tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4200832832545654418.post6543130140200509433..comments2023-07-31T04:35:02.260-04:00Comments on Cavalcade of Perversions: James River Film Festival HighlightsJennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13299640716799276127noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4200832832545654418.post-12994509807255677002011-04-22T21:26:23.876-04:002011-04-22T21:26:23.876-04:00Hi Vicar! Good to see you! I love seeing the old s...Hi Vicar! Good to see you! I love seeing the old stuff on the big screen. We saw SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT back at Christmas, and it was truly an experience. That was due in part to it being screened 'MST' style, with commentators and then audience members getting pissed about said commentary because it was unbeknownst to them before setting down the five bucks for the experience. <br /><br />Film events are very cool, indeed.Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13299640716799276127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4200832832545654418.post-35433503449195390922011-04-20T17:24:19.950-04:002011-04-20T17:24:19.950-04:00Mitchum is easily the most intimidating tough guy ...Mitchum is easily the most intimidating tough guy in classic cinema, for my money. Maybe all cinema ever. In CAPE FEAR he wears a floppy hat and high-waisted shorts with dress socks and loafers and still manages to be absolutely terrifying. :P<br /><br />Seeing these old movies on the big screen can be a revelation. I saw MALTESE FALCON in a theater a few years back, and even though I'd seen it so many times I could almost recite the dialogue, I still noticed new things, mainly b/c of the scale, I guess. Every time I get a chance to see a classic on the big screen, I jump at it. Haven't seen DRACULA that way, but FRANKENSTEIN and the original KING KONG were awesome!The Vicar of VHShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06832137990485130735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4200832832545654418.post-63779487436507426602011-04-17T00:35:40.397-04:002011-04-17T00:35:40.397-04:00Hi Mykal. I heard Laughton was pretty upset over t...Hi Mykal. I heard Laughton was pretty upset over the critical stuff. Oh well. He got to be married to the Bride of Frankenstien, even if it was a farce on his part. <br /><br />Wrt the Criterion release - I'd love to see that. Put that one in on the Amazon wish list.Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13299640716799276127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4200832832545654418.post-6580263692977821972011-04-16T09:50:31.662-04:002011-04-16T09:50:31.662-04:00Jenn: PS - I got this info from the special featur...Jenn: PS - I got this info from the special features on the blu-ray Criterion release of <i>Night</i>. Also, one of the special features is outtakes of Laughton directing. Everyone is deadly, deadly series - both actors and director. As one point, I thought Shelly Winters was going to blow her brains out in frustration - Laugton made her do a take about a million times.Mykal Bantahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12148489896145024134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4200832832545654418.post-7261636322809046092011-04-15T22:20:38.581-04:002011-04-15T22:20:38.581-04:00Jenn: With regard to why Laughton didn't direc...Jenn: With regard to why Laughton didn't direct another picture: He was devastated by the very mixed (mostly poor) critical reaction to <i>Night of the Hunter.</i> Laughton, and everyone connected with the movie, thought they had something special; but the film flopped both commercially and critically. Laughton was so disgusted with the reaction to the film, he never directed again (although he described directing the film one of the happiest times of his life).Mykal Bantahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12148489896145024134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4200832832545654418.post-84411000720153411922011-04-12T22:43:03.827-04:002011-04-12T22:43:03.827-04:00@mykal. Love the anecdotes. This film apparently h...@mykal. Love the anecdotes. This film apparently had a few. The kid that played John had apparently won a New York Critic's Award, which was like the equivalent of a Golden Globe back in the day, an award which Laughton never received. When asked to do a scene differently, Billy responded to Laughton, 'did you win a New York Critic's Award,' to which the answer was no, of course. I love that! <br /><br />@cinemanarchaeologist. Welcome and thanks for stopping by. I know what you mean about the ending. Sam, my boyfriend and movie-going companion, had never seen this particular film before and although he enjoyed it, he mentioned as we were leaving the venue how abrupt and unsatisfying the ending was compared to the rest of the film. It's a shame, really, to have such a powerhouse fizzle out on us like that. And there is some particular reason or another Laughton didn't make another movie - but it's lost to my memory for now. <br /><br />wrt Carlos vs. Bela. I know, I know. Some of those facial expressions can get pretty goofy at times, but hey, it's from the 30s! It could practically be a silent movie they way they all ham it up for the camera. And my love will always lie with Bela, womanizer, ego maniac, and druggie as he was. They just don't make 'em like that any more!Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13299640716799276127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4200832832545654418.post-4013732658687375372011-04-12T22:18:46.323-04:002011-04-12T22:18:46.323-04:00New blood, here.
In defense of the hyenas during ...New blood, here.<br /><br />In defense of the hyenas during Spanish DRACULA, Carlos Villarias does look pretty ridiculous in the part--definitely the weakest link in the film. Lugosi himself frequently comes across as ridiculous (though it's usually the fault of those behind the camera, rather than Bela himself), and poor Carlos is no Bela.<br /><br />I love expressionism, and NIGHT OF THE HUNTER is just a hell of a movie (not a noir picture, though). This and CAPE FEAR feature Mitchum at his most badass (and Scorsese lifted from both when he remade the latter). The Frenchies over at Cahiers Du Cinema ranked this one as the second-best movie ever made. I'm a fan, but that's a bit much. It sucks that Laughton never made another movie after this, sure, but sometimes I think it sucks even more that he delivered such a great first effort then didn't bother to provide an ending. As undeniably great as the rest of it is, NOTH basically disintegrates in the final act. That last segment is so divorced from the tone of the rest of the film that the uninitiated in the audience are in danger of whiplash, and the ending is just godawful.cinemarchaeologisthttp://cinemarchaeologist.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4200832832545654418.post-69321594575664373132011-04-12T15:31:21.854-04:002011-04-12T15:31:21.854-04:00In discussing the character of the Preacher, Laugh...In discussing the character of the Preacher, Laughton described him as a "diabolical shit." <br /><br />"Present!" answered Mitchum. <br /><br />One of my favorite movies.Mykal Bantahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12148489896145024134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4200832832545654418.post-79778369096276447552011-04-12T11:43:49.871-04:002011-04-12T11:43:49.871-04:00@cyclops. I know! It pains me to even go see a mov...@cyclops. I know! It pains me to even go see a movie on opening night any more. Damn kids! hehe<br /><br />@chris. I love Mitchum in this movie, even if it is melodramatic and over the top. He is totally badass.Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13299640716799276127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4200832832545654418.post-69563547635359419602011-04-12T11:01:23.223-04:002011-04-12T11:01:23.223-04:00Robert Mitchum was the original punk, sporting a s...Robert Mitchum was the original punk, sporting a switchblade and LOVE-HATE tattooed onto his knuckles in 194-freakin'-6. It's like if Franz Ferdinand was shot by an assassin with a studded, neon pink mohawk!Chris Hewsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11566568274862884325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4200832832545654418.post-28801907639210402042011-04-12T06:28:50.920-04:002011-04-12T06:28:50.920-04:00I cannot stand it when the audience ruins the movi...I cannot stand it when the audience ruins the movie. I've walked out on a couple of films because of the crowd talking or calling out.<br />Without being rascist or xenophobic, does this seem to happen more in the States than anywhere else? It almost seems part of the movie going experience to heckle the film.<br />Anyway, not seen the Spanish version of Dracula, but Night of the Hunter is one of my favorites - I envy you seeing on the big screen.Doctor_Cyclopshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02728434942405482563noreply@blogger.com