What Classics Did You See Last Week (September 21–September 27)
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unex — 6 months ago(September 28, 2025 12:16 PM)
The Wages of Fear (1953) - Rewatch. The first half has an interloper disrupt the status quo in an idling expat community in South America where you can feel the laziness and boredom, the second half is genuinely tense and quite true to life based on the episodes of Deadliest Roads that I have seen. One of my favorites.
The Damned (1947) - A movie about a group of stock Nazi villains going to South America in a U-boat at the end of the war. It feels like it could be building to something but starts to drift aimlessly. The protagonist is mostly superfluous.
The Nazis slowly destroy themselves without any real intervention on his part.
I think it would have been better without him. Still not a bad movie. -
spiderwort — 6 months ago(September 28, 2025 04:10 PM)
I'm a big fan of "The Wages of Fear," too. It was an incredibly intense film to watch, with superb performances by all the cast and excellent direction by Clouzot. I think I need to see that one again. Thanks for the reminder.
And I haven't seen "The Damned," but from your comments, it seems like I can probably skip that one. -
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sheetsadam1 — 6 months ago(September 28, 2025 01:45 PM)
Only one this week, a rewatch.
A Bucket of Blood (1959)
Directed by Roger Corman
It's difficult to single out just one Roger Corman film as my favorite. The man was extremely prolific and usually delivered exactly the film he was setting out to make. There's
The Intruder
(easily his most serious-minded picture), the Poe cycle (especially
The Pit and the Pendulum
), the mid-'60s counterculture films like
The Wild Angels
and
The Trip
which helped usher in the Hollywood New Wave, and so much more. But the black comedy gem that is
A Bucket of Blood
cannot be overlooked. A brilliant satire of the Beat Generation and the lengths someone will go to in order to feel like part of the "in crowd." Dick Miller is phenomenal as the lead character, although Julian Burton's hilarious performance as the pretentious head honcho of the local arts scene nearly steals the show. And with a brisk 65 minute runtime, it leaves you wanting more.
9.5/10
I had intended to rewatch Hitchcock's
The Birds
as well, after reading the original Daphne du Maurier short story this week but didn't get around to it. But I can say the story was very, very different.
Draft Barron Trump -
spiderwort — 6 months ago(September 28, 2025 03:54 PM)
First viewings:
Smiles of a Summer Night / Ingmar Bergman
(1955). In late 19th century Sweden, members of the upper class and their servants find themselves in a romantic tangle as an actress schemes to win back her married lover from his still virginal wife. Its stars include Ulla Jacobsson, Eva Dahlbeck, Harriet Andersson and Gunnar Björnstrand in a meaningful comedy, not at all the genre I would have expected from Bergman. But it’s a beauty, a delightful film that’s been an influential one, too (i.e. Woody Allen’s not so good version,
A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy
and Stephen Sondheim’s
A Little Night Music
, an excellent adaptation, which I saw on only Broadway, so I can’t speak to the film version). I am so glad I finally saw this. It’s a must-see for all Bergman fans. (On TCM through October 21; also on YouTube)
Anne Frank Remembered / Jon Blair
(1995). A documentary about the life and legacy of Anne Frank narrated by Kenneth Branaugh, with Glenn Close reading from Anne’s diaries. It won the Oscar as best feature documentary and is a brilliant, profoundly haunting film with a lot of archival footage about the war, and many, many stories told by those who actually knew Ann (Anna, they called her) — from those who helped the Franks initially survive in Amsterdam, to her childhood friends and some of her own family members, including her father, Otto, all of whom also lived through that terrible time in history, and some of whom, unlike Anne, survived the concentration camps and are able to describe the horrors they experienced there. Every adult on the planet should see this is a film. (On Tubi for 4 more days and YouTube)
Middle of the Night / Delbert Mann
(1959). A widowed manufacturer (Fredric March) falls in love with a divorced employee (Kim Novak) 30 years his junior. From a script written by Paddy Chayefsky, it originated in 1954 on “The Philco Television Playhouse” under the direction of Delbert Mann before going to Broadway where it ran for 447 days (starring Edward G. Robinson and Gena Rowlands) and then became this touching film, also directed by Mann. March and Novak are both fine in their roles; in fact, I think it’s one of Novak’s best performances. Other cast members include Glenda Farrell, Jan Norris, Lee Grant, Martin Balsam and Joan Copeland. I strongly recommend it for the performances and for Chayefsky’s sensitive writing.
Re-watch:
Above Suspicion / Richard Thorpe
(1943). Honeymooners (Joan Crawford & Fred MacMurray) spy for the British in 1939 Germany to learn more about the Nazi’s new magnetic mine. Pure escapism, but because of its cast and Thorpe’s engaging direction it’s quite entertaining. -
PygmyLion — 6 months ago(September 30, 2025 03:50 PM)
I watched
Smiles of a Summer Night
last night. I had seen it many years ago. One might call it a light comedy romance. The sort of light comedy here is somewhat akin to that in light operettas by composers like Lehar. Of course, this is not an operetta, but it does have some music.
Including the romance of the lady's maid Petra (Harriet Andersson) is something that often occurs in such operettas like Mascha and her beau in Lehar's "Der Zarewitsch". I think the writers can be a little more decadent with the servants, which adds to the fun.
I think the thing I enjoyed most about this movie is the 4 pretty Swedish actresses and trying to decide which one I liked best. Not really my cup of tea, but entertaining - 7.
I think if you were a younger person, trying to watch a movie like this, you might want to try to put yourself in the shoes of a cultured person living 70-100 years ago. -
CoriSCapnSkip — 6 months ago(September 28, 2025 11:38 PM)
The Miracle of the White Stallions
on September 21
The Biscuit Eater
(1972) on September 22
The Call of the Wild
(2020) on September 23
Call of the Wild
(1935) on September 24
The Failing of Raymond
on September 25
Gun for a Coward
on September 26
The Cat From Outer Space
on September 27 -
filmlady — 6 months ago(September 29, 2025 11:00 AM)
Variola Vera by Goran Markovich
Old Yugoslavian movie, definitely worth watching. The theme is so universal and it's kind of creepy that the metaphor, that is behind the spreading disease, could still apply on our everyday life. Especially now, where panic and fear is circulating between people. MY BIG RECCOMENDATION!!!!! Idk if there is a link with a movie with subtitles but you can look up on dailymotion
I would love to hear some of yall's reviews on this one, because this is my second time watching and oh myyyyy!!!! Everything in this movie is creepy enough to give you ACTUAL chills. -
Rufus-T — 6 months ago(October 02, 2025 06:31 PM)
The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104691/
I went to the cinema back then to watch prior to the Oscar. It was during the tail end of its theatrical run, and I saw it in one of the majestic theater in Manhattan, only one of the few theaters still playing. It was during the afternoon, and I was one of the four in attendance. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy the movie then. I never read the famous James Fenimore Cooper book the movie was adapted from, and I found it confusing and boring. I still have not read the book, but I did watch the 1920s silent version which I like a lot. On this rewatched, though not perfect, I did enjoy it a much more. I still say it is one of the weakest movies for director Michael Mann and for actor Daniel Day-Lewis. Lots of beautiful scenes, and excellent music score. The story took place in the colonial days when the British join force to fight the French in the French-Indian War. The British colonel has two daughters which was to be protected by the native Mohican. The movie is an action and adventure film mostly, plus a strong romance subplot which I thought hampered the pace of the movie somewhat. Not a strong film, but it is a fun watch though included some gruesome scenes.
Kill, Baby… Kill! (1966)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060794/
A supernatural horror story directed by Mario Bava. This is my second Mario Bava movie. I saw earlier in the year Black Sunday (1960) which I like but not love. I mostly like the Gothic story, but not crazy about the execution. Similar here with this movie. A coroner went into a village to examine a dead woman. He learned that the place is cursed after a child died, and people died off one by one since then. It is a very campy with weak score. The version I watched on Prime was in English. I am sure it was dubbed, and the dubbing was not flattering. I don't know any of the actors. They are nothing to brag about. Nowadays, when you reached a certain age and watched enough of horrors, this movie is not scary or suspenseful at all. Otherwise, it can be chilling. It is mysterious though. At least, one can appreciate the good Gothic story, which I like.