The English-language version, as translated in 1928 by the soon to be Soviet spy Whittaker Chambers, was enormously popular, earning rave reviews and selling six hundred and fifty thousand copies in the dozen-plus years before the film came out. And it rendered the original “Bambi” obscure, too, even though it had previously been both widely acclaimed and passionately reviled. The book rendered Salten famous the movie, which altered and overshadowed its source material, rendered him virtually unknown. It was adapted from “Bambi: A Life in the Woods,” a 1922 novel by the Austro-Hungarian writer and critic Felix Salten. Unlike many other Disney classics, from “ Cinderella” to “ Frozen,” this fright fest is not based on a fairy tale. Stephen King called “Bambi” the first horror movie he ever saw, and Pauline Kael, the longtime film critic for this magazine, claimed that she had never known children to be as frightened by supposedly scary grownup movies as they were by “Bambi.” The film in question is, of course, the 1942 Walt Disney classic “ Bambi.” Perhaps more than any other movie made for children, it is remembered chiefly for its moments of terror: not only the killing of the hero’s mother but the forest fire that threatens all the main characters with annihilation. We see only the mother’s sudden alarm her panicked attempt to get her child to safety their separation in the chaos of the moment and then the child, outside in the cold as snow once again begins to fall, alone and crying for his mother. In fact, we never see it at all, because the man with the gun remains offscreen. Beguiled by the changing weather, we do not see the danger coming. A mother and her child are out for a walk, on the first warm day after a bitter winter. If Bond had actually fought like he did earlier, and STILL got B-slapped, and had a tougher time subduing them, that would have been a really satisfying scene.It is one of the most famous murders in the history of cinema. I wish they'd carried as much credibility as their personalities warranted. I have a hard time seeing this Bond who came off his best fight scene since FRWL getting B-slapped by these two acrobats, then immediately getting the upper hand in a swimming pool. I don't quite know what to think of Bambi & Thumper. They really are a Vaudeville act invading the spy world of James Bond.Ĭoming off OHMSS, I'd have liked a serious story as much as the next guy, but Wint & Kidd are part of the fun. It's taken some growing up and mellowing out for me, but I appreciate them. In a movie where nothing is sacred (not even Tracy), they're a perfect fit. However, DAF was very deliberate in it's kitschy tone (if only all the Bond movies were as decisive.), and Mankiewicz saw the camp in such a concept and turned it up to 11. I understand where you're coming from, tim I love the way Fleming wrote the duo and I'd love to see them onscreen in their literary form (under different names, obviously). They are both very much together (with MR KIDD probably being the bitch). There is nothing ambiguous about their sexuality either. They completely interefere when on-screen and their trail of death is quite sick ("Mrs Whistler would be so proud"). Thoughts? I expect there's probably a huge Kidd/Wint appreciation society around here (I come in peace)! Not so much an appreciation society - more of a different take on the pair. Such an unworthy demise for this underrated duo. Shame to see these babe villains dunked in a paddling pool. Bambi and Thumper were both physically threatening, visually interesting, both with ironic names and that "ambiguous sexuality" that they seemed to be going with (and making a farce out of) with Kidd and Wint. Kidd and Wint were more about annoying, crude jokes. Does anyone else wish these had been the actual, principal goons from DAF (or even a decent Bond movie)? I cannot stand the played for laughs Kidd and Wint, neither threatening but never likable in a charming way.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |