Burgess Meredith (1907–1997)

Actor, director, and apparently unsung Don Juan, Burgess Meredith has written a sprightly autobiography heavy on anecdote and portraiture (of his friends and colleagues) and light on both the art and detail of his remarkable career. There are funny stories abounding and memorable depictions of his circle of acquaintance (including John Steinbeck, James Thurber, and Zero Mostel). Those looking for in-depth analyses of the crafts of acting and directing will not find much here. Nor will those hoping for details on the creation of Meredith's many films. Only a comparative handful are mentioned, and a scant few of those in any depth. He writes at some length about his breakout film, WINTERSET (the play version of which he had also starred in), but has barely ten words for his much-better remembered film from the same period, OF MICE AND MEN. There are paragraphs about ROCKY and DAY OF THE LOCUST, but an entire chapter devoted to a disastrous film called THE YIN AND YANG OF MR. GO. Meredith writes in an extremely pleasant style and seems not to hold very many grudges. He writes with pleasure of his friends and even most of his several wives (most prominently, Paulette Goddard). The book is a very enjoyable experience, but it hasn't the depth to please thoroughly anyone who yearns for deeper insights into the man or his career.… (mais)

L'adaptation du roman de Mirbeau que Renoir réalisa aux Etats-Unis (film sorti en 1946 aux Etats-Unis et en 1948 en France) peine sacrément à convaincre.
La réalisation est fade, les personnages inconsistants (à l'exception du personnage de Joseph, qui a fomenté un plan de longue date pour s'affranchir de sa fonction de valet) et les scènes s'enchaînent sans grande cohérence.
Le film pâtit d'une ambiance très "studio" à l'américaine, antinomique avec le réalisme social dépeint par Mirbeau.
On l'aura compris, ce n'est pas le chef-d'oeuvre du grand Renoir !… (mais)