As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.
Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you will agree. I hope to hear from all of you.
Ho! Ho! Ho! It’s that time of year again. Unfortunately, there have been more bad movies made about the holiday season than any other subject. There been some decent ones too, but they are in the minority. How many times can you watch It’s a Wonderful Life without throwing up? In this case, it’s probably familiarity breeds contempt. After five or more versions of The Christmas Carol, I’m sorry but “I can’t stands no more.” Bad Santa is just bad. All three Santa Clause movies should have been revoked. The people who made Elf must have been 12-year old boys. Trading Places shouldn’t have. What kind of message does Home Alone send? Pretty scary. And, Santa’s Slay—I’m wordless.
I enjoyed watching the following:
Miracle on 34th Street (1947): Edmund Gwen stars as the loveable Santa who must stand trial to prove his existence—the nerve. John Payne and Margaret O’Brien are his loyal supporters.
White Christmas (1954): Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye are war buddies who help out their former commanding officer to save his inn. They find time to court sisters Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen.
We’re No Angels (1955): Three escaped convicts, Humphrey Bogart, Aldo Rey and Peter Ustinov, end up trying to save their intended victim. The shopkeeper and his family are so endearing these hardened criminals cook-up a convoluted plan to raise money. While they’re at it, they also help romance by helping the daughter find love. My personal favorite.
The Dead (1987): John Houston directs daughter, Anjelica, in this adaption of James Joyce’s The Dubliners. The story centers around a Christmas dinner in the early 1900s. After dinner a husband and wife must come to terms with their issue-filled marriage. Isn’t that always the way?
The Bishop’s Wife (1947): An angelic Cary Grant becomes an unwitting rival between David Niven and Loretta Young. Niven, the bishop, is trying to raise money to build a new cathedral. This obsession causes a strain on his marriage. Will the angel save the day? You can always bet on Grant.
March of the Wooden Soldiers: Babes in Toyland (1934): Who better than Laurel and Hardy to get it right? This delightful film has them trying to rescue the widow Mrs. Peep and her daughter Bo-Peep. There are at least three versions of this story. Start with the first and best.
Christmas in Connecticut (1945): Barbara Stanwyck stars as the Martha Stewart of her era. Unfortunately, it’s all a sham to promote her job as a columnist for a woman’s magazine. Her publisher, Sydney Greenstreet, comes up with another scheme: Invite war veteran, Dennis Morgan, to Christmas dinner. You can guess what’s going to happen, but it’s enjoyable all the same.
Holiday Inn (1942): Der Bingle, Bing Crosby, and Fred Astaire team up in this Irving Berlin story of a three-way romance. Marjorie Reynolds is the love interest. The story centers around Crosby as owner of a country inn only open on holidays.
I’ll Be Seeing You (1944): Prison inmate Ginger Rogers on a furlough for the holidays meets Joseph Cotton on a train. They are attracted to each other, but Rogers is afraid of what he would think if he knew her secret. It turns out that Cotton has a few secrets of his own. What will become of them? Oh my. Shirley Temple co-stars. Now you know. What could possibly go wrong in a Shirley Temple film?
The Lemon Drop Kid (1951): Bob Hope is at his best in this Runyon-like tale of a small-time crook who cheats a big-time crook. Forced to come up with $10,000 before Christmas, Hope engages the talents of his girlfriend, Marilyn Maxwell, and his gang to devise a plan. They do and it involves Santa suits. The song, “Silver Bells,” came from this delightful movie.
A Midnight Clear (1992): It’s France 1944. An American Intelligence unit meets a German platoon. The Germans prefer surrendering to the Americans rather than facing possible death in the waning days of the war. The two groups spend Christmas together.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.
Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you will agree. I hope to hear from all of you.
“Murder is always a mistake. One should never do anything that one cannot talk about after dinner.” —Oscar Wilde
Crime and Punishment. This classic 19th Century novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky has inspired 25 films. Its theme has probably inspired many more. The cat-and-mouse game between the culprit and the detective is standard fare for today’s movies. The act of murder and the psychology surrounding it continue to fascinate film goers. Here are some films that fascinated me:
Murder Most Foul (1964): In this Agatha Christie story, Dame Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple stars as a holdout on a jury. Her probing questions and exquisite eye will set the record straight.
Murder, My Sweet (1944): Dick Powell stars as Phillip Marlowe in this Raymond Chandler adaption. Powell is hired to find a gangster’s moll who may know where some money might be. Claire Trevor also stars.
Dial M for Murder (1954): Ray Milland, Grace Kelly and Robert Cummings are the mélange a trois in this Hitchcock offering. Milland plans the perfect murder, or does he? If you must watch the later version, please watch this one first.
Murder, Inc. (1960): During Prohibition a group of gangsters in Brooklyn formed the organization Murder, Inc. What chance does a lonely police officer have? Henry Morgan certainly tries. Watch for a young Peter Falk.
Murder in the First (1995): Kevin Bacon, Gary Oldman and Christian Slater star in this prison film set at Alcatraz in the 30s. The question: Does prolonged solitary confinement promote extreme violence?
Little Murders (1971): Alan Arkin directs this very dark comedy starring Elliott Gould, Marcia Rodd, and Donald Sutherland. The movie is set in New York. The quirky story is by Jules Feiffer.
Murder by Death (1976): I told you about this one last month. It’s worth mentioning again. The funniest movie about murder there is.
Murder by Decree (1979): Christopher Plummer stars as super sleuth Sherlock Holmes. He’s supported by a great cast consisting of Donald Sutherland, John Gielgud and James Mason. Plummer is trying to find Jack the Ripper. Will the great man fail?
Witness to Murder (1954): How would you feel if you witnessed a murder and no one believed you? Barbara Stanwyck finds herself in this position. George Sanders and Gary Merrill costar.
Anatomy of a Murder (1959): This is a tour de force for James Stewart as an attorney defending Ben Gazzara. Lee Remick is Gazzara’s wife. A great movie.
A Murder of Crows (1999): I admit that I chose this film because I love the title. The movie’s not bad. Cuba Gooding, Jr., Tom Berenger and Eric Stoltz make up the cast. Plagiarism is the game.
Murder on the Orient Express (1974): Albert Finney as Poirot has his work cut out for him as a slew of characters are suspects in the murder of Richard Widmark. Widmark has a true knack for making enemies. The all-star cast includes Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery, and Vanessa Redgrave. Sidney Lumet directed.
Murder by Numbers (2002): A light-weight murder mystery starring Sandra Bullock as a police detective. Ben Chaplin is her partner in this cat-and- mouse-themed tale. Hard to believe Bullock in a serious profession.
Sunset Murder Case (1938): The famous stripper Sally Rand stars as, guess what, an exotic dancer. She wants to find her father’s murderer. This film was originally titled Sunset Strip Case, but the censors forced the change. Pretty tame title, I think.
Slight Case of Murder (1999): William H. Macy plays a movie critic of questionable morals afraid of consequences of his lover’s accidental death. Enter sleazy private eye James Cromwell with thoughts of blackmail. Poor Adam Arkin, as the law, has to deal with this web of deceit.
Murder Cruise (1940): Crafty Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) follows a murderer aboard a cruise ship. No question the culprit will be caught.
(It has come to my attention that a crime is being committed: Tom Cruise is being considered to play Jack Reacher. Reacher is a recurring character in the popular Lee Child books. He has gravitas and height, 6feet 5 inches. Cruise has neither. Cruise can barely play Cruise. I am outraged at this casting. Anyone else?)
Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you will agree. I hope to hear from all of you.
“Murder is always a mistake. One should never do anything that one cannot talk about after dinner.” —Oscar Wilde
Crime and Punishment. This classic 19th Century novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky has inspired 25 films. Its theme has probably inspired many more. The cat-and-mouse game between the culprit and the detective is standard fare for today’s movies. The act of murder and the psychology surrounding it continue to fascinate film goers. Here are some films that fascinated me:
Murder Most Foul (1964): In this Agatha Christie story, Dame Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple stars as a holdout on a jury. Her probing questions and exquisite eye will set the record straight.
Murder, My Sweet (1944): Dick Powell stars as Phillip Marlowe in this Raymond Chandler adaption. Powell is hired to find a gangster’s moll who may know where some money might be. Claire Trevor also stars.
Dial M for Murder (1954): Ray Milland, Grace Kelly and Robert Cummings are the mélange a trois in this Hitchcock offering. Milland plans the perfect murder, or does he? If you must watch the later version, please watch this one first.
Murder, Inc. (1960): During Prohibition a group of gangsters in Brooklyn formed the organization Murder, Inc. What chance does a lonely police officer have? Henry Morgan certainly tries. Watch for a young Peter Falk.
Murder in the First (1995): Kevin Bacon, Gary Oldman and Christian Slater star in this prison film set at Alcatraz in the 30s. The question: Does prolonged solitary confinement promote extreme violence?
Little Murders (1971): Alan Arkin directs this very dark comedy starring Elliott Gould, Marcia Rodd, and Donald Sutherland. The movie is set in New York. The quirky story is by Jules Feiffer.
Murder by Death (1976): I told you about this one last month. It’s worth mentioning again. The funniest movie about murder there is.
Murder by Decree (1979): Christopher Plummer stars as super sleuth Sherlock Holmes. He’s supported by a great cast consisting of Donald Sutherland, John Gielgud and James Mason. Plummer is trying to find Jack the Ripper. Will the great man fail?
Witness to Murder (1954): How would you feel if you witnessed a murder and no one believed you? Barbara Stanwyck finds herself in this position. George Sanders and Gary Merrill costar.
Anatomy of a Murder (1959): This is a tour de force for James Stewart as an attorney defending Ben Gazzara. Lee Remick is Gazzara’s wife. A great movie.
A Murder of Crows (1999): I admit that I chose this film because I love the title. The movie’s not bad. Cuba Gooding, Jr., Tom Berenger and Eric Stoltz make up the cast. Plagiarism is the game.
Murder on the Orient Express (1974): Albert Finney as Poirot has his work cut out for him as a slew of characters are suspects in the murder of Richard Widmark. Widmark has a true knack for making enemies. The all-star cast includes Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery, and Vanessa Redgrave. Sidney Lumet directed.
Murder by Numbers (2002): A light-weight murder mystery starring Sandra Bullock as a police detective. Ben Chaplin is her partner in this cat-and- mouse-themed tale. Hard to believe Bullock in a serious profession.
Sunset Murder Case (1938): The famous stripper Sally Rand stars as, guess what, an exotic dancer. She wants to find her father’s murderer. This film was originally titled Sunset Strip Case, but the censors forced the change. Pretty tame title, I think.
Slight Case of Murder (1999): William H. Macy plays a movie critic of questionable morals afraid of consequences of his lover’s accidental death. Enter sleazy private eye James Cromwell with thoughts of blackmail. Poor Adam Arkin, as the law, has to deal with this web of deceit.
Murder Cruise (1940): Crafty Charlie Chan (Sidney Toler) follows a murderer aboard a cruise ship. No question the culprit will be caught.
(It has come to my attention that a crime is being committed: Tom Cruise is being considered to play Jack Reacher. Reacher is a recurring character in the popular Lee Child books. He has gravitas and height, 6feet 5 inches. Cruise has neither. Cruise can barely play Cruise. I am outraged at this casting. Anyone else?)
Saturday, October 1, 2011
As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.
Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you will agree. I hope to hear from all of you.
Heist (2001): Gene Hackman as the man-with-the-ultimate-back-up-plan stars in this cleverly plotted film. Buddies Delroy Lindo, Ricky Jay and Rebecca Pidgeon (his wife) must do one last job for villain Danny DeVito and his nephew Sam Rockwell. David Mamet wrote and directed this entertaining romp.
Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973): What’s a man to do? Robert Mitchum finds himself between a jail sentence and his bank robbing friends. He decides to become an informant for the police to stay out of jail. This classic also stars Peter Boyle.
The Bank Job (2008): This London bank heist film contains murder, scandal and corruption. Jason Statham has a lot on his hands.
The Usual Suspects (1995): Ah, this is possibly my favorite in this genre—great plot, good acting and a big surprise. It’s no wonder it won an Oscar for screenplay. Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Pete Postelwaite and several good actors keep you guessing. Who is KEYSER SöZE anyway?
The Killing (1956): That great non-actor Sterling Hayden masterminds this one-last-heist of a race track. This early Stanley Kubrick film also stars Vince Edwards and Elisha Cook.
Inside Man (2006): Clive Owen pulls off the perfect bank heist, much to the consternation of Denzel Washington. This Spike Lee film is a joy to watch.
The Asphalt Jungle (1950): This John Huston film garnered 4 Oscar nominations. Sterling Hayden, Sam Jaffe and cohorts rob a jewelry store, then greed causes a falling out. Watch for a young Marilyn Monroe.
The Thomas Crown Affair (1968): Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway play a cat-and-mouse game. McQueen as a bored wealthy man steals for the fun of it. Dunaway is the insurance agent trying to catch him out. Great music, chic clothes and little twists make this a good watch. The 1999 remake with Pierce Brosnan is okay but much softer.
Take the Money and Run (1969): And now for something completely different. As a failed crook, Woody Allen is hilarious. Focusing on a series of misfortunes, this mockumentary chronicles Allen making his way through life.
The Italian Job (1969): Michael Caine and Noel Coward are out for Chinese gold but get stuck in traffic. The result is a magnificent display of precision driving. The 2003 remake was a pale imitation.
Dog Day Afternoon (1975): Al Pacino needs money for partner John Cazale’s sex-change operation. A bank offers a solution, so on a hot day Pacino sets out to rob it. The pesky press stick their noses in. Confusion galore.
The Town (2010): Oscar winners Ben Affleck and Jeremy Renner spearhead a bank heist. They get away, but only Affleck really wins, or does he? Good mood, acting and locations make this a better than average film.
The Anderson Tapes (1971): On a holiday weekend, Sean Connery, Christopher Walken, Martin Balsam and friends rob a posh apartment house in New York. In an era before ubiquitous surveillance cameras, the gang doesn’t realize that they are being filmed. Dyan Cannon provides the love interest.
Ocean’s Eleven (1960): Frank Sinatra and his rat pack rob a Las Vegas casino. Not a very good movie, but kind of fun.
Ocean’s Eleven (2001): The pretty-boy pack led by George Clooney rob a Los Vegas casino. Better than the original, but Julia Roberts was totally unnecessary.
Ocean’s Twelve (2004): The pack goes to Europe for a series of heists.
Ocean’s Thirteen (2007): The pack returns to Los Vegas for another robbery. They should learn to spend their money more wisely.
Oceans Fourteen (?): Whatever.
Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you will agree. I hope to hear from all of you.
One last job and I’m out.How many times have you heard this? And groaned because you knew something really bad was going to happen. The really good heist movie fools you along the way. The plots in the heist movie are more important than the actors. All you need are competent actors to tell the story. I love heist movies for their complex plots, dastardly betrayals, and clever twists and turns. Listed below are some of my favorites:
Heist (2001): Gene Hackman as the man-with-the-ultimate-back-up-plan stars in this cleverly plotted film. Buddies Delroy Lindo, Ricky Jay and Rebecca Pidgeon (his wife) must do one last job for villain Danny DeVito and his nephew Sam Rockwell. David Mamet wrote and directed this entertaining romp.
Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973): What’s a man to do? Robert Mitchum finds himself between a jail sentence and his bank robbing friends. He decides to become an informant for the police to stay out of jail. This classic also stars Peter Boyle.
The Bank Job (2008): This London bank heist film contains murder, scandal and corruption. Jason Statham has a lot on his hands.
The Usual Suspects (1995): Ah, this is possibly my favorite in this genre—great plot, good acting and a big surprise. It’s no wonder it won an Oscar for screenplay. Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Pete Postelwaite and several good actors keep you guessing. Who is KEYSER SöZE anyway?
The Killing (1956): That great non-actor Sterling Hayden masterminds this one-last-heist of a race track. This early Stanley Kubrick film also stars Vince Edwards and Elisha Cook.
Inside Man (2006): Clive Owen pulls off the perfect bank heist, much to the consternation of Denzel Washington. This Spike Lee film is a joy to watch.
The Asphalt Jungle (1950): This John Huston film garnered 4 Oscar nominations. Sterling Hayden, Sam Jaffe and cohorts rob a jewelry store, then greed causes a falling out. Watch for a young Marilyn Monroe.
The Thomas Crown Affair (1968): Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway play a cat-and-mouse game. McQueen as a bored wealthy man steals for the fun of it. Dunaway is the insurance agent trying to catch him out. Great music, chic clothes and little twists make this a good watch. The 1999 remake with Pierce Brosnan is okay but much softer.
Take the Money and Run (1969): And now for something completely different. As a failed crook, Woody Allen is hilarious. Focusing on a series of misfortunes, this mockumentary chronicles Allen making his way through life.
The Italian Job (1969): Michael Caine and Noel Coward are out for Chinese gold but get stuck in traffic. The result is a magnificent display of precision driving. The 2003 remake was a pale imitation.
Dog Day Afternoon (1975): Al Pacino needs money for partner John Cazale’s sex-change operation. A bank offers a solution, so on a hot day Pacino sets out to rob it. The pesky press stick their noses in. Confusion galore.
The Town (2010): Oscar winners Ben Affleck and Jeremy Renner spearhead a bank heist. They get away, but only Affleck really wins, or does he? Good mood, acting and locations make this a better than average film.
The Anderson Tapes (1971): On a holiday weekend, Sean Connery, Christopher Walken, Martin Balsam and friends rob a posh apartment house in New York. In an era before ubiquitous surveillance cameras, the gang doesn’t realize that they are being filmed. Dyan Cannon provides the love interest.
Ocean’s Eleven (1960): Frank Sinatra and his rat pack rob a Las Vegas casino. Not a very good movie, but kind of fun.
Ocean’s Eleven (2001): The pretty-boy pack led by George Clooney rob a Los Vegas casino. Better than the original, but Julia Roberts was totally unnecessary.
Ocean’s Twelve (2004): The pack goes to Europe for a series of heists.
Ocean’s Thirteen (2007): The pack returns to Los Vegas for another robbery. They should learn to spend their money more wisely.
Oceans Fourteen (?): Whatever.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.
Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you will agree. I hope to hear from all of you.
A horse walks into a bar and sits down. The bartender looks over and asks, “Why the long face?” Now, some of you will smile indulgently, some of you might chuckle, some of you might laugh, and some of you might say, “What?” This is my elaborate way of illustrating that humor is, like beauty, in the mind of the beholder. In writing about comedy in film, I will try to incorporate various types of humor. Please feel free to send your comments about your favorite comedy.
In addition, almost any movie starring the Marx Brothers, Abbott and Costello, Martin and Lewis, Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Billy Crystal and Cary Grant will be entertaining.
I’m splitting comedy into five categories: witty, amusing, laugh-out-loud, just-plain-crude and foreign.
Witty
The Thin Man (1930s) series. To me, this is the most witty, charming, entertaining series ever. The banter between William Powell and Myrna Loy is the height of sophistication. I used to dream about being able to come up with lines like those. I know Hollywood is flirting with making new ones, but I will never see them. How do you improve on perfection?
Next in line is Mae West. Her movie with W.C.Fields, My Little Chickadee (1940), is famous for the pairing of two great comedic actors. It’s a wonder the studio could contain them both. Although I used to think this duo starred in many films, this was their only one together (maybe the studio couldn’t). Mae West and Cary Grant made two memorable films together. She Done Him Wrong (1933) is famous for the one-liner: “Why don’t you come up and see me sometime?” delivered with obvious innuendo. In I’m No Angel (1933), she drawls out, “When I’m good, I’m very good. But when I’m bad, I’m better.”
Cary Grant stars again, this time with Rosalind Russell, in His Girl Friday (1940), about the fast-paced world of newspapers. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with the banter, but this is a film worth watching again and again.
In an unlikely pairing, Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort in Harold and Maude display bittersweet wit. This cult classic strays into the laugh-out-loud category and should not be missed.
Amusing
The amusing film displays a broader humor but is shy of laugh-out-loud status. It usually provokes a smile.
No Time for Sergeants (1958): Andy Griffith as a more-than-just-naïve army recruit hooks up with Nick Adams and Bruno Kirby to drive the brass crazy.
When Harry Met Sally (1989): “I’ll have what she’s having” —a great line delivered by none other than Carl Reiner’s wife lifts this romantic comedy above most others. Add Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan (before her disastrous face enhancements) and you’ve got amusing.
Some Like it Hot (1959): “Nobody’s perfect,” chimes Joe E. Brown to an alluring Jack Lemmon at the end of the film. Billy Wilder’s romp brings some very good comedic acting to the screen. The movie also stars Marilyn Monroe (which never hurts) and Tony Curtis.
Love and Death (1975): Woody Allen’s version of War and Peace is delightful. Great writing and Woody as Napoleon with Diane Keaton as the reluctant maiden earns a spot on this list.
Laugh Out Loud
The Odd Couple (1968): This Neil Simon movie starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau is hilarious. I remember laughing so hard my stomach hurt. It has aged well (or I have) and can still be watched with great enjoyment.
Murder by Death (1976): Another Neil Simon has a cast of Hollywood all-stars: David Niven, Maggie Smith, Peter Falk, Alec Guiness, Peter Sellers, James Coco, Elsa Lanchester, Eileen Brennan and author Truman Capote. “Tacky, really tacky,” responds Maggie Smith after learning what necrophilia means. And no one delivers a line like Maggie.
Mel Brooks’ films History of the World, Part I (1981), Young Frankenstein ((1974), The Producers (1968), Get Smart (1965) are among his best but the list goes on and on for 2000 years.
Leslie Neilson left behind his ingénue roles to become one of the wackiest actors of his time. Movies such as Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995), Airplane ((1988), and The Naked Gun series are all LOL films. And “don’t call me Shirley.”
Just Plain Crude
Most of the films in this category I couldn’t watch in their entirety. But I saw enough to realize they weren’t my kind of humor. Since they’re so prevalent nowadays, I must be in the minority.
Borat (2006): All the hype indicated that this was a funny film. I rented it and was so bored by what I saw, I stopped it before I fell asleep.
Pecker ((1998): This film hosted so much gratuitous nonsense it got sent back to Netflix immediately.
Hangovers I and II: I don’t understand why II should have been made. Didn’t the first one go far enough in crudity?
Dumb and Dumber((1994): Jim Carrey (who should be banned from making any movies) and Jeff Daniels (who can actually act) are together in dreck. Shrek would have been a better vehicle.
Foreign
It’s always fun to see what the rest of the world thinks funny. In these cases, I totally agree.
Johnny Stecchino (1991, Italy): Roberto Benigni in a very funny case of mistaken identity.
The Castle (1997, Australia): Australian actor Michael Caton stars in a funny, sweet and uplifting movie about a man’s home and property rights. Please see this movie.
My New Partner (1984, France): Phillippe Noiret plays an old-fashioned Parisian cop who is saddled with a fresh-from-the-provinces partner Thierry Lhermitte—and the corrupting begins. This is a funny and perfect little movie (it actually has an ending, which is a novelty in French films).
Kitchen Stories (2004, Norway): A funny and sweet film about a government worker sent to the farm of a Norwegian bachelor to follow his movements.
The Monty Python group (England) consisting of John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, and Graham Chapman) is an institution. Their movies such as Holy Grail (1975), Life of Brian (1979), and The Meaning of Life (1983) display a deep understanding of what it means to be funny. For some reason, which I completely fail to understand, they are not universally appreciated.
Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you will agree. I hope to hear from all of you.
A horse walks into a bar and sits down. The bartender looks over and asks, “Why the long face?” Now, some of you will smile indulgently, some of you might chuckle, some of you might laugh, and some of you might say, “What?” This is my elaborate way of illustrating that humor is, like beauty, in the mind of the beholder. In writing about comedy in film, I will try to incorporate various types of humor. Please feel free to send your comments about your favorite comedy.
In addition, almost any movie starring the Marx Brothers, Abbott and Costello, Martin and Lewis, Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Billy Crystal and Cary Grant will be entertaining.
I’m splitting comedy into five categories: witty, amusing, laugh-out-loud, just-plain-crude and foreign.
Witty
The Thin Man (1930s) series. To me, this is the most witty, charming, entertaining series ever. The banter between William Powell and Myrna Loy is the height of sophistication. I used to dream about being able to come up with lines like those. I know Hollywood is flirting with making new ones, but I will never see them. How do you improve on perfection?
Next in line is Mae West. Her movie with W.C.Fields, My Little Chickadee (1940), is famous for the pairing of two great comedic actors. It’s a wonder the studio could contain them both. Although I used to think this duo starred in many films, this was their only one together (maybe the studio couldn’t). Mae West and Cary Grant made two memorable films together. She Done Him Wrong (1933) is famous for the one-liner: “Why don’t you come up and see me sometime?” delivered with obvious innuendo. In I’m No Angel (1933), she drawls out, “When I’m good, I’m very good. But when I’m bad, I’m better.”
Cary Grant stars again, this time with Rosalind Russell, in His Girl Friday (1940), about the fast-paced world of newspapers. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with the banter, but this is a film worth watching again and again.
In an unlikely pairing, Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort in Harold and Maude display bittersweet wit. This cult classic strays into the laugh-out-loud category and should not be missed.
Amusing
The amusing film displays a broader humor but is shy of laugh-out-loud status. It usually provokes a smile.
No Time for Sergeants (1958): Andy Griffith as a more-than-just-naïve army recruit hooks up with Nick Adams and Bruno Kirby to drive the brass crazy.
When Harry Met Sally (1989): “I’ll have what she’s having” —a great line delivered by none other than Carl Reiner’s wife lifts this romantic comedy above most others. Add Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan (before her disastrous face enhancements) and you’ve got amusing.
Some Like it Hot (1959): “Nobody’s perfect,” chimes Joe E. Brown to an alluring Jack Lemmon at the end of the film. Billy Wilder’s romp brings some very good comedic acting to the screen. The movie also stars Marilyn Monroe (which never hurts) and Tony Curtis.
Love and Death (1975): Woody Allen’s version of War and Peace is delightful. Great writing and Woody as Napoleon with Diane Keaton as the reluctant maiden earns a spot on this list.
Laugh Out Loud
The Odd Couple (1968): This Neil Simon movie starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau is hilarious. I remember laughing so hard my stomach hurt. It has aged well (or I have) and can still be watched with great enjoyment.
Murder by Death (1976): Another Neil Simon has a cast of Hollywood all-stars: David Niven, Maggie Smith, Peter Falk, Alec Guiness, Peter Sellers, James Coco, Elsa Lanchester, Eileen Brennan and author Truman Capote. “Tacky, really tacky,” responds Maggie Smith after learning what necrophilia means. And no one delivers a line like Maggie.
Mel Brooks’ films History of the World, Part I (1981), Young Frankenstein ((1974), The Producers (1968), Get Smart (1965) are among his best but the list goes on and on for 2000 years.
Leslie Neilson left behind his ingénue roles to become one of the wackiest actors of his time. Movies such as Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995), Airplane ((1988), and The Naked Gun series are all LOL films. And “don’t call me Shirley.”
Just Plain Crude
Most of the films in this category I couldn’t watch in their entirety. But I saw enough to realize they weren’t my kind of humor. Since they’re so prevalent nowadays, I must be in the minority.
Borat (2006): All the hype indicated that this was a funny film. I rented it and was so bored by what I saw, I stopped it before I fell asleep.
Pecker ((1998): This film hosted so much gratuitous nonsense it got sent back to Netflix immediately.
Hangovers I and II: I don’t understand why II should have been made. Didn’t the first one go far enough in crudity?
Dumb and Dumber((1994): Jim Carrey (who should be banned from making any movies) and Jeff Daniels (who can actually act) are together in dreck. Shrek would have been a better vehicle.
Foreign
It’s always fun to see what the rest of the world thinks funny. In these cases, I totally agree.
Johnny Stecchino (1991, Italy): Roberto Benigni in a very funny case of mistaken identity.
The Castle (1997, Australia): Australian actor Michael Caton stars in a funny, sweet and uplifting movie about a man’s home and property rights. Please see this movie.
My New Partner (1984, France): Phillippe Noiret plays an old-fashioned Parisian cop who is saddled with a fresh-from-the-provinces partner Thierry Lhermitte—and the corrupting begins. This is a funny and perfect little movie (it actually has an ending, which is a novelty in French films).
Kitchen Stories (2004, Norway): A funny and sweet film about a government worker sent to the farm of a Norwegian bachelor to follow his movements.
The Monty Python group (England) consisting of John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, and Graham Chapman) is an institution. Their movies such as Holy Grail (1975), Life of Brian (1979), and The Meaning of Life (1983) display a deep understanding of what it means to be funny. For some reason, which I completely fail to understand, they are not universally appreciated.
Monday, August 1, 2011
As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.
Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you will agree. I hope to hear from all of you.
“You have just entered the twilight zone.” This phrase from the television show would be appropriate for watching almost any science fiction movie. You know that what you’re watching can’t be real, but you sure enjoy the ride. You might be scared; you might be amazed; you might be delighted; sometimes you might laugh.
The Star Wars and Star Trek movies are my favorites. The stories and the technology were superb. I can watch them again and again.
When I started researching this genre I found way too many movies that I liked. So, I tried to pick some lesser known and offbeat movies. I might have to revisit this genre.
Here are the ones I picked:
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951): The original film is best. Michael Rennie and Patricia Neal star in this not-so-subtle plea for world peace. Here the aliens clearly have the upper hand as they have Washington, D.C. in their sights.
Forbidden Planet (1956): Leslie Nielson (way before he was a comic genius) as a starship captain who finds a paradise planet in a galaxy far, far away. Walter Pidgeon plays a doctor who has uncovered secrets that may or may not be helpful.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956 and 1978): Both versions are well done, but I prefer the original. It’s darker and scarier. The term “pod people” has wormed its way into popular culture.
Them (1954): This is a film inspired by the atomic bomb. Radiation has mutated ordinary ants and other creatures into huge monsters. James Whitmore is the hero who battles them. This problem was of real concern at the time.
The Blob (1958): Another atomic-era film this time starring Steve McQueen. Our hero must battle a huge gelatinous blob. Scream, scream.
The Fly (1958 and 1986): Both versions are good, but here I prefer the second one. An experiment involving “beam me up, Scotty” matter transference has gone horribly wrong. Jeff Goldblum stars. Help me!
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977): An unassuming power outage leads to an amazing and wonderful encounter. Richard Dreyfuss and Teri Garr co-star.
Dune (1984): A big, sprawling book leads to a big, sprawling film full of drama, intrigue and rather large worms. The battle is over power and spice. Kyle McLachlan and Sting star.
Planet of the Apes (2001): Charlton Heston, Mark Wahlberg, and Helena Bonham Carter star in this very clever and well-made film. The ending is perfect.
Illustrated Man (1969): This Ray Bradbury tale is fascinating and thoughtful. Before it was trendy, Rod Steiger was tattooed completely. Each tattoo has a story. Claire Bloom co-stars.
The Stepford Wives (1975 and 2004): Ira Levin is known for clever, spooky, delightful stories. Remember Rosemary’s Baby? In this tale, Katherine Ross and Paula Prentiss wonder about the wives of Stepford. They are perfect in every way. Eat your heart out Martha Stewart. I didn’t see the later version. No need to.
Marooned (1969): A precursor to Apollo 14, this film stars Richard Crenna, Gene Hackman and James Franciscus as astronauts sent to a space station to see how future astronauts would handle long space travels. Something goes wrong and David Jansen must rescue them.
The Thing from Another World (1951): In this version, James Arness and Kenneth Tobey star in a movie that scared me for years. A huge humanoid is found frozen in a block of ice. What will happen when he defrosts? Oh, my.
Angry Red Planet (1959): This movie is about an expedition to Mars--and a second mission to Mars. The cast is unremarkable, the dialogue less so, and the cheese is evident everywhere. Still, as a teenager watching this film in ’59, I loved it. The weird monsters and the red overlay during the Mars scenes captivated me.
The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976): Considered a cult classic but not a great film, the “Man” is interesting to watch. David Bowie as the innocent alien is thrust into our world of sex, booze and rock and roll. Eventually he starts to forget his mission to take water to his dry and dying planet. Can we corrupt everyone?
Quintet (1979): This film starts nowhere and ends in the same place. The earth is frozen. A once-great city is reduced to a ruin in which inhabitants play a life and death game called quintet. Director Robert Altman sends Paul Newman into this situation. An international cast includes Vittorio Gassman (Italy), Bibi Andersson (Sweden) and Fernando Rey (Spain). If you’re a fan of Altman and Newman (I could watch him reading the telephone directory) you might want to see this. If not, ignore it.
The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954): Julie Adams and Richard Carlson travel to the Amazon. They stumble upon a black lagoon from which rises a scaly monster. The monster kills a bunch of people but our hero saves the damsel. Loved this movie.
Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you will agree. I hope to hear from all of you.
“You have just entered the twilight zone.” This phrase from the television show would be appropriate for watching almost any science fiction movie. You know that what you’re watching can’t be real, but you sure enjoy the ride. You might be scared; you might be amazed; you might be delighted; sometimes you might laugh.
The Star Wars and Star Trek movies are my favorites. The stories and the technology were superb. I can watch them again and again.
When I started researching this genre I found way too many movies that I liked. So, I tried to pick some lesser known and offbeat movies. I might have to revisit this genre.
Here are the ones I picked:
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951): The original film is best. Michael Rennie and Patricia Neal star in this not-so-subtle plea for world peace. Here the aliens clearly have the upper hand as they have Washington, D.C. in their sights.
Forbidden Planet (1956): Leslie Nielson (way before he was a comic genius) as a starship captain who finds a paradise planet in a galaxy far, far away. Walter Pidgeon plays a doctor who has uncovered secrets that may or may not be helpful.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956 and 1978): Both versions are well done, but I prefer the original. It’s darker and scarier. The term “pod people” has wormed its way into popular culture.
Them (1954): This is a film inspired by the atomic bomb. Radiation has mutated ordinary ants and other creatures into huge monsters. James Whitmore is the hero who battles them. This problem was of real concern at the time.
The Blob (1958): Another atomic-era film this time starring Steve McQueen. Our hero must battle a huge gelatinous blob. Scream, scream.
The Fly (1958 and 1986): Both versions are good, but here I prefer the second one. An experiment involving “beam me up, Scotty” matter transference has gone horribly wrong. Jeff Goldblum stars. Help me!
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977): An unassuming power outage leads to an amazing and wonderful encounter. Richard Dreyfuss and Teri Garr co-star.
Dune (1984): A big, sprawling book leads to a big, sprawling film full of drama, intrigue and rather large worms. The battle is over power and spice. Kyle McLachlan and Sting star.
Planet of the Apes (2001): Charlton Heston, Mark Wahlberg, and Helena Bonham Carter star in this very clever and well-made film. The ending is perfect.
Illustrated Man (1969): This Ray Bradbury tale is fascinating and thoughtful. Before it was trendy, Rod Steiger was tattooed completely. Each tattoo has a story. Claire Bloom co-stars.
The Stepford Wives (1975 and 2004): Ira Levin is known for clever, spooky, delightful stories. Remember Rosemary’s Baby? In this tale, Katherine Ross and Paula Prentiss wonder about the wives of Stepford. They are perfect in every way. Eat your heart out Martha Stewart. I didn’t see the later version. No need to.
Marooned (1969): A precursor to Apollo 14, this film stars Richard Crenna, Gene Hackman and James Franciscus as astronauts sent to a space station to see how future astronauts would handle long space travels. Something goes wrong and David Jansen must rescue them.
The Thing from Another World (1951): In this version, James Arness and Kenneth Tobey star in a movie that scared me for years. A huge humanoid is found frozen in a block of ice. What will happen when he defrosts? Oh, my.
Angry Red Planet (1959): This movie is about an expedition to Mars--and a second mission to Mars. The cast is unremarkable, the dialogue less so, and the cheese is evident everywhere. Still, as a teenager watching this film in ’59, I loved it. The weird monsters and the red overlay during the Mars scenes captivated me.
The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976): Considered a cult classic but not a great film, the “Man” is interesting to watch. David Bowie as the innocent alien is thrust into our world of sex, booze and rock and roll. Eventually he starts to forget his mission to take water to his dry and dying planet. Can we corrupt everyone?
Quintet (1979): This film starts nowhere and ends in the same place. The earth is frozen. A once-great city is reduced to a ruin in which inhabitants play a life and death game called quintet. Director Robert Altman sends Paul Newman into this situation. An international cast includes Vittorio Gassman (Italy), Bibi Andersson (Sweden) and Fernando Rey (Spain). If you’re a fan of Altman and Newman (I could watch him reading the telephone directory) you might want to see this. If not, ignore it.
The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954): Julie Adams and Richard Carlson travel to the Amazon. They stumble upon a black lagoon from which rises a scaly monster. The monster kills a bunch of people but our hero saves the damsel. Loved this movie.
Friday, July 1, 2011
As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.
Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you will agree. I hope to hear from all of you.
It’s July and time for those silly summer movies. It’s time for light-hearted fun and thrills. From what I’ve been able to find, the idea of summer films started in the 70s. Before that, all genres of movies were released anytime of the year. The following list is based on what might have been.
I think the all-time great summer movie is Jaws. Released in 1975, it ruined ocean swimming for an entire summer—maybe for even longer. It starred Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw engaged in an epic war with an aggressive Great White Shark. The soundtrack is still used to instill terror.
The Seven-year Itch (1955): Tom Ewell is a book editor whose family has gone to Maine for the summer. Marilyn Monroe distracts him. Remember that white dress. Who doesn’t?
Summer Stock (1950): The famous barn show. The film stars Judy Garland and Gene Kelly. Good music and great dancing--innocent fun.
Summertime (1955): This movie starring Katherine Hepburn and Rossano Brazzi is a tale of a forbidden love. It is set in romantic Venice. What lonely spinster could resist Brazzi?
A Summer Place (1959): This sappy movie with its sappy soundtrack was a big hit. The adult stars were Richard Egan, Constance Ford and Dorothy McGuire, while the youngsters were Sandra Dee and Troy Donahue. There’s enough passion for several summers.
State Fair (1945): This post-war musical stars singer Dick Haymes and Jeanne Crain as brother and sister who find love and romance during a state fair. Music is by Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Summer of ’42 (1971): A typical coming-of-age film set during World War II. Jennifer O’Neill and Gary Grimes star.
Blue Hawaii (1961): Elvis Presley just wants to have fun after serving as a soldier. Mama Angela Lansbury wants him to go to work on their pineapple plantation. Presley ignores her and sings and dances his way through the movie. Typical Presley film is good fun for a summer’s day.
Men in Black (1961): Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith star as government agent and cop, respectively, assigned to stop an alien attack. Also starring are Vincent Donofrio as a villain, Rip Torn, Linda Fioretino, and Tony Shalhoub. This is an entertaining and funny film.
Rear Window (1954): Poor James Stewart has broken his leg and is confined to a wheelchair in this thrilling Hitchcock murder mystery. Fortunately, Grace Kelly is on hand to keep his spirits up. Raymond Burr is the heavy—literally.
Meat Balls (1979): In this cult classic, wild and crazy guy Bill Murray plays a caring camp counselor who works with shy camper, Chris Makepeace, who in turn helps Murray with a female camp counselor. If you like Murray, this could be good fun.
National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983): Chevy Chase and family are determined to get to theme park Wally World on their vacation. Of course, nothing is easy and they encounter goofy characters and mishaps along the way. Do they make it? Rent the movie and see.
Independence Day (1996): A blockbuster summer movie that is actually good. Pilot Will Smith and mad scientist Jeff Goldblum team up to save the earth from total annihilation. Fast action and stunning special effects make this a movie worth seeing.
And, don’t forget the Gidget movies.
Some of these oldies might look good to you, especially if you consider the current crop of summer movies, such as Transformers, The Tree of Life, Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer, Thor, Hangover II, and The Green Lantern, which I don’t expect to see. The kids’ movies Kung Foo Panda II and Cars II look pretty good.
Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you will agree. I hope to hear from all of you.
It’s July and time for those silly summer movies. It’s time for light-hearted fun and thrills. From what I’ve been able to find, the idea of summer films started in the 70s. Before that, all genres of movies were released anytime of the year. The following list is based on what might have been.
I think the all-time great summer movie is Jaws. Released in 1975, it ruined ocean swimming for an entire summer—maybe for even longer. It starred Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Shaw engaged in an epic war with an aggressive Great White Shark. The soundtrack is still used to instill terror.
The Seven-year Itch (1955): Tom Ewell is a book editor whose family has gone to Maine for the summer. Marilyn Monroe distracts him. Remember that white dress. Who doesn’t?
Summer Stock (1950): The famous barn show. The film stars Judy Garland and Gene Kelly. Good music and great dancing--innocent fun.
Summertime (1955): This movie starring Katherine Hepburn and Rossano Brazzi is a tale of a forbidden love. It is set in romantic Venice. What lonely spinster could resist Brazzi?
A Summer Place (1959): This sappy movie with its sappy soundtrack was a big hit. The adult stars were Richard Egan, Constance Ford and Dorothy McGuire, while the youngsters were Sandra Dee and Troy Donahue. There’s enough passion for several summers.
State Fair (1945): This post-war musical stars singer Dick Haymes and Jeanne Crain as brother and sister who find love and romance during a state fair. Music is by Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Summer of ’42 (1971): A typical coming-of-age film set during World War II. Jennifer O’Neill and Gary Grimes star.
Blue Hawaii (1961): Elvis Presley just wants to have fun after serving as a soldier. Mama Angela Lansbury wants him to go to work on their pineapple plantation. Presley ignores her and sings and dances his way through the movie. Typical Presley film is good fun for a summer’s day.
Men in Black (1961): Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith star as government agent and cop, respectively, assigned to stop an alien attack. Also starring are Vincent Donofrio as a villain, Rip Torn, Linda Fioretino, and Tony Shalhoub. This is an entertaining and funny film.
Rear Window (1954): Poor James Stewart has broken his leg and is confined to a wheelchair in this thrilling Hitchcock murder mystery. Fortunately, Grace Kelly is on hand to keep his spirits up. Raymond Burr is the heavy—literally.
Meat Balls (1979): In this cult classic, wild and crazy guy Bill Murray plays a caring camp counselor who works with shy camper, Chris Makepeace, who in turn helps Murray with a female camp counselor. If you like Murray, this could be good fun.
National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983): Chevy Chase and family are determined to get to theme park Wally World on their vacation. Of course, nothing is easy and they encounter goofy characters and mishaps along the way. Do they make it? Rent the movie and see.
Independence Day (1996): A blockbuster summer movie that is actually good. Pilot Will Smith and mad scientist Jeff Goldblum team up to save the earth from total annihilation. Fast action and stunning special effects make this a movie worth seeing.
And, don’t forget the Gidget movies.
Some of these oldies might look good to you, especially if you consider the current crop of summer movies, such as Transformers, The Tree of Life, Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer, Thor, Hangover II, and The Green Lantern, which I don’t expect to see. The kids’ movies Kung Foo Panda II and Cars II look pretty good.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.
Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice.
It’s night and the only light comes from a flickering hotel sign. Rain has slicked the streets. A shot is heard. Cut to a dim, shabby room. The body of a man lies bleeding on the worn carpet. Standing over him is a beautiful blonde with a gun in her hand and a smile on her face. The director yells, “Cut, print.” Another film noir classic has been born.
What is film noir? The definitive answer is still being discussed. Strictly speaking, it is a dark film. Dark in the way it is photographed and dark in the story it presents. The term was coined by French critic Nino Frank in 1946. Hollywood was unaware that its stylish dark films had been dubbed as film noir by him until much later. For purposes of this blog, I will limit myself to a narrow definition: a film that is shot in black and white; a story that has as its hero (or anti-hero) a tough, flawed, cynical yet vulnerable cop, private eye, drifter, or insurance salesman; a heroine who is just as tough with not a sentimental bone in her beautiful body. Add some shady-looking villains and some money (or a black bird) to die over and you have the makings of a film noir.
Some examples of my favorite films noir:
The Maltese Falcon (1941): Probably the perfect noir. John Huston directs the Hammett story. Bogart stars as Sam Spade. Mary Astor, Sidney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre fill out the cast. Truly “the stuff that dreams are made of.”
Double Indemnity ((1944): Fred McMurray plays an insurance salesman who falls for the bad and beautiful Barbara Stanwyck. The problem is how to get rid of the lady’s husband.
Out of the Past (1947): Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer and Kirk Douglas are the trio in my favorite noir. Be prepared for the unexpected.
Touch of Evil (1958): Charlton Heston plays (of all things) a Mexican detective on a honeymoon with Janet Leigh. But soon she is abandoned in a sleazy motel room while Heston and Orson Wells do their thing. Watch for Marlene Dietrich in a cameo role.
The Big Sleep (1946): Aah. Bogart and Bacall star in Raymond Chandler’s story of blackmail. The dialogue is the best thing.
Pickup on South Street (1953): Richard Widmark and Jean Peters in a political noir. There are secrets being passed. Who will they end up with? Richard Kiley costars.
Murder, My Sweet (1944): Adapted from Raymond Chandler’s novel, Farewell, My Lovely, this noir stars Dick Powell and Claire Trevor. Powell as Phillip Marlowe is hired to find Velma, who hasn’t been seen for way too long. Why do they want her?
Kiss Me Deadly (1955): Things get steamier in Mickey Spillane’s novels. This noir, starring Ralph Meeker as Mike Hammer, has our hero delving into matters he probably shouldn’t. Cloris Leachman plays a pivotal role as a hitchhiker who ends up dead.
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946): Oh, those pesky husbands. This time it’s Lana Turner who needs to lose hers so she can keep hunky John Garfield. Even Hollywood was shocked by this noir from a story by James Cain.
Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950): Dana Andrews as an insecure cop, Gary Merrill as a gangster, and Gene Tierney as the love interest in a complicated tale of murder. Andrews and Tierney are together again after starring in the terrific Laura (Otto Preminger won the Oscar for Best Director).
Gilda (1946): Glenn Ford, Rita Hayworth and George Macready star in this noir set in South America. Beautiful Hayworth vamps her way into a dangerous trio with Ford and Macready. Her song numbers set the tone.
Human Desire (1954): Sultry Gloria Grahame falls for Korean War vet Glenn Ford. Oops, she already has a husband she’ll need to get rid of. But he knows a thing or two about murder.
There are literally hundreds of films noir available. Go hunt them down. You’ll find English ones, French ones and Spanish ones. These are but a few of my favorites
But beware, there are a lot of fakes out there, such as Arson, Inc. and Loan Shark. If it has a happy ending, it’s not film noir.
Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice.
It’s night and the only light comes from a flickering hotel sign. Rain has slicked the streets. A shot is heard. Cut to a dim, shabby room. The body of a man lies bleeding on the worn carpet. Standing over him is a beautiful blonde with a gun in her hand and a smile on her face. The director yells, “Cut, print.” Another film noir classic has been born.
What is film noir? The definitive answer is still being discussed. Strictly speaking, it is a dark film. Dark in the way it is photographed and dark in the story it presents. The term was coined by French critic Nino Frank in 1946. Hollywood was unaware that its stylish dark films had been dubbed as film noir by him until much later. For purposes of this blog, I will limit myself to a narrow definition: a film that is shot in black and white; a story that has as its hero (or anti-hero) a tough, flawed, cynical yet vulnerable cop, private eye, drifter, or insurance salesman; a heroine who is just as tough with not a sentimental bone in her beautiful body. Add some shady-looking villains and some money (or a black bird) to die over and you have the makings of a film noir.
Some examples of my favorite films noir:
The Maltese Falcon (1941): Probably the perfect noir. John Huston directs the Hammett story. Bogart stars as Sam Spade. Mary Astor, Sidney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre fill out the cast. Truly “the stuff that dreams are made of.”
Double Indemnity ((1944): Fred McMurray plays an insurance salesman who falls for the bad and beautiful Barbara Stanwyck. The problem is how to get rid of the lady’s husband.
Out of the Past (1947): Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer and Kirk Douglas are the trio in my favorite noir. Be prepared for the unexpected.
Touch of Evil (1958): Charlton Heston plays (of all things) a Mexican detective on a honeymoon with Janet Leigh. But soon she is abandoned in a sleazy motel room while Heston and Orson Wells do their thing. Watch for Marlene Dietrich in a cameo role.
The Big Sleep (1946): Aah. Bogart and Bacall star in Raymond Chandler’s story of blackmail. The dialogue is the best thing.
Pickup on South Street (1953): Richard Widmark and Jean Peters in a political noir. There are secrets being passed. Who will they end up with? Richard Kiley costars.
Murder, My Sweet (1944): Adapted from Raymond Chandler’s novel, Farewell, My Lovely, this noir stars Dick Powell and Claire Trevor. Powell as Phillip Marlowe is hired to find Velma, who hasn’t been seen for way too long. Why do they want her?
Kiss Me Deadly (1955): Things get steamier in Mickey Spillane’s novels. This noir, starring Ralph Meeker as Mike Hammer, has our hero delving into matters he probably shouldn’t. Cloris Leachman plays a pivotal role as a hitchhiker who ends up dead.
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946): Oh, those pesky husbands. This time it’s Lana Turner who needs to lose hers so she can keep hunky John Garfield. Even Hollywood was shocked by this noir from a story by James Cain.
Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950): Dana Andrews as an insecure cop, Gary Merrill as a gangster, and Gene Tierney as the love interest in a complicated tale of murder. Andrews and Tierney are together again after starring in the terrific Laura (Otto Preminger won the Oscar for Best Director).
Gilda (1946): Glenn Ford, Rita Hayworth and George Macready star in this noir set in South America. Beautiful Hayworth vamps her way into a dangerous trio with Ford and Macready. Her song numbers set the tone.
Human Desire (1954): Sultry Gloria Grahame falls for Korean War vet Glenn Ford. Oops, she already has a husband she’ll need to get rid of. But he knows a thing or two about murder.
There are literally hundreds of films noir available. Go hunt them down. You’ll find English ones, French ones and Spanish ones. These are but a few of my favorites
But beware, there are a lot of fakes out there, such as Arson, Inc. and Loan Shark. If it has a happy ending, it’s not film noir.
Monday, May 2, 2011
As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.
Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. I hope to hear from you.
To complete the two-part series on Westerns, this month I will talk about villains and sidekicks. These actors seldom win any prizes but put in just as good performances as the heroes. They provide comic relief. Sometimes they act as moral compasses to the heroes. Without sidekicks and villains, there are no Westerns. So, let’s hear it for those nasty varmints and those trusty sidekicks.
Those Nasty Varmints
Jack Elam. Who can forget that face? Leering and ogling, scruffy, clothes full of trail dirt, you knew the first moment you saw him that he was up to no good. He lost the fight in several classic Westerns, such as:
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968). Only Henry Fonda was a worse bad guy.
Rio Lobo (1970). With John Wayne, Dean Martin, Walter Brennan, and Ricky Nelson, how could he win against this crew?
The Far Country (1955). James Stewart must become devious to regain his herd of cattle. Elam and his cronies don’t make it easy.
The Way West (1967) Poor Elam has to face Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum and Richard Widmark in this wagon train story.
Check him out in The Comancheros, The Battle at Apache Pass, The High Lonesome, and Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.
Bruce Dern. He will forever live in ignominy for shooting John Wayne in The Cowboys, one of a very few films in which Wayne died. He was almost the dirtiest, scruffiest, nastiest villain you could ever meet.
The Cowboys (1972). Wayne is forced to use young boys to drive his cattle. Dern tries to stop him, but in killing Wayne he has to take on these hardened youths. Shame on you, Bruce.
Posse (1975). Marshall Kirk Douglas captures bandit Dern, but Dern doesn’t stay caught.
Will Penny (1968). Aging cowboy Charleton Heston (in one of his best roles) must fight nasty Dern and his cohorts. At the end of a cattle drive he must find work. And there is a woman involved, of course.
Eli Wallach. He didn’t make a lot of Westerns, but he was certainly nasty in the ones he did make. For some reason, he was cast as a Mexican bandit. He was ruthless and provocative in both films.
Magnificent Seven (1960). This is one of my all-time favorites. Fabulous cast. Stirring music. Good villain. Wallach is head of a gang of bandits who prey on a small Mexican village. That is, until Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen round up a small group of fierce fighters to protect it.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966). This is a classic with the best shootout ever filmed. Clint Eastwood plays the good; Lee van Cleef plays the bad; and Eli Wallach plays the ugly (although he is rather bad also).
Jack Palance. His most memorable role as a Western villain was in Shane. He had a villainous face, which made it easy for him to play a varmint. He was not only a varmint, he was a really scary one.
Chato’s Land (1971). Charles Bronson plays an Indian; Jack Palance leads a posse determined to get him. Don’t make a mistake, Palance is the villain here.
Shane (1953). Alan Ladd is a retired gunfighter who’s given a home by Jean Arthur. Jack Palance is the evil gunfighter sent to kill him. Who can forget the sad but appropriate ending?
Lee van Cleef. This swarthy, hawk-faced actor was born to make Westerns and to be the bad guy. He had an intimidating presence that made you glad it was only a movie. He was in For a Few Dollars More and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly with Clint Eastwood. Another spaghetti Western was Death Rides a Horse (1968).
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). In this classic Western, van Cleef rides with Lee Marvin, who as Liberty Valance poses a threat to peaceable James Stewart. The man who shot Liberty Valance may not be who you think.
Those Trusty Sidekicks
Gabby Hayes. The grandfather of sidekicks, George “Gabby” Hayes must have made more than a hundred movies. He sidekicked for Wild Bill Elliott, Roy Rogers and John Wayne, among others. With his loveable personality, he often stole the show.
Tall in the Saddle (1944). John Wayne and Gabby take on tough Ella Raines to solve a murder.
Return of the Bad Men (1948). Gabby as a bank president and Randolph Scott as a former Texas ranger have to clean up the bad guys in Oklahoma Territory. Robert Ryan plays the Sundance Kid (very differently from Robert Redford). Look for Jason Robards in a minor role.
Roll on Texas Moon (1946). Gabby teams with buddy Roy Rogers to help sort out a battle between cattlemen and sheepmen.
Walter Brennan. He plays his sidekicks as crusty old guys. He is still loveable.
Rio Bravo (1959). Brennan plays “Stumpy,” a crippled aide to John Wayne. Together with Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson the crew must fight off the bad guys who are trying to free one of them from the jailhouse.
The Westerner (1940). Brennan won an Oscar for his portrayal of Judge Roy Bean. Gary Cooper plays a mysterious drifter who rides into trouble in Texas.
Andy Devine. The big guy with the high-pitched voice. He could whine with the best of them, but he sure provided the comic relief.
Stagecoach (1939). This classic also starred John Wayne (Ringo Kid), Claire Trevor, and John Carradine. A bunch of mismatched travelers must put aside their differences and fight the Apaches.
When the Daltons Rode (1940). The Daltons enlist the help of Randolph Scott to fight off developers. Devine plays the town comic. The girls like him and he has a penchant for pies.
Grand Canyon Trail (1948). Andy and Roy Rogers must find a way to salvage a failing silver mine or Roy will go broke.
The Gallant Legion (1948). Andy teams with Wild Bill Elliott (a Texas Ranger) to help Texas become a state.
Other sidekicks of note include Arthur Hunnicut (El Dorado, 1966), Pat Buttram (Apache Country, 1952) and Ben Johnson (She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, 1949).
Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. I hope to hear from you.
To complete the two-part series on Westerns, this month I will talk about villains and sidekicks. These actors seldom win any prizes but put in just as good performances as the heroes. They provide comic relief. Sometimes they act as moral compasses to the heroes. Without sidekicks and villains, there are no Westerns. So, let’s hear it for those nasty varmints and those trusty sidekicks.
Those Nasty Varmints
Jack Elam. Who can forget that face? Leering and ogling, scruffy, clothes full of trail dirt, you knew the first moment you saw him that he was up to no good. He lost the fight in several classic Westerns, such as:
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968). Only Henry Fonda was a worse bad guy.
Rio Lobo (1970). With John Wayne, Dean Martin, Walter Brennan, and Ricky Nelson, how could he win against this crew?
The Far Country (1955). James Stewart must become devious to regain his herd of cattle. Elam and his cronies don’t make it easy.
The Way West (1967) Poor Elam has to face Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum and Richard Widmark in this wagon train story.
Check him out in The Comancheros, The Battle at Apache Pass, The High Lonesome, and Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.
Bruce Dern. He will forever live in ignominy for shooting John Wayne in The Cowboys, one of a very few films in which Wayne died. He was almost the dirtiest, scruffiest, nastiest villain you could ever meet.
The Cowboys (1972). Wayne is forced to use young boys to drive his cattle. Dern tries to stop him, but in killing Wayne he has to take on these hardened youths. Shame on you, Bruce.
Posse (1975). Marshall Kirk Douglas captures bandit Dern, but Dern doesn’t stay caught.
Will Penny (1968). Aging cowboy Charleton Heston (in one of his best roles) must fight nasty Dern and his cohorts. At the end of a cattle drive he must find work. And there is a woman involved, of course.
Eli Wallach. He didn’t make a lot of Westerns, but he was certainly nasty in the ones he did make. For some reason, he was cast as a Mexican bandit. He was ruthless and provocative in both films.
Magnificent Seven (1960). This is one of my all-time favorites. Fabulous cast. Stirring music. Good villain. Wallach is head of a gang of bandits who prey on a small Mexican village. That is, until Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen round up a small group of fierce fighters to protect it.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966). This is a classic with the best shootout ever filmed. Clint Eastwood plays the good; Lee van Cleef plays the bad; and Eli Wallach plays the ugly (although he is rather bad also).
Jack Palance. His most memorable role as a Western villain was in Shane. He had a villainous face, which made it easy for him to play a varmint. He was not only a varmint, he was a really scary one.
Chato’s Land (1971). Charles Bronson plays an Indian; Jack Palance leads a posse determined to get him. Don’t make a mistake, Palance is the villain here.
Shane (1953). Alan Ladd is a retired gunfighter who’s given a home by Jean Arthur. Jack Palance is the evil gunfighter sent to kill him. Who can forget the sad but appropriate ending?
Lee van Cleef. This swarthy, hawk-faced actor was born to make Westerns and to be the bad guy. He had an intimidating presence that made you glad it was only a movie. He was in For a Few Dollars More and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly with Clint Eastwood. Another spaghetti Western was Death Rides a Horse (1968).
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). In this classic Western, van Cleef rides with Lee Marvin, who as Liberty Valance poses a threat to peaceable James Stewart. The man who shot Liberty Valance may not be who you think.
Those Trusty Sidekicks
Gabby Hayes. The grandfather of sidekicks, George “Gabby” Hayes must have made more than a hundred movies. He sidekicked for Wild Bill Elliott, Roy Rogers and John Wayne, among others. With his loveable personality, he often stole the show.
Tall in the Saddle (1944). John Wayne and Gabby take on tough Ella Raines to solve a murder.
Return of the Bad Men (1948). Gabby as a bank president and Randolph Scott as a former Texas ranger have to clean up the bad guys in Oklahoma Territory. Robert Ryan plays the Sundance Kid (very differently from Robert Redford). Look for Jason Robards in a minor role.
Roll on Texas Moon (1946). Gabby teams with buddy Roy Rogers to help sort out a battle between cattlemen and sheepmen.
Walter Brennan. He plays his sidekicks as crusty old guys. He is still loveable.
Rio Bravo (1959). Brennan plays “Stumpy,” a crippled aide to John Wayne. Together with Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson the crew must fight off the bad guys who are trying to free one of them from the jailhouse.
The Westerner (1940). Brennan won an Oscar for his portrayal of Judge Roy Bean. Gary Cooper plays a mysterious drifter who rides into trouble in Texas.
Andy Devine. The big guy with the high-pitched voice. He could whine with the best of them, but he sure provided the comic relief.
Stagecoach (1939). This classic also starred John Wayne (Ringo Kid), Claire Trevor, and John Carradine. A bunch of mismatched travelers must put aside their differences and fight the Apaches.
When the Daltons Rode (1940). The Daltons enlist the help of Randolph Scott to fight off developers. Devine plays the town comic. The girls like him and he has a penchant for pies.
Grand Canyon Trail (1948). Andy and Roy Rogers must find a way to salvage a failing silver mine or Roy will go broke.
The Gallant Legion (1948). Andy teams with Wild Bill Elliott (a Texas Ranger) to help Texas become a state.
Other sidekicks of note include Arthur Hunnicut (El Dorado, 1966), Pat Buttram (Apache Country, 1952) and Ben Johnson (She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, 1949).
Friday, April 1, 2011
As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.
Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. I hope to hear from all of you.
This month, I begin a two-part series on Westerns. Generally, critics don’t like Westerns. Only 13 Westerns have received Best Picture nominations, and only three have won: Cimarron in 1930/31, Dances with Wolves in 1990, and Unforgiven in 1992. Although No Country for Old Men has horses in it, I don’t consider it a true Western.
I remember going to the movies three times a week and at least two of those times there was a Western playing. I grew up loving Westerns and I still do. They don’t make as many unfortunately, but thanks to DVDs I can still enjoy my old favorites. What is it about Westerns that I find so appealing? It’s the gorgeous scenery (especially Monument Valley), horses galloping across the Plains, the moral plot lines (the good guys win), and the fact that they are just plain entertaining. Westerns are the comfort food of movie genres. You can sit back and enjoy the view, knowing that in the end justice will prevail.
Early Westerns (‘40s-‘50s) featured series with such actors as Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Randolph Scott and Audie Murphy. The stories were somewhat different, but the hero was the same: clean cut, fancy clothes and beautiful horses.
Beginning with the ‘60s, Westerns started becoming more complicated. They were still about justice in the lawless West, but the story lines had more elements. Some of the biggest names in Hollywood starred in Westerns.
Westerns: Big Stars, Big Guns, Big Sky
James Stewart
The Man from Laramie (1955). The final Anthony Mann and Stewart collaboration with Stewart seeking revenge for the death of his brother. Somebody has been selling rifles to the Apaches, and Stewart will find him.
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence (1962). This film marks a turning point from an emphasis on the lawless West to a West in tune with the rest of the United States. A powerhouse cast includes John Wayne, Lee Marvin, and Vera Miles .
Henry Fonda
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968). Fonda plays a cold-eyed killer in Sergio Leone’s film. Charles Bronson, Jason Robards and Claudia Cardinale co-star.
Cheyenne Social Club (1970). A kinder Fonda in this romp with James Stewart.
Kirk Douglas
The Way West (1967) A wagon train movie—and more.
Posse (1975). Douglas is the producer, director and star in this Western with political overtones.
Burt Lancaster
The Professionals (1966). A sweaty crew of big names rescues Claudia Cardinale; but does she want to be rescued?
Vera Cruz (1954). Lancaster teams with Gary Cooper in this fast-paced film with beautiful women, outlaws and gold.
Robert Mitchum
The Way West (1967). Mitchum and Douglas. What more do you need?
El Dorado (1966). Mitchum has to overcome a drinking problem to team with John Wayne to fight greedy land owners.
Robert Redford
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). One of my all-time favorites.
Tell Them Willie Boy is Here (1969). Sheriff Redford chases Indian accused of murder.
Paul Newman
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). A buddy movie based on real men.
Hombre (1967). Newman as a half-breed Indian who proves his worth. Richard Boone, Frederic March and Barbara Rush round out the cast.
Gary Cooper
High Noon (1952). Classic tale of good and evil. Grace Kelly and Katy Jurado vie for Cooper’s love.
The Westerner (1940). Drifter Cooper must stay clear of Judge Roy Bean.
Clint Eastwood
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966). Best shoot-out ever.
Unforgiven (1992). Who are the good guys and who are the bad?
Gregory Peck
The Big Country (1958). Former sea captain finds himself in a western fight for water rights. This is a big, sprawling film with good cast and stunning vistas. The fight between Peck and Charlton Heston is one of the genre’s best.
The Gunfighter (1950). Here is a taut, little film with Peck as aging gunfighter wanting some peace in his life.
Glenn Ford
The Sheepman (1958). Range war between Ford’s sheepman and unscrupulous cattlemen.
3:10 to Yuma (1957). Classic tale beautifully acted. Better than the remake.
William Holden
The Wild Bunch (1969). Peckinpah’s violent tale of a group of aging outlaws. Superb cast of Robert Ryan, Edmund O’Brien, Ernest Borgnine and Ben Johnson.
Horse Soldiers (1992). A Civil War tale. John Wayne costars in this John Ford film.
John Wayne
The Searchers (1956). One of Wayne’s best proves that family ties are stronger than hatred of Indians. This may just be the best Western ever.
Red River (1948). This is Wayne’s best role. He almost transcends his Wayneness to be a real actor.
Although the list is almost endless, here are some other great movies to enjoy: Ride the High Country with Joel McCrea and Randolph Scott, Shane with Alan Ladd, McCabe and Mrs. Miller with Warren Beatty and Julie Christie, Will Penny with Charlton Heston, Major Dundee, also with Charlton Heston, Bandolero with James Stewart and Dean Martin, Rio Bravo with John Wayne, Dead Man with Robert Mitchum, and The Unforgiven with Burt Lancaster and Audrey Hepburn.
Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. I hope to hear from all of you.
This month, I begin a two-part series on Westerns. Generally, critics don’t like Westerns. Only 13 Westerns have received Best Picture nominations, and only three have won: Cimarron in 1930/31, Dances with Wolves in 1990, and Unforgiven in 1992. Although No Country for Old Men has horses in it, I don’t consider it a true Western.
I remember going to the movies three times a week and at least two of those times there was a Western playing. I grew up loving Westerns and I still do. They don’t make as many unfortunately, but thanks to DVDs I can still enjoy my old favorites. What is it about Westerns that I find so appealing? It’s the gorgeous scenery (especially Monument Valley), horses galloping across the Plains, the moral plot lines (the good guys win), and the fact that they are just plain entertaining. Westerns are the comfort food of movie genres. You can sit back and enjoy the view, knowing that in the end justice will prevail.
Early Westerns (‘40s-‘50s) featured series with such actors as Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Randolph Scott and Audie Murphy. The stories were somewhat different, but the hero was the same: clean cut, fancy clothes and beautiful horses.
Beginning with the ‘60s, Westerns started becoming more complicated. They were still about justice in the lawless West, but the story lines had more elements. Some of the biggest names in Hollywood starred in Westerns.
Westerns: Big Stars, Big Guns, Big Sky
James Stewart
The Man from Laramie (1955). The final Anthony Mann and Stewart collaboration with Stewart seeking revenge for the death of his brother. Somebody has been selling rifles to the Apaches, and Stewart will find him.
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence (1962). This film marks a turning point from an emphasis on the lawless West to a West in tune with the rest of the United States. A powerhouse cast includes John Wayne, Lee Marvin, and Vera Miles .
Henry Fonda
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968). Fonda plays a cold-eyed killer in Sergio Leone’s film. Charles Bronson, Jason Robards and Claudia Cardinale co-star.
Cheyenne Social Club (1970). A kinder Fonda in this romp with James Stewart.
Kirk Douglas
The Way West (1967) A wagon train movie—and more.
Posse (1975). Douglas is the producer, director and star in this Western with political overtones.
Burt Lancaster
The Professionals (1966). A sweaty crew of big names rescues Claudia Cardinale; but does she want to be rescued?
Vera Cruz (1954). Lancaster teams with Gary Cooper in this fast-paced film with beautiful women, outlaws and gold.
Robert Mitchum
The Way West (1967). Mitchum and Douglas. What more do you need?
El Dorado (1966). Mitchum has to overcome a drinking problem to team with John Wayne to fight greedy land owners.
Robert Redford
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). One of my all-time favorites.
Tell Them Willie Boy is Here (1969). Sheriff Redford chases Indian accused of murder.
Paul Newman
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). A buddy movie based on real men.
Hombre (1967). Newman as a half-breed Indian who proves his worth. Richard Boone, Frederic March and Barbara Rush round out the cast.
Gary Cooper
High Noon (1952). Classic tale of good and evil. Grace Kelly and Katy Jurado vie for Cooper’s love.
The Westerner (1940). Drifter Cooper must stay clear of Judge Roy Bean.
Clint Eastwood
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966). Best shoot-out ever.
Unforgiven (1992). Who are the good guys and who are the bad?
Gregory Peck
The Big Country (1958). Former sea captain finds himself in a western fight for water rights. This is a big, sprawling film with good cast and stunning vistas. The fight between Peck and Charlton Heston is one of the genre’s best.
The Gunfighter (1950). Here is a taut, little film with Peck as aging gunfighter wanting some peace in his life.
Glenn Ford
The Sheepman (1958). Range war between Ford’s sheepman and unscrupulous cattlemen.
3:10 to Yuma (1957). Classic tale beautifully acted. Better than the remake.
William Holden
The Wild Bunch (1969). Peckinpah’s violent tale of a group of aging outlaws. Superb cast of Robert Ryan, Edmund O’Brien, Ernest Borgnine and Ben Johnson.
Horse Soldiers (1992). A Civil War tale. John Wayne costars in this John Ford film.
John Wayne
The Searchers (1956). One of Wayne’s best proves that family ties are stronger than hatred of Indians. This may just be the best Western ever.
Red River (1948). This is Wayne’s best role. He almost transcends his Wayneness to be a real actor.
Although the list is almost endless, here are some other great movies to enjoy: Ride the High Country with Joel McCrea and Randolph Scott, Shane with Alan Ladd, McCabe and Mrs. Miller with Warren Beatty and Julie Christie, Will Penny with Charlton Heston, Major Dundee, also with Charlton Heston, Bandolero with James Stewart and Dean Martin, Rio Bravo with John Wayne, Dead Man with Robert Mitchum, and The Unforgiven with Burt Lancaster and Audrey Hepburn.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.
Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you will agree. I hope to hear from all of you.
I don’t rate actresses by the same standards as I do actors. For some reason I never associate actresses with gravitas. Perhaps it is the nature of male roles versus female roles. Many years ago, about the time of WWII, there were a number of actresses who were considered powerful, such as Katherine Hepburn, Joan Crawford, and Barbara Stanwyck. There were great roles for women. Then, somewhere around the ‘50s during a moment of peace, the cute housewife appeared. We got Doris Day and Donna Reed. Then Vietnam came along and the roles became more intense. Since then, movies have been varied. Anything goes.
Grand Dames
Meryl Streep
I know everyone thinks she is the best actress in the US, but I find her cold and clinical. Yes, she nails the accents, and yes, she appears to nail the character, but I see little humanity, little warmth, and little humor (even when she is in a comedy). I did like her in Doubt. Her lack of warmth was perfect for the role.
Susan Sarandon
She is a good actress, but I think of her as a frump. She seems to have no sense of style, even when someone else dresses her. And, the roles she plays don’t necessarily call for dowdiness. Although she was in dozens of forgettable films, she was outstanding in The Client, Atlantic City, Bob Roberts and Dead Man Walking.
Jane Fonda
She has been starring in movies since she was a teenager. Her stand on political issues hurt her popularity. Her lack of humor is evident in every character she plays. I liked her better before she took the DeNiro approach to aging and acting. She was cute as a young actress (Tall Story), and very good in Klute, They Shoot Horses, Don’t They, Coming Home, Julia, and On Golden Pond.
Annette Benning
She is a very competent and intelligent actress. I loved her in Becoming Julia (Oscar nomination). She has the warmth that Streep lacks, she has style that Sarandon lacks, and she has the humor that Fonda lacks. See her also in American Beauty, Grifters (Oscar nomination), and The Kids Are All Right (Oscar nomination).
Ladies-in-waiting
Charlize Theron
She has proved herself to be a great actress. Monster was a tour de force and she deservedly won a Best Actress at the Oscars. Some of her other films include North Country (Oscar nomination), Cider House Rules, and The Road. I see her getting better and better, especially if she can avoid being just a fashion icon.
Maggie Gyllenhaall
Here’s another actress I see growing and lasting. She won an Oscar nomination for Crazy Heart. She won Golden Globe nominations for Sherrybaby and Secretary. Her stage experience shows in her movie portrayals.
Drew Barrymore
Okay, she has made quite a few clunkers, but she’s a Barrymore. Wait until she matures some more and you will see her shine. For a glimpse of that, see Grey Gardens, for which she received a Golden Globe award.
Natalie Portman
She just won an Oscar for Black Swan. She won an Academy nomination for Closer. Some of her other good roles were in Star Wars and Cold Mountain. As a child, she was great in The Professional. Another actress I see getting better.
Annoyingly Trite
There are so many in this category that I had to pick the most annoying. These are the actresses you see too often. Some of them think they are just too, too. That smugness is off-putting. There is a difference between confidence and arrogance. These ladies should learn that.
Renee Zellwegner. Way too smug. And that smirk does Bruce Willis proud.
Jennifer Anniston. When is Hollywood going to realize that Jennifer Anniston can’t act?
Cameron Diaz. She is just plain spooky.
Sandra Bullock. She seems nice, but her ingénue roles don’t seem viable anymore. Move on.
Angelina Jolie. Her acting is just barely okay. Her cat-just-ate-the canary smirk is really annoying.
Julia Roberts. The queen of trite. She smiles that irritating smile a lot, but I don’t see any evidence of acting.
Trying to post a comment? I know it’s difficult. Try sending an e-mail to: luanaluther@yahoo.com.
Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. Some of you will agree. I hope to hear from all of you.
I don’t rate actresses by the same standards as I do actors. For some reason I never associate actresses with gravitas. Perhaps it is the nature of male roles versus female roles. Many years ago, about the time of WWII, there were a number of actresses who were considered powerful, such as Katherine Hepburn, Joan Crawford, and Barbara Stanwyck. There were great roles for women. Then, somewhere around the ‘50s during a moment of peace, the cute housewife appeared. We got Doris Day and Donna Reed. Then Vietnam came along and the roles became more intense. Since then, movies have been varied. Anything goes.
Grand Dames
Meryl Streep
I know everyone thinks she is the best actress in the US, but I find her cold and clinical. Yes, she nails the accents, and yes, she appears to nail the character, but I see little humanity, little warmth, and little humor (even when she is in a comedy). I did like her in Doubt. Her lack of warmth was perfect for the role.
Susan Sarandon
She is a good actress, but I think of her as a frump. She seems to have no sense of style, even when someone else dresses her. And, the roles she plays don’t necessarily call for dowdiness. Although she was in dozens of forgettable films, she was outstanding in The Client, Atlantic City, Bob Roberts and Dead Man Walking.
Jane Fonda
She has been starring in movies since she was a teenager. Her stand on political issues hurt her popularity. Her lack of humor is evident in every character she plays. I liked her better before she took the DeNiro approach to aging and acting. She was cute as a young actress (Tall Story), and very good in Klute, They Shoot Horses, Don’t They, Coming Home, Julia, and On Golden Pond.
Annette Benning
She is a very competent and intelligent actress. I loved her in Becoming Julia (Oscar nomination). She has the warmth that Streep lacks, she has style that Sarandon lacks, and she has the humor that Fonda lacks. See her also in American Beauty, Grifters (Oscar nomination), and The Kids Are All Right (Oscar nomination).
Ladies-in-waiting
Charlize Theron
She has proved herself to be a great actress. Monster was a tour de force and she deservedly won a Best Actress at the Oscars. Some of her other films include North Country (Oscar nomination), Cider House Rules, and The Road. I see her getting better and better, especially if she can avoid being just a fashion icon.
Maggie Gyllenhaall
Here’s another actress I see growing and lasting. She won an Oscar nomination for Crazy Heart. She won Golden Globe nominations for Sherrybaby and Secretary. Her stage experience shows in her movie portrayals.
Drew Barrymore
Okay, she has made quite a few clunkers, but she’s a Barrymore. Wait until she matures some more and you will see her shine. For a glimpse of that, see Grey Gardens, for which she received a Golden Globe award.
Natalie Portman
She just won an Oscar for Black Swan. She won an Academy nomination for Closer. Some of her other good roles were in Star Wars and Cold Mountain. As a child, she was great in The Professional. Another actress I see getting better.
Annoyingly Trite
There are so many in this category that I had to pick the most annoying. These are the actresses you see too often. Some of them think they are just too, too. That smugness is off-putting. There is a difference between confidence and arrogance. These ladies should learn that.
Renee Zellwegner. Way too smug. And that smirk does Bruce Willis proud.
Jennifer Anniston. When is Hollywood going to realize that Jennifer Anniston can’t act?
Cameron Diaz. She is just plain spooky.
Sandra Bullock. She seems nice, but her ingénue roles don’t seem viable anymore. Move on.
Angelina Jolie. Her acting is just barely okay. Her cat-just-ate-the canary smirk is really annoying.
Julia Roberts. The queen of trite. She smiles that irritating smile a lot, but I don’t see any evidence of acting.
Trying to post a comment? I know it’s difficult. Try sending an e-mail to: luanaluther@yahoo.com.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.
Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. I hope to hear from you. I especially want to hear from those of you who agree.
Happy Valentine’s Day. I offer a chocolate box of little movies—some sweet, some bittersweet, some a little nutty. These movies are not in the same category as Gone with the Wind or Lawrence of Arabia. They are little in the sense that they cover small slices of life. They have charm and wit and, in most cases, will make you feel good. They are also international. There are literally thousands of these small films. I offer you some of my favorites. Most are all available through Netflix. I hope you will try some.
Breaking Away (1979)
This coming-of-age movie stars Dennis Christopher and his bike, along with a strong cast including Paul Dooley, Barbara Barrie and a young Dennis Quaid. It won a Best Picture Academy Award. It has humor and charm and should definitely make you feel good.
The Visitor (2007)
A strong performance by Richard Jenkins makes this bittersweet movie a must see. This movie is about friendship and frustration. The ending is perfect but the journey is complicated.
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
This is a nutty little movie that stars Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant. ‘Nuf said.
His Girl Friday (1940)
Grass Harp (1996)
This film based on a Truman Capote story stars Edward Furlong, Sissy Spacek, Jack Lemmon, and Walter Matthau. Another coming-of-age movie about an orphaned boy who is sent to live with his two high-spirited aunts in the very deep south. Very sweet.
Trip to Bountiful
Geraldine Page won an Academy Award for her portrayal of an elderly woman at odds with her family who takes a bus to her old hometown.
Harry and Tonto (1974)
Art Carney won a Best Actor for traveling cross country by bus with his cat. This is a very little movie but charming.
Straight Story (1999)
This film is based on a true story about a man who travels hundreds of miles on a lawnmower to see his ailing brother. Richard Farnsworth was nominated for an Academy Award—and justly so.
The Castle (1999)
This is a sweet, hilarious movie about a family that goes to extreme lengths to save their precious home.
Danny Deckchair (2003)
A very funny film about a man who travels by balloon and deck chair across Australia
Madameoiselle Chabon (2009)
A bittersweet story of loneliness, adultery and a longing for beauty. The acting is first-rate and, uncharacteristic of French films, it has a real ending. This movie has more layers than a piece of baklava.
My New Partner (1984)
Phillippe Noiret’s comic timing sets the tone for this very funny and almost perfect little movie. A street-wise Paris
Il Postino (1995)
This is a bittersweet movie about a shy postman and his longing for a beautiful woman. Phillippe Noiret, this time in Italy
Mid-August Lunch (2008)
This slightly nutty movie revolves around a generous man in financial difficulties who offers to care for the mothers of his friend, his landlord and his doctor for a holiday weekend. This is a thoroughly delightful movie.
The Full Monty (1997)
I have to smile just thinking about this nutty movie. Tom Wilkinson, Robert Carlyle and Mark Caddy star as blue-collar workers on the dole finding the perfect way to display their talents.
Educating Rita (1983)
Michael Caine and Julie Walters star in this warm and amusing story about a hairdresser who aspires to knowledge. Caine plays her drunken tutor. This film won three Oscar nominations and BAFTA (the English equivalent of the Oscars) awards.
Eat, Drink, Man, Woman (1994)
A widower father won’t take no for an answer when he invites his three adult daughters to Sunday feasts. The daughters, of course, have other things on their minds. Ang Lee directs this lovely little movie about keeping traditions and being modern.
Pushing Hands (1992)
This is a sweet, gentle movie, again directed by Ang Lee that is about tai chi in New York
Kitchen Stories (2004)
A study of the habits of bachelor farmers leads to an unusual friendship. This bittersweet movie is funny and heartwarming with just a touch of sadness.
Captain Abu Raed (2008)
An airport janitor finds a pilot’s hat in a trash bin and wears it home. Neighborhood children mistake him for a real pilot and pester him to tell them stories. Because he has always longed to travel, he has read widely on the world. As he tells the stories he realizes how difficult these poor children’s lives are. This is a wonderful little movie from a part of the world we don’t get to experience much through movies.
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Saturday, January 1, 2011
As a moviegoer for more than 70 years, I’ve seen some great movies, some not so great, some really bad ones, some trying but failing to be deep and meaningful, some reveling in their shallowness. I was born the year The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind were released. My mother started taking me to the movies shortly after that. I saw some movies that were definitely not PG rated. I can still remember being afraid of The Thing and delighting in An American in Paris.
Many times I disagree with the critics. I don’t call them and tell him what I think of their reviews, so now that there is an internet for anyone to babble on, I add my voice. I’m sure there are many of you who will disagree with my assessments. I hope to hear from you. I especially want to hear from those of you who agree.
In this posting, I want to talk about actors—especially, those who have gravitas and those who do not. In days of movie yore, it was easy finding actors with substance and credibility. Think Henry Fonda, Humphrey Bogart, Spencer Tracy and James Stewart. Today, it seems to be a little more difficult. There are other actors in addition to those I’ve listed below that could be in these categories. These are the best examples that come to mind.
I’ll call my list the Heavies and the Lightweights. Then there is the category of those who overact. I shall call them the Hams.
The Heavies:
Russell Crowe. A consummate actor and even though he’s made some clunkers, there are enough great performances that put him in this category. Think The Insider, A Beautiful Mind, Gladiator, Cinderella Man, and Robin Hood.
Matt Damon. He’s come a long way since Good Will Hunting, always believable and never overacting. Think the Jason Bourne movies, The Informant in which he was brilliant and True Grit.
Jack Nicholson. Although he can sometimes be classified a ham (think The Shining and The Departed ), he also has many memorable performances and Oscars to his credit. Think One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Terms of Endearment, and Chinatown.
Tim Robbins. He’s kind of a modern-day Tracy. Never overacting, he quietly imbues his roles with integrity. Think Shawshank Redemption, Mystic River, The Player, and Bull Durham.
Robert DeNiro used to have it, but now he’s fallen so low he’s “focked” himself. What a shame.
The British have so many actors with gravitas that I hesitate to try and name them. Think Ray Winstone, who has so much it’s a wonder he can walk, Colin Firth who always puts in a solid performance and Clive Owen, who sinks into a role.
The Lightweights:
Leonardo diCaprio. Regardless of what role he tries to play, I just can’t take him seriously. Maybe it’s his face or voice. He was good in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? Since then, I see him as a boy trying to act like a man.
Tom Cruise. The king of creepy. He’s so lightweight I expect to see him floating on the screen. Would someone tell me what his appeal is?
Brad Pitt. I can’t understand his popularity. He can’t seem to act as anything but himself, which isn’t all that interesting to begin with. Did anyone actually see Troy? He’s funny looking, so character parts might be a better choice than leading roles.
Tom Hanks. He’s not too bad in comedy, but he should never have tried The Da Vinci Code or Angels and Demons. They were bad movies and he looked foolish in them.
The Hams
Sean Penn. He is so painful to watch that I have stopped going to his films. He has two expressions: serious to portray a normal person and twisted to portray angst, terror, guilt, pain and pretty much any other emotion. He has become a caricature.
Daniel Day-Lewis. Watching him is giggle-producing. He is so over-the-top it’s like
watching Wily Coyote. I understand he’s just been cast to play Abraham Lincoln. What a hoot.
Al Pacino. He can be a real ham as in A Scent of a Woman or he can be a real actor as in the Godfather series. And even though he can ham it up with the best of them, I do enjoy watching him.
Johnny Depp. On the other hand, I don’t enjoy watching this strange actor hiding behind his hair or prancing across the screen.
Jim Carrey. Mister elastic face is too unsettling to enjoy. He does his hammy routine in almost every movie he makes.
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