Tonight's Movie: Repeat Performance (1947) - A Flicker Alley Blu-ray Review
One of my all-time favorite film festival discoveries, REPEAT PERFORMANCE (1947), has just been released in a very special Blu-ray/DVD combination set by Flicker Alley.
REPEAT PERFORMANCE is a unique film which has been likened to a TWILIGHT ZONE episode mashed up with IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946), with a dash of ALL ABOUT EVE (1950) on the side.
Joan Leslie was just 21 when she began filming her role as Sheila Page, a Broadway actress who as the movie begins has just shot and killed her husband, playwright Barney Page (Louis Hayward). Barney, an embittered alcoholic, has recently had an affair with fellow playwright Paula Costello (Virginia Field).The dazed Sheila throws a coat on over her nightgown and runs outside, where the rest of the world is celebrating New Year's Eve. She turns for help to her two closest friends, poet William Williams (Richard Basehart, in his film debut), and Broadway producer John Friday (Tom Conway).
Sheila tells William she wishes she could live the past year over, and just as they arrive at John's apartment, William disappears. When Sheila enters John's apartment and takes off her coat, she's no longer in her nightgown, but instead is wearing last year's New Year's Eve dress. Somehow, some way, Sheila has been granted the chance to redo the previous year, with the hope that this time things will turn out differently.
Sheila is initially thrilled by her second chance, yet she discovers that her attempts to trick fate and engineer a happier outcome don't always work. For instance, she doesn't take a trip to London so that Barney won't meet Paula, but Barney and Paula meet anyway. Will Sheila be able to avoid shooting Barney on New Year's Eve?This is a magical 91 minutes which is such a good film in every respect, as attested to by the fact I've watched it several times over the past decade. Everything about the film is top notch, including the screenplay by Walter Bullock, from a novel by William O'Farrell; Alfred L. Werker's confident, stylish direction; the gleaming black and white cinematography of L. William O'Connell; Joan Leslie's gowns by Oleg Cassini and hairstyles by Eunice; and of course the performances of the deep cast.
Joan Leslie is outstanding as the warm and supportive Sheila; her mature performance belies her young age, anchoring the film and enabling us to believe in Sheila and the story. Basehart, as her troubled, loyal friend, similarly contributes strongly to the film's mystical tone. Sheila is able to confide what she's going through to William and have a sounding board, and similarly her "erased" year allows her to advise him at key moments.
Hayward has a difficult role as a man unable to appreciate the gem he has in his wife. It might be hard to believe a man could be unhappy with such a beautiful and loving partner, but Hayward successfully conveys a man crumbling to pieces, depressed by his inability to write a second hit play and by his wife's professional success; he drinks, has an affair, and ultimately experiences a terrible accident which leaves him even angrier and more distant. Like the story itself, Barney becomes so evil that it could be unbelievable, and yet somehow it all works.Sheila perseveres, hoping to rebuild their relationship; Leslie believably convinces us that Sheila is genuine in trying to do so, and that it's out of an inner strength, rather than being walked on by her mean-spirited husband. At the same time the warmth of Sheila's much happier relationship with John is repeatedly yet subtly underscored.
Conway gives a graceful performance as John, who is always there when Sheila turns to him for help, wanting to make her happy yet also secure in himself. They are a well-matched pair. Near the end of the film John's feelings are oh-so-briefly acknowledged, and we hope they will have the kind of future together that Sheila couldn't have with Barney.The entire cast is excellent, including Field as Paula, who has ice water in her veins; Benay Venuta (ANNIE GET YOUR GUN) as Sheila's boisterous friend and colleague; Natalie Schafer (GILLIAN'S ISLAND) as a truly vile woman who financially backs William's writing and delights in spreading gossip. Keefe Brasselle (NOT WANTED and NEVER FEAR) appears briefly as a delivery boy.The outstanding narration is by John Ireland.
I watched the set's Blu-ray, which is absolutely gorgeous. Sound quality is also excellent.
The set includes marvelous extras from a number of people I've been privileged to get to know to varying degrees over the years. The bonus features start off with a short introduction to the film from Eddie Muller. Farran Smith Nehme, aka the Self-Styled Siren, contributes a brief but well-done featurette on the career of Joan Leslie, with many of the actress's achievements coming at a remarkably young age. Alan K. Rode narrates Steven C. Smith's interesting 35-minute documentary EAGLE-LION: A NOIR-STAINED LEGACY (2022), and the commentary track is by Nora Fiore, the "Nitrate Diva." I haven't yet heard the commentary, but I enjoyed Nora's work on THE STRANGER (1946) and I feel confident it will be an informative track.It's only February, but Flicker Alley's release of REPEAT PERFORMANCE just might be the set of the year. Very highly recommended.
Thanks to Flicker Alley for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray/DVD set.
REPEAT PERFORMANCE may be purchased through the Flicker Alley website as well as through retailers such as Amazon.
Tweet
6 Comments:
I too discovered this little gem a couple of years ago. Must get the blu Ray.
Laura, what a wonderful write-up of a really good and entertaining fantastical movie. Your enthusiastic review made my morning.
I think REPEAT PERFORMANCE(filmed 1946-47, released 1947) is an unusual movie, for its time, and is well worth viewing anytime. I like this comparison, "REPEAT PERFORMANCE is an unique film which has been likened to a TWILIGHT ZONE episode mashed up with IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE(1946), with a dash of ALL ABOUT EVE(1950) on the side." I guess you could call this movie a Noir/Si-Fi/Fantasy.
I'm not dreaming, but I recall REPEAT PERFORMANCE being shown a lot, or should I say repeated a lot during the 1980's. This was during the time of cable tv explosion throughout the country. I first viewed the movie on the NICK AT NITE MOVIE in 1986 and again on the ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Channel. It also played on the SUPERSTATION WTBS Channel 17 and many other cable and local tv stations. Although, it seemed to have dropped off of the edge of tv viewing after 1994.
Thank you UCLA Film & Television Archive, Packard Humanities Institute, Film Noir Foundation and Flicker Alley for deeming REPEAT PERFORMANCE worthy of this presentation.
Vienna, you'll really appreciate the Blu-ray, I'm sure. A wonderful presentation of a terrific film.
Walter, thank you so much. I'm delighted to know you enjoyed the review, especially as I love the movie and so enjoyed sharing my thoughts on it. The movie really does have a little bit of everything! Very grateful to all those who worked to restore it and make it available.
That's fantastic info on its past TV viewings! Had no idea it was available on TV at that point.
Best wishes,
Laura
My take: The film is fine, the audio is clear and it looks just great, but that was never in question. The special features leave me cold.
I could not get through Eddy Muller's long, rambling repetitious commentary. Repetitious because the audience for this film and any other 'noir' is sophisticated and in the loop. Get to the point, and for God's sake, speak up.
Farran is much better, though not entirely comfortable, she is clear and concise, she will be the best of them in time. Almost as much fun as her Self-styled siren pieces.
Alan is clearly a great guy, his research is impeccable, bu the presentation, especially for its length needs a little more production. What is really wrong with that, it's there and some of those images should dominate the frame while Alan speaks over them and explains all. As a performer, he should think classic newscaster, and drop the occasional asides. They are unfunny and not at all helpful. Sounds like a lot, but not so. Just tweaking.
As for the audio commentary, I can do without it, and nearly always can except when David Kalat does the work. In any case, I stayed with it for twenty minutes and Joan was quoted as saying Louis was a darling man. He was -- end of report.
I'm sorry to hear you didn't enjoy the extras as much as I did, but very glad you enjoyed the movie and the beautiful print!
And it's always nice to hear positive things about an actor one has enjoyed on screen.
Best wishes,
Laura
I just checked out this wonderful film on DVR. It's nice to know that it's a favorite of yours and that I was able to enjoy your enlightening reviews, thanks.
Richard Basehart, a nice looking man at any age, was really attractive in this, his debut film at 32. Based on all the great work that followed, I can't say we missed out on hearthrob Basehart.
Sometimes, with these older films, especially when one discovers them for the first time in a good print, they can come off with a timeless contemporaneity. Top notch writing, production, acting--is this a BBC period piece from last year?
SPOILER ALERT: I love the time travel genre and, in the background, for me, there's always the conundrum of what events do you want to change? Do you keep it personal? Do you thwart disasters or prevent assassinations? Maybe bet on the horses? ~Dave (X)
Post a Comment
<< Home