What classics did you see last week ? (2 Sep- 8 Sep 2018)

Here is my little mix:



Absolutely awfull, No No No, Lame from beginning to end, filled with unfinished jokes, made by and for elders who still think they are teens. 



Spanish Horror movie with the right kind of creepiness and atmosphere


Incredible how a movie can age very quickly


Widescreen version for cinamas, entertaining and literate


One of the best movies depicting Pearl Harbour


Matinée with an eye-rolling pirate, not great but enjoyable

The Shadow Strikes / Lynn Shores (1937). The Shadow was a very popular radio adventure program that ran from the early 1930s until 1954. It’s catch phrase, “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!” is still famous. The best that movies could do for The Shadow was a series of very low budget films cranked out of Poverty Row studios. This one is from Grand National whose productions, going by this one, used outdated technology that makes their films seem like very early sound from the late 1920s. There is almost nothing to recommend in “The Shadow Strikes.” The catch phrase is not used; neither does The Shadow “cloud men's minds” – he just wears a wrap around cape with a wide-brimmed fedora and gets the drop on criminals. Neither is anything about him is explained. Apparently, the script writers just assumed the audience would already be Shadow fans. The Shadow only shows up for a few seconds at the beginning and at the end. In fact, this didn’t even have to be a “Shadow” movie. The Shadow is so incidental that it could have served just as well as a Saint, Falcon, or Lone Wolf mystery. Silent film leading man Rod La Rocque stars as The Shadow and his everyday identity, Lamont Cranston (Granston in “Strikes” for some unknown reason).



Strange Impersonation / Anthony Mann (1946). Nora Goodrich (Brenda Marshall) is first seen briefing a room of physicians on a new anesthetic that she has just created, but the final trials have not been completed. Nora is not a doctor (not in 1946), but the movie lets her be an accomplished chemist. She is engaged to Dr. Stephen Lindstrom (a dull William Gargan) but keeps putting off the marriage because of her work. Nora decides to skip the red tape required for medical testing and try the anesthetic on herself at home with only her lab assistant, Arline (Hillary Brooke) present as a witness. I thought this was going to lead up to yet another Jekyll/Hyde mad scientist rip-off movie where the good doctor tries the serum on himself and changes into something. Right at the last second the film quite suddenly – and delightfully – switches into noir territory. To say more would be telling but I can say that this far-out movie doesn’t just take twists and turns but giant leaps into startling narrative shifts that will keep you laughing in amazement – not at the movie but with it. Mann directs most of the film in a pretty straightforward manner, but the deviousness and cynical character of the villain is pure noir. Mann brings in the skewed camera angles and plays of shadow and light only at the very end in an effective scene. The run time is brief, only sixty eight minutes, but Mann and his writers pack about two hours of plot into that time. The only other major player is George Chandler as an ambulance chasing lawyer. This is one wild and crazy movie that you won’t want to miss. NOTE: Branda Marshall, the main actor in “Strange Impersonation,” was one half of one of the strangest marriages in a town of strange marriages. She wed William Holden in 1941. They had two children born in 1943 and 1946. They divorced in 1971 after 30 years but for most of that three decade period they lived apart while each pursued other romantic entanglements.



Just in case you couldn’t place George Chandler. Do you think he and Nicolas Cage are look-a-likes? I don’t but apparently some people think so.


Undertow / William Castle (1949). Tony Reagan (Scott Brady) is in love with Sally Lee (Dorothy Lee) but her Chicago mobster uncle, Big Jim, disapproves. Tony has stayed away from Chi Town for seven years serving in the military. Now, he has plans to go back and talk Big Jim into giving his consent. But when he arrives, he is knocked unconscious. When he wakes up, he finds out the cops are after him for Big Jim’s murder. Director William Castle is better known for his ‘60s cheesy fun fright films that he himself sometimes introduced. But before that, he was a busy director of low budget crime and mystery thrillers to which he often added some cinematic class and “Undertow” is one of his best. Notable is some actual location footage in Reno, Nevada and Buckingham Fountain in Chicago. There is a very good print of “Undertow” on YouTube. Also in the cast is Peggy Dow, Bruce Bennett, and John Russell. Another point of interest is Rock Hudson in his first credited role. Hudson (his first name appears as “Roc” in the opening titles and closing credits) has a role of exactly 38 seconds.





Terminator Genisys / Alan Taylor (2015). I guess all Terminator fans are supposed to hate this movie because it contradicts what happened in the previous Terminator movie, or something like that, but since I have only seen the first two – from 1984 which I love, and 1991 which was OK – I wasn’t bothered by this except that it is a dreaded “reboot.” Anyway, there are other reasons not to like it. It begins like the 1984 original: Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) is sent back in time to stop a Terminator from killing Sarah Connor, the mother of the leader of the resistance against the Machines (if you are not up on the Terminator story, it is useless to ask questions). But at that point, history changes. Sarah (Emilia Clarke) doesn’t need protecting. She is already fully aware of the coming apocalypse and, furthermore, she is being helped by the Protector (Arnold Schwarzenegger) from “Terminator 2.” With me so far? Kyle has found himself in an alternate time line. It is actually good to see Ah-nold again. He repeats some of his catchphrases, which are amusing, but tries out a new one (“old but not obsolete”) which is said three times but doesn’t quite work. The film is repetitious as well. No scene can be played to completion because someone will always turn out to be a shape-shifting Terminator and set off yet another fight, gunfight, and/or vehicle chase. For action/sci-fi movie fanatics only.





Xia Dao Lian Meng (The Adventurers) / Stephen Fung (2017). Dan Zhang (Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau) is just getting out of a French prison after a 5 year sentence when the film opens. He is greeted by the detective who arrested him, Inspector Pierre Bissette (Jean Reno). Zhang had been a master jewel thief who pulls off impossible heists, but now claims he is retired. Bissette believes that Zhang is after the most valuable necklace in the world, a creation called “Gaia.” In the middle ages Gaia had been broken up into three new works of jewelry. Zhang had been arrested stealing the first of the Gaia pieces but not before someone else had stolen it from Zhang. Bissette thinks that Zhang’s plan is to steal all three pieces and, for the first time in centuries, restore Gaia to its original form. Bissette is correct. Zhang gathers a small group of partners including his protégé, Po (Tony Yo-ning Yang) and Red (Qi Shu, Millennium Mambo). The film then immediately leaps into the first caper, the theft during an auction at Cannes of the second part of Gaia. This exciting and clever set-piece launches the story with a few bangs, but there is a second, even more complicated caper for the latter half. Meanwhile Bissette has joined with someone himself: Amber Li (Jingchu Zhang, Mission: Impossible-Rouge Nation), Dan Zhang’s ex-girlfriend. The thrilling film score is by Finnish composer Tuomas Kantelinen and adds immeasurably to the excitement. A pulse-pounding good time. Again, I am set to wondering what it is exactly that puts Asian action (especially from China) so far above the Hollywood output even when they share so many of the caper/heist tropes that we all know and love so well.

Watched quite a few films this week, it's been raining almost everyday here in the Houston area, especially right after I get off work, funny how that works.

Building on the Arnold film that mikef6 set the stage for with Terminator Genisys, I watched Eraser and the 6th Day (both on Netflix).



Eraser (1996) - Fun film, starts out with a bang. James Caan and James Coburn make welcome supporting cast members. There is enough suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat. One of Arnold's better roles in the late '90s.



The 6th Day (2000) - An interesting take on cloning, I remember this was very controversial at the time (probably still is but not a hot topic right now). The film brings up Dolly the Sheep being cloned at the beginning. Has a decent enough twist although I saw it coming pretty early on. Robert Duvall is probably one of the best things about this film even though his character doesn't appear an awful lot. The action is good and has some semi funny moments when the bad guy clones keep getting regenerated but feel their previous injuries that led tho their death.



Canadian Pacific (1949)

Fun Western about the extension of the railroad into British Columbia in the 19th century. Scott plays a land surveyor who is held in high esteem by the work crews as well as the railroad bosses. He has a love interest in the form of Nancy Olson who plays a very headstrong and independent woman whose father is part of a scheme to prevent the railroad from being built. Eventually the conspirators convince the Native Americans to take part in attacking the railroad which ends with an interesting "surround the wagon" type of scenario, although in the form of a hospital railroad car. The film was shot in an interesting early color format called "cinecolor". It was apparently a cheaper alternative to Technicolor (2 and 3 strip) and the original elements were in very poor condition. The restoration team did an excellent job and the colors pop (reds/blues).



Cariboo Trail (1950)

Continuing my Scott Westerns, this film was another one done in British Columbia in the Cinecolor process. The restoration team did another admirable job and the location shots are beautifully rendered in color. In this film, Scott and a friend along with a Chinese American who is the chuck wagon driver are heading to B.C. from Montana during a gold rush but Scott also is attempting to bring a herd of cattle in search of pristine cattle grazing ground (which is apparently unprecedented in the territory). Scott and his partners run afoul of the local city "boss" who runs a toll bridge over a small creek. Scott causes a cattle stampede as he refuses to pay the ridiculous toll which gives them access across the creek. Later that night, the same folks that were running the toll bridge cause a stampede which causes Scott's friend to lose his arm and their horses and chuckwagon (as well as their cattle). Scott runs across an old timer who is a gold prospector and he joins the group. Scott continues to run afoul of the town boss once he arrives and only finds help with the local saloon/restaurant owner. Eventually Scott finds gold and some pristine cattle ground. The old timer he befriended earlier in the film brings his sister in law and her cattle up from Montana and they all have an epic fight with Native Americans along with the town boss. Another fun short Western in one of the beautiful early color processes.



Hornet's Nest (1970)

An interesting and forgotten WW2 film done mostly with an Italian cast, Rock Hudson has orders to blow up a dam that is crucial to the German war effort in Italy. HIs entire team is killed as a captured partisan tells the Nazis where the drop zone will be. The partisans that the American team was supposed to meet up with is also killed, as well as entire Italian village minus a handful of kids hiding out in a nearby cave. The kids rescue Rock Hudson who was knocked out when fell into a tree. Eventually the Italian youth coerce an Italian doctor (played by Sylva Koscina of some early sword and sandal films) to help heal Rock Hudson. Eventually Rock Hudson re-obtains dynamite that was captured by the Germans during the botched paratroop drop and also teaches the kids (reluctantly at first) to help him in his mission which is opposed by the doctor. The film has some very intense moments, and Rock Hudson in particular does a wonderful job. I'm surprised this film isn't more well known, as it is a very good WW2 "mission" type film.

Watched 'A Streetcar Named Desire' yesterday. Brando is unbelievable.

THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1923) 95TH ANNIVERSARY. Lon Chaney's first monster film and Universal's second (counting DR. JEKYLL AND MR HYDE in 1913). Although it changes much of Hugo's novel- Claude Frollo and Phoebus get cleaned up- it is the only adaptation to deal with Esmeralda's origins. First saw this on my local PBS- WQLN channel with an early soundtrack (with a very eerie soundtrack of a squeaking bell for the ending). This is the Image DVD version.

A WEDDING (1978) 40TH ANNIVERSARY this week. Robert Altman's funny satire on weddings. I wonder if Lillian Gish's child-like appearance (long hair and white gown) was a knock on her old friend Mary Pickford (the retired and vain actress criticized Gish about continuing her career after middle age, saying actresses should stop acting when they look old). First saw this on FoxMovie Channel. This film and FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL were my gift package for a Chinese auction at my sister's Stag-and-Drag. FoxVideo DVD.

JEZEBEL (1938) 80TH ANNIVERSARY this year. Bette Davis' award-winning Southern Belle drama. First interested in this one from BOB DORIAN'S CLASSIC MOVIES: BEHIND THE SCENES OF 100 GREAT MOVIES FROM HOLLYWOOD'S GOLDEN YEARS book (which appears to be his scripts for his American Movie Classics film introductions, although he never got to JEZEBEL). First time seeing it was turned off by the ending. Later viewings have changed my mind about the conclusion. Warner DVD.

THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE (1968) 50TH ANNIVERSARY this week. Tony Richardson's scathing Military politics film of the Crimea War. First saw clips of this film from the "Balakavia" episode from The Learning Channel's BATTLES THAT CHANGED THE WORLD docu series (with shots of John Gielgud's Raglan and spoilers of David Hemmings' Nolan). The highlight is the Richard Williams' PUNCH magazine woodcut animation scenes. This is the edited version from MGM/UA DVD.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN (2011) "The Infiltrator" Viz Media DVD.

MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 (1993) 25TH ANNIVERSARY. "The Truck Farmer/I Accuse My Parents" Another favorite in the Fifth Season, a highlight being the gang's constant ribs at main character Jimmy's tendency to lie, as well as his drunk mother and other things ("Eleanor Roosevelt's pissed!"). Shout Factory DVD.

HAPPY VALLEY (2014) Episode 6. Amazon Prime.

THE LAST KINGDOM (2015) Episode 1. Netflix.

THE LODGER (1944) Continuing my viewings of Ripper films in view of the 130th Anniversary of the Whitechapel murders. For Annie Chapman's death day I viewed 20th Century Fox's version of THE LODGER with Laird Cregar. Another entry in BOB DORIAN'S CLASSIC MOVIES book. I initially saw parts of it on Cinemax. Much later, inspired by Gregory Mank's HOLLYWOOD CAULDRON, I bought the FOX HORROR CLASSICS COLLECTION DVD. FoxVideo DVD.

THE MAN IN THE ATTIC: THE MAKING OF THE LODGER (2010). Documentary on the film with interviews by Kim Newman, Stephen Jones, and Gregory Mank. From THE LODGER DVD.

DRAGON BALL SUPER (2017) "Even the Universes' Gods Are Appalled?! The Lose-And-Perish Tournament of Power!" English Dub premiere, viewed on its Cartoon Network broadcast last Saturday Night.

Dinner for One has been aired here every New Year's Eve, for decades already. It is what we consider to be British Humour at its best. Although I've watched it countless times, it still makes me laugh out loud. 

One new one, three re-watches:

Love, Simon (2018)--If they can make a teen romantic comedy this witty and sensitive and intelligent, how come so many
romantic comedies for adults are so dopey? Maybe the makers of this film can get to work on that. This is recommended for all ages.

Tampopo (1985)--A film about ramen noodles. But it's so much more. It's also a great comedy, besides being about life, food, sex, death, and trying your best. Also demonstrates the most fun you can have with an egg yolk.

One Wonderful Sunday(1947)--a down-on-their luck couple tries to make the best of their situation in post-war Japan. Sweet and sentimental and beautiful to watch.

Young Man with a Horn--one of Michael Curtiz's best dramas (which is saying a lot) about a tormented trumpet player
(inspired by the tragic story of Bix Beiderbecke). Kirk Douglas is great, Doris Day is more serious than perky (and gets to sing a number or two) and Lauren Bacall is calculating and sinister. And any movie with Hoagy Carmichael playin' the piano can't be
bad. Plus there's this:

Bacall: Call me sometime.
Douglas: Call ya what?