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Post by Nalkarj on Oct 11, 2017 22:16:10 GMT
I think Trouble In Paradise certainly belongs here with con-artists (a person who cheats or tricks others by persuading them to believe something that is not true). Gaston is a con-artist thief, his con of Madame Colet and others is maintained throughout, a main element of the story Jewel Robbery I think is stretching the con-artist possibilities a bit thin... William Powell's "The Robber" is a master thief, suave and gentlemanly he uses to his advantage, but from the opening scene there is no con, there are no illusions as to his character or intentions True, but I think Jewel Robbery counts in this category less for the opening gambit and more for his elaborate con to get Kay Francis's Teri to his house--the ring, the "detective," et al. That's certainly borrowing the techniques of con-artistry for something ultimately non-criminal.
...whereas I'm uncertain about Trouble in Paradise's consideration in this category because it, while focusing on two con artists and while centering on a con, the raison d'être of the film is romance, not con-artistry (whereas the opposite is true for, say, The Sting). A bit of a disingenuous claim to make after what I just wrote about Jewel Robbery, perhaps, but that film (I think) is as much about other elements as its romance, whereas Trouble in Paradise's main element is its romance. It just seems (to me, at least) that, for TiP, Lubitsch and his writers are utterly uninterested in the con but very interested in the romance--as if a horror director had gone out of his way to make a movie that was completely un-scary. None of that is to criticize either film, of course; both of them are two of my favorites. ( Trouble in Paradise is from time to time my favorite film of them all--it switches with Casablanca all the time.)
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Post by manfromplanetx on Oct 12, 2017 19:54:41 GMT
Le retour de Martin Guerre , The Return of Martin Guerre (1982) This excellent fascinating film tells an unusual tale, an interesting film angle on the con-artist theme.. A compelling and, haunting true story based on actual court records, tells the tale of Martin Guerre (Gérard Depardieu) who returns to his family? in rural France after eight years at war. The year is 1542, his wife seems to accept him back and home life appears happier than ever before. The husband of the past was considered surly and moody, he is now caring and attentive, Martin is a changed man. Soon people begin to suspect that he's not Martin Guerre at all, but a con-artist an impostor, and he's called before a court to answer these charges.
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Post by petrolino on Oct 12, 2017 21:04:55 GMT
Le retour de Martin Guerre , The Return of Martin Guerre (1982) This excellent fascinating film tells an unusual tale, an interesting film angle on the con-artist theme.. A compelling and, haunting true story based on actual court records, tells the tale of Martin Guerre (Gérard Depardieu) who returns to his family? in rural France after eight years at war. The year is 1542, his wife seems to accept him back and home life appears happier than ever before. The husband of the past was considered surly and moody, he is now caring and attentive, Martin is a changed man. Soon people begin to suspect that he's not Martin Guerre at all, but a con-artist an impostor, and he's called before a court to answer these charges. There's also Jon Amiel's remake 'Sommersby' (1993), starring Jodie Foster and Richard Gere, which transplants the action to the American Civil War.
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Post by london777 on Nov 17, 2017 21:56:25 GMT
Elmer Gantry? ... certainly (has) to do with con-artists, but (its) primary focus is elsewhere. Elmer Gantry is one of my favorite movies, but I cannot remember any con-trickery in it. Unless you mean either: (1) Gantry's high-pressure salesmanship before he got into the religion racket, or (2) The religion racket itself. I thought Sister Sharon was sincere as were her main supporters before Gantry joined the team. If you mean that all organized religion is a confidence trick you would have my wholehearted agreement, but I assume you do not mean that.
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Post by london777 on Nov 17, 2017 22:08:16 GMT
In the "fake medium" sub-category: Nightmare Alley (1947) dir: Edmund Goulding
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Post by Nalkarj on Nov 17, 2017 22:16:35 GMT
london777Well, I was referring to Gantry's getting money and power from people because of his hypocritical sermons--seeing con-artistry in a more general way.
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Post by koskiewicz on Nov 18, 2017 16:18:24 GMT
...though a stretch, the big Russian dude in Kubrick's "The Killing" certainly conned many with his brawl diversion...underrated film IMHO...
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Post by london777 on Feb 19, 2018 1:16:32 GMT
Here is one by a famous director which no-one has mentioned:
Alias Mr. Twilight (1946) directed by John Sturges
Geoffrey Holden is an elderly conman who is a lovable old man when providing his beloved granddaughter with the simple luxuries of life, yet has no qualms when working a racket devised to relieve his victims of their property.
Anyone seen it?
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Post by koskiewicz on Feb 19, 2018 2:09:18 GMT
The Grifters...
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Post by Chalice_Of_Evil on Feb 19, 2018 6:50:39 GMT
Heartbreakers 2001, female con artists. This^ was the first one that came to my mind when seeing the subject title. The movie might not be 'great', but nevertheless I do think I liked it (as I'm pretty sure I watched it at least a couple of times), though I haven't seen it in quite a while. The two things I remember most about the movie are the theme (composed by Danny Elfman & John Debney) and Sigourney Weaver singing 'Back in the U.S.S.R.' whilst pretending to be Russian. I’m not sure if this one counts - apologies if it doesn’t - but in The Ninth Gate (1999), Johnny Depp's character of Dean Corso is a rare book dealer who makes a living off of conning people into selling him their valuable antique books for a low price and then he re-sells the books to private collectors.
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Post by london777 on Feb 19, 2018 12:41:12 GMT
I’m not sure if this one counts - apologies if it doesn’t - but in The Ninth Gate (1999), Johnny Depp's character of Dean Corso is a rare book dealer who makes a living off of conning people into selling him their valuable antique books for a low price and then he re-sells the books to private collectors. Always glad to see one of my favorite all-time movies get a mention, but if you are going to include Dean Corso, just for doing his job, you would have to include every antiquarian book-dealer. And if them, why not every used car dealer? Of course, we would have to exclude Frank Doel, of "84 Charing Cross Road". Influential members here have sanctified him to the level of Mother Teresa or Saint Francis.
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Post by Lebowskidoo 🦞 on Feb 19, 2018 14:09:02 GMT
Another shout out for Matchstick Men (2003), a memorable con man movie with Nicolas Cage & Sam Rockwell.
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Post by Chalice_Of_Evil on Feb 19, 2018 21:48:32 GMT
In the movie The Frighteners (1996), Michael J. Fox plays Frank Bannister, who can see/hear/communicate with ghosts and he gets them to haunt people so that they’ll call him to come perform “exorcisms” (that are just him putting on a fancy show) - which he charges an exorbitant amount for. This^ is one of my favourite movies.
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Post by bravomailer on Feb 19, 2018 23:54:45 GMT
Daniel Day Lewis's character in There Will Be Blood is a con man
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Post by london777 on Jun 5, 2018 23:19:34 GMT
In Fallen Angel (1945 dir: Otto Preminger) Dana Andrews is a drifter living off his wits. At the start he "cons" a fake medium (played by John Carradine) into taking him onto his team. The main plot concerns his attempts to con a spinster out of her capital by (temporarily) marrying her.
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Post by Primemovermithrax Pejorative on Jun 5, 2018 23:32:14 GMT
The Baron Of Arizona (1950) Vincent Price has said it was his favourite film role he stars as the con-man Reavis. Fuller dove deep into the obscure early chapters of American history to create one of those wonderfully offbeat yarns that he excelled in , the story excited him as both a screenwriter and, before that, a crime reporter. The wonderful film tells the stranger-than-fiction true story of "Con-artist" James Addison Reavis, a rogue forger and fraud who, in the late 19th century, almost convinced the US government that he was rightful heir to the former Spanish and Mexican land claims for the then new state of Arizona. Ah ha! I am going to check this one out soon. I watched a rare one recently THE GREAT SWINDLE 1971. Starring Stephen Boyd, Marisa Mell. Good luck finding a decent copy.
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Post by BATouttaheck on Jun 10, 2018 12:38:26 GMT
The Barefoot Mailman (1951)A 19th-century con artist flees to the wilds of Florida to elude the law. Found this on my travels and rushed right over to add it to the collection. Never heard of it so don't know if it was worth the trip, london777.
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Post by BATouttaheck on Jun 10, 2018 14:28:27 GMT
Discovered another "unknown" Bracelets (1931)An elderly jeweler is victimized by con artists pretending to be the Russian royal family. He sets out to turn the tables on the criminals and earn a reward that will give him enough to buy a pair of silver bracelets for his wife for their 25th wedding anniversary. From the UK Stars: Bert Coote, Joyce Kennedy, D.A. Clarke-Smith
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Post by london777 on Jul 15, 2018 3:42:01 GMT
Another one for the "fake medium" sub-category: The Amazing Mr. X (1948) dir: Bernard Vorhaus. In fact, it's a two-fer, since not only is fake medium Alexis (Turhan Bey) trying to convince widow Lynn Bari that he can summon up the spirit of her dead husband, but the husband is still alive and trying to "gaslight" her into suicide as well. Both plot lines are hackneyed but when they cross paths towards the end we get some laughs at the way the charismatic Alexis has to think on his feet. Turhan Bey is terrific. His time in the spotlight was all too brief; he would have been a great "suave villain" in Film Noir to rival Greenstreet or Clifton Webb but wasted his brief career on sand-and-scimitar exotic capers. I also enjoyed him in a little-known screwball comedy, Out of the Blue (1947) dir: Leigh Jason, where he showed a light comedic touch playing opposite Virginia Mayo. However, the real star of The Amazing Mr. X (stupid and misleading title) is cinematographer John Alton, some of whose best work is shown in this low-budget quicky.
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Post by london777 on Jul 15, 2018 3:54:44 GMT
Ghost (1990)Oda Mae Brown thinks she is a con-artist BUT is she ? Thanks, BAT, you have laid a ghost for me. Watching Black Rainbow (1989) dir: Mike Hodges I found the scene where fake medium Rosanna Arquette spontaneously utters true prophecies very compelling. It reminded me of something but I could not think what. The two instances are handled differently. Goldberg's as broad comedy, and Arquette's as disturbingly psychological. Are there other examples of fake mediums surprised to find that they have real powers after all?
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