MrMagoo
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Posts posted by MrMagoo
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I did like the film. After all these years I appreciate films more for their artistry than their core themes or story lines.
I would definitely put THE THIRD MAN in the high art category. The story was not particularly unique. Having not seen it for years and now rewatching it with a more discerning eye I simply failed to embrace the "greatest of all time" notion.
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17 minutes ago, NipkowDisc said:
just my opinion but I think that one of the things that made Richard Widmark so unfriendly torwards his fans is that he was probably asked many times why he never reprised Tommy Udo.
everybody wanted him to but being a hoy-faloy prima dona was more important.
he coulda done a sequel and get knocked off at the end.
He lived in Roxbury, CT and near Walter Matthau and his weekend home. From others I know who knew them both, they said Widmark was actually quite nice and neighborly. The day I met him it was very hot and I suspect Widmark (we were all walking the course) was not playing well and just didn't want to be there.
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I watched THE THIRD MAN (1949) last night. My wife had never seen it and it's been years for me.
I was surprised to see that it is often called the greatest British film of all time. Really? I get the lighting and the 15% degree off camera angles. Tight editing and exquisite use of light and shadows.
I thought the theme music was oddly out of sync with the drama and intrigue of the film. It bordered on Flamenco guitar music and seemed more "jaunty" than "mysterious". I thought the film was ripe for a different, moodier score.
I don't want to seem unappreciative of a fine, artistic film...but it did not come across as anywhere near the best British film I can recall. I would be open to other's opinions. Excellent...but best???
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36 minutes ago, CoraSmith said:
Hedda Hopper - Notorious gossip columnist.
Next:
- Great Expectations (1946)
- Sleeping Car to Trieste (1948)
- Quo Vadis (1951)
- Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
- Ben-Hur (1959)
Finlay Currie...another good one. A fine Magwitch in Great Expectations. Wonderfully cast.
Next...try this....
THE ARISTOCATS (1970)
FREAKY FRIDAY (1976)
RECORD CITY (1977)
THE NORTH AVENUE IRREGULARS (1979)
TROUBLEMAKERS (1994)
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33 minutes ago, chaya bat woof woof said:
Christine B. is a favorite of mind (liked her better than J.M. on The Good Wife); plus she grew up here (not same suburb).
My Mom met Richard Widmark and other celebrities in NYC because she was a friend of Judy Holliday.
Ms. Baransky donated her talents to a local fund raiser for a town library. A number of area celebs performed. She did some Broadway tunes. She has a wonderful voice and without any kind of orchestra she belted out several wonderful songs. It's funny how when you know someone in every day life then see them up on stage....amazing. It's like they flip a switch. She was like a totally different creature on stage.
As an aside, when I pulled into the parking lot the guy parking next to me got out of his car...and....it was Arthur Miller. This was the early 90's. "Why, Mr. Miller," I said, "how are you this evening?" He smiled back, and said..."Just wonderful and I hope you are the same." I smiled and nodded in agreement. My 5 seconds of basking in the glow.....
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I have had numerous encounters with celebrities through my veterinary practice. I've recounted several in other threads before. Only one would probably remember me.
Christine Baransky
She was a long time client with both dogs and cats. I repaired a fracture one of her dogs suffered from an unfortunate encounter with a car on the little, backwoods road she lived on. She was forever grateful. We would occasionally cross paths at the local grocer. I remember many cordial conversations. She never failed to recognize me and greet me fondly. She is a very kind, neighborly person. Not a hint of pretense. Her late husband, Matthew Cowles was also charming and witty. He did not enjoy the career that she did but they were clearly connected.
Alfred Uhry
He too was a client, with cats. I knew him before DRIVING MISS DAISY made him famous. He too, was always extremely friendly and respectful. I remember I got his cats through a short and not terribly bad infection, but Mr. Uhry was quite concerned. After they recovered he incredulously asked me "How did you do that?" and I responded, "Well, I can ask you the same question about what you do"....he nodded and we had a nice chuckle.
Glenn Close
My wife knew her step son-in-law and his wife. We were in Portland, Me. traveling on vacation and stopped at their house for a visit. We did not know that Glen Close was a relation. She and her husband (I believe they are now divorced) lived in a larger house across the back yard. We're having brunch with the kids and in through the screen door strolls Glen Close! "Oh, let me introduce you to my mother-in-law", our host says. "Hi. I'm Glenn." , she says in the most matter of fact way. After a bit of "Oh..we're huge fans....blah, blah, blah..." We have a wonderful 30 minute cup of coffee. At the end, my daughters, who were about 8-10 years old were asked, "Do you know who this is?" and they shake their heads no. Ms. Close puts her hands up by her face like claws and screeches in her Cruella DeVille voice, "Puppies!!!" My daughters immediately squeal in delight as they then know exactly who she is. True story.
Art Carney and Peter Benchley
Treated their pets. Met them each one time. Very matter of fact. No acknowledgment by either of us as to who they were. Just a normal office visit. They both just brought their pets into the vet. Just as normal as could be.
Richard Widmark
Crossed paths with him on the golf course, one time. He was having a bad day.
My first job after college was in Norwalk, CT. My boss had a bunch of celebrity clients from the Darien to Westport area. I would see them but never interacted with Mary Tyler Moore and Grant Tinker, Richard Thomas, JoAnne Woodward (Newman never, ever came in). I once spoke with Anne Morrow Lindbergh on the phone. She always sent an employee in with her dog. Not a movie star, but a celebrity nonetheless, I took care of Annabella Batistella's dog. She was also known as "The Tidal Basin Bombshell". Remember who she was?
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2 hours ago, Sepiatone said:
Actually, I've been taking in the multi-part "mini series" GENIUS:ARETHA on NetGeo. the last few nights. It's an interesting insight to the background and rise to fame of Detroit's "Queen of Soul" pride and joy.
CYNTHIA ERIVO as the adult Aretha does an excellent job with young SHAIA JORDAN, as the adolescent Aretha matching "chops for chops" with Erivo. And COURTNEY B. VANCE as Rev. C. L. Franklin rounds out a cast that's truly up to the task. So far, this long time Aretha fan isn't disappointed.
Sepiatone
As an AF fan myself you might enjoy these as well.
One of the most thoughtful remembrances of Aretha Franklin was by Mark Steyn.
I share it here.
Think: Steyn's Song of the Week #332 :: SteynOnlinepenned
I'd also encourage anyone to watch the 2018 documentary AMAZING GRACE filmed in 1972 and directed by Sidney Pollack. It's wonderful.
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8 hours ago, CoraSmith said:
Oprah Winfrey - Personal acquaintance of the Duchess of Sussex
Next:
- The War of the Worlds (1953)
- Dream Wife (1953)
- North by Northwest (1959)
- The Story of Ruth (1960)
- The Fortune Cookie (1966)
Les Tremayne....that was a good one.
Next:
BEAUTY FOR SALE (1933)
THE DARK HOUR (1936)
TARZAN'S REVENGE (1938)
SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950)
THE OSCAR (1966)
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On 3/18/2021 at 9:53 AM, TomJH said:
Thanks, you did. By the way, I agree with you about the sentimental but touching On Borrowed Time. Lionel Barrymore is wonderful in it and there's never been a screen crier quite like Bobs Watson. This film used to come on TV a lot when I was a kid. It's one of my earliest film watching memories.
The other night I watched MARY OF SCOTLAND (1936) just to revisit another Hepburn masterpiece. We all know the story and how it ends. I did not sit through every scene and listen to every word of dialog. I just went back and forth and watched beautiful scene after beautiful scene. Fabulous set pieces. Elegant dialog...DIALOG! DIALOG! DIALOG! A black and white film with outstanding lighting and elegant camera angles. Simply, a work of art. The ending when Mary is executed is a beautiful scene. Like the ending to a great operatic aria.....Nessum Dorma comes to mind.
The reason I bother bringing it up is that about 3/4 the way through there's a modest little scene with Mary (Hepburn) sitting at a table across from a little boy. Who is that little boy? Why none other than the terrific little, Bobs Watson! And no...he didn't cry in this scene.
That kid had a fine a little career. Shared the screen with some real big shots.
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30 minutes ago, TopBilled said:
Okay.
***
Who was in:
LITTLE WOMEN (1933)
BLOOD MONEY (1933)
THE GAY DECEPTION (1935)
WELLS FARGO (1937)
SOULS AT SEA (1937)
Frances Dee
Next:
NATIVE SON (1986)
BELOVED (1998)
CHARLOTTE'S WEB (2006)
SELMA (2014)
A WRINKLE IN TIME (2018)
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On 3/21/2021 at 10:23 AM, TopBilled said:
Agnes Moorehead
***
Who was in:
CATTLE TOWN (1952)
JIVARO (1954)
WEST SIDE STORY (1961)
THE RITZ (1976)
CASA DE LOS BABYS (2003)
Rita Moreno
Next:
PEOPLE WILL TALK (1951)
BRONCO BUSTER (1952)
THE BAMBOO PRISON (1954)
TO HELL AND BACK (1955)
COMMANDOS (1968)
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36 minutes ago, LornaHansonForbes said:
It was pretty successful, made about $26 million (Which in those days was a pretty tidy sum) and even had two sequels in the 2000s (minus Newman.)
Stupid is as stupid does.
It's an interesting era. I was in my early 20's, just finishing then out of college. Just getting started. Disco. DALLAS. It was all a blur to me as I was so consumed with work. The late 70's into the 80's was a lost decade for me....cinema wise.
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I saw SLAP SHOT about the time it came out and don't remember any particular scenes. I thought the hockey was feeble, the characters were horrific stereotypes and the plot was moronic. What the h*** was Paul Newman thinking?
How do such things get made? What must a studio or producer be thinking?
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7 hours ago, Vidor said:
I've largely become accustomed to our new world of home viewing, and I don't watch comic book movies that probably play better on a big screen with Dolby surround. This was the first time in a while, watching "Ran", that I found myself actively wishing I could see it in a theater.
I first saw RAN in a little, country theater in NW CT. It was not a big screen. It showed a lot of independent, and art house movies. My wife and I went with another, older couple who were real cinephiles and when I mentioned how I thought there were some STAR WAR like scenes in there, they scoffed. Thank you all for affirming me!
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15 hours ago, Vidor said:
Just watched "Ran" off of Amazon Prime, one of the last Kurosawa films I hadn't seen.
Holy. Cow. Talk about a beautiful movie. "Ran" is just gorgeous. Old-fashioned spectacle filmmaking. Kind of made me wish I could experience it in a movie theater. The scene where King Lear's sons--sorry, blanking on the character name--storm the castle where he has holed up is absolutely jaw-dropping.
Totally agree. This may sound off to some, but, to me, there are similar scenes in Star Wars. I hardly doubt Kurosawa copied Lucas, as Star Wars came out first. Just that great film makers know how to do big scenes.
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47 minutes ago, cinemaman said:
DAVID BRIAN next: The Honkers 1972 Lifeguard 1976 Fatal Attraction 1987 Narrow Margin 1990 Patriot Games 1992
Anne Archer
Next:
WILL PENNY (1967)
THE HUNTING PARTY (1971)
APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)
THE WAR OF THE ROSES (1989)
ED WOOD (1994)
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Scott Brady...interesting choice. Good one!
Next:
THE QUIET MAN (1952)
MISTER ROBERTS (1955)
THE SEARCHERS (1956)
THE ALAMO (1960)
HOW THE WEST WAS WON (1962)
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4 minutes ago, txfilmfan said:
It's slang for a part of the male anatomy...
In 1938....apparently...it wasn't. 🤪
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1 hour ago, Peebs said:
Little Nellie Kelly (1940) that took some research!
Next: Gary Cooper
LIVES OF THE BENGAL LANCER (1935)
Next: Woody Allen
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42 minutes ago, TomJH said:
Thanks, you did. By the way, I agree with you about the sentimental but touching On Borrowed Time. Lionel Barrymore is wonderful in it and there's never been a screen crier quite like Bobs Watson. This film used to come on TV a lot when I was a kid. It's one of my earliest film watching memories.
Interesting how TCM won't let young Master Watson's character name to print. It replaces it with ***. It's spelled P_U_D. What's so bad about that?
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7 minutes ago, TomJH said:
A SPOILER ALERT would have been appropriate for your review, Mr. Magoo. For anyone who hasn't seen the film you gave a lot away including the ending.
I THINK I FIXED IT
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Last night I dipped into my queue and watched ON BORROWED TIME (1939) starring Lionel Barrymore, Sir Cedrick Hardwick...and a terrific child actor, Bobs Watson. I'd never seen it, nor knew what it was about. I wanted to see another Barrymore performance. I was very pleasantly surprised.
The story is about a curmudgeonly, wheelchair bound grandfather (Barrymore) who looks after his orphaned grandson, "****" (Watson) who adores him. It's a metaphorical story about old age and death. Hardwick plays "Death" going by the name of Mr. Brink. Barrymore refuses to go when death comes calling and tricks Hardwick to climb his apple tree only to have him trapped there until Barrymore allows him to leave. Death takes a holiday, so to speak. No one can die while Mr. Brink sits in the tree. The screenplay and performances feel authentic. The story feels real. You really want Barrymore and **** to live forever.
There's a heartbreaking scene with Gramps and ****. Bobs Watson, gives a tear jerking performance...for me...similar to Claude Jarmin, Jr.'s in THE YEARLING (1946). It made me cry.
Henry Travers plays a prominent role. He's a doctor who tries to get Barrymore committed and also to get him to release Brink so suffering people can go to their final reprise. It's interesting in that Travers and Barrymore reverse roles of the ones they played in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946). In this one Barrymore is the benevolent character and Travers a bit of a scold. The opposite of the roles they played in IAWL.
Watson's best role was as Pee Wee in Spencer Tracy's BOY'S TOWN (1938). Apparently he was known in Hollywood as a child actor who could cry on cue. He has quite a filmography with which I was unfamiliar. He, alone, is why one should watch ON BORROWED TIME.
I would give this film a solid "A".
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23 minutes ago, Peebs said:
Misery (1990)
Next: Joan Crawford
THE STORY OF ESTHER COSTELLO (1957) I think it's a murder-suicide demise.
Next: Angela Lansbury
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4 hours ago, Terrence1 said:
Lee Strasberg?
I think that's right. Your turn.
I Just Watched...
in General Discussions
Posted
No problem with your take. I just felt the tight, taut editing, especially during the sewer chase sequences, needed a sharp, crisp score. Strings...some horns. But then...they didn't ask me.😁