Last Movie You Watched

[SonicMan46]

Down Argentine Way (1940, dir. Irving Cummings) - A somewhat silly plot about horse racing is just an excuse for some excellent turns by Carmen Miranda and the Nicholas Brothers (not nearly enough of either).

The Gang's All Here (1943, dir. Busby Berkeley) - I've seen this before, but not in 20 years or so, and it's still pretty entertaining, with two over-the-top musical sequences: "The Lady in the Tutti-Frutti Hat" (with Carmen Miranda and a chorus of women with giant bananas) and "The Polka Dot Ballet" (with Alice Faye and the same chorus, this time with neon polka dots). If you want to see Busby Berkeley's choreography at its maddest, this might be the one.
--Bruce

Hi Bruce - own a bunch of those old films (most burned off the TCM channel) - plots can be weak but often just there to support the entertainment w/ the likes of Astaire, Rogers, and so many others.  Alice Faye always had a soft spot in my heart along w/ Jean Arthur (and of course others ) - Dave

[SonicMan46]

Last night, some more oldies all w/ different plots:

The Whole Town's Talking (1935) w/ Edward G. Robinson & Jean Arthur w/ Robinson in a dual role as a timid clerk and a public enemy - quite an impressive contrast - the guy is not given the credit deserved as a versatile actor (Our Vines Have Tender Grapes & Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet come to mind) - first brief synopsis below.

Without Reservations (1946) w/ John Wayne, Claudette Colbert, & Don Dafore - second synopsis below - wonderful comedy w/ a delightful Colbert.

Woman of the Year (1942) w/ Spencer Tracy & Katherine Hepburn - last synopsis below; Tracy explaining baseball to Hepburn is worth the admission to this film of many they made together.  Dave

Clerk Arthur Jones (Edward G. Robinson) lives a dull life until someone realizes that he looks like gangster "Killer" Mannion (also Robinson). After Jones is brought in by the police and his identity is verified, he is given a note to assuage any other suspicious policeman. Jones is hired by a newspaper to write about Mannion and starts dating Wilhelmina Clark (Jean Arthur). However, when Jones returns home one night, Mannion is waiting and demands the note so that he can roam freely.

Famous author "Kit" Masterson (Claudette Colbert) needs an actor to portray the lead character, a soldier, in the upcoming movie version of her book. While on a train to California, she meets Marine Rusty Thomas (John Wayne) and his friend, Dink (Don DeFore). She begins to imagine the macho Rusty as the lead, and attempts to stay in his company. However, since Rusty did not like her book, Kit must conceal her identity, all the while growing more attracted to her potential actor.

Tess Harding (Katharine Hepburn) is a progressively-minded political journalist. Sam Craig (Spencer Tracy) is a sports writer with very traditional values. The only thing the two have in common is that they both work for the same New York City newspaper. Despite an initial and mutual dislike, the two eventually fall in love and get married. When Tess wins the Woman of the Year award, traditional gender roles become flipped and their relationship suffers as a result.

 

 

[André]

Amour by Michael Haneke. With Emmanuelle Riva and Jean-Louis Trintignant. A masterpiece, one of the most depressing films I've ever seen.

[listener]

Fritz Lang's M (1931)   German original in a Bo Ying copy, 110 min. probably as complete as is now possible as it includes some footage with minor visible flaws, No background music except for whistled bits of  In the Hall of the Mountain King and a fragment of Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen. 
Peter Lorre is superb, particularly in a long speech with no cuts at the end.  A film that still lives up to its reputation.

[Drasko]

[Cato]

Fritz Lang's M (1931)   German original in a Bo Ying copy, 110 min. probably as complete as is now possible as it includes some footage with minor visible flaws, No background music except for whistled bits of  In the Hall of the Mountain King and a fragment of Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen. 
Peter Lorre is superb, particularly in a long speech with no cuts at the end.  A film that still lives up to its reputation.

Oh yes, one of the greatest performances captured on film!  The other actor who seems so natural in this movie, who seems not to be acting at all, is the one playing the Big Crime Boss Schraenker, Gustaf Gruendgens.  His speech of condemnation ("Sooo, du sagst dass du moerdern musst...") is also a great moment.


Yesterday  my youngest son, mathematician and computer genius, cranked this up on NetFlix:

[asin]B000QGEB12[/asin]

and my head still hurts!   

Earlier we saw:

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Danny Kaye's patter songs (written by his wife Sylvia Fine) are still gems.  The movie has only the slightest connection to James Thurber's original short-story, which was so short it could not have supported a movie.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Gone with the wind wasn't as good as I remembered it to be (neither was the Birds), mainly the last fourth or so, starting about the time Scarlett marries Rhett. Before that, awesome. But after that it becomes a bit too long-winded and drawn-out. This film is notable for having the first african american actor to win an academy award, Hattie McDaniel, in the role of Mammy. While the film could be seen by some people as a glorifying of days of slavery, it should be noted that Mammy is a very sympathetic and intelligent character who can hold her own in debates.

Even though The Birds has a powerful message of nature having a vengeance upon humankind, it still feels at times ridiculous. What were they smoking when they made this movie? Amusingly enough, the birds were close to being nominated among AFI:s 50 greatest movie villains. Really now. I also didn't feel that attached to human characters. I wonder if any birds were killed during the filming of this movie?

[Bogey]

This is worth your time, Alberich

http://news.moviefone.com/2013/03/25/the-birds-alfred-hitchcock-25-things-you-didnt-know/

[Bogey]

Fritz Lang's M (1931)   German original in a Bo Ying copy, 110 min. probably as complete as is now possible as it includes some footage with minor visible flaws, No background music except for whistled bits of  In the Hall of the Mountain King and a fragment of Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen. 
Peter Lorre is superb, particularly in a long speech with no cuts at the end.  A film that still lives up to its reputation.

You know, I do not own this one.  However, this copy is on my wishlist:



This copy is also 110 minutes, so glad you posted your specs so I could compare and thank you.

Here is what else the Criterion release gives in the way of extra features.

http://www.criterion.com/films/558-m?q=autocomplete

[Bogey]

Last night, some more oldies all w/ different plots:

The Whole Town's Talking (1935) w/ Edward G. Robinson & Jean Arthur w/ Robinson in a dual role as a timid clerk and a public enemy - quite an impressive contrast - the guy is not given the credit deserved as a versatile actor (Our Vines Have Tender Grapes & Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet come to mind) - first brief synopsis below.


 

Not even on dvd?!  I love almot everything Edward G. has done, Dave.  Agreed.  He was one hell of an actor. 

Woman of the Year (1942) w/ Spencer Tracy & Katherine Hepburn - last synopsis below; Tracy explaining baseball to Hepburn is worth the admission to this film of many they made together.  Dave

Just watched this one a couple months back.  After the baseball scene and especially once they were married I thought the magic ended.  The film did not know whether to be a comedy or a serious drama about their relationship.  Sometimes films can pull off being both, but this one did not pull it off for me. 

[Karl Henning]

Watched through to the end of Schindler's List last night.  Marvelous.

[bhodges]

Hi Bruce - own a bunch of those old films (most burned off the TCM channel) - plots can be weak but often just there to support the entertainment w/ the likes of Astaire, Rogers, and so many others.  Alice Faye always had a soft spot in my heart along w/ Jean Arthur (and of course others ) - Dave

Alice Faye was wonderful, and I forgot to mention Charlotte Greenwood, who almost stole the show in both films.

Amour by Michael Haneke. With Emmanuelle Riva and Jean-Louis Trintignant. A masterpiece, one of the most depressing films I've ever seen.

I completely agree. Saw this in the theater when it came out - my first experience with Haneke - and the intensity of it is almost unbearable. Fantastic acting, between the two of them (she was nominated for an Academy Award, IIRC), and it's a great director who can make something out of a scene with little more than birds in an empty hallway.

Watched through to the end of Schindler's List last night.  Marvelous.

I think it's one of Spielberg's best - incredibly moving through its understatement. Marvelous acting, and great call to make it in black-and-white.

--Bruce

[Bogey]

Watched through to the end of Schindler's List last night.  Marvelous.

Great use of Spielberg's talents here, Karl.  He did an incredible job.  I am yet to watch the film a second time.  However, I do want to review it again with Ethan and Marnie.

As for Willims' score, it was one of his best.  Here are two facets about it from IMDB:

When Steven Spielberg first showed 'John Williams' a cut of the film, Williams was so moved he had to take a walk outside for several minutes to collect himself. Upon his return, Williams told Spielberg he deserved a better composer. Spielberg replied, "I know, but they're all dead."

Violinist Itzhak Perlman performs John Williams' haunting score on the soundtrack. Perlman is on record as saying that his contribution to the film is one of his proudest moments in an illustrious career.

[SonicMan46]

Not even on dvd?!  I love almot everything Edward G. has done, Dave.  Agreed.  He was one hell of an actor. 


Just watched this one a couple months back.  After the baseball scene and especially once they were married I thought the magic ended.  The film did not know whether to be a comedy or a serious drama about their relationship.  Sometimes films can pull off being both, but this one did not pull it off for me.

Yep - that Robinson film was burned off TCM a number of years ago - have only watched a few times - Eddie & Jean Arthur as 'love interests' might be a little hard to accept but still a good film worth seeing.

Concerning Tracy & Hepburn, I agree that the beginning w/ the baseball discussions were priceless, but the plot does not hold together as well as many of their other films.  Dave

[Bogey]

Yep - that Robinson film was burned off TCM a number of years ago - have only watched a few times - Eddie & Jean Arthur as 'love interests' might be a little hard to accept but still a good film worth seeing.

Concerning Tracy & Hepburn, I agree that the beginning w/ the baseball discussions were priceless, but the plot does not hold together as well as many of their other films.  Dave

I need to catch that Robinson one Dave.

This was Tracy's and Hepburn's first together, I believe.  So maybe we can give them a bit of a pass on this one.

[Bogey]

Ah, found the Robinson one for a $2.99 stream.  Will watch it this week.

[Karl Henning]

I think it's one of Spielberg's best - incredibly moving through its understatement.  Marvelous acting, and great call to make it in black-and-white.

Aye, Bruce;  it is not as though understatement were one of the Spielberg hallmarks 

[George]

While not perfect, by any means, this was still sweet, moving and funny.

[Karl Henning]

Great use of Spielberg's talents here, Karl.  He did an incredible job.  I am yet to watch the film a second time.  However, I do want to review it again with Ethan and Marnie.

I shall certainly want to watch it again;  and, that need not be for a little while.  Once I return the DVD to the BPL, if I put a fresh hold on it, I should likely be "no. 57 in line," and by the time the DVD becomes available again, it will probably be the perfect season for me to view it anew.

[Bogey]

While not perfect, by any means, this was still sweet, moving and funny.

Annette Bening, and or her husband, W.B., makes me cringe, but I might give it a try, buddy.