ValentineXavier

I've toured the Yucatan peninsula by bicycle four times. Each time I came back, I immediately missed the food, and suffered from culture shock. My favorite breakfast there is a tall glass of fresh squeezed orange juice, plato de frutas frescas, and enchiladas de pollo en mole. Back in the 80s, you could still get filete de venado, and that was even better. In Merida, on the main zocalo, there was a licuado place right next to a panederia, which made for a good breakfast too.

> Did anyone catch THE UNHOLY WIFE?? I tried to throw a net over her, but she got away... Seriously, I DVRed it, but haven't watched it yet. I was sorry to see that it wasn't in its OAR of 2.00:1.

I'm pretty sure it has, but it has been a couple of years. Good film, I wish they'd show it again.

Yes, I did some digging after reading that Russell was dead, and found that out. The release will be the 1971 British release version, with lots of extras. But, it will NOT be the 2004 restored version, so it will be missing two critical scenes, because WB won't let the BFI use them. Also, WB will not allow a Blu-Ray release. It is my intention to buy the UK release, out on March 19, do a NTSC dub, and splice in the missing scenes, making my own personal complete copy of the film.

Someone stick a fork in this thread, it's done. Wait a minute - is the blimp filled with helium or hydrogen? Hydrogen can be dangerous.

Pixilation is usually a signal strength problem (local to your area or service drop,) or a satellite reception problem at the head end of your cable company. If it comes from one of those sources, it will most likely show up on more than one channel, or at least on more than one program of a single channel. The only other source of pixilation is rare occasions when the digital copy at the source is corrupted. That has occurred a couple of times in the past on TCM, but as I said, that is rare.

> {quote:title=FredCDobbs wrote:}{quote} > > I'd like to see the original cut of The Big Sleep again. I think TCM showed it once, years ago. > Yes, I saw that. They also showed a documentary telling how some professors or someone had decided the traditional version of the film wasn't good enough and they had to re-edit it. Something like that. I don't know what version they have been showing in recent years. > > I still don't know who killed the chuffer and pushed his big Packard off the end of Lido Pier. Professors had nothing to do with it, it was the studio, and Bacall's agent. The usual explanation is that after seeing how much the audience liked Bogie and Bacall in *To Have and Have Not*, the studio decided to increase their suggestive interplay. However, according to the IMDb, Bacall's agent was the impetus of the idea of reshooting and recutting the film: >The film was completed on January 12, 1945 and was shown to American servicemen overseas, but was not released in the United States at that time. With the end of World War II, Warners pushed back the release of The Big Sleep in favor of its completed war-themed films, among these films was Confidential Agent, which also starred Lauren Bacall. After her performance in that film was panned by the critics, agent Charles K. Feldman convinced Jack L. Warner that another failure would ruin Bacall's career. In a letter dated November 16, 1945, Feldman wrote Warner that "...if Bacall receives the same type of general reviews and criticisms on The Big Sleep, which she definitely will receive unless changes are made, you might lose one of your most important assets. Though the additional scenes will only cost in the neighborhood of probably $25,000 or $50,000, in my opinion this should be done even if the cost should run to $250,000." Feldman advised Warner to "give the girl at least three or four additional scenes with Bogart of the insolent and provocative nature that she had in To Have and Have Not."

I count *The Devils* as one of the best, most powerful films ever made, even though it is painful to watch. It is the story of enlightenment and joy vs dogma and corruption. For years WHV kept promising to release in on DVD "next year," and never did, then quit promising. If they ever do, we'll get no commentary from Ken. I'm a Russell fan, favorites being *The Devils*, *Tommy*, *Crimes of Passion*, *Lisztomania*, ******, *The Lair of the White Worm*, ... Well, I guess I like all of them that I've seen. Truly sad that he is gone.

Another very cool character, in a cool 80's classic is Countryman, playing himself, as a sort of rastaman version of Kwai Chang Caine in the film *Countryman*. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083762/

Armand Assante, as *Belizaire the Cajun*. Made in 1986, I haven't seen that film in any listings for at least a decade. I wish TCM would show it.

I prefer the Three Stooges bio, *There's no Business Like Schmoe Business*.

Actually, Ron Sweed patterned himself after Ghoulardi, not Svengoolie. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Sweed I was a fan of Ron, and Joe Bob, but have never seen Ghoulardi, or Svengoolie.

I'll certainly attest that the two George Smiley series were excellent. I'll also point out that the 2001 John Boorman film *The Tailor of Panama*, also based on a John Le Carre novel, is quite good.

> {quote:title=Dargo wrote:}{quote}Yep, good analogy there, VX. I think that about sums this up. I'd say Messrs. Powell and Pressburger knew that *because the Col. Blimp character was a known quantity by the English public at the time,* Exactly. That's why it isn't obvious to us, we USians are unfamiliar with the character.

I'd like to see the original cut of *The Big Sleep* again. I think TCM showed it once, years ago.

I'm pretty sure TCM has run *Flight to Tangier*.

> {quote:title=finance wrote:}{quote}The character is not actually called Blimp, other than in the title? I'm sorry, but I don't get it. Well, there could be a movie called The Quisling, without having the namesake in it, just someone else who fit the part. Same would be true of a movie named Judas, or a lot of real names that have come to denote a type of person.

> {quote:title=fxreyman wrote:}{quote} > Would not this be much more interesting to read than what we can find out on our own in books and other media? I, for one, have found these quotes of Agee's criticism to be very interesting. I do like his style, and usually agree with what I have read of him here.

Ruben and the Jets is a great album. I had a cat named Ruben, after the album. Zappa had some Do-wopish stuff on his first album, Freakout too.

That was a great ep. Joan's hair do was, well, as out there as she was. I was hoping for some twist that would put her out of everyone's misery, but leave Gary Merrill free from legal problems. I think the channel was called Encore Mystery, but it is now called Encore Suspense, at least on Comcast. I've watched several of these, and DVRed the rest. I lost one to the dreaded 'black screen." I'm hoping it repeats. They have been showing them all in original release order, with a very few repeats. They did skip one ep, which I hope they pick up later. There are three seasons. I'm hoping they air them all. Maybe if we're lucky, they'll do another marathon over the holidays!

IMO, *THX1138* is Lucas' best film. It is expanded from his far more abstract student film. JEV1A, Synanon started out as a drug rehab program, and evolved into a cult. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synanon

Yes, Robin Hood is called "Robin of Locksley" in the 1938 version of *The Adventures of Robin Hood*.

> {quote:title=ugaarte wrote:}{quote}ValentineXavier . . . > > Thank you for your recipe for 'quick' Quesadillas ! > > I don't know why I didn't think of putting them in the microwave. > > I would always fry them in a little bit of oil, until they were pliable and put cheese on them, > and then fold them over and place them on a paper towel . . . But they always felt too oily, > and I never seemed to be able to avoid that. My brother would prepare them the same > way, but his always came out with a light crispiness and never oily. > > But now, I'm going to try the microwave and see if I fare better there. > > Thanks again ! I use the mike for quick, but they won't be crispy. I believe that the traditional is to use a griddle, very lightly lubricated, and at low heat, until the cheese melts, then fold over. That will give you a little crisp, but not oily. For me, the problem with that is that you can only do one or two at a time. You might want to try my oven method. Use a pizza pan, or a cookie sheet, no lubrication: Assemble the quesadillas on the sheet, open-faced. Put one of the oven shelves on the second to lowest rung. Preheat oven to ~400 degrees. (This works in my electric oven, you might need to adjust for yours.) Place the sheet on that lower shelf, and shut the door. Keep a close eye on them! In ~8-15 min., the cheese will be melted, and the tortillas will be getting a little crispy. Take out the sheet, and fold them over. If they're a little too crispy to fold, don't worry. Just eat them open-faced, and leave them in a little less next time. I guess that if I were a real quesadilla addict, I'd try one of those commercial quesadilla makers. But, I don't know how well they work. Also, they are designed for flour tortillas, and I prefer corn.

You sound like a guy who would know the cost of a pair of split-crotch panties in the galaxy Andromeda.

Personally, I wouldn't touch a snow shovel with an 11 foot pole. If it's ever too deep to go out, I'll stay home. I'm straight, but I know there must be some other gay guys on the board. But of course, disclosing that is a personal choice. I know a couple of women have pretty much said they were gay. I don't recall who, though. I wasn't planning on asking any out, so it didn't matter.