Now Screening - What Are You Watching Right Now?

[struth]

its an interesting film from a director who mostly made interesting films

[struth]

Escape from New York, 1981..




Kurt Russell has stated that this is his favorite of all his films, and Snake Plissken is his favorite of his characters.

The model of the city set was repainted and reused for Blade Runner (1982)

The opening narration, and the computer's voice in the first prison scene, were provided by an uncredited Jamie Lee Curtis.

The wire-frame computer graphics on the display screens in the glider were not computer-generated. Computers capable of 3-D wire-frame imaging were too expensive at the time. Special effects designers built a model of the city, painted it black, attached bright white tape to the model buildings in an orderly grid, and moved a camera through the model city. The shot where the helicopter flies over Central Park was actually filmed in San Fernando, California. The buildings in the background were matte-paintings by James Cameron.

[struth]

Soldier Blue, 1970... bluray.



Original work print of the movie was 135 minutes long. When it was test-screened to an audience, they almost started a riot after watching this version. This was the only time that the full uncut version was shown, and it caused the studio to decide that it was unreleasable unless massive cuts were made to the film's violent scenes. Some of these cut and never included in any official version scenes include shots of Indian women's breasts being sliced off and thrown around; children's limbs graphically severed (real amputees were employed for these shots); a little girl's legs cut off by wagon wheels; a soldier gleefully cutting an Indian's arms off before shooting another Cheyenne in the eye; the fate of Spotted Wolf, who is beheaded and his head is hoisted as a trophy by a soldier before he tosses it to another soldier, who then throws it off camera. Spotted Wolf's head attached to the stirrup of a cavalryman was not cut and is shown in the release print, and there are stills showing his mutilated body lying on the ground without the head and four cavalrymen running around with his severed head in their hands, howling and laughing while blood is spurting from the neck stump.

[struth]

The Holly and the Ivy, 1952..




A heartwarming tale of an English minister and his family reunited at Christmas time. Their story includes a remembrance of their World War II trials. Ralph Richardson and Celia Johnson lead the strong cast

[Barry]

its an interesting film from a director who mostly made interesting films

Agreed. I think I have it on DVD somewhere.

[Barry]

Soldier Blue, 1970... bluray.



Original work print of the movie was 135 minutes long. When it was test-screened to an audience, they almost started a riot after watching this version. This was the only time that the full uncut version was shown, and it caused the studio to decide that it was unreleasable unless massive cuts were made to the film's violent scenes. Some of these cut and never included in any official version scenes include shots of Indian women's breasts being sliced off and thrown around; children's limbs graphically severed (real amputees were employed for these shots); a little girl's legs cut off by wagon wheels; a soldier gleefully cutting an Indian's arms off before shooting another Cheyenne in the eye; the fate of Spotted Wolf, who is beheaded and his head is hoisted as a trophy by a soldier before he tosses it to another soldier, who then throws it off camera. Spotted Wolf's head attached to the stirrup of a cavalryman was not cut and is shown in the release print, and there are stills showing his mutilated body lying on the ground without the head and four cavalrymen running around with his severed head in their hands, howling and laughing while blood is spurting from the neck stump.

I remember watching the film in the cinema - and being visibly shaken by it.

I was reminded of "Soldier Blue" when I watched the recent 'western' on TV "The English", because of some of the autrocities hinted there.

No doubt some would say the criticism of the actions by the American Cavalry as being "woke".

[Barry]

Whatched this on TV last night - despite being delayed by the snooker coverage for an hour and forty five minutes (!):

School for Scoundrels



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School...ls_(1960_film)

Hadn't seen it before, and was expecting much - alas I was disappointed.

[walpurgis]

Whatched this on TV last night - despite being delayed by the snooker coverage for an hour and forty five minutes (!):

School for Scoundrels



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School...ls_(1960_film)

Hadn't seen it before, and was expecting much - alas I was disappointed.

Maybe you'd enjoy it more on subsequent watchings. I like it a lot.

[Macca]

Sherlock Holmes and the House of Fear, 1946..



According to Harry Cording, the movie was filmed completely out of sequence. With first week filming the beginning and ending when all the cast members were present. He said that Cyril Delevanti, this first person murdered, only worked four days. Universal saved money by only paying for days work and filming each victim's part in sequence. With the climax already filmed there was no need for any actor to return. Except for Aubrey Mather and Paul Cavanagh , when you died the pay stopped.

Forgot about this until now but I took this picture when I was in Liverpool at Easter. Basil Rathbone's old house:

[struth]

Forgot about this until now but I took this picture when I was in Liverpool at Easter. Basil Rathbone's old house:

is that the one in the uni halls of residence?