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Monday, May 19, 2008

FLOATING WEEDS (1959)

Yasujiro Ozu’s fine redo of his 1934 silent film made me think of Hitchcock’s ‘56 remake of his ‘34 classic, THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH. Who’d thunk? Working with the gifted lenser Kazuo Miyagawa, Ozu’s first color outing compares well with the magical surface textures Jean Renoir got into his mid-50s color pics. (Initiates, please note Ozu’s directorial frères.) The story stays largely the same (master of a visiting acting troupe visits his secret/illegitimate son after a decade on the road as his company dissolves in internecine fighting & financial collapse), but w/ dialogue, Ozu can now bring forward more supporting characters. I slightly prefer the earlier film’s cast & tauter narrative (though the ingenue who falls for the strapping son is quite the beauty here), but let’s not make too much of this. See them both. (see STORY OF FLOATING WEEDS below)

CONTEST: Name another silent film that was remade as a sound film by the same director and I'll write-up any NetFlix DVD of your choosing.

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