What Classics Did You See Last Week (August 10–August 16)
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unex — 7 months ago(August 17, 2025 12:05 PM)
Blue Panther (1965) - A Eurospy film by Claude Chabrol. The original title is Marie-Chantal contre le docteur Kha, similar to the French title of Dr. No, but in America I assume Blue Panther was supposed to attract Pink Panther fans. There is only a superficial similarity. People going after a piece of jewelry and the setting of a Swiss ski resort at the beginning. Nothing much interesting happens. There are feeble attempts to retrieve the jewel from a woman, poorly choreographed fight scenes, and pointless characters.
The Pink Panther (1963) - Rewatch. I'm not much of a fan of this movie. The trio of thieves, somehow the protagonists, are unlikable psychopaths. Of course it is Clouseau who audiences actually liked. At least two of the scenes seem to be inspired from Marx Brothers movies but they're not as good. -
spiderwort — 7 months ago(August 17, 2025 07:06 PM)
I haven't seen THE BLUE PANTHER, though it doesn't sound that appealing based upon your comments. And I'm definitely with you on not caring for THE PINK PANTHER. A waste of talent as I recall, starting with the director, Blake Edwards.
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spiderwort — 7 months ago(August 17, 2025 07:01 PM)
All first viewings:
Cleo from 5 to 7 / Agnes Varda
(1962). Cleo, a pop singer, grapples with her mortality while awaiting biopsy results while she makes a journey around Paris. A beautiful, very moving film with a wonderful performance by Corinne Marchand and marvelous city landscapes. Varda was an exceptional French new wave artist. I wish I had time to see every film she made. Highly recommended. (On Max)
The Railway Children / Catherine Morshead
(2000). A TV dramatization of E. Nesbit’s classic novel about three children whose lives change forever after they move to a Yorkshire cottage near the railway line toward the end of WWII. I know there are other versions of this, but it’s the only one I’ve seen, and I have to say I found it to be a real beauty. The kids give wonderful non-sentimental, serious performances and Jenny Agutter is perfect as the mother. It’s a very moving, meaningful, story and I’m very glad I saw it. Other cast members include Richard Attenborough and Michael Kitchen. (On Prime Video Masterpiece)
Kid Glove Killer / Fred Zinneman
(1942). A criminologist (Van Heflin) investigates the murder of the local mayor. Zinneman’s feature-length directorial is very well done with solid support for Heflin provided by Marsha Hunt and Lee Bowman. Recommended for fans of the cast and the director. (On Max)
The Secret Bride / William Dieterle (1934
. A district attorney (William Warren) secretly marries the daughter (Barbara Stanwyck) of the governor who he has to convict. A mediocre script, but it has excellent performances by all the cast, including Grant Mitchell and Glenda Ferrell, with solid direction by Dieterle and great cinematography by the multi-Oscar nominated and one time winner Ernest Haller. Probably not everyone's cup of tea, but I couldn't stop watching it. (On Max)
Three on a Match / Mervyn LeRoy
(1932). Three grammar school friends (Ann Dvorak, Joan Blondell, and Bette Davis) are still close friends as adults and now have to save one of their own from gangsters. The other stars are Warren William, Humphrey Bogart, and Lyle Talbot, who gives one of his best performances. It’s a rather mediocre pre-code drama with some surprisingly dark subjects, but I think it’s worth a look for fans of the cast. (On Max) -
PygmyLion — 7 months ago(August 17, 2025 08:32 PM)
The highlight of the past week was watching
The Asphalt Jungle
and
The Killing
on back-to-back evenings.
The Killing
1956 Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Marie Windsor. Director: Stanley Kubrick. Johnny Clay (Hayden) comes up with an intricate plan to steal millions for a race track. ****
The Asphalt Jungle
1950 Sterling Hayden, Louis Calhern, Sam Jaffe, Marilyn Monroe. Doc Erwin Riedenschneider (Jaffe) puts together a group to rob a jewelry store. ****
We're in the Money
1935 Joan Blondell, Glenda Farrell. Blondell and Farrell work as process servers. 66 minutes. ***
Wife Vs. Secretary
1936 Clark Gable, Myrna Loy, Jean Harlow. Linda Stanhope (Loy) starts getting jealous of her husband's (Gable) secretary (Harlow). ***
The Match King
1932 Warren William, Lilli Danita. **
A Date with Judy
1948 Jane Powell, Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Stack. Not much of a movie but Taylor is very beautiful at 16. **1/2
Support Your Local Sheriff
1969 James Garner, Joan Hackett, Walter Brennan, Jack Elam, Harry Morgan. Western Comedy. Jason (Garner) stops and straightens out a western town on his way to Australia. ***1/2 -
sheetsadam1 — 7 months ago(August 17, 2025 11:20 PM)
The highlight of the past week was watching The Asphalt Jungle and The Killing on back-to-back evenings.
Great films!
The Killing
is actually my favorite Kubrick film, although I'm sure that's a controversial take.
Draft Barron Trump -
Sophienoire — 7 months ago(August 17, 2025 10:38 PM)
Leave Her to Heaven
(1945) 9/10 rewatch
The Postman Always Rings Twice
(1946) 8/10 rewatch
The Lady from Shanghai
(1947) 8/10 rewatch
Key Largo
(1948) 10/10 rewatch
Criss Cross
(1949) 8/10 rewatch
Storm Warning
(1950) 7/10
Cosh Boy
(1953) 7/10
Violated
(1953) 7/10
the sound of your racing heart -
sheetsadam1 — 7 months ago(August 17, 2025 11:18 PM)
Some great classic noir there!
The Postman Always Rings Twice
is amazing, but the book is even better. In fact, I'd say that for all of the James M. Cain books that became movies, except perhaps
Double Indemnity
.
I'm not sure I've seen
Criss Cross
, but I recognize Siodmak's name from
The Killers
, which was an amazing. And I'm not sure I'd rate
Key Largo
10/10, but it's definitely in the top echelon of John Huston films. It's been too long since I've seen
Leave Her to Heaven
or
The Lady from Shanghai
to say much about them at all (but Welles'
The Stranger
stands out a bit more in my mind).
I don't believe I've seen the others, but the mention of the Klan in
Storm Warning
brought to mind 1962's
The Intruder
. Have you seen that one? It's easily Roger Corman's most serious-minded film and William Shatner's career-best performance.
Draft Barron Trump -
Sophienoire — 7 months ago(August 18, 2025 07:35 AM)
my biggest reading gap is noir i think, apart from Highsmith, given that i enjoy the films so much, but yes, i've heard of the source novel of
Postman
before and hopefully will get to read it some day. the author is on my to read list.
The Stranger
is my fav Welles' noir, yes. i also like
Touch of Evil
.
as for Siodmak, i've watched quite a few films by this director these past years, and here's a quick ranking, in rough order of preference:
10/10
The Killers (1946)
9/10
Phantom Lady (1944)
The Suspect (1944)
People on Sunday (1930)
8/10
Cry of the City (1948)
Criss Cross (1949)
The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry (1945)
The Spiral Staircase (1946)
The File on Thelma Jordon (1949)
7/10
The Dark Mirror (1946)
West Point Widow (1941)
6/10
Christmas Holiday (1944)
Cobra Woman (1944)
Deported (1950)
Fly-By-Night (1941)
nope, i've not seen The Intruder.
the sound of your racing heart -
sheetsadam1 — 7 months ago(August 18, 2025 12:53 PM)
my biggest reading gap is noir i think, apart from Highsmith, given that i enjoy the films so much, but yes, i've heard of the source novel of Postman before and hopefully will get to read it some day. the author is on my to read list.
So James M. Cain is definitely my favorite noir author and he's generally considered one of the big three of the hardboiled school along with Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. If I'm picking one book from each, it's
Mildred Pierce
,
Farewell My Lovely
and
Red Harvest
. (I'm pretty sure I've mentioned
Red Harvest
to you before
) Jim Thompson, David Goodis, Ed McBain, William Lindsay Gresham, and early John D. MacDonald are some other noir authors I like. I'll leave it there and not get into "neo-noir" or intentional pastiches of the style.
Draft Barron Trump -
Rufus-T — 7 months ago(August 19, 2025 03:34 PM)
Thief (1981)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083190/
An expert in safe break-in to steal jewels is caught between a crime organization and the cops. Starring James Caan as the title character, this was Michael Mann's debut feature film as the director and writer. Like his other crime dramas, you get to know the background of the criminal and felt for him. The love interest was played by Tuesday Weld. That one scene that the James Caan character explained to her his background was outstanding. Anyone saw Heat, that was like the scene in which Robert DeNiro's character explained to the Amy Brenneman character. I thought this was done better in this movie. Excellent score accompanying the action. Willie Nelson was excellent in a small role as the mentor to the James Caan character. My one criticism was on the resolution which was too quick. Otherwise, it was good start for Michael Mann.