I Just Watched...

Discussion of programming on TCM.
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LawrenceA
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Re: I Just Watched...

Post by LawrenceA »

After three "Important" movies (Celine & Julie Go Boating, India Song, and The Travelling Players) all proved to be laborious duds for me, I decided to jettison the "Important" stuff for a while and get back to my bread & butter: goofy "trash". Namely, stuff that aired on TCM Underground that I haven't seen, or stuff from the Psychotronic Movie guides. Thus far I've watched:

Escort Girl (1941) - Betty Compson as a single mother running an "escort bureau", without the knowledge of her college-aged daughter. You know where this is headed.

The Jungle Captive (1945) - Third and final in the "Ape Woman" series, and the last Universal horror of their Golden Age that I hadn't seen. Evil doctor Otto Kruger resuscitates the Ape Woman, while Rondo Hatton looks on.

The Medium (1951) - One of the most obscure features ever nominated for an Oscar, this is a B&W opera about a phony spiritualist (Marie Powers) who may have accidentally actually contacted a real ghost. With Anna Maria Alberghetti. Is this bad opera or good opera? I couldn't tell.

The Electronic Monster (1958) - British sci-fi with Rod Cameron as an insurance investigator looking into suspicious deaths that trace back to a mental health clinic and their new, cutting-edge procedures. I was promised a monster and there wasn't one. Blah.

Girls on the Loose (1958) - Mara Corday runs an all-girl robbery gang. Solid late-50s B-movie trash from director Paul Henreid.

House of Dreams (1963) - A writer has dreams that seem to come true. This very low budget, shot-in-Indiana obscurity has a very annoying score.

House of the Damned (1963) - Dopey "old dark house" shenanigans with two couples staying at a supposedly haunted castle in California. It only seems like 4 hours.

Ikarie XB 1 (1963) - Czechoslovakian sci-fi that, while dated in the effects department, is still ahead of much of the US science fiction of the time. Recommended.

Sin You Sinners (1963) - Lurid sleaze about an aging stripper who hypnotizes people with a medallion she got from a voodoo woman in Haiti. Others plot to steal it.

Violent Midnight (1963) - Murders in a small New England town are suspected to be the work of a wealthy family's black sheep artist son (Lee Phillips). With Sheppard Strudwick, James Farentino, Dick Van Patten, and Sylvia Miles. One of two movies also known as "Psychomania".

Dr. Orloff's Monster (1964) - Eurotrash horror from director Jesus Franco, with the good doctor once again using a mind-controlled guy with a weird face.

It Happened Here (1964) - Serious alternate history tale wherein Great Britain was conquered by the Nazis, leading to an underground resistance movement. Good stuff.

Go-Go BigBeat (1965) - Hour long British musical performance revue, featuring the Animals, the Hollies, and others. Not too bad.

Who Killed Teddy Bear? (1965) - Juliet Prowse keeps getting creepy phone calls from a stranger. Could they be from sweaty waiter Sal Mineo, or sweaty cop Jan Murray? With Elaine Stritch as her lesbian boss! Recommended.

Wild Seed (1965) - Drifter Michael Parks looks after runaway teen Celia Milius. This was better than I expected. Recommended.

Young Dillinger (1965) - Incredibly dumb, completely ahistorical crime thriller with Nick Adams as the title goon, in love with Mary Ann Mobley, and teamed up with Pretty Boy Floyd (Robert Conrad) and Baby Face Nelson (John Ashley).

The Magic Serpent (1966) - Japanese fantasy with a deposed prince who learns various martial arts and magical skills in order to win back his throne. This wild adventure, featuring dragons and other weird creatures, was released to TV in the US by AIP.
Watching until the end.
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nakanosunplaza
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Re: I Just Watched...

Post by nakanosunplaza »

Great !! Do this more often, love your funny comments,I have seen India Song many many years ago,do not remember anything except it was very very boring. Thanks
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TikiSoo
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Re: I Just Watched...

Post by TikiSoo »

LawrenceA wrote: March 14th, 2023, 8:30 pm I decided to jettison the "Important" stuff for a while and get back to my bread & butter: goofy "trash". Namely, stuff that aired on TCM Underground that I haven't seen, or stuff from the Psychotronic Movie guides. Thus far I've watched:
I like that kind of movie too & have a stack of SOMETHING WEIRD DVDs gifted to me that I haven't watched. Oh, I watched a few but wish I had some better idea of which to start with.

Your Maltinesque one line plot description & one line opinion were perfect for this type of movie - "only felt like 4 hours" LOL.
Thanks!
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Detective Jim McLeod
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Re: I Just Watched...

Post by Detective Jim McLeod »

Image
The Collector (1965) DVD-9/10

A disturbed man (Terence Stamp) kidnaps a woman (Samantha Eggar) hoping she will fall in love with him.

I haven't seen this in years and it still has a powerful impact. This was one of director William Wyler's last films and I think it ranks with his best. The acting by the two leads is phenomenal. I was able to find empathy for both characters, a minor miracle for Stamp since he seems like a menacing creep at times but socially awkward loner at other times. Eggar gives an excellent performance as the first frightened girl but she will do anything to gain her freedom. The suspense is worthy of Hitchcock, especially in a scene involving an over flowing bathtub. The ending, while chilling, did seem kind of abrupt to me, since I had become so invested in both characters.
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Detective Jim McLeod
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Re: I Just Watched...

Post by Detective Jim McLeod »

LawrenceA wrote: March 14th, 2023, 8:30 pm

Who Killed Teddy Bear? (1965) - Juliet Prowse keeps getting creepy phone calls from a stranger. Could they be from sweaty waiter Sal Mineo, or sweaty cop Jan Murray? With Elaine Stritch as her lesbian boss! Recommended.

I love this too. One of my favorite things about it are the songs played at the discotheque, they are fun and catchy and were co written by Bob Gaudio of the Four Seasons. They weren't hits but sound good enough to be. The creepy, haunting title song is also memorable. I wish there was a soundtrack album to this.
Last edited by Detective Jim McLeod on March 15th, 2023, 3:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Intrepid37
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Re: I Just Watched...

Post by Intrepid37 »

I just watched a movie from 1994 titled 'The Last Seduction'.

Wow. I've seen some nasty females in Noirs over the years, but this one (played by Linda Fiorentino) is something else. She is heartless - and hypnotic in her wickedness. The thing with modern noirs - as compared to code-age noirs - is that you can't count on justice at the end of the modern ones. Makes them scarier, if not more satisfying.

After I watched this I went to IMDb to see what the critics thought - it's that kind of movie where you really do wonder about the reaction it got - and found that Roger Ebert gave it his highest rating (4 Stars).
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LawrenceA
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Re: I Just Watched...

Post by LawrenceA »

Today's titles were a mixed bag:

The Swinger (1966) - Ann-Margret writes a supposedly autobiographical article about being a wild party girl, then has to masquerade at it to convince Hefner-esque editor Tony Franciosa. This struggles to be hip and of-the-moment, but instead largely comes across as a bad sitcom. Ann's dancing and outfits almost make it worth watching, though.

Take Me Naked (1966) - Tawdry early effort from husband-and-wife exploitation duo Michael & Roberta Findlay, who write, produce, direct and star in this hour-long tale of a deranged homeless guy who obsesses over a woman who walks around nude in her apartment. Bring the kids!

Women of the Prehistoric Planet (1966) - Grade-Z science fiction with Wendell Corey leading a spaceship crew in a search and rescue mission on an uncharted planet. Also featuring John Agar, Merry Anders, Stuart Margolin, Irene Tsu, and the debut of Robert Ito. Cardboard sets and unfortunate real lizards standing in for dinosaurs are "highlights". There's also a lot of heavy-handed speechifying about racism. I held off on seeing this for so long because I always got it mixed up with the equally atrocious Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women.

The Fox (1967) - "Ladyfriends" Sandy Dennis and Anne Heywood live on a secluded farm in the snowy Canadian wilderness. There tranquility is upended by the appearance of Keir Dullea. Based on a D.H. Lawrence story. I thought it was dull and overlong, and there are multiple onscreen animals deaths.

House of 1000 Dolls (1967) - Vincent Price and Martha Hyer are a stage magician/mentalist duo who also secretly operate a white slavery and prostitution ring. George Nader sets out to stop them. No one's finest moment.

Late August at the Hotel Ozone (1967) - More Czechoslovakian sci-fi, this one an endlessly dreary post-apocalyptic tale of a group of young women struggling to survive in a blasted wasteland. More onscreen animal cruelty mars an otherwise decent, if dour, effort.
Watching until the end.
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EP Millstone
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Re: I Just Watched...

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LawrenceA wrote: March 14th, 2023, 8:30 pm . . . House of the Damned (1963) - Dopey "old dark house" shenanigans with two couples staying at a supposedly haunted castle in California. It only seems like 4 hours . . .
I enjoy House of the Damned. The story and screenplay are routine. But for me, it is redeemed by its eerie images and atmosphere.


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Another attribute: The "haunted" house "portrayed" by Castillo del Lago, used for exterior shots, and Greystone Mansion, used for interior shots.

Castillo del Lago


Greystone Mansion

"Start every day off with a smile and get it over with." -- W.C. Fields
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LawrenceA
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Re: I Just Watched...

Post by LawrenceA »

EP Millstone wrote: March 15th, 2023, 9:20 pm I enjoy House of the Damned. The story and screenplay are routine. But for me, it is redeemed by its eerie images and atmosphere.
I'm glad you enjoyed it. I thought it was dull and pretty dumb, especially the final revelations, which weren't really surprising given early info, but silly nonetheless. And that one actor's brief appearance (no spoilers!) was nice.

I do agree that some of the cinematography was good, and the locations were nice, even if the house's supposed layout doesn't really make sense. But it was intended to remind people of the Winchester house, so I guess that was the idea.

The exterior was familiar from other things, but I'm not much on noticing architecture, so I couldn't place from what.
Watching until the end.
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LawrenceA
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Re: I Just Watched...

Post by LawrenceA »

Yesterday's viewing:

Mondo Hollywood (1967) - Weak "mondo" documentary focusing on Hollywood and the weird locals. The film lurches from sycophantic celebrity gazing to gawking at weirdos. Highlights include a dinner speech from Governor Ronald Reagan, and a different dinner speech by Gene Autry. In a morbid coincidence, hairstylist Jay Sebring, later a Manson family victim, is profiled, while Manson family member Bobby Beausoleil appears elsewhere as Cupid.

Portrait of Jason (1967) - From director Shirley Clarke comes this documentary that consists solely of gay prostitute Jason Holliday telling anecdotes from his life while getting progressively more inebriated. Glimpses into the life of a black gay man in this era hold historical value for the sociologically minded.

Spy on the Fly (1967) - Short, very low budget spy spoof featuring drag performers in the lead roles. The lack of production values hamper an otherwise funny, unusual take on a tired formula. One character's name is "Fonda Peters".

Violated Angels (1967) - Sleazy Japanese pinku film based loosely on the Richard Speck murder spree. A mentally ill guy rapes and murders young women in a nurses' dormitory. A lot of artsy flourishes try to elevate the material.

Journey to Midnight (1968) - Feature film edited together from 2 episodes of the British anthology show Journey to the Unknown. In the first tale, Chad Everett accepts an invitation to a costume party at a secluded country manor, only to make a startling discovery. In the second, a shady P.I. (Tom Adams) tries to take advantage of an American widow (Julie Harris) who wants to contact the spirit of her dead husband. I thought this was well-made, if routine, supernatural stuff of the era, and will likely watch the rest of the series when I get the chance.
Watching until the end.
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laffite
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Re: I Just Watched...

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All Through The Night (1942) Delightful watch. Those who find fault with mixing action-drama and comedy may be missing the point. Zinger one-liners and rapid repartee (along with a little slapstick here and there) pepper this a story of a Nazi spy ring aiming to perpetrate an operation that we would call terrorism today. And yet the movie insists on poking fun ... and with success. They have the right people to do it. What a surprise to see a young Phil Silvers and a young Jackie Gleason trading barbs while Humphrey Bogart waits for his cheesecake. Would be viewers are generally pretty aware of the top billers, but the cavalcade of recognizable others keep appearing, like Jane Darwell, Judith Anderson, Frank McHugh, William Demarest, Wallace Ford. And introducing (for me, anyway) one Kaaren [sic] Verne, who doesn't crack any jokes but who doesn't need to (and besides, she has enough on her mind). Love the meeting in the basement, I need to learn that language Bogie and cohort used, it might get me out of a jam sometime. The fast pace and lickity-split dialogue kept my mind glued. Enjoyed thoroughly.
Sabine Azema in Sunday in the Country
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HoldenIsHere
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Re: I Just Watched...

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LawrenceA wrote: March 14th, 2023, 8:30 pm
Who Killed Teddy Bear? (1965) - Juliet Prowse keeps getting creepy phone calls from a stranger. Could they be from sweaty waiter Sal Mineo, or sweaty cop Jan Murray? With Elaine Stritch as her lesbian boss! Recommended.
I also liked WHO KILLED TEDDY BEAR? I saw it for the first time recently. Besides enjoying the movie for its own sake, I loved that the New York City locations from the 1960s were captured.

I'm surprised the scene with Sal Mineo in the swimsuit made it to the big screen in 1965.
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HoldenIsHere
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Re: I Just Watched...

Post by HoldenIsHere »

TikiSoo wrote: March 9th, 2023, 8:42 am I finally saw ERIN BROCKOVICH 2000 starring Julia Roberts & Albert Finney after MrTiki said, "You've NEVER seen it? It's one of my favorites"

After watching it, I see what he liked-there's a lot of Julia Roberts' body showing despite clothing, haha. It's aways fun discovering a movie everyone else discovered 20 years ago-some hold up, others don't.

I liked it solely upon both powerhouse performances and the story they tell. Julia Roberts is outstanding as the title charactor- albeit over the top in both appearance & behaviour- but that's what gets you involved. Brockovich's sincerity & hard work overcome every mistake she makes along the way, only revealing this viewer's prejudices of discounting her as a dumb floozy.

I was blown away by Roberts' performance, but I see both her parents were actors, making perfect sense. She brought all kinds of nuance and tiny gestures to express exactly what was in the charactor's mind along with the broader played dialogue. Brilliant!

I liked ERIN BROCKOVICH too, but I admit that I think Ellen Burstyn was robbed of the Best Actress Oscar for REQIIEM FOR A DREAM the year that Julia Roberts won it for ERIN BROCKOVICH.

But then I remember that an Oscar win is just about whoever got the most votes rather than the performance so more Academy voters wanted to acknowledge Julia Roberts that year. Ellen Burstyn already had an Oscar for ALICE DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE.
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