therealfuster
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Posts posted by therealfuster
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going for as little as 29 bucks at some discount places, and for around 49 dollars for even name brands like JVC.
One does need to know though, that it helps if one's tv has the ready to use, three jack input for a dvd player, with the white, yellow and red colors. Otherwise one may need to buy some contraption to be able to convert the dvd jack connection to one's tv.
I only say this, because my neighbor went and bought a player and a few dvd's and was all excited about watching them that nite, then found that she had an older tv which did not have the correct connections on the back, for easy dvd hookup.
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heartily concur with you about the great performances by Anne Bancroft in "The Pumpkin Eater" and "84 Charing Cross Road".
Anne was magnificent in anything, but her work in those two films is outstanding! A good friend of mine from grade school was so moved by Anne's performance in the latter film, that when we went to London she was compelled to find 84 Charing Cross Road, just to feast her eyes on it, as she had so enjoyed the movie. "The Pumpkin Eater" was banned by the Catholic Legon of Decency when it came out for acceptance of divorce and other adult issues, but has stood the test of time and is now considered one of the more intelligent movies ever put on film, much of it due to Anne's fine and moving performance.
I remember seeing an interview with Anne, in which she said she started acting at four years of age. It seems funny now that when Anne played the "older" woman Mrs. Robinson, that she was really only about 36 years old it seems.
Other films of hers, besides all the obvious great ones, that I have enjoyed are "Nightfall" with Aldo Ray, her bit in "The Elephant Man" when she visits John Merrick in his room at the hospital as the famous actress, "Girl in Black Stockings" [which is very similar to the tv series "Twin Peaks"], and her performance as Mary Magdalene in the tv miniseries "Jesus of Nazareth".
I also admire Anne's taste in men....and she will be greatly missed!
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Jimmy Clanton did do his own songs, and had some fairly big hits in the 1950's, including "Venus in Blue Jeans" and is still performing on the road at many Oldies concerts.
But I'm sure he was lip synching in the film, but just to his own recordings of his songs. No one sang for him, if that's what you want to know. It was obvious also that even though Richie Valens can play guitar, that he was faking it in the film, during his rendition in the club of "Ooh My Head" just like Eddie Cochran was faking it, in his number, "Teenage Heaven".
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we would be great going out on the town, if you like Emeril more than James Mason, because we would never fight over which man we want!
Thanks for the correction on Emeril's catch phrase. Can you tell I do not watch his show very much?
I wonder if James Mason was a good cook...hmmm?
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and don't forget Eric Blore and Roland Young!
Often I look at the TCM schedule and just don't want to leave the house all day from 6am to 6pm, Monday thru Friday, as they are showing films that I've only read about in my books on the yearly output of films by MGM, and all the other giant film studios.
I've seen all the big films, it is the small films that I really enjoy seeing, with so many great character actors in them, and all the people you mention are wonderful!
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but please don't mention James Mason in the same breath with Letterman and Emeril.
You are spoiling my vision of the eternal James as the angel in that Lucy movie, and I keep seeing a space developing between his two front teeth and hear him saying dumb things like "let's crank it up a notch" in the patented Mason softspoken way.
And it is upsetting....
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High Noon?
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on what can be considered "classic" and I think that Turner Classic Movies is properly named, according to the dictionary definition:
"5 entries found for classic.
clas?sic ?? (?P?)??Pronunciation Key??(klsk)
adj.
1.
a. Belonging to the highest rank or class.
b. Serving as the established model or standard: a classic example of colonial architecture.
c. Having lasting significance or worth; enduring.
2.
a. Adhering or conforming to established standards and principles: a classic piece of research.
b. Of a well-known type; typical: a classic mistake.
3. Of or characteristic of the literature, art, and culture of ancient Greece and Rome; classical.
4.
a. Formal, refined, and restrained in style.
b. Simple and harmonious; elegant: the classic cut of a suit; the classic lines of a clipper ship.
5. Having historical or literary associations: classic battlefields of the Civil War.
n.
1. An artist, author, or work generally considered to be of the highest rank or excellence, especially one of enduring significance.
2. A work recognized as definitive in its field.
3.
a. A literary work of ancient Greece or Rome.
b. classics The languages and literature of ancient Greece and Rome. Used with the.
c. One that is of the highest rank or class: The car was a classic of automotive design.
4. A typical or traditional example.
5. Informal. A superior or unusual example of its kind: The reason he gave for being late was a classic.
6. A traditional event, especially a major sporting event that is held annually: a golf classic."
Every film or short shown on TCM has some connection to the above definition. Their movies are mostly of the highest rank, and often are the model for later films, and they are enduring and most definitive. Even some smaller less well known films shown on TCM, which in themselves are not noted as "classics", often have performances or elements which relate to the above, in for instance giving one a background perspective of a plethora of films starring a "classic" actor/actress...or by a director or writer, which showcase their burgeoning talent and ascent up the classic scale.
Being that TCM highlights films of the Golden Age, but will still show small gems that may not have been major box office giants, showcases that a "classic" is not bound by monetary demarcations or the number of days of shooting. A classic can be made in two days by a person like Edgar Ulmer, or a year, as in a David Lean type film, or for mega amounts of money like an Erich von Stroheim film, or for almost nothing on a shoestring budget.
TCM shows classics of all genres, and who else shows classic shorts like Robert Benchley educating people on "How To Eat", a short which I enjoyed recently on TCM?
Whoever picks the films shown on the TCM schedule, is a real film buff, as they show an appreciation for films of all countries, time periods and genres. If this is a conglomerate of selectors, I must say they do a bang up job of picking great films to show daily, many of which never get an airing anywhere else on the tv or even at theatres in retrospectives.
Okay, so I might not want to see "Parenthood" too often, but I have no problem if they showed "To Kill a Mockingbird" weekly, as there is probably always a person in the viewing audience who has never seen this classic, and why should I deny them that right? I can watch a dvd and then come back to the wonderful classic TCM schedule a couple hours later....
TCM is the greatest tv channel that ever existed!
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that you have the strength of character to admit publically that you don't like Meg Ryan, being that she is "America's Sweetheart" or so I'm told.
It seems to me that a few years back, a couple of actresses who were equally famous to Ryan, made some cracks about her relying on schtick in films, and not having much discernible real talent...in similarity to what you've said. Non-happy talk can provoke "slamming" though, but since directing great, Norman Jewison has now recently come out and said he thinks Madonna has little talent...you are in good company in voicing your views, and have a perfect right.
Trust me on this...one can get in a lot of trouble saying such things, a word to the wise! I was told I reminded someone of Meg Ryan, and well...I had to get out my Syrup of Ipecac. But I digress...
Bruno Kirby is funny in that film, just like he was in the Spinal Tap movie and I like him almost as much as I like Bud Cort, of "Harold and Maude" fame.
I see nothing wrong with saying who annoys you, but I do think one must decide if the part is supposed to be annoying inherently in the script, so the actor/actress is just doing their job, OR...if the person is annoying in pretty much every film they do.
Would you prefer someone else playing Hepburn's part opposite Grant, and who would you have chosen...among the women of that time? I'm thinking...perhaps Carole Lombard or Stanwyck or Jean Arthur or....?
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so I can thank TCM for the Sci-Fi films being shown this month!
Tonight these classic films from the sci-fi genre will be shown:
June 07, 2005
8:00 pm
Thing From Another World, The (1951)
9:30 pm
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
11:00 pm
Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers (1956)
12:30 am
Village Of The Damned (1960)
2:00 am
Wild, Wild Planet, The (1965)
4:00 am
Devil Doll, The (1936)
All are worthy members of the sci-fi film pantheon, and the only one I've not seen...but am looking forward to is, "Wild Wild Planet" which seems to be a sort of Giallo horror from Italy from what I read, and which was directed by Antonio Margheriti [aka Anthony Dawson] who also directed the fantastic Queen of Horror, Barbara Steele in "Castle of Blood".
Both "The Thing" and "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" are certifiable winners, and though both were remade successfully, to my mind "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" is the most internally frenetic and unnerving. Adapted from the great Jack Finney tale, by Daniel Mainwaring [who himself wrote the great book, "Build My Gallows High" which was adapted into the Mitchum noir, "Out of the Past"]...one can perhaps attribute some of the adult dialogue to Mainwaring's partipation in this film. Ever since I first saw this movie on tv as a kid, if I see trucks at night on the highway, I think there may be alien seed pods in them, coming to take over my town! Seeing Kevin McCarthy still running around on the highway screaming "They're here!" in the much later remake with Donald Sutherland, was pretty frightening too. Bizarrely...music for this film was composed by Carmen Dragon, the father of the Captain of Captain and Tennile fame. Watch for the bedside manner of Doctor Miles Bennell, as he tries to work Becky, even though she got no dinner during their date!
One does not have to be a member of Project Blue Book or have visited Hanger 18 at Wright Patterson Air Base to enjoy "Earth Vs. the Flying Saucers" which has wonderful special effects by pioneer Ray Harryhausen, and stars Hugh Marlowe [who rightfully got dumped by Patricia Neal for Klaatu in "The Day the Earth Stood Still" if you recall].
"Village of the Damned" is a spooky film with Martin Stephens, who is more terrifying than Damian and Jason put together. Oh yes, also the wonderful George Sanders is cast against cad type, and a good guy in it! Martin Stephens [also good in the Joan Fontaine thriller, "The Witches"] in "Village of the Damned" as one of the seemingly cloned towheads, can almost kill one with a well directed stare. Martin [who looks a lot now like the present Peter Frampton mixed with a touch of Jay North of "Dennis the Menace" fame] is retired from the screen. I've heard that the Catholic Legion of Decency wanted this Jack Finney tale banned, with its undercurrents of connubial non-bliss that created monster children, which is good enough reason to watch the film.
Finally if you've never seen it, don't pass up a chance to watch the master of the macabre, Tod Browning in his direction of the film "The Devil Doll". Way ahead of its time in the special effects department, in portraying Lionel Barrymore shrink people into doll size and make them do his evil biddings, this film adds to the Browning allure, and is well worth taping if one cannot stay up that late.
Excuse my ramblings, but these are films that any film buff of sci-fi would want to share with others. Are any of them favorites of yours, ones you've hoped to see, or are you looking forward to ones coming up in TCM's fine sci-fi schedule for later in the month?
Enjoy!
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You'd probably enjoy a documentary I saw recently on PBS, which was all about the history of the Drive-In in America.
It was chockful of info on where they had first started, the heyday of the outdoor theatres, the types of films that played there, how they attracted parents who would bring their kiddies in pajamas, the sound speaker systems and the sometimes inefficient heaters, how they came to be called Passion Pits, and they even interviewed actors whose films had played in drive-ins like the wonderful Beverly Garland and Robert Fuller. They had segments on how drive-ins made money on their food, and showed all the kinds that were famous, like corn dogs, popcorn et cetera, even though those "Come on into the lobby" clips made the food look anemic.
I hope PBS shows it again, and if you want to see it I think it was just called "Drive-In".
Thanks for your thoughts, and "The King and I" seems way classier than most films that are typical drive-in fare.
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I watched this film when it was on recently with all the other Coburn ones, and it seemed okay all the way through.
Unless I nodded off for the exact few minutes you mention...I guess that's possible.
I hope TCM does show this film again though, as it was a cute one.
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If you had not put a time limit on this of '60's and '70's, I would have mentioned the Spice Girls and their movie as the most annoying movie music ever.
You make such a good point, that what sometimes passes onscreen for rock music of the time period, was little like what was really playing on Top Forty stations of the 1950's, 1960's or 1970's.
One really old film, which had hack music but in this case I think it is deliberate and not a bad imitation, was in Chaplin's "A King in New York" in which he seems to be parodying the parodies of rock music that adults tried to put in films or on tv at the time.
Though the Ed Sullivan Show was a major purveyor of rock stars of the day, even so far as having Jim Morrison on, but never again due to his misbehaviour...usually the rock acts sounded great, as Ed had a rule about no performers being allowed to use prerecorded music. Only one performer ever got away with breaking that rule, which was the son of Jerry Lewis, Gary...whose singing was so abysmal in rehearsal that Ed allowed him to lip synch to his big hit, "This Diamond Ring" perhaps in fear that the audience might leave otherwise.
So...as long as a rock group appearing on Sullivan's show was a complete band, able to play their their entire sound, the music things went fine. But if a singer who had a rock hit, appeared without their backup band or studio session people, then Ed's band would play behind them in a really bad pastiche of a rock and roll style. To enjoy some of these performances, get the boxed set of the Ed Sullivan Show, which has some fine examples.
In films, the very clever description you give of writhing go-go booted girls [who looked like Lada Edmund, Jr. from the tv show, "Hullabaloo" who were ubiquitous in these films] reminds me of some of the Deborah Walley vehicles of that time period, like "Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine" which came out around 1964 or 1965. Produced by teen film veteran, Sam Arkoff and starring also Dwayne Hickman, this film had music by Les Baxter, who is pretty far from rock and roll. Being of that Hawaiian lounge sound, Les is now very collectible and I've been buying up his stuff on that Mondo Exotica line, but in the rock period, Les Baxter was a man who played adult exotic lounge music reminiscent of the South Seas, which World War II veterans admired, and it was definitely for the adults and not teens.
I may have to differ with you about Les Paul, as Clapton with his slow hand even, probably would have trouble imitating him, but I think Les could do Clapton up right, but I do get your drift. Nothing is worse that a pale imitation of the real thing, just like most the Philadelphia sound had just about wrecked the rock pantheon with stagnant young Frank Sinatra type imitators wailing in tailored silk suits, and acting like they were rock and rollers.
I think the film "The Trip" had a most hallucinogenic soundtrack that sounded like some Hollywood session men imitation of Pink Floyd, but it's been quite a while since I've seen it.
Interestingly...most of the Elvis movies, had scenes just like you describe, when Elvis is not singing and just in the action of a club or lounge.
Most movies made in the 1960's, which did not have a real rock band in a scene, were pretty lame and were usually about adult concerns, and would have a scene with the family's teenager attending a concert, and would be quite ludicrous and just would just portray rock as a caricature. Only ones like "Blow-Up" by Antonioni, which hired the Yardbirds to sing an old American rhythm and blues song, originally done by Johnny Burnette, were really believable.
Please add to your topic, the worst dancing on tv or film, by a teenager, and I will add Ronnie Howard as Opie on "The Andy Griffith Show". He was the world's best kid actor as Opie, but when that boy would dance on the show, and try to do the Hully Gully or the Jerk, well...it was just excruciating to watch.
Great topic!
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Eddie Albert was so versatile and could be a happy go lucky fellow, or mean and vindictive in a film, and be totally believable either way.
I first saw him on tv, when I was little, in the film "Brother Rat" which costarred him with Wayne Morris as cadets at a military academy as I recall. I also liked him in "The Fuller Brush Girl" which was a really cute comedy with Lucille Ball...and so many years later I think he was wonderful as the cranky father to Cybill Shepherd in "The Heartbreak Kid". All of the other bigger films you mention, Albert was also sensational in.
I admired his relationship with longtime wife, Margo...who had appeared in many films like "The Leopard Man" exhibiting her singing and dancing talents. I remember reading how caring Albert was when Margo had been diagnosed with a giant tumor that was life threatening, in the latter part of their marriage, and it was nice to see a Hollywood couple that had such a close relationship that was so long lasting.
I enjoyed "Green Acres" and just wish Mr. Haney and Ed had not caused Eddie such daily annoyances!
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it could be, the international drive-in hit, "The Village of the Giants" starring Tisha Sterling, if you forgot to add an "h" to the Tisa name. This Tisha is quite lovely and looks a lot like Ann Sothern for obvious reasons, but not as much like her famous dad.
This flick directed by Bert Gordon, who also did the fun "Attack of the Puppet People" and "The Amazing Colossal Man", has an all-star cast with Tommy Kirk of Disney fame, Johnny Crawford of "The Rifleman" Beau Bridges of the Lloyd branch, Ron Howard and brother Rance, Mickey Rooney's son, Tim, and even Toni Basil, and features songs sung by the Beau Brummels and is about a formula which causes these teenage types to grow gargantuan.
Of course, if this is not the Tisa you are looking for, could it be "Lisa" as in the fine film, "David and Lisa" which had Keir Dullea and the great Janet Margolin portraying the doomed lovers?
Is Tisa a character in the film, or the real name of the actress?
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I am finding it cute that you are arguing over the Weinie King. I bet Preston Sturges would put this discussion over the Weinie King in one of his films, if he was still around!
I always enjoy the Wienie King in that movie, and get a kick out of Robert Dudley's performance. It was Dudley and not Vallee, but Vallee was rather annoying in that film too so one can understand the confusion.
I only mean that Vallee as his character was annoying, and on purpose, because I found his performance totally amusing and think it made the movie! Being that Vallee was more famous as a crooner and heartthrob for the college female set, and a rather serious singer with a megaphone during the 1920's, his comic performances in films were revelatory of his ability to make fun of himself.
I always bring up the Wienie King in discussions about The Palm Beach Story but no one ever wants to talk about him, so this has made my day. I'm sure Robert Dudley has not been talked about this much, since the movie came out, so thanks for the fun discussion!
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As I recall she went back to Britain, and appeared in some films directed by Emeric Pressburger and others, mostly inconsequential ones, but then I did see her in that wacky Karloff film, called "The Grip of the Strangler" recently, which I just bought in video form and it is fun to see her again, albeit much later in her career.
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trip on a cord someday, and the whole contraption with cable box, on video, on speaker may come tumbling down...and kill you!
I think you need an entertainment center, and think how nice it would look with a new dvd player and a place to store all your dvd's that you would then want to buy.
I bought over 300 dvd's in little over a year. I'm sure you could beat my record.
You really need to see "Nightmare Alley" on dvd, because it looks super! Just think about all the geeks and carny con men and mentalists that you are missing.
I do hope TCM plays it for you though, if you hold out a few more years for the dvd player.
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a French film, and stars Jane Wyman as I remember.
She loses her baby, and then goes into the profession of taking care of other's children.
A real tearjerker to be sure, and also stars Agnes Moorehead I think, who was in those Douglas Sirk films with Wyman, like "All That Heaven Allows".
For the complete listing of credits for the film, go to:
www.imdb.com
...and put the title, "The Blue Veil" in a search and it will take you to all the filming specifics and complete cast and credits.
It is a film that I'd like to see again, as it's been years since I saw it one night on tv.
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"Robin and Marian" which is not mentioned too much.
As Brackenhe said, "Two For The Road" with Finney is a wonderful film.
I sure enjoyed reading all these fine memories concerning joining convents due to "A Nun's Story" and the filming of "Where The Boys Are" which I only rewatched recently and got a kick out of seeing Yvette Mimeux.
Audrey is at her peak in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and her clothes and streaked hair are so chic!
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the film, "The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad" on tv, at about four years old, and the part I remember being a bit scary was when the Cyclops came out of the cave, and the people were only saved when the boy genie [played by Richard Eyer] created the invisible wall of protection.
Those horrid flying monkeys from "The Wizard of Oz" are much scarier than the Wicked Witch of the West, or even "The Exorcist" in my book!
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Which Beach Party film had Stevie singing "Fingertips, Part 2"?
I remember this scene with him and his harmonica, and he was so young he was still called Little Stevie Wonder as I recall, and he was doing his first big hit. I know the Little moniker is not about age or size, but just an endearment in some musical communities, but Stevie did seem still wet behind the ears.
Yes, those American International films were great and some were on the street, not long after things that had inspired them...like riots on LA strips et cetera.
I really think the Beatles' film, "AHDN" is way above what usually passed for a rock movie in those days, and set the bar high for future films, which never transpired mostly since the genre was nearing its end.
I watched "Go, Johnny Go" even though I have it on tape. I was enjoying seeing Eddie Cochran, and was reminded of how Brian Setzer from the Stray Cats totally stole his look and amplified it, with the blond pompadour, and I also enjoyed seeing Richie Valens, who seemed like a down to earth young fellow.
I thought that Robert might be a big fan of the rock acts in the film and was telling my guests that, when I listened to his nice intro, till he came back afterwards and called Richie Valens' song, "Oh My Head" instead of "Ooh My Head", and then I had to recant. It may have just been a slip of the tongue though.
I also watched "Coal Miner's Daughter" and was again amazed at how good Levon Helm from The Band was, as her father. The singing by Sissy and Beverly DeAngelo recreating the hits by Lynn and Patsy Cline was amazing. I had forgotten how letter perfect they both were in their parts.
Another great nite of viewing at TCM!
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it has got to be that man named Mr. Muckle in the W.C. Fields' movie, "It's a Gift".
He plays the nearly blind and deaf man, who Fields has to wait on in his grocery store, and who destroys the displays with his cane. His real name was Charles Sellon, and he also was in a Shirley Temple film as a cantankerous old man as I recall.
His scenes with Fields, are hilarious...but you just want to kill him, as he wanders through the store wrecking the place, and ignoring pleas from Fields. I think I remember Mr. Muckle knocking down a whole display of light bulbs. This was way worse than Mister Magoo, since Mr. Muckle is very unlikable and annoying.
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It's the animals that wrench the tears from one, as you say.
Sure we can feel sorrow for Scotty when he causes Judy/Madeleine to die a second time in "Vertigo", hence causing him to again lose her...but it is nothing like the pain of the poor maligned animal on film, even if it is only Lady in "Lady and the Tramp" when her mistress thinks she tried to harm the new baby.
Since Stoney already mentioned Kong, who let Beauty kill him...I shall mention the donkey Balthazar, in Robert Bresson's classic, "Au Hasard Balthazar" who makes one weep all through the movie, as people trade him around like a poker chip, all without him making a sound mostly.
Great question by the way, and I'm thinking that if I had to choose a person it might Michael Caine at the end of "Alfie".
Osmond movies
in General Discussions
Posted
is from what I read in that book called "Salamander" which is about the bombing enthusiast/forger named Mark Hoffman, who killed some people in Salt Lake City who were unearthing his Joseph Smith, and other forgeries that he had been selling to the LDS hierachy.
I will say that the story would make an excellent movie, but I doubt if Donny and Marie would want to be involved.