"Underworld" (Josef von Sternberg, USA 1927) Of course, nothing in common with the 2003 movie, this one is a true masterpiece. A wonderfull story of love, trust, betray in the downtowns. Bull is a bobber and a murderer but he's nice and help the poors and when one day he pick up from the street Rolls Royce Wensel an alcoolical lawyer he takes care of him and make him a partner. Bull loves the beautifull Feather but is very jealous. One day Bull is caught and condamned to be hung... Rolce Royce and feather are in love but they decide to make Bull escape, but the police is informed and the plan fails. But Bull learn for Rolce Royce and Feather and escape by himself and wnat to tak revenge... All is good in this movie, the screenplay, the filming is huge, the acting too Rolls Royce Wensel, Evelyn Brent and Clive Brook are excellent. 9,5/10
"The Last Command " (Josef von Sternberg, USA 1928) Another masterpiece of Sternberg and silent. A wonderful story of a former Imperial Russian general and cousin of the Czar ends up in Hollywood as an extra in a movie directed by a former revolutionary who recognize him and want to take revenge. This amazing situation makes painfull souvenirs come back in the mind of the old man and especialy the image of a young revolutionary girl Natalia... Very moving story, huge filming (with many references to soviet directors) and huge acting of Emil Jannings, a must. 10/10
"The Docks of New York" (Josef von Sternberg, USA 1928) Once more a masterpiece of reamisme and poetry. The story of a sailor who comes back in the port of New York after a very long trip. He only have one night before the next trip. As he wals on the waterfront he saves a poor and pretty prostitute who wants to commit suicide. In a bar he decides to marry her. But what was for him only a joke and amusement will become a tragedy the day after... Will love be stronger than the call of the sea ? A fantestic and almost oniric story, Filming of Sternberg is perhaps at it's best in this movie with incredible angles, composition and camera moves. A very touching story with great acting of George Bancroft and Betty Compson. 9,5/10
"The Tall Target" (Anthony Mann, USA 1951) A historical noir. A policeman is sure that in Baltimore someone will kill the president Lincold during his travel from New York to Baltimore... But nobody want to believe him. He will have to make the job alone... All the movie runs in the train, an excellent screenplay adapted from a true story, nice filming of Mann in a pure noir style. A great one 8/10
Very Nice, Very Nice (Arthur Lipsett, Canada, 1961) A 7-minutes film where the proliferation of images is shown to be very anxious. Very sharp and rapid editing, with a particular emphasis on sound. Still topical in my opinion, and also somewhat poetic... :
Now! (Santiago Alvarez, Cuba, 1965) This one is even shorter, and maybe even more immediately striking. It's an assemblage of newsreel footage and photographs covering the Civil Rights Movement, on a fantastic song by Lena Horne. I enjoyed the strong sense of political urgency that is conveyed by this film, which is still very powerful and striking even 40 years after the movement. And what a great great song...
Hapax Legomena I : Nostalgia (Hollis Frampton, USA, 1977) An avant-garde/experimental 38 minutes film where Hollis Frampton burns some old photographs of his, while commentating them through the voice of Michael Snow. There's a disjunction between the image and its commentary that did not strike me right away, which gives some kind of an interestingly deceptive structure to the movie. It's a great formal reflection on the very nature of both the still image and the moving image, being simultaneously present, gone, and in the process of being destroyed. I also liked the ritual-aspect of the movie, and the fact that it shows an act of destruction while being in itself an act of preservation. This might interest those who study images, and might just bore you if you don't give a shit.
La Jetée (Chris Marker, France, 1962) This one wasn't a discovery. It's actually one of my favourite movies, so it was a real pleasure to see this for the umpteenth time, and a really emotional experience to see it on big screen for the first time
So... Was in Lyon Lumière's Movie Festival for the week... The Festival was dedicated to Ken Loach,
I first watched or re-watched some De Sica's Movies
“Sciuscia” (Roberto De Sica, Italy, 1946) Very movieng and sad story of two children, put in jail for a small petty theft which lead them to drama 9/10
“Ladri di biciclette“ (Roberto De Sica, Italy 1948) Everybody knows this great masterpiece sort of manifest of italian neorealism… 9/10
“L’oro di Napoli“ (Roberto De Sica, Italy 1954) Nice bitter-comedy made of several small sketches showing the life of people of different classes and quarters of Naples. Very good. 8,5/10
“Una breve vacanza“ (Roberto De Sica, Italy 1973) Very poorly known De Sica movie it can be seen as a kind of testament of all his art. Coming back to his first movies, De Sica depicts the portrait of a poor woman who works hard in a factory to feed all his parasitic family… Too hard. One day she faints at work and has to go to a sanitarium for few months. She discovers another world, another people… Soooo moving, but so hard. 9,5/10
Then I watched a bunch of Max Ophuls movies... from Germany, to France and th US, through Netherlands and Italy Ophuls remains one of the most international directors with an unique style.
“Die Verkaufte Braut” (aka "The Bartered Bride") (Max Ophuls, Germany 1932) This is an early movie of Ophuls, adaptation of a famous opera with some singing parts. Very funny movie all the art of the master is here still at an embryonic stage but already obvious. 7,5/10
"La signora di tutti" (aka "Everybody's Woman") (Max Ophuls, Italy 1934) This is the only Italian movie of Ophuls. Th movie is a nice and moving melodrama about a gentle but beautiful girl who seduces men against herself and lead them and her to a fatal issue. Very good directing (as usual) and a nice construction in flashback. 8,5/10
"Komedie om geld" (aka "The Trouble with Money") (Max Ophuls, Netherlands 1936) This dutch movie from ophuls is a funny comedy about a cashier who lost money and is fired. His life becomes hell. He is engaged by naughty financiers who think he stole the money… They make him director of a subsidiary… Nice directing introducing for the first time the character of the ringmaster we will see again in “La Ronde” or in “Lola Montès”. Nice one 7/10
"La tendre ennemie" (aka "The Tender Enemy") (Max Ophuls, France 1936) This one is a nice fantasy tale about ghosts of the lovers of a woman who meets at the engagement of the daughter of their former lover. Their love for her push them all three to death and they will doo everything to let the girl love the man she wants… Very funny 7,5/10
"Le roman de Werther" (Max Ophuls, France 1938) This nice adaptation of Goethe famous novel is good. Nice directing and acting for this one… 7,5/10
"Caught" (Max Ophuls, USA 1949) One of the three movies Ophuls made in the US before coming back to France. A nice mix of Melodrama and Noir as the next one with a very good Robert Ryan and a pretty Barabara Bel Geddes. 8/10
"The Reckless Moment" (Max Ophuls, USA 1949) Another nice movie mixing Noir and Melodrama with a huge acting of James Mason and Joan Bennett. A woman must face a murder commited by accident by her daughter. A man trys to blackmail her. But their relation will become more complex as what they expected from. 8,5/10
Charles Brabin is a poorly known american director, the festival wa sthe occasion to discover this lost movie maker...
"Blind Wives" (Charles Brabin, USA 1920) A strange comedy which looks very strange today and can be watch also at thes first anti-mondailism movie ! A wife spend all the money of her husband in dresses. One day he’s fed up and stop paying. She claims that thanks to her poor people are living. Then durind her sleep she dreams she’s the heroin of four small stories involving each part of the making of her dress but each story finish in a drama… Not the best movie of Brabin but interrestin especialy the last dream… 7/10
"The Valley of the Giants" (Charles Brabin, USA 1927) This story of lumberjacks in the redwoodforest of California. The son of a Timber tycoon is in love with the niece of another one… Nice action movie filmed in natural stings of the famour forests of California. Excellent scene on a mad train and a big scene of crowd… A good one 7,5/10
"Sporting Blood" (Charles Brabin, USA 1931) Certainly the best Brabin’s movi. A story of horses, races, bookmakers, mobs… Very nice filming, of horses, in location, very good characters well studied. 8/10
"The Beast of the City" (Charles Brabin, USA 1932) A good gangster movie adapted from a novel of the famous W.R. Burnett. Made in a very realistic way the final massacre is completely crazy… 7,5/10
"Kozure Ôkami: Sanzu no kawa no ubaguruma" (aka "Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart at the River Styx ") Kenji Misumi, Japan 1972) The second part of this 6 movie adaptation of the famous manga is the best. The Killer with the baby is involved in his quest but has also to carry out a perilous mission. Not bad at all. 7,5/10
"La règle du jeu" (aka "The Rules of the Game") (Jean Renoir, France 1939) It was so much fun to re-watch one of the best french movie ever made. Wonderful. But everybody have watche to it. 10/10
"Le carosse d’or" (aka "The Golden Coach") (Jean Renoir France/Italy 1952) Wonderful movie of Renoir about an italian theatre company who comes to south America. But they are quickly disenchanting. With the troup arrives a golden coach for the governor. Camilla (an absolutely awesome Anna Magnani) the star of the troup is soon the target of thee men… A soldier, the governor and a bullfighter. A very funny comedy and also (and that’s what make the movie a pure jewel) a nice reflection about antertainment. Huge 9/10
"The Pleasure Garden" (Alfred Hitchcock, UK 1925) This is the first complete feature from Hitchcok. This is not it’s best but it’s easy to notice some clue for thze future, some Hitchcockian’s close-ups, the cruelty of some scenes… 7/10
"Nighytbirds" (Andy Milligan, USA 1970) A small experimental sexploitation movie of the obscure Milligan the favourite director of Nicolas Winding Refn (hum!!) A pretty girl invite a lost guy to her home and they become in love but she become more and more jealous and possessive and want always more… Nice filming but broke movie as many sexploitations of this time. 5,5/10
"Vapors" (Andy Milligan, USA 1965) This short movie tells the story of the meetings of homosexuals in public baths… Pure sexploitation movie. A couple of two newcomers begins to have a long discussion about their respective lives… It made sense in that time (and with mulligan’slife also) but now seems to be a bit dated. 6/10
"The Day of the Outlaw" (Andre de Toth, USA 1959) I re-watched this excellent western once more. Definitively one of the greatest westerns ever made..; Some scenes you’ll never forget : the bottle rolling on the bar and the coming of the outlaws, the bal sequence is simple amazing, the fight in the melting snow and all the last third in the snow are incredible. Robert Ryan is good as often and Tina Louise is so cute !! 9/10
"La decima vittima" (aka "The 10th Victim") (Elio Petri, Italy 1965) A strange movie in Pietri’s filmography even if the social criticism is always present. In a near future there is a ministry of hunting where people are allowed to make ten hunts 5 as hunter, five as victim. If they survive ten hun honor and money are for them. An American girl Caroline Meredith (Ursula Andress !!!) as won nine hunts… for the last one she has many sponsor and a whole tv team is with her to film her victory as huntress. The prey will be an Italian Marcello Poletti (Marcello Mastroianni) who won six hunts… Excellent satirical comedy and wonderfull pop-art reference throughout the movie !! 8/10
That was all for the 2012 edition of this nice festival...
"The Suspect" (Robert Siodmak, USA 1944) In the end of XIX century in London a man Philip Marshall (Charles Laughton) is an unhappy husband. His wif is so unbearable that even his son leave the house… One day he meets a young and pretty unemployed girl Mary Gray (Ella Raines) his love is platonic but Mary truly fall in love with him. But when his wife discover the existence of Mary and threatens him he has to kill her. Coroner says it’s an accident but onspector Huxley of Scotland Yard thinks it’s murder…. Nice movie, good filming in a noir style and a great acting of Charles Laughton… 8,5/10
”Daïnah la métisse” (Jean Gremillon, France, 1931) A great mutilated movie : on the initial 90 min run, only 48 min were kept. For that time the movie was very disturbing. What could only have been an exotic adventure and love movie become a very transgressive one when both racial and social background are reversed, the black character is more civilized than the white ones, the interacial love is clearly shown and the very erotic character of Daïnah is clearly the object of desire of every man in the boat. Also she’s the dominant one, she clearly invites men to love. So even if such movie was unthinkable in the US for example, the censorship greatly mutilate what could have been one of Gremillon’s best movies. And definitively Gremillon is one of the most underrated French directors. 8,5/10
“You and Me” (Fritz Lang, USA 1938) A poorly known movie of Lang in the US. An ex-prisoner (George Raft) meet a pretty girl in the shop he’s know working. If he tells her all about his past, she doesn’t and when he discorers she cheated him. He decides to make a deal with his old friends to xxx the shop of his own boss. This movie is partly unfinished and is lost between some genre. Melodrama, gangster, and musical. Kurt Weill was involved in the movie and there are some songs and part of the dialogues written by him but he left during the movie. So the whole is not quite convincing despite sone great moments. 7/10
“Konec srpna v Hotelu Ozon” (aka “End of August at the Hotel Ozone”) (Jan Schmidt, Czechoslovakia. 1967) A strange Sci-Fi movie post nuclear cataclysm. A group of young women leaded by an older one are seeking a place where men could still exist. Their errance lead them to the lost Hotel Ozone where only one old man survive. Impressive and strange movie. 7,5/10
"La red" (aka "Rosanna") (Emilio Fernandez, Mexico 1953) Wonderful drama directed by the most important mexican director. With a classic story of love triangle Fernandez gives us a masterpiece. Huge filming (the influence of Eisenstein on mexican cinema is obvious) huge photography, an economy of dialogs which are very rare and therefore an aesthetic near to that of silent movies. Fernandez just need to film the faces, the eyes, the hands and all is clear. A lesson of film making. Rosanna Podesta is absolutly fabulous, and sooooo beautiful. A must. 10/10
"Jakten" (aka "The Chasers") ( Erik Løchen, Norway 1959) Another movie based on a love triangle but in a complete different way. Lochen deconstructs completly the narration, the time in this excellent movie of three friends a woman and to men who go on a hunting party for a week-end. One won't come back. This movie is clearly refeared to directors like Bresson. Very good 8,5/10
"Avoir 20 ans dans les Aurès" (aka "To Be Twenty in the Aures ") (René Vautier, France 1972) We proposed at our cineclub last night this nice movie. How to transform young people, reluctant to war in killing machines. A group of young guys during Algerian war are coming from Brittany, they are union members, priest, teacher, students and don't want this war. Under the influence of a profesional officer they will become just soldiers, being able to kill and to commit exactions like others do... only one resists... Nice movie even if poorly made and many difficulties with censorship. A stong anti-war movie. 7,5/10
"De bon matin" (aka "Early One Morning") (Jean-Marc Moutout, France 2011) A man (Jean-Pierre Darroussin) is pushed to murder because he has so many problems at work and in ihis couple. The movie bgins when the morning he goes at work and kill to guys at his work. Then he sits in his office and remembers all what push him to this dead end.... Not bad movie even if predictible and a bit cliché. 7/10
"The Werewolf" (Fred F. Sear, USA 1956) Nice sci-fi/horror movie about a man transforming in werewolf after being "cured" by a mad scientist with serum of radio-active wolf's blood... He arrives in a lost small town in the mountains and begins to kill. Local sheriff and the scientists want to kill him... No way out for the monste. Not bad at all indeed, nice filming the monster is well done. 7/10
"Cattle Stampede" (Sam Newfield, USA 1943) An episode of the serie made in the early 40's by Buster Crabbe as Billy the Kid before being Bill Carson. Billy and his sidekick Fuzzy will have to care about a big herd against bad guys of a rival ranch. For B fans only. 6/10
Last rainy evening was dedicated to the great Charlie Chan...
"Charlie Chan in Panama" (Norman Foster, USA 1940) In this episode Charlie Chan will have to fight against a dangerous spy and muerder who plans to attack the US Navy Fleat when it crosses the Canal of Panama. Very good screenplay with lot of twists and an unexpected ending. A good one 7,5/10
"Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise" (Eugene Forde, USA 1940) In theis one Charlie Chan will have to discover who's the mysterious Strangler who kills members of boat trip around the world. Once more a very good screenplay with lot of murders and mystery. 7,5/10
"Dead Men Tell" (Harry Lachman, USA 1941) In this episode Charlie Chan investigate on a boat to discover the mysterious murder of an old woman who's got part of a treasure map. Three other members of the trip have one part of the map but they don't know each others... The killer obviously want to get the treasure for his own... 7,5/10
"Charlie Chan in Rio" (Harry Lachman, USA 1941) Charlie Chan must arrest Loloa Dean a cabaret dancer and singer for the murder of her previous Lover in Honolulu. But after the show Lola is found dead... A very difficult investigzation begins... 8/10
Finally got to watch the entirety of Das Boot. Truly a masterpiece. Was wondering how such a brilliant movie could only have oscar nominations and not cash in on any. Then I saw which other movies were released in the same year:
-ET -Sophie's choice -An officer and a gentleman -gandhi -Tootsie - The World According to Garp -annie -tron
Some other Charlie Chan movies last night always with Sidney Toler as the great detective
"Charlie Chan in Reno" (Norman Foster, USA 1939) In this movie Charlie chan is in the capital of divorce to make an investigation about the murder of a ssocialite who wante to marry the ex-husband of another one who's found just near the body... Too obvious case for Charlie. 7,5/10
"Charlie Chan at Treasure Island" (Norman Foster, USA 1939) This time Charlie investigates about the murder of one of his friend, the novelist Paul Essex just after he recieved a message from a mysterious magician The Zodiac... A dark tale of Black Magic and Blackmai... 7,5/10
"Charlie Chan in City in Darkness" (Herbert I. Leeds, USA 1939) This pre war movie of Charlie Chan located in Paris plunged in the dark because of curfew. He will have to find murderer of a weapon smugler. 7/10
"The Sin of Nora Moran" (Phil Goldstone, USA 1933) Another great discovery Ive made in the B vault. This movie is simply astounding. About a simple story of a woman who will sacrifice herself for the men she love and reveal in fact thier cowardness Goldstone build a wonderfull movie with numerous flashbacks, even flashbacks in flashbacks, mixing it with dreaming scenes, where characters already knows the future... A so complex narrative form but that wondrfully works... This movie was mainly known for it's poster which is one of the most beautifull ever made but it is less known that it was a real influence on Orson Welles 's Citizen Kane. And even if this budgetless Majestic Pictures movie is not Welles's masterpiece it's influence on Welles's work is obvious. To discover if not already made 9/10
"Prison Train" (Gordon Wiles, USA 1938) After a murder the famous mob Frankie Terris is arrested and condamned to death. He takes the train to Alcatraz to be executed. But Manny another mob and the father of the lan killed by Frankie want to kill him before he arrives. Furthermore Frankie's sister Louise is told about Manny's project and take the train too. But how can she warn her brother about Manny's plans. EAnother axcellent small B fron the vault with sharp screeplay and characters but well depicted in the short run (63 min). Very nice filming with nice angles of shots and good work on light. Louise is played by Dorothy Comingore who'll later will play Susan Alexander Kane in Welles's masterpiece. And it is said that Welles casted her after watching Prison Train and the influence of this small B on it's filming is certainly important. 7,5/10
"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (Tobe Hooper, USA 1974) At our cineclub we proposed this now classic horror movie. It was much fun to re-watch it on screen. More subjective than demostrative with a nice editing and a a nice work on music and sound it's influence on things to come is obvious. But evrybody watched it 8/10
"Forces spéciales" (aka "Special Forces") (Stéphane Rybojad, France 2011) Afghanistan. A commando of six soldiers release a journalist but lose all means of communication to be picked up... They'll have to do it by themselves with a bunch of talibans after them... How can a man carry more tham one million bullets on his back ? How can Talibans be so nurerous and being so bad shooters ? Why do they run on the six good guys just to be killed and fall like flies ? Why can the good guys be missed by all those bullets ? Why can talibans hicking in the mountain without feeling the cold and without being tired ? .. Discover the answers to all those mysteries and many more by watching this 10,000,000€ Z movie... 3/10 (for the nice landscapes of Tadjikistan)
"Curtain at Eight" (E. Mason Hopper, USA 1933) Wylie Thornton is a Broadway star actor and is collecting women like others collect stamps. At his birthay party in the theatre he's brutally killed as he blows out the candles of the cake... A very difficult invstigation for the police. A very interresting B movie especialy with it's ending absolutly fabulous you have to discover and which is truely pre-code and won't have been possible just few years later. A good B with above average acting. 7,5/10
"Angkor" (L.C. Cook, George M. Merrick, USA 1935) An incredible expolitation movie of the 30's banned almost everywhere in the country. A fake travelogue using bunch of stockshots and part of other movies about an expedition the city of Angkor which is just the pretext to show topless "natives" (in fact many scenes have been filmed in Hollywood with dancers). And an hilariuous explanation of the disparition of the khmers in Angkor due to the riot from slaves disguised in apes who had sexual relations with the princess and her dancers... A completly crappy exploitation movie almost unbelievable with ridiculous racism and deviant darwinism... 3/10 but for Z and B fans much more... Note. : The text of introduction is especialy hilarious...
"Forbidden Women" (Eduardo de Castro, Philippines, 1948) Yes, there is an philippian cinema and even if the plot is a bit kitsch the movie is quite entertaining and can be watched as a good exotic B movie. Indeed the version I watched is a re-cut one with some nudie scenes added (few and not very spicy indeed). The story of a prince who after studying in France comes back to his small Island in the pacific to promote democracy and visit the forbidden Temple of the Goldern Door full of pretty girls (yes...)... For B fans only 6/10
"Sky Racket" (Sam Katzman, USA 1937) Another small B from the vault produced and directed by the mythic Sam Katzman. A wierd story of thieves capturing planes with a special raygun to steal the cargo. One day the FBI send a plane as a decoy with special agen 17 (Bruce Bennet) but hidden in the plane is Marion Bronson (Joan Barclay) who tries to escape to wedding !! Then the mission of Agent 17 becomes more dangerous... Very entertaining B 6,5/10
"Air Devils" (John Rawlins, USA 1938) Always fun to notice that a B movie from a big major like Universal is miles away from Powerty Row's movie. In this Universal's B two ex aces of the airforces are constable on an isolated Island of the south Pacific. The natives are preparing a riot but both pilot are in love with the same girl... A funny mix of exotic adventures, romance and comedy. for B fans 6,5/10
"The Black Sleep" (Reginald Le Borg, USA 1956) Nice small horror flick about a mad surgeon Cadman (Basil Rathbone) who helps a former student Ramsay to escape hanging for a murder he didn't commit to make him his assistant in his experiments upon brain. He uses a drug called the black sleep to make people like dead and operats them.... When Ramsay realise what have become Cadman's "Failures" he's horrified... Som kind of All Star movie with Basil Rathbone, John Carradine, Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi, Akim Tamiroff... Entertaining indeed. 7/10 for B fans 10/10.
"The Man Who Turned to Stone" (László Kardos, USA 1957) The medical staff of a women prison is formed by evil XVIII century's mad scientists who get eternal life by draining the vital energy from young women... If they don't, the died turning to stone. But a pretty social assistant and the Psychistrist of the prison have some doubet about mysterious deaths in the prison. Pure B from the 50's 7/10
"Devil Doll" (Lindsay Shonteff, UK 1963) Much under-rated brittish horror about a mad hypnotist who transferd the soul of one of his victim in a dummy. His show impress everybody because the dummy seems so "alive" indeed it is... and full of revenge.... Nice filming and sometime still frightening. 7/10 "
"The Mystery Man" (Ray McCarey, USA 1935) Larry Doyle is an ex-newspaperman who becomes broke. He goes to a pawnbrocker to give his gun. The day after the weapon is found responsible of two murders by the Saint Louis's most famous criminal : the Eel... Doyle will have to find the Eel before Police find him... Very entertaining small movie for B fans only. 6,5/10
"Drums of the Desert" (George Waggner, USA 1940) Very entertaining exotic small B about two french legionairs in Algeria in love with the same girl and who must face riot of the natives. With Ralph Byrd (the historical Dick Tracy) and the excellent Mantan Moreland. 7/10
"Dynamite" (William H. Pine, USA 1949) Gunner is the best demolition man, dynamite has no secret for him. But when the young Johnny comes with his new methods things go wrong furthermore Johnny falls in love with Mary, Gunner's love. So when after an accident Johnny is prisonner in a tunnel Gunner is the only one who can save him... For B fans even if interesting cause of numerous scenes of working people... Not common in cinema. 6/10
"Daughter of the Tong" (Bernard B. Ray, USA 1939) Ultra poor B about Carvey a beautiful chinese girl, played by ex-silent star Evelyn Brent, Geisha at day becomes the leader of the crime in Chinatown at niget. After murder of a FBI agent, the agence infiltrate a dtective in the gang. Classic police movie on yellow-peril background, fairly common at that time. Sad ending of carrer for the beautiful Evelyn Brent... 5,5/10
"The Racketeer" (Howard Higgin, 1929) This early talky movie deals with an unusual love triangle betweem an alcoolical violonist and a mob with golden heart who will help the poor guy for the love of the girl, Rhoda (A young Carole Lombard). But no one escapes to his destiny. Even if a bit talky like all this movies of the transition period quite entertaining and the occasion to watch Carole Lombard in one of her first appearance on screen, already beautiful. 6,5/10
"Kronos" (Kurt Neumann, USA 1957) GoodSci-Fi movie about a gigantic robot landing on earthe and draining all energy he can and growing biger and biger. Nice filming in scope and nice b/w photography. 7,5/10
"The Deadly Mantis" (Nathan Juran, USA 1957) Another giant monster attacks the US this time a giant Praying Mantis released from the ice of Greenland. The sequences with the monster are good and nice filmed but too much army stockshots for a production made by a major. 6,5/10
"The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms" ((Eugene Lourié, USA 1953) An early giant monster movie about a dinosaur released from the ice of greenland (hello deadly Mantis!!) Nice animation of Harryhausen... 7,5/10
"Les enfants du paradis" (aka "Children of Paradise") (Marcel Carné, France 1945) Last night this masterpiece of cinema was on TV so... I re-watched it!... Three hours of pure pleasure... The simple (but complicated) love story of an idealistic man and an emancipated woman (but is she really?). Wonderful filming antd awsome dialogs of Jacques Prévert. So much poetry in one movie !! Acting is good Arletty unforgatable. 10/10
So this was a rainy week end so watched some movies mainly form the infinite B vault...
"It Conquered the World" (Roger Corman, USA 1956) I re-watched with lot of fun this Corman’s early effort about a Venusian who comes to earth abusing an idealistic scientist (Lee Van Cleef) to take control of human race “Every man its prisoner, every woman its slave” announces the poster ! You can imagine the depth of the screeplay. Very funny indeed with one of the most ridiculous monster ever made by the master Paul Blaisdell !! 6/10
" Robot Monster" (Phil Tucker, USA 1953) I re-watched this cult non-sense movie with lot of fun. It’s incredibly bad but sooo fun but with the decency to be budgetless. A must to see for all Z grade fan 3/10 for Z fans 10/10 and more….
"Bwana Devil" (Arch Oboler, USA 1952) Adapted from a true story this Poor colorfull B was initialy made in 3D. In 2D it’s less impressive. Robert Stack and Nigel Bruce are not bad but the whole is a bit disappointing : all in the picture nothing in the story (does it remind you something??) 6/10
"Gojira no gyakushû" (aka “Godzilla Raids Again”) (Motoyoshi Oda, Japan 1955) The spirit of Honda’s masterpiece is far away in this second opus. By the way it’s well done and entertaining. 6,5/10
"The Lone Rider Fights back" (Sam Newfield, USA 1941) The sixth of the eleven episodes played by George Houston as the Lone Rider. Here our hero and his sidekick Fuzzy will have to fight against a gang who killed Joe the owner of a gold mine to take his place. Pure B western for fans only 6/10
"Trapped by Television" (Del Lord, USA 1936) This Columbia B movie explore the possibilities of this new media, televisoion in this small B crime movie about a scientist who discover a new television but who also get involved with mobs… entertaining with a pretty Mary Astor. 6/10
"House of Danger" (Charles Hutchison, USA 1934) A poor crime B with a good script about two friends who exchange their identity to solve a murder but a girl might blow away all their plans and their friendship too. For B fans only 6/10
"I Conquer the Sea!" (Victor Halperin, USA 1936) Much under-rated melodrama. A classic but nice Love triangle in a small whale’s fischermen village in New Found Lands. Nice story, nice filming on location. A good small independent movie 7,5/10
"The Moth" (Fred C. Newmeyer, USA 1934) Still a smell of precode in this small B about a young socialite who is arrested half nude during a party and who flees from home after the scandal to New Orleans. In the train she meets another girl, a cabaret dancer who’s also “The Moth” a dangerous thief. Now our young socialite is involved in a jewel robbery… Poor B movie but entertaining 6,5/10
"The Pay Off" (Arthur Dreifuss, USA 1942) Very interesting screenplay for this small B crime with many twists and surprises. Prosecutor has been murdered but the main suspect has an air-tight alibi a difficult case for the star reporter Brad McKay…. 7/10
"Her Mad Night" (E. Mason Hopper, USA 1932) A woman is comdamned to electric chair because she refuses to give the name of the true murderer of her ex-lover. She prefers to be accused. Her new fiancé and lawyer must quickly find who she’s protecting and why… For B fans only 6,5/10
"Hell Ship Mutiny" (Lee Sholem, Elmo Williams, USA 1957) Cheap exotic adventures with John Carradine and a lost Peter Lorre. A Story of a gang who enslaves natives of a Pacific Island to fish pearls. But a courageous Captain Jim Knight will set the island free. For B fans only. 6/10
"Federal Fugitive" (William Beaudine, USA 1941) Some spies want to get the plans of a new plane a G-man is infiltrated in the plan society to stop them. He also takes some pills every day for his stomach. When the crook discover his true identity, they put a cyanid pill in his box… A russian roulette bego,ns for our G-Man. Only a pretty dancer knows the truth and can save him… will she come on time ?? Pure B for fans only 6/10
"Held For Ransom" (Clarence Bricker, USA 1938) A candy’s Tycoon is kidnapped, a ransom is given but the thieves doesn’t get it so they don’t release their prisoner. FBI sent a tough G-Girl Betty Mason to investigate. They think Tycoon’s son could be involved. A perilous investigation begins for our adventurous heroine. 6,5/10
"High Gear" (Leigh Jason, USA 1933) A star race car pilot kills his machanics in an accident during a race. Desperate he decides totake care about his friend’s son and send him to an expensive military school. But now, unable to race again he has to fnd money… Nice and entertaining small B 6,5/10
It's not the last at all, but as I feel I'm just starting to grasp it, I want to talk a bit about Dusan Makavejev's Sweet Movie
Ok so for starters it's one of the most repulsive movies I have ever seen. It starts off in a very funny way, by imbricating two completely wtf stories, one about a Canadian beauty-queen who gets married to the capitalist incarnation of King Midas, the other about a polish girl who's the captain of a strange Lenin-faced ship wandering about the canals of Amsterdam. To appear onscreen during the film : explicit pedophilia, sex and murder, vomit, chocolate, and a piece of documentary about the Katyn massacre. As you would expect, not a pleasant movie to watch at all. I couldn't get what the hell Makavejev was trying to say - though I admit with shame that I didn't take the time to watch the interview that comes with the Criterion dvd. I think I did get a sense of it being a critique of both Communism (the Amsterdam-part of the film is completely about the desacralization of communist myths and figures, plus the evocation of Katyn makes it pretty crystal clear) and Consumerism (same, the Canadian Midas isn't the most subtle device to turn typical north-american values into ridicule). It probably casts a look of suspicion on all form of human societies (the scenes within the anarchist/hippie community are about the most disgusting scenes of all), which makes it even more depressing. I have no problem with that but I'm generally reserved when a movie tries to exhaust the possibilities of representation by putting into focus everything that will make an audience freak out, and call that a critique of whatever. In the end I was thinking that this mixing of taboo, politics, and secretions was extremely tiresome and a bit childish, but still I had in mind this bit about Katyn and I kept returning to it without understanding why on earth did Makavejev put that here to make it what seemed to me the most far-fetched use of montage, and the most over-the-top syntagma. Then I stumbled on the English translation of the Greek song that soundtracks it, and I think that the movie takes a whole new meaning to me if I look at it as being the extension of this piece of lyrics : "come daughter of the moon (...) and bestow on these boys some caresses of heaven". If I choose to look at the movie as some sort of a repercussion, or a deflagration of this Katyn-bit, as a way to deal with and work through the traumatic implied by this footage - and that could be confirmed by the insert of the phrase "Let us think of these things always and speak of them never" ; if I choose to do that, well then I think I can start to like the movie. Though I'm not sure if I ever want to watch it again. (thank you if you took the time to read all my jabbering)
“Narayama-bushi kô” (aka “The Ballad of Narayama”) (Shôhei Imamura, Japan 1983) On Screen I watched this excellent story mixing a picarasque view with srong pessimistic vison of the powerty and the weight of traditions. Nice one 8/10
“Anders als die Andern” (aka “Different from the Others”) (Richard Oswald, Germany 1919) A curiosity and a rarity I watched on screen . This movie was made as educational during the very short period in Weimer republic when there was no censorship 1919-1920. This movie deals about homosexuality. A famous violonist fall in love with his student but a blackmailer threatens him. It's still against the maw to be homosexual because of the article 175.... Even if filmographie is not wonderfull Conrad Veidt is good and the movie reamins a curiosity. 7/10
“Daughter of the Dragon” (Lloyd Corrigan, USA 1931) A small B of the Paramount with nice filming. The beautiful Anna May Wong is good in the dark Daughter of the famous Fu-Manchu... For B fans 7/10
“Alaska Highway” (Frank McDonald, USA 1943) A poor propaganda B about a love triangla along the building of the Haghway between Alaska and the US during WWII. 6/10
“Borrowed Hero” (Lewis D. Collins, USA 1941) A small entertaining crime B from the vault. A young innocent Attorney and his girlfriend are involved in a dark story of murder and corruption. The innocent Attorney will reveal himself as more clever than the mobs expected to. For B fans only 6,5/10
“Woman on the Run” (Norman Foster, USA 1950) Very nice lost Film Noir about a woman running after his husband who's the unique witnass of a murder. She's helped in her search by a newspaperman who's indeed the murderer... Excellent 8,5/10
“Love Streams” (John Cassavetes, USA 1984) Excellent Cassavetes movie sort of testimony of it's art concerning the themas. You can find elements of most of his previous work. (Faces, Shadows, A woman under the influence...) Excellent 9/10
I watched the whole serie of Brass Bancroft movies, made in the early 40 by the B department of the Warner. The role is played by Ronald Reagan in its early years. Bancroft is an ex pilot now a secret agent who fight crime in and outside US the whole is cheap but very entertaining
"Secret Service of the Air" (Noel M. Smith, USA 1939) In this one Bancroft fights a group of smugglers who make come strangers in the US with plaes from Mexico. Bancroft infiltrates the gang. 6,5/10
“Code of the Secret Service” (Noel M. Smith, USA 1939) Now Bancroft fight against a gang of money counterfeiters in Mexico 6/10
“Smashing the Money Ring” (Terry O. Morse, USA 1939) Bancroft infiltrate a gang of money counterfeiter once more in this episode. 6,5/10
“Murder in the Air” (Lewis Seiler, USA 1940) A group of spies want to make a sabotage in a dirigeable where a new secret weapon is going to be tested. Bancroft takes the place of one of the saboteur... 7/10
“Singapore” (John Brahm, USA 1947) John Brahn is mostly known for his hooror movies but this small adaventure/melodrama movie is good... Ava Gardner is beautiful. 7/10
“The Desert Hawk” (Frederick De Cordova, USA 1950) Adventure in a Arabian Nights way in full technicolor in this small very entertaining movie !!! 7/10
“Daisy Kenyon” (Otto Preminger, USA 1947) Nice melodrama (and not film noir at all as often notices) with great acting of the trio Dana Andrews, Peter Fonda and Joan Crawford 8/10
“Nora inu” (aka “Stray Dog”) (Akira Kurosawa, Japan 1949) Great Kurosawa movie. The quest of the gun of the hero is a nice pretext for a dive into the Japananese society after WWII. Great 9/10
"Hana-bi" (Takeshi Kitano, Japan, 1997) On screen I watched this very nice story of a corrupted cop who want all to be in order before leaving... Great mix of violence and poetry. 9/10
"La fille de feu" (Alfred Rode, France 1958) Poor french exploitation movie only made to make us see how Claudine Dupuis is gorgeous... A cheap exotic adventure on deserted island... 5,5/10
“Strike Me Deadly" (Ted V. Mikels, 1963) Small independant exploitation movie about a man hunt in the forrests of the Rockies. Some nice filming and the hunting sequences are sometime good, but the story is very poor with a very long uselss flashback. Jeannine Riley is cute. 6/10
“Prison Nurse” (James Cruze, USA 1936) Because of important flooding, a nurse is send to a state Prison to help doctor to cure a thypjhoid epidemic. She’s then involved in a prison riot. A good B from the vault 6,5/10
“Riot Squad“ (Edward Finney, USA 1941) A doctor infiltrate a gang of mobs who killed his best friend. But now his relashonships with his girlfriend are moroe and more difficult. Good small B 6,5/10
“Sucker Money” (Dorothy Davenport, Melville Shyer, USA 1936) A crook who pretend to speack with the deads and predict future rips credulous victims. A young journalist infiltrates the gang. A routine B from the vault 6/10
“I’ll Name the Murderer” (Bernard B. Ray, 1936) A newspaperman investigate on the murder of a pretty singer after her show. His best friend seems to be guilty for the police, but not for him… Classic whodunit from the vault 6/10
“Postal Inspector” (Otto Brower, USA 1936) The Last movie of Lugosi for Universal. He’s here the boss of a Nightclub who attack a postal convoy and steal 3,000,000 bucks. But a postal inspector is on the case. A nice B 6,5/10
“Captured in Chinatown” (Elmer Clifton, USA 1935) After years of war two gangs of tongs make peace around the wedding of two of her respective childrens. But a gang of thieves steal the precious weddinggift : a 50,000$ necklace. But a couple of journalists helped by a dog will make peace come back. Poor Cheap small B but entertaining 6/10
“Broken Dreams” (Robert Vignola, USA 1933) A doctor lose his wife the day of the birth of his son. He left him to his parents-in-law and go away. Years later he’s a famous doctor married with a pretty socialite. But when his son comes back, he wants to be a good father. But this new ménage à trois is not always easy to live. A n early movie of the big star Randolph Scott. Pleasant one 6,5/10
“The Adventures of the Masked Phantom” (Charles Abbott, USA 1939) A man take the place of this legendary hearo to help the owner of a gold mine and his girl to fight a band of gunmen who steal the gold. Cool small B with music and humour. 6,5/10
“Mystery Plane” (George Waggner, USA 1939) Adaptation of a famous comic strip Tailspin Tommy. The adventures of a ace pilot who invent a new weapon but who’s kinapped by a gang who wants the plans of his invention. 6/10
“Narcotic” (Dwain Espaers, USA 1933) A delirious exploitation movie of the mythic Dwain Espers about a doctor who falls in the trap of drug addiction which will leads him to fatal ending. Incredible with junky scenes cocain, heroin, opium, weed and orgy…. A mad B from the vault. 4/10, for Z fans 10/10
“Invasion USA (Alfred E. Green, USA 1952) One of the most anti-communism movie ever made during the cold war era. In this one USA are invaded by Russians and we follow the tragic destiny of five people. Simply incredible !! 3/10 for Z fans or B fans a pure jewel 10/10
“The Return of the Vampire” (Lew Landers, USA 1943) An horror movie of the 40’s which look like early Universal effort with Bela Lugosi one more as a cruel vampire who’ll take the place of a german scientist escaped from nazi’s camp to take revenge on Lady Jane who killed her some years later. Nice filming even if cheap. 6,5/10
So, there was a small interruption on WTM... but I watched some movies...
“Brigham Young” (Henry Hathaway, USA 1940) The story of the long journey of the Mormons after the murder of the leaer of the church Joseph Smith (Vincent Price). Birgham Young (Dean Jagger) becomes the leader and decides to left the east to migrate to the wild west. A long and difficult journey begins. Not the best movie of Hathaway at at all but nice filming and photography.As very often with religious or biographicmovies hagiography is not far and therefore they are rarely good movies. 7,5/10
“Stars in my Crown” (Jacques Tourneur, USA 1950) Of course there are some exeption to what I said before, this one is also a strongly religious movie and this time Tourneur makes it quite good (the European touch ?). The story of a preacher in a small town who’ll have to face cupidity and racism without using his guns this time. Very nice chronicle well acted bu Joel McCrea. 8,5/10
“Man with the Gun” (Richard Wilson, USA 1955) Poorly known western of Robert Mitchum but certainly one of his best. The story of a man engaged by the town council to “clean” the town. He has only one condition, that they let him do on his own way… Even if it means death and destruction… Watching this movie you chave to think to Eastwood’s Unforgiven. Certainly Clint did know this movie. Very good 8,5/10
“Assassin of Youth” (Elmer Clifton, USA 1937) A young girl is trapped in a band of weed smokers who want to get her heritage. A young journalist will save her. Pure “educative” exploitation movie. But much more less “delirious” than Gasnier’s “Tell Your Children” or Esper’s “Narcotics” 6/10
“Sinister Harvest” (Dwain Esper, USA 1930) A more or less false documentary about drug addicts presumously in Egypt. The narrator insists on the fals promesses of drugs. 5,5/10
“The Return of Dracula” (Paul Landres, USA 1958) Dracula leaves Carpatian taking the place of a painter. He arrives in California by some relatives of the painter. Then he bites a young blind girl Jennie and make her a living dead. Then he wants the girl of tha house Rachel to be with him for an eternal life… Cheap but som nice filming and Francis Lederer makes a frightening 50’s dandy Dracula. 6/10
“The Vampire“ (Paul Landres, USA 1957) A doctor finds a friend of him dying who gives him some pills he put in his pocket. Then he takes one of the pills mistakenly instead of aspirin. But then at night he becomes a blood thirty beast who furthermore inoculate a dreadfull virus to his victims who die and decay very quickly… Sherif Buck Donnely a firned of him must hurry if he wants to save the pretty nurse of the doctor to be the next vistim… Cheap B movie but fun. 6,5/10.
“Born to Be Wild” (Joseph Kane, USA 1938) A funny adventure story with a couple of truck drivers (William Boyd and Ward Bond) who have to deliver a truck of dynamite to save a town to be flooded by a damaged dam. Very entertaining. 6,5/10
“C-Man” (Berne Giler, USA 1949) Another nice B noir with low budget but fstrangly filmed in an more European way. Very good with some violence very rare at that time. 7/10
“Million Dollars Weekend” (Gene Raymond, USA 1948) A man steal one million dollar and take a plane to shanghai. During the flight he meets a nice girl accused of murder and blackmailed by another passage she knows. She asks him to help her. In Honolulu the blackmailer steal the million to our hero… A good small budget-less noir. 7/10
“I Mobster” (Roger Corman, USA 1958) A classic story of the rise and fall of a young Italian immigrant who’ll become the godfather and then will be killed. An early Corman movie not bad at all even if cheap. 7/10
“A Yank in Lybia” (Albert Herman, USA 1942) An American reporter will have to investigate in Lybia to discover a gang of Nazis who sell guns to the local tribes to bring them to riot against english and American. Much entertaining. 7/10
“Shake Hands with Murder” (Albert Herman, USA 1944) A small B crime/comedy with the very funny Iris Adrian. For B fans only. 6/10
“Maciste” (Luigi Romano Borgnetto, Vincenzo Denizot, Italy, 1915) Certainly the firs super hero movie. A girl persued by crooks hide in a theatre and watch Cabiria. She decides to write to the actor who plays Maciste in the movie to help her. He accepts and become Maciste in the real life… Very funny adventure movie. 7,5/10
“Roxy Hart” (William A. Wellmann, USA 1942) The first adapatation of Chicago (in the speaky time, there was another in the silent in 1927). Very funny comedy with a huge Ginger Rogers. Wellmann is definitively a great director. 8,5/10
“Kiss the Blood Off My Hands” (Norman Foster, USA 1948) One of the best movie title ever and a pure masterpiece of film-noir. Burt Lancaster is an ex-soldier in London. One night he hits a bartener who dies. He run away and take sheleter in the room of a nice lonely girl who lost her fiancée at war (Joan Fontaine excellent and so moving). They fall in love joining their lonelinesses. But a witness of his crime now wants to blackmail him. 9/10
“The Show Off” (Malcom St. Clair, USA 1926) A nice comedy with good background about from a directed who was considered as the second best director of comedy after Lubitsch. In this one a mythomaniac invents for him an incredible and pompous life, nobody believes him except the girl who loves him. Despite her parent she mary him but soon she realizes all is not as he told her. Even if she don’t have the title role Louise Brooks is the star of this good silent. 8/10
“Terror in a Texas Town” (Joseph A. Lewis, USA 1958) Poorly known western written by Dalton Trumbo under a pseudonym (blacklisted). Dar story of reveng with a wonderful character of killer played by Nedrick Young. Sterling Hayden is very good too. 8/10
“Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (George Roy Hill, USA 1969) I re-watched on screen this fine movie… the duetists Redford/Newman at the top… but every body has watched it. 9,5/10
“Black Magic” (Phil Rosen, USA 1944) A spiritist is killed during a séance. Many people in the assistance have resons to do that. Furthermore Chan’s daughter is involved in the case. Another difficult investigation for Charlie Chan 7/10
“Charlie Chan in the Secret Services” (Phil Rosen, USA 1944) A scientist, inventor of a new secret weapon is killed in his manor. Charlie Chan with his son n°3 and Doughter n°2 will investigate this curious whodunit. 6,5/10
“Charlie Chan in The Chinese Cat” (Phil Rosen, USA 1944) In this episode Charlie Chan will have to investigate about a gang of jewel smugglers who hide big diamonds in chinese statues. Murders and mystery for Charlie, his n°3 son Tommy and Chauffeur Birmingham… 7/10
“The Jade Mask” (Phil Rosen, USA 1945) An inventor lives in an isolated manor and is not much appreciated by people living there. One morning hei’s found dead. Charlie must now investigate with the help of n°4 son. A difficult case in a classic whodunit. 6,5/10
“The Scarlet Clue” (Phil Rosen, USA 1945) The murder of a foreign spy lead Charlie Chan his n°3 son Tommy and Birmighanm to the Radio and TV chanel building where also a lab developing a new weapon take place. A strange killer hypnotise people and push them to suicide. Charlie trap the killer but being himself the bait. 7/10
“The Shanghai Cobra” (Phil Karlson, USA 1945) A mysterious killer murder his victims with cobra venom. Charlie will discover a gang of mobs who want to steal some radium hidden in the safe of a bank. A nice movie filmed in a noir way by a specialist of the genre. Unusual Charlie Chan movie at least in the form. 7,5/10
other stuff now...
“Troll 2” (Claudio Fragasso, Italy 1990) A true so bad that it’s good. A ridiculous story of a family who travel to a small village in the country for the holydays. The village is inhabited by fleshe eater gobelins but as they are vegetarians (sic) they first need to make their prey eat a green gelly… ridiculous from beginning to ending. 1/10 for Z fans 10/10 and more.
“What Price Hollywood ?” (George Cukor, USA 1932) Beautyfull adaptation of classic story of Adela Rogers St. Johns wich will become “A star id Born” some years later and evn “The Artist” more recently.... Very good directing and acting of Constance Bennett and Lowell Sherman who’s simply excellent. A movie to discover urgently… 9/10
“The Heiress” (William Wyler, USA 1949) Re-watched this masterpiece, certainly one of Wyler’s best. Strong screenplay and deep diving in tortured minds. Great acting of Olivie de Havilland, Ralph Richardson and Mongomery Clift. 9/10
“The Plastic Age” (Wesley Ruggles, USA 1925) A nice comedy about the college age, when guys think more to play football and hit on girls instead of studying (nothing have changed indeed). Clara Bow is cute as usual. 7/10
“Beyond a Reasonable Doubt” (Fritz Lang, USA 1956) Last movie of Lang in the US one of the moste dark and cynical perhaps. With a wonderfull twisted ending. Just great 9/10
“While City Sleeps” (Fritz Lang, USA 1956) Another late Lang’s movie, even if treated more than a social cynical comedy, the background is very dark and sad. A pessimistic vision of the American society and human condition as in most Lang’s movies. Great Job 8,5/10
“Bunny Lake is Missing” (Otto Preminger, UK 1965) Very frightening mystery movie with a huge screenplay, a deep diving in madness and twisted minds. A child disappear in a school and except her mother nobody has seen Bunny. The inspector begins to believe that Bunny has never existed…. But is it the truth ? Huge suspense, frightening ending. A very good one. 8,5/10
“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” (Richard Brooks, USA 1948) I re-watched on screen this classic adaptation of Tenesse Williams play with a lot of fun. Great acting of Paul Newmann and Liz Taylor. 8/10
“Secret Evidences” (William Nigh, USA 1941) Linda is going to marry David Harisson a young attorney. But Tony, her ex-boyfriend just released from jail comes and want her to marry him. Jerry, Linda’s brother is soon accused of shooting Tony. And David becomes the prosecutor in the trial… Pure small B for fans 6,5/10
“The Naked Venus” (Edgar G. Ulmer, 1958) Directed under a fals name, this Ulmer’s movie is a nice nudie and also a speech against intolerance and religious prejudice… Very nice filming and photography. 7/10
“Hitler-Beast of Berlin” (Sam Newfield, USA 1939) Certainly one of the better Newfield’s movie (yes I know…) with the first credited role of Alan Ladd. At that time the movie was censored and the name of Hitler revoved from the tittle because there was still some sympathy for him in the US at that time. The movie clearly show the nature of nazi regine with torture, concentration camps… A curiosity. 6,5/10
“The Girl from Monterey” (Wallace Fox, USA 1943) A nice comedy about a mexiance singer who’s fired, and become the manager of her brother, a fine boxer. At the same time she fall in love with the champ. But soon bookmakers want to organize a match between the two men she loves… Funny small B comedy 6,5/10
“Greif Street” (Richard Thorpe, USA 1931) One of the first movies of Richard Thorpe, the story of a Broadway womanizing actor who’s killed in his locked room. A difficult case for the famous crime-journalist Jim Ryan. Furthermore he will have to explain the role of a strange girl Jean Royce… Excellent small B crime movie. 7/10
“Tundra” (Norman Dawn, USA 1936) Strange production of Edgard Ric Burrough’s ephemeral production company using Universal’s previous stockshots for an abandoned movie about Alaskan trappers and mixing them with other stockshots to give the strange story of the survival in the deep north of a flying doctor whose plane crashed. A curiosity. For B fans only. 6/10
“Topa Topa” (Charles Hutchison, Vin Moore, USA 1938) One of the strangest adventure movie ever made about a murderer who make accuse Fangs the dog of killing his associate. But Goldie the eagle kidnap a small baby. Fangs the dog will save the baby, fight the eagle, kill the real murderer. A gentle ranger will prove Fang’s innocence and marry the mother’s sister… Extermly weird movie with astounding scenses like the eagle really taking the baby and the amazing fight between eagle and dog… A rarity to discover. 6,5/10
“Dead Men Walk” (Sam Newfield, USA 1941) A classic horror movie with George Zucco. The Professor Llyod Clayton bury his evil twin bother Elwyn. But Elwyn at night raise from the grave as a vampire and try to make his bride from Gayle, his niece. Lloyd and Gayle’s fiancé will have to fight the monster. Cheap but not bad 6,5/10
“The Last Alarm” (William West, USA 1940) A dangerous pyromaniac adorador of roman’s god Vulcan commit numerous fires. The ex firemen chief Jim Hadley just retired must come back to help the police to find the maniac. Pure B but entertaining. George Pembroke as the maniac is just great. 6,5/10
509°) “Curse of the Undead” (Edward Dein, USA 1959) A nice unknown horro movie. A rare miw of wester and vampire. A strange gunman all dressed in black and fleeing light comes to town. Muysteriously the young girls of the town begings to die, emptied of their blood. A very weird and interesting movie 7,5/10
“Marinella” (Pierre Caron, France 1936) Ultra kitchfrench comedy only interesting by the songs of Tino Rossi and Yvette Lebon. The poor Tino replace the original singer of a revue and become a star. At the same time a mysterious masked singer becomes also a star with the same song titled Marinella… 6/10
“A Kind of Loving” (John Schlessinger, UK 1962) Great first movie of John Schlessinger. The story of a man who marry a girl he doesn’t really love after she become pregnant. But life become hard when her mother comes and live home. A nice and fine analysis of human mind and duty. 8,5/10
“Bride of Frankenstein” (James Whale, USA 1935) The great sequel of Whale’s masterpiece is better (at leas almost as good as) thant the original. A masterpiece of directing. Rewatched it with much fun. 9/10
@Nezquivoque "Sans Soleil" is great one... Watched it on screen some years ago... good souvenirs.
Some movies I watched recently...
“Soylent Green” (Richard Fleischer, USA 1973) Rewatched this classic of anticipation, always so efficient. With a great Charlton Heston in a dead end frightening story… But everybody knows it. 9/10.
“Apache Drums” (Hugo Fregonese” USA 1951) I have already watched this wonderfull western. Ire-watched it with some friends with lot of pleasure. 9/10 as before…
“The Man from Planet X” (Edgar G. Ulmer, USA 1951) For the second time this year I watched with friends this excellent small Sci-Fi B movie. The more I watch it the more I find it good. 9/10 as before too.
“Mademoiselle Fifi” (Robert Wise, USA 1944) First directing of Robert Wise, produced by Val Lewton this small movie deals about the occupation of france by Prussian army during 1870 war. But refers of course of the WWII france and it’s Resistance. It’s also a nice adaptation of the famous novel of Maupassant ‘Boule de Suif’ and of a small eponymous story. Simone Simon is good and Kurt Kreuger as Mademoiselle Fifi truely awfull !! quite good attempt to make a big movie with few means. 7,5/10
“The Black Cat” (Albert S. Rogell, USA 1941) Very pleasant whodunit about the murder of an old woman who lived in an old manor with bunch of cats. All the heirs are here but only one murderer. A nice mix of mystery and comedy as often at tha time. 7/10
“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (Peter Jackson, New Zealand, USA 2001) “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” (Peter Jackson, New Zealand, USA 2002) “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (Peter Jackson, New Zealand, USA 2003) I won’t comment those movies I re-watched. I don’t like thos kind of films even if well made and nice landscapes and so on. I also can understand the attraction and fascination it may have on teen-agers with this story of magic, friendship, loyalty and cheap esoteric philosophy but on so conservative background. The whole is 7/10 (I’m in a good day…)
“Man Made Monster” (George Waggner, USA 1941) I re-watched this entertaining Universal horror small movie about a man who escaped an electrocution and becomes an electric monster till murder. But when he’s put on the electric chair nothing seems able to stop his vengeance ! 7,5/10
“Accusée, Levez-vous !“ (Maurice Tourneur, France 1930) A nice crime/romance story in the wings of a cabaret. The boss of the cabaret is murdered one night with the knife of an actress she querel just before. An easy culprit for justice. Too easy perhaps. 7/10
“Au nom de la loi“ (Maurice Tourneur, France 1931) A nice crime movie with a lot of on location filming betwen Paris and Marseille. A dark soory of love murder and opium smuggling. Marcelle Chantal is great as femme fatale. 8/10
“Les Anges Gardiens“ (Jean-Marie Poiré, France 1995) Another ridiculous french comedy with Gérard Depardieu and Christian Clavier. Two guys : the boss of a striptease club and a priest suddenly see their guardian angels (or devil). Pathetic sixpack humour as expected. 3,5/10
“Red“ (Robert Schwentke, USA 2010) Bruce Willis self parodies in this quite ridiculous but entertaining movie. I think it’s the best he has to do left. Of course bunch of boring pursuits, guns, improbable actions. Cheezy but fun. With a good cast. 7/10
“Bad Teacher” (Jake Kasdan, USA 2011) Don’t know if a bad teacher, but certainly bad movie, or should I say mainsteam Hollywood production. Almost nothing to say, a comedy rarely comic, a ridiculous romance, it tries to look politicaly uncorrect but at the end it’s simply conservative, as in so many today’s movies. 5/10
“Delinquent Parents” (Nick Grinde, USA 1938) Interresting small B about a girl forced to abandon her child in order to both of them survive to,misery. Years later she has become a famous judge of family affairs. On the other side her daughter lears she was adopted and then begins to have bad frieds and finish in front of the Judge who recognize her daughter… Un expected ending to this nice drama. 7/10
“L’Obsession“ (Maurice Tourneur, France 1931) This short movie (40 minutes) is the faith adaptation of a play and a nice approach of madness. A woman makes her usband go in asylum after he tries to kill her because of persecution complex. Her brother in law makes him release for business reasons using his influences depite he’s still sick… 8/10
“Les gaîtés de l’escadron“ (aka “Fun in Barracks“) (Maurice Tourneur, France 1932) Nice adaptation of Courteline’s plays a very acidic view of army and it’s absurdity using the portrayal of different soldiers and officers. 7,5/10
“Boys’ Reformatory“ (Howard Bretherton, USA 1939) A good guy (Frankie Darro) goes in jail at the place of his best friend not to hurt his mother. But he makes him promise to have a good life from now. But when some monthe later he see his fried joining him into jail… Good poor prison movie for B fans 6/10
“Horror Island“ (George Waggner, USA 1941) This good whodunit, directed by George Waggner is very funny and entertaining. Classic of the style with dark manor, secret passages, mysterious killer… and as usual a twisted end. Nice filming and acting in bonus. 7/10
“Hon dansade en sommar” (aka “One Summer of Happiness”) (Arne Mattsson, Sweden 1951) A simple story of love between two teen-agers during summer in Swedish country. But tradition and religion are against them and then the drama is unevitable. Very nice and moving movie which had been unthinkable out of Europe and espacialy out Sweden at that time. It contributes greatly to the reputation of freedom and sexual liberty of the country. It’s clearly against religious and social tradition against love, furthermore you have some very nice nude scenes… A movie to discover 9/10
“Noose” (Edmond T. Gréville, UK 1948) A very strange English film-noire always parted between crime movie (some moment are very cruel) and comedy (some others are very funny). So that’s the originality of the movie and perhaps also it’s weakness because it can’t chose a real style; otherwise good filming of Greville. 7,5/10
“The Mad Miss Manton” (Leigh Jason, USA 1938) Hilarious screwball comedy with a wondefull Barbara Stanwyck (as usual) as a smart socialite with her bunch of friends in furs, minks and heels who investigate a sordid serie of murders Police inspector and pretty journalist (Hanry Fonda) can’t stop this bunch of furies ! Excellent 8,5/10
“The Fighting 69th” (William Keighley, USA 1940) A propaganda movie about WWI made just before the entry of USA in WWII to stimulate faith and patriotism. The story of a famous battalion and it’s priest and their heroism during the war. Great acting of pat O’Brien and James Cagney. 7,5/10
“Tea and Sympathy” (Vincente Minnelli, USA 1956) Poorply known masterpiece of Minelli adapted from play of Robert Anderson by Anderson himself. Th play was about homosexuality and the movie too, but on a subtle way and more largely to the difficulty to be different. But also a ferocious crtic of the American colleges system and the place and definition of manhood. Deborah and John Kerr are wonderfull keeping the role they had in the play. Leif Erickson as the cuckhold that understand nothing from the beginning through the end is excellent too. 10/10
“The Devil’s Hand” (William J. Hole Jr., 1962) No devil neighter hand in this small horror exploitation movie loosely inspired by the seventh victim or curse of the deamon. A man is involved in a threatening circle of voodoo disciples which practice human sacrifices. 6/10
“The House of Secrets” (Roland D. Reed, USA 1936) Barry inherits the old manor of his uncle in brittain but when he arrives the place is occupied by a scientist and his daughter he instantly falls in love with. But they don’t seem to want him to stay there… what secret do they hide ? For B fans only 6,5/10
“Man with Two Lives” (Phil Rosen, USA 1942) Loosely adapted from “Black Friday” this small B tells the story of a scientist who bring back to life a young socialite, brother of hisassistant. But at the same minute a mad killer is executed on electric chair. The young socialite comes back to life with the soul of the murderer… Strange and entertaining small B 7/10
“The Hat-Box Mystery” (Lambert Hillyer, USA 1947) A poor small B about the secretary of a poor detective (Tom Neal !!) who is wrongly accused for the murder of the wife of a client of the agency who engaged her to take photos of her. Our detective will have to prove she’s innocent… for B fans only 6/10
“Hollywood Hoodlum” (B. Reeves Eason, USA 1934) A Hollywood producer proposes to a foreign director making a film in Hollywood to engage a true mob for his film to make more ‘real’ of course his cheating and the “mob” is an unknown actor. But to make more real the actor beat in the first guy passing by… Unfortunatly the innocent victim is a dangerous mob… a tru one. Problems begin. Cheap but funny B crime movie. For B fans 6/10
“Man on a Ledge” (Asger Leth, USA 2012) A good idea exhausted after 20 minutes… then nothing knew. Persuit, gunfight, tough guys and so on like in old serials in the old time… The end is especialy laughtable when the young brother of the hero dressed and acting as a young rebel offer the ring to his girl… truly pathetic, can’t stop laughting. 4,5/10 (and of course they all marry at the end and have a lot of children…) PS. At the end the music of The Clash… poor world.
“Friends with Benefits” (Will Gluck, USA 2011) Nothing new in this romance/comedy in a pure Hollywood way, after 30 minutes it becomes boring Tiny plot amassing clichées, bad acting, talky and talky. It wants to be a bit sulfurous but at the end it’s as usual a completely old-fashoned morality that will triumphs… Thanks God !! 3/10
“North by Northwest” (Alfred Hitchcock, USA 1959) Rewatched with lot of fun this classic. 10/10
“The Strawberry Blonde” (Raoul Walsh, USA 1941) Excellent romance/comedy often cvery funny. Excellent filming and acting by James Cagney, Olivia de Havilland and Rita Hayworth who definitively became a star after this one. Getting what you desire is a very different thing as desiring the thing you’ve got. The movie is also a clever satire of a certain society. A great job. 9/10
“Des gens sans importance“ (aka "People of No Importance") (Henri Verneuil, France 1956) A very moving movie about a gentle truck driver (Jean Gabin) whohave a difficult life with his job and family he almost nerver sees who one day meet a young lost girl (Françoise Arnoul) in a roadside café. Simple movie which clearly shows the life of simple people in a very realistic way. Certainly Verneuil’s best. 8/10
“Lumière d’été“ (Jean Gremillon, France 1943) Gremillon is certainly one of the greatest french director near Renoir or Carné, but most often inexpicably forgotten. This movie, for sure one of his best, is once more the evidence. Not an easy movie some kind of complex love pentangle but more deeply an acid criticism of the upper classes that make the movie to be banned from screen at his time. In a lost glass hotel in the provence people meet, nearby there is the construction of a dam. Those few days together will change their life forever. Huge filming, stong dialogs by Jacques Prévert, good acting. 9,5/10
“Bienvenue à bord“ (Eric Lavaine, France 2011) « The Love Boat » forty years too late… hommage or parody you won’t know… A typical french comedy with sixpack humour. Huge acting of Frank Dubosc. For fans. 4,5/10
That's all for 2012 !! 550 movies this year !! Not Bad... Welcome to 2013 !!!
“Bridesmaids” (Paul Feig, USA 2011) It hardly tries to be funny… once or twice in two hours…. It’s lot of money for almost nothing. 3,5/10
“What's Your Number?” (Mark Mylod, USA 2011) Non sense plot, salacious dialogs to make provocative and “young” all that for a ridiculously cliché ending celebrating a conservative view of the society. Brainless movie for brainless teens… 3/10
“Little Women” (Mervyn LeRoy, USA 1949) fourth theatrical adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s novel this is an excellent one. Everybody’s has wanted that timpe could stop forever when he’s in a perfect moment of happiness…. But time never stops and things go by, that’s the main message of this delightful movie. Great colors and costume, good acting and filming. 8,5/10
“Tiger Shark” (Howard Hawks, USA 1932) A Freudian love triangle in a fishermen’s village. After a shipwreck Mike (Edward G. Robinson) saves Pipes (Richard Arlen) but lose one hand eaten by tiger shark and now got a hook. Mike gets a new ship and become a famous fisherman. One day a member of his crew, Silva, is eaten by sharks. He visits Silva’s daughter, Quita (Zita Johann, the wonderful actress of “The Sin of Nora Moran”), and takes care of her. She marries him but doesn’t love him. She fall in love with Pipes, but for both of them he figures the father they lost but also an unpotent father and husband (symbolized by the lost of the hand and the hook). Their love is for them unconsiouly some kind of incest (always in a freudian way) The love triangle is bloked, only ean xternal element can solve the situation : the sharks here. One day on the boat during fishing Mike sees Pipes and Quita kissing he wants to threw Pipes to the sharks but he’s the victim and die in the arms of Pipes and Quita. A good drama. 8/10
"Conflict" (Curtis Bernhardt, USA 1945) A nice film noir with a nice cast. Richard Mason (Humphrey Bogard) have married Kathryn Turner for 5 years, but she’s a real spitfire and he fall in love with Kathryn’s sister Evelyn. After a car accident he’s in a wheelchair for sometimes but indees h can walk but nobody’s know it. One night he asks Kathryn to go to a small village in the mountain, wait her on the road and kill her. It looks like the perfect crime. Bur the Dr. Hamilton (Sydney Greenstreet) is suspicious and will buit a machiavellian frame-up making Richard believe Kathryn is stil alive, leading him to commit a fatal error. Nice movie even if a bit predictable. A very interessant sequence when Richard follow a woman in the street lookin like Kathryn till an apartment which reveals to be empty… Like in Hitchcock’s Vertigo ! 7,5/10
Hahaha RDPL55, with the contemporary films that you pick you'll never get over your oldies addiction! ;-) (Or maybe I should ask: who is that mean person that makes you watch them?)
@ Antituur !! Happy to see you back here ! Nobody makes me watch those movies... I think nobody can be so cruel in this world. I only watch Canal Plus sometimes, the famous french TV chanel which proclams itself "la chaine du cinéma" (The chanel of cinema)... I love Hollywood cinema as you have certainly noticed. and they propose much of box-office of today's Hollywood cinema and I pick up some movies without knowing anything about them, randomly. It's sad to admit that there is almost 90% of crap. 8% decent and 2% good. I think that's just the miror of Hollywood industry today... It's sad but they did enough good stuff before to satisfy my addiction for some years I suppose. And a Happy new Year for you with lot of unknown (and good) today's movies !!
by the way two more great movies...
"Captain America: First Avenger" (Joe Johnston, USA 2011) What to say... Nice special effects. Indeed I prefer the 1944 serial... It's as ridiculous as this one but cheaper and they knew what the did... poor cinema. 5/10
"Tower Heist" (Brett Ratner, USA 2011) Another action/comedy you'll forget immediatly you watched to it... What was it about ?... never mind. 4,5/10
@RDPL55 Ah, yes, television... that's a difficult medium if you want to watch good films... Anyway, happy new year to you too!
I stopped posting my notes here (as no-one gives a f*ck), but to celebrate the new year a few recent pleasant surprises:
Barbara (2012) 8/10 East Germany in the 1980s. A female doctor is banished to a country hospital after applying for transfer to the West. She is determined to flee the country, despite the Stasi surveillance. What follows is a subtle character study about (dis)trust.
Hearat Shulayim [Footnote] (2011) 8/10 Father and son are both Talmudic scholars, but differ strongly in scientific approach. When one of them wins the prestigious Israel Award the tension in their relationship rises. The editing of the film is at times a bit bizarre, but the performances are great and the scenario is simple and effective.
L'enfant d'en haut [Sister] (2012) 8/10 In this social drama by Swiss director Ursula Meier, a 12-year-old boy lives with his sister and supports her by stealing from guests in a ski resort. Made it to the Oscar shortlist for foreign films.
Cesare deve morire [Caesar Must Die] (2012) 9/10 The Taviani brothers have inmates from an Italian high-security prison rehearse and play Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Due to the strange mix of documentary and artistic cinematography, high art and social outcasts, reality and theatre, it turns to a quite magical experience. Rome's Rebibbia prison turns into Caesar's ancient Rome.
Take This Waltz (2011) 9/10 Michelle Williams is a sort of perfectly happy young married woman who is attracted to her handsome artist neighbour and struggles with the question how to handle this. Beautifully made film, that deals with conventional themes and situations in its own quirky and personal way. This second feature film by Canadian director Sarah Polley has many memorable scenes.
Beginners (2010) 9/10 Mike Mills'second feature shows the story of a father, just out of the closet at the age of 75 and suffering from terminal cancer, and his 38-year old son, who's having difficulties committing himself after having witnessed his parents' loveless marriage. Beautiful and sensitive.
Holy Motors (2012) 9/10 Leos Carax' Holy Motors, featuring Denis Lavant in 11 different roles, is maybe not really a satisfactory movie, and yet it deserves praise for its weirdness. Its meaning is very much open for interpretation, but it's impossible not to be intrigued and fascinated.
Elena (2011) 9/10 As with Andrei Zvyagintsev's previous films (The Return, The Banishment), Elena cannot be easily pigeonholed. It's a portrait of present day Russia, one could say, drawn through an episode in the life of middle aged woman Elena, married to a wealthy man who is not the father of her unemployed, useless son. Elena lives in a condominium for the nouveau riche, her son, with his family, in one of those typical dilapidated high rise housing estates in the suburbs. Elena's grandson will soon have to join the army, unless there is money for a college education.
Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012) 9/10 A six-year old girl lives with her dying father in a bayou in southern Louisiana, at the time a Katrina-like storm strikes. Their lives are tied to nature and the girl has a vivid imagination, which leads to a magical, poetic film.
The Queen of Versailles (2012) 10/10 They don't get better than this. Stunning documentary about the American nouveau riche Siegel family planning to build a 100 million dollar home and then being hit by the financial crisis.
@Antituur ! I always read your posts here... For me it's always fun to post comments on movies almost no body watch... ;)
“Une pure affaire” (aka "Borderline") (Alexandre Coffre, France 2011) A lawyer find one day a bag full of cocain. His business id not very well and he decides to become a dealer… soon all the family is involved. First movie of this director he wrote it too, inspired by TV series like Weed or Breaking Bad… Well not very funny, not very interesting indeed. 4/10 OK, I stop watching "cinema" channels on TV... it's to hard for me...
“Jesse James” (Henry King, Irving Cummings, USA 1939) Great Western with fine depiction of the psychology of the characters, not very common in the genre. Good action sequences too. Henry Fonda and Tyrone Powers are excellent. 8,5/10
“The Mortal Storm” (Frank Borzage, USA 1940) Great movie about the rise of nazism in a small town in the Bavarian Alps. As often in Borzage’s movie the historical context is also the backdrop to a beautiful and sad romance where death takes a large place, here as often in Borzage's movies a kind of release. Great acting of Margaret Sullavan and James Stewart. A very good and moving last sequence. 8,5/10
“Brighton Rock” (John Boulting, UK 1947) Great crime movie in a dark style with an awesome acting of Richard Attenborough as Pimkie the young seductive and mad crook who seduces a gentle barmaid, witness of one of his crime and marry her to make her not testify agains him and then try to push her to commit suicide. Excellent filming some impressive sequences (for exemple the chase in town at the beginning, or the last sequence at nigt on waterfront…) 8,5/10
@Antituur : I was thinking about going to see Beasts of the Southern Wild which is here in cinema right now. After seeing your rating I most probably will. ... at least if I have some time left since it's also the annual silent movie festival in Zurich with classics like les vampires (the whole series of Feuillade), Greed, Sunrise, Cœur fidèle or Menschen am Sonntag, just to name a few.
@fungus, the program of your festival looks great !! Allready wathed them all but watching them on wide screen is so rare fun !! An Happy new year to you too...
@fungus ! Sounds great ! I'd like to watch Gremillon's movie ! Love this director but I haven't watched any of his silent work... Yes, In Lyon's festival too all silents are with live piano (and even Pandora's Box with an orchestra!!). I think it's a great way to bring people back to watch those old movies. But I love also watching it in fill silence it's also fascinating...