What Classics Did You See Last Week (December 8–December 14)
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EdwardVP — 1 year ago(December 15, 2024 01:13 PM)
ISLAND OF THE LOST - 1967 fanciful family adventure where a family find it necessary to take shelter on a remote island. There they come across prehistoric killer ostriches and have to deal with a severe hurricane. Also a nearby islander has been landed there as a proof of manhood quest in which he is also endangered. The biggest fun character is a sea lion who continuously honks his way about the sea and shoreline. Nice and entertaining.
I HEARD THE BELLS - 2022 period drama where the poet Longfellow regains his faith at Christmas. It's hard-going about his depression but the 1860s costumes are impressive. -
spiderwort — 1 year ago(December 15, 2024 07:07 PM)
ISLAND OF THE LOST probably isn't for me, Edward, but I HEARD THE BELLS sounds like one I'd really appreciate. Don't know where it's available, but I'll keep an eye out for it. Thanks for the recommendation.
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spiderwort — 1 year ago(December 15, 2024 07:17 PM)
All re-watches:
The Human Comedy / Clarence Brown
(1943). When his older brother (Van Johnson) goes off to fight in WWII, a teenager (Mickey Rooney) gets a job and helps his mother head his family in small-town California. From a story by William Saroyan (which he later turned into a novel), the film has a wonderful cast, including Frank Morgan, James Craig, Marsha Hunt, Fay Bainter, Ray Collins, Van Johnson, Donna Reed and Butch Jenkins, and a lot of humanity under the sensitive direction by Brown. It was nominated for 5 Oscars, including Best Picture, Director, Actor (Rooney in one of his finest performances), and Story (a win for Saroyan). A very special, moving film that I always enjoy watching and recommend for everyone.
The Man Who Came to Dinner / William Keighley
(1941). A theatre critic (Monty Woolley) with a broken hip mends at his host’s home, wreaking havoc for everyone along the way. Adapted from the award-winning play by Kaufman and Hart, it has a great cast and is an absolute delight, a holiday favorite that I watch almost every year.
It Happened on 5th Avenue / Roy Del Ruth
(1947). A hobo (Victor Moore) moves into a mansion while its owners are wintering in the south and ends up sharing it with a G.I. (Don Defore) and other soldiers and their wives. Another film that’s a joy to watch, one that has gained audience appreciation over the years. Frank Capra was originally going to make it, but sold it to Del Ruth and made
It’s a Wonderful Life
instead. Very much worth a look in my opinion. Smart script and excellent performances by all.
Holiday Affair / Don Hartman
(1949). Two men (Robert Mitchum, Wendell Corey) want to marry a war widow (Janet Leigh) for Christmas. Her young son complicates her decision. A charming Christmas film that’s worth a look for both its cast and story. -
PygmyLion — 1 year ago(December 15, 2024 11:15 PM)
I started my Christmas watching last night with
The Bishop's Wife
(1947). I'll probably end up watching
Holiday Affair
again this year. I might well watch
It Happened on 5th Avenue
again this year too.
The Man Who Came to Dinner
is good, but perhaps a little too much Monte Wooley for me.
The Human Comedy
is nice. -
spiderwort — 1 year ago(December 16, 2024 01:26 AM)
I'll probably give
The Bishop's Wife
another look, too. I love Robert Nathan's writing. He wrote the novel upon which the film is based. He also wrote the novel upon which another of my favorites,
Portrait of Jennie
, is based. Anyway, I love
The Bishop's Wife
film. Grant, Niven, and Young are wonderful in it, and it doesn't seem right not to watch it this year. -
Rufus-T — 1 year ago(December 18, 2024 04:25 AM)
Dune: Part Two (2024)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15239678/
More talkie than the first, and less action. Many of the conversation for some reason they whispered to each other. Hard to hear without subtitles. Not as good as the first, but worth the watch for the magnificent visual. Still far above better than the David Lynch campy version.
L.A. Confidential (1997)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119488/
Top notch story about a couple cops investigating independently a massacre in a bar that turned out to be darker than they thought. The investigation involved a prostitute ring that trained their prostituted to look and act like movie stars. Directed by Curtis Hanson Adapted from James Ellroy book, this one really holds up on multiple viewing. I like it more each time. Interestingly the stars like Russell Crowe and Guy Pierce in the movies were pretty much unknown at the time. Even Kevin Spacey was very much a new kid in town just coming off a surprised Oscar win. One of the best neo-noir.
After Hours (1985)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088680/
A young man visited on a different side of the city a woman he met at a cafe. Strange string of incidence that kept him from going home overnight. A bizarre yet funny movie that is not your typical Martin Scorsese film. It is a fascinating ride, especially if you have never seen it.
The Return (2003)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0376968/
Two brothers being raised by their mother and grandmother, their father showed up with neither remembering what he looked like except for a photo. The father took them on a trip. With the father has a cold and authoritative manner, there are conflict with the boys connecting with him. Mostly it about the interaction between the father and the boys, but not boring at all. Written and directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev, I like the way the development being handled.
Our Hospitality (1923)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0014341/
A very enjoyable Buster Keaton comedy. He played a young man who is a descendant of family feud. While courting the young woman who turned out to be the young daughter of the enemy family. The father and the brothers of the young woman need to restraint themselves from killing him being a guest the young woman and that they carry the honor code of not killing their guest. A lots of action going on, including part of the movie involving an eventful train ride.
