Jump to content
 
Search In
  • More options...
Find results that contain...
Find results in...

JackBurley

Members
  • Posts

    3,298
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by JackBurley

  1. In no particular order, here are my top ten war flicks (as I hit "post message" I'm wondering what I've forgotten):

     

    Das Boot

    Three Kings

    Jarhead

    Apocolypse Now

    All Quiet on the Western Front

    Casablanca

    La Grande Illusion

    Empire of the Sun

    Bridge on the River Kwai

    The Killing Fields

     

    For films on the "War at Home", I would add:

     

    Mrs. Miniver

    Pride of the Marines

    Since You Went Away

    The Best Years of Our Lives

  2. Thank you for that additional clue. I've almost got the whole thing, but am struggling at the end. May I get started (and maybe someone can help me with the last name)?

     

     

    Martian envoy - Tommy Kirk (Mars Needs Women)

    Harpooneer - Kirk Douglas (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea)

    Murderers' dinner guest - Douglas Dick (Rope)

    Surviving half of comedy team - Dick Martin (of "Rowen and Martin")

    FBI agent in drag - Martin Lawrence (Big Momma's House)

    Gay teacher - Lawrence _________

  3. "I wonder what percentage of black & white usage was to due artistic foresight and how much was mere economics?"

     

    That's why I asked the question, "I wonder what the original intention of the director was?". It's one thing if the director wanted color, but the studio wouldn't give him/her the budget. But even then, the director should have a say in the colorization process. You know Minnelli would be very picky about every hue.

     

    As I recall, Mr. Hitchcock wanted Psycho to be in black and white. He thought the vision of all that blood in the shower would be too distasteful for audiences.

  4. I wonder what the original intention of the director was? I'll admit that I disapprove of colorization. I think it completely changes the mood. If the director wishes that the mood could be changed via color, then there'd be an argument for it. I don't really understand the need though. There are so many beautiful black and white movies -- the Busby Berkeley films of the 1930's, Hitchcock's Notorious, Bogdanovich's Paper Moon and Scoreses's Raging Bull. Why colorize?

     

     

    "Keep Ted Turner and his damn Crayola crayons away from my movie."

     

    Orson Welles on Citizen Kane

  5. Hollywood has always remade movies; sometimes within five years of the previous version. And while I often deliver harangues against remakes of classics (why remake Psycho or Sabrina?), I don't consider 35-year old The Poseidon Adventure to be sacred. I think it might be a "camp classic"...

     

    So I'm reading this thread while sheepishly cowering in the corner. Confession: I'm looking forward to this remake. I saw the trailer for it on the big screen, and guiltily declared that it looked fun. I'll go, so y'all don't have to. I'll let you know...

  6. Have you seen the Marlon Brando screen tests that are included in the new DVD of Streetcar Names Desire? I had to watch them a few times the other night. Also the outtakes from Desire. 'Twas great to see the difference in the various takes and matching shots. Part of the screen test was just an interview while the camera picks up the various shooting angles of his face. Interesting to see him when he wasn't "on".

  7. I suppose if "Shakin' the Blues Away" were a fantasy scene we could forgive it; but this was supposed to have been an actual 1912 performance. So you're right -- it's so wrong (and so great). Regarding musicals, I supposed we've been so trained to suspend disbelief (where's that orchestra coming from?), that we don't even notice these anachronisms.

     

    Hollywood's aesthetics in period pieces usually didn't seem to match. It's strange to realize that The Bad and the Beautiful is supposed to take place in the 1930's, since the costumes and hairstyles are so evocative of contemporary 1950's. And this never bothered me before, but was pointed out to me a couple of weeks ago. Like you, I assumed it didn't previously bother me because I didn't live in either of those periods ('30's or '50's).

  8. When I saw Mary Poppins as an adult I appreciated the brilliant dichotomy of the movie. It's two movies in one: to children viewing the film, Mary Poppins arrives for the children; for adults, we see that she came for the father. Once she has taught him the value of having an active part in his own children's upbringing, her job is done. The same movie works on two levels for these two age groups. Neither view was intended to be a "cheery confection". It is a sometimes dark and scary movie.

     

    As someone who lives in a city with a terrible homeless problem, I like that the "derelict, pigeon-feeding bag lady" (as bonyoldrajah calls her) is seen through the eyes of Michael Banks as someone of humanity and worth. I'm glad that a son's love is more important than a tuppence.

  9. Hi Bobbert, Would you mind telling us a little more about Vredens Dag ("Day of Wrath")? It looks as if Mr. Dreyer didn't take director's credit (no one did?). Do you know what the story behind that is?

     

    I've seen his ethereal Passion of Joan of Arc (with the San Francisco Symphony accompanying it). Since this was done 15 years previous, I imagine the visual style could be quite different. Do you see a linear tie (visually or thematically) between the two movies?

© 2022 Turner Classic Movies Inc. All Rights Reserved Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Settings
×
×
  • Create New...