What Classics Did You See Last Week (November 10–November 16)
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unex — 1 year ago(November 17, 2024 12:51 PM)
The Third Man (1949) - Rewatch. Harry Lime should be a loathsome character but Orson Welles turns him into a lovable rogue. His sheepish grin on being discovered and the way he saunters up to Holly at the amusement park make him seem so innocent and harmless. He was popular enough to get his own radio show where he was tamed into something less malign but it's still entertaining with Welles playing the part. Graham Greene seems to be one of the few novelists who could write a good screenplay.
Mr. Arkadin (1955) - Rewatch, I think. I've seen one of the versions. This one was the "Corinth" version. Not a great movie but they didn't let Orson Welles finish the editing. Robert Arden's acting is wooden. It's too bad Welles couldn't make this another Harry Lime movie like it should have been. The dutch angles were overused but it does give the movie some stylistic continuity with The Third Man. -
spiderwort — 1 year ago(November 17, 2024 04:27 PM)
I have yet to see MR. ARKADIN, unex. Have meant to, but now, after reading your review, I'm not so sure I should bother.
Only saw THE THIRD MAN once and thought it was excellent (I love Graham Greene, both novels and screenplays; he's one of my favorite writers). Don't know if I'll ever see it again (time in is getting shorter and shorter these days), though I might give it a look again because of your comments. And Carol Reed was a heck of a director. -
unex — 1 year ago(November 21, 2024 12:44 PM)
I have yet to see MR. ARKADIN, unex. Have meant to, but now, after reading your review, I'm not so sure I should bother.
I think it is worth it just because it is (mostly or sort of) an Orson Welles movie but the fact that there is no definitive version and none were approved by him makes it less pressing. It's basically the same reason I haven't yet seen The Other Side of the Wind. Welles didn't like Mr. Arkadin either because of the loss of control or maybe because he was unsatisfied with the quality (I'm wondering if he took so long with editing because he was struggling to salvage the film). -
EdwardVP — 1 year ago(November 17, 2024 01:52 PM)
1950 MONTANA - Errol Flynn is a sheepherder on the search for fresh grazing ground. He disguises himself as a peddler to find out what opposition there is from cattle ranchers. Alexis Smith is a cattle ranch owner who has lost her father and brother in a previous war against sheepherders. So there is an attraction/repulsion seesaw relationship that develops between the pair. The Technicolor is good and some nice scenery. Although the back projection scenery becomes a bit too obvious at times. An entertaining western. (IMDb 6.1)
1957 BABY FACE NELSON - Mickey Rooney is the 1930s gangster aiming to be top dog in the underworld. He plays it with energetic relish as does his moll Carolyn Jones. Even though I don't want to glorify gangsterism, I couldn't help but admire the way they trick the police. Cecil Hardwicke is great too as the shady doctor who helps out crooks. It's brutal and the end for Baby Face, which takes place in a cemetery, is terrific. (IMDb 6.3) -
spiderwort — 1 year ago(November 17, 2024 04:33 PM)
Haven't seen either of these, Edward. Not sure about MONTANA, but BABY FACE NELSON has always intrigued me. Don't know how I've missed it. It seems like a very interesting role for Mickey Rooney. Might see if I can find it one of these days.
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EdwardVP — 1 year ago(November 17, 2024 04:55 PM)
You Tube look to have a selection of videos of BABY FACE NELSON Spiderwort. The full 99 minute version and the 84 minute version (cut for TV airing I believe). I actually watched it on Filmboards but I know you've had difficulty with the videos on this site. I thought Mickey Rooney gave everything playing this role. I hope you get to see the movie.
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spiderwort — 1 year ago(November 17, 2024 04:11 PM)
First viewings:
Disobedience / Sebastián Lelio
(2017). When her father dies, a woman (Rachel Weisz) returns to her Orthodox Jewish community that shunned her for her attraction to a female childhood friend (Rachel McAdams). Upon her return, the couple’s passions reignite as they explore the boundaries of faith and sexuality. A good film with a very interesting story, and both actresses lean into their roles with passion and compassion. I believe the script has some flaws, but I think the film’s very much worth a view for the performances and the subject alone. (Available on Max)
Frantz / François Ozon
(2016). In the aftermath of WWI, a young German woman (Paula Beer), grieving the death of her fiancé in France meets a mysterious Frenchman (Pierre Niney), who visits the fiancé's grave to lay flowers. A beautiful, haunting, deeply moving film with wonderful performances and superb direction — a cinematic experience that I will never forget. Highly recommended. (Available on multiple streaming sites.)
The Covered Wagon / James Cruze
(1923). A remarkably authentic recreation of American pioneers embarking on a perilous journey across the American frontier from what is now Kansas City all the way to Oregon, encountering many difficulties along the way. It’s filled with numerous scenes that are simply astonishing in their level of realism, including lengthy depictions of wagon trains — with horses and cattle — crossing rivers time and again. It also features real Native Americans and in some scenes actually shows their perspective on events, too. Cruze’s direction is outstanding and the film’s historical significance is without question, being the first film to turn the western genre into an epic. I’ve meant to see it for decades, and I’m so glad I finally did. (Available on Tubi, without a score. It’s also available on YouTube, with a score, but be sure to look for the high resolution version.)
Here’s a trailer:
Re-watches:
While You Were Sleeping / John Turtletaub
(1995) A lonely Chicago subway clerk (Sandra Bullock) falls for the brother (Bill Pullman) of a comatose man (Peter Gallagher) whose life she saves and who’s family now mistakenly believes she’s his fiancee. It’s a sweet, funny, quite enjoyable film, with a great supporting cast, including Jack Warden, Glynis Johns and Peter Boyle.
The Americanization of Emily / Arthur Hiller
(1964). An American Naval Officer is an expert at avoiding hazardous duty, but that all changes when he falls for a widow and is sent on a dangerous mission. Great script by Paddy Chayefsky, direction by Hiller and performances by all the cast. Julie Andrews and James Garner are simply wonderful together. It’s one of my all time favorites, which I’ve watched several times through the years, and it never fails to satisfy me. Highly recommended. -
ZolotoyRetriever — 1 year ago(November 17, 2024 07:14 PM)
Spiderwort, you definitely watch some intense movies. I haven't seen any of those, but they do look intriguing.
Frantz
looks to be particularly compelling… I just read up on it on Wiki and the plot outline alone is quite stirring. I don't even know if I could handle that one. -
spiderwort — 1 year ago(November 17, 2024 08:42 PM)
Yes, intense would be the word. That's why my re-watches were more on the humorous side. And I can't believe you haven't seen
The Americanization of Emily
; it's a real delight.
As for
Frantz
, well it just took my breath away. It's been a very long time since any film made such an impression on me. It's definitely worth a view, and I think you probably can handle it. It's worth a try, anyway. Deeply moving, but also very low-key, which is part of its artistic mystery. -
ZolotoyRetriever — 1 year ago(November 17, 2024 09:02 PM)
I haven't seen
The Americanization of Emily
, though I can't say I haven't had the opportunity: I've seen it offered a number of times on TCM over the years, but I somehow always managed to pass on it. I will now add it to my watch list. Same with
Frantz
. Your recommendation has convinced me. -
spiderwort — 1 year ago(November 17, 2024 09:46 PM)
Glad to hear that, ZR. And I had decided that I should show you a trailer to
Emily
, so I hope you enjoy it. Btw, Julie Andrews and James Garner made three films together –
Emily, Victor/Victoria,
and a lovely TV movie,
One Special Night
(available on Prime Video and YouTube). They were a great team. And, interestingly, Garner and Julie's husband, Blake Edwards, were both from Oklahoma. -
ZolotoyRetriever — 1 year ago(November 17, 2024 09:56 PM)
I've always been a big fan of James Garner, so it's a bit surprising that I somehow passed on seeing
Americanization of Emily
all those times when it was offered. But, I will try to fit it into my viewing rotation one of these days. And while we're on the subject of James Garner pictures, one that I really liked was one he did in 1960,
Cash McCall
, with Natalie Wood. Very enjoyable comedy if you're looking for a nice mood-lifting time filler. -
spiderwort — 1 year ago(November 17, 2024 10:36 PM)
Yes, I enjoyed
Cash McCall
very much. Don't remember if you know that my inspiration for becoming a director was Natalie's film,
Splendor in the Grass
, and I took her tragic loss pretty hard. So thanks for the suggestion and the reminder. I need to watch her films more than I've been doing these days. She was a gift that I need to remember. -
ZolotoyRetriever — 1 year ago(November 17, 2024 06:56 PM)
I watched a couple of Harold Lloyd feature films:
Girl Shy
(1924) - this one was a silent. Good comedy. Really enjoyed it.
…and,
Movie Crazy
(1932) - this one was a talkie, and though it's Lloyd's third sound film, I believe it's the first one I recall hearing his voice in. This one is also good comedy, though it got to the point where the level of bumbling cluelessness that Lloyd demonstrates throughout the film was more than a little implausible. -
spiderwort — 1 year ago(November 17, 2024 08:47 PM)
Haven't seen either of those, Zolo. I've come way late in my viewing life to Harold Lloyd, and I'm still playing catch-up. I'll at these to my list, though the silent film sounds better. First in line for me is
Safety Last
. Can't believe I haven't seen that one.
