tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083084222355114149.post2974293366856791420..comments2024-03-12T02:18:47.805-07:00Comments on Book Babe: Book & Movie Comparison: Catherine the GreatTarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11015131255166542986noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083084222355114149.post-3073521217783085622012-03-19T09:42:05.181-07:002012-03-19T09:42:05.181-07:00I just finished The Winter Palace and liked it bet...I just finished The Winter Palace and liked it better than you did, since I gave it 4 stars. It's the first in a series or trilogy, I believe, which is probably why it doesn't speak of what happens later to Catherine.<br /><br />It was really Varvara's story, though, and (SPOILER SPOILER) I was expecting her to be totally betrayed at the end. It seemed Peter's last words to her about a lemon being squeezed and its peel tossed away seemed prophetic.<br /><br />Now I'm curious about the film and other books!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083084222355114149.post-53889468450994040432011-09-14T12:51:22.926-07:002011-09-14T12:51:22.926-07:00Dawn, I didn't know that. That is interesting....Dawn, I didn't know that. That is interesting.. the governor thing.. but you know what? I don't like Dietrich. I really don't. Something about her.. has rubbed me wrong in both movies I've watched with her starring.Tarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11015131255166542986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083084222355114149.post-31689482181551309522011-09-14T12:41:13.615-07:002011-09-14T12:41:13.615-07:00Friend from Florida here. I didn't realize tha...Friend from Florida here. I didn't realize that this was Sam Jaffe's (Peter) first film? I know he is better than that, I have to wonder if that was Sternberg's doing. <br /><br />Karla (from GR?), I was worried when I saw Marlene was to play Catherine and then knowing her Svengali was directing, who knew where this would go? Well, now Tara and I know. Yes, the sets, costumes, artful use of black and white were all the Sternberg touches. And the days of delays in shooting caused by the uproar over whether Dietrich should wear a fur hat or not because her rival, Garbo, had just worn one in her newest film, shows one how important fashion was to them.<br /><br />I think Alexei was an amalgamation of her first two lovers, Serge Saltykov and Stanisław Poniatowski. The guard, Orloff, was the real Orlov, and they just condensed that down to an instant affair for time restraints. But if they hadn't taken so long on the scenes Tara mentioned maybe they could have explained that better.<br /><br />Tara, I thought you would find this interesting, John Lodge, who played Alexei became Governor of Connecticut in the 50's.FurryReadershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03325273525653570169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083084222355114149.post-68334867190543691322011-09-09T08:51:09.089-07:002011-09-09T08:51:09.089-07:00Karla, the reason I was expecting some historical ...Karla, the reason I was expecting some historical accuracy was because with the opening credits, the screen said, "based on Catherine's diary." That's why I said what I did. <br /><br />You don't think John is ugly? LOL. My friend and I (who lives in Florida but also watched it) both though for a brief moment that he was Peter. He looked like a mad man. LOL<br /><br />Daphne, I would love to know your thoughts on the other two books.Tarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11015131255166542986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083084222355114149.post-41473207855430568162011-09-09T06:33:42.312-07:002011-09-09T06:33:42.312-07:00Great post! I happened to notice the movie that w...Great post! I happened to notice the movie that was on as well and recorded it but haven't watched it yet. Might try to watch it this weekend. I really enjoyed Anthony's book as well. I have the other two - they were also each published under two different names and I think I found them reasonably priced used.Daphnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12838072651419264066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6083084222355114149.post-19142425328057125332011-09-09T03:55:34.403-07:002011-09-09T03:55:34.403-07:00I think you made a mistake approaching a Josef von...I think you made a mistake approaching a Josef von Sternberg film from a "must be factually accurate" viewpoint. His movies aren't about facts, but style, and part of the German style was about exaggeration. (And Sam Jaffe - Peter III - is a ham anyway.) Plus, any early Marlene movie is about Marlene. Maybe you'd like his movies "The Last Command" and "The Docks of New York" better. Though they're not focused around a central female character, so maybe not.<br /><br />(And I don't think John Lodge - Alexei - is that bad looking. :P He had a very successful post-Hollywood career, too.)Karla Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02927321673928369609noreply@blogger.com