NETFLIX QUICK PIX!

HERE'S TO GERALDINE PAGE!

1924-1987

If you've spent anytime at all reading my other posts (push the Subsribe to ATOM link at the bottom of the page for previous posts), you'll see that I go through little phases of screen viewing. Recently, my time has been devoted to Strasberg/Hagen trained actress GERALDINE PAGE. Noted more for her work on stage than screen with relatively few roles onscreen, and an unprecedented EIGHT Academy Award nominations, Emmy nods, Golden Globe win, The Sarah Siddons Award in Chicago, Miss Page gave unbelievably FABULOUS performances in even the lowest of vehicles.

Here are a few of my faves.

• WHATEVER HAPPENED TO AUNT ALICE? In this typical, Robert Aldrich (Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?) produced DRECK, Page manages to rise above the material playing a demented widow whose housekeepers keep disappearing! When Ruth Gordon gets suspicious, she poses as a housekeeper, and the battle ensues! What fun! Ruth Gordon is her usual self, but Page plays the widow with a marvelous sublety. You can't take your eyes off her, or her wigs. She clearly delights in the challenge. Swell.
• SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH This is VERY Tennessee Williams. Page is Alexandra Delago, hopelessly depressed, drunk, pilled out actress on the verge of middle age, travelling across country with Chance Wayne (Paul Newman at his hunky best). Alexandra's last picture is a disaster, and opportunistic Chance see's her as his ride to stardom. Will Delago sober up? Will Wayne get to Hollywood? All plays out in typical Williams style. Incidentally, they both originated the roles on Broadway.
• INTERIORS Woody Allen's highly underated drama. Page is Eve, the troubled wife of EG Marshall. Extravagant, willful, selfish Eve is an interior designer whose penchant for all shades beige borders on insanity. Actually, she's WACKO. When hubby annouces he wants a divorce and meets Pearl (Maureen Stapleton), color abounds! She's in RED!! Great supporting cast including Dianne Keaton, Sam Waterston, Mary Beth Hurt. This quiet drama is one of my favorite of Allen's flix.
• THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL Adaption of Horton Foote's play, originated by Lillian Gish, Page is Mrs. Carrie Watts, a 62 year old widow living with her long suffering son, Ludie (John Heard) and his selfish wife, Jessie Mae (Carlyn Glynn). An excellent ensemble piece directed by Peter Masterson. Page finally got her Oscar, and then promptly died of a heart attack at 62. This is one of my favorite films. Ever.