Pick of the Week

It's great to find that which we do not know. "The Outrage"(1964) is new to me. Shame, shame. In defense, I was busy being born in 1964. Director Martin Ritt is most famous for "The Spy Who Came In from the Cold"(1965) but "The Outrage" is a fascinating American western version of yet another Akira Kurosawa film ..."Rashoman"(1950). I must admit that I did not know until now. I had never seen "The Outrage" but became immediately intrigued. Fortunately, it is a very good picture. As in "Rashoman", several different stories of the same sordid event are told by the surviving players. A story of morality (or lack of it), jealousy, honor, "proper" society & regret. Paul Newman, Edward G. Robinson and William Shatner in truly solid performances. It premiered not long before Shatner became the famous Captain Kirk. My award goes to Claire Bloom, playing the soiled wife. Fantastic performance and incredible career that continues today in her 80's. For film history fans, Claire was also the romantic lead in Charley Chaplin's last American film "Limelight"(1952). "Limelight" was an Oscar nominated picture.