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High Fidelity John Cusack, Jack Black, Todd Louiso (aka the AuPair from Jerry Maguire) Rob (Cusack) fresh from a break up with his attorney girlfriend reflects on his Top 5 all time breakups while running a hole in the wall record store and organizing his extensive personal record collection "autobiographically". His staff (Black and Louiso) are long on music knowledge and opinion but very, very, short on tolerance and customer service when customers tastes conflict with theirs. There ARE record stores like this! Bruce Springsteen shows up for a cameo. Saw this movie when it came out and didn't think that much of it, this time I really enjoyed it. Actually watching it helped.

Coincidentally, TCM is having a "Hitchcock Binge-Watch Weekend " next Saturday and Sunday (June 26 & 27th). They are showing 24 of his movies.

I cut a DVD copy of REAR WINDOW and gave it to a friend to view. He's 71, a big fan of THE BIRDS but had never seen REAR WINDOW or, I gathered, most Hitchcock films. Much to my surprise he had mixed feelings about the film. All of that bantering between Stewart and Kelly in the earlier portions of the film seemed to bore him. He said he enjoyed the film's climax and said that compensated for the film's "draggy" sections. He's a guy who enjoys action films. When I asked him how REAR WINDOW compared to THE BIRDS it was no contest. It was THE BIRDS all the way for him, Bottom line, ya never know how someone will respond to a film.

Psycho probably has the most lore associated with it that someone uninterested in movies may be familiar with. And it has the sequels. Lots of twists. Creepy as hell. So it's in black and white. Tell them to deal with it.

I don't remember how old I was but my folks took me along to the drive in and Psycho was one of the movies. I fell asleep at some point and woke up at the exact moment mom turns for her close up. It leaves quite an impression on a sleepy headed youngster!

Interesting take on Mad Men. I do have specific episodes I highly prefer, like The Suitcase and The Beautiful Girls, both from Season 4. I particularly love Girls because it is the only instance all of the major women in Don's life are together. Betty, I recall, rarely appears at the office. The ex-wife, the next wife, the daughter, the lover, the protégé, the friend. Picture deleted

I have no idea how many times I've seen TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE over the years but it is one of my five favourite films, as you may be able to tell by my avatar. I watched it again last evening and was surprised to make a new discovery, and that is the unbilled appearance of character actor Clifton Young at the 11:11 mark of the film in the flophouse scene, when it is first visited by Bogart and Tim Holt. He can be overheard in a conversation as Bogart and Holt pass by him, saying, "Streets are full of guys, pushing each other." In case you're not familiar with Young he was a Warner Brothers character stalwart during the late '40s, possibly best remembered today for playing the guy trying to blackmail Bogart in DARK PASSAGE, which was filmed just before TREASURE. He also appeared with his toothy smile playing an obnoxious type in many of the Joe McDoakes comedy shorts that play on TCM. This is Young in Dark Passage, for those unfamiliar with his name who may recognize the face And here he is with Joe McDoakes (George O'Hanlon) Of course, an unbilled Jack Holt, Tim's father, also appears in the same flophouse scene in TREASURE, sitting beside Walter Huston, with a couple of lines of dialogue, but I already knew that. Spotting Clifton Young talking a minute or two earlier was the new discovery. Ann Sheridan was reputed to have appeared in the film as a prostitute, a cameo she apparently did as a gag on Bogart, but her scene didn't make it into the final film for whatever reason. http://www.ann-sheridan.com/images/Pretty woman walking past barbershop 2.png The hooker passing by Bogart after he emerges from the barber shop is clearly not Sheridan. I have to wonder, though, if Sheridan ever saw the film. In an interview she gave Ray Hagen in the '60s she thought her unbilled gag bit was in the movie. Ann Sheridan: I played a hooker. Ray Hagen: You did? Ann Sheridan: I walked down the street in a big fat disguise to see if Bogart would recognize me. There's a shot where he comes out of a bar -- I guess he had the toothpick, he always did, and the hat turned up -- and he passes me and then turns and looks back. Other appearances in the film are made by a young Robert Blake as a lottery ticket seller (Blake is, I suspect, the only cast member still with us today) and, of course, director John Huston appears as an American tourist repeatedly pestered by Bogart's Fred C. Dobbs for a handout in the early Tampico scenes. By the way, Alfonso Bedoya's Gold Hat bandit never says "We don't need no stinking badges!" in the film, as many people believe. What he actually says, to be fully accurate, is "Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges! I don't have to show you any stinkin' badges!" So anyone else have any feelings (or anecdotes) about one of Bogart and John Huston's best remembered films?

SERGEANT YORK GUYS AND DOLLS (Nicely in the movie, Sky in play and original story) Movoes in which a character changed religions to marry someone in a different religion-- LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA FIDDLER ON THE ROOF MRS WILSON MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING

You didn't mention Miss Baxter, who was magnificent. She is wonderful at being tipsy.* (as well as just everything else about her). I kept waiting for George Reeves to ask if anyone knew where one could find as telephone booth. Oh, and it was nice to see Ann Southern taking a break from being a private secretary. Raymond is the party pooper as far as Tv stardom is concerned ; it was three years after this movie that he became Perry. Miss Donnell is a sweetie. What a face! *Anne Baxter's tipsiness calls to mind, somewhat vaguely, a wonderful tipsy scene that Ann Southern did in a movie of which I don't know the name. She was amazing. I think EGR might have been in it. Perhaps someone might know it. Speaking of tipsy scenes, Ann Dvorak in an early movie was attempting to get a boyfriend to buckle up and get out and look for a job. She was tipsy and positively brilliant. I have been wondering about this one for ages. Anyone know it?

I liked it too. Great acting and though somewhat predictable, I wasn't really sure how it would end. Crystal was my favorite character played by Harriette Arlene Lake (better known as Ann Sothern). She reminded me so much of my mother. A wisecracking career girl with a heart of gold. Crystal was the polar opposite of Norah yet they were great friends. Jeff Donnell as the somewhat ditsy Sally offered just the right amount of comic relief. Richard Conte was good too. His character was obviously self centered and a womanizer but less so that Burr's character. To watch him soften and find some empathy was interesting. Also, it was great to see Superman, aka George Reeves, before he donned the famous blue tights and red cape. All in all I think it's my favorite Noir Alley since THE THIRD MAN a few months ago.

I had an unfortunate experience with: Rebecca (1940). A new campus security protocol meant we often had to remain in a lounge between classes. I was the only old fogey there. Most were under twenty-one. I would normally have spent the time studying but this movie was coming on when I entered so I joined the clutch around the television. Most did not like the movie because they felt she was weak-willed and had no fashion sense and therefore did not deserve such a yummy husband. A few even supported Mrs. Danvers' treatment of her because she needed educatin'. Those with purple streaks in their hair, heavy eye make-up and braless were the most vocal in their dislike of her. I am not sure how much in favor of the movie it was that they preferred to watch a black&white movie rather than opening a book. yanceycravat stated this was for an adult friend so I would not hesitate to recommend it but I might have reservations suggesting it for younger viewers.

I gave up on it after a fairly considerable number of episodes. The show at some point insisted on making each individual episode thematically uniform. Nothing wrong with that but soon that became more important than character development, and for a show with narrative integrity from episode to episode It became to annoying to notice that the main characters were not true to their own selves, acting in ways that answered to whatever the theme of the episode was rather than who they were as individuals. I believe this was incrementally progressive and at some point for me I had to give up out of exasperation. This was some years ago and I wish I had a precise example but I don't. I do remember the last episode I could stomach was the blonde Mrs acting totally out of character in Italy somewhere. Still, there was some really good stuff there but the show lost its way for me, or vice versa.

ROPE.

Oh I had forgotten about REBECCA! Good choice, especially for a teen since they never feel "good enough". I think DIAL M's somewhat circuitous plot can be hard for a younger person to follow. But as earlier stated, I'm totally coming from a parent/teacher POV and Tom's friend's fist view was a 71 y/o, a wholly different situation.

I will be the odd voice here and suggest beginning with: The Trouble with Harry (1955). 1) It is in color. 2) Comedy is more accessible. 3) A wider range of character types than most Hitchcock movies. 4) It will ground them in Hitchcock's brand of slightly surreal situations. I would follow this with: Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941) because they have been opened to Hitchcock's humor and this will introduce them to black&white. I would follow that with: Rebecca (1940), Dial M for Murder (1954) and Rope (1948).

A tender look at a father/son relationship is in the film The Bicycle Thieves (1948) directed by Vittorio De Sica. The father needs a bicycle for a job to support his poor starving family and his bicycle is stolen. He searches for the stolen bicycle with his son. An amazing film.

Monkey Business next--spoiled/indulged child

Change of Habit Friendly Persuasion

Novitiate (2017) Calvary (2014) Disobedience (2017) Saved! (2004)

Richard Burton in The Night of the Iguana (1964) Michael Stuhlbarg in A Serious Man (2009) Ethan Hawke in First Reformed (2017)

I have an adult friend who has never seen an Alfred Hitchcock film!!!! Amazing, I know. I was contemplating which Hitchcock film would be the best to show to someone who doesn't know much about pre-1980 films. My choice finally landed on REAR WINDOW (1954) for these reasons. 1) It's in color. (Yeah, yeah, I know too.) 2) Great performances. 3) Taut murder suspense, tight script. 4) Easy to digest. Thoughts?

I get tired whenever I see that 1993 money-grubbing action adventure film showing on cable. it is insulting to compare it to the QM TV series. so anyone who thinks like that can shove their Han into their Solos. only one man deserves to be recognized as the tragic, noble and heroic Dr. Richard Kimble. terrific music gets riveting torwards the end.

I'M NO ANGEL (1933) next: one of your father's favorite movies

One of my favorites. I love everything about this film except the revoltingly ugly sack dress that Deborah Kerr wears in one scene, and even that is historically accurate. The sack dress was the "in" thing for a season, till someone noticed that it was unflattering to women and as ugly as homemade sin. But back to the movie: I consider this Otto Preminger's masterpiece, with beautiful fluid camerawork, especially the scenes at the vacation home in the south of France. A fashion expert who introduced the film at one of the TCM festivals said that Jean Seberg's hairstyle and little black dress look just as chic now as they did in 1958. Fine acting by all, especially Jean Seberg in the lead role. The story of the girl who won't give up possession of her father until she belatedly realizes the cost rings true. The screenplay by Arthur Laurents is just about perfect. What does Laurents have to say about the film in his memoir? Not one word.

The TV series had more depth to it than the movie did......

Susan and God (1940) Trouble with Angels (1966)-- rebellious Mary Clancy becomes a nun Sex and the City --Charlotte converts to Judaism for husband Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) Manson family/cult

The Lady Eve (1941), at the Thalia revival theater in NYC (1979) Next: a movie where the heroine is the smartest person in the room

Francis of Assisi 1961 Becket 1964

Patton (1970) Next: a movie you watched with your dad

Great choices; however, didn't see anyone mention Vertigo (which was once compared to Citizen Kane - which I prefer), Notorious, or Family Plot. Rebecca is a great choice (especially if you realize how much Hitchcock clashed with Selznik); also the original Man Who Knew Too Much (with Leslie Banks & Peter Lorre?). or Spellbound. If I had to choose one, I would choose Notorious - great performance by Claude Raines in a supporting role, and, if given the proper intro on TCM, had the perfect example of what Hitchcock referred to as "The MacGuffin" (sp?).

Rear Window is my pick. The Birds is a personal favorite but I know it isn’t his best. I think I’ve seen all his films except perhaps some early silent work as he was my first serious interest in film as he must be for so many.

Human Desire (1954)

The Keys of the Kingdom (1944) The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958) Black Robe (1991) Silence (2016)

1939 - The Cat and the Canary 1940 - The Ghost Breakers 1941 - Nothing But the Truth Next: Don Ameche & Loretta Young

Bonjour Tristesse (1958) TCM 8/10 I just saw this again on TCM this morning. It's a strange but fascinating film with David Niven and Jean Seberg as a father and daughter who act more like lovers. Widower Niven has taken up with an energetic and fun loving younger mistress ( a scene stealing Mylene Demongeot) while he also has a more age appropriate fiancee played by Deborah Kerr. And they all meet up in a gorgeous French Rivera location. This was the same year Niven and Kerr appeared in Separate Tables, she was nominated for an Oscar, he won. When I first saw it, I found it a bit frustrating, I kept thinking "where is this going" and then when I saw the ending (which I won't reveal) , it was devastating and haunting. I understood why the flashbacks were in sumptuous color and present day were in stark black and white. The cinematography is stunning in both, this one cries out to be on Criterion Blu ray. What are your opinions of this one?

I would suggest SHADOW OF A DOUBT. It's very easy to follow, just under 110 minutes and the characters are relatable (even the villain, somewhat.)

Monday, June 21 6:45 a.m. Sunrise at Campobello (1960). Another chance to see Ralph Bellamy’s turn as FDR.

CRIME RING

Betty, aka "Bets" or "Birdie". "Mad Men" is surely one of the great TV shows of the 21st century.

There is no question Psycho is the better film on just about all levels. If I was going to put any stink on it it'd be that it crosses over into horror a bit. And that could be a plus depending on the newbie. You want to get them into Black and White though and if you've got to show Rear Window, North by Northwest or Dial M for Murder to get them there so be it.

I just find it so odd that there are people who cannot or will not watch a black and white movie. Can they also not appreciate a black and white photograph? I used to put it down to intelligence level. (Sorry, but stupid people also tend to be tasteless.) Now there seems to be a sort of reverse cultural snobbery among young people and their attitude toward past tastes and preferences. I have no patience with it. If that's what you're dealing with, then they may not even be receptive to Rear Window, where concerns about sexism might come up, with Grace trying to snare Jimmy into marriage. And Miss Torso. Objectification! Good luck.

I'd have to agree with you on Rear Window, although North by Northwest is a close second. Reason I'd go with with Rear Window is my daughter took a film class as an elective and she found it on her own and she loved it. She's 24 and they have an issue with Black and White. Set the hook with color then roll them into the good stuff.

1933 - Gold Diggers of 1933 1933 - The Life of Jimmy Dolan 1935 - Kind Lady Next: Joan Leslie & Eddie Albert

I watch tv with my guitar in my lap quite a bit and I've taken to trying to play along with theme music as much as possible, and writing down the music when I can, to keep in practice with notation and figuring out rhythmic structures. One of the more challenging themes is "Mannix." I've seen it written different ways and I'm still not sure which transcriptions are accurate. It's an impressive composition, musically, and well-executed by the musicians who played on the recording.

Paprika Steen was in The Love Letter (19) with Blythe Danner. Blythe Danner was in Mr. and Mrs. Bridge (1990) with Paul Newman. Next: Sylvia Miles

The Chosen The Mephitso Waltz Doubt The Pyx True Confessions

Shall We Dance? (1937) Next: Mexican immigrants

The Seventh Seal (1957) Winter Light (1963) The Exorcist (1973) Agnes of God (1985)

I saw this several years ago on TCM, and was attracted to it because of the cryptography angle, which turned out to be nothing, However, I was fairly captivated by Preston's performance as a husband seeking revenge.