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There’s An App for That!

Photo Credit: Andy Kennelly

Take a look at these images for the just-released TCM Hollywood Tour app:

     

Some of the cool features for this app include (taken from Official Press Release):

Over 100 locations covered: the app serves as a guide to 100 Hollywood locations – including movie-star mansions, studio lots, celeb hangouts, legendary film locations and more.

Welcome by Robert Osborne: a special video introduction from the TCM host with the most.

A Virtual Tour: this tour allows users to explore by neighborhood or browse the list view from anywhere in the world. They can also use the play button and forward/reverse controls to explore all the locations in a photo gallery view.

Badges: Fans can collect badges for each place they visit, whether they are using the guided or self-guided tour while in the LA area (anyone who succeeds in collecting all 100 badges – by visiting all of the guided tour’s destinations in person – will be awarded a special prize)!

Geo-location: this services guide users to each destination. Rate and Review options for each location.

The TCM Hollywood Tour app is available only for the iPhone and iPod Touch and can be purchased from the iTunes Store (purchase price = $2.99).

Personally, I am a bit reluctant to buy an app if it exceeds $0.99-$1.99 ($0.99) if I am being totally honest, but app looks very useful especially when trying to navigate a city as spread out as Los Angeles. Maybe I will get it in time for the 2013 TCM Film Festival!

 

Is this something you would be interested in?

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Favorite Films Set in Berlin

 

As many readers may know, I have recently returned from a trip to London. A natural consequence of my excursions is a renewed wanderlust – no sooner am I back in the States am I contemplating my next trip.

After some deliberation and consideration I have decided on Central Europe. In anticipation of this trip, I have put together a list of my favorite films from each of the cities I plan to visit. Over the next several months I will compile lists of my favorite films from each of these locales.

The first location I will focus on is Berlin. The criteria I have used in the case of Berlin is a bit loose in that the film only needed to be set in Berlin and not necessarily shot there – although I think that at minimum that criteria is met.

Without further ado .. here are my SIX films (stills below):

M (Fritz Lang, 1931) German Expressionism at its finest.

 

A Foreign Affair (Billy Wilder, 1948) Fine example of what a romantic comedy should be. The film was principally shot in Soviet occupied zone (source: Wikipedia). Features one of my favorite leading ladies of the era, Jean Arthur.

 

The Big Lift (George Seaton, 1950) As the title suggests, the Big Lift  takes places during the Berlin Air Lift (1948-9). Shot on location in Berlin, really seems to capture the scale of devastation and the recovery efforts made post-war.

 

Torn Curtain (Alfred Hitchcock, 1966) While not one of his finest outings, there are some great set pieces. One that immediately springs to mind is the scene where Paul Newman and a civilian go about the very difficult task of killing a baddie. According to Hitchcock, he wanted to show just how difficult it is to kill someone. This also marks the one-time-only pairing of one of my favorite directors and actors (Newman).

 

Bourne Supremacy (Paul Greengrass, 2004) A frenetically paced spy-story. In many ways, breathed new life into a somewhat stale genre.

 

The Lives of Others or Das Leben der Anderen in German (Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, 2006) Don’t know what to say about this film except that I really really liked it. It was my first glimpse into seeing what life in GDR was probably like.

What do you think of the list? Is there anything that you think I left out? And before anyone says Wings of Desire or Run Lola Run please note I have not seen either (I know, for shame!)

 

UPDATE: Honorable mention to The Edukators and The Baader Meinhof Complex

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Travel Advisory

Rue the Rue (de Paradis)On a recent trip to Paris, I thought it would be a great idea to take a location shot of one of my favorite recent films Taken. The task was simple enough a sign of the infamous “Rue de Paradis.” The execution left a lot to be desired. I got hopelessly lost in my quest and soon realized why that location was selected for the particularly scene in the movie. Not that I thought the area was entirely bad but as a non-native visiting a city you really should feel comfortable navigating your way around your environs.  Just as I would not expect tourists to go to certain areas of my nearest city, New York, the same rule holds for other international cities.

So in short, that is my travel advisory when you are “scouting” locations that have been featured in famous films: Know where you are going!

Happy Travels and Filmgoing!

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