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SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT , dir. Ingmar Bergman, 1955 Seemed like a good time of year to watch this one, given it's the middle of July. I'd seen it a few times before, I think this was my 3rd or 4th viewing. But it takes several viewings to get it, at least it did for me. The first time I saw Smiles of a Summer Night I wasn't sure what I thought of it, and I certainly didn't recognize it as a comedy, which is what it's billed as. I did kind of like it though. I liked the lush Swedish scenery, the lovely countryside where the second half of the film takes place. I enjoyed the detail of the late 19th century costumes, particularly the women's. It is a visually appealing film, full of delightful Swedish villas (if that's the right word) and charming actors. All four of the lead female actors are exceptionally beautiful. But beauty's not enough without substance, and Smiles of a Summer Night, piece of fluff though it in some ways is, offers food for thought and insights about the arbitrary and unruly nature of love. It's about eight people, all of whom are unsure as to who they love, or even who they want to love. The main character is a (seemingly) straight-laced lawyer who's been married to a young woman (very young - about 18). They have not yet consummated the marriage, even though they've been married for two years. The young wife says she wants to wait until she's "ready". This part of the story reminded me of Baby Doll, although Smiles is much sunnier -- there's not the underlying darkness you sense in much of the former film. The lawyer is much older than his wife, he must be in his mid-forties. So there's a general unease about this match. To complicate matters, the lawyer has a son, roughly the same age as the wife, who's just returned home from studying theology at university. There's also a beautiful independent-minded actress, much more age-appropriate for the lawyer than the wife ; a soldier who is having an affair with this actress, despite the fact that he also has a beautiful young wife. The soldier is delightfully pompous, I found him quite funny. There's also a couple of servants: a philosophical hedonist who works at the country estate where much of the action takes place, and a very pretty, very cheeky maid. I don't know who the actress was who played the maid, but she's outrageously funny and sexy, constantly flirting with the lawyer's young guilt-ridden son, and swaying her hips and rear end enticingly at anyone who'll look at her. The story revolves around these eight people and their indecision as to who they truly want to be with. The first time I saw it, I took it too seriously and worried about how seemingly unhappy some of these characters appeared to be. I couldn't understand why it was regarded as a comedy. But upon subsequent viewings, and especially this last time I watched it, I thought it was most definitely a comedy, a hilarious one at that. It's not so much about belly laughs or slapstick, nor is it in the cleverness of the dialogue (the dialogue may be clever, but since it's in Swedish, that part of it would have been missed by me. ) I think the humour of Smiles of a Summer Night is all about the characters, how they react to each other. There's a delicious combination of pomposity, guilt, ( mostly guilt about lustful feelings), desire, misplaced love, jealousy, and scheming. All's well that ends well by the film's conclusion, but we have fun watching these confused yet likable people along the way. It's a pleasant experience.

I think there have been a few Noir Alley features with subtitles, but offhand I can think of only one. Back at the beginning of this year sometime, Eddie featured Ascenseur pour l'Echafaud (Elevator to the Gallows ), a 1958 film directed by Louis Malle. I thought it was really good, in fact, after seeing it on Noir Alley I got the Criterion DVD of it. By the way, there are many non-American and non-English language noirs. Here's a link to a list of a whole bunch of them. I'm sorry to say I've only seen one or two of them. If Eddie decided to obtain some of these and show them on Noir Alley I'd be delighted. https://www.flavorwire.com/528969/50-international-film-noir-classics-that-everyone-should-see

Reed also directed a sort of follow-up to The Third Man that starred his Odd Man Out lead James Mason titled The Man Between. It's another film set in the immediate post-WWII Europe, but this time in Berlin. I think you might like this one too, Stallion. (...I've considered it an oft overlooked gem in Reed's filmography since I first watched it on TCM maybe 15-20 years ago now)

I just watched The Third Man for the second or third time. I just started watching classic movies about a year and a half ago and have about two or three movies I will watch repeatedly, out of about 600 I have seen in that time, and this movie has become one of them. There are some elements to the movie that are outstanding to me. The zither music is so unique and good that I love it. I also enjoy the feel of being there in the immediate aftermath of WW2, the real rubble around Vienna being prominent. Also, the image of the walk of the woman at the end gives such a picture of endlessness. Last is the lighting, photography and the set itself n the sewer system. Those components, and the imagined smell, along with the suspense of the chase, make that part of the movie unforgettable.

This car was going to kill Julian Osborn (Fred Astaire) one way or another in On The Beach... I seem to remember in the book, Julian had a Lotus.

It would. You could drop the "THE" and you'd have a moniker for an old yenta stripper.

Something tells me Eddie found his right calling. I don’t think he would’ve made a very good insurance salesman. and a lousy kindergarten teacher...

Five Fingers is a fine, intelligent, understated spy drama based on real events that transpired in neutral Turkey during WW2. James Mason is perfectly cast as a secretary at the British embassy securing intelligence secrets for the Germans. The film also benefits from some highly clever dialogue, dryly delivered by the cast. Probably my favourite line comes from Danielle Darrieux as a countess who, politically, blows with whichever wind allows her to live a lifestyle of luxury. At one point she catches a German courier of meager economic means looking at her longingly. Darrieux's response, "Please do not look at me as if you have a source of income other than your salary." This is arguably my favourite James Mason film in which he has the lead role.

Reggie Jackson, looking resplendent in Charley O gaudiness, hit the transformer at Detroit fifty years ago on this very day - presumably the germ for the lights scene in The NATURAL (1984):

I just watched The Big Country. It was interesting seeing Charlton Heston in a supporting role, although a very vital one. I thought Burl Ives was very good and it was not hard to root for Gregory Peck to end up with Jean Simmons rather than Carol Baker. I realize Gregory Peck's production company was involved with the movie and he certainly was the hero. I also think William Wyler did a very good job of directing, although westerns were not typically his thing. Most surprising was hearing in the pre-movie comments that Wyler and Peck weren't speaking to each other by the end of production and it took them three years before they reconciled.

With the Standells drop within the context of film:

I would've been especially jealous if Moe Howard had dropped an Embraceable Ewe... If I correctly recall, the Embraceable Ewes briefly sported something akin to Raquel Welch's suit seen here in Fathom (1967) - you'll notice I typed "briefly":

Wow. At first I thought the idea might be movie theaters will start offering movie ownership via DVDs sold in their lobbies. But I don't think streaming will totally replace theaters as: Not EVERYBODY in this country streams. And there's no such thing as "theater quality" popcorn you can make at home. Believe me, I've tried 'em all. And even the largest LED/plasma screen you can find at Sam's Club or Costco, as impressive they look in the store or in anybody with the room in their house and has one can compare(IMHO) to how a movie looks on a theater's screen. Sepiatone

He was indeed in Mr. Blandings! Played the narrator and Cary's best friend/attorney. His dry sense of humor matched well with Grant and Loy. Excellent actor!

Some Like it Hot

Never Say Never Again (1983) Skyfall (2012) Casino Royale (2006) The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) Two Weeks Notice (2002)

I love that movie! One of the top three baseball movies and one of the best sports movies of all time in my opinion. I remember the critics were less enamoured with it than I when it was released. Their biggest gripes as I remember were the ending was the exact opposite of Bernard Malamud's novel, giving it an old fashioned 1930s studio system style ending (movie did it the right way. I hated the ending of Malamud's). The other major bone of contention was the larger than life almost caricaturization (don't know if that's even a word but I'm using it. Me an' Billy Shakespeare baby. Me an' Billy Shakespeare) of the characters into heroes and villains. However that was the whole point of the film. The filmmaker's love of baseball is obvious here. Growing up and becoming a baseball fan of my hometowns Cincinnati Reds Big Red Machine era, I recognize exactly what Levinson, Redford, and the screenwriters were going for. Those guys on the diamond weren't mere mortals, they were honest to God mythic heroes right alongside Achilles, Hercules, Odysseus and Beowulf. They battled daily and we got to witness it in all its splendor. This wasn't a movie about baseball. It was a tribute to the love of Baseball. And a fine tribute it is.

Still looks great. This is from a 2020 screening of Sunset Blvd

I understand. Whenever I look at those running board type cars all I hear is it rattling down the road. Still like the way they look. I'd clear a corner in the man cave for it. That MG A will cost you a wee bit more which gets you close to Austin Healey 3000 territory like this one from The Pleasure Seekers from 1964. There's also a MG B in the movie. Side note. My first car at 15 was a MG Midget. I sold my horse to buy it. Those British Leyland cars will make a mechanic out you in short order.

Espionage Agent (1939) SOURCE: TCM This film was recorded awhile back. I believe that I recorded it for Joel McCrea. He was excellent in this film; but that is really all I can say about it. Thank goodness he would appear in Foreign Correspondent the next year. It is far superior to this film which has a similar theme. In Espionage Agent, McCrea plays Barry Corvall, an ambassador at the US Consulate in Tangiers in N. Africa. Dozens of desperate Americans beg to be allowed to leave Morocco. One of the desperate Americans is Brenda Ballard (Brenda Marshall), who presents a forged passport to get out of the country. She was given the fake passport in exchange for her espionage services for the Germans. Barry becomes infatuated with Brenda even after he attends schooling to become a diplomat. He passes the diplomat exams and is assigned to a post in Paris. Much to his mother's chagrin, he becomes engaged (and later, married) to Brenda. However, a colleague of Brenda's, German spy Karl Muller, asks her to use Barry's diplomatic position to steal some secret plans. Brenda then ends up confessing her past to Barry, who promptly resigns from his diplomatic position. He and Brenda join forces and work together to expose the German espionage ring. Frankly, this film was much less exciting than the synopsis. I was bored with the film until the last act when Barry and Brenda work together to infiltrate and expose the German spy ring. Before that, the film moved very slowly and was difficult to really know what was going on. Brenda Marshall is a very boring leading lady. She is pretty and pleasant enough, but she is just so bland and dull. She lacks the charisma that McCrea has. Marshall's best role, imo, is her appearance as "Mrs. William Holden" in "The Fashion Show" episode of I Love Lucy. McCrea is honestly the only thing that keeps this film from being a complete dud, but even he isn't able to show off his usual panache. I much prefer McCrea in Foreign Correspondent over this film. While Laraine Day isn't as exciting as say Bette Davis, she's much more interesting than Brenda Marshall. But Foreign Correspondent has George Sanders, who has personality in spades. Espionage Agent was very meh. I would not be clamoring to watch this again.

"Boomerang" (1947) A courtroom drama. Starring Dana Andrews and Arthur Kennedy "Boomerang" (1992) A romantic comedy. Starring Eddie Murphy, Halle Berry, and Robin Givens __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ "Road House" (1989) An action romance drama, Starring Patrick Swayze and Kelly Lynch. "Road House" (1948) A film noir romance drama. Starring Ida Lupino, Cornel Wilde, Richard Widmark, and Celeste Holm. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ "Gladiator" (1992) A drama about two young friends involved in an illegal boxing operation. Starring James Marshall and Cuba Gooding, Jr. "Gladiator" (2000) A historical sword-and-sandal epic set in ancient Rome. Starring Russell Crowe and Oliver Reed. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ "Possessed" (1931) A pre-Code romantic drama starring Joan Crawford and Clark Gable. "Possessed" (1947) A psychological drama about a woman who, after being coldly dumped and discarded by her uncaring and amoral boyfriend, marries her recently widowed boss, only to find her ex-boyfriend re-entering her life and seducing her new college student stepdaughter, again starring Joan Crawford, and also starring Raymond Massey, Van Heflin, and Geraldine Brooks. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ "Dressed To Kill" (1980) A serial killer murders a middle-aged woman, whose son then sets out to nail him - with the help of a prostitute who was also targeted by the same killer. Starring Keith Gordon, Nancy Allen, Michael Caine, and Angie Dickinson. "Dressed to Kill" (1946) A classic Sherlock Holmes mystery. Starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ "The Fan" (1981) A Broadway diva is stalked and menaced by a murderous young man. Starring Lauren Bacall and Michael Biehn. "The Fan" (1996) A baseball star is menaced and threatened by a dangerous and demented sports fanatic. Starring Wesley Snipes, Robert DeNiro, and Ellen Barkin. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ "The Chase" (1966) A crime drama/slice-of-life-drama set in a Southern town, starring Marlon Brando, Jane Fonda, Robert Redford, and Angie Dickinson. "The Chase" (1994) An adventure-comedy about a fugitive man and a young woman and the romance that develops between them while fleeing the police. Starring Charlie Sheen and Kristy Swanson. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Most people think he was an original cast member on Night Court but I believe he joined at the start of the second season. He was very memorable playing the "straight man" clerk to Harry Anderson's wacky judge. Great delivery of zingers and deadpan expressions. As the bartender on Love & War he was once again in his element. Rest in peace.

Did everybody know classic movies used to be on the Disney Channel? I was watching some promos on YouTube yesterday. I subscribed to all kinds of those YouTube channels. On Triple Feature Friday they had a Cary Grant triple feature and when The Magical World Of Disney was on seven nights a week. They had a fee-line theme and one of the movies was Bringing Up Baby. They would have Elvis movies. Frank Sinatra movies and concerts. All kinds of really cool stuff on the Disney Channel. Along with Disney stuff of course. Before it was what it is now. I miss those days and here on TCM they’ve got great programming of course.

Which reminds me, IIRC HIGH BEAM headlights were actually the norm first! It was low beams that followed. Seems odd to me for some reason, I'd think would have been the other way around. Here's Raquel as Myra Breckenridge driving her/his 1947 Lincoln Continental Convertible Cabriolet. NICE sealed beams on that one!

But what are their signs! That's what we all are dying to know! Quick get Alicia on the horn and her soggy sidekick astrologist!

That's it! Now I've got no choice but to hunt it down so I can find out what it is they're looking for and whether or not they find it. Sorry London After Midnight. Apologies uncut Magnificent Ambersons and Greed. You've been kicked down on Ed's Holy Grail list.

Pride was definitely on my list but I was thinking Field of Dreams to round out the top three. More I consider it though, I'd say you nailed it! Eight Men Out, even though it was about a dark spot on the game, had one of the best casts I've seen in movies. Everyone played their roles perfectly! Yeah, I'm going with your three too. There's been a lot of really well done baseball movies made. Field of Dreams, A League of Their Own, Major League, Bull Durham, the list of great ones goes on and on. Definitely more than any other sport. Boxing would probably be the closest and it's way back in the race.

I didn't read Malamaud's book until after I saw the movie. But I'm with ya on this. Malamaud's Hobbs was a self centered jerk, compared to Towne and Dusenberry's adaptation making him a likable and all around nice guy but not one to be reckoned with. A favorite movie of mine too, Ed. And SHEAR... I remember that game. Happened at my home team's house! Sepiatone

22 years ago in film school my professor predicted that one day people will be watching new movies premiere on their living room TV's but just like how people go to bars to drink alcohol, people will still pay to go see films in the theater for the the experience of seeing a movie in a theater. I think the pandemic has pushed this to happen much sooner, but i still think my professor's prediction makes sense as a likely scenario.

You have me wondering what the other two are, Citizen Ed... Here are my other two: THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES (1942) and EIGHT MEN OUT (1988).

THE SYNOPSIS COPIED AND PASTED FROM IMDB: Filmed on location in the crystal waters of the Devil's Triangle. Steamy Sex combined with beautiful underwater photography. This is a treasure hunt to end all treasure hunts. We won't spoil the plot by telling you what gorgeous Patricia Rivers and virile Mike Cone are looking for, or whether they find it, but we will guarantee that for the viewer there's treasure of every kind in every last frame of this movie. The Triangle will LURE you in!

Oh Honey, you don't even wanna know what's on top of my Christmas tree..... (KIDDING)

If we're going to post cars from movies we are personally familiar with, in this shot from Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo, I get a three fer. Way in back is a green 911, love 911s, probably the best all around sports car. Peeking from behind flagman and the 917 kit car is Herbie, a VW Bug, love them too. Simple to work on, easily modded and parts are inexpensive. On the front row (only in the movies) is a 71 De Tomaso Pantera. Like that Raiderette I dated, I love the way it looks but it's a PITA. They are notorious for overheating in traffic and oversteering at speed, which is why they can go from the second pic to the third quickly if you don't treat the car like a loaded gun with a faulty trigger. The last pic is Vince Neal's crash that killed Razzel the drummer from Hanoi Rocks.

by coincidence, I came across this BUZZFEED ARTICLE [linked below] about a CANADIAN WOMAN who has lived in SWEDEN for the past two years. In it, she details the "culture shock" she went thru. https://www.buzzfeed.com/kristatorres/sweden-culture-shocks-tiktok?origin=web-hf

This was my first Bergman film & I loved it! Your impressions/assessment is spot on! I even like Woody Allen's homage to this movie A MIDSUMMER NIGHT SEX COMEDY '82 with outstanding performances by Jose Ferrar, Julie Haggerty & Tony Roberts for those with "problems" with Foreign films.

Good point. And so... 1934's Midnight: Drama that contains murder and courtroom scenes 1939's Midnight: Screwball (Romantic) Comedy about an Parisian taxi driver and a broke American showgirl stuck in the city of lights who meet (I love this film) 1982's Midnight: Exploitation Horror film

Merci. Looks like it's on Dailymotion. I will watch! Going through the list to see if I've seen any. . . .

Bergman, Ingrid

Yes, abysmal. Excellent production values, but the movie itself is a misfire.

Good Lord! It's awful.

Yes, I remember when Disney Channel used to air classic movies. I didn't see many of them way back then, but I remember seeing that "The Philadelphia Story" was listed as being on the Disney Channel. It was near the end of 1997 or the beginning of 1998 when Disney Channel stopped airing classic movies. In the summer of 1997, I saw - for the first time, and on Disney Channel too - "Midnight Lace" starring Doris Day. I also remember Nickelodeon's Special Delivery - which they aired on weekends. They aired classic films quite a bit on "Special Delivery", like "The Little Princess" starring Shirley Temple, and "Lloyds of London" starring Tyrone Power and Freddie Bartholomew, and "Little Lord Fauntleroy" starring Freddie Bartholomew.

Arthur, Bea

And I always thought it was 'cause I insisted on doing my own hair/makeup.

I remember when the Disney Channel would show classic live-action Disney films- this was the mid to late 80's. As a kid who loved classic adventure stories, they were great. At the same time Nickelodeon would show classic TV shows like Dennis the Menace, Lassie and Leave it to Beaver. Grew up watching and loving those shows. And actually I think Nickelodeon showed the rare classic film as well. They used to have a show called Special Delivery which was just the name for the two hour block on the weekends where they'd show a movie and i recall watching the original Lord of the Flies as an 8 year old on it. Pretty memorable and shocking film for an 8 year old.

Next weeks Noir Alley is Los Tallos Amargos. I recommend one doesn't let subtitles cause them to miss this film.

"And here are some of the locals dressed up in their colorful, picturesque costumes doing a native dance" FitzPatrick says this for every country, lol.

And speaking of sports cars! What's New Pussycat was on MGM HD early this morning. Rex Harrison is driving a baby blue MG. Later I watched, Monkey Business and there's another MG. I'm thinking Pillow Talk had one, so did The Killing complete with cheesy Jag hood ornament and out of tune motor, and in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood "Roman Polanski" drives one. These things are all over. IMCDB has the MG Ts appearing over 470 times, not including replicas. That is impressive, especially considering it's probably not the result of any product placement effort. They are gorgeous and can still be purchased for well under $20k. This one is cheap at $29k.

It could be argued stylistically, but the term really was appended long after "garage rock" had existed and had more to do with production and distribution to distinguish records of the same era.

You Really Got Me and All Day and All of the Night both great examples. Those British Invaders, Yardbirds, The Who The Kinks all had that sound.

A major factor that enhances the charm of this entertaining "J.D." melodrama is the cast, which includes second-generation "talents" Charles Chaplin, Jr., Harold Lloyd, Jr., and Jim Mitchum. Among the supporting cast: William Smith (recently deceased), Norm Grabowski, and martial artist Bruce Tegner (who gets tossed around and roughed up by Gloria Talbott as the butch judoka Vida).