This summer, Nashville’s one-and-only Belcourt Theatre offers an awesome opportunity for fans to join in “Robert Mitchum: 100 Years.” Films include Cape Fear and El Dorado, welcome big-screen events. For noir lovers, it’s even grander, including Saturday and Sunday screenings of Out of the Past, Angel Face, and The Friends of Eddie Coyle. Even more wonderful for me, they’re also showing a noir I’ve never seen: Macao — costarring Jane Russell (so we know Russell-fan Movie Movie Blog Blog will know the flick!).
The series started off on July 1 and 2 with Night of the Hunter (1955), a film I’ve seen five times already, but still enjoyed immensely on the big screen.
The best part of the experience was definitely the audience, who got all the jokes, from Icey Spoonisms to incredible facial expressions. As always, my pet peeve was Pearl, especially when she’s supposed to be singing in the skiff. It was a grand day out, to be sure, as I and two friends basked in the glory of Mitchum’s preacher man. This time, I particularly enjoyed his knife erection ripping open his pocket over and over as well as looking to see which hand (LOVE or HATE) was emphasized when he spoke and moved. Yet, I do still find the Xmas scene and Gish’s final speech sickening. Yes, children do abide, but they also suffer PTSD and many die in the streets. Anyhow, I paid attention once again to the Old Testament (Harry Powell) vs. New Testament (Rachel Cooper) perspectives presented, with emphasis on Moses as the precursor to Jesus for Christians. Finally, I loved Poor Uncle Birdie Steptoe and John Harper extra hard. The two of them should’ve left town together.
Note: I hate to remember that the first time I saw the film was after I was just out of graduate school, and my superficial feminism led me to hate the film because its images of women weren’t strong: passive Willow Harper, gossipy ignorant Icey Spoon, and maternal Rachel Cooper. As if we admire any of the men more. Ah well, we live and we grow and we learn.
Thanks, Charles Laughton, for directing this film; and thanks Belcourt, for showing it.
July 8, 2017 at 8:56 PM
Rachel Cooper isn’t a strong female character? That scene where she sings over Robert Mitchum says it all. I’d be gratified to have someone that strong-willed protecting me against that psycho!
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July 8, 2017 at 11:50 PM
I totally agree now. And what, no comment about Macao?
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July 9, 2017 at 3:32 AM
Wonderful stuff, Salome! This is a movie of which, unlike most, I’ve never been a great fan, but your account has made me start to reevaluate what might possibly be (note typical male reservation!) the error of my ways. Or something.
Might I have your permission to reblog this entry, please?
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July 9, 2017 at 4:48 AM
Watching with a friend who loves a film does help, as does big screen and big audience. Always honored to have you reblog!
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July 9, 2017 at 12:55 PM
Many thanks!
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July 9, 2017 at 9:16 AM
That sounds like a great event. How lovely that Robert is being remembered and his films reshown. He is terrifying in Night of the Hunter and Cape Fear. He always came across as someone you wouldn’t want to mess with, and that was when he was playing a good guy! When he was a villain he became downright scary.
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July 9, 2017 at 12:58 PM
Reblogged this on Noirish and commented:
**The always interesting blog B Noir Detour recently posted this discussion of one of the great actor’s most celebrated roles. Many thanks to Salome for permission to reblog.
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July 9, 2017 at 7:37 PM
I saw Macao about twenty years ago, and the thing I remember is Gloria Grahame gallantly trying to act while Mitchum and Russell do their Film Star routines around her.
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July 10, 2017 at 3:54 PM
I look forward to watching. I love Grahame.
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