Tag Archives: Ben Gazzara

The Strange One-1957

The Strange One-1957

Director Jack Garfein

Starring Ben Gazzara, Pat Hingle

Scott’s Review #129

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Reviewed July 23, 2014

Grade: B

The Strange One is a strange (no pun intended) obscure psychological drama from 1957 starring a very young Ben Gazzara and George Peppard.

The setting is a military academy where bullying and intimidation run rampant between the young cadets and some of the staff.

The sadistic lead bully is Gazzara who is mesmerizing to watch in his low-key yet frightening portrayal as a macho guy who gets what he wants and decides to destroy his victims.

The film reminds me of a long Twilight Zone episode as it feels like a television thriller but is effective as a shot in black and white.

Gazzara is the standout in the cast as a charming, sadistic, bully in a military academy who terrorizes and manipulates anyone in his path.

One flaw is there is no explanation for his behavior. How did he become so terrorizing? Was he abused? What is his motivation?

In a sense, however, this makes it all the more fascinating.

There are some homoerotic scenes, which is surprising to find in films in 1957 when the Production Code was so strict.

The Strange One is an interesting little film.

Anatomy of a Murder-1959

Anatomy of a Murder-1959

Director Otto Preminger

Starring James Stewart, Lee Remick

Scott’s Review #61

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Reviewed June 24, 2014

Grade: B+

Anatomy of a Murder (1959) is a thought-provoking, courtroom/legal thriller that is not a black-and-white, good and bad story.

It is deeper and more complex than that.

Starring James Stewart as an everyman defense attorney, the film, shot effectively in black and white, pushed barriers for its time by using certain words such as “rape” and “panties” that were never spoken in films before this time.

Much of the action takes place inside the courtroom.

The film pushed the envelope and is still enjoyable today.

Throughout the film, which is admittedly slow at times, the audience finds itself unsure of the defendant’s guilt and is wary and suspicious of him from the start, which makes for great drama.

The rooting value is with Stewart, the hero, and the interesting supporting cast provides deeper layers than similar type films that risk being wordy or preachy.

As each new fact or twist and turn arrives throughout the film, it becomes more and more engaging until it reaches a satisfying climax.

Oscar Nominations: Best Motion Picture, Best Actor-James Stewart, Best Supporting Actor-Arthur O’Connell, George C. Scott, Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, Best Cinematography, Black-and-White, Best Film Editing