I Just Watched...

[Allhallowsday]

We can't grow up, see???

[Grumpytoad]

Good Omens 2(2023)

David Tennant is a joy to watch and he brings his character to life magnificently!



Good Omens (2019): 8.6/11
Good Omens 2 (2023): 6.4/12

Regarding David Tennant. He is a favorite. I have seen him do many excellent performances. But in my experience, he rises (or falls) spectacularly to the occasion depending on what he has to work with. For example, he is amazing in a tragic and very sad miniseries titled Deadwater Fell. And is boringly flat in a disappointing little movie called You, Me and Him.

He sort of reminds me of Gene Hackman in this way.

[Allhallowsday]

...
I also watched Mary Steenburgen in Time After Time recently on Watch TCM. I had no idea that she had been married to Malcolm McDowell, her co-star in that movie. Malcolm McDowell was endearing in the role of H.G. Wells in Time After Time, but I couldn't get his very disturbing work in A Clockwork Orange out of my mind completely when watching Time After Time...

I love TIME AFTER TIME. And MARY STEENBURGEN.
I truly love some of KUBRICK's films, but I hate A CLOCKWORK ORANGE.

[Belle]

"Five Fingers", 1952, starring James Mason and directed by Joseph Mankiewicz. An excellent nail-biter based loosely on a true story from WW2, involving espionage. HIghly recommended. Mason is superb. GREAT script.

[TikiSoo]

I believe I recall someone saying on a forum that a husband called her big eyes, which is so appropriate.

Haha that was my guy-he calls her "Banjo Eyes"
When introducing him to classic film, I started out showing Blondell films-she quickly won him over.

(but I have never warmed to his violent/gore/gangster films)

[speedracer5]

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!

"Something Weird" used to be on Comcast On Demand back in the day (I haven't had Comcast now for at least 10 years, so I don't know if it's still on On Demand, it's not on Dish) and aside from the 1920s/1930s burlesque videos, I remember watching this bizarre 1950s Dupont paint commercial (that was over 5 mins long) that just featured mimes painting a house. A male and female mime would paint all the walls of the house, then paint them all again, using a different color. It was such an odd commercial, but I suppose effective, because I still remember it.

[speedracer5]

"Deadline - USA" (1952) Richard Brooks, starring Humphrey Bogart.

An excellent film, beautifully restored with an intelligent script from director Brooks. Thought-provoking and Bogart is very good as the editor of a newspaper enduring an existential threat (that part of the film, and its resolution, is the one weakness in the film). All the cast are excellent and, really, this could easily have been a stage play!!

Deadline USA is an excellent journalism film. It's nice seeing Bogart in a different type of role. I also liked Ethel Barrymore as the widow (now owner) of the soon to be closed newspaper. I was also fascinated with the stenographer device that Bogart's secretary used to take down the letter he wanted to write. I think this device might still be used in the court setting, but I love seeing either defunct or unique technology that I don't see often. Watching someone type on a computer is not nearly as interesting as seeing someone operate a switchboard machine or stenographer device.

[speedracer5]

THE SWIMMER (1968) last night on TCM. I first saw this in a mid 1970s TV broadcast...

I just saw this again for the third or fourth time. I still get engrossed in it. I believe it's Burt Lancaster's best performance.

This is a really great movie. I watched TCM's broadcast of it too. It is a unique premise and there isn't much to the film other than Lancaster's performance and his interactions with his neighbors, so it is up to Lancaster to make it compelling. And he does. I love how he just casually drops trou in the (blurred) background when he reaches his nudist neighbors' home.

[Allhallowsday]

...

This is a really great movie. I watched TCM's broadcast of it too. It is a unique premise and there isn't much to the film other than Lancaster's performance and his interactions with his neighbors, so it is up to Lancaster to make it compelling. And he does. I love how he just casually drops trou in the (blurred) background when he reaches his nudist neighbors' home.

The director also directed DAVID AND LISA ...according to Ben M. Both films are unforgettable, and frequently uncomfortable.
No one other than BURT could have starred.

[norfious]

GLENGARRY GLENROSS (1992) on TCM last night.

I watched this for the first time the day before yesterday, and I can't stop thinking about it. The evening I watched it, I was working on some crafts and just thought I'd just give it half my attention by playing it in the background, but it was so much better than I was expecting and had me absolutely transfixed. I had to stop my crafting and give it my full attention. There was so much depth to the characters and interactions and I am definitely planning on watching it again soon.

[CinemaInternational]

Ken Russell is an auteur, if by "auteur" you mean someone who makes the same mistakes over and over again.

I remember liking Russell's film The Boy Friend, but that was his most restrained work, at least by his standards. Women in Love was OK as well, but Tommy felt like my eyes and eardrums were being attacked.

I always want to like Ken Russell's films, but they often do not live up to my expectations. I loved Women in Love, which I haven't seen in years; and I love The Lair of the White Worm (1986), which has sort of an OTT plot, but which is very well done, has a great cast and script, and is at times howlingly funny. I remember going to many of the other Ken Russell films when they were released, and in fact found the ones judged to be OTT to be not OTT enough. I do remember liking The Devils. And Russell has directed some fine work (mostly documentaries) for television.

Gothic is an example of a film that could have been a contender. Great story, based on that famous evening at the Villa Diodati in Geneva in 1816, but it just doesn't work as well as it should. A snippet of the story is presented at the top of Bride of Frankenstein (1935), with Mary and Percy Shelley, and Lord Byron.

One of the funniest scenes in The Lair of the White Worm is when Amanda Donohoe is snake-charmed.

I saw Lair of the White Worm last week, and aside from one brief scene that I found offensive, I had a pretty good time with it. Its so over the top, and has such a rich vein of deadpan humor amidst the blood and nudity. It also gave me a lot to think about the next time I go back to see an episode of LA Law with Amanda Donohue in it.....

[BagelOnAPlate]

THE SWIMMER (1968) last night on TCM. I first saw this in a mid 1970s TV broadcast...

I just saw this again for the third or fourth time. I still get engrossed in it. I believe it's Burt Lancaster's best performance.

This is a really great movie. I watched TCM's broadcast of it too. It is a unique premise and there isn't much to the film other than Lancaster's performance and his interactions with his neighbors, so it is up to Lancaster to make it compelling. And he does. I love how he just casually drops trou in the (blurred) background when he reaches his nudist neighbors' home.

I've read the short story by John Cheever that the movie was adapted from and found it mesmerizing --- possibly the best short story I have ever read.
I didn't see how it could be made into a movie but based on the comments here I will have to give this one a watch.

[Detective Jim McLeod]

Woman's World (1954) Youtube -8/10

An auto tycoon (Clifton Webb) invites three candidates and their wives to New York to decide which one will be named to the coveted position of general manager of the firm.

I spoke about this one on another thread about films worth of re discovery. This is the first time I have seen it in years but it is still highly entertaining. It is Cinemascope and in Technicolor so it is great to look at and the cast is excellent. The copy on Youtube is great.

Van Heflin is a quiet, seemingly unambitious Texan with a gold digger wife (Arlene Dahl). Fred MacMurray is a Philadelphia workaholic married to Lauren Bacall, who loves him but wants a divorce due to his obsession with work. Cornel Wilde is a loving husband and father from Kansas City, his wife is a well meaning klutz played by June Allyson.

The story is similar to another film from the same year Executive Suite. But that film was a stark B&W drama compared to this glossy film which is much more light hearted and entertaining. Ironically June Allyson appears in both films as a wife. Her performance in WW is hilarious and maybe my favorite part of the movie. There are also some nice shots of New York City.

I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of 1950s color comedy/dramas, it has some soap opera vibes but I found the comedy the best part.

[Swithin]

I remember liking Russell's film The Boy Friend, but that was his most restrained work, at least by his standards. Women in Love was OK as well, but Tommy felt like my eyes and eardrums were being attacked.

I always want to like Ken Russell's films, but they often do not live up to my expectations. I loved Women in Love, which I haven't seen in years; and I love The Lair of the White Worm (1986), which has sort of an OTT plot, but which is very well done, has a great cast and script, and is at times howlingly funny. I remember going to many of the other Ken Russell films when they were released, and in fact found the ones judged to be OTT to be not OTT enough. I do remember liking The Devils. And Russell has directed some fine work (mostly documentaries) for television.

Gothic is an example of a film that could have been a contender. Great story, based on that famous evening at the Villa Diodati in Geneva in 1816, but it just doesn't work as well as it should. A snippet of the story is presented at the top of Bride of Frankenstein (1935), with Mary and Percy Shelley, and Lord Byron.

One of the funniest scenes in The Lair of the White Worm is when Amanda Donohoe is snake-charmed.

I saw Lair of the White Worm last week, and aside from one brief scene that I found offensive, I had a pretty good time with it. Its so over the top, and has such a rich vein of deadpan humor amidst the blood and nudity. It also gave me a lot to think about the next time I go back to see an episode of LA Law with Amanda Donohue in it.....

I think I can guess which scene you had a problem with. I assume it's the one with Amanda and the scout.

Paul Brooke, an actor I admired in many of the Royal Shakespeare Company's plays in the late 1970s, is quite good in a supporting role in Lair of the White Worm.

[Belle]

Woman's World (1954) Youtube -8/10

An auto tycoon (Clifton Webb) invites three candidates and their wives to New York to decide which one will be named to the coveted position of general manager of the firm.

I spoke about this one on another thread about films worth of re discovery. This is the first time I have seen it in years but it is still highly entertaining. It is Cinemascope and in Technicolor so it is great to look at and the cast is excellent. The copy on Youtube is great.

Van Heflin is a quiet, seemingly unambitious Texan with a gold digger wife (Arlene Dahl). Fred MacMurray is a Philadelphia workaholic married to Lauren Bacall, who loves him but wants a divorce due to his obsession with work. Cornel Wilde is a loving husband and father from Kansas City, his wife is a well meaning klutz played by June Allyson.

The story is similar to another film from the same year Executive Suite. But that film was a stark B&W drama compared to this glossy film which is much more light hearted and entertaining. Ironically June Allyson appears in both films as a wife. Her performance in WW is hilarious and maybe my favorite part of the movie. There are also some nice shots of New York City.

I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of 1950s color comedy/dramas, it has some soap opera vibes but I found the comedy the best part.

I hadn't heard of this film; thanks for the heads-up. "Executive Suite" is a very fine film, as you say. I've always admired Van Heflin and regard him as a somewhat under-rated actor. Cornel Wilde, not so much. I'll watch the film this morning, after your recommendation.

I've just watched the opening credits and I see that Australia really exists; it's on that map at the beginning!! Also, the film forms part of the zeitgeist post WW2 of 're-feminizing' women after factory work during the war and upon the re-establishment of domesticity. The complete antithesis of the feminist movement; in that sense the film is something of a historical record. Director Jean Negulesco tells me this will not be your "Show of Shows" but your "soap of soaps"!!