I Just Watched...

[MCannady1]

MC, you might have already found the following on the net, but just in case you haven't, I thought you might like to visit this link to a nicely written webpage about those old SoCal horror hosts we old native Angelenos used to enjoy back in the day...

 

https://terrordaves.com/2011/06/05/the-real-horror-hosts-of-southern-california/

 

(...and I was quite a fan of Sinister Seymour back then, myself)

Thanks. I will check out the list. I remember now. It wa Seymour on Jeepers Creepers! He was pretty sinister! He had a scary charisma tinged with humor. I was close to 12 then and just starting to watch scary movies. To this day I do like the early ones best. My favorites are Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, Mark of the Vampire, son of Dracula, and THe Wolfman. Thanks for the link..

[NickAndNora34]

"Good Girls Go to Paris" (1939); starring Joan Blondell and Melvyn Douglas. I have seen some of Melvyn's work, and have only seen one film with Joan (Night Nurse, co-starring Miss Stanwyck). This film was okay; it definitely wasn't one of my favorites. It dragged a bit in certain areas, but Miss Blondell was certainly charming as the somewhat gold-digging Jenny Swanson. 

 

I'd give this film a 5/10, to be honest. 

 

Source: YouTube 

[NickAndNora34]

One I forgot to post about: The Taming of the Shrew (1967) starring Liz and Dick. I enjoy Shakespeare plays (except Romeo and Juliet), and this was no exception. I had only previously seen the 1953 MGM technicolor movie musical "Kiss Me Kate" with Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, Tommy Rall, Keenan Wynn, and Ann Miller. 

 

Liz was great in this. I was utterly amazed by her dramatic prowess throughout the film. 

 

Source: DVD 

[EricJ]

One I forgot to post about: The Taming of the Shrew (1967) starring Liz and Dick. I enjoy Shakespeare plays (except Romeo and Juliet), and this was no exception. I had only previously seen the 1953 MGM technicolor movie musical "Kiss Me Kate" with Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, Tommy Rall, Keenan Wynn, and Ann Miller. 

 

Liz was great in this. I was utterly amazed by her dramatic prowess throughout the film. 

 

Not only the first of the great Franco Zeferelli Shakespeare trilogy (followed by the 1968 Romeo & Juliet, and the 1990 Mel Gibson Hamlet), but finally clears up the mystery of that ending speech that angry feminist/revisionist stage directors always feel compelled to "avenge":

In Zeferelli's version--and very likely Shakespeare's--the "good" suitors at the mass-wedding make a group bet with Petrucchio over who lucked out for having the most "obedient" wives.  As is the point of the play, the good grooms turn out to be in for a big, fat rude awakening.

By the end of the play, Kate & Petrucchio have become such unwilling partners-in-crime, that when she comes out and plays up the "Good and obedient wife" part to the hilt, she's throwing a wink at him to let him know she's the ringer to win the bet.

 

It's amazing how many other well-intentioned stage productions I've seen that just don't plain pick up on this.

Which only proves that we should give Shakespeare films to no one else but Zeferrelli.  (And that especially includes the four-hour Kenneth Brannagh Hamlet.)

[LawrenceA]

 

It's amazing how many other well-intentioned stage productions I've seen that just don't plain pick up on this.

Which only proves that we should give Shakespeare films to no one else but Zeferrelli.  (And that especially includes the four-hour Kenneth Brannagh Hamlet.)

 

Branagh's Hamlet was better than Zeffirelli's. But to each his own.

[TomJH]

The Hunter (1980).

 

Steve McQueen's last film features him as an aging modern day bounty hunter who drives a crumbling jalopy barely strung together. He is only just managing to make a living. The story is based on a real life bounty hunter, Ralph Thorson, who worked as technical advisor on the production, I believe.

 

This film has pretty much always been critically dismissed and, to be sure, it barely has a story line, just a series of incidents, some of them humorous, involved in Thorson's arrest of bail jumpers. There is a major chase sequence towards the end that is excitingly staged, involving a subway car passenger being taken captive, among other things. There's even a little bit of humour to be found here, as well, this prolonged chase sequence the highlight of the film.

 

I have to say that I found the film to be quite watchable as a time waster, despite its mediocre reputation. I liked the (presumably) on location shooting of some of the seedy areas in which the character had to work.

 

McQueen has a seasoned presence and is quite effective in his role, though he doesn't have much of a characterization to work with. There are also a few twists to be found here. One inside joke for McQueen fans is that in this film his character is a bad driver who can't seem to parallel park without mounting the curb several times and doing damage to the cars around him.

 

The supporting cast includes Eli Wallach, Kathryn Harrold as McQueen's pregnant girlfriend, and Ben Johnson as a good old boy town sheriff who pulls a gun on McQueen to emphasize the fact he wants him out of his town. McQueen gives him no argument. Frustrating that the film uses so little of Johnson. He has two reasonably effective small scenes and then he's gone for good. What the film has plenty of, though, is Tracey Walter as a vengeful psycho sworn to kill McQueen. Walter's character likes to indulge in cat-and-mouse games. There's nothing subtle in this actor's over-the-top performance.

 

I saw no sign of the cancer that would lead to McQueen's death in his appearance here. The actor found out about the asbestos-related mesothelioma shortly after filming on The Hunter was completed. (He died of a heart attack following a brutal operation to have tumors removed in Mexico).

 

 

2.5 out of 4

[scsu1975]

Tennessee Johnson (1942)

 

No, this is not another of Anthony Weiner’s nicknames.

 

Van Heflin gives a fine performance as Andrew Johnson, from his early years, to presidency, to impeachment.  The supporting cast is top-notch, including Ruth Hussey as his wife, and Lionel Barrymore as the congressman who leads the impeachment. There are familiar faces galore, making this a feast for film buffs. Several silent stars appear (Robert Warwick, Charles Ray – although I couldn’t spot him). William Farnum is only onscreen for about a minute but plays the most critical role during the impeachment. Montagu Love has a very good turn as the Chief Justice.

 

I’d recommend this to the people currently running for President of the United States. They might learn something, like how to keep the country together.

[cigarjoe]

Abandoned (1949) Black Market Babies

 

 

Moving along at a good pace Abandoned makes use of numerous Los Angeles' locations. The iconic LA City Hall looms ominously. A young woman Paula Considine (Storm) arrives at the Missing Persons Detail in search of her missing older sister and her baby. There she meets reporter Mark Sitko (O'Keefe) who takes it upon himself to assist her, it doesn't hurt that she is cute. Stiko spots a man tailing her who turns out to be a PI named Kerric (Burr).

 

When Paula and Mark check the morgue's Jane Doe's they find her sister but not the baby. Through various channels, old newspaper articles and various tips they discover a black market baby racket that is protected by the mob.

 

Its an entertaining film especially if you are not expecting much, could use a restoration. Full review with screencaps from  a multigenerational file here : http://noirsville.blogspot.com/2016/11/abandoned-1949-black-market-babies.html

[Fedya]

Stiko spots a man tailing her who turns out to be a PI named Kerric (Burr).

Didn't Burr also play a creepy PI stalking a pretty woman in Pitfall?

 

Did Burr ever play a good guy before Perry Mason?

[scsu1975]

Didn't Burr also play a creepy PI stalking a pretty woman in Pitfall?

 

Did Burr ever play a good guy before Perry Mason?

Yes, in Godzilla.

[NickAndNora34]

Didn't Burr also play a creepy PI stalking a pretty woman in Pitfall?

 

Did Burr ever play a good guy before Perry Mason?

I absolutely DETESTED him in Pitfall. But then I grew to like him after I started watching Perry Mason. 

[kingrat]

 

Abandoned (1949) Black Market Babies

 

 

Moving along at a good pace Abandoned makes use of numerous Los Angeles' locations. The iconic LA City Hall looms ominously. A young woman Paula Considine (Storm) arrives at the Missing Persons Detail in search of her missing older sister and her baby. There she meets reporter Mark Sitko (O'Keefe) who takes it upon himself to assist her, it doesn't hurt that she is cute. Stiko spots a man tailing her who turns out to be a PI named Kerric (Burr).

 

When Paula and Mark check the morgue's Jane Doe's they find her sister but not the baby. Through various channels, old newspaper articles and various tips they discover a black market baby racket that is protected by the mob.

 

Its an entertaining film especially if you are not expecting much, could use a restoration. Full review with screencaps from  a multigenerational file here : http://noirsville.blogspot.com/2016/11/abandoned-1949-black-market-babies.html

 

Joe, I saw a gorgeous restoration of Abandoned at the Palm Springs film noir festival a couple of years ago. The LA location shots are great. This is a surprisingly good movie. Loved the fight between Raymond Burr and Mike Mazurki (!), and Marjorie Rambeau has a juicy role as a villain.

[cigarjoe]

Joe, I saw a gorgeous restoration of Abandoned at the Palm Springs film noir festival a couple of years ago. The LA location shots are great. This is a surprisingly good movie. Loved the fight between Raymond Burr and Mike Mazurki (!), and Marjorie Rambeau has a juicy role as a villain.

Cool, hope they put it out on DVD/Blue.

[Fedya]

Yes, in Godzilla.

You mean Gojira isn't the good guy?

[Fedya]

I absolutely DETESTED him in Pitfall. But then I grew to like him after I started watching Perry Mason.

I knew about Burr from Perry Mason and Ironside first, so seeing him as a bad guy (probably starting with Rear Window) was a revelation.

[LawrenceA]

That Night in Varennes aka La nuit de Varennes (1982) - 8/10 - Excellent French-Italian historical drama about a variety of stagecoach passengers whose journey gets interrupted by the French Revolution. The international cast includes Marcello Mastroianni, Jean-Louis Barrault, Hanna Schygulla, Jean-Claude Brialy, Andrea Ferreol, and Harvey Keitel as Thomas Paine. It was odd hearing a strange French voice dubbing Keitel. The production design is noteworthy, especially the costumes. The dialogue is sharp, witty, and requires more attention than most modern audiences are probably prepared for. From director Ettore Scola. There are various running times listed for this on IMDb, but the version I watched ran 152 minutes.

 

 

Source: FilmStruck

[EricJ]

You mean Gojira isn't the good guy?

 

Not in the first one...  

[scsu1975]

Twenty Plus Two (1961)

 

Confusing but entertaining yarn with David Janssen trying to solve the case of a young girl who went missing years before.

 

Brad Dexter plays a movie star who, as usual, gives off enough vibes to make you suspect he’s a rat. His secretary is bumped off, and since she seemed to have an interest in the missing person’s case, enter Janssen.  Jeanne Crain plays Janssen’s old flame. Dina Merrill plays Crain’s friend, who ultimately becomes an important part of the case. Everything gets wrapped up in the final ten minutes or so, but it’s a bit of a mess getting to that point.

 

There is some good work by others, including William Demarest as a drunken former reporter who had written about the case, and Jacques Aubuchon, as a mysterious guy who wants Janssen to find his missing brother. It was a little odd seeing Aubuchon in a suit, since I was used to him walking around in native garb as Chief Urulu in “McHale’s Navy.” Silent screen star Gertrude Astor plays a dead body.

 

Worth a look, just to see Jeanne Crain in one of the tightest black dresses ever made.

[LornaHansonForbes]

I knew about Burr from Perry Mason and Ironside first, so seeing him as a bad guy (probably starting with Rear Window) was a revelation.

I want to say that Burr started on the radio, not uncommon for an actor with a melodious voice but no physique to match (see also: William Conrad.)

 

I very highly recommend FORT LARAMIE- the radio series where he played a disgruntled Cavalry officer dealing with both dissension in the ranks and Indian uprisings. It's available on archive.org or YouTube.

[LawrenceA]

A Special Day (1977) - 8/10 - Italian film set during the days preceding WW2. Hitler and other top Nazi brass are visiting Rome and receiving a grand welcome from Mussolini and the citizens. Sophia Loren plays a dowdy housewife and mother of 6 who stays home while the rest of her family goes to the Nazi/Fascist rally. She meets her neighbor (Marcello Mastroianni) from across the courtyard, and the two of them discuss life and love and the paths their lives have taken. This is basically a two-person play running in real time, but the two leads are both terrific, and the dialogue kept me interested. Mastroianni received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor (in fact, this was the final acting nominee from the 1970's that I had not seen), and he deserved it, but I thought Sophia Loren was as good if not better. The film's cinematography is also of note, using a very-light sepia-tone that is nearly B & W in most scenes. Directed by Ettore Scola.

 

Source: FilmStruck

[film lover 293]

"Kings of the Sun" (1963)--Starring George Chakiris, Yul Brynner, and Shirley Anne Field.  Directed by J. Lee Thompson.

 

Interesting drama about the Mayans and their forced removal from Chichen Itza, and what they encounter when they leave the Yucatan Peninsula.  Brynner gives the films' best performance.  Chakiris plays the role of "boy who learns to be a King" and is ok.  Field is good in her silent moments, but hearing her British accented Mayan is disconcerting.

 

Joseph MacDonald did the colorful cinematography.  Elmer Bernstein contributed one of his best scores.  Mary Babcock was responsible for the hairstyles that look an unfortunate mix of the 1960's melded with the 1100's.  Elliott Arnold and James R. Webb's screenplay has tendency to get flowery and wordy at the worst times.  Director Thompson must be credited with keeping the film Moving and not letting it get bogged down in excess verbiage.

 

Film is a fun watch about a neglected period in history.  3.2/4.

[MCannady1]

Joe, I saw a gorgeous restoration of Abandoned at the Palm Springs film noir festival a couple of years ago. The LA location shots are great. This is a surprisingly good movie. Loved the fight between Raymond Burr and Mike Mazurki (!), and Marjorie Rambeau has a juicy role as a villain.

Great film! I have a pretty good DVD. I'll bet the restoration is lovely. I loved Gale Storm's performance and did like that fight between Raymond Burr and Mike Mazurki!

[MCannady1]

"Kings of the Sun" (1963)--Starring George Chakiris, Yul Brynner, and Shirley Anne Field.  Directed by J. Lee Thompson.

 

Interesting drama about the Mayans and their forced removal from Chichen Itza, and what they encounter when they leave the Yucatan Peninsula.  Brynner gives the films' best performance.  Chakiris plays the role of "boy who learns to be a King" and is ok.  Field is good in her silent moments, but hearing her British accented Mayan is disconcerting.

 

Joseph MacDonald did the colorful cinematography.  Elmer Bernstein contributed one of his best scores.  Mary Babcock was responsible for the hairstyles that look an unfortunate mix of the 1960's melded with the 1100's.  Elliott Arnold and James R. Webb's screenplay has tendency to get flowery and wordy at the worst times.  Director Thompson must be credited with keeping the film Moving and not letting it get bogged down in excess verbiage.

 

Film is a fun watch about a neglected period in history.  3.2/4.

Missed this one. Would like to catch it for the cast.

[LornaHansonForbes]

Anything with Marjorie Rambeau is worth watching. She was a fabulous actress.

[Fedya]

Sally (1929).

 

Marilyn Miller plays Sally, a waitress who stupidly thinks it's a good idea to practice her dance moves while she works. This gets her fired from her job, where rich playboy stalker Blair (Alexander Gray) has been watching her through a mirror. She gets a job at a place on Long Island, where Blair runs into her again.

 

Meanwhile, dethroned Slavic nobleman Connie (Joe E. Brown) keeps up the ruse, getting himself invited to the society party where Blair's engagement (not to Sally, of course) is going to be announced, while a promoter hires Sally to play a Russian émigrée who was supposed to dance at the party. Complications ensue.

 

The best part of the movie is the surviving two-filter Technicolor elements. The rest of the story is forgettable, interchangeable with a whole bunch of other pre-42nd Street musicals. Well, I suppose the other highlight is "Look for the Silver Lining". And Joe E. Brown gets to do some of his shtick.

 

5/10.