vleonica Reviews

Flame of Araby (1951)

Not her Maureen's Best, but her beauty & presence is always a pleasure!

[5/10 · 17 August 2007]

I am writing this because another wrote a throughly shoddy review which is undeserved; complaining about hair color & other unimportant things, whilst going on & on about Maria Montez, not that I am being disrespectful towards her, not at all, but as much as I too enjoyed the Jon Hall/Maria Montez movies, but ne'er could Maria Montez ever compare to Maureen O'Hara. I just this moment, finished watching the movie 'Bagdad', this other reviewer wrote a similar review for that movie also & it is just a pitiful.

I do not consider any of the parts overacted, nor do I find it odd for a Bedouin princess princess to have Flaming Red Hair. Where did it say that she was Bedouin, only a Bedouin princess. For all we know her mother could be Irish (like Maureen), just as Cleopatra VII had no Egyptian blood within her veins, or more currently, (1810) the current dynasty of Sweden (the Bernadottes) originally were French (Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, a Marshall of France, during the time of Napoleon I), was elected heir to King Charles XIII of Sweden.

But aside from these justifications regarding hair color, we must remember that things like hair color are not important things to consider when reviewing a movie, but only whether or the the movie was entertaining. In that regard I can say that I shan't be clambering to see this one again, or 'Bagdad' either. The sets were beautiful, the costumes even more so, but the movie itself, just wasn't that good. But this is the fault of the script, not any other.

The Lion and the Horse (1952)

Wonderful Family Story

[10/10 · 19 January 2003]

This movie ranks among movies like Lassie, Smoky, National Velvet & The Black Stallion. This tear jerker story is about a man & his horse & the wonderful bond they had. Unfortunately it has never been released on video & I have not found it on TV, Cable or Satellite since I was a kid. At least not since the invention of VCR's. I have many fond memories of this film.

Tenspeed and Brown Shoe: Pilot: Part 1 (1980) Season 1, Episode 1

Unique & Refreshing

[10/10 · 18 January 2003]

This was a terrific series of a con man & a businessman who get together as PI's. A wonderful plotline which continued into a great though short lived series, unfortunately. As far as I know this has not aired since the invention of VCR's, or at least I should say since most owned one & blank tapes were widely available. Isn't it a shame that so many real good series as this one were short lived. To name a few (The Outlaws, Airwolf, even Star Trek TOS & look what it started). What's wrong with those guys in Hollywood anyway....

Marie Antoinette (1938)

Norma Shearer brings her graceful elegance to the role of the Queen in this epic production!

[10/10 · 29 December 2002]

Fairly accurate Historical Drama of the life of Marie Antoinette from when she left Austria (age 15 in 1770) to marry the Dauphin of France through her demise via guillotine (1793) in the chaos of the French Revolution. The beautiful Arch Dutchess, Princess of the house of Hapsburg, daughter of Empress Marie Theresa, Queen of Austria and Hungry & Francis 1, Holy Roman Emperor, foresees a glorious future with her marriage to the dauphin of France. Marie envisions palaces, magnificent jewels, breathing taking gowns & servants. All she dreams of comes true only for it to be swept away during the Reign of Terror. Norma Shearer brings her graceful elegance to the role of the Queen in this epic production, which is as vast & luxurious as the era it portrays.

Thousands of yards of satin & lace, a then gigantic 1.8 dollar million budget plus hundreds of extras made this movie one of the most opulent epic's of the 30's & shall forever shine as one of the most glamorous ever made.

Norma Shearer's nomination for an Academy Award was well deserved but, unfortunately she was up against another actress in equally powerful role & the award went to Bette Davis in Jezebel & though I love the movie Jezebel I wished Norma Shearer had won.

Shearer's very powerful role was a great challenge which she met with great skill. Her delightful performance makes this a film to be cherished as we see her as a giddy youth while she enjoys being the dauphine, flirtatious nature with Count Fersen, loving queen to Louis XVI, anxious escapee during Flight to Varennes, horrified spouse when she learns of her husbands fate, terrified parent when her child is taken from her & dignified condemned prisoner as she rides in the cart & up the stairs to die are all moments is this wonderful movie than begin when the movie begins & wont ever end in your mind. Truly a magnificent actress in her most glorious role which she brought to life as if she herself lived the part, and who knows, perhaps she did. It's interesting to note that the leading actors/actresses within this movie bear a strong resemblance to the people they portray. In reality Fersen was fair haired, but the facial resemblance is uncanny to say the least. No doubt MGM's way of making the movie more realistic. Definitely among my 10 favorite movies of all time.

The King's Pirate (1967)

Delightful!

[10/10 · 8 February 2002]

A charming remake of "Against All Flags". Doug McClure takes on Errol Flynn's role but this director, as well as the cast have a delightful sense of humor & everyone appears to be having a good time. It's the same movie (almost word for word) but at the same time it's totally different. I hate to admit it but this movie is better than the original. Watching them both in the same day is quite an experience. Two great casts, one fine story yet two different genres.