I Just Watched...

[EugeniaH]

Just read that today is Jean Simmons' birthday. Last night I saw her in "Spartacus" (luckily, I had three hours to kill!). "Epic" doesn't get much better than this - lush sets, stellar cast, engaging storyline. Love how the film can go from stark cruelty and brutality (the "fight to the death" acts between the slaves, and the way the women seem to savor it with something like lust in their eyes) to moving tenderness (Spartacus meets up with Varinia when he thought she was gone for good, and his eyes well up with tears. Easily one of my favorite moments in the film)...

[LawrenceA]

SOLDIER BLUE - (8/10) - Western from 1970 starring Peter Strauss as a naive young Cavalry Private who survives an Indian attack that kills the rest of his squadron. The only other survivor is a young white woman who until recently had been living among the local Cheyenne. She was originally headed to a nearby fort for an arranged marriage with a cavalry officer before getting captured and assimilated into the Cheyenne culture. She and the young Private make their way towards the army fort across hostile terrain, dealing with an assortment of obstacles while having many cute, romance-building moments.

 

Candice Bergen stars as the foul-mouthed bride-to-be who knows much more about surviving in the West than the supposed professional soldier. Donald Pleasence shows up in a fun turn as an eccentric traveling salesman. Also with John Anderson, Jorge Rivero, and Dana Elcar.

 

I must give one warning: there is some extreme violence in this, so be prepared. Like most revisionist westerns of this era, the film acts not just as an indictment on the treatment of Native Americans, but also as a Vietnam allegory. What starts out as a nice, if a bit clumsy at times, romantic western road movie, turns decidedly nasty and political. Recommended.

 

First time watched. Source: Amazon Prime streaming, with a near-pristine HD widescreen print.

[Tikisoo]

Haha, I caught THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN (1977) on over-the-air TV last night. I took a quick look in my Leonard Maltin book and saw it was directed by Charles B Pierce. Could that be the SAME Charles B Pierce who directed and starred in a MST3K favorite LEGEND OF BOGGY CREEK?

It was!

And Pierce acted in this one too, sans his rare male c a m e l t o e

 

I was shocked to read this was based on a true story, and Pierce shows glimpses of decent filmmaking skills, although the movie often drops into Ed Wood schlock mode. Narration is used....I'm guessing because he can't get the action to tell the story sufficiently....a major handicap in the story flow. 

 

TCM Underground has shown this in the past, because I recall discussion over it & then put it on my watch list.

I find watching this sort of "near miss" movie more interesting than just ridicule, just to see the elements of where films go "wrong" vs go "right".

[LawrenceA]

AIRPLANE II: THE SEQUEL  -  (7/10) -  My first title for my 1982 watching is this inferior but still funny sequel to 1980's hit original. Robert Hays and Julie Hagerty return as the leads, this time on board a new commercial space shuttle that is having its inaugural flight to the newly established moon base. Of course, things go wrong, and Hays and Hagerty are forced to deal with the near-disaster and its many complications. The plot is secondary, though, to the ceaseless volley of machine-gun fast verbal and visual gags. Many from the first film are repeated, or given a slight twist, and only about 60% work, but when there's so many, it still manages to keep a smile on your face when you're not outright laughing.

 

Also returning from the first are Peter Graves, Lloyd Bridges and Stephen Stucker (who once again nearly steals the movie), and this time they're joined by Chuck Connors, Chad Everett, Rip Torn, John Dehner, Richard Jaeckel, Raymond Burr, Kent McCord, James Watson Jr., John Vernon, John Larch, Sonny Bono, Louise Sorel, Jack Jones, Herve Villachaize as "Little Breather", and William Shatner. One of the great joys of these movies is watching all of the old Hollywood tough guys having fun with their screen image. Also keep your eyes peeled for a number of future well-known faces in small and/or unbilled parts, like Pat Sajak, George Wendt, and David Paymer.

 

 

Rewatch.  Source: dvd.

[Kid Dabb]

Radio (2003) & The Blind Side (2009) (10/10 for both)

 

Two semi-biographical sports dramas which I have found to be uplifting and reaffirming of the good that can (still) be found in people. 

 

These are both fun to watch, but I'd give the edge to Sandra Bullock's character in The Blind Side. She just flat out takes charge and never relinquishes - not for a second. 

[LawrenceA]

AMAZON JAIL - (3/10) - Brazilian exploitation trash about a group of white slavers out in the jungles of the Amazon basin who are keeping a bevy of beauties captive in a primitive shack in their backyard. The slavers hold large debauched gatherings where they sell access to the captive ladies, who are adorned in body paint and glitter. Eventually, the prisoners team up for a desperate escape into the jungle. But will they survive? The dubbed dialogue is on the so-bad-it's-good level and the staging is camp enough for trash movie fans. From the director of BARE BEHIND BARS.

 

"I know what you're here for...popcorn!"

 

Wait...what?

 

 

First time watched. Source: dvd, part of the BAD GIRLS BEHIND BARS set from Blue Underground.

[LawrenceA]

Perversion For Profit was on again this morning in the wee hours. Informative and entertaining. Highly recommended viewing.

I forgot to mention that I watched this, and the driver's ed follow-up, last night. The host of "Perversion" was right in his assertions. After viewing those vile images, I was drawn into the world of lesbianism. I spent the morning organizing my own local chapter of Citizens for Decent Literature.

[Kid Dabb]

I forgot to mention that I watched this, and the driver's ed follow-up, last night. The host of "Perversion" was right in his assertions. After viewing those vile images, I was drawn into the world of lesbianism. I spent the morning organizing my own local chapter of Citizens for Decent Literature.

[LornaHansonForbes]

I forgot to mention that I watched this, and the driver's ed follow-up, last night. The host of "Perversion" was right in his assertions. After viewing those vile images, I was drawn into the world of lesbianism. I spent the morning organizing my own local chapter of Citizens for Decent Literature.

May I suggest any of the collected works of Rita Mae Brown for your initial book club discussion?

[LawrenceA]

BATTLETRUCK - (5/10) - a.k.a. WARLORDS OF THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY. Post-apocalyptic movie takes place "after the Oil Wars". The evil Straker rules the wastelands thanks to his vicious army and his heavily armored BattleTruck (a modified tractor-trailer). They make raiding strikes against small villages, looting and murdering as they go. Straker's rebellious daughter doesn't wish to follow in her father's footsteps, so she runs away to the peaceful village of Clearwater. It isn't long until her father and his army comes looking for her, though. Her only chance is with the mysterious loner known as Hunter, who drives a modified dirt-bike and wears silly armor.

 

Michael Beck (from THE WARRIORS) stars as Hunter, with James Wainwright as Straker, Annie McEnroe as his daughter, Bruno Lawrence, and John Ratzenberger. This was shot in New Zealand, so the landscapes are interesting, even if the action fails to thrill much.

 

 

Rewatch, after 30 something years. Source: DVD, a pretty shabby print, from Shout Factory

[darkblue]

Michael Beck (from THE WARRIORS) stars as Hunter

 

Beck was so good as Swan in 'The Warriors'. I thought he'd be a more popular actor, but it wasn't to be.

 

James Remar as well, who played Ajax, toiled in minor parts pretty much all his career as well even though he was terrific in 'The Warriors'. It's puzzling how so much talent just sometimes doesn't get the recognition it deserves.

[LawrenceA]

ONLY THE VALIANT - (7/10) - Cavalry western from 1951 starring Gregory Peck as the subtly named Capt. Dick Lance. He's a tough, by-the-book officer whose straight-and-narrow attitude has alienated his troops even before the story begins. After Apaches massacre the contingent at a remote Army outpost, Captain Lance and his men manage to capture the Indian leader and return with him to their base. A small detachment is sent out to deliver the Apache chief to justice, but they are bushwhacked and killed, with the chief returning to his tribe and Lance's men hating him even more. He is then ordered to lead a small detachment back to the remote outpost to hold off the inevitable Apache advance until reinforcements can arrive. As the men settle in and wait, it becomes a question of who will start killing first, the Apaches or Lance's own men.

 

The film isn't terrible, with some exciting moments, and a few atmospheric night shots. The version I watched had a very clear picture, which unfortunately highlighted some bad rear projection work. However, my only real complaint was with the presentation of Peck's character. All of his men hate him for various reasons, but the audience never sees Peck doing anything really mean or cold-blooded. The way things are shown, you feel more like every single other person in the film is a whiny clod through most of the film, with poor Peck having to put up with a lot of undeserved abuse. That's not a dealbreaker, though, and the film still delivers enough to make it worthwhile. The great supporting cast includes Ward Bond, Barbara Payton, Neville Brand, Gig Young, Jeff Corey, Warner Anderson, Steve Brodie, Michael Ansara as the Apache chief, and in the oddest role, Lon Chaney Jr. as an Arab cavalry trooper that everyone calls A-Rab. The trivia on this one says Peck considered this one of the worst films he ever made, but it's not nearly that bad. It was also odd to see Ward Bond and Jeff Corey sharing scenes. This was one of the final film roles Corey would have for nearly 12 years after he was blacklisted as a communist in 1951. Ward Bond, as is well known, was one of the most vicious anti-communists in Hollywood.

 

 

First time watched. Source: I ain't tellin'!

[GregoryPeckfan]

ONLY THE VALIANT - (7/10) - Cavalry western from 1951 starring Gregory Peck as the subtly named Capt. Dick Lance. He's a tough, by-the-book officer whose straight-and-narrow attitude has alienated his troops even before the story begins. After Apaches massacre the men at a remote Army outpost, Captain Lance and his men manage to capture the Indian leader and return with him to their base. A small detachment is sent out to deliver the Apache chief to justice, but they are bushwhacked and killed, with the chief returning to his tribe and Lance's men hating him even more. He is then ordered to lead a small detachment back to the remote outpost to hold off the inevitable Apache advance until reinforcements can arrive. As the men settle in and wait, it becomes a question of who will start killing first, the Apaches or Lance's own men.

 

The film isn't terrible, with some exciting moments, and a few atmospheric night shots. The version I watched had a very clear picture, which unfortunately highlighted some bad rear projection work. However, my only real complaint was with the presentation of Peck's character. All of his men hate him for various reasons, but the audience never sees Peck doing anything really mean or cold-blooded. The way things are shown, you feel more like every single other person in the film is a whiny clod through most of the film, with poor Peck having to put up with a lot of undeserved abuse. That's not a dealbreaker, though, and the film still delivers enough to make it worthwhile. The great supporting cast includes Ward Bond, Barbara Payton, Neville Brand, Gig Young, Jeff Corey, Warner Anderson, Steve Brodie, Michael Ansara as the Apache chief, and in the oddest role, Lon Chaney Jr. as an Arab cavalry trooper that everyone calls A-Rab. The trivia on this one says Peck considered this one of the worst films he ever made, but it's not nearly that bad. It was also odd to see Ward Bond and Jeff Corey sharing scenes. This was one of the final film roles Corey would have for nearly 12 years after he was blacklisted as a communist in 1951. Ward Bond, as is well known, was one of the most vicious anti-communists in Hollywood.

 

 

First time watched.  Source: I ain't tellin'!

That Peck personally hated making this movie is something I have known for a long time .  That he considered it to be his worst was something that was on my mind while I saw it for the first time today.  The film from his point of view doesn't give him much to do and his character I agree with him that as a *Peck* movie, this was a disappointment.  If he had been playing the Ward Bond role there would be a lot more for him to  do-really, Gig Young was the only role that seemed like there was less time just standing and not saying anything.  I enjoyed the movie but that is mainly because I am fond of many of the character actors in the movie as much as anything else.  It is by no means the worst movie Peck made. 

[LawrenceA]

THE BEACH GIRLS - (4/10) - Rather moronic sex comedy from exploitation house Crown International. A trio of girls spend the summer at a rich uncle's posh beach house, throwing parties, getting in trouble, and falling in love. There are lots of bikinis and tan lines on display, and there's a subplot about pot smugglers and some bad homophobic jokes about a Coast Guard crew, as well as an awful Captain Queeg impression.

 

Jeana Tomasino, a former Playboy Playmate and future Real Housewife of Orange County, appears, as well as James Daughton (from ANIMAL HOUSE), and Adam Roarke from a lot of 60s AIP biker flicks. The movie is terrible, but there's something sweetly naive and retro about it, especially compared to the later glut of "adult thrillers" that came to take the place of this kind of endeavor. At one point someone references the "Wouldn't you like to be a Pepper, too?" ad campaign.

 

 

First time watched. Source: DVD, part of the TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL box set.

[speedracer5]

Blue Skies.  Last night, I watched this musical starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire.  This movie was produced in 1946 and apparently was going to be Astaire's last film.  Having worked since he was a child, Astaire decided that he was tired and wanted to retire.  He announced that Blue Skies was going to be his last hurrah.  Fortunately for us, Gene Kelly had to bow out of Easter Parade and he managed to coax Astaire out of retirement to take over.  Astaire's career was revitalized and he went on to perform through his 80s.  

 

Anyway, Blue Skies features a similar movie plot line: both male stars are in love with the same woman (Joan Caufield in this case).  I like the pairing of Astaire and Crosby.  Their respective talents play well off each other, especially in their "A Couple of Song and Dance Men" performance.  There are so many songs that show up in Irving Berlin musicals that I didn't even realize were Irving Berlin songs.  Crosby performs "(I'll See You in) C-U-B-A." I must say that I prefer Desi Arnaz' rendition.  Crosby sang it too slow for my tastes.  One of the supporting players, Billy deWolfe, was funny, however, I wasn't a fan of his shtick when he was performing sans Crosby or Astaire.  He had one bit that went on for quite some time.  He was portraying "Mrs. Murgatroyd."  I was surprised that his routine was allowed to go on so long and frankly it wasn't that funny.  I was perplexed why he was allowed such a lengthy routine.  I did some research and found out that deWolfe was a popular comedian in the day and "Mrs. Murgatroyd" was one of his popular characters.  Knowing that information, it put his performance into context and it made sense.  

 

The showstopping number was Fred Astaire's "Puttin' on the Ritz" number.  The rest of the film is average, but Astaire's number makes the entire film worth watching.  It is fantastic and a complete joy to watch.  The filming and special effects involved in this routine are excellent when considering that this film was produced in 1946.

 

There was also another rendition of "White Christmas" which is always enjoyable.

 

2.5/4 stars.

[sapphiere]

A first time viewing for me was SERPICO 1973 on Amazon Prime. Al Pacino proved that THE GODFATHER 1972 was no fluke. He is excellent as the cop who goes undercover to expose corruption. Many of his fellow police officers do not approve of his methods, and they give him a hard time. Sidney Lumet always was a good director, and we will see another example of his fine work behind the camera on Tuesday night with THE VERDICT 1982. Al won the Golden Globe and National Board of Review award, and both Al and Paul were nominated for Oscars.

[Movie Collector OH]

Hancock (2008).  Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman.  Action, Fantasy.

 

Just saw this film last night as I was burning the midnight oil doing some work.  It was an odd distraction, mindless entertainment, not too bad.  Will Smith was "John Hancock", an alien being who had superhuman strength. His name was a misnomer, which originated when someone asked him to sign his name. 

 

His super-human feats were benevolent but had all kinds of consequences.  In the beginning he rescued a car that was caught in a traffic jam, and about to get hit by a train.  He picked up the car and threw it about 50 feet so it landed upside-down on top of some other gridlocked cars.   Then he stood in front of the train and destroyed it as it ran into him and came to a dead stop.  That man he saved, and his family, ended up befriending him, and hence the plot.

 

In many scenes he flew by jettisoning himself in straight lines at odd vectors, leaving piles of crumbled concrete and holes in buildings and windows.  A would-be "Super Hero", but really just more of a friendly outcast.

 

Good for a few laughs.  Probably 6/10 for most, 7/10 for me.

[Kid Dabb]

Hancock (2008).  Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman.  Action, Fantasy.

 

Just saw this film last night as I was burning the midnight oil doing some work.  It was an odd distraction, mindless entertainment, not too bad.  Will Smith was "John Hancock", an alien being who had superhuman strength. His name was a misnomer, which originated when someone asked him to sign his name. 

 

His super-human feats were benevolent but had all kinds of consequences.  In the beginning he rescued a car that was caught in a traffic jam, and about to get hit by a train.  He picked up the car and threw it about 50 feet so it landed upside-down on top of some other cars.   Then he stood in front of the train and destroyed it as it ran into him and came to a dead stop.  That man he saved, and his family, ended up befriending him, and hence the plot.

 

In many scenes he flew by jettisoning himself in straight lines at odd vectors, leaving piles of crumbled concrete and holes in buildings and windows.  A would-be "Super Hero", but really just more of a friendly outcast.

 

Good for a few laughs.  Probably 6/10 for most, 7/10 for me.

I found the underlying story to be a good one, with a nice twist. Too bad they were a bit heavy-handed with the special FX - those put me off, but I reckon today's viewers expect mass quantities and so they are fed.

[Movie Collector OH]

I found the underlying story to be a good one, with a nice twist. Too bad they were a bit heavy-handed with the special FX - those put me off, but I reckon today's viewers expect mass quantities and so they are fed.

 

Yeah, I don't know if I would have liked it as much if I hadn't been working on something else at the same time.  Also, as a rule of thumb, I don't watch anything newer or current on my big-screen TV, I watch it on a 27" tube TV.  That is to downsize or put into perspective the mind-numbing outcome of modern special FX.  The more special FX there are, the smaller the screen I watch it on, until I can't see anything anymore.  Then it is a non-issue.

[LawrenceA]

THE BLUE & THE GRAY - (7/10) - TV mini-series about the Civil War, following a handful of characters from the pre-war to the post-war period. The primary character is a young man, played by a bland John Hammond, who leaves home and starts work as a newspaper illustrator. His job puts him in contact with a variety of people, each helping to show the effect the war had on America, on both sides of the conflict. The other primary characters include a Northern spy (Stacy Keach), his beloved (Julia Duffy), and the reporter's love interest (Kathleen Beller). The huge cast includes Lloyd Bridges, Warren Oates, Colleen Dewhurst, Diane Baker, Paul Benedict, Paul Winfield, John Vernon, Rory Calhoun, David Doyle, Robert Vaughn, and Dan Shor. Rip Torn shows up as Ulysses S. Grant, Geraldine page has a fun bit as a Southern belle on hard times that's forced to butcher a dead horse, Sterling Hayden in his final role as John Brown, and Gregory Peck as Abraham Lincoln. There are long dull patches, and some of the battles get repetitious, but over all it's not a bad television effort. At around 6 and a half hours long, it is a bit of an undertaking, though. 

 

The town I live in is obsessed with the Civil War. The one major battle in Florida took place here, and there is a huge annual festival and battle re-enactment held every February. I recall when this film was being made that a huge group of local re-enactors traveled to Arkansas to volunteer as battle extras. Our newspaper printed many articles about it, and there was a big countdown to its initial airing. I skipped it.

 

 

First time watched.  Source: DVD

[Bogie56]

THE BLUE & THE GRAY - (7/10) - TV mini-series about the Civil War, following a handful of characters from the pre-war to the post-war period. The primary character is a young man, played by a bland John Hammond, who leaves home and starts work as a newspaper illustrator. His job puts him in contact with a variety of people, each helping to show the effect the war had on America, on both sides of the conflict. The other primary characters include a Northern spy (Stacy Keach), his beloved (Julia Duffy), and the reporter's love interest (Kathleen Beller). The huge cast includes Lloyd Bridges, Warren Oates, Colleen Dewhurst, Diane Baker, Paul Benedict, Paul Winfield, John Vernon, Rory Calhoun, David Doyle, Robert Vaughn, and Dan Shor. Rip Torn shows up as Ulysses S. Grant, Geraldine page has a fun bit as a Southern belle on hard times that's forced to butcher a dead horse, Sterling Hayden in his final role as John Brown, and Gregory Peck as Abraham Lincoln. There are long dull patches, and some of the battles get repetitious, but over all it's not a bad television effort. At around 6 and a half hours long, it is a bit of an undertaking, though. 

 

The town I live in is obsessed with the Civil War. The one major battle in Florida took place here, and there is a huge annual festival and battle re-enactment held every February. I recall when this film was being made that a huge group of local re-enactors traveled to Arkansas to volunteer as battle extras. Our newspaper printed many articles about it, and there was a big countdown to its initial airing. I skipped it.

 

 

First time watched.  Source: DVD

 

Sounds like a good cast, Larry.  How did Hayden do as John Brown?  Seems like perfect casting.

Peck as Ahab, er, I mean Abraham Lincoln ain't bad either I would think.

[LawrenceA]

Sounds like a good cast, Larry.  How did Hayden do as John Brown?  Seems like perfect casting.

Peck as Ahab, er, I mean Abraham Lincoln ain't bad either I would think.

Hayden was good. His role was very small, one courtroom scene, and one bit outdoors. He looked ill, but I believe John Brown was ill at the time, so it may have been intentional.

 

Peck, too, only had a couple of scenes. He was under pretty thick make-up to make him look more like Lincoln, and that was a bit distracting. And he sounded like Atticus Finch.

[Kid Dabb]

Yeah, I don't know if I would have liked it as much if I hadn't been working on something else at the same time.  Also, as a rule of thumb, I don't watch anything newer or current on my big-screen TV, I watch it on a 27" tube TV.  That is to downsize or put into perspective the mind-numbing outcome of modern special FX.  The more special FX there are, the smaller the screen I watch it on, until I can't see anything anymore.  Then it is a non-issue.

Well, that's ok. The current crop of producers/directors shoot half of each of their films in close-ups

of head shots, so they'll fit right into your plans.

[GregoryPeckfan]

THE BLUE & THE GRAY - (7/10) - TV mini-series about the Civil War, following a handful of characters from the pre-war to the post-war period. The primary character is a young man, played by a bland John Hammond, who leaves home and starts work as a newspaper illustrator. His job puts him in contact with a variety of people, each helping to show the effect the war had on America, on both sides of the conflict. The other primary characters include a Northern spy (Stacy Keach), his beloved (Julia Duffy), and the reporter's love interest (Kathleen Beller). The huge cast includes Lloyd Bridges, Warren Oates, Colleen Dewhurst, Diane Baker, Paul Benedict, Paul Winfield, John Vernon, Rory Calhoun, David Doyle, Robert Vaughn, and Dan Shor. Rip Torn shows up as Ulysses S. Grant, Geraldine page has a fun bit as a Southern belle on hard times that's forced to butcher a dead horse, Sterling Hayden in his final role as John Brown, and Gregory Peck as Abraham Lincoln. There are long dull patches, and some of the battles get repetitious, but over all it's not a bad television effort. At around 6 and a half hours long, it is a bit of an undertaking, though. 

 

The town I live in is obsessed with the Civil War. The one major battle in Florida took place here, and there is a huge annual festival and battle re-enactment held every February. I recall when this film was being made that a huge group of local re-enactors traveled to Arkansas to volunteer as battle extras. Our newspaper printed many articles about it, and there was a big countdown to its initial airing. I skipped it.

 

 

First time watched.  Source: DVD

Of course as a Peck fan I had to see this movie.  I think I enjoyed this more than you did.  I watched it in segments only rather than all together.

[Fedya]

And he sounded like Atticus Finch.

As if Claude Rains sounded like an authentic Noo Yawker in They Made Me a Criminal.