Last Movie You Watched

[SonicMan46]

Tonight back to my old burned DVD-Rs - a couple of films w/ Saratoga in the title:

Saratoga (1937) w/ Gable & Harlow, plus many others; about horse racing - Clark & Jean's last film together - she actually died suddenly (probably renal failure) after about 90% of the film was completed - a double was used along w/ a voice imitator for the final scenes; she was just 26 years old - can't imagine how many more good movies she would have made?

Saratoga Truck (1945) w/ Gary Cooper & Ingrid Bergman - Ingrid is just beautiful in this film and puts in a believable performance as someone possessed and ruthless for revenge - both films are worth a watch, especially for the chemistry between the main stars.  Dave

 

 

[Karl Henning]

Bill - can I talk Susan into seeing this film w/ me?  How many women were in the audience?  Took her to Selma today in 'exchange' for her to attend the film above - then for the first time in my life (I believe), I will have seen all of the 'Best Picture' nominations for a single year!  Dave

I've an old Wooster classmate, a woman, who went and found it a profoundly moving experience, Dave.

[SonicMan46]

I've an old Wooster classmate, a woman, who went and found it a profoundly moving experience, Dave.

Thanks Karl for the comment above - she's been reading reviews and actually has shown some interest - we usually attend a mid-afternoon matinee so an early dinner at a nice restaurant is always a further enticement!   Dave

[Ken B]

I've an old Wooster classmate

Not Cat's-Meat by any chance?

[listener]

The GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
yes, this is a very good film, I'll order a copy for my sister.

[SonicMan46]

Some oldies last night - all quite different but still strong performances:

Search, The (1948) w/ Montgomery Clift, Wendell Cory, and Ivan Jandl (excellent performance as the lost child) - story of a nine-year-old Czech boy who had survived Auschwitz and was searching for his mother in post-war Germany. The movie was filmed on location and the destruction is heart rendering - 8.0/10, IMDB; 4.7/5* on Amazon - certainly a 4* (maybe more) for me - relationship between the boy & Cliff is worth a watch.

Set-Up, The (1947) w/ Robert Ryan & Audrey Totter - one of the forgotten boxing films; Ryan in a superb performance as an 'over the hill' boxer told to throw a bout - you can imagine what happened; short film noir effects and if a boxing film fan, a recommendation - 4.7/5* on Amazon - I would do a 4*.

Seven Days in May (1964) w/ Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Frederick March, Ava Gardner, and many others.  Synopsis below from IMDB, 7.9/10 rating - 4.6/5*, Amazon - I'd also do a 4* rating there - maybe a little dated, but Douglas' performance is worth seeing - Dave

An unpopular U.S. President manages to get a nuclear disarmament treaty through the Senate, but finds that the nation is turning against him. Jiggs Casey, a Marine Colonel, finds evidence that General Scott, the wildly popular head of the Joint Chiefs and certain Presidential Candidate in 2 years is not planning to wait. Casey goes to the president with the information and a web of intrigue begins with each side unsure of who can be trusted.

   

[Ken B]

Some oldies last night - all quite different but still strong performances:

Search, The (1948) w/ Montgomery Clift, Wendell Cory, and Ivan Jandl (excellent performance as the lost child) - story of a nine-year-old Czech boy who had survived Auschwitz and was searching for his mother in post-war Germany. The movie was filmed on location and the destruction is heart rendering - 8.0/10, IMDB; 4.7/5* on Amazon - certainly a 4* (maybe more) for me - relationship between the boy & Cliff is worth a watch.

Set-Up, The (1947) w/ Robert Ryan & Audrey Totter - one of the forgotten boxing films; Ryan in a superb performance as an 'over the hill' boxer told to throw a bout - you can imagine what happened; short film noir effects and if a boxing film fan, a recommendation - 4.7/5* on Amazon - I would do a 4*.

Seven Days in May (1964) w/ Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Frederick March, Ava Gardner, and many others.  Synopsis below from IMDB, 7.9/10 rating - 4.6/5*, Amazon - I'd also do a 4* rating there - maybe a little dated, but Douglas' performance is worth seeing - Dave

   

Ava Gardner but you say Kirk Douglas is worth watching. I worry about you Dave.

[Bogey]

Excellent film!

[SonicMan46]

Ava Gardner but you say Kirk Douglas is worth watching. I worry about you Dave.

LOL!  Well, you're either kidding or just a lost soul?   Dave

Today I received a number of Blu-ray replacements - the first up for tonight below:

Lust for Life (1956) w/ Kirk Douglas, Anthony Quinn, et al; Vincente Minnelli, director - of course, story of the artist Vincent van Gogh, especially his relationship in Arles (southern France) w/ Paul Gauguin (Quinn) - the blu-ray restoration is fabulous (4.5/5* for both video & audio HERE) - Dave

 

[listener]

the first of a short series of Hong Kong films, like the British 'Carry On...',  and with similar low-brow comedy.     EMPEROR CHIEN LUNG, from the once prolific Shaw Brother studios with an early appearance by Jimmy Wang Yu

[SonicMan46]

Razor's Edge, The (1946) w/ Tyrone Power, Jean Tierney, John Payne, Anne Baxter et al - synopsis below from IMDB of his often melodramatic film noir of the period - Power & Tierney at their peak for looks, just a gorgeous pair together (and I've always thought Tierney one of the most beautiful actresses of that era) - ratings, 7.6/10, IMDB & 4.4/5*, Amazon - again I'd do a 4* rating - video 4/5/audio 3.5/5 HERE - nominated for 4 Oscars w/ one win by Baxter in a supporting role.  Dave

Well-to-do Chicagoan, Larry Darrell, breaks off his engagement to Isabel and travels the world seeking enlightenment, eventually finding his guru India. Isabel marries Gray, and following the crash of 1929, is invited to live in Paris with her rich, social climbing, Uncle Elliot. During a sojurn there, Larry, having attained his goal, is reunited with Isabel. While slumming one night Larry, Isabel and company are shocked to discover Sophie, a friend from Chicago. Having lost her husband and child in a tragic accident, Sophie is living the low-life with the help of drugs and an abusive brute. Larry tries to rehabilitate her, but his efforts are sabotaged by Isabel who tries in vain to reignite Larry's interest in herself.

 

[Ken B]

Razor's Edge, The (1946) w/ Tyrone Power, Jean Tierney, John Payne, Anne Baxter et al - synopsis below from IMDB of his often melodramatic film noir of the period - Power & Tierney at their peak for looks, just a gorgeous pair together (and I've always thought Tierney one of the most beautiful actresses of that era) - ratings, 7.6/10, IMDB & 4.4/5*, Amazon - again I'd do a 4* rating - video 4/5/audio 3.5/5 HERE - nominated for 4 Oscars w/ one win by Baxter in a supporting role.  Dave

 

1946? Okay Dave. THAT movie you can call old!

[mc ukrneal]

A few I just keep forgetting to post about:
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Whiplash. Loved the performance of Simmons. Worth it for that alone (and I think he hits it with facial expressions in certain scenes), and hope he wins the Oscar. I loved how the movie ends, but don't want to give it away in case someone hasn't seen it yet. I could watch the last 10 minutes or so over and over (In fact, I did). Music is excellent.

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Guardians of the Galaxy. Way more fun than I expected.

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Quartet. I liked this one too, though I felt it was not as inward looking as it could have been.  Still, good music here.

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Equalizer. Disappointed. I always like Denzel and he is so talented. And you can see it here. But I felt he was too much the robot and 'all-knowing' and emotionless in his 'work'. A few more movies like this, and all major crime could be irradicated from the country (and maybe the world). I think the emotional center of the movie is lost too, because the girl he is trying to help disappears from the movie until the very end.

[listener]

THE TESTAMENT OF DR. MABUSE
German, with subtitles              Fritz Lang, 1933
nice copy of a b&w original, good grey tones so the details come through.  Groupings for dialogue show the still early stages of sound recording but the result is clear and the non-dialogue scenes have some imaginative background sound.
Rather predictable for anyone who has worked on committees that included psychiatrists.
Low-cost Bo Ying copy

[Bogey]

A few I just keep forgetting to post about:
[asin]B00PT3AUYO[/asin]

Catching Whiplash today.

[asin]B00N1JQ2UO[/asin]
Guardians of the Galaxy. Way more fun than I expected.

Maybe my favorite from Marvel so far.  Rami's second Spider-Man is right there with it, but I enjoyed it more than The Avengers after a second viewing of each.

[asin]B00AZMFO6I[/asin]
Quartet. I liked this one too, though I felt it was not as inward looking as it could have been.  Still, good music here.

Linda and I enjoyed this one as well.  Worth at least one watch.

[Bogey]

Cagney was slated to be cast in the lesser role of Matt Doyle, but after his minor role and performance in The Millionaire, the studio wanted to build a picture around him to highlight his acting.  Excellent call on their part.

[SonicMan46]

Last few nights, a couple of films we watched together - Dave

My Left Foot (1989) w/ Daniel Day-Lewis playing the Irish poet, writer, and painter in an Oscar winning role - the film ends on a 'high note' but Brown's remaining life was rather tragic relative to the relationship w/ his wife and an early death at 49 y/o - story HERE, if interested.

The Producers (1967) w/ Zero Mostel, Gene Wilder, Dick Shawn, and Kenneth Mars - always hilarious; now, I do own the remake which I also enjoy, especially to stare at the gal below -

   

[Todd]

My wife and I tried watching the second season of American Horror Story, but I found it boring and my wife found it too gruesome, so we skipped forward to the third season, subtitled Coven.  'Tis about witches and their battle with the forces of voodoo and witch hunters and each other.  The series no doubt scores high on the Bechdel test, though I'm not certain feminists would approve of everything in the show.  (Just in case, you know, that's important to you.)  The few male characters are all relegated to the background, which is fine by me, and this may have contributed to my wife wanting to watch this show more than, say, Breaking Bad.  The show does have lots of gruesome imagery, and lots of over the top dialogue and such, but it is highly entertaining.  Turns out that is all due to the scenery chewing by actresses of a certain age Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, and Angela Bassett.  When they are on screen, the show is compelling, when they are not, not as much.  Among the younger cast members, only Emma Roberts really hams it up sufficiently.  An entertaining diversion of a series.

[Bogey]

Picked up this and few other pictures for $7 each while shopping on Friday .. wish I hadn't got this one. It hasn't aged well at all. I'm more hopeful for the others I got ..

[asin]B004FQX5DE[/asin]

This used to be my "favorite film" when I was in high school.  I have seen parts of it since, and like you, it does not grab me like it used to.  Maybe another 20 years in the bottle and it will drink well again.

As for the music, still top shelf!

[Bogey]

Coo coo ca choo.