Last Movie You Watched

[Madiel]

Interesting that this less celebrated work had a seemingly larger budget than most in the BBC series with real locations, exterior scenes and more authentic costumes.

My first time seeing any version of this play.

Apparently only 2 of the plays had location shoots, and both of them were in Season One of the series. Presumably there was someone in the BBC's Accounting Department who reacted in horror and put a stop to it.

[SimonNZ]

Apparently only 2 of the plays had location shoots, and both of them were in Season One of the series. Presumably there was someone in the BBC's Accounting Department who reacted in horror and put a stop to it.

Interesting. What was the other one?

[Madiel]

Interesting. What was the other one?

Um, I was looking at the Wikipedia page at the time. I think it was As You Like It.

The Wikipedia page for the series is really quite interesting, with a lot of discussion of all the problems that affected the series and how the first couple of seasons in particular were not well received. For example, the very first production that was supposed to be aired got completely scrapped after filming.

[SimonNZ]

Um, I was looking at the Wikipedia page at the time. I think it was As You Like It.

The Wikipedia page for the series is really quite interesting, with a lot of discussion of all the problems that affected the series and how the first couple of seasons in particular were not well received. For example, the very first production that was supposed to be aired got completely scrapped after filming.

Thanks. I'll check that out.

I had to smile in recognition at this bit of a review of the Henry VIII production:

"Personally, I think Henry VIII would have done better had scholars managed to prove that it was entirely by Fletcher.  If it were known as a Fletcher play, it would be a highly regarded history play by one of Shakespeare's most interesting younger contemporaries.  As it is, people watching the play are in the awkward position of worrying about which bits they are supposed to most enjoy?  Am I enjoying the wrong bit?  Can I intuitively detect the cadences of the Immortal bard?"

https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/2017/10/20/its-not-really-about-henry-the-1979-bbc-henry-viii/

[Madiel]

Thanks. I'll check that out.

I had to smile in recognition at this bit of a review of the Henry VIII production:

"Personally, I think Henry VIII would have done better had scholars managed to prove that it was entirely by Fletcher.  If it were known as a Fletcher play, it would be a highly regarded history play by one of Shakespeare's most interesting younger contemporaries.  As it is, people watching the play are in the awkward position of worrying about which bits they are supposed to most enjoy?  Am I enjoying the wrong bit?  Can I intuitively detect the cadences of the Immortal bard?"

https://conradbrunstrom.wordpress.com/2017/10/20/its-not-really-about-henry-the-1979-bbc-henry-viii/

I ended up reading a few more of his reviews of the series, and rather enjoyed them.

I'm still in 2 minds whether I want to spend time going through the series. For some plays there's not much else on offer. Mind you, I should probably watch The Hollow Crown again first because I've already got that more recent series on DVD.

[SimonNZ]

Oh, and in that Henry VIII...a cameo by Emma Kirkby, singing "Orpheus With His Lute".

[SonicMan46]

A Star is Born (2018) w/ Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga - a re-watch after its initial streaming availability and a re-assessment.  There have been 4 movie versions of this story, i.e. 1937 (Gaynor & March), 1954 (Garland & Mason), 1976 (Streisand & Kristofferson), and 2018 - before the Lady Gaga version, Garland was tops for me and Streisand at the bottom - after my re-watch, I'm now pretty much in a tie for Judy & Lady G. - each has a different approach and contemporary stories for their times.

BUT I was curious as to some rankings and ratings: 1) Billboard puts Garland first and Gaga second; MovieWeb reverses the top ranks, so a tie.  Rotten Tomatoes - 90% for Gaga & 98% for Judy; IMDB - 7.6, Gaga and 7.5, Judy.  SO, believe the top 2 movies are entrenched although some would prefer one over the other - I will certainly watch Garland again because of her performances but Lady Gaga will likely be another viewing.    Dave

[Karl Henning]

The Ghost and Mrs Muir (with commentary by a Herrmann expert and a visual effects guy, two different chaps—recommended)


Tangentially, FWIW, I read this on Facebook:

We didn't watch the Oscars, instead we watched the movie that won all the prizes - sorry, folks - juvenile philosophy tacked on to a kung fu fest.  Dumb jokes.  Best actress acted a lot.  2nd best actress took advantage of the situation and tore thru the scenery.  Oh well — the alternatives were an Elvis imitator and Top Gun boys.  No slapping.  Play on.

[relm1]

The Ghost and Mrs Muir (with commentary by a Herrmann expert and a visual effects guy, two different chaps—recommended)


Tangentially, FWIW, I read this on Facebook:

We didn't watch the Oscars, instead we watched the movie that won all the prizes - sorry, folks - juvenile philosophy tacked on to a kung fu fest.  Dumb jokes.  Best actress acted a lot.  2nd best actress took advantage of the situation and tore thru the scenery.  Oh well — the alternatives were an Elvis imitator and Top Gun boys.  No slapping.  Play on.

Who was the Herrmann expert?

[Karl Henning]

Who was the Herrmann expert?

Christopher Husted

[SonicMan46]

Naked City (1948) - synopsis and cast below w/ Barry Fitzgerald stealing most of the scenes; the NYC on location filming is one of the highlights of this detective film.  Ratings: Rotten Tomatoes, 86% & IMDB, 7.6 - good review HERE for those interested.  Dave

The Naked City is an American film noir produced by Mark Hellinger, directed by Jules Dassin, written by Albert Maltz and Malvin Wald, and starring Barry Fitzgerald, Howard Duff, Dorothy Hart and Don Taylor. The influential film, shot almost entirely on location in New York City, depicts the police investigation that follows the murder of a young model.
Naked City received two Academy Awards, one for cinematography for William H. Daniels and another for film editing to Paul Weatherwax. (Source)

 

[Karl Henning]

Inspired by @Cato it's high time I watched this:
Ben-Hur. I recall my parents having the soundtrack LPs (handsomely boxed) though I'm not aware of their listening to it after I came into the world.

[SimonNZ]

[Cato]

Tangentially, FWIW, I read this on Facebook:

We didn't watch the Oscars, instead we watched the movie that won all the prizes - sorry, folks - juvenile philosophy tacked on to a kung fu fest.  Dumb jokes.  Best actress acted a lot.  2nd best actress took advantage of the situation and tore thru the scenery.  Oh well — the alternatives were an Elvis imitator and Top Gun boys.  No slapping.  Play on.

Mrs. Cato and I watched it back in January: apparently made by 2 directors who suffer from ADHD.  The actors do what they always do with such stuff: run with it!  Another special effects extravaganza: at times it was okay.  Toward the end I thought: we get the point, The End!  Twenty to Thirty minutes too long!

I have related the following before: many decades ago, actor Richard Basehart, who had been in classics like Decision Before Dawn, Moby Dick, The Brothers Karamazov, La Strada and a good number of other fine movies, found good movie roles harder to come by as he was in his 50's, and was doing a science-fiction T.V. show called Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.

He was interviewed by a magazine when he was acting in King Lear on stage, and the interviewer commented that King Lear must be very difficult, after doing Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.  His answer has stayed with me for c. 60 years:

"No, it's just the opposite.  Shakespeare is easy in comparison because the lines are there!"

Actors (good ones at least) do their best with crappy scripts...but you can only do so much.  So, I think the actors did their best in Everything...etc., but the lines were not there.

Anyway, we have seen recently:



and...

[Cato]

One of the best Westerns with possibly the greatest musical score for a Western by Jerome Moross:

[Karl Henning]

One of the best Westerns with possibly the greatest musical score for a Western by Jerome Moross:

Gorgeous! And a great fight scene.

TD: An Affair to Remember.

[Karl Henning]

Inspired by @Cato it's high time I watched this:
Ben-Hur. I recall my parents having the soundtrack LPs (handsomely boxed) though I'm not aware of their listening to it after I came into the world.

This was really wonderful and moving. I went in with practically no expectations apart from knowing the score by Rózsa would be superb.

[Cato]

Conerning Ben-Hur (1959)

This was really wonderful and moving. I went in with practically no expectations apart from knowing the score by Rózsa would be superb.

I always liked the great character actor Frank Thring as Pontius Pilate, especially in the scene where he offers his/the Roman government's apology to Judah Ben-Hur.

Few things are as powerful and moving as the scene after the chariot race where Messala meets Ben-Hur in the "operating room."

[Karl Henning]

Gorgeous! And a great fight scene.

TD: An Affair to Remember.

Decades ago the missus and mom-in-law found this and watched the whole ... watching it tonight, I realize how little of it I saw then (the scene with Grant and Kerr at Grant's grandmother's, and the closing scene. This was long enough ago that I'd forgotten that it ends at Christmas. I really like it, a good balance of humor and melodrama.

[Karl Henning]

Few things are as powerful and moving as the scene after the chariot race where Messala meets Ben-Hur in the "operating room."

And 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.