Since I could not find a youtube video link of Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing legendary French New Wave veteran filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard’s 1967 surrealist black comedy masterpiece Weekend, readers will have to rely on Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was July 19, 1993 (read here). Since I love all of Godard’s films, it will probably not surprise any of my loyal readers to know that Weekend ranks for me as one of his many great films. Cox hits the nail on the head when he described it as his most Bunuelian film. If any of you readers are interested, here is a link to my favorite Jean-Luc Godard films (read here).
Here is a youtube video link to the film’s French trailer
Here is a youtube video link to the film’s US trailer
I would like to give a special shout-out to Steve (click here to view his youtube channel) – a loyal visitor of this site for finding an Alex Cox intro gem from 1997 that I will discuss shortly. The intro gem I am referring to is director Giulio Questi’s 1967 surreal horror spaghetti western masterpiece Django Kill… If You Live, Shoot!. Unlike the majority of Cox’s intros on here, this one was not for Moviedrome, but for another BBC2 series, albeit a limited one, entitled Forbidden Season. The series was dedicated to airing certain films implicitly or explicitly deemed controversial by the BBFC. Two years earlier in 1995, BBC2 aired a similar limited series under the title Forbidden Weekend and Cox would introduce a few films on there as well. In the youtube video link below, Cox throughly and eloquently examines everything from the film’s controversial history with the BBFC to why the film is such a unique spaghetti western. Not surprised considering that Cox wrote a richly detailed book on the sub-genre entitled 10,000 Ways to Die: A Director’s Take on the Spaghetti Western (read here). Once again, I would like to thank frequent site visitor Steve for finding this wonderful Alex Cox intro gem.
Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Forbidden Season intro to DjangoKill… If You Live, Shoot!
That’s right! This Moviedrome Monday entry happens to be another double bill 🙂
Hell’s Angels on Wheels (1967)
I have posted a youtube video link below to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s Moviedrome introduction to director Richard Rush’s 1967 biker flick Hell’s Angels on Wheels. Readers can also read Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was August 18, 1991 (read here). Not much to really add here and while it is far from a classic, there is no denying that it is highly entertaining – I especially agree with Cox regarding the motorcycle sequences and it’s use of music. Along with Easy Rider from two years later, Hell’s Angels on Wheels is little more than a product of it’s time; nevertheless, both are still worth a watch. My only issue with Cox here is that he credits the late Laszlo Kovacs as cinematographer on Close Encounters of the Third Kind, when it was actually photographed by the now also deceased Vilmos Zsigmond (read here and here).
Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to Hell’s Angelson Wheels and I would like to personally thank user giulio sacchi74 (a.k.a. Steve) for his valiant efforts in finding and uploading this link 🙂
Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer
Rumble Fish (1983)
I have posted a youtube video link below to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox’s introduction to legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola’s 1983 drama Rumble Fish. Readers can also read Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was during the early midnight hours of August 19, 1991 (read here). Everything Cox says here about Rumble Fish is 100 percent spot-on and yes, it is far superior to The Outsiders – also directed by Coppola earlier in 83 (both came out the same year) and like this film, it too was adapted from an S.E. Hinton novel. In addition, Rumble Fish feels more personal to Coppola than The Outsiders. For example, it has been reported that the story’s central relationship between two brothers (Matt Dillon and Mickey Rourke) reminded Coppola of the bonding he had with his older brother August, whom the film is dedicated to (read here and here). Along with composer/musician Stewart Copeland’s experimental score (read here and here), Rumble Fish is also notable for Stephen H. Burum’s unique black-and-white cinematography, which resembles what a b&w French New Wavefilm (read here and here) would look like lit with stylish touches relating to German Expressionism (read here, here and here) and Film Noir (read here). After one combines all of this together, Rumble Fish finishes up visually as an authentic piece of avant-garde cinematic art. If any of you readers are interested, here is a link to my favorite Francis Ford Coppola films (read here).
Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to Rumble Fish. Once again, I would like to personally thank user giulio sacchi74 (a.k.a. Steve) for his valiant efforts in finding and uploading this link 🙂
Also, here is a youtube video link to another version of the intro uploaded by Steve, in case any of you readers wanted a slightly higher quality version of it. Personally, I love the first version that Steve uploaded, but this one is every bit as great and is always welcome 🙂
