Filmgoddess
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Posts posted by Filmgoddess
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I don't think I could pick one greatest actress in history but Barbara Stanwyck would definitely be in my Top Five.
Cathy Cartee
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Really? I think it's a terrific film, experimental in some ways, very compelling in others. I've seen it a number of times -- I have it on dvd -- and it always holds my interest. Vastly underrated film.
Cathy Cartee
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I also noticed on Tuesday night how bloodshot her eyes were and it made me really concerned for her.
Cathy Cartee
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We'll just have to agree to disagree. I won't convince you and you won't convince me. I don't believe noir can be completely defined which is why I used the Mr. Justice Stewart quote as it seems to apply here. But I've given my definition and given examples of true film noirs. They all have a "feel" which THE BIG HEAT simply doesn't have. It's just a very straightforward film from beginning to end.
You're right that there is a lot more to noir than just a "look and feel" but my point is that noir has to at LEAST have that. THE BIG HEAT simply doesn't.
I don't know how else to explain it.
Cathy Cartee
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I understand all of your points and have considered them over the years but THE BIG HEAT -- despite what it is "considered" doesn't work as a noir to me. There is simply no gray, no shadows, no light and dark. It's just a straight up and down crime drama. That, to me, is not a film noir.
I just completely disagree with your interpretation but that's fine. Not a big deal. To me there is nothing about the film -- which is very well executed and one that I like very much -- that even suggests noir. If this is film is great noir then so is Call Northside 777 -- another traditional, straight up and down, procedural. That one a journalist, Heat involving a cop.
I like the film but it's not a noir and I've tried to see it your way but I simply don't. I think there are far fewer noirs than many like to claim.
Cathy Cartee
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Yes, of course, and Stanwyck is the infinitely more interesting character! As she says "It can be so easy, do it, Sam." Scott just mopes around looking like she needs a laxative.
Cathy Cartee
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There's a machine called "Go Video." You pop the VHS tape in one end and a DVD blank in the other and press a button and off it goes. Works every time. I transferred about 500 tapes this way, some films that didn't make it to DVD but mostly things like the entire AFI Life Achievement series, the Kennedy Center Honors series -- stuff that will never ever make it to DVD.
Also, I agree with the Blu-ray comments. Not my thing. You can see people's pores. Life is not that CLEAR! No film in a theater looks like that. Regular HD is fine, regular DVDs are fine but Blu-ray looks totally unnatural to me.
Cathy Cartee
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She was more than a "capable dramatic actress." She was a great one. See DUET FOR ONE. A great and vastly underrated performance.
MR and MRS SMITH is, by far, Hitchcock's worst film. But he was remarkably consistent and even if the minor films there is something to look at. FAMILY PLOT is pretty bad, too. Whoever thought that Karen Black should be in the movies?
Cathy Cartee
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Julie Andrews is one of the loveliest, nicest, sexiest, most talented actresses and entertainers who ever graced the stage or silver screen. This needless attack on her is beyond the pale.
Cathy Cartee
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CBS owns the rights to the 1964 film; they don't own the rights to the show itself which are still held by the estates of Lerner and Loewe and other creators of the show. The last part I'm sure of because we tried to do a version of the show not too long ago and had to get their approval (it didn't happen).
Cathy Cartee
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I will get down on my hands and knees and light a candle each day -- and I'm not even a Roman Catholic -- if this never, ever comes to pass. Please, if there is a God, let this one day a very happy crib death.
Cathy Cartee
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That should have said RECORDER, not recording.
Cathy Cartee
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That's why a DVD recording is a true ESSENTIAL.
Cathy Cartee
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I had the same experience you did. On a larger question, and it's one I have with friends all the time, is what is "film noir?" I always quote what Mr. Justice Stewart said about pornography "I can't tell you but I know it when I see it."
It came up again today because TCM was calling THE BIG HEAT a film noir. I just don't see it. It's a basic crime drama -- a very good one -- but it doesn't come close to being a noir IMHO.
First, with noir, there simply can't be a totally happy ending. That sort of defeats what noir is. The ending has to be bad or at least ambiguous (DOUBLE INDEMNITY, OUT OF THE PAST, STRANGE LOVE OF MARTHA IVERS, etc.).
Cathy Cartee
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You find her "virtuous" in MARTHA IVERS? I've never seen the character that way. She strikes me as a really unrealistic, sappy hooker.
Cathy Cartee
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Only in the 1940s. After that, I keep hoping that Bacall doesn't even appear in the scene.
Cathy Cartee
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Dargo: Yes, I said all that with tongue in cheek knowing exactly what you meant. I, too, am tired of the use of the word "bashing" to diminish people's opinions or throwing in completely irrelevant poltical stuff because, oh just because you want to.
Cathy Cartee
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I go to the theater a lot on my twice a year trips to NYC. I saw LA CAGE AUX FOLLES several times in the 1980s on Broadway and that song was originated and sung by the great George Hearn. Gloria Gaynor had nothing to do with the show and never sang it in the show. Not sure where the reference to her in connection to this song comes from.
I think Michael Ontkean in MAKING LOVE is smokin' hot. Gorgeous body, gorgeous face. I always wondered why he never became a bigger star. Wonder if this film killed it for him?
Cathy Cartee
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Was there ever a more lethargic leading actress? She always seems so bored or has this look on her face like she's trying to hide the fact that she just passed gas. Very, very strange actress.
Cathy Cartee
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David: "Liberal" and "Conservative" have come to be accepted as basically political terms these days which is why I caution my students against using them outside of a poltical debate because they have connotations which one might not really mean when applying the words to other subjects.
I don't think there is a "liberal" lifestyle or a "conserative" one. Perhaps "traditional" and "promiscuous" would be better terms, not sure.
In my church, we are often hearing about the "conservative" faction and I always say that the word "orthodox" faction is more accurate.
But I get your point. It was an unfortunate detour because one poster decided to use the word "liberal" to describe Mr. Ray's rather "unorthodox" lifestyle and then it got exacerbated by some who decided to go that one step further.
Unfortunately, all around if you ask me.
Cathy Cartee
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I hope they show it more often because my cable system decided to do their weekly "Emergency Alert System" warning last night and completely ruined my recording of FIVE GRAVES. I love the film.
Of course, Prof. Shaheen got this one wrong, too. In the Intro he refers to Baxter and Akim as "not caring about the consequences, they just help him." That's completely untrue. One of the great things about the film is that neither of them willingly goes along with helping Tone. Baxter, especially, has to be dragged kicking and screaming to go along.
I sometimes wonder if the dear Professor actually watches the films? Although I suppose by now I should realize that he does see in these "horrible films" -- as he called them last night (and RO called him on it -- Bravo!) only what he wants to see and not necessarily what is on the screen.
Cathy Cartee
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Bundie: I think she looks "lovely" as well. I was just attributing that to unnatural reasons, rather than natural ones.
Cathy Cartee
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The word "bashing" is used whenever you disagree with another person on something they've said and you want to make sure that their opinion is given no weight so just attribute it to "bashing" -- without presenting an argument of your own -- and, therefore, you believe that you have belittled the other person's argument. That's bashing :^0
Cathy Cartee
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Calm down. It's not that bad. Please don't throw around words like "hate" when that is such an incendiary word and has nothing to do with anything being discussed here.
I'm merely stating that I hear from people all the time how wonderful someone looks but they don't acknowledge that the reason is the botox and plastic surgery. I happen to think that aging naturally is the more intrinsically beautiful.
I don't hate anyone. I actually like Ms. Hedren quite a bit but she owes her youthful look to surgery. That's all.
Take a chill pill.
Cathy Cartee
Did anyone watch "Three Kings"?
in General Discussions
Posted
Perhaps I've missed something but I don't get why "having something on DVD" proves some sort of point. What point? About what? And when? And how? And why?
Cathy Cartee