slappy3500 Posted June 13, 2005 Share Posted June 13, 2005 Fuster: the best Ventures song ever is "Pipeline"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealfuster Posted June 13, 2005 Share Posted June 13, 2005 you've discovered my addiction. Entertainment stuff and memorabilia. I figure...look how much money I am saving not having a serious crack addiction yearly, so I spend all that money that is not going to a substance or rehab time on dvd's, cd's and memorabilia. As for "is there nothing I won't buy" well, almost nothing if it is a film that I've always wanted to own. Here's where I draw the line...I don't buy many films which are current or popular, except for an occasional film that I think is really a classic, like "American Beauty" or maybe anything by Tim Burton. That saves gobs of money. I only buy the really oddball stuff which I like and I know will go out of print. I've looked through the Movies Unlimited catalog, and found things that one has no idea is on dvd, and often order from them. A normal person looked at my list of 300 films I have on dvd, and said "I don't know any of these movies!" For a special film or dvd that I want, the price is no object, and if it costs 100 bucks for a boxed set of some Eisenstein films or complete Chaplin, or 40 bucks for anything from Criterion, I consider it money well spent. Why...who needs food when one can buy movie posters, dvd's of far out films like Cronenberg's "Dead Ringers" or "Carnival of Souls: Special Edition" or records whose covers have Jayne Mansfield on it, and one can use them as decorating devices in one's pad. My taste goes from the classic, to the oddball, and one thing I cannot resist is any film that comes out in 3-D, with glasses...like that recent "Shrek" short, or any films which have one of those covers with the flasher picture on them, like the recent "Brady Bunch" boxed set. I will buy anything with a Kitschy cover like that, even if it is a movie or with performers I hate.... Gypsy, I thank you for your comments, and now I'm wondering what type of stuff you can not pass up buying in the movie or entertainment field? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealfuster Posted June 13, 2005 Share Posted June 13, 2005 but I like it too, Gypsy. I think it is not only because good old Tex [who is in Hillbilly Heaven now] sang it, but because I had read a book on the history of folk and western songs in the US, and really find them interesting now. For example, the song made famous mostly by Marty Robbins, called "The Streets of Laredo" was not a cowboy song originally but goes back to the 1700's as I recall, and is about a British soldier. The lines about "banging the drum slowly and playing the fife lowly" never sounded like cowboy lore, because they weren't. Apparently in the original song, the soldier was not shot [like the cowboy] and dying but had...get ready for this, syphilis!, and that is why he was all in "white linen" and was on his deathbed. Considering that the song was used in many cowboy films, and a film of that name even exists, it makes me fascinated with any of these old folk type songs used in films, as in the John Ford films where they adapted a bunch of real folk songs for the soundtrack. But in truth..."High Noon" does just make me want to yell at Gary "Go get a gun, you meathead!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealfuster Posted June 13, 2005 Share Posted June 13, 2005 and at first I was thinking that song was done by the Torquays, but I just looked it up and the Top 40 hit was by the Chantays. I've heard that one, but believe it or not I don't think "Pipeline" is on any of my Ventures' albums. Was it originally their song, and covered by the Chantays, or vice versa? A movie about all these surf instrumental groups is really in order, doncha think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gypsybangles Posted June 13, 2005 Author Share Posted June 13, 2005 Hey Booklover, Don't worry about offending anyone. I agree with Voltaire when he said, if I remember correctly "I may not agree with what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it." Your opinion is just as valid as anyone else's. Ain't this country great? Sometimes I just like rooting for the underdog, or simply playing devil's advocate. And personally, being a Frankie Laine fan from way back, I like his version better; you probably would too. Gypsy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gypsybangles Posted June 13, 2005 Author Share Posted June 13, 2005 Hi Mcgeear, Thanks for wading in on this topic, and for actually citing films whose musical ilk is that to which I'm referring. I haven't seen either one of those films for quite sometime, but will add them to the musical pariah list. Gypsy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gypsybangles Posted June 14, 2005 Author Share Posted June 14, 2005 Hey Fuster, Thank you for being such a good sport. I knew you were, as I'd seen evidence of it in many of your other posts. When it comes to movie knowledge and memorabilia, I'm not remotely in your league, in fact I don't have a league to stand on...yuck, yuck! I just like old movies. A running joke in our family; my two sons often wondered aloud why I ever bought a color TV, when all I ever wanted to see were old B&W movies. I thank Ted Turner everyday for TCM, may it go on forever, amen. You would no doubt be appalled and dismayed at my paltry (quantity-wise) movie collection on VHS; some old Hitchcock, 'The Lady Vanishes', 'Rebecca', 'Shadow of a Doubt', etc. A couple of 'Andy Hardy's', some Hayley Mills, and a few others. We have a DVD thing, but I haven't even figured out how to program the VHS thing yet. I've often thought of compiling a list of what I would term "perfect" movies. By perfect I mean completely satisfying. 'Shadow of a Doubt' would be somewhere on that list, as would 'Fried Green Tomatoes', and a few before, during, or since. I also think there are a few perfect moments from flawed films; Judy Garland comes to mind singing 'The Man That Got Away' from 'A Star Is Born'. I suppose you could classify me in the "I don't know much, but I know what I like" category. I am in awe of you, Mongo and others who really know your stuff, but I do enjoy joining in the dialogues, having a mind that for some reason stores little bits of trivia from here and there, and find it fun to be able to share with good folks like you. Thanks for being so kind to a "rank amateur" Gypsy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gypsybangles Posted June 14, 2005 Author Share Posted June 14, 2005 P.S. Fuster, The one piece of movie stuff I have of which I'm proud: a CD 'Judy Garland in Hollywood'...'Her Greatest Movie Hits'. I can sometimes sling a few words around, but not for this...speachless! Just rips your guts out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayresorchids Posted June 14, 2005 Share Posted June 14, 2005 Gypsy, I felt that about the party sequence in the middle of Midnight Cowboy, in which some of that cheesy pseudo-'60s-rock is played. Take out that part, and the film looks like it was made yesterday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealfuster Posted June 14, 2005 Share Posted June 14, 2005 about your Voltaire reference and everyone having a right to their opinion. And that they should express it with no regrets and everyone can learn something from someone else. I don't believe in experts, as they are often too set in their ways and opinions, and often the newbie or neophyte [not that you are that by far] will mention something that I had never noticed in a movie, and not say the typical thing, and I enjoy that. You are definitely no "rank amateur" and I think Cahiers du Cinema should hire you to bring the fun back into movie criticism, like it was in the good old halcyon days of Cannes in the 1950's and 1960's. I don't like reading or hearing the tried and true movie blather, and never read up on a film, before I've seen it. Movies that I have never seen but which I've read a bit about and know would be worth seeing, I steer clear of getting anyone else's opinion, and even if I buy a dvd from Criterion, I refuse to read the insert criticism by some scholar, until I myself have watched the movie. It makes for clear headed opinions, which are not shaded by others rank or echelon of "importance". I am in awe of your most novel and clever posts, and think they are hitting on topics about films that are interesting but not widely mentioned, or mentioned at all. Keep them coming! Your movie collection sounds great, and are all faves of mine, and I particularly like Hayley Mills, who was a consummate child actor. As for Judy Garland...who cannot be moved by her heartfelt singing. Though she supposedly said to Alan King once..."I'm just a piece of meat that sings", I think deep down one knows she had respect for her talent. Just like that film with Dirk Bogarde where she resists efforts to get her to sing for the audience, and says something like "I sing for me..." I think your "perfect" movie category will be fun to assess, and often for me that is some lush Douglas Sirk melodrama, with a great theme song sung by a group with a name like the Four Aces, or Four Freshmen or Four Linesmen. Whoever mentioned the party scene in "Midnight Cowboy" also brought up a great example of movie pastiche music also. Great talking to you, Gypsy! TRF P.S. "Shadow of a Doubt", IS a perfect movie...and I watch it every time it is on tv. Even the scene where the girl in the bar looks at Charlie's emerald ring, and says "I'd die for a ring like that" is classic. I also think "Vertigo" is perfect and last nite watched Bunuel's film, "El" [This Strange Passion] and saw the famous bell tower scene which supposedly inspired Hitchcock for the Scotty and Judy denouement, and could not get over how similar it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slappy3500 Posted June 15, 2005 Share Posted June 15, 2005 Fuster: I believe they COVERED it but in doing so they improved it. IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealfuster Posted June 16, 2005 Share Posted June 16, 2005 as the Ventures were consummate musicians, each excellent on their instruments. I shall look for a copy of "Pipeline" by them at Borders tonite on your fine recommendation! Thanks for the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gypsybangles Posted June 18, 2005 Author Share Posted June 18, 2005 Bonjour Fuster, Merci for the job recommendation mon ami. Quel hoot! Heady company Truffaut, Rohmer, Godard, et al. But in spite of quoting Voltaire, my French is so abysmal I know just enough to get myself to la bibliotheque, or else in Big Trouble. Speaking of trouble, we've gone so far afield of the original thread, anyone tuning in now would be lost. So just to prove I'm not a complete scatterbrain, thought I'd mention that 'The Impossible Years' about a father dealing with his teenaged daughter is showing on TCM Sunday 6/19 at noon. I don't think I've seen it, but as it was made in 1968, might possibly have some Really Annoying Movie Music...etc. Au revoir for now, et bon chance, Gypsy P.S. I love the barmaid in 'Shadow of a Doubt'. In that small scene she creates such a complete character of sad, weary, hopelessness with just those few lines, one could almost imagine another film starting right there about her. I think 'Vertigo' is almost perfect, but for me there is one glaring piece of bad acting on the part of Kim Novak that bothers me. It's during her "Judy" part when Scotty is making her over, and she gets miffed and walks away with her hands behind her back pouting, and something about the way she does it just seems so over-acted and false, I'm surprised Hitchcock didn't have her do it better. You must be thinking what a nitpicker I am, but it's one of those teethgritting feelings I get when I watch it. I'm not familiar with Bunuel (if subtitles are involved I usually pass; can't really enjoy the film while reading the dialogue) or Sirk. But fill me in. When I really get my wits about me, I'll publish my "perfect" movie list on a separate thread for your perusal and critique. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwtwbooklover Posted June 19, 2005 Share Posted June 19, 2005 Oh, gypsybangles BTW cool name I'm so jealous I looove Judy Garland and I wish I could hear that CD. I have a copy of Judy and Liza Live at the Palladium and I love it unfortunately it is on the Fritz(VHS) It was my first purchase from MOVIES UNLIMITED. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gypsybangles Posted June 19, 2005 Author Share Posted June 19, 2005 Hey Booklover, Glad you didn't go 'way mad after our little Tex Ritter denouement. I found the J.G. CD this past Christmas at either Borders or B&N. If not currently in stock, perhaps they can order it for you. It appeals to me as all the songs are from the original movie sound tracks. I know Miss Garland sang 'Over The Rainbow' many times over the course of her career for instance, but that first time in TWOO was to me the most perfect. And let's face it her voice was different at forty from that at sixteen. My favorite is 'The Man That Got Away'; just the most awesomely powerful vocal I've ever heard. It's heartbreaking to think of how badly the film was botched in editing to satisfy the distributors, costing Judy the Oscar. But at least we still have that great song. I'm not a fan of Liza Minnelli's voice. There are small reminiscences of Judy in her voice and mannerisms, but to use an analogy, to me it's like watered down soup, just doesn't have the full flavor of the original. I do however enjoy some of her acting performances, especially in 'The Sterile Cuckoo, she was great. Nice hearing from you, Gypsy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gypsybangles Posted July 16, 2005 Author Share Posted July 16, 2005 Hey Ya'll, Just watched 'Hotrods To Hell' last night on TCM, mostly to see if it had any of the crappy '60's movie music to which I referred originally in this thread, (it did, bigtime) but worse than that it had the still lovely, but more mature Jeanne Crain in a movie way beneath her talents, paired with the increasingly more mushed-mouthed Dana Andrews. This was a really awful movie, but like a "visual slow-down" on I-95, I couldn't not watch. It really breaks my heart that Miss Crain would agree to appear in a film of this ilk. Although not an actress one would mention in the same breath as say Bette Davis, she nevertheless had a sincere and genuine screen presence. She still looked great, (especially considering she'd given birth to seven children) still seemed to be on top of her game, and yet here she was in this "groaner". Probably another example of "the mahoffs" booting an actress no longer considered an ingenue. One hopes the money she earned went to pay college tuition for one of her children, or something equally worthwhile by way of justification. If anyone has the real inside "scoop" on why she'd appear in this piece of crap, I'd love to hear it. Gypsy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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