1960’s Cinema

R.I.P. Gena Rowlands (1930-2024)

by John Charet

Last Wednesday, one of the most extraordinary actresses to have ever lived passed away at the age of 94. The actress was Gena Rowlands. The cause of death was complications of Alzheimer’s disease (read here and here). According to her son Nick Cassavetes (read here), Rowlands had been living with Alzheimer’s for the past five years. And yes, Nick is the son of the late great actor/director/writer John Cassavetes. Rowlands had been married to John from 1954 until his death in 1989. To commemorate her career, I will list my favorite films of hers where she serves as a standout below (all * * * * out of * * * *).

  1. Faces (1968) (Dir: John Cassavetes) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  2. Minnie and Moskowitz (1971) (Dir: John Cassavetes) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  3. A Woman Under the Influence (1974) (Dir: John Cassavetes) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  4. Opening Night (1977) (Dir: John Cassavetes) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  5. Gloria (1980) (Dir: John Cassavetes) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  6. Love Streams (1984) (Dir: John Cassavetes) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
  7. The Notebook (2004) (Dir: Nick Cassavetes) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer

I would like to end this blog entry with a question for my dear readers below

What is your favorite Gena Rowlands film?

My Favorite Bernardo Bertolucci Films (2024 Edition)

by John Charet

I have not seen 2012’s Me and You yet because it is not available on Blu-Ray/DVD here in the United States nor can I watch it online.

* * * * (Out of * * * *)

  1. The Conformist (1970)
  2. Besieged (1998)
  3. Tragedy of a Ridiculous Man (1981)
  4. The Dreamers (2003)
  5. The Spider’s Stratagem (1970)
    (Italian Television)
  6. Before the Revolution (1964)
  7. Last Tango in Paris (1972)
  8. La Luna (1979)
  9. 1900 (1976)
  10. Stealing Beauty (1996)
  11. The Last Emperor (1987)
  12. The Sheltering Sky (1990)
  13. Partner (1968)
  14. Little Buddha (1993)
  15. The Grim Reaper (1962)
  16. Ten Minutes Older: The Cello (2002)
    Segment: Histoire d’eaux
  17. Il canale (1966)
    (Documentary)
    (Short)
  18. Love and Anger (1969)
    Segment: Agonia

My Favorite Ingmar Bergman Films (2024 Edition)

by John Charet

Some of these I watched online. I saw just about all of Bergman’s films, but not every single one of them.

* * * * (Out of * * * *)

  1. Persona (1966)
  2. Wild Strawberries (1957)
  3. Cries and Whispers (1972)
  4. Saraband (2003)
    (Swedish/Italian/German/Finnish/Danish/Austrian Television)
  5. Fanny and Alexander (1982)
    (Miniseries)
    (Swedish/French/West German Television)
  6. The Silence (1963)
  7. Smiles of a Summer Night (1955)
  8. Winter Light (1963)
  9. Sawdust and Tinsel (1953)
  10. Through a Glass Darkly (1961)
  11. Summer with Monika (1953)
  12. Hour of the Wolf (1968)
  13. Summer Interlude (1951)
  14. Scenes from a Marriage (1973)
    (Miniseries)
    (Swedish Television)
  15. The Seventh Seal (1957)
  16. Shame (1968)
  17. The Magician (1958)
  18. The Virgin Spring (1960)
  19. After the Rehearsal (1984)
    (Swedish Television)
  20. Autumn Sonata (1978)
  21. Face to Face (1976)
  22. The Magic Flute (1975)
  23. From the Life of the Marionettes (1980)
    (Swedish/West German Television)
  24. The Rite (1969)
    (Swedish Television)
  25. The Passion of Anna (1969)
  26. Brink of Life (1958)
  27. Dreams (1955)
  28. A Lesson in Love (1954)
  29. Secrets of Women (1952)
  30. The Devil’s Eye (1960)
  31. A Dream Play (1963)
    (Swedish Television)
  32. To Joy (1950)
  33. In the Presence of a Clown (1997)
    (Swedish/Danish/Norwegian/Italian/German Television)
  34. Faro Document 1979 (1979)
    (Documentary)
    (Television)
  35. Faro Document (1970)
    (Documentary)
    (Television)
  36. The Making of Fanny and Alexander (1984)
    (Documentary)
  37. The Making of Autumn Sonata (1978)
    (Documentary)
  38. Madame de Sade (1992)
    (Swedish Television)
  39. Prison (1949)
  40. Port of Call (1948)
  41. It Rains on Our Love (1946)
  42. The Serpent’s Egg (1977)
  43. Karin’s Face (1986)
    (Documentary)
    (Short)
  44. Thirst (1949)
  45. The Image Makers (2000)
    (Swedish/Danish/Finnish Television)
  46. The Misanthrope (1974)
    (Danish Television)
  47. Music in Darkness (1948)
  48. A Ship Bound for India (1947)
  49. Crisis (1946)
  50. The Blessed Ones (1986)
    (Swedish Television)
  51. The Touch (1971)
  52. Mr. Sleeman Is Coming (1957)
    (Swedish Television)
  53. Ovader (1960)
    (Swedish Television)
  54. The Last Gasp (1995)
    (Swedish Television)
  55. Backanterna (1993)
    (Swedish Television)
  56. Hustruskolan (1983)
    (Swedish Television)
  57. Rabies (1958)
    (Swedish Television)
  58. Stimulantia (1967)
    Segment: Daniel
  59. All These Women (1964)
  60. The Venetian (1958)
    (Swedish Television)
  61. Harald & Harald (1996)
    (Short)
    (Television)
  62. On Set Home Movies (2008)
    (Documentary)
    (Short)
  63. Ingmar Bergman: Making Commercials (1951)
    (Commercials)
    (Short)
    (Swedish Television)
  64. This Can’t Happen Here (1950)

My Favorite Mario Bava Films (2024 Edition)

by John Charet

* * * * (Out of * * * *)

  1. Kill, Baby, Kill (1966)
  2. Blood and Black Lace (1964)
  3. Lisa and the Devil (1973)
  4. A Bay of Blood (1971)
  5. Hatchet for the Honeymoon (1970)
  6. Black Sabbath (1963)
  7. Black Sunday (1960)
  8. Planet of the Vampires (1965)
  9. Danger: DIabolik (1968)
  10. The Whip and the Body (1963)
  11. Erik the Conqueror (1961)
  12. Hercules in the Haunted World (1961)
  13. Rabid Dogs (1974/1998)

* * * 1/2 (Out of * * * *)

  1. Five Dolls for an August Moon (1970)
  2. The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1963)
  3. Baron Blood (1972)
  4. Shock (1977)
  5. Four Times That Night (1971)

My Favorite Roy Ward Baker Films (2024 Edition)

by John Charet

A polite reminder before reading this blog entry of mine 🙂 I will not tolerate any insults or negativity towards the lead actress of the film that is on my number 1 spot. So once again, please be kind 🙂

* * * * (Out of * * * *)

  1. Don’t Bother to Knock (1952)
  2. The Vampire Lovers (1970)
  3. Inferno (1953)
    (No relation to Dario Argento’s 1980 film of the same name)
  4. Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde (1971)
  5. A Night to Remember (1958)
  6. Quatermass and the Pit (1967)
  7. The Anniversary (1968)
  8. The Vault of Horror (1973)
  9. Asylum (1972)

My Favorite Michelangelo Antonioni Films (2023 Edition)

by John Charet

Most of the Michelangelo Antonioni films listed here are ones I saw on a home video format (Blu-Ray and DVD in this case. Nevertheless, some of these I watched online.

* * * * (Out of * * * *)

  1. L’Eclisse (1962)
  2. Zabriskie Point (1970)
  3. L’Avventura (1960)
  4. The Passenger (1975)
  5. Red Desert (1964)
  6. Michelangelo Eye to Eye (2004)
    (Documentary)
    (Short Cinema)
  7. Identification of a Woman (1982)
  8. Beyond the Clouds (1995)
  9. The Mystery of Oberwald (1980)
  10. La Notte (1961)
  11. Blow-Up (1966)
  12. Le Amiche (1955)
  13. Story of a Love Affair (1950)
  14. Il Grido (1957)
  15. The Lady Without Camelias (1953)
  16. I Vinti (1953)
  17. Chung Kuo, Cina (1972)
    (Documentary)
    (Television)
  18. People of the Po Valley (1947)
    (Documentary)
    (Short Cinema)
  19. N.U. (1948)
    (Documentary)
    (Short Cinema)
  20. Love in the City (1953)
    Segment: Attempted Suicide
    (Short Cinema)
  21. Seven Reeds, One Suit (1949)
    (Documentary)
    (Short Cinema)
  22. Eros (2004)
    Segment: The Dangerous Thread of Things
    (Short Cinema)

My Favorite Kenneth Anger Films (2023 Edition)

by John Charet

All of the Kenneth Anger films listed here are ones that I watched online. Even with the fairly large number of Anger shorts listed, there are still a fair amount that I have not seen yet.

* * * * (Out of * * * *)

  1. Scorpio Rising (1963)
    (Short Cinema)
  2. Fireworks (1947)
    (Short Cinema)
  3. Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome (1954)
    (Short Cinema)
  4. Eaux d’Artifice (1953)
    (Short Cinema)
  5. Lucifer Rising (1972)
    (Short Cinema)
  6. Rabbit’s Moon (1950)
    (Short Cinema)
  7. Invocation of My Demon Brother (1969)
    (Short Cinema)
  8. Missoni (2010)
    (Commercial)
    (Short Cinema)
  9. Kustom Kar Kommandos (1965)
    (Short Cinema)
  10. Puce Moment (1949)
    (Short Cinema)
  11. The Man We Want to Hang (2002)
    (Short Cinema)
  12. Hollywood Babylon (2000)
    (co-directed with Nico B.)
    (Short Cinema)
  13. Anger Sees Red (2004)
    (Short Cinema)

My Favorite Theo Angelopoulos Films (2023 Edition)

by John Charet

With the exceptions of Reconstitution, Trilogy: The Weeping Meadow, The Dust of Time and Invisible World, I have seen every single Theo Angelopoulos film that I could find. In fact, I watched all of them online.

* * * * (Out of * * * *)

  1. Landscape in the Mist (1988)
  2. Eternity and a Day (1998)
  3. The Traveling Players (1975)
  4. Voyage to Cythera (1984)
  5. The Beekeeper (1986)
  6. Alexander the Great (1980)
  7. Days of ’36 (1972)
  8. The Hunters (1977)
  9. Ulysses’ Gaze (1995)
  10. The Suspended Step of the Stork (1991)
  11. Capitali culturail d’Europa – Season 1 (1983)
    Episode: Athens, Return to the Acropolis
    (Documentary)
    (Italian Television)
  12. To Each His Own Cinema (2007)
    Segment: Trois minutes (Three Minutes)
    (Short Cinema)
  13. Lumiere and Company (1995)
    Segment: Up to 52 Seconds
    (Short Cinema)
  14. Broadcast (1968)
    (Short Cinema)