Dewey1960 Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 Tomorrow evening, November 15th, a particularly profound duet of 1955 noir sledgehammer blows featuring the great *Ralph Meeker* blast their way into your living rooms compliments of our friends at TCM. First up is *BIG HOUSE USA* , a relatively obscure B film that is almost universally despised for its offhanded and disturbing physical and emotional violence. Meeker stars as a two-bit thug who hatches a plot to kidnap the young son of a millionaire. When the plan goes horribly awry the only solution appears to be cold-blooded murder. This is one gritty, unwholesome piece of work that doesn?t for one minute hold back when and where it matters. A four-star misunderstood masterpiece for those with the stomach to take it. Along for the ride are Broderick Crawford, Lon Chaney, Jr. and Charles Bronson. Next up is Robert Aldrich?s demented and thoroughly subversive classic *KISS ME DEADLY* , a film that is almost universally adored and revered for its offhanded and disturbing physical and emotional violence. Meeker is stone cold perfection as Mickey Spillane?s bullet breath anti-hero Mike Hammer, a smug, condescending and self-absorbed ?bedroom dick? style private eye who finds himself up to his elbows in starlets as he races madly toward the end of the world in his futile quest for the ?great whatsit.? Noir doesn?t generally get much darker than this opus, and those with only a fleeting familiarity with its charms are urged to tune in. This is a double-bill for the ages; be there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 *This is a double-bill for the ages; be there!* ....or be square? B-) I think I've watched both before, but I can think of worst things to do on a Saturday evening than enjoying the "noir sledgehammer blows". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scsu1975 Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 I may tape the other two Meeker films, including Desert Sands. That one sounds bad, so I should enjoy it. Kiss Me Deadly is brutal. Poor Cloris Leachman. We can only imagine what they were doing to her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 *Desert Sands* actually sounds appealing to me, too. I love anything that has to do with the French Foreign Legion! B-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scsu1975 Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 I see John Carradine is in the cast. That should make it interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 Oh, you can say that again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scsu1975 Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 Big House USA was loaded with unpleasant characters, but at least they get their due. Charles Bronson had quite the physique in his youth. It took me awhile to recognize Felicia Farr. I don't think I've ever seen her as a blonde. Reed Hadley lends a Dragnet -style authenticity to the film. Willis Bouchey looked way too old to be the kidnapped boy's father. The scenery was great. Definitely a movie worth catching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 I tried to watch Big House but had to turn away after they made steamed cauliflower out of that poor schnook in prison. That was COLD. It was a terrific cast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 Pretty strong stuff for a 50's film, I guess. :0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scsu1975 Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 Most of the brutality took place offscreen, including Talman flame-broiling Bronson "his way." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 Most of the brutality took place offscreen, including Talman flame-broiling Bronson "his way." That is something I almost wish they could have shown on-screen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scsu1975 Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 > {quote:title=Film_Fatale wrote:}{quote} > Most of the brutality took place offscreen, including Talman flame-broiling Bronson "his way." > > That is something I almost wish they could have shown on-screen. I think they must have practiced that scene quite a few times, which would explain Bronson's life-long craggy face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 > {quote:title=scsu1975 wrote:}{quote} > Most of the brutality took place offscreen, including Talman flame-broiling Bronson "his way." I know, but that steam-broiling scene was too much for me, I have a pretty low threshold for stuff like that. Had there been one character I could really latch onto, I might have struggled to stay with it, but since they were all pretty rotten, from what I saw, I had to switch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 I think they must have practiced that scene quite a few times, which would explain Bronson's life-long craggy face. Yes, at last we have an explanation for that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 Had there been one character I could really latch onto, I might have struggled to stay with it, but since they were all pretty rotten, from what I saw, I had to switch. Pretty rotten characters in a noir - who'd have expected that ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scsu1975 Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 > {quote:title=MissGoddess wrote:}{quote} >Had there been one character I could really latch onto, I might have struggled to stay > with it, but since they were all pretty rotten, from what I saw, I had to switch. I see your point. I get that same feeling whenever I watch C-Span. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 I see your point. I get that same feeling whenever I watch C-Span. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scsu1975 Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 I must have missed the scene where Felicia Farr was dressed as she is in this poster: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 False advertising, huh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scsu1975 Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 I don't remember Bronson with a crowbar. And why isn't Talman holding a blowtorch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissGoddess Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 > {quote:title=scsu1975 wrote:}{quote} > > {quote:title=MissGoddess wrote:}{quote} > >Had there been one character I could really latch onto, I might have struggled to stay > > with it, but since they were all pretty rotten, from what I saw, I had to switch. > > I see your point. I get that same feeling whenever I watch C-Span. Lol! For me, it's ANY news show, talk show, reality show, network TV show, cable TV show.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Film_Fatale Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 Lol! For me, it's ANY news show, talk show, reality show, network TV show, cable TV show.... Sometimes it's hard to find a good show on TV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faceinthecrowd Posted December 7, 2008 Share Posted December 7, 2008 Re KISS ME DEADLY: "Demented" is the right word -- I usually think of it to describe Gaby Rodgers' eyes; it's a fascinating performance. And poor Cloris Leachman -- what did they do to her? Well, one of the thugs is seen approaching her with a pair of pliers -- ouch! Most anti-heroes are supposed to have something admirable about them -- not Meeker's Mike Hammer. He's scum, period. Has anyone noticed Maxine Cooper's resemblance to Mercedes McCambridge? Cooper could be McCambridge's more conventionally attractive sister, and the voice is uncannily similar. About the blowtorch scene in BIG HOUSE U.S.A. -- that was anticipated in what I consider one of the all time great prison flicks, BRUTE FORCE (1947), when three or four cons surround a stoolie with, yes, blowtorches, using them to force him into a huge stamping machine. It just ruins his day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pia Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 I have to disagree with you on Meeker's Hammer being thoroughly rotten "scum", in Kiss Me Deadly. At least he is trying to find out why Cloris was so scared - and who wanted to hurt her - and why. Like any good detective - even when not being compensated - he is like a dog with a bone, trying to get to the core of the mystery. He won't leave the beach house until he finds Velma and can save her, yes? And come on - could he truly be all bad if good-hearted Nick, the mechanic, calls him a friend? PS. I'll watch that film again and again, just to hear that box's ungodly howling! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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