Bronxgirl48

HAHAHAHA Tres chic!

Then it goes downhill from there....

Devil worship at a French chateau, tedious and protracted, with a waste of veteran British cast. Handsomely photographed with evocative b&w cinematography but pretentiously directed. Unfortunately Deborah Kerr's character acts like someone half her age, all tremulous and quivering and begging to understand the weird events going on around her. She tries to get through to a listless David Niven, who has some family business to take of that she can't be any part of. Mysterious blonde brother and sister David Hemmings and Sharon Tate hang around for generational "atmosphere" (Miss Tate's voice is dubbed) and to frighten the bejeesus out of our "heroine". Donald Pleasance as a priest has one expression on his face. This could possibly be the worst performance I've ever seen him give. My t.v. heartthrob from "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir", Edward Mulhare, is around to instruct Kerr on the antiquarian esoteric elements of her husband's (and the villager's) beliefs but he unfortunately doesn't stick around long enough for me. When you want everything to be over as soon as it begins, and when a nightmare sequence is as boring as the daytime scenes, you know it's time to get out the doggie bowl. Stupidest moment: After witnessing all the horrors taking place around her, Deborah intones: "I...SHALL....NEVER....COME....HERE....AGAIN!!! No kidding. You-see-it-coming "ironic" ending. A total waste of time. For real chills along similiar black-robed satanic lines, but without the pretense and arty camera angles, I highly suggest the sleeper HORROR HOTEL instead. Message was edited by: Bronxgirl48

I haven't seen Woody's latest works (for several years now) so I'm THRILLED to hear he's branched out from his (to paraphrase Madeline Kahn in BLAZING SADDLES) "Everything beyond New York is KAPUT!" attitudes. It's this damn relentless 24/7 media; especially the tabloid press (and also television) that in my opinion engages in what could only be called class envy warfare, where they parade the star's million dollar lifestyles around for the "common folk" to be envious over, that fuels this obsessive Brave New World celebrity culture, and makes it hard for these stars who probably really are interested in flexing their dramatic muscles, to hear themelves think and reflect and make wise choices and maybe even live a more low-key existence. Instead, they have to feed the monster, their high salaries have to pay for bodyguards, nannies, publicity, etc. They probably could sing Angela Lansbury's "Little Yellow Bird" from THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY. (and with plastic surgery and Botox and all, eternal youth in Hollywood is guaranteed) Let me see, who gets me going today?. I used to be thrilled at a new Sean Penn film (ever see THE FALCON AND THE SNOWMAN? He's great!) but now I don't keep track of what he's doing, or what anyone is doing nowadays really. I like Johnny Depp; he takes chances, and he's never boring. (Marlon appreciated his talent!) I can't think of anyone else at the moment. Message was edited by: Bronxgirl48

Actually, from those YouTube snippets of GODMONSTER OF INDIAN FLATS, that bizarre decrepit looking mutant sheep creature looked ridiculous yes, but also strangely eerie. Whereas the bunnies were just......fluffy big bunnies.

I couldn't ever imagine a bunny being frightening. Maybe if you put a Hitler moustache on one and a Gestapo armband, but.... AND IT'S COMING IN MARCH! (I've never seen it) Message was edited by: Bronxgirl48

The test for me about an actor or actress is: how excited am I to see his or her films? I have to admit that in Tom Cruise's case, I'm not very, not so much for himself as his "artistic" choices. I'd love to see him do some classic roles, and I could even see him in the Montgomery Clift part in a public television adaption of THE HEIRESS. (the Wyler film is a masterpiece; I'm just saying that if a remake was made, he's got the cynical, pretty-boy looks to pull off Morris) Instead of doing MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 127, he should also maybe do a Woody Allen movie, and some indie stuff, or is he too far gone as a "movie star" to attempt these? Message was edited by: Bronxgirl48

I'm trying to picture Hugh Marlowe being complicated, lol. (haven't seen RAWHIDE) Whereas Boone always manages to give shadings to whatever character he plays. I didn't buy him returning and shooting either; I thought that was a just a plot device for a dramatic resolution. I agree with you and movieman that there probably wasn't enough time to truly develop all facets of his character. He didn't necessarily feel sympathy for Maureen as an individual female, but as a an idealized representation of his yearning for his own special woman, to share his life with on that dream ranch; to keep him from being alone. He's a self-deluded sicko. (how'd you like that for sophisticated analysis?)

I know, I understand, but....slippery slope.

Yeah, ALIAS JESSE JAMES is certainly "pale" next to THE PALEFACE. Given his age, Bob is less frenetic. Direction is sluggish. Incredibly, even his trademark wisecracks seem to be behind a beat. But Rhonda is her gorgeous self. Wendell Corey is certainly an odd choice for Jesse James. He "gets with" the comedy, though.

Glad you got to see THE TALL T. I still don't know what the title refers to. What did you think of Richard Boone?

No astrology in THE WOLF MAN, but palmistry, as Bela Lugosi sees the sign of the beast in Jennie's unfortunate hand.

My pleasure my Goddess, enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdy2sUKxfDE

Jack is my favorite sibling, with the most God-given talent. I loved THE MAD GENIUS; it was like SVENGALI MEETS THE RED SHOES, blending the semi-expressionistic sets and loathsome-but-charismatic villian of the former, with the intense, live-for-your-art tyrannical maestro of the latter, here amplified and referenced in a supernatural, metaphysical, horror-movie sense (by Barrymore) through the theme of Creator and creation; i.e., the Golem and Frankenstein, and given devilish power (albeit with very human emotions) by John's delightfully nuanced performance. I at first balked at the casting of Donald Cook as the "marionette", thinking only of this actor as the upright and moralistic big brother of Cagney in PUBLIC ENEMY and in any number of other goody-goody roles, but as it turns out he's the perfect conduit for Barrymore's insidiously vicarious dreams of artistic fulfillment, and Cook actually manages to appear somewhat romantic and passionate (although certainly conflicted, due to his symbiotic relationship with his "mentor") in the scenes with his love object, Marion Marsh (was there ever a more adorable looking actress?), as they struggle to maintain normalcy and independence, away from Barrymore's relentless and cruel pursuit. The atmosphere, replete with garrets, ballet, dancers, puppets, Paris, Russia, shadows on the wall, lends a romantically tragic and fantastical air to the story. Barrymore is magnificent, Charles Butterworth a strange distraction (although some of the humor is welcome) The ending was a letdown; I was expecting some symbolic confrontation. I unfortunately missed the early part with Karloff. (I didn't blink; nature called instead) Message was edited by: Bronxgirl48

Interestingly, three films with Jimmy Stewart mention astrology. Constance Collier in ROPE talks about movie stars and their signs; i.e., "James Mason is a Taurus". And in HARVEY, Josephine Hull tells the doctor Elwood's, hers, and Myrtle Mae's signs: "Elwood's the 23rd of April; he's Taurus the bull; I'm Leo, and Myrtle Mae is on the cusp." In BELL, BOOK AND CANDLE, Stewart and Janice Rule go to the Zodiac Club, where they are told the stars are aligned favorably in Pisces and a good evening will be had. Message was edited by: Bronxgirl48

I've seen it over the years. I think it's Hedy's best performance. In her autobiography, she writes that she loved doing it, and it shows.

The best scenes in the otherwise tepid ALIAS JESSE JAMES (except for Rhonda and Bob's "Something Else Entirely On My Mind" duet): Your honey's here! Yup.

You know how much I like the cold but even I admit Buffalo might be a bit much even for me:

I loved her in the underrated BEST FRIENDS. She plays Burt Reynolds' mother who is obssessive about photographing every second of her family's life. Upon learning that he and Goldie Hawn are already married and haven't told her: (grinning grimly into the camera) "SHOOT IT! SHOOT THE PICTURE! I WANT TO RECORD THE WORST DAY OF MY LIFE!" Message was edited by: Bronxgirl48

HAHAHA, even with those awful 70's fashions, John still looked adorable. Was it ever suggested that Stanley get medically checked out? I mean, it's not like Audra looked like Hope Emerson or anything. Ah, yes, Clo-Clo. Something green came her way, and then, something BLACK! Message was edited by: Bronxgirl48

i don't remember THE MARK at all. i couldn't believe that Stuart Whitman played Jim Jones. That would be the only reason I'd see it. The subject matter like that of Jonestown, doesn't want to make me immediately see SHOCK TREATMENT, but again, if he's in it, I might force myself to. Message was edited by: Bronxgirl48

That genre seems almost quaint now given the times we live in now. Message was edited by: Bronxgirl48

I don't know if there are any noir films being made today; usually they're considered "retro" hommages. Message was edited by: Bronxgirl48