Hell's Angels

I found an interesting site the other day: archive.org, they've got loads of public domain resources there, one of 'em is the excellent Hell's Angels, directed and produced by Howard Hughes. It's a rather special film because it was made during what's referred to as: the pre-code era. The code in question was the Hays Code and under its auspices, cinematic expression was quite severely restricted for several decades. As such I found watching the film, although entertaining, a somewhat sombre experience when considering the inferior melodrama that became prevalent under the code. Hell's Angles is a lively flick, its characters full of vitality and exuberance which is epitomised by the role played by Jean Harlow, who here is devastatingly alluring. Unfortunately, for me, her allure didn't survive the application of the code, weird eyebrows and the plaster manikin make up are poor proxies for the sensual grace she displays in Hell's Angels, just wait till you see her in that dress.

James Whale has a credit for staging which I infer is equivalent to sound stage director, meaning he directed the dialogue scenes. It's interesting to note that several dialogue scenes feature quite evident pauses, something that serves to underline dramatic tension. Overall the film is rather less stylised than is typical for the era and the interaction between the cast is quite subtle and full of detail. There's also plenty of high action in the film, most of which is rendered with real aircraft. So here it is, give it a go if you're interested.

I'll never forget Whats'isname (George Murcell)

You know those character actors whose name may have known but it escapes when you're trying to recall and you resort to referring to the person in question by a role or character type you associate them with, "You know the guy who played oily villains on The Saint and The Adventures of Robin Hood..."? That's happening to me all the time, so I've decided to record such notables on this blog, the first being George Murcell.

George Murcell

That capture is from an episode of The Champions apparently, not sure which one but Mr. Murcell seems to be in a slightly atypical role. A rather more congenial character than the surly protagonists leering with a lascivious menace at some heroine, that I remember him for.

A story behind the news.

After many decades since the publication of her only published novel to date, it's been announced that Harper Lee is to have a new novel published. A story which I'm sure you're familiar with but you might be scratching your head over a certain controversy surrounding this event A peculiar narrative has coalesced around the comments of some notable figures, that is: she's being taken advantage of by unscrupulous publishers. Kind of odd notion that isn't it but it's gained a certain currency amid the media coverage. I wonder why that should be, you might ask, if you're of a mind to ponder anomalous media output. Well allow me to explain, what's not being mentioned in the media, is a rumour that has been common currency in the literary world for many years. To put it baldly, this rumour concerns the speculation that To Kill A Mockingbird isn't entirely Lee's own work, rather it was written, or at least heavily edited by her friend, Truman Capote. You see, now things are starting to make sense aren't they? Indeed since it seems that the new novel is going to be based on Lee's original, recently rediscovered, draft for the work, you might be forgiven for entertaining the notion that the game is up, if  you're of a mind to believe rumours that is.

Personally I'm have nothing invested in the veracity or otherwise of this rumour but it's always interesting to note the sophistry of those who are invested in such questions. Although Capote publicly denied the rumour, attacks on his personal integrity figure prominently, today we can't have recourse to crude allusions to his sexual proclivities, rather he's referenced as a person with an enormous ego and gift for self promotion, cos those are absolutely despicable attributes aren't they? I enjoy reading when the author utilises written word to offer an insight themselves or shed light on their own view of the world. The analysis of the prose in question, often presents a marvellous example of such insight: the voice is wrong for Capote, blah blah blah, yeah have these people done much actually reading, cos that seems incredibly naive? Such apparent naivety isn't born through inexperience though, it's the inevitable consequence that arises through attempting to impose a rounded narrative on events that are the subject of speculation rather than fact. Anyway I'm sure this story will rumble on to its deeply equivocal conclusion in the press.