Marie Antoinette (1938 & 2006)

Marie Antoinette (1938)

B&W – 149m (General Release Cut) / 157m (Road Show Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 – Fullscreen
Writers: F. Scott Fitzgerald (Uncredited), Talbot Jennings (dialogue – uncredited) and Robert E. Sherwood (Uncredited)
Dir.: W.S. Van Dyke and Julien Duvivier
Pro.: Irving Thalberg (Uncredited)
Starring:  Norma Shearer, Tyrone Power, John Barrymore, Robert Morley, Anita Louise, Gladys George, Reginald Gardiner, Henry Daniell, Albert Dekker, Joseph Calleia, George Meeker, Scotty Beckett, Harry Cording, Cecil Cunningham, Howard Da Silva, Harry Davenport, Harold Entwistle, Ann Evers, Barry Fitzgerald, Neil Fitzgerald, Holmes Herbert, Mary Howard, Ruth Hussey, Edward Keane, Ian Wolfe and George Zucco.

The story of the ill–fated Queen of France, Marie–Antoinette. A pleasant if somewhat long but masterful telling of the tale. Far superior to the Sophia Coppola 2006 film.

Trivia: Peter Lorre was originally announced for the part that Robert Morley plays in his film debut.

Available on DVD & Digital Copy though: The Warner Archive Collection

Marie Antoinette (2006)

C – 123m
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
Writer – Pro. – Dir.: Sophia Coppola
Exec. Pro.: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Kristen Dunst, Jason Schwartzman, Judy Davis, Rip Torn, Rose Byrne, Molly Shannon, Shirley Henderson, Danny Huston, Tom Hardy and Steve Coogan.

Retelling of France’s iconic but ill–fated queen, Marie Antoinette. Slow, boring and dismal telling of the bio of the ill–fated French queen. Saving grace is the cast and Sophia Coppola’s eye for visuals. Very little else is worth noting in this dud.

Trivia: The French government granted special permission for the crew to film in The Palace Of Versailles. The film crews were allowed to store their equipment in the real Marie–Antoinette’s bedroom. Although the title is not hyphenated, the real woman’s name was.

Rated: [PG–13] – Sexual Content, Partial Nudity & Innuendo
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

The Beguiled (1971 & 2017)

The Beguiled (1971)

C. – 105m
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
Dir.: Don Siegel
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Geraldine Page, Elizabeth Hartman and others.

While imprisoned in in a Confederate girls’ boarding school, an injured Union soldier works his way into all their hearts only to have them turn on him. The question is: Who is conning whom?

This is the classic and dark version of the story that everyone has come to know since 1971. Eastwood and the women are in great form here. More than anything else, this plays as a drama with a sexual edge (which in a couple of ways is a bit creepy in and of itself) up until the final twenty minutes. Then it is out and out thriller. While very little happens in terms of location changes, there is an array of verbal and non-verbal communication to read from some masterful performances by the actors. See if you can figure out who is conning whom before the film tells you outright. Part of what makes this film great is the sense of mystery behind the cons. Clearly the film favors the man’s prospective. A must watch!

Rated: [R] – Perverse Sexual Content Including Nudity, Some Violence, Adult Drinking & Frightening And Intense Images.
Available on DVD, Blu–ray & Digital Copy.

The Beguiled (2017)

C. – 93 Minutes
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 – Widescreen
Dir. / Screenwriter: Sophia Coppola
Starring: Colin Farrell Nicole Kidman, Kristen Dunst & Elle Fanning.

An unexpected arrival of a wounded Union soldier at a girls’ school in Virginia during the American Civil War leads to jealousy and betrayal. Sophia Coppola is back in the saddle with this feminist version of the classic Clint Eastwood starring film. The film is toned down and frankly lacks the mystery that made the original so haunting. Given the omission of that aspect of the story makes this less riveting and more an interesting character study. The feminist approach to the story that originally favored the man’s perspective makes this worth watching. It is different enough to make it more of a companion film than a remake. It should also be noted that this was beautifully filmed on film and then finished in 4K digital with a wonderful visual outcome. Extra credit for Coppola for adding film noire – ish lighting effects! A pop classic here!   

Rated: [R] – Some Sexuality - Note: There is also violence and language that was not mentioned as reasons for the rating.
Available on DVD, Blu–ray & Digital Copy.