Present and Correct

 

Present and Correct

Movie Review: The Great Man (1956)

The Great Man (1956)

Plot: A reporter (José Ferrer, who also directed) is assigned a job to deliver a nationwide radio eulogy for a beloved celebrity. But looking into the facts of the revered figure’s life reveals details that will destroy the man's image and possibly the reporter’s career.

A cynical, hard-boiled character study (although the main character is never seen), this movie is a good example of the kind of subjects Hollywood examined during its “pre-code” days (ca. 1920s - 1934).  The basic story is very close to Citizen Kane in how it examines private vs. public personas. Ferrer’s character is very much in Joe Friday mode, stuck between telling the truth and advancing his own interest. Famous ‘50s singer Julie London effectively plays a young woman very much caught up in the intrigue.  

While some of the scenes start to feel interminable, the movie is worth a look. Be aware that the audio track has degraded to the point you may need to use close-captions to heart what's going on.

6/10 (“Liked it”)

Tom Grillo

 

Tom Grillo

Who knows what goes on in your neighbor's house? There haven't been a lot of cult horror movies recently - I think Midsommar was the last one to get a lot of attention. To me, those can be more unsettling than zombies.

Gideon Appah

 

Gideon Appah

A lovely stellar dreamscape.

It's the Devil I Love

It's the Devil I Love

 Artist unknown. It's a woodcut from (probably) the Middle Ages. There are still plenty of places in the 21st century USA where you could get in trouble for displaying something like this.

Hey, That's My Bike!

Hey, That's My Bike!

 Artist unknown. I really like the design of those old European posters of stuff. I've been needing to replace my current bicycle. I bought it in Cambridge, MA many years ago. Chicago is a nice place to ride a bike, as long as you pick the right streets.

Jesse Simpson

 

Jesse Simpson

Edward Burra

 

Edward Burra

Bradley Hankey

 

Bradley Hankey

Pell Mell

 

Pell Mell