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Post by Midge on Aug 15, 2009 15:47:02 GMT -6
[ Oh! Yes, Midge, that is a good film...and fun to watch during the Summer...along with Betty Grable, Carole Landis, Don Ameche and Robert Cumming in the 1941 Moon Over Miami.Oh, I love that one, too, Dee Dee! Those 1940's Fox musicals are a lot of fun because they are splashy, bright, colorful escapist entertainment. They don't try to be arty or take themselves too seriously the way MGM musicals did. My other favorite Fox musical is Springtime in the Rockies. It's a treat for big band fans because Harry James and his Orchestra are in the cast. Edward Everett Horton gives one of the best comic performances of his career. Cesar Romero shows off his dancing skills in a sensuous duet with Betty Grable. The wonderful long-legged Charlotte Greenwood does a tipsy comic dance. And who could resist Carmen Miranda singing "Chattanooga Choo Choo" in rapid-fire Portuguese? Unfortunately Springtime in the Rockies has never been released on DVD, but occasionally Fox Movie Channel plays it. I treasure my well-worn VHS copy.
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Post by dvdjunkie on Aug 15, 2009 17:21:35 GMT -6
Got a late birthday present in the mail yesterday - from TCM I got the Boston Blackie series, so we spent the evening cruising through the first three movies and will watch three more tonight and each night until all 12 of them are watched.
;D
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Post by dvdjunkie on Aug 15, 2009 17:24:10 GMT -6
Forgot to mention also, that last night we had to watch the Neil Diamond Special - Hot August Night-NYC and all I can say is it made me cry to hear all my favorite Diamond songs again. I went out today and bought the DVD, which features over 25 of his hits performed live at Madison Square Garden and if you buy it at Wal-Mart you get a bonus CD of 10 of biggest hits. All for only $12. Pretty good deal.
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liz
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Posts: 53
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Post by liz on Aug 15, 2009 20:54:14 GMT -6
LOVE watching Neil Diamond. Great taste in music,dvdjunkie. Have his bio CD's w/book. Our oldest son got it for us,years ago. Still have our records & tapes of this great guy. Boy,can he sing & write. Watched Monty Walsh w/Tom Selleck,tonight. Love that movie.
"That's my Roy, :uhuh:
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Post by Midge on Aug 15, 2009 21:23:16 GMT -6
I am watching From Here to Eternity on TCM. It's one of those movies that is so good it bears watching again and again. I see something new in it every time. This time I noticed that Deborah Kerr speaks in a perfect American accent.
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Post by Hedvig on Aug 16, 2009 10:05:22 GMT -6
I watched Hairspray. It's lightweight, and simplifies certain issues to the extreme, but it's pure entertainment which works. And a million times better than Grease, with real young people in the main parts and a non-conformist message. I thought John Travolta struck the wrong note though. Maybe it was his accent?
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liz
Regular Diner Patron
Posts: 53
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Post by liz on Aug 16, 2009 22:46:08 GMT -6
I am watching From Here to Eternity on TCM. It's one of those movies that is so good it bears watching again and again. I see something new in it every time. One of my favorites.
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liz
Regular Diner Patron
Posts: 53
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Post by liz on Aug 16, 2009 22:51:43 GMT -6
I thought John Travolta struck the wrong note though. Maybe it was his accent? Even if Travolta hit a wrong note,he sure has my a wonderful acting career. Bad or good guy,plus cute puppy :thumbsup: ,drama,action,comedy,plus musicals. Love watching ANY of his films.
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Post by dvdjunkie on Aug 22, 2009 13:50:35 GMT -6
Tonight in the Junkie Home Theater it is a mish-mash of things.
First up: That Thing You Do - The wonderful Tom Hanks, written, directed and starring movie from 1996. Really good cast supporting Hanks, including Charlize Theron, Tom Everett Scott, and Steve Zahn. It's about a 60's pop group called The Wonders, and is truly an amazingly entertaining movie, even moreso when you read the credits and find out that Tom Hanks wrote all the music also.
Then we plan on watching: Walt Disney's Pete's Dragon - A wonderfully made live action/animated film starring Helen Reddy from 1977. The supporting cast is led by Jim Dale, Mickey Rooney, Red Buttons and Shelley Winters. Academy-award nominated song "Candle on the Water" is from this movie.
And if we can stay awake: Blue Hawaii - Elvis Presley vehicle that has Angela Lansbury in of her funniest roles. Lots of music 'ol' swivel hips' and just a fun story. Great Hawaiian scenery for those who haven't been to the Islands.
;D
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Aug 26, 2009 17:02:01 GMT -6
.... all I can say is it made me cry to hear all my favorite Diamond songs again. I went out today and bought the DVD, which features over 25 of his hits performed live at Madison Square Garden and if you buy it at Wal-Mart you get a bonus CD of 10 of biggest hits. All for only $12. Pretty good deal. That was a heck of a deal! I would give almost anything to see him perform live!
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liz
Regular Diner Patron
Posts: 53
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Post by liz on Aug 27, 2009 1:17:50 GMT -6
Agree with you,Larry. Would TOTALLY LOVE to see Diamond Live. :thumbsup: Life would be complete,then.
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Post by Hedvig on Aug 29, 2009 15:57:04 GMT -6
The Third Man, which is a perfect, complex film. It's one of the better WWII films even though it takes place after it happened, I think. You've got to know something about it to have an understanding of the characters, especially Anna.
Dad has a project where we're showing my little brother all the classics he needs to see. So far we've seen Dr Strangelove, Citizen Kane, Night of the Hunter and The Third Man. The next one might be either Sunset Boulevard or Casablanca. We wouldn't be doing it if my brother wasn't receptive to it, but luckily he isn't prejudiced against old films. All he demands of them is that they are creative and a bit funny.
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Post by Midge on Aug 29, 2009 17:05:23 GMT -6
What a great idea, Hedwig! I wish my parents had done the same. I am curious, though. When you watch these movies, do you watch the original English language version, are they either dubbed or subtitled in Swedish?
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Post by Hedvig on Aug 30, 2009 16:10:37 GMT -6
We watch the original language versions, either with English subs or Swedish ones. We can understand English, but it can be hard to hear what they say if they speak a certain dialect, or talk fast like James Cagney, so then subtitles are very helpful. Dubbing is not a practice here. I think they tried it once in the early 30's, and the audience hated it so much that they never tried it again.
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Post by Midge on Aug 30, 2009 22:15:20 GMT -6
Hedvig, the reason I asked is that I knew that you were fluent in English, but I wasn't sure about your brother. I often use the closed-caption feature on my TV set even when a film is in English because those dialects can be hard to understand. I also find it quite helpful when watching a British film. Otherwise I miss part of the dialogue.
Tonight I am watching some episodes from the HBO series "In Treatment." It is set in a psychoanalyst's office and each episode features a therapy session with a different client. It's all dramatized, of course.
My friend Margaret, who is a psychologist, thought I might be interested so she loaned her DVDs to me.
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Post by dvdjunkie on Aug 30, 2009 23:11:42 GMT -6
Don't know what brought it on, but I was in the mood for some Hammer Horror films and couldn't think anything that frightened me more as a teenager and young adult, than some of the Dracula movies with Peter Cushing as Van Helsing and Christopher Lee as Count Dracula.
We watchedHorror of Dracula (1958) starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, Taste The Blood of Dracula (1970) starring Christopher Lee, Scars of Dracula (1970) with Christopher Lee.
These are probably three of the scariest films of the series and quite well done for period of time they were made. Plus Warner Bros. has done a really nice job of cleaning up the prints and making them look like new again.
;D
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Post by Hedvig on Aug 31, 2009 15:18:22 GMT -6
Suddenly you just get moods like that, don't you. Do the hammer horror films have a good DVD presentation? I don't love horror, but my sister does, and I'd watch classic horror stories if they were good. And Christopher Lee is greatness.
My brother had to learn English when the 5th Harry Potter book came, he couldn't wait half a year for the translation. He's pretty good, above average for his age. My dad read books like Dracula aloud to him, like he did to my sister and I when we were kids. That's a horror story I do like. As long as it's Victorian I'll take it.
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Post by Midge on Aug 31, 2009 22:14:34 GMT -6
I saw Horror of Dracula in 1958 when I was nine years old. It scared the bejabbers out of me!
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liz
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Posts: 53
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Post by liz on Sept 2, 2009 23:18:44 GMT -6
I saw Horror of Dracula in 1958 when I was nine years old. It scared the bejabbers out of me! That is a scary movie. In 1958, I was only two. Saw it much later on,when I was older. Dracula movies seem to leave a lasting impression on me too,Midge. At any age,who can ever forget "The Count".
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Post by filmnoirfanatic on Sept 4, 2009 22:50:04 GMT -6
Hi! Midge, I have to agree with you, when it comes to the differences between MGM musicals and 20th Century Fox musicals. I really like (20th Century Fox) presentation (packaging of their DVDs) especially, when it comes their boxsets. Oh! Yeah, I hope that Springtime in the Rockies is released in the Betty Grable, Volume II boxset...I know that there is a Betty Grable Volume I, but I'am not sure if 20th Century Fox is going to release a Volume 2 DeeDee
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Post by filmnoirfanatic on Sept 4, 2009 23:08:51 GMT -6
Hi! Larry66 Diner Members, I hope to watch a couple of Hitchcock's films over this Labor Day weekend. To Catch a Thief and Notorious.A film called Paris, Texas for the first time and then a comedy that I thoroughly enjoyed watching called A Night to Remember(1942) starring Loretta Young and Brian Aherne. FNF
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Post by Hedvig on Sept 5, 2009 4:17:31 GMT -6
That's a great collection of films! I've heard of a few of them but only seen one: Notorious. It's pretty special. I think Hitchcock was one of the most creative directors in Hollywood during the 30's and 40's. His films had more life than a lot of other productions at that time, even during a period of so many classics.
I'm going to watch something with Garbo in it.
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Post by Midge on Sept 5, 2009 17:43:07 GMT -6
I am watching The Apartment (1960) with Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine and Fred MacMurray. This is one of my favorite movies of all time, from its lush romantic theme music to the wonderful performances but most of all the witty script written by director Billy Wilder and his collaborator, I. A .L. Diamond.
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Post by spruance on Sept 7, 2009 17:44:26 GMT -6
Last night I watched a drama/documentary centered on the 4th plane hijacked in the 911 attacks in 2001 and tonight I watched "102 Minutes That Changed America" on C4. The latter had a lot of amateur video content and it really brought home what those poor people endured at that time.
I remember seeing the second plane hit the south tower on TV but then had to go back to work and as we only had basic internet access and a radio it was a very fraught afternoon wondering what might happen next.
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Post by Midge on Sept 7, 2009 18:12:52 GMT -6
Last night I watched La Ronde (1950) a French movie starring Anton Walbrook, Simone SIgnoret, Danielle Darrieux and Simone Simone.
Walbrook serves as the all-seeing, all-knowing master of ceremonies for a series of vignettes about love. All the stories are connected because each new vignette features one of the lovers from a previous vignette. At the end of the film, the last lover connects with the lover from the first vignette, so the stories form a circle ("la ronde"). Walbrook introduces each vignette and plays a different bit part in each one, so his presence also serves to connect the stories
The last time I saw this movie was in 1968 at the Thalia, a revival theater in New York City. I remember being extremely impressed at the time, so I was thrilled that TCM was showing it.
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Post by Hedvig on Sept 8, 2009 15:34:19 GMT -6
That sounds like a good film, Midge. I have heard of it but didn't know what type of film it was. Did you experience it differently from when you saw it last?
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Post by Midge on Sept 8, 2009 15:52:40 GMT -6
That sounds like a good film, Midge. I have heard of it but didn't know what type of film it was. Did you experience it differently from when you saw it last? Oh, yes, absolutely. When I was 18 I was too innocent to understand some of the sardonic wit and subtle sexual references in La Ronde. I suppose now that I am more worldly I can appreciate the film on a more adult level. What I remember most about 1968 is the lilting theme song Der Reigen, a waltz by Oscar Strauss. Even now, three days after seeing La Ronde, I still can't get that melody out of my head! Also, I was completely taken in by the charms of Anton Walbrook. He didn't do so much for me this time, I'm sorry to say. Maybe it's because he was such a stinker in The Red Shoes. I'm sure you would enjoy the movie now, Hedvig, because you seem mature for your age. However it would probably be better to see it after you've had a few bittersweet love affairs.
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Post by Hedvig on Sept 8, 2009 16:14:50 GMT -6
Anton Walbrook was demonic in The Red Shoes, but nevertheless I was more angry with Julian Craster because he had the pretense of being "the good guy". Poor Vicky Page, what an impossible situation getting caught between those two. That's another great movie.
I haven't had much in the way of bittersweet love-affairs, but since the film impressed you the first time you saw it, it might also impress me. If the movie is well-made and well-acted it's always possible to get into it a bit, at least.
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Post by Midge on Sept 8, 2009 16:27:16 GMT -6
That's an interesting observation on Julian Craster. What bothers me about The Red Shoes is that only women are forced to choose between a career and marriage. Men are allowed to have both. It isn't fair. Besides, Craster could easily have scheduled the debut of his work for another night. Furthermore I thought that if Vicky were a true professional, she ought to be able to go on with her performance whether or not Craster was in the audience.
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Post by dvdjunkie on Sept 9, 2009 8:09:27 GMT -6
Drug out a couple of VHS movies that I have yet to transfer to DVD, and had a relaxing time with Bev, and no kids.
First on the agenda, A Ticket To Tomahawk (1950) starring Dan Dailey, Anne Baxter, Rory Calhoun and Walter Brennan. It also features the first known, non-speaking role for a very young Marilyn Monroe. Don't blink your eyes or you will miss her. The story is pretty simple, Baxter is the daughter of the railroad owner, and has been deputized to make sure that the train gets over the mountain to Tomahawk, or the contract for service will revert back to the Stage Line. It is only a 40 mile trip, but very eventful all the way, and Dailey plays a 'dandy' that Baxter has to learn to trust. Very good movie that needs a DVD release. Great songs, and very entertaining from opening credits to the end credits.
Second on the bill was my favorite Jack Lemmon movie of the 50's, Phffft! (1954) Directed by Mark Robson, written by George Axelrod, and just recently released on DVD. The cast includes Lemmon, Judy Holliday, Jack Carson, and Kim Novak, in one of very good Monroe-esque roles. The story starts with Lemmon and Holliday getting a divorce and Lemmon making a point to party around with his womanizing friend Jack Carson. It is a zany comedy that does skip a beat here and there, but for the short 88 minute run, I find it has a lot of re-watchability. If you haven't seen this, make it point to do so. One of the best of the Jack Lemmon/Judy Holliday pairings.
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