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Reviews
Ladies in Retirement (1941)
Ladies in Retirement - Worst title ever?
It surprises me no end that all of the previous comments here have ignored the fact that this title may be the worst movie title ever. "Ladies in Retirement" is not very likely to draw any audience except for, perhaps, ladies in retirement. Besides, it is totally inappropriate. This is a Gothic thriller (and not a bad one). The title sounds like either a drawing room comedy or tragedy about old age. The studio should have come up with a much more interesting and attractive title. I'm sure if they had, the film would have had more attention over the years. I only saw it because I was fascinated by the mediocrity of the title. But don't let the title drive you away. It is definitely worth your while.
Now I'm going to watch "Men in Hats."
The Good German (2006)
I've seen the film and have a mixed reaction
First off, I should say that I am a fan of the book. The film uses the events of the book only as a loose guideline and contains many differences, most significantly in the very meaning of the title. SPOILER AHEAD! In the book her husband was a "good German" in the sense that he was loyal to the Fatherland. Not so in the film. Also, the Kate Blanchett character seems to be a composite of two characters in the book, assuming the guilt for a horrible crime that is actually committed by another character entirely in the novel.
The film is stylish, affecting all the trimmings of a '40s style melodrama; i.e. Franz Waxman-like score (though not nearly as good or emotional) and the black and white photography is quite good but not Casablanca. Speaking of Casablanca, there are many attempts to if not parody (this is hardly a comedy) than to offer homage, none more obvious than a scene on the tarmac where the lovers part with the twin prop plane behind them. It is shot exactly as in Casablanca. Kate even wears a hat reminiscent of the one worn by Ingrid in the original. According to the screenwriter, there was the definite intention to keep the classic style of the period but use modern language. So if you ever longed to hear Rick and Ilsa talk dirty this is the film for you. One last note - the film uses three narrators as it goes along, switching points of view. While this breaks all the rules (one narrator is soon dead)it does not take you out of the movie. The performances are all good, though Clooney seems a little stiffer than usual, the role not offering him an awful lot of range, at least as written in the screenplay. All in all, this is an interesting but highly flawed film which I doubt will garner much Oscar attention.