Movie Diary 8/30/2010

All That Heaven Allows (Douglas Sirk, 1955). Among the things to notice about my favorite Sirk film, aside from the director’s authoritative command of issues of composition/rhythm/color and the sharp social observation, is what a good performance the generally dismissed Rock Hudson gives. Re-visiting this one for an upcoming talk.

Imitation of Life (Douglas Sirk, 1959). A heady mix of soap opera and German style (strongly expressive, if not Expressionist), and also an unblinking look at a diva (Lana Turner) played by a diva whose performance might or might not be self-aware.