tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017832040275963428.post370079147342662410..comments2023-10-28T11:09:18.671+05:30Comments on Cinemascope: Sawdust and Tinsel [1953]Shubhajithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02040495040897333606noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017832040275963428.post-10978351460641026222012-09-01T10:37:57.423+05:302012-09-01T10:37:57.423+05:30Oh ok, thanks Sam for pointing that out. I ought t...Oh ok, thanks Sam for pointing that out. I ought to have googled about the book before making that faux-pas :)Shubhajithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02040495040897333606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017832040275963428.post-75531218248723189422012-09-01T01:31:14.148+05:302012-09-01T01:31:14.148+05:30Shubhajit---
Simon's book was published in 19...Shubhajit---<br /><br />Simon's book was published in 1971, well before the advent of CRIES AND WHISPERS, AUTUMN SONATA, SCENES and FANNY.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017832040275963428.post-4217051269714454442012-08-31T20:54:34.045+05:302012-08-31T20:54:34.045+05:30Thanks a lot David.
For me, the saddest Bergman f...Thanks a lot David.<br /><br />For me, the saddest Bergman film would probably be Cries & Whispers. In fact, a number of his films, including this one, would be strong contenders for that given the series of psychologically disconcerting films he made.<br /><br />But yes, the final break down of Albert, a culmination of his rejection by his wife, emotional betrayal by his mistress, public humiliation, etc., was a truly devastating moment. Shubhajithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02040495040897333606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017832040275963428.post-71645147463856982272012-08-31T20:50:14.887+05:302012-08-31T20:50:14.887+05:30@Sam:
Thanks a lot Sam for the appreciation. You ...@Sam:<br /><br />Thanks a lot Sam for the appreciation. You are too kind to call this humble effort a "masterpiece", that too in the same breath while speaking about Bergman masterpieces, but I'll be smart enough to accept the complements :)<br /><br />On a more serious note, my views on this film probably lies somewhere in between John Simon & Pauline Kael, and more towards the former. Kael's rather unsavoury brushing down this film is quite famous (or, to be more correct, infamous), and I'm not sure why she so hated it.<br /><br />But what surprises more is that John Simon found just 4 of Bergman's films as masterpieces. I would add the likes of Wild Strawberries, Cries & Whispers, Through A Glass Darkly, Autumn Sonata, and Scenes from a Marriage, too, to that list. Maybe even Fanny & Alexander too. Some would say the same about The Seventh Seal as well, but for some reasons it doesn't rank among my favourite Bergman films. But, that said, Bergman probably made more masterpieces than any other filmmaker - and that's something, his vast filmography notwithstanding.Shubhajithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02040495040897333606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017832040275963428.post-28627809726897211372012-08-31T20:42:22.555+05:302012-08-31T20:42:22.555+05:30@Jon:
Haha, couldn't agree with you more on y...@Jon:<br /><br />Haha, couldn't agree with you more on your observation on Harriet Andersson - her sensuality literally oozed off the screen for me. And yes, she performed well too - brought in a lot of vulnerability into it. <br /><br />I quite liked Summer with Monika, though I too wouldn't call it a masterpiece. Need to watch Smiles of a Summer Night though, and from what it seems, sooner rather than later.<br /><br />Thanks Jon for sharing your views on the film.Shubhajithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02040495040897333606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017832040275963428.post-5769473238339340502012-08-31T14:02:07.258+05:302012-08-31T14:02:07.258+05:30Great Review,Shuhajit!
This is my personal favori...Great Review,Shuhajit!<br /><br />This is my personal favorite of all Bergman works I've seen.I was fascinated by the Baroque style cinematography,the mirror scene is masterful.<br /><br />This is also the saddest movie by Bergman I Suppose,Albert is such a doomed and desperate character,his dignity is almost devastated in the film.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02579915072251488639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017832040275963428.post-53814562300479157062012-08-31T09:48:07.750+05:302012-08-31T09:48:07.750+05:30"This was a dark and brooding meditation on h..."This was a dark and brooding meditation on hopelessness, frustrations and desperations of the members of a traveling circus, whose lives are pathetically stuck in a vicious circle."<br /><br />Indeed Shubhajit! Perfectly stated. In his seminal book on the director titled "Ingmar Bergman Directs" the critic John Simon asserted thjat tere were four Bergman masterpieces:<br /><br />Winter Light<br />Smiles of a Summer Night<br />Sawdust and Tinsel<br />Persona<br /><br />Celebrated critic Pauline Kael on the other hand derided SAWDUST AND TINSEL saying: "It's powerful all right....powerfully awful." I am completely with Simon on this and consider the film one of Bergman's early masterpieces. There are some arresting images, the soundtrack is lively, and it focuses on themes Bergman would encore later in his career. I agree with Jon that Harriet Andersson (one of the greatest of actresses) s superlative.<br /><br />Your review is a masterpiece too Shuhajit!Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017832040275963428.post-59699717085694389662012-08-31T05:52:10.734+05:302012-08-31T05:52:10.734+05:30Harriet Andersson is very sexy in this film and gi...Harriet Andersson is very sexy in this film and gives probably her best performance from this era. I do think it's Bergman's first great film actually. Summer With Monika I watched recently for the first time and was a bit underwhelmed by it. It was good in spots. Bergman's first masterpiece though is Smiles of a Summer Night, which is better than Sawdust and Tinsel.Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10656287096270976604noreply@blogger.com