LOST COASTER: "EYES" WORTH SEEING

Monday, December 25, 2017

"EYES" WORTH SEEING

          In this sometimes disturbing and always fascinating French film from 1960, a surgeon causes an accident which disfigures his daughter--and tries to repair the damage he caused...but requires victims to do it.
          Director John Carpenter says he was influenced by this film. The rubber mask of William Shatner which his character Michael Myers wears in Halloween (1978) has a similar placid quality which accentuates horror because we are programmed to respond to facial features. When we see a mask, we want to know what is behind it. For that matter, Eyes Without a Face seems inspired in some measure by the Lon Chaney version of The Phantom of the Opera (1925) and perhaps Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933) .
          The daughter, Christiane (Scob), ethereal and doll-like, stays hidden at the doctor's house because almost everyone else thinks she died in the accident. The only other person who knows is the lab assistant Louise (Valli), whom the doctor successfully helped with a mysterious surgery sometime earlier.
          Part of what makes Eyes Without a Face (and yes, Billy Idol liked the title enough to use it for a song) so interesting is the pleasant, matter-of-fact manner by which Louise goes about assisting Dr. Genessier (Brasseur). Sure, she seems like a nice lady who drives around with the quirky theme music from "Curb Your Enthusiasm" playing all the time. But appearances deceive.
          Like Haxan (1922) and Freaks (1932), Eyes is considered by some viewers excessively disturbing for its time--and perhaps for any time. Two scenes in particular stand out uniquely in film. Suffice to say, a well-done film does not need computer special effects.
          Eyes exemplifies sheer filmmaking, pure storytelling. Based on the filmmaking trend of the last couple decades, wherein most of Hollywood's feature films rely on CG effects and automatic sequels in franchises imitating previous successes, Eyes Without a Face is a fresh face in cinema, and a wonder to behold.
          Freely available online.

EYES WITHOUT A FACE
(LES YEUX SANS VISAGE)
Starring Pierre Brasseur,
Edith Scob,
Alida Valli
Directed by Georges Franju
Written by Pierre Boileau, Thomas Nacejac,
Claude Sautet, Pierre Gascar
Based on the novel by Jean Redon
Runtime 90 minutes

Stewart Kirby writes for

No comments:

Post a Comment

Terry LaBarba's Review of DRIFTING ROOM

STORYTELLING THAT'S WILDLY POETIC

The story takes place in the small town of Madrani in the redwood forest. There were strange things going on that kept me engaged, the reason partly being due to the interesting narration and the main character’s voice. It reminded me of the descriptive ramblings of Arlo Guthrie doing "Alice’s Restaurant," only with higher octane.
It’s a casual read and then again it isn’t. The eventful but not overly complex story uses descriptive word groupings that, in itself, entertains. You will want to take your time and let the verbal constructs take hold. There were “caves of problematical intricacy,” and a trek through the forest mentioned trees with “boughs outstretched like gem-laden supplicants bearing offerings before the ancient giants.” Truly poetic.
When I read this mastery of words, I had to wonder if it easily flows to the author or does he take the time to labor over the most creative way to put together a concept or description? Stewart Kirby’s literary work comes across as play, seeming natural, yet brilliant. As far as being creative, the funny but creepy little twitching doll in this book is a good example. The names of the local businesses in this town were a hoot. There was also some twisted humor when one character builds the perfect, dirty sandwich (with not so nice intentions). It had me laughing out loud as the deed progressed.
The plot moved forward without a dull moment. I’m looking forward to the next book of “uncanny tales of the redwoods in the hugely Hippie haven of Humbaba County,” as Kirby calls them. I suspect it is just as campy, witty and fun as this one.