Last Movie You Watched

[Cato]

Testing

For some reason, I cannot place my comment here about Alfred Hitchcock and Bernard Herrmannm, in response to @Belle.

I am not using any unusual punctuation and have no links to anything.

Bold Type obviously works:  Italics work.  I deleted a few hyphens and two asterisks.

Any ideas?

[Cato]

For some reason, I cannot place my comment here about Alfred Hitchcock and Bernard Herrmann.

I am not using any unusual punctuation and have no links to anything.

Bold Type obviously works:  Italics work.  I deleted a few hyphens and two asterisks.

Any ideas?

Universal and Hitchcock attributed the failure of Marnie to its lack of a "hit song" * to attract teenagers.

Herrmann's view was that Torn Curtain would not be for teenagers anyway.

When Herrmann produced a score for Torn Curtain with 10 flutes and NO hit song, that ended their collaboration permanently.

*It is difficult to say when that "hit-song" necessity for non-musical movies arose: perhaps with Henry Mancini's Moon River heard in Breakfast at Tiffany's (?).

[Cato]

Okay, the above had to be added together about 5 words at a time and previewed.

Otherwise...FORBIDDEN appeared!

[Belle]

Universal and Hitchcock attributed the failure of Marnie to its lack of a "hit song" * to attract teenagers.

Herrmann's view was that Torn Curtain would not be for teenagers anyway.

When Herrmann produced a score for Torn Curtain with 10 flutes and NO hit song, that ended their collaboration permanently.

Yes, Cato, that is correct about Marnie but above all Hitchcock under-appreciated the role of Herrmann's music in the success of his films.  Those comments he made were ridiculous and indicative of a man slowly losing the plot. Sadly.  Herrmann went on to create spectaculars score for "Fahrenheit 451" and "Taxi Driver", but died before the latter was released.  Herrmann was a man who made many enemies, probably because of his own insecurities - but he knew, loved and admired Charles Ives so he was an early exponent of that composer's work.  Bernard Herrmann knew what he was talking about!!  (See the book by Steven Smith).

May I say what a pleasure it is 'talking' to folks who love and appreciate good film!!!

I don't know why my reply ended up in this envelope!!

[Cato]

Universal and Hitchcock attributed the failure of Marnie to its lack of a "hit song" * to attract teenagers.

Herrmann's view was that Torn Curtain would not be for teenagers anyway.

When Herrmann produced a score for Torn Curtain with 10 flutes and NO hit song, that ended their collaboration permanently.

Yes, Cato, that is correct about Marnie but above all Hitchcock under-appreciated the role of Herrmann's music in the success of his films.  Those comments he made were ridiculous and indicative of a man slowly losing the plot. Sadly.  Herrmann went on to create spectaculars score for "Fahrenheit 451" and "Taxi Driver", but died before the latter was released.  Herrmann was a man who made many enemies, probably because of his own insecurities - but he knew, loved and admired Charles Ives so he was an early exponent of that composer's work.  Bernard Herrmann knew what he was talking about!!  (See the book by Steven Smith).

May I say what a pleasure it is 'talking' to folks who love and appreciate good film!!!


I don't know why my reply ended up in this envelope!!

You are quite welcome!

Make sure your cursor for typing the comment is not inside the "quote box,"

Yes, Herrmann was a great supporter of Charles Ives.

Let me recommend Bernard Herrmann's two scores for Brian De Palma in the 1970's: Sisters and Obsession.

[Karl Henning]

Testing

Success!

[Cato]

Success!

Yes, so far!  What caused the glitch...?

Interesting coincidence: we have just had trouble with an Internet picture frame...it suddenly refused to connect to the Internet, looping endlessly with "Trying to Connect," and unplugging it for minutes or even all day did not stop it from looping, when it was turned back on.

[Karl Henning]

Universal and Hitchcock attributed the failure of Marnie to its lack of a "hit song" * to attract teenagers.

Herrmann's view was that Torn Curtain would not be for teenagers anyway.

When Herrmann produced a score for Torn Curtain with 10 flutes and NO hit song, that ended their collaboration permanently.

Yes, Cato, that is correct about Marnie but above all Hitchcock under-appreciated the role of Herrmann's music in the success of his films.  Those comments he made were ridiculous and indicative of a man slowly losing the plot. Sadly.  Herrmann went on to create spectaculars score for "Fahrenheit 451" and "Taxi Driver", but died before the latter was released.  Herrmann was a man who made many enemies, probably because of his own insecurities - but he knew, loved and admired Charles Ives so he was an early exponent of that composer's work.  Bernard Herrmann knew what he was talking about!!  (See the book by Steven Smith).

May I say what a pleasure it is 'talking' to folks who love and appreciate good film!!!

I don't know why my reply ended up in this envelope!!

Hitchcock's underestimating of Herrmann's contribution to his success is one of the great ungrateful blindspots in cinema. 

[Belle]

Hitchcock's underestimating of Herrmann's contribution to his success is one of the great ungrateful blindspots in cinema.

How right you are, sir.  And Bernard Herrmann was forced to go to England where he scored for minor films.  He remains one of the all-time greats, in my book at least.  It remains enigmatic to me why Hitchcock was so blind-sided about Herrmann, but the latter's difficult temperament may have played some part.

Which of Herrmann's scores do you appreciate the most?  For me it's Psycho, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Vertigo and Marnie.  Off the top of my head he scored other films for Joseph Mankiewicz but a senior's moment has frozen my memory just now.

How easy to become side-tracked when talking about film and music;  Joseph L. Mankiewicz is a hero of mine. 

I know a lot of you are Americans and I only recently said to the spouse, "no matter how bad American politics becomes I can never remain cranky with them because of their magnificent film heritage"!!

[Belle]

Thanks, Cato, for those two exceptional YT clips of Herrmann's music for Brian de Palma.  It's good to know that he was recognized after his split with Hitchcock and from the image accompanying the music it made me misty-eyed to see him with that creative crew!!

The familiar traits of Herrmann are evident in those two scores:  heavy on the brass, repetitive motifs - particularly in the strings - very low tonal chords and cadences.

[Madiel]

The precise combination of words and punctuation and formatting that produces the Forbidden error is extremely arcane. Changes that look trivial to human eyes are considered a big deal by the computing system. There's been some testing of this in other threads.

[Madiel]

Kiki's Delivery Service



I "have" to keep watching these Studio Ghibli films to keep ahead of the expiry dates of the free streaming...

The Japanese title is more accurately translated as something like "Witch's Express Home Delivery", which shows up the one magical/supernatural element that I'd forgotten: Kiki is a 13-year-old witch setting out to learn her craft. And she figures out the thing she can do is parcel delivery on her broom.

Another lighter Miyazaki film, which I think I've seen before. It's quite fun. The credits actually end up being a highlight. They all lived happily ever after, and it feels good.

[Cato]

Alec Guinness, Sessue Hayakawa  (in his 70's at the time), Jack Hawkins, and William Holden in a classic from director David Lean.



I had forgotten that the score was composed by Malcolm Arnold !

I have never read the novel by Pierre Boulle: I should perhaps fill in that lacuna in my education!

[Karl Henning]

Alec Guinness, Sessue Hayakawa  (in his 70's at the time), Jack Hawkins, and William Holden in a classic from director David Lean.



I had forgotten that the score was composed by Malcolm Arnold !

I have never read the novel by Pierre Boulle: I should perhaps fill in that lacuna in my education!

Also author of Planet of the Apes.

[Cato]

Also author of Planet of the Apes.

Apparently Boulle was amazed by the popularity and success of the movie and its sequels.

Speaking of Frenchmen whose novels became excellent movies:




The books were written by Marcel Pagnol and I will say that they are on the level of Sophocles.  Most impressive books and movies!

[Karl Henning]

"The Sound of Music".  I just love Austria anyway so watch the film more than I otherwise would.  My problem with it is Julie Andrews who, although a talented singer, was a cold actress - even clinical at times.  On the other hand the wonderful, gorgeous and sexy Chris Plummer.  This scene is absolutely stunning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUFBOC6lQoo

You've prompted me to go ahead and fetch the blu-ray in. 

[Belle]

Oh, very nice Dr. Henning.

[Karl Henning]

TD: Another family favorite: Strictly Ballroom.

[Karl Henning]

A few days ago: the sentimental sort of Christmas movie boilerplate i would not normally watch, but exactly the sort of feel-good viewing my recuperating ladies needed:

[Belle]

TD: Another family favorite: Strictly Ballroom.

I taught this film for year 11 (Australia) many years ago!!  It came under the category of "Australian grunge"!