Last Movie You Watched

[Karl Henning]

Paused half way through but was not as "whelmed" (the opposite of underwhelmed!!) as I'd hoped to be.  A few passing thoughts observations; the narrative feels rushed almost gabbled.  One minute its Bernstein's NYPO debut, next minute we have an interview where they say "at your debut 12 years ago...."  It also struck me that you (the viewer) need to know quite a bit of background.  Otherwise who the hell is Koussevitzky or Copland?, what is Tanglewood?  Who are Comden and Green, What is Candide? The early musicals/ballets/orchestral music are touched on but never contextualised - its just a torrent of music/image.  Now of course this might be a way of representing just what an extraordinary creative artist Bernstein was but for a lot of people it will simply be confusing......

I'm curious to know if Bernstein did conduct at his debut with the NYPO without a baton - that strikes me as quite unlikely for the 1950's??

I'll check the bio I've got, my off-the-cuff guess (pending confirmation) is yes it was unusual, but he may well have.

[Roasted Swan]

I'll check the bio I've got, my off-the-cuff guess (pending confirmation) is yes it was unusual, but he may well have.

Frankly I'd be surprised if it was a continuity error in a film that has taken so much care over so many details!

[Karl Henning]

I'll check the bio I've got, my off-the-cuff guess (pending confirmation) is yes it was unusual, but he may well have.

Lenny's predecessor Mitropoulos did not use a baton. I'm leaning into my unconfirmed suspicion that Bernstein eschewed a baton for his début.

[Cato]

I'm curious to know if Bernstein did conduct at his debut with the NYPO without a baton - that strikes me as quite unlikely for the 1950's??

I'll check the bio I've got, my off-the-cuff guess (pending confirmation) is yes it was unusual, but he may well have.

Leopold Stokowski of course, did not use a baton.

I tried to find information on connections between Stokowski and Bernstein: from 1995, concerning a restoration of a Tristan und Isolde "synthesis" recorded by Stokowksi, this is of interest...

...If Stokowski was a great Tchaikovsky interpreter, he was no less so in Wagner. I would recommend any of his Tristan und Isolde recordings to a tyro interested in learning more about the opera. True story:

Some years ago I got a call from Sylvan Levin. He had talked with Leonard Bernstein, who was about to perform and record Tristan und Isolde. He wanted a cassette of Stokowski's Symphonic Synthesis to listen to before doing the work. I made the cassette at home and sent it to him. I never got a thank you note, but did get a handsome check for the work. Anyway, if that is not sufficient evidence of the quality of Stokowski's work in this piece, then you are just going to refuse to be educated....

[Todd]

Rewatched this holiday classic for the first time in a while.  One forgets just how good John Ritter could be, even in small roles.

[George]

Rewatched this holiday classic for the first time in a while.  One forgets just how good John Ritter could be, even in small roles.

By far, my favorite Xmas movie. Bernie Mac and Billy Bob are great in this too.

[drogulus]

    As good as Bad Santa is, I find The Night Before to be superior.

    Seth Rogen does mass quantities of Christmas spirit.

   

     Where's the barf bag?

     It's a question for the ages.

[Karl Henning]

I guess I'm zagging: I watched Elf and Mr Magoo's Christmas Carol.

[Christo]

For the fourth time: Das Leben der Anderen. The best German movie I know:

[Karl Henning]

For the fourth time: Das Leben der Anderen. The best German movie I know:

Good to "see" you, Johan!

[Mookalafalas]

I guess I'm zagging: I watched Elf and Mr Magoo's Christmas Carol.

  Watched Elf again also. My son had never seen it.

[Todd]

Rewatched one of the better adaptations of Stephen King source material, and one of the two 1987 flicks featuring two future governors, The Running Man, for the first time in many years.  I had forgotten how swift yet efficient the setup is before getting to the OTT/stupid action.  The theme of media manipulation of reality is, if anything, more salient now than in the 80s, and the demonstration of how a person's reputation can be instantly and malignantly and dishonestly destroyed to fulfill selfish ends also has some contemporary salience.  Surely some aspiring film student could write an extensive thesis on the profundity and insight and vision of Starsky in directing this flick.  Or something similar could be done regarding King's source.  But really, I wanted to watch the mighty Gus Rethwisch in all his roided glory, the estimable Jim Brown in action movie tough guy mode, see the inevitable cameos and minor roles filled by Arnold's friends, hear the (admittedly second-rate) one-liners, and, most enjoyable of all, watch Richard Dawson as one of the most perfectly cast villains in the history of cinema.  Since the day I first watched this movie in 1987, his character has stuck in my memory, and his demand to speak to the Justice Department, Entertainment Division before demanding to speak to the President's agent has elicited many a chuckle.

[SonicMan46]

Miracle on 34th Street (1947) - story and cast below - one of my wife's favs (also named Susan) - although I own a lot of holiday movies (many now 'in the cloud') we usually just alternate them and watch a few a year at this time; winner of 3 Oscars including Gween as supporting actor.

The Bishop's Wife (1947) - plot and cast quoted - a wonderful movie this time of year (or any other!) - nominated for 5 Academy Awards winning its one Oscar for sound.  Dave

Miracle on 34th Street is a 1947 American Christmas comedy-drama film released by 20th Century-Fox, written and directed by George Seaton and based on a story by Valentine Davies. It stars Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Natalie Wood, and Edmund Gwenn. The story takes place between Thanksgiving and Christmas in New York City, and focuses on the effect of a department store Santa Claus who claims to be the real Santa. The film has become a perennial Christmas favorite. (Source)

The Bishop's Wife is a 1947 American supernatural romantic comedy film directed by Henry Koster, starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven. The plot is about an angel who helps a bishop with his problems. The film was adapted by Leonardo Bercovici and Robert E. Sherwood from the 1928 novel of the same name by Robert Nathan. (Source)

 

[Karl Henning]

The Bishop's Wife (1947) - plot and cast quoted - a wonderful movie this time of year (or any other!) - nominated for 5 Academy Awards winning its one Oscar for sound.

Very fond of this one! Someday I should watch Miracle. Wonder if it's on Tubi?... Happy Holidays, Dave!

[SonicMan46]

Very fond of this one! Someday I should watch Miracle. Wonder if it's on Tubi?... Happy Holidays, Dave!

Hi Karl - seasons greetings to you and family (and all other GMGers who celebrate at this time of the year) - you know, I don't own The Bishop's Wife but was a free watch with Amazon Prime, otherwise a $3 SD or HD rental; checked MAX and Netflix, not available - on Apple TV for free but likely through Prime Video.  Dave

[DavidW]

Very fond of this one! Someday I should watch Miracle. Wonder if it's on Tubi?... Happy Holidays, Dave!

I believe both of those movies are on prime.  Miracle on 34th St is my Mother's favorite Christmas movie.  My favorites are A Christmas Story and It's A Wonderful Life.

[Karl Henning]

I believe both of those movies are on prime.  Miracle on 34th St is my Mother's favorite Christmas movie.  My favorites are A Christmas Story and It's A Wonderful Life.

It's a Wonderful Life is a great fave of mime, too!

[Papy Oli]

It's a Wonderful Life is a great fave of mime, too!

Not being a Bah Humbug but how I wish James Stewart did mime it instead indeed   

 

[Karl Henning]

Not being a Bah Humbug but how I wish James Stewart did mime it instead indeed   

 

Me & my typos....

[Papy Oli]

Me & my typos....

One man's typo is another man's wishful thinking