Film_Fatale Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 I'd meant to write a little something about *The Green Pastures*, a delightful 1936 movie with an all African-American cast that takes the Old Testament and presents it through the eyes of its protagonists; Rex Ingram is excellent as "Da Lawd" and Adam, anchoring the movie with his solid performance here. There are many memorable sequences here, like Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden, Cain & Abel, Noah's Ark, Moses witnessing the burning bush, etc. There's also a really funny joke involving Gabriel and his horn. All in all, a totally unique movie that has been well preserved and presented on DVD by WHV - a DVD that also includes the short features *Rufus Jones for President*, with Sammy Davis Jr. (when he was just about 5 years old). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted November 30, 2008 Author Share Posted November 30, 2008 Thanks for jumping in, GW! I appreciate your additional insights and for bringing up the "cross purposes" at which Rhett and Scarlett continually found themselves. These frustrations were nicely used in the film to keep the tension with the audience constantly juiced up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 These frustrations were nicely used in the film to keep the tension with the audience constantly juiced up. And not only that, they managed to keep the audience constantly juiced up over 4 hours. Quite an achievement, and also a testament to the power of the original novel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted November 30, 2008 Author Share Posted November 30, 2008 Did anyone catch *The Bribe* the other night? One thing that can't be denied is this is one of the most wonderfuly photographed noirs of all time. And it has just about every staple of what we think of when we conjure "noir", everything except Whit Bissel! But instead you have Laughton and that's not a bad substitute. There is one line by Robert Taylor that just broke me up. He's on the plane talking to Vincent Price, telling him of his intentions to loaf two days for every one he fought in the war. Price chides him for going fishing when the whole world is falling apart, to which Taylor counters "The whole world fell apart but this is the brave, new world you people promised us when we came back!" Ha haaaaaaaa!!! The sardonic look on his face as he said it had me rolling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 Did anyone catch The Bribe the other night? One thing that can't be denied is this is one of the most wonderfuly photographed noirs of all time. Yes, I did. I liked it a lot. B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rohanaka Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 The Green Pastures FF, I looked this up after your comment yesterday in the westerns. I think I have seen it before, but it was a long time ago. I don't remember many specific details. But if I recall correctly, a lot of the familiar stories from the Old Testament were more or less told in a way that might be more in keeping w/ folklore than w/ scripture, but were also somewhat entertaining as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 FF, I looked this up after your comment yesterday in the westerns. I think I have seen it before, but it was a long time ago. I don't remember many specific details. But if I recall correctly, a lot of the familiar stories from the Old Testament were more or less told in a way that might be more in keeping w/ folklore than w/ scripture, but were also somewhat entertaining as well. I guess you could call it folklore. The movie starts out with a preacher talking to a small group of children. So you could interpret it as the movie showing what's going in the kids' minds as they listen to their preacher. But they were pretty entertaining - the characters often appear in contemporary outfits and brandish modern-day weapons. But there's also some typically "biblical" clothes, I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CineMaven Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 Miss Goddess, ooh boy, I knew I had a feeling I was doing something wrong when I didn't tune in to "The Bribe" and I regret it. I've only seen bits and pieces. But talk about lines that crack one up, I was watching Joan Crawford's "Possessed" and then there's a scene with Heflin and Geraldine Brooks. They're sitting at a bar talking, flirting. A hatcheck girl passes by and Van Heflin turns around and gives her the once over and an audible wolf whistle. I cracked up when Brooks smiles and says to him good-naturedly, "it's so American to want something better." Crawford did an outstanding in that movie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 Miss Goddess, ooh boy, I knew I had a feeling I was doing something wrong when I didn't tune in to "The Bribe" and I regret it. I've only seen bits and pieces. Hopefully, it will show again! B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted November 30, 2008 Author Share Posted November 30, 2008 > {quote:title=CineMaven wrote:}{quote}"it's so American to want something better." > Great line! I can't believe I missed it and I've seen the movie several times. > Crawford did an outstanding in that movie. She certainly did. I really feel bad for her character. Van Heflin plays just about the least likable character I have ever seen him do. He's very real, not really vicious but typically self-centered. He admits to it, though, which is something but I definitely feel he treated Joan rather despicably. He had to have known she was emotionally fragile but he seems like he's just a user. Very interesting movie with complicated characters, except maybe Raymond Massey, who for a change plays the sanest one in the room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 Great line! I can't believe I missed it and I've seen the movie several times. Sometimes the best lines are right in front of us, and we don't notice them until someone else points them out to us. B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CineMaven Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 MissGoddess: "She certainly did. I really feel bad for her character. Van Heflin plays just about the least likable character I have ever seen him do." I've never been a fan of his, but I have a grudging appreciation for him. In fact, I just watched "Madame Bovary" and his portrayal as the hapless sack married to Jennifer Jones was so different that it was hard to remember he's the same man. I know...I know. That's why they call it acting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 I know...I know. That's why they call it acting. I think Van Heflin has a much greater range than he's usually given credit for. Has he ever been SOTM, I wonder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted November 30, 2008 Author Share Posted November 30, 2008 Ha! Van just barely made it onto a list of my top fifty favorite actors I was figuring. He's #50. I do like him but he admittedly doesn't set the Thames on fire. That reminds me, I may have to take him off anyway because I forgot to include George Brent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CineMaven Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 What would George Brent say to Van Heflin in "Get Smart"?? "...Missed it by that much!" 'Scuse me for keep changing this post to you, but I just saw Brent in "The Great Lie" with Bette Davis, and he has such an easy breezy way with her. (Years of familiarity from movies they've made together I guess). I'd love to get a big bear hug from him, though his mustache might tickle. And I must say, Van Heflin seems to be able to "handle" Stanwyck, just as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 Ha! Van just barely made it onto a list of my top fifty favorite actors I was figuring. He's #50. I do like him but he admittedly doesn't set the Thames on fire. That reminds me, I may have to take him off anyway because I forgot to include George Brent. An actor can be quite accomplished without necessarily "setting the Thames on fire", imho. For me someone like Alec Guinness or Charles Laughton or Paul Muni would fall under such category. B-) 'Scuse me for keep changing this post to you, but I just saw Brent in "The Great Lie" with Bette Davis, and he has such an easy breezy way with her. (Years of familiarity with movies they've made together I guess). I'd love to get a big bear hug from him, though his mustache might tickle. I think Brent was a good actor, but I keep hearing that something about his own personality probably kept him from getting the parts that would have made him possibly a much bigger star. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rohanaka Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 Pardon me for coming in late, here folks... April, Molo, GWTW....great discussion on Scarlett et al. I have not seen the film in several months, and have not read the book...but you have brought up so really intersting points on their motivaitons as charactrers. PS: He LOVES Scarlett but she'd LORD it over him Whammo! Nail on the head!! GWTW...that is one of the best comments I've heard about Rhett's thinking ever. I think you are right on the money. Miss Maven--see how folks are already getting geared up for class...I am really going to have to be on my toes for sure...(now where did I put that new box of chocolates?) :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 You sound like you must watch *GWTW* fairly often, Kathy. B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rohanaka Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 No...maybe once a year or so. I do have it on tape, but have only seen it all the way through maybe 5 or 6 times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 No...maybe once a year or so. I do have it on tape, but have only seen it all the way through maybe 5 or 6 times. I've a feeling you'll enjoy it a lot more next time you watch it, after having discussed it in the forums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CineMaven Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 Miss Rohanaka: "Miss Maven--see how folks are already getting geared up for class...I am really going to have to be on my toes for sure...(now where did I put that new box of chocolates?)" Hush! I got them awwready. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 Hush! I got them awwready. ;-) Bon appetit, mon cherie!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 Who was it here that was planning to watch *The Oyster Princess* ("Die Austernprinzessin")? Was that you, Jackie? I finally got to watch it, and also *I Don't Want to be a Man* ("Ich m?chte kein Mann sein"), in the double-feature DVD from Kino. They're both very good, and the video transfer of *The Oyster Princess* is absolutely breathtaking, considering it's a 1919 movie! I look forward to talking about it a bit more when you've had a chance to watch these early Lubitsch gems. B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronxgirl48 Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 Did you or anyone watch that 1925 silent THE WIZARD OF OZ? I couldn't get over Dorothy with bee-stung lips. Message was edited by: Bronxgirl48 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 Did you or anyone watch that 1925 silent THE WIZARD OF OZ? Well, not last night, but I'd seen it earlier since it's a bonus feature on the DVD of the more popular 1939 version. It's not one of the best silents I've ever seen, unfortunately, and I tended to zone out after a while. I do hope to give it another chance eventually, but last night would have been too soon since my last viewing. Besides, I was watching Lubitsch's *The Oyster Princess* - and what a lovely silent that is!! :x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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