FANTASTIC CLASSICS

There’s so much I enjoy about this strange, wonderfully unconventional Gothic film. Most of all, I love its imaginative story, which feels remarkably unusual for its time. Corridor of Mirrors is packed with delicious melodrama, wonderfully fun Gothic tropes, and some terrific dialogue.  And then there’s Edana Romney. Her performance is absolutely marvelous and, in my opinion, rivals that of any of her more celebrated contemporaries. She brings such intensity, mystery, and emotional complexity to the role that I honestly find myself wondering why Romney never enjoyed the more successful career she deserved. That remains a mystery to me. The entire film has an eccentric, dreamlike quality that makes it feel unlike so many films of its era. It’s the kind of wonderfully odd discovery that reminds you just how adventurous classic cinema could be. I watched Corridor of Mirrors on Blu-ray from the Cohen Film Collection, and the picture quality is fantastic. What a beautiful way to exper...

Crashout (1956) is a remarkable film for so many reasons. Yes, there is plenty of action, suspense, and the expected tension of a group of escaped convicts on the run. But what elevates this film above so many others in its genre is the extraordinary depth beneath the surface. The mostly male cast is uniformly superb, delivering performances that feel lived-in rather than stereotypical. The script takes the time to explore the wants, fears, regrets, and desires of each man, allowing us to understand (not necessarily excuse) what has brought them to this point. And director Lewis R. Foster maintains such a constant sense of impending doom that even the quieter moments feel ominous. A significant portion of the film takes place aboard a train, and it’s hard not to see the metaphor. These men have quite literally derailed their lives. They are moving forward, but there is no real destination waiting for them, only the consequences of their past. What surprised me most, however, is the bea...