jarhfive

This thread needs a DVD review. Here's one... Faust (1926). I watched a rental of the KINO DVD of F.W. Murnau's "Faust" last night... Astonishing. The best description of the movie and the DVD presentation of the movie is astonishing. First, everyone knows the story of Faust. I don't need to write a synopsis of the story. The movie "Faust" grabbed my attention one minute after the start of the movie...I was tinkering with something in front of the television while my wife watched the DVD. "Faust" grabbed my attention and I was transfixed by the movie until the last scene (almost two hours). By the way, my wife had fallen asleep by the end of the movie. She says she will "pick up" the last ten minutes of the film today. Second, the special effects of Murnau's Faust are...well, incredible. Even by today's standards. Third, the acting is superb. Emil Jannings' performance as Mephisto is...uh, once more...astonishing. Fourth, Murnau's job as director of "Faust" is masterful. I thought it was interesting, during a recent John Ford documentary, Mr. Ford mentions the difficulty of directing silent (versus talkie) films. I guess he means the many camera set-ups required to present an idea to the audience. The presentation of an idea simplified considerably if the soundtrack has dialogue. Well, Murnau makes no missteps directing "Faust". Here is a small example of Murnau's mastery of the silent film. One scene has Mephisto and Faust placing a pretty bit of jewelry (the temptation) in the dresser drawer of Faust's love interest. The dresser is in her bedroom. Mephisto and Faust exits the bedroom. The love interest enters her bedroom and she...shudders slightly. No words. She merely trembles for a second...just enough to tell us (the audience) she feels the lingering presence of evil. Wonderful. Fifth, KINO's DVD beautifully presents the black and white cinematography. This movie has a lot of effects--fog and smoke, fade outs, fade ins, double exposures...what have you. These effects are central to the story. These effects would be "lost" without top notch video luminance and contrast. The KINO DVD does not take anything away from the film. In fact, the DVD artfully enhances Murnau's vision. Really, the video of this DVD is wonderful. Watch this DVD on the largest screen possible (I watched the thing on a good 35 inch CRT television). Sixth, KINO's DVD soundtrack also enhances the experience of watching "Faust". This DVD has an orchestral soundtrack and the music follows the action nicely. The extras on the DVD are spare. The only extra is a series of stills from the making of "Faust". The still pictures display for a few seconds before moving to the next picture. Some pictures display a zoom image, before moving to the next picture. I have watched more than fifty silent films. My opinion? "Faust" is the perfect introduction to silent films. Considering the effects, the story, the DVD...only one other silent film competes with "Faust" as the perfect "first silent film"--"The Phantom Of The Opera" . "Faust" is one of...maybe, six films I have rented and immediately looked the movie up on the internet to purchase. And that means "Faust" is a pretty darned good movie. Recommended. Rusty

otterhere, Here is a on-topic reply to your "off-topic" thread. I bought a 2004 big video catalog from...uh, I am not sure, I don't have the thing with me (maybe, Movies Unlimited?). I am keeping the 2004 big video catalog for reference. Why? Because it has hundreds of movie listings that are probably not in the 2005 and 2006 and future big video catalogs. Why? Because the 2004 big catalog of videos has a lot of VHS only movies listed. otter...for your VHS/DVD to DVD only question, does reference material count? Also, I wonder, does looking at paper reference material, not computer screen reference material, make me even odder...otter? By the way, I looked at the catalog yesterday. I pick up and thumb through the pages of my big video catalog all the time. Rusty

"Hide Out" is a treat. Edward "not really a bad guy" Arnold makes me all verklempt...sniff. Rusty

CineSage, I have nothing to add to bobhopefan's advice (html code), but you receive my "best subject line I have read" award. "Best subject line I have read"...up to today. I love your "Daily Variety" header. By the way, I've wanted to compose something similar for a long time. I don't think it is easy to compose a logical "X" header. Congratulations. Rusty

mongo, Here is something interesting. I watched the movie "I Cover The Waterfront" last weekend. I noticed a couple of things about the DVD (one of those three movie per DVD side and five DVDs per package deals). Some dialogue obviously pre-code...a snide remark about, I assume, lesbians and the word "****" used to describe the "I cover the waterfront" guy's editor (boss). The other thing I noticed was the graphic "NTP", or "Non Theatrical Productions". I looked the movie up on IMDB to check if "I Cover The Waterfront" was a "NTP" production...the movie was not. I was getting ready to compose a question this forum, but first...I did a GOOGLE search and...the following link was the number four "hit": ************************************** brackenhe Re: ***ASK MONGO*** Posted: 09/09/2005 10:49 EDT Mongo--I was watching an early precode today (that I rented from Netflix and I swear I don't have stock in the company.) It was called I Cover the Waterfront starring Ben Lyon & Claudette Colbert. Released by Non Theatrical Productions (I think that's what it was called.) What can you tell me about Ben Lyon and what about Non Theatrical Productions? I figure it's one of those poverty row companies but I never heard of it until today. Re: ***ASK MONGO*** Posted: 09/10/2005 10:55 EDT Brackenhe, since the movie "I Cover the Waterfront" is currently a public domain film hence the name Non Theatrical Productions. The movie was actually released by Reliance Pictures co-founded by producer Edward Small with connections to United Artists. Concerning actor Ben Lyon, there is a good mini-bio on IMDb that you should find interesting, and which I couldn't improve on. I for one didn't realize that he was married to actress Bibi Daniels for over 40 years. Enjoy. Mongo ************************************* Remember the more than one year old exchange? Of course you don't, but you answered MY question. History repeats... By the way, the "Ask Mongo" link was the ONLY useful GOOGLE link I noticed...well, I just glanced at the results page. Oh, yes...thank you for your 2005 answer to my question. Rusty

paty, "Devil's Rain" is a goodie, indeed. I watched the AMC broadcast of "Devil's Rain". Ida Lupino stars in "Devil's Rain". Ida Lupino in "Devil's Rain" automatically makes the movie a must see. And Ernest Borgnine in "Devil's Rain" doubles the must see-ness of the movie. I watched "Devil's Rain" via a DVR and skipped through the AMC commercials. I skipped through all the AMC commercials, except the hilarious Extenz commercials. Here's a question. I watched the AMC broadcast of "Wolfen". For the movie "Predator", do you think the use of video solarization and weird audio effects for "monster" point of view was stolen from "Wolfen"? I thought "Predator" was the first movie to use the picture and sound techniques to present monster point of view to the audience, but no..."Predator" not first. Rusty

Sorry. To be consistent with my opponent theory, I should have written, "call the opponent of the candidate...at three o'clock in the morning". Oh h***, call everybody at three o'clock in the morning. Just thinking about that 6:50 A.M. call as a possible political spam call pis*** me off so much...I have to take a pill now. Rusty

I've come to the conclusion the political spam calls are dirty tricks...by a political opponent of the candidate calling. Well, political opponent of the machine voice of the representative of the candidate...calling my phone. I cannot imagine an undecided, voting age person ever voting for the ******* who calls the voter several times a day, at all hours. On the other hand, I don't understand why I have fifty pieces of e-mail spam every two days. No adult ever responds to that spam s***. Right? By the way, I never give the political spam caller a chance to say who they represent. I usually don't even pick up an "out of area" call. I wish I had answered my ringing phone...last Saturday...at 6:50 A.M. If that call was a political thing (not a wrong number)...you know what I would do? Write down the candidate name, look up his/her home phone and start calling and calling and calling until someone picked up. I would start calling them at 3:00 A.M. This candidate calling thing has got to stop. Close the loophole allowing political calls (as well as "surveys") for the "do not call me" law. Rusty

filmlover, Quote: "Gee, and they said reading comics when I was a kid would never come in handy when I was an adult." Along the same line of thought, maybe you could help me find a use for analytical geometry? Rusty

Matt, Here's a question that came to my mind while watching the "Superman" serial. I don't know why I never wondered the following during my many viewings of the "Superman" television show. Maybe, I was anticipating the inevitable quicksand scene too much to think about anything else. More likely, my powers of reasoning were not as highly developed back then...as now. Back to my question. I know from one of the "Superman: The Movie" sequels, anyone from Krypton is capable of super powers if the Krypton person makes it to Earth. I suppose, some property of Earth, uh...endows the former Krypton resident with the super thing. I know, of course, exposure to a piece of the planet Krypton (Kryptonite) is hazardous to Superman. Hazardous to Superman, but why does Superman have such a negative reaction to Kryptonite? Kryptonite deadly stuff...right? Okay, Kryptonite is the Earth name for something that Superman, if living on Krypton, would be exposed to all the time. Does a piece of the planet Krypton differ in some way when on Earth and not on Krypton? Is Superman overreacting to a piece of the planet Krypton? Something like, "I would be okay with Kryptonite...except, losing my super powers makes me very dizzy and I need to get used to 'wrung out' me..."? Were the residents of the former planet of Krypton a bunch of wimps (compared to hale/ hearty Earthards)? Has the issue of, "Kryptonite...why so toxic?", ever been discussed/ resolved by the Superman author(s)? Do you care anything about what I am talking about? Rusty

Last Saturday (November 4), watched the next five installments of the Superman serial and I am enjoying the heck out of the Kirk Alyn Superman. A couple of comments. First. Why didn't I read the topic (this forum) concerning the omission of Kirk Alyn's name to the credit screen? I zipped through the cast list three times (I watched a recording), before I realized the producers did not want to corrupt the fantasy of the Superman character by attaching an actor's name...doh. Second. I just read Jon Parker's comment (the other Superman thread) regarding the quality of the integration of Superman animation into the live action. I agree with Jon's comment. Yes...the animation is pleasing to this viewer and the segue from live to cartoon is seamless. I believe a man can fly! Third. One little negative comment regarding the Superman serial. I have a Superman serial headwear hang up (a cringe o'chapeau). I mean, what is the deal with the hats in this Superman serial? Lois Lane wears an oversized, comical sailor's(?) hat. And, as the story continues, Lois never changes her hat! I mean, considering the size of Lois' hat and the size of Lois...she could fit her body in her hat (with room to spare). And Jimmie Olson? Jimmie does this folding thing with the brim of his fedora. His (otherwise normal) hat is folded into something that makes him look like that Benny Hill character...I forget the character's name. You know, the Benny Hill "goofy guy" character. And the Spider Lady's hair? Oh, don't get me started on Spider Lady's hair... I try to desensitize myself to such unimportant things like headwear, but when I am "slapped in the face" by the "Superman" hat goofiness...I'm sorry, I simply cannot ignore the diversion. Anyway. Other than the bad wardrobe, I am enjoying the Superman serial and await the next few installments. Rusty

On the set of "The Merry Widow"...Erich von Stroheim

Errol "The Man" Flynn

I hope it is okay to post this here. I think it's a star...Fox Theatre Oakland, California 2002.

lerola, Well, I think you are right on target laughing during "The Exterminating Angel". My opinion? I don't think Bunuel meant the movie to be taken seriously. Again, if you ever get a chance to watch "Simon Of The Desert" you will encounter the same sort of "off the wall" humor as "The Exterminating Angel". Rusty

lerola, Jack is correct...Luis Bu?uel's "The Exterminating Angel". I consider it a classic. The last time "The Exterminating Angel" was broadcast on TCM, this forum had a bit of discussion about the movie. It divided up about half and half (opinion-wise). About half of those who contributed an "Exterminating Angel" opinion considered it a must see movie. The other half of the contributors hated the movie. I mean, really hated the movie. By the way, if you liked "The Exterminating Angel"...keep a look out for the next time TCM broadcasts Bu?uel's "Simon Of The Desert". Another odd and thought provoking film. Rusty

mongo, Quote: "Ironically though, many stories written by 'alleged author' Stephen King became some of my favorite films including, "Carrie", "The Shining", "Christine", "Stand by Me", "Misery", "The Shawshank Redemption", "Dolores Claiborne", and "The Green Mile"." I hope it was merely an oversight, but remember "The Dead Zone"? My favorite Stephen King book to movie. And the television mini-series "The Stand"? My second favorite King bookmovieminiseries. Rusty

moirafinnie6, George Zucco?...my God, what a great "pick". You made my day (November 1st). My reply late...sorry. Rusty

Jon, Yeah, old...but next time somebody asks me about semaphores? I can answer the question. Rusty

dolores, My first car (another castoff from my older brother), I called my "Rolls Canardly". No, I won't put you through the pain of the punch line to the old joke. The car was a 1960 Volkswagon with semaphores. I always say, "Volkswagon with semaphores", because only seven people outside of Germany know the term "semaphores". The one time I went over 60 miles per hour in the car, I left it on the side of the Boulder-Denver Turnpike for disposal. No...I picked up the car at impound, thirty days later. The impound charge was more than the value of the car. By the way, here is how you know you have serious engine troubles...if you are having a problem viewing the road because of the blue smoke inside the car AND it sounds like somebody is hitting the engine with a large hammer. Rusty

oobleckboy, Quote: "I've still got some old 4-Track cartridges for my Muntz M-30 Stereo-pack, remember those rare things (1/2 the tracks, twice the audio quality). " I never heard of 4-Track cartridges and I owned an 8-Track player for years. So, did the 4-Track cartridges stop in the middle of a song and..."chi-ching"...switch over to another track and finish the song? I installed my 8-Track player in my Datsun 1200 and rode around listening to the same ten tapes for ten years...I know every word of every lyric of every song on the album "Red Octopus". By the way, I called my Datsun the "Flintstones Car". After the driver's side floor rusted through, I imagined myself run starting my car, if the battery went dead. Rusty

Matt, Quote: "I thought it had something to do with both my serials and your Hurrican Express serials, plus a couple of other threads on the subject, but filmlover pointed out that WB is releasing the Superman serials on DVD soon." Oh, no...you mean crass commercialism? Rusty

matinee, Quote: "Am I the only one who saw the younger Edie as mentally unstable and mistreating her mother in a way that would today be called elder abuse?" I agree with your opinion of the younger Beale appearing mentally unstable. On the other hand, grabbing a few minutes of two peoples lives for public airing (the Grey Gardens documentary) is not enough information for this viewer to say if the younger Beale was abusing the older Beale. I do think it was irresponsible for the daughter to allow mom to cook meals on her bed. One thing I saw in "Grey Gardens" I know will stay with me for the rest of my life is the wonderful portrait of the older Beale. The expression of Ms. Beale in the painting was truly remarkable and the artist captured her mood perfectly. I cannot put into words the emotion of the portrait...a remarkable work of art. Rusty

filmlover, I hang my head in shame...walk stage front and into the orchestra pit. Rusty

I was a subscriber to Video Review at the time the "high resolution" ball got rolling. High resolution was the jargon I read in Video Review about the move away from NTSC...a couple of decades ago. High resolution turned into "high definition". I don't remember anything about an all digital standard. What I do remember is the main reason for the move away from NTSC. The main reason was the fear of a new broadcast system for the United States originating in Japan. I suppose all digital signal was part of the broadcast system adopted as the new standard. I suppose mandatory all digital television for 2009 is because the VHF and UHF bands have been sold for some other use. Oldfashionedgirl makes a good point regarding affordability of digital television...who can and who cannot afford the thing...and television as a source of emergency information. I live one mile from an interstate road. The interstate road is the preferred path for tornados...lot's of 'em. I like having local television during those times when a tornado is traveling up the interstate and targeting my house. I can afford the switch to digital television, but I know a lot of people in my county cannot. No analog broadcast...no television...no warning until the tornado siren. In my area, the tornado siren sounds after the tornado...something like a "farewell to cyclone" siren. I wonder if a government program exists to help low income people for the digital switch over? I don't believe a "help the needy get digital television" exists...more likely, just another point of light fallen through the safety net and out of sight. By the way, here is my candidate for biggest lie by a cable company (CableOne). Three days of TCM sound out of synch with picture...and I am talking about several minutes of sound out of synch with video. Three days of attempts to contact CableOne. Third day...make contact. Tell cable flak catcher about the sound problem. Flak catcher responds, "yes...one other subscriber complained about the problem with sound. I'm sorry, but our rules are...three complaints before we take action to correct a transmission problem". My response? A couple of sentences worth of asterisks. Rusty