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eamoncarr
Reviews
The Three Lives of Thomasina (1963)
A Cat Story
A film with a lovely story that appeals to both adults and children. There are few cat films of note and Disney's "Thomasina" can take its place as one of the best in content and performance. The principals are excellent with Susan Hampshire as the kindhearted, pretty "witch of the glen" taking top honors with one of her finest performances. The secondary performers are sterling with the village clergyman and the family's housekeeper especially engaging. Juvenile actress Karen Dotrice as Mary McDhui is superb with her co-worker Matthew Garber turning in an excellent performance as her playmate. (Dotrice and Garber would one day appear as the Banks siblings in Disney's masterpiece "Mary Poppins.")
A word of warning! Many film viewers today are sensitive to the treatment animals receive during production and sadly "Thomasina" is marred with the evident abuse its performing feline star receives: the poor cat is soaked with water for several rainy scenes and in the dream sequence she appears to have been dropped from a height, twisting and turning to regain her balance. Additionally, the cat was likely anesthetized for the funeral scene (anesthetization during film production is forbidden by today's ASPCA) and there are other scenes in which the viewer may wonder not only about the cat's treatment during production but the treatment of other animals as well. The film was made at a time when ASPCA regulations regarding animal abuse during film production were less stringent than today's regulations. A fine film in content and performance but some viewers will have issues with the treatment of the cat during production.
The Flaming Urge (1953)
Fire! Fire!
A gem of a 50s film. The story concerns a mild mannered young man who cannot resist the impulse to chase fire trucks and firemen. In doing so, he risks losing his position as a clerk in a department store. After a few unexplained fires, his fellow townsmen come to believe he is an arsonist. The story was filmed entirely in Michigan and the film's unadorned presentation of small town America circa 1950 is appealing. A dog has a rather prominent part in the film and adds an unusual interest to the story. Harold Lloyd, Jr. is adept in his role and Cathy Downs is an attractive addition. The film is well worth a viewing.