So today I am feeling low. Not in a full-on depression, not even sad, just blah. So I do what any normal person would do: looked at my DVR recordings. Because that's what people do now. Turn on the TV, look at the DVR or Netflix recommendations. Don't fight it; it's the future.
There's a movie I've been trying to watch for about a month now, but I keep getting distracted/fall asleep: The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone.
This is a movie based on a short story (or novella, depending on who you ask) by Tennessee Williams. The Tennessee Williams story everyone knows is Streetcar Named Desire. At the very least you'll probably have heard this:
Streetcar Named Desire and The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone both star Vivien Leigh, who is a one-note actress, but an AMAZING one-note it is. I love her. She was married to Laurence Olivier until he ditched her because she was crazy-depressed (not yet listed in the DSM-IV, so let's say severely depressed instead).
You don't know who I'm talking about, you say? It doesn't matter. We'll just move on.
To the topic at hand: should one watch Tennessee Williams'-based movies when feeling anything less than neutral? If I'm down, it could make me feel better ("Hey, at least I haven't been completely violated in a brutal fashion!"), or, conversely, it could make me feel worse ("Oh, that's tragic…wait, what? THE WORLD IS TERRRIBLE!").
I answered this question about The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone quite quickly: I got distracted looking at Facebook and then her husband died (spoiler! Not really, it happens before the credits), so that was that: didn't make me feel better ("At least MY husband is still alive!"). Goodbye Mrs. Stone, maybe tomorrow!
But it did start me thinking about other Tennessee WIlliams-based movies, and when you should watch those. Very quickly, I can say, do not watch Streetcar Named Desire in a negative frame of mind. That's some deep and disturbing story, even in the censored movie version. Possibly don't even watch it alone. If you're a Godfather fan, it might ruin Marlon Brando for you.
Night of the Iguana is on yet a different level. I have to ask myself a few questions before I decide on that:
Remember how amazing Ava Garner was in that? (Yes!)
How are you feeling about religion right now? (Meh.)
Is your stomach strong enough to think about eating iguana? (Sure, I guess.)
Do you feel like watching Richard Burton in anything? (Maybe)
Really? (No, I don't)
So, Night of the Iguana gets a nice solid Maybe.
But what about Cat on a Hot Tin Roof? I'm going to give that a rating of Watch Anytime. If you're down, Burle Ives yelling "Mendacity!" over and over again will cheer you up. Plus, Liz Taylor's iconic white dress would be flattering on most body types.
If you're feeling happy, you might even laugh out loud at the crazy antics of stereotypical mother-in-law and annoying children.
Suddenly, Last Summer gets an Almost Anytime rating. The casting is impeccable, and the story so fantastical it's hard to put myself in any of the characters.
Except maybe Mrs. Venable.
I don't have definite opinions on The Rose Tattoo or The Glass Menagerie. So that's it! You don't have to read any more of my foolish musings on movies anymore today.
Have a panda gif for your time.
 |
| Sadly, not this future |
There's a movie I've been trying to watch for about a month now, but I keep getting distracted/fall asleep: The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone.
 |
| Which they remade recently with Helen Mirren and no one told me. |
This is a movie based on a short story (or novella, depending on who you ask) by Tennessee Williams. The Tennessee Williams story everyone knows is Streetcar Named Desire. At the very least you'll probably have heard this:
Streetcar Named Desire and The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone both star Vivien Leigh, who is a one-note actress, but an AMAZING one-note it is. I love her. She was married to Laurence Olivier until he ditched her because she was crazy-depressed (not yet listed in the DSM-IV, so let's say severely depressed instead).
 |
| Although she doesn't look it, because depression doesn't always manifest outwardly or in group settings. |
You don't know who I'm talking about, you say? It doesn't matter. We'll just move on.
 |
| But seriously, you didn't watch Wuthering Heights in high school? |
To the topic at hand: should one watch Tennessee Williams'-based movies when feeling anything less than neutral? If I'm down, it could make me feel better ("Hey, at least I haven't been completely violated in a brutal fashion!"), or, conversely, it could make me feel worse ("Oh, that's tragic…wait, what? THE WORLD IS TERRRIBLE!").
I answered this question about The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone quite quickly: I got distracted looking at Facebook and then her husband died (spoiler! Not really, it happens before the credits), so that was that: didn't make me feel better ("At least MY husband is still alive!"). Goodbye Mrs. Stone, maybe tomorrow!
 |
| After all, tomorrow is another day! |
But it did start me thinking about other Tennessee WIlliams-based movies, and when you should watch those. Very quickly, I can say, do not watch Streetcar Named Desire in a negative frame of mind. That's some deep and disturbing story, even in the censored movie version. Possibly don't even watch it alone. If you're a Godfather fan, it might ruin Marlon Brando for you.
 |
| Spoiler: He used to look like this! |
Night of the Iguana is on yet a different level. I have to ask myself a few questions before I decide on that:
Remember how amazing Ava Garner was in that? (Yes!)
How are you feeling about religion right now? (Meh.)
Is your stomach strong enough to think about eating iguana? (Sure, I guess.)
Do you feel like watching Richard Burton in anything? (Maybe)
Really? (No, I don't)
So, Night of the Iguana gets a nice solid Maybe.
But what about Cat on a Hot Tin Roof? I'm going to give that a rating of Watch Anytime. If you're down, Burle Ives yelling "Mendacity!" over and over again will cheer you up. Plus, Liz Taylor's iconic white dress would be flattering on most body types.
 |
| And it was $9.95 at Sears! |
If you're feeling happy, you might even laugh out loud at the crazy antics of stereotypical mother-in-law and annoying children.
Suddenly, Last Summer gets an Almost Anytime rating. The casting is impeccable, and the story so fantastical it's hard to put myself in any of the characters.
Except maybe Mrs. Venable.
 |
| Hats will be back by the time I'm 50. I'm sure of it. |
I don't have definite opinions on The Rose Tattoo or The Glass Menagerie. So that's it! You don't have to read any more of my foolish musings on movies anymore today.
Have a panda gif for your time.
