Finally getting around to watching a lot of the older movies that are supposed to be so great (e.g., Bad Seed, All About Eve, Roman Holiday, etc.), but at least some of them don't seem to be so hot. For instance, it seems like many of these so-called great movies require a great deal of fantastical plot elements that just don't jive with real life at all (e.g., good friends making inexcusable mistakes; parents acting totally clueless about their children; good friends valuing money over friendship; corrupt cops, townspeople, politicians, rescue workers, etc - which are major plot elements of All About Eve, Bad Seed, and Ace in the Hole). Of course, kind of give a pass to writers/directors where that's their genre - unpredictability, corruption, and the darkness present in the human heart (e.g., Billy Wilder and Hitchcock). From good recommendation, I'll be checking out A Star is Born and Funny Girl this week (Judy Garland, Streisand, and Omar Sharif). Think I love Sidney Poitier, Billy Wilder, and Hitchcock movies the best so far with a special exception for Breakfast at Tiffany's and West Side Story of course (e.g., Patch of Blue, Mr. Tibbs, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Strangers on a Train, Spellbound, Vertigo, Rear Window, Sunset Blvd., Irma La Douce, etc.) with special mention to A Children's Hour (Audrey Hepburn, McClaine, and James Garner) and Night of the Iguana (Burton, Ava Gardner). Think some of the best movies were plays first (e.g., Children's Hour and Iguana).
Just checked out the original "Sleuth" - definitely a good film - nice interplay between Caine and Olivier - sure it made an excellent play. Can't imagine the remake coming close to this film especially when the remake is only 1.5 hours - huh.
Feel free to comment.
7 comments:
Another recommendation, "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles." Older movie, yes but one of Steve Martin's finest. After watching you do realize what just happened in this movie could really happen to me, scary, yes, I believe there is a bill pending in the US Senate
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/
pdf?res=9401E2DB133AE433A25754C1A9609C946696D6CF
That deals with the issue.
Did you almost say something bad about Roman Holiday?? It's one of my favorites!
When I watch these old movies, I find it helpful to put them in context. For example, Audrey Hepburn was unknown before the movie, and Gregory Peck insisted that her name be on the billing.
Even more interesting though, was that it was quite unusual to film on location in the early 50's -- this was the American first movie set in Italy, I believe. So, to the 1953 audience, Rome was also a character in the movie.
The scene where Joe (Peck) gets his hand bitten off was impromtu -- Ann's scream is real!
I could go on and on.
Check out my blog on Halloween. I will post a photo of me dressed as Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's!
No, certainly wasn't saying anything bad about Roman Holiday :-) Actually, unlike All About Eve and other movies, thought it did a good job of showing how friendship is valued over money (with the photographer friend not selling the photos) unlike All About Eve where friendship doesn't matter in the face of a very cruel, unrealistic joke and making money from a play by putting in a lightning rod for trouble (Eve). Will check out A Star is Born, Funny Girl, Flight of the Phoenix, and Sleuth in the coming days.
Hey Clint,
I just saw Citizen Kane, which has been argued as the best American movie of all time, and I was curious as to your opinion of it. I thought it was very good, but best movie ever? I'm not sure it merits that much critical acclaim.
Have to check it out - haven't seen it yet. Thanks for the suggestion.
Good post.
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