SCREAMING MIMI in The Psycho Ward Forum

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SCREAMING MIMI

Author	Comment
Monsterpal	SCREAMING MIMI	Lead	[-]
Sep 28 11 11:35 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I've read the 1949 novel, but I've never seen the 1958 film version directed by Gerd Oswald and starring Anita Ekberg, Philip Carey, Gypsy Rose Lee, and Harry Townes. The opening scene is on Youtube, and it surprised me because it's an event that happens about three-quarters of the way through the book, and it reveals a key plot point. Perhaps this is one of the reasons the movie doesn't have much of a reputation, but I'm still curious about it. Anyone seen it? Opinions?
Rick		#1	[-]
Sep 29 11 12:10 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Yes, I've seen it twice and been disappointed both times. The major disappointment for me was not really the quality of the movie (I guess it's okay), but that it wasn't what I'd been led to believe. I had read that it was a horror film, or a near-horror film, that it was a forerunner, even a sort of prototype for PSYCHO. I didn't see any of that. I saw a sort of suspense drama, nothing remotely to be called horror and not to be compared, or even mentioned in the same breath, with PSYCHO. Actually, the second time I watched it was because I continued to read those same sort of comments so, thinking I must have missed something, I gave it another look. Nope. It's an okay drama, suspense drama, I guess. But that's it.
CapnDunsel		#2	[-]
Sep 29 11 9:45 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	It's available as Warner Archive MOD. It's been speculated that the shower scene in MIMI inspired the scene in "Psycho" (I hope it's not the outdoor shower scene at the start of MIMI). However, the shower murder in "Psycho" was in the novel, so MIMI would have to have inspired the author. Would Robert Bloch steal from Fredric Brown? Thing that bugs me the most about the movie is the reuse of Leonard Bernstein's score for "On the Waterfront."
Monsterpal		#3	[-]
Sep 29 11 1:21 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	CapnDunsel wrote: Would Robert Bloch steal from Fredric Brown? �� They were friends, both from Milwaukee, so maybe they discussed it before Bloch wrote PSYCHO.� But the killing's a lot different in Brown's book than it is above, much more graphic and gruesome.� �It probably was pretty shocking for 1949 readers.� The shower murder scene takes place in a rural Wisconsin shed fitted with a makeshift shower, not on the Pacific shore, and the crazy guy is blasted with a shotgun at close range.� Several times people say it made a hole in him "you could have stuck your head through."
austex23		#4	[-]
Sep 29 11 1:25 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I thought the book was superb -- one of Brown's very best -- and the film is decidedly disappointing. You probably know that the book is the unofficial basis for Argento's The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, which actually works as a much more satisfying version of Brown's story.
Monsterpal		#5	[-]
Sep 29 11 1:44 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I agree with your assessment of the novel, Austex. It kept me guessing right to the end. There was no one like Fredric Brown, an acknowledged master of both science fiction and mysteries. Unfortunately, this film seems to give away this mystery from the beginning, judging from that clip.
Mike Mariano		#6	[-]
Sep 30 11 10:26 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	It's not a great film, but it's worth watching because Anita Ekberg looks absolutely luscious in it! I've wondered about the shower scene in MIMI influencing PSYCHO, but there's also a similar shower scene in Val Lewton's THE SEVENTH VICTIM, and that was made way before either of them.
Monsterpal		#7	[-]
Oct 1 11 7:53 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hitchcock's shower scene certainly looks much more like the one in THE SEVENTH VICTIM. MIMI's shower is shown only from outside the stall.
Saturday8pm		#8	[-]
Oct 4 11 1:42 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Never saw it, but it was a family joke for years 'cuz my grandmother's nickname was Mimi. My father always made it a habit of his to goof on her using this title. Should check it out. "Lord I love Spring! The birds, the fair weather, the new flowers. It doesn't get any better than this. HOLY CRAP! what's THAT?!?"
Friend of Daniel		#9	[-]
Oct 12 11 4:29 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	If you or a buddy has access to Comcast's 'On Demand' SCREAMING MIMI is a featured free movie this month. Not a terrible little picture, and it has the advantage of really dripping with sleeze and it features some goofy night club acts. I can only gather 50's night club audiences were particularly easy to please. Also: a fun supporting performance by Gypsy Rose Lee (as a lesbian?). The little Screaming Mimi statue so important to the plot reminds me of The Vicitim from Aurora's Monster Scenes.
Monsterpal		#10	[-]
Oct 12 11 4:48 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Thanks, FoD.
IMSWM		#11	[-]
May 28 12 4:52 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Mike Mariano wrote: It's not a great film, but it's worth watching because Anita Ekberg looks absolutely luscious in it! I've wondered about the shower scene in MIMI influencing PSYCHO, but there's also a similar shower scene in Val Lewton's THE SEVENTH VICTIM, and that was made way before either of them. Amen, brother, re Anita. That woman was absolutely breathtaking. There's a tribute to her at the bottom of this page http://www.swmswm.com/omm0204.htm including a shot of Ekberg in profile from Mimi. Mama mia! /\ /\/\ \ \ / \ / \/\/ \ visit www.ManorOnMovies.com A new concept in new concepts
BelleArgent		#12	[-]
May 31 12 9:26 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	@IMSWM Here's Miss Ekberg (or Mrs Steele - watch her sign-in) on "What's My Line?" They had a lot of stunning actresses as "mystery guests" but I swear I thought they were going to have to use the fire hose on the entire theater and call the riot squad when she walked out. Great stuff. BA~ Last Edited By: BelleArgent May 31 12 10:21 AM. Edited 1 times.
CapnDunsel		#13	[-]
Jun 11 12 8:35 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	finally watched it last night. Sort of a patchwork style like Welles' Mr Arkadin. For the most part everything goes smoothly, but there are moments of abrupt editing, odd cinematography, weird dialog delivery. You dont know if it's so bad it's good, or if they were intentionally trying to be a little different or avant garde (leaning towards Dementia, Daughter of Darkness). Some scenes are pretty effective. Definitely a hoot.

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