Last Movie You Watched

[Bogey]

Easily.  Knotts is my boy.  He retained much of his Barney character in this one and for me that is GOLD!

[George]

Easily.  Knotts is my boy.  He retained much of his Barney character in this one and for me that is GOLD!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0qm0KUPeD8

[Bogey]

 

[SonicMan46]

Below some new BDs, one DVD replacement (Run Silent....) and the others new additions to my video collection:

Now, the surprise for me was The Undefeated w/ Wayne & Hudson - believe their only movie together - a post-Civil War tale of going to Mexico - story not too believable but some great characters & beautiful scenery that was gorgeous in this blu-ray transfer - Dave

   

[Moonfish]

Matt Reeves writes and directs this vampiric coming-of-age romance based on the Swedish novel 'Let the Right One In' by John Ajvide Lindqvist and Tomas Alfredson's 2008 Swedish-language film adaptation. Kodi Smit-McPhee stars as Owen, a solitary 12-year-old in 1980s New Mexico who is continually tormented by a gang of bullies. When the enigmatic Abby (Chloe Moretz) moves in next door, the two form an unlikely friendship that will change Owen's life forever as it emerges that Abby is a 200-year-old vampire, frozen in childhood and condemned to live on a diet of fresh human blood. With Abby on his side, Owen is finally able to face up to the bullies - but Abby's unquenchable thirst for blood gives rise to a fresh set of problems.

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Hmmm, I can never understand the recent remakes. The Swedish film "Let the Right One In" was excellent. Why make another one here in the US? Is this one worth watching after thoroughly enjoying the original?

[Bogey]

This one I have not taken in in probably two decades.  However, many scenes are so iconic it seems like I just watched it recently:





and of course the final scene, which is one of the greatest endings on film, IMO.

Just a wonderful western to take in.  I may even give it another viewing this week.  So, until that viewing (and SPOILER ALERT):

http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/221379/Butch-Cassidy-and-the-Sundance-Kid-Movie-Clips-Raindrops-.html

[Bogey]

Best remake for my money:

Maltese Falcon  ('41 over the the '31)

[Ken B]

Best remake for my money:

Maltese Falcon  ('41 over the the '31)

You didn't like the earlier remake? 
(The 1941 was the third time it was filmed! I have not seen the others, but your suggestion looks irrefutable.)

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

Just back from seeing Birdman; tragicomedy is one of the hardest things to pull-off but add Iñárritu's magic naturalism into the brew and you might think it'd be impossible.  But this film is easily the best new film I've seen in a very long time and prob. a Magic Dragon Award winner.  Acting, script, cinematography, and score (should inspire some new classical and jazz listeners) all impressively first-rate.  A rich, generous and wonderful experience.

[Bogey]

You didn't like the earlier remake? 
(The 1941 was the third time it was filmed! I have not seen the others, but your suggestion looks irrefutable.)

I did not know of a third one.  What year?

[Ken B]

I did not know of a third one.  What year?

Satan met a Lady, with Bette Davis, directed by Dieterle. 35 or 36.

[Bogey]

Satan met a Lady, with Bette Davis, directed by Dieterle. 35 or 36.

No Spade, no Falcon.

I may have to search for this one for a viewing.  Always enjoy Bette.

[Bogey]

Been listening to The Alamo soundtrack and dug this up.  Already knew about it, but did not know it was this bad:

Now then... let's get to that update on The Alamo. Jeffrey Wells over at Hollywood Elsewhere has picked up the story and offered a few more details. Our friends at The Home Theater Forum have also joined the effort to encourage MGM to allow the restoration to proceed.

[Editor's Note: This this section has been updated for accuracy with information directly from Robert Harris as of 5/31.]

According to Robert, all versions of The Alamo are currently endangered. The film's original 65mm elements are essentially gone, both for the 202-minute roadshow version and the 167-minute cut down version. The roadshow version could possibly still be salvaged in a half-decent home video version, but it's no longer possible to restore it to anything remotely like original quality. Sadly, the same is also true of the 167-minute version created by UA, because the original negatives can no longer be printed to anything viewable. According to Robert: "All that remains [of The Alamo] are old 35mm dupes, which do not represent the film as a large format epic, and even those elements are less than stellar."

Interestingly, in response to e-mails and "tweets" from cinephiles on this issue, Trish Francis, MGM's senior VP for Library Rights Management, has issued this statement: "Thank you for your email. I have spoken with our Technical Services staff who assured me that the film is not in danger of being lost. They proactively and routinely monitor and assess the condition of the various elements of all of MGM's films and take steps as needed to protect and preserve them. The film is a valuable part of film history and naturally want to protect it. We appreciate your interest in THE ALAMO. it. I will mention your concerns to the appropriate people."

Here's the problem with that statement: There are few people with more knowledge and expertise on film preservation than Robert A. Harris. Among the classic film restorations that Robert has supervised are: Lawrence of Arabia (in 1989, done with the involvement of director David Lean and cinematographer Freddie Young), Spartacus (in 1991), My Fair Lady (in 1994), Vertigo (in 1996), Rear Window (in 1998), The Godfather and The Godfather, Part II (in 2006, done with the involvement of director Francis Ford Coppola and cinematographer Gordon Willis), and most recently It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (in 2013). Those of you who have seen these restorations will know one thing: Robert has abundant experience on this issue. What's more, Robert has very recently examined the extant 35mm dupe elements for The Alamo in MGM's possession and has conducted tests to both determine their condition and determine what the best possible outcome of a restoration would be. His conclusion is that the elements are very close to having deteriorating beyond saving. As we've said recently, if a restoration were started right now, the best result would be just 60% of original quality. The reason for this is that restoration has been needed for a number of years (since at least 2009, per Robert's column at the time), but MGM has continued to delay, during which time the photochemical element degradation has continued unchecked. In any case, The Alamo preserved at 60% is far better than the film being lost entirely.

Now... it's widely understood that MGM is in a difficult position financially. And while The Alamo is important from a cinema history standpoint for any number of reasons, it's not usually considered among the studio's A-list classics. So I can understand completely that MGM may feel they just can't afford to invest the money to do a proper restoration at this time. That's a sad situation, but I get it – I am entirely sympathetic to that argument. It's understandable. The problem is this: There have been efforts to fund this restoration with outside monies, at no cost to MGM. And there has been interest in doing so from outside parties. But MGM has chosen not to allow it, seemingly in an effort to save themselves the embarrassment that would result from essentially admitting that they can't or don't want to put up the money themselves.

How can MGM studio executives possibly think that the embarrassment of letting outside parties fund the restoration of The Alamo is worse than the shame that will surely result from letting the film be lost on their watch?

Anyway, that's where things sit at the moment. Our hope is that MGM will finally relent in letting outside parties fund the restoration effort, and then ride the positive PR that would result from having done so and finally issuing a proper Blu-ray and DVD release of the roadshow version.

Bottom line: Either The Alamo will be saved... or it won't. From both a PR standpoint and that of preserving our Hollywood film heritage, only one of those outcomes is positive. Let's hope MGM comes to its senses in time.

You can reach MGM Studios on Facebook here. Tell MGM to save John Wayne's The Alamo (1960) from being lost on Twitter: @MGM_Studios (use #savethealamo).

That's all for now. More as it comes in. In the meantime, have a good weekend.

- Bill Hunt

[Ken B]

No Spade, no Falcon.

I may have to search for this one for a viewing.  Always enjoy Bette.

As I said I have never seen it. It was discussed briefly in some stuff about TMF I read years ago.
I've read TMF  three times. I see a fourth on the horizon....

[Bogey]

As I said I have never seen it. It was discussed briefly in some stuff about TMF I read years ago.
I've read TMF  three times. I see a fourth on the horizon....

Might be worth catching.  Thanks, Ken.

[Bogey]

Good one.

[SonicMan46]

Good one.

Although a BIG John Wayne fan, The Alamo & The Sons of Katie Elder are not my favorites (don't even own them burned to DVD) - I guess for the Alamo, Fess Parker in that role fixed my image as the 'real' Davy Crockett and I thought Wayne was too old for the role, BUT I just looked up both of their ages - John was in his early 50s when the film was made, and Crockett 49 y/o when he was killed in San Antonio - SO, maybe I should look for a streaming option? Also, there was a newer film on the topic w/ Dennis Quaid made in 2004 - not sure if I ever watched that one - any comments?

As for the Sons..., for me, the 4 brothers have little resemblance to each other (unless Katie 'played around' - ) - and their age differences, i.e. Wayne and Anderson were born a third of a century apart making John nearly a potential grandfather -    But, I probably should stream that one too - has been a long while since I've watched either of these movies.  Dave

[Ken B]

Do mini-series count? (What is the plural of mini-series?)
I watched The Assets, an 8 part ms about catching the CIA spy Aldrich Ames. Character driven and well done.

[SonicMan46]

Up to the Gs in my 'burned' DVD films from yesteryear - last night:

Green Mansions (1959) w/ Audrey Hepburn & Anthony Perkins; Mel Ferrer, director; brief synopsis below from Rotten Tomatoes - this film has always been controversial - 3.6/5* on Amazon w/ plenty of 5* but a LOT of 1/2* - the main characters were suppose to be Venezuelans but had their usual voices; some beautiful scenery from upper South America but then corny soundstage scenes w/ bunches of wandering animals.  Heitor Villa-Lobos was suppose to write the music but his score was based on the original book; so he did some work on the edited film, the task of scoring the completed film was done by Bronislau Kaper, with Charles Wolcott conducting (more HERE).

WHAT can I say - could have been a much better film adaption but there are reservations for me to even make a recommendation - I enjoy the good looks of these young stars and the music is good; some of the scenery is beautiful, but probably would do no better than 3* on Amazon; probably a 'must see' for Hepburn fans but considered her worst movie - Dave

Based on the W.H. Hudson novel, this is the story of Rima the Bird Girl (Audrey Hepburn), a Venezuelan jungle woman with the ability to communicate with the natural world. Anthony Perkins stars as Abel, a political refugee who falls for her.

 

[Karl Henning]

That's been off my radar entirely, Dave . . . will see if we have it at the BPL!