kingrat

Diane Baker is still with us. I was another fan of *The Jewel in the Crown*.

*Negatives*, with Diane Cilento, Glenda Jackson and Peter McEnery. But how could anyone NOT want to see *I Sailed to Tahiti With an All Girl Crew*?

*The Onion Field* is a little gem from 1979 that gets overlooked. I'm glad you mentioned it. speedracer, I'm another fan of *Foul Play*. A very funny film.

Interesting that no one has mentioned the actress who won two Oscars and was nominated for two more in the 70s: Glenda Jackson Nor has anyone mentioned perhaps the most obscure actress ever to be nominated three times for Best Actress, all in the 70s: Marsha Mason The actress who immediately comes to mind as defining the 70s is Jane Fonda. This is my list, which concludes with three child stars: Jane Fonda Faye Dunaway Glenda Jackson Ellen Burstyn Liza Minnelli Barbara Streisand Dyan Cannon Diane Keaton Jill Clayburgh Diana Ross Ali McGraw (early in decade) Linda Blair Tatum O'Neal Jodie Foster

Just a note that Eddie Muller's knowledge of film isn't confined to noir. He worked with Tab Hunter on Tab's autobiography, *Tab Hunter Confidential*.

I was another big fan of Kevin Spacey on *Wiseguy*. At the time, some people thought Joan Severance, who played his sister, might be headed for a big career as well. I predicted stardom for Christopher Reeve back when he was on *Love of Life*. An actor this good-looking and smart who had a great sense of humor had to be going a long way. Like Sepiatone, I also remember how good Tom Lee Jones (as he was then billed) and Tom Berenger were on *One Life to Life*. I actually thought that *The Big Chill* would propel Berenger to a bigger career than he has had. On the other hand, there have been quite a number of actors I thought would go on to great things who didn't: Franc Luz, Frank Runyeon, Robert Viharo, Tracy Brooks Swope, for instance. And it took Kate Mulgrew a long time from her beginnings on *Ryan's Hope* until she got a starring role on *Star Trek: Voyager*. I thought she would have the same kind of career Meryl Streep has had.

This is great news. Eddie Muller did a fine job as guest host for the salute to noir writers, and this probably means more noirs on TCM. Mr. Muller has been friendly and approachable at the film festivals, and he fits very well with the extended TCM family.

I'm thinking of doing a piece called "The Overrated Seventies." Most of the official classics of the decade seem way overrated to me, with a few exceptions like *Badlands, Dog Day Afternoon, Chinatown*, and *Days of Heaven*. Andy, you think *The Conversation* is overrated? What, you don't like sour, misogynistic, sluggishly paced, green-brown-sludgily-photographed ripoffs of *Blow-Up*? Tsk, tsk. For 1979 *North Dallas Forty* is worth seeking out. A very cynical and entertaining look at the business (not sport) of professional football. Mac Davis is so good as the Don Meredith character that it's too bad he didn't have more film opportunities.

After swearing off Top 10 lists, I guess I have to finish up the Sixties. Most of the 1967 picks are the obvious ones, but I'm delighted that others have also picked *Hombre* and *The Whisperers*, the two seriously undervalued films for this year. Top 10 for 1967: *1. Bonnie and Clyde* *2. Hombre* *3. In Cold Blood* *4. The Graduate* *5. Wait Until Dark* *6. Cool Hand Luke* *7. Point Blank* *8. The Whisperers* *9. Two for the Road* *10. Far from the Madding Crowd* Honorable mention: *The Flim-Flam Man, El Dorado* Underrated: *Hombre, The Whisperers* Overrated: *In the Heat of the Night, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner* Best Actress: Diane Cilento (*Hombre*) with Edith Evans (*The Whisperers*) and Anne Bancroft (*The Graduate*) also very worthy Best Supporting Actress: Jo Van Fleet (*Cool Hand Luke*) Best Supporting Actor: Gene Hackman (*Bonnie and Clyde*) Until a few years ago, I would have picked Robert Blake (*In Cold Blood*) as Best Actor, but for reasons having nothing to do with his excellent performance, I would probably switch to Scott Wilson (*In Cold Blood*) or Dustin Hoffman (*The Graduate*). Whenever *Cool Hand Luke* is on, I will try to watch Jo Van Fleet's brief scene as Paul Newman's dying mother.

Holden, *Anastasia* is a Fox film, and Fox used to hold onto their most famous classic titles for their own network. No more, however. Even *Laura* will soon be shown on TCM. This is especially good news for those of us whose cable provider doesn't have the Fox Movie Channel.

I had trouble coming up with enough films for the 1966 list. The top one is a big favorite, however, not to be missed on the big screen. Top 10 for 1966: 1. Seconds 2. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? 3. Alfie 4. Blow-Up 5. The Professionals 6. A Man for All Seasons 7. Georgy Girl 8. Gambit 9. The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming 10. The Wrong Box Need to see: Cul-de-Sac, Chimes at Midnight Overrated: Morgan, Seven Women Underrated: Seconds Guilty pleasure: The Glass Bottom Boat Extremely guilty pleasure: The Oscar Best Actor: Richard Burton (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), although Paul Scofield (A Man for All Seasons) and Michael Caine (Alfie) are also wonderful Best Actress: Lynn Redgrave (Georgy Girl) Best Supporting Actor: George Segal (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) Best Supporting Actress: Vivien Merchant (Alfie) or Frances Reid (Seconds)

1965 wasn't a great year for English-language films, but there were definitely exceptions. Oh, you might not be surprised by my top pick for this year. Top 10 for 1965: 1. King Rat 2. The Hill 3. Mirage 4. The Spy Who Came In From the Cold 5. A Patch of Blue 6. Othello 7. Darling 8. Doctor Zhivago 9. The Collector 10. Young Cassidy Honorable mention: The Flight of the Phoenix, Repulsion, The Loved One, Help!, The Ipcress File, Return from the Ashes, Sands of the Kalahari Need to see: The Pawnbroker, A High Wind in Jamaica, The War Lord Underrated: King Rat, The Hill, Mirage Overrated: Bunny Lake Is Missing Guilty pleasure: Love Has Many Faces Best Actor: James Fox (King Rat) over George Segal (King Rat), Dirk Bogarde (Darling), Richard Burton (The Spy Who Came In From the Cold), and Terence Stamp (The Collector) Best Actress: Maggie Smith (Othello) over Elizabeth Hartman (A Patch of Blue) Best Supporting Actor: Frank Finlay (Othello), Harry Andrews (The Hill), or Ossie Davis (The Hill) Best Supporting Actress: Martita Hunt (Bunny Lake Is Missing), Flora Robson (Young Cassidy), or Maggie Smith (Young Cassidy) A really strong year for male performances.

Lavender, Mirage will soon be appearing on a best of 1965 list. But first (as Julie Chen says), here's 1964. Oh no, AndyM isn't going to like my top pick. And I had The Train in 1965 (US release date), when it was released across the pond in 1964. Top 10 for 1964: 1. Zorba the Greek 2. The Train 3. Dr. Strangelove 4. The Pumpkin Eater 5. The Seventh Dawn 6. Nothing But the Best 7. Seance on a Wet Afternoon 8. Seven Days in May 9. Zulu 10. The Night of the Iguana Honorable mention: The Chalk Garden, The Best Man, A Hard Day's Night, Topkapi, Lilith, Mary Poppins Guilty pleasure: The Long Ships Overrated: Marnie, The Naked Kiss Underrated: The Seventh Dawn Best Actor: Anthony Quinn (Zorba the Greek) over Rex Harrison (My Fair Lady), Richard Burton (The Night of the Iguana), and Richard Attenborough (Seance on a Wet Afternoon) Best Actress: Anne Bancoft (The Pumpkin Eater) or Kim Stanley (Seance on a Wet Afternoon) Best Supporting Actor: Lee Tracy (The Best Man) Best Supporting Actress: Grayson Hall (The Night of the Iguana) Both Zorba the Greek and The Pumpkin Eater are ranked as high as they are because of their stunning black-and-white cinematography.

I'm fond of Ann's comedy HONEYMOON FOR THREE with George Brent. Brent is surprisingly good at screwball comedy, Ann is charming, and there are some funny scenes.

1963 was a relatively weak year. In his Alternate Oscars, Danny Peary decreed there should have been no award for Best Picture that year! That does seem extreme. Top 10 for 1963: 1. America America 2. The L-Shaped Room 3. The Servant 4. The Birds 5. The Haunting 6. Tom Jones 7. Hud 8. Billy Liar 9. Charade 10. In the French Style Honorable mention: All the Way Home, The Great Escape, Love With the Proper Stranger, Donovan's Reef, Jason and the Argonauts Guilty pleasure: Palm Springs Weekend Underrated: America America, In the French Style Overrated: Shock Corridor Best Actor: Tom Courtenay, Billy Liar. Honorable mention to Dirk Bogarde (The Servant), Albert Finney (Tom Jones), Paul Newman (Hud), and Sidney Poitier (Lilies of the Field) Best Actress: Jean Simmons, All the Way Home Best Supporting Actor: If you think it's a supporting role, James Fox, The Servant. If you don't, Donald Pleasence, The Great Escape Best Supporting Actress: Although Patricia Neal (Hud) and Rachel Roberts (This Sporting Life) were nominated for Best Actress, arguably these are really supporting roles, and they would be my top choices.

Those of us who actually had some of the hairstyles seen in the movie can only hang our heads in shame--and wish we still had that much hair! The portrayal of the pressures of law school is very accurate, according to friends.

To add notes about a few more films Arturo didn't mention. More evidence that 1950 was one of the special years. IN A LONELY PLACE: Humphrey Bogart and Gloria Grahame in top form in this brooding noir directed by Nicholas Ray. Is the screenwriter played by Bogart a killer or a flawed but redeemable good guy? Gloria had better find out quickly. THE BREAKING POINT: Based on the same novel as TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT, but almost as different in story as it is in tone. John Garfield and Patricia Neal at their best, directed by Michael Curtiz. STARS IN MY CROWN: Joel McCrea plays a young minister in a tough town after the Civil War. A good slice of Americana. Sharp direction by Jacques Tourneur. MADELEINE: David Lean's least-known film. Ann Todd stars in this account of an actual poisoning in Edinburgh in the Victorian era. On first viewing the ending probably won't be satisfying, but this film improves on second viewing, with many great directorial touches. RIO GRANDE: Part of John Ford's cavlary trilogy, with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. SO LONG AT THE FAIR: Jean Simmons' brother disappears at the Paris Exposition, and no one except Dirk Bogarde even believes the brother existed. Why the cover-up, and how? KING SOLOMON'S MINES: In this year, this movie should not have been nominated for Best Picture, but with Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr, it's a fun adventure movie.

1962 is one of my favorite years, perhaps the best year of the classic era. Top 10 for 1962: 1. Lawrence of Arabia 2. The Manchurian Candidate 3. Days of Wine and Roses 4. To Kill a Mockingbird 5. Long Day's Journey Into Night 6. Ride the High Country 7. Lolita 8. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 9. David and Lisa 10. Cape Fear Honorable mention: All Fall Down, Light in the Piazza, Experiment in Terror, Eva, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, The War Lover, The Miracle Worker, The Music Man Overrated: Gypsy, Mutiny on the Bounty Underrated: David and Lisa, Light in the Piazza, All Fall Down Guilty pleasure: Two Weeks in Another Town Best Actor: Peter O'Toole, Lawrence of Arabia Best Actress: Lee Remick (Days of Wine and Roses), Katharine Hepburn (Long Day's Journey Into Night), or Anne Bancroft (The Miracle Worker) Best Supporting Actor: Robert Mitchum, Cape Fear Best Supporting Actress: Angela Lansbury, The Manchurian Candidate This is one of the greatest years for the Best Actor category. Along with O'Toole's Lawrence, consider Laurence Harvey (The Manchurian Candidate), Gregory Peck (To Kill a Mockingbird), James Mason (Lolita), Ralph Richardson (Long Day's Journey Into Night), Jack Lemmon (Days of Wine and Roses), Robert Preston (The Music Man), and Keir Dullea (David and Lisa) Edited by: kingrat on Jan 15, 2014 1:28 PM

I kept thinking that if you could substitute Buster Keaton for Eddie Cantor in the final fairground sequence, you would have a splendid comic scene. Cantor gets some of the laughs that are there, to be sure. Like finance and Dargo, I think Eddie Cantor seems dated, as does Jolson, and that's what's most interesting about them. But I'll definitely agree that TCM should show more of Cantor's films.

Not including foreign films means reaching for the last few spots most years in the 1960s except for 1962. I have an especially difficult time knowing where *West Side Story* ranks because this is one of the films that make a big impression on me when I was young. The Leonard Bernstein music is great, and so is the dancing. Top 10 for 1961: 1. Whistle Down the Wind 2. West Side Story 3. The Guns of Navarone 4. The Innocents 5. Loss of Innocence (The Greengage Summer) 6. Two Loves 7. Splendor in the Grass 8. One, Two, Three 9. A Taste of Honey 10. Night Tide Honorable mention: The Hustler, The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Town Without Pity, Two Rode Together, Victim, The Deadly Companions Need to see: Kapo, El Cid Underrated: Whistle Down the Wind, Loss of Innocence Guilty pleasures (what a year!): Claudelle Inglish, Parrish, Susan Slade Best Actor: Paul Newman, The Hustler Best Actress: Deborah Kerr, The Innocents Best Supporting Actor: George C. Scott, The Hustler Best Supporting Actress: Beatrice Kay, Underworld USA

I need to revise my 1960 list. *The Criminal*, which is the best of the Joseph Losey films I've seen, was released in Britain in 1960, but not in the U.S. until 1962, where it was called *The Concrete Jungle*. Definitely an underrated film, a true noir, with very ambitious direction. Good scenes in prison and out, with Stanley Baker an excellent tough guy at the center of things. TCM showed it within the last couple of years, but only once. Top 10 for 1960: 1. Psycho 2. Wild River 3. The Sundowners 4. *The Criminal* 5. Spartacus 6. Tunes of Glory 7. Sons and Lovers 8. Our Man in Havana 9. The Night Fighters 10. The League of Gentlemen

laffite, glad to see you back. I'll join the chorus of praise for *Experiment in Terror*. Henry Mancini's music for that film is great, too. I like *Experiment in Terror* and *Days of Wine and Roses*, both released in 1962, so much better than any other Blake Edwards films I've seen that the only logical explanation is that his double from another timeline switched places with him for that year. Have to agree that Rod Steiger really chews the scenery in *The Big Knife*, a film I don't like at all. A fine cast with less than fine dialogue. Edited by: kingrat on Jan 13, 2014 7:51 PM

I agree, darkblue. An excellent book which deals with the beginnings of the change is Mark Harris' PICTURES AT A REVOLUTION (note the title), which discusses the five films nominated as Best Picture in 1967.

Yul Brynner plays the guitar in *Anastasia*.

For me, there's a drop after the top 3 films. Oddly enough, films 3 through 10 were all filmed partly or wholly out of the U.S. Top !0 for 1960: 1. Psycho 2. Wild River 3. The Sundowners 4. Spartacus 5. Tunes of Glory 6. Our Man in Havana 7. Sons and Lovers 8. The Night Fighters 9. The League of Gentlemen 10. Saturday Night and Sunday Morning Need to see: The Angry Silence, The Savage Innocents Honorable mention: The Unforgiven, Elmer Gantry Overrated: The Apartment Underrated: The Night Fighters Best Actor: Anthony Perkins, Psycho Best Actress: Lee Remick, Wild River Best Supporting Actress: Jo Van Fleet, Wild River Best Supporting Actor: Cyril Cusack, The Night Fighters Honorable mention for performances: Actor: Jack Lemmon (The Apartment) and Robert Mitchum (The Sundowners) Actress: Deborah Kerr (The Sundowners) and Shirley MacLaine (The Apartment) Supporting Actor: If Trevor Howard (Sons and Lovers) is put in this category, he would probably be my choice.