- Awards
- 21
Just watched it. It's pretty good, thorough.
Just watched it. It's pretty good, thorough.
- Awards
- 9
I watched the first few minutes, without realizing it's 2 1/2 hours long. That's a bit much for now so I'll circle back.
Within those first few minutes, I am in agreement. I've said it before: Stanwyck was the best actress of her generation. Maybe Davis, at her best, could surpass her in power and intensity, but Stanwyck had a true versatility that was uncommon in the era. She could be sexy or flinty or vulnerable; she shifted between comedy and drama better than her peers.
In recent years I have gravitated towards Crawford as my favorite of the era, but that has as much to do with her mystique as her talent; and perhaps the underdog nature of her reputation. For sheer quality and consistency of performances, I think Stanwyck had her contemporaries beat.
Within those first few minutes, I am in agreement. I've said it before: Stanwyck was the best actress of her generation. Maybe Davis, at her best, could surpass her in power and intensity, but Stanwyck had a true versatility that was uncommon in the era. She could be sexy or flinty or vulnerable; she shifted between comedy and drama better than her peers.
In recent years I have gravitated towards Crawford as my favorite of the era, but that has as much to do with her mystique as her talent; and perhaps the underdog nature of her reputation. For sheer quality and consistency of performances, I think Stanwyck had her contemporaries beat.
- Awards
- 11
First, I want to address the changing of the thread title from "Help Me Like Barbara Stanwyck" to "Miss Barbara Stanwyck". For years, I had this stigma against Barbara Stanwyck. I had only seen her in a handful of movies (none of which would make any "best of" lists concerning her filmography), and I wasn't at all impressed with her. It had honestly gotten to a point where I just simply refused to like her. While I could objectively acknowledge her talent, I could just as easily disregard her because I just didn't want to like her.
Why would I do that? Well, I explain as a facet of my youthful ignorance. I was such a big fan of Crawford, Davis, and Hepburn that I just wouldn't allow Stanwyck any room. I dismissed all the praise she received and flat refused to watch any of her strongest films that routinely appeared on lists for being some of the best films from the classic era of Hollywood.
But, as time would have it, this all has drastically changed. I finally reached a point in my viewing preferences where I simply decided to like what I like and stop having preconceived notions about movies and actors I had never seen. My sister-in-law purchased DOUBLE INDEMNITY for my birthday one year, and several of us made a movie night out of seeing it for the very first time. Quite honestly, the film and Stanwyck herself blew me away. I felt as if I robbed myself of not seeing the movie earlier and by writing Stanwyck off as an actress I just didn't want to enjoy. Since then, I've seen SORRY, WRONG NUMBER, re-watched CLASH BY NIGHT, and even dabbled into some episodes of THE BIG VALLEY.
Stanwyck was a marvelously gifted actress that I ignored for far too long.
So, in deciding on renaming the thread "Miss Barbara Stanwyck", I wanted a title that spoke of the reverence she generally receives for her longevity and versatility. Also, I thought it was kind-of-cheeky because that's the way she was credited on THE BIG VALLEY.
Now, on to the BKR essay on Stanwyck. To say I was thrilled when I saw this pop up on my YouTube feed yesterday would be an understatement. I'm generally excited when I see a new BKR video drop, unless it's about a subject that I know nothing or couldn't careless about.
I finally got her two-and-a-half-hour Stanwyck video watched this morning during some downtime at work (amidst a pile of pauses and breaks because, well, work and the sheer length of the video itself). BKR's "take" on Stanwyck is both informative and admiral, and I like how she divides her career into different phases, genres, and sections. It honestly makes me want to dive into her filmography more, but time will tell what I get to and when.
This is probably my favorite BKR video in a long while, and it is in the running for being perhaps the best video essay on the channel.
Why would I do that? Well, I explain as a facet of my youthful ignorance. I was such a big fan of Crawford, Davis, and Hepburn that I just wouldn't allow Stanwyck any room. I dismissed all the praise she received and flat refused to watch any of her strongest films that routinely appeared on lists for being some of the best films from the classic era of Hollywood.
But, as time would have it, this all has drastically changed. I finally reached a point in my viewing preferences where I simply decided to like what I like and stop having preconceived notions about movies and actors I had never seen. My sister-in-law purchased DOUBLE INDEMNITY for my birthday one year, and several of us made a movie night out of seeing it for the very first time. Quite honestly, the film and Stanwyck herself blew me away. I felt as if I robbed myself of not seeing the movie earlier and by writing Stanwyck off as an actress I just didn't want to enjoy. Since then, I've seen SORRY, WRONG NUMBER, re-watched CLASH BY NIGHT, and even dabbled into some episodes of THE BIG VALLEY.
Stanwyck was a marvelously gifted actress that I ignored for far too long.
So, in deciding on renaming the thread "Miss Barbara Stanwyck", I wanted a title that spoke of the reverence she generally receives for her longevity and versatility. Also, I thought it was kind-of-cheeky because that's the way she was credited on THE BIG VALLEY.
Now, on to the BKR essay on Stanwyck. To say I was thrilled when I saw this pop up on my YouTube feed yesterday would be an understatement. I'm generally excited when I see a new BKR video drop, unless it's about a subject that I know nothing or couldn't careless about.
I finally got her two-and-a-half-hour Stanwyck video watched this morning during some downtime at work (amidst a pile of pauses and breaks because, well, work and the sheer length of the video itself). BKR's "take" on Stanwyck is both informative and admiral, and I like how she divides her career into different phases, genres, and sections. It honestly makes me want to dive into her filmography more, but time will tell what I get to and when.
This is probably my favorite BKR video in a long while, and it is in the running for being perhaps the best video essay on the channel.