All kinds of marriages - good, bad, or indifferent, but films that revolve around the marriage itself, whatever subplots
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spiderwort — 6 years ago(October 05, 2019 12:10 AM)
Oh, lord, yes! It's one I have almost memorized. And still I never grow weary of it. The chemistry between Grant and Loy is phenomenal. Oh, and you may not know, but I learned a couple of years ago that it's based upon a true story of the author of the original story and then novel building his own house.
Per wikipedia: "The short story and novel were based on the author Eric Hodgins's experience with buying property and building a house in the Merryall area of the town of New Milford, Connecticut. The real house was completed in 1939, but was so expensive — his original budget was $11,000 but the final cost was about $56,000 — that Hodgins was forced to sell it. It was sold in 1945 for $38,000 to John Allard, a retired Air Force general. Hodgins unsuccessfully tried to buy the house back after receiving $200,000 in movie rights to the book. In 1953, the house was sold to Ralph Gulliver, a fuel oil dealer in New Milford, who gave it to his son, Jack, in 1972.[2] In 1980, the house was sold to the author and composer Stephen Citron and his wife, the biographer and novelist Anne Edwards.[3] In 2004, the house was sold for $1.2 million."
Amazing! -
Lilith — 6 years ago(October 05, 2019 12:21 AM)
That breaks my heart that he invested in the house, built it, put so much into it, sold it at a loss, and tried to get his home back and couldn't. That $56k turning into $1.2 million. Oh dear God, that's just heartbreaking.
I understand on an intellectual level that it's all about business, but if I knew the story behind it, and knew what the man went through to get this house created, if I paid $38k for a $56k house, and was offered double or even triple that, I can't imagine saying no to the poor fellow.
I had no idea that this was based on a true story. I love it just as much and think I have most of the movie memorized. I recall scenes with such vividness. I really, really love that movie. It's pretty fascinating given the whole movie relies entirely on the chemistry of the cast and a strong and engaging story.
"Your emotional state is not my responsibility." – Warren Smith -
spiderwort — 6 years ago(October 05, 2019 12:00 AM)
Bergman is one of my all time favorite directors and I've seen lots of his films, but I'm sorry to say that I have not seen this one. There was also a tv series or version, if I'm not mistaken. I've always regretted that I let this get away from me. And, knowing Bergman, I imagine it probably is a little depressing.
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muttley — 6 years ago(October 05, 2019 02:15 AM)
I tried to think of films that showed different aspects and challenges of marriage.
Tokyo Story
-love and commitment
45 Years
-secrets of the past
Amour
-at the end
Reflections in a Golden Eye
-lies and secrecy
Mr. Skeffington
-ego and vainness
Journey to Italy
-at a crossroads
La Notte
-troubled marriage
Marriage Italian Style- plain craziness
Jules and Jim
-marrying a free spirit
Random Harvest
-The power of what absolute true love can accomplish
The Marrying Kind
-remembering why you married
Made For Each Other
-marrying too soon
A Woman Under the Influence
-substance abuse
before you leave remember I was with you
- plain craziness
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spiderwort — 6 years ago(October 05, 2019 03:21 PM)
Oh, what a wonderful, wonderful list! (Though I haven't yet seen
Tokyo Story, Journey to Italy
and
La Notte- I know, I know - been trying to get to them for years!). But except for
Reflections in a Gold Eye
, which I could never quite warm to, I honestly love all the rest - some more than others, but they are all such beautiful illustrations of the complexities of marriage, as you have so specifically and beautifully articulated. Thanks so much for the post.
- I know, I know - been trying to get to them for years!). But except for
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muttley — 6 years ago(October 06, 2019 04:15 AM)
If you haven't seen
Tokyo Story
then we'll need to have a long long talk.
Yeah, I never was a huge fan of
Reflections
either. It had everything you wanted, great director, great actors and a gripping story but for whatever reason it missed the mark for me.
I'll add a few more I thought of.
Suspicion
,
Rebecca
,
Elevator to the Gallows
all throw a different darker twist on marriage.
Woman of the Year
,
The Thin Man
series are fun looks at marriage.
My Favorite Wife
-a unique look at marriage
Through a Glass Darkly- isolation and mental illness and its effects
I'll push the envelope with
The Quiet Family
. Not necessarily about marriage but when an entire family kills people and needs to get rid of the bodies while still trying to keep the family business going it may put a bit of a strain on a marriage!
before you leave remember I was with you
- isolation and mental illness and its effects
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spiderwort — 6 years ago(October 06, 2019 11:32 PM)
All great choices, though I'm not sure about
The Quiet Family
. Haven't seen it, but from what I read, it's probably not my cup of tea.
But your others are great. Seeing
Through a Glass Darkly
(and
Splendor in the Grass
) in 1961 when I was very young made me decide to become a director. So I'll forever be in Bergman's as well as Kazan's debt. -
spiderwort — 3 years ago(September 23, 2022 02:53 AM)
Well, I finally saw it, just recently – after first seeing the other "Noriko trilogy" films,
Late Spring
and
Early Summer
– and I loved it! Can't believe I waited so long to see Ozu films. He was a truly great director.
And I also recently saw Rossellini's
Journey to Italy
, which I greatly admired. I've seen all other the films you mention above, except
The Quiet Family
, though I have a feeling I probably won't see that one. I love all the others, especially
Through a Glass Darkly
, which I believe is a masterpiece!
And I only recently saw
Elevator to the Gallows
, which I thought was a superb Louis Malle work (also recently saw his
Au revoir les enfants
, another remarkable work, so he's been on my mind).
Anyway, glad to report that I saw
Tokyo Story
. And thanks to you for all the interesting and appropriate suggestions. -
spiderwort — 6 years ago(October 06, 2019 11:26 PM)
Thanks, peach. I haven't seen this one, because from what I read and saw it sounded like it would be pretty upsetting to me, given that I'd had some difficult losses in my life at that time, so I chose to avoid it. But I may give it renewed consideration sometime soon. I know it got quite a bit of praise when it was released.
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Lilith — 6 years ago(October 07, 2019 01:01 AM)
There's a movie called
Grounds for Marriage (1951)
but I can't seem to find it.
PS: I'm trying to find
Mr. Blandings
to watch (and hopefully to buy) but buggerall, I still can't find it anywhere.
But in the spirit, I'm currently watching
My Favourite Wife
.
"Your emotional state is not my responsibility." – Warren Smith -
spiderwort — 6 years ago(October 07, 2019 01:24 AM)
Not sure, but it's okay to mention it again. I thought it was a very funny, well-acted, thoroughly entertaining film, beautifully directed by Danny De Vito. He and Douglas first met when Douglas produced
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
, and out of that an enduring friendship was born.
Anyway, I haven't seen this film since it was released in 1989, but I still vividly remember the final scene. That's saying something.
(Sorry for the delay. I'm not getting notifications.)