Modern films are welcome as well as classic films and those from any other viewing mediums. All comments, recommendation
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spiderwort — 2 years ago(November 26, 2023 02:51 PM)
Haven't seen all of these, Rufus, but of those I have seen my favorites are THE FALLEN IDOL, THE DARK CORNER, MINISTRY OF FEAR, THE ROARING TWENTIES, and THE BIG HEAT.
Would love to see FAUST, huge Murnau fan that I am. And also Riefenstahl's THE HOLY MOUNTAIN. I know her as a great documentary filmmaker (politics aside), so it would be interesting to see her work as a narrative filmmaker. Maybe one of these days I can see both. Can't count on it, but maybe. Sigh. . . -
Rufus-T — 2 years ago(December 05, 2023 05:41 AM)
spider, If you haven't seen it and are able to get hold of it, I highly recommend the documentary
The Wonderful, Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl
. It was made while she was still around, so you'll get interview and perspective from herself. If I remember correctly,
The Holy Mountain
was the time when she learned her film skills from her boyfriend (or mentor) then. Arnold Fanck, I believe. Leni Riefenstahl was mainly a dancer at that time. -
spiderwort — 2 years ago(December 05, 2023 03:00 PM)
Thanks, Rufus. I'll see if I can find it when time permits. I think she was a genius of a filmmaker, politics aside, as I said. And her life, as I recall, was quite interesting, too. I'm sure I'd love any documentary about her, especially one in which she herself appears. So I especially I look forward to seeing this one. Thanks again for the recommendation.
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unex — 2 years ago(November 27, 2023 01:37 PM)
Underworld (1927) - Story of the two types of dominance, brute strength and intimidation versus skill and competence embodied in a sanguine choleric gangster and a melancholic phlegmatic drunk/lawyer. I like seeing exaggerated characteristics of people in silents. Makes the stories seem mythic.
Chicago (1927) - Based on the play that inspired the musical that became the hit 2003 film which I never saw. Obviously this version isn't a musical but the soundtrack did start to annoy me. I think the same song was playing for almost the entire film. There maybe was another song for a brief period. I liked the movie. -
spiderwort — 2 years ago(November 27, 2023 07:00 PM)
I've been meaning to see these for years, unex, but just haven't gotten around to it. Maybe one of these days. I'm a big fan of Josef von Sterberg and UNDERWORLD has a great reputation. Really need to see that one. And I know CHICAGO from having seen a later version, ROXIE HART, which I enjoyed. But it would seem that your 1927 version is probably the one to see. I wasn't a fan of the 2003 version. It was well-done, but there wasn't one character I could get invested in enough to care about.
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Sophienoire — 2 years ago(November 27, 2023 05:23 PM)
Rebecca
(Alfred Hitchcock, 1940) 9/10 (rewatch)
Honestly, it became everything at once as soon as it ended. Rebecca has taken a place in my chest and refuses to crawl out.
A haunting, mystical and gothic psychological suspense melodrama with a thick atmosphere, a wonderful lead performance and character portrayal by Joan Fontaine, and just exceptional direction from the great Hitchcock. Gets more immersive and tense by every minute. Shout out to Judith Anderson as well for her performance, she often gave me the chills. The titular Rebecca is dead and never seen, but the ghost and soul of her feels omnipresent and still haunts the narrative, the characters and the entire Manderlay. Opening and ending are both stunning. Some of Hitchcock's very finest work in my opinion.
The Turning Point
(William Dieterle, 1952) 7/10
The Kefauver Committee's hearings on organised crime were the inspiration for this film noir. William Holden, in particular, was great as a cynical newspaper reporter. The story had a good pace and good dialogue. The exciting ending takes place at a crowded arena during a boxing fight.
This was Alexis Smith's best film role and the film debut of Carolyn Jones who left quite an impression during her 5-minute scene.
The Creator
(Gareth Edwards, 2023) 8/10
Visually beautiful and often funny, The Creator scratched a lurking original science-fiction itch. I really like John David Washington in a space suit.
the sound of your racing heart -
spiderwort — 2 years ago(November 27, 2023 07:07 PM)
I love REBECCA, Sophienoire. One of Hitchcock's best, and his first Hollywood film, a little less "Hitchcockian" than his normal style, but still totally captivating. Great script, performances, and direction.
Regret to say I haven't seen the other two (not sure how I missed THE TURNING POINT), but I will keep an eye out for them. But it's hard to go wrong with REBECCA, one of the great Hollywood classics (and I'm not even a fan of Joan Fontaine!). -
spiderwort — 2 years ago(November 30, 2023 09:18 PM)
Love that score!! Do wish they had shot it in Oklahoma though.
It was based upon the play, "Green Grow the Lilacs," by Oklahoma playwright, Lynn Riggs. In the 1931 Broadway of version of that play, Franchot Tone played Curly. That would have been interesting to see. Anyway, I do enjoy the film and the cast under the unlikely direction of Fred Zinneman. Just wish they'd shot it in Oklahoma instead of Arizona! -
spiderwort — 2 years ago(December 01, 2023 02:32 PM)
Oh, the landscape of Oklahoma was very much unspoiled enough for the film to be shot there in the 1950s, and nothing in the Arizona landscape comes close to what Oklahoma had to offer. I lived in both states and know well what was lost by that regrettable choice. But the good news is that a lot more production is taking place in Oklahoma now, and before long it is likely to be on a par with Atlanta or New Orleans for runaway productions. The state has so much to offer in its variety of landscapes – prairies, mountains, forests (even a rainforest in the southeastern part of the state). And now there's the new Prairie Surf Studios that have lots of sound-stages in downtown Oklahoma City. Films and tv shows shot there most recently include, KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON (thank god for that, because that historical event happened in Oklahoma), MINARI, TULSA KING, WILDLIFE, and AUGUST, OSAGE COUNTY. And I know that others are soon to come, now that the strikes are over.
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Doghouse-6 — 2 years ago(December 01, 2023 06:53 PM)
I was very interested to read this information about Oklahoma, about which I know embarrassingly little in view of most of the paternal half of my family having come from there, so thanks for that, old friend.
The first time I heard the phrase "runaway production" was on a mid-'60s WHAT'S MY LINE on which Joan Crawford was the mystery guest. She seemed well on the way to stumping the panel until one of them asked if her latest film had been produced outside of Hollywood, to which Crawford answered in the throaty, Garbo-esque accent she'd adopted for the appearance, "No runaway production."
That was enough to tip off Bennett Cerf, who recalled a recent interview she'd given, railing against the practice. But in this age when avenues of production and distribution are more varied and widespread than ever before, I'm glad to know there's a variety of regions getting in on the act.
Poe! You are…avenged! -
spiderwort — 2 years ago(December 01, 2023 10:07 PM)
Both the paternal and maternal sides of my family came from Oklahoma, by way of North Carolina, Kentucky, Iowa and Kansas. So we might be related one way or another. What a treat that would be.
As for the "runaway production" term, it's so interesting, because it just popped into my mind and then out onto the page. I haven't thought of it in decades. But, like you, I'm glad to see that it is as widespread as it is these days. It's good for the business, but it also adds so much to the look of the films we see. -
Doghouse-6 — 2 years ago(December 03, 2023 04:55 PM)
So we might be related one way or another. What a treat that would be.
That it would. Something like that has actually happened to me. I have an aunt who's the unofficial family historian and once embarked on a years-long genealogy project going back I-don't-know-how-many generations. Among the things it turned up was an extremely distant connection to both presidents Harrison.
Many years after graduation, I learned from an old high-school friend, whose family carried that name, that he was also related to them. Thereafter, our greeting to each other was always, "Hi, cuz."
My family name happens to be that of a very well-known English author and one of the largest U.S. banks. More's the pity, that genealogy turned up no connection to either.
Poe! You are…avenged!
