film lover 293

I watched 1928's "The Fall of the House of Usher" and a 1943 Private Snafu cartoon "Spies". Both beat the **** out of the versions available on YouTube in terms of clarity, distinct images, and sound.

Sat., Dec.10th/11th--All times E.S.T. 10:00 p.m. "Clash of the Titans" (1981)--Good Ray Harryhausen stop-motion animation, supported by Laurence Olivier. Maggie Smith, and company. A fun watch. 4:15 a.m. "The Sorcerors" (1967)--Boris Karloff's last good horror film.

Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid?

The Mermaid of Tiburon (1962)?

Actress was Margaret O'Brien, who won a children's Oscar. Film was "Bad Bascomb" (1946). Actor was Wallace Beery.

Lorna--Two more films of Carradines' to check out: "Bluebeard" (1944)--Carradine is in a rare lead, and he's very good--film is only so-so. Finding a good print of this is a challenge--YouTube's print is Lousy--maybe they've fixed it. "The Howling" (1981)--Joe Dante horror film is one long in-joke and is great fun to watch; movie still packs a punch.

Sepiatone--Was the movie "The Mark of Zorro" (1940) with Tyrone Power?

ClassicMovieRankings-- Nice work, and thanks for putting the webpage up. I was surprised "The Arrangement" (1969) made money. But your entry for "Mourning Becomes Electra" (1947) is incorrect. The page says it was nominated for zero Oscars. Rosalind Russell was nominated for Best Actress for her performance as Lavinia Mannon. Michael Redgrave was nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal of Orin Mannon. They were beaten by Loretta Young in "The Farmers' Daughter" and Ronald Colman in "A Double Life", respectively. Sources--TCM webpage for "Mourning Becomes Electra" and IMDB. TCM is showing "Mourning Becomes Electra" during "30 Days of Oscar" in Feb. and March 2017.

Hint--According to one source, Bette Davis was tested for the lead in the Poe film, but was rejected because she lacked sex appeal.

Chorus girls, tropical islands and a two timing cad were part of his first film.

The Rose?

"Message From Space" (1978)--Wild Japanese take on "Star Wars" (1977), "Battlestar Galactica" (1978), "Star Trek"( television series) and about fifteen others--I quit counting after half an hour (film is 107 minutes long). The plot; The planet of Jelusia has been taken over and ruined by the evil Gavannas. The leader of what is left of Jelusians scatters eight magic seeds to the wind and tells his granddaughter that she must go where the seeds go; together she and the people the seeds choose to find them will save the planet. She then sails off into the night--on a motorized schooner. Film relentlessly copies scenes and characters from Star Wars and any other film it can fit in. There is a supposed-to-be-cute little robot that is called Beba, instead of R2D2; a Bad copy of See-Threepio that's in one scene, then vanishes; the heroine wears a gown that looks like one Princess Leia rejected; a scene in a intergalactic bar where we meet the hero (Vic Morrow). The main villain even tries to copy the voice of Darth Vader (the attempt is a flop). There are often repeated shots of the underside of the evil battleship from Star Wars or maybe Battlestar Galactica. One of the characters actually says to the heroine "I'll get you, my pretty!" There is talk of "chicken runs" about racing. The special effects are wildly inconsistent, varying from cheapjack to impressive looking. The color scheme is brighter than in a Hammer horror film. Things go boom, explode, swords shoot lasers, with amusing regularity--anytime the good guys are in trouble, which is most of the time. One character mutters "This is ridiculous". Perfect description of the film. 3/4 on a "So Bad It's Good" scale.

Friday, Dec. 9th/10th--Two possible trial runs for "The Thin Man" series of films; all times E.S.T. 9:15 p.m. "The Prizefighter and the Lady" (1933)--W.S. Van Dyke directed, Loy starred in this comedy-drama. 2:45 a.m. "Penthouse" (1933)--Same director, same star (Loy) in a witty, fast moving comedy-mystery. In the next year, Van Dyke, Loy and William Powell teamed up for "The Thin Man". Van Dyke directed the team in the first three films of that series, and one more with Loy and Powell, 1940's "I Love You Again" that airs later this month.

"Earth versus the Flying Saucers" (1956)--Starring Ray Harryhausen's Special Effects, Hugh Marlowe, and Joan Taylor. The plot: aliens attack a military base to stop a rocket project that is meant only for space exploration. A soldier shoots first, and mayhem ensues. Eventually, the whole world is threatened, because of some fools in Washington D.C. Matter of fact B movie knows not to let dialogue and plot slow the action down. The flying saucers are introduced in films' first five minutes, and they and their inhabitants are very visible from that point on. Marlowe is brusque and businesslike as the man who must save the country from its' leaders, as well as the space creatures. Taylor plays the 50's version of The Perfect Wife. All hell may be breaking loose around her, but there's never a hair out of place, an outfit wrinkled, and shoes and outfit always match. Harryhausen's special effects deliver, most effectively in the initial and final battles. Things go boom, get zapped, collapse, and are vaporized. The saucers are more lifelike than the actors. Film is a philosophic opposite of "The Day The Earth Stood Still" (1951). Fine special effects and a minimum of pseudo-scientific yapping make this a winner. 3.2/4 Source--archive.org. Search "EthvFlScer19561".

The director helmed a jinxed remake of a silent hit. There were three attempts at filming. Version #1 had the leading lady quit over multiple disputes with the director. Version #2, the second leading lady broke her arm in multiple places during filming--she quit. Version #3, the leading lady was unscathed, except for critic's arrows--but the leading man was injured the last day of filming. He fell off a horse, was knocked unconscious for 24 hours, and was hospitalized for nearly 2 weeks. Film was a flop.

Director worked in the silent and sound eras.

"The Night Caller" aka "Blood Beast From Outer Space" (1965)--Starring John Saxon. Not bad British sci-fi movie, done on a Low Budget. Don't let the dreadful title song/love theme scare you off. The plot: Remnants of what scientists think was a meteorite of some sort land in the British countryside. The scientists can't explain why the thing landed, not crashed. The remains of it are stored in a laboratory--and things start to happen. The actors are very matter of fact about everything. The use of special effects is kept to a minimum. Don't bother looking for either title on TCM. Neither is the title in director John Gilling's filmography or star John Saxon's filmography. I found the film on imdb under the aka title listed. The print I saw on archivedotorg had the title as "The Night Caller". Interesting film that recovers after a bad start. 2.4/4

"The Iron Petticoat" (1956), Katharine Hepburn and Bob Hope?

Thursday, Dec. 8th--All times E.S.T.--Early risers' special--"1941" was listed on Dec. 7th schedule. 4:45 a.m. "1941" (1979)--Some of the big, noisy gags work, some don't. It's the quieter performances and small, throwaway lines and sight gags that get laughs. 6:45 a.m. "The Mad Genius" (1931)--Barrymore as a deranged ballet impresario, Marian Marsh, and Boris Karloff--Horror film with a sense of humor.

This director made two striking horror films in his career. One was based on a Poe story, the other was almost ruined by Studio interference. Name the director and the films.

Chatterbox Next--OCEINELATNR

"I Drink Your Blood" was the rabid hippies film. As I recall, "I Eat Your Skin" was one double bill partner--about zombies and snake venom, I think. Both films were released in 1971. Del Tenney was the director of IDYB--was it double-billed with "The Horror of Party Beach" (1964)?

1928

Hint--Seances and chandeliers.

Princess--You're right. Some of the musicals Ankers appeared in were "Hers To Hold" (1943), 'Bowery to Broadway' and "Pardon My Rhythm" (both 1944) among others. Your thread, Princess.