I Just Watched...

[kingrat]

Assorted notes....



Desperate Characters (1971) is a deeply melancholic film about bruised, unhappy lives in Brooklyn. It's a very bleak affair, with no relief from the gloom and likely stands as one of the grimmest Hollywood films I can recall seeing, but it is very astutely written both in character details and in the feeling of introverts facing a world that they no longer understand that is falling apart at the seams. Shirley MacLaine is remarkable in an atypically low-key performance.

The 1970s was a grim decade for New York and New Yorkers, and some of the films reflect that. High crime, racial tension, political unrest. Even Neil Simon's comedies are now darker than they were in the heyday of Barefoot in the Park and The Odd Couple.

[txfilmfan]

I watched the end of "My Fair Lady." The best part.
Love Audrey Hepburn but Rex Harrison is such a jerk.
After the movie was the hilarious promo for the WB tours.
Someone may have watched the drag race scene from American Graffiti.
Then a promo for Max. Is Max going to be the streaming home for TCM? I don't really want Max but if it was the only way to get TCM without a large streaming bundle, or cable, I would have to give it some thought
So if Dave was in charge of starting the race, would that make him a Drag Queen? <cough> Alicia could do her Danica Patrick impression.

At least through the end of the month, TCM is partnering with Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu) to host 30 free titles on its streaming platform, for free. I think this only lasts through the end of the month, though. It then becomes an outlet for rentals or purchases of "TCM films" from Vudu/Fandango, whatever that may mean.

They promoted this at every screening at the film festival this year, as Fandango At Home was a sponsor.

[txfilmfan]

Assorted notes....



Desperate Characters (1971) is a deeply melancholic film about bruised, unhappy lives in Brooklyn. It's a very bleak affair, with no relief from the gloom and likely stands as one of the grimmest Hollywood films I can recall seeing, but it is very astutely written both in character details and in the feeling of introverts facing a world that they no longer understand that is falling apart at the seams. Shirley MacLaine is remarkable in an atypically low-key performance.

The 1970s was a grim decade for New York and New Yorkers, and some of the films reflect that. High crime, racial tension, political unrest. Even Neil Simon's comedies are now darker than they were in the heyday of Barefoot in the Park and The Odd Couple.

Even TV comedies set in NYC were gritty and grimy. Barney Miller's set looked dirty, run-down and frankly, disgusting, for example. Same for Welcome Back Kotter and others.

[CinemaInternational]

More dealings with films to go with my post from earlier today on the previous page, mostly more recent ones sadly since I don't know how many A-list films are left from the classic era that I haven't seen.

Reckless (1935) is the one classic era title, one of the few Jean Harlow films I hadn't seen, and it took a bit of bravery for Jean to do this since it quite obviously touches on the scandal surronding her late husband Paul Bern. It is quite remarkable that she actually went ahead and did a role that must have been pointed for her to do, but she does so extremely well, and she helps to carry the film into intriguing territory.

The newt two are post 2000 and to be honest, I am more than a little scared to talk about them, since one film is about such ugly things and was so hated yet is something much more than what was said, and the other one is just disillusioning.

In the Cut (2003) was one of the biggest cinematic scandals of the early 2000s. It's a brutal art-house erotic thriller involving a woman drawn ito a torrid, highly sexual affair with a younger man while a serial killer specializing in dismemberment stalks the haunted post-9/11 New York streets (and although the ending ends very differently, it has something in common with Looking for Mr. Goodbar). It has vivid depictions of very kinky sex, verging and sometimes spilling over the line of being actually pornographic. There are severed body parts and much blood. There is a lot of nudity. It has some of Lorna's most hated film people all on one film (Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Jane Campion). It killed off Meg Ryan's career as the public excoriated her for being the lead in such a film. Critics hated it. Audiences hated it even more, giving it a grade of F on opening weekend. And yet.... It's actually an astonishing film, incredibly raw and haunting. The dark, out of focus photography feels just right for this material, the chilly, perturbed New York atmosphere feels the most pained this side of Taxi Driver and is riveting, the film gets well at the haunted, disturbed , pained elements of its characters, and my gosh, Meg Ryan herself in this film and role (at the same time extremely carnal and emotionally fragile) is tremendous. I always liked her, but didn't know she had it in her. This film is not for nearly all people, so I don't think I'll be actively reccomending it to people. But I felt an emotional charge while watching it that this film, in spite of its brutality, was honest, genuine, and truly affecting. I can't stop thinking about it, I was emotionally touched by Meg Ryan's vulnerability, I'm feeling very protective of it, and I can't explain why.

Sometimes when you watch a movie that you don't think is good, you simply feel dispirited or maybe you feel angry or maybe you just want to make a joke about it. Asteroid City (2023) is the most painful type of bad movie for me; my downcast reaction toward it broke my heart. On the one hand, its hard because at least two people whose opinions valued highly adored this film, and I feel like I'm letting them down, on the other, I adored Wes Anderson's earlier films ; from Bottle Rocket to Grand Budapest Hotel, he had made three or four modern film masterpieces. He carried my hopes so much. But Asteroid City is shockingly empty, an admittedly astonishing looking production with no grasp or interest in humanity. In fact, it keeps putting up barriers to tell you its all make-believe and that you shouldn't care about it. Its big cast might as well be stick figures, and the whole thing is dehuminizing. I'm sorry if I'm repeating myself, I just don't know how to exactly express an experience like this and I was so hurt by dashed hopes on this one that I am actually crying right now writing this.

[Hibi]

Right now Pluto TV, The Roku Channel and Freevee Live are showing "Amsterdam Kill" on Murder, She Wrote.
The Freevee app has MSW On-Demand, 6 seasons. The Amazon Prime app is needed for the Freevee live channels.

I have none of those services. Just straight cable tv. But MSW is on 3 or 4 channels.

I only pay for cable TV as well. The above channels are free.
You would need a streaming device and you have Internet.
My Xfinity/Comcast TV box has a select amount of Internet services. Nothing to directly compete with them.
I am experimenting with streaming to learn and hopeful dump cable television.
I become infuriated when TV channels override news programming for sports.
Last Sunday, my local Fox affiliate had zero news all day or night.
I can watch network news on a streaming service from all of the networks.
On a side note, except for Major League Baseball and TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES!, I could stream almost everything we need on a daily basis for $25/month using Philo. I could stream Minor League Baseball for cheap! That leaves TCM!
All they have to do is sell me Watch TCM and I can save a lot on television.
The other option is to be dishonest and use someone's credentials for Watch TCM.
Of the 3 channels, Pluto TV is probably available if your cable box has streaming.
In my case, Internet and TV both come from Xfinity/Comcast. The TV box is already connected to my Wi-Fi .

I don't have internet and my cable doesn't have streaming (probably does if I pay more, but I'm not going to). I hate that too. Local stations are constantly preempting over weather events. (most of the time not affecting our metro area.)

[Hibi]

Back to Perry Mason. Bette was on last night pinch hitting for Perry defending Michael Parks. (Does anyone know what his operation was about when he was out of the show for awhile? It's not a very good episode (I'd seen it before). It must've been shot around the time of Dead Ringer as she's wearing the same styled wig as she wore in that film.

[Detective Jim McLeod]

Assorted notes....



Desperate Characters (1971) is a deeply melancholic film about bruised, unhappy lives in Brooklyn. It's a very bleak affair, with no relief from the gloom and likely stands as one of the grimmest Hollywood films I can recall seeing, but it is very astutely written both in character details and in the feeling of introverts facing a world that they no longer understand that is falling apart at the seams. Shirley MacLaine is remarkable in an atypically low-key performance.

The 1970s was a grim decade for New York and New Yorkers, and some of the films reflect that. High crime, racial tension, political unrest. Even Neil Simon's comedies are now darker than they were in the heyday of Barefoot in the Park and The Odd Couple.

That is very true, two of them during this time were The Out Of Towners (1970) and The Prisoner Of Second Avenue (1975) which I think are two of Simon's funniest. Jack Lemmon is in both. The films show in a humorous way, the frustration with urban crime and city living.

[laffite]

John Garfield was sensationally understated, he was there to be Harry Morgan and without any frills or excessive show. Garfield, despite his already successful career, was just getting started. Woe to the world that he should pass so untimely early.

I think he was Tennessee Williams's original choice for Stanley in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE. I know that a contract had already been drawn up by the producers of the play for Garfield to sign. But he turned it down. I think the deal fell through because Garfield wanted Stanley to be the focus of the play rather than Blanche.

I have not seen 'Streetcar' for while but I do recall Brando much more than Leigh. Brando's performance is a landmark in movies, I can't think of any performance in close to that prior. This is not meant as a tribute to the Method, rather to the talent of Marlon Brando. That Garfield was considered for the role of is Stanley (thanks!) is especially interesting to me to now know because I have had always in my mind that Garfield was a sort of prototype of the type of acting that Brando exhibited later on.

[txfilmfan]

Back to Perry Mason. Bette was on last night pinch hitting for Perry defending Michael Parks. (Does anyone know what his operation was about when he was out of the show for awhile? It's not a very good episode (I'd seen it before). It must've been shot around the time of Dead Ringer as she's wearing the same styled wig as she wore in that film.

It's like that old Tootsie Pop commercial: "The world may never know." Burr, who famously fudged his personal life details for decades, never really explained it. Burr supposedly said afterwards in a talk show that he had a non-serious physical condition that prohibited him from being able to stand or move comfortably. Clears things up...

Media at the time said it was some kind of intestinal surgery. Some stated it was for polyp removal. Whether it was cancerous or not is up for debate, as sources at the time said both. Other sources said he was in for dental surgery.

Bette Davis on a TV show is somewhat jarring, to me. Last night on MeTV, I caught the last 5 minutes of an Alfred Hitchcock episode that she was in. Never knew she did that show. When the credits rolled, the director of that episode was Paul Henreid! Never knew he directed any TV shows, but in looking it up this morning I see he has numerous TV directing credits on ImDB (including 28 episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents) .

Do you think he lit a cigarette for her on set?

[jimimac71]

I have none of those services. Just straight cable tv. But MSW is on 3 or 4 channels.

I only pay for cable TV as well. The above channels are free.
You would need a streaming device and you have Internet.
My Xfinity/Comcast TV box has a select amount of Internet services. Nothing to directly compete with them.
I am experimenting with streaming to learn and hopeful dump cable television.
I become infuriated when TV channels override news programming for sports.
Last Sunday, my local Fox affiliate had zero news all day or night.
I can watch network news on a streaming service from all of the networks.
On a side note, except for Major League Baseball and TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES!, I could stream almost everything we need on a daily basis for $25/month using Philo. I could stream Minor League Baseball for cheap! That leaves TCM!
All they have to do is sell me Watch TCM and I can save a lot on television.
The other option is to be dishonest and use someone's credentials for Watch TCM.
Of the 3 channels, Pluto TV is probably available if your cable box has streaming.
In my case, Internet and TV both come from Xfinity/Comcast. The TV box is already connected to my Wi-Fi .

I don't have internet and my cable doesn't have streaming (probably does if I pay more, but I'm not going to). I hate that too. Local stations are constantly preempting over weather events. (most of the time not affecting our metro area.)

So Hibi, how do you access the forum without Internet?
I feel the Internet is a must have.
I have TV and Internet with Xfinity/Comcast.
It costs $232/month.
I could save money with streaming but cable has everything in one place. I grew up with cable and most of my family has been employed by cable television.
I do my best to avoid Perry Mason. Matlock is much better for me.
You can watch Perry Mason then Matlock on MeTV.
For me it's on in the morning, starting at 9AM (California).
CBS is still planning on the "New" Matlock.
A reboot of The Hollywood Squares with Drew Barrymore in the center square.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/cbs-r ... r-AA1o3cq7

[CinemaInternational]

Two more....

The Pleasure Garden (1925) is the earliest feature film credit for Alfred Hitchcock, and while this film does have the charm that is inherent to silent films, the saga of two showgirls and their melodramatic entanglements causing one of them to grow bitter and jaded seems like bizarre material for the future great. Frankly if his name wasn't on it, the film would likely be very obscure.


Class of '44 (1973) is a sequel of Summer of '42, although in spite of having the same young lead (Gary Grimes), the echos of the earlier film are faint indeed. It is best to approach this film as a saga of a young man adjusting to college, a young romance, bizarre fraternity practices, issues of mortality, and sundry other coming-of-age issues. In the typical 70s way, details of some of those fraternity issues (lorded over by William Atherson as the sadistic fraternity president) and some sexual talk is very blunt and it kind of cuts against the film's best trait, the painstaking recreation of the world of 1944, which feels pretty much ideal. Still, it is a likable film, even if nothing major.

[cmovieviewer]

Secrets (1933), on TCM.

I've noticed a disturbing trend in a few of the movies shown on TCM lately - the adoption of a 'widescreen' stretch for what should be Academy aspect ratio films. Secrets (1933) last night is an example.

What was shown:



What it is supposed to look like:



You know you're in trouble when the MGM Lion logo is not a circle:



Instead of this:



I would think TCM/WBD would have full control over the early MGM library so there is no excuse.

[CinemaInternational]

Secrets (1933), on TCM.

I've noticed a disturbing trend in a few of the movies shown on TCM lately - the adoption of a 'widescreen' stretch for what should be Academy aspect ratio films. Secrets (1933) last night is an example.

What was shown:



What it is supposed to look like:



You know you're in trouble when the MGM Lion logo is not a circle:



Instead of this:



I would think TCM/WBD would have full control over the early MGM library so there is no excuse.

This was a United Artist title which the modern-day MGM still has the rights to, so WB does not own this title, rather Amazon, MGM's current owner holds the right so the mistake is on their end.

[cmovieviewer]

This was a United Artist title which the modern-day MGM still has the rights to, so WB does not own this title, rather Amazon, MGM's current owner holds the right so the mistake is on their end.

Thanks, TCM does have an excuse. Disappointing nonetheless.

[jimimac71]

I've owned my favorite flick, Victor/Victoria, on every format but video cassette.
I seem to recall the UA logo in addition to MGM on the video discs.
Both the CED and LaserVision discs were pan and scan.
Then again our TV was a CRT "square" TV as well.
Our flat/widescreen TV is about 8 years old and we watched Victor/Victoria in the proper aspect ratio on, you guessed it, TCM.
It is annoying how Amazon almost owns the planet.
It is also frustrating how CD/DVD/Blu-ray is fading away.