JonParker

So it's all you all the time? I see.

I bought my DVR in January. Since then I've recorded and burned over 200 movies off of TCM -- so many that I can't possibly watch them all. I've burned foreign films, silents, precodes, and classics. I just can't see any evidence that TCM is straying from its mission, and I've been watching for 10 years now. They may have expanded the definition of what constitutes a classic film, but there's lots of good stuff on there; enough to please just about anyone. Yeah, I felt burned by AMC too, but I haven't seen one shred of evidence that TCM is going down that path. The thing that bothers me about those who complain constantly about how TCM is changing is that they're so damned ungrateful. We have this magnificent channel that shows all kinds of classic films with no commercials, in original aspect ratio where possible, and that's constantly providing us with access to movies that are available nowhere else. Yet ever since I joined this board (coincidentally also in January) I have seen topic after topic of people complaining about how the channel is going to the dogs. To quote the immortal Tom Lehrer, "If people don't have anything nice to say, the least they could do is to shut up."

I have a VHS of "Hell's Angels" and haven't ever noticed Jean Harlow's breasts spilling out of anything -- all the romantic clinches in that film seem to be between Ben Lyon and James Hall anyway. Just kidding. The gown she wears in the color sequence shows most of her assets from the side. Later, in her apartment when she changes into the robe, she bends over for her drink and pretty much shows off everything. Edit: I am referring to the DVD version, which is probably the same as the VHS (I don't know) but a lot clearer. Also, Colbert's shot in "Sign of the Cross" is quite famous. She also wears very translucent undergarments in "It Happened One Night," something I never noticed until the much clearer DVD version. Ditto the screen tests that Fay Wray makes on the ship's deck in "King Kong." DVD has been a godsend to the lecherous among us. Message was edited by: Jon Parker JonParker

Anne, Let me throw in another vote for "Rashomon." Kurosawa was not only a great director, but his films tell fascinating stories. Kurosawa was insopired by American films, but just about every film he made was remade for an American audience. But it's still well worth watching the originals. If you're not used to watching films with subtitles it can take a little getting used to. Give it a little time and you'll be surprised at how natural it becomes. Foreign film (and silent as well) demands a level of attention that we're not used to. But once forced to pay attention, it's some great stuff.

You can definitely see Harlow's breasts in "Hells Angels." Also, don't forget Maureen Sullivan in "Tarzan and His Mate." Or Clara Bow in "Wings" or "Call Her Savage. I could go on and on.

Some other boards that I post on have a limitation on edits anywhere from 15 minutes to 24 hours. After that, it's locked even to the original poster. I was being a bit facetious over in GD when I said that I really hate this message board software. Except that, well, I really hate this message board software. Something like PunBB or UBB would be so much better -- no need to constantly relog in, threads arranged in order from oldest to newest, the ability to time control edits. I've run message boards in the past, and without a doubt this is some of the most annoying, with the possible exception of WebX. I love the discussion here, but the software is atrocious. I think it comes with the Omniture content management software used for the rest of the site, but it's sorely in need of updating.

Ok, but I really hate this message board software.

I love Helen, but I didn't love this movie. Eric Linden drives me up the wall -- my idea of hell is having nothing to watch but Eric Linden and Una Merkel movies for all eternity. He's like a third rate Lee Tracy with none of the charm.

For your information, the photos Mia found were several years old of Soon, not recent, meaning something had been going on for a long time. Additionally, I was a physically hurt ex-wife but I never asked for anything more than child support which I never got anyway. I never charged him with physical cruelty which my doctor bills would have proven, but it wasn't worth it to me, I just wanted to get rid of the scum. I have no idea how old the photos were, but they could have been as much as five years old when Mia found them and still been legal (17 is the age of consent in New York). i do know that Soon Yi and Woody are apparently happily married and have been for quite a while. My point is that accusing him of being a child molester is over the top and not fair to Woody (who I am not a fan of, by the way.) I'm glad you got out of an abusive marriage -- no woman should take that from anyone. In the interest of full disclosure on this topic, I suppose I should mention that I'm 47, my girlfriend is 27, and we've been dating since a month after her 18th birthday. So mixed age relationships don't bother me at all. Child abuse does, but that's an entirely separate topic than dating someone of legal age.

I don't think I've ever seen Eva in a movie, but I dearly love "Green Acres." The other Paul Henning sitcoms were completely stupid, but GA was comedy gold. I've been buying the series on DVD as fast as it comes out.

Jason, there's nothing i can add to this that you haven't said eloquently. Excellent post.

As for the way Hollywood, and TCM continues to honor Woody Allen, the man is a child molester and should be in prison, not walking the streets and not getting praised for his work. I don't care if people think he is a genius(maybe he is for all I know, but it doesn't matter) - he should be put away. NOT CELEBRATED. Come on, Anne. Soon Li Previn was 22 when Mia Farrow divorced Woody over his relationship with her. Mia accused him of child abuse with seven year old Malone during a nasty divorce trial, but no charges were filed and there's absolutely no evidence that he ever did any such thing. Child molestation is a really nasty charge to make against someone when there's no proof other than the word of a hurt and vengeful ex-wife.

My favorite would have to be "The Wizard of Oz" (1939). And my guess at the most remakes would be the same story: 1910, 1921, 1925, 1939, and "The Wiz". You'd be wrong. I IMDBed (yes, it's now a verb) my guess of Tarzan and quit counting after a dozen, not to mention all the Tarzan movies that weren't retellings of the origin.

Believe it or not they are actually meant as a feature and not a -- well -- bug. They serve a dual purpose of preventing copying for resale, and making it easier to figure out what channel you're watching when you may have upwards of 500.

I've seen this movie five or six times now, and I never get tired of it. It's time for a remake -- Georgia is back to using chain gangs again.

The video song was "Sober" from their first full album, "Undertow." Great video. Love Tool -- seen them twice now.

Anne, I wrote a fairly long response to you last night, but lost it in a computer glitch. Blargh. I sympathize with the fact that you don't really want to watch modern horror flicks, even if I don't share your view. And as you've pointed out, there are other channels to watch while that stuff is on. However, I do think that Zombie's show is fully in line with TCM's mission, which is to make classic film available. "Faster Pussycat Kill Kill" is only available in the US on an out of print VHS tape which sells for around $50 on Amazon and eBay, not exactly affordable. I salute TCM for making this film available in the same way that they show forgotten pre-codes. There's often a fine line between art and trash. "Last House on the Left" is a schlock remake of Bergman's "The Virgin Spring," and while I would agree that the latter is far and away the better film, it's not like "Last House" has no redeeming qualities. I would argue that all film deserves to be preserved and made available. I'm offended by the blackface routine in "Babes in Arms" and the racism of "Birth of a Nation," but they need to be seen. Even the worst film says something about its time and place and the culture in which it was made. Rick Prelinger has devoted his life to preserving educational and industrial films that were once considered completely disposable. He also does his best to make them available to the public. These were once thought to have no value, now they are considered an important record of the past. In the early days of sound film, many silents were considered obsolete and disposable, and now our record of this critical time in film history has many gaps. Even though you may see no redeeming value in these movies doesn't mean that none exists. I'm looking forward to Zombie's show. He's extremely knowledgable about horror film history, and seems to be making excellent choices for TCM Underground. They are not to everyone's taste, but definitely deserve to be seen.

I'm 100% with lzcutter on this. It's memorable characters that make it -- with that, I'll watch and without it, I'll lose interest. The characters are a combination of script and acting. I actually notice this most in animation. My girlfreind and I were talking about why The Simpsons is more rewatchable than say, Family Guy. Family Guy has funny jokes, and I always laugh when I watch it, but I've seen most of the Simpsons episodes four or five times. They may be animated, but they're real characters with real personalities.

Anne, I am a woman, and I hope I'm a lady, and I have been known to be very fond of men. I am so appalled by the dresses these girls (and much-too-old 'girl wannabes') are wearing these days. I suppose the guys like those plunging fronts, but I find them unspeakably ugly. What happened to brassieres? I wonder how that flattened chest look, with the little, drooping, bra-less bosoms, and generous showing of breastbone and ribs, 'cause all these girls are so skinny, can possibly be considered attractive. So Fay Wray, Norma Shearer, Maureen Sullivan, Myrna Loy, Kay Francis, Claudette Colbert, and Clara Bow were "unspeakably ugly?" To each his own, I suppose.

mrsl, Ok, it didn't read like that. And you're right, I've missed a lot of posts around here lately -- my work has been nuts. Anyway, you didn't offend me personally (I'm a straight guy), but I'm fully supportive of gay marriage. And I can't stand that smirking moron either.

I'd buy it just for the cover. Wow.

When Bsrry Manilow kissed his cheek, I started blubbering all over again. I know Manilow is gay, but seeing true affection from one human being to another is something we need more of in our world. What the hell does that mean?

There are quite a few, actually. I know Amarilly of Clothes Line Alley, Sparrows, Suds, Heart O the Hills and Love Light are available, and I'm fairly sure some others are as well.

We went to the drive in a lot as a kid, but my favorite memories are sneaking up on the hill behind the drive in and watching Sergio Leone films with no sound. They were still good, and the dialogue was almost superfluous. We still have an active drive-in here in Baltimore. Bengies is one of the last of its kind.

I'm not surprised by that. Lemmon was a better actor, and did as well in dramas as comedies.