The Member of the Wedding (1952)
Company: Twilight Time
Starring: Arthur
Franz, Nancy Gates, Ethel Waters, Julie Harris, Brandon de Wilde, James
Edwards, William Hansen
My Review and Thoughts:
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Here is another excellent choice for a limited edition
Blu-ray by Twilight Time. This is the first time seeing this film and so it was
a real treat to experience a new movie. I always enjoy watching a film for the
first time. What better way to watch a first time film, than on 1080p High Definition?
Twilight Time has done it again in bringing out a wonderful piece of cinema
that should be seen. The Blu-ray is a wonderful transfer, has wonderful special
features and amazing audio and video quality.
This 1952 drama film is based on the novel of the same name
by a very gifted writer Carson McCullers. McCullers was a truly fantastic story
teller. Her personal life was a story and tragedy in itself. She in her teenage
years suffered from strokes and would eventual paralyze her left side. She died
way to young, Her visionary work shines in her many novels. One of my personal
favorite books she wrote was The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. If you ever get a
chance seek out her books and become amazed by her beauty in words.
This stars a vast array of wonderful actors and actresses.
The all-around perfect child actor, which this would be his last movie role,
the one of kind Dickie Moore. He was true Hollywood and cinema was his
visionary reality. From such film classics like 1933 masterpiece Oliver
Twist. Dickie Moore was a true piece of the golden age of cinema. In The Member
of the Wedding he plays the character of a drunken soldier who tries to take
advantage of your main character Frankie played by the wonderful, beautiful and
Hollywood master Julie Harris.
Harris was the golden ticket of so many wonderful
adventures, a 5 time Tony Award winner, 3 time Emmy Award Winner, a Grammy
Winner and also was nominated for an Academy Award. A stunning brilliant
career. A huge stage actor which might I add, she is in the American Theatre Hall of
Fame. Now Julie also played the role of Frankie in the Broadway production
before the film production of The Member of the Wedding. I personally will
always remember her from one of my favorite spooky horror films 1963’s The
Haunting playing the character Eleanor Lance. All one really has to do is name
her many films off, such as East of Eden, The Hiding Place, Requiem for a Heavyweight.
She was a true goddess of cinema, and it was a fantastic experience seeing her
again in a film I had never seen.
Now I don’t say this lightly. This also stars one of the
greatest masterpiece worthy Actress’s to ever grace the entertainment world. A
wonderful, beautiful African American performer that gave her soul and her
heart to the world of entertainment. From singing Blues, Jazz and Gospel music
to the reality I am writing about, acting. I speak about the one of a kind Ethel
Waters. If you ever get a chance seek out her music, you will be amazed.
Equally impressive is
the man behind the camera calling the direction. Fred Zinnemann needs no
introduction, but because of this modern generation, who many persons calling
themselves movie buffs, don’t look to the past of cinema, I have to describe a
man that should be on any movie buff’s mind. Zinnemann was a director, producer
that gave the world masterpieces. Yes, masterpieces. The one and only western
masterpiece, 1952’s High Noon. If that doesn’t tell you anything, nothing will.
He also brought the masterpiece, 1953’s From Here to Eternity, 1948’s The
Search, the amazing 1973's The Day of the Jackel, and 1977’s Julia, which I
highly recommend watching just like all the others I have mentioned, and many,
many others. Now his, From Here to Eternity, and A Man for All Seasons, both
won him, Best Feature Film at the Academy Awards in 1953 and 1966. That shows
you his amazing talent, and plus I have to mention that in his vast career of
directing, he has directed 18 actors to be nominated for Best Actor by the
Academy Awards, and 6 of those actors won for best actor in his films, which is
a stunning realization of his brilliance in directing performers. Twilight Time
did the amazing job of crafting another wonderful new outlet for this film.
Twilight Time has also released two other of his important films which you can
read my reviews for them here: A Man for All Seasons and Julia.
The plot to The Member of the Wedding is your introduced to Frankie, an awkward girl who is a tomboy, 12 years old and very emotional. She
has friends in only her cousin John Henry and her black house keeper Berenice.
Now Frankie is mad because her older brother got married and left on his
Honeymoon and didn’t invite her to go along. So with her frustrated attitude
she decides to run away. She is faced with life head on, from death to growing
up. She must find herself and transcend into womanhood through many obstacles.
Audio/Video: My Rating 4 out of 5
The Black and white is stunning. The imagery is crisp. The
sound is vibrant with perfection. A wonderful quality of 1080p High Definition.
LANGUAGE: English
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 1.33:1
AUDIO: English 1.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
1952 / B&W
Extras: My Rating: 4 out of 5
Isolated Score Track. The man behind the music really needs
no introduction. He created one amazing piece after another. From mastery to
stunning, to masterpiece music. All one has to do is look at his film scores
for such greats as, A Streetcar Named Desire, Spartacus, Who’s Afraid of
Virginia Wolf, Cleopatra. I have to mention two of my favorite by him 1971’s Willard
score and my personal favorite, 1981’s Dragonslayer. He was a true gifted
pioneer of music. His artform stands out above and beyond mere words.
Audio Commentary with Singer/Songwriter Suzanne Vega, and
Film Historians Derek Botelho and David Del Valle. A very informative and
awesome listen. Enjoyed it greatly.
Audio Commentary with Carson McCullers Biographer Virginia
Spencer Carr. This was a great listen to. Always love hearing more about
wonderful authors that given their visionary works to us. A great listen.
The World of Carson McCullers. This is great interviews of
archival footage. A wonderful watch. Running almost 16 minutes.
The Journey from Stage to Film. A program that runs a little
over 10 minutes. Comments about the stage play becoming a feature film.
Introduction by Karen Kramer
Original Theatrical Trailer
Overall:
Overall this is a Highly Recommended Blu-ray. A wonderful
movie with stunning performances that truly stay with you long after the film
is over. Twilight Time has done another amazing job at bringing a worthy film
to the masses of this new generation and of the older generation. Amazing
quality in audio and video, wonderful extras. A top notch brilliant example of
how to treat an older film.
INFO:
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beautiful releases on top quality Special Editions.
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