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Post by Shaun on May 29, 2010 21:18:50 GMT -5
OH. MY. WORD. JESS! Undercurrent is legend around here and several people are probably sick of hearing about it from me and Amber. It's Kate's only 'woman in distress' picture, one of those unsuspecting-wife-has-psycho-husband deals. The part of Ann Hamilton was just begging to be played by Joan Fontaine, but Kate did it with Robert Taylor and Robert Mitchum for MGM in '46. Vincente Minnelli directed it. Between the gorgeous score (go ahead. try and not hum it), nice supporting cast (which includes Main and Meadows, as stated above), the film noir vibe and the beautiful house that overlooks the cliff, I don't know what I love most about this movie! Undercurrent has a VERY BAD rep among even the Hepburn diehards, much like Dragon Seed. I say it's a gem and a peach of a film, even! (PSST. DON'T TELL ANYONE BUT I LIKE THIS MORE THAN THE AFRICAN QUEEN.)
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Post by Shaun on May 29, 2010 21:22:57 GMT -5
One Youtuber suggested the idea of making an Undercurrent fanvid set to Lady Gaga's Bad Romance. Have you SEEN the Paparazzi/All About Eve video or the Joan Crawford/Gaga videos??? If someone made that I would die!
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Post by Judy on May 29, 2010 22:21:00 GMT -5
OH. MY. WORD. JESS! Undercurrent is legend around here and several people are probably sick of hearing about it from me and Amber. It's Kate's only 'woman in distress' picture, one of those unsuspecting-wife-has-psycho-husband deals. The part of Ann Hamilton was just begging to be played by Joan Fontaine, but Kate did it with Robert Taylor and Robert Mitchum for MGM in '46. Vincente Minnelli directed it. Between the gorgeous score (go ahead. try and not hum it), nice supporting cast (which includes Main and Meadows, as stated above), the film noir vibe and the beautiful house that overlooks the cliff, I don't know what I love most about this movie! Undercurrent has a VERY BAD rep among even the Hepburn diehards, much like Dragon Seed. I say it's a gem and a peach of a film, even! (PSST. DON'T TELL ANYONE BUT I LIKE THIS MORE THAN THE AFRICAN QUEEN.) As people here know, I'm a huge defender of Dragon Seed and really like Shaun's favorite current. But Shaun, better than The African Queen? Okay, just take two aspirin, lie down and call me in the morning. Seriously, though I caaahn't agree with you there, I LOVE how besotted you are by Undercurrent and how committed you are to defending your reasons. What a good group this is! Judy |
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Post by Alicia on May 29, 2010 23:15:07 GMT -5
I really like Undercurrent, too! Its probably in my top 3.
Jess, you haven't seen it before? I could have sworn it was on YouTube... When I make my new channel this summer (aka after finals are over in 2 weeks), I could probably upload it if you want.
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Post by CrazyForKate on May 30, 2010 2:23:29 GMT -5
Yes, sorry to hear about the demise of your channel, Alicia...some really great stuff there! Silly Youtube... As for Undercurrent...I have to be honest. Never had much love for it (esp. story/directing wise). Please don't kick me off the board  . But it is certainly one of Kate's most against-type performances, and after a second of getting used to, it is absolutely fascinating. She really captures the character's inner suspicions under the "perfect marriage" front. Very compelling. More complexity than even some of her well-known characters. But IMO the movie belongs to Robert Mitchum's brief performance. Quite a scene-stealer. (The other Robert was good, too, even though along with Kate, I had a little initial trouble buying him in the part.) |
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Post by Shaun on May 30, 2010 15:48:09 GMT -5
Judy, I don't deny The African Queen's greatness and I would only be kidding myself if I thought Undercurrent could ever come within 100 miles of reaching that movie's status of being a cinematic masterpiece, but God I love it so much more. Call me crazy. |
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Post by HollywoodHepcat on May 30, 2010 18:14:33 GMT -5
YO, THE AFRICAN QUEEN, I'M REALLY HAPPY FOR YOU AND ALL AND IMMA LET YA FINISH, BUT UNDERCURRENT IS ONE OF THE GREATEST KATHARINE HEPBURN FILMS OF ALL TIME. OF ALL TIME.
(Shhhh, snowflakes, don't question our reasoning; just c'mere. Let the ~experienced Kate fans show you the "ways".)
(Wait, what. I made us sound like creepers up there, but you get it.)
I was trolololoin' through my prehistoric blog the other day, and apparently this is what I had to say about Undercurrent (PLEASE DON'T JUDGE ME; I WAS A BABY.): ""Undercurrent" is actually a fan-favorite, made towards the later half of KH's tenure at Metro. It's not good; it's not bad, either. It fancies itself a noir---moreover, it wants YOU to fancy it a noir---but if you've seen "Suspicion" [er, I should say if you've *read* "Suspicion", taking into account the film version completely scraps the original ending in the effort to preserve Cary Grant's "good guy" image], then you've essentially already seen "Undercurrent." EXCEPT SHE'S SOOOO GORGEOUS IN THIS MOVIE IT'S WORTH IT FOR THAT STRAPLESS IRENE DRESS SHE WEARS FOR .5 SECONDS ALONE--KATTYYYYYY LOOKIT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BATHE AND AREN'T ROLLING IN DIRT BEFORE YOU WALK ONTO THE SET ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ . (Hi, name's Amber, and teasing this string-bean is my life's blood, but please note that I've loved her since Millard Filmore was President aaaand end of disclaimer.) But while we're at it, Kate H. Hepburn would never have been/never was a shrieking ne'er-do-well in a time of crisis, so get prepared for some Douche Chills towards the final act. A foam rock is involved. And a cliff. And Robert Taylor's Raised Eyebrow of Doom.
And actually, the first 15 minutes of this film are my favorite--there's a trouble-making pooch with a penchant for hamburger, Kate's in her slacks (that she brought from home), Ma Kettle crackin' wise, a probably-closeted Gay Man (Heyhowahya, Secretary Man from WOTY!), some knucklehead reciting a play-by-play of a football game and EDMUND GWENN BEING PRECIOUS. In fact, if Minnelli had kept with the tone of the opening scene, this might have been a delightful light comedy. The score, blatantly ripped-off from the Third Part of Brahms' Third Symphony (and when I finally--really FINALLY--discovered the piece's name, I freaked out and it's now the most played on my iTunes; I mean, 3000+), is haunting and sweeping and you'll have the damn thing stuck in your head for weeks.
What I'm trying, rather inarticulately, to say is: stick to Warner's and Monogram for your gritty film noirs, because the folks over at Metro didn't have time for that guff in between musical numbers and costume changes and painted sets and Guilaroff's hairdryer blowing a fuse."
Oh, I see. Cool story, 17-year-old me!
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Post by Judy on May 30, 2010 18:31:31 GMT -5
Judy, I don't deny The African Queen's greatness and I would only be kidding myself if I thought Undercurrent could ever come within 100 miles of reaching that movie's status of being a cinematic masterpiece, but God I love it so much more. Call me crazy. Naw, see, that's just the thing: I DON'T call you crazy. I love that you love it so much. I personally don't love it like I do Queen, but that's neither here nor there...or "this or that," as this thread would have it. Seriously, I love how much you love this because it reminds me of me when I defend - say, Kate's Jade or her Amanda Wingfield - when most on the planet do think I'm nuts. I'm not. And neither are you. |
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Post by gottamatch on May 30, 2010 19:49:45 GMT -5
HAHAHAA you guyss!!! Everyone over here cracks me up. Okay, well Alicia, holla when it's up and running! (p.s. how much do you hate YT right now for doing that).
Shaun, if it's got a great score, I'm pretty much going to l.o.v.e it. The first time I saw Without Love, I rewinded and replayed the scene where Spence is playing the piano and Kate's sneaking up on him.. yeah like minumim 100 times. I wouldn't be surprised if I could play the thing from the amount of times I've heard it (Debussy or whoever it is).
Soundtracks get me, so it could be crap and if the score is good I'll still like it. But by the sounds of it, it's a far cry from crap.
Comparing it to African Queen? I am really curious to see it now!
Minelli gives the thing a good reference, really. I mean Judy, Barbra and Kate. Not much this man could do wrong, really (disclaimer: directorial wise I mean!).
Sorry to disturb the game chums haha continue on...
Jess
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Post by Alicia on May 31, 2010 15:38:11 GMT -5
The score, blatantly ripped-off from the Third Part of Brahms' Third Symphony (and when I finally--really FINALLY--discovered the piece's name, I freaked out and it's now the most played on my iTunes; I mean, 3000+), is haunting and sweeping and you'll have the damn thing stuck in your head for weeks. *sigh* I love the score, too. In fact, back when I was obsessed with it, I found the sheet music and learned to play it. Yes, I even transposed it for the trumpet since I cannot play piano. But if I could learn to play piano, it'd be the first piece I learn. |
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Post by carol on May 31, 2010 16:05:17 GMT -5
Me too. The score is so beautiful... One of the most beautiful scores from of her movies. Another one has to be the one from On Golden Pond.
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Post by gottamatch on May 31, 2010 16:15:47 GMT -5
Oh Carol, what I would give to get the On Golden Pond soundtrack! That's going to be my holiday project, learning it on piano. Just 'cause.
Jess
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Post by carol on May 31, 2010 16:25:14 GMT -5
Tell me about it! I'd love to know how to play it! It's such a beautiful song... makes me cry. I'm just like you, Jess, I absolutely adore beautiful music in films. I think the score is a big part of what makes a film great.
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Post by gottamatch on Jun 1, 2010 6:36:22 GMT -5
Alicia, I didn't even see that you had mentioned learning it too! Trumpet, that's cool!
Carol, glad to see there's another OST fan out there! I OGP is definately up there in my top 5 of all time favourites. I should probably look up David Grusin and see if he's done any other OST's that are easier to find on CD! Generally if you like a composer in one film, they'll churn out similar stuff in other films of similar varieties (sad films, romantic, comedies etc).
My two favourite film composers are Alan Silvestri and Marc Shaiman, oh and James Newton Howard (Prince of Tides, I'm obsessed with that OST). I looked Silvestri and Shaiman up over time and eventually realised I liked the music in all of their films I had seen. They did alot of 1990s film scores (Father of the Bride, The American President). It's to the point where I can immediately recognise a Silvestri theme throughout a film. Same goes with Shaiman. So cool.
Has anyone seen this? I think this YouTuber actually sent this video to me. Either that or someone else did. Maybe Dreamer did in a thread here? Anywhoo.. it's probably one of the best I've seen on the Tube.
Wish the camera was angled better so that I could immitate it exactly. If I have a go at this during my holiday period I'll have to make a video and share it with you guys (for a laugh, I am not a professional pianist by any means, I can learn by ear only LOL).
He also does a great Moon River I believe. I think he just does movie themes?
Jess
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Post by CrazyForKate on Jun 1, 2010 15:14:51 GMT -5
Oh, that score brings back so many memories. Beautiful. That pianist is excellent. I believe the OGP score placed in the top 25 of the AFI's list of scores- well deserved, and surprising for such a "little" movie (most of the others, as I recall, were incredibly famous like Star Wars). Thanks for posting.
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. But it is certainly one of Kate's most against-type performances, and after a second of getting used to, it is absolutely fascinating. She really captures the character's inner suspicions under the "perfect marriage" front. Very compelling. More complexity than even some of her well-known characters. But IMO the movie belongs to Robert Mitchum's brief performance. Quite a scene-stealer. (The other Robert was good, too, even though along with Kate, I had a little initial trouble buying him in the part.)
In order to login - click at the upper right corner - use your name from the board and your password and it should be all right. If not - please let me know and I will try to help!
Just stumbled upon this interesting board.. Does anyone have any video interviews with KH?? Or maybe transcripts of them? I´ve been especially looking for the full version of the famous Cavett one forever and ever... 