ElCid
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Posts posted by ElCid
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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.
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3 hours ago, scsu1975 said:
*** ...bullets can't stop him [Dracula}, but if you toss the gun he folds like a cheap suit ...
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.
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If Eddie had not mentioned the cardboard sets, I probably never would have noticed them. Ironically, live theater is nothing but cardboard sets.
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21 hours ago, speedracer5 said:
I love films that are short and concise. They know the story they want to tell and damn it, they're going to do it in 75 minutes, not a second wasted. I like short movies, it makes me feel more productive (as productive as you can be anyway, sitting on the couch watching movies) as I can knock a couple out in a night, rather than devoting myself to a long 2+ hour movie.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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16 hours ago, Dargo said:
Yeah, somehow without Kenneth Tobey being in some kind'a military uniform, he just was never as attractive, was he.
Could never figure that out myself.
Yeah, IN a uniform, the guy goes up from a "5" to maybe a minimum "7".
(...but in Angel Face, there's poor ol' Kenny playin' second fiddle again sans those snappy uniforms o' his)
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.
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2 hours ago, Bogie56 said:
Sunday, September 30
9:45 p.m. Operation Eichmann (1961). With Werner Klemperer as the infamous mass murderer. I haven’t seen it. I hope I don’t keep waiting for Eichmann to say “Hogan!!!"
I would be more interested in Ruta Lee's role.
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On 9/25/2018 at 3:13 AM, GGGGerald said:
Remember when Mad Men was all the rage ? The networks tried Pan Am and the Playboy Club. And protest took them right off of the air.
So now we get new Magnum P.I. , new Hawaii 5-0, new Murphy Brown etc...
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.
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11 hours ago, GGGGerald said:
1. Corporations have always preferred to go with well known names over anything new. Especially since 2008.
2. This has nothing to do with "black audiences". All audiences today prefer diversity in entertainment. Release a big budget film with an all white cast, expect it to under perform. And that's not just black audiences staying away. Its the general movie going public that is speaking with their dollars.
3. My issue with "black washed" remakes is that the talent has to measure up to the original or it will pale in comparison. Cedric isn't close to Jackie Gleason, who helped create the sit com for television. Same with USA trying to revive Kojak with Ving Rhames. That wasn't just another cop show. Telly Savalas was a very successful movie star and a Greek Icon. Frankly, only another Greek actor could have pulled that off. Or of course, call it something else.
4. No, corporations would rather let someone else take the risk, then cash in after the fact with some copy cat series. Remember when Mad Men was all the rage ? The networks tried Pan Am and the Playboy Club. And protest took them right off of the air.
5. So now we get new Magnum P.I. , new Hawaii 5-0, new Murphy Brown etc...
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.
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All of them!
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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.
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4 hours ago, Bogie56 said:
Tuesday, September 25/26
1:30 a.m. Greased Lightning (1977). With Richard Pryor, Pam Grier and Beau Bridges.
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.
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49 minutes ago, jamesjazzguitar said:
The Movies-TV network does NOT edit a film for 'more commercial time', but only to remove content. This is stated before each movie (e.g. I just saw it yesterday when No Way Out was on). BUT they sure do edit out content. E.g. the "n" word in No Way Out (which Richard Widmark said to Sidney Poitier often in this controversial film).
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.
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14 hours ago, cody1949 said:
Mitchum was at his best when he was evil. The calm exterior of a psychopath; you knew the fuse was lit but you didn't know what second it would blow.
I would have to disagree. I think he was at his best when he played laid back roles, often with a bit of humor.
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2 hours ago, Sepiatone said:
That was a good one.
and too, I liked when she was up in arms over "All this fuss about "flea erections" in China, and "Endangered f e c e s! "
Back to noir stuff....
MOVIES! channel shows noir films on weekend nights, like Saturday or Sunday( I can't recall the specific night they feature them) and though they DO cut up with commercials, you DON'T get some raspy voiced wag droning on about the film or the ERA like some sort of "expert".
Sepiatone
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."
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I didn't watch it. Saw it many years ago and didn't like it very much.
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40 minutes ago, misswonderly3 said:
Yup, Cid, seen 'em. And as you say - or suggest, anyway - there are comedic elements in those two films as well, especially The Big Steal. I don't seem to enjoy Macao quite as much, despite that great cast. But maybe I should give it another chance, only saw it once.
What His Kind of Woman has that those others lack is the priceless Vincent Price.
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.
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8 hours ago, misswonderly3 said:
I like His Kind of Woman, but mainly, despite james' point that there's some ugly violence in the film, for its comedy. In fact, for some reason, even though as just acknowledged, there is some bleak darkness in His Kind of Woman, especially those final scenes in the boat (yikes, that needle gradually getting closer and closer to Mitch's arm !), I still regard it as mainly a comedy. I'd list it as an example of a noir comedy, a topic I plan to start a thread about one of these days.
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.
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2 hours ago, Sepiatone said:
Couldn't see that image Slayton.
But I have a question....
What WAS the make of that sports car that CARY GRANT tools around in with MARILYN MONROE at his side in MONKEY BUSINESS?
A friend of mine SWEARS it's a MORGAN, but even in a movie, I find it hard to imagine buying a Morgan at a Ford "agency".
Sepiatone
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.
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14 hours ago, jamesjazzguitar said:
Just stick to 'what do I know' since it covers most situations.
Not sure what you meant, but the same advice applies to you.
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13 minutes ago, misswonderly3 said:
Really? I've seen it two or three times, and have never found it boring. Now, if you're saying it's not up to the standards we usually see in later noirs, like the cinematography, acting, dialogue, etc., I'd have to agree that it's a bit lacking in sophistication compared to the later films we associate with the "classic noir era". But remember, the O.P was just saying she thinks Stranger on the Third Floor is a seminal noir, "seminal" meaning "influential", "formative". (hey, I looked it up.) It's not really fair to compare SOTTF to the later noirs.
What it does have in common with those later noirs, and where you can definitely see the influence on them ( er, the later noirs), is in the shadowy cinematography, the late night scenes ( diners, walking those slightly ominous city streets), the shabby walk-up where the hero lives, the very noirish dream/nightmare sequence, and the themes of misplaced guilt, isolation ( hey, who's more isolated than poor old Peter Lorre?), and paranoia.
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.
and too, I liked when she was up in arms over "All this fuss about "flea erections" in China, and "Endangered f e c e s! " 
I Just Watched...
in General Discussions
Posted
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.