End Credits #7: Cinema's 2013 Lost Treasures Montage Part 1
Some of Cinema's 2013 Lost Treasures. The music by Michael Kamen is from the film Open Range.
Capturing a Golden Moment #5: White Heat
In this series I'd like to present some exceptional scenes inspired by cinema's most gifted artists of yesteryear.
White Heat (1949)
Director: Raoul Walsh
Scene: "Prison Breakdown"
This little display of emotion demonstrates why James Cagney was such a great actor and commanding star. Creatively written by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts. Superbly captured by director Walsh.
White Heat is available on Blu-ray here:
It is also available on DVD here:
Exhibiting Your Treasures #4: Where to Find Them Part 3
After mentioning various 'Treasures' and 'Gems' it's time again to look into their availability. For a more informative introduction to this topic please see Exhibiting Your Treasures #2.
In this post we will focus on the Top Ten Guilty Treasures (as they appear in alphabetical order.)
Read MoreExploring the Artefacts #5: The Alchemist Gordon Parks
Exploring The Artefacts is a series in which I'll examine some unique and significant components, or by-products, of cinema storytelling that are often under-appreciated.
Read More"Now Listen to Me..."
Just some thoughts on current happenings:
Read MoreSterling Silver Dialogue #9
Sterling Silver Dialogue From The Movies:
Do you know where they're from?
"Hey, you ain't lookin' too good. The sight of blood bother you or somethin'?"
(reply) "Only my own."
"It's the stuff dreams are made of."
"Some men just don't like to be driven."
(reply) "No, some men just don't like to be taken for a ride."
"How do you know that? How do you know my friends call me Domino?"
(reply) "It's on the bracelet on your ankle."
(response) "So... what sharp little eyes you've got." (reply) "Wait 'til you get to my teeth."
(after leaving an Irrigation Therapy Room) "See you later...irrigator."
"You buy nice drinks, mister but you talk so much."
"Occasionally I always drink too much."
(first look at their new residence) "Well, the place looks lived in."
(reply) "Yeah, but by what?"
"Would you kill me, Rocky?" (reply) "Wouldn't you?"
"You drinkin' that stuff so early?" (reply) "Listen, doll girl, when you drink as much as I do, you gotta start early."
(to Nancy) "I wouldn't give a nickel for your husband's chances before that parole board with all this going on."
(to Rocky) "And I wouldn't give a nickel for your chances with those two apes running around looking for you."
(to Castro) "For you, I just wouldn't give a nickel."
"Look Johnny, you know me. You get in my way... I'll kill you." (reply) "You took the words right out of my mouth."
"I'm no Humphrey Bogart. He gets slugged and he's ready for action; I get slugged and I'm ready for pickling."
"Lili, a sizzler at the Fol-de-Rol. A figure like champagne and a heart like the cork."
"We have a saying in India..." (reply) "Yes?" (response) "Yes." (reply) "Well?"
(response) "Well what?"
"Who do you think you are?"
(reply) "In India, we don't think who we are. We know who we are."
"You meshuga!" (reply) "I am not your sugar."
"Num Num" "Birdie Num Num"
Answers to Sterling Silver Dialogue #9 are here.
Answers to Sterling Silver Dialogue #8
Sterling Silver Dialogue #8: (Answers)
Read MoreHidden Gems #5
Hidden Gem #50: Wake in Fright a.k.a. Outback (1971, Australia/U.S.A.)
Director: Ted Kotcheff
A British bonded school teacher who dreams of life in the big city, receives the culture shock of a lifetime when a planned brief stopover in an Aussie mining town becomes a one way ticket to self-loathing hell and for us one of the most personally gripping horror stories ever witnessed.
Hidden Gem #49: Special Section a.k.a. Section spéciale (1975, France/Italy/West Germany)
Director: Costa-Gavras
Less melodramatic than the director's better known Missing (1982) and Music Box (1989), this straightforwardly powerful account of judicial corruption is based on a true story that took place in Nazi occupied France during World War II.
Hidden Gem #48: Black Rain a.k.a. Kuroi ame (1989, Japan)
Director: Shōhei Imamura
The devastating after effects of the Hiroshima bombing are handled in a subdued and subtle fashion in Imamura's most tragic and moving cinematic story.
Hidden Gem #47: The Stranger a.k.a. Lo straniero (1967, Italy/France/Algeria)
Director: Luchino Visconti
Perfectly capturing the theme of existentialism is this provocative portrayal of a lost soul accused of murder in French occupied Algeria (based on the novel by Albert Camus).
Hidden Gem #46: Smog (1962, Italy)
Director: Franco Rossi
Like 1972's The Outside Man (See: Top 10 Guilty Treasures), this is a unique and absorbing outsider's view of life in Los Angeles, only instead of the French suspenseful intrigue, we have this charming and quirky Italian perspective.
Hidden Gem #45: Cry Danger (1951, U.S.A.)
Director: Robert Parrish
This terrific little L.A. noir with Dick Powell at his cynical best has great heavies, sleazy locations, shady dames and wicked dialogue to burn - plus even Powell's best friend who sprung him from prison on a phoney alibi thinks he's guilty. (More here).
Hidden Gem #44: Ocean Men: Extreme Dive (2001, Germany)
Director: Bob Talbot
A fascinating, totally unique documentary that looks at two extreme athletes who challenge each other not only in how long they can hold their breaths but in the authenticity of the chosen methods to do so, with the director's amazing underwater photography beautifully scored by composer Cliff Eidelman.
(Out of 5 Treasure Chests)
Hidden Gem #43: Four Nights of a Dreamer a.k.a. Quatre nuits d'un rêveur (1971, France)
Director: Robert Bresson
A chance encounter in Paris between a painter and a possible suicide victim turns to dreamy, unrequited love in still another jewel from the great french director, this one rare and practically unknown.
Hidden Gem #42: Black Tuesday (1954, U.S.A.)
Director: Hugo Fregonese
This brutally vicious prison escape thriller is one of the best of its type and contains a riveting performance by Edward G. Robinson, matched every step of the way by an equally brilliant (and surprisingly intense) turn from Peter Graves as a fellow convict, both of whom are about to be executed.
Hidden Gem #41: Le Crabe Tambour (1977, France)
Director: Pierre Schoendoerffer
A highly engrossing and intelligent film that combines adventure with historical drama and a strong sense of mystery surrounding the heroics of a former French war hero once betrayed, and now sought out, by a dying ship's captain.
A.G.
Hidden Gems #6 is here.
Top Ten: Motion Picture Music Treasures Part 1 The Best Years of Our Lives
Ever since silent pictures were shown with live organ accompaniment, music has been a most important asset in enhancing the dramatic development of a cinematic story.
Read MoreCapturing a Golden Moment #4: The Fastest Gun Alive
In this series I'd like to present some exceptional scenes inspired by cinema's most gifted artists of yesteryear.
The Fastest Gun Alive (1956)
Director: Russell Rouse
Scene: "The Dance"
Another amazing showcase from the unstoppable Russ Tamblyn. From the young Bart Tare in Gun Crazy (1950) to Riff in West Side Story (1961) to Son of a Gunfighter in Django Unchained (2012), he's still going strong.
The Fastest Gun Alive is available On Demand from The Warner Archive Collection here:
Top Ten "All that Glitters...": The Overrated Part 2 Blue Velvet
The purpose of this list is not to give a critical lambasting to what a great number of viewers consider to be cinematic treasures. What I would like to provide my readers with is an alternative and admittedly more critical perspective to consider, one that hopefully will not detract from a person's appreciation for the films under review. At the same time, I'd question whether these motion pictures really deserve the high accolades bestowed upon them by many in the critical community. Perhaps it's like this: instead of "The emperor has no clothes," I'm saying "He's not quite as well dressed." (For a further introduction on this subject please see: Top Ten “All that Glitters…”: The Overrated Part 1.)
These notices are meant for viewers familiar with the following motion pictures.
(They will be addressed in alphabetical order.)
Read MoreSterling Silver Dialogue #8
Sterling Silver Dialogue From The Movies:
Do you know where they're from?
"You know, once, off the hump of Brazil I saw the ocean so darkened with blood it was black and the sun faintin' away over the lip of the sky. We'd put in at Fortaleza, and a few of us had lines out for a bit of idle fishing. It was me had the first strike. A shark it was. Then there was another, and another shark again, 'till all about, the sea was made of sharks and more sharks still, and no water at all. My shark had torn himself from the hook, and the scent, or maybe the stain it was, and him bleeding his life away, drove the rest of them mad. Then the beasts took to eating each other. In their frenzy... they ate at themselves. You could feel the lust of murder like a wind stinging your eyes, and you could smell the death, reeking up out of the sea. I never saw anything worse... until this little picnic tonight. And you know, there wasn't one of them sharks in the whole crazy pack that survived."
"The only way to stay out of trouble is to grow old, so I guess I'll concentrate on that."
"'Course I'm respectable. I'm old. Politicians, ugly buildings, and whores all get respectable if they last long enough."
"You see Mr. Gitts, most people never have to face the fact... the right time and the right place, they're capable of... ANYTHING."
"Well, I was curious. So many important people in one place..." (reply) "The rats usually desert a sinking ship. In my case, they appear to be flocking on board."
"Have you no human consideration?" (reply) "Show me a human, and I might have."
"And there's a message from the bartender. Does Miss Channing know she ordered domestic gin by mistake?" (reply) "The only thing I ordered by mistake is the guests. They're domestic, too, and they don't care what they drink as long as it burns!"
"I'm afraid Mr. DeWitt would find me boring before too long." (reply) "You won't bore him honey, you won't even get a chance to talk."
"How about calling it a night?" (reply) "And you, pose as a playwright? A situation pregnant with possibilities and all you can think of is everybody go to sleep."
"I'll admit I may have seen better days, but I'm still not to be had for the price of a cocktail, like a salted peanut."
"Why not read my column to pass the time? The minutes will fly like hours."
Answers to Sterling Silver Dialogue #8 are here.
End Credits #6: Cinema's 2012 Lost Treasures Richard Dawson, Jonathan Frid, Michael Clarke Duncan, Alex Karras, Celeste Holm
Character and Supporting Actors Lost to Us in 2012 Part 2
There are a large number of films with important contributions from often overlooked supporting and character actors, some of whom were sadly lost to us in 2012.
Read MoreTop Ten "All that Glitters...": The Overrated Part 1 Blade Runner
The purpose of this list is not to give a critical lambasting to what a great number of viewers consider to be cinematic treasures. What I would like to provide my readers with is an alternative and admittedly more critical perspective to consider, one that hopefully will not detract from a person's appreciation for the films under review. At the same time, I'd question whether these motion pictures really deserve the high accolades bestowed upon them by many in the critical community. Perhaps it's like this: instead of "The emperor has no clothes," I'm saying "He's not quite as well dressed."
Read MoreAnswers to Sterling Silver Dialogue #7
Sterling Silver Dialogue #7: (Answers)
Read MoreExploring the Artefacts #4: Slavko Vorkapich's Golden Lessons Part 2
Slavoljub "Slavko" Vorkapić (March 17, 1894 – October 20, 1976)
Slavko Vorkapich arrived in Hollywood in 1921. He was an actor, painter, film artist, editor and director but most importantly to movie lovers and students who knew him, a Film Educator.
Read MoreExhibiting Your Treasures #3: Where to Find Them Part 2
After mentioning various 'Treasures' and 'Gems' it's time to discuss their availability.
We will continue with Hidden Gems #11 - 20 (Please see: Exhibiting Your Treasures #2 for a complete introduction to this topic and Where To Find Hidden Gems #1 - 10.)
Read More"Now Listen to Me..."
Just some thoughts on current happenings:
Read MoreCapturing a Golden Moment #3: Double Indemnity
In this series I'd like to present some exceptional scenes inspired by cinema's most gifted artists of yesteryear.
Double Indemnity (1944)
Director: Billy Wilder
Scene: "Office Meeting"
What a set up for Edward G. Robinson. How would you like to have a moment like this with your boss?
Double Indemnity is available on a Region Free Blu-ray from Universal and is available here:
It is also available on Blu-ray from Masters of Cinema (Region B locked ) and can be ordered here:
Sterling Silver Dialogue #7
Sterling Silver Dialogue From The Movies:
Do you know where they're from?
"All right, all right, how much you pay?" (response) "Well, just how tough are ya?" (reply) "Well, you pay a little bit, we're a little bit tough. You pay-a very much, we're-a very much tough. You pay-a too much we're a too much tough. How much you pay?" (response) "I pay plenty!" (reply) "We'll... then we're plenty tough."
"I'm a homing pigeon, I always come back to the stinking coop no matter how late it is."
"The only reason I took the job is because my bank account was trying to crawl under a duck."
"She was a charming middle aged lady with a face like a bucket of mud. I gave her a drink. She was a gal who would take a drink if she had to knock you down to get the bottle."
"I'm afraid I don't like your manner." (reply) "Yeah, I've had complaints about it, but it keeps getting worse."
"She tried to sit on my lap while I was standing up."
"I don't like your manners." (reply) "And I'm not crazy about yours. I didn't ask to see you. I don't mind if you don't like my manners, I don't like them myself. They are pretty bad. I grieve over them on long winter evenings. I don't mind your ritzing me or drinking your lunch out of a bottle, but don't waste your time trying to cross-examine."
"Why did you have to go on?" (reply) "Too many people told me to stop."
"You're never around when I need you." (reply) "You never need me when I'm around."
"I was thinking about that dame upstairs, and the way she had looked at me, and I wanted to see her again, close, without that silly staircase between us."
"We're both rotten." (reply) "Only you're a little more rotten."
"You know it's quite possible Octavian that when you die... you will die without ever having been alive."
"Queens. Queens. Strip them naked as any other woman, they are no longer queens!" (reply) "It is also difficult to tell the rank of a naked general. Generals without armies are naked indeed."
"I have often wondered, Countess... why did you leave Warsaw?" (reply) "Bombs were falling. I felt I was in the way."
"Many of our German friends before the War would come as our guests to hunt wild pig. I refused to invite Goering. I couldn't tolerate his killing a wild pig. It seemed too much like brother against brother."
"The source of your money has never concerned you any more than your source of electric light. They became worrisome only when they were shut off."
Answers to Sterling Silver Dialogue #7 are here.