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