path40a

Unfortunately, it does not appear that These Three will be on anytime soon (within the next three months). After all, it was just on in September. However, the other film, The Children's Hour, will be shown in both November (11/25/2003 12:00 AM) and December (12/28/2003 12:00 PM). And, if you like Merle Oberon as much as I do, you won't want to miss her in Ernst Lubitsch's That Uncertain Feeling (12/15/2003 02:00 AM) when it's on next;-)

Now there's a film I've ALWAYS wanted to see. And, I've got GREAT news! It's going to be on TCM at the end of this month (Halloween late night;-) and on December 5th too!

Yes, feaito, I agree completely that These Three is the better film, of the two, but that both films are worth seeing. In fact, there was some terrific acting in both films (James Garner's only real serious role? Certainly the only one he shed tears doing;-) It's also the film that caused me to "fall in love" with Merle Oberon!

I just realized that I, too, was affected by this Elia Kazan tribute. I was trying to tape Mr. and Mrs. Smith, perhaps Hitchcock's only outright comedy, starring Carole Lombard and see that I am now the "proud owner" of a tape with an Elia Kazan biography-type segment instead:-( Hopefully, TCM will reschedule Mr. and Mrs. Smith for sometime in the near future (January?). Thanks!

Just thought I'd chime in with my similarly shared thoughts. I think "The Swimmer" is a terrific, forgotten film. Burt Lancaster is great in everything he does, it seems, but this film is a must see for corporate types and "road warriors" (family men, in particular, who've traveled & worked their whole lives for the good of the company while neglecting everything else that matters). I don't know how popular this film ever was, but it holds up today ... I'd never seen it mentioned before, but was glad to "find it" on TCM. Thanks!

Just got the latest issue of this magazine and it had its members top picks for best military movies ever made, chronologically: Twelve O'Clock High - I agree, great leadership film The Bridge on the River Kwai - also a great leadership film The Longest Day - I remember liking it, but it's been a long time since I saw it Patton - yes, a great film, also about leadership The Deer Hunter - powerful, if factually flawed Saving Private Ryan - incredible opening sequences & a memorable knife scene We Were Soldiers - haven't seen it, guess I'll have to;-) It also includes an inset of "10 more worth watching": Paths of Glory - the danger of generals too far removed from the action! The Guns of Navarone - not sure if this is a must see In Harm's Way - don't think I've seen it, is John Wayne in it? The Dirty Dozen - very entertaining Tora! Tora! Tora! - factually accurate, I'm told ... a little dull;-) Apocalypse Now - yuck! I know this film has a lot of fans though Das Boot - after watching this, I'm amazed that anyone ever wanted to serve in a submarine Top Gun - great soundtrack Schindler's List - everyone should see once they're old enough, and never forget! Band of Brothers - I haven't seen this HBO series, I may have to rent it

Unfortunately, this is nothing new. There could be a whole topic here (maybe there already is one?) about sons and daughters who got a chance to work in Hollywood because of their famous fathers or mothers, yet exhibit no particular talent (at least, on screen;-) when given the chance. One that comes to mind immediately is Charlie Sheen, however I'd then have to admit that Martin Sheen is actually talented;-)

Obviously Duel in the Sun should be included in this list. Also, I just saw You Only Live Once with Henry Fonda and Sylvia Sydney which ends similarly. Very unusual indeed;-)

Everyone who loves films has their own reasons for liking/disliking a particular movie. If you check the top 100 films list of any critic (e.g. Ebert), you'll find a lot of bizarre stuff. However, time and time again, many of the same films turn up on these "best of" lists. Everytime one is published, by AFI for instance, there is a lot of discussion about which films belong, which don't, and which were left off. Ultimately, dozens of films not included in this list-du-jour get bandied about and discussed. I think, as a film lover, it is very healthy ... especially if it prompts "the reader" to seek out films to see that they never have. I know that AFI's annual "100 Years" series has helped me find many forgotten classics to watch. If you want to see a list of overrated films, check out imdb's Top 250 Movies of All Time and witness The Shawshank Redemption, Memento, Pulp Fiction, and Amelie in the top 20! WRT the ten films listed at the beginning of this topic, it would be hard to label many of them overrated since they perennially show up on these disparate lists. That being said, I've always wondered about #'s 5-7 myself. ... SPOILERS ... Chinatown's impact is largely related to a scene of gratuitous violence involving Nicholson's nose and a secret between Huston and Dunaway's characters. Does this warrant the film being listed in the top 20 of AFI's 100 greatest American movies of all time? OT - and it's sequel is unspeakably bad, IMO. The Graduate is terribly dated though mildly amusing. Hardly something, IMO, that should put it on any top 100 list, let alone #7 on AFI's list! & Some Like It Hot is a one trick pony. Isn't crossdressing so, so funny? No, not really. And, #14 on AFI's list? I'd take almost any Lubitsch or several of Preston Sturges' films instead, thank you very much;-)

Too cheap to buy anything but popcorn;-) I still buy it most times I go to the theater or pop some when I watch at home (though not every night!) I'll usually sneak a can of coke (coca cola;-) in these days ... who wants to pay $2.50 (minimum?) for a drink?

A healthy dose of skepticism, stlgal. Something we should expect from someone who hails from the "Show Me" state;-)

I would love to see Sunrise & Wings ... when is TCM showing them? And, I'd love to see more silent classics too. Within the past several months, I've watched and enjoyed many on TCM including: Harold Lloyd's For Heaven's Sake, Chaplin's Gold Rush and Modern Times, and Fritz Lang's Metropolis.

Thanks for the response, stlgal. BTW, I grew up in Clayton. Never cared much for Rex Reed though ... too, um, now wait, I don't want to be insensitive, er, have you seen that show on Bravo? You know the one ... kind of reminds me of Carson, don't you think;-)

Thanks for the feedback feaito! Yes, I have seen the Good Earth and I didn't want to imply that Luise Rainer overacted always (besides, I've only seen two of her films). However, I think her portrayal of Anna Held was a bit over the top, don't you? Though, of course it's possible that it was "spot on" the real Anna Held;-)

I like Ann Sheridan a lot too. I think the first film I saw her in on TCM was They Drive by Night (though I remember seeing I Was A Male War Bride in my youth;-) Subsequently, I've seen her in They Drive By Night (though I overlooked her once I saw Ida Lupino) , The Man Who Came to Dinner (a must see, very funny!), & Kings Row with Ronald Reagan. It seems every film in which I've seen her, her character's name ends in an "ie" or "y" sound, which fits (I think;-)

Subsequently, I did see The Life of Emile Zola on TCM and posted this follow-up: Since I saw my 67th Academy Award Best Picture winner last night, I thought I'd add my comments to this thread: 1937 The Life of Emile Zola - very interesting story, a somewhat fictionalized biography (per the opening credits) of Emile Zola, whose story I was not familiar with until now. He was a French muckraking writer in the late 19th century. The film is primarily focused on one particular case (perhaps the most prominent of his life?) in which he is taken to trial (libel) for exposing the Army's conviction of an innocent man for treason, and its cover-up exoneration of the guilty party. Paul Muni does his usual great job portraying this historical figure and there are strong supporting performances by Joseph Schildkraut (who won an Oscar for playing the accused), Gale Sondergaard as his wife, and the ubiquitous (and always excellent) Donald Crisp. The film also won the Academy Award that year for Best Writing, Screenplay (and a nomination for Best Writing, Original Story). Now I've only got EIGHT more to go! I thought for sure Gentleman's Agreement (1947) would've been included in TCM's tribute to Gregory Peck last month (or next month), but alas it wasn't (hasn't) been:-(

I authored this on another site, which is usually "closed", but since this link is currently "viewable", and I thought it might be of general interest to fellow movie lovers here, I thought I'd provide this: http://www.fool.com/community/pod/2003/030619.htm Let me know what you think;-)

Sorry that no one was able to answer this question for you in time (or perhaps they did via e-mail;-). In either case, there is oftentimes a button on your TV or remote control that is labeled SAP which enables an alternative broadcast (sometimes another language!). Mine works like a toggle switch, press it once to hear the SAP, press it again to hear the normal broadcast. Hope this helps for the future! BTW, I taped the Seventh Seal (something I've always wanted to see!) and hope to watch it this week.

According to imdb - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039302/trivia It was "located at 1360 Montgomery St in San Francisco" but it "had to be torn down in the mid 1990's after a landslide washed away most of the foundation soil".

I haven't seen all the ones on your list and it's not just because they're more recent ... just haven't had the chance (yet) or desire. However, other than Bogart, obviously there was Cagney. He made some great ones in the 30's that you can catch on TCM (I know I have;-) Also, I'm not sure about this particular category. I don't always think of "gangster" being associated with film noir. In fact, these are some great films in this genre which aren't related to gangsters in any way: Sunset Boulevard Double Indemnity obviously many great Bogart films and some other Hitchcocks The Postman Always Rings Twice etc. When I think of film noir, I think B&W is critical and the main plot element involves someone trapped in a situation through circumstance or a single bad choice (e.g. at the beginning of the film) that they struggle against for the rest of the film (but ultimately, they're doomed).

Your list is a good one, and I'll try not to duplicate it;;-) But there are several of mine that aren't on your list, in no particular order: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly Outlaw Josey Wales (but certainly NOT Unforgiven) High Noon The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance Red River The Ox-Bow Incident Shane The thing I love about Westerns are, many times, the values they portray, the struggles, and the perseverance of the individual (in many cases) over "evil".

Why hasn't the Essentials section of this website been kept current? I think it provides a (potentially;-) excellent forum for discussing some great films, even though I may not agree that all of Sydney Pollack's suggestions are essential.

O.K., stlgal, I've now had a chance to see The Petrified Forest. My initial impression was "this must have been a play" which, after doing a little research, I found to be true. SPOILERS!!! It's an interesting film about "dreamers", or those searching for something other than their current situation, AND people who accept who they are (no matter how pathetic;-) The characters played by Leslie Howard and Bette Davis fall into the former group (Dick Foran too?), while Humphrey Bogart, "Gramps", and the others are in the latter. Genevieve Tobin's character switches "camps" during the course of the film, inspired by Howard's "love" for Davis. It's watchable, but though I could identify people I know just like those in the film, none of them really "connected" with me personally. I think the film was historically significant to Bogart, but since this is the earliest of his films I've seen, I'm not sure why. The next earliest film of Bogey's I've seen on TCM is Kid Galahad (also starring Bette Davis!), which I enjoyed much more.

Well, I have to say, after seeing so many GREAT Bette Davis films on TCM, I've finally been disappointed. Perhaps I saw the best ones already? I just had a chance to see Of Human Bondage and Deception, neither of which would I put in my Bette Davis top 10. Of course, my dislike of the first one was probably due to Leslie Howard's sleepwalking performance;-) But, Deception was just a really weak plot. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Davis' and, especially, Claude Rains' performances, but the "deception" was not only obvious but extremely thin for the motivation to protect it so, I thought. I haven't had a chance to watch another I've taped yet, The Petrified Forest ... hopefully, the fact that Bogey is in it will help me endure watching another film starring Leslie Howard;-) I'm also hoping that TCM will see fit to show Jezebel, The Little Foxes, Now, Voyager, and Dangerous!

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I decided to make a list of the Bette Davis films I've had the pleasure of seeing on TCM in just the past year: Kid Galahad (1937) It's Love I'm After (1937) Dark Victory (1939) Old Maid, The (1939) Letter, The (1940) Man Who Came to Dinner, The (1942) In This Our Life (1942) Watch on the Rhine (1943) Corn Is Green, The (1945) June Bride (1948) All About Eve (1950) Catered Affair, The (1956) Also, I taped Of Human Bondage (1934) last week (?), but have yet to watch it AND I will be taping two more this week: Petrified Forest, The (1936) Deception (1946) Thanks TCM!!!