movies | dual personalities

May 21, 2015

This and that: “Toiling on, toiling on; Let us hope, let us watch…”*

by chuckofish

Here’s more pictures of that wonderful home overlooking the Missouri River that I covet. And another lottery ticket to purchase I guess.

Not that I buy lottery tickets. You know I don’t approve.

Here’s something fun to do this summer. TCM is collaborating with Ball State University and Canvas Network, an open online educational platform from Instructure, to present Into the Darkness: Investigating Film Noir, a free online multimedia course open to the general public.

Burt and Ava in The Killers (1946)

Film Noir isn’t really my thing, but they are showing some good movies in July.

This is a really good album. And Fred Vargas has a new book coming out Tuesday. Life is good.

Have a good Thursday! Take time to smell the flowers!

*”To the Work” by Frances J. Crosby

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May 6, 2015

“These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.”

by chuckofish

So did you know that last Monday was Star Wars Day? May the fourth? Get it? May the fourth be with you.

As a good Episcopalian, I always want to say, “And also with you,” but I digress.

The OM and I did not celebrate May 4 with a party or anything. Frankly, I was over Star Wars a long time ago. A long time ago.

But this is kind of funny. Especially #10.

On the other hand, we need to let these guys retire.

It’s too late for gracefully, but I’m just saying.

Anyway, after all this, now I am kind of in the mood to watch the original 1977 flick. I liked it in the first place because it is one big film homage to John Ford and better movies of an earlier era.

Han Solo even wears cavalry pants. And Obi-Wan says things like: “You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious.”

Yes, it sounds like a plan. It’s not like there’s anything on the telly to watch.

Have a good Wednesday. May the Force be with you.

4 Comments

April 17, 2015

This and that

by chuckofish

TGIF. Boy, am I ready for the weekend! I plan to take it easy. How about you?

In the meantime here are a few end-of-the-week odds and ends.

1. I really want this house. I may have to buy my first lottery ticket.

2. The Ford Mustang was introduced to the public on this day (April 17) in 1964. It was named after the WWII P-51 Mustang fighter plane.

What a great car!

3. It is Thornton Wilder’s birthday today. I think I’ll eat some ice cream in his honor, because you know–“My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it is on your plate.”

4. It is also William Holden’s birthday.

He was born in O’Fallon, Illinois–just over the river from here–in 1918. So I suggest we watch one of his movies in his honor. When I think about it, I realize that he really is one of my favorites, although I seldom give him credit for being so. He was also one of those men who kind of just got better with age. Unfortunately, he was also a terrible alcoholic and died ignominiously. But you know, he had a younger brother, Robert W. “Bobbie” Beedle, who was a U.S. Navy fighter pilot and was killed in action in 1944–maybe that had something to do with it.

Anyway, there are obviously lots of good William Holden movies to choose from. My favorites are: Born Yesterday (1950), Sabrina (1954), The Horse Soldiers (1959), and Paris When It Sizzles (1964)–but there are lots of other good ones. I’ll leave that up to you.

5. Going to Athens, GA? You won’t want to miss this!

Have a great weekend!

6 Comments

April 3, 2015

This and that

by chuckofish

Well, it’s Good Friday.

Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for Good Friday, BCP)

My Holy Week has been less than focused. It has been busy, busy at work, and I’m afraid I’m not the multi-tasker I once was–the result being that I am exhausted in the evening. I fell asleep during everything I attempted to watch this week, from Shogun (1980) to Peter and Paul (1981).

Last night I participated in the “Could you not keep watch with me for one hour?” vigil, as I always do.

In past years I have been late signing up so I always get stuck in the 4-5:00 a.m. or 5-6:00 a.m. slot., but this year I had the 9-10:00 p.m. slot which was a piece of cake in comparison. Which isn’t exactly the point–it being easy–but I was grateful anyway.

Tonight, of course, I will start Ben Hur (1959).

Last year daughter #1 was home and we watched the whole thing at one sitting, but I think I will watch until the chariot race and finish up on Holy Saturday.

What’s the rush?

And don’t forget: Wolf Hall starts on Sunday night on Masterpiece Theatre! Mark Rylance looks right for the Thomas Cromwell part anyway.

In past film renditions he has always been played as an evil, and therefore porcine, politician.

Leo McKern in ‘A Man For All Seasons’ (1966)

Please. I am hoping for the best. We shall see.

Also, tomorrow is our pater’s birthday. He would have been 93!

Love this pose!

A toast would be appropriate and perhaps some bagpipe tunes.

And FYI there will be a lunar eclipse on April 4th!

Have a wonderful Easter! Hopefully the OM will accompany me to church on one of his two annual visits. Then we’ll meet the boy and daughter #3 at my flyover university’s faculty club for brunch. No cooking for me.

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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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March 9, 2015

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.”*

by chuckofish

Yes, those are daffodil shoots–right on schedule. Last weekend church services were canceled all over the area and this weekend we enjoyed 60-degree days! The flora and fauna responds accordingly. Pretty amazing.

I had a busy week so I took it kind of easy on the weekend. I finished some books that I had been reading and I read up on ol’ Charles Darwin, about whom I knew not a lot. He was an interesting fellow. I understand natural selection. It is logical. But it doesn’t explain why there are elephants. Seriously, there must be a God.

I had lunch with my girlfriends. I went to Ted Drewes with the OM.

I watched the first chapter of that great old mini-series Shogun (1980) starring my cousin Richard as John Blackthorne.

The Jesuits are the bad guys and Toshiro Mifune is in the cast as Lord Toranaga.

What’s not to like? I will be watching the rest of it as the discs arrive from Netflix.

The boy and daughter #3 came over for Sunday night dinner. We barbequed!

Cute as ever

Today daughter #2 takes her oral exams at the U. of Maryland. They were postponed from Friday because of the snow! Aaaargh. She has been handling the stress like the trouper that she is. Hopefully we will have good new for you tomorrow…

Have a great week!

*Rainer Maria Rilke

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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

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February 20, 2015

This and that

by chuckofish

So hey, there’s only a week of February left! March is in sight! Spring is on the horizon, right?

I only ask because I have been shivering in my office all week, reduced to wearing a wool shawl around my shoulders because it is so freakin’ cold! Here’s the local weather report:

Some areas are seeing temperatures below zero this morning. Snow flurries are on the way for tonight, plus freezing rain this weekend.

But at least we don’t live in Niagra Falls, NY where the famous falls have frozen. Zut alors!

Moving right along…Today is the birthday of Ansel Easton Adams (February 20, 1902 – April 22, 1984), American photographer and environmentalist.

The Tetons and the Snake River

ansel-adams-1942-yosemite-valley-clearing-winterstorm

Winter storm in Yosemite Valley 1942

Ansel Adams in Yosemite 1942

It is also the anniversary of the death of the great Broadway star John Raitt (January 29, 1917 – February 20, 2005). In his honor, I suggest you watch this show-stoppin’ scene from The Pajama Game (1957) where he and Doris Day sing with gusto and precision one of the hardest darn songs to sing ever written!

Aren’t they great? This always reminds me of the episode in season 5 of Angel when Lorne (of the Deathwok Clan) has to listen to every staff member at Wolfram & Hart sing a song so that he can tell if they are hiding something. One girl sings “There Once Was a Man” and it is pretty funny. I guess you had to be there…

On the Episcopal Church front, we remember Frederick Douglass on the liturgical calendar today, the anniversary of his death in 1895.

Almighty God, whose truth makes us free: We bless your Name for the witness of Frederick Douglass, whose impassioned and reasonable speech moved the hearts of a president and a people to a deeper obedience to Christ. Strengthen us also to be outspoken on behalf of those in captivity and tribulation, continuing in the Word of Jesus Christ our Liberator; who with you and the Holy Spirit dwells in glory everlasting. Amen.

We are grateful for the lives of Ansel Adams, John Raitt and Frederick Douglass and for their contributions to our American culture. And we are grateful that the coach stopped by for dinner!

He moved some big boxes for me. Wasn’t that nice? And it’s Friday! Have a great weekend. Stay warm!

8 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.

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