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Sunday 3 July 2011

I'm on a Gene Tierney high

After watching 5 of her films in the past 3 days, I am without a doubt on a bit of Gene Tierney high. Not only that, but I think I've finally succumbed to her oodles of charm. I must admit that I hadn't given her much of a chance before having only seen parts of a few of her films, and all I knew about her was that she had an overbite (pretty sure I have Millie to thank for that piece of information ;D), was ridiculously gorgeous, and had a really tragic life. In short, I basically thought of her as another one of the 40s ridiculously gorgeous actresses whom I would get around to watching more films of sometime (I even had her box set on my Amazon wishlist to remind me to watch some of her films!). Well, all I can say is I am so glad I decided to watch Leave Her to Heaven (1945) on Thursday night.


Yes, it's that film. I don't think you can be a classic film fan without knowing about the chilling scene shown in the photo above, even if you've never actually seen it.

Anyway, what can I say? I was hooked from that moment on. I wanted to see more films from this talented and beautiful lady. So the next day I watched The Mating Season (1951) whose cast also boasted Thelma Ritter and Miriam Hopkins so it HAD to be pretty wonderful - and it was! Then that evening I watched Heaven Can Wait (1953) and realised that I'd actually seen it before which was a surprise. I'm not sure if I'd seen all of it but I definitely remembered certain parts. Then last night I finally watched Laura (1944), a film I'd been meaning to watch since the beginning of time. Let me just say, I WAS NOT EXPECTING ANY OF THAT! I was sat on the edge of my seat the entire film. And I have never been more repulsed in my life than by seeing Clifton Webb in a bathtub. Just no. Finally, this afternoon I watched The Left Hand of God (1955) and, whilst it's not a great film and Gene's part isn't that big, I enjoyed it. Bogart was brilliant as always and you can never go wrong when Agnes Moorehead is in the cast. 

I am looking forward so much to watching more Gene films so please leave me recommendations! After I finish this post I'm going to watch Tobacco Road (1941) and perhaps I might write a review on it (any excuse to post Gene photos!). So, I'm going to say good night and leave you in peace :P 

7 comments:

  1. LOL, last month I went through the same phase after re-watching "Heaven Can Wait" . I watched her bio on Youtube (her life was so sad, but as my readers suggested, at least she was happily married for 20 years) and I really want to find a copy of her autobio. From the films you mentioned, I haven't seen "The left Hand of God" nor "Tobacco Road", so I'll wait for your review of the latter!

    Recommendations:

    - Son of Fury: super entertaining adventure film with Ty Power; both looking very young (my review)

    - "Dragonwyck": Spooky and very entertaining; with Vincent Price & Jessica Tandy (my review)

    - one of my new favorites, "Way of a Gaucho", filmed in Argentina (Chile gets a mention :) ) my review.

    - also "Night and the city", a great film noir, although her part is kind of simple (mini review)

    :)

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  2. OVERBITE! OVERBITE! OVERBITE!

    Gene Tierney is so utterly perfect. This post made me quite happy! :-D

    And, Laura, ugh. Greatest film ever made.

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  3. I adore her. SHe was a gorgeous, talented, courageous person.

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  4. Gene Tierney, is my favorite classic movie actress. I even have a blog page dedicated to her. You have already seen some of my favorite Gene Tierney films. I would also recommend: Shanghai Gesture, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Black Widow, Dragonwyck, Thunder Birds and Where the Sidewalk Ends..

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  5. I loved that scene in Leave her to Heaven and I have a review yet to write for the classic film.

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  6. I love Gene Tierney, so glad you discovered her! You have many more great films ahead of you to enjoy. I especially recommend THE GHOST AND MRS. MUIR which I think might have been her best performance. And I adore SON OF FURY which is '40s movie escapism at its best.

    I also have a real soft spot for NEVER LET ME GO with Clark Gable. Hokey as can be, but I just love Gable saving his Russian ballerina wife (Tierney) from behind the Iron Curtain.

    Best wishes,
    Laura

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