I Just Watched...

[LonesomePolecat]

Speaking of MST3K, yesterday I watched THE DEAD TALK BACK, which looks like it was made in one day in the director's house with his acting-impaired buddies/relatives and their ONE light. "You can't arrest a man for destroying his own shoes. That's the basis of our own judicial system!"

 

Also, about puppets, I love the Muppets, but especially the Ghost of Christmas Past puppet in MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL. Best Ghost of Christmas Past ever.

[LawrenceA]

ALL NIGHT LONG - (6/10) - My 1981 film watching begins with this misfire comedy that's not quite as bad as its reputation. Gene Hackman stars as a corporate exec who gets demoted to night manager at an all-night drugstore. He also has to deal with his teenage son (Dennis Quaid) who's having an affair with a lonely housewife (Barbra Streisand). Soon, though, the housewife sets her sights on Hackman, and hijinks ensue. Streisand's last minute involvement altered the script to enlarge her role, to the detriment of the film. Hackman is good. Also with Diane Ladd, William Daniels, Terry Kiser and Annie Girardot.

[LawrenceA]

ALL THE MARBLES - (5/10) - Last directorial credit for Robert Aldrich came from this misbegotten tale about a two-bit female wrestling team and their seedy manager. They travel the country wrestling in a series of rundown arenas and fairs. The main problem with the film, other than its absurd subject matter, is the decision to depict the wrestling as real, instead of a choreographed show. Peter Falk does his thing as the manager, with Burt Young, Richard Jaeckel, and Lenny Montana. This has a following, so it may appeal to others more than it did me.

[LawrenceA]

BERLIN TUNNEL 21 - (6/10) - Competent if unremarkable tv movie tells the true story of a group of men who constructed an underground tunnel between East and West Germany, under the Berlin wall, in 1961, to help defectors escape the Soviet-dominated East. Richard Thomas stars as an American G.I. trying to rescue his girlfriend, with Horst Bucholz as the engineer, Jose Ferrer, Kenneth Griffith, and Nicholas Farrell.

[cigarjoe]

Somewhere In The Night (1946) 

 

 

The first Amnesiac Noir. Lots of twists and turns in this entertaining film, some great lines also:

 

Phyllis: "Who is the character with the hair" (to Christy) "that is why I haven't seen you around" (to Taylor)

Christy: (to Phyllis) If its around I'm sure you'll get it".

 

Great Noir but not very stylistic, almost pedestrian in that department, one location shot of what looks like The Sunshine Apartments on Bunker Hill, across from Angels Flight which does not make an appearance, most of the rest looks like backlot sets 8/10

[LawrenceA]

THE BURNING - (5/10) - Cliched slasher pic about a badly burned summer camp caretaker who returns to stalk and kill sex-starved teens. Film is mainly remembered now for the big names both in front of and behind the camera. Jason Alexander, Fisher Stevens and Holly Hunter all make their film debuts. Make-up fx master Tom Savini provides the gruesomeness, while Rick Wakeman of Yes did the score. This is also the first film by Hollywood bigshots Bob & Harvey Weinstein. Even though five names get screenplay listing, Harvey gets a "created and produced by" credit. Humble since the beginning.

 

I saw this when it was new, but not since, and in the intervening 34 years it's gotten a lot dumber.

[LonesomePolecat]

Watching one of my favorite westerns right now -- SHANE. Great movie, great cast, great script, but what I love best about it is that it's filmed in the Tetons, where I spent many happy summers. Locations add so much -- California can only go so far.

[MCannady1]

 

Somewhere In The Night (1946) 

 

 

The first Amnesiac Noir. Lots of twists and turns in this entertaining film, some great lines also:

 

Phyllis: "Who is the character with the hair" (to Christy) "that is why I haven't seen you around" (to Taylor)

Christy: (to Phyllis) If its around I'm sure you'll get it".

 

Great Noir but not very stylistic, almost pedestrian in that department, one location shot of what looks like The Sunshine Apartments on Bunker Hill, across from Angels Flight which does not make an appearance, most of the rest looks like backlot sets 8/10

 

Love it!  Never forgot the name "Larry Cravat".  I saw this film a long time ago and was very impressed.  A wonderful cast; including Nancy Guild who plays Christy.  

Very sad that poor John Hodiak died so young.  He was in a few other good films as well.

[LawrenceA]

CANNIBAL FEROX - (3/10) - a.k.a. MAKE THEM DIE SLOWLY. The second most infamous Italian cannibal movie of the 1980's, this was even worse than the previous year's CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST. An American grad student, doing her dissertation on the "colonial myth" of cannibalism, travels with friends up the Amazon river to observe tribal living. They run into some other seedy Americans, and they abuse the natives until the natives bite back. Dumb, cheap, grimy and wholly unpleasant. Like the earlier film, this also features some real animal killings, so beware. In fact, pretty much anyone should stay away. This was included in the "500 Essential Cult Films" book. I don't think I need to meet that cult.

[LawrenceA]

THE CANNONBALL RUN - (6/10) - Silly but fun car crash comedy about the illegal cross-country road race. Burt Reynolds leads the all-star cast, which includes Farrah Fawcett, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin & Sammy Davis Jr, Roger Moore, Jackie Chan, Jack Elam, and many more. Will be of special interest to car enthusiasts. Directed by stunt legend Hal Needham.

[CaveGirl]

CANNIBAL FEROX - (3/10) - a.k.a. MAKE THEM DIE SLOWLY. The second most infamous Italian cannibal movie of the 1980's, this was even worse than the previous year's CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST. An American grad student, doing her dissertation on the "colonial myth" of cannibalism, travels with friends up the Amazon river to observe tribal living. They run into some other seedy Americans, and they abuse the natives until the natives bite back. Dumb, cheap, grimy and wholly unpleasant. Like the earlier film, this also features some real animal killings, so beware. In fact, pretty much anyone should stay away. This was included in the "500 Essential Cult Films" book. I don't think I need to meet that cult.

I bet this was a film that Margaret Mead should have seen but for obvious reasons that wasn't happening, Lawrence.

[Movie Collector OH]

THE CANNONBALL RUN - (6/10) - Silly but fun car crash comedy about the illegal cross-country road race. Burt Reynolds leads the all-star cast, which includes Farrah Fawcett, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin & Sammy Davis Jr, Roger Moore, Jackie Chan, Jack Elam, and many more. Will be of special interest to car enthusiasts. Directed by stunt legend Hal Needham.

 

There are quite a few of these, one of the topics I originally started collecting.

 

My favorite among them is The Gumball Rally (1976).  Lots of things happen, like the race starting in the middle of an early-morning vacant NYC.  Cars racing past the skyscrapers.  All kinds of car stunts and mischief throughout.  A motorcycle in the race accidentally veers off a hillside road and ends up on top of a tree.  I think I remember there being some actors in the movie too.

[Movie Collector OH]

 

Somewhere In The Night (1946) 

 

 

The first Amnesiac Noir. Lots of twists and turns in this entertaining film, some great lines also:

 

Phyllis: "Who is the character with the hair" (to Christy) "that is why I haven't seen you around" (to Taylor)

Christy: (to Phyllis) If its around I'm sure you'll get it".

 

Great Noir but not very stylistic, almost pedestrian in that department, one location shot of what looks like The Sunshine Apartments on Bunker Hill, across from Angels Flight which does not make an appearance, most of the rest looks like backlot sets 8/10

 

 

Looks like a must-see.  I didn't know about this one.  Thank you.

[LawrenceA]

There are quite a few of these, one of the topics I originally started collecting.

 

My favorite among them is The Gumball Rally (1976).  Lots of things happen, like the race starting in the middle of an early-morning vacant NYC.  Cars racing past the skyscrapers.  All kinds of car stunts and mischief throughout.  A motorcycle in the race accidentally veers off a hillside road and ends up on top of a tree.  I think I remember there being some actors in the movie too.

Yeah, I watched that one too, recently. It had Michael Sarrazin in the lead. Gary Busey had an early role in it as well.

[LawrenceA]

CHEECH & CHONG'S NICE DREAMS - (6/10) - Third outing for the stoner comedy duo has them dealing pot out of an ice cream truck and operating a growhouse in a swimming pool. Stacey Keach returns from the first one as an obsessive narcotics detective. The humor is starting to wear a little thin, and they do as much coke humor as pot humor, a sign of the times. Also with Paul Reubens, Sandra Bernhard, Linnea Quigley, and Timothy Leary.

[speedracer5]

The Pajama Game.  I watched this movie yesterday before I watched the horrible Golden Globes show that aired last night.  I much preferred this film over the award show.  I loved the storyline and I enjoyed Doris Day's character.  I appreciate that in many of her films, she portrays a strong career-minded woman who doesn't allow a man to walk all over her.  While her films typically end with her coupled up with the man whom she loathed at the beginning, the relationship to me always seems to grow on her terms.  I liked her supporting cast in the pajama factory.  I also loved her red capri pants that she wore during the union rally.  I thought this was a great movie with great songs.  Most importantly, it was fun and in the end that's what matters, right?  

 

[Swithin]

The Pajama Game.  I watched this movie yesterday before I watched the horrible Golden Globes show that aired last night.  I much preferred this film over the award show.  I loved the storyline and I enjoyed Doris Day's character.  I appreciate that in many of her films, she portrays a strong career-minded woman who doesn't allow a man to walk all over her.  While her films typically end with her coupled up with the man whom she loathed at the beginning, the relationship to me always seems to grow on her terms.  I liked her supporting cast in the pajama factory.  I also loved her red capri pants that she wore during the union rally.  I thought this was a great movie with great songs.  Most importantly, it was fun and in the end that's what matters, right?  

 

I love The Pajama Game. I haven't seen it for ages. Great cast as you say, including Barbara Nichols, Thelma Pelish, etc.

[LonesomePolecat]

The Pajama Game.  I watched this movie yesterday before I watched the horrible Golden Globes show that aired last night.  I much preferred this film over the award show.  I loved the storyline and I enjoyed Doris Day's character.  I appreciate that in many of her films, she portrays a strong career-minded woman who doesn't allow a man to walk all over her.  While her films typically end with her coupled up with the man whom she loathed at the beginning, the relationship to me always seems to grow on her terms.  I liked her supporting cast in the pajama factory.  I also loved her red capri pants that she wore during the union rally.  I thought this was a great movie with great songs.  Most importantly, it was fun and in the end that's what matters, right?

 

Love this musical, especially Bob Fosse's crazy choreography

[darkblue]

CHEECH & CHONG'S NICE DREAMS - (6/10) - Third outing for the stoner comedy duo has them dealing pot out of an ice cream truck and operating a growhouse in a swimming pool. Stacey Keach returns from the first one as an obsessive narcotics detective. The humor is starting to wear a little thin, and they do as much coke humor as pot humor, a sign of the times. Also with Paul Reubens, Sandra Bernhard, Linnea Quigley, and Timothy Leary.

 

I laugh my *** off at that one. I even laugh at 'Things Are Tough All Over'. Guess you could say I'm a true fan.

[LonesomePolecat]

 

 

This is supposed to be Steam Heat -- never embedded a video with my tablet before, so I'm not sure if it worked

[speedracer5]

 

 

This is supposed to be Steam Heat -- never embedded a video with my tablet before, so I'm not sure if it worked

 

This was a great song although dare I say that I preferred Georgette's rendition on an episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show? 

 

The scene of everyone dancing at the picnic reminded me of the end of Grease.  

 

I really hated Carol Haney's short hair in this film.  It did nothing for her. 

[sapphiere]

I love The Pajama Game. I haven't seen it for ages. Great cast as you say, including Barbara Nichols, Thelma Pelish, etc.

THE PAJAMA GAME is a great musical, John Raitt`s only film. He was so handsome and had a wonderful singing voice. When THE PAJAMA GAME opened on BROADWAY, Janis Paige played the role of Babe (Doris Day`s role}. Carol Haney, Reta Shaw, and Eddie Foy Jr. were also in the original Broadway cast. I did not like Carol Haney`s hair either. Doris Day wore the short hair style for about four years, and I did not care for the look on her either.

[Swithin]

THE PAJAMA GAME is a great musical, John Raitt`s only film. He was so handsome and had a wonderful singing voice. When THE PAJAMA GAME opened on BROADWAY, Janis Paige played the role of Babe (Doris Day`s role}. Carol Haney, Reta Shaw, and Eddie Foy Jr. were also in the original Broadway cast. I did not like Carol Haney`s hair either. Doris Day wore the short hair style for about four years, and I did not care for the look on her either.

 

Thelma Pelish (Mae) was also in the original Broadway cast.

[sapphiere]

Thelma Pelish (Mae) was also in the original Broadway cast.

Thanks for letting me know. I should have looked at my cd of the original cast recording. Too bad this movie is never shown. I got tired of taking it out of the library. so I ordered a vhs of the film. PAJAMA GAME is a Warner Brothers release co- directed by Stanley Donen and George Abbott.

[LawrenceA]

CORPSE MANIA - (7/10) - Shaw Brothers film from Hong Kong is a shocking change of pace from their usual costume kung fu epics. This is a grisly thriller about a recently released asylum inmate going on a killing spree in the foggy, dimly lit streets of a seedy neighborhood. The killer has a history of being too fond of corpses, and local police detective Zhang is determined to stop him. At times quite graphic, this movie really surprised me with its outre violence, candy-colored bloodsprays, and startling nudity. If Dario Argento went to China, this is the film he would make. If that sounds intriguing, check it out. Sensitive and squeamish viewers need not apply.