Last Movie You Watched

Started by Drasko, April 06, 2007, 07:51:03 AM

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Karl Henning

#34480
Another one which, years ago, the ladies were watching, and I chanced to join in: Joseph L. Mankiewicz's edgy and whip-smart A Letter to Three Wives. Mankiewicz earned two Oscars for this: Best Screenplay and Best Director. Here's the funny thing for my part: until today, I was unaware that I had seen this at all before. it was only as the movie got started that I suspected. A funny thing about the movie's preproduction is that the source novel is actually A Letter to Five Wives.  Mankiewicz was working on the script and found  that it was running impossibly long, and unsure how to reduce it, sought someone's advice, which was: lose one of the wives. Having done so and happy with the result,  Mankiewicz understood that the script could be tighter still if he reduced the wife population  to three. Promotional material for the movie included a modified magazine sheet with the title of John Klempner's novel adjusted to match the movie. Great use of the Brahms Bb Piano Concerto, though there's a scene which can only cause pain to the LP fanciers among us.
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Cato

#34481
Quote from: Karl Henning on March 19, 2023, 09:43:08 PMAnother one which, years ago, the ladies were watching, and I chanced to join in: Joseph L. Mankiewicz's * edgy and whip-smart A Letter to Three Wives.


* His older brother Herman was also a writer, who went to Hollywood in the 1920's.  He sent a telegram to his friend and fellow writer Ben Hecht which said basically: "You can get millions out here with no problem because your only competition is a bunch of idiots.  Don't spread this around"

Eventually word did get out, and his younger brother Joseph went to Hollywood and was also successful.  8)


Quote from: Karl Henning on March 19, 2023, 06:50:50 PMAnd Messala is such a rat. Even allowing for the fact that I held next to no hope that the erstwhile dearest friends might be reconciled.


I always have that same feeling, even though I know what will happen!

In the book, Messala's fate is quite different: the daughter of Balthasar is involved. Her character is not in the movie.
"Meet Miss Ruth Sherwood, from Columbus, Ohio, the Middle of the Universe!"

- Brian Aherne introducing Rosalind Russell in  My Sister Eileen (1942)

SonicMan46

Well, got some Amazon credit and picked up a couple of physical discs at half price, the first one a 4K and the second an old musical (DVD-R > BD):

Top Gun: Maverick (2022) w/ Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, et al - streamed this film as a rental a few months ago and really enjoyed (more that the 1986 original) - nice review HERE - the story is good and the action scenes outstanding; listening on headphones almost gave me a 'surround sound' effect; and Cruise now at 60 y/o looks pretty good!  Ratings: 96%, Rotten Tomatoes and 8.3/10, IMDB.

For Me and My Gal (1942) w/ Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, George Murphy et al - short synopsis below; the song & dance routines esp. w/ Judy are the main features of this film for me; reviews mixed, e.g. 2 1/2*/4* both in Leonard Maltin & VideoHound; 100%, RottenTomatoes & 7/10, IMDB - but made early in WW II so the patriotic emphasis is obvious.  Recommended to Garland fans and seeing Kelly in his film debut.  Dave :)

QuoteFor Me and My Gal is a 1942 American musical film directed by Busby Berkeley and starring Judy Garland, Gene Kelly – in his film debut – and George Murphy, and featuring Martha Eggerth and Ben Blue. The film was written by Richard Sherman, Fred F. Finklehoffe and Sid Silvers, based on a story by Howard Emmett Rogers inspired by a true story about vaudeville actors Harry Palmer and Jo Hayden, when Palmer was drafted into World War I. The film was a production of the Arthur Freed unit at MGM. (Source)

 

DavidW

Quote from: SonicMan46 on March 20, 2023, 07:44:33 AMCruise now at 60 y/o looks pretty good! 

His painting on the other hand...

Pohjolas Daughter

Quote from: SonicMan46 on March 20, 2023, 07:44:33 AMWell, got some Amazon credit and picked up a couple of physical discs at half price, the first one a 4K and the second an old musical (DVD-R > BD):

Top Gun: Maverick (2022) w/ Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, et al - streamed this film as a rental a few months ago and really enjoyed (more that the 1986 original) - nice review HERE - the story is good and the action scenes outstanding; listening on headphones almost gave me a 'surround sound' effect; and Cruise now at 60 y/o looks pretty good!  Ratings: 96%, Rotten Tomatoes and 8.3/10, IMDB.

For Me and My Gal (1942) w/ Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, George Murphy et al - short synopsis below; the song & dance routines esp. w/ Judy are the main features of this film for me; reviews mixed, e.g. 2 1/2*/4* both in Leonard Maltin & VideoHound; 100%, RottenTomatoes & 7/10, IMDB - but made early in WW II so the patriotic emphasis is obvious.  Recommended to Garland fans and seeing Kelly in his film debut.  Dave :)

 
Would love to see Maverick; heard good things about it.

Quote from: DavidW on March 20, 2023, 08:32:57 AMHis painting on the other hand...
His painting? Not certain what you mean.  Or were you referring to Dorian Gray (Just occurred to me)?  :)

PD
Pohjolas Daughter

DavidW

Quote from: Pohjolas Daughter on March 20, 2023, 02:53:40 PMOr were you referring to Dorian Gray (Just occurred to me)?  :)

PD

Yup.

Karl Henning

Quote from: Pohjolas Daughter on March 20, 2023, 02:53:40 PMWould love to see Maverick; heard good things about it.
His painting? Not certain what you mean.  Or were you referring to Dorian Gray (Just occurred to me)?  :)

PD
You caught on before I did!
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Pohjolas Daughter

Pohjolas Daughter

Karl Henning

Leave Her to Heaven (1945) Gene Tierney, Cornel Wilde, Jeanne Crain, dir. Jn Stahl. I knew absolutely nothing of this before watching it. on Wikipedia, it's encapsulated as a psychological thriller film noir melodrama. Some men marry the wrong woman, but find out too late. Quite intense, and strewn with enough "downer factor" that I don't think the missus would enjoy watching it. It is pretty good, though. Both in genre, and in being set mostly in New England, I suppose this has set me up to watch 1957's Peyton Place next ....
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

SonicMan46

Quote from: Karl Henning on March 20, 2023, 08:38:08 PMLeave Her to Heaven (1945) Gene Tierney, Cornel Wilde, Jeanne Crain, dir. Jn Stahl. I knew absolutely nothing of this before watching it. on Wikipedia, it's encapsulated as a psychological thriller film noir melodrama. Some men marry the wrong woman, but find out too late. Quite intense, and strewn with enough "downer factor" that I don't think the missus would enjoy watching it. It is pretty good, though. Both in genre, and in being set mostly in New England, I suppose this has set me up to watch 1957's Peyton Place next ....

Last year, upgraded to the Criterion BD when their half-price sale was on - two of my favorite 'beautiful' actresses from the era in the same film - as stated, the plot needs one's attention -  ;D  Dave


Brian

Quote from: SonicMan46 on March 21, 2023, 07:38:03 AMLast year, upgraded to the Criterion BD when their half-price sale was on
Speaking of which, the sale is on again today (March 21)!

SonicMan46

Quote from: Brian on March 21, 2023, 08:32:14 AMSpeaking of which, the sale is on again today (March 21)!

Yep - got an email this morning and put in an order for the three below: Double Indemnity 4K UHD and replacement DVDs to BDs - looking forward to 'Round Midnight w/ re-mastered sound; and Jubal has some great 'bad guys', i.e. Ernest Borgnine and Rod Steiger.  Dave :)

   

DavidW

I have Double Indemnity on 4k as it is one of my favorite movies, but I haven't given the disc a watch yet.

Brian

I just rewatched that Blu-Ray last month. Stanwyck's first appearance and Robinson's whole performance...totally iconic.

SimonNZ

A Criterion edition of Round Midnight!

No commentary track, unfortunately, but I'd be interested to hear what the behind the scenes documentary is like.

Karl Henning

Quote from: Karl Henning on February 12, 2023, 08:15:17 AMBetween this and Jungle Book, I've always loved Sterling Holloway's voice. As a result I got a huge charge out of his appearance on The Twilight Zone.


Quote from: VonStupp on February 12, 2023, 08:18:09 AMIt is certainly a singular-sounding voice. I will have to check out his Twilight Zone episode.
VS


I've reached the top and had to stop and that's what's been botherin' me. You've obliquely led me to revisit Jungle Book.
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

aligreto

Inmersion:





This film is basically set on a lake in Chile. Therefore, this film is set in the Spanish language with subtitles available. This is an interesting and engaging film which is primarily about preconception and prejudice. It is one that is definitely worth a watch in order to test your own interpretation of the events. I found it to be well worth my time.

Karl Henning

Quote from: Karl Henning on March 22, 2023, 01:50:30 PMI've reached the top and had to stop and that's what's been botherin' me. You've obliquely led me to revisit Jungle Book.

I have fond memories of this, even as I realize that I've only watched it for the first time today. As a boy, I had a record with "Bare Necessities," "I Wanna Be Like You" (which in hindsight must have been my entrée to scat) and quite a bit of dialogue. I think the feature wonderful and fun. I don't expect that as a boy I picked up at all on the vulture quartet being a reference to the Beatles. A day or two before I actually watched it, I read a review on the Interwebs (I don't recall where) which found pedantic fault with it. I'll pause a bit to let the idea of a "Disney-enthusiast pedant" cure a spell, and I'll smile at the thought of myself (not exactly an enthusiast at my age) watching it with greater tolerance than the reviewer.
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

SimonNZ



Over the last two nights a rewatch of the Hollow Crown Henry VI. The first part still highly problematic and all too choppy and changey, but it overall went up in my estimation.

Karl Henning

Quote from: Karl Henning on March 23, 2023, 12:00:34 PMI have fond memories of this, even as I realize that I've only watched it for the first time today. As a boy, I had a record with "Bare Necessities," "I Wanna Be Like You" (which in hindsight must have been my entrée to scat) and quite a bit of dialogue. I think the feature wonderful and fun. I don't expect that as a boy I picked up at all on the vulture quartet being a reference to the Beatles. A day or two before I actually watched it, I read a review on the Interwebs (I don't recall where) which found pedantic fault with it. I'll pause a bit to let the idea of a "Disney-enthusiast pedant" cure a spell, and I'll smile at the thought of myself (not exactly an enthusiast at my age) watching it with greater tolerance than the reviewer.
For fun, I googled "Disney animated features ranked," and found this.


I was gratified to find that Jungle Book came up 12th of 61.
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot