Carrie (1952)
Laurence Olivier’s fame comes from his Shakespearean stage performances. Everyone knows who he is, even people who know nothing about the theatre or old movie stars. He has an award named after him, and he’s reached knighthood status and the Order of Merit in England. But it just goes to show you that people in the entertainment business are insecure and never satisfied. The epitome of great acting was disappointed in one aspect of his career: that his Hollywood career didn’t reach as high as his dreams. Well, no one forced him to keep making movies out of Shakespeare! Most people can’t name more than Wuthering Heights if asked what non-Shakespeare films he made, but the two Hot Toasty Rag awards he won were from true “film” performances. When you see him in Carrie or Term of Trial, it’s as if he invented the word “subtle”. He’s not projecting towards the back row; he’s speaking only to the camera. It’s almost as if it’s a different person than the man who acted in Hamlet and Othello.
In Carrie, he gives the subtlest tour-de-force I’ve ever seen (with exception to Robert Redford’s Jay Gatsby). He’s a real person with terrible internal struggles, and a camera happened to follow him around. He starts the movie off unhappily married to the wealthy Miriam Hopkins. He’s the respected head waiter of a high class restaurant, and as he peruses the tables and greets the patrons, you can see his pride from the way he walks to the angle of his head. It’s remarkable. Through Eddie Albert, he meets the beautiful and sensitive Jennifer Jones and falls head over heels in love with her. In middle age, seeing that he has more behind him than ahead of him, he’s determined to take what happiness he can get.
Jennifer Jones, my favorite actress of the golden age, is perfect in the title role. She starts the film working in a factory, but an injury with a needle injures her hand and she finds herself destitute with nowhere to go. She meets slick salesman Eddie Albert who gives her a very false (but very believable) line about letting her stay in his apartment while he’s away on business. Before long, they’re living in sin together, and she’s ashamed of it. When Laurence Olivier comes over to visit her and Eddie, she tries to salvage her pride and pretends that she was merely visiting herself. Eddie, with a new puppy in his arms, humiliates her by winking and saying, “This will keep you company on those lonely nights when I’m away. I’ll put him in your bedroom.” Larry bows his head and says, “A puppy will be a great comfort to you, Mrs. Druet.” He’s so kind, classy, and respectful, representing everything Jonesy ever wanted in life.
I’m purposely not telling you the plot of Carrie, because when you don’t know what’s going to happen, it’s an incredible experience. It’s one of the most depressing movies I’ve ever seen (and that’s saying something), so I won’t ever want to watch it again. But it’s emotional, meaningful, heart wrenching, romantic, and powerful. Laurence Olivier’s expressions stab your heart and make it hard to breathe while you’re watching him. I don’t know what’s a greater tragedy: his character’s journey or his lack of a nomination (with exception to the BAFTAs) during the 1952 awards season.
Jennifer Jones’s beauty is staggering, and her lovely dramatic delivery blends very well with her costar’s. Her faith, trust, and love in Larry is palpable, and her vulnerability makes you understand why he loves her so much and wants to protect her. Their chemistry makes you wish they’d married in real life, especially when you remember the unhappy marriages they were both in at the time. Eddie Albert is also wonderful in this movie. He could have played his character with over-the-top insincerity like Ali Hakim in Oklahoma! Instead, he’s so believable, you understand Jonesy for trusting him. It’s a very fine line to walk, and he walks it.
I’ve given Carrie such a glowing review, you’re going to want to rent it immediately. But you need to prepare yourself. It’s extremely heavy, dramatic, and tragic. You’ll need at least an entire box of Kleenex. Just thinking about the famous train scene brings a swell of emotion to my heart. David Raksin’s romantic music, Larry’s hope and fear, and Jonesy’s conflicted love make it one of the best scenes in the film. And that’s saying something.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Juhi Thaker" for posting!
More Miriam Hopkins movies here!
More Jennifer Jones movies here!
In Carrie, he gives the subtlest tour-de-force I’ve ever seen (with exception to Robert Redford’s Jay Gatsby). He’s a real person with terrible internal struggles, and a camera happened to follow him around. He starts the movie off unhappily married to the wealthy Miriam Hopkins. He’s the respected head waiter of a high class restaurant, and as he peruses the tables and greets the patrons, you can see his pride from the way he walks to the angle of his head. It’s remarkable. Through Eddie Albert, he meets the beautiful and sensitive Jennifer Jones and falls head over heels in love with her. In middle age, seeing that he has more behind him than ahead of him, he’s determined to take what happiness he can get.
Jennifer Jones, my favorite actress of the golden age, is perfect in the title role. She starts the film working in a factory, but an injury with a needle injures her hand and she finds herself destitute with nowhere to go. She meets slick salesman Eddie Albert who gives her a very false (but very believable) line about letting her stay in his apartment while he’s away on business. Before long, they’re living in sin together, and she’s ashamed of it. When Laurence Olivier comes over to visit her and Eddie, she tries to salvage her pride and pretends that she was merely visiting herself. Eddie, with a new puppy in his arms, humiliates her by winking and saying, “This will keep you company on those lonely nights when I’m away. I’ll put him in your bedroom.” Larry bows his head and says, “A puppy will be a great comfort to you, Mrs. Druet.” He’s so kind, classy, and respectful, representing everything Jonesy ever wanted in life.
I’m purposely not telling you the plot of Carrie, because when you don’t know what’s going to happen, it’s an incredible experience. It’s one of the most depressing movies I’ve ever seen (and that’s saying something), so I won’t ever want to watch it again. But it’s emotional, meaningful, heart wrenching, romantic, and powerful. Laurence Olivier’s expressions stab your heart and make it hard to breathe while you’re watching him. I don’t know what’s a greater tragedy: his character’s journey or his lack of a nomination (with exception to the BAFTAs) during the 1952 awards season.
Jennifer Jones’s beauty is staggering, and her lovely dramatic delivery blends very well with her costar’s. Her faith, trust, and love in Larry is palpable, and her vulnerability makes you understand why he loves her so much and wants to protect her. Their chemistry makes you wish they’d married in real life, especially when you remember the unhappy marriages they were both in at the time. Eddie Albert is also wonderful in this movie. He could have played his character with over-the-top insincerity like Ali Hakim in Oklahoma! Instead, he’s so believable, you understand Jonesy for trusting him. It’s a very fine line to walk, and he walks it.
I’ve given Carrie such a glowing review, you’re going to want to rent it immediately. But you need to prepare yourself. It’s extremely heavy, dramatic, and tragic. You’ll need at least an entire box of Kleenex. Just thinking about the famous train scene brings a swell of emotion to my heart. David Raksin’s romantic music, Larry’s hope and fear, and Jonesy’s conflicted love make it one of the best scenes in the film. And that’s saying something.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Juhi Thaker" for posting!
More Miriam Hopkins movies here!
More Jennifer Jones movies here!
Hot Toasty Rag Awards:
Best Actor of 1952: Sir Laurence Olivier
Best Screenplay
Hot Toasty Rag Nominations:
Best Picture
Best Actress: Jennifer Jones