Last Movie You Watched

[kishnevi]

Little known fact.  Holmes once told off Abraham Lincoln.
Towards the end of the Civil War, Lincoln made one of his quick inspection tours of the front.  At one point, on the front line, he climbed up on a rampart to get a better view of the Confederate position.  Whereupon Holmes, then a junior officer,  yelled out, "Get down from there, you d-mned fool!".  Apparently Lincoln followed Holmes's instructions.

[Ken B]

Just saw an article on movie related deaths this year. There are now only two remaining stars of the 30s I believe, Olivia deHavilland, b 1916, and Luise Rainer, b 1910. Each won the leading actress Oscar twice. Rainer was never a big box office name though.

Are there any others?

[SonicMan46]

Little known fact.  Holmes once told off Abraham Lincoln.
Towards the end of the Civil War, Lincoln made one of his quick inspection tours of the front.  At one point, on the front line, he climbed up on a rampart to get a better view of the Confederate position.  Whereupon Holmes, then a junior officer,  yelled out, "Get down from there, you d-mned fool!".  Apparently Lincoln followed Holmes's instructions.

Thanks Jeffrey for the reminder - I'm a Civil War buff and have read that a number of times - BUT, good advice in view of the skill of 'sharpshooters' at the time - Dave

[SonicMan46]

Just saw an article on movie related deaths this year. There are now only two remaining stars of the 30s I believe, Olivia deHavilland, b 1916, and Luise Rainer, b 1910. Each won the leading actress Oscar twice. Rainer was never a big box office name though.

Are there any others?

Hey Ken - what a coincidence - back to my 'burned' DVDs tonight and watching the film below from 1942 - just 3 years after the Robinhood film w/ Flynn - forgot how good Fonda was in comedy roles (when he was also making more serious films like 'My Darling Clementine' about the same time) - has also Joan Leslie & Jack Carson.  Olivia's sister, Joan Fontaine, died exactly a year ago, another beautiful young actress from yesteryear!  Dave

[Ken B]

Hey Ken - what a coincidence - back to my 'burned' DVDs tonight and watching the film below from 1942 - just 3 years after the Robinhood film w/ Flynn - forgot how good Fonda was in comedy roles (when he was also making more serious films like 'My Darling Clementine' about the same time) - has also Joan Leslie & Jack Carson.  Olivia's sister, Joan Fontaine, died exactly a year ago, another beautiful young actress from yesteryear!  Dave

I saw that in the late 70s on TV but have not been able to find it since.

Trivia of the day: There are 4 cast members from GWTW who had speaking parts still alive. 

[SonicMan46]

I saw that in the late 70s on TV but have not been able to find it since.

Trivia of the day: There are 4 cast members from GWTW who had speaking parts still alive.

Hi Ken - well, I could look it up but really don't know?  Hattie McDaniel is also in the film - she died about 10 years later in '52.

Now watching another oldie The Man I Love (1947) w/ a young, beautiful, & perky Ida Lupino - music by the Gershwin brothers and plenty of performances - this one is worth a watch at many different levels - recommended!  Dave

 

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Watched bunch of famous 40s films.















All of them are still very good films (friend of mine didn't like it's a wonderful life and I disagree although I can see his reasons). I prefer probably treasure of sierra madre to Casablanca, honestly, when it comes to Bogart films. One thing in Casablanca I didn't like was that last-minute disposal of the nazi officer villain, too out of the blue although similar kind of thing happens with the bandits and Dobbs in treasure of sierra madre. However, Sierra Madre accomplishes this with some touches that I liked (I like how when the gold hat-bandit is taken to be shot he insists that his hat must remain on his head and it's bit half-assed how his friend manages to stay alive after being shot and Dobbs manages to stumble into bandits in middle of desert, but the drama is played well). One of the things I most liked in Casablanca was the way it turned out that Renault wasn't such a bad guy after all.

As said, I liked it's a wonderful life but seriously, I can't help but laugh at the scene when it is supposedly horrifying how George Bailey's wifes terrible fate in George-free universe is to become... a librarian. Oh the horror! The playful-intended scene with Mary ending up naked in the bush hasn't aged that well either to me. It seems bit mean (although that is still pretty tame compared to otherwise very fine movie Goldfinger which has that one uncomfortable scene where Bond seduces Pussy Galore in a way which comes dangerously close to looking like a rape). The movie was critiziced for letting the villain, mr. Potter, get away scot-free without any consequences but I actually liked that because I've always disliked the cliché when villains are punished bit too accurately so that it would seem like every single evil-doer always gets caught, especially if the work first makes it look like the villain is getting away but noo, divine bolts of retribution always strike these guys often in a way that is completely the fault of the villain him/herself. God I hate that cliché. I'm actually surprised how relatively little part of the movie actually takes place at christmas, despite this often been seen as a christmas film.

Citizen Kane, as magnificent as ever. Herrmann's soundtrack is pure awesomeness. The movie also includes for ex. Wagner and (which probably wouldn't have pleased Wagner) Mendelssohn and even its own opera. I honestly never understood why Susan's singing is considered so awful, it's maybe not perfect but really, I've heard much worse. The way this movie is filmed is extremely innovative and has aged very well IMO.

[Bogey]

Watched bunch of famous 40s films.

















All of them are still very good films (friend of mine didn't like it's a wonderful life and I disagree although I can see his reasons). I prefer probably treasure of sierra madre to Casablanca, honestly, when it comes to Bogart films. One thing in Casablanca I didn't like was that last-minute disposal of the nazi officer villain, too out of the blue although similar kind of thing happens with the bandits and Dobbs in treasure of sierra madre. However, Sierra Madre accomplishes this with some touches that I liked (I like how when the gold hat-bandit is taken to be shot he insists that his hat must remain on his head and it's bit half-assed how his friend manages to stay alive after being shot and Dobbs manages to stumble into bandits in middle of desert, but the drama is played well). One of the things I most liked in Casablanca was the way it turned out that Renault wasn't such a bad guy after all.

As said, I liked it's a wonderful life but seriously, I can't help but laugh at the scene when it is supposedly horrifying how George Bailey's wifes terrible fate in George-free universe is to become... a librarian. Oh the horror! The playful-intended scene with Mary ending up naked in the bush hasn't aged that well either to me. It seems bit mean (although that is still pretty tame compared to otherwise very fine movie Goldfinger which has that one uncomfortable scene where Bond seduces Pussy Galore in a way which comes dangerously close to looking like a rape). The movie was critiziced for letting the villain, mr. Potter, get away scot-free without any consequences but I actually liked that because I've always disliked the cliché when villains are punished bit too accurately so that it would seem like every single evil-doer always gets caught, especially if the work first makes it look like the villain is getting away but noo, divine bolts of retribution always strike these guys often in a way that is completely the fault of the villain him/herself. God I hate that cliché. I'm actually surprised how relatively little part of the movie actually takes place at christmas, despite this often been seen as a christmas film.

Citizen Kane, as magnificent as ever. Herrmann's soundtrack is pure awesomeness. The movie also includes for ex. Wagner and (which probably wouldn't have pleased Wagner) Mendelssohn and even its own opera. I honestly never understood why Susan's singing is considered so awful, it's maybe not perfect but really, I've heard much worse. The way this movie is filmed is extremely innovative and has aged very well IMO.

Three great ones there, and my favorite (with a nod to Maltese) at the top.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Kane is probably my favorite of these three. It has innovative camerawork, clever script, beautiful music, interesting characters. I'm not sure if it's the greatest movie of all time but it is certainly one of my favorites. Casablanca and it's a wonderful life rock too, though.

[TheGSMoeller]

Terence Malick's new film, Knight of Cups. The trailers for Malick's films are better than most movies being released these days.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC-3rnv_b3o


https://www.youtube.com/v/bC-3rnv_b3o

[SonicMan46]

Watched bunch of famous 40s films.

 

Yep, know them well and own each now on Bluray. a different experience - these are all outstanding films regardless of your friend's opinion - the voice of age & experience has spoken!   Dave

[Ken B]

Yep, know them well and own each now on Bluray. a different experience - these are all outstanding films regardless of your friend's opinion - the voice of age & experience has spoken!   Dave

Spoke twice! + 1


Actually, +3 

[George]

Terence Malick's new film, Knight of Cups. The trailers for Malick's films are better than most movies being released these days.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC-3rnv_b3o


https://www.youtube.com/v/bC-3rnv_b3o

Looks interesting. Thanks for posting that!

[SonicMan46]

The Man in the Iron Mask - at least three versions shown below:

Tonight, I watched a 'burned' DVD w/ Louis Hayward from 1939 - enjoyed; then watched my own DVD w/ some great actors including DiCaprio from the 1998 remake; now there is another version w/ Richard Chamberlain (1977) which I've seen at least once - SO, for those who like this Dumas novel & story, any favorites?  Dave

   

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Yep, know them well and own each now on Bluray. a different experience - these are all outstanding films regardless of your friend's opinion - the voice of age & experience has spoken!   Dave

My friend did Like casablanca and kane though. casablanca is one of his all time favorite films.  His opinion of its a wonderful life is poppycock of course!

[Karl Henning]

The Man in the Iron Mask - at least three versions shown below:

What are your thoughts about the 1998 remake?  I remember largely enjoying the movie, yet feeling that DiCaprio was the weak link in an otherwise mighty chain . . . .

[Bogey]

If you have any nostalgia for the 80's, then the setting, outfits, music, and hair on this one are for you.   

What I did enjoy the most is listening to how they pulled off the effects for this one. Also how they were out of money and hired Brad Fiedel to score the movie with his racks of synthesizers that he had in his garage.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

First terminator is superior to second one in my opinion. It helps the first one didn't have extremely annoying kid character, IIRC.

[SonicMan46]

What are your thoughts about the 1998 remake?  I remember largely enjoying the movie, yet feeling that DiCaprio was the weak link in an otherwise mighty chain . . . .

Hi Karl - well, probably my favorite version (although I'd need to re-watch the Chamberlain film again), although I agree that DiCaprio's voice in particular does not fit the role - try to see the film w/ Louis Hayward, if possible?  Dave

[SonicMan46]

Arrival yesterday of another small Amazon order - 6 BDs (all DVD replacements) - last night:

Shadow of a Doubt (1943) w/ Teresa Wright & Joseph Cotton; Alfred Hitchcock, director - nefarious 'Uncle Charlie' pays a family visit and the mystery drama proceeds in the usual Hitchcockian ways - a MUST watch if not seen before; another excellent blu-ray transfer.

The Big Trail (1930) w/ the 23 y/o John Wayne - beginning synopsis quoted below from HERE; the expansive scenes are just amazing for the times (more on making the film HERE); an early widescreen technology was used which presents a 2.10 aspect ratio; the BD is full of special features which I need to explore - HIGHLY recommended!  Dave

The first "epic" western of the talkie era, The Big Trail is motivated by a hero's search for the murderer of his father. Twenty-three-year-old John Wayne, hitherto limited to bit parts, was thrust into the difficult leading role, a young mountaineer put in charge of a huge California-bound wagon train. Over the next several months, Wayne and his fellow pioneers face every imaginable hazard and disaster, from blistering desert heat to blinding snowstorms, negotiating steep cliffs, treacherous rivers, uncharted forests and other such natural obstacles.