by Sam Juliano
Summer is upon us in full throttle and for some this is the annual opportunity to leave the house. Others no doubt will avail themselves of the opportunity to attend films, plays and other cultural events, as well as day trips, museum visits and some time in the parks. Here at Wonders in the Dark, the current order of business is the Greatest Television Series countdown, which launched on the heels of the concurrent voting to determined the subject of the eighty essays that comprise the venture. Thus far the writing and the responses have been exceptional, and we still have a long way to go – well into September in fact. Thanks to all who have placed ‘likes’ and left comments, as well as those who prefer to read and lurk.
Lucille and I were mostly home bound this past week -after of course our morning duties in the school system. My own summer school program runs until Monday, July 31st. I have had to cut back my movie going to open up time to write my own essays and to engineer marathon viewings of my subjects, and that has been a blistering affair.
We did see two more films in the ‘Strictly Streisand’ Festival at the Quad, and the new 4K restoration of the classic French prison drama Le Trou by Jacques Becker at the Film Forum:
Le Trou (1960; France) ***** (Tuesday, July 4th) Film Forum
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970) *** 1/2 (Monday) Quad
Hello Dolly! (1969) **** (Monday) Quad
French master Jacques Becker passed on just a few weeks after completing his 1960 prison drama “Le Trou” (The Hole) but he left behind a work arguably as superlative as Bresson’s “A Man Escaped”, and inconceivably even more pessimistic than the 1957 work, (one buoyed by Mozart that seemed spiritually resonant.) I’ve seen this masterpiece about resilience, loyalty and betrayal several times and own the Criterion DVD like most cinephiles, but I’ve never seen a print as of it as magnificent as this one. Lucille and I attended the 1:00 P.M. showing, giving a rest to the Quad’s Streisand retrospective.
HELLO DOLLY! isn’t perfect, but still a mighty fine musical with a justly beloved score, and ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER has some narrative issues but again a memorable score, sung beautifully by Streisand.
I wish I could see “Le Trou” in that restored print, but I would think it will appear on a blu ray. I saw the Criterion DVD and thought it very nice. Those last ten minutes were pretty intense.
Actually my friend, it has been announced for Region 2 blu ray release by Studio Canal:
Still I am expecting Criterion will eventually get around to upgrading their DVD of it. Thank you! Yes the ending of course was indeed unforgettable, from the moment the one inmate sees that lineup outside the door.
I guess you are bracing for the Bava retrospective next?
Frank, I plan on seeing several at the Quad indeed, though I do own most of Bava’s works on blu ray. Thank you my friend.
I have actually seen the Streisand movie at the women’s college I went to which had the only movie theater in town and for $.25 I could attend the weekly showing. I think that was the time of my life I watched the most movies ever. As good as movie directors are they don’t often capture the image I get when I read the book and my interpretation often goes missing too. I thought the Martian was the closest to my image after reading the book I have ever seen. The Outlander Series I can not watch because Claire does not represent my image at all the only character who does is Jamie and maybe the abusive military fellow. I am enjoying the TV reviews posts very much and several shows that I have watched were so well written I wanted to watch them again! I am going to the beach with no computer next week…will come back to reading and liking 🙂 I hope you and Lucille gets some R & R coming up ?
Thank you so much Patricia! I am late getting to this thread as a result of the frenzy surrounding the television countdown reviews which are coming out fast and furiously. We have plans to leave for a condo generously given over to us from August 2nd till the 10th. So then we will indeed get our R & R, especially as the television countdown takes a break for that week. Those were the days, when you could see a movie for a quarter! Ha! No wonder that was time you did see so many movies. Thanks as ever for your wonderful observations my friend!
Really loving the countdown Sam!
Thank you so much for your ongoing support and enthusiasm! Your comments are deeply appreciated!
‘Le Trou’ is magnificent. Truly, one of the great ones. And in my favourite year of the ’60s. First ‘Wyler’s magnificent ‘Funny girl’ and now this in sublime transfers. You, Sam, are very blessed.
Aye Bobby, there can be no doubt of that! And what a fabulous year indeed, one many have as one of the all-time greatest in fact. Yes, there are so many perks living where I do, which is a prime reason I will die here. Thanks again my friend!
Amen on ‘Le Trou.’ Contender for greatest prison movie of all-time.
Aye Peter, it certainly is up there! Thank you my friend.
Sam — I’d be on the ‘Strictly Streisand’ Festival at the Quad like white on rice!
I hear ya Laurie! Certainly there were several in the festival that do rate highly, and those were the ones we attended and enjoyed. Thanks so much my friend!