by Sam Juliano
As our good friend Allan Fish continues to recuperate from a serious operation in a British hospital, we at Wonders in the Dark will be paying tribute to him over the coming fourteen days, with a two-a-day posting schedule of some of his greatest reviews, to be chosen by you the site writers, regulars and readers. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times that Allan is the best film writer out there, with singular talents that include peerless word economy and an encyclopedic knowledge of film, sprinkled with a refreshing caustic humor and the unique ability size up a film rarity, which he ceaselessly seeks out. He is a film fanatic of the highest order, a fervent collector, and a man who remarkably balances scholarship and entertainment in his writings.
I hereby call upon the loyal membership of our site, one Allan co-founded with me back in 2008, to identify in the comment section of this post the Allan Fish review you would like to go up for an encore. There are so many to choose from, but best advice is to scour his personal countdown and the tags that note his name. Keep in mind, everyone, that Allan wrote several dozen very long pieces at the site as well, and all are no less magisterial. I will begin by naming the 1966 Czech masterpiece MARKETA LAZAROVA as my own choice. No writer anywhere has matched his piece for this, though we can say that about many of his reviews. The plan is to post two reviews a day up until Tuesday, October 21st. Keeping Allan in our thoughts let’s celebrate his movie passion to the fullest! When he returns he will post a glorious new batch of new, priceless writings! Here’s to Allan! Thank you all.
Click on names for archives
Writers/Founders
Wonders in the Dark 
Marketa Lazarova.
Melancholia
I read this (again) this afternoon and was wowed and dazzled. Because Allan had stretches of being so prolific, some of his writing was taken for granted. This piece is strictly Hall of Fame and of course will go up there! Great choice, and one that exemplifies all the observations you made previously Pat.
Rebecca
I just read this again and I can see why you chose it Marilyn. Just an incredible, confident and brilliant piece. He cites it as a women’s picture par excellence and dispels convention notions that the actors, cinematographer and composer made the film what it was. It all comes down to Hitch says Allan in persuasive mode. As your CASABLANCA masterpiece just posted, we will follow up with this masterpiece as the first post.
Oh wow, so many choices! I’ll get back to you tonight with some of my own. Great idea, Sam. My thoughts are with Allan.
Thanks Joel! Looking forward to your choices!!!
Le Mépris
Duane, he is truly excellent with Godard, though he is great with everybody. But agreed the LE MEPRIS essay is brilliance incarnate.
His review of EXTRAORDINARY STORIES was critical in me seeing the film.
Sachin, what greater testament to his writing can be given than this validation?! Great stuff and of course it will appear!
Any of the von Triers.
Aye Jim, one of those will be chosen, perhaps his fantastic piece on DOGVILLE, though any and all will do. 🙂
Fat City
Great pick Frank!!! One of my own favorites of his reviews too!
I have just been reading some of Allan reviews, amazing! and lost in comments, agreeing or disagreeing, each more enlightening to the film as the original review is self. I chose about three to read, films that I have extremely liked or have been drawn too.
First “Nosferatu”! Such love of the silent frightening film, and the bases of so many Vampire films to emerge through the times.
Then “His Girl Friday”: has to be the best comedy ever Grant and Russell play off each other some wonderfully, everything works.
Off to the Bitch fest of “All About Eve” and may G. Sanders was the best bitch of them all. To me some of the best performances ever!
Found myself at “Sunset Boulevard” film Noir or classic horror? Frighteningly over the top glamours. Nothing like an old queen and a dead guy telling how he got that way!
Allan’s reviews came me whole new way to view films. As well as many of the recent reviews I have read in the count down. Thank you all so much.
Wishing Allan a safe and full recovery!
Jeff—I dare say we can definitely work that full quartet you recommend here. Allan’s writing will always leave the beginner stunned. he gets right to the quick and practically intimidates the reader. I say that in the most positive sense. Few writers are as assured as him in print, yet in private he is his biggest critic. He always says his work is mediocre or unsatisfactory, yet just about everyone would do anything to have his talent. I would say SUNSET BOULEVARD is a cross between those two genres you mention there. In any case you have imparted so much to the countdown with your own superlative insights my friend, and this has all been so greatly appreciated!!!
Sam, and fellow writers,
I was so enthused by what I had been reading, I didn’t follow the directions. After I posted, seeing everyones comments, one choice selections and very little comment, I was like ooppsss !
Thank you. My selection need not be placed in this tribute. I am grateful to be included if that so happens!
Jeff, no problem at all. The more suggestions, the better overall presentation we will and can make for his writing. You chose four that are all among his greatest for sure, and of films with titanic followings to boot. Be rest assured your selection (s) will be part of this tribute!!! We’d have it no other way my friend. 🙂
I vote The Prestige or Barry Lyndon. Two reviews he wrote that made me watch both films again (and appreciate them more than before).
A silent film would also be in order since he loves that time period so much. I’ll leave it up to others to decide one of those.
Maurizio, we will go with BOTH. I know these two pieces well and they are spectacular indeed.
Sam, I do not come to this request as easily as most. I didn’t make my first appearance at the site until the Caldecott series and then the western countdown. I saw some of his obscuro entries. So I have looked through to find some I might like and came up with several. To conform to your request I went with one. You are not kidding when you praise his writing skills.
I like his review of The Third Man a lot.
Tim, I hear ya. Still his review on THE THIRD MAN is quite good, and will of course be used on your request.
I think Safety Last! would be a good candidate for the silent category.
Yes it would be a FANTASTIC choice, and I agree he wrote a master class review of it. It will be posted absolutely!!!
As I recall Allan Fish had written a longer piece about the shabby manner for which Francis Ford Coppola treated Abel Gance’s Napoleon. He got rid of the much better score in favor of his father’s. That would be a great one, though his straight review of the film would be a perfect companion to it.
This is a wonderful idea celebrating his work.
Stupendous David!!!!!!!!!! How did I overlook both of those??? They rank among his greatest and most opinionated ever!!! Simply great, forceful writing in both cases. We’ll use both on the same day!!!!!!
Brighton Rock
Tony this is one of his greatest reviews and also one of his favorites films ever. Oh does he love this film!! This will be one of the two that goes up the first day!!!! 🙂
YOU also wrote a terrific review of this film at your place!
The Wedding March
Peter, he absolutely LOVES this film!!!! And a great, passionate review on it!!! Nice.
Ok, many great picks here. Later I will probably kick myself for forgetting to pick this or that. But I DEFINITELY would love to see a re-posting of his “Untouchables” intro to the book if that’s possible. More than any other piece, that sums up Allan’s contagious love of cinema to me. I also really love his Son of Man review. It introduced me to that film, which is reason enough, but it’s also one of his best-written essays.
We’ll do it Joel, if it can be done. I’m assuming it is in the archives here, no?
The Dupes (1972)
Kaleem, that is a fabulous off-the-radar choice, and what a review it is!! We will be proud to publish it again!
The Double Life of Veronique
A masterpiece review of one of his all-time favorites films Jon, as you know. This one is essential!!!
Yes I know how highly he regards it. It’s a moving and excellent piece.
I have a second request: Allan’s longer feature on Halliwell’s Film Guide.
Fair enough Peter! Great second choice there!
Very difficult to choose… but I’ll go for Only Angels Have Wings.
His review on that one is stupendous Judy. But you already know that. 🙂
Of course it will go up.
I know Allan considers his review of Kiarostami’s Through the Olive Trees one of his best. It is.
Good show Tony!!! It will go up!!!! 🙂
Sherlock Jr.
Aye John, another silent gem from him!!!! 🙂
Love Exposure
Ah, you know Allan’s pulse as good an anybody Jaimie!!! 🙂
I will be adding a Yoshida, a Ozu, a Bresson, a Bergman and Allan’s beloved series OUR FRIENDS IN THE NORTH to the Bonanza line-up as well.
To these, Sam, it would be nice to consider adding one of his Rivette pieces. I recall how controversial was his choosing Duelle as the best of the 1970s.
Aye Duane, great point!!!! DUELLE it will be!!!!!! And what a fantastic review that one is!!!
Where to begin ? “Lost and Not Found” for his encylopaedic knowledge of film, lesser known Japanese gems like “Until We Meet Again” or “A Promise”, “Death in the Land of Encantos” as an example of his passionate championing of world cinema and which introduced me to the greatest director working today for my money, the documentaries “Gulag” and “The ‘Up’ Series” as part of his Top 100 British TV countdown. Or maybe just a selection of some of his hilarious putdowns in the comments sections over the years?
I think Allan’s reviews are in a class of their own, pithy, witty and spot on. They make you want to go straight out and watch the film, or if you’ve seen it before they bring back such vivid memories, a smile to the face, they really capture its essence. He’s been very generous to me over the last couple of years and I’d like to wish him all the best for a speedy recovery.
James you frame him in a nutshell. Your comment is insightful and very moving. Several of your pieces will be honored.
James—- am heading to Baltimore with family and friend— will be back late tonight or early in morning to address this utterly fantastic, extraordinary comment. I think we will use several of your suggestions, and that comment section idea is a gas too..thanks so very much my friend
I’d like to read Allan’s thoughts on ‘Frances Ha.’ Or a piece on early Fassbinder – Katzelmacher, Beware of a Holy Whore, World on a Wire, Effi Briest.
Mark, we’ll definitely post his staggering piece on Fassbinder’s WORLD ON A WIRE for you, but perhaps some of the others you mention here.
I love the idea of some of his commentary takedowns! To be on the receiving end of his barbs is both frightening and somewhat of a badge of honor! The man writes what he thinks, and better than almost anyone I know. JUst trying to pick something I loved that he’s written was both a further education into corners of filmdom I’m just now creeping into (my access to more unusual stuff has gotten better!), and an exercise in getting overwhelmed. In the end, I chose his review for ABIGAIL’S PARTY, one of my favorite pieces by my favorite director, and something uniquely British…which, I dare say, is a phrase that describes Allan to a t. And I mean that in the best manner imaginable. I’m rooting for the guy. He’s a hero of mine, as you are, Sam.
Thanks for that Dean! Yes Allan is in a class by himself when it comes to the comment thread put downs. With me it always came down to his dissatisfaction with my progress in watching stuff at home. With others it often came down to his superior knowledge of the cinema, built over years of devoting the lion’s share of each day to his passion. He is a true original, and as talented a guy as any I’ve ever known.