Fallen Angel or Laura?
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micaofboca-836-322711 — 12 years ago(May 29, 2013 10:34 PM)
It's great that you liked the vastly underrated Fallen Angel as much as the classic Hollywood blockbuster Laura. Of course, however they're so different it's purely a matter of preference. After seeing Laura for the ump-teenth time it's much more fun for me to watch a contemptible and dishonest Dana Andrews than the uptight detective he portrays in Laura. And Linda Darnell is so much badder than Gene Tierney. Nothing a man could give her would ever make her content. She just doesn't know what she wants. Anyone silly enough to marry a flirtatious immature selfish narcissist like that deserves what he's bound to get. What a great character she makes, though. She stole the movie even though she only occupied about a third of the overall screen time.
The Fallen Angel, although not as commercially popular as Laura is a very cool movie. And the youthful beauty of Darnell (she was only 22) was very professionally matched with her thespian acumen. Not only was my suspension of disbelief resolved, but I could have been one of the suitors that became suspects. Hell, even the culprit had she strung me along the way she loved to tease and then withdraw her charm. -
!!!deleted!!! (5085627) — 11 years ago(October 19, 2014 12:05 AM)
Excellent post, micaofboca, and very well put, especially your comments about the beautiful and underrated Linda Darnell. I enjoyed Dana Andrews in Fallen Angel much more than his character in Laura for the same reasons you gave. Andrews and Darnell also had great chemistry together. His character's sexual frustration was palpable and Darnell's character knew just how to fuel his fire. The viewer can easily imagine those two getting down and dirty without restraint or inhibition. (I think it's called "hot monkey love.")
The only objection I have with Fallen Angel is Alice Faye. She seemed out of place and was definitely miscast. With the exception of a few scenes, her acting was often lifeless and lacking as if she were just going through the motions and reciting lines. If a better actress had been cast, the film would have been perfect.
And on a personal note, how are things in Boca? Beautiful place. -
micaofboca-836-322711 — 11 years ago(October 19, 2014 01:16 AM)
You're so right about Alice Faye, cookies. It's also a shame, but, again, you're right, too, that whenever Alice Faye is onscreen her character just turns the heat down in an otherwise sizzling movie. Had they found someone more exciting to keep the fire going and also written her role a little better to round out the story, than this otherwise compelling movie would have improved enormously.
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activista — 11 years ago(December 20, 2014 01:25 AM)
@micaofboca-836
Caught FALLEN ANGEL on the MOVIES channel a few weeks back and was able to watch the whole thing from beginning to end, and was really impressed by it,especially since I'd never heard of it. I like everything about it, and how it really seemed to capture the flavor of living in a small town in the '40s. It was also interesting to see a film in which the femme fatale wasn't really trying to off somebody,destroy the hell out of some man's life, or steal from theshe came off as mainly a women who'd been worn down,disappointed by life, and with no faith in men whatsoever. She just wanted to get something more out of life than just working at a soda shop or whatever. I also liked the fact that Alice Faye's character had a sister who cared enough to follow Andrews' character around to find out who he really was, and what he was about. That's the kind of thing a real sister actually does for her sibling. All in all, this is a very good film that deserves a little classic film noir status. -
karmala2 — 12 years ago(November 17, 2013 12:17 AM)
I'm more familiar with "Laura". I've seen it about 10 or so times; have only seen "Fallen Angel" once. I like both. No one has to pick; there's room for all.
"I told you a million times not to talk to me when I'm doing my lashes"! -
letess — 11 years ago(March 01, 2015 08:24 PM)
Laura. Always. It was perfection. Something was missing in Fallen Angel. Preminger wasn't at his best with this one. Maybe it was the controversy over the script with Alice Faye's part. Fallen Angel reminds me of the movie I Wake Up Screaming.
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Diosprometheus — 10 years ago(March 07, 2016 02:45 PM)
This is not directed at anyone particular in this discussion but those objecting the Alice Faye's performance in this movie need to remember she got a screwjob from Darrell Zanuck who cut her starring role to build up Linda Darnell. Zanuck intentionally sabotage Faye in this film. Many of her scenes were removed from the final version.
Fay was so angry with him she ended her association with the studio. Zanuck then had her blacklisted for breach of contract. Faye never starred in another movie and moved into radio with her husband Phil Harris where she often cracked jokes about her former boss. Their radio show was an enormous hit until it ended in 1954.
Faye didn't want to take the role in the first place and only after 30 scripts did she accept the part only to find that the studio had mistreated their number one female star.
This movie is more famous as the final Alice Faye move than for anything else.
For a number of reasons, Laura is actually the superior film. AFI named it one of the 10 best mystery films of all time and the Library of Congress has selected Laura for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. -
apriceaboverubies29 — 9 years ago(February 01, 2017 07:28 PM)
Darnell rocked this movie! Great film.
However, LAURA is so ethereally elegant, and Gene Tierney is an unforgettable goddess. LAURA tells its story in a fast moving 88 minute. An unforgettable classic.
"Peggy, this isn't China. There's no money in virginity."