cool old movie thread -pre 1985

[sonnylarue]

feel free to chime in about the old flicks you've seen lately...

here's a couple i saw this wknd so far

1970 the cheyenne social club-great jimmy stewart henry fonda comedy western

1949-adam's rib-tracy and hepburn in their primes plus judy holiday's film debut

more later...

[ashwin]

Taking of Pelham 123 - LOVE Walter Matthau

Night of the Hunter - The best Mitchum performance I've ever seen. He is so terrifying in this movie.

The Postman Always Rings Twice - Man oh man... Lana Turner... wow... what a knockout!

The Long Goodbye - I can't believe I'm going to say this... but Gould was a wayyyyy better Marlowe than Bogart.

Alphaville - Amazing. Complex, beautiful, insane and crazy. Blade Runner before there was a Blade Runner.

[shoelaceless]

The Long Goodbye - I can't believe I'm going to say this... but Gould was a wayyyyy better Marlowe than Bogart.

Word.

[Taxman]

Taking of Pelham 123 - LOVE Walter MatthauI saw that this is being remade.

I guess everything gets remade eventually

[Taxman]

Here are a few comments posted Bendis side.

The Adventures of Robin Hood - really a great film, but if you have seen a lot of Robin Hood films, this might feel a little played out. This seems to be true of a lot of classics. I have never really seen Olivia de Havilland look so hot before.

Army of Darkness - This really was not like what I was expecting. I hadn't seen any of these films before. I know that Evil Dead 2 is supposed to be an all time great horror film, and I would have prefered to watch thses in order. However, the movie gods decided to release only this film on HD, so I rented it to check it out. I was expecting something more along the lines of what the first two are supposed to be like. I had no idea that this was some sort of time travel middeval epic. The film pretty much works for what it is supposed to be, and Campbell does have a few flashes of brilliance. He seems to have a few flashes of hack too, but he is enough of a presence on the screen to carry a campfest like this.

Fast Times as Ridgmemont High - It stuck me watching this that there was no way when it was being made that anyone could have imagined that there were four future Oscar winners, the life partner of a fifth and an infamous murder victim involved with the project. Pretty iconic film if only because of the number of people in it who went on to become stars, even if briefly. Very dated film, and in the end it is just a teen sex romp. Probably the best teen sex romp of all time, and probably as good a film as the genre could possibly produce. Still, it is what it is.

The Twilight Zone: The Movie - I last saw this when it first came out and wasn't all that impressed. I guess that I liked it a little better than before. It still does not really live up to the original series, and probably nothing does. There are quite a few things put in the film that I might call Easter Eggs, or at least inside references to the original series and at least one other film. It might be worth watching just for these.

[TonyFleecs]

I haven't watched Kubrick's the Killing in a while, but I think a viewing is in order. That and Lolita are my favorite Kubrick movies, I think.

Whenever someone mentions the Long Goodbye, I get the theme song stuck in my head.

[sonnylarue]

I haven't watched Kubrick's the Killing in a while, but I think a viewing is in order. That and Lolita are my favorite Kubrick movies, I think.

Whenever someone mentions the Long Goodbye, I get the theme song stuck in my head.

i noticed a couple of early kubricks on one of the encores this month

[TonyFleecs]

Paths of Glory? For some reason, I don't have that one... But I'm a big fan of that whole era of his stuff.

[Amedeo]

Little Caesar. 1931 pre-code gangster film with Edward G. Robinson. Tells the character arc that the Godfather trilogy was attempting to, but in 79 minutes. I highly recommend it.

[NeverWanderer]

Reposted from the movie thread on the Benbo!

A Fistful of Dollars - Loved it. Very barebones story, great atmosphere, young Clint was the freakin' man. (and could have played Wolverine.)

(of course, if they were to remake these, they would HAVE to cast Hugh Jackman as the man with no name)

For a Few Dollars More - Again, awesome. Built nicely on the mythology from the first movie, maintained that same wonderful tone. Colonel Mortimer kicks ASS. I completely forgot the badguy was the same actor from the first. Perhaps my favorite of the series.

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly - Disappointing. It meandered in places and took too long to get to the good, interesting parts. Seemed like Leone was revelling in his newfound budget and let the story suffer from it. There was WAY too much Tuco, not nearly enough Clint, and Mortimer was a hollow shadow of someone vaguely resembling the character he was in the previous movie. It was REALLY disappointing to see such an interesting and complex character reduced to the "Bad" archetype.

To be honest, this doesn't even feel like it belongs in the same series. Both "Blondie" and "Angeleyes" bear little resemblance to their characters from the previous movies, which makes the bit at the end with Clint finally donning the poncho seem a bit forced. And that raw, quiet tone from the first two... just not there.

All in all, not a bad movie, but not nearly as entertaining or engrossing as the first two, and seemingly a shallow attempt at making a sequel out of a story that obviously isn't.

Made me want to read Jinx again, though. :) So at least there's that.

(as an addendum, I did some research and discovered that the Angel Eyes character from GB&U is NOT the Mortimer character from the previous movie! I just misread the blurb on the DVD case. It is a little misleading, though, the way they all know each other. Still, that's one bad mark erased!)

[ashwin]

I haven't watched Kubrick's the Killing in a while, but I think a viewing is in order. That and Lolita are my favorite Kubrick movies, I think.

Whenever someone mentions the Long Goodbye, I get the theme song stuck in my head.

I've been meaning to watch The Killing again, think I'll watch it tonight. Need to see Lolita again too. James Mason. Peter Sellers. Fuck yes. I thought the remake was pretty crappy. I love Jeremy Irons but he was no James Mason. And Dominique Swain ain't no Sue Lyons.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

Howard Hughes' Scarface(1932) a classic that has been completely butchered in modern culture by DePalma and Stone.

D.W. Griffith's Intolerance (1916). Sure, the guy was a racist and it was unusual that he made a film titled this, but by God what a film. They don't do movies like this any more, and I'm not sure they've ever done one like this since. The Babylon scenes are astonishing.

Carol Reed's The Third Man (1949). Yeah, I can't believe it took me this long to see it either, but what a fantastic film on all sides. Vienna lives and breathes in this picture, with amazing performances, a great story, and a fantastic soundtrack. This is everything everyone's made it out to be and more.


John, did you ever get to check out Ethan's recommendation of F.W. Murnau's Sunrise? If you haven't yet, I'm throwing my vote in the hat too. A wonderful film.

[sonnylarue]

still haven't seen sunrise, but will get around to it...

the third man is one of my favs

[Taxman]

still haven't seen sunrise, but will get around to it...I had to buy this because I could find no other way watch it. Then I managed to lose the disc before I could watch it.

Paths of Glory, I understand, is John McCain's favorite movie.

[D. George]

Has anyone here seen Michael Mann's Thief (1981)? I just watched the movie for the first time, and despite it's ridiculous, over-the-top soundtrack, it was a pretty great movie. Has anyone else seen it?

[Taxman]

Has anyone here seen Michael Mann's Thief (1981)? I just watched the movie for the first time, and despite it's ridiculous, over-the-top soundtrack, it was a pretty great movie. Has anyone else seen it?James Caan?

Way long ago if it is the same film.

[sonnylarue]

THIEF is one of the best 80's crime flicks.

i argue with B clay moore and brian azzarello about the tangerine dream soundtrack, which they feel takes away from it's brilliance.

the film is loaded with great actors from chicago, including a very early bit part played by william petersen.

[DaniDarko]

Some Like It Hot is one of the funniest films, ever. It's whacky without being too Cheesy. Just cheesy enough! x

[TonyFleecs]

Has anyone here seen Michael Mann's Thief (1981)? I just watched the movie for the first time, and despite it's ridiculous, over-the-top soundtrack, it was a pretty great movie. Has anyone else seen it?
For my money, the soundtrack is great. So's the soundtrack for Manhunter and the soundtrack for Scarface. Just because you can tell when the music was made when you hear it doesn't make it bad.

Hating 80s scores for the synthesizers is like hating 40s cinematography because it's not in color.

[sonnylarue]

tony is right, again

[JimmyF1982]

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly - Disappointing. It meandered in places and took too long to get to the good, interesting parts. Seemed like Leone was revelling in his newfound budget and let the story suffer from it. There was WAY too much Tuco, not nearly enough Clint, and Mortimer was a hollow shadow of someone vaguely resembling the character he was in the previous movie. It was REALLY disappointing to see such an interesting and complex character reduced to the "Bad" archetype.

To be honest, this doesn't even feel like it belongs in the same series. Both "Blondie" and "Angeleyes" bear little resemblance to their characters from the previous movies, which makes the bit at the end with Clint finally donning the poncho seem a bit forced. And that raw, quiet tone from the first two... just not there.

All in all, not a bad movie, but not nearly as entertaining or engrossing as the first two, and seemingly a shallow attempt at making a sequel out of a story that obviously isn't.

Made me want to read Jinx again, though. :) So at least there's that.

(as an addendum, I did some research and discovered that the Angel Eyes character from GB&U is NOT the Mortimer character from the previous movie! I just misread the blurb on the DVD case. It is a little misleading, though, the way they all know each other. Still, that's one bad mark erased!)

my boss recently gave this to me. i haven't read your review of it yet, other than it was disappointing to you. i'm trying not to have it sway my opinion before i watch it.

[CougarTrace]

so 1984 is old :sad:

[Taxman]

so 1984 is old :sad:If you are talking about the 1956 version, then probably so.

I would really give my highest recommendation to Brazil which is at least loosely based on Orwell's book as well.

[Amedeo]

Night of the Hunter - The best Mitchum performance I've ever seen. He is so terrifying in this movie.



Have you ever seen Angel Face? It might be an interesting film to contrast/follow up Night of the Hunter with. Mitchum plays a vastly different type of character in it (almost the complete opposite of Harry Powell) but is just as good.

[D. George]

For my money, the soundtrack is great. So's the soundtrack for Manhunter and the soundtrack for Scarface. Just because you can tell when the music was made when you hear it doesn't make it bad.

Hating 80s scores for the synthesizers is like hating 40s cinematography because it's not in color.

I don't mind the technology used or the obvious 80's timestamp on the soundtrack, I just thought that there were quiet moments where there would just be blasting synthesizers for no obvious reason. The music itself is good as stand-alone music, it just seemed weirdly used throughout the film.

And how about that Willie Nelson cameo as James Caan's father? I'm so used to Ol' Willie being marginalized as that country-guy who does drugs in most other films.

[NeverWanderer]

my boss recently gave this to me. i haven't read your review of it yet, other than it was disappointing to you. i'm trying not to have it sway my opinion before i watch it.

Yeah, please don't!

Definitely give it a shot!

I mostly criticized, but it was still a very cool movie. I think I might have liked it more if I hadn't seen the other two just days before. As a standalone, though, I can definitely see its strengths and its iconic value. I'll probly like it more on second viewing.

[TonyFleecs]

And how about that Willie Nelson cameo as James Caan's father? I'm so used to Ol' Willie being marginalized as that country-guy who does drugs in most other films.
Yeah, Willie's great in it. Hell, everybody's great in it. I love Tuesday Weld too.

You know who made some rad movies right before 1985? Woody.
Bananas, Sleeper, Annie Hall, Love & Death, Broadway Danny Rose, Manhattan, Stardust Memories. That guy made more great movies before I was four years old than most guys have made in the 25 years since then.

[TimmyWood]

You know who made some rad movies right before 1985? Woody.
Bananas, Sleeper, Annie Hall, Love & Death, Broadway Danny Rose, Manhattan, Stardust Memories. That guy made more great movies before I was four years old than most guys have made in the 25 years since then.

I am a big fan of Woody Allen. Especially from that period of his career. Stardust Memories, Annie Hall and Love and Death are awesome.

I also just watched Point Blank with Lee Marvin. It was pretty cool too.

[Stupendous Man]

Planet of the Apes was on AMC the other day while I was working out. Charlton Heston was so cool.

[sonnylarue]

Planet of the Apes was on AMC the other day while I was working out. Charlton Heston was so cool.

i remember being very angry at tim burton for mocking the original film, while doing the press for his pile of shit remake.

frank schaffner directed a classic.

the first time the apes are hunting a man while they're on horses is a great scene.

[Taxman]

i remember being very angry at tim burton for mocking the original film, while doing the press for his pile of shit remake.I was surprised to learn a while back that so many people did not understand the ending of Burton's film.

[D. George]

the first time the apes are hunting a man while they're on horses is a great scene.

Oh hell yes. I used to love when they'd show all five films back-to-back every Thanksgiving on cable.

[sonnylarue]

so 1984 is old :sad:

not to me, but when i see the blank stares from younger fans who don't watch b/w flicks, i figured 24-25 yrs ago was a good line to stop at

[sonnylarue]

Oh hell yes. I used to love when they'd show all five films back-to-back every Thanksgiving on cable.

hell i remember movie theaters having all nite festivals of all the ape flicks.

[Taxman]

hell i remember movie theaters having all nite festivals of all the ape flicks.I went to one of those when I was like 8 years old. I really knew nothing of those films before that.

[sonnylarue]

they'd do clint eastwood triple features
bruce lee film fests
the godzilla flicks

[Shannon Chenoweth]

Since my move in June, I haven't watched many movies, let alone old ones. I do have a few that I've been meaning to pop in the dvd player though. I do love my noir! :)

[TonyFleecs]

they'd do clint eastwood triple features
bruce lee film fests
the godzilla flicks
We've got the New Beverly out here, the do pretty great double & triple features.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=54856712

Saw a print of Carpenter's The Thing out there last year that was restored & almost brand new.

You make it out to L.A. some time & we'll hit it up.

[Taxman]

We've got the New Beverly out here, the do pretty great double & triple features.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=54856712

Saw a print of Carpenter's The Thing out there last year that was restored & almost brand new.

You make it out to L.A. some time & we'll hit it up.Did you ever go out to the Rialto before they closed it?

[paul brian deberry]

I'm a big fan of all those kooky Kung Fu movies of the early 80, like The Flying Guillotine!

Damn good movie.

[sonnylarue]

We've got the New Beverly out here, the do pretty great double & triple features.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=54856712

Saw a print of Carpenter's The Thing out there last year that was restored & almost brand new.

You make it out to L.A. some time & we'll hit it up.

the music box, near wrigley field, is the last old flick movie house, and they only do them on the weekends

[TonyFleecs]

Did you ever go out to the Rialto before they closed it?I think I got here after it closed or right before...

I wish I would've made it out there.

As for martial arts movies, Sonny Chiba's Street Fighter is my all time favorite. He's just so ANGRY all the time. And his punches cause people to vomit blood.

What do you guys think of Once Upon a Time in America? I know a lot of people who consider it lesser Leone... I kind of think it's my favorite.

[sonnylarue]

I think I got here after it closed or right before...

I wish I would've made it out there.

As for martial arts movies, Sonny Chiba's Street Fighter is my all time favorite. He's just so ANGRY all the time. And his punches cause people to vomit blood.

What do you guys think of Once Upon a Time in America? I know a lot of people who consider it lesser Leone... I kind of think it's my favorite.

not my favorite leone, but still a great movie

[Jim Yost]

MIDNIGHT COWBOY ... amazed at how I was pulled into the characters' emotional space (and of course at the fact that this movie was X-Rated)

THE BIG SLEEP ... they truly don't make them like this anymore.

[GMatias]

DOUBLE INDEMNITY - It's scary how good Fred McMurray is in this movie (consequently I can't look at Alex Ross' Captain Marvel the same way again). And, as my wife told me earlier, the insurance claims company she used to work for made all their adjusters watch this movie as part of their orientation.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

I know this is a "newer" film (early 90s) but I just...well...experienced Bernardo Bertolucci's 1900, the director's cut.

It was 311 minutes.

My God.

[William Joseph Dunn]

here's a few favorites:

Pick up on South Street -Directed by Sam Fuller...'nuff said.

The Yakuza - Directed by Sydney Pollack with Robert Mitchum. Ken Takakura hits someone with a bicycle!

The Third Man - with Orson Wells.

Night Porter -fucked up movie and Charlotte Rampling is hot in it.

Freaks by Tod Browning

Carnival of Souls - the original one not the remake from the 80s.

[Jurassicalien]

For my money, the soundtrack is great. So's the soundtrack for Manhunter and the soundtrack for Scarface. Just because you can tell when the music was made when you hear it doesn't make it bad.

Hating 80s scores for the synthesizers is like hating 40s cinematography because it's not in color.

I agree for the most part, the only 80's film it bothers me with, (And I love me some 80's films) is LadyHawke. I really enjoy this film as a 80's fantasy film and man oh man Michelle Pheifer in that movie with that short pixie cut...but any time that music comes on, I get taken out of it. And that's the only on, other 80's score film with synth and pop and what have you, I eat it up.

[GMatias]

here's a few favorites:

Pick up on South Street -Directed by Sam Fuller...'nuff said.

The Yakuza - Directed by Sydney Pollack with Robert Mitchum. Ken Takakura hits someone with a bicycle!

The Third Man - with Orson Wells.

Night Porter -fucked up movie and Charlotte Rampling is hot in it.

Freaks by Tod Browning

Carnival of Souls - the original one not the remake from the 80s.

I was gonna mention YAKUZA! Just saw it a few weeks ago. Dug it more than I thought I would.

[ashwin]

Saw a very, very, very good movie today.

The Naked City.

[Jurassicalien]

okay, went through my DVD booklets last night and decided to name some of my favorites that I feel are must.

Raging Bull, Freaks, Chinatown, Dr. Strangelove, The Shining, Aresenic and Old Lace, Young Frankenstien, Taxi Driver, Singing in the Rain, The Third Man, Maltese Falcone, Casablanca, The Wolf Man, Halloween, The Manchurian Candidate, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

[sonnylarue]

okay, went through my DVD booklets last night and decided to name some of my favorites that I feel are must.

Raging Bull, Freaks, Chinatown, Dr. Strangelove, The Shining, Aresenic and Old Lace, Young Frankenstien, Taxi Driver, Singing in the Rain, The Third Man, Maltese Falcone, Casablanca, The Wolf Man, Halloween, The Manchurian Candidate, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

great list.

the manchurian candidate could be sinatra's best film, and yes i'm including his oscar win for from here to eternity, and the man with the golden arm

[sonnylarue]

Saw a very, very, very good movie today.

The Naked City.

i've been watching re-runs on the anthology series based on the film.

[Jurassicalien]

great list.

the manchurian candidate could be sinatra's best film, and yes i'm including his oscar win for from here to eternity, and the man with the golden arm

The great thing about Candidate outside of Sinatra (And I agree, his best work) is seeing Angela Lansbery all evil like. I'm in my early 20's. So until I saw this film, my knowledge of Lansberry was that of Mrs. Pots from Beauty and the Beast, Murder She Wrote, and whatever kind grandmotherly character. Seeing this opened up a whole new world. Truly mind blowing. Then seeing the stage play of Sweeney Todd with her, wow, just wow.

[sonnylarue]

The great thing about Candidate outside of Sinatra (And I agree, his best work) is seeing Angela Lansbery all evil like. I'm in my early 20's. So until I saw this film, my knowledge of Lansberry was that of Mrs. Pots from Beauty and the Beast, Murder She Wrote, and whatever kind grandmotherly character. Seeing this opened up a whole new world. Truly mind blowing. Then seeing the stage play of Sweeney Todd with her, wow, just wow.

crazy too that she's playing lawrence harvey's mom, and was either 2 yrs older or younger than him.

there's a great danny kaye movie the court jester that features a young lansbery, looking blonde and dare i say, HOT!

for other young lansbery hotness check out gaslight, and state of the union with tracy and hepburn

[Dusty]

i remember being very angry at tim burton for mocking the original film, while doing the press for his pile of shit remake.

frank schaffner directed a classic.

the first time the apes are hunting a man while they're on horses is a great scene.


That's my favorite movie, actually! The original.

[DanHill]

Pre '85 movies I have in my collection that I love:

Patton,Dawn of the Dead, Long Good Friday, Get Carter, Dr Strangelove, From Russia With Love (I have a lot of the Bond movies, this is just my favourite), Chinatown, The Parallax View (Brilliant flick), Godzilla (the original without all the Raymond Burr stuff), Network, Hearts and Minds (great Vietnam documentary), Blade Runner, Halloween, All the Presidents Men, North by Northwest (I have a ton of Hitchcock movies, again this is my favourite), Jaws, French Connection (I rewatched the BBC documentary on the making of this recently, good stuff), Once upon a time in the west, Lawrence of Arabia.

[ashwin]

I know this is a "newer" film (early 90s) but I just...well...experienced Bernardo Bertolucci's 1900, the director's cut.

It was 311 minutes.

My God.

You could not have been able to watch that in one sitting...

[ashwin]

Saw The Killers last night starring Burt Lancaster, Edmund O'Brien and Ava Gardner.

Made a thread about it on the benbo so I'll just quote what I said there here.

Saw this last night.

Wow.

Amazing movie.

At first I thought Burt Lancaster was miscast. He was too pretty to be a boxer but the way he played the character and his good looks made his story and his character even more tragic.

Ava Gardner. Wow. This is, I think, the best Femme Fatale character I've ever seen. She is utterly remorseless and irredeemable. Usually we always see some way to feel sorry for the femme fatale. There's always some situation created where you see her and the lead head towards the tragic end we know is coming and there's some way you can sympathise for them. Not here. Good lord.

The movie is based on a short story by Ernest Hemmingway. I haven't read it so I don't know how closely it follows that story.

The direction is brilliant. There are so many cool shots in this movie. Lancaster walking into the fog, Edmund O'Brien and Ava Gardner entering a bar seen in a mirror, the scene where the crime takes place... amazing. Direction is fucking excellent.

The movie plays like Citizen Kane. It goes backwards as the detective tries to solve the mystery and we see him tracing the characters' steps to solve the crime.

Watch it if you haven't seen it before. It's now one of my favorite noir films.

[maverick-99]

Somewhere in Time starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour

Definite chick flick, not my usual bag...can't really explain why I like it so much.

[TimmyWood]

crazy too that she's playing lawrence harvey's mom, and was either 2 yrs older or younger than him.

there's a great danny kaye movie the court jester that features a young lansbery, looking blonde and dare i say, HOT!

for other young lansbery hotness check out gaslight, and state of the union with tracy and hepburn

I love the Court Jester! That whole Vessle with the Pessle scene is amazing.

[Jurassicalien]

Cat Ballou, oh man is this one funny movie. Just plays off the western genre so well while being a pretty good one in it's own right.

[Jeffery Longmont]

I just saw the 1927 METROPOLIS for the first time. Very good. You can tell the craft still had a long way to go, but that robot was kinda hot... I don't think that's what I meant to say.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

Wow!

I was catching up on The Digital Bits (easily the BEST DVD website on the internets. If you aren't familiar, you should become so. This guy knows his shit.) and I see this:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001EZE5E2/thedigitalbit-20

Two F.W. Murnau films (Sunrise and City Girl) and 10 (!!) Frank Borzage, many of which are now available for the first time...ever (Lazybones, Seventh Heaven, Street Angel, Lucky Star, They Had to See Paris, Liliom, Song O' My Heart, Bad Girl, After Tomorrow, Young America) and contains at least 2 documentaries on each filmmaker. It's pricey as hell but with any luck, they might make their way to Netflix!

[sonnylarue]

I just saw the 1927 METROPOLIS for the first time. Very good. You can tell the craft still had a long way to go, but that robot was kinda hot... I don't think that's what I meant to say.

in the 80's i saw the re-release of metropolis with the rock soundtrack, and scenes that had been deleted for years.

it's absolutley an amazing film for its time.

[Taxman]

I just saw the 1927 METROPOLIS for the first time. I just saw M this week as well.

[ashwin]

Cat Ballou, oh man is this one funny movie. Just plays off the western genre so well while being a pretty good one in it's own right.

My dad Loves that movie.

[Jeffery Longmont]

in the 80's i saw the re-release of metropolis with the rock soundtrack, and scenes that had been deleted for years.


I need to find that, pronto!

[GMatias]

They just found a large chunk of unseen footage from METROPOLIS in South America a few months ago, so there's probably a new longer DVD coming out eventually.

[Jurassicalien]

I'd hope they'd do a Criteria Collection of Metropolis, with all the different versions.

[The Funketeer]

I watched The Harder They Fall a few months back. Always been a Bogie fan but hadn't seen this one. It was his last movie and it was pretty good. Had a young Rod Steiger in it as well. It's about a corruption in the boxing world.

[The Funketeer]

the music box, near wrigley field, is the last old flick movie house, and they only do them on the weekends

I've never been there but there's a theater in Bank of America on Irving Park that shows old movies on the weekends also...

http://cine-file.info/venues/lasalle.html

[TonyFleecs]

They just found a large chunk of unseen footage from METROPOLIS in South America a few months ago, so there's probably a new longer DVD coming out eventually.
I'm going to be SO pissed when that happens. Just when you think there can't possibly be a better DVD than the one you have... Archaeologists fuck everything up.

Also, hey Greg! Nice to see you. :)

[TonyFleecs]

I got PLAY IT AS IT LAYS with Tuesday Weld and Anthony Perkins coming up on DVR.

Any good? Anything?

[Adrian B AWESOME]

I got PLAY IT AS IT LAYS with Tuesday Weld and Anthony Perkins coming up on DVR.

Any good? Anything?

The book is astounding.

[BronxRonin]

I saw that this is being remade.

I guess everything gets remade eventually

This will be the second time being remade.

[BronxRonin]

Sunday movies of my youth...
Taking of Pelham 123
Assault on precinct 13
Jaws
The seven ups
French connection
Capricorn 1
serpico
dog day afternoon

[BronxRonin]

The five deadly venoms
Escape from NY

[sonnylarue]

the killer elite 1975 great sam peckinpah action flick with robert duvall and a still in his young prime james caan

[sonnylarue]

last night on tcm, meet john doe, my favorite capra film.

i cry everytime gary cooper meets the john doe club, and the soda jerk tells him about his small town neighbors.

[NeverWanderer]

It was an oldies night at Best Buy this past Saturday.

Among the DVDs acquired were:

The Maltese Falcon 3 disk set (with the 1931 & 41 versions and 1936's Satan Met A Lady)
Citizen Kane 2 disk set
Stagecoach 2 disk set (mostly because it's the movie that inspired Joss Whedon to create Firefly)

It will be my first time seeing all of these.

[sonnylarue]

It was an oldies night at Best Buy this past Saturday.

Among the DVDs acquired were:

The Maltese Falcon 3 disk set (with the 1931 & 41 versions and 1936's Satan Met A Lady)
Citizen Kane 2 disk set
Stagecoach 2 disk set (mostly because it's the movie that inspired Joss Whedon to create Firefly)

It will be my first time seeing all of these.

the kane disc2 documentary is so great

[ChuckMcButcalf]

On the Waterfront is fantastic. God damn, Brando could act.

Also, Chaplin's The Gold Rush is comedy genius. It just goes to show that a film's age doesn't matter. If it's good, it'll stand the test of time.

[sonnylarue]

On the Waterfront is fantastic. God damn, Brando could act.

Also, Chaplin's The Gold Rush is comedy genius. It just goes to show that a film's age doesn't matter. If it's good, it'll stand the test of time.

i know and have interviewed the screenwriter, budd schulberg

[ChuckMcButcalf]

i know and have interviewed the screenwriter, budd schulberg

Consider it downloaded

[NeverWanderer]

On the Waterfront is fantastic. God damn, Brando could act.

My wife's grandfather was in that movie! Just a bit part, I think. That's one I should pick up.

[NeverWanderer]

Oh! The other old movie I got this weekend:

Vincent Price's The Last Man On Earth. As a big time Matheson fan, I am STOKED to watch this one.

[ashwin]

I saw a bunch of Vincent Price movies as a kid and didn't really get into them at all. Found them terribly cheesy and... weird. I remember The Pit and The Pendulum freaked me out a lot because it had the pendulum falling at him and then suddenly there was this duel between magic powers and crows were talking and just insane shit was happening. Even The House on Haunted Hill (or was the original called Hill House?) was weird and crazy... a hell of a lot better than the awful remake they did with Geoffrey Rush but still... weird and crazy.

Oh yeah... my dad made me sit with him and watch House of Wax. What the fuck possessed him to make a 7 year old do that... I don't know but that movie freaked me out a lot. Anyone see the remake they made in the 90s? Some low-budget piece of shit. I don't think it called itself House of Wax but it was the same basic concept. They just threw in an orgy scene with wax figures to make it appeal more to the teenage crowd I guess. Awful movie.

[Taxman]

I finally broke down and saw Patton the other day. I don't really have a strong feel for the true historical Patton, so all I can say is the the film made him out to be a very compelling character and one of the great generals in history. George C. Scott give a tour de force performance in a film which could have fell flat with a lessor lead output. This one is all it is cracked up to be.

[sonnylarue]

I finally broke down and saw Patton the other day. I don't really have a strong feel for the true historical Patton, so all I can say is the the film made him out to be a very compelling character and one of the great generals in history. George C. Scott give a tour de force performance in a film which could have fell flat with a lessor lead output. This one is all it is cracked up to be.

coppola screenplay+frank schaffner directing= greatness

[Dr. Hackenbush]

Pre '85 is considered old now? Damn, I guess I'm getting old.

Anywho...

The Mask Of Dimitrios (1944).

Peter Lorre is awesome and TCM is your friend.

[sonnylarue]

Pre '85 is considered old now? Damn, I guess I'm getting old.

Anywho...

The Mask Of Dimitrios (1944).

Peter Lorre is awesome and TCM is your friend.

i love that movie.

i choose pre 1985, cause i figured that many young people don't watch real old films, especially b/w ones.

glad to see this thread has proven me wrong.

[Dr. Hackenbush]

i love that movie.

i choose pre 1985, cause i figured that many young people don't watch real old films, especially b/w ones.

glad to see this thread has proven me wrong.

During summer rerun season I practically live on TCM. I watch everything from Marx Brothers movies (just watched "A Night In Casablanca" today) to the Thin Man series to melodramas and old westerns to crazy stuff like "Skidoo" on TCM underground.

Seriously, Skidoo (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063612/) is one of the most insane films I've ever seen.

[Mark4myself]

On the Waterfront is fantastic. God damn, Brando could act.
Also, Chaplin's The Gold Rush is comedy genius. It just goes to show that a film's age doesn't matter. If it's good, it'll stand the test of time.

I always recommend On The Waterfront and A Streetcar Named Desire to those who don't realize why people cared about Brando at one point. If all you know is fat and lazy Brando, you owe it to yourself to check these two films out and see the talent that was never fully realized.

[Wigner's Friend]

I got to see the great silent-horror The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari for my film class. The coolest thing about it was Todd Fink from The Faint, his wife Orenda from Azure Ray, and Ben Brodin from Mal Madrigal wrote and preformed live accompany music.

[Rantz]

DOUBLE INDEMNITY - It's scary how good Fred McMurray is in this movie (consequently I can't look at Alex Ross' Captain Marvel the same way again). And, as my wife told me earlier, the insurance claims company she used to work for made all their adjusters watch this movie as part of their orientation.

As part of the research for Displaced Persons, the OGN I'm doing with Derek McCulloch, I ended up getting a fuckload of movie for period research. Double Indemnity was one of them, and holy fuck is it good. Also in the research pile was:

A Touch of Evil 1958 - Wells and Heston are brilliant in this
Chinatown - which is *liked*, but honestly thought was overrated. First time I've seen it, but I gotta say, for Polanski's work, I like the Fearless Vampire Hunters more than I like Chinatown.
Serpico 1975 & Dog Day Afternoon 1973 - God I wish they would make movies like these nowadays.

In other classic/older movies I love...

I'll also give a vote for the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari 1920... such an amazing movie that still visually holds up almost 100 years later. Proof that good cinema in timeless.

Boorman's Excalibur 1981. First time I had ever seen anything like this in a movie... the epic drama, the art direction, it totally warped my pre-teen brain.

The Fury 1978 The only DePalma movie that genuinely freaked the hell out of me. Haven't seen it in years, so I have no idea how well it holds up.

Altered States 1980 - Another one of those movies that played a pivotal role in redefining what art and entertainment could mean to me. Great movie.

The movie that freaked me out more than any other movie in my entire life, to the point where I had to get up at three different points and turn off the VCR, go outside to chain smoke and calm down before returning to it was Passolini's SALO 1975. Out cinema verite's Blair Witch and the Last Broadcast DECADES before they appeared, with 10 times the intensity. I almost bought the criterion collection version of this but a.) I don't know how much I'd watch it and b.) I genuinely fear for my kid's sanity if they ever got ahold of it.

On a lighter note TRON and Logan's Run, which incidentally are both getting sequels/remade by the same director in 2010 and 2011, Joseph Kosinski. If Logan's Run sticks to the book, it will be amazing... In the 70's there were too many effects that couldn't be should with either bluescreen or practicals. now with CG, Nolan's book could be done, and done RIGHT. (As a side note, I love the book so much that I did a spec script for the remake, based off the novel)

Wish I had more time these days to watch movies...

[Jeffery Longmont]

I just watch Captain Blood a week ago. It was sweet! First of what I'm sure will be many Errol Flin movies I'll see. So what's another good one?

[The Funketeer]

I just watch Captain Blood a week ago. It was sweet! First of what I'm sure will be many Errol Flin movies I'll see. So what's another good one?

The Adventures of Robin Hood is probably his best film.

[Taxman]

I recently watched The Elephant Man which was tragic and compelling and oddly well grounded for a David Lynch film. Most interesting thing to me was the realization that Cameron more than likely lifted the ending of Titanic from this film. I always enjoy identifying homages and influences.

[ashwin]

Watched the Third Man yesterday. Great movie. The camerawork was amazing.

[sonnylarue]

Watched the Third Man yesterday. Great movie. The camerawork was amazing.

pretty amazing that orson welles has less than 20 minutes of screen time in tha film.

of course joseph cotten & trevor howard aren't slouches either.

[Taxman]

Watched the Third Man yesterday. Great movie. The camerawork was amazing.You should start your own Bollywood thread, maybe Bendis side.

Sing Time (1936) - I guess this film is what I would characterize as entertaining junk. I mean, every single plot point is totally boiler plate, just as cliched as one can imagine. To be fair though if one today watches It's A Wonderful Life for the first time, one may well find it to be cliche, yet the is not at all what it was when it was maybe. So, it is possible that this film is a good bit more original from a narrative perspective than it might seem today.

I guess that it could best be characterized as a screwball comedy. It could be, but that is not how it classified because it is first and foremost a dance film. As I watched these dance number roll out one after another I was struck by just how different the mass culture of that era was from the one we know today. Not only did this folk tolerate a film dance, solos, duets and huge production number, they ate it up. There were big box office films in their day.

I guess I would liken it most closely to the martial arts films of today, or at least the recent past. Today, a superior martial artist can rise to become a motion picture star. In this bygone era, a great singer or dance could rise to become a major movie star. And this film features two of the biggest ever, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. If you have any interest in the old dance films, this is probably as good as any to check out. It also features at least one song which became a standard for decades.

[William Joseph Dunn]

I watched "Danger: Diabolik" again for work (its still awesome).

http://thevoyeurs.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/danger-diabolik-italian-poster.jpg

[Kevin Marshall]

Ho boy, good time for this thread - I followed up a Woody Allen introduction via Netflix with a "film noir" type theme. I can't believe it took me 26 years to develop an appreciation for both.

I'd already had some exposure to Woody Allen, but nothing beyond Annie Hall and Hannah and Her Sisters, both of which I enjoyed immensely. But after seeing more - including but not limited to Stardust Memories, Broadway Danny Rose, and Manhattan - I've gained more of an appreciation for him as a filmmaker. In particular, I think Manhattan is probably his best work as it relates to this thread (pre-85; the other movie I'd make an argument for is 89's Crimes & Misdemeanors).

I also saw Mean Streets for the first time, and though it had its flaws I thought Scorcese was fascinating when he was still a relative novice.

That takes us to this past week, which has been all noir.

Night and the City is a freaking masterpiece, and it's a shame that Richard Widmark didn't become a bigger star than he was. Also, as ridiculous as this may read, the "wrestling" fight scene between Gregorious (played beautifully by real-life pro wrestler Stanislaus Zybysko) and "The Strangler" (named after Ed Lewis but based more on the in-ring persona of Walter "Killer" Kowalski) is one of the greatest fight scenes ever filmed.

I followed that up with my first viewing of Night of the Hunter. I don't know quite what I was expecting, but what I saw wasn't it. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing, because I thought it was fascinating that a film that brave and adventurous in its artistic direction and choices was made and released in that era. I loved the surrealistic tone and send-ups to the German expressionist movement, particularly that shot of Mitchum lunging up the basement stairs to get at the children. I can't imagine audience reactions to this film at the time.

I saw The Killing as well, and I have to say that while I enjoyed it, it was far from my favorite of the films I've seen of late, and don't think I'd rank it above Kubrick's later works (note: I'm a huge mark for pretty much any and all Kubrick). But again, I still liked it, and it had a great cast. Especially Timothy Carey as the sniper, who was great in this and INCREDIBLE in Paths of Glory (another film already mentioned in this thread).

Right now at home I have Kiss Me Deadly, Touch of Evil, and The Asphalt Jungle. Coming up on my queue I have Out of the Past, Double Indemnity, Strangers on a Train, D.O.A., and both the '46 and '64 versions of The Killers.

I seriously can't believe it's taken me as long as it has to see these movies.

[sonnylarue]

i'm all psyched for the new criterion releases for the third man and the spy who came in from the cold.

[NeverWanderer]

Every time I go to Best Buy, I flirt with picking up some of the Akira Kurosawa Criterion special editions. Mostly the multi-disk Seven Samurai, but there's a noir that he did in 1948 called Drunken Angel that keeps calling to me.

[Arion]

Ho boy, good time for this thread - I followed up a Woody Allen introduction via Netflix with a "film noir" type theme. I can't believe it took me 26 years to develop an appreciation for both.

I'd already had some exposure to Woody Allen, but nothing beyond Annie Hall and Hannah and Her Sisters, both of which I enjoyed immensely. But after seeing more - including but not limited to Stardust Memories, Broadway Danny Rose, and Manhattan - I've gained more of an appreciation for him as a filmmaker. In particular, I think Manhattan is probably his best work as it relates to this thread (pre-85; the other movie I'd make an argument for is 89's Crimes & Misdemeanors).

I also saw Mean Streets for the first time, and though it had its flaws I thought Scorcese was fascinating when he was still a relative novice.

That takes us to this past week, which has been all noir.

Night and the City is a freaking masterpiece, and it's a shame that Richard Widmark didn't become a bigger star than he was. Also, as ridiculous as this may read, the "wrestling" fight scene between Gregorious (played beautifully by real-life pro wrestler Stanislaus Zybysko) and "The Strangler" (named after Ed Lewis but based more on the in-ring persona of Walter "Killer" Kowalski) is one of the greatest fight scenes ever filmed.

I followed that up with my first viewing of Night of the Hunter. I don't know quite what I was expecting, but what I saw wasn't it. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing, because I thought it was fascinating that a film that brave and adventurous in its artistic direction and choices was made and released in that era. I loved the surrealistic tone and send-ups to the German expressionist movement, particularly that shot of Mitchum lunging up the basement stairs to get at the children. I can't imagine audience reactions to this film at the time.

I saw The Killing as well, and I have to say that while I enjoyed it, it was far from my favorite of the films I've seen of late, and don't think I'd rank it above Kubrick's later works (note: I'm a huge mark for pretty much any and all Kubrick). But again, I still liked it, and it had a great cast. Especially Timothy Carey as the sniper, who was great in this and INCREDIBLE in Paths of Glory (another film already mentioned in this thread).

Right now at home I have Kiss Me Deadly, Touch of Evil, and The Asphalt Jungle. Coming up on my queue I have Out of the Past, Double Indemnity, Strangers on a Train, D.O.A., and both the '46 and '64 versions of The Killers.

I seriously can't believe it's taken me as long as it has to see these movies.

Woody Allen is definitely one of my favorite directors ever.

[chazbot]

Every time I go to Best Buy, I flirt with picking up some of the Akira Kurosawa Criterion special editions. Mostly the multi-disk Seven Samurai, but there's a noir that he did in 1948 called Drunken Angel that keeps calling to me.

I'd really like to know which ones people think are Kurosawa's best flicks. There's so many to choose from and I've only seen Seven Samurai. Hard to know where to go from there.

[NeverWanderer]

I'd really like to know which ones people think are Kurosawa's best flicks. There's so many to choose from and I've only seen Seven Samurai. Hard to know where to go from there.

I'm in the same boat. What draws me to Drunken Angel is that it's a completely different setting from the feudal epics he's known for. I think you can learn a lot about a filmmaker by seeing how he transitions from one genre to another.

S'one of the reasons I'm such a Gore Verbinski fan.

[Taxman]

I'd really like to know which ones people think are Kurosawa's best flicks. There's so many to choose from and I've only seen Seven Samurai. Hard to know where to go from there.Seven Samurai is the most iconic, but Yojimbo is very close behind it. Yojimbo has been remade and redone almost as much as Seven Sumurai. I notice what I thought was a scene carried directly into Star Wars, but The Hidden Fortress is said to be one of the greatest influences on Star Wars of any film. If you like Yojimbo, you would probably want to check out the sequel Sanjuro. It is probably difficult to overstate the influence of Seven Samurai,Yojimbo andSanjuro on the American Western.

But beyone all of that, Rashomon is widely considered his greatest film, if not one of the greatest ever made.

Ran, is a spectacular epic.

[Kevin Marshall]

Seven Samurai is the most iconic, but Yojimbo is very close behind it. Yojimbo has been remade and redone almost as much as Seven Sumurai. I notice what I thought was a scene carried directly into Star Wars, but The Hidden Fortress is said to be one of the greatest influences on Star Wars of any film. If you like Yojimbo, you would probably want to check out the sequel Sanjuro. It is probably difficult to overstate the influence of Seven Samurai,Yojimbo andSanjuro on the American Western.

But beyone all of that, Rashomon is widely considered his greatest film, if not one of the greatest ever made.

Ran, is a spectacular epic.


I'll echo those sentiments, particularly with Ran (Kurosawa's last film that qualifies for discussion in this thread).

Although in all honesty, as much as I consider Rashomon to be a great film, it's far from my favorite Kurosawa flick - that's accounting more for personal preference than actual film quality. I absolutely adore Stray Dog, The Bad Sleep Well, High and Low, and Ikiru - though not necessarily in that order - all of which are outside the genre he's probably best known for. In fairness, yes, he made Samurai films/war epics set in feudal Japan; but Kurosawa did just as much (if not more) in the crime genre.


i'm all psyched for the new criterion releases for the third man and the spy who came in from the cold.
And now, so am I...except I still have to see the latter (it's on my to-do list).

[Adrian B AWESOME]

Watched "M" for the first time in years.

What a brilliant picture.

[wjm1138]

I'd really like to know which ones people think are Kurosawa's best flicks. There's so many to choose from and I've only seen Seven Samurai. Hard to know where to go from there.

Seems we all have our own Kurosawa favorites! That's great; he's the first director that sparked my interest in cinema. I was introduced to him when he received the life-time achievement award on the Oscars. Handed to him by Lucas and Coppola, I think. They showed the obligatory montage of scenes from his flicks, and when Toshiro Mifune popped on the screen in a misty black and white film, pierced again and again by innumerable arrows, I was aghast!! What an incredible moment. Throne of Blood, chazbot. Throne of Blood! Watch the extras too. How did they achieve that "pierced by multiple arrows" effect? Why naturally they had an archer off-camera shoot arrows into one of Japan's leading stars! Brilliant.

Here's another epic no one mentioned yet: Kagemusha.
Often dismissed as a trial run for Ran, I find it to be the more visually daring work. Certainly there's a nightmare sequence that's just gorgeous, and the performance(s) from Tatsuya Nakadai are, as always, better than good. Also, the extras disc has awesome whiskey commercials starring both Coppola and Kurosawa. You'll never hear a louder clinking ice sound effect in your life.

I also really dig Dersu Urzala, about the friendship between a Siberian hunter and a Soviet soldier. Really bleak environments shot as only Kurosawa can. A perfect way to underscore the desolation of the soul.

This list could go on for ever. Just watch them all in no particular order! ;)

[Adrian B AWESOME]

Watched Take the Money and Run and HALF of Hannah and her Sisters.

Take the Money was funny, but even at 80-some minutes is long and a bit boring at parts.

I was pissed I didn't get to finish Hannah (I know it's '86, but it's Woody...) but what I saw I really liked. Definately more sentimental "Mia" Woody, but still great stuff. My favorite part:

Hannah: Could you have ruined yourself somehow?
Mickey: How could I ruin myself?
Hannah: I don't know. Excessive masturbation?
Mickey: You gonna start knockin' my hobbies?

[Taxman]

Watched Take the Money and Run and HALF of Hannah and her Sisters.

Take the Money was funny, but even at 80-some minutes is long and a bit boring at parts.I really like Crimes and Misdemeanors for a serious film, and Bullets Over Broadway for laughs. Check those out if you haven't seen them.

[Taxman]

I watch Henry V (1944) which is said to be one of the best Shakespeare films ever made. But let's face it, Shakespeare is challenging material for all but the more enthusiastic literary conosuires. I really knew nothing about this thing going in, so I was really surprised by the approach taken. The film starts out depicting a Globe Theater presentation of the work. It includes a rather large audience, an actor struggling with his lines and shuffling a physical script, and a rain storm breaking out over the open air theater. Then at some point it transforms into a more modern production, but one clearly shot on a set. Further on it is all location shots with fairly epic battle scenes.

At one point there was an interlude show the French Princess Katherine with an attendant, and all of the dialogue was in French, with no translation provided at all.

Towards the end of the film, it reverted back to the crude modern sets, and then finally back to the Globe Theater setting. Very unusual.

[killingyouguy]

Saw Goddard's Contempt on film recently. Pretty damn spectacular.

[sonnylarue]

I watch Henry V (1944) which is said to be one of the best Shakespeare films ever made. But let's face it, Shakespeare is challenging material for all but the more enthusiastic literary conosuires. I really knew nothing about this thing going in, so I was really surprised by the approach taken. The film starts out depicting a Globe Theater presentation of the work. It includes a rather large audience, an actor struggling with his lines and shuffling a physical script, and a rain storm breaking out over the open air theater. Then at some point it transforms into a more modern production, but one clearly shot on a set. Further on it is all location shots with fairly epic battle scenes.

At one point there was an interlude show the French Princess Katherine with an attendant, and all of the dialogue was in French, with no translation provided at all.

Towards the end of the film, it reverted back to the crude modern sets, and then finally back to the Globe Theater setting. Very unusual.

i think kenneth branaugh's Shakespeare films have been pretty accsessable.

i'm also a huge fan of orson welles macbeth, othello, and chimes of midnight

[Drew]

Finally saw the Warriors. Understand the fuss all about it now.

Also the original 3:10 to Yuma. In which the remake may actually be better.

[Arion]

i think kenneth branaugh's Shakespeare films have been pretty accsessable.

i'm also a huge fan of orson welles macbeth, othello, and chimes of midnight

I have to say I agree with you.

[sonnylarue]

Finally saw the Warriors. Understand the fuss all about it now.

Also the original 3:10 to Yuma. In which the remake may actually be better.

walter hill is an underrated director

still haven't seen the glenn ford Yuma myself

[wjm1138]

i'm also a huge fan of orson welles macbeth, othello, and chimes of midnight

Oh I've been pestering Criterion to carry Chimes at Midnight through their online suggestion box for years!! Absolutely amazing. And the lighting in Welles' Othello --- oh! man!

[sonnylarue]

peter bogdonovich wrote a great book called this is orson welles, but the book on tape version is best because you hear the actual interviews and welles talking all about the production challenges of his Shakespeare films, among others.

[Taxman]

Anyone have any thoughts on John Cassavetes? I haven't seen any of his films. I was just realizing that Blockbuster online offers few options here.

[Taxman]

Well, that's not really true. They have the five film Criterion set listed as a single item. Searches for individual films were fruitless.

[sonnylarue]

Anyone have any thoughts on John Cassavetes? I haven't seen any of his films. I was just realizing that Blockbuster online offers few options here.

big fan of his as an actor and filmmaker

[Taxman]

big fan of his as an actor and filmmakerWondering only about the director angle, what would you recommend?

[wjm1138]

RE: John Cassavetes

Certainly his most accessible (read: mainstream) flick is the rather excellent Gloria. Assassin on the run with a young kid. Can't go wrong.

However, for his more characteristic work I would say go straight for the jugular: A Woman Under The Influence rocks hardcore and is his strongest film, in my opinion.

ciao,
wjm

EDIT: Just looked up Gloria on IMDB. I guess my memory was leaning toward The Professional interpretation of Gloria when I used the term "assassin" -- nonetheless, in that vibe.

[sonnylarue]

Wondering only about the director angle, what would you recommend?

in order, these three in particular, but i grew to like all of his films

the killing of a chinese bookie
husbands
a women under the influence

[Taxman]

in order, these three in particular, but i grew to like all of his films

the killing of a chinese bookie
husbands
a women under the influenceThe Criterion set has these films:

Shadows
Faces
A Woman Under the Influence
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
Opening Night
A Constant Forge

That seems to be all Blockbuster carries.

[The Funketeer]

walter hill is an underrated director

still haven't seen the glenn ford Yuma myself

Great movie. It's really interesting to watch because some of the really clever/funny lines that were in the remake were lifted directly from the original.

[Arion]

peter bogdonovich wrote a great book called this is orson welles, but the book on tape version is best because you hear the actual interviews and welles talking all about the production challenges of his Shakespeare films, among others.

I have heard about it . One of my friends is a Bogdanovich fan.

[sonnylarue]

I have heard about it . One of my friends is a Bogdanovich fan.

a good director, but a truly great film historian .

all of his film books are must reads

[BClayMoore]

For some unknown reason I sat through Last House on the Left last night, for the first time since high school.

I'm at a loss as to why anyone would remake it, but that seems to be what they're doing...

Gonna cue up Holiday Inn tomorrow night. One of my favorite Christmas viewing trifles. Avoid White Christmas. Holiday Inn is what you want to see for Der Bingle and X-Mas crooning.

Just between us, I'm working up a proposal for a new book with Ramon Perez, and it centers heavily on crime and noir. So I've dug out Rififi, the Asphalt Jungle and le Cercle Rouge to put me in the right mood.

-BCM

[Armored Dildo]

Has anyone seen any of the films of Jean-Pierre Melville? He made action-oriented noir and crime dramas in France in the 1950 to the 1970's. Tough as nails and impeccably stylish, Criterion has been putting out his stuff from practically the word "go" and they've just put out Le Doulos and Le Deuxième Souffle and the former is probably the best of his "policier" films I've seen yet and easily one of the best films about police informers ever made. Can't recommend it highly enough.

[sonnylarue]

Has anyone seen any of the films of Jean-Pierre Melville? He made action-oriented noir and crime dramas in France in the 1950 to the 1970's. Tough as nails and impeccably stylish, Criterion has been putting out his stuff from practically the word "go" and they've just put out Le Doulos and Le Deuxième Souffle and the former is probably the best of his "policier" films I've seen yet and easily one of the best films about police informers ever made. Can't recommend it highly enough.

sounds cool!

[wjm1138]

Has anyone seen any of the films of Jean-Pierre Melville?

I've seen Le Samouraï.

As Criterion describes it:

In a career-defining performance, Alain Delon plays a contract killer with samurai instincts. A razor-sharp cocktail of 1940s American gangster cinema and 1960s French pop culture—with a liberal dose of Japanese lone-warrior mythology—maverick director Jean-Pierre Melville’s masterpiece Le Samouraï defines cool.

Darn good! Talk is Army of Shadows is also stellar; gotta see it!

[Patton]

Watched True Grit with my dad over the holidays. Pretty great.

Other than that I recently watched Suddenly starring Sinatra as a hitman hired to kill the president, Grand Theft Auto, which, I think, is Ron Howard's directorial debut, and Take the Money and Run, Woody Allen's first proper movie.

All were good.

And I also watched Redford's Ordinary People because I never thought of Timothy Hutton as a great actor and in the ads for his new TV show they said he was an Oscar winner and I wanted to see it for myself. It's definitely an outstanding performance.

[Armored Dildo]

sounds cool!

Can't recommend Melville strongly enough. His filmography is screaming to be written-up in the back-matter of Criminal.

You might remember Neil Jordan's The Good Thief, with Nick Nolte? Well, it was a remake of Melville's first crime drama Bob le flambeur (http://www.criterion.com/films/690), which is probably the best place to start: It's an elegant chamber piece with a great bank heist and a nice enough shoot-out, although not as tough or as epic (Melville made several 2-hour plus "policier"s) as the rest.

Jordan's version was perfect because it was equal parts homage and a well-considered departure/modernization and remained just as elegant (despite Nolte' already-unhinged performance).

[Armored Dildo]

I've seen Le Samouraï.

As Criterion describes it:



Darn good! Talk is Army of Shadows is also stellar; gotta see it!

Yeah don't know why I haven't touched Army of Shadows yet. They say it's his masterpiece.

Le Samouraï is Melville's stylistic masterpiece: It's all mannerism. I liked Le Cercle Rouge a little bit better just cuz the story had a little bit more meat to it.

Damn, I'm starting to think I really need to own all of these.

[The Funketeer]

Finally saw Charlie Varrick this morning. Thanks for the reccomendation. I didn't realize just how much Fraction had lifted from the movie for Last of the Independents (including the title).

[Taxman]

a good director, but a truly great film historian .

all of his film books are must readsDid he do one of the commentary tracks on the Citizen Kane dvd?

Finally, Blockbuster is sending me The Murder of a Chinese Bookie.

[Armored Dildo]

Did he do one of the commentary tracks on the Citizen Kane dvd?

Finally, Blockbuster is sending me The Murder of a Chinese Bookie.

Is that the Criterion release?

[Taxman]

Is that the Criterion release?Yes!

The Criterion boxed set seems to be the only Cassavetes material they carry. This is online, BTW. I have virtually given up on getting anything I want to watch at the store.

[Armored Dildo]

Yes!

The Criterion boxed set seems to be the only Cassavetes material they carry. This is online, BTW. I have virtually given up on getting anything I want to watch at the store.

That's an excellent set. And I think of all the Cassavettes films in it, Bookie was my fave. There's something sadly autobiographical about that character. I even liked both cuts (not that they are too dissimilar).

[Gideon Gloom]

His Girl Friday (1940) - the definitive screwball comedy. Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell at their finest. The dialogue is magnificent and the breakneck delivery is astounding. Never have so many words been squeezed into 90 mintues!

A Matter of Life and Death (1946) - A young David Niven playing an RAF pilot who died while his guardian angel was looking the wrong way, creating whole layers of complication. A magnificent movie, with ideas literally bursting from the seams. My understanding is it began as a war propaganda flick, but the war ended in early production, and the directors, Powell and Pressburger, seized the opportunity to craft something far more ambitious. They're probably better known for The Red Shoes, but this is one of my all-time top 5.

On the Beach (1959) - Wonderful adaptation of a Nevil Shute novel. I can only imagine that it packed an enormous punch at the time, as it is a very Cold War-era movie in that it's set in Austrlia after a nuclear war that has left the rest of the world uninhabitable, and the people living in Oz just waiting for the radiation cloud to reach them.

[sonnylarue]

His Girl Friday (1940) - the definitive screwball comedy. Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell at their finest. The dialogue is magnificent and the breakneck delivery is astounding. Never have so many words been squeezed into 90 mintues!

a howard hawks classic

A Matter of Life and Death (1946) - A young David Niven playing an RAF pilot who died while his guardian angel was looking the wrong way, creating whole layers of complication. A magnificent movie, with ideas literally bursting from the seams. My understanding is it began as a war propaganda flick, but the war ended in early production, and the directors, Powell and Pressburger, seized the opportunity to craft something far more ambitious. They're probably better known for The Red Shoes, but this is one of my all-time top 5.

it's like the british heaven can wait, or hear comes mr jordan, but still it's own unique story

On the Beach (1959) - Wonderful adaptation of a Nevil Shute novel. I can only imagine that it packed an enormous punch at the time, as it is a very Cold War-era movie in that it's set in Austrlia after a nuclear war that has left the rest of the world uninhabitable, and the people living in Oz just waiting for the radiation cloud to reach them.

another cool one

[Gideon Gloom]

it's like the british heaven can wait, or hear comes mr jordan, but still it's own unique story

Kudos, John. Far too few people are aware of A Matter of Life and Death. You're spot on in your appraisal.

And, at the risk of going off-topic, really looking forward to the new Bendis Tapes. I first noticed the thread for questions about 2 hours after it was locked. I was gutted!!! ;-)

[Taxman]

I came across something which I found pretty interesting. Back in olden times, some films would have to have different endings for release in England and in the States. Two 60ish era films where I watched both endings, Vertigo and Lolita, had extra and extra added to make it completely clear that the perpetrator of a crime was definitely punished. Today, I watched an earlier film, Kind Hearts and Coronets, and found that it was just the opposite. It was the American version which had been altered to make it more apparent that the criminal would be going down. The UK ending for this film, I found to be perfect, BTW.

[Armored Dildo]

Kudos, John. Far too few people are aware of A Matter of Life and Death. You're spot on in your appraisal.

And, at the risk of going off-topic, really looking forward to the new Bendis Tapes. I first noticed the thread for questions about 2 hours after it was locked. I was gutted!!! ;-)

I would kill to see A Matter of Life and Death. I cannot for the life of me fathom why Criterion has yet to release that. The scenes in Heaven look like some German Expressionist wet-dream crossed with some retro-futuristic comic book version of an alien utopia.

EDIT: Just noticed the dark irony of my first sentence. Oh well.

[Taxman]

That's an excellent set. And I think of all the Cassavettes films in it, Bookie was my fave. There's something sadly autobiographical about that character. I even liked both cuts (not that they are too dissimilar).I only rented the first disc. I haven't looked at the specs, but I assume that they other cut is on the second disc. What are they, theatrical cut, and what other cut.

One thing about this film, you really don't see this much ambiguity in major theatrical releases these days.

[Armored Dildo]

I only rented the first disc. I haven't looked at the specs, but I assume that they other cut is on the second disc. What are they, theatrical cut, and what other cut.

One thing about this film, you really don't see this much ambiguity in major theatrical releases these days.

The two-hour plus version was for the first theatrical release, which I think lasted for weeks at best (the exact figure is in the interviews, IIRC)

The shorter version is for a 1978 re-release and again IIRC, it has one or two short scenes that the other version doesn't.

The ambiguity was characteristic of that era (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hollywood):

Although Cassavetes was actually a fore-runner of that type of film-making by about two decades.

[Rafiennes]

The Tin Star (1957)

Henry Fonda, Anthony Perkins, Neville Brand
Directed by Anthony Mann

Fantastic noir-western, phenomanal use of on-location sets, great performances and Anthony Mann kicking ass with the direction.

Highly, highly recommend this movie.

[Taxman]

I saw that The Third Man was released on Blu Ray by Criterion and was considering checking it out, but then I read these reviews on Amazon.


My wife and I love classic movies, and Joseph Cotten was great in thrillers like Shadow of a Doubt. This was also billed as a great thriller, so we had high expectations. We were sadly disappointed. We felt little emotional connection to the characters. It's hard to care about the murder of character that does not even appear in the movie before the murder. None of the characters, even Cotten's, seemed interesting or attractive. The story was just plain dull and the pace dragged. Worst of all was the horrible zither music. I actually was intrigued to hear the theme music since I was told that I would be humming it for weeks. Little did I know that that was not a compliment, but a warning! I have never heard such obnoxious, god-awful movie music in my life. It was totally inappropriate for the dark tone of a film noir like this. And the same idiotic tune just kept on going throughout the film, even underneath the dialogue in many scenes. This was a total blunder. It absolutely RUINED the impact of many scenes that might have otherwise been powerful. Far too obtrusive and distracting. Several times when the music was loud and there was little dialogue, we muted the film. Sometimes we even muted it when there was dialogue and just turned on the subtitles.

I think the objective of the filmmakers here was mainly to make a unique film using unorthodox or untried techniques, as a way of getting the critics' attention. It does succeed in that way, I suppose, but I think it can only be really enjoyed by film students who focus on technique instead of a story line. If you like a real thriller, a movie that draws you in and holds your interest, this is not the movie to watch.
I'll Make this short and sweet to the point; This movie does very poorly and it's no wonder why people {excluding critics} think that this is boring right up there with Citizen Kane. I'm sorry for other people that feel differnt, but that's just my opinon and I tell it like it is.I may rouse alot of ire here, but somebody has to give innocents abroad fair warning about this lousy film. Contrary to all the gushing reviews here, The Third Man is Orson Welles at his worst. The mysterious character, Harry Lime, when he is finally seen (after much buildup) is completely uninteresting and shallow. His trite dialog shows a character with no depth and reveals a writer with no imagination.

And that AWFUL zither music!! This film must win the Golden Raspberry for worst soundtrack of all time! I love old films, especially ones that make you think, but this film STINKS!!!!!!!!!!!! I absolutely hated this film, and actually give it 0 stars. I have seen a few Orson wells films, and have not liked any of them, and I think a boring script, and bad preformance from Wells brings this film down. Everyone says this film is so great, and I thought it STUNK!!!!!!!! Make sure to avoid this film and all of it's good reviews at ALL costs.

[ashwin]

I saw that The Third Man was released on Blu Ray by Criterion and was considering checking it out, but then I read these reviews on Amazon.

Jesus, those people are insane.

The Third Man is an amazing movie. Don't skip out on it because of these yahoos.


I saw Silver Streak tonight. Not a very good movie at all. It is funny but the script should have been tighter. It has some really hysterically funny scenes but Pryor doesn't have much time in it and Gene Wilder is alright. My favorite character was Scatman Crothers who has the most bizarre line in the movie. It's not a bad movie, it's fun to watch but it ain't great.

[sonnylarue]

Jesus, those people are insane.

The Third Man is an amazing movie. Don't skip out on it because of these yahoos.


I saw Silver Streak tonight. Not a very good movie at all. It is funny but the script should have been tighter. It has some really hysterically funny scenes but Pryor doesn't have much time in it and Gene Wilder is alright. My favorite character was Scatman Crothers who has the most bizarre line in the movie. It's not a bad movie, it's fun to watch but it ain't great.

gotta disagree.

it's one of my favs, although i think the pacing of todays films make any pre-mtv era films seem slow in comparrison.

it was a very conscious homage to north by northwest , wilder confirmed it in his "inside the actors studio" appearance.

this was the first time Pryor and Wilder worked together. Pryor was not a real co-star in this film. i think it's a good blend of light action and comedy

as for the third man naysayers...i i can see people not liking the third man, if they also don't like kane, but again i strongly disagree with those people.

this was a classic post war film, that captures the dour mood of vienna during the allied occupation .

my dad was shipped to 1946 Germany as an army MP, and always said this film was a perfect snapshot of what life was like there.

[Taxman]

Jesus, those people are insane.

The Third Man is an amazing movie. Don't skip out on it because of these yahoos.You gotta love the people saying "don't listen to people who like this film, listen to me!"

[Armored Dildo]

I saw that The Third Man was released on Blu Ray by Criterion and was considering checking it out, but then I read these reviews on Amazon.

The Third Man is a brilliant film.

[Armored Dildo]

You gotta love the people saying "don't listen to people who like this film, listen to me!"

I actually appreciate that kind of counter-opinion if I know the person has some knowledge of what films are and how they operate.

[ashwin]

gotta disagree.

it's one of my favs, although i think the pacing of todays films make any pre-mtv era films seem slow in comparrison.

it was a very conscious homage to north by northwest , wilder confirmed it in his "inside the actors studio" appearance.

this was the first time Pryor and Wilder worked together. Pryor was not a real co-star in this film. i think it's a good blend of light action and comedy

as for the third man naysayers...i i can see people not liking the third man, if they also don't like kane, but again i strongly disagree with those people.

this was a classic post war film, that captures the dour mood of vienna during the allied occupation .

my dad was shipped to 1946 Germany as an army MP, and always said this film was a perfect snapshot of what life was like there.

See, I thought it was more akin to The Lady Vanishes than North by Northwest. My problem with it was that there were some scenes that went on too long (like the scene where Wilder is making out with Jill Clayburgh and uses those terrible garderning metaphors to arouse her) and other scenes which were incredulous in how things happened. Like the cop giving Wilder's character a gun and inviting him along to stop McGoohan. That was unbelievable and yeah it's a comedy but that was still too weird. I had fun watching the movie but there were things about it that I just thought were too much.

[Taxman]

Little trivia for Silver Streak. For a good long time there were only two actors who reprised minor roles outside of MI-5 in James Bond films. Each appeared in consecutive Bond films. In between those four films' release, Silver Streak was released and both of these actors appeared playing a character more or less the same as the one played in the Bond films.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v410/glima/Net%20Photos/Clifton_James.jpg

Clifton James portrayed a dim witted sheriff in Live and Let Die, The Man With the Golden Gun
and Silver Streak.http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v410/glima/Net%20Photos/Keil.jpg

Richard Kiel played a giant thug in Silver Steak,
The Spy Who Love Me and Moonraker.In Superman II, Clifton James portrayed another dim witted sheriff who confronts a similar giant thug, this one played by Jaack O'Halleoran

[Rafiennes]

I actually appreciate that kind of counter-opinion if I know the person has some knowledge of what films are and how they operate.

If for anything, you should see The Third Man for these reasons:

1. Just to see a film that had a tremendous influence on the film noir scene
2. The excellent use of the locales -- the post-war city becomes to vivid and real as the movie goes on -- after awhile, you begin to feel the cold off the cobblestones
3. Thie Third Man contains what may be possibly one of THE best introductions of a character EVER! EVER!!

Do yourself a favor and watch it.

[Armored Dildo]

If for anything, you should see The Third Man for these reasons:

1. Just to see a film that had a tremendous influence on the film noir scene
2. The excellent use of the locales -- the post-war city becomes to vivid and real as the movie goes on -- after awhile, you begin to feel the cold off the cobblestones
3. Thie Third Man contains what may be possibly one of THE best introductions of a character EVER! EVER!!

Do yourself a favor and watch it.

uh, why are you telling me all this? I like it so much I double-dipped on the Criterion release.

[Rafiennes]

uh, why are you telling me all this? I like it so much I double-dipped on the Criterion release.

Because....I love you? :scared:

[Armored Dildo]

Because....I love you? :scared:

:thumb:

Because I'm assuming many have seen Touch of Evil, I'm going to recommend that everyone watch Welles' The Stranger (which I believe is still rather hard-to-find). A great 1946 film noir with Welles playing a Nazi hiding in small town Connecticut. Welles shot it under-budget and early and the studios didn't tamper with it and it was a box-office success.

Same DOP as Touch of Evil, the incomparable Russell Metty who worked on all those Sirk Technicolor dramas and won an Oscar for Sparticus (I'm seriously considering writing a book about the guy - there isn't one).

[wjm1138]

I'm going to recommend that everyone watch Welles' The Stranger

That is pretty good! Chilling. I had read that Welles' wanted Agnes Moorehead for the Edward G. Robinson part. That would have been cool.

The one of his acting appearances on this tip that I have not been able to find is Journey Into Fear. Has anyone here seen it? The regular Mercury cast to boot, starring Joseph Cotten who's always awesome, made around the time of The Magnificent Ambersons.

ciao,
wjm

[sonnylarue]

welles seemed to have disowned the stranger, but it was still a very good film.

[Taxman]

The two-hour plus version was for the first theatrical release, which I think lasted for weeks at best (the exact figure is in the interviews, IIRC)

The shorter version is for a 1978 re-release and again IIRC, it has one or two short scenes that the other version doesn't.

The ambiguity was characteristic of that era (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hollywood):

Although Cassavetes was actually a fore-runner of that type of film-making by about two decades.I have a lot of trouble believing that those cabaret acts were something anyone would actually want to see.

And seeing an LA freeway looking so empty is just weird.

[Gavin]

Death of a Cyclist - Great Spanish film about the consequences of running down a guy on a bike.

Port of Shadows - French deserter finds love in Le Havre.

The Third Man- Everybody has mentioned this one, but it's my favorite of all time.

Touchez Pas Au Grisbi- Great French gangster film.

Ikiru - My favorite Akira Kurosawa.

The Spy Who Came in From the Cold - Best spy film.

[Gavin]

pretty amazing that orson welles has less than 20 minutes of screen time in tha film.

of course joseph cotten & trevor howard aren't slouches either.

Another good Trevor Howard film is Brief Encounter, directed by David Lean.

Also, Green for Danger is good, even if the end is wrapped up a little too pat. Alister Sim is great, though.

And The Naked City is fantastic.

[Gavin]

crazy too that she's playing lawrence harvey's mom, and was either 2 yrs older or younger than him.

there's a great danny kaye movie the court jester that features a young lansbery, looking blonde and dare i say, HOT!

for other young lansbery hotness check out gaslight, and state of the union with tracy and hepburn

Really? I just watched that the other day with my wife and I thought Lansbery looked old then too. Like she always does, but that she just got a bit more grey and wrinkled since then.

[Taxman]

I liked A Woman Under the Influence more than The Killing of a Chinese Bookie. It really seemed to have more of a pulse. Gena Rowlands performance was outstanding.

[oconnellmd]

1970 the cheyenne social club-great jimmy stewart henry fonda comedy western

Oh my GOD. One of my favorite Stewart AND Fonda roles EVER! I've got a friend that I saw this with like twenty years ago, and we can still crack each other up out of the blue by going into a Stewart voice and asking "You want a beefsteak, Harley?"

[sonnylarue]

the offence 1972, wow powerful sidney lumet film starring sean connery.

[Jeffery Longmont]

Okay saw two movies lately: BULLETS ON BROADWAY and HELL IN THE PACIFIC.

BULLETS ON BROADWAY was one of the finest films I've ever since. Really enjoyed it. I'm such a comic nerd, I couldn't stop thinking about it in terms of Kirby's Life and Antilife.

HELL IN THE PACIFIC, though staring Lee Marvin and Torshiro Mifune, was awful. If you thought all Castaway needed was an extra guy on the island, you are soundly proven wrong by this movie. Don't see unless you want to waste your time.

[sonnylarue]

Okay saw two movies lately: BULLETS ON BROADWAY and HELL IN THE PACIFIC.

BULLETS ON BROADWAY was one of the finest films I've ever since. Really enjoyed it. I'm such a comic nerd, I couldn't stop thinking about it in terms of Kirby's Life and Antilife.

HELL IN THE PACIFIC, though staring Lee Marvin and Torshiro Mifune, was awful. If you thought all Castaway needed was an extra guy on the island, you are soundly proven wrong by this movie. Don't see unless you want to waste your time.

gotta disagree, i think it's a john boorman directed classic

[Jeffery Longmont]

gotta disagree, i think it's a john boorman directed classic

Wow, there's a joke there, but I won't bite. Too obvious.

Oh, also, I saw YOUTH OF THE BEAST, a great Yakusa flick, so I'm told. I'd agree, except I haven't seen any Yakusa flicks, so I have no frame of reference. Anyways, I loved it. It wasn't always clear what the main character's motives were, but maybe it was just me.

I wonder is Brubaker is going to do a Yakusa story in CRIMINAL anytime soon. Seems like a natural.

[Taxman]

I saw A Face in the Crowd (1957) recently. Most likely this was Andy Griffith's best performance of his career. This is a very good film and a pretty sharply pointed media satire. I find it hard to believe that there was any sort of real world template to base the film's story on at the time. Thus, I believe it to be very forward thinking and certainly relevant today. Probably the best comparison I could make to this film would be Network (1976). Both sharply critical of television and both remarkably visionary in their own way.

[wjm1138]

@Taxman

When I first saw A Face in the Crowd I was astonished at the advertising montage about midway through. Really well done. I think Kazan was an astounding director.

As you probably know John has a great Word Balloon interviewing the screenwriter, Budd Schulberg.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

FINALLY watched Stanley Kubrick's brilliant heist flick The Killing. What a great movie. The non-linear storytelling techniques in this film had to have been groundbreaking in 1956, and there are some really brilliant tracking shots, and a wonderful performance by Sterling Hayden. Seriously, did Kubrick ever make a BAD movie?