There is no place like it on earth. Macao in the China Seas across the bay from British Hong Kong. Where gambling is the heavy industry and smuggling and dope peddling come as naturally as eating. To this island of commercial sin comes Nick, a young grifter wanted back in the States – and Nora, a girl who never got the breaks. Both hard as nails, cynical, strangers. And on the same boat, posing as a salesman, comes a hard-boiled New York cop, sent out to capture a fugitive-racketeer is now the Frankie Costello of Macao …
Into this hotbed of espionage, intrigue and murder, three people take refuge!
Robert Mitchum - living on velvet … loving the same way!
Jane Russell - whose song belies … the fear in her heart!
William Bendix - whose stock in trade … is danger!
Yes, this is Macao – port of peril. Where boy meets girl too late! The risks they run … the chances they take … fighting to remain together in a dangerous paradise!
On 16 February the Lobotomy Room film club (motto: Bad Movies for Bad People) whisks you away to the steamy Portuguese colony of Macao for this sordid noir thriller! Sure, the Times’ critic reportedly dismissed Macao as “melodramatic junk”, but I side with deviant queer film scholar Boyd McDonald, who concluded “Macao is, arguably, perfect.”
Macao’s major selling point is the sullen dream duo of Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell, who effortlessly match other for tough wry humour and torpid impudence. As McDonald notes in his volume of essays Cruising the Movies (2015), “out of habit rather than anything in the script, the stars of Macao – and under their spell, the supporting players and extras – loiter about leering and sneering at each other, giving attitude. The attitude is one of contempt mixed with lust – an insolent craving, a concupiscent scorn … the players look as though they can’t stand the sight of each other, yet want to suck each other off … Russell, gifted with articulate nostrils and some slight imperfection in the nerves or muscles about her lips, is especially good at competitive sneering.” Seriously – how can you resist?
Adding to the intrigue: temperamental veteran filmmaker Josef von Sternberg (the visionary behind all those great 1930s Marlene Dietrich films) was exhumed from semi-retirement to direct Macao but when preview audiences grumbled the film was too art-y and weird, an uncredited Nicholas Ray (of Johnny Guitar (1954) and Rebel without a Cause (1955) fame) was assigned to shoot additional scenes! Watch as well for delectable bad girl Gloria Grahame in a supporting role!
Lobotomy Room Goes to the Movies is the FREE monthly film club devoted to cinematic perversity! Third Thursday night of every month downstairs at Fontaine’s bar in Dalston! Two drink minimum (inquire about the special offer £6 cocktail menu!). Numbers are limited, so reserving in advance via Fontaine’s website is essential. Alternatively, phone 07718000546 or email bookings@fontaines.bar to avoid disappointment! The film starts at 8:30 pm. Doors to the basement Bamboo Lounge open at 8:00 pm. To ensure everyone is seated and cocktails are ordered in time, please arrive by 8:15 pm at the latest.
Mitchum was never prettier. Though I never cared for his chest at all. It's that chest/waist ratio. He looks like a young Sean Penn in this film. And Russel. What can one say. I never thought she either got the right part or was directed well. She could smolder, though. And Gloria Grahame could do no wrong... until she fell in love with a 13 year old boy and got hooked on cosmetic surgery. She was obsessed with her upper lip... but she was always beautiful to me. Enjoy the film. Kizzes.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to camper-than-camp noir melodramas, you are indeed the unavowed expert! I'd never even heard of this one... Jx
ReplyDeletePS One day, we'll get to Dalston and pay due respects at "Lobotomy Room Goes to the Movies".
Better dig out the (second-best) tiara for the occasion... Jx
Delete