Mr. North (released in 1988) - A comedy starring Anjelica Huston, Anthony Edwards, Robert Mitchum and Lauren Bacall

Mr. North is the tale of a smooth charming young man who ingratiates himself with the town's rich and famous. Adopted from the book “Theophilus North” by Thornton Wilder, the screenplay was written by John Huston practically on his death bed. The movie in itself is a family affair, with direction done by Danny Huston, and the cast consisting of Angelica Huston, Allegra Huston and Virginia Madsen, Danny's would-be-wife.
Mr. North is the story of Theophilus North, who is an alumnus of Yale, looking hard for a job. He ends up in a town where the hierarchies of rich and poor is rigidly enforced. This is the place where proper diction and manners rule roost, a place more Victorian than the Victorian era. The rich are superbly so even if their source of income is pretty dubious. Theophilus North sets himself in to the society by tutoring the kids to read, directing the summer plays and teaching them to play tennis. He also gets to know the women folk who are immersed in endless kitty parties and canasta sessions. The serving class include the parlor maids, the butlers, the grooms, page boys and all the sundry who make the rich comfortable in their place.



As the class divide is rigidly enforced, the town becomes two worlds on its own, with only Mr. North subtly navigating the breach. But the rich have their fair share of troubles with migraines, lack of love, drunkenness etc plaguing them. The older rich are kept bed ridden by kids who want their money. North comes across Mitchum Bosworth who is a wealthy owner of a brewery and is kept at his death bed by his devious daughter and a doctor friend. Now North has this wonderful ability to transmit electric current through his body. So he zaps the zits of a teenager’s nose, quells the migraines and brings in the joy. He cures Bosworth of his addiction and helps the parlor maid to get her love. Soon North is the darling of the town. But wicked people who do not like the turn of events, spread rumors of him being a quack and soon he is arrested and tried for deception. But the town rallies around him to get the good old doctor out of the gaol and Bosworth makes him the director of the institute of philosophy..
Anthony Edwards plays the the role of Mr. North to perfection. He is fresh faced, clear cut and youthful and it is impossible not to like him. North has no problem solving problems and also gets the love of young Persis who is Bosworth's grand daughter. Angelica Huston has a minute role of Persis who comes out of the house just to ride her horse. The best goes to Lauren Bacall who is the Boarding house mistress who plays a wicked game at the cards and Edward Stanton, the fake British Caretaker who is actually from Chicago. Mr. North is a feel good and spiritual movie which delivers the message of goodness in people. Especially coming from the Pulitzer prize winner Thornton Wilder, it is one great outing.

Tree of Hands (released in 1989) - Starring Helen Shaver, Lauren Bacall and Peter Firth

A psychological thriller by the acclaimed Ruth Kendra is adapted for this movie starring Lauren Bacall, Helen Shaver, Malcolm Stoddard, Paul McGaunnand and Peter Firth in lead roles. Directed by Leonard Maltin, this movie deals with a mother's grief of losing a child.
Benet Archdale is an affluent single mother living in North London. Benet has a dysfunctional family with her mother being a certified schizophrenic. She is a bit wary of her mother's illness with memories of abuse fresh in her mind. In fact her mother tries to stab her with a carving knife!!!!. But soon her mother has to take care of her as, James, Benet's son succumbs to an illness, leaving her distraught and grief stricken. She is not able to function properly in-spite of her mother's best intentions and care.
On the parallel track, is Carol, a mother of seven who is a nymphomaniac with men moving in and out of her life. She is careless with her children and physically abuses each one of them. Many of them have tell tale signs of abuse with cigarette burnings and weals all over the body. Mrs. Archdale kidnaps young Jason, Carol's son to replace James's place in Benet's life. Initially she is not able to reconcile with the other boy's presence and is repulsed by the kid who is very unlike her son.



But Benet soon is horrified to learn of Jason's upbringing and the sympathy turns to affection. She notices the cigarette burns and beating marks on the young body and her indignation turns to love and caring. May be Benet sees herself in the little boy who lacks maternal love just as she did. Soon Benet becomes his mother and Jay bonds with her real well.
But the fairy tale ends there with nosy neighbors, ex-husbands and current flames trying to separate the mother and son. Benet's lover and doctor, Ian tries to reason her to return Jason to his mom. Meanwhile Jason's parents are charged with murder to complicate things. The movie is a sensitive portrayal of a grief stricken mother's action and how it snowballs in to mystery affecting an entire community. Ruth Randell is the queen of intensity and drama and the book with all its viciousness is transformed into a film. This psychological suspense thriller with the high body count leaves you shell shocked and spell bound. The beginning is rather tame, but it evolves in to a very sinister movie. The movie is also known as “Innocent victim” and it is interesting to know that the “Tree of Hands” is one of the paintings which hangs on James's bedside while he is in hospital.
The performances are extremely good and the director Giles has extracted the maximum from all the actors. Helen Shaver as Benet pulls your heart strings and Lauren Bacall shines as the mad schizophrenic mother. Rest of the actors also give a decent outcome. This movie is definitely rated for adults and if you like psychological thrillers. Tree of hands is definitely the one for you.

North West Frontier (released in 1959) - Set in turbulent times in India

North-West Frontier is a movie set in the time of the British raj in India. Starring the sophisticated Lauren Bacall and Kenneth Moore, this drama was directed by Lee Simpson and included the Bollywood actor I.S Johar. It chronicles the tensions between the Hindus and Muslims in the North western frontier province of British India, currently in Pakistan, in the year 1905.
A Hindu Maharajah From the North Western frontier province request Captain Scott to accompany his son to Hazerabad as riots have erupted in their home town. So Captain Scott safely moves the boy to the Governor's residence along with his governess, Mrs Wyatt. Now Hazerabad is also not safe and the Governor washes his hands off the young Prince. So Scott looks around for a transport to take him to Kalapur which is considered as a safe haven. He comes across “The Empress Of India”, an aging train tended lovingly by a retired Engineer, Mr. Gupta. So Gupta, Scott and the Prince Kishan leave under the cover of darkness to Kalapur, accompanied by Mrs. Wyatt, Lady Wyndham, a journalist Mr. Van Huyden and couple of other travelers. Soon the rebels get to know of the departure and the train is pursued vigorously. But Mr. Gupta smashes the train through the cantonment and soon they are on the way.



En-route they come across a refuge train which has been savagely attacked by the Muslim raiders and can rescue only a small baby. Soon a at and mouse game ensues as the train is constantly in danger of an attack. As the journey progresses, Mrs. Wyatt sees a heliograph which is the mode of communication for the attackers. The tension bounds as they know that the attack is imminent. The situation is complicated by the presence of Journalist Van Huyden. He encourages the young prince Kishan to take unwanted risks like dangling on the fly wheel etc. This arouses suspicions about his loyalties. He is many a time caught on the act by the fellow passengers. The last straw comes while on a crossing Van Huyden willingly dangers the prince's life.
Scott now convinced of Van Huyden's duplicity imprisons him in the luggage room. But the raiders destroy a viaduct and shoot Mr. Gupta. In this thrilling and beautifully shot sequence Scott drives the Train through he broken section as the Raiders try to fight them. Van Huyden also escapes and with a machine gun holds the passengers hostage. He is unable to kill the prince as he is outside the engine room. Scott soon arrives to grapple with the villain, whois killed by the spunky Mrs. Wyatt. Soon battered but not lost the engine reaches Kalapur safely and the Prince is handed over.
The movie is well shot even though the Spanish mountains had doubled for the North Western Frontier panorama. The technological innovation and the special effects did make an effect even though we in the age of “Avatar” it might seem a bit primitive. The performances are great with the undercurrent of romance between the brave captain and the spunky Mrs. Wyatt captivating. A good movie comes highly recommended.

Written On The Wind (released in 1956) - Starring Rock Hudson, Lauren Bacall, Robert Stack and Dorothy Malone

"Written On The Wind" is a drama from the director, Douglas Sirk's stable. It stars his favorite, Rock Hudson along with Lauren Bacall, Dorothy Malone and Robert Stack. Based on Robert Wolderman's novel of the same name, it is said to be based on the life of playboy Tobacco Heir, Zachary Smith Reynolds. A tale of love, money and greed, it has all the ingredients of a potboiler.
Texas oil baron, Jasper Hadley, is a great success with his business, but his children have totally disappointed him. Plagued with their childhood experiences, Kyle and Marylee are dysfunctional and spoilt. With money power, Marylee seduces every one and is a total alcoholic. Kyle is a womanizer and is heavily drowning in spirits. Kyle finds love in Lucy Moore, a simple executive secretary and marries her after a whirlwind courtship. She is a calming influence in his life and things start looking up for the Hadleys. But alcoholism has made Kyle incapable of fathering a child and this drives him to depression. Jasper Hadley does not make things easier with his high expectations and low appreciation. Kyle is driven by the bottle and starts physically abusing Lucy.



Mitch Reynolds is a geologist in Hadley's oil business. Marylee loves Mitch and even Jasper finds a surrogate capable son that he always wanted. But Mitch loves Lucy, and even if it is a one sided affair, Kyle becomes suspicious of Lucy's fidelity. Jealousy rips the couple apart and physical abuse becomes the norm of the day. Lucy becomes miraculously pregnant but this drives Kyle in to a rage as he suspects the child to be Mitch's. As the result of the push Lucy looses the baby and breaks ties with her husband. Mitch vows to leave town with her as soon as she is well enough. A jealous Kyle tries to shoot Mitch. Marylee tries to reason with him and Kyle is shot fatally in the melee. .
Marylee threatens to implicate Mitch for the murder if he does not return her love. Mitch refuses to be seduced or threatened and stand by Lucy. Marylee implicates him for the murder at the inquest and soon realizes that love can never be won sadistically. She changes her statement and allows Mitch and Lucy to depart to another life. She is left alone to mourn her brother and handle the reins of the company.
The movie is a typical potboiler with lot of sexist elements woven in to it. Sometimes it surprises me, how Mitch could just be with the goody two shoes Lucy who is boring compared to the smouldering Marylee. Dorothy Malone who plays Marylee does a un-paralled act which ultimately won her an Oscar. Stack also performs admirably and is said to have been ignored by the award company under pressure from 20th Century Fox. The movie also had a great outing at the box of ice even if the critics had not favored it much.
But still there is something missing from the whole story, and that being the repetitive story line. How often we have been fed with the spoilt rich kid against the nice poor guys saga? The women are never strong; with poor whimpering Lucy getting all the sympathy and Marylee being torn to pieces because she gets what she wants. The lack of originality is the film's death knell as it cannot stand scrutiny with the passage of time. If one has time on their hands and nothing much to look up to, then try a watch. Not highly recommended though.

All I Want for Christmas (release in 1991) - starring Lauren Bacall, Thora Birch and Ethan Randall and directed by Robert Lieberman

'All I want For Christmas' is like many movies put together and finding nothing of a story in it. You have scheming Kids from The Parent Trap (thank god they are not twins), Good Santa from “Miracle at 34th street” and divorced mom and Dad from many other movies. So you have the kids trying to reunite Mom and Dad with the help of a department store Santa and a pet mouse. Directed by Robert Lieberman, it stars Thora Birch, Ethan Embry, Lauren Bacall in the main roles along with a assemble cast.
Ethan and Hallie O' Fallon live in a Manhattan Mansion with their mother and grandmother. Both their Mom and Dad are divorced as Mom does not approve of Dad opening a diner. Mom starts seeing creepy Tony Boer (or is it Bore, one never knows) who is hated unanimously by the siblings. Hallie voices her one wish to the department store Santa, to get their Mom and Dad to be reunited for Christmas. So comes the enormous planning of Operation reunification. Step one is to lock Mom's boyfriend in an ice-cream truck which takes him far away to the land where ice creams are made. But are Manhattan ice cream truck drivers taken in to confidence that they pretend not to listen to the loud bangings the poor guy makes!! Mom thinks that she is stood up and break up with him. Step two happens as Hallie feigns illness at Dad's diner to get mom over.



As the things move in one after another there are minor things happening like Ethan falling for a nice girl who helps him and the maid going in to labor on the kitchen floor. You also have many moments of Grandmother, grand daughter bonding over songs which must be avoided for you mental health. Lauren Bacall plays the Grand-mom who was supposedly the Dame of Broadway and thus you wonder the kind of taste people have to watch her. The ending is a real scorcher, with kids walking in, the maid in the throes of child birth, ambulances and other sirens blaring and the boyfriend who has been locked in the ice cream truck running in. So Mom takes one look at the deranged man who raves against the injustice done by her kids and breaks up with him. With Boer cleared out both Mom and Dad reunite. Well there is the appearance of the Santa coming home with Snowball, the pet hamster completing the happy family.
The movie is one of most rehashed ones of the century. There is nothing in this family comedy which would make it a Christmas treat. Ethan Embry and Thora Birch play the roles of the cutesy kids to the book. The adults are typical comic book characters with no depth in their roles. The Mom and Dad are rich and still love lorn, the boyfriend is creepy to the core and the Grand-mom ditsy as you can get. It just does not happen in real world with human's who have real feelings. Sugary to the core this movie is capable of making you a diabetic. So beware!!!

A foreign Field (released in 1993) - Starring Alec Guinness, Leo McKern, Lauren Bacall - 50 years after D-Day

A Foreign Field is a movie made by the BBC for commemorating the 50th anniversary of the D-day landings and portrays the story of the veterans who come to Normandy in search of the memories of their loved ones. It stars Lauren Bacall, Alec Guinness, John Randolph, Leo mcKern, Edward Herrman, Geraldine Chaplin and host of American, Australian, and French Actors. Directed by Charles Sturridge it was produced by BBC and is a staple on the channel during World War II anniversaries.
The movie has two World War veterans, Cyril and Waldo coming to Normandy to find their stories again. Cyril is accompanied by his old friend Amos whereas Waldo has his uptight daughter and her henpecked husband coming with him him. Amos played by the legendary Sir Alec Guinness is a treat to watch as the mentally affected veteran. Both of them remember the blood bath in the beaches of Normandy and among those terrifying tales a memory of a beautiful French nurse is tucked away.



After fifty years of being unaware of each others association, they have come in search of that old flame who kept them sane during those terrifying times. Cyril being British hates crazy Americans and the American Wald hates the uppity British. While sharing their memories, each find out about Angelique, the French Nurse and almost comes to blows because of her. Rounding up the people stalking the memories is Lisa, a boozy widow who has a secret of her own. These unlikely group move through the fields of Normandy, the memories of comrades long gone and understand the finality of life again.
Amos played by Alec Guinness should be one of the most favorite character of a war movie. With his gestures and facial expression he goes down in to our hearts as the wounded man both in body and mind. The others play the war scarred, but stable characters. The bickering husband and wife duo cauldron have been avoided as they had nothing, not even as the thankless generation which followed. But the cake goes to Angelique, the fresh faced nurse who had seduced both the veterans, now old and confined to a home. Lauren Bacall returns to a better suited role and is great as the loud mouthed widow who is in search of her brother's grave. Even at this dismal place she sings her blues away ad is one of the most enduring images in “The Foreign Field”.
Some times I wonder how come this sweet movie is tucked away as a television movie outed during the anniversaries. It raises a few laughs about men who fought for freedom which would help them in the quest for happiness. It chronicles the young who died and the later old ones who survived but are haunted by those memories. This movie does not deserve to be confined to those television outings but has to reach one and all. It will be a welcome break from all those sugary romances one is forced to watch nowadays. Great movie need to be watched by all.