duaneiac Posted January 27, 2019 Report Share Posted January 27, 2019 An anthology film based on tales from the EC Comics. I had seen a version of the first segment here (a Christmas tale starring Joan Collins in which she is terrorized in her home by an escaped mental patient dressed as Santa Claus -- or should that be "Father Christmas"? -- but she cannot call the police because she has just killed her wealthy elderly husband and has not had a chance to dispose of the body) on the old TFTC TV series and I think the TV version was better done. I suppose some of the stories might seem a bit slow moving by today's standards, but the final tale, about the residents of a home for the blind finally having their revenge against the heartless supervisor in charge, although a bit slow, was really good and had an especially chilling conclusion. Freddie Francis should be paid more respect as a director. He often comes up with intriguing shots and shots well designed to bring out the blend of humor and horror that this genre thrived on. Meh. Maybe it was better when seen in Hypno Vista. Great villainous overacting by Michael Gough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted January 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2019 The moral of the story - don't knock wealthy industrialists, because when your kid sister gets trapped in an abandoned mineshaft, it is the industrialist himself who will provide the bulldozers and labor and doctors to get her out, as well as to fly his private cargo plane to take her to the hospital and save her life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duaneiac Posted January 27, 2019 Report Share Posted January 27, 2019 I remembered seeing this on TV as a child and had not seen it since then. If the thought of Tony Randall portraying Hercule Poirot makes you wince, follow your instincts and avoid this movie. It's bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duaneiac Posted January 28, 2019 Report Share Posted January 28, 2019 Let's begin with the question: What small percentage of 1960's Universal film & TV productions were not either written by or based on a story by Robert Bloch? That man must have been a writing machine! Then let's consider Barbara Stanwyck, for my money, one of the finest screen actresses in American cinema. Here she stars in the last of her 85 feature films. So by 1964 she had been an admired film star for decades, she was a 4 time Best Actress Oscar nominee, she was an Emmy Award winner for her self-named TV series -- and even though this tale revolves around the dreams her character keeps having and she is onscreen for about 90% of the scenes, she still gets second billing to ex-hubby Robert Taylor!?!?! That Hollywood sexism is one tough nut to crack! It's not a great movie. It is a William Castle film after all. It's not really bad either. Great lobby card though! I'd recommend this movie mainly if one happens to be a hardcore Barbara Stanwyck fan. How is it she never made a movie with Alfred Hitchcock? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted January 29, 2019 Report Share Posted January 29, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duaneiac Posted January 29, 2019 Report Share Posted January 29, 2019 Is it possible to have a CinameScope, Color By DeLuxe film noir? This is kinda that (but also kinda All About Eveish since it is a tale about theater folk and a young girl who comes to town and begins ingratiating her way up the ladder of success) as Van Heflin is the man wrongly suspected of murder who must take it on the lam to prove his innocence. George Raft is the crafty and impeccably dressed police detective on the case. Ginger Rogers has an acting field day and any opportunity to watch the beautiful Miss Gene Tierney is time well spent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duaneiac Posted January 29, 2019 Report Share Posted January 29, 2019 A movie that proves that even under all that makeup, both Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff were really good character actors. It's a shame there were not more suitable roles for Mr. Lugosi especially. Here he gives an admittedly theatrical performance, but it is a performance that humanizes or at least de-monsterfies his Ygor character. Mr. Karloff was also very good in his final performance as the Creature. It's impossible to watch Lionel Atwill's police inspector without thinking of Harvey Korman. I wonder if the whole bit with the fake arm was designed to be so over the top as to be some comic relief in the movie. Granted, the circumstances under which he lost his arm (it had been torn off by the Creature) were horribly grim, but the way his flings his fake arm around with his good arm and especially sticking the darts into his fake arm are just funny whether they were originally intended to be or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.D. Posted January 29, 2019 Report Share Posted January 29, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted January 31, 2019 Report Share Posted January 31, 2019 Criterion today announced that it will launch a streaming platform April 8!!! https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/filmstruck-is-dead-long-live-the-criterion-channel/ar-BBSXZk1?OCID=ansmsnnews11 https://www.newsweek.com/criterion-channel-streaming-service-launch-date-collection-1312160 https://www.engadget.com/2019/01/30/criterion-channel-streaming-launch-date/ https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/filmstruck-replacement-criterion-collection-launch-april-1181303 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlhoots Posted January 31, 2019 Report Share Posted January 31, 2019 Cold War Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted January 31, 2019 Report Share Posted January 31, 2019 A very odd movie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.D. Posted February 1, 2019 Report Share Posted February 1, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted February 1, 2019 Report Share Posted February 1, 2019 Loosely based on The Talented Mister Ripley. This is the 1960 French Italian production with Alain Delon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlhoots Posted February 1, 2019 Report Share Posted February 1, 2019 Destroyer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted February 1, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2019 Tell me about this new Criterion Collection streaming service, please...what will be the scope of there offering? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinuta Posted February 1, 2019 Report Share Posted February 1, 2019 A Private War - Michael Heineman (2018) Brutal and gripping. Had me transfixed. Praise to Rosamund Pike for an inspired performance. Recommended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlhoots Posted February 2, 2019 Report Share Posted February 2, 2019 A Private War never played here. DVD comes out Feb. 5. We actually still have a video store here & I plan to rent it there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinuta Posted February 2, 2019 Report Share Posted February 2, 2019 2 hours ago, jlhoots said: A Private War never played here. DVD comes out Feb. 5. We actually still have a video store here & I plan to rent it there. Don't miss it. Our rental place has just closed down. No doubt a victim of Amazon Prime & Netflix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted February 2, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted February 2, 2019 Report Share Posted February 2, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgcim Posted February 2, 2019 Report Share Posted February 2, 2019 1 hour ago, Brad said: Besides the remake of Diabolique, can you or anyone name at least five rip-offs of Diabolique's plot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted February 2, 2019 Report Share Posted February 2, 2019 I will leave that to others. I had never seen the movie but half guessed at the ending although it still took me by surprise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted February 3, 2019 Report Share Posted February 3, 2019 Slightly interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted February 3, 2019 Report Share Posted February 3, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinuta Posted February 4, 2019 Report Share Posted February 4, 2019 (edited) Burning - Chang -dong-Lee (2018) Chang-dong-Lee is one of my favourite directors. I've seen all his films and watched Poetry & Secret Sunshine multiple times. After an 8 year break, the new one is an enigmatic mystery thriller with a slippery, subtle feel that is rich in symbolism and open to interpretation. I loved it and want to rewatch asap. If you have seen his previous films then it's a no brainer, must see. If you haven't, I'd watch Poetry & Secret Sunshine first. Although this is a standalone film, the previous two will put you in the mindframe. Best Korean film since The Wailing. ............................................. Brief Encounter is a masterpiece. Edited February 4, 2019 by kinuta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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