Movies | dual personalities

April 2, 2015

“I am ignorant, but I read books. You won’t believe it, everything is useful… “*

by chuckofish

A new month–April already. Did you turn over your calendar? I always forget. Well.

There is a new Star of the Month on TCM: Anthony Quinn. Funnily enough, I was just watching They Died With Their Boots On (1941)–Errol Flynn as Custer–and I commented to the OM, “Boy, Anthony Quinn makes a really good Crazy Horse!”

He really does, right? Well, you can watch Quinn all month on TCM. Not that I am a great fan of is, but he did make some good (and a few great) movies in his long, illustrious career.

I waited for years to see Viva Zapata (1952). It was unavailable on Netflix (or DVD) for forever, but now it is on TCM. I remember seeing John McCain being interviewed when he was running for president and when he was asked “What is your favorite movie?”, he never hesitated, but launched into an enthusiastic lovesong to Viva Zapata. I thought it was very endearing and I like a guy who feels strongly about a movie, and it made me want to see the movie. But I have to say, having finally seen it, Viva Zapata is not on my list of favorites. It has a screenplay by John Steinbeck (!) and Marlon Brando gives a great performance in the early days of his career, but still, it’s not my cup of tea. The Mexicans are all so needy–they want someone to save them, to lead them (Zapata). They seem so unable to help themselves or to even think of doing so as an option. But the film won a supporting-actor Academy Award for Quinn, nominations for Steinbeck, Brando, composer Alex North, and the art directors and set decorators, plus a best-actor prize for Brando at the Cannes film festival, among other honors.

Quinn also stars in La Strada (1954) which is undeniably one of the great movies of all time. Directed by Federico Fellini and starring the wonderful Giulietta Masina as Gelsomina, it is an unforgettable work of art.

Richard Basehart also has a part in the movie, playing the Fool. Around this same time he appeared as Ishmael in Moby Dick (1956).

He was such a hot commodity in the mid-1950s! I always think of him in made-for-tv movies in the 1970s. Anyway, La Strada won over 50 international awards, including a Best Foreign Language Oscar in 1957. Set your DVR for April 8 at 8 pm EST!

Of course, I always liked Anthony Quinn as Auda Abu Tayi in Lawrence of Arabia (1962) and my DP and I enjoyed imitating his pronunciation of the name as children.

His mantra, “I am a river to my people,” has always been mine as well.

So which is your favorite Anthony Quinn movie? Discuss among yourselves.

*The Fool in La Strada

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April 1, 2015

“The sword is the soul. Study the soul to know the sword. Evil mind, evil sword.”*

by chuckofish

Today is the birthday of the great Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune (April 1, 1920 – December 24, 1997).

You might recall that I have blogged about him before. But some things bear repeating.

As you know, I have been watching Shogun (1980) in 4-part increments. Part Four is in the mail! Toshiro Mifune definitely steals the show.

Of Toshiro Mifune, Akira Kurosawa said, “I am proud of nothing I have done other than with him.”

Well, I guess so.

Why is there not a National Holiday in Japan honoring him? Today should be Toshiro Mifune Day. Well, it is my personal Toshiro Mifune Day. Sake, anyone?

P.S. My brother had a Datsun back in the day that he named Toshiro.

*The Sword of Doom (1966)

3 Comments

March 27, 2015

“There’s nothing tragic about being fifty. Not unless you’re trying to be twenty-five.”*

by chuckofish

Today is the birthday of Gloria Swanson (March 27, 1899 – April 4, 1983).

I suggest we watch Sunset Boulevard (1950) in her honor. Gloria was 51 (!) when she made this movie about a has-been silent movie star. You know: “I am big. It’s the pictures that got small.”

Gloria is pretty great in it. She plays the part of Norma Desmond with great gusto to be sure. She was nominated for an Oscar, but lost out to Judy Holliday in her first movie–quelle ironic. Also nominated that year was Bette Davis–also chewing the scenery as a fading star in All About Eve. It’s funny how that works out sometimes.

Anyway, William Holden, a favorite of mine, is also in the film playing the part of a hack screenwriter who writes a screenplay for a former silent-film star who has faded into Hollywood obscurity. He was nominated too, along with Erich von Stroheim and Nancy Olson in supporting parts. Billy Wilder won for story & screenplay, but not for direction. The film won for art direction and for music. It lost the Best Picture prize to All About Eve.

Side note: The Third Man won that year for cinematography but nothing else. This was also the year The Furies–another favorite of mine–was nominated for cinematography. Quite a year for black and white movies! And whoever said they didn’t write good parts for women in mid-century America? All the aforementioned films had dynamite parts for middle-aged actresses.

So a toast to Gloria Swanson, actress and Episcopalian (although a lifelong Lutheran, she is buried at the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest on Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side.)

Have a great weekend!

* Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard (1950)

6 Comments

March 25, 2015

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…

by chuckofish

Did you read this in Apartment Therapy about the 1970s–“the best decade of all time or the worst?” OMG are you kidding me? Check out those interior design pictures! They’re awful! Remember avocado green appliances and orange kitchens?

The 1970s was the worst decade ever–from Watergate to Jimmy Carter–the worst. Elvis died. John Wayne died. What was good about it?

Certainly not the fashions! Everyone looked terrible!

…or the hairdos!

…or the cars!

I read something recently where they referred to the seventies as the “Second Golden Age” of Hollywood. Seriously? I hate the movies from the 1970s. Taxi Driver (1976), Chinatown (1974), Saturday Night Fever (1977), The Deer Hunter (1978), The Exorcist (1973), Rocky (1976)–Ugh. Even the movies I like from the Seventies aren’t in my all-time favorite category!

Well, it just goes to show you that Americans can be nostalgic about anything! And the Seventies’ time has come. Look out for more ridiculousness–and probably a return to high-waisted pants.

Discuss among yourselves.

7 Comments

March 20, 2015

Away, you rolling river

by chuckofish

Today is the birthday of George Caleb Bingham (March 20, 1811 – July 7, 1879) who is considered one of the greatest American painters of the 19th century.

“Daniel Boone escorting settlers through the Cumberland Gap” which resides at my flyover university

From 1837-1845 Bingham and his family lived in Arrow Rock, Saline County, Missouri. His home there has been designated a national historic landmark and it is on my list of places to visit.

Eventually he moved to St. Louis where he was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1848. His interest in politics was reflected in his paintings of the vivid political life on the frontier.

“The County Election” (St. Louis Art Museum)

We are pretty proud of ol’ Bingham here in Missouri. You can read about him here.

“Jolly Flatboatmen in Port” (SLAM)

There is an exhibition of his works now at the SLAM: “Navigating the West”. Guess I’ll have to add this to my “to do” list!

“Boatmen on the Missouri”

“Fur Traders Descending the Missouri” (Metropolitan Museum of Art)

In honor of George Caleb Bingham, I thought I would pick an appropriate “river” movie for my Friday Movie Pick–perhaps: The African Queen (1951), Show Boat (1951), Jean Renoir’s The River (1951), Fitzcarraldo (1982), The Night of the Hunter (1955), or The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1939).

Any other ideas? I am open to suggestions!

While you are contemplating this question, here’s a cute picture of the boy and daughter #1 in NYC. He is visiting her this weekend.

Have a great weekend!

6 Comments

March 6, 2015

Friday movie pick

by chuckofish

I read this book back in the 1980s and really liked it. It is the haunting story of Mary Bee Cuddy, a spinster pioneer in Nebraska, who takes it upon herself (because a man cannot be found to do it) to transport three women back East. The women have been driven insane by their terrible, tragic lives on the plains. Mary Bee enlists claim-jumping George Briggs to help her.

I have been waiting for Hollywood to make it into a movie ever since. Word was that Paul Newman had an option on it, but nothing came of that. Finally it was announced that Tommy Lee Jones was going to star in and direct it: “Soon to be a major motion picture.”

But then…cue sound of crickets. Why does Hollywood do this? It was released last year with little or no fanfare and sunk like a rock (I guess) after a weak opening. Straight to DVD soon after. If it wasn’t for IMDB.com, I never would have run across it. But it is a really good movie! Hilary Swank gives an Oscar-worthy performance. Why was she overlooked? It is well-directed by Tommy Lee Jones–understated and well-paced. The cinematography is beautiful. There are cameos by some excellent actors. Even Meryl Streep has a small role–I suppose she agreed to do it because Tommy Lee is a friend and her daughter got a part.

They changed a few things in the book–Lord knows why. I wouldn’t have. And, yes, the book is better. The book usually is. But I recommend this movie. It has stayed with me. It is my Friday pick.

3 Comments

February 27, 2015

Friday movie pick(s)

by chuckofish

Ah, Friday! How sweet it is.

It being Lent, I think I will haul out one of my favorite lenten movies—The Robe (1953) with Richard Burton. In recent years, I have gone to my DVD shelf to find it and come away confused and empty-handed. You know–you think you have a movie, but you don’t. So thinking ahead, I bought a new copy recently. I am all set for some Cinemascope wonderfulness.

Earlier in the week I watched the movie St. Vincent (2014) starring Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy and Naomi Watts. It is the story of a little boy whose parents have just separated, forcing him and his mother to move. He finds an unlikely friend and after-school babysitter in the misanthropic, bawdy, alcoholic war veteran who lives next door.

I wan’t expecting much, but as often happens in that case, I enjoyed it. The TV ads always pushed it as a comedy, and it is funny, but it is more of a drama with comedic moments. Melissa McCarthy is subdued and not over-the-top. The child who plays the boy is very good, and as you know, that can make or break a film.

Anyway, I liked it and it would be appropriate lenten viewing since it asks the question, “Who is a saint?”

If neither of these choices appeals to you, you could choose a film starring Franchot Tone (February 27, 1905 – September 18, 1968), whose birthday is today.

Tone was a cousin of one of my father’s best friends and so he was always on my radar, although he is a rather stiff, old-fashioned kind of actor. He usually plays the debonaire, less sexy, but stalwart other guy, who sometimes manages to get the girl if the lead is a real schmo.

He was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar in Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) and he starred with the best of them, including Bette Davis, Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Gary Cooper. He was even married to Joan Crawford!

Recently I watched Suzy (1936)–a WWI drama–with Cary Grant and Jean Harlow. Mostly I was impressed with Harlow.

She steals the show.

Anyway, have a good weekend. Keep warm. We’re supposed to get more snow and wintry mix, etc. Whatever.

6 Comments

February 24, 2015

“Oh wow! What? Who’s that man? What the hell was that, man?”*

by chuckofish

Oh, man, so I finally saw Easy Rider (1969) over the weekend. I was too young to see it when it came out, but it was on TCM and the OM and I watched it.

I think I may have waited too long. If I was too young in 1969, I am an old lady now. But it wasn’t a total waste of my time.

There were some nicely shot scenes by László Kovács of the boys riding through the scenic American West. The music was appropriate and of the moment.

But seriously, the script by Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda and Terry Southern–which was nominated for an Oscar–is threadbare. It seems like most of it was made up as they went along. Wyatt (Fonda) and Billy (Hopper) sell drugs and score some big bucks, so they head out on the highway to go to Mardi Gras. They do drugs and meet some cool (not really) people on the way. They are free, man. And by free I mean free to do drugs.

Okay. Is this freedom? There is much drug-induced talk about freedom and exchanges like: “Where you from man?” “Hard to say.”

I don’t buy it, man.

Our heroes seem perplexed that people look at them askance and seem to judge them for being dirty, probably smelly, drugged-out, oddly-dressed bikers who disrespect the American flag. The ending seems extreme. I think they just needed to end the movie and couldn’t think of another way to do it.

Roger Ebert thought the movie was a “great” one when he reviewed it in 1969. Here’s the review. I’m still not buying it.

I’m sure my brother, who graduated from high school in 1969, saw this movie, but I can’t remember what he thought at the time. He probably thought it was pretty cool. After a semester in college he kind of resembled Dennis Hopper.

He even had one of those suede coats with fringe. At the time I thought he was channeling John Wayne in Fort Apache, but maybe I was mistaken. Looking back, it is just kind of embarrassing.

In other news, I did not watch the Oscars and it seems like I didn’t miss anything. The only surprise to me was that Eddie Redmayne won for The Theory of Everything. I thought Michael Keaton would win, but isn’t it typical that they give Best Picture and Best Director to a movie, but not to the actor who plays the titular character?

Whatever.

Remember when George C. Scott refused his Oscar for Patton in 1971? He said, “The whole thing is a goddamn meat parade. I don’t want any part of it.” He made a good point.

P.S. You can bet that I am going to remember that phrase “goddamn meat parade.”

*Dennis Hopper in Easy Rider

4 Comments

February 19, 2015

He was robbed!

by chuckofish

As you know, the Oscar show is coming up on Sunday. Sad to say, I probably won’t watch. I can’t stand the host this year and it has become such a fashion show and aren’t-we-great orgy, that I think I’ll once again sit it out.

I’ll be rooting for Bradley Cooper, but he won’t win.

Thinking of Cooper put me in mind of all the other great actors and actresses who have never won or didn’t win when they should have. Earlier this week I watched the great war movie Twelve O’Clock High (1949).

Gregory Peck was phenomenal and although he was nominated for Best Actor, he lost to Broderick Crawford in All the King’s Men. Please. John Wayne was also nominated that year for Sands of Iwo Jima, but I would have voted for Peck. He was just perfect.

I don’t have a lot of patience with this, “What are we fighting for?” stuff. We’re in a war, a shooting war. We’ve got to fight. And some of us have got to die. I’m not trying to tell you not to be afraid. Fear is normal. But stop worrying about it and about yourselves. Stop making plans. Forget about going home. Consider yourselves already dead. Once you accept that idea, it won’t be so tough. Now if any man here can’t buy that… if he rates himself as something special, with a special kind of hide to be saved… he’d better make up his mind about it right now. Because I don’t want him in this group…

Speaking of John Wayne, he should have won Best Actor for The Searchers (1956), but he wasn’t even nominated!

Ludicrous! This film, frequently listed as the greatest of all westerns, was not nominated for one Academy Award. Not a one. It boggles the mind. Yul Brynner won that year for The King and I–and I will grant that he was great–but the other nominees included Rock Hudson for Giant! And Laurence Olivier in probably his worst movie ever–Richard III.

I also think Paul Newman was robbed the year he didn’t win for Cool Hand Luke (1967).

Paul Newman was never better.

Anybody here? Hey, Old Man. You home tonight? Can You spare a minute. It’s about time we had a little talk. I know I’m a pretty evil fellow… killed people in the war and got drunk… and chewed up municipal property and the like. I know I got no call to ask for much… but even so, You’ve got to admit You ain’t dealt me no cards in a long time. It’s beginning to look like You got things fixed so I can’t never win out. Inside, outside, all of them… rules and regulations and bosses. You made me like I am. Now just where am I supposed to fit in? Old Man, I gotta tell You. I started out pretty strong and fast. But it’s beginning to get to me. When does it end? What do You got in mind for me? What do I do now? Right. All right.

It was the year of southern crime dramas (Bonnie and Clyde as well as Cool Hand Luke) and the Academy voters went with the racially fraught In The Heat of the Night and Rod Steiger. Well, I guess we can be grateful that Spencer Tracy didn’t win for Guess Who’s Coming For Dinner.

Another heart-breaker for me was when Steve McQueen lost in 1966 for The Sand Pebbles. Nominated for eight Oscars, it took home none. This was Steve’s shot and he lost to Paul Schofield in A Man for All Seasons–a movie I loathe.

I am also of the opinion that Doris Day should have won in 1959 for Pillow Talk. This was the year Ben Hur won everything except for Best Actress, which went to Simone Signoret in the forgettable Room at the Top.

(Thelma Ritter also lost Best Supporting Actress.)

Don’t get me started on actresses. All they have to do to win an Oscar and be taken seriously is put on a fake nose or gain weight or look un-glamorous (see above, Simone Signoret). Actresses like Doris Day, Myrna Loy, Irene Dunne, Carol Lombard–even Audrey Hepburn after her first movie–never had a chance. Despite the fact that they were all comic geniuses, they never won.

Really, there is no understanding how Academy members vote and there are many, many other examples I could list, but I am a broken record, right?…Albert Finney in Tom Jones, Robert Di Niro in Awakenings, Alan Ladd in Shane, Robert Redford in The Natural, Barbara Stanwyck in Double Indemnity …

But for me those listed above are the main ones.

So take my advice and watch one of these great films instead of watching the award show.

6 Comments

February 13, 2015

Love your life

by chuckofish

Emily McDowell, of course

Here’s hoping we all have a happy Valentine’s Day, complete with candy and grocery store flowers. If you don’t have someone to give them to you, buy your own. And love your life. Enjoy the day! Smile, even when you don’t feel like it! Someone will smile back.

Just remember: your glass is half full, not half empty.

And if you are lucky enough to have a husband/wife/partner, remember that having the same exact thought at the same time is not habit or routine–that’s a blended soul. You are meant for each other. Set me a seal upon your heart.

I have no specific plans, but I will probably watch one of my favorite romantic movies. I have to say that the lists of such movies I’ve seen on the internet are pretty pathetic. Usually they include nothing older than twenty years and those chosen are pretty lame. Maybe the list will include some old chestnut like An Affair to Remember (1957) with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr–which really is a terrible movie and doesn’t deserve to be on any list ever–but that’s a big maybe. List-makers usually haven’t seen a movie older than Titanic (1997)!

My list would include:

Captain Blood (1935)

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

Casablanca (1942)

Key Largo (1948)

The Quiet Man (1952)

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

The Princess Bride (1987)

Green Card (1990)

The Man Who Went Up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain (1995)

Shakespeare in Love (1998)

Chocolat (2000)

Dear Frankie (2004)

Of course, there are many more, but I couldn’t think of them and particularly anything from the 1970s (Worst. Decade. Ever.)

What is your favorite romantic movie?

7 Comments

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Category: Movies

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