Joan Fontaine (1917-2013)

TCM Has a very nice TCM Remembers tribute

WATCH THE TRIBUTE VIDEO HERE

Eleanor Parker Dies at 91

Tribute from A Trip Down Memory Lane
More from The Hollywood Reporter | Variety | Washington Post

Dick Tracy's new enemy based on A Trip to the Moon

If you haven't been following the Dick Tracy comic strip this year, you might not know that he has a new nemesis based on an iconic movie character - the man in the moon from George Méliès' 1902 classic, "A Trip to the Moon".

The name of the new villian: none other than Méliès, who has a moon-shaped head in the tradition of Flattop and Pruneface.  Here's some info about the new character from the Dick Tracy Depot.

Read today's comic strip here featuring Méliès.

Movies from 50 Years Ago - 1963

I was curious to look up what movies were popular in American theaters 50 years ago this weekend - the weekend when American found out that President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. 

My research led me to a Wikipedia page that listed each of the top weekend box-office champions and this entry from Mr. Pop Culture.

I was surprised to learn that the Top Box Office movie the weekend of November 22-24 1963 was a live-action Disney picture, The Incredible Journey about the adventures of two dogs and a cat. It's interesting that a family movie did rather well that weekend, when the news of JFK's assassination was on everyone's mind.

Also in theaters 50 years ago this weekend: 
It's A Mad, Mad, Mad Mad World  provided  comic relief.  Paul Newman was in a rom-com called A New Kind of Love and The VIPs featured Elizabeth Taylor. 

#	Weekend end date	Film	Box office
1	01963-01-06January 6, 1963	Lawrence of Arabia	$2,573,392
2	01963-01-13January 13, 1963	Lawrence of Arabia	$2,385,298
3	01963-01-20January 20, 1963	Lawrence of Arabia	$2,185,395
4	01963-01-27January 27, 1963	Lawrence of Arabia	$1,937,583
5	01963-02-03February 3, 1963	Lawrence of Arabia	$1,836,384
6	01963-02-10February 10, 1963	Lawrence of Arabia	$1,273,256
7	01963-02-17February 17, 1963	A Child Is Waiting	$2,261,732
8	01963-02-24February 24, 1963	How the West Was Won	$2,757,635
9	01963-03-03March 3, 1963	How the West Was Won	$2,385,924
10	01963-03-10March 10, 1963	How the West Was Won	$2,185,372
11	01963-03-17March 17, 1963	How the West Was Won	$1,683,845
12	01963-03-24March 24, 1963	How the West Was Won	$1,539,932
13	01963-03-31March 31, 1963	The Birds	$2,900,043
14	01963-04-07April 7, 1963	It Happened at the World's Fair	$2,472,533
15	01963-04-14April 14, 1963	Bye Bye Birdie	$2,385,822
16	01963-04-21April 21, 1963	Bye Bye Birdie	$2,175,483
17	01963-04-28April 28, 1963	Bye Bye Birdie	$1,382,578
18	01963-05-05May 5, 1963	Bye Bye Birdie	$945,382
19	01963-05-12May 12, 1963	Dr. No	$2,673,277
20	01963-05-19May 19, 1963	Dr. No	$2,374,294
21	01963-05-26May 26, 1963	Dr. No	$2,187,824
22	01963-06-02June 2, 1963	Hud	$2,562,844
23	01963-06-09June 9, 1963	The Nutty Professor	$2,472,573
24	01963-06-16June 16, 1963	Donovan's Reef	$2,583,578
25	01963-06-23June 23, 1963	Cleopatra	$2,735,387
26	01963-06-30June 30, 1963	Cleopatra	$2,572,922
27	01963-07-07July 7, 1963	The Great Escape	$2,743,673
28	01963-07-14July 14, 1963	Beach Party	$1,953,593
29	01963-07-21July 21, 1963	Cleopatra	$2,583,244
30	01963-07-28July 28, 1963	Cleopatra	$2,395,422
31	01963-08-04August 4, 1963	Cleopatra	$2,175,274
32	01963-08-11August 11, 1963	Gidget Goes to Rome	$2,382,891
33	01963-08-18August 18, 1963	Promises! Promises!	$2,371,522
34	01963-08-25August 25, 1963	Flipper	$2,175,355
35	01963-09-01September 1, 1963	Promises! Promises!	$1,947,372
36	01963-09-08September 8, 1963	Promises! Promises!	$932,683
37	01963-09-15September 15, 1963	Shock Corridor	$935,385
38	01963-09-22September 22, 1963	X	$1,736,924
39	01963-09-29September 29, 1963	The V.I.P.s	$2,735,385
40	01963-10-06October 6, 1963	Dementia 13	$2,382,582
41	01963-10-13October 13, 1963	The V.I.P.s	$2,391,381
42	01963-10-20October 20, 1963	Johnny Cool	$1,972,577
43	01963-10-27October 27, 1963	The V.I.Ps	$1,824,428
44	01963-11-03November 3, 1963	A New Kind of Love	$1,824,385
45	01963-11-10November 10, 1963	It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World	$2,826,573
46	01963-11-17November 17, 1963	It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World	$2,783,482
47	01963-11-24November 24, 1963	The Incredible Journey	$2,673,285
48	01963-12-01December 1, 1963	Fun in Acapulco	$2,427,572
49	01963-12-08December 8, 1963	Charade	$2,382,278
50	01963-12-15December 15, 1963	Charade	$2,184,293
51	01963-12-22December 22, 1963	Charade	$1,573,284
52	01963-12-29December 29, 1963	The Sword in the Stone	$2,742,466

Angela Lansbury receives a special honorary Oscar

The special Honorary Award ceremony was last night, and veteran screen star (and 3-time nominee) Angela Lansbury received a special Oscar.

Robert Osborne of Turner Classics presented her with the award.

A report of the evening's ceremony can be found here:(Deadline Hollywood)

More pictures of Ms Lansbury at the ceremony here: (UK Mix)

A salute from the UK Telegraph

Gravity (2013)

Last weekend I had the pleasure of seeing Gravity, the much talked about adventure/thriller set in space that many have said makes you feel like you are up there. I must say, the film succeeded at that, and exceeded my expectations; I never thought it would be so life-affirming. Modern-day box-office stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney play American astronauts adrift in space trying to make their way back home. At first I was skeptical of the casting, but Sandra turns out an impressive, award-worthy performance, and Clooney (who previously went up "in the air" in 2002's Solaris and 2009's Up in The Air) brings an honest sincerity to the role and the right amount of humor.  The film also gave me a glimpse of what astronauts do when they're up there, as well as the dangers they face (some experts have questioned some of the details). And needless to say it's visually stunning.  If you have not yet had the experience of seeing this movie in theaters, I would highly recommend it.  I think it's a modern-day classic.  Directed by Alfonso Cuarón. 

Leonard Maltin's new Youtube Channel

I've been enjoying Leonard Maltin's videos that he's been doing on his new channel. The first few videos are Q&As - like the one below. Subscribe to the channel here: http://www.youtube.com/leonardmaltin

Ship of Fools (1965)

The year is 1933. Hitler is now in power. A cruise ship is making its way to Germany.

The passengers include numerous German citizens as well as Americans (including Lee Marvin and Vivien Leigh, in her final film appearance).

It's kind of a long film with several interconnected story lines. A reoccurring theme explores the German character's feelings and attitudes about the changing political climate of the country.

Among the Germans aboard is Jose Ferrer's character, an obnoxious publisher who won't stand to eat with anyone who is a Jew.  Lee Marvin's character (a washed-up American baseball player) observes this behavior and asks someone "What's he got against the Jews?".

Oscar Werner plays the German ship's doctor, and he's good. All throughout the film he's politically agnostic, and later he's suspected of being Jewish. But the truth is never truly revealed to us. Instead, we learn that he longs for something more in life, and he longs to be with Simone Signoret's character, a humanitarian that he admires and adores.

The movie ends by showing all of the characters leave the ship, and the audience is left to wonder what is to become of them all throughout the 1930s and beyond. It's assumed that some of the Americans are just there in Germany for a short visit - Lee Marvin leaves the ship and quickly tries to meet a pretty young blond woman. And we assume that some of the Germans will grow to support the emerging Nazism, including an old woman (who previously showed sympathy to Jews) who greets and hugs her awaiting son - who is wearing a Nazi armband.

A very patriotic and proud German Jew (Heinz Rühmann) views the coming years optimistically, and is oblivious to any of the horrors that will emerge from Hitler's dictatorship. The ship's philosopher, Michael Dunn, says to him at one point "you might be the biggest fool on this ship".

With George Segal, Lilia Skala, Jose Greco, Elizabeth Ashley.
Director: Stanley Kramer

Writers: Katherine Anne Porter (novel), Abby Mann (screenplay)

The last Blockbuster video store

...in the Chicago area will be closing at the end of the month. Currently all of their DVDs and BluRays are on sale. 

I was just in here a few weeks ago renting the Poltergeist trilogy (yes-I rented all three films and enjoyed a marathon weekend), and the last film I rented from here was Lincoln on BluRay. 

It's sad to see it close down, but I knew this day was coming. 

1975 Gas Attack at Julie Harris Movie Premiere

An unfortunate incident occurred at the world premiere of highly-anticipated film The Hiding Place, which starred the late great Julie Harris.

The film was based on a best-selling autobiography of Corrie Ten Boom, a member of the Dutch resistance who hid Jews in her home when the Nazis invaded Holland in 1940.

Julie Harris played Ten Boom's sister, who was killed in a concentration camp.



The premiere was held at the Beverly Theater in Los Angeles on September 25, 1975.  The film's stars and other celebrities and guests attended the event.

When the theater was filled, an unknown perpetrator threw a tear-gas canister into the building, apparently as an anti-semitic gesture. Gas filled the air. The crowd had to evacuate the building. Firemen came. Outside on the street -  blocked off for the event - preacher and co-producer of the film Rev. Billy Graham lead the crowd in a prayer. ¹

No one was injured in the attack.

The multitude of people waited for the building to air out, but the stench was too much. The film screening had to be cancelled that night, and the premiere was postponed.

What could have been a night of desperation turned into a night of inspiration.

An impromptu outdoor concert followed, featuring the singing of Gospel and Hebrew songs.

In attendance that evening was Corrie Ten Boom herself. She was 83 years old at the time. Later, she wrote about the attacker and the virtue of forgiveness.

"People asked me tonight, 'What did you feel about this bomb [a tear-gas canister] that was falling?' I was touched. I was sad. Do you know why? Not only because there was in some way disappointment for people who had hoped to see the film but because on that bomb was the Hakenkreuz, the swastika. What we have to do is love these people who hate us - love them, pray for them. These people are wounded people who have hate in their hearts. They need forgiveness." ² 

The film's premiere was held the following night, without an incident.

Above: Corrie Ten Boom speaks to the crowd.

REFERENCES

¹ Just As I Am: The Autobiography of Billy Graham
By Billy Graham
c) 1997 Harper Collins Worldwide

² Life Lessons from The Hiding Place: Discovering the Heart of Corrie ten Boom
 By Pamela Rosewell Moore
c) 2004 Chosen Books/Baker Publishing Group

2013 Honorary Oscars

It has been announced that this year's Honorary Academy Awards ("Oscars") will go to 3 deserving candidates for a lifetime's achievement in film -  Angela Lansbury (a 3-time nominee), costume designer Piero Tosi (a 5-time nominee), and Steve Martin a 3-time Oscar host and cinematic comedy legend for over 30 years.  

There was a time when the Academy only awarded 1 honorary Oscar per year ( I was not a big fan of that practice). Nowadays, the Academy is not as stingy as they used to be.

I think it would be great if they gave out 4 or 5 Honorary Oscars per year.

While I'm on an Oscar rant, why not bring back the Juvenile Oscar? For the outstanding performer under 13 years old.

Also, how about some new categories? What about Best Stunt Coordination? Best Casting? Best Credit Sequence? Best Voice-Over Performance?

Centennial Summer (1946)

Centennial Summer is a sweet, Technicolor period musical (set in 1876) starring Jeanne Crain and Linda Darnell, who play sisters vying for the affection of Cornel Wilde's character, a Frenchman visiting Philadelphia during the World's Fair.

Dorothy Gish plays the mother of Jeanne & Linda; her character has most of the comical moments in the film. Walter Brennan plays her husband, a railroad worker who dreams of new inventions and loves to argue politics and rip on Republicans. Dorothy has funny lines to say such as "put your pants on!" to a pajama-clad Brennan walking around the house. Unfortunately, Ms. Gish's screen time is limited, and she often has to compete with Constance Bennett who plays her socialite sister and tends to be a scene-stealer, saying things like "I'm simply livid with envy over your heavenly family!".  But Dorothy brings the most to her matriarch character, and is very down-to-earth and supportive.

In one of the best scenes in the film, U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant comes to Philadelphia and speaks to a large crowd. Dorothy Gish and her family are all way in the back of the crowd where nobody can can hear a thing (no microphones yet!). It was one of the moments that remind you of the setting and time.

This film is the most lighthearted film I've ever seen by director Otto Preminger, primarily known for his edgy films. The "edgiest" moments in gleeful Centennial Summer  include a single woman visiting an obstetrician and a scene where characters call each other "stupid asses".

In the 1946 New York Times review of the film, the reviewer said this film was "an obvious attempt to copy "Meet Me in St. Louis"" and that it "limps along heavily and slowly ".

I wont't be that harsh on the movie, but I did think it could have used a bit more of Dorothy Gish, and a bit more comedy, too.

But the costumes and music are good, including the Oscar-nominated song "All Through The Day" (by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein). Another song, "I Woke Up with the Lark This Morning", is the sunniest, happiest, pie-in-the-sky song you may ever hear. Another snappy musical number - "Cinderella Sue", performed by a black family led by Cotton Club singer Avon Long - is one of the film's highlights.

Recommended! Available to watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NSxrXh4vNg

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This post is a contribution to The Gish Sisters Blogathon
hosted by Movies Silently and The Motion Pictures

My autograph from Julie Harris

Gerald of Laslo's on Lex once called her a national treasure. Julie Harris - one of the great actors of the 20th century stage and screen - passed away over the weekend at the age of 87. She was multiple Tony and Emmy winner and recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors. In 2004 I wrote to her requesting an autograph and received one from her!

I will always treasure this autograph and remember her great films such as Member of the Wedding, East of Eden and The Hiding Place, to name a few. 

Old MGM cartoons

One of the new channels I'm getting with my cable package is called "Boomerang" which is a 24 hour cartoon program. Normally I don't care much for any cartoons, but I've enjoyed some of the old MGM cartoon shorts that were made in the 30s, 40s, and 50s. Every day, they air an hour's worth of shorts.

Some of the cartoons I remember watching on television when I was a kid, including those featuring "Droopy Dog" and "Barney Bear". Those shorts played along with "Tom & Jerry" cartoons (and I've always wondered why; now I know).

But some of the cartoons I've never seen, especially the older ones from the 1930s. The animation is rather crude but it's interesting to watch these and see the beginnings of animation. One of the shorts had a cat and mouse, but they weren't called "Tom and Jerry"; they could have served as insipiraton, though.

While watching some of these, I wondered what feature-length movies these played along with when they were first released. Wouldn't it be fun to be in a theater watching some of these for the first time?

I now have Turner Classic Movies cable channel

That's right! I upgraded my cable subscription so it now includes the channel TCM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo happy and soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo excited!!!!!

The first movies I DVR'd were last night's airings of Janie and Janie Gets Married! LOL! And also one of my favorite Jimmy Stewart movies  The Shopworn Angel.  Can't wait to watch these and record more!!!!!!

I don't know how I ever was able to get by all these years without TCM!

HIP-HIP-HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Conjuring (2013) and Poltergeist (1983)

Last weekend I went to see The Conjuring, a new thriller now in theaters. I was curious about it because I heard good things from other bloggers and reviewers, and was intrigued that it was inspired by true events surrounding a real haunted house and the ghost hunters (a real-life couple) who investigated it in the 1970s.

This is a well-made motion picture that I'm highly recommending. It's the kind of movie that gets scarier and scarier as it progresses, and might not be everyone's cup of tea. But every now and then some of us are in the mood for a good "haunted house movie", and this film really raises the bar. I'd say it's destined to become something of a memorable classic in years to come. There are terrific performances by Vera Farminga and Lili Taylor, who deserve some sort of recognition come awards time next year. Especially Lili Taylor - what her character has to endure in this film is gut wrenching.

The children in The Conjuring have demanding roles, too. There are 5 young girls and each has a unique "encounter" in the house. Needless to say, there is alot of screaming.

The investigators in The Conjuring are played by Vera Farminga and Patrick Wilson, a husband-and-wife team. At the start of the movie, they are giving a lecture, and we immediately understand that they are always "in demand". As the movie progresses we learn about their history investigating paranormal events, and about their relationship together.  And they make a lovely couple on screen; the movie is just as much about their love and endurance as it is about the family in the house. If you like investigator "couples" like the ones on "The X-Files" or "Bones", then you might like this movie.

I found The Conjuring to be an impressive film and highly recommend it.

I was also in the mood to rewatch Poltergeist on DVD the same weekend. I saw that movie on television when I was about 10 and will never forget how much it scared me, and how much fun it was to talk about with my classmates the next day. I don't remember the scene with the parents smoking marijuana, though - that part must have been edited for television or flown over my head back then.  A couple of take-aways from my rewatch: I really liked how the cemetery fitted in with the whole haunting situation. And I liked how technology was used to record the ghosts - that was very creepy.  (The Conjuring features innovative audio and video recording techniques, too). I forgot how integral Beatrice Staight's character was in the movie; she plays a scientist at a local college who visits the house. I really like the scene she has when she consoles the young boy.  And her campus office looked like the same one that the paranormal investigators played by Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd had in Ghostbusters. 

The children in Poltergeist are memorable - who can forget Carol Anne and how she "talks" to the ghosts in the static on the TV. By the way, seeing all that "TV static" made me nostalgic for that again; I guess we'll only see that in old movies now. By the way, there is even a quick shot of television static in The Conjuring, which may or may not be an homage to Poltergiest. (Conjuring is set in the early 1970s, and we also see the children watching Brady Bunch, too).

The clairvoyant in Poltergiest is played by Zelda Rubenstein, who passed away a few years ago. Her character in this film has to be one of the most memorable characters in the history of horror cinema, if not cinema. As soon as she comes on the screen, you know the ghosts are going to get their asses kicked.

I also rewatched Poltergiest II: The Other Side (1986) and Poltergiest III  (1988) for the first time. I don't have much to say about them except that they are both inferior sequels. The last time I saw Part II was in the theaters more than 25 years ago and the only scene I remembered was the part where the boy's braces attack him; that scene is ingrained in my brain for life. Everything else about the film is pretty awful, especially the preacher ghost who's something of a ripoff of the Robert Mitchum character in Night of the Hunter. Part III is even worse; the name "Carol Ann" is screamed or yelled over 100 times and is totally annoying unless you are playing a drinking game.

A Mesmerizing Movie Seamlessly Woven From Clips of 450 Classic Films

I thought this video montage was way cool ---



Or check it out here where I first saw it ---
http://gizmodo.com/a-mesmerizing-movie-seamlessly-woven-from-clips-of-450-994234594 


More about the filmmaker here: http://www.finalcut-movie.com/

After Tomorrow (1932)

Movies were only with sound for 5 years when Frank Borzage's underrated After Tomorrow came out. This may be one of my favorite movies I've seen from 1932. Really impressed me.

This movie features a standout performance by Josephine Hull, who only made a handful of pictures including Harvey with Jimmy Stewart nearly 20 years later. She's younger in this movie, but still very motherly, and quite an overbearing mother in fact.  She plays Mrs. Piper, mother to Peter Piper (Charles Farrell) and says things like, "in every man lurks a beast that can be aroused." Hey, that was pretty steamy stuff to say back then in the pre-code era.

Petey wants to get married to Sidney (Marian Nixon). But they're dirt-poor, and pinching every penny they have left. After all, this is the Depression (set in New York). Mother loves her boy so much that she tries to break up the marriage. Minna Gombell plays a much more verbally abusive mother to Sidney. And soon there is little doubt that the marriage will ever take place, even after a very funny impromptu rehearsal sequence.

The Young Philadelphians (1959)

Robert Vaughn

Paul Newman plays a young ambitious lawyer in a film based on the best-selling novel "The Philadelphian" by Richard P Powell about a lawyer's rise up the social ladder. The film's first half focuses on Newman starting out in his career and his relationships as he tries to get ahead in a firm. One of his best friends is played by Robert Vaughn, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance.  The movie picks up steam toward the end, when Newman takes on the most challenging case of his life. The setting moves to the courtroom, and Newman acts as defense attorney in a murder case.  In one interrogation, Newman has a witness sniff glasses of liquor which is amusing at first but proves to be an important part of the evidence.

They Live (1988) and Branded (2012)

Here's another movie celebrating a milestone 25th Anniversary: They Live. This is a movie that didn't interest me until I recently learned that it was a satire about consumerist society. I went to see a similarly themed movie last year called Branded (review below).

They Live is more entertaining and has more enjoyable actors such as Meg Foster and Keith David.  Roddy Piper plays a lonely drifter arriving in LA and discovers that America is being dominated by aliens, whose human disguises and subliminal advertising messages are visible only through a special pair of sunglasses, and later, contact lenses. It's interesting how the small group of human rebels are labeled "terrorists" and how the police (the aliens) attack and beat the resistors, including a blind preacher who tried to warm people. You know you're watching a movie made before the 1990s when there is no mention of the internet, nor any scenes involving people using cell phones. The film was written and directed by horror legend John Carpenter (The Thing, Halloween).

Last year's Branded (2012)

Last night I went to see "Branded"---big mistake. The trailer made it look somewhat intriguing, sort of a cross between They Live, The Matrix, and Inception. No way - this movie is FAR inferior in quality. Bad acting, bad direction, bad editing and screenwriting.

This trailer makes the film look like a cool Sci-Fi flick; after all, it's got Max Von Sydow as a sinister media mogul. But just like the plot of the story, the trailer a big advertising deception. It makes you think that the story takes place in America--it doesn't. The whole film is set in Russia. Much of the dialogue is in Russian too. It's a Russian film, with some American actors appearing in small English-speaking roles.

It's not sci-fi at all, really. It's more of a satire of marketing that could have been done in a 10 -minute short YouTube parody. It tries to be funny in some parts (like the opening shots in the trailer), but too often it tries to be too serious, to the point of absurdity. I was laughing so hard in the theater I almost couldn't contain myself.

About 90% of what is in this trailer comes in the last 20-25 minutes of the film....and you have to sit through an hour and a half of boring flashbacks and bizarre farm rituals that are hardly needed at all.

 

I admit I didn't do my homework and research to learn more about it.... I often like to see movies "cold"---but this is NOT one of those films.

The Line King: The Story of Al Hirschfeld (documentary, 1996)

An outstanding documentary about Mr. Hirschfeld (1903-2002), the famed artist best known for his caricatures of stage and screen celebrities for over 70 years. I am a huge fan of his work and watching this documentary (which was nominated for an Oscar) was a real treat.

The film features clips from numerous celebs sharing their best Hirschfeld memories, Hirschfeld interviews and home movies, and of course, hundreds of drawings he did through the years. But he didn't just do drawings, he painted and sculpted too

I learned that at age 18 or 19 years old, he worked for Selznick pictures, and did poster artwork and eventually took over the art department. He die many caricatures of movie stars during this period.

In 1926 he started sketching Broadway show for numerous New York newspapers, and did it for the rest of his life. He also did numerous TV Guide covers over the years.

The Conversation (1974)

"Brilliant film about an obsessive surveillance expert (Gene Hackman) who makes a mistake of becoming too involved in a case and finds himself entangled in murder and high-level power plays." (From Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide).

I love this movie directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It takes place in San Francisco, and a key surveillance sequence takes place in Union Square.

On my trip to there last month I got the chance to see this park, which was really neat. It's changed a bit in 40 years, but it still draws a large crowd just as it did back then.

This film is really thrilling, and has great performances by Gene Hackman and John Cazale, and a very earlyl movie role for Harrison Ford, who follows Hackman through a convention hall. It holds up pretty well after nearly 40 years even though some of the technology is a bit dated.

With Robert Duvall, Teri Garr, Frederic Forrest, and Cindy Williams.

Heat Lightning (1934) directed by Mervyn LeRoy

Last month a local revival theater (The Patio Theater) held a special screening of 1934's Heat Lightning, directed by Mervyn LeRoy. It was a 35mm print from the Library of Congress, and a special guest was in attendance: Margaret Talbot, daughter of Lyle Talbot, one of the stars of Heat Lightning. She wrote a book about her father The Entertainer: Movies, Magic and My Father's Twentieth Century and was there to sign copies and to introduce the film and do a Q&A afterward.

Heat Lightning takes place in the hot Mojave Desert. At the start of the film, an older couple's car breaks down and stops at a diner / auto garage / motel. The wife is played by Jane Darwell (The Grapes of Wrath). We are introduced to the waitress (Ann Dvorak) and then the mechanic (Aline MacMahon).

The husband has a few choice remarks about women as mechanics, but Aline MacMahon is tough and teaches him a lesson or two when she's able to get them back on the road in no time.

Later we find out that the two are sisters, and the story becomes more interesting. Aline's a little older, and a bit overprotective of Ann, who wants to go out and have fun with a suitor that Aline disapproves of.

Though the movie feels like an ensemble, for the most part the focal point is Aline's character (and she is clearly the lead in a standout performance). I was really impressed with her performance and this film overall. I can't think of another movie with her in the lead; she's always in supporting roles.

Other characters come to the diner, for food, gas or car repair. Frank McHugh provides some comedy relief (the movie is mostly a drama) as a chauffeur to two divorcees: Glenda "Torchy Blane" Farrell and Ruth Donnelly. And there's a great night sequence where a Mexican family plays a lovely song while "heat lightning" lights up the night sky above the Yucca trees.

As I mentioned before, this movie belongs to Aline MacMahon's character, and you really get to know her in this film. Preston Foster and Lyle Talbot play a couple of criminals on the lam who think they can stay at the motel. But Aline shows them a thing or two. You have to see the movie to find out what happens.

There are a number of flirtatious remarks and and some sex scenes that were characteristic of a pre-code film (this was one of the last pre-code movies).  One scene involves Glenda Farrell taking a bath in a small little tub in the back of the motel.

Highly recommended.

The Accidental Tourist (1988)

"William Hurt gives an exquisite performance as a man shattered by the death of his son, who comes out of his shell when he meets a kooky, aggressive young woman (Geena Davis) who couldn't be less his type. Finelhy wrought, extremely faithful adaptation of Anne Tyler's novel dares to take its time; may be too slow ffor some viewers, but offers many rewards." (from Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide).

I think Leonard Maltin is right, that many viewers won't like the slow pacing. But that's exactly what I love about the movie. It was such a refreshing respite from the loud, shaky-cam, crashing and GCI explosions of some recent superhero blockbusters.

Also I like the premise that the William Hurt character - Macon Leary - is a writer of travel books for business travelers. The movie starts off kind of sad, with his marriage dissolving with his wife (Kathleen Tuner), but then he meets Geena Davis' character who brings a bit of spark back into his life.

Geena Davis, as the dog trainer to Macon's dog,  won the 1988 Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, but her role could be considered a lead role. I love the dog in this movie, which was the same dog that was in the 1990s TV show Dharma and Greg.

Also there are some nice scenes of Baltimore (the film is set there and was filmed there).

A less-interesting (but still entertaining) subplot in the film involves Macon's sister (Amy Wright) falling in love with his boss, a book publisher played by Bill Pullman.  His sister and and his two brothers (Ed Begley Jr and David Ogden Stiers) are portrayed as being a bit more eccentric than he is.

Directed by Lawrence Kasdan. Nominated for Best Picture of 1988.

Lady and the Tramp (1955)

Each viewing of this movie becomes a little more enjoyable, I'd say. There are a number of "adult" issues in the film that I never understood as a child.  The death of Trusty disturbed me the first time I saw it. I think it was one of the first times I ever saw someone die in a movie, dog or otherwise. Funny how I always think he dies each time I watch it. Spoiler: he doesn't die, and I'm always glad to see Trusty alive!

The "Making Of" documentary on the DVD is just as enjoyable as the film. It features: interviews with Disney experts explaining how the story originated in the 1930s with an idea from Disney animator Joe Grant; original TV footage with Walt Disney himself talking about the movie; Frank Thomas' son and wife enjoying home video footage of Frank studying dogs in the backyard; Ollie Johnson's thoughts about the film; footage and photos of Peggy Lee rehearsing and recording the songs, featuring Peggy Lee's daughter.

Games (1967) starring Simone Signoret, James Caan, and Katherine Ross

Interesting trio of actors

It's a psychological thriller starring Simone Signoret, James Caan, and Katherine Ross. Any movie featuring those three actors really piques my interest. It's one of Caan's early roles. Prior to this movie he terrorized Olivia de Havilland in Lady in a Cage. 

Went to see a screening of this last week at the Music Box Theater, which showed it in 35 MM. The film opens with a neat credit sequence featuring an animated deck of cards. Caan and Ross play a wealthy married couple living in a 2-story New York townhome. The interior of the home is decorated with all kinds of art and arcade-type amusement games such as pinball machines. The couple play host to the kinds of parties that Andy Warhol might attend, and they amuse their guests with bizarre stunts and tricks.

I love this poster.
It seems to exclaim "SHOCKER!"

Character actor George Furth plays a hipster party guest with a 60's perm. He seems to be having a ball, while their housekeeper gleefully announces that she's leaving town on a three-week vacation. Whether or not she'll be back is anyone's guess. Then there is the grocery errand boy who has a crush on the lovely Katherine Ross. He pops in and out of the house at the most inconvenient of times.

Outshining every other performer is none other than the great Simone Signoret (Diabolique), who enters the young couple's lives one day, and soon, the "games" begin - mind games if you will. The kind that put those in Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolf to shame. Real guns are used, and there's real danger. To her, pinball games are mere child's play.

There are some plot twists that are better left unsaid so as to not spoil anything. I was really surprised at the outcome of everything, and wasn't expecting what was going to happen. A few of my theater companions found the movie predictable, as did Roger Ebert in his review of the film.  But for the most part, the film had me in suspense. One scene involves a cat who had me thinking it might do something that may or may not happen. You'll have to see the movie to find out.

A mind-bending thriller that you will not soon forget. Directed by Curtis Harrington.

Working Girl (1988)

 "A naive but ambitious secretary (Melanie Griffith) tries to outfox her wiley boss (Sigourney Weaver)  by closing a big deal - with the help of a man (Harrison Ford) who she just happens to fall in love with" (from Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide)

Harrison Ford and Sigourney Weaver:
modern day movie legends

I watched this office comedy again after 25 years and it made so much more sense to me now than it did when I first saw it (before I entered the "working world"). Melanie Griffith's character has to office-sit and house-sit for her boss (Weaver) when she's away and it's fun to watch her fascination with everything. Great chemistry between her and Ford. Joan Cusack is great playing the wise-cracking best friend.  Alec Baldwin in an early role is slimey ex-boyfriend.

The Staten Island Ferry with the World Trade Center
in the background. 

My favorite part in the movie is when Melanie (posing as an executive) and Ford crash a wedding just to network with a potential client (Philip Bosco).  And I love the final scene of the movie where Melanie enjoys her new office.

Roger Ebert gave the film 4 stars in his review from 1988. He noticed some similarities between this film and The Graduate, also directed by Mike Nichols. It was nominated for several Academy Awards including Best Picture of 1988. A great '80s classic.

Review from the blog Surrender The Void here

The Crimson Kimono (1959)

Two close-knit L.A. detectives investigate a stripper's murder in Samuel Fuller's underrated B/W film noir from 1959. Fuller wrote, produced, and directed the picture.

It begins as a mystery crime drama then evolves into a love story. Everything melds together in the end after a climatic street parade chase scene that reminded me of the one in 1993's The Fugitive.

The detectives are buddies, the best of friends. Both served in Korea together. One of the guys is played by James Shigeta (1933 - 2014) and he really impressed me. His character goes through an emotional transformation when he meets Victoria Shaw. There is a moving sequence where his character struggles with his own identity, and wrestles with labels such as "Asian American". It was great to see him take on the lead role in this picture, his only lead role other than The Flower Drum Song. 

Though there is an interracial romance, I didn't think it was the main focal point or a distraction. It added interest to story's love triangle that jeopardizes their friendship and the murder case.

I was delightfully surprised by the performance of Anna Lee in this picture. She plays a wise cracking drunk who helps the detectives throughout the case. A very different Anna Lee than I have ever seen.

Another review of this film from the blog Surrender to the Void

Marjorie Main and the Kettle franchise

Marjorie Main played the character of Ma Kettle in 10 movies beginning with The Egg and I in 1947.

Main had been a reliable supporting performer in many films prior to this such as Meet Me In St. Louis, The Harvey Girls, and Summer Stock.  Last year, a terrific post from Secluded Charm highlighted her performances in these films.

But as Ma Kettle she received her greatest success, including an Academy Award nomination for her performance in The Egg and I.  In the movie, she was arguable the funniest character; I love the way she haphazardly sets the table for her, Pa, and the 15 kids (!!). Audiences wanted to see more of her and "Pa Kettle" (Percy Kilbridge), and more movies were made - a franchise was born.

In The Further Adventures of Ma & Pa Kettle, the Kettles move from their old, dilapidated  farm house into a modern home-of-the-future after Pa wins a contest. Ma is really funny in this movie, especially in the scene where she sees her and Pa on television. Her reactions are amusing.

In Ma & Pa Kettle go to Town, the movie opens with Ma making pancakes. Pa accidentally drops popcorn kernels in the batter. Ma goes crazy when the flapjacks jump through the air off the griddle.

Then Kettles go off to New York City on vacation and get mixed up with some criminals, but 99% of the time they are completely oblivious to any nefarious deeds, which is part of the fun. A highlight of the film has Ma going to an upscale beauty salon.

And the funniest of them all has to be Ma & Pa Kettle Back on the Farm. In this hilarious installment, the Kettles become grandparents for the first time. The movie stars with Ma confused as to why her daughter-in-law has to go to the hospital to have the baby. Ma says proudly, "I had 15 right here in my house and there ain't nothing wrong with any of 'em". Then the highfalutin in-laws come to visit and it's funny to see Ma hold her temper against her son's mother-in-law.

I recommend any of these movies to enjoy the comedic performances of Marjorie Main as Ma Kettle and to see how a franchise thrived through a ten movie franchise.

Bus Stop (1956) at the Stanford Theater in Palo Alto, California

This past Spring, the Stanford Theater held a film fest with the theme, "Films of the 1950s".

I was able to make it to the Stanford on Friday June 7 --- that night the Stanford was playing Bus Stop and Some Came Running.

I only had time for one movie so I went to see Bus Stop, which was nominated for an Academy Award (Don Murray's performance).

 I love to come to this theater any chance that I get.

Every time I step into the lobby, it feels like I've died and gone to movie heaven. Or stepped into a dream.

The smell of the freshly popped popcorn. The movie posters hanging on the walls as if it were the year they were originally released.

The lovely chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

Here is a view from the 2nd floor - yes, the theater has a balcony! And you can sit there!

 

The magnificence of the screen. And the organist playing a few tunes before the show!
Pure cinema splendor.

The movie was really good. I had a feeling that everyone in the theater enjoyed it. Marilyn, playing a stripper, was very good in the film as was Don Murray who plays a country bumpkin smitten with her at first sight. The supporting cast is wonderful, too, including Eileen Heckart playing Marilyn's friend. The movie gets better as the story unfolds, and the characters get more interesting, including supporting player Arthur O'Connell, playing a father figure to Murray; at a pivotal point in the film he confronts an obnoxious Murray about his relationship with Marilyn and tells him, "I'm beginning to think that she's too good for you". And loved all the scenes in the diner, where everyone gets stranded for a night, and a fight breaks out.

June Lockhart autograph

Autographed at a "Lost in Space" cast reunion last year (2012)

Going to the movies in 1985

In July of 1985, I turned 9 years old. Up until that year, most of the movies I went to see in the theaters were Disney movies, particularly the Disney theatrical re-releases such as Snow White and Bambi. 1985 was the first year I remember seeing more than two movies in a theater. I think I was finally old enough to want to ask my parents or an adult guardian to take me to see a movie. There were no theaters I could walk to, so I always needed a ride.

In 1985, small "neighborhood" movie theaters were still to be found in the Chicagoland area, and most of the movies I saw were at The Will Rogers, Mercury, Mont Clare, or Norridge Theaters. All of them have been closed and/or demolished.

A blog post from moviefone inspired me to remember all of the films I went to see in the theater that year.

January 1985

I might have gone to see Disney's Pinocchio (1940) at least 2 times during the winter of 84/85; it had been re-released that season and I'm pretty sure I saw it for a school field trip and again with my family.

I also have a very strong memory of going to see David Lean's A Passage to India; though I cannot remember which month, I remember the weather being cold outside. This was a highly-talked about film, and I remember seeing many Indian-Americans in the theater lobby had who bought a ticket to see it. If I recall, I went with my mother and a friend (I can't remember if my father went); they were no doubt curious to see it and the exotic locales. I have not seen the film since, but I do remember strongly the scene where Peggy Ashcroft dies and her body is thrown overboard a ship, per custom. I'll never forget that scene, sort of scary to me I guess. I also remember elephants and sand, lots of sand.

Another movie I have a strong memory of seeing in the theater was Oh God You Devil! starring George Burns. This movie also came out in the winter of 84/85, and I remember seeing it in the theater. I may have seen George Burns on TV talking about the movie or may have seen an ad on TV, but something made me want to see it.

March 1985

In March a local, neighborhood movie theater - The Will Rogers, now demolished - showed a double feature of Witness and The Breakfast Club. Both films were rated "R", and I guess they were the first "adult" films I remember seeing in the theater. I don't remember any of the profanity used in either movie... not sure why. I think it was because I wasn't used to hearing those words ("F---", "S---", etc) around the house or in school. My mother was careful not to use those words around me growing up. I guess I didn't realize they were "bad" words yet. Also, at 8 years old much of the dialogue just went over my head, and both of these movies had long "boring" parts (or so I thought at the time).

Also in March (or April), I remember going to see Ghoulies in the theater - also at the Will Rogers. This was a PG-13 rated horror/comedy, and the poster featured a bald puppet coming out of the toilet.There was something about that image that was so funny to me. I remember seeing commercials of it and thought it would be funny like Gremlins. My mother didn't go (I don't think), but my father took me to see it. He thought the puppet in the toilet looked funny, too, as did the woman with the killer tongue.


April 1985

This month, Return of the Jedi was re-released in theaters, and my mother took me, and two neighborhood friends - Peter and Aaron - to see it. We went to the now-demolished Mont Clare theater to see it.

I was big into Star Wars during that period, and even collected the action figures.

I have a fond memory of seeing Police Academy 2 in the theaters. I remember asking my mother to take me because I had been seeing commercials on TV that looked funny - guess I was a good target for the juvenile antics of the policemen in the film.  Peter told me he wanted to see it, too, and he and his mom went with my mom to see it. This was the TV spot that made me want to see it!!

 I remember laughing at a bunch of parts, including one scene where a cop has his hands glued to his hair in the shower and he walks around the locker room nude (you see his bare bottom). It was a funny scene, I thought. My mom didn't think highly of it (neither did Peter's mom).

When I was born and was young, my mom didn't go to see too many movies. So I think the whole movie theater experience was a new one for her, too. I think she was starting to learn that not all movies were appropriate for young children under 10.

A "kids" movie was released around the same time (The Care Bears Movie), but I didn't want to see that one; felt like it was a "girl's movie".


May 1985

I have a fond memory of going to see a "kids" movie in the theater....can't remember the theater but it was a group outing with a bunch of neighborhood kids. We all went to see a "He-Man" movie called He-Man and the Secret of the Sword. It was a fun movie at the time. It was a spin-off of the Saturday-morning cartoon show that I loved watching.

Good old fashioned 2-D animation.

June 1985

Here Come the Littles opened in theaters, and it was being promoted as a children's movie. It was good, old fashioned 2-D animation. "The Littles" was an animated cartoon show that I watched at the time, and commercials for the movie aired quite regularly. I asked my mother to take me to see it and she did (but she didn't enjoy it).

I remember my father really wanted to see the new "Rambo" movie - First Blood Part II. My father was from Ecuador, and didn't speak much English. He preferred action movies over movies with much "conversation" as he put it. I remember watching First Blood on TV (an edited for television version) so I was familiar with the story somewhat.

I remember seeing posters for the new James Bond movie A View to a Kill but for some reason I never saw it in the theater. I also remember seeing the poster for The Goonies, but I never saw that in the theater, either.


July 1985

If I recall correctly, a second-run theater in Chicago (The Gateway) showed a special re-release screening of 1983's Superman III that summer. I think it was in July. Peter and I went to see it with our moms (if I remember correctly). I was big into Superman that summer. Parts I and II were shown on the ABC network that year, and I was a fan of the cartoon series on Saturday mornings and had all the DC Comic action figures. I also remember having a collection of "Superman III" trading cards.

Back to the Future was a big movie that summer, but I never went to see it in the theater. I didn't see it until 1987 on VHS. I was more into Superman I guess.

The Man With One Red Show had an unusual poster of a sketch of a red shoe.  I tried to draw it many times because I loved to draw cartoons and illustrate, and there was something about that shoe that impressed me so. I asked my mother to take me to see the movie, and we went. I think it was the Will Rogers again. I don't remember much about the film, but I remember Tom Hanks and Lori Singer playing a violin. She always reminded me of Daryl Hannah. Dabney Coleman was also in the movie,  and I remember seeing him in 9 to 5 and in the Muppets Take Manhattan. The plot of Red Shoe was too complicated for me to understand, and I never saw the film again.

Disney's The Black Cauldron opened in late July, and for some reason it didn't appeal to me. Never saw it.

August 1985

Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird opened in August, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I went to see it. I really loved the Muppets --- anything with a Muppet in it I wanted to see. The kidnapping story I understood (and it was sad to see Big Bird lonely and cry)  but most of the witty dialogue meant to appeal to adults slipped over my head. Also I liked the cameos by John Candy and Chevy Chase. I knew who they were! I didn't know who Waylon Jennings was, and this was my introduction to him and his music.

Another movie with alot of "kid appeal"  came out that month, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, but I didn't see it until VHS.

September 1985

Ghostbusters & Gremlins were re-released... saw both of them in the theater, both times with my father. At the Will Rogers theater.

December 1985

When school started (5th grade) I didn't go to the movies all that much.

I did see 101 Dalmatians when it was re-released in time for the Christmas holiday.

That's about it! All the movies I remember seeing in the theater (and those I didn't see) in 1985. Can't believe it has been 28 years ago!