Last Movie You Watched

[George]

I'm glad I was oblivious to this show when it first came out, for now I can indulge in the 100 or so episodes that have been made thus far.   

[karlhenning]

An absolute delight 

Though it be not written down . . . .

[Bu]

These B-noirs at the Roxie Cinema in San Francisco, over last Friday-Saturday:

Devil Thumbs a Ride (Felix E. Feist, 1947)



The Guilty (John Reinhardt, 1947)



Raw Deal  (Anthony Mann, 1948)



Railroaded (Anthony Mann, 1947)

[karlhenning]

http://www.youtube.com/v/IcYdjHpJUV8&hl

[Harpo]

love this film; kind of a sci-fi time travel movie w/ some impressive naval scenes - 

Navel scenes? Are you a fan of belly dancing?? 

[Lilas Pastia]

André,
Might you shoot me a quick list of two or three of the noir films with Gabin that you would recommend?

Ohoh! That's a nice, but tough one. Gabin epitomizes 'noir' on french screens. It depends in good part on what you think qualifies as 'noir'. You should be aware that many of his films have a strong melodramatic streak, something that was ingrained in french culture of the time. It was taken up in the song department by Edith Piaf. So, depending on your tolerance to sentimentality, you could go for Le Jour se lève (Carné, a classic), Pépé le Moko (Duvivier, another classic, and a more 'virile' kind of character), Quai des brumes (Carné again, an arch-classic). These are from 1938-39, Gabin's heydey as an actor. Don't forget Renoir's La Grande illusion. A Renoir film can't be categorized as anything. This has many features of the noir film, but almost as an incidental.

Very few films during the 40s, a period during which Gabin first abstained from participating in occupied France's film projects, then emigrated to the USA, where he was very much a stranger, then engaged in active combat with De Gaulle's France Libre forces. And he described himself as apolitical...

In the fifties his star had dimmed but he shrewdly stayed away from the 1930s roles he had portrayed and adopted a tougher kind of character. He played in many, many films. Notable among those are: La vérité sur Bébé Donge, Touchez pas au grisbi, La bête humaine and a clutch of 'Maigret' flicks (the french equivalent of Columbo, with a difference: pipe smoking, drinks a lot, never smiles and moves heavily).

Like Bogart or John Wayne, Gabin was simply too "big" for most of the films he played in. A very sensitive actor, his physical presence was put to best advantage when directed by a master storyteller like Renoir, Carné or Duvivier. However, he was also notoriously difficult to work with.

A last powerful hurrah is his portrayal of the patriarch in Le Clan des siciliens (1969). Outwardly it's the same kind of character as Brando's Don Corleone, but with a soul and facial expressions. An all-star cast of thoughies (Lino Ventura and Alain Delon). Big success at the box-office.

Gabin's sheer magnetism as an actor is something that is impossible to ascribe only to physical or artistic characteristics. Very often he was 'wasted' by appearing in mediocre productions  - even cameo appearances. He was a fiercely independent man who shunned publicity and preferred the company of old friends rather than the jet set. He died of a heart attack and was buried with full military honors (his stint in the War earned him many distinctions, including the privilege of entering liberated Paris with the French Army contingent).

All in all, Gabin's place in cinematic culture is secured by his appearance in those late 1930s films. His virility, toughness and sensitivity are qualities that did not really appear in combination after that period. With a few exceptions, no director was able to extract from him that extraordinarily potent mix. A similar fate befell Spencer Tracy, whose earlier films (1930-1945) were never equalled in terms of exploiting his full potential as an actor.

Start with Pépé le Moko.

[Mozart]

I just watched the benjamin button movie, what a load of crap it was...3 hrs of pointlessness.

[Bogey]

Much appreciated, André. 

[Solitary Wanderer]

Season 2

[val]

"Burn after reading"  (Cohen Brothers)

A light and agreable comedy, with superb actors. The Cohen Brothers had the right to relax a little and amuse themselves, after the darkness and dispair of "No country for old men".

[Harry]

"Troy" in Blu-Ray, which has a stunning picture quality, to bad there was no lossless sound, but the less spectacular 5.1 HD.

[istanbul]

Jon Jost: The Bad you Seleep in

[Bu]

Much appreciated, André. 

I'd recommend Moontide (one of his Hollywood films from 1942) as worth seeing, Bogey.  Loved this movie and its performances from Gabin and Lupino; in fact, I'd say the whole cast pretty much shines. 

[Lilas Pastia]

I've never heard of, let alone seen Moontide. Thanks for the tip, Bu !

[Bu]

Brother Bu, at your service, André.   

Last film, a re-watch of one of my very favorite movies:

[SonicMan46]

Brother Bu, at your service, André.   

Last film, a re-watch of one of my very favorite movies:  RE: The Asphalt Jungle (1950)

Hello Bu - of course, what does not show up on your 'cover art' from this film is the name of Marilyn Monroe, one of her first films w/ 'name' recognition and likely a 'jump start' to her movie career - BTW, I really enjoy this production, also!  Dave 

[Bu]

Hello Bu - of course, what does not show up on your 'cover art' from this film is the name of Marilyn Monroe, one of her first films w/ 'name' recognition and likely a 'jump start' to her movie career - BTW, I really enjoy this production, also!  Dave 

Good Evening, Dave.

Oh, quite correct there.  She has a small part in the film and, like any of her performances, was certainly memorable.      

Wonderful you enjoy the production, too; this movie is in my trinity of favorite noirs, along with The Big Sleep (1946) and Out of the Past (1947).  Can't say which film I like the most, either, but I certainly prefer The Ashphalt Jungle to Kubrick's later film, The Killing (which draws a lot of comparisons, for obvious reasons).  Then again, I prefer Huston to Kubrick, anyway.

[Solitary Wanderer]

2006 ~ Quite a different take to Richard Wagner on this famous story. Enjoyable if not very memorable.

[SonicMan46]

Last few nights, I watched a couple of Jack Nicholson films - kind of at opposite ends of his performance spectrum:

Goin' South (1978) w/ Mary Steenburgen & John Belushi in their first film roles; directed by Jack, also - western spoof and not Nicholson in his usual type role, but I've always enjoyed this film!

A Few Good Men (1992) w/ Tom Cruise & Demi Moore (love a woman in a uniform!) - one of my favorite Cruise films & love Kevin Bacon, also, as the opposing lawyer - 

 

[knight66]

I was looking through the personalised recommendations for me on Amazon. I noticed a four disc version of Ben Hur! I was intrigued, although I think the film is ponderous and overlong, how could they fill four discs even with extras?

Reading through the extras, they have included the entire of the silent screen version, with the music of Carl Davis. I have long wanted to see the silent version. So, for £10, I get it and the extra, is the modern version with Chuck Heston. There will for sure be some scenes I will fast forward, but the chariot race is always a thrill to watch.

Mike