Det Jim McLeod
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Posts posted by Det Jim McLeod
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Nevada Smith (1966)
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11 hours ago, TomJH said:
I've always regarded Charles Laughton's Night of the Hunter, a rather challenging film to categorize, as a dark fairy tale. But, great as it is as a film, I've always thought its final twenty minutes something of a disappointment, with the Mother Goose character taking over the narrative as the Big Bad Wolf gradually disappears. In doing so, the film loses the tremendous tension that had earlier distinguished it. A film that I had loved until the final two reels turns strangely unsatisfying for me.
I read the Davis Grubb novel years ago but can't recall if this was the ending of the novel, as well, or if it was something that originated with the 1955 film. I hope any remake comes up with a better ending.
I own the novel and the film follows it pretty closely, the Preacher is hauled off by the police and Rachel spends Christmas with all the children. We get to hear more of the thoughts of the character of Ruby, the teen girl character who is attracted to Preacher.
I found the novel to be a difficult read, Grubb for some reason does not use quotation marks when characters speak, which is confusing to me at times.
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When A Stranger Calls (1979) Showtime channel 7/10
A child killing maniac terrorizes a babysitter with phone calls, he later escapes from a mental institution.
I just re-watched this after many years, it is still effective. The first part with Carol Kane (she had received an Oscar nomination 4 years before with Hester Street) as the babysitter has become a classic in horror films. The middle part has often been criticized but I think it is still quite good as we get to know the killer a bit more and see the pursuit of him. And then the finale is a real nail biter. Film buffs will also like the cast- Charles Durning is an ex cop turned private eye who is hired to track down the killer. Rachel Roberts has a small part as a psychiatrist. Colleen Dewhurst is a middle aged barfly. Ron (Superfly) O'Neal plays Durning's former partner on the police force. A special mention for Tony Beckley as the maniac, he is both terrifying and somehow pathetic. Sadly, this was his last role, he was terminally ill with cancer at the time and died a few months after the release.
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Roger Maris-I had great empathy for him with all the guff he took for breaking Babe Ruth's home run record
Next-favorite professional athlete who became an actor
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3 hours ago, LawrenceA said:
Anyone mention Meg Foster yet?
I was thinking of her, she has the lightest eyes I have ever seen in my life. Almost like an android's.
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32 minutes ago, jamesjazzguitar said:
(E.g. These Three - The Children's Hour ).
That one is not a good example. It's true that the 1962 version was able to use lesbianism whereas the original was not allowed to. But that does not mean it was better.
The pivotal role of Mary Tilford, the evil school girl was excellently played by Bonita Granville in the original. The role in the remake was played by the untalented Karen Balkin, who sunk the film.
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7) The original shooting script had Dr Frankenstein dying in the end, James Whale opted instead to film a happy ending where the doctor survives.
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Dawn Of The Dead (1978)
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Nashville (1975)
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Coca Cola
next- favorite breakfast
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Sylvia Sidney
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17 hours ago, LawrenceA said:
Freaks (1932) Dir: Tod Browning - A lovestruck dwarf (Harry Earles) falls for a beautiful circus performer (Olga Baclanova) who's only interested in his money. An overheated melodrama that's (perhaps unjustly) lumped in with horror films due to the casting of actual sideshow performers in supporting roles. The ending as well tends toward the horrific, even if it's a bit too silly. Wally Ford is good as a clown who treats the "freaks" with respect, as is Leila Hyams as his love interest.
The DVD includes an hour-long documentary about the making of the film and its legacy. It was interesting to hear that Myrna Loy and Jean Harlow were originally intended for the Baclanova and Hyams roles, respectively, and that Victor McLaglen was intended to play the strong man eventually played by Henry Victor. (8/10)
I own the DVD as well, 7/10. I have to put on the subtitles since Harry Earles is very hard to understand with his high pitched German accent.
The documentary is even more fascinating, the arm less girl Frances O'Connor was pretty enough to be a Hollywood starlet if she had arms.
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Barbra Streisand, most people notice her nose first, but I thought she had beautiful eyes
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Best- The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre
Worst- The Two Mrs Carrolls
Next- Ryan O'Neal
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8. She played the head of an adoption agency opposite Cary Grant and Irene Dunne in the drama Penny Serenade.
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5) Boris Karloff objected to the Monster learning to talk, thinking the character had more impact if he was inarticulate.
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Lupe Velez-Mexican
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Charles Boyer-French
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46 minutes ago, LawrenceA said:
As an early sound film, Dracula was sparing in its musical accompaniment, so that may be one reason why the Glass score seems so intrusive and overly busy. I don't think I need to see it again with that new score. (8/10)
I agree. I will always prefer hearing "Swan Lake" at the beginning, I am not a ballet fan so I always think of Dracula if I ever hear it.
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Best- Darling (1965)
Worst- I'm With Lucy (2002)
Next-Abbott And Costello
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The Naked City (1948)
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I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
Next-Breach (2007) 2 more with Ryan Phillippe
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Stagecoach (1939)
Next-favorite Mike Nichols movie
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3) 17 minutes of cuts were made from the release print.
Double Feature
in Games and Trivia
Posted
Mister Scoutmaster (1953)
Woman's World (1956) 2 more with Clifton Webb