As someone who has written about the entertainment industry for a very long time and in many capacities, I wish I had a nickel for every actor, director, screenwriter, novelist, playwright and performer who looked me straight in the eye and said, “I never read the reviews.”
If I did, I could stop writing about the entertainment industry, or anything else, really I’d be too busy furnishing my London and Paris apartments.
And if I had a nickel for each of those people who were somehow able to quote certain reviews word for word, usually in a voice of outrage, I would also have that Italian villa to visit.
George Sanders was cinema s great poet of dry cynicism – and never better than in Voyage to Italy Dear World, I am leaving because I am bored. began his suicide note. In this classic 1954 film, he reveals his cosmic self-contempt
George Sanders and Ingrid Bergman filming Voyage to Italy in 1953
Credit: Bettmann
One day I’ll make a pilgrimage to the Hotel Rey Don Jaime in Castelldefels, 10 miles south of Barcelona, where George Sanders committed suicide in 1972. (“Dear World,” he characteristically wrote in his over-egged note for the police, “I am leaving because I am bored… I am leaving you with your worries in this sweet cesspool…”) Meanwhile, there’s always the Hotel Excelsior, in Naples, where Sanders, and Ingrid Bergman, made Journey to Italy in 1954. “What noisy people,” says Sanders’ Alexander Joyce of the Italians, with amused irritation, or irritated amusement. “I’ve never seen noise and boredom go so well together.”
and she turns in his direction and she smiles. hello, darling. (allen daviau) it is an amazing piece of screen exposition. and yet it s always from the point of view of george. you are assured that all of the characters feelings towards this newcomer are either patronizing or snobbish. once he arrives, no matter who you re looking at you are seeing it from his emotional point of view. (allen daviau) we see him sneak away. he can t keep up the facade, and he goes down a hall and finds a room with a pool table. (allen daviau) he sets up an impossible shot with the cue behind his back. while the shot is being made elizabeth taylor walks by, returns . poke her head in the door, and as the ball goes in, she stuck her head back and wow! and as the ball goes in, she stuck hehello. back and hello. i see you had a misspent youth. yes, it was. why all alone? being exclusive? it s just one of those moments that you realize you have two incredible screen personalities working togeth
(allen daviau) it is an amazing piece of screen exposition. and yet it s always from the point of view of george. you are assured that all of the characters feelings towards this newcomer are either patronizing or snobbish. once he arrives, no matter who you re looking at you are seeing it from his emotional point of view. (allen daviau) we see him sneak away. he can t keep up the facade, and he goes down a hall and finds a room with a pool table. (allen daviau) he sets up an impossible shot with the cue behind his back. while the shot is being made elizabeth taylor walks by, returns . poke her head in the door, and as the ball goes in, she stuck her head back and wow! hello. hello. i see you had a misspent youth. yes, it was. why all alone? being exclusive? it s just one of those moments that you realize you have two incredible screen personalities working together. and the way the camera is handled, it is stevens total confidence in their performances. (allen daviau) yo