Month: September 2019

Moviedrome Mondays: Stardust Memories (1980)

by John Charet

At the bottom of this blog entry, I have posted a youtube link to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing Woody Allen’s 1980 comedy-drama Stardust Memories. You can read his transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was July 2, 1989 (read here). True, Federico Fellini’s 1963 Italian classic 8 1/2 may have served as a main influence (especially Gordon Willis black-and-white cinematography), but Allen has denied that his own film is similarly autobiographical (read here). His controversial personal life notwithstanding, Allen was an immensely talented director and writer, not to mention comedian, at one time. Since the mid-1990’s though, he became a hit-or-miss director with more examples of the latter. Nevertheless, I could not have stated what Cox says in that last paragraph of his alone, especially concerning the presence of the always lovely and wonderful Charlotte Rampling (read here). If you are interested in reading my list of my favorite Woody Allen films, read here.

Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to Stardust Memories

Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer

Moviedrome Mondays: THX 1138 (1971)

by John Charet

At the end of this blog entry, I will post a youtube video link of Moviedrome Presenter Alex Cox introducing George Lucas 1971 cult science-fiction film THX 1138. You can read Cox’s transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was June 25, 1989 (read here). Although my favorite film directed by George Lucas is still American Graffiti, I do admire  THX 1138 for all of the ideas that Lucas touches upon in his script – even If the results are not always entirely successful. At the very least, it does give us a glimpse of what Lucas would expand upon in his iconic 1977 science-fiction space opera Star Wars.

Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to THX 1138

Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer

Moviedrome Mondays: …All the Marbles (1981) (a.k.a. The California Dolls)

by John Charet

I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing Robert Aldrich’s 1981 sports comedy-drama …All the Marbles (a.k.a. The California Dolls); so my readers will have to make due with his transcript (read here). The episode’s original airdate was June 11, 1989 (read here). Not unlike what Cox implies here, If one looked beyond the film’s silly premise – a manager and his female wrestling team (The California Dolls) on the road – you will find a road movie with a lot on it’s mind. While maybe not as memorable as some of the best ones of the period – Monte Hellman’s Two-Lane Blacktop or Wim Wenders Road Movie Trilogy – there is still plenty to admire here. Interesting bit of trivia: 1981’s …All the Marbles was the final film that Aldrich directed – he died two years later in 1983. If any of you readers are interested in reading my list of my favorite Aldrich films, read here.

Here is a youtube link to the film’s original theatrical trailer below

Moviedrome Mondays: The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)

by John Charet

Since I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing Jack Arnold’s 1957 science-fiction horror classic The Incredible Shrinking Man, my readers will have to make due with the episode’s transcript (read here). The episode’s original airdate was June 4, 1989 (read here). Interestingly enough, as Cox implies in his introduction, the only films that actually properly addressed the theme of nuclear war in the 1950’s (for the most part), were (ironically enough) campy science-fiction horror entries of that aforementioned decade. If any of you readers are interested in reading my list of my favorite Jack Arnold films, read here.

Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer

Here is another youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer – with Orson Welles providing voiceover duties

 

 

My Thoughts

by John Charet

I am very pleased that most (If not all) of my regular readers were able to comment on my two blog entries relating to actress Kim Cattrall’s Criterion title choices (read here and here) and how it related to my number one favorite Robert Altman film. Since I asked all of you for your opinions, I sincerely feel that it is only fair If I give my opinions on not only her Criterion picks, but also what she says as a whole in the video.  Nevertheless, allow me to divide my thoughts into two categories. The first will cover what films she picked from the Criterion closet and the second towards my extra thoughts.

-The Films-

1.) Heaven Can Wait (1943) (Dir: Ernest Lubitsch)
I too love Ernst Lubitsch like she does. One of these days when I update my blog entry of my favorite Lubitsch films, I will place Heaven Can Wait at number 2 or something. This was Lubitsch’s first Technicolor film and it is most certainly a marvel. A shame that Lubitsch could not have lived longer – it would have been interesting to see how often he would have shot in Technicolor. That Lady in Ermine would have been his second had he not died during production – director Otto Preminger ended up finishing it. Read here for my favorite Ernst Lubitsch films.
2.) Fanny & Alexander (1982) (Dir: Ingmar Bergman)
Though I still consider Persona (also a Criterion title) to be my number one favorite Ingmar Bergman film, I do love Fanny & Alexander as well and yes, it can be viewed as (among other things) an examination of the major changes that happens in a family when an immediate member of it dies. Cattrall sums it up better in that video than I do here 🙂 In case, anyone is interested in what I consider to be my favorite Bergman films, read here. Also, I highly recommend blogger Mitchell’s invaluable guide to the aforementioned director from five years back in 2014 (read here). Read here for my favorite Ingmar Bergman films.
3.) Cat People (1942) (Dir: Jacques Tourneur)
I would be interested in hearing what she loves about this masterful horror film since she did not really delve much into it here. In fact, I wrote a review of it last year on this site (read here). Read here for my favorite Jacques Tourneur films.
4.) Limelight (1952) (Dir: Charlie Chaplin)
I adore Charlie Chaplin’s sound films as much as his silent work and Limelight ranks high up there. I probably would have chosen 1931’s City Lights (another Chaplin title in The Criterion Collection), but all of Chaplin’s work is perfect. Read here for my favorite Charlie Chaplin films.
5.) The Complete Jacques Tati (1949-1974)
Considering that this box-set includes all of Jacques Tati’s work – and I think all of his short films – nobody could go wrong with this choice. Read here for my favorite Jacques Tati films.
6.) A Taste of Honey (1961) (Dir: Tony Richardson)
Admittedly, director Tony Richardson’s films have not aged well – though I still love The Border. Nevertheless, A Taste of Honey and Tom Jones are films that I greatly admire If no longer adore. Still, I do agree with Cattrall that actress Rita Tushingham was fantastic in the former.
7.) Tom Jones (1963) (Dir: Tony Richardson)
Read number 6.
8.) Nashville (1975) (Dir: Robert Altman)
I love this film for the exact reasons Cattrall states in the video link. Not since Jean Renoir’s The Rules of the Game, has an ensemble piece been this thought-provoking. By now, everybody is probably aware that I just love this film, so once again, read my review right here. Read here for my favorite Robert Altman films. Also, read here for me and fellow blogger Cindy Bruchman’s piece of Altman from a month ago.
9.) Jules and Jim (1962) (Dir: Francois Truffaut)
Anyone who read my blog entry regarding my favorite Francois Truffaut films (read here) is probably well aware that I rank this one very highly. With all that said, I laughed out loud when Cattrall cited Jules and Jim as her first three-way 🙂 What made it funnier is that she said it with a gentle voice 🙂
10.) Repulsion (1965) (Dir: Roman Polanski)
She chose my second favorite Polanski film (the first is Chinatown of course). Interesting bit of trivia: she actually has a supporting role in Polanski’s 2010 thriller The Ghost Writer. Read here for my favorite Roman Polanski films.
11.) Bicycle Thieves (1948) (Dir: Vittorio De Sica)
I would have loved to have heard her thoughts on Bicycle Thieves since it is an undisputed classic of world cinema. Read here for my favorite Vittorio De Sica films.
12.) Sullivan’s Travels (1941) (Dir: Preston Sturges)
I hope The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek gets the Criterion treatment one day, and while The Lady Eve and The Palm Beach Story rank higher for me (the last two are Criterion titles), I do love Sullivan’s Travels a lot. As with other fans of the film (including Cattrall herself), one’s love of it stems from it’s plot of someone who yearns for significance, but in the end, learns that humor has a way of impacting people as well. Read here for my favorite Preston Sturges films.
13.) Wanda (1970) (Dir: Barbara Loden)
I love Wanda every bit as much as Cattrall does. Nevertheless, I can’t do justice here in describing her insightful words on it – just watch the video link.

-Extra Thoughts-

What I really found interesting about the video was Kim Cattrall’s background concerning her love of films. As anybody who watched the video is aware, Cattrall’s mother was an usherette at a movie theater and she may have influenced Kim in a significant way. Once again, here is that Criterion Collection video link below.

https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/6556-kim-cattrall-s-closet-picks

 

 

Moviedrome Mondays: The Thing from Another World (1951)

by John Charet

UPDATED on 09/07/2020: Frequent visitor Steve (click here to see his youtube channel) just reminded me that a youtube video link for Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to The Thing from Another World exists and I just found it. I shall post it below on here.

Once again, I could not find a youtube video of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing the 1951 science-fiction horror classic The Thing from Another World directed by Christian Nyby and co-produced by the legendary Howard Hawks. The episode’s original airdate was May 28, 1989 (read here). Not much to say here except as with all classic 1950’s monster movies, it is one that is every bit as thrilling as it is subtly intelligent.

Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to The Thing from Another World. His intro begins at the 0:50 mark of the video

Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer