I Want to Live (1958) / Pretty Poison (1968)
I Want to Live: Starring: Theodore Bikel, Simon Oakland,
Philip Coolidge, Virginia Vincent, Wesley Lau, Susan Hayward
Pretty Poison: Starring:
Tuesday Weld, Anthony Perkins, Beverly Garland, Clarice Blackburn, John
Randolph, Dick O'Neill
Company: Twilight Time
My Review and Thoughts:
I Want to Live:
My Rating: 5 out of 5
Pretty Poison:
My Rating: 4 out of 5
Double feature of two fantastic feature films. This is the
first time seeing both of these which is an ultimate treat. I did this as a
double feature because it has two key categories about it. One, both are about
bad persons and murder. Second, both have the same Music Score composer for the
film. So, begins a double feature Twilight Time Style.
First up I Want to Live:
This is based on a real person named Barbara Graham. She was
a convicted murderer. And in 1955 at the young age of 31, was executed. Her
two accomplices Jack Santo and Emmett Perkins where also executed. She was
known as Bloody Babs, given that nickname by the press. Throughout her life,
she had one ordeal after the other from being arrested as a teenager, and sent
to a reform school, to failed marriages. By WW2 she became a prostitute.
Arrested many times, she soon ended up involved with drugs and gambling. In and
out of prison often for crimes such as perjury. She tried to better her life after
prison but soon found herself right back into the realm of criminal life. To
make a long story short she married in 1953 to Henry Graham, who was a criminal
and druggie. Soon she met his friends, both criminals, Jack Santo and Emmett
Perkins. She had an affair with Perkins. Perkins told her about a 64-year-old
widow named Mabel. The story goes Mabel had a ton of money, and as you would
guess what happens next. Barbara with Perkins, Santo and two others went about
to rob Mabel. Graham created a rouse to enter the house by asking to use the
phone. There she and her associates burst in, subdued Mabel, forcefully asked
for the money. Mabel refused, supposedly Barbara was the enforcer, and as you
guess, 5 against one is never a good outcome.
Now the movie is a total fictionalized version of the
ordeal. The movie makes it more heart felt, and dramatic, and gives Graham a
likable persona, basically suggesting she was innocent, giving it that dramatic
appeal, where as in real life all the evidence points to her and even her own
statements, and actions showcase that she was guilty. Most consider the movie as
a propaganda tool toward the death penalty, in stating she was an innocent woman
wrongfully executed for a crime she did not commit. Whatever the case is, it’s
part of history, and this is a solid film with utterly amazing performances.
Starring the amazing Susan Hayward in the lead role, and she gives a dramatic,
touching, and ultimate wonderment of perfection in her performance. She would go
on to win, the Best Actress Academy Award for this role, which she greatly deserved. Her
performance is one of the best in cinema.
Susan Hayward is one of the best actresses to ever grace
cinema history. She had a long wonderful career of award worthy performances.
From the amazing Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman (1947), to 1955’s I’ll Cry
Tomorrow. She was nominated for 5 Academy Awards winning one as I have stated
for I Want to Live. Sadly, she was
silenced by the mass murderer known as Cancer. She died so young. 57 years old,
was way too young. Thankfully we have companies like Twilight Time that bring
out important pieces of cinema to remember these great acting legends.
Keep an eye out for one of my all-time personal favorites
Simon Oakland. Oakland has been in so many wonderful films. Playing so many
wonderful small and big parts throughout his career. He was both star of TV and
feature films. From 1960’s Psycho, 1961’s
West Side Story, 1968’s Bullitt, 1972’s Chato’s Land (which might I add
Twilight Time has released on a Special Edition Blu-ray), 1973’s Emperor of the
North (which might I add Twilight Time has released on a Special Edition
Blu-ray). Many might remember him as Tony Vincenzo in the 1970’s classic
television show Kolchak: The Night Stalker. He was just an all-around amazing
performer. Another talented soul who died way to soon, 68 years isn’t long
enough.
I Want to live was directed by one of the greatest directors
out there and that makes even more shocking I haven’t seen this film. Robert
Wise was a genius of film making. Not only a director, but producer and editor
of films. He directed two of the greatest films of all time, greatest musicals
of all time. The amazing West Side Story (1961) and The Sound of Music (1965).
Which might I add he won Best Director and Best Picture for both of those
features which is a stunning accomplishment. Now besides those wonderful
musicals and many other amazing dramas and features, it is the Horror and Sci-fi
movies that I know him for. He created some of the greats. 1944’s The Curse of
the Cat People, 1945’s The Body Snatcher, the one and only Sci-fi Masterpiece
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). He directed one of the greatest ghost
horror films ever, 1963’s The Haunting. Other favorites of mine by his mastery,
1971’s The Andromeda Strain, 1977’s Audrey Rose, and another personal Sci-fi Favorite
Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Nominated for 7 Academy Awards winning 4 of
those. He was truly an amazing visionary of film.
Next up Pretty Poison:
This is a very odd and very different film.This is a cult status film. This 1968
psychological black comedy thriller is a unique trip into a cinema setting. A
wonderful cast. Never seeing this before, I was shocked because it stars one of my
favorite performers, and who I consider one of the greatest actors of all time. The one and only Anthony Perkins. Yes, that Anthony Perkins, Norman Bates
himself. In honesty Perkins was so much more than Norman Bates in Psycho. He
was a gifted award worthy performer that should always be remembered. Perkins
wonderful long career gave some amazing performances such as his Oscar
Nominated performance of the character Josh Birdwell in the 1956 film Friendly
Persuasion. I love when Perkins plays odd ball characters or deranged persons.
Yes sadly he got type cast in this fashion due to his greatest performance in
Psycho, but I feel even being type cast in that psycho role of characters, he
created moments in film both great and small that stand out, and sticks with
you. From the very underrated TV movie of week, How Awful About Allan (1970), which was wrote by one of the great writers of all time Henry Farrell who wrote
two of the greatest books turned into movies, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane and
Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte (which Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte recently became a
Special Edition Blu-ray released by Twilight Time). I loved Perkins in the 1971 Crime drama Someone Behind the Door,
alongside the greatest tough guy himself Charles Bronson. To me one of Perkins
ultimate roles is the very twisted, unique deranged film directed by Ken
Russell. 1984’s Cult Classic Crimes of Passion. Next I have to pinpoint the
awesome character Henry Jekyll in the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde style plot of
1989’s Edge of Sanity. Perkins was brilliant in Pretty Poison. That is what makes
Perkins so great about acting, even if a movie sucks that he stars in, his part
is always golden and award worthy.
Also starring the very beautiful Tuesday Weld. She is an award winning and nominated actress that creates every
character into a believable persona, and the character of Sue in Pretty Poison
is no different than that reality. She has been a part of so many important
films in cinematic history from Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977), 1981’s Thief,
to 1984’s Once Upon a Time in America. It was great seeing her in this film. She and Anthony Perkins chemistry is perfect together. Both play off each other in
brilliance.
Also starring the amazing Beverly Garland. Garland was a
force in the entertainment world. She acted in her long career in over 190
performances. Mainly best known for her many characters on all the popular TV
series. Memorable roles in TV, My Three Sons, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,
Scarecrow and Mrs. King. I will always know her from her many roles in cinema.
Her first feature film was the film noir classic, 1950’s D.O.A. But it will be her
many B-Movie, Drive-in classic roles, that I am always a huge fan of, such as 1956
Sci-fi classic It Conquered World, 1956’s Curucu, Beast of the Amazon, 1957’s
Not of this Earth, 1959's The Alligator People, 1963’s Twice-Told Tales. Also
starring in memorable films such as 1974’s Where the Red Fern Crows, Airport
1975, 1979’s Roller Boogie.
Now the plot to this movie is all over the place and yet
uniquely vivid in this cult film. Perkins plays Dennis Pitt, who is a recent
parole from as you would suspect a mental institution. Soon he falls in with
a teenager named Sue. He makes up a story that he is a secret agent. He takes
her alongside his missions as he calls them, that ends in a twisted ordeal of
crimes and ultimately murder. Dennis is honesty mortified at what he has
done, and yet Sue is giddy and excited at what has happened, thinking this is a
wonderful adventure. Sue wants Dennis and her to run away to Mexico, but first
Sue has a mission of her own.
This was directed by Noah Black. Yeah you and me both, I had
no knowledge of him or ever even heard of him until seeing this, and so that
also was a treat in seeing a first time director that I had no knowledge of. Second, this was Noah Blacks Directorial feature film debut, so double the pleasure. Noah
went on to direct a few more feature films, and mainly went into to directing TV
Series and TV movies. Of all his other films none are memorable and have basically
been lost by time. For all you horror movie fans he did direct the movie Mirrors in
1978, and I vaguely remember seeing it. Probably the only other film that people
will remember is the 1983 Comedy Romance, Private School starring Matthew Modine
and Phoebe Cates. Whatever the case is Noah Black directed Pretty Poison which
is a unique film that should be remembered, and thankfully Twilight Time has
honored this unique film with a special edition Blu-ray.
The movie is based from the book She Let Him Continue written
by Stephen Geller which came out in 1966. Sadly it is out of print, but looking
online you can find it from used bookstores. I am a huge reader and so I
decided to order the book from Powell’s Books. Interesting to note about Geller
is he wrote many screenplays for films. After looking him up I was surprised
because he wrote the screenplay for one of my favorite films, and yet I had
no knowledge of him until this Twilight Time release. He co-wrote the
screenplay for The Valachi Papers and my personal favorite, the film adaption
of one of the greatest books of all time (and might I add on my top 10 book
list) Slaughter-House Five (the book being by a course Kurt Vonnegut). Geller as of this
writing has written 12 books. Also interesting to note is he wrote the script,
produced, and directed a film in 2005 called Mother’s Little Helpers. It’s interesting
to pinpoint all the odd ball trivia about Pretty Poison.
Pretty Poison over the years has garnered a cult following.
A midnight type screening. When it first came out it was destroyed by many critics
and it majorly bombed at the box office. Yet as time went on, critics spoke up
for it, and plus movie fans has given it that love of being a Cult Film. I for
one thought it was a wonderful unique film. Truly memorable. The
performances by both Perkins and Tuesday Weld is golden. Both create unique and
twisted characters that make you remember them and ultimately, you become a part
of them, and you end up wanting to know what happens next.
Audio/Video:
My Rating: 5 out of 5
Both are fantastically done in 1080p High Definition. Both
are vibrant and crisp in imagery. Loved the sound quality. Twilight Time always
brings out high quality transfers that shine and are worthy to praise.
I Want to Live:
LANGUAGE: English
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 1.85:1
AUDIO: English 1.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
1958 / B&W
Pretty Poison:
LANGUAGE: English
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 1.85:1
AUDIO: English 1.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English SDH
1968 / Color
Extras:
I Want to Live: My Rating: 2 out of 5
Pretty Poison: My Rating: 3 out of 5
Slim pickings on the I Want to Live Blu-ray when it comes to
the special features which is kind of a letdown. But you get some good special
features on Pretty Poison. But
thankfully at least you get on both Blu-ray’s, the amazing and important
Isolated Music tracks which I always enjoy listening to. As I have stated in
the past I am a huge music lover, and one reality to that is Film scores. Music
in movies I have always felt adds a spark to the viewing pleasure. Music can
create an emotional journey in itself. Both I Want to Live and Pretty Poison
are important prime examples of that beauty of film. Both have excellent music
throughout. Each film comes to life in one way or another through the music
displayed and Twilight Time has honored that understanding of the importance of
film scores.
Isolated Music Score on both Blu-ray’s: The music behind
both features is by composer Johnny Mandel. Still kicking it today as of this
writing at 90 years old. He is one of the greatest jazz, and song film creators
of all time. He was, and is a true legend beyond mere writing about him in
words. One has to listen to his amazing talent to fully understand and
appreciate the complex importance and mastery of his craft. He is a Grammy and
Oscar winning musician. In all reality, one should know his name, and his sound.
He has worked with so many legends from Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Barbara
Streisand. He is a passionate, powerful, and amazing music god. Twilight Time
has honored his expertise of sound with this isolated music track.
I Want to Live:
Audio Commentary Segment by Robert Wise and associate Mike
Matessino. A great short listen. Fantastic information.
Original Theatrical Trailer
Pretty Poison:
You get two audio commentaries. First with Executive
Producer Lawrence Turman, and Film Historians Lem Dobbs and Nick Redman and
audio commentary with Director Noel Black and Film Historian Robert Fischer.
Both are great listens and are filled with much information on the film. Loved
listening to this, and I think it’s a great special feature.
Deleted Scene Script and Commentary
Original Theatrical Trailer
You get the wonderful liner note booklets by the
amazing film historian and film guru Julie Kirgo as I always state this is a
wonderful added bonus that Twilight Time gives.
Overall:
Yet again two fantastic Blu-ray’s by Twilight Time. Both
great special features. Both worthy to praise and own. I Want to Live has one
of the greatest performances in cinema. Pretty Poison is an underrated film
that has garnered a life of its own over the years, and is a true Cult Classic.
I highly recommend both Blu-ray’s, each equally important in their own ways.
Both films are performed with excellent acting, direction, and an overall memorable
experience to the viewer. Both films are to me important pieces of cinema, and
Twilight Time has created two flawless outlets in both audio and video quality.
Again, Highly Recommended.
INFO:
Make sure you head over to www.screenarchives.com to buy all
the wonderful Twilight Time Blu-rays. The main page that gives you these
beautiful releases on top quality Special Editions.
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