Aftershcok The Movie In A Lonely Place Caused in Me
《兰闺艳血》观后感
After watching the movie "In A Lonely Place" last night, I wasn't able to fall into sleep hours after midnight. Dixon and Laurel's image was lingering in my mind so clearly and vividly that no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't let go of it. The faces of Dixon Steele's and that of a real life friend of mine appeared in my brain in turn, and they became one identity every now and then.
"In A Lonely Place" was directed by Nicholas Ray, with the leading roles played by Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame. The film is now considered a classic film noir, as evidenced by its inclusion on the Time magazine "All-Time 100 List" as well as Slant Magazine's 100 Essential Films. It is also in the preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."[1]
However, it is not this film's fame that makes it so catching to me. It is the resemblance of art work and real life that does.
Louise Brooks wrote in her essay "Humphrey and Bogey" that she felt it was the role of Dixon Steele in this movie that came closest to the real Bogart she knew. "Before inertia set in, he played one fascinatingly complex character, craftily directed by Nicholas Ray, in a film whose title perfectly defined Humphrey's own isolation among people. In a Lonely Place gave him a role that he could play with complexity because the film character's, the screenwriter's, pride in his art, his selfishness, his drunkenness, his lack of energy stabbed with lightning strokes of violence, were shared equally by the real Bogart."[1]
The film "Casa Blanca" was the first Humphrey Bogart movie I ever watched. At the moment he appeared in the movie, he reminded me of my friend Tom. Not only their appearance resembles each other (at an elevation of 6 feet, Tom is a lot taller than Bogart though, according to wiki data), but more in the way they talk, shrug, and smile, as well as the way they appear angry and helpless. They shared the same smartness and the similar struggle.
Tom was born in Beijing in an above everage family, went to his (and most Chinese people's) dream school for undergraduate study, came to the states and got a doctorate degree there. Whatever he does in class and at work, his work is always an art. But he can seldom stay in peace with people, and with the world.
Tom has had quite a few girlfriends. Each time, he was so sincere and truely in love with them in the beginning. And the girls were so attracted by his capabilities at work, his infinite caring, and by his complete devotion, let alone the other personal attributes Tom possesses. But the good times usually didn't last longer than half to one year. Tom's unreasonableness showed up by then. Whoever and whatever appeared in his way, he just simply kicked it away like wiping a piece of mud in his face. And at such moments, no one is able to stop him, not even talk him into seeing the real situation.
Tom was able to manage to marry a very nice, lovely and understanding girl who is a lot younger than him. But just like the relationship between Dix and Laurel in the movie, their marriage didn't last long.
I worked with Tom for about a year, during which I did my best to help him with people and communication related issues, especially at work. I can imagine what his ex-wife has gone through, and learned that love can't overcome everything from their case.
Recently, quite a few Wenxue City forums are discussing IQ, EQ, and prestigious schools. In general, being a genius only means more struggle and more toughness for the genius themselves and for their family and close ones. How many Mel's (Dixon's agent in the film) are there for so many geniuses with all kinds of deficiencies in the world?
电影《兰闺艳血》是一部经历住了时间考验的好电影。影星Louise Brooks说这部电影的男主角Dixon Steele的个性跟演员本人非常接近。我观看过这部片子后，久久难以入睡，是因为电影里的这个人、这个故事，跟我生活中的一位朋友和他的经历太相似了。
我的朋友阿汤长得很象演员Bogart，身高六尺。他出生在北京一个不错的家庭，一路顺风顺水从好学校一直读到了博士毕业。工作中，他所有的项目都做得又快又好，件件可称艺术品。我会跟他成为朋友，并在跟他共事的一年多时间里尽力帮他避免一些人事和沟通上的麻烦，也是出于对他才干的珍惜。阿汤是我认识的人里非常有限的我甘于承认比我聪明的人之一。
阿汤谈过好几场恋爱，每一次他都十分认真、十分投入。以他的各方面条件，再加上他恋爱时的周到细心，女孩子们不动真心也难。可是每一场恋爱都很短命，长则一年半载，短则三两个月，不是女孩儿悄悄撤退，就是阿汤拂绣而去。
阿汤最终还是设法结了一次婚，跟一个非常温顺善良的女孩子。但这场婚姻也没得善果，最后还是以分手收了场。
天才们带给世界的是艺术、是珍宝。可是做他们的亲人朋友、上司同事，尤其是做他们的情人或配偶，却并非一个“难”字可以概括！电影里Dixon的经济人Mel，才真的不是凡人啊。
附两首以该片警句为背景的歌曲。
While You Loved Me
Rascal Flatts
If I ever write the story of my life
Don’t be suprised if you’re where it begins
Girl, I’d have to dedicate every line on every page
To the memories we made, while you loved me
I was born the day you kissed me
And I died inside the night you left me
But I lived, oh how I lived
While you loved me
I’d start with chapter one, love innocent and young
As the morning sun on a new day
Even though I know the end, Well I’d do it all again
‘Cause I got a lifetime in, while you loved me
I was born the day you kissed me
And I died inside the night you left me
But I lived, oh how I lived
While you loved me
i was born the day you kissed me And I died inside the night you left me
But I lived, oh how I lived
(I lived)
I was born the day you kissed me
(the day you kissed me baby)
And I died inside the night you left me
But I lived, oh how I lived
(I lived) While you loved me
