benwhowell
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Posts posted by benwhowell
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Now you're talking! I've been obsessed with "This Property Is Condemned" since seeing it on TV as a child on the "afternoon matinee." (I always wrote This Property Is Condemned on my school lockers as an homage to this movie.)
It was co-adapted for the screen by Francis (Ford) Coppola (from a couple of Tennessee Williams' plays) and directed by Sydney Pollack...produced by Ray Stark and John Houseman...cinematography by James Wong Howe...costumes by Edith Head...cast also included Mary Badham, Kate Reid, Jon Provost, Robert Blake, Charles Bronson, Dabney Coleman...Definitely an under-rated classic-IMHO.
I also love "Inside Daisy Clover." Gavin Lambert adapted his novel and Robert Mulligan directed. The cast includes Natalie Wood and Robert Redford (great screen couple)...with Christopher Plummer, Roddy McDowall and Ruth Gordon (receiving an Oscar nom for supporting actress.) Andre Previn did the music...Herbert Ross staged the musical numbers.
"You're Gonna Hear From Me" is one of my favorite movie songs...Barbra Streisand included it on her "Movie Album" from '03...
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What a fun thread! I think you would have found me "off the beaten track."
I hope you keep up the microfilm research, Mr. Boynton, and make this a regular feature on these boards. Thanks!
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I am familiar with that scene. Why would they cut that? For time? That's unacceptable. I'm glad I avoid AMC. It's a pity, because I loved that channel when it first came out (long before TCM.) I bought a DVD recently (at a 99 cents store) with two silent movies from the "AMC Collection." I didn't check the running times. Surely, they aren't edited?
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How could I forget "Thoroughly Modern Millie!"
It's a campy musical/comedy parody of the '20's "jazz age" from director George Roy Hill.
The musical numbers are fabulous...from Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn. Andre Previn and Elmer Bernstein also contributed. (Bernstein won an Oscar for his score.)
It also contains several offbeat ethnic stereotype references (?)
The cast includes Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler Moore, James Fox, John Gavin, Jack Soo, Pat Morita...and Carol Channing and Beatrice Lillie (in her last film) are "delish!"
It was adapted for the stage and a hit on Broadway a couple of years ago (under the helm of, among others, Whoopi Goldberg!)
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"The Dot And The Line: A Romance In Lower Mathematics" is from Chuck Jones. I don't know if it's available on DVD (or VHS, for that matter,) but you can watch it on You Tube. (It's a fuzzy copy from Cartoon Network.)
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I tend to avoid AMC because of the commercials...although I did watch "Breakfast At Tiffany's" last Saturday (knowing there would be no edited content.) Does AMC edit content? I can't imagine why they would. I watch "Nip/Tuck" (on FX) and if that were a theatrical release, if would be rated R (well, maybe PG-13.)
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I read a review (in Entertainment Weekly) about a documentary called "The Bridge." Filmmaker Eric Steel filmed the Golden Gate Bridge for a year (2004.) During this time, he captured 24 suicides! The movie includes the real footage of these people jumping to their deaths as well as interviews with witnesses and family members of the jumpers.
Maybe I'm naive, but I never thought that many people jumped to their deaths from the Golden Gate Bridge. (That's 2 a month!) Where's Mr. Burley? That's his neck of the woods...
It also disturbs me a little, but I want to see the movie. Have I become so desensitized to death that now I'm seeking out "snuff movies?"
Anyway, has anybody seen it? Would you like to see it? Any comments?
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The "pre-codes" with Tallulah Bankhead...
"Faithless"
"The Cheat"
"Devil And The Deep"
and, especially...
"Tarnished Lady"-directed by George Cukor
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Just wanted to keep your thread alive, kitsy. Where are you? ("My! People come and go so quickly here!")
I watched "Breakfast At Tiffany's" (again) on AMC Saturday night (I hate commercial interruption, but I needed a fix. Don't know why I don't own this movie yet...)
I never made the connection before, but during the shoplifting scene at the five and dime (I miss Woolworth's!) Holly holds up a Huckleberry Hound mask...referencing a line from "Moon River." I'm also curious what "funny little magazine" she's talking about-when she tells Paul she read one of his stories in.
Also-why did Dorothy Whitney (Mag Wildwood) only make two movies?
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Great choices and posters/lobby cards...A couple of my favorites are "The Manchurian Candidate" and (yes, here we go again) "Nashville..."
Hal Philip Walker: "Who do you think is running congress? Farmers? Engineers? Teachers? Businessmen? No, my friends. Congress is run by lawyers. A lawyer is trained for two things and two things only. To clarify-that's one. And to confuse-that's the other. He does whichever is to his client's advantage. Did you ever ask a lawyer the time of day? He told you how to make a watch, didn't he? Ever ask a lawyer how to get to Mr. Jones' house in the country? You got lost, didn't you? Congress is composed of five hundred and thirty-five individuals. Two hundred and eighty-eight are lawyers. And you wonder what's wrong in congress. No wonder we often know how to make a watch, but we don't know the time of day."
Which reminds me-whatever happened to Ross Perot?
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Great choice! I love "Hannah And Her Sisters." Allen must have been thrilled to get Max Von Sydow for that one.
Mia Farrow picked "Fanny And Alexander" when she was guest programmer awhile back. I wonder if Woody Allen turned her on to Bergman...if so, you'd think she would hate Bergman movies now...
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What about the much anticipated long distance phone call in "Meet Me In St. Louis." (That movie has it all!)
There's a lot of phone play in "Wait Until Dark."
And, of course, Doris Day's obscene calls in "Midnight Lace."
Another movie I enjoy is "The Telephone." It seems like everyone else hates it-including it's star, Whoopi Goldberg...she took (director) Rip Torn and the producers to court to prevent it's release! The entire movie takes place in her apartment with her talking on the telephone...leading up to a knock-out twist ending.
One thing that bugs the hell outta me is 555 phone numbers (spoken or written down.) I loose a little respect for any movie that does that.
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I agree that "The Day Of The Locust" is under-rated. I also think Robert Altman's "Three Women-" including the inspired performances from Shelley Duvall and Sissy Spacek-is much under-rated...but my numero uno choice would have to be...
"Beat The Devil"
This classic film noir satire from John Huston has been virtually ignored (along with his "Freud.") The screenplay was adapted for the screen by Huston and Truman Capote. The cast is top notch...including great performances from Humphrey Bogart, Jennifer Jones (as a blond!,) Gina Lollobrigida, Robert Morley, Peter Lorre, Edward Underdown, Ivor Barnard, et al...
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I was engrossed with the interview too. I totally agree that women (for the most part) are better at acting. It seems like most actors (including my faves-Paul Newman, Jack Nicholson, etc.) play the same "character" in every movie-with some variation. I liked that Bergman embraced his "neuroses-"since childhood-with no desire to alter them with psychoanalysis, drugs, etc. I also thought that his mention of seeing (and enjoying) "Five Easy Pieces" was apropos. That movie has a Bergmanesque feel...about a dysfunctional, musically talented family and the choices they make to achieve(?) fulfillment.
Woody Allen has "channeled" Bergman in practically all his films...from parody ("Love And Death") to angst-ridden homage ("Interiors.")
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Another Nicolas Roeg fan here. I love watching "The Masque Of The Red Death" for his cinematography alone...although Roger Corman is the master of quality low budget movie making. I'd love to see Roeg's TV movie version of "Sweet Bird Of Youth" with Elizabeth Taylor.
I agree that Julie Christie is underated. I think she's brilliant in "McCabe And Mrs. Miller" and "Afterglow..."and many other roles as well...
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It's like "found footage." The last time I was this excited about "found footage" was "Something's Got To Give-"with Marilyn Monroe and Dean Martin-under the direction of George Cukor...
I'd also like to add to the documentary/"non-fiction film" must see list...
"Streetwise"
"The Decline Of Western Civilization"
"Heaven"
"Paradise Lost"
"Paradise Lost 2: Revelations"
"Microcosmos"
"The Kid Stays In The Picture"
"The Eyes Of Tammy Faye"
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Another great thread, bhf1940! I LOVE Christmas too...everything about it. I'm lucky to have a partner who shares my enthusiasm for all things Christmas so I consider that my greatest gift (even though he wasn't a Christmas gift
...I hope that counts.) We did "adopt" a kitten recently who was left motherless. We had to handfeed him. He's getting bigger and stronger every day...and so affectionate. When I go home from work I feed him and hold him and he gives me Eskimo kisses...No better therapy than that. Having him this Christmas is all the gift I need. Man, this is getting sappy...OK-favorite movies would have to be "It's A Wonderful Life" and "Miracle On 34TH Street." "IAWL" is a pretty "dark" portrait, but I always feel melancholy at Christmas and that movie seems to validate my feelings...if that makes any sense. I know it's hokey, but I love it when Zuzu says, "Look, Daddy. Teacher says every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings." As for "MO34THS-" Edmund Gwenn is Santa Claus!
TV specials are "A Charlie Brown Christmas-"Linus gets me with his speech too! and "The Homecoming-"which introduced us to The Waltons...with Patricia Neal as the mother -in a wonderful performance.
I have MANY favorite traditions, but one that I enjoy is driving around looking at Christmas decorations/displays. It makes me feel so connected with humanity. I would love to stop at every house and visit. We just don't do enough of that any more.
I guess my favorite songs would be "O, Holy Night" (especially sung by Billy Porter) and "My Favorite Things" (favorite covers by John Coltrane, Barbra Striesand and The Supremes.) I also love Peggy Lee's "Happy Holidays" and Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas."
And we can't forget the food! I'm an egg nog junkie! One thing that I really miss is my Aunt Lila's divinity. She used to give me my own (large) tin filled with divinity. Haven't had any that comes close to her's yet...
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The interview made me realize I've never seen "Summertime" in it's entirety. I don't know why I always forget about that movie...especially since it resulted in her lifelong eye infection. I hope TCM shows it soon...I'd also love to see her in the '73 TV movie version of "The Glass Menagerie." I can hear her saying...
"You are the only young man that I know of who ignores the fact that the future becomes the present, the present becomes the past, and the past turns into everlasting regret if you don't plan for it."
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I enjoyed part 2 much better. She was much more relaxed...and cagey. I think she represented herself as woman who spent her life enjoying it... with strong convictions...accepting her limitations...and praising those who strive to "do the right thing." I'm glad that she didn't waste her time with negative comments about her industry. I did find it curious that she said she was never part of Hollywood circles and never went out (except to George Cukor's house.) According to the movie, "The Aviator-"she partied with Howard Hughes quite a bit...I still can't see those two together...
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Great news...for those who are as into vintage Hallowe'en as I am. I found a Disney cartoon (with Donald Duck) called "Trick Or Treat." It's on You Tube. It was just what I was looking for. Check it out...
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This is all so sudden...Oh, well, at least I will not have to get a messy divorce from my current domestic partner. I'm confident that Robert O would be proud to officiate...do you think Rob Zombie knows "the wedding march?"
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I love you, pintorini! I wish you would write a "crappy" book...I know it would be brilliant. And then they would make a "crappy" movie out of it and you could be guest programmer of the month!! Mucho kisses and hugs...
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And you don't think that's homophobic? Shame on you! I guess the only thing left to say is...we're here, we're queer-get used to it! Bet ya saw that one coming, didn't ya...
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Wow! You people have really gone off the deep end with this thread. It has to be one of the most insensitive and downright hateful ones yet! And, I might add, homophobic. Why the concern over recent guest programmers' sexual orientations? They aren't on TCM to "recruit homosexuals."
Augusten Burroughs had a tragic life and made the best of it by becoming a published writer...in a few funny and critically acclaimed memoirs...And for this he must die?
I thought his movie picks were wonderful! How can you deny "Written On The Wind" and "Nashville" classic status.
As classic movie fans, I'm surprised so many of you hate Woody Allen. He is one contemporary director who's movies are as close to classic films as you can get...quirky characters spewing lots of dialogue with classic jazz playing on the soundtrack...and the classic architecture of NYC...and no car chases or gratuitous sex/violence...most actors would love to do a Woody Allen movie...even working for scale.
Like Ronee Blakley sang (as Barbara Jean) in "Nashville-"
"It's that careless disrespect,
I can't take no more, baby..."
"What's Your Rant?"... Vent Now!!......
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