I Just Watched...

[Hibi]

21 hours ago, Princess of Tap said:

Pat was not on the level of movie stardom, but she turned out to be a good utilitarian actress for classic TV series like Maverick and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. I can also remember her on the debut original episodes of The Untouchables  on the Desilu Playhouse.

I believe in the 60s, she briefly had our own series, which was take off on the Doris Day movie, Please Don't Eat the Daisies.

Yes, it ran one season and had the same title! (Daisies).

[Hibi]

3 hours ago, LornaHansonForbes said:

SERIOUSLY, I COULD BUY THE WHOLE VIRTUAL REALITY, EXPERIENCING HEAVEN AND HELL, TECHNOBRAINWAVE THING, BUT A SWIMMING POOL RIVER IN SOMEONE'S LIVING ROOM WAS A STEP TOO DAMN FAR FOR ME.

(tried to find pics of the scene to include for reference, but it's a google images challenge)

ETA. FOUND IT:

SHEESH! I thought you were hallucinating or something (I've never seen the film).....

[LornaHansonForbes]

1 minute ago, Hibi said:

SHEESH! I thought you were hallucinating or something (I've never seen the film).....

(I wasn't entirely sure myself.)

[CaveGirl]

3 hours ago, LornaHansonForbes said:

Now that I'm back at my computer, there is one other thing about BRAINSTORM (1983) that I wanted to bring up

(apologies as always but...)-

Any of the rest of you who've seen it, tell me: did you find the fact that NATALIE WOOD AND CHRISTOPHER WALKEN'S CHARACTERS HAVE A SWIMMING POOL/RIVER FLOWING THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THEIR LIVING ROOM MORE THAN A LITTLE ODD??????

(I did)

The scene where she and Walken- who are splitting up- are showing their dream** house to prospective buyers is SO ODD, And not just because (as aforementioned) so much of it is shot with Natalie's back to the camera (even though it was apparently the real Wood and not a double!)

Seriously, a "Lazy River" style swimming pool just flows right through their damned living room, I have no idea where it started or where it emptied, BUT THEIR KID WAS SWIMMING LAPS IN IT.

I wonder sometimes-

WHO DID NATALIE WOOD SAY "GO **** UP A ROPE" TO THAT THEY WENT AND AS REVENGE INSERTED SCENES WITH DEEP WATER INTO EVERY DAMN MOVIE SHE DID NO MATTER WHETHER IT MAKES ANY SENSE OR NOT?

Well, not every one, but...

in the scene, she has to tap her son who is doing laps IN THE LIVING ROOM POOL with her toe (to get her attention) and hang on to the pool ladder to reach down to do it and it IS JUST SO ODD!

(even trying to describe it is odd.)

CAN YOU IMAGINE THE REEK OF CHLORINE ALL OVER THE HOUSE? THE INCESSANT HUMIDITY!!!??? THE SKY-HIGH HOMEOWNER'S RATES YOU MUST HAVE TO AFFORD TO HAVE A MOTHERTRUCKING SWIMMING POOL RUNNING THROUGH YOUR DAMN HOUSE!!!???

 

**they must've stayed in a Holiday Inn in Boca Raton and had a revelatory decorative moment or something.

 

Cry me a river, just do it in YOUR house, Lorna.

[Hibi]

For the person who has everything. A river swimming pool in the living room.........

[EricJ]

48 minutes ago, Hibi said:

For the person who has everything. A river swimming pool in the living room.........

It was trying to suggest they were rich techies enough to afford the Frank Lloyd Wright "Waterfall house", but that wasn't in NC.

[scsu1975]

1 hour ago, cigarjoe said:

 

A shout out to Renee de Milo (her only credit) where ever she may be, she plays the headliner stripper Gigi. She does a complete dance and is so good at it that I suspect that she was an actual carnival stripper. She does her act without removing her bikini type outfit but she's got the moves down so good that you can easily imagine what she'd display. Check out Carnival Strippers - Early Years (1971-1978) | by Susan Meiselas for a reference work.

A 1961 Post story counted four strip houses and two belly dancer clubs in the neighborhood. The author noted the Blue Mirror's beginnings as a jazz club: "But jazz didn't pay so they turned to the money makers, the girls."

A Blue Mirror ad from the time touted seven featured dancers, including Renee de Milo."6'4" of Sex, Song and Satire.""

Rene de Milo.

 

Eddie Kaplan Agency Publicity still

November ‘55 issue of ‘CABARET’ magazine article about Renee and below a publicity flyer from the Eddie Kaplan Agency Inc., 1564 Broadway, New York, New York

 

 

Give the dame credit. She was still working, as of May 1970, in Wilkes-Barre. No idea if the food was any good.

 

[LawrenceA]

Jeopardy (1953) - Solid thriller from MGM and director John Sturges. An American family of three, including dad Doug (Barry Sullivan), mom Helen (Barbara Stanwyck), and young son Bobby (Lee Aaker), are traveling through Mexico on vacation. They stop at an isolated beach, and a freak accident leaves Doug trapped under some debris at the waterline. Helen goes out to look for help, but instead runs into violent escaped convict Lawson (Ralph Meeker). Now Helen must try to stay alive in Lawson's clutches, while also struggling to get back to Doug, who is slowly getting overtaken by the rising ocean tide. Also featuring Rico Alaniz, Ken Terrell, Charles Stevens, and Juan Torena.

This short (69 minutes) suspenser is well directed by Sturges. The performances are all good, and I'm glad Sullivan, who I don't usually care for, takes a back seat for much of the story. Entertaining.   (7/10)

Source: TCM.

[rosebette]

"One of the most sadistic and sexually perverse of all pre-code films" -- Is this a warning or a selling point?  I guess I can't miss this one.  You do have a way with words, Tomjh!  As my spouse says, DeMille had to show all those people sinning and fornicating to prove how terrible they were.  But then, he claims he's not quite convinced and has to rewind the scene of Colbert bathing in ****'s milk.

[TomJH]

21 minutes ago, rosebette said:

"One of the most sadistic and sexually perverse of all pre-code films" -- Is this a warning or a selling point?  I guess I can't miss this one.  You do have a way with words, Tomjh!  As my spouse says, DeMille had to show all those people sinning and fornicating to prove how terrible they were.  But then, he claims he's not quite convinced and has to rewind the scene of Colbert bathing in ****'s milk.

I suspect for most people it might be a selling point, rosebette.

[cigarjoe]

50 minutes ago, TomJH said:

I suspect for most people it might be a selling point, rosebette.

On my must get list ?

[TomJH]

6 minutes ago, cigarjoe said:

On my must get list ?

You won't be sorry, cigarjoe.

[LornaHansonForbes]

1 hour ago, EricJ said:

It was trying to suggest they were rich techies enough to afford the Frank Lloyd Wright "Waterfall house", but that wasn't in NC.

As a native North Carolinian, I'm damn surprised they found a house with a source of running water (inside no less!) that wasn't already being used for moonshine production.

[LornaHansonForbes]

6 hours ago, LornaHansonForbes said:

 

It would've been hilarious if Chris had asked Natalie, for some reason or another, if she had their old yearbook or something and she was all "yah" and she takes it off the shelf behind them and the binding instantly disintegrates and the soaking wet pages fall out and she's all "WHY does that keep happening to all the books?"

[LawrenceA]

King of the Khyber Rifles (1953) - CinemaScope Technicolor adventure from 20th Century Fox and director Henry King. In 1857 India, British army officer Captain Alan King (Tyrone Power) tries to thwart the hostile activities of local baddie Karram Khan (Guy Rolfe), while also facing prejudice among his colleagues due to his half-Indian parentage. King finds a sympathetic soul in general's daughter Susan (Terry Moore). Also featuring Michael Rennie, Murray Matheson, John Justin, Richard Wyler, Frank DeKova, Argentina Brunetti, and John Farrow.

Previously filmed in 1929 as The Black Watch, this one isn't as bad, but it's also not as interesting. Power goes through the motions, and most of the rest of the cast are bland. The location scenery is not used very well, and California stands in for the Kashmir region. I did like one sequence in an old ruin featuring some atmospheric music, and the big finale was rousing. This was one of the earliest CinemaScope movies, but unfortunately the copy I watched only showed the beginning and ending credits in widescreen, while the majority of the film was 4:3 pan & scan.   (6/10)

Source: FXM.

[rayban]

2 hours ago, LawrenceA said:

Jeopardy (1953) - Solid thriller from MGM and director John Sturges. An American family of three, including dad Doug (Barry Sullivan), mom Helen (Barbara Stanwyck), and young son Bobby (Lee Aaker), are traveling through Mexico on vacation. They stop at an isolated beach, and a freak accident leaves Doug trapped under some debris at the waterline. Helen goes out to look for help, but instead runs into violent escaped convict Lawson (Ralph Meeker). Now Helen must try to stay alive in Lawson's clutches, while also struggling to get back to Doug, who is slowly getting overtaken by the rising ocean tide. Also featuring Rico Alaniz, Ken Terrell, Charles Stevens, and Juan Torena.

This short (69 minutes) suspenser is well directed by Sturges. The performances are all good, and I'm glad Sullivan, who I don't usually care for, takes a back seat for much of the story. Entertaining.   (7/10)

Source: TCM.

Sixty-nine minutes of suspenseful hell.

[TomJH]

1 hour ago, LawrenceA said:

King of the Khyber Rifles (1953)

I found this largely tedious film to be a major disappointment. And when it comes to lost opportunities, the film has a great, booming, rousing musical score by Bernard Herrmann used under the opening titles, and they never use it again (unless the closing titles have it, as well, I can't recall). What a waste!

[LawrenceA]

Kiss Me Kate (1953) - Technicolor musical based on the stage hit, from MGM and director George Sidney. Formerly married stage stars Fred Graham (Howard Keel) and Lilli Vanessi (Kathryn Grayson) agree to star in the new musical from Cole Porter (Ron Randell), a variation on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. Fred hopes to win back Lilli, while Fred's "protege", showgirl Lois Lane (Ann Miller), who also has a part in the show, drives Lilli to distraction. This complicated romantic dynamic plays on multiple levels as they struggle to get through the opening night show and its various obstacles. Also featuring Tommy Rall, Bobby Van, Bob Fosse, Keenan Wynn, James Whitmore, Kurt Kasznar, Willard Parker, Dave O'Brien, Ann Codee, and Claud Allister.

I liked this rather complex production, with fun performances and excellent dance scenes. Ann Miller has the best dance sequences, although I also liked the amateurish number with Keenan Wynn and James Whitmore as two hoods singing and dancing. I enjoyed seeing Bob Fosse in an acting role. This was originally shown in 3-D, and it's apparent in the number of items thrown at the screen. The movie was Oscar nominated for Best Score (Andre Previn & Saul Chaplin).   (7/10)

Source: Warner DVD.

[laffite]

5 hours ago, rosebette said:

"One of the most sadistic and sexually perverse of all pre-code films" -- Is this a warning or a selling point?  I guess I can't miss this one.  You do have a way with words, Tomjh!  As my spouse says, DeMille had to show all those people sinning and fornicating to prove how terrible they were.  But then, he claims he's not quite convinced and has to rewind the scene of Colbert bathing in ****'s milk.

And you have the crocodile dining out scene to look forward to. Yummy.

[LawrenceA]

Malta Story (1953) - British WW2 drama from United Artists and director Brian Desmond Hurst. Alec Guinness stars as RAF reconnaissance pilot Peter Ross. He's on his way to a new assignment, with a brief stopover on Malta, when a bombing raid leaves his transport plane in flames. The local British military chief, Air CO Frank (Jack Hawkins), asks Ross to stay on, as they are in dire need of good recon pilots. Ross then spends his time taking risking flights, dodging the unceasing enemy bombing raids, and finding romance with local girl Maria (Muriel Pavlow). Also featuring Anthony Steel, Flora Robson, Renee Asherson, Hugh Burden, Nigel Stock, Reginald Tate, Ralph Truman, Peter Bull, Geoffrey Keen, Lee Patterson, and Gordon Jackson.

The uncommon setting, the prodigious real-life war footage, and the highly effective finale are the highlights. What doesn't work so well is the romantic sub-plot. Guinness comes off as too awkward and aloof for the audience to buy his passion for Maria. Flora Robson, as Maria's persevering mother, and Nigel Stock, as Maria's M.I.A. brother, are both hammy and unconvincing. In the end, though, the war footage outweighs the weak melodrama, making this worthwhile viewing for fans of the genre.   (7/10)

Source: TCM.

[NickAndNora34]

THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY (2012)

Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage. 

Having just recently finished the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy, I decided it was high time I did the same with the 3 Hobbit movies. 

For starters, it took about 39/40 minutes to actually reach the present-day Shire (well, the past, since Bilbo is old in the beginning, writing his book about his adventures, and reminiscing about the days of old). Bilbo prattles on and on about the dwarfs and the loss of their home/belongings to the dragon, Smaug, and this expositional journey takes approximately 40 minutes. At this point, I could tell I was going to enjoy the LOTR trilogy a whole lot better. I have only seen the first Hobbit installation before, so I don't know how I'm going to feel about the other 2. 

Gollum still terrifies me. I thought I had gotten over this childhood fear with the viewing of LOTR, but to no avail. I was unable to watch certain portions of the "riddles in the cave" scene... in broad daylight, no less. It all started when Gollum started beating an injured troll on the head with a rock in order to eat him. This movie was okay; nothing really to write home about. I was glad that Elrond and Galadriel (Elves) were in this, albeit their time was quite short. 

One thing I'll add: I really like Martin Freeman as Bilbo. I think he does a great job. 

[LawrenceA]

48 minutes ago, NickAndNora34 said:

THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY (2012)

Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage. 

Having just recently finished the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy, I decided it was high time I did the same with the 3 Hobbit movies. 

For starters, it took about 39/40 minutes to actually reach the present-day Shire (well, the past, since Bilbo is old in the beginning, writing his book about his adventures, and reminiscing about the days of old). Bilbo prattles on and on about the dwarfs and the loss of their home/belongings to the dragon, Smaug, and this expositional journey takes approximately 40 minutes. At this point, I could tell I was going to enjoy the LOTR trilogy a whole lot better. I have only seen the first Hobbit installation before, so I don't know how I'm going to feel about the other 2. 

Gollum still terrifies me. I thought I had gotten over this childhood fear with the viewing of LOTR, but to no avail. I was unable to watch certain portions of the "riddles in the cave" scene... in broad daylight, no less. It all started when Gollum started beating an injured troll on the head with a rock in order to eat him. This movie was okay; nothing really to write home about. I was glad that Elrond and Galadriel (Elves) were in this, albeit their time was quite short. 

One thing I'll add: I really like Martin Freeman as Bilbo. I think he does a great job. 

I really enjoyed the Lord of the Rings movies. I even ranked them collectively as my favorite movie of the 2000-2009 decade. But I could not get into the Hobbit movies, and I think they got progressively worse. There's been a lot written about them and why they went wrong, and I don't feel like rehashing all of that again, but I have to agree that Peter Jackson was not into making these later three movies at all, and it shows. There are a few scattered good scenes throughout the trilogy, but combined they don't add up to even half of those found in a single installment of the earlier trilogy. I agree that Martin Freeman was good, and I thought Richard Armitage did a good job, although some of the later film moments, with the dragon's horde of gold, are awful. I found the Hobbit films to be frustrating, occasionally boring, and a major disappointment.

[EricJ]

15 hours ago, NickAndNora34 said:

THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY (2012)Having just recently finished the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy, I decided it was high time I did the same with the 3 Hobbit movies. 

For starters, it took about 39/40 minutes to actually reach the present-day Shire (well, the past, since Bilbo is old in the beginning, writing his book about his adventures, and reminiscing about the days of old). Bilbo prattles on and on about the dwarfs and the loss of their home/belongings to the dragon, Smaug, and this expositional journey takes approximately 40 minutes. At this point, I could tell I was going to enjoy the LOTR trilogy a whole lot better. I have only seen the first Hobbit installation before, so I don't know how I'm going to feel about the other 2. 

Be prepared for some MAJOR hurt, especially if you're a fan of the book-respectful first trilogy.  If the original LOTR was the Star Wars of the 21st cty., The Hobbit is its Prequel Trilogy.

AUJ is watchable for, yes, the first third, when Martin Freeman nails his role and Jackson sticks faithfully to the book events of the Dwarves dinner party.  (They even sing Tolkien's own tune for the Plate Song.)  But once they leave Bilbo's house to set out on the book's journey...hoooo-MAMA!!  That is the last bit of book-faithfulness you will see for the next nine hours, period.  We're talking until the end of the trilogy.  When ex-Doctor Sylvester McCoy shows up with bird poop on his head, that is the official cutoff point between the book-faithful movie, and the beginning of Jackson's self-indulgent insanity, and it don't ever come back.

The problem is that Peter Jackson literally isn't interested in the title hero of the story--When the Dwarves show up, Jackson develops a very, very, very, very...very questionable preoccupation with our company of rowdy, belching, manly Dwarves, and for the next two movies, is more intent on exploring his own screenwriter variations-on-theme.  Particularly his need to flesh out the running subplot of Thorin getting his kingdom back, until that becomes THE central climactic arc of the series.  Freeman's Bilbo is all but reduced to an audience spectator, and not to go into too-long details, but in the climax of "The Desolation of Smaug", you will see--I do not exaggerate--an entire half hour of invented Jackson Subplot jammed in between two lines of dialogue from the book...Half hour, two lines.  (When the first movie came out, I was stuck on a movie-discussion forum where a couple of the regular gay posters had their usual discussion of "Who was the hottest dwarf?".  From the amount of attention the director lavishes on them in this series, I seriously believe they weren't the only ones--I've been looking askance at Jackson's work ever since "Heavenly Creatures", and even if you might not have been up until now, "The Battle of Five Armies" will cause you to start.)

Basically, imagine that Cecil B. DeMille quote of "Give me two pages of the Bible, and I'll give you a picture"--Only in Peter Jackson's case of trying to flesh out one short book into three films, it's "Give me two pages of Tolkien, and I'll give you a new character, a videogame-ready CGI battle scene, and a trilogy-long running subplot arc".  And he goes through every single blessed pair of pages in the book.
(Honest Trailers had the best laugh on the movie in their review of the trilogy, where they had Bilbo finally presenting the book he'd been "writing" to Frodo at the end of TBo5A, and Frodo asking "I don't understand...Who's this 'Thorin' guy, why do you spend so much time going off onto all this other material for no reason, and then forget to mention yourself for almost two-thirds of the book?"   )

[EricJ]

5 hours ago, LawrenceA said:

Kiss Me Kate (1953) - This was originally shown in 3-D, and it's apparent in the number of items thrown at the screen. The movie was Oscar nominated for Best Score (Andre Previn & Saul Chaplin).   (7/10)

Source: Warner DVD.

The Warner Blu-ray has the 3-D included*, and it's not too bad, especially at depicting dancing on the rooftop, or the big cavernous space of the stage set...Jewel, indeed.  

(* - If you managed to buy a 3DTV or Playstation VR headset, that is.)

[Tikisoo]

Re: Jeopardy '53....we liked this movie so much, that photo was made into a magnet for MrTiki's fridge

We laughed through it, it was THE most absurd movie we ever watched. Who lets their kid wander on a dilapidated pier? Who stupidly goes out after them? What cop keeps their gun in a car glove box? Poor Babs, married to such a fool. It made us both fans of Ralph Meeker, though. He's a riot.