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Post by cineclassics on Mar 8, 2023 23:22:01 GMT
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Post by cineclassics on Mar 8, 2023 23:59:44 GMT
The Maltese Falcon is often cited as the first American film noir, or at the very least, the noir that started a movement. Regardless of the validity in that statement, what isn't arguable is the significance of the film itself for Humphrey Bogart, and director John Huston. The Maltese Falcon jump started Bogart's career as a leading man and began one of the most unlikely ascents in cinema history. The Maltese Falcon was John Huston's directorial debut, and like Bogart, this was the beginning of a legendary career in Hollywood and a legendary friendship between the two. Bogart and Huston first worked together on High Sierra, with Huston as the screenwriter. The Maltese Falcon's influence on the film noir genre, and Bogart's portrayal as arguably the definitive detective, continues to be felt over 80 years since the film's release. And let's not forget the stellar ensemble cast of Greenstreet, Lorre, Astor, and Elisha Cook. Truly, the stuff dreams are made of.
It Happened One Night is one of Frank Capra's early masterpieces. One of the very few films to win the 5 major Oscars: Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Film, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. One of the first road trip films and one of the early "romantic comedies," It Happened One Night set the template for its genre, and very few films have surpassed it. Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert's chemistry is a joy to watch and if imitation is the sincerest form of flatter, it's safe to say It Happened One Night is as influential as any film, with 90 years of motion pictures having attempted to emulate Capra's formula.
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Post by sepiatone on Mar 9, 2023 17:11:33 GMT
When it comes to these mismatched "duels" I vote based on a certain criteria. In this case, it's cinematography. Joseph Walker's night time shots in the hayfield, in IHON, no doubt shot indoors under controlled settings, ware fantastic to look at as well as other night time shots. Arthur Edeson's work in THE MALTESE FALCON really wasn't that challenging, but was a good look despite being pedestrian requirements. Both too are fantastic stories which makes choosing one over the other arbitrary at best.
Sepiatone
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Post by sagebrush on Mar 11, 2023 0:13:09 GMT
These are both great films. THE MALTESE FALCON has one of the best ensemble casts in classic Hollywood and a great story that moves along briskly, as well as a San Francisco backdrop. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT is a joy to watch, with Colbert and Gable at their best, and also a fine ensemble cast. It's a shame more comedies don't win best picture, because many of them deserve it.
"The limb is mightier than the thumb." 
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Post by topbilled on Mar 11, 2023 1:03:37 GMT
These are both great films. THE MALTESE FALCON has one of the best ensemble casts in classic Hollywood and a great story that moves along briskly, as well as a San Francisco backdrop. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT is a joy to watch, with Colbert and Gable at their best, and also a fine ensemble cast. It's a shame more comedies don't win best picture, because many of them deserve it.
"The limb is mightier than the thumb."
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Post by sagebrush on Mar 11, 2023 14:08:47 GMT
These are both great films. THE MALTESE FALCON has one of the best ensemble casts in classic Hollywood and a great story that moves along briskly, as well as a San Francisco backdrop. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT is a joy to watch, with Colbert and Gable at their best, and also a fine ensemble cast. It's a shame more comedies don't win best picture, because many of them deserve it.
"The limb is mightier than the thumb."
With all the talk of changing the best actress/supp. actress and best actor/supp. actor award to one best performer award, this would leave the academy with 3 less awards to give. I would love to see a category solely for comedy/musical films.
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Post by topbilled on Mar 11, 2023 16:22:18 GMT
Some forms of comedy are much more difficult to perform than drama. I think more comedies should be chosen as Best Picture. It's a bias the Academy never really rectifies, and perhaps that is why a lot of films have to at least be comedy-dramas in order to get nominated for the big prize. With all the talk of changing the best actress/supp. actress and best actor/supp. actor award to one best performer award, this would leave the academy with 3 less awards to give. I would love to see a category solely for comedy/musical films.
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Post by sepiatone on Mar 11, 2023 16:48:50 GMT
They could avoid that by having a SOBER Ricky Gervais be the host.  Sepiatone |
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Post by Swithin on Mar 12, 2023 13:34:49 GMT
Much as I've loved "classic" Hollywood movies since the age of about six, when I began (thanks to my mother) watching Million Dollar Movie on Channel 9 in NYC, I've never been a huge fan of the two films in this poll. I don't know why -- I like them well enough, but neither are films that I can watch again and again, unlike other films of the period. (I actually think John Huston's greatness came at the end of his career, The Dead being on my all-time ten-best list and Wise Blood being a favorite. But of course, by the end of his career, IMHO, Huston had learned a lot from John Ford.)
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Post by sepiatone on Mar 12, 2023 15:27:36 GMT
Much as I've loved "classic" Hollywood movies since the age of about six, when I began (thanks to my mother) watching Million Dollar Movie on Channel 9 in NYC, I've never been a huge fan of the two films in this poll. I don't know why -- I like them well enough, but neither are films that I can watch again and again, unlike other films of the period. (I actually think John Huston's greatness came at the end of his career, The Dead being on my all-time ten-best list and Wise Blood being a favorite. But of course, by the end of his career, IMHO, Huston had learned a lot from John Ford.) HA! I too grew up watching old movies on MILLION DOLLAR MOVIE on channel 9. But, the channel 9 WE watched was broadcast from Windsor, Ontario Canada. In the late '50's. Sepiatone |
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Post by Swithin on Mar 12, 2023 15:55:56 GMT
Much as I've loved "classic" Hollywood movies since the age of about six, when I began (thanks to my mother) watching Million Dollar Movie on Channel 9 in NYC, I've never been a huge fan of the two films in this poll. I don't know why -- I like them well enough, but neither are films that I can watch again and again, unlike other films of the period. (I actually think John Huston's greatness came at the end of his career, The Dead being on my all-time ten-best list and Wise Blood being a favorite. But of course, by the end of his career, IMHO, Huston had learned a lot from John Ford.) HA! I too grew up watching old movies on MILLION DOLLAR MOVIE on channel 9. But, the channel 9 WE watched was broadcast from Windsor, Ontario Canada. In the late '50's. Sepiatone Timing is right for me, too: the late 1950s. Some of my childhood highlights on MMM: Follow the Fleet, King Kong, Navy Blues, Mighty Joe Young, Station West, Since You Went Away, etc. |
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Post by sepiatone on Mar 12, 2023 16:07:40 GMT
Saw a lot of Tarzan movies on those broadcasts too. Mostly the Weissmuller movies.
Sepiatone
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Post by BunnyWhit on Mar 14, 2023 16:26:36 GMT
I went with The Maltese Falcon (1941) because.... Dashiell Hammett!
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