Episodic book about a boy's 'life with father' (and mother, three brothers and a few servants) as he grows up in the years from the 1870s to WWI era.
AEpisodic book about a boy's 'life with father' (and mother, three brothers and a few servants) as he grows up in the years from the 1870s to WWI era.
All I can say is that Father seems like a selfish egotist, always yelling his head off about something or other, wanting his way and only his way, and moaning and groaning if he doesn't get it. Yes, a few tender moments show through, and I do think that Father couldn't have been as bad as all that or his son wouldn't've remembered him so fondly as to write a collection of stories about him. But still.
The small glimpses we get of life as a rich NYC family before typewriters and telephones and automobiles are fascinating, and I just wanted to read more about that. Father uses quills and steel-point pens in his brokerage office on Wall Street! You write with a special ink if you want to make a copy of your letter, and some sort of printing press makes the copy! A new mode of transportation, the elevated trains, uses steam engines! Delmonico's looked like a small hotel, and was located south of Wall Street! There was a new hotel in town called the Waldorf-Astoria! (And remember, this is the old Waldorf we're talking about here.) Oo, I want to know more ....
'Life with Father' was made into a 1947 movie starring William Powell, Irene Dunne and a very young, very beautiful Elizabeth Taylor. Unfortunately, those are the only good things about the movie. Powell is his usual excellent self as Father and Taylor's looks are astonishing, but Dunne's talents are wasted. All she does is walk through the part with an airhead expression on her face. (view spoiler)[Taylor, though decorative, adds nothing to the plot; her part was totally written in. Besides which, the screenplay has a horrible plot-line that involves Mother spending the whole movie wanting Father to be baptized. The 'why' is never clear, for he doesn't die at the end (which, as Catholic, his baptism would be necessary.) But also, religion is not a big part of the movie, so why go on and on about Father's baptism? This idea isn't even mentioned in the book, and IMO is completely useless and totally non-funny. (hide spoiler)]
So, while the book is not a bad read, I can't really recommend the movie either.
(My copy is a 1943 hardcover published by The Sun Dial Press)...more
A chilling short story of what happens when two friends, a Jew and a German, are caught in the events of early Nazi Germany, as told through their traA chilling short story of what happens when two friends, a Jew and a German, are caught in the events of early Nazi Germany, as told through their trans-Atlantic letters and cables.
This book was made into a 1944 movie that introduces K.T. Stevens. (view spoiler)[Who? (hide spoiler)] It was excellently cast, starring Paul Lukas, (view spoiler)[he might be best known as Professor Bhaer in the 1933's Little Women opposite Katharine Hepburn, but he also co-starred with Bette Davis in 1943's Watch on the Rhine and 1945's Deadline at Dawn. (hide spoiler)] Morris Carnovsky, (view spoiler)[who was perfect in 1947's Dead Reckoning! (hide spoiler)] and Carl Esmond. (view spoiler)[poor guy, seems like he always played a Nazi, as in 1944's Ministry of Fear starring Ray Milland. (hide spoiler)] The screenplay remains faithful to the book, with only a few changes and one (I think) unnecessary twist. (view spoiler)[ Instead of the Jewish partner in America sending all the letters and supposedly-coded cables that get the German into trouble with the Nazis, it's his own son. That almost negates the cold horror of the book, but perhaps it was prudent during the war years to show Jewish people in a good light? (hide spoiler)] Though only 75 minutes long, unfortunately the movie drags quite a bit, so you'll be tempted to stop watching and just read the book instead.
Whatever, don't let my description of a so-so movie detract you from reading this really rather frightening story!
This is my second read of this book, whereas I've watched the 1940 movie starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine dozens of times.
The basic plot isThis is my second read of this book, whereas I've watched the 1940 movie starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine dozens of times.
The basic plot is great, (view spoiler)[although I think the movie is more psychologically convincing with the change that Maxim did NOT kill Rebecca. (hide spoiler)] Other than that, I find myself completely identifying with the narrator. I adore how she changes, and grows up, and faces down Mrs. Danvers. (view spoiler)[In the movie they reworked this scene, making it SO much more powerful - and that much better! (hide spoiler)]
What I don't like about the book is how DuMaurier goes on and on and on and on with a scene. I think some scenes don't even need to be there. While the book lives in the thought-processes of the narrator, we don't need to know ALL of them.
The ending is way too abrupt. (view spoiler)[Who set fire to Manderley? If the coroner's verdict of suicide is accepted, why don't the deWinters live in England anymore? She says they "can never go back to Manderley", but she also says they can never return to England. Why? (hide spoiler)] Some judicious editing is definitely needed too. In fact, because of that, my rating drops by 2 stars!!
Like most everyone else, I read this book after seeing the '44 classic starring Judy Garland. I fell in love withAnother book that Hollywood improved.
Like most everyone else, I read this book after seeing the '44 classic starring Judy Garland. I fell in love with the movie, and wanted to fall in love with the book. Unfortunately, the book really needs the movie's added glamor and allure and whole better ending. (view spoiler)[Whether or not the family moves to New York is brought up and decided against in one chapter! Agnes and not Tootie is "the most horrible" at Halloween. John Truitt (Esther's love interest) and Warren Sheffield (Rose's) are not in the book, and so the Christmas dance is comparatively unimportant. So without Christmas and staying in St. Louis, the climax sort of blahs out. (hide spoiler)] Just like real life, of course, but that too makes watching (or re-watching) the movie that much more fun.
The book stands alone okay, but gee whiz, if you have a choice .......more
One of the things I love is classic movies - especially those from the '30s and '40s. And something else I love is to read the book a movie was based One of the things I love is classic movies - especially those from the '30s and '40s. And something else I love is to read the book a movie was based on (or taken from). I've found some really excellent books that-a-way.
I'm sorry, though, that this wasn't one of them.
The 1936 movie starring William Powell (in the title role) and Carole Lombard has to be one of the most ridiculous films ever made. Lombard plays a ditz so well it's spooky, and Powell is his usual urbane delight. Too, Gail Patrick as Lombard's sister is wonderfully mean, with some great snarky lines.
The book, however, quite obviously contains the germ of the idea (with glimpses!) from which the screenplay was written. (The movie does follow the basic plot.) It's a decent read, but I think you'll enjoy the story more by watching the movie.
Plus a copy of the movie's a whole lot easier to find than a copy of the book!...more
Decided I just can't finish this. I can't make myself get back into it. This may or may not be well-written, but I'm perfectly content never knowing. Decided I just can't finish this. I can't make myself get back into it. This may or may not be well-written, but I'm perfectly content never knowing. I care too much about the characters as I already know them from the TV series to include in their life whatever this author says.
Did a fast skim through the rest. It's the same as the movie, though the movie holds the attention better. :)
But in both, the storyline between BernadDid a fast skim through the rest. It's the same as the movie, though the movie holds the attention better. :)
But in both, the storyline between Bernadette and the character of Antoine Nicolau just tears my heart out!
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Filmed in 1943 with Jennifer Jones (who won Best Actress Oscar), Gladys Cooper, Blanche Yurka, Vincent Price, Charles Bickford and Anne Revere. ...more
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