I Just Watched...

[Hibi]

I'm of two thoughts on this. Though he's done the same shtick in quite

a few films, they are enjoyable as little slices of life of a certain demo-

graphic and very few American directors are doing this. But he has

gone to the well maybe a few many times. And that rare time when

an apartment actually has a noisy neighbor. I did get a chuckle out of

David Ogden Stiers playing the younger version of John Houseman.

Something a bit weird about that. I believe Interiors was his first and

most obvious foray into Bergman and I've always found it hard to take

that one straight.

 

 

Interiors hasnt aged well.

[LornaHansonForbes]

Interiors hasnt aged well.

A loooot of Woody's films haven't.

 

At least it doesn't have a scene where Geraldine Page is bitten on the breast by a poisonous snake and has to run around in search of someone to suck the poison out.

 

...then again, it might have helped.

[RoyCronin]

That's what happened  in the scene where Geraldine goes running down the aisle of the church looking like she is going to vomit and die; E.G. Marshall played the snake.

[LornaHansonForbes]

Interiors hasnt aged well.

A loooot of Woody's films haven't.

 

At least it doesn't have a scene where Geraldine Page is bitten on the breast by a poisonous snake and has to run around in search of someone to suck the poison out.

 

...then again, it might have helped.

[darkblue]

Any reason in particular you posted the exact same posts 2 hours and 14 minutes apart?

 

Hope Alzheimer's isn't onsetting.

[Vautrin]

Interiors hasnt aged well.

I haven't seen it in a number of years, but that sounds right.

After you get over the shock of what the heck is Woody doing,

it's too much like a bad imitation of the Bergman. If you're going

for that good old Swedish angst, why not stick with the original?

I haven't seen too many of Woody's films lately, and he is cranking

them out at a Fassbinderish pace, but maybe this was just a period

in his film making life that he had to go through. I find many of them

to be like a comfortable shoe, where similar themes and characters

pop up, and you say to yourself Oh yeah, I've seen this before, but

this time it's just slightly different, and entertaining enough to watch.

[NickAndNora34]

I was watching some episodes of "The Addams Family" earlier today after going to the library. I have never seen a full episode (until today), and I must say I think this is going to be one of my new favorite TV shows. I watched 3 episodes, and will most likely watch more tomorrow. What a good way to start a Saturday morning. Carolyn Jones is great. And so is the rest of the cast. 

[scsu1975]

Shadow of Doubt (1935)

 

Pretty entertaining murder mystery with Ricardo Cortez and Virginia Bruce. Bruce is suspected of killing a womanizer, and it’s Cortez to the rescue. Actually, it’s his British aunt, played by Constance Collier, who cracks the case. Collier has a pipe organ in her house (which I’m sure thrills the neighbors) and gets off plenty of snotty remarks. Edward Brophy plays the police lieutenant investigating the case, and, for once, does not play a simpleton.  Rounding out the cast are Isabel Jewell, Regis Toomey, and Betty Furness, who is not selling any appliances. The ending is a bit of a surprise.

 

 

 

In case you didn't know, Claude Rains liked to dress up when he played the organ.

 

[Dargo]

In case you didn't know, Claude Rains liked to dress up when he played the organ.

 

 

LOL

 

Wow! Constance DOES look like Claude in drag there, doesn't she!

 

(...good catch, Rich!)

[EricJ]

I was watching some episodes of "The Addams Family" earlier today after going to the library. I have never seen a full episode (until today), and I must say I think this is going to be one of my new favorite TV shows. I watched 3 episodes, and will most likely watch more tomorrow. What a good way to start a Saturday morning. Carolyn Jones is great. And so is the rest of the cast. 

 

 

I think "Addams Family" may be the third smartest sitcom of the entire 60's.  (With the Dick Van Dyke Show leading ahead of The Flintstones by a healthy margin.)

 

When we were kids, they were interchangeable with the Munsters, but the Munsters was more of a "goofy" sitcom of wacky setups and crazy gags, and Addams Family just taught 60's sitcoms how to play the silliest scenes with perfect cool, elegant deadpan.  I can't help cracking up at the serene earnestness with which Carolyn Jones practices her Japanese biwa ("*twanng!*"), or crosses the room in her Morticia-walk, even in the most serious scene.

Also, they still managed to work Chas. Addams' original humor into the series--Until I'd sat down and Netflix'ed the reruns, I never realized that Thing came from homaging Addams' original New Yorker cartoon in the first episode:

 

(Of course, I never realized either that Uncle Fester was actually Charlie Chaplin's "Kid" all grown up.)

[Sepiatone]

Yeah, The Addam's was a hoot.  Caught a few old episodes on ANTENNA TV recently too.

 

TED CASSIDY's LURCH was a favorite in my circle.

 

Sepiatone

[MCannady1]

I was watching some episodes of "The Addams Family" earlier today after going to the library. I have never seen a full episode (until today), and I must say I think this is going to be one of my new favorite TV shows. I watched 3 episodes, and will most likely watch more tomorrow. What a good way to start a Saturday morning. Carolyn Jones is great. And so is the rest of the cast.

The Addams Family was one of my favorites when I was a kid. Every episode was so much fun! Lurch is my favorite, though every one of them were appealing in a unique way.

[EricJ]

The Addams Family was one of my favorites when I was a kid. Every episode was so much fun! Lurch is my favorite, though every one of them were appealing in a unique way.

 

Everyone talks about Rob & Laura Petrie being the "hottest" couple of 60's sitcoms, but you had to wonder what Gomez and Morticia were up to, every time she spoke French and he started kissing her arm...  

In the second season, they would extend the gag to Morticia comforting Gomez by saying "Ohh, there, there, bubula..."

"Tish!  (madly kisses arm) You know what that word does to my Spanish blood!"

"Ah-ah--Not now, darling:  Business first...'Bubula' later."

[darkblue]

Everyone talks about Rob & Laura Petrie being the "hottest" couple of 60's sitcoms

 

Hot??

 

Those stiffs slept in twin beds.

 

Even Herman and Lily slept in the same bed.

[EricJ]

Hot??

 

Those stiffs slept in twin beds.

 

Even Herman and Lily slept in the same bed.

 

Yes, but when Rob & Laura were out of bed, you couldn't keep them OFF of each other.  (But in a good way.)  

Even today, that's considered unusual for vintage TV.

[darkblue]

Yes, but when Rob & Laura were out of bed, you couldn't keep them OFF of each other.  (But in a good way.)  

 

Well, they definitely sang and danced a lot.

[SansFin]

Morticia: Gomez.

Gomez: Querida?

Morticia: Last night you were unhinged. You were like some desperate, howling demon. You frightened me. Do it again!

 

This is from the movie: The Addams Family (1991) but I feel strongly that they truly captured the spirit of the original series. 

 

Morticia: Don't torture yourself, Gomez. That's my job.

 

I believe this proves that she knows well how to be a perfect wife.

[Fedya]

My Cousin Rachel (1952).

 

Richard Burton plays a young British man at the beginning of the Victorian era whose older cousin goes off to Italy for his health, meets Rachel, and dies. Burton has reason to believe the death was actually murder, so he goes to Italy to investigate.

 

Then Rachel (Olivia de Havilland) shows up at the estate in England. Burton still suspects her, but almost on a dime falls hopelessly in love with her. The feeling isn't particularly mutual, as Rachel has a boy toy back in Italy.

 

Eventually, Burton comes to suspect that Rachel is out to kill him, because that's the only way she can get full control of the estate he rather stupidly deeded her.

 

The movie is a steaming mess, but it's never less than interesting. Burton's character's motivations are off the wall and make no sense. Rachel comes across as a jerk who, hating her sister for having won an Oscar first, decides to torment people by acting like Cary Grant in Suspicion, deliberately giving people reason to believe she's a murderess when she may or may not be. (The movie was set before electric lights, so director Henry Koster couldn't put a lightbulb in a glass of milk for Rachel to serve to Richard Burton.) Burton's lawyer has an adult daughter who really should have been written like Diane Baker's character in Marnie, but she's not given enough to do here.

 

7/10.

[scsu1975]

23 Paces to Baker Street (1956)

 

Set in London, this is an extremely entertaining thriller with Van Johnson as a blind playwright who overhears a kidnapping plot while sitting in a pub. Of course, the police don’t believe him, so he takes on the investigation himself. He is aided by Vera Miles, as his former secretary/girlfriend, and Cecil Parker, who is his ‘Man Friday.’ There are plenty of clever plot developments, some chills, and good performances all around. Parker, in particular, is excellent. Patricia “Devil Girl From Mars” Laffan has a key role. Estelle Winwood, in one of her rare film appearances, has a nice bit as the bartender at the pub.

 

Just two complaints:

1. Leigh Harline’s score often drowns out the conversations.
2. The print I saw on FXM Retro started in Cinemascope for the opening credits, then was full-screen the rest of the way, which, as we all know, causes the heebie-jeebies. This is a common problem with this channel.

 

I imagine this film will be showing often on FXM Retro this month, so it is well worth catching.

[Fedya]

I DVRed 23 Paces to Baker Street, so I'll be looking forward to seeing it at some point in the future after I get through the other 40 or so movies on my DVR that I haven't watched. (I finally got around to watching City of God, which I recorded last October.)

 

FXM's habit of prints that have the credits in Cinemascope but not the main action is irritating. And I don't know if the channel is in HD. Pre-Cinemascope movies are stretched out to fit the 16:9 screen, so with the Cinemascope prints, it's sometimes tough to tell whether it's been panned and scanned to 4:3 or 16:9.

[Sepiatone]

 

Morticia: Gomez.

Gomez: Querida?

Morticia: Last night you were unhinged. You were like some desperate, howling demon. You frightened me. Do it again!

 

This is from the movie: The Addams Family (1991) but I feel strongly that they truly captured the spirit of the original series. 

 

Morticia: Don't torture yourself, Gomez. That's my job.

 

I believe this proves that she knows well how to be a perfect wife.

 

 

MY favorite exchange is from the SECOND film----

 

Gomez(looking down into their newborn's cradle):  "He has my Grandfather's eyes."

 

Morticia:  "Gomez!  Take those out of his mouth!"

 

 

Sepiatone

[Casablanca100views]

You think you're past it, then it happens all over again.

 

 

Gentlemen's Agreement (1947)

 

Schuyler (Phil) Green (Gregory Peck) creates his own drama by claiming to be Jewish to see the effects of antisemitism in society.  I have seen this drama many times before, but it is deep enough that other details come out with repeated viewings.

 

* The private story/public story angle:  The movie opens with Phil having misgivings about taking on a big assignment and we see his interactions with his own mother (Ann Revere) and his fears of having her not being around for support for him and his son (Dean Stockwell, who does a beautiful job with some pretty lame dialog at times) and how it would affect them to lose Ma. This exchange comes to weigh on Phil and his son later.

 

* His blossoming romance with Kathy (Dorothy McGuire) has its own challenges already and she's not at first on board with this Jewish impersonation (!- not that it would make any difference!) and she suggested the antisemitism story to begin with!  She is the ironical twist on antisemitism that will make the viewer question their own biases.  She is the linchpin crisis character and she's terrific.

 

* The inter bias of antisemitism and racial defining of bias. There is a stunning take with his secretary that reminds me of, well, present-day race-splaning by people who don't have the qualifications. Then, Sam Jaffe takes small role with a scientific perspective and discounts the logic of racial-defining and its bias in its totality and his banal jokes suddenly seem awkward.   

 

* The public outing of antisemitism is what I think many of us think of when watching this movie. But exchange Green's background watching this with maybe someone now Muslim..

 

* John Garfield is worth the watch for the movie alone.  His scenes with Peck's are like watching two powerhouses fencing and parrying with each other.  His perspective is the most brilliant of all. 

 

This one is not only worthy of a look but it belongs in your permanent collection.  Because, sadly, this type of story is timeless.  The issues of fear and hate just keep coming to forefront,  again and again.

 

 

[MCannady1]

Everyone talks about Rob & Laura Petrie being the "hottest" couple of 60's sitcoms, but you had to wonder what Gomez and Morticia were up to, every time she spoke French and he started kissing her arm...  

In the second season, they would extend the gag to Morticia comforting Gomez by saying "Ohh, there, there, bubula..."

"Tish!  (madly kisses arm) You know what that word does to my Spanish blood!"

"Ah-ah--Not now, darling:  Business first...'Bubula' later."

I liked Rob and Laura too. (I was 9 or 10 when their show started). Later The Addams Family made such an impact on me with their unique characters! I loved Gomez and Morticia's little interactions, Even today I say, "I spoke French!" now and then, but my hubby doesn't react except to laugh. I love this couple together.

[MCannady1]

You think you're past it, then it happens all over again.

 

 

Gentlemen's Agreement (1947)

 

Schuyler (Phil) Green (Gregory Peck) creates his own drama by claiming to be Jewish to see the effects of antisemitism in society.  I have seen this drama many times before, but it is deep enough that other details come out with repeated viewings.

 

* The private story/public story angle:  The movie opens with Phil having misgivings about taking on a big assignment and we see his interactions with his own mother (Ann Revere) and his fears of having her not being around for support for him and his son (Dean Stockwell, who does a beautiful job with some pretty lame dialog at times) and how it would affect them to lose Ma. This exchange comes to weigh on Phil and his son later.

 

* His blossoming romance with Kathy (Dorothy McGuire) has its own challenges already and she's not at first on board with this Jewish impersonation (!- not that it would make any difference!) and she suggested the antisemitism story to begin with!  She is the ironical twist on antisemitism that will make the viewer question their own biases.  She is the linchpin crisis character and she's terrific.

 

* The inter bias of antisemitism and racial defining of bias. There is a stunning take with his secretary that reminds me of, well, present-day race-splaning by people who don't have the qualifications. Then, Sam Jaffe takes small role with a scientific perspective and discounts the logic of racial-defining and its bias in its totality and his banal jokes suddenly seem awkward.   

 

* The public outing of antisemitism is what I think many of us think of when watching this movie. But exchange Green's background watching this with maybe someone now Muslim..

 

* John Garfield is worth the watch for the movie alone.  His scenes with Peck's are like watching two powerhouses fencing and parrying with each other.  His perspective is the most brilliant of all. 

 

This one is not only worthy of a look but it belongs in your permanent collection.  Because, sadly, this type of story is timeless.  The issues of fear and hate just keep coming to forefront,  again and again.

Gregory Peck and John Garfield were magnificent in this movie! This is an issue that has always bothered me personally and I can well see why a good story with interactions of this kind was a necessity. It is a timeless issue and the fact that if they were Muslims but good people would be a real issue to contend with! For in current times and with good reason there is prejudice i that direction).

[MCannady1]

My Cousin Rachel (1952).

 

Richard Burton plays a young British man at the beginning of the Victorian era whose older cousin goes off to Italy for his health, meets Rachel, and dies. Burton has reason to believe the death was actually murder, so he goes to Italy to investigate.

 

Then Rachel (Olivia de Havilland) shows up at the estate in England. Burton still suspects her, but almost on a dime falls hopelessly in love with her. The feeling isn't particularly mutual, as Rachel has a boy toy back in Italy.

 

Eventually, Burton comes to suspect that Rachel is out to kill him, because that's the only way she can get full control of the estate he rather stupidly deeded her.

 

The movie is a steaming mess, but it's never less than interesting. Burton's character's motivations are off the wall and make no sense. Rachel comes across as a jerk who, hating her sister for having won an Oscar first, decides to torment people by acting like Cary Grant in Suspicion, deliberately giving people reason to believe she's a murderess when she may or may not be. (The movie was set before electric lights, so director Henry Koster couldn't put a lightbulb in a glass of milk for Rachel to serve to Richard Burton.) Burton's lawyer has an adult daughter who really should have been written like Diane Baker's character in Marnie, but she's not given enough to do here.

 

7/10.

This one could never hope to equal the marvelous and unforgettable Rebecca, Daphne DuMaurier's real masterpiece. IT palls by comparison. There are some good aspects of the film imo, for Richard Burton's infatuation with the lovely and mysterious Rachel is quite realistic. To be fair, both ladies were a marvelous part of the Golden Age. Yes, Joan Fontaine was unforgettable in Suspicion, Rebecca, and Jane Eyre. Olivia was unmatched and unforgettable in Gone With The Wind and To Each His Own.

Returning to My Cousin Rachel, a doleful film that ends unexpectedly. I later read the book a couple of years ago and tried to discern if Rachel really was evil and caused Ambrose's death. And was she now tryng to kill his younger brother who is also craxy about her? We are left wondering. For those that have not seen the film, I will only say that it ended unexpectedly. Our hero played his part well but was not a happy guy...