Tikisoo

Did anyone watch THE BIG PICTURE 1989? I loved the little convertible jalopy Kevin Bacon drove around Hollywood. Can anyone ID it? It seemed to me it might be a Nash Metropolitan, but I'm no expert. Anyone?

OK, so I also watched DRACULA '79 on the urging of an earlier review. The biggest criticism was Frank Langella playing the Count, which I just couldn't believe. I think Langella is seductive & sexy, how could he fail as Dracula? Uh, well, I agree, he did fail as the Count. That's pretty much the face you see throughout the movie. Langella was too young, too "pretty" to seem sinister or seductive. All I could think of was how much he resembled Barry Bostwick. Wow, it was really too bad. The acting, the production values, the sets, the costumes, even the special effects were top notch & atmospheric. In the "extras", an older Langella interviewed was his super sexy self. But he was just a staring cold fish with a pompadour hairdo as Dracula for most of the picture. Thanks for recommending it-still glad I saw it.

Recuperating from the flu is a great time to catch up on last months TCM recordings. TCM ran a documentary on cinematographers called THE IMAGE MAKERS that highlighted a few outstanding classic film photographers and explained for the viewer just what made them special. I also recorded the 1989 movie THE BIG PICTURE right after. Directed by fave Chris Guest, this was a scathing look at "inside" Hollywood filmmaking that seems to have slipped under the radar. The story is the same old "sincere guy in Hollywood desperately trying to make a movie" against the backdrop of the phoniest people & situations. The only reason the thin story is kept entertaining is from all the fabulous performances of the ensemble cast-something Chris Guest has continued through his career of movies. The movie stars Kevin Bacon who is very young, but wow-what a great actor-he carries the entire film as our likeable hero. Features such standout kooks as JT Walsh as a big Hollywood executive, Jennifer Jason Leigh as a film school artiste and Martin Short as the hilarious agent. Everyone is given great bits of BS business such as "climate control" and networking at lunch with a level of callousness only found in Hollywood. And the location shots of Hollywood really set the tone & feel. Mike McKean has a sort of bland role as the best friend, but sings the Pez People music video, shades of Spinal Tap breakout stardom. Despite all the absurd nastiness, the nice guy prevails, keeping this a fun & entertaining film for anyone interested in how Hollywood really works.

I highly recommend Astor's books which I think are pretty rare at this point. I was lucky enough to have received them on loan from the Syracuse University Library Archives to read a few years ago. She was very insightful and kind speaking of all those who helped her career. A very intelligent lady with entertaining writing skills. Bonus, she had decency & class, blaming no one but herself for any mistakes or shortcomings.

Aw, so sad. She was a wonderful, natural actress and she sparkled in all of her performances.

Ugh I'm anti-Amazon but just EVERYONE urges me to watch this. Locations of hotel scenes are filmed nearby & the place is having a resurgence in business from it. You enjoying the story? Everyone's comments focus on the "look". Thanks Lorna for your review. I'm a Langella fan and am curious to see his performance. Your descriptions of this version intrigue me, I hope my li-berry has a copy.

Surprised no awards for Glen Gould? Neil Young? Canadian Treasures. Bill Shatner....Canadian Ham

Handsome, yes. But that guy has a HUGE head & face. Photographs well. I've never warmed up to Steve McQueen, he often comes across as a cold fish. I very much enjoyed him in LOVE WITH A PROPER STRANGER '63 and THE REIVERS '69. He's cute enough and below is definitely a Soo-trifecta:

...my fears & apprehensions for TCMs future has more to do with commercials & editing

It was the only Broadway play I've ever seen, dragged to it by a co-worker. I was hugely disappointed because I was expecting some huge musical spectacle like you see in old movies. Instead, it was dull, dirty looking sets & costumes, the actors slinked down the aisles bringing the action to the audience and they wore microphones which seemed like cheating to me. Ethel Merman projected. Once I got over that, I actually really enjoyed the story and found the acting and singing pretty thrilling. It was definitely an offbeat, unusual type of play but once I understood the story really enjoyed the performances. I can wholly understand why the play had good/bad reviews at the time. Oh, I forgot. Same co-worker took me to see Phantom Of The Opera because it was "so incredible". Awful on every level except it had spectacular staging/sets. Next time I'm in NYC, I'm just going to see the Rockettes. That's entertainment!

...me too - it's almost January in Syracuse and there's zero snow. (for those who do not believe in global warming)

Wow what a groaner! I'll betcha different gendered & different ages would have entirely different perspectives watching it. I remember seeing & being puzzled by it as a younger woman.

Thank you for that! Jan 2 - Sorrowful Jones (1949) One of my brother's favorite movies. I snoozed through it. * Jan 3 - Chopping Mall (1986) (2:00 am ET 77 min) Since I work in a Mall sometimes, I wanted to see it. Worth a viewing but nothing speshel. * Jan 17 - Whisky Galore! (1949) (8:00 pm ET 80 min) A story & location dear to my heart-(my dog Scotch Whiskey): * Jan 17 - The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover (1977) (2:00 am ET 112 min) Even though this has Jack Cassidy, seems just a bit too sordid. Any opinions on this one? * Jan 31 - Deathsport (1978) (2:00 am ET 82 min) * Jan 31 - Cherry 2000 (1987) (3:30 am ET 99 min) Sound like Mystery Science Theater 3000 titles.

So first complaint is the Essentials shows the same old movies THEN when the criteria is expanded, the choices are too limited. I hope rotating alternative hosts to choose movies expands the choices shown. I find it interesting what films influenced those who went into the business of making movies. Maybe the movies that first ignited someone's interest in film making aren't for everybody, but they obviously touched that person significantly. Wow, thanks for noting the additions/subtractions, CinemaInternational, it's pretty telling. Movies like CALIFORNIA SUITE may not be the greatest movie of all time, but like BOB, CAROL, TED & ALICE kind of hit upon the "swinging' 60's free love" attitude. Right? Wrong? Let's not be judgmental, just accept that was some weird morays of the past. That's my attitude towards movies depicting condescending treatment of women or racism/blackface. Movies are just historical, moral time capsule stories. Well said.

Woody Allen's happy ^^ WHISKEY GALORE '49 has been shown on TCM before-it's one of my favorites, so I remember. I first saw it with an audience and it was enjoyed by all. I did not realize there was a 2016 re-make. And as I mentioned earlier in the previous 1/2020 schedule thread, BUGSY MALONE is on regular rotation on Pluto's Classic Movie channel. While most of January's schedule is oft seen titles, I did manage to zero in on a few to DVR. Thanks for the heads up on DRUG STORIES '19 repeat, which I missed last month. Anyone who missed CROSSING DELANCY has another chance to see it in Jan too. I loved it. On the 6th- SCANDAL: The Trial of Mary Astor '18. Somehow I missed this if it had shown before. I love Astor and find her a fascinating person, looking forward to learning all about her "scandal"! I'll try out CAPTIVE CITY '52 on the 19th. Robert Wise directed crime thriller sounds promising. The 17th highlights fave ham Paul Muni and I have three set to record-HI NELLIE, BORDERTOWN & DR SOCRETES which I think are new to me. ANGEL ON MY SHOULDER is one of my childhood favorites of Muni's that I still very much enjoy while THE GOOD EARTH is insufferable both in story line & performance. I also noticed they managed to get everyone else's favorite CASABLANCA. Whatever "package" that comes with is very expensive with lots of "filler"... TCM doesn't rent it often.

I avoid some Scorsese movies because they can be too violent & mean spirited for me. Other times, his movies are sweet & sentimental corn. Some love it while others hate it. I'd like to know what you think.

List of Premieres for January 2020 yet?

I always look for what's coming up on TCM to make a "schedule" so I don't miss anything. I like knowing what others recommend after a run-down of the premieres. I see several threads on March 2020 Schedule and one thread on February (Oscar month) but nothing on January. Did I miss the thread discussing January or is it not worth discussing?

PLEASE SIR! No Alfalfa in our perfectly lovely BEEFCAKE Thread!

Because drums are a "rhythm" instrument, like dancing. Like singing. Like every expressive "art" really. If you truly understand one of the arts well, both intellectually & emotionally, it makes understanding another discipline easier, since the correlations at the base are apples to apples. That's what makes some like Sammy Davis, Judy Garland and a few others stand out-they had mastered their crafts intellectually as well as emotionally and could "do it all".

Because you're not really in the town, freezing your patootie.

Heh, I like this rating. I was so exhausted by DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK, I "abandoned" it with only 20 minutes to go. I'd say " 👎 [abandoned]" is a particularly dire rating from a classic film buff....since we often stick with movies for more esoteric reasons than the casual film-watcher. I next watched the 2019 TCM documentary THE IMAGE MAKERS which was excellent. It centered around 5 particular cinema photographers to illustrate the "art". Photography is really a lost art, but was lucky enough to grow up in Rochester where courses were included from 6th grade on. (Kodak's cast offs were provided FREE) so I wholly appreciate the subject. Loved it. I also thought Ben Mankiewicz's questions for Robert Yeoman were excellent, just what I wanted to hear making a great wrap around interview. I then watched THE TALL TARGET, but that was recently already covered here. It was very good-taught thriller. It was the first time I've ever liked Dick Powell in a movie.

Well, if we're speaking of personal taste: I love Sammy Davis Jr's work, love Janis Joplin's work and very much dislike the Beatles' music. There ARE people with different taste/opinions from the norm.

That was the most adorable, entertaining thing I've ever seen. Sammy looks like a mini adult-his appearance never changed. Love Ethel Waters in this too. I could IMAGINE Sammy as a kid singing with Rose Marie as a kid-cultural tragedy film/entertainment was segregated. I certainly don't see anything different in the talent, entertainment. In a little over 50 years after this was made, we'd get our black President.

Heh I call those people a "Road Pizza", glad you wear a helmet. Falling on pavement=awful. I'm about to walk my horse for 20 minutes for her physical therapy and even though I'm on the ground, I wear a helmet. Always. And we're on soft dirt.