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Check out the black and white horror movies of Val Lewton mad in the '50s: Curse of the Cat Woman, I walked with a Zombie. Atmospheric and creepy; the 'horror' is all down to suggestion - never explicit, only implied. As you say, they knew how to do' creepy' back then.Quote:
Originally Posted by Macca
These days it seems to be only the Japanese who can do horror without it being 'in your face'. Hollywood should take some lessons from them.
Two excellent b&w horror films spring to mind.
The sixties Japanese Classic 'Onibaba': https://www.eurekavideo.co.uk/moc/onibaba
And Roman Polanski's bizarre 'Repulsion': http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/repulsion/
The Arrival (1996)
Watched this lowish budget Sci-Fi thriller this afternoon - not seen it in years - and enjoyed it greatly. Charlie Sheen is the hero and this is an intelligent alien invasion film with great effects when required and quite good aliens. I suspect most of the budget went on the underground base and alien weapon scenes - a rotating sphere capable of sucking items, buildings etc into a singularity.
Most of the 'terribly good' (1) films the sci-fi channel shows and produces could learn a great deal from this film re how to do a lot, well, with not much money.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Arrival_(film)
Regards Neil
(1) Awful piles of festering dung, with awful effects, crap stories, crap acting - just terrible.
Absolutely. Look at the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Nothing to it in terms of budget or effects but it is genius good. Always makes me laugh after watching a really crap film when the credits roll and you see how many hundreds of people were involved in making it - did no-one at any point pipe up and say 'err...excuse me but this is complete shite.' ? These people must never have seen a decent film in their lives so their benchmark for excellence is something like Police Academy IV. It's the only explanation.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dalek Supreme D L
I agree. The amount of dung and mega dung that gets made is just awful - what a waste of money.Quote:
Originally Posted by Macca
Regards Neil
My Movie for tonight is the 1957 Basil Dearden classic, The Smallest show on Earth starring Bill Travers, Virginia McKenna, Margaret Rutherford, and Peter Sellers. Smaller roles for Leslie Philips, Sid James and Bernard Miles.
Film is about a couple who inherit a cinema but, alas it is an old Flea Pit called the Bijou. They decide, madly to try and make it work but pretty much everything is against them, including Sellers as the drunken projectionist.
Many of the films shown were actually made for this production, and there is a lovely scene I remember when the old staff of Rutherford, Sellers etc watch a silent film with the former playing the piano.quite touching really and reminds me of my grandfather who had 3 silent cinemas back in the day.
Sack Mrs Fizakally!!! Sack Mrs Fizakally!!...she's the only one that knows how this place works...:lol:
Now on to Howard Hawk's 1943 sabre rattler AIR FORCE starring John Garfield, John Ridgely and Gig Young....
Not seen that one yet Neil, but will try to soon.Sounds interestngQuote:
Originally Posted by Dalek Supreme D L
It was showing on the Horror Channel but is available as a DVD or Blu Ray. I would avoid the follow up film which is not very good.Quote:
Originally Posted by struth
Regards Neil
I've put the DVD in my Amazon basket Neil, so when I next get something I'll slip that onto the order.sounds interesting, and if I don't like it my son will.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dalek Supreme D L
In fact I better check he doesn't already have it
Hope you enjoy it Grant.Quote:
Originally Posted by struth
Regards Neil
Both excellent films Geoff.Quote:
Originally Posted by walpurgis
Don't know about that. Repulsion is a bit too weird to be 'good' in any normal sense. If we're talking Polanski then it has to be Chinatown and Rosemary's Baby, both of which are masterpieces and superbly directed.
tonight it is Laughter in Paradise(1951) starring Alistair Simm, George Cole, John Laurie, Fay Compton and Joyce Grenfell.
Audrey Hepburn and Stanley Hollaway were both initially earmarked for this but for one reason or another didn't, although I believe Hepburn gets a very small part to play. Simm as usual Steals the whole film and his scenes with Grenfell are hilarious. A rich practical joking relative dies and in his will, he leaves conditions for the family to receive their lucre. Simm has to go to prison and Compton who is a terrible employer, has to work as a servant...all good fun, and worth the admission price.
...and now on to A Matter of Life and Death. A Powell & Pressburger production for the Archers starring David Niven, Roger Livesey and Kim Hunter. I think it was made after the war ended tbh but not sure....
One of these fabulous films that come along, and the delectable Kim Hunter was a tip from the one and only Hitchcock himself. The escalator was in fact real and cost a sizable 3 grand to make. Nicknamed operation Ethel, it had over 100 stairs and was driven by a petrol engine.
Joan Maude who plays the chief recorder was lovely as well.... Her grandmother was Swedish nightingale Jenny Lind.
Amazing film, never grow tired of seeing it.Quote:
Originally Posted by struth
Regards Neil
Your right there Neil. West and enjoyable , great actors too. Raymond Massey as the prosecutor is great. Love his sinister looks...oddly he and Niven died on the same day.
It may be weird and difficult viewing, but it is an excellent depiction and portrayal of a woman descending into terminal psychosis. Knife in the Water is also a good early film of Polanski.Quote:
Originally Posted by Macca
Agree about Chinatown and less so with Rosemary's Baby.
I used to think Rosemary's Baby wasn't up to much until I watched it again for the first time in a long time last year. There really are so many very clever little techniques in the way that film is directed and put together that I never really apreciated when I was younger.
I always loved that film. It has a slightly tongue in cheek approach, but still remains creepy. Well acted by a fine cast and nicely directed by Polanski. (never did find out what Tannis Root was though)Quote:
Originally Posted by Macca
Around the same time, Polanski also made 'Dance of The Vampires' (renamed The Fearless Vampire Killers). That was a hoot. Great fun, with Alfie Bass becoming a Jewish vampire who was immune to crucifixes and Dracula's gay vampire son camping it up. Polanski's unfortunate wife Sharon Tate looked truly stunning.
Tannis root was supposedly a herb of the devil. Would have been better spelt tanas as then it would be an anagram of one of the devils aliases :)
Tonight it is BLACK BOOK; the 2006 film directed by Paul Verhoeven, probably better known for Robocop and Total Recall. Verhoeven and Gerard Soeteman wrote the scrit over a period of 20 years, finally getting right in so many ways. This Dutch film is a classic.
Starring Carice van Houten, Sebastian Koch, Thom Hoffman and Derek de Lint of Soldier of Orange (1977) also by Verhoeven.
Lovely lush camera work from Karl Walter Lindenlaub and superb music by Ann Dudley, this is an atmospheric film about the Germans versus the Dutch underground with one shocking twist after another. Shown as a memory from 1956 back to wartime, this film is very well done for such a small budget, and yet again shows Hollywood and all its fancy priced stars where the real movies are made. Without doubt Paul Verhoeven's best film, and he has many a lot of good 'uns; if you aint seen it then you must.
Verhoeven made some stinkers, but Black Book is probably one of his better made films. Typically for Verhoeven, he has to include some titillating content: in this case it's the Jewish girl who has her pubic hair bleached to make her appear more 'Aryan'!Quote:
Originally Posted by struth
He likes his soft porn:lol:
Tonight it is the 1956 classic Duke western, The Searchers directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Ward Bond and Natalie Wood....and a special mention for Ken Curtis who played Charlie McCory. Ken originally started out as a Singer for the Tommy Dorsey orchestra in the 30's. Ford used him a lot as he was his father in law(jobs for family eh) in his westerns. Curtis later became a producer of low-budget monster films, The Killer Shrews (1959) and The Giant Gila Monster (1959), but is likely to be better remembered for his role in Gunsmoke.
Reportedly this film was seen in a theater in Texas by Buddy Holly and his friends in the summer of 1956. They were so impressed with Ethan's (John Wayne) repeated use of the phrase "That'll be the day" that they used it as the title for their now standard rock song, which they composed soon after.
John Wayne's son Patrick has a small role at Lt Greenhill(keep it in the family):eek: Originally from Alan Le May's 1954 novel of the same name, that was first serialized as a short story in late fall 1954 issues of the Saturday Evening Post, and first titled, "The Avenging Texans".
an amazing performance from Marion. This, the Cowboys and the Shootist are probably his greatest woks....maybe Stagecoach too. Have not seen it for some time, and think I may watch the second disc with the extras again too.....Loved the pink Gingham shirt as well:eyebrows:
I rate 'The Searchers' myself.
(and I really liked 'The Sons of Katie Elder')
Quote:
Originally Posted by walpurgis
Yes Katie elder is a good in...the Duke had just had an operation for lung cancer a few months earlier to filming, but still did his own stunts...all at the age of 57...a tough customer
A super Don Siegal movie tonight...The 1973 thriller, Charley Varrick, starring Walter matthau as Charley, Joe Don Baker as the sadistic killer, Molly, on his trail and the delectable Felicia Farr as Walter's love interest(shortly after his wife dies). Felicia was actually his pal Jack Lemmon's wife..now thats what I call friendship:eyebrows:
From the Novel, "The Looters" by John Reese, there is always lots going on in this intelligent film, and Siegal milks the tension and confusion too the end. There are a lot of directors who could learn from Don.
In the book about Rory Gallagher(Riding Shotgun) it is said he wrote the song, The Last of the Independents(which was to be the original title, and is the slogan of Varrick's crop dusting company) after seeing the film. One of Matthau and Siegal's best and if its good enough for Rory, then its good enough for me....ENJOY....oops, I will:lol:
Excellent choice. Got that in my collection!
It is one of the best of its type ever made and rarely sees the light of the airways for some reason. Andrew Robinson did one of his trademark sleezeball character jobs as in Dirty Harry..Like Bruce Dern in the Cowboys he is so hateable, you are as pleased as punch when Don Baker eliminates him.:eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by walpurgis
Now you're talking, love the American 'car chase' movies from that era, Thunderbolt & Lightfoot & Fear is the key spring to mindQuote:
Originally Posted by struth
And when Joe Don Baker eliminates himself near the end!
Do you remember 'The Flim Flam Man' with George C Scott from about the same time? I've been dying to see that again. Not seen it for probably forty years (I was three at the time :lol:).
Nobody mentions 'Two Lane Blacktop' these days or 'Fireball 500'. I loved both when they came out (even though Fireball 500 was a bit naff). Not exactly chase movies but they've got fast cars in.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roy S
Don't think I've ever seen that one, IMDB's summary sounds interesting, I'll have to look it out. Another of my favourties is Two lane blacktop (although there's not much of a plot)Quote:
Originally Posted by walpurgis
James Taylor's very sorted '55 Chevy BelAir made the film for me. A beast!
Another film nobody talks about: 'Electraglide in Blue' I've got that one too!
'454! no shit!"Quote:
Originally Posted by walpurgis
Was that the one with the shortarse motorbike cop?
Yup. 454 'Vette lump with trick bits!Quote:
Originally Posted by Roy S
That was Robert Blake playing 'officer Wintergreen'. I loved that movie.
Blake was a very strange character in 'Lost Highway'.
'In Cold Blood' was excellent with his performance powering the film along (wish I had a copy).
Actually, that one reminds me of another film (I do have). 'Badlands' with Cissy Spacek and Martin Sheen, another great movie.
its available Geoff.....Quote:
Originally Posted by walpurgis
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cold-Blood-D.../dp/B00005N52L
Thanks Grant. I may get that.
Tonight I am watching The Lavender Hill Mob(1951) Starring Alec Guinness, Stanley Holloway, Sidney James and Alfie Bass. Directed by Charles Crichton who also did The Titfield Thunderbolt and A Fish Called Wanda.
T.E.B. Clarke wrote the screenplay for this but a major credit has to go to a the special committee of the Bank of England who came up with the plan after Ealing Studios asked them how it could be done. The crooks had to be caught to allow the film to be shown in the US, as their censorship laws at the time demanded that crooks always got caught, unlike Britain where it would have been allowable.
Delightful performances from Stanley and Alec make this lark into a minor classic.
........and now Ice Age 3_dawn of the dinosaurs ....Fab film..:lol:
On to Black Adder Series 2. Astonishingly funny if that's a word.
Just remembered how to spell it lol
Your just an old quack....I'd rather be a quack than a ducky:D
BBC Electric Proms, just watched The Who now on to Oasis (don't think I'll bother with Robbie Williams)
What! ............don't like Robbie?;)
Best I can say about him is he's a 'showman', watched Robert Plant & Band of Joy insteadQuote:
Originally Posted by struth
Saw Plant on the box a couple of weeks ago. He looks a mess, very crumbly and clapped out. He certainly looks rougher than I do and he's younger (just).Quote:
Originally Posted by Roy S
Maybe the split from Patty Griffin has hit him hardQuote:
Originally Posted by walpurgis
Classic Albums: Steely Dan 'Aja'
on U-tube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8GwEX7nn6o
The thinking man's Spinal Tap:
Walter Becker: ''I like it when people come up to me and say 'Hey are you that guy out of Steely Dan?' and I say 'Yes that's right.' And they say 'No, no. You're not him.' That's what I like.''
Tonight it is Star Trek; First Contact (1996), Directed and Starring Jonathan Frakes, with Patrick Stewart and Bret Spiner, who is terrific as Data.
Tom Hanks was considered for the role of Zefram Cochrane. Hanks, being an avid Star Trek fan, was receptive to the part, but had to pass due to his commitment to directing and starring in That Thing You Do! (1996). Zefram Cochrane played by James Cromwell, who was in both the Green Mile and LA Confidential, loved and was dancing to one of my favorite songs, Ooby Dooby by Roy Orbison AKA the Big O.
LeVar Burton playing Geordi La Forge finally had his requests to have his visor replaced with ocular implants granted here. All the scenes filmed inside the silo and of the Phoenix were taken at the Titan Missile Museum, located in Green Valley, 20 miles South of Tucson, Arizona. This site is the only Intercontinental Missile (ICBM) silo complex in the world that is open to the public. The 110 foot tall Titan II rocket has been "de-militarized" (no fuel or nuclear payload) and, per the SALT treaty and SMART (Strategic Missile Arms Reduction Treaty), one of the two silo doors must remain blocked open for Russian satellite verification.
The best of the Star Trek films this, and I never tire of it.
Controversial! Of the modern efforts I prefer 'Generations', with this one second best, maybe. Of the old films I don't think they bettered Wrath Of Khan. Don't forget the Star Trek film rule of thumb, folks. Even numbers good, odd numbers bad :)Quote:
Originally Posted by struth