Cinephilic Ramblings

Ophuls’s complex pattern of camera movements—rapturous, lyrical pans and tracks and occasional sudden swings, within a larger, strictly observed symmetrical system—reflects the paradox of Madame de’s social situation and, on a larger scale, the mystery of free will and determinism.

Author and film critic Molly Haskell in her essay for the Criterion Collection.

The sneaky, slightly uncomfortable truth of La ronde is that our personalities are not quite as constant as we’d like to think they are: we don’t act the same way with everybody—and that goes double when the act of love is involved.

Film critic Terence Rafferty in his essay for the Criterion Collection

A spectacular first thirty minutes that fizzles for its remainder. As the plot putters to find secure footing, Vincent Price spends a lot of time shaking the beautiful Franca Bettoia. The influence on George Romero’s landmark, “Night of the Living Dead” is undeniable. 

Charming in every sense of the word. It’s always a joy to see Sterling Holloway, especially because of the strong point of relation I felt between this film and Disney’s “Cinderella,” but that’s probably just due to the costume and production design.

Sentimentality that is both authentic and earnest. Read “Acting Ordinary in The Shop Around the Corner” by film critic George Toles.

Sorry Carol Ohmart, no one outsmarts Vincent Price.