We Have The Stars

Movie Review: Dial M for Murder

In London, wealthy Margot Mary Wendice had a brief love affair with the American writer Mark Halliday while her husband and professional tennis player Tony Wendice was on a tennis tour. Tony quits playing to dedicate to his wife and finds a regular job. She decides to give him a second chance for their marriage. When Mark arrives from America to visit the couple, Margot tells him that she had destroyed all his letters but one that was stolen. Subsequently she was blackmailed, but she had never retrieved the stolen letter. Tony arrives home, claims that he needs to work and asks Margot to go with Mark to the theater. Meanwhile Tony calls Captain Lesgate (aka Charles Alexander Swann who studied with him at college) and blackmails him to murder his wife, so that he can inherit her fortune. But there is no perfect crime, and things do not work as planned. ~ IMDB

Hitchcock's Cameo -- a group photo of Tony Wendice's college days

I hadn't seen Dial M for Murder in several years and surprised me how well it has held up.

Suspense, Hitchcock's trademark and hits it on the head in this scene in particular. Tony having to listen to his wife's certain murder was brilliant. I chewed my fingernails at the events happening on each side of the line, torn with disgust (on Tony's part and trepidation with Margo). It was a great balence between the two.

My one complaint is how ridiculously stupid and naive Margo Wendice was. The beautiful Grace Kelly acts it out to a t but still annoyed me. I just wish she was a little more than a dumb blond with a pretty face. Otherwise, it was a great thriller only jogging my memory with "I remember this" only seconds before it happens. Hitchcock has a way of pulling you in, losing all track of time and place, with Dial M for Murder a thrilling film.

Femme Fatale Friday: Rhoda Penmark

Obituary:

Claude Daigle, an eight year old boy, son to surviving parents Dwight and Hortense Daigle. During the Fern Grammar School Picnic drowned in the near by river, falling off of the peer. Claude was a sweet boy who loved his parents dearly and had just recently won the school penmanship metal.

Obituary:
40 year old Leroy Jessup, had been a longtime employee of Monica Breedlove, doing handyman jobs at Miss Breedlove's town apartments. Mr. Jessup died suddenly from an accidental fire in a bed of excelsior.

These deaths were not accidental but the calculated work of a child. Rhoda Penmark. This Femme Fatale is an eight year old who seems wise beyond her years and comes off as the the perfect child, always wearing dresses and her hair in pigtails. Children always know how to behave in public and so does Rhoda Penmark. Playing the smarmy, cutesy cutesy girl to a T, having everyone in her presence eating out of the palm of her hand. Everyone that is except her mother. Parents always know their children's behavior problems right? Christine Penmark falls victim to this behavior making her crazed and irrational, slowly discovering her daughter's true character, yet Rhoda's evilness still conquers all.

My Thoughts on The Giver Trailer

Last week I saw Transformers. Right when you walked in the theater there was a poster for The Giver. Oh no! It is a Twilight wannabe. Maybe they're trying to draw teens who didn't grow up in the 90s. Yeah, that must be it.

But then I saw the trailer…

Disappointment began. First off there is defiantly a larger romance between Jonas and Fiona than just Jonas' wet dream in the book. I could have lived with that, but then Rosemary, the receiver before Jonas is played by Taylor Swift. Noooo! Why would you do that to me? Rosemary would never sing a song about Romeo and Juliette living happily ever after or being 22. Lastly, I did not see any mention of Gabriel, who I've always felt is key, paramount to the story. He is the reason why Jonas leaves the community. It was the final nail in the coffin for me. A Childhood Classic was ruined in 2:34. Although don't take my word for it, decide for yourself, I'd love to hear what you think of this atrocity.

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Femme Fatale Fridays: Rebecca

"A Femme Fatale, translating to "Deadly Woman" in french, is an alluring, seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire. Often this leads them into compromising, dangerous, and deadly situations." ~ Wikipedia

What villainous ladies have you read of in literature? Now's the time to give them a shout out. Because let's face we love to route for the bad girl. Expression of this could be in any form, hate or love mail, fan fic, quotes or a simple profile. The skies the limit. Just be sure to include what book the femme fatale comes from so we can check them out too.

Rebecca, even though she has been dead a year her presence is everywhere. Manderly oozes with Rebecca's power, still keeping the Mannor under a tight ship. Mrs. de Winter was perfect, she could ride, sail, dressed to the nines and threw the most memorable parties. Rebecca intimidated the second Mrs. de Winter just because she was using her morning room, pens etc. But the reason why she is a femme fatale is because she has done things in her past that are too horrible to name making her marriage to Maxim a sham.

Not only does the former walk the halls like the living dead, but she also lives on through Mrs. Danvers, her most devoted maid. Mrs. Danvers has run the house just like Rebecca did before her death and tries to usurp any power the second Mrs. de Winter might have had. (Mrs. de Winter always wrote her correspondence in the morning room Mrs. de Winter was most particular about her sauces). And then there's the costume party fiasco/sabotage

Although, I think one of the best examples of the atmosphere of the house, is this clip from Hitchcock's 1940s movie.

Femme Fatale Friday: Mary Tilford

"A femme fatale, translating to "Deadly Woman" in french, is an alluring, seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire. Often this leads them into compromising, dangerous and deadly situations." ~ Wikipeda

Mary Tilford, a young pupil at the Wright Dobie Boarding School from 1961's"The Children's Hour"

Dear Mary,
The lie you have told regarding your teachers, Miss Karen Wright and myself Miss Martha Dobie is very far from the truth and have never acted on said assumed feelings towards one another. Your lies, blackmail and manipulation to teachers, students and family will not further any chances and achievements in life you may desire as they soon become transparent. Mary, I hope that in the future you will have learned from your heinous mistake and become a better person. Although, as I begin to tie my bit of rope I realize that you found the one lie that had an ounce of truth to it. Please remember, that I do not hold you responsible for my own undoings.
Goodbye Mary,
Your Teacher, Miss Dobie

Femme Fatale Friday: Brioney Tallis

Briony Tallis saw something she shouldn't. Briony likes to tell stories. She also likes to tell tall tales.

Her conniving ways begin upon seeing her sister in a fountain, soaked to the skin in nothing but her undergarments. Supposedly only seen by the estate's gardener Robbie Turner.

Later, Robbie writes two letters to Cecilia

Letter #1
"You'd be forgiven for thinking me mad - wandering into your house barefoot, or snapping your antique vase. The truth is, I feel rather light-headed and foolish in your presence, Cee, and I don't think I can blame the heat. Will you forgive me? Robbie

Letter #2
"In my dreams, I kiss your cunt, your sweet wet cunt. In my thoughts I make love to you all day long."

Unfortunately, the second is mistakenly hand-delivered by Briony, who also reads it before the intended, causing disturbing fantasies which are vindicated after catching them in a compromising position. To complete this hellish night she points the finger at Robbie, wrongly accusing him of her cousin's rape.

While this one summer day defines her forever, the only thing that sets her apart from other fatales is that she eventually realizes her wrong doings and spends the rest of life in shame trying to atone for them.

Femme Fatale Friday: Manon

First, I must go into a little background of Manon, she first appears in Marcel Pagnol's Jean de Florette as a young girl. Her father, Jean, inheritances some land with a spring on it. His neighbors are not the welcoming type and plug up the stream with the thought process of him leaving and them buying out the land hence unplugging the water source. Jean is determined to make a go at farming and getting water to his land. Eventually, he is killed by a blow to the head while digging a well. Their neighbors Cesar and Ugolin Soubeyran unstop the sacred spring unknowingly wittnessed by Manon, who then swears to get revenge.

Manon has become a young adult she learns that most of the village was aware of this act but because the Soubeyrans were a prominent family did nothing. Now, she decides to take revenge on the whole town and plugs up their water supply. She then sits back and watches the whole village suffer.

To add the sexual side to this femme fatale, unbeknownst to her Ugolin watches her bath in the mountains and begins a sick fascination with her. Even though she finds him repulsive she still drives him crazy.

On a last note, this is one of the only femme fatales who is justified in her behavior. As she has been truly wronged and giving her father's murderer's their comeuppance.