Kinokima

I would personally love to watch 8 hours of Buster Keaton.

And of course Ball of Fire and Bringing up Baby are directed by Howard Hawks. I see a theme going here. Although it seems Bringing Up Baby is somewhat the opposite of a lot of Hawk's other films. In most of his films dedication to ones work seems to be a strength of the characters. Here it seems more like a flaw. Although Susan was certainly dedicated in getting David.

Personally I do consider "Classic" a period of time instead of a value on a film's worth (that is too subjective to me). I mean there is such a thing as Classic Music, Classic Rock, Classic Literature etc and none of these things mean the "best of something" they represent a period of time. I think there is such a thing for Classic Films too. If we are talking Hollywood I guess it would be from the Silent era to the end of the 1960's. Although some people count the silent era separately and some people end it at the 1950's. If we are talking about foreign Classic cinema it might get a bit more complicated. However I don't necessarily think TCM is just a channel for the Classic Era of cinema. I think it's definition of classic cinema is more broad. Actually I sort of look at TCM as more of a Film History channel. As long as TCM plays mainly older films (which you can't really see anywhere else) I am fine with the sprinkling of newer films from time to time when they fit a particular theme TCM is highlighting.

Filmsite.org seems to think almost every Oscar Winner is undeserving

I personally think the Oscar should have went to I am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang out of the nominated films. But yes there were many better films made in 1933 that weren't even nominated. I usually love anything associated with Noel Coward (one of my favorite writers) but I found this movie pretty boring. It could be because I am tired and not giving it my full attention though. I did like that one Titanic scene and some of the music was fun to listen to.

I love both Ball of Fire and Ninotchka actually. Of course they were both written by the great Billy Wilder. Ball of Fire is one of the few films where I enjoy Gary Cooper. But Barbara is definitely the star of the film. She is wonderful and once again how did she not win a competitive Oscar ever? Certain things are just unfathomable to me and that is one of them.

Scorsese highlighted the film this month http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/article.jsp?assetId=P7260058

Thank you Movie Fan Laura. Now personally as I said before I am not thrilled with Esther Williams but I by no means think that my views represent the average TCM viewer. They are just my personal views. People who like Esther Williams will be able to enjoy her and I will enjoy TCM on other days. There are a lot of possible choices for SOTM. We can't all be pleased by all of them (and I am already happy with March & April).

> {quote:title=FredCDobbs wrote:}{quote} > Yes, Tati's ok for Tati fans. He is why the French like Jerry Lewis films so much. I should have excluded that one. I just got excited when I saw the new cheap low-budget films on the list. Understood! The themes of Tati's films just reminded me of some of your posts . You know guy having to deal with modern day technology which makes everything more complicated.

Have you seen any of Tati's films Fred? For some reason I think you would enjoy them.

If you like film noir, you'll like Scarlet Street. It's one of the earliest of its kind of film noir. I love Film Noir and Edward G. Robinson, and Fritz Lang.... I just hope I am not raising my expectations too high.

Well ignoring the 4 modern films what is wrong with Tati's Playtime. It's not like Tati is new to TCM but I haven't seen Playtime so that's something else to look forward to.

In my opinion the best use of Technicolor is by *Powell & Pressburger*. Color just bursts out of their films. It's always so gorgeous. Although I do love the Technicolor in Adventures of Robin Hood, GWTW, and Meet Me in St. Louis very much as well.

> {quote:title=FrankGrimes wrote:}{quote} > > Heck, Scarlet Street in primetime is all I need. > *YES!* Okay it is very sad I have not seen it yet. It's on Instant Netflix but I heard the print was bad on there so I've been waiting/hoping for TCM to play it (so happy now). I am also happy about *Petrified Forest* (another film I really need to see). Not in Prime Time but I'll take what I can get.

> {quote:title=gagman66 wrote:}{quote} > No Race in Hollywood festival this year? They must have run out of Races? *SPEEDWAY,* not with Elvis and Nancy but William Haines and Anita Page. That has not been shown in years and years. They are doing a Civil War Tribute in April. That might have taken the place of it this year.

Wow already and I felt we just saw the April schedule Anyways Esther Williams seems to be the SOTM. Not something I am personally that thrilled about. Other than that I haven't had a chance to peruse the schedule but I will add more thoughts later.

I don't think anyone is saying the title cards are an artistic point of a silent film. However I do think narration would be way more distracting then those title cards. Case in point as I mentioned earlier Charlie Chaplin added narration to Gold Rush and I find it terribly distracting and it takes me out of the picture. The only parts I enjoy are when Chaplin is not speaking (although Chaplin narrating his own film is of course at least interesting, some modern random star doing it would just be plain annoying).

I have heard people saying the scene was racist. I didn't see it that way but then I am not Asian American. Of course Steve Park who played the character talks about how it was a *positive experience* for him. He also talks about how it is a struggle for him & other Asian Americans to get roles in American Films which is still very much a white industry. http://community.livejournal.com/racebending/138543.html

Miss Wonderly I don't actually think many people think that way at all. Fargo is a highly regarded film and is widely considered one of the best films of the 1990's. I thought Frances McDormand was my favorite part of the film. I thought her character was wonderful and very endearing. Yes she was a bit stereotypical but certainly not stupid. The only thing I didn't like about the film was some of the violence which was a bit overboard but it was some great black comedy.

Yes that Stormy Weather sequence is amazing. I agree with Astaire that it is probably the most impressive dance moment I have seen so far in film.

I still need to see *Seventh Heaven* (it's in my Netflix queue) and *Street Angel* for that matter which is luckily coming on TCM this month. One of the movies I am most looking forward to. As for Wings I did really enjoy it (although it took me a little time to get into it possibly because I was tired) I loved Clara Bow, the aerial shots were great, and I am sucker for a good "bromance" and this film had one of the best. However best picture I think not. From the same time period: Sunrise, The Crowd, The General, The Student Prince, The Wind, Metropolis, etc, etc all seem to be stronger films in my opinion. But then this is the Academy so of course they would get it wrong right from the beginning. edit: Oops I guess The General came out in 1926 so I guess that one would not have been eligible? Edited by: Kinokima on Feb 7, 2011 1:17 PM

Wow that is so cool. And I am always so sad how there are so few WWII veterans with us. But someone left from WWI is amazing. As for Charles Rogers I don't blame 3 girls chasing after him. I was pretty enamored with him myself. But let's not forget he also got Mary Pickford in real life.

> {quote:title=gagman66 wrote:}{quote} > Only so much can be done with SUNRISE or WINGS. No camera negatives exist. SUNRISE is from a 5th generation print source, but it still looks very nice. Well when I say I want Criterion to release it I don't just mean for the print but for the packaging, extras and so forth that usually go with a Criterion release. Not every film gets the "Criterion works" but I imagine something of Sunrise's caliber would and I would love to own something like that.

I have a recording of Sunrise so I didn't record this either, too bad because it does look nicer than the print I have. It is actually my favorite silent film I have seen so far. My dream would be if Fox would let Criterion release a version of it, I can just imagine how pretty that would be (even though Criterion doesn't release a lot of Silents). Btw I am making a friend watch this. This will be her first silent film so I hope she enjoys it. I am sort of terrified she won't. Edited by: Kinokima on Feb 6, 2011 8:43 PM

TCM thank you for Sunrise & Wings tonight & please keep playing Silent Films in prime time.