Capuchin
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Posts
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Posts posted by Capuchin
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A friend of mine ran a used-book store. Invariably, the big, glossy, "coffee table" books would start appearing two or three years after their publication (apparently most people bought them only as decorating items and didn't want them at all once they became passe). He had a firm rule of paying $1.00 for the first of each that came in the door and $0.50 for each one after that (this was in the 70s and 80s). He rarely sold any of them.
He passed away a few years ago, and his son closed the shop but kept the inventory. Those fifty-cent large-format books now have a minimum online price of $300 each. He's less than 1/4 of the way through the 40,000+ books (valued by the state's estate appraiser at being worth $25,000) and is already a millionaire.
In the mid-1990's, I paid a quarter for: "Obstetrics and Womanly Beauty -- A Treatise on the Physical Life of Woman, Embracing Full Information on All Important Matters for both Mothers and Maidens" (I won't bother typing in the subtitle). I've turned down offers of $200 for it.
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I truly meant nothing mean-spiritied -- the boards have been screwing up in different ways today (as in different from the ways they normally screw up), so I didn't know if the unusual presentation was your idea or the software's.
For my purposes, it doesn't matter -- it's my nature to be open to moments of unintentional humor. I was just pointing out what I found funny, and I didn't mean to poke fun at anyone.
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*The Four Poster Death* sounds like a good murder mystery.
*The Lone Wolf Returns to the End of the Earth* makes me wonder why he went there the first time . . .
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> {quote:title=patful wrote:}{quote}
> *On the 2nd stage, a list of CLICKABLE phrases of why one wants it aired like "great acting", "has good casting", etc.* - hamradio
>
> Ah, but would they have choices for "It rained heavily last night and my DISH went out" or "I missed the ending because my recording left out the last two minutes" or one that hits close to home for me, "I had to leave in the middle of the movie"?
They should also have an option: "Yes, I know it's playing right now, but with the lag time between a suggestion and an airing, I'm hoping you'll show it again later this year."
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> {quote:title=LonesomePolecat wrote:}{quote}
> Wish I could come, but I would add Miyazaki's "Castle in the Sky" to that list.
You're welcome to join in. But which would you prefer *Castle in the Sky* or *Howl's Moving Castle* ? (I sometimes like one a bit more than the other, but at the next viewing, I'll switch preferences.)
Of course, *The Adventures of Baron Munchausen* is always an option . . .
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..
Message was edited by: Capuchin -- dual posting of single message
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> {quote:title=ChipHeartsMovies wrote:}{quote}
> I'm coming to your house for movie night next week! I'll bring the popcorn if YOU pick the movies!
Great idea! (Of course, you'll have to sign a waiver releasing me from any liability for your mental state afterward.)
Tentative schedule is *My Neighbor Totoro* or *La Femme Nikita* (you have no idea how similar I think those movies are) followed by *The Mask of Fu Manchu* and/or *Warning from Space* and/or *The Umbrellas of Cherbourgh.*
Since I consider some tv shows to be mini-movies, I'll probably slip in a couple of episodes of either *The Vicar of Dibley* or *Gunslinger Girl* (but never both on the same night).
I've been in a Kurosawa/Mifune mood lately, so the night might end with *Throne of Blood* and *The Hidden Fortress.*
Think you're up for it?
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ChipHeartsMovies --
I'll admit I've thought about it, and even had an idea for a theme I'm sure no one has done, but I'm the type who needs to get everything in order before I start a project. Right now, the relevant info I need is scattered through six databases which are incompatible with each other. (My last entry depended on huge blocks of a few actors, so I could use IMDB. A more creative schedule would require different search techniques.)
What I'm really afraid of is that she'll come up with a doozy of a challenge, one I can't resist. Nothing will sucker in me faster than a good dare that inspires an extreme idea.
As to my personal taste, that's easy -- intensity. Whether it's a drawing room comedy, noir, or sf, I'm drawn to movies where either the screenwriter or the actors show true passion for the material. My DVD collection includes everything from *Adam's Rib* and *Aeon Flux* to *Yojimbo* and *Zombies on Broadway* (as I write this, I'm listening/half-watching *Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead* ).
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Dumas.
There has never been an acceptable movie version of any of his works.
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CineMaven won #13.
Personally, I'm thankful for the delay -- I'm on the fence as to whether or not I'll try another one, but before even thinking about doing one, I'd like to have my databases sorted out. Getting that done is currently #2,416,896 on my to-do list.
If she wants to wait a good long while before setting #14, it's fine by me (and since the number fourteen has special significance relating to the Mayan end-of-the-world scenario, December, 2012 would be an excellent time for it).
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It depends on what you mean by "well served" (as in faithfully reproduced, made a lot of money, films better than the novels, etc.), but I have to put a vote in for Dostoevsky.
The number of movies based on his work is astonishing (over 150). Perhaps more importantly, they brought his work to the masses -- his writing is too intense for most people, so he might have passed into obscurity, known only to academicians, if it wasn't for the movies keeping his stories in circulation.
The films vary wildly in quality, of course. The best, imnsho, has to be *Hakuchi* by Akira Kurosawa, with Toshir? Mifune, based on "The Idiot." At 265 minutes, it doesn't get shown very often, but it's one of those rare films when both the director and lead were in their prime, passionate about the piece, and were dedicated to keeping to the author's vision.
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Thanks for the heads-up --- I trusted your judgement and kept to what I was supposed to be doing (which doesn't happen all that often with me).
The plot description looked interesting, but the actors and directors didn't inspire me. Maybe I'll catch it some other time.
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Always Together (1947) ?
There's kind of a crunch -- both my recorder and myself will be sort of tied up when it's on. Rescheduling everything else is possible but not convenient. I'd hate to go to the trouble if this movie is only passable.
So -- does anyone here know it? Is it great, good, fair, "watch it but don't seek it out", or whatever?
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> {quote:title=hamradio wrote:}{quote}
> This is just for fun only. Like to see old tech still being used -
> http://www.ys-audio.com/ysch.htm
> http://www.toneimports.com/shindo/shindoamplifiers.html
You can go with that hi-tech stuff if you like, but I'll always prefer my music boxes.
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*Coup d'Etat -- A Guide to Taking Over a Nation* (Edward Luttwak, 1968)
*The Barbecue Building Book* (Sunset Books, 1971)
*How to Make Your Own Hammock & Lie In It* (Denison Andrews, 1973)
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I hate you again!
I dived back in -- and ran across a link to what I always thought was a great, original idea of mine (growing furniture) and found it was first done in 1903!
Since my hopes are dashed, I might as well trash yours . . .
A typical home/office hatstand is like:
< img src = http://www.thepriceguide.com.au/images60000/63707.jpg >
I suspect the one in Logan's office was meant for a retail establishment where they had to display as many hats as possible.
I strongly doubt it would have been used for wigs. Wigstands have to provide broader support and are generally a wooden hemisphere on an upright stick.
Even if the prongs on that stand didn't actually poke through a wig, it would certainly distort it (ever see anyone with a lump in the middle of their shoulderblades because they'd hung their jacket on a peg? -- now image a barrister with a pointy head).
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Although that's one of my favorite movies, I'd never noticed the rack, so I had to pop in the DVD and search for that scene. Then, of course, I had to watch the movie all the way to the end. Since that meant I missed the hotel scenes (which is one of the funniest set-ups in any movie), I had to restart it at the beginning, and there's no good place to stop . . .
Anyway, after three watchings, I concluded it was just a fancy hatrack.
So I did a Google-Images for 'hatrack' hoping to find a similar one and post a link to let you see it.
As usual, before I found exactly what I was looking for, I ran across something odd enough that it required a bit of investigation, and that page led me to something odder, and then there was this really cool . . .
Because of your question, nearly eight hours of my life are gone forever and I've ordered a "Control-a-Cat -- remote control for cats" (and I don't even have a cat!).
I only hope that, in the future, you take a moment to think about the consequences of asking questions about props!
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> {quote:title=TikiSoo wrote:}{quote}
> How "dirty" can a cartoon be?
I've just spent the last half-hour trying to figure out how to describe in polite, family-forum terms a cartoon I remember from the late 60s.
It's impossible -- 'dirty' rises to new levels when you're not restricted to what is humanly possible.
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I don't know if you're aware of it, but for many years there has been an irregular and completely unofficial "Programmer's Challenge" where posters create a fantasy schedule. You select movies for Essentials, Imports, etc. as well as daily themes (some of which are a real hoot).
For Challenge #13 a few months ago, I went with the idea of character actors, half a day each for James Gleason, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Alan Hale, Judith Anderson, Eugene Pallette, Alan Mowbray, S. Z. Sakall, Harry (Henry) Morgan, Oscar Levant, Edward Everett Horton, Rudy Vallee, and Lee Patrick. (I wanted to also include everyone from Barry Fitzgerald to Binnie Barnes to Wilhelm Bendow, but there are only so many hours in a day).
It's said that in the past the programmers have looked at the challenge entries for ideas, but (sigh!) none of them piped up and said they were going to steal (um . . . "be influenced by") my idea.
Oh, well.
Maybe when(if?) the next challenge is posted, someone else will chose character actors as a general theme and give the real programmers something to think about.
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Some time ago, they did a splendid job with Hayao Miyazaki's works.
I, too, wish they'd show more animation, but so many people dismiss it as childish, I understand TCM's reluctance.
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You can never go wrong with a month of Bogart!
For the rest, as usual, my tastes seem to run contrary to most here.
The ones I'm most looking forward to are:
*The Left Hand of God*
*42nd Street*
*The Opposite Sex*
*Conflict* (One of my favorite Bogie films)
*The Trouble With Harry*
*The Wicker Man* (I've been hoping to run across this one ever since it was mentioned on the show "Coupling.")
!!!!!!!!!!!!!24 hours of Sherlock Holmes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unfortunately, again as usual, the schedule reminds me that I haven't watched some all-time favorties in a while, so I'll hook up my DVD player again and watch everything from *Ninotchka* to *Rebecca* long before December.
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> {quote:title=audreyforever wrote:}{quote}
> Okay everyone, you all probably think this is weird because it's only August 29th, but I am in the midst of a huge rain storm, and for some strange reason I realized that we not to far away from Christmas!
I don't think that's weird -- I'm getting a little frantic because I can't find the molds to make Jell-o skeletons for Halloween.
Being a bit perverse, one of my favorite Christmas movies is *We're No Angels* (1955). I love the part where they're going to actually buy someone a present, but they don't know where to steal the money for it.
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Apologies beforehand if you think this is off-topic . . .
A local hk is putting in a home theatre. He wants it to look like a classic moviehouse (the room will be 24x36, so it's a little more than a "big-tv and a few couches in the basement" deal).
For his own reasons, he wants everything custom-built -- no recycled seating or fixtures and definitely no standard repro stuff.
Someone volunteered me to unofficially consult on it because I am sort of an art deco buff and have experience in putting together projects which include custom manufacturing.
I had what I think is a great idea, but when I told it to the person who is pushing me into this, they just rolled their eyes and now think I'm trying to destroy their reputation for knowing who to rope into this kind of thing.
So before I talk to the honcho, I thought I'd slip it past y'all --
What would you think of walking into a theatre where everything is scaled up in size so it's like you're ten years old again?
The seats will look standard but will be wide enough that a friend could scrunch in beside you, and your feet will barely touch the floor. The refreshments counter at the back will be so tall you can rest your elbows on the glass while standing up straight. The wall sconces will look huge and be far above your head. That sort of thing.
Do you think that such a setting would enhance the movie-watching experience?
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I'm really only familiar with him through his "Power, Privilege & Justice" series.
I tried to read one of his books but couldn't get past the first chapter (his writing style just isn't my cup of tea).
What I find sad, and I mean no disrespect at all because he was obviously a great man, is that someone whose life was all about intrigue and evil deeds should pass away in such a mundane manner.
He will be missed.
Where's the next TCM PROGRAMMING CHALLENGE?
in General Discussions
Posted
CineMaven --
I can't thank you enough for posting your rules.
I was on the fence, and more than a little concerned about the time it would take to prepare an entry. Because you so kindly made your intentions known so early, I see that I don't have to worry.
Although I have to admit I greatly admire the skillful way you snuck them in so they're virtually unnoticeable, I find your changes range from inane to onerous to unconscionable. Also, nothing in the world could force me to abet your apparent plan to turn the Challenge into a platform for whatever vendetta you're waging.
Thanks for showing your hand so soon! (and no need to say "you're welcome" because you've just earned the #2 spot on my "Ignored Members" list)