ElCid

Watched The Big Sleep (1978) with Robert Mitchum. Purchased the DVD several years ago and found it wanting in comparison to Bogie's version. However, read a couple of posts on here about it being good, so gave it another shot. Actually it is better than I thought. Not as good as Mitchum's Farewell My Lovely from the same period, but still good. Earlier I probably compared it to closely to Bogie's. Hard not to do, but considering by itself, it flows well and the English setting is acceptable. Also an opportunity to see several quality English actors. Of course, as with FML, the lack of censorship adds another element that better explains the plot.

Didn't watch OAT as I had seen it a few years back and didn't think much of it. May give it another shot on Watch TCM.

Lewis Grizzard had a comedy routine about people shooting at Superman and then throwing the gun as if that would do something. And Superman always ducked.

If Eddie had not mentioned the cardboard sets, I probably never would have noticed them. Ironically, live theater is nothing but cardboard sets.

I agree. There are too many movies where they have what I call filler. Long walks or drives in automobiles, lots of time in entertainment venues, long meaningless conversations, lots of shots panning nothing related to plot, etc. I think that is one reason why movies from the 30's through 50's are so appealing. Not saying some long movies are not worth watching, but not twice for sure. But they are very, very rare.

I think Kevin Costner does well in comedic movies involving round balls. Tin Cup, Bull Durham. Anything else is fairly mediocre. I remember seeing Dancing with Wolves when I got back from the Gulf War with some other guys. Fairly interesting, but too long. Having watched it once since then, it has not improved. In fact, I now find it boring and preachy. Still too long.

Actually have Schindler's List on DVD and ironically read the book sometime before the movie came out. Both were educational and entertaining. Very good book and very good movie. Can't verify the accuracy, but Wikipedia has an interesting article about Schindler. He was a Czechoslovakian citizen in the Sudetenland, but of German ancestry. He was a "spy" for the German military and eventually joined the Nazi party (probably for economic opportunity). He appeared to have no problem with using slave labor, but tried to be humane about it. No question he did a lot for "his people" to include risking his life and using his fortune to save many at end of the war. So, were there "good Nazis?" Schindler obviously was one, but was he a real Nazi? Don't confuse Germans with being Nazis. Just as you shouldn't confuse Southerners with being racists, K l a n members and so forth. He was also a bit of a "rogue" even before he went to Poland. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oskar_Schindler

My apologies for the confusion. I googled The Gangster and on the link for ImDB that pops up, it shows 3.5 stars out of 5. Then it shows the 6.6 out 10 score, but I missed that. I did watch it this morning. Interesting in an off-beat way. Not sure I ever saw Barry Sullivan act in the manner which he did. I think that may be due to the director wanting a more "psychological" performance. I would have to somewhat agree with Muller's quote from Sullivan re: Belita's acting. As usual, Muller's backstories were almost as interesting as the movie.

The Gangster, Sep. 29/30 feature. Read the Wiki synopsis and it sounds like it may be confusing. ImDB gave it 3 stars. Reviews say it leans towards artsy. Anybody seen it?

Every time I see Kenneth Toby I think of him in Walking Tall. Definitely different from his roles in this period. I do like him in the SciFi movies that he made.

I would be more interested in Ruta Lee's role.

For some reason this thought came back to me. One reason Mad Men was so successful is that they did a heck of job with it. Very good cast, director and writers. The people in charge of props and sets did a fantastic job. I watched Pan Am and the Playboy Club - boring!!!! Poorly written, poorly acted and poorly directed.

1. Agree, but goes all the way back. Look at all the 50's and 60's westerns, PI shows, etc. 2. Disagree. I think a movie with an all white cast that is well written, well directed and with quality acting would be very successful. There are probably lots of them out there now actually. People go to a movie for entertainment not diversity. Not against diversity, but it is not a selling point for movies or TV shows. 3. Agree 4. Mad Men was on a non-broadcast network and they allow more time for series to develop a following. The "Big Four" (broadcast) want big following within a few months or shows are dead. I think the other networks are following their lead. I purchased the DVD set of TNT's King & Maxwell a year or so ago. Had some flaws, but it was a fairly good series. Cancelled after about 13 shows.

All of them!

Not a response to your question, but I purchased the Route 66 TV series DVD's some time back. There are some that I watch frequently. Two have Dan Duryea and both episodes are fairly interesting. In one he is an alcoholic guardian of his niece and in the other he plays an old bank robber returning to the scene of his long ago crime. He does both roles well. Overall a nice guy with a history roles.

I finally broke down and purchased DVD set of Harts of the West TV series. Beau was the producer, star and I think director. Purchased it mainly because of Harley Jane Kozak. She is fairly good as an actor and great as a mystery writer. This is not related to Hearts of the West movie (very good) starring Jeff Bridges, Andy Griffin and Blythe Danner. Although not sure Beau did not steal the title and reference to the Shoshonee Mountains. Beau is not nearly as good as Jeff as an actor. I can understand why the series was cancelled after one year - surprised it made it that far.

OK. Doesn't Movies! TV add run time? I know some of the other channels will take a 24 minute TV show and then the run time is close to 40 or 45 minutes.

I would have to disagree. I think he was at his best when he played laid back roles, often with a bit of humor.

We no longer get Movies! channel as the local broadcaster replaced it with another network. Regardless, when we did have it, the commercials were long and frequent. Even recording the movies and fast forwarding through them was very disruptive to the flow of the movie. Not to mention whatever editing they did to permit more commercial time. Whereas, on TCM you can mute the "wag" until the movie starts and afterwards. Then ZERO interruptions. While I may not listen to the presenters, I do occasionally and usually find their information quite informative. Incidentally, this thread is about Noir Alley, but I assume you are not including Eddie Mueller as one of the "wags."

I didn't watch it. Saw it many years ago and didn't like it very much.

There is not as much comedy in Macao. I think Mitchum's acting is more relaxed, easy going or something which could be perceived as comedic. The Big Steal is far more comedic. The back story behind the making of the movie is interesting as well. Assume you probably know that.

Have the same thoughts about His Kind of Woman. You would probably like The Big Steal and Macao as well. TBS has Jane Greer and William Bendix and Macao has William Bendix, Gloria Grahame and Jane Russel, as well as Mitchum in the leads.

Will defer to other answer on this. Wouldn't be surprised to see a Morgan or any foreign make sold at a Ford agency. In the 1950's and early 60's, Mercedes-Benz was sold and serviced at Studebaker dealerships. Very few foreign makes sold enough cars to justify stand alone dealerships. Back in 78 or so I purchased a Fiat from a Fiat/M-B/MG/Mazda dealership. Next door was the Triumph/AMC dealership.

Not sure what you meant, but the same advice applies to you.

I also had to look up seminal when I first came across this thread. Agree that the cinematography, night scenes, etc. might be noirish, but I don't think this influenced later noir, but then again what do I know. Couldn't you say the same thing about a lot of mystery and horro movies? It just did not seem to flow very well.