Cinematheque Ontario presents - James Mason

James Mason – the Brit that ended up in the States.  Cinematheque Ontario presents an exhaustive list of films starring Mason showing his acting prowess and versatility.  From reluctant hero in Carol Reed’s ODD MAN OUT to reluctant villain in Alfred Hitchcock’s NORTH BY NORTHWEST, Mason has roles as varied as his films chosen.

For the full list of James Mason films, showtimes, ticket pricing and venue, check the cinematheque website at:
http://www.cinmeathequeontario.ca

The complete list of films that will be shown:

5 FINGERS
A STAR IS BORN
AGE OF CONSENT
BIGGER THAN LIFE
CAUGHT
JULIUS CAESAR
LOLITA
NORTH BY NORTHWEST
ODD MAN OUT
PANDORA AND THE FLYING DUTCHMAN
THE DEADLY AFFAIR
THE MAN BETWEEN
THE RECKLESS MOMENT
THE SEVENTH VEIL

Below are capsule review of 4 films from the Mason programme:

BIGGER THAN LIFE (USA 1056) ****
Directed by Nicholas Ray

It is no surprise to guess the reason James Mason produced and acted in BIGGER THAN LIFE, a larger than life drama of the psychotic transforming effects of cortisone.  The story is a moral one that also allows Mason to exhibit his acting skills while showcasing his eloquence as he expounds his theory of right and wrong.  Mason plays Ed Avery, a schoolteacher suffering from spasms and blackouts.  The doctors tell him he has a rare artery disease and will not live for long but the terminal illness can be cure by a miracle drug called cortisone.  But Ed gets addicted to the drug while undergoing mood swings and anger, terrorizing his wife (Barbara Bush) and his son.  Director Ray’s film is as real as it is a horror story that will leave you cringing at the edge of your seats.  Mason and Rush deliver outstanding performances.  Apart from the tacked on happy ending, BIGGER THAN LIFE is pretty much a very sad story.
(Screening June 3rd 7pm and June 6th 4pm)

LOLITA (UK/USA 1962) ****
Directed by Stanley Kubrick

LOLITA, based on the novel by Vladimir Nobakov, is not so disturbing for the reason that the protagonist is a pedophile preying on 14-year old Lolita (Sue Lyon) but for the reason that Humbert Humbert (James Mason) is a controlling presence that also married her mother (Shelly Winters) in order to remain close to her.  When the mother dies, Humbert takes the role of father, guardian but mostly insanely jealous lover.  The fact that Sue Lyon looks more like 18 in the film rather than the 12-year old in Nobakov’s novel helped the film in its release.  Dark as it’s the theme is, the gamble Kubrick took of pitting the very hilarious Peter Sellers against Mason in the film’s crucial scenes pays off.  Dark reaches the darkest depths when the audience finds themselves laughing aloud instead of having the feeling of total disgust.  LOLITA is a brilliant film in more ways than one that beats its remake by Adrian Lynn a hundred times.

(Review to be posted)

NORTH BY NORTHWEST (USA 1959) *****
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

Before going on with the capsule review, I have to say that Alfred Hitchcock’s NORTH BY NORTHWEST, which I have seen at least 5 times, is my favorite movie of all time.  It is Hitchcock at his very best, with a film that includes suspense, action, comedy and romance.  And Hitchcock has infused a perfect villain in James Mason as the Phillips Vandamm out to kill hero, Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant).  In the story, no reason is given for the existence for Vandamm’s organization or what its purpose is.  Like Hitchcock’s Macguffin, the chase is all the importance and it propels the plot to its climax, the reason being of no consequence.  Hitchcock gives the villain a human touch in the scene where his right hand man, Leonard (Martin Landau) delivers the message that his girl Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) ahs defected and fallen in love with the enemy, Roger Thornhill.  Vandamm punches the bearer of bad news with such force that he hurts his hand.  In the climatic scene, he jumps out at Thornhilll with a climatic fight at Mount Rushmore.  NORTH BY NORTHWEST contains many classic set pieces like the crop duster scene.  A film that should be seen many times for Hitchcock’s and author Ernest Lehman’s pure genius.
(Screening June 6th 7 pm)

A STAR IS BORN (USA 1954) ****
Directed by George Cukor

The first remake of the 1937 version and most likely the best of the lot!  Warner Bros. is currently planning yet another remake with possibly Gerard Butler in the title role.  The title of the film could very well be A STAR IS DYING, as the plot involves twin stories of the decline of a movie star, alcoholic Norman Maine (James Mason) as he discovers and nurtures talented Esther Blodgett (Judy Garland).  A true friendship and romance develops as one star rises and the other falls.  Director Cukor (THE WOMEN, MY FAIR LADY) captures both the glamour and horrors of Hollywood stardom as well and the wheeling and dealings of the studio bosses and publicists.  Garland shows exceptional finesse in her delivery of songs and dance.  Though the film is classified a musical, all the numbers are performed when Esther is performing on stage or on film and in nowhere do the actors break out into song for nor reason.  Mason is believable and excellent in his role but it is Garland who steals the movie.  Cinematheque Ontario is likely screening the restored full version.
(Screening June 5th, 7 pm)