posted
Time for Blacula's shameful confession #2 - I was *REALLY* disappointed with Vertigo when I finally saw it.
It's been a couple of years now so I can't quite remember what it was about it that I hadn't warmed to but I remember complaining my poor rommate's ear off about how it was totally overrated by the critics and everything.
I remember some things I liked about it - that vertigo camera effect at the beginning (and later on maybe), the twist, the end... others I've forgotten right now. But unfortunately, I don't remember them being enough to make me actually enjoy the film.
It probably didn't help that I'd seen Mel Brooks' High Anxiety many years before it.
Also, I am not much of a James Stewart fan. He's another one with a weird voice IMO. Plus, it's hard for me to forgive him for It's a Wonderful Life - (shameful confession #3) one of my most disliked films *ever*.
I did like Rear Window a lot though. And I really want to see Rope. As well as all those Cary Grant films on EDE's list. I can't believe how few of his films I've seen. I guess when an actor's as famous as he is, I just assumed I'd seen him in lots of stuff. Only now do I realise it's just North by Northwest and Suspicion.
I especially really need to see Notorious. It sounds like a good 'un.
I agree that The Man Who Knew Too Much is not one of Hitch's best efforts and that Doris Day is probably one of his most miscast leading ladies ever - but I could listen to her sing Que Sera Sera forever so it wins based on that alone for me.
From: Australia | Registered: Dec 2003
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posted
Confession time for me: I've never been much of a fan of Doris Day, the actress because of The Man Who Knew Too Much, and therefore have not seen all that many of her films. Doris Day, the person, however, seems pretty groovy!
My mother-in-law when she was younger was a dead ringer for Doris Day.
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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Eryk Davis Ester
Created from the Cosmic Legends of the Universe!
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I'm not much of a Doris Day fan either. I like a lot of old movies, even pretty cheesy ones, but most of hers just haven't really aged that well, imo.
From: Liberty City | Registered: Jul 2003
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Eryk Davis Ester
Created from the Cosmic Legends of the Universe!
posted
Come to think of it, one of the reasons I dislike Doris Day is that she was in several remakes of movies from the 30s/40s that I thought were better the first time around.
See High Society (a remake of The Philadelphia Story) and Move Over, Darling (a remake of My Favorite Wife), for example.
From: Liberty City | Registered: Jul 2003
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Eryk Davis Ester
Created from the Cosmic Legends of the Universe!
posted
BTW, even though The Philadelphia Story is one of the greatest movies of all time, maybe it's not for Blacula. Between Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, and Katherine Hepburn, it's pretty much a weird distinctive voice extravaganza!
From: Liberty City | Registered: Jul 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: Come to think of it, one of the reasons I dislike Doris Day is that she was in several remakes of movies from the 30s/40s that I thought were better the first time around.
See High Society (a remake of The Philadelphia Story) and Move Over, Darling (a remake of My Favorite Wife), for example.
I'm with you on High Society! It doesn't even come close to the Philadelphia Story. Sinatra chews up the scenary (and I like Frank quite a bit but not always), Bing Crosby was at the end of his career when he was kind of competing with Sinatra in 'cool' and that wasn't something I enjoyed seeing, and even Louis Armstrong shows up in a role that really makes me go . Definately not for me.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Story is great! You're right Eryk--if the voices distracted Blacula and Jorge before, they'll really flip for this one. I love it for the witty banter and its the quintessential Katherine Hepburn film and the quintessential Cary Grant film all rolled into one.
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was on TCM this morning (for 4th of July Weekend) and I couldn't help but watch it again. Terrific movie! And the quintessential Jimmy Stewart performance--if you don't like him here, you just don't like him. (Spoiler alert--I like him quite a bit).
Claude Rains, naturally, steals the entire movie.
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
Started rewatching the new Gattlestar Galactica this last week. I've gotten through the mini series and first 2 regular episodes so far.
It is an interesting watching it again knowing where the ride is heading. Knowing who the cylons are gives a whole new level to the show. It'll be interesting to see how it all works watchng it now that it's over.
I love the level of realism they used on this show. The guns firing bullets, the characters are all flawed in different ways, and there are the whole religious intonations with Baltar (onbe of the best characters in this reboot).
From: Turn around... | Registered: Jul 2003
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^ Man. I LOVED Battlestar Galactica... until the end and now I can barely bring myself to think about it. I have never been more disappointed in the ending to a fictional story ever. It was like it was written by competely different people to the ones who'd been giving us the smart, sophisticated show we'd been watching until then. That or the previous writers just had *no idea* how they were going to resolve all those cool mysteries and storylines they'd been setting up since the first episode.
I totally agree with you on Baltar though, Dev Em. Fantastic character and just amazing acting by James Callis. A revelatory performance I thought. Tricia Helfer too. For a sexy, sultry, model turned actor she showed that she has some serious acting chops. Grace Park as well, Lucy Lawless... gosh, I could list the whole cast (except Jamie Bamber - and even he wasn't too bad). Great acting in that show.
From: Australia | Registered: Dec 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Eryk Davis Ester: BTW, even though The Philadelphia Story is one of the greatest movies of all time, maybe it's not for Blacula. Between Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, and Katherine Hepburn, it's pretty much a weird distinctive voice extravaganza!
I have always wanted to see The Philadelphia Story. Maybe I can watch it with subtitles?
But seriously, the "weird" voices of Grant, Stewart, et al aren't enough to make me dislike a film. Just wonder where on earth they came from to get accents like that. lol
P.S. Does anyone think Tony Curtis was copying Cary Grant's voice when he was pretending to be the rich, yacht owner in Some Like It Hot? I always chuckled at the voice he used in that movie but now think it had a remarkable similarity to Grant's. Or is that accent just typical of a certain region of the USA? Like Hepburn's New England (I think) accent?
From: Australia | Registered: Dec 2003
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I'll second TALK OF THE TOWN and ONLY ANGELS HAVE WINGS (both co-starring my favorite classic movie actress... Jean Arthur, also a possessor of one of the most distinctive voices ever).
Also entertaining- SYLVIA SCARLET... but it's a heap of weirdness and not for everyone.
Cary Grant was originally a member of an acrobatic troupe from England, Katherine Hepburn was from New England (New Hampshire, I believe).
I'm pretty sure it was Grace Kelly in HIGH SOCIETY, not Doris Day. I like the couple of movies she made with Rock Hudson- late '50's or early '60's sex farces.
Blacula- I disliked VERTIGO the first time I saw it as well. Decades later, I watched the restored version, with much better color and loved it. I'm sure the print made a difference, but I think I wasn't mature enough to 'get' it.
In particular, the scene where Kim Novak emerges from that foggy green light, her appearance and demeanor changed to meet Stewart's character's specifications is a haunting, beautiful piece of cinematic work.
A few years from now, watch it again and see if you don't find a new appreciation for it. I'll bet you do.
posted
I also saw the last few minutes of The Women, the original, last night. I saw it at the nursing home once before and I've gotta say, it's pretty funny.
-------------------- I want to be hated by lies - Bring Back Lian Harper
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: Deborrah Kerr wasn't one of my favorites until From Here to Eternity (great film) but that really made me like her a lot. I always knew her role there was very outside the norm and so I wanted to catch up on some of her other films. Many of them are a little "fluffy" for me but some of them are really great. An Affair to Remember is the greatest.
And the ending is terrific.
She's really good in TEA AND SYMPATHY, though the movie itself is maybe not so great. NIGHT OF THE IGUANA is a movie of hers I like alot, though it's a bit talky. It's by Tennessee Williams and it shows.
BLACK NARCISSUS is another good movie of hers. Very striking looking and would never have been made by an American studio.
From: Knoxville, TN | Registered: Jul 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was on TCM this morning (for 4th of July Weekend) and I couldn't help but watch it again. Terrific movie! And the quintessential Jimmy Stewart performance--if you don't like him here, you just don't like him. (Spoiler alert--I like him quite a bit).
Claude Rains, naturally, steals the entire movie.
Hmmm. Not to take anything away from Claude Rains, but I always thought Jean Arthur was the bandit in this case.
From: Knoxville, TN | Registered: Jul 2003
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