Movies, Mom & Me

• 
  Commentary:  Under construction.
    Gerardo Valero, a frequent critic/reviewer at Roger Ebert's website, wrote an initial, very positive review for this movie in 2010. Then, he turned around and revisited the movie, again, last year, commemorating this film's quality and staying power. If you're a movie nerd, like me, you might find his articles interesting.
    By the way, heads up. Take a look at the last cast credit, below. Surprise! There's a very interesting actor peaking out from behind the credits (he was not listed in the official credits).
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Paul Newman	Atty Frank Galvin	Charlotte Rampling	Laura Fischer	Jack Warden	Atty Mickey Morrissey	James Mason	Atty Ed Concannon
  Milo O'Shea	Judge Hoyle	Lindsay Crouse	Kaitlin Costello Price	Edward Binns	Bishop Brophy	Julie Bovasso	Maureen Rooney
  Roxanne Hart	Sally Doneghy	James Handy	Kevin Doneghy	Wesley Addy	Dr. Towler	Joe Seneca	Dr. Thompson
  Lewis J. Stadlen	Dr. Gruber	Kent Broadhurst	Joseph Alito	Colin Stinton	Billy	Bruce Willis	Courtroom Observer

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1982
    Directed by Sydney Lumet.

Labels: charlotte-rampling, courtroom, jack-warden, james-mason, legal, paul-newman

# posted by gail @ 12:50    0 comments    email......this post

• 
  Commentary:  I'm putting no labels on this collection other than the "collection" label, since this write-up includes four very different movies. It is interesting to note that the collection is named "Romantic Dramas" by TCM, who put it together, which I like because, having watched all of these movies at least once, they are romantic in the old tradition. Yes, they include relationship material, but in a much more complicated way than we tend to think of "romance" today. In addition, each of these films, in one way or another, follows the old, nuanced definition of "romantic": "marked by the imaginative or emotional appeal of what is heroic, adventurous, remote, mysterious, or idealized". This is not a collection of Pretty Woman fantasy type romantic dramas. This is a collection of "real life" romantic drama.
  Update 5/26/21:  Well, I put another label on this collection, popcorn-and-soda2, which is appropriate to all four movies, especially if watched on a binge-worthy afternoon.
  Update 8/3/21:  And, another label, I finally relented and placed these in the romance4 category.
    This Collection Includes:
  
  
  
  East of Eden:  To my mind, this is a good adaptation of the second half of the novel. My preference is for the novel, but the film is excellent, as well, and handy to keep in mind as you read the novel.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Julie Harris	Abra Bacon	James Dean	Caleb Trask	Raymond Massey	Adam Trask	Richard Davalos	Aaron Trask
  Burl Ives	Sheriff Sam	Jo Van Fleet	Kate Ames/Cathy Trask	Albert Dekker	Will Hamilton	Harold Gordon	Gustav Albrecht
  Nick Dennis	Rantani	Lois Smith	Servant Anne	Timothy Carey	Henchman Joe	Barbara Baxley	Nurse

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1955
    Directed by Elia Kazan.
  → lois-smith, elia-kazan
  
  
  
  Cat on a Hot Tin Roof:  This is my favorite film adaptation of this play. Sometimes film adaptations of Tennessee Williams' plays don't hold my interest, but this one does. Paul Newman adds a vulnerability to Brick that is hard to beat and Elizabeth Taylor as Maggie is perfect. The convolutions revealed, as lies unravel, is compelling. This is a true troubled family drama. The only characters outside of family who appear in this are the clean-up crew, so to speak.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Elizabeth Taylor	Margaret Pollitt	Paul Newman	Brick Pollitt	Burl Ives	Harvey Pollitt	Judith Anderson	Ida Pollitt
  Jack Carson	Cooper Pollitt	Madeleine Sherwood	Mae Flynn Pollitt	Larry Gates	Dr. Baugh	Vaughn Taylor	Deacon Davis

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1958
    Directed by Richard Brooks.
  → southern-gothic, paul-newman
  
  
  
  A Streetcar Named Desire:  Although I enjoyed the acting, it's certainly stellar, I studied this play in college and found the film adaptation confusing and lacking. Read the play, or see it in the theater, before watching the movie.
    Here's what Three Movie Buffs have to say about this film. Interesting, informative reviews from all three.
    In addition, look! Another 1951 film I didn't even realize I had!
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Vivien Leigh	Blanche	Marlon Brando	Stanley	Kim Hunter	Stella	Karl Malden	Mitch
  Rudy Bond	Steve	Nick Dennis	Pablo	Peg Hillias	Eunice	Wright King	Collector
  Ann Dere	Matron	Edna Thomas	Mexican Woman	Richard Garrick	Doctor	Lyle Latell	Policeman

  
    A miscellaneous note ripped from the Wikipedia page, linked below: As of May 2022, Mickey Kuhn, who played The Sailor and is not listed in the Actor/Role table, above, is the last surviving cast member of this movie.
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1951
    Directed by Elia Kazan
  → marlon-brando, southern-gothic, birth-year, elia-kazan
  
  
  
  Rebel Without a Cause:  Perhaps I wasn't the right age when I first saw this movie, well into my 50's, but it just doesn't attract me. As far as James Dean's acting is concerned, my favorite movie is Giant. That one makes me wish his life had been longer so he could develop as an actor. This movie, well, I'm sure it was a money maker, and I guess he acted well, but I found the story tedious and his character nothing to write home about. I know. It's sacrilegious to say that, but, well, I'm glad he got two other really involving films under his belt before he died.
    Roger Ebert christened this movie as one of his Great Movies. I've linked his review to the of this movie.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  James Dean	Jim Stark	Natalie Wood	Judy	Sal Mineo	John Crawford	Jim Backus	Frank Stark
  Ann Doran	Carol Stark	Corey Allen	Buzz Gunderson	William Hopper	Judy's Father	Rochelle Hudson	Judy's Mother
  Edward Platt	Ins. Ray Fremick	Marietta Canty	Crawford Family Maid	Virginia Brissac	Grandma Stark	Dennis Hopper	Goon
  Jack Grinnage	Moose	Frank Mazzola	Crunch	Ian Wolfe	Dr. Minton	Beverly Long	Helen
  Robert Foulk	Gene	Jack Simmons	Cookie	Tom Bernard	Harry	Nick Adams	Chick

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1955
    Directed by Nicholas Ray.

Labels: birth-year, elia-kazan, karl-malden, lois-smith, marlon-brando, natalie-wood, paul-newman, popcorn-and-soda2, romance4, southern-gothic

# posted by gail @ 18:37    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  None
• 
  Commentary:  This was the first time either of us had watched this one. I was so ready to love it, especially since it is the inaugural episode of the series. Although I found Mr. Lipton's lack of glasses interesting, as well as the addition of one question to The Questionnaire [a question regarding what one's reincarnational being preference is; I'm sorry this question has been ousted], the interview was so full of inside jokes and references I sometimes wondered if the students were floundering a little, too. I must confess, I was watching it in snippets while doing chores, so I missed some. This may color my opinion. When (as, "if" is unnecessary) I see this again, if it strikes me differently, I'll report back.
    This interview had lots of clips, so Mom loved it.
    This video is part of the Icons Collection.
    Interviewer:  James Lipton
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up for this actor.
    Release Date: 1994
    Directed by Lou Del Prete.

Labels: interview, paul-newman, TV1

# posted by gail @ 12:00    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  *1* *2* *3* *4* *5* *6* *7* *8* *9* *10* *11* *12*
• 
  Commentary:  Now, you see, if you have any familiarity with my main journals, old or new, at all, you'll know why the series gets a listing and each separate episode that becomes a part of our library rates a solitary listing.
    Because we are ever faithful watchers of this program and it inevitably provokes discussion, it is mentioned many times in my journals, twelve, it seems, to be exact.
    I cannot tell you how pleased I am that this series is finally being sold on DVD to the public. I turned myself onto it by accident when I became exposed to cable TV the year I turned back from Seattle. I've been a devotee ever since, recruited my mother and my niece, who is planning on following the actor's call and is working hard at it...have semi-recruited at least one sister. I am unashamed to refer to the show. It is honey in the rock of television.
    Anyway, each episode is reviewed separately. I haven't yet purchased the Dave Chapelle episode because I haven't seen it and I'm hoping it will come together with other episodes...maybe a comedy collection.
    Anyway, in general, I am so pleased that they are releasing some of the older episodes. Some of those are my favorites: Martin Landau, who took his role as a teacher seriously and, thus, was probably the most fascinating guest this show has ever hosted; Shelly Winters; Peter Falk; oh that was a dynamite one, so was Shirley MacClaine...oh, and Eli Wallach, oh, wow, they don't have his interview listed, that's a surprise! I wonder if they have, hold on...yeah, they've got Jerry Lewis, maybe Eli Wallach appeared on behalf of someone else...need I go on?
    This show is important to us. We watch reruns. We watch our tapes. I will be continuing to collect this series.
    For the record, of the four in this collection, I have not seen two: the Clint Eastwood and Paul Newman interviews. So, even I'm curious to see what I'll think of them.
    Interviewer:  James Lipton
    Series directed by various people, listed under the names of the actors' interviews I have.

Labels: interview, paul-newman, TV2

# posted by gail @ 11:31    0 comments    email......this post

• Who's watched:  M & G
• Mentions:  None
• 
  Commentary:  Mom's sister introduced both of us to this movie. Since knowing it was one of mom's sister's favorites it has become a favorite of Mom's although sometimes, now, it moves a little fast for her. I've always enjoyed this movie. It's like riding on a carousel.
  Update 9/29/19:  I know, I know. It may seem like I'm just looking for movies to include in my "gang-movie" category, but this movie is definitely a gang movie -- an "ad hoc" gang movie, with a muddled moral core (unusual for gang movies) that adds to its delightfulness.
    

  Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role	Actor	Role
  Paul Newman	Henry Gondorff	Robert Redford	Johnny Hooker	Robert Shaw	Doyle Lonnegan	Robert Earl Jones	Luther Coleman
  Charles Durning	Lt. William Snyder	Ray Walston	J.J. Singleton	Eileen Brennan	Billie	Harold Gould	Kid Twist
  Dana Elcar	FBI Agent Polk	Dimitra Arliss	Loretta Salino	Sally Kirkland	Crystal	Paulene Myers	Alva Coleman

  
    Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
    Release Date: 1973
    Directed by George Roy Hill.

Labels: action3, adventure3, buddy, gang-movie, jean-favorite, mom-favorite2, mystery2, paul-newman, period5, popcorn-and-soda5, robert-redford

# posted by gail @ 02:29    0 comments    email......this post