Hello from Ottawa Canada

[CanuckNoir]

Hello everyone,

Just discovered this forum as I was doing 'research' (Google) on the annual TCM filmfest which I'm thinking of attending next year.
A Montrealer by birth (which I still visit at least once a month) but now living in Ottawa, our nation's capital just a few hours away.

I've got too many hobbies to mention but a lifelong cinephile of just about all film genres. Grew up as a geeky Science Fiction "Monster" kid but my tastes have expanded tremendously since then. My emphasis of the last few years have been mostly gritty Film Noir but I can just as easily watch a cheesy flick on occasion to just wind down.

I don't subscribe to any TV channels but I got a vast 6000+ DVD/BR collection that I can choose from and watch at least 5-6 films a week.
I have also been writing movie reviews since 2009 on a WordPress site where I'm nearing 600 reviews, something that I just do for the fun of it. (https://lazaruslair.wordpress.com/ for those interested).

I hope to learn about movies that have escaped my radar so far to add to my movie enjoyment.

Thanks to the Admins for creating this forum.

[dianedebuda]

Welcome from Central Texas!

[Detective Jim McLeod]

Hello everyone,

Just discovered this forum as I was doing 'research' (Google) on the annual TCM filmfest which I'm thinking of attending next year.
A Montrealer by birth (which I still visit at least once a month) but now living in Ottawa, our nation's capital just a few hours away.

I've got too many hobbies to mention but a lifelong cinephile of just about all film genres. Grew up as a geeky Science Fiction "Monster" kid but my tastes have expanded tremendously since then. My emphasis of the last few years have been mostly gritty Film Noir but I can just as easily watch a cheesy flick on occasion to just wind down.

I don't subscribe to any TV channels but I got a vast 6000+ DVD/BR collection that I can choose from and watch at least 5-6 films a week.
I have also been writing movie reviews since 2009 on a WordPress site where I'm nearing 600 reviews, something that I just do for the fun of it. (https://lazaruslair.wordpress.com/ for those interested).

I hope to learn about movies that have escaped my radar so far to add to my movie enjoyment.

Thanks to the Admins for creating this forum.

Welcome, what are some of your favorite films?

[CanuckNoir]

I knew that question or "Who is your favorite actor/actress?" would pop up. Both VERY hard questions of course especially since my tastes span a gamut of genres.

In keeping with the 'Silver Screen' theme of this forum I'll list of few that would apply (in no particular order, off the top of my head and probably forgetting some that I'm going to kick myself for not mentioning):

• All about Eve (Davis!)
  Sunset Boulevard
  Mildred Pierce
  The Wages of Fear
  Diabolique
  Arsenic and old Lace
  What Ever Happened to Baby Jane

and any Hitchcock, Billy Wilder or Jimmy Stewart film.

That should be good for starters

[LiamCasey]

Welcome aboard!

[Bronxgirl48]

Welcome sweet North American neighbor!

Billy Wilder is my favorite director. Love SUNSET BOULEVARD, DOUBLE INDEMNITY, THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR, STALAG 17, A FOREIGN AFFAIR, THE LOST WEEKEND, THE APARTMENT, WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION and of course SOME LIKE IT HOT.

Also enjoy ARSENIC AND OLD LACE, DIABOLIQUE, THE WAGES OF FEAR, MILDRED PIERCE, ALL ABOUT EVE (yes, Bette is great!), WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? (and its "companion piece" HUSH, HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE)

My favorite Hitchcocks are REBECCA, REAR WINDOW and PSYCHO. What are yours?

My favorite Jimmy Stewart movie is THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER.

[KayFrancis]

Welcome CanuckNoir.
You've mentioned quite a few of my favorites too.

[CanuckNoir]

Billy Wilder is my favorite director. Love SUNSET BOULEVARD, DOUBLE INDEMNITY, THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR, STALAG 17, A FOREIGN AFFAIR, THE LOST WEEKEND, THE APARTMENT, WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION and of course SOME LIKE IT HOT.

Ah yes, Stalag 17! I was trying to find that DVD for a long time. Then one day someone offered me an entire box of DVDs (contents unknown) for free. I knew I'd have many of the DVDs already but said "What the hey ..." and picked them up. Sure enough one of the last DVDs at the bottom of that box was my beloved Stalag 17. THAT was a good day.

My favorite Hitchcocks are REBECCA, REAR WINDOW and PSYCHO. What are yours?

Psycho and The Birds would certainly be at the top of that list, but Lifeboat is creeping up there. I was pleasantly surprised that Hitch handled comedy nicely in The Trouble With Harry. Honestly, the man could do no wrong (well while directing films at least).

My favorite Jimmy Stewart movie is THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER.

Shop is a great to be sure. I love him in Westerns, particularly The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. I think one of his best scenes ever is in Shenandoah when he confronts the young soldier who just killed one of his sons and tells the kid "I'm not going to kill you...". Another favourite is Flight of the Phoenix.

[Dargo2]

Welcome, CN!

Looking forward to reading more of your thoughts about classic films in the coming months.

(...as you sound right off the bat here as someone who'll fit right in with this group of like-minded movie-loving folks)

[TikiSoo]

Hello CN!
Welcome to the Silver Screen Oasis Classic Film Message Board!



Don’t be intimidated…we’re a friendly group albeit a bit eccentric



BTW, Ottawa is my absolute favorite City - the Tulip Festival in spring and poutine after ice skating on the Rideau in winter!
Hope to visit again soon!

[Detective Jim McLeod]

I knew that question or "Who is your favorite actor/actress?" would pop up. Both VERY hard questions of course especially since my tastes span a gamut of genres.

In keeping with the 'Silver Screen' theme of this forum I'll list of few that would apply (in no particular order, off the top of my head and probably forgetting some that I'm going to kick myself for not mentioning):

• All about Eve (Davis!)
  Sunset Boulevard
  Mildred Pierce
  The Wages of Fear
  Diabolique
  Arsenic and old Lace
  What Ever Happened to Baby Jane

and any Hitchcock, Billy Wilder or Jimmy Stewart film.

That should be good for starters

I have seen all except for The Wages Of Fear but liked all the others. I think Arsenic And Old Lace is the greatest black comedy ever made. What Ever Happened To Baby Jane is my favorite Bette Davis film and is in my top 20 of all time.

My favorite Hitchcock is Shadow Of A Doubt (1943)

Favorite Billy Wilder is The Lost Weekend (1945)

Favorite James Stewart is Vertigo (1958)

[Bronxgirl48]

Billy Wilder is my favorite director. Love SUNSET BOULEVARD, DOUBLE INDEMNITY, THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR, STALAG 17, A FOREIGN AFFAIR, THE LOST WEEKEND, THE APARTMENT, WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION and of course SOME LIKE IT HOT.

Ah yes, Stalag 17! I was trying to find that DVD for a long time. Then one day someone offered me an entire box of DVDs (contents unknown) for free. I knew I'd have many of the DVDs already but said "What the hey ..." and picked them up. Sure enough one of the last DVDs at the bottom of that box was my beloved Stalag 17. THAT was a good day.

My favorite Hitchcocks are REBECCA, REAR WINDOW and PSYCHO. What are yours?

Psycho and The Birds would certainly be at the top of that list, but Lifeboat is creeping up there. I was pleasantly surprised that Hitch handled comedy nicely in The Trouble With Harry. Honestly, the man could do no wrong (well while directing films at least).

My favorite Jimmy Stewart movie is THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER.

Shop is a great to be sure. I love him in Westerns, particularly The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. I think one of his best scenes ever is in Shenandoah when he confronts the young soldier who just killed one of his sons and tells the kid "I'm not going to kill you...". Another favourite is Flight of the Phoenix.

"At ease!" lol (wonder what Wilder and Preminger talked about behind the scenes...)

I'll have to take another look at LIFEBOAT. I remember Robert Osborne comparing John Hodiak to Marlon Brando. Not so sure about that, lol. I like Bernard Hermann's "rustic" score for THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY. Still trying to process MR. AND MRS. SMITH but it does deal with a familiar Hitch theme of marriage as being essentially problematical. I like Jimmy in just about anything except maybe ROPE. That was unfortunate miscasting in my opinion and I don't think Stewart knew just what to do with that character. Haven't seen SHENANDOAH and only remember bits and pieces of FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX.

I too am a "Monster Kid" (and frequent a certain horror film message board -- you probably know the one I mean) and have never outgrown my love for that genre.

[CinemaInternational]

Welcome! I hope you will enjoy it here!

[CanuckNoir]

I'll have to take another look at LIFEBOAT. I remember Robert Osborne comparing John Hodiak to Marlon Brando. Not so sure about that, lol. I like Bernard Hermann's "rustic" score for THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY. Still trying to process MR. AND MRS. SMITH but it does deal with a familiar Hitch theme of marriage as being essentially problematical. I like Jimmy in just about anything except maybe ROPE. That was unfortunate miscasting in my opinion and I don't think Stewart knew just what to do with that character. Haven't seen SHENANDOAH and only remember bits and pieces of FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX.

You know, I don't think I've ever seen Hitch's MR. AND MRS. SMITH. Going to have to remedy that.
I have watched ROPE but that was so long ago I don't remember much aside from that it was filmed as one long contiguous scene. The fact that I can't remember much belies that it was not high on my Hitch list.

As far as Stewart being miscast, I think THE SPIRIT OF ST-LOUIS wins hands down. Not too often a 50ish actor is cast to play a 20ish role. Stewart did his best but it was clear he was not the spring chicken the role demanded. I enjoy that film as a historical (such as it is) and technical movie rather than an outright drama.

Question: Is it the norm to CAPITALIZE movie titles on this forum? Did not look to see if there was a post or FAQ on how things are done here.

I too am a "Monster Kid" (and frequent a certain horror film message board -- you probably know the one I mean) and have never outgrown my love for that genre.

I don't know what message board you are talking about as this is the only message board I'm actually using at the moment and the first one in years.
I used to participate in a number of them (recycled SF BBS forums, a local B-Movie forum as well as forums for some of my other hobbies), but one by one they disappeared over the years and these days most of my info and interaction is via Facebook and YouTube. It was on a whim of a Google search that led me to this forum and I was pleasantly surprised to see that board like this are still active. Good on you folks.

[Allhallowsday]

Welcome! Some of us are keenly interested in the marginal, disapproved, challenging, and just plain bad.

Oh yes! I'm a Monster kid too. I have the soundtrack for a favorite: CARNIVAL OF SOULS...