tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post3245589802336331486..comments2023-10-20T13:34:46.654-07:00Comments on Kevin's Movie Corner: Demetrius and the GladiatorsKevin Deanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697597405552599370noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-84422452931559676802011-05-17T18:26:11.251-07:002011-05-17T18:26:11.251-07:00I love Demetrius & the Gladiators; I've al...I love Demetrius & the Gladiators; I've always been a sucker for Biblical spectacles, and Demetrius has the virtue of having no dead spots (unlike, say, Solomon & Sheba, or David & Bathsheba - cld it be because Demetrius' pairing is not w/a lady but w/the gladiators?) -I've only seen Jay Robinson in this film and The Robe, but his performances are, shall we say, unforgettable - I also like Mature's work in this film; he was a good, solid actor who brings a great deal of sincerity to his role; but I thought Susan Hayward was a bit over the top. The gladiatorial scenes are great; I think that the reason the arena looks small is that it is supposed to be Caligula's private arena space and not the Coliseum. Thanks for your terrific write-up.Grand Old Movieshttp://grandoldmovies.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-62554450658611056952011-05-11T13:31:13.494-07:002011-05-11T13:31:13.494-07:00Page: I too think "LA Confidential" is a...Page: I too think "LA Confidential" is a masterpiece and agree about Crowe's performance. <br /><br />I really need to "Demetrius and the Gladiators" again to check out Debra Paget's hair. There's a sentence I never thought I'd type.Kevin Deanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07697597405552599370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-10149398244769286962011-05-11T07:35:45.171-07:002011-05-11T07:35:45.171-07:00Kevin,
Like CFB you give very honest and well info...Kevin,<br />Like CFB you give very honest and well informed reviews that put them on another level! <br />This one didn't disappoint and I'll agree on Gladiator being overrated. I thought Crowe deserved an Oscar nod for L.A Confidential which is one of my favorite films of late but Gladiator on the other hand. Pftt<br /><br />This film was well, "The Robe" lite. And Becks, I'm glad I'm not the only one who was bothered by Paget's hair. (Now that Kevin has forgiven me over Rita I can say that) : )<br /><br />PagePagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063277863578004836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-12573027905366404582011-05-10T13:32:13.088-07:002011-05-10T13:32:13.088-07:00Jim, very interesting about Richard Burton. Didn&#...Jim, very interesting about Richard Burton. Didn't know that.Kevin Deanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07697597405552599370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-41587806103308549652011-05-09T16:26:54.571-07:002011-05-09T16:26:54.571-07:00It's been decades since I saw Demetrius and th...It's been decades since I saw <i>Demetrius and the Gladiators</i> but my memory confirms your opinion that it's an entirely respectable movie in its own right, and especially as sequels go. "Hear, hear," too, to your appraisal of Vic Mature in <i>The Robe</i>; I always cite that as the movie where Victor Mature out-acted Richard Burton (a point which, if memory serves, Burton himself once conceded). <br /><br />And BTW, when you get a chance, please check back at Cinedrome for my response to your comment on <i>Night Has a Thousand Eyes</i>.Jim Lanehttp://jimlanescinedrome.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-90180190465053927302011-05-09T14:53:18.681-07:002011-05-09T14:53:18.681-07:00Moira, Glad you liked the review. I've seen &q...Moira, Glad you liked the review. I've seen "Bird of Paradise" and think its pretty swell. Ms. Paget looks so fetching in her sarong. <br /><br />Another particular favorite is "Prince Valiant", where she makes one of the loveliest medieval princesses imaginable.Kevin Deanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07697597405552599370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-33024556071793047482011-05-08T19:43:07.361-07:002011-05-08T19:43:07.361-07:00Thanks for taking me on a return visit to a favori...Thanks for taking me on a return visit to a favorite childhood movie. This used to be shown on NYC television about once a month, or so it seems. I smiled all the way through while reading your comments on this movie. I am always delighted to read that someone else appreciates Delmer Daves. I love his movies, even when I am so sad to see him making strange (but highly entertaining) films like Parrish.<br /><br />If you like Debra Paget, have you seen <b>Bird of Paradise</b> (1951), one of the less well known Daves' films--and for my money, one of Paget's best?<br /><br />Your review was delightful. <br />Cheers,<br />MoiraMoira Finniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12626493736940699514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-45118961618094054482011-05-03T07:45:17.266-07:002011-05-03T07:45:17.266-07:00Aussie Senior, thanks for writing. That's very...Aussie Senior, thanks for writing. That's very interesting, and amusing, about the title changes for overseas. The one I'm familiar with is M-G-M's "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." Because baseball is not popular in England, the title was changed to "Everybody's Cheering." <br /><br />I too think "The Robe" is the more emotionally engaging film, but it is also a most enjoyable sequel. I think its one of the better ones.Kevin Deanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07697597405552599370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-38352521481430947302011-05-02T19:48:34.473-07:002011-05-02T19:48:34.473-07:00Another great review of a neglected film, Kevin! I...Another great review of a neglected film, Kevin! I agree, though, that some scenes do boast a small-scale look (though I prefer that to the CGI crowds in GLADIATOR). Loved the story about your friend getting Vic Mature's autograph. My old college roommate is an autograph hound with an amazing collection. Speaking of college, there's a photo of Victor Mature and his mother in the Indiana Memorial Union on the Bloomington, IN, campus. Vic looks very stoic! Anyway, loved the review. I like DEMTRIUS--my only complaint is that it lacked the emotion of THE ROBE.Classic Film and TV Cafehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09548537117263337339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-85549141362063517502011-05-01T22:18:11.433-07:002011-05-01T22:18:11.433-07:00Kevin, I found that viewing "Demetrius and th...Kevin, I found that viewing "Demetrius and the Gladiators" to be an enjoyable experience, and the film to be a very respectible sequel to "The Robe".<br /><br />Your fondness for the film entitled "Stars and Stripes Forever!" puzzled me at first, but when Clifton Webb was mentioned as a cast member, I recognised it. <br /><br />Here in Australia it was originally released as "It Beats The Band". <br /><br />Changing the title of films occurred on a number of occasions, e.g MGM's "Million Dollar Mermaid" with Esther Williams was released here as "The Two-Piece Bathing Suit"; although now, when shown on TCM it is known under its original American title.<br /><br />The most amusing "change of film title", in my opinion, was the Warner Bros film "Young Man With a Horn". Because, in Australia, at that point in time, this title had certain sexual connotations, the title was amended to "Young Man of Music". Times have changed and the film, when shown on TV and the DVD release, has now reverted to its original title.<br /><br />Kevin, please keep up the good workAussie Seniornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-12043733445665196782011-04-27T13:48:23.176-07:002011-04-27T13:48:23.176-07:00Kevin, I LOVE Stars and Stripes Forever! I too ha...Kevin, I LOVE Stars and Stripes Forever! I too have it on tape, and it's getting old and giving out. It's just a wonderful movie. Of course Clifton Webb is one of my very favorite actors. Debra Paget and Robert Wagner were both really excellent, and just as cute as anything I've ever seen! The music is always thrilling, especially when the Stone Mountain Choir sings The Battle Hymn of the Republic, and Sousa's band plays Dixie for the downtrodden South. <br /><br />I don't care if my tape is getting bad or not, I'm getting it out tonight to watch it!ClassicBeckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03591715859057540467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-23312948264671229672011-04-27T12:44:04.453-07:002011-04-27T12:44:04.453-07:00Thanks for commenting Becky. I think Fox had to no...Thanks for commenting Becky. I think Fox had to not only clean up Messalina's character, but the arena scenes too and even the "entertainment" the gladiators are provided before the next day's bouts is pretty tame. Censorship requirements, I bet. <br /><br />I love Debra Paget! She is the only major cast member alive from "The Ten Commandments." <br /><br />I harbor hopes that Fox will one day release "Stars and Stripes Forever" on DVD. My VHS copy is badly faded. She's enchanting in that one.Kevin Deanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07697597405552599370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-56388725622558959672011-04-26T19:38:58.210-07:002011-04-26T19:38:58.210-07:00Kevin, I have to start out by saying how thrilled ...Kevin, I have to start out by saying how thrilled I am to find somebody else who thought Gladiator was kind of a stinker. Russell Crowe deserved the Oscar for A Beautiful Mind the next year, but in Gladiator he spent most of the movie with the same look on his face, and mostly said "I am Maximus" LOL!!<br /><br />Demetrius was fun, and I don't think I loved it as much as you, but it did have really good parts. Jay made a career out of Caligula, and he's over-the-top wonderful! Mature is so masculine it's almost scary -- I do agree that his acting was better in The Robe, but then The Robe was better written in character portrayal. <br /><br />I never could get used to Debra Paget's hair in Demetrius. Really? However, your point is made, and I don't think anybody would be sent to Purgatory for having such thoughts! Hayward was her usual gorgeous self, but boy did they clean up the character of Messalina! <br /><br />Loved your review, Kevin. You had wonderful pictures, too!ClassicBeckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03591715859057540467noreply@blogger.com