"Ossessione" -

[therealfuster]

for my money, is better than the approved James M. Cain, American version from 1946!

 

Now I've always loved the Turner/ Garfield film, even though if one reads the book, they will see that the Lange/Nicholson version follows it better and the description of Cora is more like Lange, as being a bit beaten down, and wearing crappy clothes with little makeup.

 

Nowhere does Cain have Cora wearing white hot pants and a halter top, as does our girl Lana!

 

But I digress...nevertheless, the Garfield version has a lot of heat in the right places, much like the sizzling grill scene...but after seeing the Italian version by Luchino Visconti, I was blown away at how well this story translated to a foreign locale.

 

One would not think it would work, but it does.

 

I say, this is a must see for serious film fans, and TCM is showing "Ossessione" this Friday [really Saturday morning] at 2:00am, and then "The Postman Always Rings Twice" at 4:30am.

 

Watch them back to back, and see if Visconti's doesn't get under your skin....

[KeithFromKC]

I will definitely tape OSSESSIONE when it airs this week. I believe TCM has aired the film before, haven't they? I love foreign films, old and new, and for some reason have never gotten around to seeing OSSESSIONE. I've read some really good reviews for it, so I am definitely looking forward to seeing it.

[venerados]

I don't know one wouldn't think it would work. It seems, at least with hindsight, custom-made for desolate rural Italy. Even the Tay Garnett version feels more akin to Il Grido than to other American noir.

 

I'd really like to be able to find the 1939 French version with Michel Simon.

[therealfuster]

TCM did show it before, in the last year which was when I caught it, and taped it.

 

Nevertheless, if I'm up...I will watch it again this Saturday morning.

 

I had looked for it for years, having heard of its reputation, but of course it was unavailable due to the copyright infringement or legal issues, surrounding Visconti's appropriation of the Cain story without permission.

 

But I think Cain, being who he was...would have highly approved of this version, which catches his gritty style to a T.

 

Being a foreign film fan, do you immediately go to the late Friday part of TCM's monthly schedule, first thing...when you get it?

[therealfuster]

but I would kill to view it!

 

I love Simon, and last year picked up Vigo's "L'Atalante" and enjoyed his overwhelming presence in that film.

 

It was as much fun as watching him in "Boudu Saved From Drowning".

 

I noticed my local Borders has Carne's "Quai des Brumes" with Simon coming in I think, so I may buy that one.

 

Simon certainly is a great character on film! If you ever locate the 1939 version anywhere or see it coming out on dvd, please tell me, Venerados.

[KeithFromKC]

Yes, therealfuster, the first thing I check for when I receive my TCM guide are the foreign films, as well as which silent films will be shown on Sunday night. I then look for any other silents or pre-codes that are airing during a given month. But overall, I really appreciate most of TCM's programming.

 

You also mention L'ATALANTE, which is a wonderful film. I saw it years ago in a film studies class and hadn't thought about it for years until I rented it from NETFLIX about three months ago. It is a lovely film. My favorite arthouse movie theater in KC has a collection of vintage posters displayed around the theater and the poster for L'ATALANTE has been hanging in there for years, so that's what reminded me to rent it.

[therealfuster]

are you my double or doppelganger?

 

The two things I look at first are the same as you, first the foreign films on Friday and then the silents to be shown on Sunday late night.

 

Thankfully I am female, so we can put such concerns about our double identity out of our mind, or it might be like like "The Dark Mirror" film.

 

I like all the silents and pre-codes too, but do check the whole month and actually get out a colored marker to highlight things to watch, to make sure I don't miss any good stuff, and I lay the xeroxes on my coffee table for easy reference.

 

I'm addicted to TCM for sure....

[KeithFromKC]

I think you may be onto something, therealfuster! Instead of a highlighter, I circle any film on the TCM schedule that looks interesting to me with a pen. Now that you mention it, a highlighter might work a little better. But yeah, like you, I go over the TCM guide and pick out everything I either want to watch or tape. I'll admit that I don't get around to seeing or taping all of it, but no other channel on cable demands this kind of dedication on my part.

 

So, I'm glad I'm not the only one who literally studies the TCM guide/schedule each month. I'll bet there are many others here who will admit to as much. Anyway, I enjoy your posts, therealfuster, so the suggestion that I may be considered your doppelganger is an honor.

[deeanddaisy666]

LOL, I just attempted to write up my programming schedule, and saw how embarrassing it is, so I deleted it. Suffice it to say that I am obSESSed with TCM, and will never again, to paraphrase Scarlett O'Hara, be without my black and whites again. Burned once by AMC, their fault. Burned twice by TCM (if they change their format), it would be my fault.

 

And looking at all the steps I take from newsletter to spreadsheet of the movies I've recorded, I am amazed that I STILL miss some, like 'Time of Their Lives'.

 

Now, unless I turn into Burgess Meredith in 'The Twilight Zone' and my tapes wear out or I can't find a replacement VCR when I need one, I should have enough black and whites to keep me happy until they put the pillow over my face in the nursing home.

[nickdimeo]

I've stopped highlighting my viewer's guide after I saw that the back issues sell on eBay for a pretty penny. Now, I don't mean you can get a fortune for them but they are very much in demand. I don't think I would ever sell my four year collection, but you never know.

[therealfuster]

that nuclear war hits while you are down in the TCM vaults, your life is spared...you have all the old films to watch with "time enough at last" and you step on your own glasses and break the lense.

 

You don't wear glasses do you?