| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| lemonade kid |
Posted - 16/10/2008 : 18:02:32
Torben kindly opened this new Forum subject & header..... It'd be great to hear all the differing views & tastes on any topic you all would like......so fire away!
So.......
My "loves" run into the classic movie arena, along with my passion for music......so how about your favorite classic movies, films , documentaries.
Judging by my quote below, it's obvious I guess, #1 is Harvey for me. Most Laurel & Hardy films & Mr. Smith Goes To Washington! Duck Soup  ......for starters!
What's yours, everyone!?? 
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I've wrestled with reality for 35 years, Doctor,
and I'm happy to state I finally won out over it.
-- Elwood P. Dowd
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| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| lemonade kid |
Posted - 16/09/2015 : 22:29:33
For Halloween a new one that is hilarious....from New Zealand. From the
New Zealand Documentary Board....letting the cameras follow four flatmates that happen to be vampires!
Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv568AzZ-i8
WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS 2015
Mockumentary.
What We Do in the Shadows review Ð
best comedy of the year
©The Guardian 2015
Flight of the Conchord writers are behind this wickedly funny mockumentary about a bunch of undead flatmates rowing about the cleaning
¥ What We Do in the Shadows: the return of the living deadpan
So many comedies are adoringly billed as ÒdarkÓ, forgetting the ancient showbusiness maxim, Òdark is easy; funny is hardÓ. Fortunately, this mockumentary from New Zealand succeeds in being both: in fact, itÕs the best comedy of the year. What We Do in the Shadows is directed by its stars Jemaine ÒFlight of the ConchordsÓ Clement and Taika Waititi, who in 2005 was Oscar-nominated for his short film Two Cars, One Night. A group of vampires share a house in Wellington, squabbling about the washing up and facing off with a rival gang of werewolves, ˆ la Twilight. The rigour with which their hideous and crepuscular world is imagined, combined with the continuous flow of top-quality gags, makes this a treat from first to last. After a while, I was embarrassed at myself for giggling so much. Our heroes are undead gentlemen from central Europe who have escaped problems and heartache in the old country to live in New Zealand. They bite a faintly annoying guy, who duly turns into a vampire and wants to hang out with them, and he brings along his best mate, a really nice non-vampire human bloke called Stu: all the vampires get a bromance crush, holding back from biting him and he is the Bella Swan of this story. But this film reminded me of something else: it is the comedy version of Abel FerraraÕs 1995 The Addiction. I canÕt say fairer than that.
Outtakes, interviews
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o21Pc0mOseY
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So much music, so little time. |
| underture |
Posted - 07/05/2013 : 18:16:53
Any Torchy Blaine or Falcon fans out there?
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You set the scene |
| lemonade kid |
Posted - 07/05/2013 : 13:46:21
quote:
Originally posted by rocker
Laurel & Hardy for sure, especially Way Out West
Good one lk! 'Saps at Sea' and 'Sons of the Desert' are real good too!
With Sons of the Desert there are so-called 'tents' (meet-up groups)around the US and in Europe where if you join you can see L&H's movies and talk with other fans.
And this wonderful site....
"Sons Of The Desert".com
http://www.sotd.org/
The Laughing Gravy tent meets on the first Thursday of each month at the
'Forget Me Not' Club,1069 Tyburn Road, Erdington, Birmingham B24 OTH
Laurel and Hardy films will be shown on the big screen.
There will also be Laurel & Hardy memorabilia on sale, a chance to
win some wonderful raffle prizes, as well as lots of fun and laughter.
Children welcome. Hope to see you there.
That wonderful image of Stan & Ollie in Way Out West...classic brilliance.
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Old hippies never die, they just ramble on.
-lk |
| rocker |
Posted - 06/05/2013 : 14:23:22
Laurel & Hardy for sure, especially Way Out West
Good one lk! 'Saps at Sea' and 'Sons of the Desert' are real good too!
With Sons of the Desert there are so-called 'tents' (meet-up groups)around the US and in Europe where if you join you can see L&H's movies and talk with other fans. |
| lemonade kid |
Posted - 30/04/2013 : 15:19:42
I love those too. guys. The CLASSICS rock! Edward G. is a true favorite!
Here is a short list of some of my absolute faves (with a few newer ones thrown in)...
Laurel & Hardy for sure, especially Way Out West
Harvey, Jimmy Stewart
The Maltese Falcon, Bogie
Stalag 17, William Holden
The Bridge On The River Kwai...oh my god, so great!
Born Yesterday, Holiday, Holden & Crawford!
His Girl Friday, Grant & Rosalind Russell ( a genius comedic pairing)
Shall We Dance, Astaire & Rogers
The Thin Man, & Returns, Wm Powell & Myrna Loy
My Man Godfrey. Lombard (a real fave!) & William Powell--a lifelong favorite
Mr Roberts, Fonda, Lemon (Oscar winner), William Powell (his last film), and the incomparable Jimmy Cagney
The Lady Killers, Alec Guiness
What About Bob?, Bill Murray
Philadelphia Story, Carey Grant, Jimmy Stewart, & Kate Hepburn
Bringing Up Baby, Grant & Hepburn!!! Hilarious insanity!
The Bourne Triolgy
The Die Hard Series
A Hard Days Night...FAB!
Soylent Green, Edward G. & Heston ...the best!
Treasure Of Sierra Madre, Bogie, Houston
The Bank Dick, W.C...well, most everything by W.C.
Duck Soup & A Night At The Opera...Groucho's TV show too! Marx Bros
Being There...from a long list of Sellers' great starring roles, Peter Sellers saved his best for last!
...............................
Whew!....more later. Any faves from my list for you guys?! Oh yeah!
What about a short list from you all?!
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Old hippies never die, they just ramble on.
-lk |
| rocker |
Posted - 30/04/2013 : 13:59:56
Those two you just mentioned capn are also up there as great film noirs. Great stories, great characters and the writing is so good, right,,'snappy!' I usually watch a noir once a week for my fix! Last week it was 'Out of the Past' with Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas.
Check it out if you haven't. A real good one! Some great lines in it too.
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| captain america and billy |
Posted - 29/04/2013 : 15:12:47
Yeah,Film Noir is an extremely fascinating and TOTALLY different animal from how most of us are used to watching most pictures.The direction and production designs are approached in completely different manners for black and white.I also like the rather "snappy" dialogue most of the old black and whites used to have.Two must sees here are "Double Indemnity" with Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck and "Sunset Boulevard" with William Holden and Gloria Swanson. |
| rocker |
Posted - 29/04/2013 : 13:45:30
yes lk one of de best film noirs ever..you have excellent taste...;-)... |
| lemonade kid |
Posted - 28/04/2013 : 17:32:06
LAURA, film noir murder mystery with a great twist. Picked #4 in Top 10 mystery films of all time by AFI.
Laura Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QJRp5C15PgE
Laura (1944) is an American film noir directed by Otto Preminger. It stars Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews and Clifton Webb. The screenplay by Jay Dratler, Samuel Hoffenstein, and Elizabeth Reinhardt is based on the 1943 novel of the same title by Vera Caspary.
In 1999, Laura was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". The American Film Institute ranked the film #73 on AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills, the score #7 in AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores, and it was ranked the fourth best film in the mystery genre in AFI's 10 Top 10.
Plot (spoiler alert)
New York City police detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) is investigating the murder of beautiful and highly successful advertising executive, Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney). Laura has been killed by a shotgun blast to the face, just inside the doorway to her apartment, before the start of the film. He interviews charismatic newspaper columnist Waldo Lydecker (Clifton Webb), an imperious, decadent dandy, who relates how he met Laura, became her mentor, and used his considerable influence and fame to advance her career. McPherson also questions Laura's parasitic playboy fiancé, Shelby Carpenter (Vincent Price), her wealthy socialite aunt, Ann Treadwell (Judith Anderson), who'd been carrying on with Carpenter and giving him money, and her loyal housekeeper, Bessie Clary (Dorothy Adams).
Through the testimony of her friends, and the reading of her letters and diary, McPherson comes to know Laura and slowly becomes obsessed with her, so much so Lydecker accuses him of falling in love with the dead woman. He also learns that Lydecker was jealous of Laura's suitors, using his newspaper column and influence to keep them at bay.
One night, the detective falls asleep in Laura's apartment, under her portrait, and is awakened by the sound of someone entering the apartment. He is shocked to discover it is Laura. Laura finds a dress in her closet belonging to one of her models, Diane Redfern. McPherson concludes that she, Diane Redfern, was the victim, brought there by Carpenter, while Laura was away in the country. Now it becomes even more urgent to unmask the murderer.
A party is thrown to welcome Laura's return. At the party, McPherson arrests Laura for the murder of Diana Redfern. Upon questioning her, he is convinced of her innocence and that she does not love Shelby. He returns her to her apartment, and then goes to search Lydecker's apartment. There he finds a clock that is identical to the one in Laura's apartment. On closer examination he finds a secret compartment. He returns to Laura's apartment.
Lydecker is there and it is apparent there is a growing bond between Laura and the detective. Lydecker insults McPherson and is sent away by Laura but pauses on the stairwell outside. After Lydecker has left, McPherson examines Laura's clock and finds the shotgun that killed Diane. Laura is confronted with the truth that Lydecker was the murderer. McPherson locks Laura in to her apartment, warning her not to let any one in. After he has left, Lydecker emerges from another room and attempts to kill Laura, claiming if he cannot have her, no one can. He is shot down by McPherson's sergeant, who had told McPherson that Lydecker had never left the building, causing the two policemen to return to the apartment. Lydecker's last words are: "Goodbye, Laura. Goodbye, my love."
Cast
* Gene Tierney as Laura Hunt
* Dana Andrews as Mark McPherson
* Clifton Webb as Waldo Lydecker
* Vincent Price as Shelby Carpenter
* Judith Anderson as Ann Treadwell
Production
Otto Preminger was looking for a theatrical project to direct and first became aware of Vera Caspary's story when her agent offered him the first draft of a play called Ring Twice for Laura. Preminger liked the high-society setting and the unusual plot twist but felt the work needed a major revision and offered to rewrite it with its author. He and Caspary disagreed about the direction they should take it and she opted to collaborate with writer George Sklar instead. Marlene Dietrich expressed interest in portraying the title character, but without the attachment of Dietrich or another major star, Caspary was unable to find a producer willing to finance a national tour or a Broadway run, and she abandoned the project.[4]
Caspary eventually adapted the play for a novel with the same title and a sequel entitled simply Laura, both of which eventually were purchased by 20th Century Fox for $30,000. Interim studio head William Goetz, serving in that capacity while Darryl F. Zanuck was fulfilling his military duty, assigned Preminger the task of developing the books for the screen, and he began working with Jay Dratler, Samuel Hoffenstein, and Elizabeth Reinhardt. Recalling the differences of opinion he and Caspary had had, Preminger opted not to involve her until the first draft was completed. He sensed the more interesting character was not Laura but Waldo Lydecker and expanded his role accordingly, but Caspary was unhappy with the changes to her plot.
Zanuck, with whom Preminger previously had clashed, returned to the studio and was angered to discover Goetz had rehired his nemesis. In retaliation, he announced Preminger could produce but not direct Laura and assigned him to helm In the Meantime, Darling instead. Several directors, including Lewis Milestone, were offered and rejected Laura until Rouben Mamoulian finally agreed to direct. Mamoulian immediately ignored all of Preminger's directives as producer and began to rewrite the script. To Preminger's dismay, he cast Laird Cregar, known for his portrayal of Jack the Ripper in The Lodger, in the key role of Lydecker. The producer felt casting an actor with a reputation for playing sinister roles would lead the audience to become suspicious of Lydecker earlier than necessary. He favored Clifton Webb, who had left films in 1930 to concentrate on the stage and at that time was appearing in the Noël Coward play Blithe Spirit in Los Angeles. Fox casting director Rufus LeMaire and Zanuck both objected to Webb because of his overt effeminate mannerisms, exactly what Preminger felt suited the character. He filmed the actor delivering a monologue from the Coward play, and Zanuck agreed he was perfect for the role.[6] Zanuck was similarly campaigning for actor Reginald Gardiner to play the role of Shelby, though Fox contractee Vincent Price finally got the role.
Filming began on April 27, 1944, and from the start Mamoulian had problems with his cast. He offered relative newcomers Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews little support, allowed theatrically trained Judith Anderson to play to the balcony instead of reining in her performance, and virtually ignored Webb, who had learned the director was unhappy with his casting. After viewing the early rushes, Zanuck called a meeting with Mamoulian and Preminger, each of whom blamed the other for the problems on the set. Preminger finally convinced Zanuck the material needed a more subtle approach than Mamoulian was willing to give it, and the studio head allowed the producer to fire him and direct the film himself. Preminger immediately hired a new cinematographer and scenic designer and replaced the portrait of Laura – a crucial element of the film – Mamoulian's wife Azadia had painted the original portrait, but Preminger replaced that with an enlarged photograph (taken by Fox photographer Frank Polony) of Tierney, lightly dabbed with oils to give it the ethereal effect he wanted.
Preminger initially experienced resistance from his cast, who had been led to believe Preminger was unhappy with their work by the departing Mamoulian. "Once we got used to Otto, we had a pretty easy time," Vincent Price recalled in a July 1989 interview. Filming was completed on June 29, slightly over budget but within the projected timetable.
Zanuck was unhappy with Preminger's first cut of the film and insisted it be given a new ending, in which it was revealed Lydecker had imagined the entire story. Following a screening of the Zanuck version, columnist Walter Winchell approached the studio head and told him, "I didn't get [the ending]. You've got to change it." Zanuck relented and allowed Preminger to reinstate his original finale, telling him, "This is your success. I concede."[9]
Music
Once principal photography was completed, Preminger hired David Raksin to score the film. The director wanted to use "Sophisticated Lady" by Duke Ellington for the main theme, but Raksin objected to the choice. Alfred Newman, music director for Fox, convinced Preminger to give Raksin a weekend to compose an original tune. Inspired by a Dear John letter he had received from his girlfriend, Raksin wrote the haunting theme[10] for which Johnny Mercer later wrote lyrics. It eventually became a jazz standard recorded by more than four hundred artists, including Stan Kenton, Dick Haymes, Woody Herman, Nat King Cole, The Four Freshmen, Charlie Parker, and Frank Sinatra.[11] Even Spike Jones did a parody version of the song. Preminger was so pleased with Raksin's score the two collaborated on four additional films.[9] (refer to "Laura (1945 song)")
Soundtrack
In 1993 Fox Records released a 27-minute suite of Raksin's score on an album paired with Bernard Herrmann's score for Jane Eyre. In 2013 Kritzerland released the complete Raksin score along with test demos and the suite from the original album as bonus tracks.
Track listing:
1. Main Title
2. The Phonograph
3. The Café
4. Waldo Walks Away
5. Theatre Lobby
6. Night
7. The Café/Waldo’s Apartment
8. Laura Leaves
9. The Portrait
10. Mark
11. Apartment House
12. Radio
13. The Party
14. Outside Waldo’s Door
15. Waldo
16. End Title
17. Laura Theme – Test Demos
18. The Laura Suite – Theme and Variations
Reception
Critical response
Thomas M. Pryor of The New York Times observed:
When a murder mystery possessing as much sustained suspense, good acting and caustically brittle dialogue as Laura ... comes along it might seem a little like carping to suggest that it could have been even better. As the story of a strangely fascinating female who insinuates herself into the lives of three very worldly gents, much depends, of course, upon the lady herself ... Now, at the risk of being unchivalrous, we venture to say that when the lady herself appears upon the scene via a flashback of events leading up to the tragedy, she is a disappointment. For Gene Tierney simply doesn't measure up to the word-portrait of her character. Pretty, indeed, but hardly the type of girl we had expected to meet. For Miss Tierney plays at being a brilliant and sophisticated advertising executive with the wild-eyed innocence of a college junior. Aside from that principal reservation, however, Laura is an intriguing melodrama ... Only Miss Tierney seems out of key. Perhaps if Laura Hunt had not had such a build-up, it would have been different. Anyway, the picture on the whole is close to being a top-drawer mystery.[12]
Variety said:
The film's deceptively leisurely pace at the start, and its light, careless air, only heighten the suspense without the audience being conscious of the buildup. What they are aware of as they follow the story ... is the skill in the telling. Situations neatly dovetail and are always credible. Developments, surprising as they come, are logical. The dialog is honest, real and adult.[13]
In 2002, Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote:
Film noir is known for its convoluted plots and arbitrary twists, but even in a genre that gave us The Maltese Falcon, this takes some kind of prize ... That Laura continues to weave a spell – and it does – is a tribute to style over sanity ... All of [the] absurdities and improbabilities somehow do not diminish the film's appeal. They may even add to it ... [T]he whole film is of a piece: contrived, artificial, mannered, and yet achieving a kind of perfection in its balance between low motives and high style. What makes the movie great, perhaps, is the casting. The materials of a B-grade crime potboiler are redeemed by Waldo Lydecker, walking through every scene as if afraid to step in something.
Rotten Tomatoes reports that Laura has 100% fresh rating, based 45 reviews, with the consensus being "a psychologically complex portrait of obsession, Laura is also a deliciously well-crafted murder mystery."
Accolades
Joseph LaShelle won the Academy Award for Best Black and White Cinematography. Otto Preminger was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director but lost to Leo McCarey for Going My Way. Clifton Webb was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor but lost to Barry Fitzgerald in Going My Way. Jay Dratler, Samuel Hoffenstein, and Elizabeth Reinhardt were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay but lost to Frank Butler and Frank Cavett for Going My Way. Lyle R. Wheeler, Leland Fuller, and Thomas Little were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Black-and-White Art Direction and Interior Decoration but lost to Cedric Gibbons, William Ferrari, Paul Huldschinsky, and Edwin B. Willis for Gaslight.
American Film Institute recognition
* AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies – Nominated
* AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills – #73
* AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions – Nominated
* AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes:
o "In my case, self-absorption is completely justified. I have never discovered any other subject so worthy of my attention." – Nominated
* AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores – #7
* AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition) – Nominated
* AFI's 10 Top 10 – #4 Mystery Film
Home media
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment released the film on Region 1 DVD on March 15, 2005. It is in fullscreen format with audio tracks and subtitles in English and Spanish. Bonus tracks include commentaries by film historian Jeanine Basinger, composer David Raksin, and author Rudy Behlmer; a deleted scene; the original theatrical trailer; and Gene Tierney: A Shattered Portrait and Vincent Price: The Versatile Villain, two episodes from A&E Biography. The film will become available on Blu-ray on February 5, 2012.
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Old hippies never die, they just ramble on.
-lk |
| markk |
Posted - 28/04/2013 : 17:08:10
Anyone ever catch Jadarowsky's EL TOPO. I wouldn't even try to speculate what this is about. The most bizarre movie I've ever seen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceHH3QGXvNw |
| captain america and billy |
Posted - 27/04/2013 : 17:27:24
Makes me curious for a listen to McCartney's 1966 soundtrack to the Haley Mills film "The Family Way".I know it's a highly prized collectible at Beatles and record collector's conventions.I think this one happened around the time John Lennon and George Harrison finally convinced Paul to ingest the dreaded LSD after about a year and a half of attempts... |
| rocker |
Posted - 26/04/2013 : 16:18:48
Anybody isten to the record? I have the German pressing done back in '67. You know I couldn't fault anyone for saying that the music is avant garde even for today. What a mix in there and styles with East meeting West. And theh cover is great too. Great red brick wall in center with Englishman in typiocal stereotypical garb, i.e. bowler hat, umbrella and raincoat walking on one side with 10 bee-you-ti-full naked maidens in a lake on the other side of the wall. One thing I never notcied before is a part of the wall, a few feet higher than the Englishman, where one brick has been purposely left out. You can guess what for kids! If he wants to get a peek he'll have to figure out to get to that part of the wall up top.... . |
| stewart |
Posted - 25/04/2013 : 01:17:29
quote:
Originally posted by captain america and billy
Has anyone ever seen "Wonderwall" for which George Harrison provided the soundtrack?
Yup I saw it back in the day, there's plenty of it on youtube |
| captain america and billy |
Posted - 24/04/2013 : 17:01:28
Has anyone ever seen "Wonderwall" for which George Harrison provided the soundtrack? |
| rocker |
Posted - 23/04/2013 : 17:49:49
hehe this is one film I'm sure David Lynch and Timmy Burton watched... |
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