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I've always thought the chemistry between these two in Raiders was palpable... And for that matter, I've always thought it was there with Ford and Kelly McGillis here in Witness too... (...of course then again, maybe its just in the hats he wore in these two flicks, eh Moe?!)

Bonfire of the Vanities - Now Showing on TCM A 30 year old satirical depiction of PC corruption gone wild which has come to be reality in 2021. Hanks, a wealthy white man is railroaded for a crime never committed by a race baiting religious huckster and a district attorney concerned with his career more than truth and justice. The movie would be unwatchable were it not for how unintentionally timely it is and for Bruce Willis being Bruce Willis and Melanie Griffith being Melanie Griffith, both of whom are always solidly just above mediocre. OH, and Morgan Freeman, the judge presiding over the fraud of a case has a moment to shine at the end, and does. Julie Salamon, Ben's guest host was a real treat. Looking forward to hearing more from her.

I kind of like the idea of the host passing judgement on the selections. At least in the case for Underground. I think it fits the cult movie fan attitude perfectly. Unlike most mainstream film fans the followers of a cult film will argue vociferously with anyone who disagrees that their particular film isn't the greatest piece of true art to ever be captured on celluloid. I, myself got into a days long kerfuffle because I stated that I felt Val Lewton's RKO horror noire was the pinnacle of horror film. This was totally incorrect to another poor misguided poster who argued that horror movies didn't even truly start until the Hershel Gordon Lewis gore fests in the '60s. So I could see some great entertainment value in some contentious host curling their lip and sneering, "Our first film tonight is Astro-Zombies a nonsensical piece of trash from the most inept director of all time Ted V. Mikels. Go walk your dog for the next 88 minutes. The stuff he drops will be more entertaining and stink less."

I'm probably the only one here but I enjoyed Bonfires and if you listened to what Julie Salamon said in the outro, she liked Bonfires of the Vanities too. She said it was a fun film and I agree. The film has it's faults, Melanie, Kim Cattrall, F. Murray Abraham's performances were a little too over the top but the film held my attention and I think all the criticism it received was too harsh and not deserved. I agree Moe, sadly, the film is very timely, but I found the film very watchable

Even though everyone thinks Grace Jones is so exotic-remember, she's from Syracuse NY. Her twin brother stayed living here for many years. I have lots of friends who knew them in school. I think hosting UNDERGROUND is a tightrope gig, just look at how you all talk about it "just grab anyone (weird) off the street". Can you imagine the howling arguments they would cause if they passed any judgement on the film showing? Even saying, "not as bad as you would think" has connotations & judgement and could be really insulting to those who gave it their best. An Underground Host would need to talk intelligently about the making of the film, those involved & public reception. For decades people spoke disparagingly of Roger Corman and only recently have his movies gained appreciation for their economy, delivering product on a shoestring budget & a training ground for young, budding talent. I like having the films stand on their own- in retrospect some work, others not so much. I believe I have already seen THE LAST OF SHEILA & liked it, but have forgotten it. The only bonus of having memory loss, everything old is new again!

There's Something About Mary

From the week: Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble (1944) Enjoyed it. Glad to see the character at University. McCabe & Mrs Miller (1971) Didn't care for it. Found it boring- but they did get the dreariness of the Pacific NW correct. Andy Hardy's Private Secretary (1941) Liked it. Many storylines going on and feels like failing a test and not graduating was introduced a bit late and then kind of took over, but still liked it. Saturday Night Fever (1977) Classic time-capsule cheese. The group of friends are quite rapey, aren't they. Guilty Bystander (1950) Watched it on Noir Alley Saturday and I've already forgotten most of it, so didn't exactly leave a strong impression. The Lady Vanishes (1938) Early Hitchcock. Wish I'd watched this one sooner. Love Laughs at Andy Hardy (1946) Another enjoyable film in the long series. The second of two set in University. Sabotage (1936) Even earlier Hitchcock. Watched on a DVD collection I picked up years ago for cheap and the transfer isn't the best and the dialogue was hard to follow clearly and there were no subtitles- so i feel like I half-assed watched it.

The liter of what? And did you actually measure it? Well, I had an OK 4th. My street had it's traditional "make our street sound like the D-Day invasion" amount of fireworks. Sepiatone

The Iron Lady Platinum Blonde Arsenic and Old Lace Rock 'n' Roll High School

You mean like this?... (...nope, probably not anymore now days, huh)

it's times like this when I kinda want to post the NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE NUMBER...

Pennies From Heaven(1981)

For the men, I like Ward Bond in everything. With all the movies he did coupled with Wagon Train, he certainly had enough roles to notice a stinker, which I haven't seen yet. Next would be Jimmy Cagney. I not only find his gangster roles excellent but also his dramatic roles and those as a dancer. Last, Barry Fitzgerald. I have seen him a great many times and, as someone I can not take my eyes off, always think he is good. For the women, always Greer Garson. I have loved and been convinced of her character in everything I have seen. Maureen O' Hara, same thing. Last, I like Natalie Wood in all her roles from childhood through being an adult. As extra credit: Raymond Massey

Topics such as this make me wonder whom among those working in the movies today will be regarded as classic stars one hundred years hence. Certainly there are plenty of contemporary actors and actresses who make us say, "Wow, did you see what Joe Shmoe did in that movie?", but the regrettable thing about that is we are still supremely aware that Joe Shmoe is playing a role. One contemporary actor who never falls into this category for me is Gary Oldman. He can completely disappear into a role, such that I sometimes don't even remember that it's HIM.

I only live about 55-60 miles outside Atlanta. I think that's where TCM does its taping -- or at least some of its taping. I'm available to introduce bad movies! I own bunches of bad films in my video collection. I have no qualms about speaking of low-budget/low-grade/low-rent movies. I feel I could offer a degree of dignity whilst introducing a movie like OVERSEXED RUGSUCKERS FROM MARS.

I'm thinking just grab someone off the street who looks the part... Give them a cape, dark glasses and a flashlight, and tell them to go talk to the camera about a bad experience they once had. Then play whatever movie. Like local TV used to do. People would watch just to see whatever crackpot they found.

Chicken Run (2000) It is very difficult to escape from a WWII-style prison camp. It is even harder when you are a chicken who has to plan your escape while still laying at least one egg a day to prevent being chosen for the chopping block. This is very much a remake of: The Great Escape (1963) set on an egg-farm in 1950s England. The tunneling, time in solitary and Rocky jumping a fence on a tricycle were lifted directly from the original. The plot, music and desperation all mimic it closely. I love this movie very much! It is pure fun. Every aspect simply screams inspired imagination. The characters are so very expressive. It is quite wonderful that the farm owner is suspicious of the chickens and is so very hen-pecked by his tall and lanky wife who considers him a perfect idiot. That is obviously not true because no one is perfect. I must admit that he does come close but he is definitely right that those chickens are up to something. 9.3/10 I am sorry to say that I can find it available for streaming only on: Amazon Prime Video. I imagine that most libraries might carry it because of its status as a children's movie.

Regarding romance movies..for me a thread is needed, Romances You Don't Hate. Just 2.. Don't know if sparing us a sex scene was a good idea or not. Would had been {ow} an eyeful.

Whenever Audrey Hepburn is paired with a guy old enough to be her father. With Bogart in SABRINA (she has more chemistry with William Holden). With Gary Cooper in LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON (a major mismatch). With Rex Harrison in MY FAIR LADY (another unconvincing pairing).

So growing up in my small town of 25,000, kids complained there was nothing to do, so they dragged the strip. The same thing kids did in a city of millions. Go figure. We had Dean Pitchford show up at our high school doing research on small-town high school life while he was writing Footloose. I guess he could've stayed in LA...

Speaking of June Ellen's DONUTS in the context of film, the establishment's space eventually was occupied by a BLOCKBUSTER VIDEO at one time.

Anything with Richard Benjamin in it is good. Anything.

Ed Sullivan from Bye Bye Birdie next--another song that mentions a real person

My state passed a law within the past five years that makes it a felony for anyone working in education to have sexual relations with an 18-year-old student, as this appeared to an exploitable loophole that was upsetting people.

Totally agree. My favorite Irene Dunne performance was her portrayal of Marta Hanson in 1948's I Remember Mama. Favorite Fredric March performance was his turn as Al Stephenson in 1946's The Best Years of Our Lives.

GAD! We're getting some really hyper sensitive people 'round here lately. But while initially the relationship between Harold and Maude might seem "creepy" to some, it really did point out that love can't be planned or orchestrated( as in Harold's Mother's attempts to "fix him up".) and had no age-to-age restrictions or requirements. If it did, I might have never married my second wife(ten years my senior). And it's about opening your heart and not caring about how other people feel about it. but how YOU feel. Who knows, CHAYA..... The love of YOUR life might wind up being some pruney codger old enough to be your Grandpa! Sepiatone

Last night, watched Bonfire of Brian De Palma's Vanities. I think Hanks was more likable when he played a Hitman in Road to Perdition (great movie).

Copper Canyon (1950) Hot Lead and Cold Feet (1978) The Tin Drum (1979) Steel Magnolias (1989) Iron Man (2008)

Green Dolphin Street (1947) Next: Volcano that doesn't erupt

MONEYBALL (2011)

BRUCE WILLIS has his moments, really and truly (PULP FICTION and DEATH BECOMES HER come to mind, also the original DIE HARD.) But more often than not, he is on AUTOPILOT. Not too long ago, I rewatched BODY DOUBLE for the first time in ages and was struck by how delightful and uninhibited and bold MELANIE GRIFFITH is in that film...I know her career post WORKING GIRL has basically been DRESDEN, 1945, but dangit, I can't help but like her.

LE MILLION

ONE FOR THE MONEY (2012)

The Poor Rich(1934)

Amadeus(1984)

Lee Pace as Thranduil the Elvenking in The Hobbit trilogy. Brent Spiner as Mr. Data from the Star Trek franchise.

"What'll I Do?" (1924) Next: song about a garment of some sort

I'd add Barbara Harris to the list. She's had success both on the stage and screen, but underappreciated. She was a founding member of the Chicago improv group that preceded Second City. She almost always got good reviews, even if the material was lackluster. She's probably best known by this crowd for Hitchcock's last film, Family Plot, and for her turn in Nashville.

I nominate GRACE JONES. I would watch the **** out of every episode too.

Van, Bobby

Tomahawk 1951

These Three

Jeffrey Lynn was short-listed for the part of Ashley Wilkes and there's a screen test he made with Paulette Goddard which Selznick ran repeatedly because Paulette practically had the part of Scarlett wrapped up. Just imagine; he could have been so ubiquitous there'd be no avoiding him.

Yul Brynner Next: WELCOME TO MOOSEPORT (2004)

Hey, Bigfoott said he was refused a ticket!

Not Wanted

"Mon Dieu! le requin a gâché notre voyage sur le bateau banane!"

To this group of excellent character actors I would add Doris Roberts, Will Geer and Hal Holbrook. They never disappoint the audience.