I Just Watched...

[LornaHansonForbes]

( I kid somewhat. At least half of LYLAH is pretty damned funny.)

[HoldenIsHere]

DON'T LISTEN TO HIM!

HE'S MAD!!!!! MAD, I TELL YOU!!!!

 

LISTEN TO ME

 

 

 

I feel as if LHF and I are battling for speedracer's soul.

 

speedracer, watch this clip from THE LEGEND OF LYLAH CLARE and see if it peaks your interest in the movie:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxkUR0ZCR2g

 

 

"Molly Luther, the Wicked Witch of the West! You throw water on her and she shrivels, she meeeeeelts! Ha ha ha ha ha! Imagine that! She really melts! And all that’s left is a little phony flower and a dried up, disappointed FRRRRREAK!”

[SansFin]

I feel as if LHF and I are battling for speedracer's soul.

 

 

I will be a little demon and add my support. I like the movie. I feel it is one of Kim Novak's best performances. There are elements which are very much over-the-top and the editing and dubbing were sub-contracted to Miss Clemson's third grade class but I feel it can be enjoyed by all despite its faults.

[LawrenceA]

THE CONFORMIST - (9/10) - 1970 Italian film from director Bernardo Bertolucci is set mainly in 1938 as it follows the title character (Jean Louis Trintignant), a Fascist operative in Mussolini's Italy who is given orders to travel to Paris and assassinate his former school teacher. Trintignant is trying his best to fit into the society of his day: working for the ruling party and marrying a pretty, if vacuous, girl (Stefania Sandrelli) from a respectable family. Things become more complicated when he meets his target's new wife (Dominique Sanda) with whom he falls immediately in love. Will he carry out his orders, even if it means hurting the new woman in his life?

 

My description makes the film sound rather banal and cliched, but it's anything but. The style of this production is impeccable, and the cinematography by Vittorio Storaro is among the best I've ever seen. There are countless moments throughout the film that could easily be paused and framed as works of art fit for a gallery. Each shot is carefully set-up and arranged, and the camera movements add to the visual flow of the story. Storaro, who would go on to shoot films such as APOCALYPSE NOW, REDS, THE LAST EMPEROR,  and DICK TRACY, among many others, would deserve a spot in the list of greatest cinematographers for this film alone. The score by Georges Delerue is also excellent, as is the Costume and Production Design. I also liked seeing Gastone Moschin, who played Don Fanucci in THE GODFATHER PART II, in another role, here as a fellow fascist operative.

 

The narrative is very complex, and can be a bit confusing at first. Scenes jump across many different times in the protagonists life, with little warning, and the audience must pay close attention or be lost, especially in the first 40 minutes or so. I think seeing this on the big screen would eliminate much of this possible confusion. For me, though, it never reached the point of annoyance, and I was able to follow along with no trouble. I've heard much about this over the years, and was glad to finally see it. At the very least, it will take a place on my personal Top Ten Films of 1970 list.

 

One of the 1001 Movies to See Before You Die.

 

 

First time watched.  Source: Blu Ray.

[TomJH]

I liked it in Lylah Clare when Kim Novak opened her mouth and another woman's voice came out of it.

 

Made me think of The Exorcist.

[GregoryPeckfan]

I think she's one of the most underrated writers of the 20th century...I mean, yes, a few of her later books are awful, but she wrote- what? one a year for, like what?, seventy-something years straight or something, and when she's on-the-mark, she's exquisite.

 

she's also one of the best (if not THE best) British writers to utilize classic drama and poetry for titles and quotes.

She's my favourite writer of all time.  I've read all of her mysteries.

[TomJH]

BLUEBEARD'S EIGHTH WIFE (1938). An Ernst Lubitsch comedy, co-scripted by Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett, which has always been generally dismissed by critics and fans alike. Perhaps with the film's reputation as a lesser effort those who sit down to view it will be pleasantly surprised to find it an agreeable affair, anyway.

 

Gary Cooper plays a seven times married American businessman millionaire who finds that with wife no. 8 (Claudette Colbert) he may have met his match. She has made him agree to a pre nuptial agreement of paying her $100,000 should there be a divorce and then makes him spend much of the marriage unhappy and wishing he hadn't signed that agreement.

 

While the film is never as funny or clever as the best of Lubitsch, it still has its moments. The film is remembered primarily for the scene in which Colbert and Cooper "meet cute" as they agree to split a pair of pajamas in a department store.

 

But there are other moments, too, such as the scene in which Cooper, inspired by having just read Taming of the Shrew, bursts out of his room, walks with great macho determination and accompanying soundtrack drum roll down a hallway, enters a room where Colbert stands and slaps her across the face. She responds by slapping him back and Cooper, perplexed by this unexpected turn of events, leaves the room, walks back through that same hallway to his room again and picks up the book to try to figure out what he did wrong.

 

Like all Lubitsch productions this film has a graceful air of sophistication, with a physical elegance in its sets and photography. Colbert is an old hand at frothy material like this while Cooper, cast against type, plays his role with obvious enthusiasm. (He's a far cry from the Cooper we're used to seeing on screen in the scene in which he plays a piano while singing "Looky, looky, looky, Here comes Cookie" to Claudette). The supporting cast is first rate, all of them deft performers: a young David Niven, Edward Everett Horton and Herman Bing.

 

English mangling, beer barrel shaped Bing is the unlikeliest of detectives, hired by Cooper to follow his wife to see if she has any lovers. "Don't forget," he tells the millionaire as he is able to leave, "we are a first class firm. You will find that out when you get our bill."

 

 

2.5 out of 4.

[Swithin]

I just saw Carol (2015). The development of the relationship between Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara is well done. The rest of the characters and story are pretty much cliched. The acting is pretty good -- I don't think much more than that. 

 

But it's nice to see a well-done, high-profile film about a romance between two beautiful women. 

[LonesomePolecat]

Got sucked into TCM's movie lineup today, it being a string of favorites of mine. Had to say that Judy Holliday amazes the socks off me. I am always full of delight over her inventive line readings--she uses her voice to such great comedic effect and dissect the subtext of each word.

[GregoryPeckfan]

Got sucked into TCM's movie lineup today, it being a string of favorites of mine. Had to say that Judy Holliday amazes the socks off me. I am always full of delight over her inventive line readings--she uses her voice to such great comedic effect and dissect the subtext of each word.

I adore Judy Holliday and wish she had made more movies.

 

I recorded a lot of movies today because I was not home most of the time.  Then when I did decide to watch a movie I went to a PVR recording.

[LornaHansonForbes]

Got sucked into TCM's movie lineup today, it being a string of favorites of mine. Had to say that Judy Holliday amazes the socks off me. I am always full of delight over her inventive line readings--she uses her voice to such great comedic effect and dissect the subtext of each word.

 

Ah, the brief yet beautiful career of JUDY HOLLIDAY- ultimately just be grateful for that 10 years (I guess 11 if you count ADAM'S RIB) that we have of Judy, who is ultimately an entry in the OSCAR CURSE file (at least in my file cabinet.)

 

She won on her only nomination (for BORN YESTERDAY) over some stiff competition, and it seems like she felt guilty about it (Gloria Swanson, a nominee for SUNSET BLVD. claimed so, at least, in her autobiography.) for the record, Judy's great; the movie isn't and Gloria should've won.

 

She never got nominated again, in spite of giving totally awesome and 100% nomination worthy work in IT SHOULD HAPPEN TO YOU!, BELLS ARE RINGING, and (most especially) THE MARRYING KIND- which is one of the ten best performances by an actress that I have ever seen period. She was also quite a good vocalist who recorded an album with on-and-offish flame Gerry Mulligan (sp?)

 

She apparently struggled with inferiority complex and stage fright and she was something of a gentle soul who likely got burned a few dozen times in HOLLYWOOD.

 

Fifteen years and (something like) eight movies after winning the Best Actress Oscar, Judy Holliday died of breast cancer in New York City at the age of forty-five.

 

(God totally makes mistakes sometimes. see also: Gilda Radner)

[LawrenceA]

THE ICEMAN COMETH - (8/10) - The American Film Theatre was a company set-up to produce film adaptations of stage plays that remained completely faithful to the original plays. There was to be no additional scripting, or attempts to "open up" any of the imagery. They eventually produced 14 films between 1973 and 1975, and this was the third, released to limited engagement in 1973. Based on the highly acclaimed Eugene O'Neill play, this character study follows a small number of sad drunks and losers who hang around Harry Hope's barroom and boarding house. They each have their own reason for giving up on life in the outside world, and the lengthy verbal monologues and arguments make up the film's running time. 

 

The cast in this is phenomenal, and they each give performances ranging from very good to career best. Robert Ryan (whose last film this was, and who was dying of cancer at the time of filming) anchors the proceedings with a finely underplayed performance, as a washed-up anarchist radical, that should have garnered him his long-deserved Oscar. Fredric March, also dying and in his final role, plays the bar proprietor. Lee Marvin gets the showiest role as the obnoxious Hickey, who's kicked the drink and is now determined to "help" the others get back into the world. A young Jeff Bridges plays a nervous young man with an attachment to Ryan, and I felt he may get swallowed up by all of the other big performers, but he holds his own, and any uncertainty in his performance or intimidation he may have felt working with such actors only serves to enhance his performance. Bradford Dillman is also fantastic in an against-type role as a filthy, broken-toothed drunk who tries to dry out and suffers from the DT's. Also with Sorrell Booke, George Voskovec, John McLiam, Moses Gunn, Clifton James and more.

 

The direction by John Frankenheimer is perfunctory, but it was this play-to-film series' intention not to distract from the written work. At 4 hours long, it can be a test of endurance, and the relentless down-beat mood can be taxing for those not prepared. However, as a piece of acting excellence, it comes highly recommended. 

 

 

First time watched.  Source: DVD.

[GregoryPeckfan]

THE ICEMAN COMETH - (8/10) - The American Film Theatre was a company set-up to produce film adaptations of stage plays that remained completely faithful to the original plays. There was to be no additional scripting, or attempts to "open up" any of the imagery. They eventually produced 14 films between 1973 and 1975, and this was the third, released to limited engagement in 1973. Based on the highly acclaimed Eugene O'Neill play, this character study follows a small number of sad drunks and losers who hang around Harry Hope's barroom and boarding house. They each have their own reason for giving up on life in the outside world, and the lengthy verbal monologues and arguments make up the film's running time. 

 

The cast in this is phenomenal, and they each give performances ranging from very good to career best. Robert Ryan (whose last film this was, and who was dying of cancer at the time of filming) anchors the proceedings with a finely underplayed performance, as a washed-up anarchist radical, that should have garnered him his long-deserved Oscar. Fredric March, also dying and in his final role, plays the bar proprietor. Lee Marvin gets the showiest role as the obnoxious Hickey, who's kicked the drink and is now determined to "help" the others get back into the world. A young Jeff Bridges plays a nervous young man with an attachment to Ryan, and I felt he may get swallowed up by all of the other big performers, but he holds his own, and any uncertainty in his performance or intimidation he may have felt working with such actors only serves to enhance his performance. Bradford Dillman is also fantastic in an against-type role as a filthy, broken-toothed drunk who tries to dry out and suffers from the DT's. Also with Sorrell Booke, George Voskovec, John McLiam, Moses Gunn, Clifton James and more.

 

The direction by John Frankenheimer is perfunctory, but it was this play-to-film series' intention not to distract from the written work. At 4 hours long, it can be a test of endurance, and the relentless down-beat mood can be taxing for those not prepared. However, as a piece of acting excellence, it comes highly recommended. 

 

 

First time watched.  Source: DVD

I knew Robert Ryan was dying when he made this movie. I didn't realize Frederic March was too.

 

This is a great cast and I would love to seeit.  I would likely watch half of it, give myself an intermission of a half hour or so, then watch the rest.

 

Thanks for the review.

[Bogie56]

THE ICEMAN COMETH - (8/10) - The American Film Theatre was a company set-up to produce film adaptations of stage plays that remained completely faithful to the original plays. There was to be no additional scripting, or attempts to "open up" any of the imagery. They eventually produced 14 films between 1973 and 1975, and this was the third, released to limited engagement in 1973. Based on the highly acclaimed Eugene O'Neill play, this character study follows a small number of sad drunks and losers who hang around Harry Hope's barroom and boarding house. They each have their own reason for giving up on life in the outside world, and the lengthy verbal monologues and arguments make up the film's running time. 

 

 

 

The revival of The Iceman Cometh in London was a huge hit for Kevin Spacey.  I missed it.  Perhaps Swithin caught it?

I have seen Spacey at the Old Vic in Mamet's Speed the Plow and thought he was magnetic on stage.

[TomJH]

THE ICEMAN COMETH - (8/10) - The American Film Theatre was a company set-up to produce film adaptations of stage plays that remained completely faithful to the original plays. There was to be no additional scripting, or attempts to "open up" any of the imagery. They eventually produced 14 films between 1973 and 1975, and this was the third, released to limited engagement in 1973. Based on the highly acclaimed Eugene O'Neill play, this character study follows a small number of sad drunks and losers who hang around Harry Hope's barroom and boarding house. They each have their own reason for giving up on life in the outside world, and the lengthy verbal monologues and arguments make up the film's running time. 

 

I've been keeping an eye on the price of the Iceman Cometh DVD on amazon.ca. Unlike the States version of the website in which the disc is reasonably priced, not so in Canada. Unfortunately, the price just went up on it, not down. Time and patience (and a bit of luck if the price falls to a reasonable amount - today it's over $27) and I hope to see this film one day. I very much want to see the final screen performances of both Robert Ryan and Fredric March.

[GregoryPeckfan]

I've been keeping an eye on the price of the Iceman Cometh DVD on amazon.ca. Unlike the States version of the website in which the disc is reasonably priced, not so in Canada. Unfortunately, the price just went up on it, not down. Time and patience (and a bit of luck if the price falls to a reasonable amount - today it's over $27) and I hope to see this film one day. I very much want to see the final screen performances of both Robert Ryan and Fredric March.

Yes, Canada does not  have the same price for many things.  $27 is too high a price for me per movie.  Most of the DVDs I own I bought before TCM became available to us in Canada. 

[LawrenceA]

I've been keeping an eye on the price of the Iceman Cometh DVD on amazon.ca. Unlike the States version of the website in which the disc is reasonably priced, not so in Canada. Unfortunately, the price just went up on it, not down. Time and patience (and a bit of luck if the price falls to a reasonable amount - today it's over $27) and I hope to see this film one day. I very much want to see the final screen performances of both Robert Ryan and Fredric March.

A word of warning about the DVD of THE ICEMAN COMETH. I bought the Kino 2-disc version, brand new. The transfer is pretty bad, with some ghosting and smearing effects in the darker-lit scenes. There was a bit of digital artifacting on the second disc as well, and the very opening of the beginning credits stuttered and froze for a moment. So keep that in mind when deciding if the price is low enough.

[TomJH]

A word of warning about the DVD of THE ICEMAN COMETH. I bought the Kino 2-disc version, brand new. The transfer is pretty bad, with some ghosting and smearing effects in the darker-lit scenes. There was a bit of digital artifacting on the second disc as well, and the very opening of the beginning credits stuttered and froze for a moment. So keep that in mind when deciding if the price is low enough.

 

Thanks for the warning, Lawrence. I'm surprised since Kino usually makes a good product. As far as the artifacting and freezing is concerned, sometimes it's because of an incompatibility with a disc and a particular player. You may not have that same problem on another machine, if you have one.

[LonesomePolecat]

Ah, the brief yet beautiful career of JUDY HOLLIDAY- ultimately just be grateful for that 10 years (I guess 11 if you count ADAM'S RIB) that we have of Judy, who is ultimately an entry in the OSCAR CURSE file (at least in my file cabinet.)

 

She won on her only nomination (for BORN YESTERDAY) over some stiff competition, and it seems like she felt guilty about it (Gloria Swanson, a nominee for SUNSET BLVD. claimed so, at least, in her autobiography.) for the record, Judy's great; the movie isn't and Gloria should've won.

 

She never got nominated again, in spite of giving totally awesome and 100% nomination worthy work in IT SHOULD HAPPEN TO YOU!, BELLS ARE RINGING, and (most especially) THE MARRYING KIND- which is one of the ten best performances by an actress that I have ever seen period. She was also quite a good vocalist who recorded an album with on-and-offish flame Gerry Mulligan (sp?)

 

She apparently struggled with inferiority complex and stage fright and she was something of a gentle soul who likely got burned a few dozen times in HOLLYWOOD.

 

Fifteen years and (something like) eight movies after winning the Best Actress Oscar, Judy Holliday died of breast cancer in New York City at the age of forty-five.

 

(God totally makes mistakes sometimes. see also: Gilda Radner)

All Judy's competitors were great that year, including the ALL ABOUT EVE ladies. Really SUNSET BLVD should have won everything but we can't be shocked that Hollywood wasn't about to reward a movie that condemned Hollywood (see also THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL )

[LonesomePolecat]

Oh, and I finally saw BARRY LYNDON for the first time -- great art house movie (not for those who demand fast pace). One of the most GORGEOUS movies I've ever seen--every shot looks like a painting. And much funnier than I expected.

[GregoryPeckfan]

Thanks for the warning, Lawrence. I'm surprised since Kino usually makes a good product. As far as the artifacting and freezing is concerned, sometimes it's because of an incompatibility with a disc and a particular player. You may not have that same problem on another machine, if you have one.

I need a new DVD player.  The colour on mine is starting to bleed.

 

I thought that it might have to do with the age of the DVDs themselves, but even a brand new one did that.

[LawrenceA]

THE AMERICAN FRIEND - (8/10)- Cool 1977 European neo-noir from German director Wim Wenders and based on Patricia Highsmith's novel "Ripley's Game". Bruno Ganz stars as a Hamburg family man, picture framer and art expert. He notices that a painting at an auction is a forgery, which puts him in the sights of a variety of seedy characters, including shady American Tom Ripley (Dennis Hopper), who has been selling the dubious artworks. A French criminal (Gerard Blain) tricks Ganz into becoming an amateur hit man, and things spiral out of control. Also featuring Lisa Kreuzer, and several directors in acting roles, such as Nicholas Ray, Sam Fuller, and Jean Eustache.

 

The cinematography by Wenders regular Robby Muller is wonderfully evocative, and the score by Jurgen Knieper hearkens back to the noir and suspense films of old. The film also has a nice, dark sense of humor, especially during the "hit" scenes. I really liked one shot of Hopper walking away from the camera, balancing on top of a barrier wall by the highway, with the World Trade Center looming in the background. Recommended for noir fans without a fear of the foreign.

 

One of the 1001 Movies to See Before You Die.

 

First time watched.  Source: DVD, a wonderful 2-disc edition from Criterion that sports a newly restored 4k remaster that brings the picture into crystal clarity. It also has several interviews with Wenders and Ganz, as well as some deleted scenes, and a lengthy essay on the film.

[limey]

I need a new DVD player.  The colour on mine is starting to bleed.

 

I thought that it might have to do with the age of the DVDs themselves, but even a brand new one did that.

How is your DVD player hooked up to the display? If you're using the RF, composite, or s-video connections - these are more prone to colour bleed. If your player/display have the capability, it might be worth trying to use component, or hdmi connections. Another thing to consider is that the problem might lie with the input on the display - if you have an alternate input, or display, you could temporarily switch to that to eliminate that possibility.

[GregoryPeckfan]

How is your DVD player hooked up to the display? If you're using the RF, composite, or s-video connections - these are more prone to colour bleed. If your player/display have the capability, it might be worth trying to use component, or hdmi connections. Another thing to consider is that the problem might lie with the input on the display - if you have an alternate input, or display, you could temporarily switch to that to eliminate that possibility.

I am not sure.  I will have to get one of the teenagers in my building to check it.  Thanks for the information.  I'm not too tech savvy as I think I may have mentioned before....

[Tikisoo]

Count me in as a Judy Holliday fan-I have one of her movie posters on my living room wall. What's really great is you can find LPs of her Broadway shows-I have 2 copies of BELLS ARE RINGING, it must have been a popular show. Her broad talent really come sout on those recordings.

 

I just watched (last month's recordings) FORTY LITTLE MOTHERS with Eddie Cantor. Amazing he'd allow himself so much screen time with that incredibly adorable baby....but he did & still came across as a star. I love Cantor's personality in movies, he's so sweet & funny. Loved this movie-Bonita Granville was great in it...she sure looked like one of the Lane sisters.

And Judith Anderson is ALWAYS a treat, especially when you see her break away from the stern charactor she usually plays. What a pretty woman she was. And so talented.

 

Another fun Cantor for my collection.