#3961  
Old 02-26-2020, 02:18 AM
FryeDwight FryeDwight is offline
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DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944). This is normally the model people use when describing Film Noir; fabulous shadowy camera work, unpleasant subject matter, a "hero" letting the little head to the thinking for the big head (and not nearly as smart as He thinks he is) and a viperous woman setting up the whole chain of events. Two people meet, aspire to a "Perfect Crime", pull it off and watch as the unraveling begins.

One of the best with Fred MacMurray going against type along with Barbara Stanwyk why is very good here, but the wig they had her wear just looks awful and while Barb is very good, think Joan Bennett or Mary Astor could have been more convincing . JB was a knockout at the time and she was great as the "Bad Girl" in SCARLET STREET.

For Me, Edward G Robison is the main reason to see this. He is fantastic and wholly deserving of an Oscar for his performance . ****1/2
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  #3962  
Old 03-02-2020, 08:05 PM
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Sculpt Sculpt is offline
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Originally Posted by FryeDwight View Post
DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944). This is normally the model people use when describing Film Noir; fabulous shadowy camera work, unpleasant subject matter, a "hero" letting the little head to the thinking for the big head (and not nearly as smart as He thinks he is) and a viperous woman setting up the whole chain of events. Two people meet, aspire to a "Perfect Crime", pull it off and watch as the unraveling begins.

One of the best with Fred MacMurray going against type along with Barbara Stanwyk why is very good here, but the wig they had her wear just looks awful and while Barb is very good, think Joan Bennett or Mary Astor could have been more convincing . JB was a knockout at the time and she was great as the "Bad Girl" in SCARLET STREET.

For Me, Edward G Robison is the main reason to see this. He is fantastic and wholly deserving of an Oscar for his performance . ****1/2
Well said. Double Indemnity is the first rate film noir. Turn of the type for MacMurray and for Robinson too, who play it to the T. I didn't know Stanwyk was wearing a wig, but yeah, it doesn't look good.
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  #3963  
Old 03-06-2020, 12:58 AM
FryeDwight FryeDwight is offline
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TEENAGE ZOMBIES (1959). While I do have a fondness for low budget films and can appreciate the effort, find this all but unwatchable. Silly story, bad acting and some unintentionally funny scenes (particularly the scuffle towards the end when it looks like a yoga class) ; a particularly static camera does not help. 1/2
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  #3964  
Old 03-09-2020, 12:30 AM
FryeDwight FryeDwight is offline
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PINOCCHIO (1940)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SPOILERS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>


The animation here is first rate and the title character is much more appealing than he is in the book (Little asshole He is there!), albeit easily led astray. Find the first 20 minute to be the least effective as Jimmy Cricket is strictly there, it seems, for the easy laugh.
Things pick up quickly when Pinocchio visits "Pleasure Island" where a boy can do anything he wants, but the price to pay for all that fun is staggering. Indeed, I find the sequence where Lampwick transforms to be extremely frightening and noticing that his last words are for his Mother. But one wonders just how much heartbreak his delinquency brought to Moms?

The scenes involving Monstro, the Whale, are also pretty intense and one can imagine all the screams during those. There is a Happy ending, but after all the adventures He's been through , it's a welcome one. ****
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  #3965  
Old 03-11-2020, 02:34 PM
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Originally Posted by FryeDwight View Post
PINOCCHIO (1940)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SPOILERS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>


The animation here is first rate and the title character is much more appealing than he is in the book (Little asshole He is there!), albeit easily led astray. Find the first 20 minute to be the least effective as Jimmy Cricket is strictly there, it seems, for the easy laugh.
Things pick up quickly when Pinocchio visits "Pleasure Island" where a boy can do anything he wants, but the price to pay for all that fun is staggering. Indeed, I find the sequence where Lampwick transforms to be extremely frightening and noticing that his last words are for his Mother. But one wonders just how much heartbreak his delinquency brought to Moms?

The scenes involving Monstro, the Whale, are also pretty intense and one can imagine all the screams during those. There is a Happy ending, but after all the adventures He's been through , it's a welcome one. ****
What prompted you to see Pinocchio?
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  #3966  
Old 03-13-2020, 12:09 AM
FryeDwight FryeDwight is offline
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What prompted you to see Pinocchio?
My daughter loved the Disney films when she was little, starting with THE LITTLE MERMAID, so watched a great many of them ,including the above. Some I like better than others and hadn't seen PINOCCHIO in awhile.

THE LETTER (1940)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SPOILERS>.>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>

This opens with a literal bang as Bette Davis and her pistol blow a guy to Hell and Back several times. The question is, was it self defense or something more. All the fawning over Davis by the other characters- You would think She is the Queen or such- gets old, but stick with it as other info comes to light, making this pretty good. Excellent turns by James Stephenson as her Lawyer (dying in real life just a few months after TL release) and Victor Seun Young-Charlie Chan's Number One Son as well as BONANZA's Hop Sing- as his efficient but extremely conniving clerk. Herbert Marshall (THE FLY) is also good as her adoring naive husband and You feel such pity for him as the story wraps.
Lots of appearances by other genre favorites as Tetsu Komai (ISLAND OF LOST SOULS), Doris Lloyd (NIGHT MONSTER, THE WOLF MAN, THE LODGER), Holmes Herbert (THE INVISIBLE MAN, 1931 Dr Jekyll AND MR HYDE), Freda Inescourt (RETURN OF THE VAMPIRE, THE ALLIGATOR PEOPLE), Cecil Kellaway (THE MUMMY'S HAND, THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS) and Gale Sondergaard (SPIDER WOMAN, 1941 THE BLACK CAT) whose glare alone will give You chills. ***1/2
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  #3967  
Old 03-17-2020, 02:37 AM
FryeDwight FryeDwight is offline
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MAD LOVE (1935). Peter Lorre is creepy as hell here and quite a deviant tone to it, but so much filler and pointless finale. Have heard how great this is, but find it very overrated, although it's worth seeing. **
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  #3968  
Old 03-22-2020, 09:49 AM
classic_horror_fan classic_horror_fan is offline
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Thumbs up Psycho

I just looked back at the original "Psycho" for the first time in well over in 10 years, and found it to be more amazing than I remembered! Not only did Anthony Perkins nail that role, but it was also directed by Alfred Hitchcock, one of the most brilliant and amazing movie directors ever! It's no wonder the sequels and the remake were unable to even touch this great timeless classic! A lot of stuff from more recent years or even more recent decades are still unable to touch the old black and white classics from way back when that were directed by Hitchcock!
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  #3969  
Old 03-23-2020, 01:32 AM
FryeDwight FryeDwight is offline
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Originally Posted by classic_horror_fan View Post
I just looked back at the original "Psycho" for the first time in well over in 10 years, and found it to be more amazing than I remembered! Not only did Anthony Perkins nail that role, but it was also directed by Alfred Hitchcock, one of the most brilliant and amazing movie directors ever! It's no wonder the sequels and the remake were unable to even touch this great timeless classic! A lot of stuff from more recent years or even more recent decades are still unable to touch the old black and white classics from way back when that were directed by Hitchcock!
Very true!

COME BACK, LITTLE SHEBA (1952). Shirley Booth ,("Hazel" herself from the later TV show) won an Oscar for her role as a slovenly Dingbatted housewife married to a recovering alcoholic, well played by Burt Lancaster (who, truth be told, even with the makeup, he still looks too young for the role). They both have grown stale and complacent with one another until a Student from the local University rents a room. Terry Moore (MIGHTY JOE YOUNG) is quite fetching here and pretty frisky as well...although she mentions a serious boyfriend, she still finds time to make time with a young Richard Jackel...their makeout sessions are pretty intense.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>POSSIBLE SPOILERS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Although Booth will remind You as an Edith Bunker type, stay with it and some marvelous acting from Her as more of the back story emerges and the importance of "Little Sheba" comes to light. Also, due to misunderstanding, Lancaster falls off the wagon and he is frightening in the scene when he returns home, revealing his true feelings...the resentment and loathing from him will hit You like a fist and your heart will truly go out to Booth. ****
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  #3970  
Old 03-26-2020, 04:07 AM
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Maila Munster Maila Munster is offline
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Witchfinder General (1968), directed by Michael Reeves.

Truly a great movie, because of a deep look into the worst of the human condition (also narrow-mindedness). It manages to disturb and induce a general feeling of horror due to its violence.
The final movie of Michael Reeves who sadly died of a drug overdose shortly after the film was released. I must say, the "Witchfinder General" is well-made though it's low-budget. Vincent Price as a horror maestro of course doesn't disappoint. As a titular hero he delivers us a vicious and brilliant performance. Certainly worth seeing!
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