Movie Classic Films — Let's Discuss

[Dagless]

Just saw the restored version of 'Wake In Fright'. What a magnificent film. I saw it only once before, upon it's theatrical release but that was a long time ago. I'd forgotten the power and impact of the visuals and the story. Ted Kotcheff is one of the great, unsung directors of the 20th Century. Sure, he made a few quesionable films, but for a Canadian director working post Studio System and one who was not an auteur, he had to take on a wide variety of projects.

'Wake In Fright' (AKA 'Outback') is, I can tell you, an accurate picture of the far outback of that period (probably still is like that in some remote regions). The violence and the roo shooting would problably not enable a TV screening these days - pity - all Australians should see this film. It's my No 2 Australian film of all time. If Baz Lehurrman (?) had seen this film, he might not have made his, 'Australia' as sickly sweet and jingoisticly as he did.

Not a film to be shown on QANTAS planes, or as a promo for Tourism Australia, this is a brave film that dared to show human nature in all its ugliness. Greed, sex, cruelty, alcoholism it's all there, great material and an intelligent script. Pity, you can just see some fool remaking this, or worse still some 'arty' type making an opera or a stage musical out of it.

'Wake...' doesn't have a huge moral tale to tell (apart from: if you're going on holidays DON'T get pissed and gamble!) It is an observation of a slice of life that DID exist in Australia once. It being framed and examined by an outsider (Kotcheff) fits in beautifully with the alienation of the English school teacher in the story.

I can reccomend this film to all. Nothing like it will be made again. And to think it was, almost literally, saved from the tip.
Cheers,
Keep the great posts coming.
Dees 31

Top post - I bought the blu ray not too long ago. A serious masterpiece in my books, probably my favourite Australian film of all time, and easily hits my top 10 movies list.

Loving this thread - Not that I can add much into what has actually been discussed but will return when I can and post what I consider to be classics.

 

[sandeano]

Can anyone explain to me how Breakfast at Tiffany's is regarded a classic?

A truly awful film.

Gets my nom for Worst Adaptation Ever.

Obviously you are a person of no taste. The film is regarded as a classic for Mickey Rooney's insightful, subtle, tasteful and entirely realistic portrayal of an Asian.


Nah, can't say I'm much of a fan myself.

 

[Magpiespower]

Obviously you are a person of no taste. The film is regarded as a classic for Mickey Rooney's insightful, subtle, tasteful and entirely realistic portrayal of an Asian.

LMAO!

Travesty he got snubbed by the Academy.

Miss Go-Right-Ree!

 

[jacqui9]

Not an Audrey Hepburn fan. Breakfast at Tiffany's as well as My Fair Lady are just awful.

 

[raskolnikov]

Not an Audrey Hepburn fan. Breakfast at Tiffany's as well as My Fair Lady are just awful.

I don't mind My Fair Lady, though Pygmalion was a lot better.

 

[sandeano]

Don't know if it could be classed as classic, but Channel 9 tonight (2am) is screening a ripper of a thriller from 1970 called "And Soon the Darkness". Well worth taping / recording.

 

[jacqui9]

THe Magnificent Ambersons is on at 12.30am tomorrow morning.

 

[Corrosion]

This classic movie is a not old, but it is a standout for me.

The Usual Suspects. Superb movie.

 

[mdc]

Watched Un homme qui dort today - a truly remarkable film. Adapted from the Georges Perec novella of the same name (by the author), it is one of the finest studies of human detachment I've seen, with many of the descriptions and images at once precise and poetic. The form of the film is rather unique as well; we get only images of a silent protagonist in his Paris, with second-person narration throughout. Having French helps, but certainly still worthwhile even if you must rely on the English subtitles.

I thought I'd fish for some other recommendations of great literary adaptations, particularly where the author isn't so well known...

 

[mantis]

Fistful of Dollars is on at 10.40pm on 7 two tonight, nothing better than a Clint Eastwood spaghetti western.

 

[Dees 31]

Happy New Year all you Classic Film Buffs!
I've been off the air since Xmas. Worked right through the break writing a feature film script with my writing partner 'Skilts'. He and I wrote our first screenplay 17 years ago and I'd forgotten how incredibly hard it is. Most satisfying when it's done but getting there is extremely draining.
Took me about ten days to get over the experience.
Now, we're both pleased with the outcome and we can start the 'easy' part of the project: selling the script to an executive producer. We've got a couple in mind. We'll also be sending the script to the three actors we had in mind for the leads as we wrote the thing.
Always need more help though... if anyone knows of a potential film investor/exec. producer then please let us know.

Good to see you'all have been keeping up the discussion on Classic Films.
Saw a great little film the other night on the ABC. So impressed was I, I sought out the DVD the next day and ordered it. The Film: "The Divorce of Lady X".
Sure, the story is a piece of fluff, a pre-WW2 'bedroom farce' but the performances are really stunning. 'Larry' Olivier and Merle Oberon. Olivier gives a 'perfect' performance as a self-centered misogynist (was he acting?). His delivery, his movements, his visage are so brilliantly controlled. Not what one would expect from someone who, at that time, had only done stage work.
Oberon is also a surprise. I had not been a big wrap for her but in this Merle is just right. She catches the spirit of this lightweight script and runs with it beautifully. It's not a great film but Larry, Merle and the support of Ralph Richardson make this a good little film that will not waste your time.
Cheers,
Dees 31

 

[CURVE]

Fistful of Dollars is on at 10.40pm on 7 two tonight, nothing better than a Clint Eastwood spaghetti western.

Except a Sergio Leone western.

 

[sandeano]

Oberon is also a surprise. I had not been a big wrap for her but in this Merle is just right. She catches the spirit of this lightweight script and runs with it beautifully. It's not a great film but Larry, Merle and the support of Ralph Richardson make this a good little film that will not waste your time.
Cheers,
Dees 31

Great to have you back, Dees31. And congrats on completing the script.

Regarding Merle, the great Brian McFarlane of Monash Uni recently wrote this splendid appreciation of her screen presence.

http://www.sensesofcinema.com/2009/52/merle-oberon-she-walked-in-beauty/

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

Henry Fonda is one of my favourite actors but not my favourite, he just coincidentally happens to be in 3 of my all time favourite movies.

Mr Roberts
Fail Safe
12 Angry Men
I could probably throw the Grapes of Wrath in with that lot too.

Gregory Peck probably rates as my favourite purely on his performance in To Kill A Mockingbird. My wife and I liked it that much that we had earmarked the name Scout about 15 years ago for when and if we ever had a daughter. Scout was born in 2004.

The old B sci-fi movies that are now rated as classics are on fairly high rotation at my place, movies such as :
The Day The Earth Stood Still
When Worlds Collide
The Forbidden Planet
War Of The Worlds
The Giant Claw (it was pretty hard to get hold of this one for some reason)

Charlton Heston was in some of my favourites from the 60s and 70s. I despised him later on during his period as the National President of the N.R.A. in the U.S.A.

The Planet Of The Apes
Omega Man
Soylent Green

My top 3 of all time are 2 I've already mentioned in Mr Roberts and To Kill A Mockingbird and IMO the best Titanic movie ever made, A Night To Remember.

I think we have close to every Hitchcock movie ever made, the entire series of Miss Marple with Margaret Rutherford and Bud Tingwell and the entire series of The Thin Man movies with William Powell and Myra Loy (and Asta the dog, lol) My wife's particular Hitchcock favourite is, 'The Trouble With Harry' and another favourite that is non Hitchcock would be Arsenic and Old Lace.

There has been mention of Ivan Hutchison and Bill Collins in this thread but another classic movie presenter that my wife and I used to love was John Hinde on the ABC on Friday nights. He died in 2006 aged 92. He was a correspondant in the Pacific during WWII. I remember after he retired from presenting movies he appeared in an episode of RPA having surgery on something. Lovely bloke.

I'll add more at a later date, too much to go over and I'm at work.

 

[mantis]

I just finished watching "To Sir With Love" on ABC2, love this movie.

 

[Dry Rot]

Interesting to see what you all make of this thread http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=683328 and my post http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showpost.php?p=17161926&postcount=15

 

[Asgardian]

Herne Hill Hammer, you've mentioned some excellent Henry Fonda movies, but I'd add a couple for serious consideration.

"Advise & Consent", Fonda plays a politician nominated for a top Washington job, only he has to go through a Senate investigation which digs up some old skeletons, and tests his honesty.

"Once Upon a Time in the West", Fonda plays one of the most vicious gunmen ever seen, this is a Leone/Morricone must see classic.

"On Golden Pond", an elderly Fonda plays an elderly gent to perfection, he's old, bad tempered and holds a grudge.

Gregory Peck fans should of course see the following at least once in their lives

"Twelve O'Clock High"
"Days of Glory"
"Moby Dick"
"Spellbound"
"The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit"
"The Scarlet and the Black"

Plus the "B" sci-fi's I'd add

"Them"
"Earth vs the Flying Saucers"
"This Island Earth"
"F.P.1"
"20 Million Miles to Earth"
"The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms"
"The Thing from Another World"
"The Mole People" (a terrible movie but I love it)
"The Damned" (1963)
"The World, the Flesh and the Devil"
"Flight to Mars" (another lousy movie, but I love it)
and of course "The Blob"

I watched a war time Hitchcock the other day, "Lifeboat", it's a real crime that is was buried by the studio that was touchy about some criticism saying it was pro-Nazi, which couldn't be further from the truth.

 

[Fossie 32]

I received the Dam Busters on Blu about a month ago and seriously, if you love British War films, it will blow you away.

That is one of my favourites - used to have the 78 of the theme music and accidentally broke it when I was a youngster. I have it on cd now but not sure its the same version.

 

[jacqui9]

I have never been a fan of Henry Fonda. Sometimes a Great Notion was an exception (I thought he was fantastic as the crusty matriach).

The Ox-Bow Incident is a wonderful film and Fonda's last scene is quote stirring. However was Dana Andrews' performance that really stood out. His role as one of the three doomed, but innocent men was simply stunning. I haven't been able to watch it again since. Most of what William Wellman touched turned to gold. (Hello Paramount, waiting on Wings to be released).

Asgardian, I have all of those B pictures in a Universal set. Warner Bros released some wonderful movies in a series of 'camp' boxsets a couple of years ago. Many of the 50s B Sci-Fi films are a lot of fun.

 

[Black Flag]

any fan of spaghetti westerns and henry fonda should see, My Name is Nobody. It is partially directed by Sergio Leone and has Terence Hill in it too.

 

[Asgardian]

Asgardian, I have all of those B pictures in a Universal set. Warner Bros released some wonderful movies in a series of 'camp' boxsets a couple of years ago. Many of the 50s B Sci-Fi films are a lot of fun.

Yes, they are.

I like the movie DVD's to be a single purchase, on most occasions, that way they tend to have more extras, like the excellent Warner Bros Pictures Gangster series and the Ray Harryhausen visual effects movies like the 2 disc 20 Million Miles to Earth special edition. Whereas the 7 disc Controversial Classics collection, with 7 movies, only has commentaries and that's about it.

I take it you didn't like "Advise & Consent" or "Once Upon a Time in the West"?

 

[CURVE]

Interesting to see what you all make of this thread http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=683328 and my post http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showpost.php?p=17161926&postcount=15

I don't remember Kim Novak in Rear Window. I think you mean Vertigo.
I agree with everything else you said.

 

[CURVE]

Herne Hill Hammer, you've mentioned some excellent Henry Fonda movies, but I'd add a couple for serious consideration.

"Advise & Consent", Fonda plays a politician nominated for a top Washington job, only he has to go through a Senate investigation which digs up some old skeletons, and tests his honesty.

"Once Upon a Time in the West", Fonda plays one of the most vicious gunmen ever seen, this is a Leone/Morricone must see classic.

"On Golden Pond", an elderly Fonda plays an elderly gent to perfection, he's old, bad tempered and holds a grudge.

Henry Fonda was brilliant in "Once Upon A Time In The West". He had always played one of the good guys, but in this one he played against type and was brilliant. I think it was his best performance.

Gregory Peck fans should of course see the following at least once in their lives

"Twelve O'Clock High"
"Days of Glory"
"Moby Dick"
"Spellbound"
"The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit"
"The Scarlet and the Black"

I liked the story where he demanded or requested the studio give Audrey Hepburn top billing on "Roman Holiday" because he believed she was the real star of the film and was bound for greater things. A true gentlemen on and off the screen, and a fine actor. The only one of those films I haven't seen is "The Scarlet and the Black". Is one of favourite actors of the 40's, 50's & 60's along with James Stewart and Cary Grant.

Plus the "B" sci-fi's I'd add

"Them"
"Earth vs the Flying Saucers"
"This Island Earth"
"F.P.1"
"20 Million Miles to Earth"
"The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms"
"The Thing from Another World"
"The Mole People" (a terrible movie but I love it)
"The Damned" (1963)
"The World, the Flesh and the Devil"
"Flight to Mars" (another lousy movie, but I love it)
and of course "The Blob"

I watched a war time Hitchcock the other day, "Lifeboat", it's a real crime that is was buried by the studio that was touchy about some criticism saying it was pro-Nazi, which couldn't be further from the truth.

And don't forget "Plan 9 From Outer Space", or is that "Z" grade??

 

[Asgardian]

Good old Edward D Wood Jr, he was so damn consistent, bloody awful, but consistent.

I have several of his masterpieces, Plan 9 naturally, Glen or Glenda, Jail Bait, Bride of the Monster and Night of the Ghouls.

And not one of them shows any creative ability, amazing.

 

[AsianWithAFro]

How classic are we talking about?

How To Kill A Mocking Bird is stunning in black and white. Really captures the books emotions