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Post by luckyfredsdad on Dec 6, 2009 13:22:19 GMT
What are your best five pictures? as with books I have a wide catholic taste taking from all aspects of the genre.[if that's how it's spelt?] My best which I watch every week is the Prisoner of Zenda with Ronald Colman, MR tells me that he copies my style of acting! A lovely girl, always liked her! A 1936 Film, starring a host of actors,mostly British or Canadian! Massey, a young Niven and as a villain , a young Douglas Fairbanks Jnr as Rupert of Hentzau.
It is one of my deepest regrets that they never made a film of Rupert of Hentzau, the follow up to the Prisoner. Marvellous tale of intrigue and suspense with a fantastic two hour wait for a train in an effort to gain the capital to save the hero from Hentzau! Rassendyll is a man after my own heart and I quite see what MR means!
My next is a Tale of Two Cities with of all people Ronald Colman in the classic tale of the French Revolution. This time he has the part of the drunken hero in an England that is pure corn, even for those days. It is still a marvellous tale well told, fast and very inevitable in its way. Everything in its place. First rate.
The third one is a film from the same time and with the same actor for a hero! Ronald Colman in the film, 'If I were King,' with Fances Dee, as the heroine and Basil Rathbone doing an interpretation of Louis , the King of France that has to be seen and heard to be believed!!! All three are first rate films ,the only trouble is that I have lost my copy of the latter film. And am strenuously looking for a new copy. They appear to have been sold out for the last few years. Cruel world. If anyone has one, I will swop one of my copies of the Prisoner of Zenda [Book,] for a DVD or even a Video copy!
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Post by marchesarosa on Dec 6, 2009 16:09:58 GMT
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Post by luckyfredsdad on Dec 7, 2009 16:53:49 GMT
athleticism, fantastic scenery, informative about North American politics of the day, excellent soundtrack.Informative about the North American politicss of the Day? It was a good film and the war scene, the Forth Edward massacre, was first rate to my mind, however it didn't give a realistic account of the politics! It was in what was then the western part of the colonies in New York, I think. Which was wild west in those days. While I might buy that some settlers didn't want to leave their families alone in what looked even on screen as a gigantic wilderness. There doesn't appear that there was much anti-British feeling amongst them. If there was, it never reached Lancashire Library or any books I've read. Only Hollywood puts that scene out! Did you see,Claudet Colbert and Henry Fonda, in ,'Drums along the Mohawk,? In the 1775 era most of the old settlers preferred to support the Government in the civil war of the times! Along with the Indians they went to Canada!
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Post by jamesjosh on Dec 7, 2009 17:00:48 GMT
Five Favourite films - mmm - so many but here goes:
Come back to the five and dime - Jimmy Dean Jimmy Dean - (1982) takes place in a five and dime, women who belonged to a James Dean club, going back after twenty years. - Cher, Karen Black and Sandy Dennis, poignant especially with the songs of the McQuire Sisters playing on the soundtrack.
Dodsworth - 1936, Walter Huston, Ruth Chatteron, Mary Astor. Story of man who sells his business, travels to Europe. His wife,who is afraid of getting old, has a few affairs and then Dodsworth finds real love.
The last Picture Show - 1971 - Timothy Bottoms, Jeff Bridges, Cloris Leachman. Growing up in a small texas town in 1950 with the cinema closing and the songs of Hank Williams.
King of Kings (1927) - Cecil B de Mille's epic about the story of Jesus with Mary Magdalen as a courtesan complete with leopard or cheetah (i forget which), some of the film is in colour.
Grand Hotel (1932) - Hollywood glamour of the golden years, a bit creaky but well worth it with the various stars - Garbo, Joan Crawford, John and Lionel Barrymore.
Double Indemnity (1944) one of the best film noir films, - Barbara Stanwyck and Fred Macmurray. powerful gripping and sultry film.
And I could go on .....
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Post by marchesarosa on Dec 7, 2009 17:44:00 GMT
"Last of the Mohicans" was about the French and Indian Wars 1754 - 63, that the British plus colonists (along with their indian allies) fought against the French (and their indian allies). I suppose it was a proxy war to a certain extent - European conflicts continued overseas.
I found that interesting.
The War of Independence, or the First American Civil War, as YOU would call it, came a bit later, didn't it? (1775 - 83)
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Post by marchesarosa on Dec 7, 2009 18:05:20 GMT
Other favourites? "The Philadelphia Story" Katharine Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant - what a delightful story of everyday plutocrats! www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH2DKZ-2m742001 A Space Odyssey. The VERY first film with totally realistic space effects and gorgeous classical soundtrack including Richard Strauss and Johann Strauss . www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWnmCu3U09wDeath In Venice, poignant tale of Belle Epoque rich folk - glorious costumes and parasols on the Venice Lido, and Mahler's Adaggietto. Young Tadzio very easy in the eye. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kpJehOi2p4&feature=fvw
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Post by luckyfredsdad on Dec 7, 2009 19:43:48 GMT
I've seen most of your films and enjoyed Cloris Leachman in the last Picture Show. I thought she was a very good actress and took difficult parts,neither was she reluctant to take risks in comedies!
I would have enjoyed Double Indemnity also, but for the male lead, I couldn't take him seriously, even in a cowboy.
Did you ever see Dead on Arrival? A film noir from about that time. Can't remember the actor!
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Post by marchesarosa on Dec 8, 2009 23:15:10 GMT
Luckyfredsdad would agree with you about Life is Beautiful. He liked that. I didn't.
I agree with you about Il Postino and Cinema Paradiso - Gorgeous tinny soundtracks that have somehow become the hallmark of Italian cinema.
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pippa
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Posts: 230
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Post by pippa on Dec 9, 2009 8:57:57 GMT
"Last of the Mohicans" was about the French and Indian Wars 1754 - 63, that the British plus colonists (along with their indian allies) fought against the French (and their indian allies). I suppose it was a proxy war to a certain extent - European conflicts continued overseas. I found that interesting. The War of Independence, or the First American Civil War, as YOU would call it, came a bit later, didn't it? (1775 - 83) yes, i found that really interesting too, Marchesa. although essentially a love story i did wonder about historical accuracy. i had no idea of the involvement of the different tribes allying themselves to the british and a french troops. french canada colonised Huron territory and Magua was Huron. i only saw it the once and would really like to watch it again. yep
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Post by luckyfredsdad on Dec 9, 2009 11:01:04 GMT
I mentioned five of my best films, but try as I may, I couldn't quite get past the first three. This was because I couldn't quite get over the thought of those decent chaps, Rassendyll and Carton, sacrificing themselves in a fight against the unrighteous and the ungodly lesser breeds. So I went away, brewed some good Yorkshire tea, thumped Fred, for sitting on my seat and watched the two films, PoZ and TTC. Always moved me! As someone once said,' gives you something to aim for when you grow up,'. How-and-ever, my fourth film is a comedy, did anyone see it and can anyone remember it? THE RITZ ! ONE OF THE FUNNIEST FILMS I CAN REMEMBER SEEING. A man escaping from his Mafiosa brother in Law, hides in a gay bath house!
When I saw it was 1968/9 and I was about to turn the TV off,[BBC2]. But being lazy, I let it run and then it was too late, I was hooked! It is a nasty trick they have and play upon weaker bretheren. It stars Jack Weston, Jerry Stiller,[Never heard of then or since,] F.Murry Abraham, who is noted as a classie actor, and last but not least Rita Moreno, who was it seems put forward for an Emmy or whatever! No an Oscar, that's it. She was marvellous her character was named as Googie Gomez! [M.R's films are all about climate change and the downall of various furry little animals who are either eating other animals or are vawaiting the coup-de-gras from the human species! After the original showing I never heard of it again, but I never forgot and have tried to obtain it ever since. Then in desperation at the films or DVD's shown by MR on our hols, I decided to resurrect it. It was hard work, long nights, busy days, all the miracles of modern life at hand and I found it on Amazon! After 50yrs, I found it and believe me I think it as funny now as it was then. mention it and M.R goes pale. [The films she shows are aids to suicide and self destruction!]
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Post by luckyfredsdad on Dec 9, 2009 11:09:11 GMT
Life is beautiful.
I didn't want to go to see it, I didn't think it was suitable material for a film!After viewing ,I found I enjoyed it very much indeed and the subject had been treated in a thoughtful way. Eventually, I thought I had beeen lucky to see the picture.It was done with love and dignity and played excellently by the actor .
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Post by marchesarosa on Dec 9, 2009 11:28:34 GMT
Nuovo Cinema Paradiso The life-enhancing joyful denouement with soundtrack by Ennio Morricone that takes you back fifty years like magic!
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pippa
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Post by pippa on Dec 9, 2009 19:53:18 GMT
i've managed to whittle it down to 19. the first burst of five:
fear eats the soul - dir Fassbinder- german film and one of my favourites. its about the love that develops between a younger north african guest worker and a much older cleaning woman. the racism and prejudice they encounter destroys the relationship but then it has a good ending.
company of wolves - Neil Jordan. quote from the film re the priest: "he's not called father for nothing".
one cucked over the flew flew's nest, (sorry, that's how its stuck in my mind) directed Molos Forman based on Ken Kesey's book.
apocolypse now - Francis Ford Coppola
jackie brown - Quentin Tarantino
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aubrey
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Seeker for Truth and Penitence
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Post by aubrey on Dec 9, 2009 20:11:08 GMT
I'm just going to watch The Third Man. Back in a couple of hours (maybe - I might go straight to bed).
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pippa
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Post by pippa on Dec 9, 2009 20:29:13 GMT
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