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Post by wmcclain on Mar 20, 2021 14:43:56 GMT
Your comments/ratings/recommendations/film posters are welcome and much appreciated! The title says "classics" but we are always interested to know what classic film lovers have been watching, whatever the material.  |
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Post by mikef6 on Mar 20, 2021 14:56:35 GMT
Master Will Shakespeare / Jacques Tourneur (1936). 15-minute MGM short film from Tourneur (“Out Of The Past”) in his earliest years in Hollywood. A narrator moves quickly through Shakespeare’s early life in Stratford and then London using some incidents from the Shakespeare mythos (his first job in the theatre was holding the horses outside the playhouse) in addition to just making a lot of stuff up. After a quick run-though of his London experiences with scenes acted out between Will (Anthony Kemble-Cooper) and his friends like Ben Jonson. At last we see the Bard being melancholy, sipping wine while gazing into a fireplace, reflecting on the favorite of his plays, “Romeo and Juliet.” At this point, I knew where this short piece was headed. 1936 was the year that MGM released its prestige production of that play with Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer as the star-crossed lovers. I was not wrong. It is an extended trailer designed to deceive. An interesting curiosity but with no real value other than nostalgia for the film making of another time.   Point Of No Return / John Badham (1993). Based on a French film by Luc Besson (Besson gets a writing credit on this one), it is one of the first of the female assassin sub-genre that is still alive but ailing today (Hannah, Colombiana, Anna, Ava). Maggie (Bridget Fonda) kills a cop during a robbery for drugs. She is sentenced to death, but after the execution, she wakes up to find that a secret government organization has chosen her to train as a expert killer. She rebels at first but finally, under the guidance of Bob (Gabriel Byrne) and Amanda (Ann Bancroft), she finally trains and passes. But when she gets out into the world and meets a sensitive young man (Delmot Mulroney), she begins to hate the idea of taking lives. There is an action finale that seems to go on and on, yet overall this is a good and successful film that makes you actually root for the lead murderer.    Jung On Zo (Crime Story) / Kirk Wong & Jackie Chan (1993). High-octane Hong Kong actioner with a young Jackie Chan as a police detective trying to at first prevent a kidnapping and afterward get the victim back alive while collaring the crooks. He is unknowingly hampered because his immediate superior cop is the mastermind of the kidnap-ransom scheme. Great for fans Jackie Chan and/or fast moving crime films.    D.O.A. – Dead Or Alive / Corey Yuen (2006). Three women, all martial arts experts in different styles, receive special invitations to an exclusive contest on an secret island. While this sounds like the set-up to “Enter The Dragon,” the results are far from it. On the island, they meet another woman, the daughter of the founder of the tournament. They all must fight each other and also male opponents for a one million dollar prize. The first two thirds of the movie has only brief encounters, mainly to set up the main characters. The rest of the time is spent down on the beach and in the women’s bedrooms. Lot of bikini (and other skimpy clothes) wearing and volleyball playing, yet no real nudity (rated PG-13). It is like a ‘60s beach party movie with Frankie, Annette, and martial arts action. The last third shifts to a ‘90s direct-to-video mad-scientist-wants-to-take-over-the-world-with-only-seconds-left-to-stop-him thriller. It is all very silly. The four leading ladies are played by Jaime Pressly, Devon Aoki, Holly Valance, and Sarah Carter. And speaking of ‘90s Bad Guys, we have Eric Roberts on hand. I gotta say, for 50-year-old man he looks in great physical condition. Glad he is doing well. Don’t know whether to recommend this movie or not. It is certainly a hoot but light as a feather, all empty calories.   
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Post by wmcclain on Mar 20, 2021 15:25:28 GMT
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Post by Bella on Mar 20, 2021 15:37:40 GMT
Rififi 1955 - 9/10
Deception (1946) - 8/10
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Post by teleadm on Mar 20, 2021 19:21:21 GMT
Here is the Tele mix of zombies and tea.  World War Z 2013 directed by Marc Forster and based on a book Max Brooks. It somehow got it right, a pandemic can spread quicker than a politician can react. As it is it's a popcorn movie, that I had trouble getting involved into, fast editing and yelling cgi, so as usual I was not the target audience. Yet still the last 45 minutes were good and exiting, can't deny that. That was the Zombie movie.  The Ghost Writer 2010 directed by Roman Polanski and based on a novel by Robert Harris. Maybe a bit slow for some, but I liked the creepy feeling of this movie, as if danger hangs around everywhere. A populistic British PM might have had a darker agenda, that should't be revealed, only the good thing should be told in an autobiography, and don't scratch the surface. Some really great icy acting here with a wonderful cast.  Bisturi, la mafia bianca aka Secrets of a Nurse 1973 directed by Luigi Zampa. There are no secrets of any nurse here, and there is no mafia involved. I would have leaved this movie stone cold if it wasn't for a tour-de-force performance by Italian actor Gabriele Ferzetti (Draco from James Bond) as a lying and easy bribed of un-tested medications celebrated professor and surgeon who pretends he cares for the poor, and what actions he will do to keep being a celebrity, at the cost of others lives, and always someone else to blame. Beautiful Senta Berger is the Nurse, a Nurse Nun, but she adds nothing to the story, I wish it did but nothing happens. Nothing you haven't seen on any daily Hospital Soap Opera once a week.   The Chalk Garden 1964 directed by Ronald Neame and based on a play by Enid Bagnold. This has been on my watch list for years, but the recent Hayley Mills thread finally kicked my butt so I actually watched it. Surprised that Ross Hunter produced it, since it doesn't seem to be in his world of gloss and gowns soaps. It might be a bit talky, but one get's it as one tags along, with Deborah (my darling), John Mills, and Edith Evans (more versatile than I have ever seen her) and offcourse Hayley it's not a bad ride if one have patience. Many thanks to wickedkittiesmom to making me at last watch this movie!  Hot Enough for June aka Agent 8 3/4 1964, directed by Ralph Thomas and based on a novel by Lionel Davidson. It's a lighthearted spy romp that you can either take or leave, not perfect but I enjoyed it. Dirk plays a naive writer who travels to Czechoslovakia to look at a glass factory, little knowing he is a spy courier. While Dirk had showed his acting abilities elsewhere, he still needed a few of these movies too to pay the bills. Zagreb-born actress Sylvia Koscina who plays the female lead, they appear in a few international movies, and are then forgotten, yet they had long careers in movies we have never heard of. Robert Morley and Leo McKern adds some weight, not just in body weight!  The Bohemian Girl 1936 directed by James W Horne and Charley Rogers and based on an opera by Michael William Balfe (who passed away in 1870). Funny how a few pictures and a few random scenes can rewake a memory of old matinee visits that I had apparently forgotten and thinking "I've seen that before" but were? Watching this movie was like childhood over again, and it's been over 50 years. Didn't care much about the musical numbers. Thelma Todd was the third name in the cast bit her "mysterious death" explains why she is hardly seen. For anyone who gets moral panic easy, the Roma's are called gypsies and makes money stealing, it's an old tale!  The Bitter Tea of General Yen 1932 directed by Frank Capra and based on a story by Grace Zaring Stone. Another one for the easy moral panickers A damn good drama of sexual attraction over the once forbidden boundaries. Taking place in a China before "Made in China". Stanwyck is great as is Walter Connolly as a corrupt business man sucking the riches out of China and pays a corrupt warlord to stay in power to enrich himself. Fellow Swede Nils Asther, and his most memorable role was playing a Chinese warlord! I've hardly seen him in anything I just knew he was once famous.  Well that was my Week! |
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Post by timshelboy on Mar 20, 2021 20:00:40 GMT
Here is the Tele mix of zombies and tea. The Ghost Writer 2010 directed by Roman Polanski and based on a novel by Robert Harris. Maybe a bit slow for some, but I liked the creepy feeling of this movie, as if danger hangs around everywhere. A populistic British PM might have had a darker agenda, that should't be revealed, only the good thing should be told in an autobiography, and don't scratch the surface. Some really great icy acting here with a wonderful cast. The Bitter Tea of General Yen 1932 directed by Frank Capra and based on a story by Grace Zaring Stone. Another one for the easy moral panickers A damn good drama of sexual attraction over the once forbidden boundaries. Taking place in a China before "Made in China". Stanwyck is great as is Walter Connolly as a corrupt business man sucking the riches out of China and pays a corrupt warlord to stay in power to enrich himself. Fellow Swede Nils Asther, and his most memorable role was playing a Chinese warlord! I've hardly seen him in anything I just knew he was once famous. Well that was my Week! Glad you liked both of these Tele - two great favourites The rape fantasy alone in GENERAL YEN could tie up a sexual politics and cinema course for a whole term... land General Yen is considerate enough to move the firing squad executions so they won't disturb her breakfast - Now that;s what I call love.! Since viewing it I make a point to catch anything with Asther in it.  I too liked the mounting dread aspect of GHOST WRITER - Polanski's area of expertise - Olivia Williams an absolute revelation as The Cherie Blair character - Scary! Plus Eli Wallach's lovely bit.
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Post by OldAussie on Mar 20, 2021 21:43:10 GMT
Just one series -  3 seasons, 12 episodes. A quick google search revealed some surprising historical accuracy! |
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Post by politicidal on Mar 20, 2021 23:14:13 GMT
The Sheepman (1958) 7/10
Schizoid (1980) 4/10
Walk Into Hell (1957) 5/10
Duel on the Mississippi (1955) 7/10
Howards End (1992) 8/10
The Fountain (2006) 6/10
The Warrior's Way (2011) 5/10
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1959) 4/10
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Post by claudius on Mar 21, 2021 7:13:56 GMT
Sunday 14
HARD LUCK (1921) 100TH ANNIVERSARY Spurned by his girl, Buster attempts suicide…with middling results, and then involves himself in fighting cowboys. Almost restored silent (restored by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill with Thames font, although no Carl Davis score), its missing scenes substituted with stills. First saw this one during the Keaton Centennial marathon on American Movie Classics in October 1995. Kino Lorber DVD.
ELLEN (1996) “A Penney Saved…” 25TH ANNIVERSARY this month. A & E Video DVD.
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION (1995) “The Beginning of the End or Knocking on Heaven’s Door” 25TH ANNIVERSARY this month. Asuka is now comatose and Rei’s identity revealed, Shinji is at the breaking point…until he meets a new kid. Of course, this being Evangelion, you know such comfort is going to be brief. Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” makes an appearance. Japanese with English Subtitles. ADV Video DVD.
THE 60ND ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS (1988) Hosted by Chevy Chase, with the majority of awards going to THE LAST EMPEROR (1987) although Cher and Sean Connery get their Oscars, with tributes to Billy Wilder. Initially I thought the music numbers were somehow edited out, but then it turns out this special combined them to one grouping (with intros by Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli). Betamax Recording of its ABC Broadcast 1988.
LONESOME DOVE (1989) “Part I: Leaving” TV-Miniseries based on Larry McCurty’s Novel, starring Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones, Diane Lane, Ricky Schroder, Robert Urich, and Danny Glover. Known about this series for years. Got the VHS (on one EP VHS) for Christmas 1994, but despite plans on watching it (even watching a Making-of-video from Cabin Fever) I didn’t get past the first ten minutes. This is the first time I’m watching an entire part, from a VHS Recording of its premiere CBS Broadcast (with Peter Cullen-narrated intro) February 5 1989.
Monday 15
DARK SHADOWS (1971) “Episode 1231” 50TH ANNIVERSARY The Curse of the Room and the Lottery is revealed in flashback. Louis Edmonds (Roger Collins, Joshua Collins of 1897, and Edward Collins of 1897) appears as Brutus Collins. MPI Video DVD.
MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM WING (1996) “Collision in Space” 25TH ANNIVERSARY The Eve War Begins. Japanese with English Subtitles. Bandai DVD.
THE YOUNG PHILADELPHIANS (1959) Paul Newman plays an up-and-coming Lawyer dealing with the social ups-and-downs. Also starring Barbara Rush, Brian Keith, Robert Vaughn, Billie Burke, and Adam West in a small early cameo. VHS Recording of a WGN Broadcast on February 1989 on the same night of LONESOME DOVE.
12 ANGRY MEN (1957) Sidney Lumet’s Courtroom drama starring Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Jack Klugman, Jack Warden, and Ed Begley Jr. There is a momentary edit in the video: at one point (just before Klugman changes his vote) there is a dissolve to black. CBSFox Video VHS.
CELEBRITY VJ (1985) Billy Crystal presents several MTV Music Videos while at the Chaplin Studios. Sting’s “Set Me Free”, John Fogerty’s “Centerfield”, Aretha Franklin’s “Freeway of Love”, Hall & Oates’ “Possession Obsession”, The Cars “All I Want Is You”, Thomas Dolby’s “Hysteria”, Bob Dylan’s “Tight Connection to My Heart”, etc.
Tuesday 16
DARK SHADOWS (1971) “Episode 1232” 50TH ANNIVERSARY MPI Video DVD.
THE ABSENT MINDED PROFESSOR (1961) 60TH ANNIVERSARY Disney’s comedy of a distracted genius (Fred MacMurray) creating a flotation subject called Flubber. My first known memory of this film was the climax on the Disney Channel in the 1980s. Disney DVD.
Wednesday 17
DARK SHADOWS (1971) “Episode 1233” 50TH ANNIVERSARY MPI Video DVD.
THE TRAPP FAMILY STORY (1991) “A Violin and the Sewing Machine” 30TH ANNIVERSARY Japanese with English Subtitles. Bootleg DVD.
THE FLINTSTONES (1961) “In the Dough” 60TH ANNIVERSARY Warner DVD.
ELIZABETH R (1971) “The Enterprise of England” 50TH ANNIVERSARY Like “The Marriage Game” this episode (written by John Prebble) starts immediately after “Horrible Conspiracies” as the aged Philip II (Peter Jeffrey) receives news of the Queen of Scots’ execution, leading to military consequences. This episode covers the Armada storyline, although the focus is limited to interior scenes of the English court and Philip’s chamber. Returning are Donald Hines’ Lord Burghley (the play comments about his role in the Mary Stuart execution, despite his absence from the previous episode) and Robert Hardy’s Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester. Presented here are John Woodvine’s Francis Drake, Michael Culver as John Tregannon (presenting exposition on the battle), and introducing Robin Ellis as the Earl of Essex. Unlike other films (FIRE OVER ENGLAND, THE GOLDEN AGE, and ELIZABETH I), the episode-play doesn’t glorify Elizabeth. The Tilbury Speech isn’t portrayed as the inspired sequence of other films. Elizabeth is too lost in the glory of victory to care about the wounded and dying of her subjects who had fought for her. Her sails go down, however, when she learns dark news. The five endings of this TV-Play so far show a change in tone. “The Lion’s Cub” ends with a joyous Elizabeth delighted in her ascension. “The Marriage Game” ends with a happy carriage ride with her Robert. “The Shadow of the Sun” ends with a saddened but wiser Elizabeth shrugging the unfaithful Robert, resolved to live her own life. “Horrible Conspiracies” ends with her agonized feelings over the execution of her cousin Mary Stuart. Here, the Queen breaks down over her lost Robert. Wouldn’t take much to predict what the end of the final episode will be like. Warner/BBC Video DVD.
Thursday 18
DARK SHADOWS (1971) “Episode 1234” 50TH ANNIVERSARY MPI Video DVD.
LONESOME DOVE (1989) “Part II: On The Trail” I did see part of this episode one time in the 10s. VHS Recording of Premiere CBS Broadcast (with Peter Cullen-narrated intro) February 6 1989.
DINER (1982) Barry Levison’s slice of life story of a bunch of 20-something friends (rising actors Tim Daly, Daniel Stern, Steve Guttenberg, Kevin Bacon, Mickey Rourke, and Paul Reiser) dealing with adult life on Christmas week 1959. My main knowledge of this film came from a family possession of an MGM/UA VHS (back when their VHS releases were big silver-leaf book covers). Warner DVD.
Friday 19
DARK SHADOWS (1971) “Episode 1235” 50TH ANNIVERSARY Kate Jackson departs from the series, her character Daphne dying from one of those Old Movie diseases that retains one’s beauty at expiration (Kate will return for NIGHT OF DARK SHADOWS). MPI Video DVD.
LONESOME DOVE (1989) “Part 3: The Plains” VHS Recording of Premiere CBS Broadcast (with Peter Cullen-narratted intro) February 7 1989.
Saturday 20
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION (1996) “Do You Love Me?” 25TH ANNIVERSARY Hideako Anno climaxes the series by dropping the narrative (although there are several scene revealing some character’s fates) and dealing with a two-parter psychological studies on Shinji, Asuka, Rei, and Misato. Japanese with English Subtitles. ADV DVD.
AMAZING STORIES (1985) “Mummy Daddy” Mummy Actor, learning his wife is going into labor, tries to make a long distance to the hospital, causing panic along the way. I remember seeing this on its original broadcast. VHS Recording of its NBC Broadcast 1985.
WANTED: DEAD OF ALIVE (1959) “The Healing Woman” VHS Recording of a USA Network Broadcast 1985.
Saw Parts of:
THE 55TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS (1983) Hosted by Dudley Moore, Liza Minelli, Richard Pryor. This Betamax Recording only has the last hour, with a Best Picture spotlight on ET: THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL and GHANDI sweeping the Oscars.
MOVIE TIME (1988) Coverage of the 60th Academy Awards, with momentary interviews on stars like Jon Voight (with pre-teen Angelina). Betamax Recording of Broadcast.
GIRL SHY (1924) The final pursuit sequence to keep his girl from marrying the wrong man. Thames Silents version with Jim Parker score. Thames/HBO Video VHS.
AT THE MOVIES (1989) Siskel and Ebert review THREE FUGITIVES, KUNJITE: FORBIDDEN SUBJECTS, and the Restored Cut of LAWRENCE OF ARABIA. VHS Recording of a Broadcast 1989.
USA TODAY (1989) An Interview with actor Matthew Laurence. VHS Recording of a Broadcast 1989.
LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN (1983) “Jack Paur, Linda Ronstadt” Betamax Recording of an NBC Broadcast.
MIAMI VICE (1985) “The Dutch Oven” Betamax Recording of an NBC Broadcast October 1985.
FRIDAY NIGHT VIDEOS (1985) MIAMI VICE’S Philip Michael Thomas hosts this episode, with videos like “That’s What Friends Are For”, Tears For Fears “Head Over Heels” Betamax Recording of NBC Broadcast October 1985.
HERE’S SHOWBIZ (1985) Betamax Recording of CNN Broadcast November 1985.
MTV CELEBRITY VJ (1985) Martin Short hosts to “Corey Hart’s “Never Surrender”, Billy Crystal’s “You Look Marvelous”, Spinal Tap’s “Hell Hole” Northern Lights’ “Tears Are Not Enough.” Betamax Recording of MTV Broadcast 1985.
LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN IN TOKYO (1985) “Kenny Rogers, Calvert DeForest, Randy Bass” Betamax Recording of NBC Broadcast November 1985.
FRIDAY THE 13TH PART VIII: JASON TAKES MANHATTAN (1989) Paramount Betamax.
THE TONIGHT SHOW (1990) “Jonathan Winters, Randy Travis” Betamax Recording of NBC Broadcast March 1990.
HILL STREET BLUES (1986) “The Virgin and the Turkey” Betamax Recording of a WGN Broadcast 1990.
A CURRENT AFFAIR (1990) Michelle Pfeiffer Interview (sourced from a British interview) Betamax Recording of NBC Broadcast 1990.
The following came from a Betamax Recording of a Discovery Channel Broadcast 1990.
-GREAT CHEFS OF THE WEST (1990)
-PASQUALES’ CHEF EXPRESS (1990)
-RENDEZVOUS (1990)
-THE GREAT ESCAPE (1990) No, it’s neither version of that film, it’s a program on vacation attractions.
THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII (1985) The final Volcano climax, and some earlier scenes. Columbia TriStar DVD.
ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS (1985) “The Final Escape” VHS Recording of its NBC Broadcast 1985.
SHADOW OF A DOUBT (1943) VHS Recording of WGN Broadcast 1985.
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Post by Chalice_Of_Evil on Mar 21, 2021 9:55:00 GMT
Apologies for the belatedness of my reply, but the reason for the delay is that I lost most of the collage I'd put together for one of the movies I'd watched (and it was the longest of the collages too - ie. the one with the most pics & GIFs in it), so I had to start again from scratch. Consequently, some pics/GIFs I originally included are now missing because, try as I might, I just could not track them down again/find them anywhere. Anyway, these are the movies I watched in the past week... Star Trek: Generations (1994). Colette (2018). Bring It On (2000). The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018). |
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Post by Lebowskidoo 🎄😷🎄 on Mar 23, 2021 1:40:07 GMT
A Dark Place (2018)  The Tiger Hunter (2016)  The Art of Racing in the Rain (2019)  A Dog Year (2009 TVM)  A Dog's Way Home (2019) .jpg) A Dog's Journey (2019)  The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019)  Come Play (2020)  Spiral (2019)  Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)  Raw (2016)  Wrong Turn (2021)  Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959) 
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