dpompper

Several years ago, I had a week-long fling with a Canadian waterski instructor whilst vacationing in Martinique. Somehow I found time to pick up the "eh" habit. It stuck for a few weeks after I returned and friends threatened to clobber me.

That would be a big negatory, finance.

I LOVE that red train, too! And how the people on the ground salute it! The Strelnikov portrayal inspired me to watch more by Tom Courtenay (and I've not been disappointed). I'm a big fan of "Dr. Zhevago" and have seen it many, many times. (I prefer to watch my DVD though, so I can pause for potty breaks and advance through the intro and intermission music -- albeit beautiful). I want to read the book when I get time someday. (I'd like to learn more about the Klaus Kinski character.) I've always found it somewhat amusing that the older man-younger woman scenario was so "shocking" (especially since it was at least part of the time consensual), but the film seemed to gloss over the whole step sister and brother thing.

If I may flip this crystal over to explore a different facet . . . Sometimes personality = popularity . . . so that when/if some of today's pop culture personalities do films, chances are I'll have ZERO interest in seeing them (e.g., Lohan, Kardashian, Pitt, etc.) I'm sure the personality = popularity formula held true in films created before I was born. Fortunately, it's not salient now when I watch a classic film to affect my judgment as to how/if I regard a performance. For example, discovering after the "fact" that Crawford was not mother of the year, Arbuckle was accused of murder, Gable had an illegitimate child, etc. . . . sure, these things are a blip on my radar screen, but they really don't impact how I watch their films. So, I suppose it's the element of time that makes the difference for me. On the other hand, I do think about substance abuse among musicians and vocalists. For example, I cannot listen to the amazing Billie Holiday without thinking of how her life circumstances shaped her art. Though, to me that is not the same thing as saying that I refuse to listen/watch an artist because s/he was x.

I've already posted my four on FB . . . but just for fun, may I engage anyone in a discussion of possibly including "Dark City" (1998)? Some may consider it too new to be noir, or too sci fi to be noir . . . But I really appreciate its noir-ish elements. I only discovered it last year and have watched it several times -- discovering something new with each viewing. If I had to name one thing about "Dark City" that I think squarely places it in the noir category, it's mood.

I'm with you, swithin (albeit in the minority, it seems).

me, too!

VERY few contemporary films are a "hit" with me. I've either got a discerning palate, or am a pain in the a**, or both. Usually, if a film is deemed a "hit" by someone else, then it's definitely NOT something that will interest me.

Thanks for the correction.

I kept hoping the tripod monster in the "War of the Worlds" (2005) would eat Elle Fanning. What an annoying, screaming-mimi brat. That's not acting at all.

"Lethal Weapon" (1987)

"Moonstruck" (1987)

Yes, Andy. I agree (and long have thought that). Love, love, love them both. Among my favorite Susan Hayward films, other than the ones you mentioned: "The Lost Moment" (1947) -- I have it on VHS, and I don't think it's available on DVD "The President's Lady" (1953) Edited by: dpompper on Nov 14, 2012 8:35 AM

"Poseidon Adventure" (1972). Sure, it's New Year's Eve (close enough?), but there's an instrumental Christmas tree involved.

What I LOVE about this idea, sepia, is that it could turn into a real "Argument Clinic!" And don't say "no, it couldn't" because that's just contradiction and not an argument at all!

<I remember where I heard about Jennifer Jones eating garlic before her kissing scenes with William Holden> Perhaps that's why I saw ZERO closeups while both were in the frame and there definitely was no tongue involved in the kissing scenes, that I could see.

<What if Cary Grant had not retired?> Then he would have died trying.

That's weird . . . there was NO outro on my end -- just a transition to "the next Hong Kong-based film" (something like that).

What I've learned about zombies is from the movies . . . where they eat rather ravenously (aka quickly). . . So by that measure, by now they'd have licked the plates and moved on to storm the shelter of new, warm victims.

Just read on Wikipedia (I know, I know) that she died on Nov. 2, 2012 (and Suyin Han was her pen name). My guess is that tonight's intro was taped before that because it was unusual that RO didn't mention it (unless Wikipedia is wrong -- which is always a possibility). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Suyin

For some reason, I'd never seen it -- although I was well aware of it. Yes, it was highly predictable. Yes, the music was annoying. Yes, the camera angles were all the same. Yes, people were constantly coming and going somewhere. Yes, the windy hill scenes were trite. Yes, I have difficulty with films where Americans and Brits play "other." So, I agree with several of your points, missw. But I went with it. I think if I were not 52 and have not seen soooo many films and had seen it back in the '50s, I probably would have been a big puddle of tears on the floor. Overall, I liked it . . . but it's not making it into my Top 10 of all time. It did, however, inspire me to learn more about this woman and the historical context. Thanks, RO, for letting me know in the intro that it's based on a true story!

<Are you a true classic film fan or are you just a groupie?> I suppose I should read all previous pages . . . is there a difference? By "groupie" do you mean of this website and the channel? Seems the same to me.

Yeah, what obrienmundy said . . .

. . . poncho optional. I'm not super "into" those films, but understand why some are. One thing I appreciate about them is that even though I do not have smell-a-vision, I really can smell how funky all of those characters are!

I bought the DVD last year (after discovering that it was finally available). It had been VHS-only for a loooooong time. I remember it from childhood, so it became kind of a fairy tale to me and I have a special appreciation for it.