tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post1379241661308033436..comments2024-03-17T07:25:56.478-04:00Comments on Thrilling Days of Yesteryear: The John Garfield Centennial Blogathon: Force of Evil (1948)Ivan G Shreve Jrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04067177808320053382noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post-81643467161695984542014-02-14T13:58:37.584-05:002014-02-14T13:58:37.584-05:00It's hard to picture Garfield as a middle-aged...It's hard to picture Garfield as a middle-aged player:his acting-persona was that of a dynamic young man and that electricity that he bought to his material (which was so often otherwise mediocre) surely couldn't have lasted much longer (or, if it did remain, would have been lessened by coming from a paunchy, older man).John Hardmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post-31911989915215146592013-03-08T21:52:55.996-05:002013-03-08T21:52:55.996-05:00That's a great review! Force of Evil was my fr...That's a great review! Force of Evil was my frst Garfield film, and I enjoyed it a lo, proof that John's talent was being wasted in B-movies. I was surprised to see a Brazilian classic movie, shot six years after this, and called something like In the Way of Crime, that had a strong influence o this film.<br />Don't forget to read my contribution to the blogathon! :)<br />Greetings!Lêhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02419693749682458647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post-400362267238666362013-03-08T19:50:49.306-05:002013-03-08T19:50:49.306-05:00When I first saw the movie, I wondered hm, which P...<i>When I first saw the movie, I wondered hm, which Producer is she sleeping with? and wonder if you may have wondered the same thing-- having given her the name "Beatrice Roberts" in your fourth paragraph-- or do you know something we don't?</i><br /><br />Nah, that's just an incident of "late-night-brain-fart." I fixed it.Ivan G Shreve Jrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04067177808320053382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post-5141238533467061162013-03-08T18:16:55.723-05:002013-03-08T18:16:55.723-05:00Nice one, Ivan, thanks.
Late to the party (right,...Nice one, Ivan, thanks.<br /><br />Late to the party (right, when wasn't I, but I'll try to make it worth the wait).<br /><br />Garfield said in interview somewhere that the key to his <i>Force of Evil</i> character is hanging right there on Joe Morse's vest pocket-- a Phi Beta Kappa key that Garfield picked up somewhere. It functioned for Garfield as a sort of imprimatur of legitimacy for the character Joe Morse has assumed: an ivy league attorney, with a briefcase and everthing, and not some cheap thug.<br /><br />Despite the fact I loved the movie, I also got the sense that it was a limited budget and shot quickly, and there were some scenes that could have done with another take (most of them involving Beatrice Pearson, by the way, who sometimes seems to be simply reciting phonetically learned syllables into her shoetops).<br /><br />When I first saw the movie, I wondered <i>hm, which Producer is she sleeping with?</i> and wonder if you may have wondered the same thing-- having given her the name "Beatrice Roberts" in your fourth paragraph-- or do you know something we don't?<br /><br />Again, thanks for the nice write-up.Chris Vosburgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post-77390914462853780912013-03-06T03:38:08.490-05:002013-03-06T03:38:08.490-05:00Must agree this is one of Garfield's greatest ...Must agree this is one of Garfield's greatest films and up there with 'Body and Soul' - I am very interested in the parallels you draw between the two. I love the blank verse dialogue of this film which helps to give it such a haunting quality. You have done a great job in explaining the sometimes confusing plot of 'Force of Evil' and showing how it criticises capitalism through the depiction of the 'numbers racket'. I really need to see this film again and will be referring back to this posting.Judyhttp://movieclassics.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post-40053554017950021042013-03-06T02:49:49.836-05:002013-03-06T02:49:49.836-05:00Ivan, a terrific and impressively detailed post on...Ivan, a terrific and impressively detailed post on a film that plainly means a lot to you. I'm also a fan of Garfield; he's one of my ten favorite actors of the studio days. I think "Body and Soul" is is his best film and performance, but this one is not far behind and though his character has many familiar Garfield traits (which you describe fully), it also offers something more in that he's a kid from the slums who's risen above that world but still has his feet planted in it.<br /><br />You and those who left comments made many great observations. Here are some I am in accord with: Thomas Gomez is wonderful in this film, as he was in "Key Largo" and especially "Ride the Pink Horse," both made about the same time (he got an Oscar nom for supporting actor for "Horse"). "Tortilla Flat" is a travesty of Steinbeck's novel, turning the characters into colorful Latino eccentrics, wasting Garfield, and saddling the great Spencer Tracy with perhaps the worst performance I've ever seen him give. "Force of Evil" is impressively photographed by Hitchcock regular George Barnes and stands as a very polished example of film noir; I recall Scorsese's enthusiasm from his "Journey Through American Film" documentary. Beatrice Pearson made little impression on me either.<br /><br />For me Garfield's greatest period is bookended by "Pride of the Marines" and this film with "The Breaking Point" (which I'm writing on for the blogathon) thrown in a bit later. Anyway, knowing your enthusiasm for Garfield, I wasn't surprised to see you taking part in the blogathon, and you chose what I consider the most challenging of all his films to write on. A great job.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post-13557141959148335952013-03-05T18:35:10.104-05:002013-03-05T18:35:10.104-05:00Thank you, for your wonderful review for a film, I...Thank you, for your wonderful review for a film, I have not yet seen. Your review of this film makes is sound like an above average film...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09421976438809816553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post-71330559961088384452013-03-05T12:34:09.558-05:002013-03-05T12:34:09.558-05:00I definitely haven't seen this one but, like P...I definitely haven't seen this one but, like Patti, sometimes these plots send my head spinning! If I do catch it I'll have to do a re-read of this first, so I know what's going on! It sounds like an intriguing film though.Victoriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14871388473674516955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post-45061213289459025692013-03-04T18:57:53.809-05:002013-03-04T18:57:53.809-05:00Fantastic review, Ivan! I really enjoyed not only ...Fantastic review, Ivan! I really enjoyed not only the depth of your post, but how you juxtaposed FORCE OF EVIL with BODY AND SOUL. Glad to see you spotlight Thomas Gomez for some much-deserved praise. That guy was always good value on screen. (Love his work as gum-popping thug to Edward G. Robinson's Johnny Rocco in KEY LARGO especially). <br /><br />And yours is yet another rave for THE BREAKING POINT. It seems I really need to catch up with that film - if only to compare it to my beloved TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT.Jeff Flugelhttp://thestalkingmoon.weebly.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post-91145921428777552352013-03-04T16:09:09.005-05:002013-03-04T16:09:09.005-05:00Rich wondered out loud:
Why do you call Garfield ...Rich wondered out loud:<br /><br /><i>Why do you call Garfield 'Julie'?</i><br /><br />I'm not the only one, but the reason is that Garfield was born (Jacob) Julius Garfinkle before he changed his name for the movies. Garfield's daughter is also named Julie, which admittedly causes some confusion.Ivan G Shreve Jrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04067177808320053382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post-10940091351886030122013-03-04T15:41:09.163-05:002013-03-04T15:41:09.163-05:00Why do you call Garfield 'Julie'?Why do you call Garfield 'Julie'?Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11376065182154885503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post-18964955714111121892013-03-04T14:47:36.579-05:002013-03-04T14:47:36.579-05:00Great review. Also, from the Sesame Street researc...Great review. Also, from the Sesame Street researchers end, note the waiter looking aghast while pouring coffee during a big "hit" scene:<br />http://images.wikia.com/muppet/images/e/eb/Willlee-forceofevil.jpg<br /><br />Yes, it's Will Lee, aka Mr. Hooper before he decided to set up shop in a quieter neighborhood, where the only mobsters trafficked in hot letter O's.Andrew Lealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04536423892525694724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post-88473785538772609902013-03-03T23:16:03.003-05:002013-03-03T23:16:03.003-05:00I liked your referring to the poetry in the script...I liked your referring to the poetry in the script. Along with its strong political bent, it is what elevates it from the pack of crime pictures. That it is your favourite says a lot. I'm not sure what, but ... a lot.Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post-82552143204155449682013-03-03T19:50:50.942-05:002013-03-03T19:50:50.942-05:00For me, the only "don't like it" Gar...<i>For me, the only "don't like it" Garfield film is "We Were Strangers," and that is because I dislike Jennifer Jones.</i><br /><br />Years ago on the blog, I jokingly created what I call The Blind Squirrel Theory of Film™--which posits that no matter how much I may dislike an actor or actress, there’s at least one movie of theirs I don’t mind watching (it’s a reference to the old maxim “Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then”). There’s not a lot of love for Jennifer Jones here at <i>TDOY</i> but I really do like her in <b>We Were Strangers</b>; she gives a first-rate performance. (She’s also not bad in <b>Beat the Devil</b>—but that’s a discussion for another day.)<br /><br />I’ve also not yet found a film that applies to Margaret O’Brien…but also, too: that is getting off the subject. If I had a little more time, I would have written something on <b>Strangers</b>…alas, it was not to be.<br /><br /><i>"The Breaking Point" is my favorite Garfield film, but several others aren't far behind.</i><br /><br />I would definitely agree that <b>Breaking Point</b> is the actor’s best film. But best is different from favorite, so that’s why I went with <b>Force of Evil</b>. :-)Ivan G Shreve Jrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04067177808320053382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post-78893960595382362782013-03-03T16:13:31.949-05:002013-03-03T16:13:31.949-05:00A really wonderful review and appreciation of both...A really wonderful review and appreciation of both the film and Garfield. This was the kind of role that Garfield was made for and he is letter perfect. Too bad he was just a minute ahead of his time and never lived to catch up.FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307577717655310918.post-14846366880371017862013-03-03T13:57:02.295-05:002013-03-03T13:57:02.295-05:00Ivan, what an incredibly awesome review of what, f...Ivan, what an incredibly awesome review of what, for me, is a complicated, confusing movie. I've only seen the film once, and I rated it 3 stars, but I said in my review of it that it could have been 4 had I understood it more. (The "numbers racket" is quite over my head.) Anyhow, thanks to your review, I understand the film better and, thus, won't be as confused the next time I watch it.<br /><br />For the record, I don't care a great deal for "Tortilla Flat" either, though I think Garfield was terrific in the role of Danny. For me, the only "don't like it" Garfield film is "We Were Strangers," and that is because I dislike Jennifer Jones. She ruins everything for me (Holden film, Clift films, and Cotten films to name a few). <br /><br />"The Breaking Point" is my favorite Garfield film, but several others aren't far behind.<br /><br />Also, just have to say...while "our Julie" was great in this role, Thomas Gomez surely was up to the task of going head-to-head with him. He was amazing.<br /><br />Thanks so much for participating in the blogathon. This piece was a wonderful addition to the event!Patti https://www.blogger.com/profile/12931836399684850729noreply@blogger.com