15th, 2008
Genres: Comedy | Drama
Countries: USA
Actors: Bankhead, Tallulah | Coburn, Charles | Baxter, Anne | Eythe, William | Price, Vincent | Auer, Mischa | Ruman, Sig | Sokoloff, Vladimir | Rasumny, Mikhail | Baratoff, Paul | Beday, Eugene | Brecher, Egon | Carter, Harry | Chaliapin Jr., Feodor | De Linsky, Victor
Directors: Lubitsch, Ernst
Download: DivX iPod 

Catherine The Great had been portrayed by Mae West, Elizabeth Bergner, Marlene Dietrich, and Pola Negri. She lived to be 67 years old. Amazing, if we are to believe her amorous ways. Lubitsch was to have directed this, but he became ill and the reins were handed to Preminger, with Ernst looking over his shoulder and making sure that Otto’s customary heavy hand was somewhat lightened. The ancient Biro/Lengyel play “Czarina,” which had been used as the basis for other movies about the Russian queen, was adapted this time by Mayer and Frank, veteran screenwriters who knew what they were doing. To Bankhead’s St. Petersburg castle comes Eythe, a young cavalry officer who has ridden for days to tell her of a coup planned by two generals. Eythe admits that he has plenty of energy left despite the travel, so Bankhead requests that he return later that night for a “private interview.” Eythe is handsome, albeit a bit sappy, but he must have some ability in the lovemaking department, because his rise to the rank of general is rapid. Eythe is soon in love with Baxter, a virginal woman who is a lady in waiting. Bankhead falls hard for Eythe, and, when she learns that he is affianced to Baxter, the young woman is sent away. Eythe is heartbroken but still owes allegiance to his queen, so he helps overcome the plot to dethrone her. Bankhead is so happy at what he’s done, she allows Eythe and Baxter to reunite while she finds new thrills in the arms of Price, the French ambassador. With all of the sleeping around Bankhead does, it’s a wonder any state business ever got done in the years when Catherine was Great. A few laughs, but Bankhead chews up the scenery and the pacing is off a beat. Lubitsch had filmed this as FORBIDDEN PARADISE in 1924.

Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Saturday, October 20th, 2007
Genres: Drama | Romance
Countries: France | UK
Actors: Knightley, Keira | Riley, Talulah | Pike, Rosamund | Malone, Jena | Mulligan, Carey | Sutherland, Donald | Blethyn, Brenda | Blakley, Claudie | Morand, Sylvester | Woods, Simon | Reilly, Kelly | MacFadyen, Matthew | Torrens, Pip | Whiteside, Janet | Matthews, Sinead
Directors: Wright, Joe
Download: DivX 

The story is based on Jane Austen’s novel about five sisters - Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia Bennet - in Georgian England. Their lives are turned upside down when a wealthy young man (Mr. Bingley) and his best friend (Mr. Darcy) arrive in their neighborhood.

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)

Saturday, May 5th, 2007
Genres: Comedy | Drama | Romance
Countries: UK
Actors: Grant, Hugh | Fleet, James | Callow, Simon | Hannah, John | Scott Thomas, Kristin | Bower, David | Coleman, Charlotte | MacDowell, Andie | Walker, Timothy | Crowe, Sara | Herdman, Ronald | Gray, Elspet | Voss, Philip | Vansittart, Rupert | Walker, Nicola
Directors: Newell, Mike
Download: DVD DivX PDA 

The film follows the fortunes of Charles and his friends as they wonder if they will every find true love and marry. Charles thinks he’s found “Miss Right” in Carrie, an American. This British subtle comedy revolves around Charlie, his friends and the four weddings and one funeral which they attend.

Dangerous Liaisons (1988)

Thursday, February 8th, 2007
Genres: Drama | Romance
Countries: UK | USA
Actors: Close, Glenn | Malkovich, John | Pfeiffer, Michelle | Kurtz, Swoosie | Reeves, Keanu | Natwick, Mildred | Thurman, Uma | Capaldi, Peter | Sheridan, Joe | Gogan, Valerie | Benson, Laura | Pavlis, Joanna | Hawtrey, Nicholas | Do Nascimento, Paulo Abel | Lalande, François
Directors: Frears, Stephen
Download: DVD DivX PDA 

Set in France around 1760-1770. The Marquise de Merteuil needs a favour from her ex-lover, Vicomte de Valmont. One Marquise de Merteuil’s ex-lover, Gercourt, is planning on marrying a young, virtuos, woman called Cecile de Volanges. The Marquise would like Valmont to seduce Cecile before her wedding day. Meanwhile Valmont has a conquest of his own in mind, Madame de Tourvel, a beautiful, married, and God fearing woman. The Marquise doesn’t think that Valmont can do it, she tells him that if he can provide written proof of a sexual encounter with Madame de Tourvel, that she will offer him a reward, one last night with her. But Valmont will find himself falling in love with Mrs. de Tourvel, embrasing the deadly jealousy of the marquise de Merteuil.