Saturday, October 07, 2023
Shane
- Commentary: Astonishing, I understand, me being a movie buff and all, but not only do I not, at this moment (10/7/23 @ 1:48 p.m.), own a copy of this movie, I've never seen it! I first heard about this movie when I was 10 or 11. My neighbor and best friend, who was the same age as me, loved this movie, talked about it whenever she got the chance and urged me to see it if I ever got the chance. This was back in the early 1960's, on Guam, that had 1 channel television from 5:45 p.m. (5:30 p.m. on High Holy Days) until maybe midnight but usually not, if those with televisions were even watching. The thing was, because television wasn't much of a resource and movie theaters were very few and very far between, almost no one watched television or went to the movies on Guam until sometime in the very late 1960's, when more channels were obtained and more theaters had been built. We played, or read, or, you know, all the other things people do when they're not watching television or going to the movies, only we did those things all day and evening long, if we weren't in school or doing homework. Or doing chores, or delivering newspapers, or sleeping. Even when more TV and movie fare was available, I never got the hang of watching TV or "going to the movies" and, frankly, didn't have a TV or watch TV until around that expansion-of-TV time in the late 1960's, but, even then, it wasn't a habit that myself or any of my sisters developed until several (and I do mean several) years later. So, no Shane, not for me, until well, sometime Monday, 10/9/23, when the blu-ray of this movie will arrive on my doorstep. I've even decided not to read the two reviews I've attached to this write-up, or any others, or the Wikipedia description below, until after I've watched the movie.
It's supposed to be the greatest and most lauded movie ever. And, I'm not really what you'd call a fan of Westerns. So, stay tuned. All things, including my proclivities, considered, I'm looking forward to this.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Alan Ladd Shane Jean Arthur Marian Starrett Van Heflin Joe Starrett Brandon deWilde Joey Starrett Jack Palance Jack Wilson Ben Johnson Chris Calloway Edgar Buchanan Fred Lewis Emile Meyer Rufus Ryker Elisha Cook Jr. Frank "Stonewall" Torrey Douglas Spencer Axel 'Swede' Shipstead John Dierkes Morgan Ryker Ellen Corby Mrs. Liz Torrey Paul McVey Sam Grafton John Miller Will Atkey Edith Evanson Mrs. Shipstead Leonard Strong Ernie Wright Ray Spiker Axel Johnson Janice Carroll Susan Lewis Martin Mason Ed Howells Helen Brown Martha Lewis Nancy Kulp Mrs. Howells Alana Ladd Little Girl David Ladd Little Boy Howard Negley Yank Potts
One of Roger Ebert's Great Movies.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1953
Directed by George Stevens.
Labels: jack-palance, van-heflin, western
Pre-Code Hollywood Collection: Universal Backlot Series
- Commentary: Under construction.
This package also includes a special feature entitled Forbidden Film: The Production Code Era that runs for 1 hour and 8 minutes. I'm looking forward to this, as well as the movies.
I want to mention that, for the following six movies, I looked "elsewhere" (other than my usual two or so spots) for reviews. I'm so glad I did! I found six previously-unknown-to-me reviewers whose sites look delectable and whose thought about movies is widely informative and provocative! They have been added to my mental (and physical) list of reviewers with whom to touch base as I continue to write about the movies I collect. I may even go backward and replace some of my older reviews with reviews from these six new sites.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up about the pre-code era.
Release Date: 2009
Directed by Various.
- The Cheat
Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Tallulah Bankhead Elsa Carlyle Harvey Stephens Jeffrey Carlyle Irving Pichel Hardy Livingstone Jay Fassett Terrell Ann Andrews Mrs. Albright William Ingersoll Croupier Hanaki Yoshiwara Japanese Servant Willard Dashiell Judge Edward Keane Defense Attorney Robert Strange District Attorney Ruth Donnelly Woman in Court behind Elsa Jimmy Granato Orchestra Musician
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1931
Directed by George Abbott. - Merrily We Go to Hell
Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Sylvia Sidney Joan Prentice Fredric March Jerry Corbett Adrianne Allen Claire Hempstead Richard Gallagher Buck George Irving Mr. Prentice Esther Howard Vi Florence Britton Charlcie Charles Coleman Richard Damery Cary Grant Charlie Baxter Kent Taylor Greg Boleslavsky Mildred Boyd June Leonard Carey Prentice's Butler
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1932
Directed by Dorothy Arzner. - Hot Saturday
Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Cary Grant Romer Sheffield Nancy Carroll Ruth Brock Randolph Scott Bill Fadden Edward Woods Conny Billop Lilian Bond Eva Randolph William Collier, Sr Mr. Brock Jane Darwell Mrs. Brock Stanley Smith Joe Rita La Roy Camille Oscar Apfel Mr. Randolph Jessie Arnold Aunt Minnie Rose Coghlan Annie Brock
→ Marjorie Main - Gossip in Window (uncredited)
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1932
Directed by William A. Seiter. - Torch Singer
Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Claudette Colbert Sally Trent/Mimi Benton Ricardo Cortez Tony Cummings David Manners Michael Gardner Lyda Roberti Dora Nichols Baby LeRoy Bobby Charlie Grapewin Andrew Judson Sam Godfrey Radio Announcer Harry Florence Roberts Mother Angelica Virginia Hammond Mrs. Julia Judson Albert Conti Carlotti Ethel Griffies Agatha Alden Mildred Washington Carrie
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1933
Directed by Alexander Hall, George Somnes. - Murder at the Vanities
Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Carl Brisson Eric Lander Victor McLaglen Bill Murdock Jack Oakie Jack Ellery Kitty Carlisle Ann Ware Dorothy Stickney Norma Watson Gertrude Michael Rita Ross Jessie Ralph Mrs. Helene Smith Charles B. Middleton Homer Boothby Gail Patrick Sadie Evans Donald Meek Dr. Saunders Toby Wing Nancy Duke Ellington Himself
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1934
Directed by Mitchell Leisen. - Search for Beauty
Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Buster Crabbe Don Jackson Ida Lupino Barbara Hilton Robert Armstrong Larry Wilson James Gleason Dan Healy/Publisher Toby Wing Sally Palmer Gertrude Michael Jean Strange Bradley Page Joe Garrett Frank McGlynn, Sr. Reveren Rankin Nora Cecil Miss Pettigrew Virginia Hammond Mrs. Archibald Henderson-James Eddie Gribbon Adolph Knockler James B. Kenton Caretaker Lynn Bari Beauty Contestant Maurice Costello Spa Guest Joyzelle Joyner Beauty Contestant Joyzelle Joyner Texas Beauty Winner
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1934
Directed by Eric C. Kenton.
Labels: marjorie-main (uncredited), pre-code
Tuesday, October 03, 2023
Mulan
- Who's watched: M & G, more than once
Mentions: None
- Commentary: Something about the scene in which the invading army comes over a snow ridge. Something else about that "song and dance" number about what it takes to be a man. Something else about it being a Chinese fairy tale. I don't know if Mom likes it for the same reasons I do, but I know she likes it. I've even replayed the "Be a Man" song for her when we are watching it.
Too, and I don't know if this has anything to do with my enjoyment of the film, when the movie hit the theaters in 1998 Mom and I took my Chandler niece to see it because all three of us were excited about the movie.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Ming-Na Wen Fa Mulan Eddie Murphy Mushu BD Wong Captain Li Shang Miguel Ferrer Shan Yu
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1998
Directed by Tony Bancroft & Barry Cook.
Labels: action3, adventure4, animated, coming-of-age2, father-daughter-dynamics, gender-bender, kids, period6, shared-favorite, suspense2
Sunday, October 01, 2023
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
- Commentary: This, the second installment of the Planet of the Apes Reboot trilogy. essentially defines and exacerbates the conflict between those humans who have not been wiped out by the Simian Flu Virus. Caesar, throughout most of the movie, remains hopeful that apes and humans can separately and peacefully coexist. Bad actors on both sides, though, due to both human and ape nature, make this impossible.
This movie has very sad undertones. It, essentially, sets up the large scale conflict between apes and humans that plays out in the final Trilogy Reboot.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Andy Serkis Caesar Toby Kebbell Koba Judy Greer Cornelia Nick Thurston Blue Eyes Terry Notary Rocket Karin Konoval Maurice Doc Shaw Ash Lee Ross Grey Jason Clarke Malcolm Gary Oldman Dreyfuss Keri Russell Eli Kodi Smit-McPhee Alexander Kirk Acevedo Carter Jon Eyez Foster Enrique Murciano Kemp Keir O'Donnell Finney
Update 6/9/2022: This post was originally published on 1/16/2021 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Update 10/1/2023: This post was originally published on 1/16/2021 but, yet again, it disappeared itself from public view. I am now re-reinstating it.
Here is the Wikipedia write-up of this movie.
Release Date: 2014
Directed by Matt Reeves.
Labels: action2, adventure2, andy-serkis, animal, biography1, cgi-animation, drama2, fantasy1, political1, reflective, science-fiction1, super-hero1, tragedy1, violence1, war1
