11 thoughts on “My Favorite Robert Wise Films”

1. I enjoyed The Andromeda Strain when it aired on Moviedrome and The Set-up is very powerful stuff. I can never understand why it isn’t talked about in the same hushed tones as films like Night in the City. Robert Ryan’s performance packs one hell of a punch and the pacing, the anticipation, and the dread simply don’t let up.

2. The Andromeda Strain was indeed another Moviedrome film 🙂 The Set-Up is a great film and I read somewhere, that it’s status as a film noir classic is starting to become more evident. You are also correct that his performance should be talked about in the same way as Night in the City. I always loved Robert Ryan as an actor. Whenever he was onscreen, he always electrified us. Also, who can forget those boxing scenes? Powerful stuff indeed. Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂

3. I loved The Andromeda Strain at the time, and The Sand Pebbles looked good in the cinema. But juvenile nostalgia would put The Day The Earth Stood Still as my top choice. That was pretty good, for 1951! 🙂
   Best wishes, Pete.

4. Hmmm…This one is difficult for me because I have an affinity for I Want To Live (I just watched it the other night.) It is probably my favorite because I watched it as a kid with my mom and was mesmerized by Susan Hayward’s performance. The gas chamber scene is yikes…really fantastic acting in the climax, but the rest of her performance is too over the top by today’s standards and even for the the time. But hey it’s a melodrama. The Jazz score is amazing. Then I gotta go with West Side Story. It’s a monumental film and I think it’s brilliant. To me, it’s Wise’s best film. Then The Sound of Music. It’s a beautiful film. Like It’s a Wonderful Life, it can’t be denied. Then The Day the Earth Stood Still, then The Andromeda Strain. Wise was a terrific director. Very versatile.

5. Did you know that the special effects of The Andromeda Strain was Douglas Trumbull, the same guy who designed them for Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. Interesting isn’t it? 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂

6. Susan Hayward’s performance and that jazz score are tops 🙂 West Side Story is as you gathered from here, my favorite Robert Wise musical. I read somewhere that The Sound of Music is played on television every Christmastime. I just read that somewhere, but that is interesting. As for The Day the Earth Stood Still and The Andromeda, well you know my opinion on them 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by and keep those comments coming 🙂

7. Robert Ryan would have to slug it out in the ring with Gort to see who took the top spot.!!!
   I still have a big affection for his Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The mystery of it, the fact they came up with that story so close to when the space probes were launched has always fascinated me. I saw at the cinema and it still looks beautiful. It gets referred to the boring serious one but to me it’s one of my favourites.
   And I simply adore The Andromeda Strain.

8. I hear ya 🙂 Maybe I should give Star Trek: The Motion Picture a second look because I heard that Paramount rushed it out to theaters and that did not give director Robert Wise enough time to prepare things properly. Nevertheless back in 2001, a Director’s Edition was released involving him so now I shall give it a rewatch 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂

9. Yeah it’s the Directors Edition I saw again and was very impressed. I think if were a die hard trekkie you would have kittens but as a mellow and visual science fiction film, I think it’s most excellent. The bald Persis Khambatta always mesmerised me as a kid. Definitely worth revisiting I would say. Don’t get me wrong it’s no masterpiece but joyful space odyssey. All the best..

10. I recently posted about “Odds Against Tomorrow.” I was curious as to where you ranked the film in Robert Wise’s cannon.

11. As you can see in the blog entry, Odds Against Tomorrow ranks at number 3 under Robert Wise’s * * * 1/2 star films 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by and I just left a comment under your blog entry 🙂