Katie_G
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Posts posted by Katie_G
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If it's any consolation I don't think TCM aired a restored version. A few artifacts in dark scenes especially.
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Something that drives me crazy is when someone is fighting for their life and their companion just stands there frozen or cowering in a corner. I'm thinking "You know, the odds of surviving this would increase dramatically if only you'd help! If you don't want to get too close, pick up that shovel and give him a good whack, for god's sake!"
James Mason, Joan Bennett in The Reckless Moment
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The ultimate E ticket ride. The first heart attack in space may slow ticket sales.
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5 Fingers, 1952 1 hr. 42 min. Directed by Joe Mankiewicz Screenplay by Michael Wilson Music by Bernard Hermann
Starring James Mason, Michael Rennie, Danielle Darrieux
This is a first-rate spy thriller that I never heard of. A critical and commercial success, it was nominated for two Oscars, Best Director and Best Screenplay.Based on a true story and filmed on location where it took place.
Sheridan Morley, in his James Mason biography says "Here James was able to give one of his most polished and expertly suave performances, much helped by a Joe Mankiewicz production which ought to have been the envy of Hitchcock himself."
James plays a valet to the British ambassador to Turkey during WWII, which gives him access to state secrets. Clever and motivated purely by money he becomes a spy for the Nazis code-named "Cicero", turning over his documents to a skeptical Franz von Papen, former German Chancellor who is now the German ambassador in Ankara.
There's also a beautiful but cash poor Countess involved, who James hopes to woo with his new found wealth. But whose side is she really on? When the British send a counter-intelligence man to identify the spy, things really heat up, and it's all the more gripping because it's true. 8/10
Full movie. Crisp clear print and good sound quality
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My first thought was he seems too old and out of shape to be doing this, but I have to admit it's exciting to see. The crew will have their hands full.🖖
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The Tsarina's Lost Treasure, about an old shipwreck in Finnish waters that was carrying priceless works of art from Amsterdam for Catherine the Great. The shipwreck has been located but for years there was international squabbling, lawsuits and red tape over who has the rights. It's not even known if the paintings could survive this long, but for the time being it's been decided they'll be "preserved in situ" and remain protected on the sea floor. Tantalizing.
I'm halfway through David McCullough's The Great Bridge, but it bogged down due to excruciating detail that only a civil engineer could love. Still, it's hard to look at bridges in the same way since I started it.
Recently finished Grant by Ron Chernow (one of my favorite biographers) and it was every bit as good as expected.
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Odd Man Out, 1947 1 hr. 56 min. Directed by Carol Reed Screenplay by R.C. Sherriff
Starring James Mason, Kathleen Ryan, Robert Newton
BAFTA Best British Film of 1947. Favorite of James Mason and widely regarded as his best performance. Not sure if it's the most exciting film ever made (per the poster), but it's pretty darn exciting.James plays Johnny McQueen, an IRA chief recently released from prison in Northern Ireland. The film never uses the term IRA, just "Organization" and makes clear in the opening it's considered an illegal organization, something I assume Reed had to agree to. Nevertheless, it's a sympathetic portrayal of Johnny despite his involvement early on in a robbery gone wrong and shooting death of a man in his attempt to get away. He does, but at a heavy price. From the first act the action and suspense don't let up until the end. Robert Newton doesn't show up until late in the film, in a memorable part as a portrait artist.
I'd love to see this on the big screen, and will buy the DVD. You can see from the photos on IMDB how gorgeous it would be. In the meantime, the print on You Tube is free and isn't too bad. I still loved every minute. 9.5/10
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2 hours ago, misswonderly3 said:
Novels -- many of them not even noir novels ! , Shakespeare, baseball,...all these off-topic discussions must be driving Katie crazy ! sorry, Katie, that's just the way this thread goes sometimes.
Not to worry. In the time I've been posting here I've never once complained in ANY thread about off-topic discussion, except the single question I posed days ago., so this has gotten blown out of proportion. I don't bother reading posts that don't interest me, and have moved on. I don't usually even read this thread now except for a days after Eddie's film.
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I just watched this commercial of James Mason selling Thunderbird Wine and thought it had to be a spoof. I love this!
(Thunderbird is a cheap "fortified" wine, like Night Train, with an "unusual" taste, as James testifies. "Not quite like anything I've ever tasted." he says with a straight face. Yes, a potent concoction with a barnyard aroma, a cloying palate, and diesel finish. Empty bottles can be found under bridges and around railroad tracks).Added bonus of Orson Welles drunk as a skunk in outtakes of HIS wine commercial.
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22 minutes ago, Shank Asu said:
He joked he was hungover.
Yes, that's not what bothered me.
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Stanwyck seems to have had a more...dignified later career, avoiding the horror movie train for the most part. There was this one William Castle flick with ex-hubby that probably paid well, however.
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Charade, 1953. (not the Cary Grant version) 1 hr. 22 min. Directed by Roy Kellino
Written by Pamela Mason, James Mason Starring James Mason, Pamela MasonThe BFFs are back, and a long way from I Met a Murderer in 1939. With a trio of stories that differ in tone in one movie, James and Pamela introduce and star in each segment as different characters. It opens with them at home (supposedly) acting naturally and talking about how each story came about.
"Portrait of a Murderer" has James in the title role, a killer who moves into a vacant apartment next to an artist, Pamela. The apartment is conveniently vacant because he killed the occupant, which Pamela seems aware of. She's too turned on to turn him in, and predictably gets strangled herself, which is beginning to feel like fan service.
In "Duel at Dawn" James plays an 18th century military officer who is provoked into challenging someone to a duel. In those days the only recourse for an insult was exchange of gunfire. Actually not much has changed, but there were ground rules and serious consequences if not followed. I'm not sure how much more serious it would be than getting shot, but it had to be pretty darn serious.
The third "The Midas Touch" has James as an unlikely window washer and valet, with Pamela as a ladies maid who dreams of making it big in America, but James has been there, done that. He's no Cary Grant but isn't bad, although I don't think screwball comedy is his forte. Pamela is ..Pamela I actually like her and think she was a talented writer. An actress, not so much.
Back in 1974 Mason said about this film, "I had hoped that this curiosity would be lost without a trace." On the contrary, it's now on the internet and will be around for a very long time, I'm afraid. I've seen a lot worse. 6/10-
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It wasn't that Eddie looked sick, but to me he seemed different - like maybe bored or irritated? It was his comment about "still being the host" that got me worried. Then his intro comments went missing this morning, which has never happened before. No buffering problem or time jumps in 15 years.. All these things together seem like more than just a coincidence, but maybe I've watched too many detective movies. 🧐 I hope that's all it is.
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Yes, the sound was terrible. I actually enjoyed the remake more, which doesn't usually happen.
Glad to hear, CigarJoe, but it's strange. Whatever movie was on before ended and without even one of their self-promos or anything, Brighton Rock started. I'm in CA with Dish Network and it's the first time I've ever seen this happen. Oh well.
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I Met a Murderer, 1939 62 min. Directed by Roy Kellino Written by James Mason, Roy Kellino, Pamela Kellino (later Mason) Starring James Mason and Pamela Kellino
B movie done cheaply on their own dime. The small number of cast members are mostly unpaid actor friends. The print is grainy, with inappropriate, intrusive music. The story was promising but the execution is amateurish and the tone uneven, starting off with a murder then becoming sort of a romantic comedy, then something else.
James is gorgeous here but miscast as Farmer John. His shrewish wife is no help with the harvesting and even shoots his dog out of plain meanness. As James is digging the dog's grave he decides to enlarge the hole by a few feet, which we totally understand. When other animals start digging around he goes on the run and meets up with Pamela who's kind of a wandering writer with a travel trailer. Pretty darn convenient, but the working title of her latest book has him a little worried. 4/10
As is often the case, the behind-the-scenes stuff is more interesting than the film. According to Sheridan Morley in Odd Man Out: James Mason, a Biography, they were still learning their craft, had a miniscule budget, and it was a labor of love, in a manner of speaking. The talented trio lived together until Pamela and James became a couple, which a blind man should've seen coming. Shortly after the film wrapped Roy sued for divorce naming James but later moved into their guest house, so apparently they all hugged it out.
Full movie, for hardcore Mason fans only
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Oh man, this is like Sophie's choice, but after much thought I have to give Stanwyck a slight edge for versatility. I'm more drawn to Davis as an actress, but Stanwyck could hold her own in the **** department and also play a romantic lead that Davis wasn't known for. In Fritz Lang's Clash By Night for example she and Robert Ryan almost burned down the house. I loved the way she had her other hand inside his undershirt. Just a little extra touch you don't see everyday in these films. As much as I love Bette I can't picture her in the same type of situation.
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What's up with Eddie? I hope he's not in trouble. In last night's opening comments he looked bad, and said something like "I'm Eddie Muller and STILL the host" . Then he said he was hungover and didn't feel like reading any subtitles, hence the choice of Brighton Rock. LOL This morning, his opening comments are gone and they just went straight to the movie with no explanation, but I have it on tape.
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I like her and think she was a very good actress. She struggled a bit in The Fugitive Kind because Brando kept mumbling his lines, knowing that she wasn't fluent in the language. This enraged Tennessee Williams who was a good friend of hers, but Brando claimed she kept sexually harassing him. He was not exactly Prince Charming so who knows...
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I think the connection was Ben's uncle Tom Mankiewicz wrote the special Movin' With Nancy, although Ben denied knowing this ahead of time. It said in big letters Written by TOM MANKIEWICZ, and Nancy is the one who brought it up. I wouldn't buy a used car from him, let's put it that way.
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3 hours ago, lilypond said:
Additionally, on your list "Sudden Fear" and "Too Late for Tears"-- don't you think they generally don't get enough attention?
Absolutely love them. They may not be thought of as great movies, but I find them to be very entertaining, and Gloria Grahame and Lizabeth Scott are favorites.
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2 hours ago, lydecker said:
Beating the very dead horse here but, really?? Nancy Sinatra films? Do we need this?? Are they curated and contexted ??? I sure hope so.
😃 At first I thought you were serious. lol I've come to loathe the word "curated", which TCM uses constantly. To me it's often very close to "censored", with lipstick. Someone else deciding what you should watch, because they're the expert.
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I loved Carol Reed's The Third Man and Fallen Idol so Odd Man Out is bound to be right up there. I've been devouring anything James Mason lately, and now knowing Newton is in it too only adds to the anticipation.
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Wow. This really was exceptionally good! Robert Newton was new to me, and now I can't wait to see him in Odd Man Out along with James Mason. The print was okay, but I'm hoping for a restored version on TCM and already have it set to record. It deserves to be preserved. The tension, the music, the acting, was perfection. The ending seemed a bit rushed after all that, but I'll watch it again and may change my mind.
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Hey Lilypond, great choices! I saw your post on the other TV noir thread about the dearth of replies here. I'm glad you mentioned it because I think people just get in a habit of posting in certain threads. I'm guilty of it myself and rarely check this forum because of, well, laziness, to be honest. At first I was turned off by the GANGSTER-NOIR heading but I'll get over it and plan to post more on here.
I found it impossible to narrow my list down to 3 - 5 noirs, so forgive me but It's VERY tough. As of today these would be my top ten desert island flicks. Probably no big surprises, but to me these are the cream of the crop. I could watch them over and over on my desert island for maybe 6 months before losing it.
1. Sunset Boulevard, 1950 (Billy Wilder) William Holden, Gloria Swanson
2. The Night of The Hunter, 1955 (Charles Laughton) Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters
3. Act of Violence, 1944 (Fred Zinneman) Van Heflin, Robert Ryan, Janet Leigh, Mary Astor
4. In A Lonely Place, 1950 (Nicholas Ray) Humphrey Bogart, Gloria Grahame
5. Rebecca, 1940 (Hitchcock) Joan Fontaine, Laurence Olivier
6. Scarlet Street, 1945 (Fritz Lang) Edward G. Robinson, Joan Bennett, Dan Duryea
7. Ace in the Hole, 1951 (Billy Wilder) Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling
8. Criss Cross, 1949 (Robert Siodmak) Burt Lancaster, Yvonne De Carlo, Dan Duryea
9. Sudden Fear, 1952 (David Miller) Joan Crawford, Gloria Grahame, Jack Palance 10.Too Late For Tears, 1949 (Byron Haskin) Lizabeth Scott, Dan Duryea-
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HITS & MISSES: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow on TCM
in General Discussions
Posted
Tonight at 10:30 pm Pacific, 1:30 am EST
"A psychologist tries to analyze the criminal who's taken him hostage." I'll be watching.☺️