Last Movie You Watched

[Bogey]

This is worth your time, Alberich

http://news.moviefone.com/2013/03/25/the-birds-alfred-hitchcock-25-things-you-didnt-know/

[Bogey]

Fritz Lang's M (1931)   German original in a Bo Ying copy, 110 min. probably as complete as is now possible as it includes some footage with minor visible flaws, No background music except for whistled bits of  In the Hall of the Mountain King and a fragment of Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen. 
Peter Lorre is superb, particularly in a long speech with no cuts at the end.  A film that still lives up to its reputation.

You know, I do not own this one.  However, this copy is on my wishlist:



This copy is also 110 minutes, so glad you posted your specs so I could compare and thank you.

Here is what else the Criterion release gives in the way of extra features.

http://www.criterion.com/films/558-m?q=autocomplete

[Bogey]

Last night, some more oldies all w/ different plots:

The Whole Town's Talking (1935) w/ Edward G. Robinson & Jean Arthur w/ Robinson in a dual role as a timid clerk and a public enemy - quite an impressive contrast - the guy is not given the credit deserved as a versatile actor (Our Vines Have Tender Grapes & Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet come to mind) - first brief synopsis below.


 

Not even on dvd?!  I love almot everything Edward G. has done, Dave.  Agreed.  He was one hell of an actor. 

Woman of the Year (1942) w/ Spencer Tracy & Katherine Hepburn - last synopsis below; Tracy explaining baseball to Hepburn is worth the admission to this film of many they made together.  Dave

Just watched this one a couple months back.  After the baseball scene and especially once they were married I thought the magic ended.  The film did not know whether to be a comedy or a serious drama about their relationship.  Sometimes films can pull off being both, but this one did not pull it off for me. 

[Karl Henning]

Watched through to the end of Schindler's List last night.  Marvelous.

[bhodges]

Hi Bruce - own a bunch of those old films (most burned off the TCM channel) - plots can be weak but often just there to support the entertainment w/ the likes of Astaire, Rogers, and so many others.  Alice Faye always had a soft spot in my heart along w/ Jean Arthur (and of course others ) - Dave

Alice Faye was wonderful, and I forgot to mention Charlotte Greenwood, who almost stole the show in both films.

Amour by Michael Haneke. With Emmanuelle Riva and Jean-Louis Trintignant. A masterpiece, one of the most depressing films I've ever seen.

I completely agree. Saw this in the theater when it came out - my first experience with Haneke - and the intensity of it is almost unbearable. Fantastic acting, between the two of them (she was nominated for an Academy Award, IIRC), and it's a great director who can make something out of a scene with little more than birds in an empty hallway.

Watched through to the end of Schindler's List last night.  Marvelous.

I think it's one of Spielberg's best - incredibly moving through its understatement. Marvelous acting, and great call to make it in black-and-white.

--Bruce

[Bogey]

Watched through to the end of Schindler's List last night.  Marvelous.

Great use of Spielberg's talents here, Karl.  He did an incredible job.  I am yet to watch the film a second time.  However, I do want to review it again with Ethan and Marnie.

As for Willims' score, it was one of his best.  Here are two facets about it from IMDB:

When Steven Spielberg first showed 'John Williams' a cut of the film, Williams was so moved he had to take a walk outside for several minutes to collect himself. Upon his return, Williams told Spielberg he deserved a better composer. Spielberg replied, "I know, but they're all dead."

Violinist Itzhak Perlman performs John Williams' haunting score on the soundtrack. Perlman is on record as saying that his contribution to the film is one of his proudest moments in an illustrious career.

[SonicMan46]

Not even on dvd?!  I love almot everything Edward G. has done, Dave.  Agreed.  He was one hell of an actor. 


Just watched this one a couple months back.  After the baseball scene and especially once they were married I thought the magic ended.  The film did not know whether to be a comedy or a serious drama about their relationship.  Sometimes films can pull off being both, but this one did not pull it off for me.

Yep - that Robinson film was burned off TCM a number of years ago - have only watched a few times - Eddie & Jean Arthur as 'love interests' might be a little hard to accept but still a good film worth seeing.

Concerning Tracy & Hepburn, I agree that the beginning w/ the baseball discussions were priceless, but the plot does not hold together as well as many of their other films.  Dave

[Bogey]

Yep - that Robinson film was burned off TCM a number of years ago - have only watched a few times - Eddie & Jean Arthur as 'love interests' might be a little hard to accept but still a good film worth seeing.

Concerning Tracy & Hepburn, I agree that the beginning w/ the baseball discussions were priceless, but the plot does not hold together as well as many of their other films.  Dave

I need to catch that Robinson one Dave.

This was Tracy's and Hepburn's first together, I believe.  So maybe we can give them a bit of a pass on this one.

[Bogey]

Ah, found the Robinson one for a $2.99 stream.  Will watch it this week.

[Karl Henning]

I think it's one of Spielberg's best - incredibly moving through its understatement.  Marvelous acting, and great call to make it in black-and-white.

Aye, Bruce;  it is not as though understatement were one of the Spielberg hallmarks 

[George]

While not perfect, by any means, this was still sweet, moving and funny.

[Karl Henning]

Great use of Spielberg's talents here, Karl.  He did an incredible job.  I am yet to watch the film a second time.  However, I do want to review it again with Ethan and Marnie.

I shall certainly want to watch it again;  and, that need not be for a little while.  Once I return the DVD to the BPL, if I put a fresh hold on it, I should likely be "no. 57 in line," and by the time the DVD becomes available again, it will probably be the perfect season for me to view it anew.

[Bogey]

While not perfect, by any means, this was still sweet, moving and funny.

Annette Bening, and or her husband, W.B., makes me cringe, but I might give it a try, buddy.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

I have seen Schindler only once and may have to see it again in order to fully appreciate it...

[North Star]

Aye, Bruce;  it is not as though understatement were one of the Spielberg hallmarks 

See e.g. that blatant manipulatory use of the red dress in the otherwise b&w Schindler's List.

But, even though Spielberg does indulge on the occasional overstatements even in the said movie and Munich, the two are certainly far better than many of his other movies. Don't expect them to be documentaries sticking to the script, though.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

My problem with Schindler is partly the black-and white morality. Yes, I know, stupid thing to say when talking about Nazi Germany but I really don't believe every single citizen of Third Reich was evil which the movie at times seemed to imply (an exception with Schindler, of course). Surely there were several mere passive on-lookers, which while is morally lamentable, is understandable when considering the said person lives in a state where resistance can have severe, severe consequences. I have seen the movie only once so there may have been prominent germans (non-jewish) with more sympathetic attributes, but right now... I don't recall one. Ralph Fiennes delivers a terrifying performance as Goeth. Horrifyingly accurate portrayal of emotionless sociopath.

[James]

You know, I do not own this one.  However, this copy is on my wishlist:



This copy is also 110 minutes, so glad you posted your specs so I could compare and thank you.

Here is what else the Criterion release gives in the way of extra features.

http://www.criterion.com/films/558-m?q=autocomplete

I have this .. the ideas are there but it hasn't aged well at all.

[listener]

re the Bo Ying release of M:   
18 chapters, cost was only $3.33  (3 for $10) in Chinatown, so it was a deal.   I've seen a reference to a 111 minute version, hard to get excited about that as running times can be easily rounded and may include a second or two of fade in/out at the beginning or end.  Only a side-by-side comparison might disclose such a small variation.     I picked up  Pepe le Moko and Lang's Die Nibelung at  the same time.
Tonight though, I'll watch THE 5,000 FINGERS OF DR. T, not a perfect film but a favourite.
Produced by Stanley Kramer, directed by Roy Rowland, starring Peter Lind Hayes, Mary Healy,Hans Conried  and Tommy Rettig (more famous for Lassie).  It is truly weird.

[kishnevi]

My problem with Schindler is partly the black-and white morality. Yes, I know, stupid thing to say when talking about Nazi Germany but I really don't believe every single citizen of Third Reich was evil which the movie at times seemed to imply (an exception with Schindler, of course). Surely there were several mere passive on-lookers, which while is morally lamentable, is understandable when considering the said person lives in a state where resistance can have severe, severe consequences. I have seen the movie only once so there may have been prominent germans (non-jewish) with more sympathetic attributes, but right now... I don't recall one. Ralph Fiennes delivers a terrifying performance as Goeth. Horrifyingly accurate portrayal of emotionless sociopath.

Part of that is undoubtedly due to the fact that Schindler's social world is (at least in the movie) almost entirely limited to officers of the SS and army,  to men who like himself were in the business of supplying the army, and their immediate connections...people who were themselves not merely bystanders but implicated in the Shoah and/or the military efforts.  I do not recall a single "civilian",  meaning a true bystander,  with even a minor speaking role, in the whole film, except possibly Mrs. Schindler.

[North Star]

My problem with Schindler is partly the black-and white morality. Yes, I know, stupid thing to say when talking about Nazi Germany but I really don't believe every single citizen of Third Reich was evil which the movie at times seemed to imply (an exception with Schindler, of course). Surely there were several mere passive on-lookers, which while is morally lamentable, is understandable when considering the said person lives in a state where resistance can have severe, severe consequences. I have seen the movie only once so there may have been prominent germans (non-jewish) with more sympathetic attributes, but right now... I don't recall one. Ralph Fiennes delivers a terrifying performance as Goeth. Horrifyingly accurate portrayal of emotionless sociopath.

Indifference, to me, is the epitome of evil.

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.