CaveGirl
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Posts posted by CaveGirl
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Well, of course I would put Ed Wood at the top of the list.
As Picasso once said, "Good taste is the enemy of creativity" and since Ed did not have much taste, he was incredibly creative.
He was also quite prolific even with his limited resources and so ahead of his time that he foresaw the future of crossdressing and addressed this topic in "Glen or Glenda" [aka "I Changed My Sex" 1953] and not only produced, wrote and directed but even played the lead. A real quadruple threat in Hollywood.
With other classics to come and all this in the early 1950's, who else would have touched such subjects like crossdressing on film? No one I can think of sadly!
I think films like "Jail Bait" prefigure some Russ Meyer epics with Tura Satana, and things like "Night of the Ghouls" and "Bride of the Monster" having come out in 1954/1955 lead the way for other similar horror films of Hammer and other cheapie B's made in the USA.
A real fan can join the Church of Ed Wood and celebrate Woodmas on the birthday of this off the wall genius.
Name another ahead of their time auteur in films.
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I honestly read the book as "there are no ghosts, Eleanor is just a nutcase." Apparently the filmmakers (screenwriter?) did too (initially) and they asked SHirley jACKson whether this was how she intended it, and she apparently said no, there REALLY WERE ghosts at Hill House.
I may be remembering it wrong though.
I read the book too, and I think Eleanor is a bit neurotic but the book is wonderful nevertheless.
All Shirley Jackson's stories are very outre, which makes her a one of a kind author. I remember one story in a collection of short stories by her, where some of the characters would then show up in other non-connected stories and you felt like you were entering the Twilight Zone.
By the way, in the original book by James, it is never made clear though one can have opinions, whether things are really happening or are all in the mind of the governess. Henry James did an excellent job of showing how myopic and mental malcontents can see things that perhaps are not there. Or they are they and people discount them due to the source.
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Mare Poppins was supposed to be a great western star. She tested for all the great horse roles. But after she married Mr. Ed he wanted her to stay home. So she spent her later years talking about the good old days and how, she always wished that she had co-starred opposite Randolph Scott or Joel McCrea.
I think you are lying, GPF because my palomino was related to Mister Ed and she said Ed was only ever smitten with a filly named Flossie and you can see her in the episode where Ed tries to find his mother and be reunited with her.
With Mister Ed's mama, not Flossie!
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I own this film in its 'original" title version. I love it. I also want to see the documentary that gave this festival its name.
Ya never know, GPF; ya might really enjoy the non-original Calamari version, particularly if it is deep fried!
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This isn't a movie, but I have the "A Charlie Brown Christmas" album by the Vince Guaraldi Trio. It's a fun soundtrack for Christmastime. I like the jazzy Christmas songs. It's much better than some of the annoying Christmas music that dominates the radio during the holiday season.
In regard to movie soundtracks:
I have the Grease soundtrack. I also have the Almost Famous soundtrack, which is more of a compilation of songs that were popular in the early to mid 70s. The Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack is also excellent. It's also a compilation of 1970s music.
I also love the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack.
Great choices, Speedracer. Bizarrely I own both the movie "Grease" soundtrack and the original Broadway cast album with Barry Bostwick as the Danny part. Thanks!
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Ironically, Dirty Dancing was mostly a collection of songs from the period as was American Graffiti,The Big Chill and some others. There was also a second volume of Dirty Dancing that actually had more of the movie's original songs on it.
We probably have over 50 movie soundtracks on CD's. Even still have Jesus Christ Superstar on vinyl, as well as some others. Not to mention Percy Faith, Ray Conniff and other collections of movie themes.
We get a couple of catalogs that sell lots and lots of old recordings that have been re-done as CD's. Many of them are soundtracks.
For me, one of best soundtracks for really setting the moods throughout a movie is John Barry's Body Heat.
Oh, thanks TC since I'd forgotten "American Graffiti" and it is one of my favorite soundtrack albums that I own. It has so many great hits, and they were played wonderfully in the movie under the auspices of the Wolfman Jack character and fit the scenario so well of kids driving around at night listening to their car radios. It is a great double album!
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Just wanted to see if everyone was awake!
Hey, if TCM can sell wine for movie watching, how about starting a calamari enterprise also though I don't know what movies it would be best for as a dinner item. Maybe "Moby Dick" or perhaps "Jaws"?
There is a really funny take-off of TCODC on Youtube if you decide not to watch all the German cinema tonight. I do plan to watch the documentary concerning the Third Reich years and before, and "Faust" since I've only seen the Jan Svankmajer version with puppets and clay models.
Anyone who loves expressionistic lighting should be in heaven tonite.
Who will be glued to the tv set?-
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Nice topic CaveGirl!
I've always found that it's hard to go wrong with any of Ennio Morricone's scores.
One of my favorites has always been Once Upon a Time in the West.
It really runs the gamut of musical emotion, from heart-wrenchingly beautiful...
...to chilling and sinister...
So true about Ennio Morricone, who always surprises and is highly talented!
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Nice topic!
However, I really don't have any vinyl LP soundtracks( except one) due to unavailability, or disinterest.
The only one I DO still possess is the CARMINE COPPOLA score for THE BLACK STALLION( an excellent score) that I bought JUST on the cusp of the vinyl/CD switch in the market. Any other soundtracks I have are on CD, and there are some disappointments on some of them. For example-------
It's no secret among other long-time members here that the movie THAT THING YOU DO is one of my favorites. However.....
In the movie, there's a segment in which the band's drummer(Tom Everett Scott), a jazz enthusiast, winds up sitting in a jazz club, and the jazz trio does a tune that I thought was really good, and I really LIKED, that for some reason DIDN'T wind up on the soundtrack CD.
There's similar omissions on the O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU soundtrack CD
Any other soundtracks I have are on CD,
Sepiatone
Don't you just hate that, when you buy a soundtrack album and the one song you want is not there.
I remember I wanted the song, "Foul Owl on the Prowl" from the movie, "In the Heat of the Night" and never thought it would be on the album but got lucky and it was! Thanks.
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Not sure if you are asking about vinyl or any version of it;
Here are *some* of my favourites that I own;
Bonanza TV show
Dirty Dancing
Grease
The Wizard of Oz - movie
Lady and the Tramp
Chicago -Broadway cast with Joel Grey
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat - Broadway cast with Osmond
Jesus Christ Superstar - 1982 Prince Rupert, B.C. producer (my aunt was in the orchestra)
Showboat - Broadway with Stritch
I have a six volume set of Broadway and Hollywood musical excerpts that are broken down by decade or part of decade
Hey, GPF we have some similar albums. I see you have the music from "Bonanza" but do you own the "Bonanza" Christmas album with Hoss singing "Deck the Halls"? I bought it at a record show and if I want to get people to leave my house during the holidays I just put it on and presto, people disappear!
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I've had this conversation before w/others and some do. Personally, when I speak of "classic" I am referring to movies from say mid 60s and prior specifically movies from the 30s, 40s & 50s. I'm always disappointed and annoyed when TCM shows movies from the 70s and 80s.
Though I do not consider movies from the 1970's as classics, there still are some which I would enjoy watching and which could become classics. But not as many by far as those of preceding decades. I think it is just like comic books being called from the Golden or Silver period.
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0226 of 1300
Diana Barrymore grew up not knowing her famous father, John Barrymore Sr. But like her half-brother John Drew, she inherited dad’s looks and talent. At the age of 18, while her father was still making films in 1939, she appeared on the cover of Life magazine and soon was on Broadway in a play that capitalized on her name and participation. Based on the success of this stage experience, she was offered a movie contract in 1940 at Warner Brothers. Warners put her in a few small roles but nothing really came of it. It wasn’t until early 1942 that she signed with Universal, and she was immediately placed in starring roles. The year 1942 was an important one for Diana. Her father died that year, but she was riding the crest of her popularity at Universal, starring in three major motion pictures. Her leading men in those were Robert Stack, Robert Cummings and Brian Donlevy. And in one film, Kay Francis played her mother (like she had with Deanna Durbin at that time). The following year, Diana made a western for Universal and a romantic comedy. But there were reports in the press about her wild partying ways. Universal featured her in one more picture in 1944 with Loretta Young, then she was dropped. She concentrated on marriage after this, though her wedded bliss was short-lived. She left the country for awhile with her next husband, returning in the early 50s for bit roles in films and sporadic appearances on television. Personal problems and addictions plagued her, as they did her father and half-brother. By 1957, she authored a tell-all called ‘Too Much Too Soon’ that became a bestseller. It was also turned into a motion picture by her old studio Warner Brothers, with Dorothy Malone playing her as a drunken nymphomaniac. Diana was dead by 1960, at the age of 38—gone too soon, but her excellent performances live on, especially in those Universal pictures where she was in her prime.
Diana Barrymore present and accounted for..!
I've read that book, TB and it is quite revealing. One funny thing I remember is that Diana took credit for starting the trend for women to get a tan on vacation. She said that at that time people thought a tan indicated that one worked on a farm, but she thought it would look smashing with her all-white wardrobe for the vacation and so tanned and came back to the States as "brown as a berry" and then everyone started imitating her. True or not, makes for a good story. Great write-up as usual!
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I hope some may enjoy & or want to check these 2 "Movie Books" out-(NOTE: & as Ipreviously wrote, in my opinion they should have a running thread,etc on these, movie-memorabilia & all such great items!)
I already suggested these to another TCM-ITE on these great forums-(but won't divulge handle unless they want)
1st "The Great Stars: The Golden Years" (by David Shipman) I think it's out of print, but it's avaisble on amazon & "Harvest Books" which handles such books & a lot!)
It covers virtually all the "Studio-System Heavyweights" & many photos of all
I actually read this so much it came apart, no kiddin'
2nd "The Genius of the System" (By Thomas Schatz)-(It was also a great TCM documentary a few yrs ago)
2 "Must Have Cinema Books!" Although not among my top 5 I own to date
THANK YOU
I'm pretty sure I own that book "The Great Stars" since I saw it on my bookshelf the other day while I was cleaning the room with my Swiffer for the first time in months.
I can also recommend "Did He or Didn't He" which is a goofy book but a lot of fun. Also "Va-Va Voom" which is about all the fun girls of films. I do have more serious books, like the series on each studio's entire output of films, and of course exposes on Dreyer, and Bunuel and "The Foreign Film Encyclopedia" so I think your idea of spotlighting film books here is a great idea, Spence!
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As great as Ann was in all those musical films, I still get the most kick out of seeing her as the apartment complex manager in "Mulholland Drive", TB.
I think it is because her true personality seems to come out there, and it is like she is playing herself, and being that "herself" was a really fun individual with a great sense of humor, it is wonderful to see that onscreen.
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I don't know how many record collectors we have here, but it seems a natural bent for a movie buff to also be into such things sometimes.
If one collects movies, one also might enjoy collecting movie albums, rare or not.
Though this was not from a movie, I recall Richard Rodgers "Victory at Sea" album for years was highly sought after, due to its unavailability. Another album, this time from a film, that garnered wide praise and high costs was "The Caine Mutiny".
One of my personal favorite albums in my collection is the original vinyl for "A Clockwork Orange" for which Kubrick hired the very interesting Walter Carlos to score, along with using excerpts from works by Rossini, Ludwig Van, Elgar, and others. Walter Carlos was also famous for being one of the first gender reassignment surgery patients, and later became Wendy Carlos. For none of the above reasons, I treasure this album due to its multi-faceted musical approach and striking soundtrack.
Another album which is superb is the one for "Forbidden Planet" due to the participation of Louis and Bebe Barron, who came up with the unforgettable electronic score or as some call it, "musical tonalities" Once heard never forgotten.
So whether worth thousands and a rarity, or just an album that you hold dear for other reasons, what are your favorite soundtrack albums?
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I'll go with Tony Franciosa.
I think he admits that he was a bit of a terror on set, and blamed it on getting famous too young.
Which resulted in him often not getting parts from then on, in spite of his looks, charm and altogether fetching personality on screen.
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How about "In The Company of Men" from 1997 with Aaron Eckhart.
I remember this film getting a lot of flack when it came out, since it presented such a hateful situation. But when I finally saw it, I did think the storyline packed a wallop, no matter how cruel the tale was.
Here's the IMDB plot synopsis:
Two business executives--one an avowed misogynist, the other recently emotionally wounded by his love interest--set out to exact revenge on the female gender by seeking out the most innocent, uncorrupted girl they can find and ruining her life.
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Quite a great selection of titles mentioned already, almost all of them ones I love also!
But I did not see anyone mention, one of my top favorites, "Carnival of Souls".
This movie spooks me out, every time I see it. As I recall it was made in about a month, cost almost nothing to produce [like under fifty thousand bucks] yet has great staying power and is a cult classic.
Directed and written by Herk Hervey, who originally worked in making industrial films I think, and starring unknowns like Candace Hilligoss, it still rivets one during its many rather supernatural sequences. The man who appears at the side window as the character Mary is driving, the car radio transmissions on a station that Mary cannot turn off, the seemingly haunted carnival pavilion out in the sticks, the scene when Mary, as church organist starts playing rather frighteningly diabolic music in her bare feet, Mary shopping in town when all of a sudden all sounds around her are silenced, all of these moments are burned into my brain. Occasionally when I just need a good scare I get out my Criterion copy of this film and play it, or invite someone over who's not seen and try to gauge their reaction. Most usually don't want to go home if it is already dark out!
Whew! It creeps me out just thinking about those scenes. Its denouement is great too, and the film has been said to be influential on David Lynch and others like George Romero. But really, this film is a one of a kind and not to be duplicated, no matter how much money could be involved. Just a little bit of perfection in black and white, which is like a bad dream. Any other fans here?
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Well this jazz guitar player watched 2 episodes of JAZZ last night on PBS. Great series. Now I wished it focused on guitar players but jazz guitar, especially as a soloist didn't occur until later in the era, like the 40s with George Barnes and Oscar Moore (Nat King Cole's guitar player).
As for Chet; yea very sad that in Europe they don't use screens! Chet last years feature Doug Raney on guitar. Doug is the son of Jimmy Raney and Chet formed a unique trio of Horn (with limited singing), Guitar and bass. They made some fine recordings on Steeplechase records.
I also plan on seeing the new Chet movie. I hear that it is better than the one about Miles.
My dad and grandpa always liked Eddie Condon on guitar, James and also Django Reinhardt. I have a big 78 album with him and the Hot Club of France. Thanks for the review of the Miles film!
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Can you guess the ones I'll be spotlighting?
In the week ahead:
Saturday April 9th: Actress who worked with Otto Preminger twice.
Sunday April 10th: They played the Higgins Family.
Special series: Classic Barrymore 101
Monday April 11th: J.B.
Tuesday April 12th: J.B’s son.
Wednesday April 13th: J.B.’s daughter.
Thursday April 14th: J.B.’s sister.
Friday April 15th: J.B’s brother and Dr. Kildare.
***
By J.B. I am assuming you mean the J. of the Blythe family?
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"Just Imagine" (1930)--The two things the film got right were helipads, and Internet telephones.
I have not seen this film. Thanks, FL!
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Long Live the New Flesh
Yeah, and some of the flesh in that movie was ultra-scary!
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Watched the David Cronenberg film "Videodrome" last nite and it still holds up.
I guess the medium really is the message or even the massage.
The idea of a sort of Marshall McLuhan type effect on people viewing things on film or videotape, which supposedly have subliminals, was not a new concept even then, but was shown quite effectively in the film.
The scenes with Deborah Harry almost emerging from the tv set, were perhaps ripped off by "Ringu" and other films, but were revolutionary at the time. My favorite part is when the videotapes start to quiver and shake!
Name another science fiction film which seems prescient for the future.
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Anybody heard from Mel lately?
(...Gibson, that is)
Yeah, I think he is dating that female cop that he called an S.T. when he was picked up for being erratic or maybe bad acting violations?
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Today's topic
in General Discussions
Posted
Class acts all of them, TB! Who doesn't like Marie and Alison was hilarous too, especially in the W.C. Fields movie.
Agnes Moorehead leads the pack in being able to play anybody, anywhere.