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Post by ando on Nov 14, 2022 5:23:15 GMT
 Tension (1949, John Berry)A meek pharmacist creates an alternate identity under which he plans to murder the bullying liquor salesman who has become his wife's lover.
"They aren't making 'em anymore like this 1949 melodrama by John Berry, and that's too bad. ... What sticks with you about the film is what a classic, prize-winning sap the Basehart character is, how pathetic and ill-considered are his dreams of domestic bliss, and how easily he's able to shift into a new and quite different identity. All in all, a good example of noirish post-war disillusionment — and it has Cyd Charisse and William Conrad to boot." - Walter Addiego, The San Francisco Examiner
First time watching this Noir Alley November selection with a dubious looking premise but the cinematography looks promising. Nice Trotter interview from the late 80s above. Currently on WatchTCM. |
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Post by ando on Nov 15, 2022 6:58:36 GMT
 The Bad and the Beautiful (1952, Vincente Minnelli) An unscrupulous movie producer uses an actress, a director and a writer to achieve success.
Kirk Douglas is my favorite classic Hollywood bastard. I like him in noble parts, too, but he's an utterly convincing, yet irresistible creep in roles like this. And to concur with the guy in the review above I think it's Lana Turner in prime form. Winner of 5 Oscars it's currently streaming on WatchTCM. |
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Post by Fading Fast on Nov 15, 2022 9:19:11 GMT
The Bad and the Beautiful (1952, Vincente Minnelli) An unscrupulous movie producer uses an actress, a director and a writer to achieve success.
Kirk Douglas is my favorite classic Hollywood bastard. I like him in noble parts, too, but he's an utterly convincing, yet irresistible creep in roles like this. And to concur with the guy in the review above I think it's Lana Turner in prime form. Winner of 5 Oscars it's currently streaming on WatchTCM.
I agree, this is a really good one - great "inside Hollywood" picture - and Douglas is fantastic in the role. |
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Post by ando on Nov 24, 2022 6:15:31 GMT
 Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1982, Tery Hughes/Harold Prince) Barber Sweeney Todd returns to London to uncover the past, along the way meeting pie shop owner Mrs. Nellie Lovett, and begins to start his life of crime.
Wish they would air more Broadway classics. This one features the legendary performances of the late Angela Lansbury and George Hearn. Been waiting years to finally see it. Currently streaming on WatchTCM through December 21st. |
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Post by ando on Nov 25, 2022 8:12:20 GMT
 The King and I (1956, Walter Lang) A widow accepts a job as a live-in governess to the King of Siam's children. Classic that I’ve never watched in it’s entirety. I’ve never seen either, Deborah Kerr or Yul Brynner, give a bad or “phoned-in” performance. Two of my favorite pros to watch on screen. I actually knew new little about Brynner’s background until I watched the above doc. Nice one. King is streaming until November 30th. |
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Post by Fading Fast on Nov 25, 2022 9:31:05 GMT
The King and I (1956, Walter Lang) A widow accepts a job as a live-in governess to the King of Siam's children. Classic that I’ve never watched in it’s entirety. I’ve never seen either, Deborah Kerr or Yul Brynner, give a bad or “phoned-in” performance. Two of my favorite pros to watch on screen. I actually knew new little about Brynner’s background until I watched the above doc. Nice one. King is streaming until November 30th. |
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Post by ando on Nov 27, 2022 15:14:53 GMT
I've seen that ⇧ one and also the Jodie Forster version, "Anna and the King," when it came out in 1999, which was pretty good and not too distorted by modern politics as even "historical" films in the last twenty years have become. |
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Post by ando on Nov 27, 2022 15:36:48 GMT
 Stagecoach (1935, John Ford) A group of people traveling on a stagecoach find their journey complicated by the threat of Geronimo and learn something about each other in the process.
One of the most influential American films ever made but I never thought much of it. Taking a closer look sometime today. I do not like John Wayne but there's no denying Ford's influence, particularly their creative tandem. Interesting quick review above that touches on the major points in the film. Currently streaming on WatchTCM.
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Post by ando on Dec 6, 2022 10:20:12 GMT
 I’ll See You In My Dreams (1951, Michael Curtis) The success and decline of songwriter Gus Kahn is portrayed, with his wife, Grace Kahn, sticking by him the whole time.
Rather stiff execution of the rags to riches story but it’s got great songs - one of my favorite soundtracks. Dipping in and out this one all month. Expires December 19th. Great anecdotal video from the real Gus Khan’s grandson - |
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Post by galacticgirrrl on Dec 10, 2022 1:41:13 GMT
Great anecdotal video from the real Gus Khan’s grandson - Great timing on this post. Thank you for sharing. PBS just aired the Concert for George again and I finally watched (generally try to avoid such things). I was really puzzled about the last song they played. I wondered with the ukulele if it was some nod to Handmade Films. I had no idea. I think I will have to return my Beatles fan club membership to Good Ol’ Freda for displaying such a shameful lack of knowledge. Clearly I've spent too much time trying to hear My Sweet Lord in He's So Fine and missed this one. |
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Post by Pinot Noir on Dec 11, 2022 17:02:44 GMT
George Harrison was a big fan of the ukulele. I believe that George Harrison was known to carry around extra ukuleles in the car of his trunk in hopes of getting up a jam session. I saw Paul McCartney in concert 10-12 years ago. He played "Something" on the ukulele as a tribute to Harrison. One of the many highlights of the concert.
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Post by ando on Dec 18, 2022 1:07:56 GMT
 The Night of the Iguana (1964, John Huston) An ostracized Episcopal clergyman leads a busload of middle-aged Baptist women on a tour of the Mexican coast and comes to terms with the failure haunting his life.
One of my favorite films featuring TCM's December Star of the Month, Ava Gardner. Nice promo above. On WatchTCM until January 14. |
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Post by ando on Dec 23, 2022 17:30:42 GMT
 Blast of Silence (1961, Allen Baron) A hired killer from Cleveland has a job to do on a second-string mob boss in New York, but a special girl from his past and a fat gun dealer with pet rats get in his way.
Good one. Definitely dark - a kind of precursor to Taxi Driver in its portrait of the emotionally destructive (male) main character and the NYC environs. On WatchTCM. Expires December 31st |
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