Moviedrome

Moviedrome Mondays: Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

by John Charet

Since I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox presenting director Alexander Mackendrick’s 1957 classic Sweet Smell of Success, readers will once again have to rely on Cox’s transcript (read here). The episode’s original airdate was September 3, 1989 (read here). What more can be said about this great film. We get two powerhouse performances by Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis, memorable dialogue from screenwriters Ernest Lehman and Clifford Odets (who was also a playwright) (you’re a cookie full of arsenic), spectacular black-and-white cinematography by the late legendary James Wong Howe and last, but not least, late great composer Elmer Bernstein’s jazzy score. I have seen all of Mackendrick’s Ealing comedies, but it has been a while since I saw his last two films, which were A High Wind in Jamaica and Don’t Make Waves, so I will have to re-watch them sometime in the future. Nevertheless, If any of you readers are interested in reading my list of my favorite Alexander Mackendrick films, read here.

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

Moviedrome Mondays: Five Easy Pieces (1970)

by John Charet

Once again, I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing director Bob Rafelson’s widely praised 1970 character study Five Easy Pieces,  readers will have to rely on his intro transcript (read here). The episode’s original airdate was August 27, 1989 (read here). While I may not adore Five Easy Pieces like Cox seemingly does, I still greatly admire it. Though undoubtedly dated in some ways, it remains fascinating thanks to it’s subject matter – the working class. As Cox implies at the end of his transcript, it also contains a memorable diner scene.

BTW, my two favorite Bob Rafelson films (and they are great one) are 1972’s The King of Marvin Gardens (also with Nicholson) and 1987’s Black Widow with Debra Winger and Theresa Russell, who ranks as one of my many favorite actresses.

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

Also, here is a youtube video link to the film’s memorable diner scene

Moviedrome Mondays: The Buddy Holly Story (1978)

by John Charet

Since I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing director Steve Rash’s 1978 biographical drama The Buddy Holly Story, readers will have to rely on a transcript of his intro (read here). The episode’s original airdate was August 20, 1989 (read here). Nothing really to add here except that I echo Cox’s sentiments on this film. Nevertheless, it is turned to a good film thanks to Gary Busey’s electrifying performance as the iconic title character. A shame that the rest of it comes up bland by comparison (notice I said “by comparison”).

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

Moviedrome Mondays: Trancers (1984)

by John Charet

I have posted a youtube video link to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s intro to director Charles Band’s 1984 sci-fi entry Trancers. The episode’s original airdate was August 13, 1989 (read here). Readers can read his transcript right here. As Cox implies here, Trancers is like a blend between The Terminator and Blade Runner. While by no means a classic, it is undeniably entertaining.

Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Movidrome intro of Trancers

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

Moviedrome Mondays: Two-Lane Blacktop (1971)

by John Charet

Since I could not find a youtube video link to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s intro to director Monte Hellman’s 1971 cult classic Two-Lane Blacktop, readers will have to make due with a link to his transcript for it (read here). The episode’s original airdate was August 6, 1989 (read here). Not unlike what the owner of Moviedromer.tumblr.com thought, I too disagree with Cox regarding the acting of singers James Taylor and Dennis Wilson (the latter from The Beach Boys). I too think it is just them improvising or making conversation. Nevertheless, I do agree with Cox’s sentiments on the late great Warren Oates (but then again, who wouldn’t?), who co-stars in this film. If you readers are interested in reading my list of my favorite Monte Hellman films, read here.

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

Moviedrome Mondays: Alphaville (1965)

by John Charet

I have posted a youtube video link below to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s intro to legendary French New Wave filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard’s 1965 science-fiction mystery Alphaville. My readers can also read Cox’s transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was July 30, 1989 (read here). Taking into account Raoul Coutard’s black-and-white cinematography and the image of American actor Eddie Constantine as a trenchcoat-clad detective, Alphaville may also be Godard’s way of paying homage to 1940’s film-noir. As usual, Godard manages to say a lot on many things of the film -socio, political or otherwise. Equally impressive is Godard’s reliance on actual locations, as opposed to building futuristic sets. Since modernistic glass and concrete buildings were new at the time (read here), Godard decided to stick with this. Whether it was due to budgetary restraints or not, he managed to make this viewer feel that it was visually convincing dystopian future. If any of you readers are interested in reading my list of my favorite Jean-Luc Godard films, read here.

Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro of Alphaville

Here is a youtube video link to (what I believe) was the original theatrical trailer for the French market

Here is a youtube link to (what I believe) is a 2014 revival trailer for the American market

Moviedrome Mondays: Ace in the Hole (1951)

by John Charet

Since I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing legendary director-writer Billy Wilder’s 1951 Film-Noir drama Ace in the Hole, my readers will have to make due with a transcript once again (read here). The episode’s original airdate was July 23, 1989 (read here). When it comes to summing up Wilder career as a whole, I do not know If I can go as far as Cox does here in calling him the cinematic equivalent of Vladimir Nabokov. Cox says that he’s completely cynical, without sentimentality, without remorse, and he’s as great a craftsman with film as Nabokov was with words. – well, that depends on what Wilder film he is talking about. This aspect does apply (at least for me) to three of the four Wilder films he mentioned – Sunset Boulevard, this one and Some Like It Hot, but The Apartment contained some unnecessary sentiment. All that being said, Ace in the Hole is undoubtedly Wilder at his most cynical and I rank it somewhere in the top four of my favorite films from him. Also, when it comes to Cox’s closing paragraph on this film, I could not have said what he said any better (read here). If any of you readers are interested in reading my list of my favorite Billy Wilder films, read here.

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

Also, here is a youtube video link to Director/Screenwriter Josh Olson’s Trailers from Hell commentary on the film

Moviedrome Mondays: The Grissom Gang (1971)

by John Charet

Unlike the last few entries, this Moviedrome Monday will not feature a youtube video link to presenter Alex Cox’s introduction to Robert Aldrich’s 1971 period gangster film The Grissom Gang. The reason for this is because I could not find a youtube video link to it, so my readers will have to rely on his transcript (read here). The episode’s original airdate was July 16, 1989 (read here). Although Cox calls the film efficient, he is not as crazy about it when compared to my reaction. Whereas Cox subtly criticizes it’s use of color, for me, Aldrich and screenwriter Leon Griffiths decision to depict the title characters more as caricatures was more than offset by the vibe that it (and in this case a rarity) came off as fascinating. Interesting pieces of trivia: this is the second Aldrich film to premiere on Moviedrome (the first was …All the Marbles – a.k.a. The California Dolls). This is also the second film adaptation of James Hadley Chase’s 1939 novel No Orchids for Miss Blandish – the previous version (a British production btw) came out in 1948 from director St. John Legh Clowes under that aforementioned name. In case you readers missed it, here is a link to my list of my favorite Robert Aldrich films (read here).

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

 

Moviedrome Mondays: Night of the Comet (1984)

by John Charet

At the end of this blog entry, I will post a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing director Thom Eberhardt’s 1984 low-budget science-fiction horror comedy Night of the Comet. My readers can read Cox’s transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was July 9, 1989 (read here). While by no means a great or even very good film, Night of the Comet is throughly enjoyable. I do agree with Cox though that it’s attempts at humor backfires. Nevertheless, the film’s two appealing lead heroines (played here by Catherine Mary Stewart and Kelli Maroney) serve as the glue that holds everything together. For those who have seen this film, try spotting early Cox regular Dick Rude as a mutant Stock Boy. Of similar interest, film director/writer (not to mention comic book writer) Joss Whedon cited this film as an influence (particularly concerning Maroney’s character) regarding the creation of the Buffy Summers character from his own Buffy the Vampire Slayer (both the 1992 film and the 1997-2003 television series). For more information on this, read this 2003 interview from IGN’s UK site (read here).

Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to Night of the Comet

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

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