I Just Watched...

[GregoryPeckfan]

The French Line (1954)

 

Well, Maltin's review on this one isn't far off the mark. Russell's much vaunted 3 dimensional assets fail to save this from being decidedly dull. I'd mentally checked out & found myself checking my email & the listings guide before the 30 minute mark. Even the bathroom scene failed to re-catch my attention. Things did perk up with the final song'n'dance number towards the end & with Roland (who for some reason, kept reminding me a frazzled looking James Garner) doing a repeated carry-on style invasion of the ladies dressing room, followed by an over-the-shoulder caveman carry of Russell.

 

It didn't help that the print image was somewhat indistinct in sharpness/detail, presumably a result of conversion back from 3D?

I just finished watching this.  I had it recorded to watch another night then decided I wanted to watch it tonight so started to watch it about 40 minutes into it from the beginning.

 

It's not a movie I would watch a second time.  And like you Limey, I considered not watching it, but hey I enjoy music.

 

It did remind me of a truth about genre movies where in real life you wonder why anyone would keep secrets so long  but have to keep them secret or there is no movie.  Would someone really on their honeymoon agree to pose as anyone to the point where they go to jail?  Not likely.  And who upon realizing that the person you have posing as yourself is in jail would spend time ib a musical fashion show instead of getting that woman out of jail?

 

No, no, no.

 

A much better film where an heiress tries to figure out if the man she really loves really loves her is a non-musical starring Miriam Hopkins and Joel McCrea called The Richest Man in the World.

[limey]

I just finished watching this.  I had it recorded to watch another night then decided I wanted to watch it tonight so started to watch it about 40 minutes into it from the beginning.

 

It's not a movie I would watch a second time.  And like you Limey, I considered not watching it, but hey I enjoy music.

 

It did remind me of a truth about genre movies where in real life you wonder why anyone would keep secrets so long  but have to keep them secret or there is no movie.  Would someone really on their honeymoon agree to pose as anyone to the point where they go to jail?  Not likely.  And who upon realizing that the person you have posing as yourself is in jail would spend time ib a musical fashion show instead of getting that woman out of jail?

 

No, no, no.

 

A much better film where an heiress tries to figure out if the man she really loves really loves her is a non-musical starring Miriam Hopkins and Joel McCrea called The Richest Man in the World.

 

You know GPF, if they'd made it an all out farce, that plot line would have worked way better - you can get a away with almost anything in a good farce - as it was, the film mostly just fell flat & didn't qualify as bad enough to be unintentionally good. I did enjoy that last musical number, I suspect because the participants actually seemed to be having some fun with it.

 

I can see why it was selected for the LOD spot, but as per film lover 293's post in the Revisionist history thread, I think you'd really need a pair of 3D specs to appreciate any attempt that it was making at being salacious, which at any rate would be ultra mild by today's standards.

 

I'll have to keep an eye out for The Richest Man in the World.

[MCannady1]

Once again last night I went over my list of recorded movies, looked really closely at the never before seen movies on my to-see list............................................................

 

 

 

AND DECIDED TO WATCH THE GLENN FORD COMEDY DON'T GO NEAR THE WATER INSTEAD!

 

 

Fun, fun, fun!

I did not expect to like it that much, but yes it was fun!

[MCannady1]

A Foreign Affair.  This is the second time I watched this film.  I watched it earlier this summer during Marlene Dietrich's SUTS day when it was recommended to me by many on this board.  When I saw it the first time, I remember not thinking much about it, despite my being a fan of Billy Wilder and Jean Arthur.  Last night, I watched this film a second time and I found myself enjoying it a lot more the second time around.  I can see now why members on this board enjoyed the film and recommended it to me.  Despite it being marketed a comedy, it is definitely not a comedy in the same way that Some Like it Hot is a comedy.  There were some comical parts, but to me, it was almost a black comedy.  It was an interesting juxtaposition having a comedy take place with war torn Berlin as the setting.  Arthur is less zany in this film than in previous efforts (like Talk of the Town and The More the Merrier) but she still has her moments.  I especially like her drunk scene in the Lorelai club right before it is raided.  The real star of the film, in my opinion, is Dietrich.  I especially loved her singing scenes.  She has a very unique singing style that adds to her allure and makes her a very interesting figure in this film.  She also wears gorgeous dresses.  An especially touching scene is near the end after the raid where she speaks in her Native German to an officer to help out Arthur--despite Arthur being her competition for the affections of an American officer. 

 

This is a very underrated Wilder film and I look forward to seeing it again.  I finally "get it" and would recommend this film to others. I look forward to seeing Five Graves to Cairo another of his lesser known films.  Perhaps I'll watch it tonight.

I watched this film once before and look forward to seeing it again. The story and the cast were great.

[MCannady1]

The French Line (1954)

 

Well, Maltin's review on this one isn't far off the mark. Russell's much vaunted 3 dimensional assets fail to save this from being decidedly dull. I'd mentally checked out & found myself checking my email & the listings guide before the 30 minute mark. Even the bathroom scene failed to re-catch my attention. Things did perk up with the final song'n'dance number towards the end & with Roland (who for some reason, kept reminding me a frazzled looking James Garner) doing a repeated carry-on style invasion of the ladies dressing room, followed by an over-the-shoulder caveman carry of Russell.

 

It didn't help that the print image was somewhat indistinct in sharpness/detail, presumably a result of conversion back from 3D?

I like Jane RUssell and Gilbert, but also did not care for the story. I sort of remember the print looking good

(about 20 years ago) when I saw it, but I burned out on the tale. I did like the music in spots.

[MCannady1]

You know GPF, if they'd made it an all out farce, that plot line would have worked way better - you can get a away with almost anything in a good farce - as it was, the film mostly just fell flat & didn't qualify as bad enough to be unintentionally good. I did enjoy that last musical number, I suspect because the participants actually seemed to be having some fun with it.

 

I can see why it was selected for the LOD spot, but as per film lover 293's post in the Revisionist history thread, I think you'd really need a pair of 3D specs to appreciate any attempt that it was making at being salacious, which at any rate would be ultra mild by today's standards.

 

I'll have to keep an eye out for The Richest Man in the World.

I like the Hopkins / McCrea film better. THought it was Richest Girl in the World but may recall it wrongly.

The one I remember has Fay Wray as Miriam's friend in this film.

[GregoryPeckfan]

Limey:

 

You should be able to find The Richest Girl in the World on TCM sometime.  I saw it for the first time not that long ago thanks to TCM.  Because I'm a Joel McCrea fan, I have things to be recorded - well,  recorded.

 

 

I then watched it when  was ready to watch it.

[MCannady1]

I am thrilled that Crawford turned down From Here to Eternity.  Thrilled.  I cannot imagine anyone else in the cast being in the cast and it turning out just as brilliant.

 

I love Humeresque.

I prefer Humoresque to Torch Song too. Humoresque has a great performance by Joan. Did not care for

"Gentle" Joan in Torch Song.

[MCannady1]

Limey:

 

You should be able to find The Richest Girl in the World on TCM sometime.  I saw it for the first time not that long ago thanks to TCM.  Because I'm a Joel McCrea fan, I have things to be recorded - well,  recorded.

 

 

I then watched it when  was ready to watch it.

How did we ever manage to do it before? (Before the days of DVR's). Here we can schedule our greatly anticipated

films to see when we can. In past years I recall coming home from school or work and scanning the TV Guide for great

films. If I was working nights or had a night class, I would miss a film. It gave me something to look

forward to, but was more erratic. Schedules could not be depended on for film watching if we were not

available or did not feel well.

 

Today I love the DVR and can watch what I want when I feel like it. It is another great invention like the

VHS had been and the DVD player. To have a means of viewing favorite films is ultimately the key if you

collect films and want to keep up your collection.

[limey]

I like the Hopkins / McCrea film better. THought it was Richest Girl in the World but may recall it wrongly.

The one I remember has Fay Wray as Miriam's friend in this film.

 

Limey:

 

You should be able to find The Richest Girl in the World on TCM sometime.  I saw it for the first time not that long ago thanks to TCM.  Because I'm a Joel McCrea fan, I have things to be recorded - well,  recorded.

 

 

I then watched it when  was ready to watch it.

 

Richest GIRL! I knew that title sounded familiar!

 

Yes, TCM aired it a little while ago - I've got it recorded & it's already somewhere on my never diminishing viewing list.

[limey]

How did we ever manage to do it before? (Before the days of DVR's). Here we can schedule our greatly anticipated

films to see when we can. In past years I recall coming home from school or work and scanning the TV Guide for great

films. If I was working nights or had a night class, I would miss a film. It gave me something to look

forward to, but was more erratic. Schedules could not be depended on for film watching if we were not

available or did not feel well.

 

Today I love the DVR and can watch what I want when I feel like it. It is another great invention like the

VHS had been and the DVD player. To have a means of viewing favorite films is ultimately the key if you

collect films and want to keep up your collection.

 

Drifting OT for the thread here, but I shudder to think of some of the stuff I missed in earlier years before VCRs became affordable / school/employment/sleep got in the way. On the TV show side of things some things were never even taped, or the tapes got wiped (the BBC were notorious for this)...

[LonesomePolecat]

Thanks to Leonard Maltin (and DVR), I finally got to see 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA yesterday. Loved it! Feel like it's one of the best of the Disney Live Action collection thanks to Jules Verne's great story, a wonderful cast, beautiful nature photography, cool sets/art direction, and a fantastic squid attack. I was glad to see that fascinating "making of" afterwards. Glad they've been showing the Treasures from the Disney Vault.

[MCannady1]

Drifting OT for the thread here, but I shudder to think of some of the stuff I missed in earlier years before VCRs became affordable / school/employment/sleep got in the way. On the TV show side of things some things were never even taped, or the tapes got wiped (the BBC were notorious for this)...

THat is so true! Some of the stuff I saw on TV as a kid is not available now and worse yet, some are cut!

A good case in point was the wonderful '34 rendition of Great Expectations. I had seen it as a kid in

the 60's and when it was on again in the 80's (a UHF channel) I blythely taped it, not realizing what

would happen in future when it was re-aired.

 

Well, the day came in the early 80's when I ran out of VHS tapes. I looked around and thought! Oh, Great

Expectations is always on, so I taped over it as I can always retape the film.

 

WRONG! WHen the film was on again I was shocked to see that it was missing about 15 minutes (at least)

in footage. For some reason, nearly 50 years after the film's inception they decided to cut out Valerie

Hobson's part as Biddy the governess. This involved deliberate wiping out of different scenes with Valerie and

Pip in the story, as well as with others. Of course. they altered the running time of the film as well.

(In the 40's remake with John Mills - and more famous, Valerie Hobson stars as Estella).

 

This really angered me, as the '34 film was really marvelous. An underrated actor, Phillips Holmes, stars as

the adult Pip and the film is quite riveting. Here Jane Wyatt played Estella.

 

My letters to the TV station were Unanswered, so I did not pursue it further. A friend who knows people at the

AFI says the 30's film book lists the film with Valerie. In parentheses it says her scenes were deleted.

BUT it does not say when this occurred. My hubby thinks there were 2 copies at the TV station and someone

showed "the whole thing" in error.

 

Later I bought the professional VHS to get the lost footage, but no.

 

I never located a complete copy again. We both clearly remember the scenes with the crazed handyman who attacks

Pip's sister when he thinks she is sneering at him. So, for some reason that one had to go too.

 

In conclusion, it is like governmental issues and politics at times. We only have part of the sandwich in

view. The other portion can be withheld for various reasons.

 

I am a little wordy here, but my notation in my taping diary shows it was complete in the summer of 83.

[MCannady1]

Yep, I just wanted to add one more thing to my dissertation about senselessly cut films.

 

Yes, the BBC are notorious for cut things! MY hubby and I love to watch Mystery!

and in the 90's there was a great series called Adam Dalgliesh. I really enjoyed

them and wished I had taped them, for.....

 

On a vacation in the early 90's just after our daughter was born we were watching

PT. 5 of A Taste for Death in our hotel room. This was the denouement of this

riveting 5 part series. Well, the scenes toward the end were complete at the time

and the story was quite riveting.

 

Not so with the boxed set sold commercially later. In fact, unkind cuts

altered the story! Not to spoil it for anyone, but a key person in the story

was a murder victim in the church. The way this was handled toward the end was quite

different!

 

THE worst cut of all (I think) was Shroud for a Nightingale; another 5 part series of

Adam Dalgliesh. At the very end, a segment of the killer's confession is quite

differently interpreted than in the set now available commercially. Sadly, I did not

have it on tape. However, the marvelous book by P.D. James clearly states

this thunderous proclamation which is integral to the story! IT was what

I remembered seeing when it was new. Also, it is one of the most profound

murder confessions I have ever read. And, Adam

Dalgliesh's reaction! IT was only a moment or two toward the end, but made

the world of difference, as they say. (We recently lost this great mystery

writer, P.D. James. A lot of her thrillers have many psychological aspects

to them which are brilliantly portrayed).

 

What is strange, is that this director clearly cares about arrangements for

Mystery! These were all outstandingly done and arranged. But I guess we

had other cooks to contend with who altered the "soup".. to fit the series

into a shorter mode? I don't know what else was missing. Other reasons

could have been afoot. Could the Alterations Fairy have been trying to make

things politically correct? That may be with some (respecting criminology).

 

AND, for those that love Jane Austen's films like Pride and Prejudice

like myself and my 24 year old daughter... In '78 there was a marvelous Pride

and Prejudice 5 part series which my hubby and I initially enjoyed. Recently

we watched the NEW packaged set with our daughter.

 

Good thing I taped it in the 80's when it was on again!.

 

We later found that some of the clever wit was actually lost when this was

packaged up to sell! Luckily my VHS tapes we transferred to DVD have the

whole story. I am glad I happened to have the old tapes. Though not as

crystal clear, the lost footage can be precious. In fact, too precious to

lose. They even have delightful flute music and drawings between the episodes

and a witty intro. by Alistair Cooke!

 

Some of these films and Specials are priceless and deserve to be

shown in the format in which they were originally presented!

[limey]

Yep, I just wanted to add one more thing to my dissertation about senselessly cut films.

 

Yes, the BBC are notorious for cut things! MY hubby and I love to watch Mystery!

and in the 90's there was a great series called Adam Dalgliesh. I really enjoyed

them and wished I had taped them, for.....

 

Just to be fair to the Beeb/ITV, the PBS Masterpiece series folks are typically the ones making alterations for their stateside presentations of UK originated programs. I believe that these are typically for run-time constraints (despite PBS being ad-free), rather than for editorial reasons (though US TV's general insistence on pixelating posteriors still continues to amuse me, when the Brit audience seems to be unfazed by any appearances of briefly bared behinds).

[LawrenceA]

Silkwood (1983) - (8/10) - Influential telling of a true story from an incredible roster of screen talents. Meryl Streep stars as Karen Silkwood, a working-class woman employed at a large plutonium-enrichment company. She stumbles upon some evidence that the company may be selling defective materials, potentially putting thousands of lives at risk. Working with her union and government regulators, she tries to put a stop to it, but that begins a series of escalating reprisals.

 

Directed by Mike Nichols, from a script co-written by Nora Ephron, this is "Important" filmmaking at its best. The depiction of corporate malfeasance, and the ensuing conspiracy to cover it up, have become ubiquitous in this type of film. The term "Silkwood shower", referring to the harsh skin-bloodying scrubdowns necessary for radioactive decontamination, has entered the popular vernacular. The earnestness of the story, and the now familiar beats, make the film a bit dated, but it's easy to overlook that for the sake of the excellent craftsmanship and spot-on performances. The casting director should be applauded for assembling such a great cast of familiar faces. Kurt Russell co-stars as Karen's put-upon boyfriend, and Cher received an Oscar nomination for her de-glamorized turn as Karen's lesbian housemate. Also appearing are Ron Silver, Diana Scarwid, Fred Ward, Craig T. Nelson, M. Emmet Walsh, Tess Harper, Josef Sommer, Bruce McGill, David Strathairn, Will Patton, Charles Hallahan, James Rebhorn, Gary Grubbs, Anthony Heald, and Bill Cobbs. Highly recommended. 

 

Rewatch.  Source: DVD.

[Dargo]

Lawrence, perhaps you might recall Cher relay a story years ago on some late night talk show(can't remember which one...could've been on Carson's Tonight Show)  where she talked about going to a Los Angeles movie theater knowing beforehand that a trailer for SILKWOOD was going to be shown before the featured film.

 

This was her first part in any dramatic prestige movie, and she said she was excited to see the trailer and the audience's reaction to it. She said she seated herself in the back row of the theater.

 

When her name was shown across the screen as being one the principles in the film and along with a short clip of one of her scenes, she said the audience started laughing and as though saying "what the hell is this pop music singer doing in this movie?"

 

She said she then felt about 2 inches tall and then slinked out of the theater. However, as she exited she also swore to herself that one day soon she'd show all those out there who had discounted her that she was a better actress than they ever thought she was or could be.

 

(...and just a few years later of course came MOONSTRUCK)

[MCannady1]

Just to be fair to the Beeb/ITV, the PBS Masterpiece series folks are typically the ones making alterations for their stateside presentations of UK originated programs. I believe that these are typically for run-time constraints (despite PBS being ad-free), rather than for editorial reasons (though US TV's general insistence on pixelating posteriors still continues to amuse me, when the Brit audience seems to be unfazed by any appearances of briefly bared behinds).

 

Just to be fair to the Beeb/ITV, the PBS Masterpiece series folks are typically the ones making alterations for their stateside presentations of UK originated programs. I believe that these are typically for run-time constraints (despite PBS being ad-free), rather than for editorial reasons (though US TV's general insistence on pixelating posteriors still continues to amuse me, when the Brit audience seems to be unfazed by any appearances of briefly bared behinds).

I can understand running time constraints, though they originally aired these all complete. I recall

the requests for money to keep the programs on the air.

 

Too bad the U.S. of which I am a resident, sometimes inflicts objectionable stuff into content. Not

for me. I like the power of suggestion in murder mysteries and genuine complex elements.

 

Most of the stories are good, like the Inspector Wexfords we once enjoyed. Talk about complex! A great series with many underlying elemets

elements besides murder. The Inspector Morse series was superb too as well as Poirot and Adam Dagliesh. Many

of Wexford or Morse episodes had unusual elements that were woven into the plot. I do think that part of the appeal

appeal was the portrayal of the police inspectors as real people with their own personal problems.

 

So I still like BBC productions.

 

STill annoyed over the cuts to one of my favorite films!

 

Darn! I wish I had not taped over Great Expectations '34. In retrospect, whether VHS or DVD or whatever,

I had a rare thing. I love period pieces and felt the loss doubly. Hopefully one day I will find someone

who has the film in its entirety.

 

Also, the great Dalgliesh specials! I wish I had the complete A Taste for Death and Shroud for a

Nightingale. That'll teach me to RECORD and SAVE!

 

 

.

[MCannady1]

Lawrence, perhaps you might recall Cher relay a story years ago on some late night talk show(can't remember which one...could've been on Carson's Tonight Show)  where she talked about going to a Los Angeles movie theater knowing beforehand that a trailer for SILKWOOD was going to be shown before the featured film.

 

This was her first part in any dramatic prestige movie, and she said she was excited to see the trailer and the audience's reaction to it. She said she seated herself in the back row of the theater.

 

When her name was shown across the screen as being one the principles in the film and along with a short clip of one of her scenes, she said the audience started laughing and as though saying "what the hell is this pop music singer doing in this movie?"

 

She said she then felt about 2 inches tall and then slinked out of the theater. However, as she exited she also swore to herself that one day soon she'd show all those out there who had discounted her that she was a better actress than they ever thought she was or could be.

 

(...and just a few years later of course came MOONSTRUCK)

That is so true! I am a Cher fan and she more than proved her worth in Silkwood. They pictured her still

in I Got You Babe. WEll, she got us in that film as well as in Moonstruck.

[limey]

I can understand running time constraints, though they originally aired these all complete. I recall

the requests for money to keep the programs on the air.

 

Too bad the U.S. of which I am a resident, sometimes inflicts objectionable stuff into content. Not

for me. I like the power of suggestion in murder mysteries and genuine complex elements.

 

Most of the stories are good, like the Inspector Wexfords we once enjoyed. Talk about complex! A great series with many underlying elemets

elements besides murder. The Inspector Morse series was superb too as well as Poirot and Adam Dagliesh. Many

of Wexford or Morse episodes had unusual elements that were woven into the plot. I do think that part of the appeal

appeal was the portrayal of the police inspectors as real people with their own personal problems.

 

So I still like BBC productions.

 

STill annoyed over the cuts to one of my favorite films!

 

Darn! I wish I had not taped over Great Expectations '34. In retrospect, whether VHS or DVD or whatever,

I had a rare thing. I love period pieces and felt the loss doubly. Hopefully one day I will find someone

who has the film in its entirety.

 

Also, the great Dalgliesh specials! I wish I had the complete A Taste for Death and Shroud for a

Nightingale. That'll teach me to RECORD and SAVE!

 

I didn't know about the cuts to the '34 incarnation of Great Expectations. If the cuts were made after the initial release (or preview screenings) it's possible that 2 versions were doing the rounds - though, it's odd that 1 version may have made it on to TV without a copy lurking around somewhere.

 

BTW, some of the Masterpiece series (inc. Inspector Dalgiesh) are actually from ITV (the original advert supported TV channel in the UK). Other ITV examples include Inspector Morse, it's spinoffs Lewis/Endeavour & Downton Abbey. Sometimes, you can tell where the spots for inserting adverts would have been.

 

Apart from edits, I also wish that Masterpiece would leave the original end-credit music in place - but that's a minor grouse - mostly happy to get to see these things at all without importing them.

 

Talking of imports, that can sometimes be a route to obtain unedited versions of stuff - on occasion, it's even worth getting a foreign language version (especially if it retains the original audio track somewhere).

[LawrenceA]

Sleepaway Camp (1983) - (6/10) - Cult favorite summer camp slasher flick. Strange girl Angela just can't seem to fit in with the other kids at camp. Her over-protective cousin Ricky jumps to her defense, and it isn't long before bodies start showing up. This is a dumb, trashy movie. Half of the time it seems to be a serious attempt at a slasher film, and the other half it seems to be aware of how terribly camp the whole endeavor is, and plays it for all that it's worth. The grisly special effects are much better than expected given the obvious shortcomings in most other departments. This movie also sets some kind of record for kids cursing. Unlike most films of its ilk, most of the kids in the film look to be under 18, and yet they curse worse than Pacino in Scarface. All in all, this really isn't a good film, but it's entertaining in its own scuzzy way. It managed to generate a number of sequels.

 

Rewatch.  Source: Blu Ray.

[limey]

Q Planes (1939) [TCM lists it under it's US title of Clouds over Europe]

 

I recorded this thinking that it would probably be a historically interesting WWII moral builder (didn't dig for any reviews until after I'd watched it), but it's actually a fun little espionage piece with a witty script & it's tongue placed firmly in it's cheek. Set during the tense years preceding the outbreak of WWII, the Brits are losing experimental aircraft (the titular Q Planes) in mysterious circumstances & Ralph Richardson's character is head of a government agency out to discover whats really going on, whilst Valerie Hobson is seemingly a spy for a foreign power, trying non-too-subtly to extract information from a bemused, cynical test pilot played by Laurence Olivier (just before he headed off to bigger things in Tinsletown).

 

The tone of the film is set from the initial scene, which opens with a composed, but confused Richardson trying to work out what he's doing in a trashed room, why he's surrounded by police & what the heck his own name is...

 

Aside from a fun plot & great cast, there are some neat period aircraft up for viewing, for those with an interest in such things. Some other interesting tidbits that wikipedia turned up, are that airfield shots in the film were filmed at Brooklands (an early center of aviation & motor racing) & that the film was apparently based off actual events where the British government believed that the Germans were behind the downing of an experimental plane over the English Channel, so they helped fund this movie to let the Germans know that they were on to them, without any messy diplomatic unpleasantness being needed.

[GregoryPeckfan]

I have Clouds over Europe recorded, limey because of Olivier.  Glad to hear it is a good film.

[limey]

I have Clouds over Europe recorded, limey because of Olivier.  Glad to hear it is a good film.

 

You may have seen tonight's airing (or seen it earlier), but The Divorce of Lady X (1938) is also worth a viewing - Richardson & Olivier are both present along with the night's spotlight star Merle Oberon (who revels in giving poor old Olivier a deliciously hard time).

[GregoryPeckfan]

I recorded The Divorce of Lady X to watch later.

 

Thanks.