i luv cinema

Home Archives for classics

By Leave a Comment

A Labor of Love

100years_movies10Well, that’s a wrap ladies and gents. As Labor Day 2015 fades into night, the summer is more or less over. What awaits us movie fans? Well with Venice, Telluride, Toronto and New York, we will be hit with an onslaught of award-worthy projects. I will probably discuss these a little later. But for now, I have a little assignment I have set forth for myself as the year comes to a close.

Recently, I took an “online movie list challenge,” consisting of my selecting films that made AFI’s 100, Years 100 Films list, produced over a decade ago.

The results were disappointing to say the very least. Sure, being in the 25th percentile is not a bad place in general, for someone who proclaims to love motion pictures as much as I do, that is a pretty low score.

Determined to right this wrong, I did what any good student would do – reviewed my input. What I found was an interesting pattern … while there are a few outliers, many of the films that I have “overlooked” happened to be produced during the 1960’s and 1970’s. Some movies I have seen bits of, others I have had spoiled for me – but none of them have I seen straight through from opening credits to the end.

This revision gave me an idea – a mini task/project for myself that will see me try to watch each of these missed films from now until December 31st.

Some I will probably review; others may not make it to post, I cannot make any guarantees. But be on the lookout over the next few months for a little cinematic trip back forty-plus years as I watch the following films (order listed is random):

  1. Toy Story (1995)
  2. Blade Runner (1982)
  3. Do the Right Thing (1989)
  4. The Last Picture Show (1971)
  5. Sophie’s Choice (1982)
  6. Easy Rider (1969)
  7. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
  8. Midnight Cowboy (1969)
  9. Intolerance (1916)
  10. The Deer Hunter (1978)
  11. Rocky (1976)
  12. Nashville (1975)
  13. Cabaret (1972)
  14. Network (1976)
  15. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
  16. Tootsie (1982)
  17. Modern Times (1936)
  18. The Wild Bunch (1969)
  19. Raging Bull (1980)
  20. Schindler’s List (1993)
  21. The Graduate (1967)
  22. The General (1927)
  23. Chinatown (1974)
  24. Apocalypse Now (1979)
  25. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

Well lookie here … a perfect 25 films!

So I throw it you, fair reader, take the challenge and let me know how you did in the Comments section below. Good luck!

Still from "Intolerance"
Still from “Intolerance”

By 4 Comments

Revisiting “Frankenstein” (1931)

IT’S ALIVE!!!

IT’S ALIVE!!!

For my latest entry where I cover the Universal 100th series, I am going to take a look at a film where (finally!) I have read at least one of the sources upon which the story is based.  Although known primarily by its Gothic novel by Mary Shelley, the film is actually based on the stage play written by Peggy Webling. This is similar to the film (and earlier ILC entry) Dracula.

For those unfamiliar with the story, I suggest you read the story. Dr. Frankenstein (portrayed in this film by Colin Clive), is obsessed with reanimation, the recreation of life. In order to achieve this, he and his assistant Fritz (Dwight Frye) harvest body parts, all in the hope of creating life through electricity. Unbeknownst to them, one of the parts they have collected (the brain) comes from a criminally psychotic man. You can guess where this is leading …

For me the most moving and touching scene is when The Monster (Boris Karloff) is on the run and he starts playing with the little girl. In fact this scene leads into probably the most iconic scene of them all – the marching of the townspeople hell-bent on revenge tragedy involving the village girl, when the townspeople are in pursuit. It is a sequence which has remained with me all these years later.

If I were to choose between the two monster movies (Dracula or Frankenstein), I would say that this is by some measure my preferred film.

Check out this original trailer for the movie:

Along with a couple of my favorite scenes:

By 2 Comments

Programming Notice – TCM Presents the Work of Merchant-Ivory Productions

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Merchant-Ivory productions, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is holding a month-long tribute, airing movies every Thursday night for the month of September. Unfortunately I was unable to watch the first night of movies (9/8) because I was attending a wedding but I am determined to go all in starting tonight.

The lineup for this evening’s programming is:

  • Remains of the Day, The (1993) – currently on
  • Howards End (1992)
  • A Room With a View (1985)
  • Maurice (1987)

The directing/producing team of James Ivory and Ismail Merchant. Their trademark is a collection of films that are understated adaptations of novels. Often these films were written for the screen by long time collaborator Ruth Prawer Jhabvala.

Easily my favorite of the bunch is A Room With a View with Howards End and Remains of the Day. I do however easily concede that these films are not for everyone. For some, the pacing and restraint shown in several of their films can leave one feeling a bit overanxious for something more active to appear on screen. For me the strength of the performances more than makes up

Consult the TCM Program Guide for a full layout of the schedule.

totalfilm600movieblogs