film lover 293
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Posts posted by film lover 293
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JUST TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT
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Lawrence--The Firth was a bit I remembered from a Geography class I took a few decades ago.
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(1)--The Americanization of Emily?
(3)--Grand Prix?
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(2) Mister Buddwing?
(4) Hour of the Gun?
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Swithin--You're Correct!
Lawrence--the connection was Scotland--Bonnie Prince Charlie and The Firth of Clyde.
Your thread Swithin.
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"A Streetcar Named Desire" (1951)?
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Thanks Lawrence.
Prince Charlie in addition to Firth
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Bing Crosby?
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Tuesday, August 30th--Two more worth catching on Jean Simmons day. All times E.S.T.:
6:00 a.m. "This Could Be The Night" (1957)--Musical drama/comedy. Ray Anthony and his band play several numbers, Julie Wilson sings 3-4 more songs.
3:45 p.m. "So Long At The Fair" (1950)--Excellent British historical mystery/melodrama.
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SHANGHAI EXPRESS
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Yellow Submarine
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CUKOR, GEORGE
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Zander The Great (1925)
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Horsefeathers?
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"Pete Kelly's Blues" (1955)--Starring Jack Webb, Janet Leigh, Peggy Lee,and Ella Fitzgerald. Directed by Jack Webb.
Film is set in 1927 Chicago, in a series of speakeasies. It's about a jazz band, its' leader (Webb) and the bands run-ins with gangsters.
The bad: Jack Webb's direction is all one-note, the editing is jumpy, the performances are all (excepting Lee and Leigh) overdone, Webb in the lead role seems uncomfortable.
The good: Peggy Lee's Oscar nominated turn as a gangster's alcoholic girlfriend. Her versions of "Sugar" and "He Needs Me" are Fine. Janet Leigh's performance as a bubble brained socialite in a role that twists and turns as the script dictates. Her rendition of "I'm Gonna Get My Sweetie Now" is rather good. Andy Devine, in an uncharacteristic role, is excellent. Ella Fitzgerald does a Definitive rendition of "Hard Hearted Hannah".
Webb's narration is very good. On-screen, he looks and acts uncomfortable; Off-screen, his narration has just the right combination of sarcasm, world-weariness, and concern.
The music and attention to detail are the things that lift the film from so-so- to good. The music is a constant and sounds right for the period; whether it is or not, it sounds Good. The attention to detail goes down to showing the viewer what was passed off as "champagne", as an individual bottle of the stuff is mixed. There is marvelous cinematography by Hal Rosson, especially in a shadowy shootout.
"Pete Kelly's Blues" has much more good than bad. The film is an underrated find. 2.9/4
Edit--saw on archivedotorg.
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KISMET
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starliteyes--You're exactly right. I thought I was seeing things when I saw "Two Girls and a Sailor" on Van Johnson day. I'd watched "The Opposite Sex" a long time ago, and thought "Young Man With a Horn" was the best song in the film.
Your thread.
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(2)--"Kid Glove Killer" (1942)?
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This actress sang a song to a bandleader in one film, and in another film, twelve years later, sang the same song to the same bandleader--the choreography differed, but the song was the same. Please name the star, bandleader, and the two films.
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Beau Brummel
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I saw seven films for the first time last week:
"British Intelligence" (1940)--Above average programmer that Karloff starred in. He is a spy in 1917 London, as is Margaret Lindsay. Who is/are the double agent/s? Film is barely an hour long, is well written and acted. Worth a watch. Can be found on YouTube and archivedotorg.
"The Guns of Fort Petticoat" (1957)--This western abruptly shifts tones from animated credits to more serious themes. Audie Murphy deserts from a Colorado fort rather than participate in the 1864 massacre at Sand Creek, where Indian women and children are killed. He takes it upon himself to warn the countryside of impending Indian attacks to avenge Sand Creek. The men are gone, fighting the Civil War. The women are turned into a fighting force with the help of Hope Emerson, who's the best performer in the film. Movie is definitely worth a watch.
"Tight Spot" (1955)--Good noir has Ginger Rogers as a Mafia kingpin's ex-girlfriend. She's released from prison by District Attorney Edward G. Robinson, who needs her testimony against the Mafia member. Brian Keith is her guard. Little known noir (to me) should be better known. Rogers is sweet and sarcastic at the same time. Recommended.
"Mr. Bug Goes to Town" (1941)--Hard to find cartoon is overly sweet and saccharine, but has some excellent animation and a Frank Loesser score to recommend it. This was released two days before Pearl Harbor, and was a financial disaster. I found this on archivedotorg, under an alternate name "Bugville".
"The Duchess of Idaho" (1950)--Van Johnson is a good comic foil for Esther Williams in this one. Williams has only two numbers, but Lena Horne and Eleanor Powell (in her last film) help the movie, as does Connie Haines' two songs. Film is an ok watch.
"DuBarry Was A Lady" (1943)--MGM bought this Cole Porter stage musical, dropped thirteen of its' songs, and had five of their house composers write the rest of the score. Result: a watchable musical that Gene Kelly steals, with his song and dance to "Do I Love You?". Virginia O'Brien has the best number the other composers wrote, "Salome". Red Skelton derails the film with his playing stupid, and Lucille Ball saves it. Watchable fluff that should have been Much better.
"Fiesta" (1947)--Lasts one hour, forty two minutes. Has eight minutes of dances by Cyd Charisse and Ricardo Montalban, which are the best parts of the film. Has ONE two minute swim routine by Esther Williams that doesn't deserve the title of "Routine". Has five minutes of an Aaron Copland song. That leaves 87 minutes of pleasantly scored talkathon about bullfighting to sit through. Film did nab an Oscar nomination for Best Score. Still, it's a waste of celluloid.
Favorite--"Tight Spot" (1955).
Cheat of the Week--"Fiesta" (1947).
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"Irene" (1926), Colleen Moore?
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TikiSoo--am mentioning this one because you said you liked Wheeler and Woolsey.
9/8--7:30 a.m. E.S.T.--"The Cuckoos" (1930)--musical comedy, with the emphasis on comedy by W & W. They get involved with gypsies this time, and have to save a kidnapped girl. Film is static, is like watching a filmed stage play. The songs are agreeable, with one number "Dancing The Devil Away" being notable.
Roscoe Arbuckle gave uncredited help with the script. Richard Barrios, in "A Song In The Dark", his book about musicals from 1927--1933, attributes Arbuckle's help with there being more visual gags. Barrios says the film maintains a sense of "giddy artifice".
Barrios doesn't explicitly dislike or recommend the film.
For BUZZR and GSN Fans
in General Discussions
Posted
im4cinema2--Bill Cullen died in the 1990's, not 1970; I remember watching him on the various versions of The Pyramid (1973-1988?) as host/celebrity guest, and as host of "Blockbusters" in the early 1980's.