Comments on: Deborah Kerr 1921-2007

by: cinebeats

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 18:53:29 +0100

Thanks for the comments about Deborah guys and for sharing your thoughts about her films! It’s nice to see how fondly she’s remembered by people who liked her work.

by: Vincent

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 03:55:50 +0100

Fine hommage to a great lady. Think i’ll go hunting the grouse.

by: Vanwall

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 19:44:37 +0100

I’m glad she left such a legacy of wonderful performances, and even tho I loved Black Narcissus, The Innocents, and Colonel Blimp, I can’t let her passing happen without mentioning The Sundowners and Perfect Strangers, favorites of mine, two small movies that show her innate grace even as a frump or a hard-working wife and mother - I found her terribly attractive as a young man, she was so believably female to me. I could never figure out why some were so shocked she could carry off love on the beach, as I always felt she conveyed wild sex just underneath the surface, and infinitely more attractive to my tastes. I’d have killed for tea with her.

by: Will Errickson

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 21:20:55 +0100

I haven’t seen too many of Kerr’s movies, but I love The Innocents and From Here to Eternity. I saw the former for the first time just last year (when it was released on DVD) and was also struck by its use of daytime “nightmares.” I’ve always loved the cold blast of horror in the middle of summer–cool you pointed that out. The class and taste of an actress like Kerr is sorely missed today.

by: cinebeats

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 10:34:45 +0100

Jeremy - Eye of the Devil is a terrific British thriller that deserves to be more widely seen. It’s got a great cast and Kerr seems to be having fun with her role in it. It’s nice to know I’m not the only person who likes that film. I’ve only seen it once myself and I wish it was available on DVD.

Gareth - Thanks for the Colonel Blimp rec! I really have no excuse for not seeing it since I love Powell’s films. Hopefully I’ll gt to it soon.

Keith - It’s pretty amazing what a varied career she had! From dramas, to romances and musicals, as well as great thrillers, Kerr made a lot of terrific films. Thanks for the comment!

by: Keith

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 07:32:50 +0100

Thanks for posting such a wonderful blog about Deborah Kerr. She was such a beloved and talented actress. She made so many great films, whether it was The Innocents, An Affair to Remember, From Here To Eternity, The King and I, Casino Royale, etc. She will be sorely missed.

by: Gareth

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:21:37 +0100

Thanks for posting a lovely appreciation so quickly; I was startled to realize how many of her films I’d seen when I looked at her filmography (surely a sign that I under-appreciated her!). I’ll agree with one of your comments, too: you really do need to see The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp. I almost never tell people they need to see a film - but this one is awfully special.

Gareth

by: Jeremy

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:50:18 +0100

Very sorry to hear this. She was a classy lady and great actress. Along with THE INNOCENTS, I love her work in FROM HERE TO ETERNITY, NIGHT OF THE IGUANA and EYE OF THE DEVIL. She has an amazing scene with Sharon Tate in EYE OF THE DEVIL that is among my favorites of the sixties. She always brought something special to all of her roles…

by: cinebeats

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:11:43 +0100

Very true William! That’s really one of the reasons why the film is so effective. Clayton’s brilliant direction and Francis’ stunning cinematography were able to make a sunny afternoon seem totally nightmarish and terrifying.

by: William Smith

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:08:03 +0100

Very sad to see her go.

Innocents is definitely the creepiest ghost movie of all time. You mention its effectiveness even on a “bright sunny afternoon”, that’s because many of the film’s most chilling scenes are set on a bright sunny afternoon…when you’re supposed to be safe and you don’t expect terrifying apparitions that won’t go away (even when you look twice).

by: cinebeats

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:06:12 +0100

Thanks Jonathan! I know I've mentioned on your own blog that The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp is one film that I still need to see. I have no idea why I haven't yet since I love all the other Powell films I've seen. I personally really love Sophia Loren in Two Women and Natalie Wood in Splendor in the Grass (I've never liked Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffanys I'm afraid because I can never buy her in a role that should have gone to Marilyn Monoe), but Kerr really should be more recognized for her terrific performance in The Innocents. From Here to Eternity, Heaven Knows Mr. Allison, Tea and Sympathy, Seperate Tables I mean, really, no one could play longing and fear quite like her. So true. Kerr really knew how to tap deep down into a part of herself and pull out some very dark stuff. Separate Tables is another Kerr film that I really like and forgot to mention, so thanks for bringing it up! Last but not least, if The Innocents doesn't make the final list of "31 Flicks that give you the willies," I'll blow a gasket!

by: Jonathan Lapper

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 13:45:57 +0100

It's a great film and Deborah Kerr is a favorite of mine as well. I love her in Black Narcissus and The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp where she plays three roles at the age of 22, all to perfection. And not to trivialize her talent in any way but she was also quite beautiful. Late in Colonel Blimp when she's playing her third character, Anton Walbrook asks her what she did before the war and she replies she was a model. It fits perfectly as her face (her eyes and lips) as she drives Walbrook home are simply stunning to take in. The Innocents is one of the great pieces of cinema of the sixties. On top of everything you said the film also makes fantastic use of sound to build a chilling atmosphere. And I've never seen Sophia Loren's performance in Two Women so I can't say anything about it winning but I have seen Natalie Wood in Splendor in the Grass and Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffanys and both of their nominations in place of Deborah Kerr being nominated is shameful, in my opinion. You also said, "I don’t think a younger actress could have really captured the sort of repressed sexual longing and complicated fears that the character is struggling with in the film." It seems to me Deborah Kerr excelled at this. From Here to Eternity, Heaven Knows Mr. Allison, Tea and Sympathy, Seperate Tables I mean, really, no one could play longing and fear quite like her. She was amazing and wonderful and brilliant and beautiful. And you made an excellent choice in choosing The Innocents to eulogize her. Thanks.