Bergman’s SMILES and Other Re-Issues

This week we begin in Sweden:

Smiles of a Summer Night (*****)

The Criterion Collection brings back Ingmar Bergman’s 1955 universally praised jewel about the intricacies of love, marriage, and relationships. In the beautiful film set in 1901 Sweden, now making its Blu-ray debut, Bergman’s early cinematographer Gunnar Fischer renders a visually splendid black and white tableau accentuating the numerous complex personal relationships among two married couples, a spurned mistress, a son lovesick for his stepmother, and a free spirited maid. Bergman spends the first part of the film establishing relationships, complemented by snippets of inspired dialogue, such as this from the mistress: “Men never know what’s best for them. We have to set them on the right track,” and “A woman’s view is seldom based on aesthetics. Anyone can always turn out the light.” Eventually, everyone gathers at a country estate where love blossoms but not where expected. Stephen Sondheim based his musical “A Little Night Music” on the film. Charming, funny, clever, and brilliantly executed.

Not rated, 108 minutes. The disc includes a short 2003 introduction by Bergman reminiscing on the film, and a 17 minute discussion with Bergman scholars Peter Cowie and Jorn Donner. Plus, a 26 page booklet with essays by critical icons John Simon and Pauline Kael.

The On-Demand Warner Archives (warnerarchives.com) release two forgotten comedies this week:

Merry Andrew (***), The Impossible Years (**1/2)

Andrew (1958, unrated, 103 minutes) stars Danny Kaye and provides a look at why this one-time Borscht Belt comedian once enjoyed immense popularity. Kaye projected an elfin boyishness and complemented his likability with, as here, a passable singing voice. Andrew is a reserved schoolmaster who unwittingly falls in with a group of circus performers. Before long, he has forgotten his staid fiancee and has fallen for the star acrobat (Pier Angeli). The entertaining souffle features music by Saul Chaplin with lyrics by the great Johnny Mercer. Arthur Marx, son of Groucho, co-wrote the source play for the dated Impossible Years (1968, rated G, 98 minutes ). Filmed in tumultuous 1968, the comedy centers on a child psychiatrist (David Niven) whose 17 year-old daughter (Cristina Ferrare—future wife of John De Lorean) grows up before he is ready to acknowledge it. Former black-listed director, and grandfather of actor Joseph Gordon Levitt, Michael Gordon draws a few broad laughs, while using such era conventions as split screens, rear projections, and dialogue that is groovy, man. As corny as the film is, it gives some hint as to what parents were then going through with their rebellious offspring.

Jolene (**1/2)

In this odd, tonally uneven film based on an E.L. Doctorow story, Jessica Chastain stars as the title character, a 15 year-old foster child who blossoms into a beautiful, talented, yet troubled young woman. She marries early but falls for her husband’s uncle (Dermot Mulroney), landing her in a juvenile detention center where she escapes when she acquiesces to an affair with one of the officials (Francis Farmer). At her next stop, she marries an already married tattoo artist (Rupert Friend). She then lands in Tulsa and marries a wife-beating fundamentalist (Michael Vartan). Dan Ireland directed the aimless, eventually pointless picaresque tale.
Rated R, 121 minutes. The DVD, in all formats, includes commentary, four minutes of bloopers and interviews with five cast and crew members.

Ayn Rand: In Her Own Words (***)

This documentary features vintage interviews with Rand and, separately, Mike Wallace, Phil Donahue, and Tom Snyder, as she expounds on her life, her pseudo-philosophy, and how she came to create the novels her countryman Vladimir Nabokov called “topical trash.” Curiously selected documentary footage combines with personal photo stills to document her colorful life beginning with a Russian childhood that gave way to a Hollywood career culminating with her literary success and a devoted following.

Not rated, 72 minutes. The DVD also contains four separate featurettes, with the most entertaining featuring brief comments by Rand on Alan Greenspan.

Julian Assange—A Modern Day Hero? Inside the World of WikiLeaks (**1/2)

Filmmakers follow provocative Wikileak chief Assange as he prepares for the initial release of the government documents that caused a furor. After release, they follow him further as the secretive and withdrawn Assange changes his London living quarters every few days. He admits fearing of U.S. government interference even when he talks to the media or to student gatherings. Assange comes off as an odd sort but sincerely dedicated in his mission. Keeping in line with the presumed WikiLeak secretive paranoia, the credits on the grainy rambling film list “A.N. Other” as director and “John Smith” as producer.

Not rated, 180 minutes.

Summer Eleven (**1/2)

Four eleven year-old girls experience various adventures during their summer, including landing a part in a movie, coping with homelessness, and dealing with the arrival of a brother wounded in Iraq. Important family problems are discussed with warmth and feling. With Adam Arkin and Valerie Mahaffey.

Rated PG, 93 minutes.

The TV channel Lifetime releases two of their recent movies:

Sex and the Single Mom (***)

This intelligent drama examines the perils faced by 38 year- old Jess (Gail O’Grady), a divorced, single mom, when, after a long hiatus, she starts seeing someone. But, when he dumps her right before she learns she is pregnant, it further complicates her admonitions to her 15 year-old daughter (Danielle Panabaker) to delay her own sexual beginnings. Jess must juggle her demanding job, her daughter, her pregnancy, and a determination to attend law school.

Not rated, 90 minutes.

Honeymoon with Mom (**1/2) is lighter fare, with an overly-plotted story about a jilted bride (Virginia Williams) taking her mother (Shelly Long) with her on her honeymoon when the groom backs out. As it turns out, mom has ulterior, and financial, motives for going to the resort island. Once there, several people from both their pasts pop up and add to the excitement.

Not rated, 89 minutes.

Also on DVD: The Dilemma, The Green Hornet, Waiting for Forever.