What classics did you see last week, August 28 to Sept 3?

First viewings:

Tokyo Story (1953):
The final film in Yasujiro Ozu’s “Noriko” trilogy, it’s my third Ozu film, and it’s a great one. Some consider it his masterpiece. After I see more, I will probably agree. Highly recommended.



Ugetsu (1953):
My first Kenji Mizoguchi film, and it’s a disturbing beauty. Highly recommended.



The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog (1927):
The first true Hitchcock suspense thriller that foreshadows all to come from the master of suspense. Recommended for its historical significance.



Zero for Conduct (Zéro de conduite) (1933):
Young director (age 27) Jean Vigo’s 45 minute film, made before his feature film masterpiece, L’Atlante (1934), is a must-see for its unique cinematic qualities and historical significance, particularly to the French New Wave. Great cinematography by Boris Kaufman, who later shot On the Waterfront.



Falling Leaves (1912):
An 11 minute short based upon an O. Henry story. Directed by Alice Guy aka Guy-Blache, the first female filmmaker, who directed her first film in 1896!  She wrote, produced, and directed hundreds of films (now mostly lost) until around 1920. Available on Netflix: Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers.



A House Divided (1913):
Another Alice Guy short (13 min.) which showcases her use of humor.  It's filled with gags that would become prevalent in comedies to come. Also available on Netflix: Pioneers: First Women Filmmakers.



Rewatches:

Broadcast News (1987):
Director James L. Brooks’ very smart, entertaining film. Nominated for 7 Oscars — Best Picture, Actor (William Hurt), Actress (Holly Hunter), Supporting Actor (Albert Brooks), Screenplay (James L. Brooks), Editing, and Cinematography. Highly recommended.



The Blob (1958):
I saw this early Steve McQueen film as a kid and loved it then, and I really enjoyed seeing it again. Not a very good film, but it’s worth a look for McQueen fans and for those who enjoy the genre.



I Love You Again (1940):
One of the Powell/Loy pairings that’s an absolute delight. A must see for all their fans.



State Fair (1945):
An old-fashioned, entertaining film with wonderful Rogers and Hammerstein music. Worth a look for that alone.

How 'bout Mystery Street?

First Viewings: 

Kimi (2022) 7/10

A Call to Spy (2019) 5/10

Last Looks (2021) 6/10

Whipsaw (1935) 4/10

Coogan's Bluff (1968) 5/10

The New Centurions (1972) 7/10

Scream 3 (2000) 6/10

Confidence (2003) 7/10

Repeat Viewings: 

The Mummy (1999) 10/10

Here is what Tele have seen lately, some olde some can't remember and some new....


Thought Hollywood consisted of Studios and office buildings, but apparently once there was a candy bar factory. most likely defunct by now, and I have never heard of Mr Zero. 

Over to the movies:


Whip it! 2009 directed by Drew Barrymore
There is no reason a movie about a young girl fed up with beauty pageants finds a thrill joining Roller Derby's, could be interesting or even entertaining, but strangely it was.
Maybe I should have taken this sport more seriously and I might have understood Rollerball 1975 better.
Not great, but I liked that it had a satirical edge against conventions.


Five Minutes of Heaven 2009 directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel.
Belfast 1970's an eye for an eye, tit for tat was the rule and it's time for a catholic to kill a protestant, and do just that, but there was a witness.
25 years later the killer and the witness is supposed to appear on a "Forgive Me"-like TV show, but one of them bails out since he can't face the other.
Not bad little drama, before Liam do anything for a paycheck, it might not be so, but feels like it.
The Five minutes of heaven is what the witness wants, but can's face it.


Cry, The Beloved Country 1995 directed by Darrell Roodt and based on a novel by Alan Paton.
The beloved country is South Africa and the time was 1946, when a poor priest's son murders/kills a rich landowner's son. They live near each others, but the killing takes place in far away Johannesburg, and they are both estranged from their sons, and they might have more in common than meets the eye.'
Neither bad or good, but could have been better.
Thanks to stryker I got a little insight!


The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie 1969 directed by Ronald Neame, and based on a play by Jay Presson Allen based on a novel by Muriel Spark.
Probably one of the top ten I've seen this year. I've seen it before but I must have been too immature to get it.
An all girls school 1932 Edinburgh, a teacher, in her prime according to herself, teaches young girls about life, but what she teaches is doubtful, though with good intentions, embracing Il Duce in Italy and the emerging Franco in Spain.
On the surface this is a rather thin story, but scratching the surface, it has many layers.
Maggie Smith won an Oscar as the titular Jean and Rod McKuen was Oscar nominated for the song "Jean".
Maggie is just great as the teacher who in her own mind teaches what is good, but will turn out to be very wrong and at least in once case very dangerous. Great too is Pamela Franklin as a dependable pupil, that dared having her own mind, and Celia Johnson as the Headmistress of the School.
Read some complaints that the non-Scottish actors talked too theatrical Scottish, I say Thank you very much or I wouldn't have understood a word.


Il cappotto aka The Overcoat 1952 directed by Alberto Lattuada and based on a story by Nicolai Gogol.
Northern cold Italy, a small mousy city hall clerk in a town run by a corrupt Mayor, has one dream, to be able to buy a fancy overcoat, and if he wear that overcot he thinks he would finally be treated differently. Using his life saving to get that overcoat (and it really looks smashing) he is treated differently, suddenly he is someone, but this short happiness soon turns sore when the coat is stolen.
Social satire, neo-realism and a bit surrealism.
Renato Rascel certainly has the right look to play a mousy city clerk that has been pushed around all his life, but his Chaplinesque acting style got on my nerves.
Not bad but could have needed a firmer hand.

Rascel besides acting was also a songwriter and his most famous song is still the third best known Italian song worldwide, here sung by himself, a bit different than when opera singers do it.



Lovely to Look At 1952 directed by Mervyn LeRoy based on a Broadway play with Jerome Kern Songs called Roberta, that was based on a novel by Alice Duer Miller.
It's like opening a box of fancy chocolates, they all looks intimidating but only a few tasted good, that's a bit like this felt after watching it. It doesn't have that moment or moments to make it memorable. Though the melodies are great, after all they were written by Jerome Kern for heavens sake.
It's the old warhorse let's put on a show story, here moved to a French fashion house that someone of the lead characters have inherited and must save from bankruptcy.
There is a constant joke about a malfunctioning private elevator that wasn't even fun in the first scene but returns many times.
Apparently MGM who made this movie, bought all rights to the earlier version called Roberta 1935 from RKO starring Irene Dunne and Astaire Rogers, to keep it out of circulation, until the-mid 1970's.


Sitting Pretty 1948 directed by Walter Land and based on the novel "Belvedere" by Gwen Davenport.
Married couple (Robert Young and Maureen O'Hara) are in constant need of someone to take care of their three obstinate kids, by mistake hires a male nanny (Clifton Webb) who seems to know everything, and indeed can take care of the kids.
Very amusing take on post-WWII suburbs and a bit of satire against nosy neighbours mentality. The male nanny might have another reason or agenda than just being a nanny, we will find out near the end.



Until next week!

28
THE FROZEN NORTH (1922) 100TH ANNIVERSARY Buster Keaton lampoons William S Hart as an antihero in the North with a little of Stroheim (Hart wasn’t too pleased; Stroheim was). Like the majority of Keaton’s films I was introduced to the short during American Movie Classics’ Marathon during the Keaton Centennial in October 1995. Kino DVD.

THE REN & STIMPY SHOW (1992) “In The Army,” “Ren’s Toothache,” “Powdered Toast Man” 30TH ANNIVERSARY this month. The second season of R & S premiered away from the other Nicktoons and scheduled as part of a Saturday Night program called SNICK alongside CLARISSA EXPLAINS IT ALL, the Improv ROUNDHOUSE, and ARE YOU AFRAID IF THE DARK? Among the highlight was Gary Owens’ Powdered Toast Man telling the Pope (Frank Zappa mugging) to “Cling Tenaciously to my buttocks!” I was hoping for more episodes, but I should have known better. For this viewing I had originally intended to do a 30TH Anniversary of the Snick foursome, but didn’t have access to several of the episodes short of buying the discs. Paramount DVD.

THE 300 SPARTANS (1962) 60TH ANNIVERSARY Historical epic on the Thermopylae standoff between Sparta and the Persians. Starring Richard Egan, Diane Baker, David Farrar and Ralph Richardson. First saw this on American Movie Classics in July 1992. I recall the ending was source material to a scene in WHOLLY MOSES! Amazon Prime.

29
30TH ANNIVERSARY of
-MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 (1992) “The Magic Sword” Joel and the Bots handle Bert I. Gordon's Middle Ages Fantasy. Based on the Legend of St. George and the Dragon, with the exception of a few instances of religious power, the film is rather secular; raised by a witch (Estelle Winwood, whom Crow takes a liking to), romantic George (Gary Lockwood) sets out to prevent Sorcerer Lodac (Basil Rathbone) from fulfilling his revenge promise to feed the Princess Elaine to his dragon. Another MST3K classic- although they admit on screen and text that this is a better film then they imagined being written, special-effected, and directed by Bert. I Gordon (I admit being inspired to make a sword out of a wooden fence bar, and making a tunic out of paper bags, crayon-drawn in the purple with Red Cross design of this film in 1992-93). Highlights include a medieval pageant ruined by Tom Servo’s historically cynical lectures of the period, and Crow’s Ode to Estelle Winwood (I wonder what Basil would have thought about the sketch where his name is used as a doggie snack). I couldn’t find a YouTube VHS presentation of the original broadcast, so I viewed one from its repeat performance in November 14 1992. I recall watching that repeat, which was followed by my intro to Episode 11 of MONTY PYTHONS FLYING CIRCUS (“The Royal Philharmonic Goes to the Bathroom”).

-PRETTY SOLDIER SAILOR MOON (1992) “Naru’s Tears! Nephrite Dies for Love!“ Nephrite uses Naru to draw out Usagi exposing her identity as Sailor Moon. However, Zoisite kidnaps Naru, causing Nephrite to realize he does care about her, leading to the entitled fate. Thus ends the Nephrite Arc. Japanese with English Subtitles. ADV DVD.

-THE REN & STIMPY SHOW (1992) “Go West/ Rubber Nipple Salesman” The last episode broadcast during the John Kricfalusi era. This would follow a string of repeats. Paramount DVD.

THE SLAYERS TRY (1997) “Eternal Death, Final Farewells! A Cry to the Fallen” 25TH ANNIVERSARY The battle for the final Dark Star Weapon begins with massive casualties. The otherworldly Eurologus and Sirius annihilate pretty much the entire Golden Dragon force, leaving only the Supreme Elder and Filia (who sees her sensei as a liar and hypocrite). Almayce gets killed. Lina gets the final weapon Valgayra, shaped like a bow. Xellos steals it. Japanese with English Subtitles. Software Sculptors DVD.

30
TERROR IN THE MIDWAY (1942) 80TH ANNIVERSARY The ninth Fliescher SUPERMAN Cartoon (and the last by the Flieschers) deals with a giant gorilla terrorizing a Circus. Like the others, I first saw this on the Disney Channel in 1988. Warner DVD DVD

MARTIN AND LEWIS: THEIR GOLDEN AGE OF COMEDY (1992) “The Kings of Comedy” 30TH ANNIVERSARY this year. The second part focuses on THE COMEDY HOUR Sketches from 1950-1953.

31
THE WONDERFUL WUZARD OF OZ (1987) “Growlywog Goes on a Rampage” 35TH ANNIVERSARY The Growlywog has attacked Winkie Land, motivating the Tin Woodman to fight him. He loses his axe, and bear hugging the creature leads to water and rust, rendering him neutralized. Meanwhile, the Nomes have reached the outskirts of the Emerald City! Japanese with English Subtitles. Diskotek BluRay.

1
EXTREME GHOSTBUSTERS (1997) “Darkness at Noon Part 1” 25TH ANNIVERSARY Next Generation sequel series of the DiC series. Set a decade after REAL, Egon leads four college students- crippled-but-athletic Garrett, African American Roland, Goth girl Kylie, and Latino Eduardo- into Ghost-busting (with help from Janine- still bearing a torch- and Slimer). Bootleg DVD.

2
GHOSTBUSTERS EXTREME (1997) “Darkness at Noon Part 2” 25TH ANNIVERSARY Ghosts are back and Egon has to get the assistance of his students and updated technology. Bootleg DVD.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN (2016) “The No 1 Most Unpredictable Ninja” English Dubbed. Viz Media DVD.

3
25TH ANNIVERSARY
-GHOSTBUSTERS EXTREME (1997) “True Face of a Monster” Wheelchair-bound Ghostbuster Garrett hangs with old friends until he realizes their racists who have been attacking a Synagogue…which happens to have a Golem. Bootleg DVD.

-RUROUNI KENSHIN (1997) “The Man Who Is Chosen for Victory! Shishio Vs Kenshin Finale” The final battle. Yumi, Shishio’s concubine gets killed by him to attack Kenshin (an act that pleases her). Shishio is at full power. However, lacking sweat glands, his body temperature rises to the point of spontaneous combustion! For all his power, he lacked the strength to control it, sending him to a fiery doom. Japanese with English Subtitles. Media Blasters AnimeWorks DVD

THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (1967) Roaring Twenties Musical (set 100 years ago, if the title lyrics have anything to say) starring Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler Moore, James Fox, Beatrice Lillie, and Carol Channing (as well as an early part for Pat Morita). Seeing Andrews and Channing as flappers, one can probably imagine what Andrews’ THE BOY FRIEND and Channing’s GENTLEMAN PREFER BLONDES would have been like. First saw this on the Disney Channel on late Holy Thursday 1995, at least the beginning with the kidnapping intro. Rented the VHS that Sunmer, ended up sleeping through most of Act I, watched Act II, and then saw what I missed a day later. Watching it now is based on the knowledge that Lillie was suffering from early Alzheimers during filiming. She does fine, although the scene where her drugged cup of punch (for Mary's character) gets mixed up with other cups, I wonder if her look of confusion was acting or real. Kino Lorber Film Classics BluRay.

Earliest film seen in August BLOOD AND SAND (1922)
Latest film seen in August HOUSE OF DRAGONS (2022)