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OOPS, AWHILE CAME QUICKER THAN I THOUGHT

Though my previous Blog entry on Bunny Lake Is Missing was supposed to be my last, my friend David Savage wrote an interesting piece about the screening of it at Film Forum for Cinema Retro magazine [www.cinemaretro.com.]. Check it out.

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LAST WORD

For my final, for awhile anyway, Bunny Lake Is Missing post, I thought I’d give the lovely Carol Lynley the last word on the film. Below are her comments she gave to me for Filmfax magazine about working with Laurence Oliver:

“Working with Olivier was like getting handed a box of chocolates. He was wonderful. Most people have the impression that he was a stiff British actor, but he was the complete opposite. He was a jokester and a punster. He insisted we call him Larry. I grew up watching his movies so I was in complete awe of him. After I blew the first couple of takes with him, Otto pulled me aside and said he was going to fire me. I asked why and he said ‘Because you can’t act.’ I told him I was awed working with Olivier. He then looked at his watch and said in his Austrian accent, ‘Ve break for lunch now. I give you an hour to get over this.’ I did and then we came back and shot the scene. It came out great. I also learned a lot about acting from watching Olivier.”

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BUNNY LAKE IS MISSING

Tonight is the screening of Otto Preminger’s cult classic mystery thriller Bunny Lake Is Missing (1965) starring Laurence Olivier, Carol Lynley and Keir Dullea (who will present the movie with Foster Hirsch) at the Film Forum. A new 35mm restoration print will be shown. Bunny Lake is one of my favorite movies of all time. I think everything about it is wonderful beginning with Saul Bass’s ingenious opening titles and Paul Glass’ haunting music. Click here to view the opening on YouTube.

For you Southern California fans, you are in luck as the Egyptian Theatre will be screening Bunny Lake on Jan. 26 with Carol Lynley in person to discuss the movie.

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NO SHOW

Unfortunately due to illness, Jill Haworth (pictured) did not attend the screening of In Harm’s Way last night at the Film Forum. However, author Foster Hirsch was there and gave a very spirited informative introduction to the movie. He is a extremely nice man and signed a copy of his book Otto Preminger: The Man Who Would Be King for me. The theatre was less than half full and Foster attributed this to the fact that liberal NYC film goers were just not interested in a pro-war movie starring John Wayne during these trying times.

As for In Harm’s Way, it is a long but atypical WWII war movie. The battle sequences are limited to the bombing of Pearl Harbor at the beginning of the movie and at the finale with the Japanese armada trying to run through some island straits. The film centers on the personal and professional challenges of the men and women in the navy. Standouts for me were Barbara Bouchet in a small role as the adulterous wife of drunken commander Kirk Douglas who pays for her wanton ways; Jill Haworth naturally in the ingenue role as an ill-fated nurse engaged to John Wayne’s son; and Brandon DeWilde as the Duke’s estranged fey boy who proves himself to be a hero just like dear ole dad. Not one of my favorite movies (I normally avoid WWII war movies like the plague) it is worth a look if it aired on TV.