LawrenceA

Everyone here seems to have a wide knowledge of Shakespeare on film. I may have to make a thread sometime where we discuss the definitive film versions of each play and/or character. While not as learned as you fine folks, Shakespeare fascinated me as a younger man, and I watched what I could get a hold of. I once set out to make a Shakespeare film collection of the best film of each play, and watch them in a marathon. Never have, but you never know.

Yes! I second this bizarro film recommendation. As if the film wasn't crazy enough, throw in the Esperanto and you have a real treat!

A region-free dvd player would make the 1001 movie list much easier to see. I've just been too cheap and lazy to get one. I have to say that 1965 validates my whole idea for this thread, at least for me. I started this primarily to learn about recommended films, and if not for the 1965 list, I would probably have never bothered with King Rat. I know of the movie, as in I think I had it on the shelf at the store back in the vhs days, but never took it home. I don't dislike George Segal, really, but he's not someone that makes me want to see a film just because he's in it. And the movie was never mentioned in my various movie tomes. So I wouldn't have thought to seek it out if it wasn't for Bogie and kingrat's high recommendation. I also haven't seen: Chimes at Midnight (but I have it taped) The Ipcress File (until recently, the Harry Palmer films have been difficult to see, in the US anyway) The JFK film (purportedly being released by Criterion sometime this year) The Epic That Never Was (this sounds fascinating) The Knack and How to Get It Never Too Late Return from the Ashes The Money Trap Operation Crossbow Ten Little Indians A Very Special Favor

1965 - 129 films seen 1. Dr. Zhivago - The movie everyone loves to hate. Unfortunately, I saw it before I knew I was supposed to hate it. I'm a sucker for tales of doomed romance not titled Titanic. More amazing screen images, like the train barreling across Siberia, make this a visual delight. 2. The Spy Who Came In From the Cold - The flipside of 007. Gloomy, downbeat, but fascinating, and my favorite Richard Burton role. 3. Repulsion - Roman Polanski's brilliant journey into a shattered mind, with Catherine Denueve doing more than I thought her capable of. 4. The Hill - As the "burden" of being Bond began to rankle Connery, he started doing more and more side films, including this terrific anti-authority military prison film. Harry Andrews, Ossie Davis, and Ian Hendry are all excellent as well. 5. For a Few Dollars More - Follow-up to the previous year's Fistful of Dollars, this one is even better, in my minority opinion, perhaps because of the addition of soon-to-be spaghetti western stalwart Lee Van Cleef, a wild-eyed Gian Maria Volonte, and the always magnetic Klaus Kinski. 6. Red Beard - Kurosawa film about the mentor-student relationship between two country doctors. A nice, leisurely change of pace for lead Toshiro Mifune. It's commercial failure nearly destroyed Kurosawa's career. 7. Juliet of the Spirits - More Felinni weirdness, with a fun Guilietta Masina. 8. The Collector - Excellent thriller/drama/romance? with great turns from Terence Stamp and Samantha Eggar. 9. Cat Ballou - Fun, broad western send-up with Lee Marvin in two-roles, a beautiful and commanding Jane Fonda, and the drunkest horse in screen history. 10. A Thousand Clowns - Excellent character study and statement on societal conformity. The sentiments in this spoke to me a great deal as a youth. Runner-ups: The Shop on Main Street, Samurai Assassin, The Loved One, Sword of the Beast, and The Pawnbroker. Larry's Choices: Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster - Incredible sci-fi "adventure" about an experimental robotic space pilot who crashes and becomes disfigured and brain damaged, but still is our only hope against alien invaders. Also known as Mars Invades Puerto Rico (no, really). Or-gy of the Dead - Late period Ed Wood, this is basically a nudie revue staged in a bad cemetery set, hosted by Wood regulars Criswell and Vampira. Late-nite entertainment for the deranged.

Here are the 1001 Movies to See Before You Die entries for 1964: Before the Revolution** Black God, White Devil** Dr. Strangelove Gertrud** Goldfinger The Gospel According to St. Matthew A Hard Day's Night Marnie Mary Poppins The Masque of the Red Death My Fair Lady Onibaba The Red Desert** Scorpio Rising** (short film) Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors** The Umbrellas of Cherbourg Woman in the Dunes **denotes films I haven't seen, 6 this time!

Unless there are objections, I may post the 1001 for '64 shortly, then the 65 lists. A lot of us have already recently posted a '65 list in that General Discussion thread, so I know some of you have it ready. I also like being able to do these lists on my friend's desktop. They look much nicer, and it's easier for my old eyes and fingers than my tablet touchscreen.

A lot here I haven't seen, if anyone wants to comment: Hamlet The Luck of Ginger Coffey Attack and Retreat Nothing but the Best This Special Friendship Life Upside Down Dear Heart I'd Rather Be Rich Goodbye Charlie I Am Cuba ( I know this one) Guns at Batasi Psyche 59

I have The Pink Panther in my runner-up list, because it had it's US debut in '64, but if you want to be a stickler and make it '63, I'd swap it out for Zulu, Seance on a Wet Afternoon or The Americanization of Emily.

1964 - 131 films seen 1. Dr. Strangelove - My favorite film comedy. This was like a veil being lifted the first time I saw this, a film that saw the world with my point of view. The absurdity of the cold war, the constant threat of nuclear annihilation that was outside of your control, laughing in the face of all of that. Peter Sellers best performance(s), an amazing Sterling Hayden, and a deliriously over-the-top George C. Scott help make this my #1. 2. Kwaidan - Japanese horror anthology is like a painting come to life. Haunting, lyrical, among the best film poetry I've ever seen. 3. Onibaba - Another Japanese ghost story, this has some of the best B & W cinematography of the period. 4. The Train - Thrilling WW2 film with Burt Lancaster determined to stop German Colonel Paul Scofield from stealing France's art treasures. Michel Simon lends great support. 5. Seven Days in May - Military/political thriller about an attempted coup in the U.S. government. Great performances, and don't think it couldn't really happen. 6. Goldfinger - The Bond film that put him on top. This one brought out the tricked-out car, the guy with the killer hat, the lady painted in gold, and another lady named **** Galore. What else do you need in a movie? 7. Becket - Historical drama with great work by Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole, where the latter proved he wasn't just another cinematic flash-in-the-pan. 8. A Shot in the Dark - The best Inspector Clouseau film is the one without pink panther in the title. 9. Fail Safe - The flip side of Strangelove. 10. A Fistful of Dollars - Sergio Leone's rework of Yojimbo makes Clint Eastwood a star and kickstarts a whole new genre. Runner-ups: A Hard Day's Night, Woman in the Dunes, Gate of Flesh, Zorba the Greek, and The Pink Panther. Larry's Choices: At Midnight, I'll Take Your Soul - The first journey into the uniquely twisted mind of creator and star Jose Mojica Marins, this Brazilian creepfest introduces the world to South American horror icon Ze do Caixao, or Coffin Joe. Joe is a nattily attired (cape and top hat) undertaker who commits kidnappings and murders in his attempt to mate and produce the perfect immortal child. Marins made a whole slew of bizarre horror films over the next 40-odd years, and every one I've seen has been a treat. Other (real) titles include the immediate sequel This Night I'll Possess Your Corpse, Hallucinations in a Deranged Mind, Awakening of the Beast, and The Strange Hostel of Naked Pleasures. These used to show up in the middle of the night on the Sundance channel, back when it was worth a ****. Wrestling Women vs the Aztec Mummy - More south of the border shenanigans, this time featuring the long-running Mexican film character know as Popoca the Aztec Mummy. The title says the rest.

Bogie, you have to share your criteria for choosing your Bogie's Curios, because you've got one of my top ten listed again! Oh, and my top ten will be TOTALLY different from yours, too.

TopBilled, FREUD I know was shown on some movie channel in the last four or five years. I remember seeing it on a schedule and thinking, "naw, I can catch it next time." If only I had known!

Here are the 1001 Movies to See Before You Die entries for 1963: 8 1/2 An Actor's Revenge** Barren Lives/Vidas Secas** The Birds Blonde Cobra** (short film) Contempt The Cool World** Flaming Creatures** (short film) The Great Escape The Haunting The House Is Black (short film) Hud The Leopard Mediterranee** (short film) The Nutty Professor Passenger** The Servant Shock Corridor **denotes films I have not seen, which is a lot this time!

Bogie, I've never gotten around to LORD OF THE FLIES or THE LIST OF ADRIAN MESSENGER, but I want to see both. I hadn't heard of ALONE ON THE PACIFIC.

Film lover, I hold The Haunting of Hill House in high regard, as well. Also like the mention of DEMENTIA 13. I haven't heard of THE BALCONY, though.

ALL THE MARBLES - (5/10) - Last directorial credit for Robert Aldrich came from this misbegotten tale about a two-bit female wrestling team and their seedy manager. They travel the country wrestling in a series of rundown arenas and fairs. The main problem with the film, other than its absurd subject matter, is the decision to depict the wrestling as real, instead of a choreographed show. Peter Falk does his thing as the manager, with Burt Young, Richard Jaeckel, and Lenny Montana. This has a following, so it may appeal to others more than it did me.

Swithin, I have both the Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film and the Psychotronic Video Guide. They're both falling apart from overuse. They were my movie bibles for many many years before I decided to get all high-falutin' and try to see first, all the Oscar movies, and then the 1001 Movies...

1963 - 121 films seen 1. The Great Escape - You've all mentioned films you saw as a child that take you back and will always hold a special place in your hearts. This one is mine. At different points in my life, I've admired different characters, from James Garner as the Scrounger, to the Cooler King Steve McQueen, who truly became the King of Cool in this movie. I also give shout outs to Donald Pleasence, Richard Attenborough, James Coburn, and Charles Bronson. Solid, unpretentious Hollywood filmmaking. 2. 8 1/2 - Fellini's masterpiece of writer's block, with a terrific Mastroianni and some dazzling images. 3. The Birds - Hitchcock does nature's revenge better than anyone here, and I absolutely love the ambiguous ending. 4. From Russia With Love - Probably the best Connery Bond film for me (though I like most of them), with a terrific fight scene involving an intense Robert Shaw, and the classic shoe-gag with Lotte Lenya. 5. The Haunting - One of the absolute best haunted house films ever made, with masterful camerawork and atmosphere. 6. High and Low - Kurosawa again, this time with a tense kidnapping drama and pointed commentary on the haves and have nots. 7. Winter Light - Ingmar Bergman's melancholy character study and meditiation on the loss of faith. 8. Billy Liar - British "kitchen sink" flick with Tom Courtenay and a lovely Julie Christie. 9. The Servant - My favorite Dirk Bogarde role is in this unsettling drama that speaks to the class system. 10. The Haunted Palace - Considered one of Roger Corman's "Edgar Allen Poe" films, this is actually based on H.P. Lovecraft. That may be why it's a lot more fun. Vincent Price inherits the ancestral manor, which just happens to house one of the "Old Ones", god-like beings "from before time". Runner-ups: This Sporting Life, The Silence, Hud, Youth of the Beast, and Kanto Wanderer. Larry's Choices: Blood Feast - When huckster producer David F. Friedman and director Hershell Gordon Lewis were trying to figure out a new angle to use in their exploitation films, they decided on bloody gore. Thus Blood Feast was born, becoming a cult film that held a reputation for stomach-turning splatter (people fondling animal entrails covered in red paint). The real treat, though, is the outlandish story and sub-amateur acting. Egyptian Fuad Ramses moves to Miami and starts a catering business, specializing in the "Egyptian Feast", which involves him kidnapping and hacking up young women. Scum of the Earth - This is a prime example of the type of film Friedman and Gordon made before turning to horror. This film plays more like those 30's and 40's cautionary tales, with an innocent young woman getting trapped in the world of "glamour posing". Features one of the most hilarious overheated monologues in trash film history.

I enjoyed MAFIOSO too. I think MONDO CANE was chosen since it started the "Mondo" movie fad, with many being released over the next decade. I'm not sure about THE STORY OF FILM. The intro in the book is short and doesn't mention it. The editor is Steven Jay Schneider, who has degrees from Harvard and NYU in philosophy and film. The individual film entries are written by a host of film scholars of various pedigree.

GHOST

Kirk Douglas was in SATURN 3 with Harvey Keitel

Wiggins, Wiley

Boom Town

Grant, Red - Robert Shaw in FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

The White of the Eye

Oklahoma Crude