Okay, wow. Are you ready for Robert Ryan in "Beware, My Lovely"(1952)? He plays "Howard Wilton", a handyman who is hired by "Helen Gordon" (Ida Lupino) to do some work around her rooming house. It's 1918, we're in a small town at Christmastime. As the movie opens, we see Howard finishing up a previous job. He turns up at Mrs. Gordon's house, just as her only renter is leaving for the holidays. A group of children have also just left. They were at the house for piano lessons. She has a dog named Corky who isn't well-trained. He runs off. She's home alone when Howard arrives.
We already know a little bit about him, and what we know is that he's a psycho. But we don't know just how unhinged he truly is until he starts breaking down mentally in front of Mrs. Gordon as he polishes her floor. Boy, I am here to tell you, Robert Ryan is freakin' scary in this role. He shows a whole range of psychotic mood swings. I've always thought Ryan was a great, underrated actor, and he proves it here, in one of the most unnerving performances you will ever see.
His character traits are laid out early, so there's no suspense as to who he is or what he's done. We know he's crazier than a hoot owl from the get go, but it gets worse and worse as the movie goes along. You just wish he would get the hell out of the house (and so does Ida Lupino), but how do you get him out when he can't remember what he's doing from one minute to the next, and when he doesn't trust anyone, including himself?
There isn't a plot to speak of, other than pitting Howard against Mrs. Gordon, in a battle of madness versus wits. We've seen the formula work brilliantly in movies like "Wait Until Dark". It's extra brilliant here, except that I wish we had some backstory on Ryan's character. He seems to have been rejected for service in World War 1 and is resentful, therefore, of the men who were accepted. Mrs. Gordon's husband was killed in combat in the war, which plays a minor part in the story, but we wish we knew more about why Howard feels the way he does. There's also "Ruth Williams" (Margaret Whiting), a bratty teen who thinks she's the Queen of the Neighborhood. She's Mrs. Gordon's niece, and is at her house to do work, as punishment for "staying out late" the night before. She doesn't like it, and takes it out on Howard Wilton, who she immediately notices is weird and - to her - an ineffectual male. "Scrubbing floors is women's work", she says to belittle him. Though he towers over her, and is ready to snap, she continues to mock him as she heads out the door. She thoroughly dominates him without fear, and it would be nice to have her reintroduced in the movie later on, but it doesn't happen.
Still, even as a two person drama, this is one hell of a scary movie, just because Howard is so unpredictably crazy. Various children come to the door during the period of Mrs. Gordon's torment. They notice something's wrong, but it always comes to naught. Finally a man from the phone company shows up, to inquire about a disconnected line.
And then the ending blows you away, in a quiet and unexpected manner. While you do wish there was more character development or background for Howard Wilton, this is still big league stuff. Two Huge Thumbs Up, if you can handle it. Send Robert Ryan to the top of the acting class. The picture is razor sharp. ////
The previous night, we saw another Zane Grey Western, "The Light of Western Stars"(1940). "Madeline Hammond" (Jo Ann Sayers) is just off the train to visit her brother "Al" (Russell Hayden), when she's approached by "Gene Stewart" (Victor Jory), a hard drinking ranch hand who's made a bet that he'll marry the next girl who comes to town. Stewart drags Madeline in front of a Mexican preacher. Because she speaks no Spanish, she doesn't realize until it's too late that she's just been in a wedding ceremony. Now she's married to Gene Stewart, and is none too happy about it.
This is a socially conscious Western. Victor Jory, who usually plays a bad guy, is all honor and altruism here as he tries to stop a gun running big shot from selling arms to Mexico. He makes a speech, about how guns are only good for killing people, that would fit in to today's debate over stricter gun laws. He also sticks up for the Mexican people when nobody else in the town gives a hoot if they shoot each other or not. As Madeline gets to know him better, she sees that Gene is a good-hearted man, and she goes on a crusade to cure him of his alcoholism. Once he's well, she buys the ranch he's foreman of, to help him try to stop the gun runners. Jo Ann Sayers is not only an excellent actress, but one of the most beautiful women you will ever see. A character named "Poco" is the sidekick this time, instead of Chito Rafferty. As played by Noah Beery Jr., he's used for sympathy instead of comic relief. It's a very good film, but different from the other Zane Greys in that it has a strong cultural and social message. Victor Jory was a very talented actor, but I don't think he was right for this role, because he's not a romantic lead.
Still, it's a Zane Grey, so it has story to spare. Thus, Two Big Thumbs up. Shot in Newhall and the by-now-familiar Alabama Hills, the picture is good but not razor sharp. ////
Well, how about them Rams? How about the first Super Bowl win in L.A. Rams history? Of course, they won it all in St. Louis with Kurt Warner and the Greatest Show On Turf. That was the greatest Rams team ever, but Matthew Stafford and company are damn good.
Don't worry about Joe Burrow and the Bengals. They'll be back, and they nearly won this game. A lot of folks will cite the bogus holding call on the Cincy linebacker on the Rams final drive (and it was indeed a bogus call), but then, if you argue that it cost the Bengals the game (which is a legit argument, but not proof), you also have to consider the non-call on the face mask grab that should have nullified Cincinnati's touchdown on the first play of the third quarter. Anyway, the Bengals are one hell of a team. They scored 17 straight unanswered points and it looked like the Rams were done for. I am proud of myself for watching the whole game and never once changing the channel or closing my eyes and plugging my ears. I toughed it out, and I'm glad I did. Usually, I can't take the pressure. But I admit, the only reason I was able to watch is because I like the Bengals also. If they were playing anyone but the Rams, I'd be rooting for them to win.
I hope you had a nice Valentine's Day, and have you heard of Dordle? It's two Wordles in one. Google it and give it a try. Or you can try Quordle, which is four Wordles in one, but it's too much trouble if you ask me. You'll be sitting there all day. Also, try Nerdle, a math version of Wordle. It's fun, too.
That's all I know for today. Don't forget to listen to the last four Jim Svejda shows : 91.5 KUSC, 7 to 12pm.
I send you Tons of Love, as always. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo :):)
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