Movie Classic Films — Let's Discuss

[CURVE]

I have seen the first three episodes (the beginning and the silent era) of "The Story Of Film" and while it's interesting, I am frustrated with a number of things, the narration being the main issue. The Living Dead have more personality than the narrator Mark Cousins, he is almost making it impossible to enjoy the series. Also his jumping around betweem era's detracts from the story and I think he is also a little Hollywood centric and not given some of the other international film industries enough respect. German expressionism of the 1920 deserved an entire episode, at least, yet it was almost skipped over with only a handful of films mentioned.

 

[Asgardian]

Asgardian, interested to know if you've seen Tokyo Story?

Japanese film from 1953?

I saw this movie quite some time ago, along with the 1937 American film that inspired it "Make Way for Tomorrow"

Both are wonderful touching films, well worth the time spent watching them.

However neither are films I want to view over & over again, once was enough, so neither are on my list of DVD's I have to buy. That may sound ridiculous considering the quality of both films, but there are tons of top quality films I should buy, but don't because I'm busy getting hold of the films within the genre' that interest me.

I can't collect everything ...

Also, have you managed to catch The Story of Film : An Oddyssey which screened recently on SBS?

I very rarely catch anything on TV, unless it is sport, news or old movies, I especially avoid series.

But to answer your question, no, haven't seen it or heard of it.

It's pretty cheap on Amazon.

Do you recommend it?

It sounds like DEVO doesn't like it ...

 

[Asgardian]

Watched Fly-By-Night made in 1942 tonight.

It's a neat Nazis want invention, outsider becomes insider, murder, WW2 film noir, girl kidnapped by innocent guy trying to avoid the Nazis and the cops, so they marry, wrong guy dies and a whole lot more, pretty good for 70 odd minutes.

One of my favourite WW2 spy tales.

 

[CURVE]

I very rarely catch anything on TV, unless it is sport, news or old movies, I especially avoid series.

But to answer your question, no, haven't seen it or heard of it.

It's pretty cheap on Amazon.

Do you recommend it?

It sounds like DEVO doesn't like it ...

Not a fan, but last night he did manage to bag a interview with Claudia Cardinale and showed a bit of her performance from 8½ while discussing her impressions of Fellini. He is still an idiot, but an idiot with taste.

 

[Asgardian]

Got a 50's sci-fi in, Not of This Earth, made in 1957

Quite a neat Roger Corman filx. The alien in question is kind of a technical technology vampire, he's collecting blood and sending to his planet, he also needs lots of transfusions coz the alien blood of his planet's population is deteriorating.

Many would know this story from the 1988 movie of the same name starring Traci Lords.

The two movies are galaxies apart in quality though, the Corman movie is easily the superior.

 

[childeric]

Absolutely love those old 50's sci-fi's

Mole People & Monolith Monsters are my favourites from that list.

Of the monster type 50's sci-fi's I reckon you've missed the best of them though ............ "Them"

Add in The Fly, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, Creature from the Black Lagoon, The Wasp Woman, It Came from Beneath the Sea, The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues, The Black Scorpion, The Abominable Snowman & Attack of the Giant Leeches.

Unfortunately Them wasn't part of the boxed set

Monster on the Campus is good fun

 

[Asgardian]

Unfortunately Them wasn't part of the boxed set

This TCM shop double feature is a good buy

Monster on the Campus is good fun

It certainly is, surprisingly this movie always seems to be overlooked when 50's sci-fi creature flix are discussed.

 

[Asgardian]

Had a look at 2 very different movies tonight

The Crusader made in 1932



A hot-shot DA trying to clean up his city is barely aware that his wife was from the seedy side of life & his sister is heading in that direction. Add in snoop the coup reporter who is always in the right place at the wrong time for everyone else. The rackets, a bit of murder & a hint of blackmail all make this a fun hour & a bit.

Also watched Man Beast made in 1956

Okay, right off the bat, this one is a turkey, if I could vote zero stars on IMDB, I would do so.

Some less than intelligent people go for a walk up the Himalayas, snow everywhere, constant blizzard soundtrack, but the hikers are dressed for the tropics & not a single hair on our heroine's head gets blown out of position. Yeti's are the subject. I do believe the joker in the Yeti suit is the best actor in the film.

We also have top billing that incredible actor, Rock Madison. Now good old Rock only has 2 movie credits to his name, this one plus Creature of the Walking Dead made in 1965 by the same director. Now you may wonder why a bloke with 2 star billings only appeared in 2 movies? Well he didn't appear in either movie. Rock Madison is a hoax name made up by director Jerry Warren to cash in on Rock Hudson & Guy Madison. Jerry Warren had to do this sort of stuff coz he made crap movies, I mean really crap movies, must be related to Edward D. Wood Jr.. Oh & BTW, Yeti's mate with people, coz one of the characters is part Yeti .... shock horror.

I reckon the movie poster above is easily the best bit of the movie.

 

[Asgardian]

Watched 2 very different movies on the opposite ends of the scale

The 1st one, an Academy Award nominee for Best Picture, Cecil B. DeMille's 1934 Cleopatra



Everything you'd expect from a big budget DeMille extravaganza, Claudette Colbert is stunningly beautiful in it. Caesar & Marc Antony are appropriately gob-smacked by her and the Roman senate is a den of vipers. Sounds like Mankiewicz' effort to a tee, well this one is different, and alike.

I purchased the 75th Anniversary Edition (Universal Backlot Series) DVD, well worth the coin.

The 2nd movie, Joy Ride, made in 1958, is B movie fare with an A grade story & an excellent performance by the lead, Regis Toomey.



4 no-good 50's hip punk kids decide they want to take a ride in some old guys car because it's a new T'Bird. He doesn't know them, so naturally he says no. Chief punk doesn't like no for an answer, so this gang makes life, over the next few months, unbearable for old guy & his wife, but not quite stepping over the line enough to get arrested. That is until the situation escalates.

Barely an hour long, this is available if you do a search, it's a movie I recommend.

 

[Asgardian]

Caught up with 2 films on the different end of the spectrum, one a widely known classic, the other an unknown should be classic.

The Petrified Forest made in 1936 with a stellar cast, Humphrey Bogart, Leslie Howard, Bette Davis, Genevieve Tobin, Joe Sawyer & Dick Foran.



Bogart is a killer on the run with his gang in 2 cars that get seperated, but we don't learn any of this until well into the film which is dominated early on by Howard, Davis, Foran & playing Davis' Grandpa, Charley Grapewin, who is full of tales from the old west including Billy the Kid.

Howard, who is thumbing his way around America, comes across an old in the middle of nowhere diner, hungry & thirsty he stops & immediately interferes with Foran's designs on young Bette. Love is in the air, Bette is impressed with Howard's world worn maturity, but he, happy with the flirtations, knows it's impossible, so he moves on with a convenient lift. Enter Bogart with half of his gang.

Bogart fresh from the same play on Broadway studied the real life gangster, John Dillinger, for his movements, mannerisms, even the way he walked & carried himself.

Suffice to say we will have conflict, surprises and an ending which was correctly chosen from the 2 that were filmed.

The Petrified Forest is a 9 out of 10 movie for me.

The other movie, made in 1939, is Barricade



Starring Alice Faye, Warner Baxter, Keye Luke, Philip Ahn & Charles Winninger.

Two people hiding their identities meet on a train ride in China heading towards trouble, told to turn back, the train does so, without the 2 mysterious travelers, who both seek shelter in the American consulate compound, which lucky for it and its occupants is very close to a fortress.

The plot is not hard to guess, what does surprise is the actions of the consulate who leaves the safety of his post to save inhabitants of a mission in another town. It turns out Baxter is a disgraced journo, but he writes about the consulate's deeds, the story gets out, luckily. I wont give away the ending though.

A good solid 6 out of 10 from me.

 

[childeric]

Last night ABC showed Eye of The Devil (1965) starring David Niven, Deborah Kerr and Sharon Tate

It is an occult thriller directed by J. Lee Thompson set in a wine-growing region in France

There are parallels that can be drawn to The Wicker Man in this movie that was largely ignored at the time of release

 

[Asgardian]

Last night ABC showed Eye of The Devil (1965) starring David Niven, Deborah Kerr and Sharon Tate

It is an occult thriller directed by J. Lee Thompson set in a wine-growing region in France

There are parallels that can be drawn to The Wicker Man in this movie that was largely ignored at the time of release

That's because Eye of the Devil released in 1966 was based on Robin Estridge's (aka Philip Loraine) 1964 book, Day of the Arrow

The Wicker Man, released in 1973, was based on David Pinner's 1967 novel Ritual.

At the time of Eye of The Devil there was no Wicker Man to compare it with.

 

[childeric]

That's because Eye of the Devil released in 1966 was based on Robin Estridge's (aka Philip Loraine) 1964 book, Day of the Arrow

The Wicker Man, released in 1973, was based on David Pinner's 1967 novel Ritual.

At the time of Eye of The Devil there was no Wicker Man to compare it with.

The similarities are interesting though, don't you agree?

I recall reading that WM was actually inspired by a ceremony in an English village which was witnessed by one of the producers

 

[Asgardian]

The similarities are interesting though, don't you agree?

There are some issues that seem to be duplications, but it's hard to go past the witches / druids influences.

I recall reading that WM was actually inspired by a ceremony in an English village which was witnessed by one of the producers

That could well be the case, however Pinner's novel is acknowledged as the source material. What caused the desire to seek out that novel is stuff of legend now.

 

[evo]

Howdy aficionados of the classical era,

If I may be so forward could I draw upon your expertise?

Lately I have developed an inexplicable urge to watch swing dancing. If anyone could point me toward a few quality movies titles that feature said genre I would be most appreciative - the more dancing in the movies the better. Also anything that features the music of one Glenn Miller would also be, what's the term.....swell.

Further, if you could name any of the movies featured in this clip that would be really handy. Thanks in advance. Cheers and beers.



I've worked out a couple of them: Hellzapoppin and Twice Blessed.

 

[Asgardian]

Howdy aficionados of the classical era,

If I may be so forward could I draw upon your expertise?

Lately I have developed an inexplicable urge to watch swing dancing. If anyone could point me toward a few quality movies titles that feature said genre I would be most appreciative - the more dancing in the movies the better. Also anything that features the music of one Glenn Miller would also be, what's the term.....swell.

Musicals aint my forte, I know of a few of them, but I don't go out of my way to watch, or more importantly for me, to collect them.

However I can recommend a few movies where swing dancing is either important, or central to the movie.

Radio City Revels (1938)

Dancing Co-Ed (1939)

Best Foot Forward (1943)

Stage Door Canteen (1943)

The Powers Girl (1943)

Follow the Boys (1944)

Groovie Movie (1944)

Where Do We Go from Here? (1945)

Spreadin' the Jam (1945)

Meet the Navy (1946)

Swing Parade of 1946 (1946)

Junior Prom (1946)

Dance Hall (1950)

Also you should catch up with The Asphalt Jungle (1950), swing dancing has a small, but important part to play late in the movie.

Try these sites for more information

Streetswing

The VIDEO BEAT!

BTW, did you vote on those movies for me in the IMDB thread ...

 

[evo]

ZGroovy daddy-o. thanks man, that's heaps of leads.

What is an IMDB thread?

 

[Asgardian]

Just purchased a real oldie

The Mechanical Man (L'uomo meccanico) made in 1921

It's an Italian silent movie about an evil lady, 2 lovers and a scientist, a war of the robots sort or tale ends up as the climax.

This was long regarded as a "lost film" however a portion of the movie was found and this DVD release is the outcome, about 30 minutes of the original 80 minutes survives so a second movie, The Headless Horseman made in 1922, is included.

Pretty keen to watch these when it arrives.

 

[CURVE]

Musicals aint my forte, I know of a few of them, but I don't go out of my way to watch, or more importantly for me, to collect them.

However I can recommend a few movies where swing dancing is either important, or central to the movie.

Radio City Revels (1938)

Dancing Co-Ed (1939)

Best Foot Forward (1943)

Stage Door Canteen (1943)

The Powers Girl (1943)

Follow the Boys (1944)

Groovie Movie (1944)

Where Do We Go from Here? (1945)

Spreadin' the Jam (1945)

Meet the Navy (1946)

Swing Parade of 1946 (1946)

Junior Prom (1946)

Dance Hall (1950)

Also you should catch up with The Asphalt Jungle (1950), swing dancing has a small, but important part to play late in the movie.

Try these sites for more information

Streetswing

The VIDEO BEAT!

BTW, did you vote on those movies for me in the IMDB thread ...

You really don't like Ginger Rogers.
She and her partner Fred Astaire made one of the finest films to centre around Swing Dancing, called Swing Time. In fact all of their ten musicals together incorporated Swing Dancing, as well as many other dance styles.

 

[Asgardian]

You really don't like Ginger Rogers.

Sorry, she is not an actress I look out for

She and her partner Fred Astaire made one of the finest films to centre around Swing Dancing, called Swing Time. In fact all of their ten musicals together incorporated Swing Dancing, as well as many other dance styles.

I'll take your word for it, as I said, "Musicals aint my forte, I know of a few of them, but I don't go out of my way to watch, or more importantly for me, to collect them."

You're knowledge of that genre would far outweigh mine.

Now if you want to discuss war, sci-fi, crime & film-noir ........ I'm the guy to give you a run for your money ...

I currently have 86 movies on order / swaps, they range from J'Accuse made in 1919 to Navajo Code Talkers: The Epic Story made in 1994

85 of them fall within the 4 genre' above, the 86th is a political documentary.

 

[CURVE]

I'll take your word for it, as I said, "Musicals aint my forte, I know of a few of them, but I don't go out of my way to watch, or more importantly for me, to collect them."

You're knowledge of that genre would far outweigh mine.

Actually outside of the ten Fred & Ginger musicals I've probably seen two others in my entire life. I hate hate hate musicals. What kind of moron walks down the street and then suddenly breaks into a song and dance routine. I just don't understand them.

Now if you want to discuss war, sci-fi, crime & film-noir ........ I'm the guy to give you a run for your money ...

I currently have 86 movies on order / swaps, they range from J'Accuse made in 1919 to Navajo Code Talkers: The Epic Story made in 1994

85 of them fall within the 4 genre' above, the 86th is a political documentary.

You'd kill me on those genre's as well, unless the films are European then i might have a chance. I'm pretty good with the German Silents, French New Wave and Italian neo realism. Also love European horror/giallo/thrillers of the 60's, 70's & 80's.

 

[Asgardian]

Actually outside of the ten Fred & Ginger musicals I've probably seen two others in my entire life. I hate hate hate musicals. What kind of moron walks down the street and then suddenly breaks into a song and dance routine. I just don't understand them.

I just did a genre search in my movie database, of the 3,529 movies/TV series/Docos, only 56 of them are regarded by the Internet Movie Database as musicals.

Of those 56 movies, 44 of them are cross-over genre', for example The Trapp Family (1956) is a mixture of drama, war & musical. Because it was war related, I got that movie.

The other 12, like Singin' in the Rain were of interest to me for other reasons, eg. a picture about the late days of silents & the early days of talkies.

So your 10 Astaire & Rogers puts you in front ...

You'd kill me on those genre's as well, unless the films are European then i might have a chance. I'm pretty good with the German Silents, French New Wave and Italian neo realism. A lso love European horror/giallo/thrillers of the 60's, 70's & 80's.

Yep, the Silents, European & Asian stuff I'm more a fan rather than a serious collector, although, I do have quite a number of each in my collection. I'd back in your knowledge rather than mine.

 

[CURVE]

I just did a genre search in my movie database, of the 3,529 movies/TV series/Docos, only 56 of them are regarded by the Internet Movie Database as musicals.

Of the 5,329 movies/tv series/docos in my collection around 2,000 are foreign language films, mainly French, Italian, Spanish & German and about half are pre-1980.
Overall around 2200 are pre-1980 films, with 50 of them being silents.

 

[childeric]

Actually outside of the ten Fred & Ginger musicals I've probably seen two others in my entire life. I hate hate hate musicals. What kind of moron walks down the street and then suddenly breaks into a song and dance routine. I just don't understand them.



You'd kill me on those genre's as well, unless the films are European then i might have a chance. I'm pretty good with the German Silents, French New Wave and Italian neo realism. Also love European horror/giallo/thrillers of the 60's, 70's & 80's.

Have you seen Danger Diabolik?

Italian 60s pop-art influenced comic-book adaptation

 

[Asgardian]

Of the 5,329 movies/tv series/docos in my collection around 2,000 are foreign language films, mainly French, Italian, Spanish & German and about half are pre-1980.
Overall around 2200 are pre-1980 films, with 50 of them being silents.

"Of the 5,329 movies/tv series/docos in my collection"

Are you taking the mickey?