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'The Paradine Case' (1947)
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calvin
May 21, 2012, 7:12:00 PM5/21/12
to
I enjoyed it, but Hitchcock (in an interview included
on the DVD) said that the casting was wrong and messed
up everything. He didn't have any problem with the
women, but thought that the dead man's valet (Louis
Jourdan) and the defense council (Gregory Peck) were
not right at all. He said that Jourdan was too 'clean
cut' and that Peck's part needed someone of more gravitas
(my word) such as Ronald Colman or Laurence Olivier,
but Selznick had control of the casting, which apparently
was done before Hitchcock's involvement.
Apparently Hitchcock outsmarted Selznick in the matter
of editing, however, leaving the hands-on producer no
alternate footage to use, by filming exactly what the
script required and no more.
The credits list Hitchcock's wife, Alma Reville for the
novel's adaptation, but Selznick as author of the
screenplay. What a hellish collaboration that of
Hitchcock and Selznick must have been.
As for the movie itself, on its own terms, as if no
background were known, I thought it was a competent
and well-done courtroom mystery, and I liked the whole
cast, including Peck and Jourdan. I expected Charles
Laughton, as the biased judge, to have more screen time,
but the time he had was effective.
Though the movie was well-directed, there was nothing
especially Hitchcockian about it that I noticed.
Maybe a second viewing someday will bring it out.
The movie's pristine restoration on the DVD is
impressive, and may well look better than the original
did on screen.
on the DVD) said that the casting was wrong and messed
up everything. He didn't have any problem with the
women, but thought that the dead man's valet (Louis
Jourdan) and the defense council (Gregory Peck) were
not right at all. He said that Jourdan was too 'clean
cut' and that Peck's part needed someone of more gravitas
(my word) such as Ronald Colman or Laurence Olivier,
but Selznick had control of the casting, which apparently
was done before Hitchcock's involvement.
Apparently Hitchcock outsmarted Selznick in the matter
of editing, however, leaving the hands-on producer no
alternate footage to use, by filming exactly what the
script required and no more.
The credits list Hitchcock's wife, Alma Reville for the
novel's adaptation, but Selznick as author of the
screenplay. What a hellish collaboration that of
Hitchcock and Selznick must have been.
As for the movie itself, on its own terms, as if no
background were known, I thought it was a competent
and well-done courtroom mystery, and I liked the whole
cast, including Peck and Jourdan. I expected Charles
Laughton, as the biased judge, to have more screen time,
but the time he had was effective.
Though the movie was well-directed, there was nothing
especially Hitchcockian about it that I noticed.
Maybe a second viewing someday will bring it out.
The movie's pristine restoration on the DVD is
impressive, and may well look better than the original
did on screen.
calvin
May 21, 2012, 8:18:23 PM5/21/12
to
For a very specialized audience, and you will
know who you are, the main female character
in this movie was played by Alida Valli
(credited as 'Valli'). She was agreeably
familiar, though I couldn't place her, but it
has suddenly dawned on me. And from the IMDb
I see she was in 'The Third Man' too. Outstanding.
know who you are, the main female character
in this movie was played by Alida Valli
(credited as 'Valli'). She was agreeably
familiar, though I couldn't place her, but it
has suddenly dawned on me. And from the IMDb
I see she was in 'The Third Man' too. Outstanding.
Wull
May 21, 2012, 8:28:22 PM5/21/12
to
"calvin" <cri...@windstream.net> wrote in message
news:19a8436b-dbab-4ce0...@googlegroups.com...
most perfect profile in the movies. Another good movie of hers was "The
Miracle of the Bells". And she was one of those beautiful Italian women.
Wull
David Matthews
May 22, 2012, 7:38:08 PM5/22/12
to
about the miscasting. One of the scenes that thought I was definitely
Hitchcockian was the one where Peck visits the scene of the crime and
as he searches the bedroom the eyes of Mrs Paradine (Valli) in the
portrait above the bed seem to be following him everywhere as he walks
around.
Dave M
Kerrison
May 23, 2012, 6:27:01 PM5/23/12
to
with children, animals, or Charles Laughton" ... and here's CL
stealing a little scene in which he makes a pass at Ann Todd ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4djw8tRC3A8
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