This Moviedrome Monday entry is going to be slightly different from the others. In this case, it marked the first time that the series showed two films instead of one.

Badlands (1973)

Since I could not find a youtube video link to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing legendary director Terrence Malick’s 1973 lovers-on-the-lam classic Badlands, readers will have to rely on Cox’s intro transcript (read here). The episode’s original airdate was June 30, 1991 (read here). Badlands served as Malick’s directorial debut and in retrospect, it marked the beginning of a master filmmaker. Every trademark that we associate Malick with, comes in full circle here – including, but not limited to, beautiful cinematography and music. As with all of Malick’s best films, the result truly feels like poetry in motion. If any of you readers are interested, here is a link to my favorite Terrence Malick films (read here).

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

The Prowler (1951)

Once again, I could not find a youtube video link to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing director Joseph Losey’s 1951 film-noir thriller The Prowler, readers will have to rely on Cox’s intro transcript (read here). The episode’s original airdate was June 30, 1991 (read here). Though I wholeheartedly agree with Cox in his implication that Losey was a hero, I draw the line at the suggestion that he was a great filmmaker on a whole. For me, 1963’s The Damned (released here in the U.S. as These Are the Damned) still remains my favorite Losey film, but this one (i.e. The Prowler) is very good. Perhaps the highest compliment I can give it is that it’s themes still remain timely to this day.

Note: Losey’s The Damned is a science-fiction horror film and it should not be confused with master Italian filmmaker Luchino Visconti’s 1969 historical drama of the same name (also titled The Damned), which is another great film.

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