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Post by spiderwort on Sept 7, 2024 12:15:39 GMT
I’m stepping in for mikef6 for another week. Any comments/ratings/recommendations/film posters/screen grabs are welcome and very much appreciated. Even though the thread title says “classics” and this is the Classic Film board, that doesn’t matter here. What has everyone seen in the last week, either movies, TV, streaming, or live theater? And once again, I won’t be providing a mystery frame. |
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Post by wmcclain on Sept 7, 2024 12:24:17 GMT
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Post by politicidal1 on Sept 7, 2024 13:03:52 GMT
First Viewings:
Bullwhip (1958) 4/10
Abigail (2024) 6/10
The Deep Six (1958) 5/10
The Petrified Forest (1936) 7/10
Repeat Viewings:
Rat Race (2001) 7/10
The Fifth Element (1997) 7/10
The Mighty Quinn (1989) 7/10
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Post by Serge on Sept 7, 2024 13:30:45 GMT
 7/10 |
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Post by spiderwort on Sept 7, 2024 13:40:49 GMT
First viewings: Shadows / John Cassavettes (1958). Three black siblings cope with racism as they move through the beat world of New York City. Cassavettes’ auspicious, semi-experimental directorial debut, which he also wrote (though he credits it as an improvisation), was a very influential indie film at the time, made for $40,000, and featuring uncredited cameos by Cassavettes and wife Gena Rowlands. Highly recommended for its historical significance. (Available on MAX)  The Big House / George W. Hill (1930). An historically significant prison film with excellent direction by Hill and fine performances by all the stars (Chester Morris, Wallace Beery, Robert Montgomery). It received four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Beery, and won two: Frances Marion for Best Screenplay (she was the most prominent female screenwriter in the early days of Hollywood), and Douglas Shearer (Norma’s brother) for the first ever Oscar for Best Sound Recording. Highly recommended.  Lost Boundaries / Alfred Werker (1949). A film I never heard of, but one that I’m very glad I saw. Based upon a true story, it’s about a doctor (Mel Ferrer) and his wife (Beatrice Pearson), who are fair-skinned Negroes. Because of that, Ferrer is unable to work among his own people. So they choose to work and "pass" as whites in a small New Hampshire town, where he is able to be the Doctor he's trained to be. Of course, over time, complications arise. It was a daring film to produce at the time, but it was also an important and powerful confrontation of the rampant racism codified then, with a very good script (WGA Award nominated), outstanding performances by all the cast, and excellent direction by Werker (DGA Award nominated). Strongly/Highly recommended.  The Benny Goodman Story / Valentine Davies (1956). The story of the great jazz clarinetist and bandleader that includes his boyhood, his sweetheart (Donna Reed) and his swing era fame. Starring Steve Allen as Goodman, it’s not great, but is an enjoyable biopic with lots of wonderful music (including Harry James, Lionel Hampton, Gene Krupa, Stan Getz and Martha Tilton playing & singing as themselves). And Benny Goodman played the songs that Allen mimed. Worth a look for the music alone, but surprisingly Steve Allen also gives a very good performance. Recommended for those interested in the subject and the music.  Re-watches: Lassie Come Home / Fred M. Wilcox (1943). An English boy’s collie finds her way back home from Scotland after his father sells her to a duke. A lovely film with a wonderful cast (Roddy McDowell, Donald Crisp, May Whitty, Edmund Gwenn, Nigel Bruce, Elsa Lanchester, and a very young Elizabeth Taylor in her second film role). A film that’s hard not to love. Highly recommended.   The Egg and I / Chester Erskine (1947). Fred MacMurray and his bride Claudette Colbert leave the city to fix up a chicken farm next door to Ma and Pa Kettle, played by Marjorie Main (Oscar nominated as Best Supporting Actress) & Percy Kilbride. Based upon Betty MacDonald's memoir, it’s at times silly, but is also a delight. And it launched the Ma and Pa Kettle series. Strongly recommended.  |
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Post by Chalice_Of_Evil on Sept 7, 2024 14:03:52 GMT
Ghost Rider (2007). A Call to Spy (2019).
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Post by dsbeadle on Sept 7, 2024 16:39:42 GMT
Black Tuesday (1954, Hugo Fregonese)
A particularly violent film noir starring genre regular Edward G. Robinson as an escaped criminal. The film does not give you a central character to route for but it’s very well handled in other areas.
6.5/10
Dangerous Crossing (1953, Joseph M. Newman)
In what sometimes feels like it’s taken a page out of The Lady Vanishes, this film noir takes place on a cruise ship where a woman’s new husband goes missing but no one remembers seeing him. It’s a little too over the top at times but entertaining none the less.
6/10
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Post by Teleadm on Sept 7, 2024 18:57:05 GMT
Never have we had a September this warm and hot in Sweden since they invented measuring it. 95F Thanks for hosting spiderwort Here are the movies Tele have lately seen...  Operation Mincemeat 2021 directed by John Madden and based on a book by Ben Macintyre. How to fool Hitler thinking the Allies will attack Greece and not Sicily. Using a real dead body to float ashore in Spain with fake messages. This movie isn't bad, but it never engages. I've seen documentaries about this subject that has been far more interesting.  The House in Nightmare Park 1973 directed by Peter Sykes. Foggy England 1907 a ham actor is invited to entertain at an old mansion, once there nobody cares about his recitations. could it be that he was invited there for totally different reasons.... The comedy of this movie depends on how funny you think comedian Frankie Howerd is. It actually has some great sets in spooky house fashion. Having Ray Milland as the "honest" man isn't to bad since he once starred in the great spooky house movie "The Uninvited" in the 40's. Just so-so.  The Comic 1969 directed by Carl Reiner. Dick van Dyke plays an old silent movie slap-stick comedian, reminiscing from beyond the grave, a bit like "Sunset Boulevard" where a corpse told the story. A great talent once who's ego betrays him, not helped by being a womanizer and an alcoholic. And not helped by the sound barrier. There are good to great scenes in this movie recreating old silent comedies. Not a bullseye but still worth a look for those interested in Hollywood looking at Hollywood movies. Some interesting cameos along the way.  The Mad Magician 1954 directed by John Brahm, made in both 3-d and flat versions, I watched the latter. Been labeled as a horror movie but it isn't, it's more of a mystery movie where we now who the guilty one is and we just have to wait how they gonna catch him. Vincent Price plays an inventor of spectacular magic tricks, that he would like to use on stage himself, but hindered by an old contract he once signed. So he starts disposing those who are in his way in hideous ways that we don't see. Hiding in lookalike masks. Not too bad, but don't expect a horror movie.  The Walls Came Tumbling Down 1946 directed by Lothar Mendes and based on a novel by Jo Eisinger. Interesting B-movie that involves two bibles and a lost Da Vinci painting. Broadway gossip columnist was hoping to see an old priest friend, instead he walks right into a murder scene with his friend hanged in an apparent suicide. The columnist knows his friend to well and don't believe he killed himself. To learn more he rattles his column just to see what turns up, and turn up some strange people did including a missionary with a gun willing to pay $ 3000 for just one of the bibles of the plot. You need two specific bibles to find a lost da Vinci painting of the walls of Jericho. The plot is actually not too bad and could have been good in other hands. Lee Bowman???  Tales of Manhattan 1942 directed by Julien Duvivier. A compendium movie of several small stories stitched together with a tailcoat from upper class to in the end being used on a scarecrow. As with many of these kind of movies, the small stories in themselves vary. My favorite is the story starring Edward G. Robinson as a has-been going to a reunion. The last part among sharecroppers hasn't aged well, so it's mixed feelings. |
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Post by Rufus-T on Sept 8, 2024 6:17:57 GMT
Aliens (1986) I haven't watched this since I saw it in theater. I was somewhat disappointed then, and really don't remember much of the movie. So this is like the first viewing. The movie picked up where the Alien left off, but with a different director. You can feel that even in the tone of the movie. Unlike the first Alien movie which is atmospheric, this one is fill with intense action. I mean, it was very intense, very James Cameron. It was a very enjoyable ride watching this. I must have not liking the switch in style back then. There were a few thing that didn't make sense, like the under emphasis of the acid blood, the illogical end sequence regarding race against time and the strength against the suction into space. Otherwise, this is a very good sequel. I still do not consider it as great as lots of people claim it to be. I saw both the theatrical cut and the special edition. Both comes with the DVD set. The special edition included some scenes that gives a better context. Last week, I said that the Alien Director's cut is not necessary. One scene in the version do help watching the sequel.  Lawrence of Arabia (1962) The rise and fall of T.E. Lawrence, who wanted to be identified as Arab to fight with the Arab. Not a perfect person, but very inspiring even when he is full of himself. So much was going on, and the ironic tragedy came along the way on his own doing. A movie that is nearly perfect in every which way. Too bad Peter O'Toole had to go against Gregory Peck of To Kill a Mockingbird. The one that I thought was the best was Omar Sharif. Even the Seinfeld Soup Nazi actor studied Omar Shariff in the movie for the Soup Nazi role. An all star cast. One of the most beautiful looking movie, even though mostly in the desert. Almost 4 hours runtime still feel like nothing even after many rewatch. My one regret is I never get to watch it in the cinema on a large screen. I missed my chance this year.  Fargo (1996) Another one of the movie I rewatch frequently. I think this is the Coen Brother's best. It is dark, but very funny.  The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) It popped up on the Amazon Prime, so I thought I revisit the Lord of the Ring trilogy in the next few weeks. I wasn't that crazy about the early part when they were still at the Shire. Once Frodo and the gang started out delivering the ring to Rivendale, the movie got very interesting. A very beautiful looking movie, which gets better in the next 2 movies.  Body Double (1984) One of the prime Brian De Palma (70s and 80s) that I have not seen. Lots of Hitchcock reference, particularly Rear Window when a failing actor (Craig Wasson) peep into the telescope and picked up something awry with the neighborhood, which led him investigating into the porn business. There one very long fascinating sequence in which he was following the neighbor, much similar to the Angie Dickenson museum sequence in Dressed to Kill. That was the best moment. Not as good a movie as Dressed to Kill. Still very De Palma, with the heavy musical score. It did get a bit messy and ridiculous. The mystery and suspense kept me interested.  |
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Post by claudius on Sept 8, 2024 12:51:11 GMT
MGM 100TH ANNIVERSARY
I watched the following HAPPY HARMONIES. MGMs expy of Disney’s SILLY SYMPHONIES (before Tex Avery & Hanna Barbera decided to chuck it for their own Animation). These shorts were viewed on Internet Archive.
-BOTTLES (1936)
-PIPE DREAMS (1938)
-TO SPRING (1935)
-THE CHINESE NIGHTENGALE (1935)
QUEEN CHRISTINA (1933) Rouben Mamoulian’s fictional biopic on Queen Christina of Sweden’s Abdication. Greta Garbo’s last film with John Gilbert. Warner DVD
QUO VADIS (1951) MGM Epic of Henry Sienkiwicz’s Imperial Rome Novel. Previously viewed this on its 70th anniversary in November 2021 (look up my comments). Warner BluRay
KISMET (1944) MGM Adaptation of the Arabian Nights stage play, starring Ronald Colman and Marlene Dietrich in her only MGM Film. ok.ru
ALFRED THE GREAT (1969) Clive Donners Epic biopic of the King, starring David Hemmings, Priscilla Ransome, Michael York, and Ian McKellan in his first film. Previously viewed this on its 50th anniversary in 2019. Warner Archive DVD
KISMET (1955) MGM Remake but this time adapting the Broadway Musical, starring Howard Keel, Dolores Gray, Vic Domaine, Ann Blyth, and Sebastian Cabot. ok.ru
THE MAGNIFICENT YANKEE (1950) Having played supporting roles, Louis Calhern gets his only starring role, in this adaptation of the play about Oliver Wendell Holmes. ok.ru
30TH ANNIVERSARY
SAILOR MOON S (1994) “The Bond of Destiny: Uranus’ Distant Past” A look on how Uranus and Neptune met. Japanese with English Subtitles. Amazon Prime
GREAT BOOKS (1994) “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” Docu on the controversial book and Mark Twain. Footage is ventured by the 1920 film and 1985 Miniseries (although the episode notes that most of the films were bad). FIrst saw this on the Learning Channel on September 3 1994. Discovery Video VHS.
50TH ANNIVERSARY
SANDBURGS LINCOLN (1974) “Mrs Lincoln’s Husband” One of the first TV Miniseries (probably the longest running, considering how spaced out its broadcasts are), George Schaefer’s TV account on Carl Sandburg’s life of Abraham Lincoln played by Hal Holbrook (whom I was first aware of from the NORTH AND SOUTH). The first episode centers on Mary Todd (played by Sada Thompson) and her troubles at home (the loss of her son Willie) & outside (society questioning her loyalty, criticizing her lavish spending, etc.). YouTube
It’s that Time of year again! My annual viewing of Saturday Morning cartoons. In this case 1974
SHAZAM (1974) “The Joy Riders” The second Live Action version of Captain Marvel was this Filmation TV series, toned down to grounded preachiness (Billy Batson (Michael Gray) travels around and helps people by himself or as Captain Marvel (Jackson Bostwick) with the aid of Mentor (Les Tremayne) and the Elders that form the title name- Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury). I was more familiar with the 1981 animation. I first saw episodes of this on TV Land in 2003. Amazon Prime
LAND OF THE LOST (1974) “Cha-Ka” Sid and Marty Krofts’ Saturday yarn about a family stuck in a prehistoric dimension. Amazon Prime
WHEELIE AND THE CHOPPER BUNCH (1974) “Go Get a Doctor/ A Day at the Beach/ Ghost Riders“ Hanna Barbera cartoon of sentient cars and cycles (think CARS). I first saw this series on USA Network’s CARTOON EXPRESS in the 1980s. Dailymotion
HONG KONG PHOOEY (1974) “Car Thieves/ Zoo Story” Hanna Barbera cartoon of an incompetent Dog (Scatman Crothers) adept in Karate. I first saw this character on the USA Network’s CARTOON EXPRESS in the late 1980s (first on SCOOBYS LAFF A LYMPICS, and this show). Amazon Prime
PARTRIDGE FAMILY 2022 AD (1974) “Danny the Invisible Man” Originally planned as a sequel to THE JETSONS, this Hanna Barbera changed the plot to center on THE PATRIDGE FAMILY in the future (minus Shirley Jones and David Cassidy and - for the majority of episodes- Susan Dey). YouTube
VALLEY OF THE DINOSAURS (1974) “Forbidden Fruit” Hanna Barbera cartoon about a family transported to a prehistoric past. Amazon Prime
1974 also had Hanna Barbera making animated series of a more grounded nature:
-DEVLIN (1974) “Victory Over Fear” This one focuses on a stunt cyclist and his adventures from circus to circus . The debut episode has our hero suffering trauma from a stunt gone wrong. I first saw this on USA Network’s CARTOON EXPRESS in the 1980s. Amazon Prime
-THESE ARE THE DAYS (1974) “Sensible Ben” Inspired by THE WALTONS, this cartoon covers the Day in the Life of a family in early 20th century America. I first was acquainted by this show on Cartoon Network 30 years ago, although I skipped it. Internet Archive
-KORG 70,000 BC (1974) “The Blind Hunter” This Live Action program (narrated by Burgess Meredith)centers on a family in the cave times. Internet Archive
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF GILLIGAN (1974) “Off Limits” The first GILLIGANS ISLAND Reunion (minus Louise and Wells) was this Filmation cartoon. I was more familiar with the latter GILLIGANS PLANET. Amazon Prime
STAR TREK THE ANIMATED SERIES (1974) “The Pirates of Orion” The Filmation ST Series returns for its second and final season. First saw these Nickelodeon in 1980s. Amazon Prime
60TH ANNIVERSARY
II VANGELO SECONDO MATTEO (1964) Pasolini’s Neo Realistic (yet reverent) film of the Matthew Gospel with Classical music & African hymns. I read about the film, then getting it on a dubbed 16mm VHS for my 1995 birthday. Italian with English Subtitles. Eureka PAL BluRay.
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Post by london777 on Sept 8, 2024 13:03:42 GMT
And once again, I won’t be providing a mystery frame ... ... and once again, I will.  This mystery frame provision lark may be more difficult than it looks. No wonder Spiderwort ducked out of it. No one posted the solution to my effort last week, but two people claimed to know the answer. Why did they not post it? Am I doing something wrong? It was a hard one, but this week's is central to the main theme of the movie so I am sure someone will soon post the right answer. Last week's frame was from: From Hell (2001) dir: Albert and Allen Hughes A version of the Jack the Ripper saga starring Johnny Depp, Heather Graham and Ian Holm. It is set in Victorian London but largely shot in the Czech Republic, as I imagine the mystery frame was, as the building does not look very English. |
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Post by spiderwort on Sept 8, 2024 17:04:27 GMT
And once again, I won’t be providing a mystery frame ... ... and once again, I will. This mystery frame provision lark may be more difficult than it looks. No wonder Spiderwort ducked out of it. No one posted the solution to my effort last week, but two people claimed to know the answer. Why did they not post it? Am I doing something wrong? It was a hard one, but this week's is central to the main theme of the movie so I am sure someone will soon post the right answer. Last week's frame was from: From Hell (2001) dir: Albert and Allen Hughes A version of the Jack the Ripper saga starring Johnny Depp, Heather Graham and Ian Holm. It is set in Victorian London but largely shot in the Czech Republic, as I imagine the mystery frame was, as the building does not look very English. Bless you, london777 ! And it is so hard to do, isn't it, which is why I ducked out after my initial try the last time I filled in for mikef6 . And here's the weird thing: I saw and really liked From Hell, so why couldn't I recognize or remember it? Go figure.
Anyway, the image above brings to mind so many films, but nothing I can really put my finger on. I'm going to ponder it awhile and probably even do a little research, but I'm not likely to land on the right title. I hope someone else can and will.
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Post by Rufus-T on Sept 8, 2024 17:59:38 GMT
And once again, I won’t be providing a mystery frame ... ... and once again, I will. This mystery frame provision lark may be more difficult than it looks. No wonder Spiderwort ducked out of it. No one posted the solution to my effort last week, but two people claimed to know the answer. Why did they not post it? Am I doing something wrong? It was a hard one, but this week's is central to the main theme of the movie so I am sure someone will soon post the right answer. Last week's frame was from: From Hell (2001) dir: Albert and Allen Hughes A version of the Jack the Ripper saga starring Johnny Depp, Heather Graham and Ian Holm. It is set in Victorian London but largely shot in the Czech Republic, as I imagine the mystery frame was, as the building does not look very English. Looks like from a scene in Blow Up, but then the frame is b/w not color. |
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Post by london777 on Sept 8, 2024 23:00:40 GMT
This mystery frame provision lark may be more difficult than it looks. No wonder Spiderwort ducked out of it. No one posted the solution to my effort last week, but two people claimed to know the answer. Why did they not post it? Am I doing something wrong? It was a hard one, but this week's is central to the main theme of the movie so I am sure someone will soon post the right answer. It is indeed from: Blow-Up (1966) dir: Michelangelo Antonioni Starring: David Hemmings, Vanessa Redgrave, and Sarah Miles I apologize for the monochrome image. I am not cut out for this lark. When is mikef6 back? Congratulations to Rufus-T for getting it right despite the bum steer I gave you all. |
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Post by Rufus-T on Sept 9, 2024 0:09:04 GMT
It is indeed from: Blow-Up (1966) dir: Michelangelo Antonioni Starring: David Hemmings, Vanessa Redgrave, and Sarah Miles I apologize for the monochrome image. I am not cut out for this lark. When is mikef6 back? Congratulations to Rufus-T for getting it right despite the bum steer I gave you all. I saw the film many many times, so the image is familiar. The b/w could be the photo that the David Hemmings character was putting up on the wall as he was looking at the detail. |
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