I Just Watched...

[Allhallowsday]

THE BOYS IN THE BAND (1970) It must be the 2nd time this year. Still remarkably powerful and engrossing, TCM was celebrating WILLIAM FRIEDKIN last night. His directing job was superb. I've come to understand the characters better, because of all the great performances. Harold says to Michael just as he exits, "...Call you tomorrow..." LEONARD FREY breaks my heart. He has all the best lines. "Give me Librium or give me Meth."




CLIFF GORMAN, who played the most overt Emory, was married until his death in 2002, a remarkable actor and I think a wonderful person, with his wife, cared for ROBERT La TOURNEAUX at the end of his life (in 1986!).

[Allhallowsday]

I Could Go On Singing (1963) TCM On Demand-5/10
... This would be Garland's final film and it is OK send off for her. In 1967, she was supposed to appear in Valley Of The Dolls in the part later played by Susan Hayward. I'm glad now she did not do it since the movie was trashy and the role would have be humiliating for her.

Good review. DIRK BOGARDE in a later interview TCM must have shown, called her "a schizophrenic" As far as VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, at least she wore the wardrobe! It was a good enough part for SUSAN HAYWARD to grab.

[laffite]

About Elly (2009) Iranian One of the most exhilarating movie experiences. A party of about 10 people, all who know each other, comprising of married couples and some children and one single person, decide to have a seaside weekend at a somewhat run downed villa. The are having a great time, all happy and singing, on and on and on. A movie where one might ask, when is something going to happen. There is a full 45 minutes of exposition. I was not bored because I trusted the movie well enough to know something was up and that it would be good and not to be missed. I had no idea what the movie was about so I knew nothing)**

And yes, something happened.

What followed was a frantic discussion among the players about what happened which entailed repeated references to what had occurred in those first 45 minutes. Some of that I remembered and some perhaps only half-remembered. There was a lot going on, nuances of behaviors and conversation, little snippets that seemed not to mean anything at the time. Building blocks of information that all the characters struggled with. The story take another turn near the end.

Nothing here about the story or about themes, etc. Hopefully there is enough to pique interest. Know that this is considered a Masterpiece. If you decide it's a go, pay attention to that first 45 minutes! (and know, if you want to go back and check the snippets while the characters are talking, okay to do that, you will spoil nothing.)

--

**I try not to know anything at all before a movie. It's hard but I am diligent. If I am puzzled or lost after about 30 minutes, I will try to find something to read about the film to get me centered. I like the idea of what it was like in time of yore, where information was scarce (I wouldn't check out a movie in a newspaper). Just walk into the theater and let it all unfold before my eyes. ...

Our friend at the other place once wrote on the TCM forum that before watching a movie he would read several reviews and synopses first because he didn't want to "miss anything."

Oy.

//

[TikiSoo]

Just requested About Elly from the library-so glad we have it! Looking forward to seeing a good movie for a change...

Because I just watched Showgirls 1995 after hearing an NPR story about cult films. Apparently, this is a cult film that people throw "viewing parties" and yell at the screen a la MST3K. OK, ridiculing bad movies is something I can get into so made a list of movies they discussed (Staying' Alive, The Room)

The story is of a young drifter who hitchhikes to Las Vegas to become a dancer. This is the early '90's when dancing styles are jerky & mechanical, influenced by street break-dancing. The girl immediately gets a job at a strip club where we see explicit nudity & sordid sexual acts. She dreams of the day when she can become a big Las Vegas showgirl (!) and gets her chance after enduring a humiliating audition.

I watched this with MrTiki & at this point said, "this movie seems like soft porn" to which he retorted, "no this is just porn".
She finally gets hired in the big show, but wants the highest position as "star attraction".

MrTiki had asked if Las Vegas shows were really "like this" meaning crazy staging & full nudity shown.
No, in reality the costumes suggested nudity using flesh colored netting not unlike Cher's costumes of the era. But not a stage orgy as shown here....every time a male dancer interacted with a female dancer I said, "Ew I touched an icky woman!" or "hand sanitizer!"

The drifter ruthlessly & literally pushes her way to the top, only to expose herself & her friends to exploitation of those running the show. No ladder climbing, it's just the same exploitation as the strip club with just more money as compensation.

The price for fame is too high and the drifter leaves hitchhiking her way to LA where we can presume she will face more exploitation. The End.

A truly horrible movie but a top notch production, obviously a decent budget. There were a few real pros like Kyle MacLachlan & Gina Gershon that elevated some of the more ridiculous scenes but there were still plenty of dialogue that made us LOL.

Most notable was a (not sexy) sex scene in a pool that made more waves than the beach. It was so over-the-top both of us laughed through it, "if a girl acted like that, I'd think she was CRAZY & downright dangerous- get as far away from her as possible!" (should I believe him?)

Anyway, I'm glad I saw it. I kept waiting for Demi Moore to show up, but apparently that's a different sleazy movie.

[Allhallowsday]

... I just watched Showgirls 1995 after hearing an NPR story about cult films. Apparently, this is a cult film that people throw "viewing parties" and yell at the screen a la MST3K. OK, ridiculing bad movies is something I can get into so made a list of movies they discussed (Staying' Alive, The Room)...
A truly horrible movie but a top notch production, obviously a decent budget. There were a few real pros like Kyle MacLachlan & Gina Gershon that elevated some of the more ridiculous scenes but there were still plenty of dialogue that made us LOL.

Most notable was a (not sexy) sex scene in a pool that made more waves than the beach. It was so over-the-top both of us laughed through it, "if a girl acted like that, I'd think she was CRAZY & downright dangerous- get as far away from her as possible!" (should I believe him?)

Anyway, I'm glad I saw it. I kept waiting for Demi Moore to show up, but apparently that's a different sleazy movie.

If not prepared SHOW GIRLS is a jaw dropper of SLEAZE. And bad, bad, bad. It's so bad, it's embarrassing. Disturbing. Slow-mo train wreck... with real production values!!!

[HoldenIsHere]

Just requested About Elly from the library-so glad we have it! Looking forward to seeing a good movie for a change...

Because I just watched Showgirls 1995 after hearing an NPR story about cult films. Apparently, this is a cult film that people throw "viewing parties" and yell at the screen a la MST3K. OK, ridiculing bad movies is something I can get into so made a list of movies they discussed (Staying' Alive, The Room)

The story is of a young drifter who hitchhikes to Las Vegas to become a dancer. This is the early '90's when dancing styles are jerky & mechanical, influenced by street break-dancing. The girl immediately gets a job at a strip club where we see explicit nudity & sordid sexual acts. She dreams of the day when she can become a big Las Vegas showgirl (!) and gets her chance after enduring a humiliating audition.

I watched this with MrTiki & at this point said, "this movie seems like soft porn" to which he retorted, "no this is just porn".

I've only seen the "edited for television" version of SHOWGIRLS (as shown on USA or Lifetime or other such basic cable channel).
Being a huge SAVED BY THE BELL fan, I loved seeing Jessie Spano as a "so excited, so scared" stripper.

I always see Hot Sundae's "Go For It" video as Jessie's training ground for her stripping gig.

I also love the reference to SHOWGIRLS in Jimmy Fallon's SAVE BY THE BELL sketch on THE TONIGHT SHOW featuring former BELL cast members.
ZACK: "Jimmy going on a date with Nicole Kidman is like Jessie becoming a stripper."

[CinemaInternational]

Re: Showgirls. I started laughing at it, but before the end, I don't know...it began to make some sort of sleazy sense, and I'm not sure why, although I was not taken in by all the skin. I know some who actually took the whole thing seriously, including some established film historians who called it one of the best films of 1995 (!). Gina Gershon actually managed to give a good performance in spite of it all. The nudity level is over the top, probably the most ever in a studio film. Yes, the pool scene is bad.

As for Demi Moore, that was Striptease a year later, which was also mauled critically. That one was intentionally made as a comedy though, and while it had its tawdry moments, it was a cleaner film than this one, and it actually was amusing at times. Nobody really liked it though except for the writer who wrote the original book.

[TikiSoo]

Re: Showgirls. I started laughing at it, but before the end, I don't know...it began to make some sort of sleazy sense, and I'm not sure why

What it actually illustrated very well is how a young woman can be so easily manipulated & exploited by her employer. All I could think of is how none of that would happen these days.

And yes, I was in the fashion industry at that age and that predatory "attitude" was prevalent. I walked away from a lot of seemingly great jobs that I really wanted.

[Detective Jim McLeod]

Mockery (1927)-Youtube-6/10

Set during the Russian civil war, a slow witted peasant (Lon Chaney) mistakes the kindness of a Countess (Barbara Bedford) for love.

One of Chaney's lesser known silent films, another of those unrequited love themes he did very often. Chaney is good as always and the class struggles of this time are pretty interesting. Some disturbing pre code moments that involve attempted rape. Worth seeing for Chaney fans and the copy on Youtube is very good.

[CinemaInternational]

I have of late been watching mostly classic television series: Jonny Quest (1964), The Flintstones (1960-1966), Wacky Races (1968-1969), Picket Fences (1992–1996), Evening Shade (1990–1994) and a few others. I must admit that I bailed on: Picket Fences (1992-1996) somewhere in the third season because it lost all humour and became quite preachy. I am sorry to say that I could not endure more than four complete episodes of: Evening Shade (1990–1994).

One movie which I have rewatched in its entirety is: Hatari! (1962)

I am not a fan of John Wayne. I believe this is because westerns and Western military movies are generally not to my taste. He is quite fine here as a basic guy working hard and taking risks and hoping that is all the world asks of him.

There is one tiny scene which I find absolutely perfect: he has been drinking all evening and then finds a strange woman in his bed. She makes the salient observation:
Dallas: You have been drinking a little, hmm?
Sean Mercer: No ma'am. I've been drinking a lot.
He says this with such impish glee! He is a little boy who knows he has been naughty but is so pure of heart that he shyly admits his crime. The look on his face is absolutely precious!

I am sure that one of the reasons why I like this movie so much is the unstructured feel. It is a straight Howard Hawks romp.

It is available for viewing for free with commercials on: PlutoTV

A few weeks late to comment, but although I liked Evening Shade a lot more than you, I have to agree fully that Picket Fences derailed upon hitting season three. It turned glum and dismal and mawkish, not a good way to go.

[Masha]

The Monster of Camp Sunshine or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Nature (1964)

A fashion model seeks the tranquility and non-judgmental atmosphere of a nudist camp so that she can overcome her anxiety about posing topless. A mentally-challenged gardener drinking tainted water from a spring and turning into an axe-murderer derails her plans.

This movie has long been on my list of movies to find because it is in isolation: it is the only movie credit of the director and writer (Ferenc Leroget), cinematographer and editor (Motley Crue) and title-card-maker (S. Eek). It was the first movie for the producer (Gene R. Kearney). None of the actors have any other acting credits. Such total lack of association with the film industry is very rare

I believe that the best way to describe this movie is: weird contradictions.

The cinematography is crisp and clear. The scenes in NYC are beautiful. The cameraman's shadow appears repeatedly.

They chose the best stock footage of battle scenes to inform the situation is very dangerous. These shots are riffle-shuffled with shots of topless women, a scientist parachuting to the rescue and a man wearing tighty-whities firing a six-shooter at least eighty-seven times while holding sticks of dynamite.

Some of it is very bad. Most is fairly mediocre. Some of it is brilliant. A very few moments are pure genius. It does at times edge close to surreal but it is unclear whether that was intentional or because they forgot from scene to scene what they were doing.

One thing which I believe that most men will appreciate: all of the breasts shown are fit and trim. No sagging milk-bags here!

I believe that this is the type of movie which is made only when an enterprising young man with a vision says: "I have twelve dollars, a dime-bag of weed and a three-day weekend. I think I'll get some girls and make a movie!"

5.6/11

This movie is available for watching free with commercials on: TubiTV.

[kingrat]

We have started watching Season 1 of the original PERRY MASON on Freevee, free with surprisingly few commercials. What a different world TV was then, with 39 shows per season, and each episode lasting about 53 minutes. The cast really had to work. Most of the shows from this first season were adapted from Erle Stanley Gardner's novels.We've seen the first eight episodes, enjoying all of them. The cars are an added treat, but the modern viewer may wince at all the cigarette smoking.

Hey, there's Darryl Hickman in Episode 2 (Case of the Sleepwalker's Niece). We didn't realize that was Barbara Eden (Case of the Angry Mourner), but certainly recognized Frances Bavier in Case of the Crimson Kiss.

Not only are the five principals ideally cast, but what wonderful and distinctive voices they had. William Talman's rasp is the perfect contrast to the smoother voices of the others. Barbara Hale has one of the loveliest female voices I've ever heard, soft and low but with power when called for. I just smile whenever Ray Collins is on screen, and love the silky, beautifully shaped bass-baritone tones that convey a friendly menace so effectively. William Hopper is another constant delight, and Raymond Burr has the gift of handling the legal dialogue as if it were everyday speech, which to a lawyer it is.

[Detective Jim McLeod]

The Black Camel (1931) Youtube-5/10

Honolulu police inspector Charlie Chan (Warner Oland) investigates the murder of a famous actress.

An OK early Chan film, Bela Lugosi plays a phony psychic who assists on the case. This was also Robert Young's feature film debut, he plays the boyfriend of the leading lady (Sally Eilers). It is worth seeing for Chan and Lugosi fans. It was fun to see Lugosi reunited with Dwight Frye, who has a small role as a butler. They had appeared in Dracula earlier that year as the Count and Renfield. Another treat is a scene with Chan and his huge bunch of children at the breakfast table. Two of the kids have picked up on current American slang.

[j.lunatic]

Alimony Madness (1933), a Poverty Row potboiler about the wrongs of alimony. On YouTube.

The second Mrs. Thurman is on trial for murdering Mr. Thurman's first wife. Flashback to the back story...

Eloise Thurman is an idle and selfish wife, refusing to give her husband a child, and buying and doting on a $500 pedigreed Pekinese. She and her lawyer trick the naive Joan Armstrong into going to John Thurman's architecture office late at night, in order to break in and catch John with "another woman." Wanting to do what he thinks is the right thing, John agrees to pay Eloise $1,000 a month ($23,617.38 today) in alimony. Then John's clients drop him because of the scandal of his divorce. He can't keep up the payments, is repeatedly hauled into the special alimony court, and is thrown in jail. When Joan learns this she presses a lawyer into taking the case and getting John released. Joan becomes John's secretary, then his second wife, then the mother of his child. The one-year-old child falls seriously ill; when John is rushing out to the pharmacy he is caught and marched back into court. When he does manage to come home, the child has died and Joan is catatonic. Shortly afterwards the second Mrs. Thurman pays a call on the first, shooting her in cold blood in front of the maid.

Return to the courtroom.

The jury unanimously acquitted Joan.

The story is patched together from various contemporary anecdotes and tabloid headlines, heavily weighing the story in favor of Joan. In alimony jail, John is held with other debtors, from a ditch digger who gets $3 a day (if there's work) to a playboy who responded to the Great Depression by prioritizing his polo ponies over his ex-wife and their children. Heavyhanded and sensationalistic, but entertaining.

[Allhallowsday]

DEATH IN VENICE (1971) This is the perfect example of a film I call "motionless". I love this movie. I readily describe this film as boring.
And nothing happens. And... it is gorgeous...!

DIRK BOGARDE was bold early on in his career, taking roles of mixed benefit, and as a result perfected screen acting in this. I do like long looks, and browsing camera; a fascinating juxtaposition of artists in this film on multiple levels.

I'm shooting for THE DAMNED at 3:15am EST, but will be looking at THE NIGHT PORTER at 1...!