Pre-code masterpiece "The Story of Temple Drake" based on William Faulkner's 'Sanctuary' is shown at Film Forum in stunning print on Sunday
by Sam Juliano
The central deceit of the second-season episode of Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone, “That Evening Sun” is that a young woman imagines that the Earth has been knocked off it’s course and is hurtling towards the sun in a sure path of eventual cosmic incineration. In an unamed big city a radio broadcaster announces that the temperature has risen to the point where eggs can be easily friend on sidewalks. Here in the sweltering proximity of the Big Apple, similar culinary options are being envisioned and even performed, with one report contending that cookie dough left in a woman’s car was baked to perfection. With temperatures reaching 104 F on Friday in Central Park, it’s been a time when outdoor activity is more than a health risk, and the refuge of movie theatres and the like is a much clamored for option.
Here at Wonders in the Dark things are sizzling on another front too, with the musical countdown just weeks away. The projects’ seven voters (Greg Ferrara, Pat Perry, Marilyn Ferdinand, Judy Geater, Dennis Polifroni, Allan Fish and Yours Truly) are still deliberately on the final ballots, which will be submitted on or before August 7th, and then promptly tabulated by Voting Tabulator Extraordinaire Angelo A. D’Arminio Jr, ahead of the planned day to day essay features starting on Monday August 15th. I’m certain that for many this will be forever known as the ‘musical summer.’
Dee Dee’s latest project brings us to the ‘Virtual Poet Cafe’ with verse by poets Brian Miller and Claudia Schoenfeld. It’s an amazing place that can be accessed with a new sidebar link, and Dee Dee has also announced plans to proceed with an interview sometime next week. Congratulations to Jason Marshall for the recent completion of his 1941 survey, with Orson Welles Citizen Kane, as expected, leading the way at Movies Over Matter. Our pal and colleague Jaime Grijalba (Exodus 8:2)has been frantically involved in some filmmaking, and is sure to elaborate this week on his own comment on this thread. Jaime’s tireless activities set the bar!
Taking full advantage of movie theatre air conditioning, and proceeding with a mission with the “Pre-Code” Festival at the Film Forum, I broke my all-time record by seeing eighteen (18) films in theatres, eclipsing the previous high of 16. Is this something to boast about? Not remotely, as it again shows just how severe “obsessive-compulsive” behavior can become, but the purpose of the diary is to “report” and report I will do. Lucille accompanied me on the vast majority of trips to the Film Forum, where all the pre-coders, the Keatons, and even two of the three new releases were screen, while the kids were aboard for the Keatons and Captain America. Friend and site colleague Dennis Polifroni attended the Wednesday double feature of Love Me Tonight and Downstairs.
I saw the following:
Life, Above All **** (Saturday night) Film Forum
The Woman with the Five Elephants **** 1/2 (Saturday night) Film Forum
Captain America *** 1/2 (Sunday night) Edgewater multiplex
One Week ***** (Monday evening) Buster Keaton at Film Forum
The Navigator ***** (Monday evening) Buster Keaton at Film Forum
Night Nurse **** (Tuesday night) Pre-Code at Film Forum
Ladies They Talk About **** (Tuesday night) Pre-Code at Film Forum
Lawyer Man *** (Tuesday night) Pre-Code at Film Forum
Love Me Tonight ***** (Wednesday night) Pre-Code at Film Forum
Downstairs *** 1/2 (Wednesday night) Pre-Code at Film Forum
Employee’s Entrance **** (Thursday night) Pre-Code at Film Forum
The Mind Reader **** 1/2 (Thursday night) Pre-Code at Film Forum
Gold Diggers of 1933 ***** (Friday night) Pre-Code at Film Forum
Roman Scandals **** 1/2 (Friday night) Pre-Code at Film Forum
Scarface ***** (Saturday afternoon) Pre-Code at Film Forum
The Maltese Falcon(1931) **** (Saturday afternoon) Pre-Code at Film Forum
The Story of Temple Drake ***** (Sunday afternoon) Pre-Code at Film Forum
The Sign of the Cross ***** (Sunday afternoon) Pre-Code at Film Forum
The African film LIFE, ABOVE ALL boasts an extraordinary lead performance by a remarkably-gifted non-professional girl named Knamotso Manyaka, who is the anchor in a character study of a family in South Africa. The director Oliver Shmitz, who was brought up by German parents at the film’s location weaves some beautiful and colorful tapestries into the often wrenching narrative that reportedly had many at Cannes in tears. The narrative sometimes gets lost in tedium, but it’s a film with heart and deft observations.
THE WOMAN WITH THE FIVE ELEPHANTS (DIE FRAU MIT DEN 5 ELEFANTEN) is a documentary that profiles Svetlana Gaier, a Russian who famously translated Dostoyevsky’s famed five novels into German, and who maintained her cerebral acumem and family dedication until she was 87. She died later that year, well after the making of this remarkable documentary, which examined her childhood in Kiev, the torture and eventual death of her father, and her being “rescued” from the clutches of Stalin by the Nazis, and brought to Germany where she attended university and the skills that made her the most respected Dostoyevsky translator in the world. The small things in her life like the cooking and the quiet revelations are as fascinating as her celebrated propensity. One of the year’s best documentaries.
Monday’s Keaton double feature yielded one of the comedic icon’s greatest shorts, ONE WEEK, and the feature THE NAVIGATOR, surely one of his most beloved. The “Pre-Code” Festival continued in force, and I was there for every single feature. My absolute favorites were the musicals LOVE ME TONIGHT and GOLDIGGERS OF 1933 and the classics THE STORY OF TEMPLE DRAKE, SCARFACE and THE SIGN OF THE CROSS, but I also loved the Warren William features THE MIND READER and EMPLOYEES ENTRANCE and two more ntertaining Barbara Stanwycks, NIGHT NURSE and LADIES THEY TALK ABOUT. While I hope to complete a full report, I can’t commit to that with the musical countdown just around the corner. But we’ll see. I must say I am really loving every minute of this pre-code festival. Sunday’s prints for THE STORY OF TEMPLE DRAKE and de Mille’s deliciously decadent THE SIGN OF THE CROSS were pristine and wholly stunning!
I was happy to see CAPTAIN AMERICA in 2D, as the 3D process has worn out its welcome, and thought the new superhero movie was better than most in the genre. I’ll have more to say in the comment section I’m sure.
Some spectacular work awaits around the blogosphere:
At FilmsNoir.net Tony d’Ambra has authored one of the greatest reviews of a film ever posted in his definitive assessment of Robert Wise’s “Odds Against Tomorrow.” All noir fans (and film fans in general) should check out this brilliant essay: http://filmsnoir.net/film_noir/robert-wises-odds-against-tomorrow-1959-a-work-of–art.html
John Greco considers Joseph Losey’s “King and Country” in a comparative look at two films at Twenty Fours Frames. It a terrific essay: http://twentyfourframes.wordpress.com/2011/07/22/short-takes-war-and-prison-two-views-of-mans-brutality/
Meanwhile, John’s beautiful new ‘photography’ website is up and running:
http://johngrecophotography.com/
At Movie Classics Judy Geater has a brand new essay up on
Frank Capra’s pre-coder “The Miracle Woman” with Barbara Stanwyck, and it’s another winner: movieclassics.wordpress.com/2011/07/09/the-miracle-woman-frank-capra-1931/
Samuel Wilson has penned an enthralling essay on the new “Captain America” movie at Mondo 70: http://mondo70.blogspot.com/2011/07/on-big-screen-captain-america-first.html
Jon at Films Worth Watching has penned a magnificent review on Alain Resnais’s “Last Year at Marienbad.”: http://filmsworthwatching.blogspot.com/2011/07/last-year-at-marienbad-1961-directed-by.html
Laurie Buchanan engaging broaches ‘being painted into a corner’ in her new post “Not All Painting is Art” at Speaking From The Heart: http://holessence.wordpress.com/2011/07/21/not-all-painting-is-art/
Filmmaker Jeffrey Goodman talks about his favorite “road” movies in a fabulous post at The Last Lullaby: http://cahierspositif.blogspot.com/2011/07/road-movies.html
Terrill Welch has again found some irresistible beauty on Mayne Island to share with her always-appreciative readers at the Creativepotager’s blog: http://creativepotager.wordpress.com/2011/07/21/being-with-what-is/
At Doodad Kind of Town, Pat has penned an incisive look at “Larry Towne”: http://doodadkindoftown.blogspot.com/2011/07/larry-crowne.html
Troy Olson may well have written his magnum opus at Elusive as Robert Denby with a spectacular essay on Robert Bresson’s Le Journal
Une Cure de Campagne (“Diary of a Country Priest”): http://troyolson.blogspot.com/2011/07/robert-bresson-journal-d-cure-de.html
Jaime Grijalba celebrates filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai’s 55th birthday at Exodus 8:2: http://exodus8-2.blogspot.com/2011/07/wkw-55.html
In his seminal “Post-War” Kurosawa series, “Murderous Ink” in Tokyo has penned a masterpiece on a masterpiece, with his extraordinary essay on “Ikiru” at Vermilion and One Nights: http://vermillionandonenights.blogspot.com/2011/07/postwar-kurosawa-ikiru.html
At Ferdy-on-Films its a Harry Potter doubleheader from Marilyn Ferdinand and Roderick Heath with both reviewing the new release, one over the other:
http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/?p=10671
Sachin at Scribbles and Ramblings has posted a fascinating look at two important Japanese works: a novel and a film: http://likhna.blogspot.com/2011/07/copa-america-2011-japan.html
At Cinemascope Shubhajit has authored a splendid capsule of the noir title, :The Big Clock”: http://cliched-monologues.blogspot.com/2011/07/big-clock-1948.html
Srikanth Scrivason (“Just Another Film Buff”) has taken a fascinating look at a Budd Boetticher classic at The Seventh Art: http://theseventhart.info/2011/07/23/super-scenes-12/
Adam Zanzie has penned an altogether magnificent review of “The Tree of Life” at Icebox Movies: http://iceboxmovies.blogspot.com/2011/07/tree-of-life-2011-stairways-to-heaven.html
TCM’s newest writer, Cinema Styles’ own Greg Ferrara engagingly talks about ‘comment spammers’ at his place: http://cinemastyles.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-wonderful-world-this-could-be.html
Ed Howard, as excellent and prolific as ever, takes a penetrating look at Steven Soderbergh’s “Out of Sight” at Only The Cinema: http://seul-le-cinema.blogspot.com/2011/07/out-of-sight.html
Tony d’Ambra is himself the lead subject in Dee Dee’s post at Darkness Into Light on the poet and film noir expert’s
beautiful verse on the character Vera from Ulmer’s “Detour” which d’Ambra dedicates to Ann Savage: http://noirishcity.blogspot.com/2011/07/film-noir-expert-and-poet-tony.html
At SmiledYawned Nodded Longman Oz has most creatively sized up Jean-Luc Godard’s “Film Socialism”: http://smiledyawnednodded.com/2011/07/17/filmsocialisme/
Jason Marshall offers up a fascinating look at “Tabloid” and “Troll Hunter” at Movies Over Matter: http://moviesovermatter.com/2011/07/21/troll-hunter-and-tabloid-weekly-movie-diary/
Craig Kennedy’s latest ‘New du Jour’ gathers together all the weekend news at one of the net’s most respected film altars, Living in Cinema: http://livingincinema.com/2011/07/23/news-du-jour-weekend-723-724/
David Schleicher’s latest at The Schleicher Spin takes a look at some of the screen’s greatest ladies: http://theschleicherspin.com/2011/07/18/actresses-i-would-watch-read-a-phone-book/
At English-One-O-Worst, the jack of all trades Heath has penned a stupendous piece of literary criticism on Henry James’s “The Turn of
the Screw”: http://englishoneoworst.blogspot.com/2011/07/watching-screw-turn-henry-james.html
And at This Island Rod, Heath has brought back memories for many with his review of a low budget horror flick which stateside was known as
“The Crawling Eye”: http://thisislandrod.blogspot.com/2011/07/trollenberg-terror-1958.html
Stephen at Checking on my Sausages has an engaging new post on ‘World Wrestling Entertainment’: http://checkingonmysausages.blogspot.com/2011/07/wwe-world-wrestling-entertainment.html
Hokahey at Little Worlds has penned a splendid review on the new “Harry Potter” film: http://hokahey-littleworlds.blogspot.com/2011/07/remember-hogwarts-harry-potter-and.html
The Film Doctor takes a meaningful look at “Friends With Benefits” at his place: http://filmdr.blogspot.com/2011/07/not-about-romance-discussion-about.html
In his new post “A Psuedo Self-Portrait” Michael Harford offers up some lovely abstracts and a video tour of Descartes coffeehouse in Chicago. It’s there at the Coffee Messiah’s blogsite: http://coffeemessiah.blogspot.com/2011/06/pseudo-self-portrait.html
R. D. Finch, the longtime writer extraordinaire of The Movie Projector has penned a magnificent essay on the 1971 John Schlesinger
film, “Sunday Bloody Sunday”: http://themovieprojector.blogspot.com/2011/06/sunday-bloody-sunday-1971.html
Andrew Wyatt at Gateway Cinephiles has penned a terrific and reasonably appreciative essay on “Super 8″: http://gatewaycinephiles.com/2011/06/27/super-8/
Our friend Pat at Patricia’s Wisdom has posted a meaningful announcement on diabetes in support of a youth group: http://patriciaswisdom.com/2011/07/uvenile-diabetes-research-foundation-fundraiser/
Peter Lenihan leads with a lovely pictorial remembrance of the late actor Peter Palk at The Long Voyage Home: http://thelongvoyagehome.blogspot.com/
Jason Bellamy has taken a fascinating look at Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” at The Cooler: http://coolercinema.blogspot.com/2011/07/looking-closer-at-rear-window.html
Adam Zanzie has penned an excellent essay on 1986′s “The Great Mouse Detective” at Icebox Movies: http://iceboxmovies.blogspot.com/2011/07/great-mouse-detective-1986.html
J.D. at Radiator Heaven takes a typically comprehensive look at “Ruby in Paradise”: http://rheaven.blogspot.com/2011/07/ruby-in-paradise.html
Dave Van Poppel has penned a wonderful capsule of the documentary hit “Buck” at Visions of Non-Fiction: http://visionsofnonfiction.blogspot.com/2011/05/hot-docs-2011-buck.html
Stephen Morton has penned a great essay on the new “X Men” and “Super 8″ at Petrified Fountain of Thought: http://petrifiedfountainofthought.blogspot.com/2011/07/review-x-men-first-class-and-super-8.html
At The Man From Porlock Craig poses this question: “What would H.L. Mencken Have Thought of Michael Bay?”: http://themanfromporlock.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-would-h-l-mencken-have-thought-of.html
Jean at Velvety Blackness has posted a passionate essay on “Times and Winds”: http://velvetyblackness.blogspot.com/2011/06/times-and-winds.html
Film Doctor leads up at his film altar with some “Underground Links”:
http://filmdr.blogspot.com/2011/07/underground-links.html
Slant writer extraordinaire Jon Lanthier likens A Serbian Film to a “transgressive” experience, awarding it 3 out of 4 stars at Aspiring Sellout: http://livingincinema.com/2011/05/14/review-a-serbian-film-2011/
At The Long Voyage Home Peter Lenihan has posted a capsule/screen cap presentation of the work of French visionary Claire Denis:
http://thelongvoyagehome.blogspot.com/
Dan Getahun reports on ‘Weekend at the Walker” at Getafilm: http://getafilm.blogspot.com/2011/07/location-mn-this-weekend-walker.html
Paul J. Marasa considers Robert Zemekis’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit? in a stellar essay at TheConstant Viewer: http://theconstantviewer.blogspot.com/2011/06/june-26-1988-who-framed-roger-rabbit.html
Indian culture mavens take note! At Kaleem Hasan’s spectacularly popular home from Indian film, music and politics, the lead post, featuring a you tube of the song “Bduddah Hoga Terra Baap” has attracted almost 300 comments! But the site performed as well on many occasions. Congrats Kaleem!: http://satyamshot.wordpress.com/2011/06/05/bbuddah-hoga-terra-baap-trailers/
And Hasan himself has penned a superlative review of the Indian film Dum Maaro Dum: http://satyamshot.wordpress.com/2011/04/28/specters-of-dum-maaro-du
Jake Cole has penned a terrific review of Buster Keaton’s “Sherlock Jr.” at Not Just Movies that’s a must for all cineastes and Keaton
fans: http://armchairc.blogspot.com/2011/07/sherlock-jr-buster-keaton-1924.html
Jeopardy Girl candidly talks about turning “40” at her place: http://jeopardygirl.wordpress.com/2011/06/30/big40/
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Wonders in the Dark 
I’m just going to repost what I said over at Craig’s place: “I thought “Captain America” was okay, but only just. Good period design, good sense of composition and short-term action coverage/choreography, but not terribly ambitious in terms of its set-pieces. The script was a little too self-satisfied with its hamfisted dialogue and WWII gung-ho spirit, wavering somewhere between propaganda parody and all American sincerity. Hugo Weaving was fun as the Red Skull, but I couldn’t help thinking that Hydra was there partly to help make the movie easier for marketing (swastikas are a hard sell on toys) and because the idea of a superhero actually fighting real Nazis is silly for any number of reasons (1– because it’s obviously made-up, 2– because it belongs to another era of propaganda sock’em in the jaw spirit and 3– because regular real-world forces wouldn’t put up much challenge to the likes of ol’ Cap). The way that they’re rendered in the film, though, they’re a little too Cobra Command, for my tastes, and really everything in this movie I felt was better done already in the “G.I. Joe” movie a couple years back.
Also, forgive me if I’m getting something from my history lessons wrong, but wasn’t the Army segregated during WWII? Don’t get me wrong, they come up with a convincing origin for the diverse assembly of the “Howling Commandos”, or whatever they are. But there was a mixture during the USO sequences that stuck me as a little clueless. It reminded me of an incident Terry Gilliam recounted about directing a Nike commercial with ball-players in 1940′s baseball uniforms, with him complaining that it was a little insensitive to have black players as Major League professionals in the pre-Jackie Robinson era. But who knows, for all I know there might’ve been a lot of unofficial mixing before Truman’s orders.”
Bob, the Howling Commandos had a token black just about from their inception in the 1960s, but the Japanese guy from Fresno is the movie’s own extension of the principle. Black soldiers and sailors were also given prominent display in some war movies of the actual period like Crash Dive. But the emphasis on Hydra at the expense of Nazism is strange and is even worse in the current Avengers cartoon, which flashes back to a WW2 that was apparently conceived and perpetrated entirely by Hydra. Go figure.
Sam, I don’t mind the token minorities in the Howling Commandos (though I do kinda wish they could’ve come up with a retcon for one of them to be Ultimate Nick Fury– in the original comics he was very “well preserved” thanks to super-soldier serum). They come up with a good enough reason for why Cap is fighting with a diverse team in the movie (Hydra captures a bunch of troops from different regimens, and they fall together into a kick-ass platoon), and I genuinely respect what it has to say about both Steve Rogers and the idea of “Captain America” being the best and brightest of what we have to offer as a country. What bothered me was more the presence of black soldiers in the whole of the army crowd shot scenes, because it frankly struck me as much less realistic than all the Hydra stormtroopers and laser guns on display. Granted, for all I know maybe segregation was more lax out in the field, but it seemed as though it was just sugarcoating that part of the war.
But yeah, the whole “Hydra s even worse than the Nazis” thing bothered me, too. First, it’s disrespectful to the actual history of the time, and second, it denies us the pleasures of actually seeing Captain America kicking Nazi ass.
I won’t go to the map for CAPTAIN AMERICA Bob, so I’ll certainly accept your exceedingly well-written middling response to the film, especially since you know the history so well. I thought it was fun and handsomely mounted, and I didn’t look for nor expect much more than that.
I appreciate having such a thoughtful and comprehensive reponse here.
Sam we are sitting a cool 63 degrees with a high expected of 73 degrees tomorrow. I was down at Reef Bay this evening and it was just perfect with clear sky an only slight breeze. So if you want to think about this and come on over to Creative Potager and browse those last two posts… I am sure you will feel refreshed.
We did watch a movie I really liked tonight and that was BARNEY’S VERSION (2010) directed by Richard J. Lewis. I hadn’t heard anything about this film though there were trailers on other movies we watched. I liked it for its messy hero. I liked that he made a mess out of his life and his family loved him anyway. I liked that he never gave up even though he was a mess.
Thank you as always for mentioning Creative Potager Sam. Stay cool and we all will no where to find you 🙂
Terrill, that is beautiful weather you are having in the northwest Pacific!!! Wow! We can certainly dream now, can’t we? To be honest, we did enjoy a reasonable dip today, with a lowering of temperature and the rain that is still falling now, as Lucille and I and my three sons head over for some Keaton. I always go over to Creative Potager when I want to be refreshed and reminded of what outdoor beauties exisyt in this world. It is my aim one day to head over there as you have done Terrill, what no travel agent can do. I have seen not only the geographical locales but I have seen the beauty and wonderment as transcribed onto your canvases and have witnessed all the aesthetic elements that inform creativity.
Ya know Terrill, I never got to see BARNEY’S VERSION, though I know much about it. I missed it in the theatre and have still to catch up with the DVD. Thanks for the excelelnt capsule assessment. I must check it out at first available chance.
Yes, you do indeed know where to catch me Terrill. I will send on the Film Forum’s phone number! Ha!
Thanks as always my very good friend!
Hey Sam. I don’t know where you get all that energy! I suppose being blessed with a loving partner who shares your enthusiasm makes it twice the fun.
As always you are too kind and your blurb for my post on Odds Against Tomorrow is surely over the top! Still I am immensely grateful for that top spot 🙂
Tony: It’s one third energy, one third obsessiveness/completism and one-third utter insanity. But I’ll admit it’s been great to have Lucille for most of the engagements (all the kids will be there tonight too for the Keatons) and it’s really been fantastic. Now I know why Judy Geater favors this period so much (and has written so many great reviews for it) and why Allan has said over and over again for years that 1929 through 1933 is the “greatest” period in American cinema.
Your essay on ODDS AGAINST TOMORROW really set the bar, I am only being honest. You have really firmed up my resi=olve to see it again at the Film Forum on August 17th.
Thanks again my excellent friend!
Thank you kindly for the mention and the sidebar for d’Verse. It has been a lot of fun (and work) getting it up and running these last couple weeks. Deedee has always been a great supporter of both Claudia and I and we appreciate her greatly.
Brian: It’s a great honor to have you stop by and to have that wonderful link on our sidebar. I will be following your upcoming posts! Dee Dee is a one-of-a-kind person whose presence has inspired me for over three years now. Thrilled to hear we are on the same wave length there.
Sam,
Hello Sam and everyone. Thanks again so much for the extraordinarily kind double shout outs! I don’t know how you do it but I wish I was there with you for the pre-code festival (and Keaton). While I have seen my share of pre-code, you have exposed some gems here I still need to catch (Love Me Tonight, The Story of Temple Drake, The Mind Reader, among one or two others).
It has been one of those weeks where Florida has actually been cooler, not by much, but still cooler than most of the country. Cat photography was at the top of the agenda this week. BTW, anyone on Facebook can see a photo I just posted of a feline family (actually three of seven) who recently were left in a box at Petsmart. They were dehydrated and almost dead from heat exhaustion. They were rescued and given over the “The Little Cats Rescue” and are now fortunately doing well and ready for adoption.
I am still engrossed in Patrick McGilligan’s fascinating new bio on Nicholas Ray; should be finishing it up this week. On the movie front I remained in the Nick Ray mode a bit watching two of his films along with a few others…
Lightning Over Water (***1/2) Nicholas Ray/Wim Wenders cinema verite like look at what turned out to be the final days of Ray’s life who died shortly after this was completed. A rough, depressing film to sit through only because we get to see Ray’s illness (cancer) slowly kills him. The ending where Wenders has Ray staring at the camera saying “Cut!”, don’t cut!” “Cut” is brutally sad as we know how final that last cut was.
The Lusty Men (****1/2) Nick Ray is a visual poet! Ray uses the camera like a paintbrush, each stroke expressing an idea or making a lasting impression. Jeff McCloud (Robert Mitchum) is another of Ray’s misfit outsiders living on the edge of society. McCloud is a former rodeo champion beaten by years of too many rough rides and hard living. Loneliness and an aura that “you can’t go home again” are themes that run through the film. Like many of Ray’s films the story is downbeat, though death is seen not as an end, but as a rebirth to those still alive; a common occurrence in Ray’s work.
The Hanging Tree (****) Here is a western that deserves to be better known. Gary Cooper in a dark complex role, which he carries off very well, portrays a doctor running away from a tragic past. He keeps folks at a distance and holds within a dark secret. He is both a healer and a killer. Into his life comes a young thief and a Swiss woman, both whose lives he saves. Exquisitely photographed by Ted McCord, lavish art director (Daniel B. Cathcart) and a fantastic score by Max Steiner all add to the mood. Cast also included Maria Schell, Karl Malden, King Donavan and George C. Scott in his first film role.
Gunman’s Walk (***) Phil Karlson directed this western with Van Heflin as a rancher whose law has always been the six-shooter. He has two sons, one a spoiled insensitive racist killer (Tab Hunter), the other a more sensible, if dull, good son (James Darren). Solid little western, nicely made though nothing exceptional. Should be noted for its progressive treatment of Native-Americans at a time when most westerns just used them as unsympathetic savages. Nice performance from Van Heflin and a surprisingly decent performance from Tab Hunter.
Scene of the Crime (***) 1949 crime drama with Van Johnson as a cop investigating the murder of another police officer. The dead man had a thousand dollars in his pocket and suspicion falls on him that he was moonlighting as a guard for a local bookie. Along with the murder investigation, VJ has to deal with a rookie cop (Tom Drake) and a partner (John McIntire) whose vision is not up to snuff causing him to lose suspects he is tailing. Additionally, his wife (Arlene Dahl) hates the fact he is a cop and wants him to quit. After so many years of police TV shows, this film probably has lost much of its glow and looks somewhat cliché ridden now. For its time it was pretty hard-boiled, at least by MGM standards. Norman Lloyd and Gloria DeHaven (a standout) also are in the cast.
The Purple Gang (**12) Low budget gangster film from Allied Artists centering on Detroit’s notorious gang who specialized in bootlegging, drugs and the protection racket. Stoic Barry Sullivan is a Robert Stack/Elliott Ness type on the trial of the gang led by Honey Boy Willard (Robert Blake), a claustrophobic, heartless killer. Like all AA productions this is cheaply made with a 1950’s TV crime show feel to it. Part of the cycle of low budget gangster films that came out in the late 50’s and early 60’s.
Gangster Story (*) The one star given here is generous considering how bad this film starring and directed by Walter Matthau really is. Unintentional laughs, a poor script, poorly edited, horrible cinematography; there are some outdoor scenes where the actors faces are under exposed, make this a candidate for one of the worst films I have seen this year. Film co-stars Carol Grace who would become Mrs. Walter Matthau.
As always John, your formidable contribution to the thread sets the bar, and is a prime reason for its existence. Many thanks for the kind words too. I was jokingly asked the other day if I might be interested in having a bed set on in the Film Forum until August 11th rather than treking home back and forth each day! It’s definitely an idea to ponder! Ha! I know if you were still living up here you would have attended so many films at the place, not only in this festival but in many past ones. I know is some of your past photo essays you have always pointed to its landmark status. Well, it seems that they have sustained themselves to this very day. Last night the Keaton Festival was sold out to the very last seat for STEMBOAT BILL JR. and NEIGHBORS. I realized for the first time during the pristine print of the former that it does contend for the greatest film Keaton ever made with THE GENERAL, SHERLLOCK JR. and a few of the greatest shorts. The cyclone sequence is extraordinary. I have found that THE STORY OF TEMPLE DRAKE is one of the greatets pre-coders of all and a sure ***** film. But seeing LOVE ME TONIGHT, GOLD DIGGERS and a few others has been cinematic bliss of course.
It’s amazing to ponder that Florida could have been “cooler” than the NYC area even if by a whisker, but such is the nature of a “heat wave” which of course you know well, having lived up here for many years. i see you again are extending your incomparable generosity and concern for pets without a home, and am moved to hear of the latest rescue. I’ll have to see the latest photos at your blogsite pronto.
THE LUSTY MEN is indeed a poem of a film, and I concu with that rating and deft analysis! I have not yet seen the Ray/Wenders collaboration though. Of the others I’ve only seen three:
GANGSTER STORY fully deserves the pan! THE HANGING TREE is excellent, and with ag reat Steiner score and great work by McCord. Always great to have Maria Schell aboard. SCENE OF THE CRIME is certainly solid, but unremarkable.
Thanks John for this utterly spectacular wrap! Have a great week my friend.
Thanks, Sam, for the mention. I rather liked Captain America, mostly due to its art design, even though friends were quick to point out the film’s structural weaknesses. The Pre-Code festival sounds like fun.
The art design was surely stunning Film Dr! I agree there were some structural weaknesses, but the film was fun and was one of the better entries in this sub-genre, methinks. Likewise, I am having a ball at the pre-code festival!
Thanks as always my friend!
Before I go to work, I’ll specify.
I’m doing my internship at a local TV channel, in which I’m mostly in charge of little short films (20-30 mins.) that show “real life stories”, “slice of life”, about couples, families or strange situations. They play in the morning show of the channel itself, and I produce them.
They are cheap, they are made really quick, because last friday we shot an entire “recreation”, as we call them, in one day, that is 23 scenes in one day, with many takes and reshoots.
So, that’s what I do. Now I’m no my way to Rancagua to shoot another of those recreations in one day, see you at night with my diary.
PS on the best movie I saw last week: Creature of the Night.
Thanks very much for the clarification Jaimie! It’s an amazing accomplishment and further evidence of your singular and tireless energy. I look forward to your regular submission and of your qualification for CREATURE.
Wow… I really don’t know how to better sum up my reaction to your prolific film-viewing. In fact “prolific” too wouldn’t do justice to it. With each week you seem to find a better way to leave your viewers, not least of all yours truly, utterly speachless. And by the way, if you qualify that as “obsessive compulsive behaviour”, I’m all for it!!! How on earth do you manage to get so much time to watch all these movies and then some more?
Anyway, thanks a lot Sam for the mention. I recently saw Kim Jee-Woon’s I Saw the Devil, and found it quite interesting. Though a revenge tale like his A Bittersweet Life, which I’d loved, the two films are as different as can be. By the way, I’ve started watching the HBO miniseries Mildred Pierce starring Kate Winslet. Hopefully I’ll be able to provide my final reactions to it sooner rather than later. Given that the current trimester is slowly coming to its conclusion – which essentially means more and more work than ever before, inevitably followed by term-end exams, I’ve a feeling my movie-viewing is going to suffer terribly for the next few weeks.
And no doubt Shubhajit, thinking that at least in a small way that I may be losing my mind, though you are much too polite to say as much! Haha! To be honest, Lucille’s presence at many of the films (and I have a triple feature tonight of “Blood Money,” “Me and My Gal” and “Sailor’s Luck” set up with her) has made my resolve less guilt-ridden, (even the three boys were there for the Keatons last night as they always are) and has allowed me to proceed without incessant second-guessing. The pre-code festival is actually a rare opportunity to see many films that won’t be seen again on the big screen for quite a while, though the upcoming Robert Ryan, NYPD and Bernard Herrmann retrospectives will pretty much offer up films that are always brought back in other festivals. But I know you are one here that endorses losing it at the movies. heck, you’ve done your own share over the past few years! Ha!
I like that Korean film too! And I envy you for starting MILDRED PIERCE, as I’ve dragged my feet on seeking it out, content to wait for the DVD. I look forward to a full report at CINEMASCOPE!
I hope you manage to find some time, even with that bleak prognosis my friend. hang in there, and many thanks as always!
Sam, thanks so much for the fantastic mention.
Now that’s a week of cinephilia for the ages! 18, wow. I’m not sure what the most I’ve ever done is in a week, but I’d say it hovers around 12 or 13. I am particularly enjoying your recount of all the Pre-Code work. It really sounds like a very special series.
This week I saw VIDEODROME, FLOATING WEEDS, THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW, IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES, THE TREE OF WOODEN CLOGS, and THE SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE. I was very happy to see them all but would have to say I was most struck by the Olmi film. I found it an extraordinary achievement, a sort of mix of MCCABE & MRS. MILLER’S special poetry and lyricism and Kiarostami’s remarkable naturalism. It was a real revelation for me.
Well here’s to another wonderful week, Sam. Thanks so much for all that you do!
Jeffrey, it is doubtful if I ever again in my life will approach that total for a movie theatre in one week. Mind you, any attempt would and should land me in an institution. I will probably make about 15 or so for this coming week and for the week after, and then the festival ends. It’s one of those festivals where you feel you must take advantage of the rare screenings of so many of the films.
THE TREE OF THE WOODEN CLOGS is an exceedingly beautiful film, so I can’t blame you for citing that one as special. Olmi of course has given us IL POSTO, another Italian classic. I love that suggestion of a mix between MC CABE AND MRS. MILLER’s poetry and lyricism and Kiarostami’s naturalism. Nice! And yes, if any film can spur on a “revelation” that is a prime candidate. Of the others, and they are all great, I would say Pasolini’s GOSPEL is a supreme masterpieces, and both FLOATING WEEDS and THE SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE are great films. The Oshima and Cronenberg are important works too. You had quite the great week there yourself!
Thanks as always for your cherished comment and support!
Dear Sam,
Thank you for the mention. 104 Fahrenheit (40 Celsius) is not only unbearable, it’s health risk. You NEED to take a refuge in such a weather, say, in movie theaters. Because of urban heat amplification, larger cities pose these problems during this time of the year. Tokyo and north part of Kanto area are especially susceptible to this phenomenon, and this year, electricity supplier is threatening us of possible blackout if we don’t cut usage (and let them operate nuclear power plants). Everyday, they release the electricity consumption forecast based on statistical data in order to warn us how close we are at. For example, tomorrow, we will be using around 70% of total the TOKYO ELECTRIC can supply. We are asked to set our temp setting to 82F (28C), possibly higher. This morning, we didn’t have any air conditioning in our office (you know, some bosses want to show their management skills by doing something unnecessary). It was hell. We all were like those characters in the heat wave in Kurosawa’s “The Stray Dog”.
PreCode/ Early Talkies are always my favorite era. “Love Me Tonight” “Scarface” “Maltese Falcon”… all the titles are so titilating. When I want to see something “amusing”, I always look for DeMille, especially from silents to early talkies. But I haven’t had a chance to see “The Sign of Cross”. “Deliciously decadant”? Sounds deliciously DeMille to me.
I am looking forward to seeing the “Musical Countdown” here at this site. That will be awsome. I really wonder which will be this site’s top 10 musicals.
Thanks.
MI
Everything you say there MI is quite persuasive, though I know that it has not been a healthy time with the extreme heat and suffocating humidity. The ‘urban heat amplication’ of course is directly applicable to the NYC area, where I live and spend much of my spare time. As I said to some others here, the weather has been another boost to see as many movies as can be managed, and thus far for the past weeks everything is falling into place. The harrowing situation you report here as to the conditions in Tokyo with the heat and power supply is telling. I know those cut back tactics well (as they have been emplyed here too) but nobody can make claim to what you continue to fact over there. Not having air conditioning in your office is indeed hell, and you again have my sympathies. A fan can do only so much for all sorts of reasons, but I know I am only stating the obvious. I love that example too in Kurosawa’s STRAW DOG!
THE SIGN OF THE CROSS is probably de Mille’s all-time masterpiece and I would like to make it easy for you to see it. I’ll e mail you will my thoughts. The pre-coders (hasn’t Judy known this all along?) are endlessly entertaining, and I will try and see as many as I can.
Thanks too for your interest in the musical countdown, which will soon be underway. It’s surely a challenge, but it’s been fun preparing.
Thanks very much for the great submission here my excellent friend, and hope your discomfort won’t last much longer.
Yup, yup, yup….
Couldn’t agree wityh you more about LOVE ME TONIGHT Schmulee. The film is grade A pre-code Hollywood musical magic from scene one to scene last. As you and I have discussed in length over the years, and now even more intensely because fo the upcoming musical poll, this film does exactly what my definition of screen-musical says it should: Namely, the movie must be swathed, wall to wall, floor to ceiling in music and you shouled never be surprised when a character just bursts out into song. The first twenty minutes of this film, and particularly the ISN’T IT ROMANTIC sequence brilliantly fused simple sounds from the background into rythmatic beats that will, within time becomes the base of the songs that will explode into full blown singing and dance numbers. Maurice Chevalier, never one of my favorites in screen musical (and I absolutely HATE 1958’s GIGI), fiunally won me ove with his charming, bombastic and completely narcissistic performance. However, it’s Rodger’s and Hart’s music that made me forget that the film was made in the early thirties and reminded me that a great screenj music can be timeless.
Keep your eyes peeled, this film will finish extremely high on my ballot!!!!!!
Of course, seeing it on the big screen at the Film Forum and being in NYC only added to the experience.
Next time I think we should get really wrecked drunk afterwards!!!!!!
Schmuleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!
Tremendous consideration there of LOVE ME TONIGHT Dennis. yes, as far as I’m concerned there are few musicals greater than this pre-coder, which boasts what is probably Rogers and Hart’s most celebrated score. I know Lubitsch always said that Mamoulian “made the musical that he felt he always wanted to make.” I don’t hate GIGI at all (it will probably make my Top 75 list) but I can understand your comparative thrust there. You perfectly size up the “Isn’t It Romantic?” sequence!
Thanks for the great submission my friend!
Wow Sam, that is an incredible total. Seems like there is an unofficial ratio going on that as the temp rises, so does your cinema viewing 🙂 Also, a nice variety from current releases all the way to the silent movie era.
On the other hand, I managed a new viewing record of my own albeit on the opposite scale from yours. I watched a grand total of 0 films all of last week, something which has never happened in the last decade on a non-vacation week. But I really needed this cinematic break because the next few weeks will be busy cinema viewing for me.
Thanks again for the mention.
You may indeed have a point Sachin with that heat to cinema revelation! Ha! I know many feel I’m stark raving mad, and even others I know see my advertising this dysfunctional behavior online is the height of lunacy, but I am thinking that this is a “special event” that requires serious application to be fully appreciated. Will I actually see every one of the 50 films being screened up until August 11th? I am not sure about that, and am moving forward one day at a time. I do feel that about 30 here are hardly ever screened at any other festival, so I need to take advantage of it. There does come a point though where I will need to re-assess my priorities, but for now we are having some fun.
Actually you are doing yourself a favor by not seeing any films this week, as I see it as a perfect way to usher in the planned binge, and a surefire way to mentally prepare. I look forward to reading about your viewings.
As always thanks so very much my excellent friend!
I have notified the Guiness World Book of Records, Sam. They told me that a representative will be appearing at your door sometime in the next few days. Looks like the pre-coda era may be the richest in American cinema. The documentary about the Dostoyevsky translator sounds fascinating.
Enjoy the Keatons tonight!
Frank: Somebody with a notebook in his hand was knocking at my door about an hour ago, from what I’ve been told. I bet that was the guy! Seeing that sum of films in one week is hardly a record of any kind (heck, I know Allan has surpassed it) but for the theatre it’s kind of abnormal. This coming week will be similar: 2 Keatons tonight; 3 pre-coders on tuesday, 2 on Wed., 2 on Thursday, 2 on Friday, 2 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday. Lucille and I have been very fortunate to have received the generosity of an usher, who has made us his allotted guests a good part of the time.
The documentary is indeed great as it’s intellectual and emotional, and I agree the pre-code period is tops.
Thanks so much my friend!
At least we have a cooler day today, maybe in the mid 80’s.
As you know Sue and I have moved. It’s been a hectic time, but now I finally feel that everything is in order.
Did you ever think to book a room in the city for the duration of the festival?
Quite right Peter, and right now as I type this response to you it is raining. Bad news for me, as I will now have attend to that backyard lawn-mowing sooner, but overall a blessing, as it’s helping to shut down the furnace. I wish you and Susan great happiness in your new abode! Hope to visit soon.
Allan advised me to reserve a room last year during the Anthony Mann Festival, when I somehow managed every one of the 32 films. Now the ante is higher: it’s 50 films over four weeks. So far I’ve made 18 for 18, but I doubt I’ve be able to maintain this pace. As long as Lucille (and the kids for some) can go with me, I feel less guilty. Ha! Here I am trying to justify this insanity. Ah, well.
Thanks as always my friend!
Sam, I think you and Lucille should set up household in the Film Forum, redecorate, drag in your favorite armchair, throw pillows, a wet bar, reading lamp, dogs, cats, birds, etc.
Haven’t seen much, with ‘Au Hasard”s mystical strangeness drowning everything else out of my consciousness, but I did watch Rossellini’s ‘The Flowers of St. Francis,’ co-written by Fellini, who added comedy and theatricality to Rossellini’s documentary reality. The scene with Aldo Fabrizi, a fat slice of ham as the blustering tyrant Nicolaio, is pure Fellini. Ditto the scene with the pig’s foot. Leave it to Federico to find non-satiric humor in the lives of Franciscan ascetics.
Hope the NYC blast furnace gets turned off soon, my friend.
Mark S., I just made the very same suggestion in my own comment!
Hahaha Mark!! Yes, in a sense it would have made more sense just to stay over there, as it costs $8.00 every time we cross the bridge or tunnel. I wince to think of the coming week being occupied every single night as well, but when I sit down to watch the films I am always engrossed and supremely entertained. Yesterday’s double of THE STORY OF TEMPLE DRAKE and THE SIGN OF THE CROSS was a real dream!
That’s for that apt description of that scene in THE FLOWERS OF ST. FRANCIS, which is a very fine -if not absolutely great- Rosselini film. It’s understandable why BALTHZAR would negate anything else in your mind! Ha!
Thanks so very much my friend!
I’ve heard of The Story of Temple Drake… if I haven’t put more effort into trying to seek it out it’s probably because I’ve always been hesitant to check out any of those Faulkner movie adaptations. The movie industry in the 20th century was quite incapable of turning Faulkner’s prose into films that weren’t heavily-censored in some way… although, then again, Sanctuary is one of Faulkner’s simpler novels (he once admitted he only wrote it for money). Didn’t Tony Richardson do a remake?
What probably scared me off on all Faulkner film adaptations in general was when I heard about that Sound and the Fury adaptation Martin Ritt had directed with Yul Brynner. Now that I think about it, I’m amazed filmmakers today aren’t trying to take another crack at Faulkner’s stories. I would think, now, that they’d be able to make faithful movies out of them. I *did* hear somewhere that James Franco had bought the rights to Sound and the Fury and As I Lay Dying, but… yeesh. If anyone were to direct movie adaptations of those two novels, I sure hope it isn’t him.
I’ve always approached Sokurov’s MOTHER AND SON as the closest we’ll ever get (and could hope to get) to a genuine ‘As I Lay Dying’.
Also the name of a pretty good metal band…
Sam, not much to report beyond Cap, but I did finally get around to Henry Hathaway’s Peter Ibbetson, and that was some strange little piece of magic with Gary Cooper’s other performance as an arrogant architect and an Inception-worthy dream apocalypse. Preposterous but still as moving as it means to be. Also finally saw DeMille’s Union Pacific, which has the story structure of a chapterplay but is redeemed by its actors and its production designs. Perhaps no one else could make a movie so nearly completely made up of process shots look as slick. And Aleksandr Sokurov’s The Sun, which is sometimes off-putting in the near amateurishness of some of the actors but definitely has a potent point to make, as I may elaborate upon later.
Sign of the Cross and Gold Diggers of 1933 on a big screen sounds like Hollywood heaven to me — and Keatons on a big screen really put your week over the top! May you have another like it, only less hot.
Hey Samuel!
I count myself as a fair admirer of PETER IBBETSON too, and of Gary Cooper’s impressive work in it. Yes preposterous for sure, but it succeeds at what it attempts. I also like UNION PACIFIC in a minor key and can readily agree with your sizing up. of course what you subsequently say there is really de Mille’s forte, as I saw myself this past weekend on the big screen. I loved Sokurov’s THE SUN, and though I know the director often gets performances on that level, he got a towering one here from Issei Ugata, that surely ranks with the one given by Galina Vishnevskaya in ALEXANDRE as the best in any Sokurov film. I’ll look forward to hearing more from you on that.
Yep, SIGN OF THE CROSS was a major highlight this week (as was GOLD DIGGERS, LOVE ME TONIGHT, THE MIND READER and a number of others) and I appreciate your hope that things are a little cooler around here!
Thanks as always my very good friend!
EIGHTEEN — count ’em — 18! cinematic events you attended this week. I simply don’t know how you do it.
My big “find” this week at the library was “Tamara Drewe.” Having spent a considerable amount of time in Essex, England (that’s where I trained for Clinical Hypnotherapy), I fell in love with it because of the geographic backdrop (a writer’s retreat on the outskirts of London). To my way of thinking, the cinematography was well done, and the way they managed to weave separate storylines into the main one was not only clever, but well executed.
The “smash hit” of the week, however, was seeing the final Harry Potter film. I’m not ashamed to say I’m OVER THE MOON! Oh boy howdy, you couldn’t have presented me with a better cinematic treat!
Somewhat like a fanned deck of vibrant cards, the movie that you’ve most tempted me with in today’s offering is THE WOMAN WITH THE FIVE ELEPHANTS. It sounds profound, yet quietly haunting.
As always, thank you for pointing to Speaking from the Heart.
The total of 18 Laurie of course includes a number of double features, but any way I attempt to justify it, it’s pure insanity. I guess I take these ventures as missions of completism, and even on some days where I contemplate taking a rest I think ‘now what will I miss?’ I will say that because it’s summer, it’s a bit easier to negotiate things.
Thanks so much for that exceedingly informed take on TAMARA DREWE. Having spent time in Essex you would indeed be especially appreciative of it’s underpinnings. You make some great points there as usual about the narrative fusion.
I am THRILLED to hear what you say about HARRY POTTER!!! I did think this was teh defining installment, and I am not surprised it’s taken the critical establishment by storm on both sides of the Atlantic. God my kids are asking to see it a second time, something they are not feeling with CAPTAIN AMERICA.
Love that “a fanned deck of vibrant cards!” (you are on some roll today my friend!!!) but the documentary about Svetlana Gaier is something I know you will connect to in a very big way. I was moved when I found out that she died after making the film at age 87, but her life was an incredible inspiration in every sense. She was a brilliant translator, she cooked, she gardened, she attended to paperwork, she did so much for her son and family and on and on. The film was ‘quietly haunting’ indeed!
Thanks for all the stupendous comments my great friend!
This riveting, terrifying and deeply moving short was sent to me by our site colleague Marc Bauer!!! It’s superb!
http://www.porcelainunicorn.com//
Oh my gosh, Sam, I’m ballin my eyes out. The Porcelain Unicorn was heart-wrenchingly wonderful! THANK YOU for sharing it here.
Wow Laurie! I felt exactly the same way!!! I am so thrilled you got to see it, though I know it is unbearably poignant. I was very happy to pass this on from Marc!!!
Sam, wow I thought I watch a lot of movies! Well thanks as always for the kind mention. You and the “Musical Team” are no doubt busy refining your lists and checking them twice. I myself took in four musicals this week. I was severly underwhelmed by Fosse’s All That Jazz and found it to be a far cry from his brilliant Cabaret. It was pretentious and messy and just nearly unwatchable. Also was not that impressed with The King and I, with it being quite dated and too stagey. The Band Wagon was a great show and will probably show up on the list I’m sure. I was actually most impressed with Funny Girl (1968) by William Wyler. I was completely and utterly entranced by Streisand! She literally gives one tour-de-force performance and I found myself totally engrossed in the film. My wife loved it too. The “Don’t Rain on My Parade” sequence was truly astounding.
Well I’m on the road again this week and bringing some films by Ozu, Rossellini and Wadja to keep me company. Have a great week friend!
Well, Jon, I’ll admit that the weeks when festivals like these are staged the numerical total does skyrocket, much to my stamina and sanity’s expense! Ha! The next two weeks will be much the same, though of course the titles will be different. I will have to agree with you there that ALL THAT JAZZ goes tedious after a while, and it’s definitely not a film I return to, as much as I love Fosse and CABARET. Of course CABARET had that masterful score by Kander and Ebb, which made a world of difference in the general scheme. But I am definitely not much of a fan of ALL THAT JAZZ either. As far as THE KING AND I, well that’s another story. Rogers & Hammerstein’s score is one of the treasures of the musical theatre and even with this admittedly stagey and dated production (OKLAHOMA and SOUTH PACIFIC also have issues in that sense, but again have absolutely unforgettable scores) it permanently enconses a vital score and a wonderful property. THE KING AND I will make my own Top 75 list, though I am not sure where exactly. I thought Brynner and Kerr were wonderful and the art and costume design lovely. My favorite song is “Hello Young Lovers,” though “Shall We Dance?” and “Getting to Know You” are classics.
I completely agree with you on FUNNY GIRL and much appreciate your estimation. I also like HELLO DOLLY for the most part.
That’s a great trio you are bringing along to keep you company Jon! have agreat week, and speak to you soon. Many thanks as always my very good friend!
Hi Jon and Sam, I’ve actually just been watching ‘All That Jazz’ this afternoon and sounds as if I enjoyed it more than you did – I agree that it is messy and some parts are pretentious, but some of the musical numbers are great and I think it does really get that feeling of being obsessed with work and going over and over it. I agree that Cabaret is better, though!
I meant to say that it is messy in the way that life is, with work and personal life spilling over into each other. It may well be in my list…
Judy that’s funny that you were watching All That Jazz too. I had never seen it before but had heard good things. I found the Fellini-esque moments to be too much for me, but was also puzzled that there are very few musical numbers in the first 45 minutes or so. I wondered for a bit whether it even qualified for me as a musical, but it did have a few later on in the film. Yes Cabaret is definitely better, we agree on that!
Jon, I had seen it before, but a long time ago (I first saw it on the big screen on release), and the musical numbers were the main thing that had stuck in my mind from previous viewings, so I was also surprised to realise there were so few of them in the first 45 minutes, agree with you there.
Hi! Sam Juliano, Allan and WitD readers…
I have to second everyone notion(s) quite a “feat” that you have once again accomplished. Sam, I can see that Of all the films that you viewed there isn’t one weakest link…[I’m quite sure that you, Mrs.Lucille Juliano, your family,and Dennis… [Friend and site colleague Dennis Polifroni attended the Wednesday double feature of Love Me Tonight and Downstairs.]…enjoyed each and every viewing or visit to the Film Forum.
I also look forward to the upcoming musical countdown too in the month Of August.
Sam Juliano, Thanks, for mentioning my friends Brian [Miller] and Claudia [Schoenfeld’s] new “diggs” too!
I also want to thank Tony, for the heads-up when it comes to Fabrice Mathieu from France short-film…Dans l’ombre:In the Shadow which I have been posting everywhere and the video is receiving “very” positive feedback from all…Many Thanks,
[postscript:Unfortunately, this is the last month for the TCM updates [here at Wonders in the Dark]…not to much work, but I plan to remove some Of the images from the sidebar…Sam, once again, thank-you for the mention as…usual.
deedee 😉
Thanks as always Dee Dee, for the exceedingly kind words and wonderful submission in every sense! Yes, it’s been a torrid week, though I still get excited as the time approaches for me to leave (as is the case now in fact, when I have about two hours before heading out) and some new adventure is imminent. Actually Lucille did enjoy several of the films, and Dennis of course has voiced his own sense of bliss. Yep, there truly wasn’t a weak link among the pre-coders, though there were several that stand at the highest rating.
I am delighted to hear of your great interest in the musical countdown. I know it’s not your favorite genre, but it’s one where you have long professed some favorites. It should be quite a time at WitD I’m sure.
It is a great honor to have Brian and Claudia’s link on the sidebar thanks to you! Yep, Tony’s film was really something! His new review on ODDS AGAINST TOMORROW is also a major winner.
I am deeply saddened to hear that this will be the final month for the TCM updates, but I can’t thank you enough for all you have done in that regard and in every other for that matter. I followed those religiously even though I rarely watch TCM for the obvious reasons.
Thanks a million my very dear friend!
Sam,
Thanks for the mention here. I’ve been a little out of the loop of late and I’m hoping to get back in the swing of things without getting dizzy. As per usual UK Cinema releases come after the US and Captain America will be coming in a couple of days.
Thanks as always for the links which I will be looking through soon. I’m very much looking forward to the Musical Countdown.
Thanks for the very kind and encouraging words about the musical countdown Stephen! As you can see one of the voters, your UK colleague Judy (below) has been well into the swing of things herself! Ha! But I look forward to your blogging return on the movie front, and your response to the fine CAPTAIN AMERICA.
Thanks again my friend!
Wow, that pre-Code festival sounds wonderful, Sam. I watched ‘Ladies They Talk About’ after you urged me to do so, and enjoyed it despite (or maybe because of) a few ludicrous plot twists. The young Stanwyck shines here, as always.
Apart from that, I’ve been knee-deep in musicals – must just get in a quick plug for ‘Roberta’, which I know isn’t one of Astaire and Rogers’ best-known but I love it, especially Irene Dunne singing ‘Smoke Gets In Your Eyes’, and this fantastic clip where Astaire plays jazz piano as well as singing and dancing:
Have a great week, everyone, and thanks for the plug, Sam!
Judy: Your spiritual presence was felt at this festival so far. I know if you were visiting in NYC you’d be here almost all the time! I know “Ladies They Talk About” did contain some contrivances, but as you note Stanwyck as always is irresitible.
I am more than thrilled that you have been immersing yourself in musicals, and it’s a coincidence that just this morning in summer school I was able to look again at SWING TIME! The clip you include here is wonderful, and I agree that ROBERTA is underrated. Irene Dunne singing SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES is pure bliss!!
Now you have me wanting to look at that again! Ha!
Thanks as always my very good friend for the usual terrific addition! And continue to enjoy the musicals!
As always, thank you so much for the shout-out, Sam. I saw and thoroughly enjoyed CAPTAIN AMERICA. Much more than I expected to. The hiring of Joe Johnston to direct was a smart choice by the powers that be as brought a lot of the old school action/adventure vibe that made THE ROCKETEER so enjoyable to this new film. I also whole-heartedly agree with you about seeing it in 2D as opposed to 3D. Unless the film is specifically made for the medium, I don’t feel the need to waste additional money.
J.D. Thanks so much! I pretty much line up with you on CAPTAIN AMERICA, and couldn’t agree more with what you say about Joe Johnston and THE ROCKETEER. Perhaps the use of 3D for virtually every new blockbuster is waning, and as we both saw it wasn’t needed here at all. The kids had a great time at CA, meaning it has some serious cross-over appeal. I didn’t rate it as high as HARRY potter, but it was still lots of fun.
Thanks again my very good friend!
Having seen Cap in 3D because that was the next showing when I reached the theater, I can say that it didn’t add much and at its worst makes actors and objects look like toys. I’d expect no loss at all if anyone sees it flat, but if your multiplex is like the one here, there’ll be at least two 3D screenings for every flat one. Had it really been made in 3D those stage scenes would be even more incredible than they are now.
Hello Sam and everyone! Thanks for relinking my site and feature me on your description, I’m really flattered… and tired. I got home 3 am yesterday, after a long day work in Rancagua… that was really crazy.
Anyway, you just got a lot crazier, just like I did, and saw 18 movies at the cinema… incredible incredible. About what you saw, I’m curious about the two Keatons (as always), and I think I’ll wait for Captain America, and I’m mostly interested in the Pre Codes “Love Me Tonight”, “Gold Diggers of 1933”, “Scarface” (which has slipped by me) and “The Sing of the Cross”.
About my week, it was really uneventful until I got “the call”, I had the job interview on wednesday (I went with my girlfriend) and I started on Friday with a representation of an old man that had alzhaimer, and I had to do a bunch of things and learn a lot, since I’ll have to produce them alone in a little time. 23 scenes in one day… Corman style.
But sunday I went to the mountains with my uncle and my family, so we could see and play with snow! It was fun and it had been my third time in the snow in my life, since it doesn’t really snow here, and to get to it you need to do a long journey to even touch it.
Anyway, my week movie wise:
– Carrie (1976, Brian de Palma) ***** This one I just had to rewatch when it played on TCMLA. It was so full of little details and a visual overload of symbolism and the usual De Palma touch that gives it the needed push for it to be a sad, yet beautifully framed story, based on the great novel from Mr. King, and maybe my second favorite King adaptation. I just love this movie, and Spacek is amazing.
– Cinema Verite (2011, Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini) ***1/2 This is an HBO film, based on the story of the first reality show in american television. Besides my disdain for this kind of television, I think the story is good enough, but not really that engaging, you might as well remake the reality itself, since it was the most interesting part, all the behind the scenes stuff was so so. Good cinematography.
– Don’t Play No Games That I Can’t Win (2011, Spike Jonze) ***1/2 Funny music video mixed with a story ark that would envy any 70’s action film. The beastie boys have an eye for visual style, so they know who to contact for their clips. The great Spike Jonze delivers in an interesting enough way, even if the music isn’t really perfect (though catchy).
– The Grapes of Wrath (1940, John Ford) ****1/2 A little rough start for me in the works of Ford, a bit subversive for the time I’d say, but necessary. The acting is just amazing, and the story is really deep in all its occurences. With time I felt it was too much, and you just have to face a reality that still exists today, on many countries of the world.
– Hot Fuzz (2007, Edgar Wright) ****1/2 Amazing spoof from a comedic genius, a guy who knows his movies, and a real dream team of british comedy, with the inclusion of great british actors (including a brief role for Steve Coogan), for a movie that slowly turns horrific in its feel and story, just amazing.
– The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975, Jim Sharman) ***** Splendid musical and visual treat for any horror-scifi-musical fanatic, and I just loved every bit of it, and I think it has the best written songs for a musical, ever. I don’t know, it felt special, and every song had its own tempo and feeling and each song said something special and funny. Tim Curry is splendid. Fav songs: Time Warp (of course), Science Fiction Double Feature, Sweet Tranvestite, The Floor Show (all those songs), Creature of the Night (hint, hint).
– Scream 4 (2011, Wes Craven) ****1/2 Wow and wow and wow. The best movie of the year so far. I LOVE META. I don’t know if it feels old for some people, but for me it felt alive and actual (it is, after all, for people of my generation), but I still think anyone can make something out of it. The direction is superb, the writing intelligent, and the whole situation is so full of little things that I loved, that it made me sure that I was watching the best movie of the series.
Thanks everyone, have a good week!
Well Jaime, it would be hard for anyone to top your tireless weekly activities. Sure you are young, but how many can make similar claim when they were your age? The film watching is enough of an accomplishment, but then all that time-consuming creativity? Well, I’ll let your work speak for itself. This week I see you again clicked on all cylinders, and burned teh candles on both ends with that 3 o’clock arrival home! Amazing. Yes, you have profiled some of the pre-coders that would indeed be priority viewing as I see it, though as I will chronicle in the upcoming weeks there are a number of others. That’s really something that you were involved with all those scenes with the alzheimer’s patient, and yes that most certainly does bring Corman to mind! Ha! I can’t even think of snow at this time of the year with all this melting heat, but heck you are in the southern hemisphere and are technically experiencing the height of winter. Snow? What’s that? I think some of us got our fill last year, but I know the experience was rightly thrilling for you. If you ever do visit New York City one day, you’ll see it in all it’s glory for much of the winter.
Didn’t see CINEMA VERITE or that Jonze, but much appreciate teh fascinating capsules!
Wow, five stars for CARRIE, eh? Well, it’s one of the De Palmas I like a real lot, so I can’t argue. Two Stephen King novels made great movies and that’s one of em. (the other of course is THE SHINING). I though Piper Laurie was extraordinary in that film, which will make aterrific blu-ray disc. Maybe it’s out already in fact.
And five for ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW too? Well, I like it for mainly the same reasons you do, and feel it’s historiically important, but I’ll go with 4. Still we aren’t far off.
THE GRAPES OF WRATH is one of the greatest of all American films, but you are just about there, and offer up a terrific capsule analysis. I don’t want to beat a dead horse as far as specifics go, but it’s a masterpiece for all sorts of reasons.
I’d go with 3 1/2 for HOTT FUZZ and 3 for SCREAM 4, but again you well argue your case in each instance.
Have an even better weel my friend! And thanks as always for brightening the cinematic landscape in such a unique way!
As has been mentioned by all, Sam, that was quite a performance by you on the movie watching front this week. Also — I remember when you mentioned you were going to take it easy on the Monday Morning Diary, looks like those days came and went 😉
The only thing I watched this week was Miyazaki’s SPIRITED AWAY (****1/2). I may still be underselling it with that rating — I want to watch it again in context with other Miyazaki as anime is not an area I’m well-versed in at all. A lifetime of watching Western animation definitely makes this quite an eye-opening experience with its depth of themes and maturity.
Well Troy, I don’t know whether I should says thanks or admit yet again that I was off my bonkers! Even as I now prepare to leave the house a short while from now to take in DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE and WATERLOO BRIDGE. I’ve been able to keep up the links at present, though I’ll admit I always take it one week at a time. I completely agree with you on Miyazaki’s SPIRITED AWAY, which is an animation masterwork, and one that holds up beautifully to repeat viewing. It’s a perfect starting point for those moving from Western to Japanese anime. Probably too scary though for Madelyn.
Thanks as always my very good friend!
Thanks for the mention Sam! I’ve posted a review of Cave of Forgotten Dreams over at my place. Have a gander when you get the time! Link is below:
http://visionsofnonfiction.blogspot.com/2011/07/cave-of-forgotten-dreams.html
Hope all is well!
Dave, thanks for stopping by and for the heads up on the Herzog review. I’ll definitely be over there to check that out! It’s absolutely one of the best documentaries of the year for a host of reasons.
All is well indeed. I anticipate the same for you my friend.
Watched ‘Five Graves to Cairo’ on TCM last night. Minor Billy Wilder, but Stroheim hijacks the picture with just the back of his great bull neck and a flyswatter. Poor Franchot Tone and Anne Baxter don’t have a chance against Von’s Mittel-European military grandeur.
Mark, I couldn’t agree with you more on Von Stroheim, even if his accent was occasionally false. But as always he’s a scene stealer. I once read where Wilder wanted Cary Grant for the role, but Grant never came through for the director, even though they were friends.
Sorry for being late, Sam. Seems like one helluva week for you. And whaddayaknow, I saw a bunch of Keaton films as well, besides a few Stroheims. (A scandalous gap in my viewing, I know!)
Stone cold Masterpiece: SEVEN CHANCES.
Simply great: THE NAVIGATOR, SHERLOCK JR., THE CAMERAMAN
Pretty cool: THE SCARECROW, NEIGHBORS, STEAMBOAT BILL JR., OUR HOSPITALITY, BATTLING BUTLER, etc.
Cheers!
And one heckofa week for you my friend! I will be seeing SEVEN CHANCES a week from Monday (which is the final Monday of the Keaton Festival) but I don’t dispute that rating as it’s one I’ve always held in the highest esteem) All the others are also of varying degrees of greatness. Thanks so much and I know you’ve surely had a lot of fun watching all those!