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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2017 7:29:12 GMT
Thought it would be cool to have a simple ongoing classic movie thread for something that you have just watched.
Post the name of the Movie, was it good/bad, awful or awesome, really great or give me my 2 hours back and I mean now!
Then about a good paragraph about your impression of it.
Watched: A Bridge To Far (1977)
Rating: Was pretty good.
Quickie review:
Spectacular W.W. II recreation of the controversial operation 'Market Garden', a little light on the drama side with no really memorable characters or lines, still all and all impressive and this scale of war movie-making will never be attempted again- for a very longtime.
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Post by Matthew the Swordsman on Feb 10, 2017 8:28:09 GMT
Last night I watched:
The Girl in Room 20 (1946) - 7.5/10. Yes, the production values are low and the acting not very good, but I thought this was a sweet little story. This was one of the so-called "race films", films with African-American casts and shown exclusively to African-American audiences. BTW, the director, Spencer Williams, later played "Andy" on the TV version of "Amos 'n' Andy". He also directed other "race films" during the 1940s.
Although not exactly a musical, the film does feature a few songs. I uploaded two of the songs to YouTube (the film is public domain):
Also recently watched this TV episode:
"The Dinah Shore Show" - 1 January 1952. 8/10. The antithesis of modern television. Dinah Shore sings some songs, and does a little drama. Aired live (though the sole commercial is filmed). Sadly, she does not do her famous Chevrolet jingle (they ran out of time). Also, this copy appears to be an old VHS transfer. If the original kinescope still exists it would certainly look better. The episode aired from 7:30PM to 7:45PM on NBC, where it was preceded by "Bob and Ray" and followed by a terrible 15-minute newscast. I uploaded the episode to YouTube (it is public domain):
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Post by Matthew the Swordsman on Feb 10, 2017 15:31:25 GMT
Since I got up at 3:00PM AEDT, I've watched one movie before midnight and one movie afterwards:
The Queen in Australia (1954) - 8/10. The queen....in Australia.....in living colour!! A documentary. Very educational. I learned that 1950s Australian women wore red lipstick just like American women.
Manhattan Tower (1932) - 7.5/10. The sets and clothes are fabulous for such a low-budget film by a no-name production company. I read that the sets were borrowed from another film. Mary Brian who stars in this film did not seem familiar to me, yet she should have, as she later played the mother in the 1954-1955 sitcom "Meet Corliss Archer". The film itself is not great drama, but it has a nice 1930s flavour. At around 66 minutes this goes by rather quickly. It's public domain, and can be found online without too much trouble.
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Post by Matthew the Swordsman on Feb 12, 2017 6:12:00 GMT
Always Tomorrow: The Portrait of an American Business (1941) - 7.5/10. This is not a theatically released film, but was shown to Coca-Cola bottlers. It is nevertheless a scripted drama, with fictional characters, and tells the story of a Coca-Cola bottler. It starts off in the 1940s, which each scene taking place at an earlier date, until we are at the turn of the 20th century. IMDb credits John Archer and Johnny Arthur, I wonder who the other cast members are. The film runs for 51 minutes. While not an "A-movie" by any means, the production values are actually better than many films that were theatrically released (it's better than some poverty row films I've seen).
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Post by Matthew the Swordsman on Feb 12, 2017 9:21:56 GMT
For the Love of Ada (1972) - 7/10. Nice but dragged at times. This is a movie based on the British TV series of the same name. As is usually the case, the TV show is better than the film. After over 40 years, the motion picture industry still hasn't learned that most films based on TV shows are inferior to the shows. The TV series was about a widow who falls in love with the gravedigger who buried her husband. They get married during the series run. In this film, the couple are celebrating their first anniversary. The film was critically panned and bombed at the box office, but it didn't seem so bad to me. It was very slow though.
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Post by Matthew the Swordsman on Feb 12, 2017 10:16:31 GMT
Amateur films: Ivan Besse collection: Britton, South Dakota 1938-39 (Part II)
8/10. See it here (it is public domain): archive.org/details/sIvanBes1938_3Basically 20 minutes of 1930s home movie footage....which is a lot more fun than it sounds. I love how many of the men are wearing hats.
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Post by Matthew the Swordsman on Feb 12, 2017 12:28:16 GMT
Just watched a short film and a TV episode, both old: The film: Spinning Levers (1936) - 7/10. A somewhat dry 10-minute educational film about how levers in a car transmission work. This is actually a subtle advertisement for Chevrolet, one of many made around this time by the Jam Handy Organization, prolific advertising film makers. It is public domain and can be viewed here: archive.org/details/0762_Spinning_Levers_04_45_20_00The TV episode: " Longines Chronoscope" - 14 March 1952. 7/10, I guess, I mean how is one supposed to rate a 65 year old discussion on taxes??. This was a 15-minute talk show. The copy I viewed is complete with original commercials and network ID. It is public domain and can be viewed here: archive.org/details/gov.archives.arc.95741I love exploring the often unusual world of the public domain. Lots of fun stuff. |
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Post by Matthew the Swordsman on Feb 12, 2017 12:51:10 GMT
Seeing Green (1937) - 7.5/10. This is a 9-minute educational film about traffic lights. It is dull, but contains some good views of street scenes and traffic. It is public domain and can be viewed here: archive.org/details/SeeingGr1937
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Post by naterdawg on Feb 12, 2017 16:40:31 GMT
Am I in the right folder? I came here to discuss classic films I've just seen, but all the posts are about educational films and obscure movies (except for the very first post)! Last night, I watched Preston Sturges "Hail the Conquering Hero" (1944), starring Eddie Bracken. Pretty funny comedy that I'd never seen in its entirety.
Recorded Grapes of Wrath and am about halfway through it. Pretty gritty for a major motion picture released in 1940. Awesome performance by Henry Fonda, but my favorite character is played by John Carradine--a preacher who's fallen off the morality wagon.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2017 3:21:01 GMT
Am I in the right folder? I came here to discuss classic films I've just seen, but all the posts are about educational films and obscure movies (except for the very first post)! Last night, I watched Preston Sturges "Hail the Conquering Hero" (1944), starring Eddie Bracken. Pretty funny comedy that I'd never seen in its entirety. Recorded Grapes of Wrath and am about halfway through it. Pretty gritty for a major motion picture released in 1940. Awesome performance by Henry Fonda, but my favorite character is played by John Carradine--a preacher who's fallen off the morality wagon. I just DVR'd that myself. Haven't seen it in a few years, but it's definitely a classic. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2017 3:58:28 GMT
Sullivan's Travels (1941)
Rating: Really Good/8-9
Quickie review: When watching this fantastic Classic movie, one has to consider that it is rather-radical stuff for the 1940's, rarely do you see such scathing social satire, that and Joel Mcrea is a phenomenal actor that people tend to overlook plus that sexy pixie Veronica Lake- she was a certified hottie- back then, three good reasons to watch.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2017 4:16:39 GMT
Yes- you are absolutely right, this is supposed to be a Classic Film- Quick review thread .
Not to rain on my own thread but this is a film/movie thread and not a Doc or Short or T.V. thread.
To define 'Classic' means 'A film everybody needs to see' that is over 20 years old and has passed the test of time.
I would argue that 'Pulp Fiction' (1994) is a true classic that should be seen once and is truly relevant to film making history and 'Grapes of Wrath' (1940) is another true classic that has been agreed upon through generations of critics and film-lovers and still has a potent and timeless impact for the viewer to appreciate.
Films from the 70's are probably deep in the Classic Range and as you go up into the 80's/early 90's, one should be very careful how 'Classic' is applied as time has not quite settled on them.
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Post by naterdawg on Feb 13, 2017 5:53:56 GMT
Yes- you are absolutely right, this is supposed to be a Classic Film- just watched Tonight/Last Night- Quickie review thread. . Not to rain on my own thread but this is a film/movie thread and not a Doc or Short or T.V. thread. To define 'Classic' means 'A film everybody needs to see' that is over 20 years old and has passed the test of time. I would argue that 'Pulp Fiction' (1994) is a true classic that should be seen once and is truly relevant to film making history and 'Grapes of Wrath' (1940) is another true classic that has been agreed upon through generations of critics and film-lovers and still has a potent and timeless impact for the viewer to appreciate. Films from the 70's are probably deep in the Classic Range and as you go up into the 80's/early 90's, one should be very careful how 'Classic' is applied as time has not quite settled on them. Thanks for making it clear. Seemed so odd, starting out with A Bridge Too Far, and then suddenly, everyone's talking about educational and/or industrial films and obscure TV shows and old, barely released movies. Keeping with the CLASSIC theme, tonight I'm watching "I Married a Witch," with Frederic March and an absolutely delightful Veronica Lake. Obviously, this was the inspiration for Bewitched! I'll have my review tomorrow. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2017 0:30:38 GMT
Wolf-Swordsman, would be nice to see some clean-up of those non-Classic movie posts, much appreciated but this thread is almost to page 2-so it might not really matter.
Watching 'Post Man always Rings Twice' (1946) it's part of the 4 movie Turner classic DVD set/Maltese Falcon, Big Sleep, Dial M for Murder. The Remake (1981) with Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange is a big mess and has made me overlook the original. Will see tonight how it stacks up.
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Post by Froggy on Feb 14, 2017 2:04:09 GMT
Letter From an Unknown Woman (1948), starring Louis Jourdan and Joan Fontaine, directed by Max Ophuls (and produced by John Houseman, him of Mercury Theater and Professor Kingsfield fame). Max Ophuls delivers the goods as always with impeccable direction of gorgeous black-and-white photography. The acting is flawless throughout, and Louis Jourdan is as smoothly romantic as can be ("Is it too late for supper? (A beat.) You are here and as far as I am concerned all the clocks have stopped."). The story might leaving you wanting to grab hold and shake some sense into a character or two on occasion, but nonetheless highly recommended.
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Post by naterdawg on Feb 14, 2017 5:20:31 GMT
Letter From an Unknown Woman (1948), starring Louis Jordan and Joan Fontaine, directed by Max Ophuls (and produced by John Houseman, him of Mercury Theater and Professor Kingsfield fame). Max Ophuls delivers the goods as always with impeccable direction of gorgeous black-and-white photography. The acting is flawless throughout, and Louis Jordan is as smoothly romantic as can be ("Is it too late for supper? (A beat.) You are here and as far as I am concerned all the clocks have stopped."). The story might leaving you wanting to grab hold and shake some sense into a character or two on occasion, but nonetheless highly recommended. Wonderful, beautiful film. Sublime acting throughout and an effective, emotional story. Joan Fontaine was never better, going from 14 to almost middle-age, and her final meeting with Jourdan will rip your heart out. She was robbed of an Oscar nomination, which--interestingly enough--would've put her head to head with Olivia again, who was up for The Snake Pit (another great film). |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2017 6:56:47 GMT
The Post Man Rings Twice (1946)
Rating: Just O.K. 6/7
Quickie Review: The main problem with this film is the far-fetched plot. The best that Lana Turner can do is to marry a penny pinching old man who runs a desolate diner out on some lonely stretch of highway, cops and D.A.'s show up at precise moments to foil all of their best-laid plans. John Garfield, who holds this film together and begs for me to look deeper into his acting resume, one moment super-smart next too stupid to just ask for a lawyer?
The movie almost got me going at one point in the middle till the wave of melodrama washed away all hope for this film to live up to it's long reputation. Not essential in my book.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2017 21:30:09 GMT
My Sister Eileen (1942)
Slightly amusing/6
Rosalind Russell is usually great when given snappy dialogue to work with like in 'His Girl Friday' but this movie relies on formulaic slapstick and she is not really in her element. A few smiles and the lovely Janet Blair are probably the main attraction of this comedy. Just imagine a beautiful struggling journalist and a beautiful actress going to New York and in a matter of days their dreams come true surrounded by every crazy stereo-type in the book.
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