film lover 293
-
Posts
6,310 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
4
Posts posted by film lover 293
-
-
OPPENHEIMER, JOE
-
UNION PACIFIC
-
Quo Vadis (1912)
-
LiamCasey--You are Correct. I saw part of this on YouTube--terrible movie, but funny.
Your Thread, LiamCasey.
-
This film is an archeologists' bad dream. Upon discovering a priceless tomb, the wife gives birth to a subsequently possessed daughter. Name the film and two main stars please.
-
The Birth of a Nation
-
"The Haunted Strangler" (1958), Boris Karloff?
-
The Mummy (1932)
Next--London
-
Out on a Limb?
-
Monday, Sept. 5th; All times E.S.T.
8:00 p.m. "Intolerance" (1916)--See this while it's still around. Watch on a large screen, if possible, to catch the details of the actors and ruinously expensive sets director D.W. Griffith constructed for the film. Film is Long, but is worth the watch.
-
1
-
-
I saw six movies for the first or second time last week:
"The Lair of the White Worm" (1988)--Based on Bram Stoker's last novel, movie stars Amanda Donohoe, Hugh Grant, and Catherine Oxenberg, was directed by Ken Russell. Lord James D'Ampton (Grant) and his village celebrate the slaying of the monstrous dragon/snake that occurred centuries ago. Eve Trent's (Oxenberg) parents disappeared in its' lair a year ago. The mysterious Lady Sylvia Marsh (Amanda Donohoe) lives in the moldy mansion down the lane. Movie tips it's hand about the mystery in the first shot of her. Donohoe Easily steals the film as the snake worshipper who has a tendency to quote old movies ("Rosebud") and has most of the best lines; Oxenberg and Grant are eye candy. It wouldn't be a Russell film without a few shocks, the first of which happens without warning. Ottocensor would just star out further descriptions. Recommended.
"Pete Kelly's Blues" (1955)--Starring Jack Webb, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, and Janet Leigh. Uneven film directed by Jack Webb; strengths are the instrumentals, vocals by Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, and Janet Leigh, good cinematography, attention to detail (down to what is passed off as champagne in 1927 Chicago). Minuses are overstated performances (except Lee and Leigh), a cardboard script, and a wooden performance by Webb. Recommended
"Guys and Dolls" (1955)--Starring Jean Simmons, Frank Sinatra, and Marlon Brando. Simmons is the happy surprise; her voice is strong, sweet, and on key, and she dances creditably, Vivian Blaine was in the Broadway show, and her performances of "Adelaide's Lament" and "Take Back Your Mink" are highlights. Stubby Kaye's rendition of "Sit Down, You're Rocking The Boat" is GaD's highight. Brando's tenor is barely on key, and he has obvious breath-control problems; while attempting "Luck Be a Lady", he looks like he's strangling while holding a prolonged note. Not dubbing him was a Mistake. Sinatra may be miscast, but at least he can Sing. GaD is overlong but ok Runyonesque fluff that should have been better.
"Young Bess" (1953) is an good costume drama, distinguished by Simmons' and Laughton's fine performances. Deborah Kerr and Stewart Granger are ok in support.
"When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth" (1970)--There is no language (after a windy prologue), and no performances to speak of. The stars are the stop-motion animated dinosaurs of Jim Danforth, and each one has its' own theme by composer Mario Nascimbene. Film is worth a watch if you find a good copy.
"The Night Monster" (1942)--Film is a fast paced parody of monster movies; there are bits from "Rebecca", "Angel Street", "Dracula"--just in the first seven minutes. A fun watch.
Favorites--Pete Kelly's Blues (1955) and "The Lair of the White Worm" (1988).
Least Favorite Film--"When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth" (1970) .
-
3
-
-
starliteyes--Yes, You're Correct! Jane Powell wears a hot pink cocktail dress that shows she has "grown up"; the film marked the end of Ann Sothern's and Carmen Miranda's contracts with MGM.
Your thread, starliteyes.
-
Hint--Brazil.
-
Sept. 4th/5th--All times E.S.T.
12:30 p.m. "Dracula" (1931)--Am seeing it again to get into a Halloween mood.
12:00 a.m. "Show People" (1928)--Marion Davies at her peak--one of her three funniest films.
-
Re "The Night Monster"--One part of the movie nobody has directly mentioned yet; the possibility it was parody.
The first scene steals from other movies--We see the housekeeper, wearing what looks like Mrs. Danvers castoff clothing (Rebecca), scrubbing out blood. The daughter comes down the staircase, wailing about how she's not insane (Angel Street). The two have a confrontation (Rebecca). A maid who sounds like Rosalind Russell smarts off to a threatening looking butler (too many movies to list). This is just the first 7--10 minutes of the movie.
Later, a character says "We're all right as long as the frogs keep croaking"; the Instant that line is finished, All is Quiet. The editor had a sense of humor.
The stealing of "The Wolf Man"s score has already been mentioned. Maria Ouspenskaya's role in "The Wolf Man" was given a sex change, called a "Swami", and transplanted into The Night Monster.
There are just too many idiocies for me to take The Night Monster as a completely serious piece of horror. But the movie works quite nicely when you look at it as comedy--whether it was meant that way or not.
-
2
-
-
Lewton, Val
-
Lamont, Lina--Jean Hagen in Singin' In The Rain.
-
UNDER CAPRICORN
-
The Day After Tomorrow
-
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
next--ETH GOLPIADR
-
"Advise and Consent"
next--New England
-
THE INHERITANCE
next--MEIEPTNRXE OESIUPLR
-
"When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth" (1971)--Directed by Val Guest, stop-motion animation by Jim Danforth.
There is no recognizable language in this, after a windy prologue, and no performances to speak of. The film is one long chase, divided into sections according to whom the characters are running from; people who want to kill them, or dinosaurs that wish to kill them.
The dinosaurs are the stars, and they are more memorable than the people. They have more personality than the main characters, and each one has a different theme. Mario Nascimbene did the musical score.
There was no plot to follow, so I looked for mistakes. I found: A blinking corpse, headpieces that were noticeably plastic, British and Italian accents from the starlets, permed and styled hair/hairpieces, to mention the most obvious ones.
The copy of the film I saw was taken from an old AMC broadcast of the film. I would rate film higher if I'd seen a better copy. This was on archivedotorg. 2.3/4.
-
1
-
-
"The Shining"
next--Texas
HITS & MISSES: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow on TCM
in General Discussions
Posted
Tues., Sept. 6th--All times E.S.T.;
8:00 p.m. "Golden Age of Comedy" (1957)--Gives a good, overall look at silent slapstick films.
9:30 p.m. "Tillie's Punctured Romance" (1914)--Of the many versions available, on YouTube or Archivedotcom, TCM usually has the most recent restoration.