tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193750673421600279.post1696513382301683305..comments2023-12-30T01:44:58.368-08:00Comments on The Girl with the White Parasol: Movie Review: The CollectorAubynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00446079492480611898noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193750673421600279.post-40463404675445688192012-08-04T18:35:55.647-07:002012-08-04T18:35:55.647-07:00Thank you so much, Natalie! I'm feeling very h...Thank you so much, Natalie! I'm feeling very honoured. Unfortunately I'm going to be travelling for the next two weeks so I don't know when I'll be able to publish a proper response. But I'm very glad to get the award, especially from a fun and generous blogger like you!Aubynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00446079492480611898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193750673421600279.post-15915114653388485902012-08-04T07:08:54.375-07:002012-08-04T07:08:54.375-07:00I awarded you the Leibster Blog Award. <3 Detai...I awarded you the Leibster Blog Award. <3 Details here: http://theswingmood.blogspot.com/2012/08/leibster-blog-award-thank-you.htmlNataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10663789404590722274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193750673421600279.post-54892129299884615062012-07-28T10:55:42.948-07:002012-07-28T10:55:42.948-07:00Have you heard The Everly Brothers (!!!) song base...Have you heard The Everly Brothers (!!!) song based on <i>The Collector?</i> It's sublimely creepy.<br /><br /><a href="http://youtu.be/487CLDRsA7U" rel="nofollow">You can hear it here.</a>Vulnavia Morbiushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04722740955194993451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193750673421600279.post-83366527883108188552012-07-21T19:20:12.911-07:002012-07-21T19:20:12.911-07:00I never heard of this film until recently, while r...I never heard of this film until recently, while reading Gavin Lambert's biography of Natalie Wood. She was Wyler's first choice for the Samantha Eggar role, but she was such a big star then and was committed to doing the big budget Great Race with Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. Which made her miserable, because this was the film she wanted to do. It seems that to Wood, having to turn this role down was emblematic of the push-pull of her career -- did she want to be an actress or a movie star?The Gal Herselfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02566779726191649848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193750673421600279.post-91444693243145737042012-07-16T21:39:48.292-07:002012-07-16T21:39:48.292-07:00R.D. Finch: Thanks for stopping by, with such grea...R.D. Finch: Thanks for stopping by, with such great commentary. Well, <i>Doctor Dolittle</i> sure didn't do Eggar any favors, but I doubt it was the only reason she never took off. Multiple factors, probably. I did listen to an interview with her where she had nothing but compliments for Wyler, saying she absolutely adored him. What most struck me about Stamp is that he was a star right from the beginning. You can see it, he's got that magic. Nothing superficial about the way he portrays either Billy or Freddie.<br /><br />Vinnieh: Cool, hope you do take a look.Aubynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00446079492480611898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193750673421600279.post-197233920275941702012-07-16T05:06:56.706-07:002012-07-16T05:06:56.706-07:00Great post, need to watch this after reading this....Great post, need to watch this after reading this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193750673421600279.post-58256696043778259172012-07-16T00:37:31.069-07:002012-07-16T00:37:31.069-07:00Rachel, some lovely writing here and really percep...Rachel, some lovely writing here and really perceptive observations about the film--the actors, the direction, and the film's disturbing mood. Samantha Eggar was so memorable here, even getting an Oscar nomination, that it's a real mystery why her career seemed to fizzle so quickly. Terence Stamp is such a great, underappreciated actor, especially at this early point in his career. You made some interesting comparisons between his character here and in "Billy Budd," showing what an incredibly versatile actor he is, never settling in to a "type." In every film I've seen him in he seems so different from all his other roles. I also really liked him in "Far from the Madding Crowd," where he held his own against Alan Bates and Peter Finch. I'm more familiar with his early work, but I was mighty impressed by him in Soderbergh's intriguing "The Limey" a few years back.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193750673421600279.post-39649027243836305652012-07-15T00:54:49.801-07:002012-07-15T00:54:49.801-07:00Laura: True, Freddie doesn't have the advantag...Laura: True, Freddie doesn't have the advantage of music. But being played by gorgeous Terence Stamp would, you think, kick him up a few notches. Personally, I suspect the concept that most attracts the fangirls is the idea of a man going absolutely off his head with love for the heroine, an idea far older than <i>Twilight</i>.<br /><br />Flickchick: Samantha Eggar looks stunning in this film (reportedly her beautiful coloring is what made them decide to film in color) and I love her hair.<br /><br />The Lady Eve: I think your comparison to Norman Bates is pretty apt although personally, I have some sympathy for Norman while I have none for Freddie. The difference between a villain with no grasp on reality and one who consciously seems to choose evil.Aubynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00446079492480611898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193750673421600279.post-22571461935500426212012-07-14T23:03:09.279-07:002012-07-14T23:03:09.279-07:00Dorian: Thanks so much for hosting this fantastic ...Dorian: Thanks so much for hosting this fantastic blogathon! Not to mention your great comments.<br /><br />Ivan: Hey, none taken, I like your style. By all means, go experience it for yourself.<br /><br />Christian Esquevin: Looking forward to reading your blogathon post, even if it's not about <i>The Magus</i> (which I haven't read). I'm firmly convinced that if Stamp hadn't gone into self-imposed exile in the 70s, his reputation today would stand even taller. But then, the man did things his own way and you have to respect that.Aubynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00446079492480611898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193750673421600279.post-40254286737123673092012-07-14T21:36:17.164-07:002012-07-14T21:36:17.164-07:00Great comments, guys! I was away from my computer ...Great comments, guys! I was away from my computer for the past few days, but I'm back now.<br /><br />Silverscreenings: Thanks for your comments. If you end up posting about the film, I'd love to hear your thoughts.<br /><br />Fondly, I: I've heard about the copycat killers who claim the book as their inspiration and yes, it gives you the shivers. And the tone of the film makes the events seem relatively plausible.Aubynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00446079492480611898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193750673421600279.post-76264634256635989482012-07-14T18:16:32.350-07:002012-07-14T18:16:32.350-07:00"The Collector" is a film that was so un..."The Collector" is a film that was so unsettling to me when I first saw it (in a theater) that I haven't seen it since. Which is as much a testament to Wyler's direction and the performances of Terence Stamp and Samantha Eggar as it is an indication of my squeamishness.<br /><br />Your description of Terence Stamp as Billy Budd and Freddie Clegg is very perceptive and beautifully expressed. The man has the looks and presence of a god and yet he was able to transform himself and become utterly repellent (as I recall the character) in his portrayal of Freddie. By the way, I think Freddie could reasonably be compared with Hitchcock's foremost cinematic psychopath, Norman Bates, another confused young man with difficulty relating to women and a character-defining hobby - in his case, taxidermy.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193750673421600279.post-69686223447230243432012-07-14T18:08:40.270-07:002012-07-14T18:08:40.270-07:00I loved this book, so was kind of apprehensive abo...I loved this book, so was kind of apprehensive about the film. It does capture that creepy quality and I will forever be fascinated by Samantha Eggar's hair. Great post.FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193750673421600279.post-8183515396818751252012-07-14T11:01:26.721-07:002012-07-14T11:01:26.721-07:00Put me down as another reader anxious to see this ...Put me down as another reader anxious to see this movie thanks to your engrossing review. Sometimes I wonder if there'd be as many Phantom fans if the musical with its sweeping score and seductive Erik had never happened; what if we just had Lon Chaney's unsettling performance and full-blown corpse makeup to contend with? Would fangirls be so enamored? Or like Eggar, would they see someone using his loneliness and isolation as an excuse to abuse, dominate, and terrorize?Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15532386898201721692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193750673421600279.post-77907639667486538162012-07-13T22:49:07.593-07:002012-07-13T22:49:07.593-07:00Great review Rachel. Like you I am a strong admire...Great review Rachel. Like you I am a strong admirer of Terence Stamp - someone I believe should get a lifetime achievement Oscar. I had thought of covering "The Magus" in the blogathon, but the film doesn't compare with the John Fowles book. Have you read it? It's one of my favorite books - yet still so full of mysteries. Thanks for choosing this dark tale for the blogathon.Christian Esquevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04442827724576856379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193750673421600279.post-89233272612776773162012-07-13T09:47:07.424-07:002012-07-13T09:47:07.424-07:00GwtWP: Y'know what? Your review so intrigued m...GwtWP: Y'know what? Your review so intrigued me, I stopped reading it about halfway (no offense, but I want to experience it completely new and fresh), and ordered the DVD from the library. <br />This blogathon has been great for me regarding new films to discover!<br />Thanks,<br />Ivan<br />http://lernerinternational.blogspot.com/Ivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16443946766217092846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193750673421600279.post-41993948276820916872012-07-13T09:05:15.735-07:002012-07-13T09:05:15.735-07:00Rachel, your post about THE COLLECTOR really got u...Rachel, your post about THE COLLECTOR really got under my skin, creeping me out while making me feel for the characters in all their respective fear, obsession, terror, hopelessness, and class consciousness. Your writing style really made me feel like I was in their shoes -- an uncomfortable place to be, but it's perfect for the characters and the dire situation! :-) You had me empathizing and wishing I could convince Freddie (if he wasn't a psychopath): "Freddie, face it, Miranda's just not that into you! Besides, gals like to choose their own sweeties, not have admirers thrust upon them, especially the obsessive, unbalanced kind." But seriously, you did a great job with this post, covering all the movie bases and psychological bases, including your excellent comparisons between Terence Stamp's angelic BILLY BUDD vs. obsessive, creepy Freddie Clegg. I especially liked your line: "In the annals of cinematic psychopaths, you'd think Freddie Clegg would have a thriving fanbase...." I loved your line about David Cronenberg, too. Rachel, thanks so much for being part of our BEST HITCHCOCK MOVIES (THAT HITCHCOCK NEVER MADE) Blogathon with your masterful COLLECTOR review!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193750673421600279.post-8958230796323894772012-07-13T08:17:36.857-07:002012-07-13T08:17:36.857-07:00I enjoyed the movie, and appreciated it's fait...I enjoyed the movie, and appreciated it's faithfulness to the book. Terrence Stamp hit all the right notes as the pitiful and yet unnerving loner who decides he'll try for bigger prey than butterflies this time. <br /><br />Your comment about Freddie Clegg's lacking fanbase gave me the mental chills; both the book and movie have been connected to several serial killers, their being the killers alleged inspiration.<br />Excellent review.Fondly, Ihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05310182280889769115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3193750673421600279.post-12818336552895862222012-07-13T05:33:01.107-07:002012-07-13T05:33:01.107-07:00I saw the beginning of this movie several years ag...I saw the beginning of this movie several years ago & have not had the chance to see it since. Thanks to your review, I'll have to watch it again.<br /><br />I love how you describe your favourite scene. I feel like I've seen it myself. Well done!Silver Screeningshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04955048716754142299noreply@blogger.com