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Showing content with the highest reputation on 06/27/2021 in Posts
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The Lady in the Lake (1947) -- Phillip Marlowe's viewpoint (literally) Mommie Dearest (1981) -- Christina Crawford's viewpoint Lolita (1962) -- Humbert Humbert's viewpoint Little Big Man (1970) -- Jack Crabb's viewpoint Sunset Boulevard (1950) -- Joe Gillis's viewpoint The Philadelphia Story (1940) -- seemingly everyone's viewpoint except Katharine Hepburn's Atonement (2007) -- Briony's viewpoint (although we only realize this gradually)5 points
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Rear Window (1954) -- Jeff's point of view Dark Passage (1947) -- Vincent Parry's point of view4 points
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I love Shadow of a Doubt, it's one of my favourite Hitchcock films. I've seen it many times, and each time I get something out of it. For one thing, all the players are perfect in their roles. Nobody could have played Charlie, the innocent but very smart young girl who's the lead character, as well as Teresa Wright does. She really nails the dawning realization that her beloved uncle is not at all what she'd always adoringly thought he was -- it's a key moment in the film when she reads the article in the paper and discovers the truth about him. Wright really captures all the complex emotions Charlie would be feeling: denial (at first), shock, sadness, disillusionment, horror, disgust, and finally, fear. But all the actors are good in this. I really enjoy the ongoing "how to commit murder" conversations between Henry Travers and Hume Cronyn- they're both so funny ! Two bit players who never get mentioned, but who in their own way really add to the flavour of the film, are Charlie's friend Catherine - Estelle Jewell, never saw her in anything else, but she's hilarious as the plain Jane friend who seems ready to flirt with anyone male in sight, even Wallace Ford ! She's always smiling demurely and looking at the ground. Also, another peer of Charlie's, the pretty but weary young waitress at the bar Charlie and her uncle slip into. I think her character's name was Louise, she was played by someone called Janet Shaw (?) I love it that even though she's from the same graduating high school class as Charlie, her path has taken a very different turn. She can't get a "respectable" job, so she's waitressing at the local dive. The way she speaks when she explains why she's working there to Charlie, and when she looks at the ring- there's a world of sadness and resignation and weariness in her voice, even though she can't be any older than 19 or so. She only has about 5 minutes, but they're memorable. One thing that really struck me this time round: Charlie knows her uncle is dangerous, that he's a killer. And yet she clearly does not hide what she knows about him. She cannot pretend that she feels the same way about him. Especially after his two attempts on her life (the broken stair and the carbon monoxide filled garage), you have to wonder why she doesn't try to hide her fear and loathing of him. She makes him suspect she's going to turn him in -- and she would, if not for her concern for her mother. When she finds the incriminating ring back in Uncle Charlie's drawer, instead of keeping it to show her detective boyfriend, she walks down the stairs and clearly reveals it to her uncle. Why wouldn't she by this time have been fearful that any further indication from her that she is a threat to his escape will endanger her? Of course, it makes for very dramatic cinema, I guess that's why. It's interesting that Uncle Charlie's dark deeds all occur off-camera, before the story begins. This way it's easier to understand why the innocent Newton family trust and like him so much. Well, not all of them. Just as dogs always seem to know a bad 'un one they see one, the two kids, especially the precocious little girl, Ann, know there's something wrong with him. Anyway, I understand why Eddie includes this as a noir. It's the idea of evil lurking in the midst of goodness, that things are not what they seem. It's the idea of being trapped. Not Uncle Charlie, it's young Charlie who's trapped. She knows her uncle's terrible secret, but feels she can't do anything about it. One could make an argument that almost all Hitchcock's work in one way or another is noir (except for Mr. and Mrs. Smith ), because there's darkness of one kind or another in so many of them. But Hitch 's movies are in a category of their own, so I suppose if you had to say one of them was a film noir, Shadow of a Doubt would fit the bill.4 points
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I enjoyed Eddie Mulller’s intro and outro, as I always do, so I hate to point out a factual error in his SHADOW OF A DOUBT intro. While talking about the interesting and varied group of writers that contributed to the script, Eddie said that writer Sally Benson wrote a book called “Junior Miss” that became the basis for the movie MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS. This wasn’t the case. Benson’s book “Junior Miss” was actually the basis for a play, movie, and radio show of the same name. (By the way, the movie JUNIOR MISS is excellent.) MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS was instead based on Benson’s series of vignettes in The New Yorker published under the title “5135 Kensington,” an address mentioned in the movie’s song “The Boy Next Door.” Benson was a versatile writer. Besides SHADOW OF A DOUBT, she also wrote screenplays for movies as varied as ANNA AND THE KING OF SIAM and VIVA LAS VEGAS. Anyway, aside from this one glitch, Eddie did his usual great job of choosing and introducing an interesting and, to me, unexpected movie for Noir Alley this week. Thanks, Eddie!4 points
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Shadow Of A Doubt (1943) was on Noir Alley. This is my favorite Hitchcock film and also in my top ten favorite films of all time. One thing I liked about it is the killer, Uncle Charlie is one of the most unlikely villains in movies up to that time. He is a well dressed, charming gentleman so no one would suspect. His niece, also named Charlie, adores him and when she finds out the truth, her whole world is shattered. Both of them feel that they more than uncle and niece, more like twins. But Uncle Charlie is the dark side whereas Young Charlie is sweetness and light. We first meet Uncle Charlie in a depressing boarding house and then we see Young Charlie's idyllic, almost dream like small town. Then Uncle Charlie arrives and brings nightmares. One of the most striking and "noir" like scenes is when the two confront each other in shadow, Young Charlie shows a bit a of dark side when she threatens to kill her uncle. There is also expected black comedy relief supplied by the eccentric neighbor Herbie, who is fascinated by murder stories, not realizing a real murderer is living next to him. Hitchcock supplies all his usual ingredients as well as the final ironic touch of Uncle Charlie being hailed as a great man by townspeople.4 points
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Alice Guy-Blaché - Basically invented the role of " film director", as being separate from the camera operator. You might need tissues.4 points
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the depression...from the viewpoint of the haves...(This Modern Age) and from the view of the have-nots (The Grapes of Wrath) consistently tipsy is chic in The Thin Man but anything but glamourous in The Lost Weekend It's a totally male viewpoint in A Guide For the Married Man--every pretty young woman is eager to have an affair with a middle age man. ..3 points
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There was a game called Duke Nukem it was an early (30 years ago) first person shooter, HUGLY popular. Like most very popular games back then there were many, many maps and mods created by users, some very well done. A very gifted guy created a Shining version. He began it in 1997 and it took him 9 months to complete. The 'Read Me' file that downloaded with the patch files was a diary of the entire process. He had to rewatch the film "millions" of times to get the map as accurate as possible, then created skins of the primary characters. It's legendary and still available. https://www.moddb.com/games/duke-nukem-3d/addons/redrum3 points
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Summer heat is important to the story in "Rear Window" directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The heat adds to the frustration and discomfort of the Jimmy Stewart character who is confined to his apartment and wearing a cast. The heat also plays a part in the open windows and doors allowing the Stewart character to view his neighbors more easily. It seems that many people didn't use air conditioning when this film was made. I love the use of sound in this film - the echoing piano music, street sounds, mingled voices and of course the chilling sound of the murderer's footsteps approaching Stewart in his apartment. Hitchcock took such care with all the details in his films.3 points
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Here's the full schedule https://prod-images.tcm.com/Microsites/SUTS/2021/schedule.pdf3 points
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3 points
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Perhaps.... Then again... 😖😖😖 Definite Maybe.... Not only... 👿👿 But also... 🙈🙉🙊3 points
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Indeed. Kitties, whether grown or little, should never, ever be harmed. They are my favorite earthlings absolutely.3 points
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Kim Novak was NOT in Rear Window, that would be Grace Kelly. Kim was in Vertigo. And Doris Day was in the second version of The Man Who Knew Too Much. Eva Marie Saint was in North by Northwest. All these women were talented, beautiful actresses. I don't mean to be all wrist-slappy and judgemental, but honestly, Thompson, it's a pretty easy matter to look up who appeared in which Hitchcock films.2 points
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To Kill a Mockingbird - Scout's Point of View A Letter to Three Wives - the unseen narrator (great Celeste Holm) Rebecca (the 2nd Mrs. DeWitt's point of view) Most Holmes and Watson were told from Watson's point of view Henry Hill's view in Goodfellas2 points
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That's Tippi Hedren who also starred in Hitchcock's Marni (1964). According to her auto-bio, Hitch, who loved to cast blondes in his movies, became very upset with her when she wouldn't "play ball" with him, telling her that he would ruin her career, which apparently he did. The brunette in The Birds is Suzanne Pleshette who played Bob Newhart's wife in his sitcom The Bob Newhart Show for 6 seasons in the 1970s.2 points
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Eugene Pallette (1889-1954), from Winfield, KS Many know his face -- and voice -- but not his name. next: greater than five divorces2 points
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I wish he had spoke more about what makes this a "noir" film. He doesn't even mention the shadowy confrontation scene between the two Charlies.2 points
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Nancy Walker (for Bounty). Great job as Rhoda's mother. Next: their biographical info may not stand up against a fact check2 points
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Having read the King novel before, it's IMHO that Kubrick's flick is an absolute waste of time and money. But I'm intending to address the abridged quote up there.... Having had two Uncles that owned a restaurant and at which my Mother sometimes worked at to help and pick up a few bucks in, and where I've spent a lot of time hanging around in, and not to mention the five different restaurants I've worked in over the years, I can say you might(or not) be surprised at just HOW MUCH of the food they serve comes out of cans! Sepiatone2 points
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My paper used to carry a comic strip called "Curtis" which covered the adventures of an African-American kid, and often featured his favorite pastime of watching the ladies come down the aisle of his church and laugh at the hats they'd wear. It was the only reason he liked going to church. And indeed, this legendary icon probably never wore THIS hat to church! Likely the only other man made object, after the Great Wall of China, that can bee seen from outer space! Sepiatone2 points
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You once alluded to how I like to argue. But I gotta say----- No argument HERE about that! My daughter recently complained, "Mtv has really changed. They don't really show many, if any music videos anymore." So I replied; "So they changed for the better. What's the complaint?" Sepiatone2 points
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Harrison was quite menacing in What Lies Beneath. I don't find Nicholson particularly scary. Nutty, yes. Scary, no. Duvall is nearly defenseless and she's still a fair match. It's the other Overlook 'guests' like the twins and that ghoul broad in the bathtub that would send me packing on my BigWheel knockoff.2 points
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Because Rod Taylor was suffering from a case of Eloi fever. Anyway, Rod's loss was Bob Newhart's gain.2 points
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Writer/Director Marcel Pagnol, most famous for the Marseilles trilogy, FANNY, CESAR, & MARIUS (remade later) as well as THE BAKER'S WIFE (remade in English and turned into a Broadway musical) whose autobiographical books became LE CHATEAU DE MA MERE and LA GLOIRE DE MON PERE directed by Yves Robert2 points
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For some reason, it's currently unavailable on Amazon (even on Britbox and Acorn's paywalls), but it's on disk, FWIW. Thank goodness YouTube is still the wild, wild West of movie rights. And Fry & Laurie are the definition of Born-to-Play casting:2 points
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Home A/C was neither readily available nor affordable for most people in the early 50s. It was somewhat of a luxury item, even in the south and in the desert SW. It became much more common in the late 50s and early 60s as the technology got cheaper and people had more disposable income. That's when home central A/C started becoming the norm in new houses being built (in the south, anyway). A/C is one reason cities in Texas and the southwest (Phoenix, Las Vegas, etc) and other places in the south (Atlanta, NC, FL) have grown so quickly in the last 50 years. Houston only got its baseball franchise in 1962 because the proposed owners promised they would build an indoor, air-conditioned stadium. They got their team in 62 and had to wait 3 years before the Astrodome opened. Until then, the teams and fans battled the oppressive heat, humidity and mosquitos that define a Houston summer.1 point
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Thanks so much for the heads up about this being available on Youtube. I had always wanted to see it, but had just never gotten around to it. You're right, it was quite good, and very interesting to see some of the differences between this and the film version. With a run time of just over 50 minutes, they really had to get in and get out while hitting all the story beats, with little to no wasted motion so to speak.1 point
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I believe Wayne Rogers became very wealthy in Southern California real estate....and he was in COOL HAND LUKE (1967) Next: Became a noted tv commercial spokesman/woman1 point
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A few more thoughts on THE SHINING: 1. IMAGINE HARRISON FORD in the part. (It helps if you’ve seen THE MOSQUITO COAST.) 2. He’s a very very nice man, but Mr. Halloran must be an *awful* cook to use all that canned food. 3. I’m going to post the trailer for the movie below. It’s amazing that the MPAA signed off on this in (checks notes) 1980. It’s not for the squeamish, but worth checking out because they use an extended version of the shot in the film which shows some of the furniture in the lobby being carried along with the tidal wave of blood.1 point
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How the West Was Won next: Barbara Bain, Martin Landau and Catherine Schell1 point
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I'm pretty sure they issue the heart of gold when you graduate the fully accredited hooker school. Problem is that pimps often commandeer the heart of gold so you gotta be very thorough when screening potential hookers. Ask to see that heart of gold. Or you could just wait to see if they buy you breakfast.1 point
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Oh, that's right. So ... just French composers? Maybe? 1. Pygmalion --music by Arthur Honegger 2. The Private Affairs of Bel Ami--Over the Waves , Written by Juventino Rosas, Arranged by Darius Milhaud 3. Roman Holiday --Georges Auric...(music score by) 4. Lady L--Music by Jean Françaix 5. Under the Sun of Satan --music by Henri Dutilleux1 point
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Turns out there was only a quick mention of the new biography in the outro to The Paleface. Too bad, because it's really well written and researched. (She previously wrote a well-received bio of Ann Dvorak.) Both the book and the TCM salute were meant to coincide with Jane's Centennial, but nobody brought them together in a meaningful way. Alicia Malone repeated the usual things about marrying her high school sweetheart, when the reality was that Jane and Bob Waterfield had a very complicated (and occasionally abusive) relationship. The program consisted of her first, third and fourth films, so it would have been nice to see something from further along in her career, if only for a little balance. She remained under contract to Howard Hughes for over 35 years, so it would have been informative to hear how that worked in terms of what she was able to do. It's a shame that such comprehensive new material (the first and only major biography of Russell) wasn't included in the discussion around these three films.1 point
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Oh this pinhead thing as well. This is what we West Virginians think should had been done to that gun toting racoon!1 point
