CaveGirl

Though I've always enjoyed Garfield and Turner in "TPART" and think it is a very enjoyable film, it was not till I saw the version of the James M. Cain novel, "Ossessione" that I really thought I'd seen the definitive edition. Tay Garnett as director of the former, does a credible job with his cast and story, but for me, seeing what Italian Neo-Realism directing giant, Luchino Visconti did with the latter, is amazing. Starring no actors that are really international stars who came later like Giancarlo Giannini or Mastroanni, but Clara Calamai in the Turner role and Massimo Girotti in the Garfield one, the film is magnificently staged and as gritty and foul as the original Cain book. Though Lana and John sizzle in their scenes, there is more verisimilitude and earthy realism in the Visconti take for my taste, which makes it lead the pack. Of course, Visconti as a director, was known for film classics like his "Senso", "Ludwig", "The Damned", "The Leopard" and "Death in Venice". I still enjoy seeing the Hollywood version and I know that the Visconti one was unavailable for years due to the appropriation of material that was not legally allowable as I recall to Visconti, but even if his version is taboo rightfully, I still think it is the superior filming of the tale. Which version do you prefer, since they both have their merits and it is all a personal choice anyway?

I forgot to say, Irene Dunne with Melvyn Douglas!

Last night I stayed up to watch the Bruce Robinson directed film from 1987, "Withnail and I" which I'd been wanting to see since it showed up on the inner list of all Criterion films, as a movie they carried in their catalogue. I would like to own the entire Criterion catalogue because when one sees that name on a film, or the Janus label, one knows they will be seeing something eclectic and usually worth viewing. Starring Richard Grant, who I first saw in the film by Robert Altman, "The Player", and Paul McCann, I can see why it has cult status. The actor Richard Griffiths is also memorable in it, but I would probably have to watch this film again to get all the dialogue references and in joke bits. Anyone else watch or a previous fan of this film?

Unfortunately no retroactive family planning is around, as that could solve many problems, Sepia. Who are these Catholics who won't give up not eating meat on Fridays? I know boatloads of Papists and most of them didn't think it made any sense to give up meat on that day, even by the third grade. Personally the biggest day in my grade school was when the pastor decided to buy some tuna hot dogs to serve the kiddies in the lunch room. Hard to believe it took an Ecumenical Convention to get rid of that rule! I'm not Jewish but I lived in a neighborhood with many kids who were, and my closest connection is having a spot of Mogen David wine on the sly.

Irene Dunner with Cary Grant, and Irene Dunne with anyone actually. She works beautifully with any male on screen.

Aw, that's sad. I loved him in that movie directed by Hayley's hubby, Roy Boulting called "Twisted Nerve'. Thanks for the update.

That title is a misnomer, as I never loved Raymond or his show. I did like his mother though, since she was great in the cult hit, about Truman Capote's former next door neighbor, Martha Beck, who turned into a serial killer.

I would think next on the Wine Club agenda would be a wine representing Errol Flynn and possible allegations of things that occurred on his yacht, that led to him hiring famed Hollywood attorney, Jerry Geisler. They could title the newest wine, "In Like Flynn" and it would be fine with appetizers like prairie oysters and the like.

I thought Matilda was an Australian name, Sepia, as in the song "Waltzing Matilda"? Now Iryna has to be French, since that was Simone Simone's name in "Cat People" right?

Are you sure you weren't known for playing "Smoggy Mountain Breakdown" at the Palomino, instead of more mellow hits from the Mel songbook, Dar? I love Mel's appearance in "Good News" but I also wish he had been in "Best Foot Forward" since then he could have sung a rousing version of "Buckle Down, Winsocki" which I heard is your favorite song?

Please don't bring up the pet name W.R. Hearst had for shall we say, unmentionable parts of Marion Davies, in any connection with grapes, Limey as it will make me have to give up wine for good.

I wonder if one should have the rabbi make a visit to one's house to bless it before you down it during a movie, Sepia?

One good way I've found to inhabit the movie totally, Dargo is to sit in the very first row. And if the movie in question is the 3-D version of "House of Wax" with Vincent Price, you really will feel as if you are part of the action running around the rain-soaked streets of London, or dodging all those paddle ball shots at the audience, during the opening ceremony at the Wax Museum.

Well, yes...of course. There are some people who just seem to unwittingly have the ability to ruin everything they touch or are around. Nothing worse than someone who not only will question how Grant Williams could actually start decreasing in size in "The Incredible Shrinking Man" but also ask if that cat looking in his doll house window, would really have eaten him, or convinced his dumb wife that Grant [or Scott Carey] would be catnip for the pussycat. They also will wonder how Scott was able to immediately find a girl from the carnival to date, as he found himself shrinking, when some men can't find a girl that cute, even at regulation size. Boorish people, who have no imagination, were probably the bain of fans of Jules Verne also, so I guess that's life and will never change. We just must learn to live with it, and endure, as Natalie Wood said to Warren Beatty at the end of "Splendour in the Grass".

Fabulous psychological profiling of the Ebenezer character, Eric! I don't think Quantico could have done such a great exegesis of his personality and persona. Your take makes me want to reread the original story. I had looked up the IMDB site before rewatching just to remind myself who the production team was and was interested in Noel Langley's contributions. I'd also forgotten who was the director, so it was nice to review all the participants and even the special contributions for antiques, dolls and mechanical figures. Thanks!

I remember it like it was yesterday. I was watching something on the tv that I found mesmerizing. And why not, since I was only about three or maybe even younger, and might not have ever watched before. My mother says she could not pull me away from the set, and thinks I was around that age. My earliest memory of anything is being in a crib, and supposedly I was out of it by the age of two. My mother says I never had before seemed interested in the television and would mostly play with toys and ignore the set. My memory is that of a black and white film, that I think was probably from around the 1940's war years. This may sound silly but this is my vision formed after many years of what I saw from years of watching 1940's films and comparing them in my mind to my first film because I can still see scenes from this movie distinctly in my memory bank. I have only visuals, since I would not have had the words at that age, but what I remember most was a man falling off a bridge. I also remember that the film had something about an oil painting as a plotline, and there was another more famous painting underneath the newly over-painted one, and people were trying to smuggle it or hide it from the authorities. Even at this early age, the film was full of suspense and mystery. I think the part with the man falling off the bridge, who maybe had been pushed, impressed me and also maybe was so dramatic that it stuck in my mind forever. My mother says I would constantly ask again and again, to see the show with the man on the bridge. To this day I've never seen it again, and you'd think with all the films I have seen that I would have encountered this scene at least once, but alas, no not ever as yet. Which still gives me hope that before I shed this coil, I will see it one more time and find if the film lives up to what I remember as being totally wonderful. I think most film fans and buffs of any major intensity, might have a fond feeling for the first film they ever saw so if you do, please share as it is fun to hear of other's beginnings with watching movies, as not just a sometimes sport, but as a real avocation for those who are addicted to the medium!

Thanks, Ray for your thoughts. I love Sim not only in ACC, but in films like "Green for Danger", "Laughter in Paradise", "School for Scoundrels" and of course George Bernard Shaw's "The Doctor's Dilemma" which is so witty with Sim trading barbs with all and specifically people like Dirk Bogarde.

I have to agree that having a British actor play the part with also a cast that is British, certainly helps sell the story. Even the settings and the use of the antique toys and other articles in the Sim version make the film seem so genuine.

Thanks for the kind words, Stephan! I too love finding out about word derivations and the origins of sayings, and Dickens' ability to coin words with such apt onomatopoeia [I shall look up the correct spelling after I post!] in his creations, was amazing. I most certainly have seen the TZ episode, and though I am more attuned to the episodes with fantastic sci-fi type scenarios, did enjoy Hayden's performance. The role of Scrooge seems to be one many people would like to try to play, as it affords the actor a very wide spectrum of emotional play. The one person I did not really enjoy seeing as Scrooge was Reginald Owen who seemed rather wooden to me, but maybe only in comparison to the Sim version. I'd enjoy seeing the Jim Backus, Magoo take again soon too!

You nailed it, Sepia! A thoroughly enchanting film with O'Toole as usual giving a superlative performance in both its mostly comedic moments and in the more human emotionally dramatic bits too. Great casting with people like Kazan and a plethora of great character actors bring the piece alive. I've seen it multiple times but did tune in a bit to watch some of the choice scenes.

Thanks so much for these other Scrooge performances, Bing Fan! I watched again Sim and for the second time, the Seymour Hicks' take on the role, which I enjoyed.

These are great ruminations, Sepia! Grant and Cleese might have made a great pair. And Ricky Gervais as Cratchit is just inspired. Not sure Grant is our time's version of Sim, though while watching the Alastair version over the weekend, I realized there is quite a resemblance between Sim and the resident noir TCM guy, Eddie Muller, who seems to have similar bulgey eyes and grey hair. Thanks for your thoughts, Sepia!

Always was a fan of Zoso's, Dargo! I particularly like his solo version of the song at the ARM's Concert, when Jeff Beck let him down in accompanying him on stage. Probably still mad about who got the most press when they played for the Yardbirds. That "Stairway to Heaven" original version is tantalizing but not sure the Golden God would want you to be singing along with him, though I'm sure your voice is just as good as Mel Torme's in his prime!

Gee, I would have done it just the opposite way. Tony Robbins would say we have differing modes of thought, not that I follow him. I have a friend though who talks about anchoring and walking on coals and all that other stuff of his continually so excuse me for losing contact with reality, Limey. Now I get it and I think 4:4 is Liz also with 3:2 definitively Garbo. I'm gonna print this and work on it tonight. Thanks!

Don't watch only film that are on the Top Ten Most Searched Lists because then you'd never get to see something like "Liquid Sky".