"Waterloo Bridge" is one of my ten favorite melodramas ,in the same league as "imitation of life", "magnificent obsession" (2 versions each)or "to each his own" .
I'd always thought that "That Lady Hamilton" was Leigh's third best performance (after "GWTW" and "a streetcar named desire" )but I've got to make amends :After watching Le Roy's nugget for the third or fourth time yesterday ,I think this is one of the pearls on the crown of Mrs Leigh's too small filmography.
"Waterloo bridge" is close to perfection ,so beautiful it can grab even people who do not care much for melodramas.The cinematography is dazzling,stunning:I will only mention this scene when the two lovers arrive in Cronin's desirable mansion ,it looks like a fairy tale.
There are so many unforgettable scenes in " Waterloo bridge" it's impossible to talk about all of them:
"The Farewell Waltz ",when they snuff a candle each time the dancers go round the dance hall,is one of the most romantic scene you have ever watched.
The ball ,in the manor,where Mara looks a bit like Cinderella ,with her ugly "sisters" exchanging gossips behind her back.
The search ,in all the low dives of London town,and Roy beginning to understand ...
All the cast is incredibly good:Vivien Leigh had everything going for her: acting genius,beauty,charm;Robert Taylor is ideally cast as the young dashing officer every girl dreams of.
The supporting actresses are up to scratch too:Madame Oupenskaya we have seen in Frank Borzage' s works ("the mortal storm")is extraordinary as the ruthless ballet mistress;Virginia Fields portrays a girl who sacrifices her own life for her friend's happiness;that's what friends are for :she shows compassion and emotion;we feel for her Kitty as much as we do for Mara ,it speaks volumes about this actress's talent.Lucille Watson is equally impressive as Lady Margaret ,the aristocratic lady with a big heart.
One should not forget the use of music either: the three pieces which are heard during the movie always come at the right moment: "Auld Lang Syne" (the farewell waltz) which really belongs here ,"Swan Lake" and "Let me call you sweetheart" .
Although completely different,"Waterloo Bridge" is as strong as Le Roy's earlier works "I'm a fugitive from a chain gang" or "they won't forget" .
I'd always thought that "That Lady Hamilton" was Leigh's third best performance (after "GWTW" and "a streetcar named desire" )but I've got to make amends :After watching Le Roy's nugget for the third or fourth time yesterday ,I think this is one of the pearls on the crown of Mrs Leigh's too small filmography.
"Waterloo bridge" is close to perfection ,so beautiful it can grab even people who do not care much for melodramas.The cinematography is dazzling,stunning:I will only mention this scene when the two lovers arrive in Cronin's desirable mansion ,it looks like a fairy tale.
There are so many unforgettable scenes in " Waterloo bridge" it's impossible to talk about all of them:
"The Farewell Waltz ",when they snuff a candle each time the dancers go round the dance hall,is one of the most romantic scene you have ever watched.
The ball ,in the manor,where Mara looks a bit like Cinderella ,with her ugly "sisters" exchanging gossips behind her back.
The search ,in all the low dives of London town,and Roy beginning to understand ...
All the cast is incredibly good:Vivien Leigh had everything going for her: acting genius,beauty,charm;Robert Taylor is ideally cast as the young dashing officer every girl dreams of.
The supporting actresses are up to scratch too:Madame Oupenskaya we have seen in Frank Borzage' s works ("the mortal storm")is extraordinary as the ruthless ballet mistress;Virginia Fields portrays a girl who sacrifices her own life for her friend's happiness;that's what friends are for :she shows compassion and emotion;we feel for her Kitty as much as we do for Mara ,it speaks volumes about this actress's talent.Lucille Watson is equally impressive as Lady Margaret ,the aristocratic lady with a big heart.
One should not forget the use of music either: the three pieces which are heard during the movie always come at the right moment: "Auld Lang Syne" (the farewell waltz) which really belongs here ,"Swan Lake" and "Let me call you sweetheart" .
Although completely different,"Waterloo Bridge" is as strong as Le Roy's earlier works "I'm a fugitive from a chain gang" or "they won't forget" .