This List Is A Construction Zone – The Work Is Ongoing;
Please Pardon Our Dust And Wear Your Hard Hat:
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[If Film Noir were a painting it would be Edward Hopper’s ‘Nighthawks’.]
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The very first movie I ever saw that one could categorize as Film Noir was likely ‘Sorry, Wrong Number’. I saw it when I was quite young, probably on television’s The Late Show, or something like that. I remember it scared me pretty good.
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Some years later I made it a point to see Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Strangers On A Train’ because my Ma told me the first time she saw it that movie scared the bejabbers out of her. I believed her, too, because I’d never known her to be in possession of any bejabbers.
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Over the years, I’ve viewed a lot of movies that fit into the Film Noir category, but I’m hardly the expert my dear friend The Flyin’ Aardvark is – she’s become my Film Noir confidante and advisor.
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The very first movie I ever saw that one could categorize as Film Noir was likely ‘Sorry, Wrong Number’. I saw it when I was quite young, probably on television’s The Late Show, or something like that. I remember it scared me pretty good.
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Some years later I made it a point to see Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Strangers On A Train’ because my Ma told me the first time she saw it that movie scared the bejabbers out of her. I believed her, too, because I’d never known her to be in possession of any bejabbers.
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Over the years, I’ve viewed a lot of movies that fit into the Film Noir category, but I’m hardly the expert my dear friend The Flyin’ Aardvark is – she’s become my Film Noir confidante and advisor.
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What, exactly, IS Film Noir? Well, that’s a question easier asked than answered. I don’t think there’s “exactly” a cut and dried response to that, as various opinions are abundant.
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In his commentary for ‘Where The Sidewalk Ends’, Film Noir historian Eddie Muller joked: “With the Venetian blind shadows it’s now OFFICIALLY a film noir. I should do a study on that at some point and see if a movie can actually be Film Noir if it DOESN’T have Venetian blind shadows...”
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What, exactly, IS Film Noir? Well, that’s a question easier asked than answered. I don’t think there’s “exactly” a cut and dried response to that, as various opinions are abundant.
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In his commentary for ‘Where The Sidewalk Ends’, Film Noir historian Eddie Muller joked: “With the Venetian blind shadows it’s now OFFICIALLY a film noir. I should do a study on that at some point and see if a movie can actually be Film Noir if it DOESN’T have Venetian blind shadows...”
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Here’s a definition from the 20th Cetury Fox marketing department:
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“Film noir, a classic film style of the ‘40s and ‘50s, is noted for its dark themes, stark camera angles and high-contrast lighting. Comprising many ofHollywood
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That’s a pretty good, succinct definition. Except, of course, many of the elements of Film Noir extended well beyond the ‘50s and into the ‘60s, ‘70s, and beyond. But truly the “classic” era of Film Noir is the ‘40s and ‘50s, with its black and white cinematography.
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If you’d like a more detailed description of this type of film, you can read ‘AMC: Film Noir – Part 1’ by clicking HERE. And there’s also some relevant information to be found at Movie Metropolis right HERE.
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In 2004, I wrote a review for a Jazz album, ‘Signature’, by alto saxophonist Richie Cole. I titled the review ‘It Was A Rainy Night In Nineteen Eighty-Eight...’ and I took a Film Noir approach when describing my favorite instrumental on the album. When my good pal (and Film Noir expert) Flyin’ Aardvark read the review years later, she had this to say:
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Wow. I love, Love, LOVE this review. I think you’ve covered all of the key elements of film noir in a couple of paragraphs (rain-swept streets, trench coats and fedoras, dicey transactions in dodgy establishments, tardy and temperamental dames). Such a clever way of reviewing a jazz album.
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[I’ll add a link to that review at the bottom of this blog bit.]
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Here’s a definition from the 20th Cetury Fox marketing department:
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“Film noir, a classic film style of the ‘40s and ‘50s, is noted for its dark themes, stark camera angles and high-contrast lighting. Comprising many of
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That’s a pretty good, succinct definition. Except, of course, many of the elements of Film Noir extended well beyond the ‘50s and into the ‘60s, ‘70s, and beyond. But truly the “classic” era of Film Noir is the ‘40s and ‘50s, with its black and white cinematography.
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If you’d like a more detailed description of this type of film, you can read ‘AMC: Film Noir – Part 1’ by clicking HERE. And there’s also some relevant information to be found at Movie Metropolis right HERE.
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In 2004, I wrote a review for a Jazz album, ‘Signature’, by alto saxophonist Richie Cole. I titled the review ‘It Was A Rainy Night In Nineteen Eighty-Eight...’ and I took a Film Noir approach when describing my favorite instrumental on the album. When my good pal (and Film Noir expert) Flyin’ Aardvark read the review years later, she had this to say:
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Wow. I love, Love, LOVE this review. I think you’ve covered all of the key elements of film noir in a couple of paragraphs (rain-swept streets, trench coats and fedoras, dicey transactions in dodgy establishments, tardy and temperamental dames). Such a clever way of reviewing a jazz album.
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[I’ll add a link to that review at the bottom of this blog bit.]
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In a more recent discussion with the Flyin’ Aard about Film Noir, I expressed what it is I find most appealing about the genre (even if some people argue that Noir isn’t really “a genre”)...
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...that wonderful Noir look I like so much, with lots of weird shadows and interesting visual compositions. ... The thing that draws me to the genre more than anything else is the “look” or “atmosphere” of it, and then that hard-boiled style of the detectives with the snappy, cynical dialogue and the now-“cliché” slang like “rod”, “gat”, “dame”, “blow”, etc. But most of all, it’s the dark, shadowy, steamy atmosphere that I like the most.
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In a more recent discussion with the Flyin’ Aard about Film Noir, I expressed what it is I find most appealing about the genre (even if some people argue that Noir isn’t really “a genre”)...
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...that wonderful Noir look I like so much, with lots of weird shadows and interesting visual compositions. ... The thing that draws me to the genre more than anything else is the “look” or “atmosphere” of it, and then that hard-boiled style of the detectives with the snappy, cynical dialogue and the now-“cliché” slang like “rod”, “gat”, “dame”, “blow”, etc. But most of all, it’s the dark, shadowy, steamy atmosphere that I like the most.
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My personal definition of Film Noir goes like this: An urban crime story which includes the traditional Noir “high-contrast lighting” (mentioned above). If the movie also features a tough but semi-seedy and unsentimental, fedora-wearing, bourbon-drinking detective, a hot femme fatale and a voice-over narration, all the better!
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Although movies like ‘Treasure Of The Sierra Madre’ and ‘Night Of The Hunter’ contain many of the elements commonly associated with Film Noir, I myself do not count them in the category because their settings are more rural than urban.
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‘Casablanca
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Nevertheless, this is one of the very rare times when I will allow the general “consensus” to influence me. Y’all know I’m a true maverick almost all of the time, but I’ll “give an inch” just this once and disqualify ‘Casablanca’ from my list because I don’t want to have to compose some long, time-consuming explanation for why I have included it, and also because when it comes to this subject, I’m willing to defer to the Flyin’ Aardvark, and she wrote:
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I think [‘Casablanca
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[See, now in response to that I might write: “But what about ‘Criss Cross’, universally regarded as classic Noir and yet it isn’t any less a “romance” movie than is ‘Casablanca
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Conversely, plenty of people include ‘Citizen Kane’ on lists of early and classic Film Noir. Although one can make an argument for it when it comes to much of the lighting and camera work, and it is a “detective”/mystery story in a sense, the absence of a crime precludes it from qualifying for my own list.
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My personal definition of Film Noir goes like this: An urban crime story which includes the traditional Noir “high-contrast lighting” (mentioned above). If the movie also features a tough but semi-seedy and unsentimental, fedora-wearing, bourbon-drinking detective, a hot femme fatale and a voice-over narration, all the better!
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Although movies like ‘Treasure Of The Sierra Madre’ and ‘Night Of The Hunter’ contain many of the elements commonly associated with Film Noir, I myself do not count them in the category because their settings are more rural than urban.
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‘
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Nevertheless, this is one of the very rare times when I will allow the general “consensus” to influence me. Y’all know I’m a true maverick almost all of the time, but I’ll “give an inch” just this once and disqualify ‘Casablanca’ from my list because I don’t want to have to compose some long, time-consuming explanation for why I have included it, and also because when it comes to this subject, I’m willing to defer to the Flyin’ Aardvark, and she wrote:
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I think [‘
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[See, now in response to that I might write: “But what about ‘Criss Cross’, universally regarded as classic Noir and yet it isn’t any less a “romance” movie than is ‘
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Conversely, plenty of people include ‘Citizen Kane’ on lists of early and classic Film Noir. Although one can make an argument for it when it comes to much of the lighting and camera work, and it is a “detective”/mystery story in a sense, the absence of a crime precludes it from qualifying for my own list.
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Now then, below you will find my personal (but still under construction and open to revisions) list of Top Ten Film Noir Favorites + 2 (and minus ‘Casablanca
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Here is an entertaining scene of a Film Noir spoof featured in one of the most memorable episodes of the TV show ‘Moonlighting’ with Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd. As should be clear from the title, the classic they are having fun with is ‘The Postman Always Rings Twice’. It’s a comedic look at what Film Noir is all about; this’ll ‘splain the entire style in five minutes time:
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2x04 The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice
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Now then, below you will find my personal (but still under construction and open to revisions) list of Top Ten Film Noir Favorites + 2 (and minus ‘
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Here is an entertaining scene of a Film Noir spoof featured in one of the most memorable episodes of the TV show ‘Moonlighting’ with Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd. As should be clear from the title, the classic they are having fun with is ‘The Postman Always Rings Twice’. It’s a comedic look at what Film Noir is all about; this’ll ‘splain the entire style in five minutes time:
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2x04 The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice
MY TOP TEN TODAY
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#10: ‘The Maltese Falcon’ (1941)
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A very complex detective story about a collection of connivers attempting to get possession of a jewel-encrusted black falcon statuette – “the stuffS that dreams are made of.”
#9: ‘Double Indemnity’ (1944)
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#10: ‘The Maltese Falcon’ (1941)
Stars: Humphrey Bogart; Peter Lorre; Mary Astor; Sydney Greenstreet
Director: Walter Huston
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“When you're slapped, you'll take it and like it!”
~ Sam Spade.
“When you're slapped, you'll take it and like it!”
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A very complex detective story about a collection of connivers attempting to get possession of a jewel-encrusted black falcon statuette – “the stuffS that dreams are made of.”
#9: ‘Double Indemnity’ (1944)
Stars: Fred MacMurray; Barbara Stanwyck; Edward G. Robinson
Director: Billy Wilder
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“Who'd you think I was anyway? The guy that walks into a good looking dame's front parlour and says, ‘Good afternoon, I sell accident insurance on husbands... you got one that's been around too long? One you'd like to turn into a little hard cash?’”
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“Who'd you think I was anyway? The guy that walks into a good looking dame's front parlour and says, ‘Good afternoon, I sell accident insurance on husbands... you got one that's been around too long? One you'd like to turn into a little hard cash?’”
~ Walter Neff
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An insurance salesman helps a woman murder her husband. He does it for the money and he does it for the woman. He doesn't get the money, and he doesn't get the woman.
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#8: ‘Cape Fear
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An insurance salesman helps a woman murder her husband. He does it for the money and he does it for the woman. He doesn't get the money, and he doesn't get the woman.
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#8: ‘
Stars: Robert Mitchum; Gregory Peck
Director: J. Lee Thompson
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“I got somethin' planned for your wife and kid that they ain't nevah gonna forget. They ain't nevah gonna forget it... and neither will you, Counselor! Nevah!”
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“I got somethin' planned for your wife and kid that they ain't nevah gonna forget. They ain't nevah gonna forget it... and neither will you, Counselor! Nevah!”
~ Max Cady
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By targeting his family, an ex-convict seeks revenge on the lawyer who prosecuted him. This, the original, is 100 times better than the atrocious, comic book “horror” movie remake starring Robert DeNiro in 1991.
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Unlike DeNiro’s caricature performance, Mitchum plays the ex-con with such a subtle, understated but unmistakably brewing anger that the menace is truly palpable, making Max Cady one of the greatest film villains evah!
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#7: ‘The Strange Love Of Martha Ivers’ (1946)
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By targeting his family, an ex-convict seeks revenge on the lawyer who prosecuted him. This, the original, is 100 times better than the atrocious, comic book “horror” movie remake starring Robert DeNiro in 1991.
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Unlike DeNiro’s caricature performance, Mitchum plays the ex-con with such a subtle, understated but unmistakably brewing anger that the menace is truly palpable, making Max Cady one of the greatest film villains evah!
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#7: ‘The Strange Love Of Martha Ivers’ (1946)
Stars: Van Heflin, Kirk Douglas, Barbara Stanwyck
Director: Lewis Milestone
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Walter O'Neil: “I wasn't going to shoot.”
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Walter O'Neil: “I wasn't going to shoot.”
Sam Masterson: “I wasn't going to wait and see.”
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Young heiress Martha Ivers is prevented from running away with her friend Sam Masterson, and subsequently becomes involved in fatal events. Many years later, Sam’s car breaks down in his boyhood town and his reappearance draws him into a conspiratorial web of scheming.
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I don’t usually go for the blondes, but there was something appealing about the sultry “bad girl” 'Toni' Marachek that got my attention ...and kept it. Van Heflin – hate his wavy hair, but he played a very charismatic tough guy.
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#6: ‘Key Largo ’ (1948)
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Young heiress Martha Ivers is prevented from running away with her friend Sam Masterson, and subsequently becomes involved in fatal events. Many years later, Sam’s car breaks down in his boyhood town and his reappearance draws him into a conspiratorial web of scheming.
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I don’t usually go for the blondes, but there was something appealing about the sultry “bad girl” 'Toni' Marachek that got my attention ...and kept it. Van Heflin – hate his wavy hair, but he played a very charismatic tough guy.
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#6: ‘
Stars: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Edward G. Robinson
Director: John Huston
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“Nobody messes with Johnny Rocco, see?”
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“Nobody messes with Johnny Rocco, see?”
~ Johnny Rocco
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A group of dissimilar individuals are held captive in aFlorida Keys hotel by a gang of hoodlums waiting out a storm so they can make good their escape from the law.
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KEY LARGO
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A group of dissimilar individuals are held captive in a
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KEY LARGO
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#5: ‘Murder, My Sweet’ (1944)
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Another complex detective story, this one about a stolen necklace and... MURDER!
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Claire Trevor – one of my all-time favorite actresses – plays the femme fatale, and Powell turns in a performance that the story’s author, Raymond Chandler, said was his favorite screen version of Detective Marlowe.
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For a tough private investigator, Marlowe sure takes one beating after another in this movie... but he keeps on ticking.
#4: ‘Touch Of Evil’ (1958)
#5: ‘Murder, My Sweet’ (1944)
Stars: Dick Powell; Claire Trevor
Director: Edward Dmytryk
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“I tried to picture him in love with somebody... but it didn't work.”
~ Philip Marlowe.
“I tried to picture him in love with somebody... but it didn't work.”
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Another complex detective story, this one about a stolen necklace and... MURDER!
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Claire Trevor – one of my all-time favorite actresses – plays the femme fatale, and Powell turns in a performance that the story’s author, Raymond Chandler, said was his favorite screen version of Detective Marlowe.
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For a tough private investigator, Marlowe sure takes one beating after another in this movie... but he keeps on ticking.
#4: ‘Touch Of Evil’ (1958)
Stars: Charleton Heston. Janet Leigh, Orson Welles
Director: Orson Welles
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“An old lady onMain Street
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“An old lady on
~ Police Captain Hank Quinlan
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A Mexican narcotics officer attempts to solve a murder while simultaneously having to combat a corrupt American police captain and his Good Ol’ Boy network.
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Imagine a Film Noir story constructed by the same man who directed and starred in ‘Citizen Kane’. Well, that’s what you have here, and so naturally it is “Grand” in every sense of the word!
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As seems to be the case in much Film Noir, there is a convoluted storyline, a couple of plot holes, and some weird stuffs goin’ on (like Marlene Dietrich in the role of a Mexican madam, and some White dudes trying to play young Mexican thugs, etc.)
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Charleton Heston may not be entirely believable as a Mexican official, but damned if he doesn’t look almost exactly like Vicente Fox! However, there are some wildly interesting performances here, one by Welles, but also by a couple of minor players.
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The real star of the movie in my book, though, is the atmosphere and cinematography, beginning with one outrageously creative, fantastic, single-shot street scene of nearly three and a half minutes duration – the greatest cinematic opening I’ve ever had the pleasure to watch!
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Many viewers probably wouldn’t even notice what an amazing shot ‘Touch Of Evil’ starts with, and most have no idea what sort of work, plotting, timing, camera-crane/dollying action went into creating that editless opening (right up until the moment the car explodes), but I sat there astonished by it. I even had to go back and replay that opening scene again after the movie was over to relive the genius of it!
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No question, Orson Welles was an over-the-top brilliant director, and how he was able to conceive usingVenice Beach , California Venice Beach
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A Mexican narcotics officer attempts to solve a murder while simultaneously having to combat a corrupt American police captain and his Good Ol’ Boy network.
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Imagine a Film Noir story constructed by the same man who directed and starred in ‘Citizen Kane’. Well, that’s what you have here, and so naturally it is “Grand” in every sense of the word!
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As seems to be the case in much Film Noir, there is a convoluted storyline, a couple of plot holes, and some weird stuffs goin’ on (like Marlene Dietrich in the role of a Mexican madam, and some White dudes trying to play young Mexican thugs, etc.)
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Charleton Heston may not be entirely believable as a Mexican official, but damned if he doesn’t look almost exactly like Vicente Fox! However, there are some wildly interesting performances here, one by Welles, but also by a couple of minor players.
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The real star of the movie in my book, though, is the atmosphere and cinematography, beginning with one outrageously creative, fantastic, single-shot street scene of nearly three and a half minutes duration – the greatest cinematic opening I’ve ever had the pleasure to watch!
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Many viewers probably wouldn’t even notice what an amazing shot ‘Touch Of Evil’ starts with, and most have no idea what sort of work, plotting, timing, camera-crane/dollying action went into creating that editless opening (right up until the moment the car explodes), but I sat there astonished by it. I even had to go back and replay that opening scene again after the movie was over to relive the genius of it!
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No question, Orson Welles was an over-the-top brilliant director, and how he was able to conceive using
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If for no other reason, ‘Touch Of Evil’ should be seen just for the astounding sets, classic Noir atmosphere, and ingenious cinematography. This is the stuffs I watch Noir for!
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#3: ‘Night And The City’ (1950)
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If for no other reason, ‘Touch Of Evil’ should be seen just for the astounding sets, classic Noir atmosphere, and ingenious cinematography. This is the stuffs I watch Noir for!
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#3: ‘Night And The City’ (1950)
Stars: Richard Widmark, Gene Tierney
Director: Jules Dassin
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"No, dear boy, I am not giving you two-hundred quid. I am giving you the sharp edge of the knife."
~ Philip Nosseross
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"No, dear boy, I am not giving you two-hundred quid. I am giving you the sharp edge of the knife."
~ Philip Nosseross
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No Film Noir looks better than 'Night And The City'. This one takes place inLondon
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There are several characters with various agendas that collide in this fabulously moody, atmospheric movie. This is exactly what I want my Film Noir to look like! The cinematography is artful and beautiful and but for a too-long and somewhat too hysterical wrestling scene, ‘Night And The City’ would probably have scored the #2 spot on my list. It could easily have been titled ‘Loser On The Run’.
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#2: ‘Where The Sidewalk Ends’ (1950)
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No Film Noir looks better than 'Night And The City'. This one takes place in
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There are several characters with various agendas that collide in this fabulously moody, atmospheric movie. This is exactly what I want my Film Noir to look like! The cinematography is artful and beautiful and but for a too-long and somewhat too hysterical wrestling scene, ‘Night And The City’ would probably have scored the #2 spot on my list. It could easily have been titled ‘Loser On The Run’.
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#2: ‘Where The Sidewalk Ends’ (1950)
Stars: Dana Andrews, Gene Tierney
Director: Otto Preminger
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“I could use a drink.”
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“I could use a drink.”
~ Detective Mark Dixon
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Sgt. Mark Dixon is trying to be something his dad wasn’t: a guy on the right side of the law. But his zeal and his ability to rough up the bad guys gets him in hot water with his boss at the police precinct.
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After he’s warned to cease his violent crusade against the criminal element, fate pullsDixon Dixon
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This one might well be the template for all the ‘semi-bad good cop’ / “I’m taking you off the case, McCallahan”-type police movies that came later.
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Sgt. Mark Dixon is trying to be something his dad wasn’t: a guy on the right side of the law. But his zeal and his ability to rough up the bad guys gets him in hot water with his boss at the police precinct.
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After he’s warned to cease his violent crusade against the criminal element, fate pulls
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This one might well be the template for all the ‘semi-bad good cop’ / “I’m taking you off the case, McCallahan”-type police movies that came later.
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Dana Andrews makes an ideal hard-boiled, tough-as-nails Film Noir detective; Andrews looks the way I want my detectives to look, and the movie putsNew York
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‘Where The Sidewalk Ends’ is one of three on my list [along with #6 and #8] that my friend the Flyin’ Aardvark recommended to me.
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#1: ‘Sunset Boulevard’ (1950)
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Dana Andrews makes an ideal hard-boiled, tough-as-nails Film Noir detective; Andrews looks the way I want my detectives to look, and the movie puts
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‘Where The Sidewalk Ends’ is one of three on my list [along with #6 and #8] that my friend the Flyin’ Aardvark recommended to me.
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#1: ‘Sunset Boulevard’ (1950)
Stars: William Holden, Gloria Swanson
Director: Billy Wilder
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“Alright, Mister DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up”.
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“Alright, Mister DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up”.
~ Norma Desmond
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William Holden (one of my very favorite actors, along with James Dean and John Wayne) plays down-on-his-luck screenwriter Joe Gillis who uses the body, money, andmansion of Norma Desmond comeback “return” to the silver screen. Gillis becomes increasingly uncomfortable with his lifestyle while Desmond clings more and more desperately to him as she dives deeper and deeper into her delusions.
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Gloria Swanson gives a performance for the ages as Norma Desmond, which Harriet Sansom Harris hilariously channeled decades later in her TV role as Bebe Glazer, Frasier Crane’s conniving agent.
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Look, any movie that begins with the image of a man floating face down in a swimming pool while the voice-over narration of the dead man himself begins explaining to the viewer how he ended up in this condition couldn’t be anything but great!
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‘Sunset Boulevard’ is Hollyweird self-criticism, black comedy, and Noir at its “noirest”. It’s also an absolute classic, a genuine masterpiece that was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry due to its being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
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William Holden (one of my very favorite actors, along with James Dean and John Wayne) plays down-on-his-luck screenwriter Joe Gillis who uses the body, money, and
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Gloria Swanson gives a performance for the ages as Norma Desmond, which Harriet Sansom Harris hilariously channeled decades later in her TV role as Bebe Glazer, Frasier Crane’s conniving agent.
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Look, any movie that begins with the image of a man floating face down in a swimming pool while the voice-over narration of the dead man himself begins explaining to the viewer how he ended up in this condition couldn’t be anything but great!
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‘Sunset Boulevard’ is Hollyweird self-criticism, black comedy, and Noir at its “noirest”. It’s also an absolute classic, a genuine masterpiece that was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry due to its being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
[Joe Gillis: “The poor dope - he always wanted a pool. Well, in the end, he got himself a pool.”]
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HONORABLE / DISHONORABLE MENTION
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‘Out Of The Past’ (1947)
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HONORABLE / DISHONORABLE MENTION
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‘Out Of The Past’ (1947)
Stars: Robert Mitchum; Kirk Douglas
Director: Jacques Tourneur
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Kathie Moffat: “Oh, Jeff, you ought to have killed me for what I did a moment ago.”
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Kathie Moffat: “Oh, Jeff, you ought to have killed me for what I did a moment ago.”
Jeff Bailey: “There's time.”
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A private detective is hired by a gangster to investigate the disappearance of his girlfriend. In many ways, this is the quintessential example of Film Noir, with some of the snappiest dialogue you’ll find in a movie of this type.
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Unfortunately, I have rarely seen a movie fall so quickly and so completely apart as this one does: the last 3-5 minutes contains three preposterously illogical plot holes/dumb character actions. It’s almost as if the filmmakers said: “We MUST find a way to make this story end badly!”
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Even so, ‘Out Of The Past’ contains everything anyone would watch a Film Noir for, and the first 92 minutes were so good that I simply had to mention it here despite the utterly ridiculous ending.
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TWO FILM NOIR SPOOFS I DIG
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'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' (1988)
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A private detective is hired by a gangster to investigate the disappearance of his girlfriend. In many ways, this is the quintessential example of Film Noir, with some of the snappiest dialogue you’ll find in a movie of this type.
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Unfortunately, I have rarely seen a movie fall so quickly and so completely apart as this one does: the last 3-5 minutes contains three preposterously illogical plot holes/dumb character actions. It’s almost as if the filmmakers said: “We MUST find a way to make this story end badly!”
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Even so, ‘Out Of The Past’ contains everything anyone would watch a Film Noir for, and the first 92 minutes were so good that I simply had to mention it here despite the utterly ridiculous ending.
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TWO FILM NOIR SPOOFS I DIG
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'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' (1988)
Stars: Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Roger Rabbit, Baby Herman
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“I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way.”
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“I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way.”
~ Jessica Rabbit, cartoon femme fatale extraordinaire
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In ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’, real actors and actresses play out their scenes while interacting with animated cartoon characters; it’s a world inhabited by both people and ‘toons.
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The movie is really a takeoff on or a burlesque of Jack Nicholson’s 1974 neo-Noir film ‘Chinatown ’. In ‘Roger Rabbit’, Chinatown becomes Toontown, and the mystery pertaining to Los Angeles L.A. Chinatown ’.
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I suspect everyone has already seen ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’, but shame on anyone who hasn’t. It’s one of my all-time Top 25 Favorite Movies, made all the more enjoyable by a viewer’s knowledge of ‘Chinatown ’ which this half-animated 1988 classic “drew” from.
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‘Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid’ (1982)
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In ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’, real actors and actresses play out their scenes while interacting with animated cartoon characters; it’s a world inhabited by both people and ‘toons.
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The movie is really a takeoff on or a burlesque of Jack Nicholson’s 1974 neo-Noir film ‘
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I suspect everyone has already seen ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’, but shame on anyone who hasn’t. It’s one of my all-time Top 25 Favorite Movies, made all the more enjoyable by a viewer’s knowledge of ‘
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‘Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid’ (1982)
Stars: Steve Martin, Rachel Ward
Director: Carl Reiner
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In this very clever, imaginative comedy, Martin plays private investigator Rigby Reardon, who is hired by a woman to… whatever… investigate something.
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What makes this so much fun is that a bunch of clips from old Film Noir movies have been edited into the scenes with Steve Martin, making it appear as if he is really interacting with the likes of Humphrey Bogart, et al.
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Here’s an example of one of my very favorite moments:
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Charles Laughton: “We know who you are, Mr. Rigby.”
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In this very clever, imaginative comedy, Martin plays private investigator Rigby Reardon, who is hired by a woman to… whatever… investigate something.
.
What makes this so much fun is that a bunch of clips from old Film Noir movies have been edited into the scenes with Steve Martin, making it appear as if he is really interacting with the likes of Humphrey Bogart, et al.
.
Here’s an example of one of my very favorite moments:
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Charles Laughton: “We know who you are, Mr. Rigby.”
Rigby Reardon: “I'm interested. Who am I?”
Charles Laughton: “You could be a guy who collects 10,000 dollars, just to leave this stinking town.”
Rigby Reardon: “I could, could I?”
Charles Laughton: “You know who I could be?”
Rigby Reardon: “The Hunchback of Notre Dame?”
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‘Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid’ is as insane and loony as its title indicates; it’s funny in a very screwball, wacky way. I recommended it to my friend the Flyin’ Aardvark and she didn’t like it at all. ...But I still refuse to believe that about her:
Charles Laughton: “You could be a guy who collects 10,000 dollars, just to leave this stinking town.”
Rigby Reardon: “I could, could I?”
Charles Laughton: “You know who I could be?”
Rigby Reardon: “The Hunchback of Notre Dame?”
.
‘Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid’ is as insane and loony as its title indicates; it’s funny in a very screwball, wacky way. I recommended it to my friend the Flyin’ Aardvark and she didn’t like it at all. ...But I still refuse to believe that about her:
.
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As I said at the top, my list isn’t necessarily etched in stone yet. As I view more Film Noir over the years my selections might change slightly. Someday I’d like to see ‘City That Never Sleeps’, in which the city ofChicago
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If any of y’all know of other must-see Film Noir productions that ya think I may not have already watched, please sing out! Yer recommendations will be appreciated.
.
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As I said at the top, my list isn’t necessarily etched in stone yet. As I view more Film Noir over the years my selections might change slightly. Someday I’d like to see ‘City That Never Sleeps’, in which the city of
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If any of y’all know of other must-see Film Noir productions that ya think I may not have already watched, please sing out! Yer recommendations will be appreciated.
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[‘I Can Has Cheezburger’ LOL created by ProvDog – that’s this STMcC cat whose ‘Stuffs’ you’ve been reading!]
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THE FLYIN’ AARDVARK’S FAVORITES
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Here is an alphabetized list of my Pal’s first 11 Film Noir choices:
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‘Black Angel’ – “Dan Duryea, Peter Lorre, Broderick Crawford and based on a Cornell Woolrich story.”
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‘Double Indemnity’
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‘M’ – “I guess the original would top the list.”
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‘The Maltese Falcon’
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‘Murder, My Sweet’ – “Dick Powell playing Philip Marlowe, along with the great Claire Trevor.”
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‘Night of the Hunter’
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‘Out of the Past’ – “Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer and Kirk Douglas. Great classic noir.”
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‘Phantom Lady’ – “Gorgeous Ella Raines tries to prove her boss didn't kill his wife by tracking down the elusive woman he spent the evening with. … A wonderfully deranged performance by character actor Elijah Wood, Jr.”
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‘Shadow of a Doubt’ – “Joseph Cotton as a wonderfully evil Blue Beard uncle visiting his adoring sister's family.”
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‘The Strange Love of Martha Ivers’ – “Completely weird, but great performances by Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, Lizbeth Scott and Kirk Douglas.”
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‘Sunset Boulevard’
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
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LINKS
Here is an alphabetized list of my Pal’s first 11 Film Noir choices:
.
‘Black Angel’ – “Dan Duryea, Peter Lorre, Broderick Crawford and based on a Cornell Woolrich story.”
.
‘Double Indemnity’
.
‘M’ – “I guess the original would top the list.”
.
‘The Maltese Falcon’
.
‘Murder, My Sweet’ – “Dick Powell playing Philip Marlowe, along with the great Claire Trevor.”
.
‘Night of the Hunter’
.
‘Out of the Past’ – “Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer and Kirk Douglas. Great classic noir.”
.
‘Phantom Lady’ – “Gorgeous Ella Raines tries to prove her boss didn't kill his wife by tracking down the elusive woman he spent the evening with. … A wonderfully deranged performance by character actor Elijah Wood, Jr.”
.
‘Shadow of a Doubt’ – “Joseph Cotton as a wonderfully evil Blue Beard uncle visiting his adoring sister's family.”
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‘The Strange Love of Martha Ivers’ – “Completely weird, but great performances by Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, Lizbeth Scott and Kirk Douglas.”
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‘Sunset Boulevard’
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
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LINKS
Hats And Gats
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YE OLDE COMMENT POLICY: All comments, pro and con, are welcome. However, ad hominem attacks and disrespectful epithets will not be tolerated (read: "posted"). After all, this isn’t Amazon.com, so I don’t have to put up with that kind of bovine excrement.
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YE OLDE COMMENT POLICY: All comments, pro and con, are welcome. However, ad hominem attacks and disrespectful epithets will not be tolerated (read: "posted"). After all, this isn’t Amazon.com, so I don’t have to put up with that kind of bovine excrement.
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Sad to say after reading this that I now know how unedjumucated I am. At least in the world of film. Looks like I need to start renting some older films quick.
ReplyDeleteBr'er Marc
Okay Stephen, just to tell you buddy I've been wanting to get into film noir for such a long time so thanks for sharing this list. I've bookmarked this page for future reference, cheers buddy.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, let me say that the Edward Hopper painting is one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteAs for Film Noir, I'm sure I've seen a few on your list- and more. My TV station to go to- when I watch- is TCM. I love old classics.
Great review.
BR'ER MARC ~
ReplyDeleteWell, Noir isn't going to be everyone's choice of film style, but that word - "style" - is the primary reason I like it.
I'm not such a big fan of crime stories per se, but I just love the moody atmosphere that many of the classic Film Noir stories have been wrapped in. I watch them first and foremost for that ultra-cool look... a misty night, a shadowy figure, the blast from an ocean liner somewhere "out there" in the distance, a scuffle on the pier... and the big black sedan pulls away, the tires making a "Shhhhh" sound on the wet pavement...
...That sort o' thing.
MATTHEW ~
Thanks for coming by and commenting , Bro.
There's a lot of Noir to choose from, and a good portion of it I have yet to see. But certainly most of the selections on Aard's list and mine will give you a very good foundation to build upon.
Perhaps the best way to begin would be by watching first those particular titles that appeared on BOTH of our lists, the Aard's and mine.
Of course, there are also some that are considered true "classics" of the style that did not even get mentioned on either of our lists... stuffs like 'The Big Sleep' and 'The Postman Always Rings Twice', etc.
The only thing I would strongly suggest is that you not watch one of the comedic Film Noir "spoofs" until you've seen a pretty good handful of the "real thang". A spoof won't be funny unless the viewer has a really good understanding of just what it is that's being exaggerated, mocked, or burlesqued.
Please return some day, McBuddy, and tell me which films turned out to be your own favorites.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
RAE ~
ReplyDeleteThanks! Edward Hopper is my favorite artist, and although 'Nighthawks' would be the one I'd choose if I could own one of his originals, there are a few more that I love almost just as much.
Yeah, if you watch TCM then you've seen your share of Noir and more! The Flyin' Aardvark's TV is often tuned to that channel as well.
Thanks for checkin' in!
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
I saw Nighthawks firsthand at the Art Institute in Chicago. Beautiful piece, and one of my favorites of the museum.
ReplyDelete"a misty night, a shadowy figure, the blast from an ocean liner somewhere 'out there' in the distance, a scuffle on the pier...and the big black sedan pulls away the tires making a 'Shhhhh' sound on the wet pavement...
ReplyDeleteOh Stephen,I think I'm in love. That was very good. Has anyone ever told you, you should write. A screenplay maybe?
I'm procrastinating from what I should be doing. When I read that comment I just couldn't resist. I DO love it. With the 'new' comment block, I didn't think it was you at first, but one of your friends. I should have known. Still haven't followed all of the links, so I'll be back.
BEER SHOWER ~
ReplyDeleteAhh, nice! I saw my first "original" Van Gogh painting ('Irises') just last year at the Getty Museum in L.A.
A real thrill for me because during the "intense" years of my youth I was greatly captivated by the work and life of Vincent.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
N.W. BABSKIDDO ~
ReplyDelete>>..."Oh Stephen, I think I'm in love. That was very good."
Ha! THANKS! (A heart of love in payment for about 15-seconds worth of thought and typing. Not a bad return on my investment! ;o)
>>..."Has anyone ever told you, you should write?"
Yeah, my Mother did, but I could rarely afford the first-class postage.
Speaking of writing... don't you have a story contest to win? Get to work, Nitro! That story ain't gonna write itself, ya know.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
I quite enjoy Noir, but for some reason haven't seen very much of it. I don't know why.
ReplyDeleteI do love Cape Fear. The original is much more frightening and twisted, I think, than the weird Robert DeNiro version.
KAREN ~
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, in my opinion, 'CAPE FEAR' was one of the worst remakes of a classic that I've ever had the misfortune to sit through.
In fact, if there wasn't such a dearth of storytelling talent in Hollywood these days, they wouldn't be feeling compelled to "remake" classics at all (and movies about comic book characters, also).
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
Love what you wrote here! Casablanca is a hard one to pin down which is one of the other many reasons I love this film. It has romance but I can't put it down as only a romance film. It is a war film and yet...isn't. It has action, adventure and could be called a thriller but, apart from 4 short scenes, most of it takes place at his bar. I hate the remake of Cape Fear and I was rooting for the bad guy to kill the girl. He also just would not die. Ok, always having the shadow of blinds in the film made me laugh...reminded me of the "Kitchen sink" films from late 50's and 60's
ReplyDeleteBIRGIT ~
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you liked this blog bit. I figured you would because, you know... old movies.
Yeah, CASABLANCA is a lot of things -- spy thriller, romance, mystery, adventure. But I think it includes every element necessary for Film Noir. And like I said in the blog bit, there is nothing IN 'Casablanca' that one can't also find in some other acknowledged Film Noir classic. Heck, it even has that "lost love" / "loser" ending that so many Noirs have. To me, it's really unquestionably Noir, and the "real" reason I gave in to the naysayers here was so I could include an extra movie that way. (I was a sneaky guy with an ulterior, self-serving motive. Ha!)
Yeah, that CAPE FEAR remake was atrocious. And like you said, Max Cady "just would not die", making the whole thing just seem like some preposterously bad horror movie where the monster keeps coming back over and over. Terrible, terrible movie. The two worst remakes I've ever seen were CAPE FEAR and THE WICKER MAN (the original being one of only a small number of Horror movies that I really dig).
Thanks for stopping by, BIRGIT.
~ D-FensDogG
Check out my new blog @
(Link:] Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...
I wasn't able to read your entire post yet, but have skimmed as much as time permitted and checked out your list. Thanks. This is awesome. Anyway, for now I just wanted to say that "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid" was brilliant and absolutely hilarious. On top of that: Rachel Ward. I'd watch even if there were no sound.
ReplyDeleteHa! I thanks you, Sir!
DeleteInterestingly, I've never seen a Steve Martin movie that I didn't like to one degree or another. Not sure I can say that about any other performer. He had a unique knack for selecting good scripts.
This blog bit having been composed 14 years ago, my list of very favorite Noirs would be slightly different today. For one thing, 'The Maltese Falcon' would get booted for 'Laura'. And I'd have to find a way to get 'The Woman In The Window' (1944) onto my list. That movie really drew me in and sucker punched me!
~ D-FensDogG
Steve is a talent indeed. ... And I'm going to look into "The Woman in the Window" ASAP. Sounds like a good bet. Thanks!
DeleteThere was a time when I mistakenly thought of Edward G. Robinson as a one-note, superficial actor. But as the years went on and I saw him in many more roles, I became pretty impressed with how good he truly was playing various types of characters.
DeleteFUN FACT: Just last week, my Brother and I took a short vacation which had us driving through Bridgeport, California, where some important scenes in 'OUT OF THE PAST' were filmed. I'm already thinking about going back there again before TOO long and making a video showing what those locations look like 79 years later. It's kind of cool how so little has changed in that remote, tiny town.
~ D-FensDogG
"The Woman in the Window." Just watched it. (Free here and there online, no problem.) What a great movie, man.
DeleteReally glad I watched it, including for the additional reason that it's got me giving more credit to "old movies that I've never heard of." Via the 3D monkey bar of recommendations that is YouTube, I discovered other promising movies that I've got cued up. Including a silent film called "Les Espions" ("The Spies") from Fritz Lang, the same guy who directed "The Woman in the Window" and many others. Looks a lot as though Ian Fleming might have gotten many of his ingredients from this film.
About Edward G. Robinson. Yeah, I had come to think he only *ever* played gangsters! Seeing him here as a mild-mannered professor and family man was quite a revelation as to the range of characters he's able to play well. God bless him (and my apologies for pigeon-holing you, E.G.R.).
Speaking of gangsters, an image just came to mind of the somehow, somewhat, likeable, illiterate hood in "His Girl Friday."
Oh, muh Bruhthuh! I am exceedingly pleased to learn how much you enjoyed 'The Woman In The Window'! I don't want to say TOO much about it here and possibly spoil it for future readers but... I'll only say that I LOVED the very ending of it, which was extremely unique for a genuinely dyed-in-the-wool "Film Noir". I am HUGE into humor, and off the top o' me noggin at this very moment, the only other authentic, classic Noir I can think of which ended in a somewhat humorous way is 'Murder, My Sweet'.
DeleteSpeaking of Eddie G. -- have you seen 'Double Indemnity'? It's a classic Noir in which he played a super-sharp insurance investigator. Must-See! Also... are you familiar with the Rod Serling TV series 'Night Gallery'? There's an episode which featured Eddie G. titled 'The Messiah On Mott Street'. Try to find & watch that one, if'n you can.
Speaking of 'Night Gallery' (and not related to Eddie G.)... there's a 1971 episode titled 'Midnight Never Ends'. I was 12-years-old when I saw that on TV, and it stuck in my brain like the time I tried to steal home while the catcher had the ball. (Don't ask!) I tried to track that show down for literally 50 years, but couldn't find it. (I mistakenly thought it was an 'Outer Limits', 'Twilight Zone', 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents...', or 'The Sixth Sense' episode.) In 2021, a good friend sent me the 'Night Gallery' DVD boxed set for Christmas, and that is how I accidentally rediscovered that brilliant story which had "haunted" my mind for half-a-century!!
>>... "Speaking of gangsters, an image just came to mind of the somehow, somewhat, likeable, illiterate hood in "His Girl Friday."
I LOVE 'His Girl Friday'; I own the DVD and watch it every 2 or 3 years! And I'm pretty sure you are referring to the actor John Qualen, who played the character 'Earl Williams'. Qualen is on my very, very short list of all-time favorite character actors! For more great "Qualen", be sure to see the movie 'Tortilla Flat' (one of my Top 10 favorite movies ever made), and also The Andy Griffith Show episode titled 'The Jinx' (1962).
Are you familiar with the (Noir-ish but comedic) 'Thin Man' detective series starring William Powell & Myrna Loy? I recommend all 6 of those movies (preferably in the order in which they were released).
In a previous comment you mentioned Rachel Ward. Well, my personal "Rachel Ward" is Gene Tierney. She was in a number of great movies - including terrific Noirs like 'Laura', 'Night And The City', and 'Where The Sidewalk Ends' - but Gene Tierney's incredible beauty is best experienced in the 1943 comedy 'Heaven Can Wait'. That is one that I always struggle to get onto my 'All-Time Top 25 Favorite Films' list, but just can't find anything already on the list that I can bump down one notch.
{*Darryl F. Zanuck, the co-founder of 20th Century Fox, famously said that Gene Tierney was "unquestionably, the most beautiful woman in movie history". Zanuck was 100% correct... in my unbiased opinion!*}
If you see and really enjoy any of the aforementioned movies, let me know and I will provide you with links to more films that I dig "bigly".
~ D-FensDogG
Thanks for the great reply. I just tried to respond but the system keeps failing. Maybe too long? (Or maybe you received all eleven duplicates despite the error message.)
DeleteOoh! Sorry about that! Blogger can get kind of wonky at times. It's much better now than it used to be a number of years ago, but still has its moments occasionally. Unfortunately, this was the only comment that survived. Ordinarily, if a comment is too long, it'll say so, rather than simply eradicate it.
DeleteI've always recommended that people copy their comments before submitting them, just in case. I do the same thing with my own comments, and it has saved me some real aggravation a few times.
~ D-FensDogG
Thanks for the info. No problem. I'll publish my comment in two halves ...
DeleteI really appreciate your not wanting to spoil a movie in the comments. I did a recent post elsewhere of a "neo-noir" film from the '90s called "Jennifer 8" (Andy Garcia, a young Uma Thurman, John Malkovich, and Lance Henriksen). While reading some comments under the trailer for the movie, someone had placed a massively revealing spoiler -- unannounced -- in a mundane comment. I thought -- holy crap, man. Think!
DeleteYes, the ending to "The Woman in the Window" was fantastic.
"Double Indemnity." Super famous film which I've nonetheless never seen. Title makes sense now given the insurance investigation angle that I only just learned from you. I'm writing down that and the two Night Gallery episodes you mention (plus all your other recommendations here). Looking forward to giving all of them the chance they deserve to fascinate and entertain. Thanks!
Stealing home when the catcher had the ball. LOL. Trying to be a hero? Perhaps a gamble for the admiration of a girl you saw in the stands? In which case I'd say completely worthwhile, even if it was one in a hundred odds.
Having to wait 50 years to re-watch a great show must have been massively frustrating. I'm looking forward to watching this.
I'm going to one-up you. I have TWO copies of "His Girl Friday," and I watch it at least once a YEAR. So, ...
The man who played Earl Williams did a great job. As did the actress who played the woman who cared about him. Imagine my surprise when this superb comedy made my screen go blurry at one point. I had never known Qualey's name or what else he had been in. ... However, the particular guy I was originally talking about was Grant's hoodlum errand-boy what dealt in counterfeit cash and other helpful law-breaking. (Too bad I can't remember most of the characters' names. Was it Louie?)
"His Girl" is seriously top notch. Some of the very best comedy I've ever seen anywhere.
(continued)
Delete"The Thin Man" series. Again, something I know very well by name only. This series = now on my list along with the others you've mentioned. In addition to the plots and characters, I'm pretty sure I'm going to like seeing the general, overall classiness that belonged to older generations. ... By the by, I think Powell was also in Hitchcock's lesser known film, Notorious. Nice examples of old-world class there too -- manners, civility, ... Notwithstanding the darker Hitchcockian turns eventually made, of course.
> In a previous comment you mentioned Rachel Ward. Well, my personal "Rachel Ward" is Gene Tierney. She was in a number of great movies - including terrific Noirs like 'Laura', 'Night And The City', and 'Where The Sidewalk Ends' - but Gene Tierney's incredible beauty is best experienced in the 1943 comedy 'Heaven Can Wait'. That is one that ...
Don't laugh, but all my life, I assumed Gene Tierney was a man. Would be nice if I were just kidding.
> I always struggle to get onto my 'All-Time Top 25 Favorite Films' list, but just can't find anything already on the list that I can bump down one notch.
I know precisely what you mean, and it sounds like it's about to get worse for me thanks to you.
> {*Darryl F. Zanuck, the co-founder of 20th Century Fox, famously said that Gene Tierney was "unquestionably, the most beautiful woman in movie history". Zanuck was 100% correct... in my unbiased opinion!*}
I gotta see this. Stand by ...
YEP. Until I see Tierney in actual motion in "Heaven Can Wait," I'm putting her next to my other favorites: Miss Ward and my favorite girl-next-door stunner, she who portrayed Mary Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life."
Thanks for clue-ing me in. (By the way, I wonder if Maura Tierney is relation.)
> If you see and really enjoy any of the aforementioned movies, let me know and I will provide you with links to more films that I dig "bigly".
Awesome! I'll do that. Thanks again.
Part 1 Of 3:
DeleteC.M.C. ~
I'm pleased as spiked punch that you took the time to return & try again. I felt bad that your response got rejected multiple times before. I wish I knew who I should punch in the nose about that. :^D
'Jennifer 8'?! I used to know 8 Jennifers, but I had no idea that they made a movie about those ill-advised relationships. (Psst! #6 wasn't really my fault, no matter what the movie sez!!)
>>... Yes, the ending to "The Woman in the Window" was fantastic.
I honestly feel that "humor" was probably God's greatest invention. If not for my ultra-strong God-given sense-of-humor, I might have committed suicide many decades ago, like two of my good friends did. In fact (in all seriousness - seriously!), one of my all-time, All-Time, ALL-TIME favorite quotes is this one:
A laugh can be a very powerful thing. Why, sometimes in life, it's the only weapon we have.
~ Roger Rabbit
Yes, an animated Neo-Noir, which was obviously inspired by the Neo-Noir 'Chinatown' starring R.P. McMurphy-- er... I meant Jack Nicholson.
"Double Indemnity"...
Here's something I oughta tell ya early in our yakversation (not to be confused with a textversation or an E-versation)... I'm rarely - if ever - a fan of movies in which I'm not given a "hero" of sorts in which to root for. I can't get emotionally / intellectually invested unless there's at least one character I can really relate to and root for -- whether that character emerges victorious or not.
That's the primary reason I've never really enjoyed the 'Godfather' movies, like so many other viewers have. Yes, they were well-made and mostly well-acted from a 'technical' standpoint. But, frankly, I never cared one rabbit-sized piece of excrement what happened to any of the major characters. I wasn't "drawn in" enough to care about how any of those 'Godfather' movies ended.
In 'Double Indemnity'... well, I'm rooting for Edward G. Robinson. And that's *all* I'm gonna say about *that*.
>>... Stealing home when the catcher had the ball. LOL. Trying to be a hero? Perhaps a gamble for the admiration of a girl you saw in the stands? In which case I'd say completely worthwhile, even if it was one in a hundred odds.
GOL! ("Guffaw-Out-Loud!")
Well... I'll just say that... "Math was always my worst subject".
However, your line about "a girl" in the stands immediately reminded me of another (equally true, but more honorable) moment I experienced on the green fields of Little League Baseball. Below is an excerpt from a review I originally posted on Amazon (i.e., "BigBitch[dot]commie") before they erased every trace of me for being too truthful & too politically incorrect for modern audiences:
* Called to "the hill" to pitch the Little League Yankees out of a jam, I saw that girl I had a crush on, Yolanda, was watching the game from behind the fence near our dugout. In my haste to get over there and talk to her, I fanned 3 consecutive batters. My Grandfather (the manager) came out to meet me. "You just struck out the side in order!" he excitedly informed me. I didn't know what that meant at the time and furthermore I couldn't have cared less -- I had nothing but that little cutie on my mind. LESSON: A man's love for a woman will supersede his love for the "diamond", but conversely, the diamond is a girl's best friend.
That review for the book 'Diamonds Are Forever' is still easily one of my very, Very, VERY favorite things I have ever written. If you're at all interested in reading the entire thing, you can find it here:
[Link> Hitting It Right On "THE SWEET SPOT"
Continued...
Part 2 Of 2
Delete(*not* 3, as previously & falsely advertised) :
>>... Having to wait 50 years to re-watch a great show must have been massively frustrating. I'm looking forward to watching this.
I very genuinely appreciate your interest in what I've said. I damn-sure won't spoil it for ya, but I want to say that when I saw that episode for the first & only time in 50 years, I think I was too young to really understand the incredible twist ending. Why? Because although the basic mysterious storyline was indelibly etched into my mind, when I finally got to see the episode for the second time, as an adult five years ago, the twist ending absolutely blew my mind!! I didn't remember the meaning of the ending in any way whatsoever! I guess I was a pretty stoopid 12-year-old. But to paraphrase from 'Monty Python & The Holy Grail', "I got... smarter".
... However, the particular guy I was originally talking about was Grant's hoodlum errand-boy what dealt in counterfeit cash and other helpful law-breaking. (Too bad I can't remember most of the characters' names. Was it Louie?)
"Shit 'n' begorrah!" (sorry, Chief O'Hara), I guess it's time for me to rewatch 'His Goil Friday'. It's now on my 'Get To It' list. Thanks!
I didn't remember William Powell being in 'Notorious', and according to IMDB, he wasn't. But you're definitely going to dig the dude. In 'The Thin Man' series, he was the drinkingest and smartest person in the room 100% of the time.
>>... Don't laugh, but all my life, I assumed Gene Tierney was a man.
"Gene" -- I understand.
However, if Gene Tierney really was a man... I would be (despite being a "Maverick" Christian) unapologetically "gay". GOL!
>>... YEP. Until I see Tierney in actual motion in "Heaven Can Wait," I'm putting her next to my other favorites: Miss Ward and my favorite girl-next-door stunner, she who portrayed Mary Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life."
I have a many-decades long tradition of watching my very favorite Christmas movies and TV episodes every December, so I am exceedingly familiar with Clarence... and Nick... and "Zuzu's Petals", and, yeah, Mrs. Bailey (Donna Reed), whom my Brother still has a crush on.
My friend, I really hate to pile-on - I *really* do - since I've already suggested a year's-worth of stuffs to watch, but... I jus' can't he'p muhse'f...
If you love 'It's A Wonderful Life', you *must* also see 'ON BORROWED TIME' (1939). No, Donna Reed isn't in it, but "Mr. Potter", "Clarence" the wingless angel, and "Ma Bailey" (Uncle Jimmy Stewart's mother) are in it. And so is Bobs Watson (yes, "Bobs"), my all-time favorite child actor. It's a real must-see! (Imagine tricking the Grim Reaper with the same fruit that tricked "Eve"! ...I hope I haven't said too much.)
For more William Powell, after the 'Thin Man' series, see 'Mister Roberts', which my Pa loved, and which is one of the very few War-themed movies I greatly enjoy.
Lastly, I'm going to recommend a Neo-Noir that I consider to be one of the most unknown and therefore underrated movies of all time. It also has one of the very greatest plot twists of all time. It's so great that you should NEVER read anything that's ever been published in print or online about it. You shouldn't even watch a single trailer about this movie, because even the trailers spoil some of the surprise. If you haven't already seen it, just watch 'DEAD AGAIN' (1991) starring Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson. If you currently smoke cigarettes, I can guarantee that you will quit smoking after you've seen this fantastic Neo-Noir!
~ D-FensDogG
(Part 1 of 3)
DeleteComment glitchiness: Now that I know it's all about overflow, I have but to work the magic of division.
Holy cow, man. That's a goodly amount of Jennifers. I won't ask about numero six.
Humor as possibly God's greatest invention. It's great medicine, and as you mention, it can sometimes avert even death, for which I'm very glad. Sorry it ever came close though.
You said: " I'm rarely - if ever - a fan of movies in which I'm not given a "hero" of sorts in which to root for. I can't get emotionally / intellectually invested unless there's at least one character I can really relate to and root for -- whether that character emerges victorious or not."
I feel 100% exactly the same way. Though, thinking on it a bit, I realize that I have enjoyed some movies without a definite hero, so maybe I should adjust that statement. Sometimes, a movie may carry some kind of useful truth or understanding that's interesting to me intellectually, in which case I'm watching it for a different reason than pure inspiration. But still, yeah. I totally get and empathize with your statement.
(Part 2 of 3)
DeleteBaseball and girl-in-the-stands: So I was sorta close to target with that one! "A man's love for a woman will supersede his love for the "diamond", but conversely, the diamond is a girl's best friend." BEAUTIFUL LINE.
Having your identity and history erased from Amazon is ultimately a badge to wear with honor, I suspect. Will check out the link to your review.
Night Gallery, 'Midnight Never Ends'. Great concept! I've seen similar concepts in some modern movies and never suspected that it started back that far. Very cool. By the way, you helped me find an old episode that I also have been looking for for years! The one with the spider that kept coming back. (That's all I'll say about the story.) It was Night Gallery! I'd tried Twilight and others and could never find it! Thanks!
"It wasn't Powell in Notorious." Haha. It's true. I was thinking of Louis Calhern. In my memory, he and Powell looked distinctly similar. Check out the mustache and the air of sophistication. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Calhern
"However, if Gene Tierney really was a man... [....]
LOL.
(Part 3 of 3)
DeleteChristmas movies: May I do my own piling on here for a moment and suggest one other "Christmas" movie that no one has ever heard of? It's been called a mix of "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Goodfellas," and it's one that I've added to my own personal list of family-oriented, warm-hearted Christmas movies, despite the high occurence of the letter "F" throughout. It's called "29th Street," (from the '90s) and it's free on YouTube with no ads: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFkO5S-6570
"On Borrowed Time." Hey, keep piling on all you like. I found a low-quality (but serviceable) copy of this one on YouTube. Thanks kindly. You mentioned that your top fave child actor is in it, and so you cause me to mention another movie with a superb child actor, that being "Captains Courageous," (1937) with Freddie Bartholomew.
About "The Thin Man," which you mentioned: By provident coincidence, I found three of the "Thin Man" DVDs at a local thrift shop a couple of days ago. Brand new. I'm almost finished with the first movie, and what I love most about it is how husband and wife treat each other. They fence and joust with each other and have not an ounce of insecurity between them. They're hilarious and perfect together, and it's a damned fresh breath of air.
Just found "Mister Roberts" free (with ads) on YouTube. Bookmarked.
Ever since you said what you said about "Dead Again," I've been looking for it. High and low. I know I've had a copy of it, but can't locate it. I watched it one time 500 years ago, and, fortunately, I don't remember anything at all about it. I'll keep looking and looking forward. Meantime, I will look at no reviews, no trailers, and no comments.
MR C.M. ~
DeleteHa! Truth be told, I've known some Jennifers, but I've never been "romantically entangled" with a Jennifer. See, the thing is... it's not uncommon for this voice in my head named Stream O'Consciousness to take over when I'm writing something. When Stream takes possession of my pen or keyboard, anything is liable to happen before I'm able to regain control. Therefore, one must always take some of what I write with a grain of salt, if not a full shaker of it. I believe Stream O'Consciousness was born in my brain as a result of hearing too much Roger Miller and Bob Dylan when I was young.
You're saying that Humor once saved you from death? I've heard of lifeguards and tourniquets saving from death, but never Humor. Do tell.
Upon reflection, I think that only when it comes to the category of Comedy does the "hero" thang not apply for me. If it's a comedy and it makes me laugh out loud, then it really doesn't matter whether or not there is a character I can identify with. A perfect example would be 'Monty Python & The Holy Grail'. And 'Life Of Brian', too. I don't care what happens to any of the characters in those movies, so long as what happens makes me laugh (which it always does).
Yeah, your "girl-in-the-stands" was within whistling distance. I'm pleased as spiked punch that you enjoyed that bit.
Oh, I most certainly do wear getting 86ed by BigBitch as a badge of honor. Also the fact that my blogs and 95% of the comments I leave at YouTube (aka ScrewYouBoob) are shadow-banned attest to the fact that TPTB hate and fear me. I dig that.
OK, you piqued my curiosity about a spidery 'Night Gallery' episode. I don't recall that one off the top o' me noggin, but I own every ep on DVD, so I will be looking into it (despite my Arachnophobia).
Oh, yeah, Louis Calhern. I can easily see the similarity. I saw him in 'The Asphalt Jungle' which I re-watched a couple weeks ago.
'29th Street' -- not to be confused with 'Miracle On 34th Street', eh? Thanks for the URL. Sounds like I may have a Christmas In July sort o' thing. "One of these nights" (when I'm not listening to The Eagles) I'll check 'er out.
Whoa! 'Captains Courageous' -- I have seen that movie but not in the same 500 years since you've seen 'Dead Again'.
Yes, the chemistry that William Powell and Myrna Loy share together is one of the primary selling points of The Thin Man series. The movies are pure old school F-U-N-! I really enjoy every one of them - even 'The Thin Man Goes Home' in which Nick Charles was on-the-wagon while trying to impress his dad. But my very favorite is probably the second one, 'After The Thin Man', and NOT just because Jimmy Stewart was featured in it.
>>... "Meantime, I will look at no reviews, no trailers, and no comments."
Yer a goot man, mang! You previously mentioned Andy Garcia, and he is also in 'Dead Again'. In fact, he is the guy provides the greatest anti-smoking moment I've ever seen. It's actually quite funny in a very Black Comedy sort o' way.
~ D-FensDogG
Mr. D-FensDogG,
DeleteStream O' Consciousness. Copy that. I'll keep it in mind.
No, humor didn't save me from death. I misunderstood something and thought you had said it saved YOU. Stream O' C. issue again, possibly. :)
About comedy: Agreed. Laughing is essentially an end in itself.
About the spider-related Night Gallery episode that I alleged: I'm assuming it's the episode I was thinking about because it had the word "Spider" in the title. And given that it had to be *one* of those Twilight-Zoney types of series, I leapt to a reasonable conclusion. I haven't actually rewatched it yet, so I can't promise I wasn't leading you down a garden path. I'll know soon.
I forgot to mention that 29th Street is primarily a *funny* movie, even though it is still strongly family oriented and has some moving and serious moments. Danny Aiello, Lainie Kazan, et al. 'Bout an Italian family in NYC in the '60s. Based on some true events, I think.
Captains Courageous is, I think, finally findable for free online. At archive.org maybe? I hope I'm recalling correctly. Superbly satisfying story.
Dead Again: I just found the movie and watched it! Great set of twists and great acting. I had completely forgotten everything about it, including the fact that Robin Williams was in it. And of course I now see what you meant about the smoking. :)
Brother C.M. ~
DeleteI went back and reread the bit about humor and death and I can plainly see how things got a bit jumbled. And, yes, I pretty much said that having a sense of humor may have saved me from self-inflicted death.
Glad to hear that '29th Street' is a comedy. I see that it also includes Anthony LaPaglia in the cast. That's another plus. I really liked him as Daphne Moon's brother in 'Frasier', and he's also in another Christmas movie with Steve Martin that I watch most years titled 'Mixed Nuts'. It's not a great movie, but it's fun. I especially love the Venice Beach setting, because I grew up in that area and was at Venice Beach countless times. For years, I even used to ride my bicycle on the beach bike path there in the mornings before reporting to work. So, for me, watching 'Mixed Nuts' is a bit like going home.
I'm looking forward to seeing '29th Street' fairly soon; I've got a strong feeling I will really like it!
I didn't see 'Captains Courageous' at Archive.org, but it IS available to rent on one of the cable channels we get for $2.99, so I intend to see that one again fairly soon, too.
Really glad you enjoyed 'Dead Again'. I was pretty sure you would. I think it's almost criminal how unknown that movie is today. The screenplay was brilliantly constructed and that line...
"Keep them. I just quit."
...I can't even think about that without literally chuckling out loud.
I believe that the cornerstone of that story is the key to really understanding The Bible and our relationship to God, to the Earth and to each other... although Dr. Cozy Carlisle (Robin Williams) had a terribly warped understanding of it. Have you read any of that 5-part series that I wrote and published on this blog? I feel that it fills in the missing component that makes sense of so much that is otherwise misunderstood or simply ignored.
Bless & Be Blessed, Brother!!
~ D-FensDogG
ADDENDUM :
DeleteGetting back to Neo-Noir for a moment...
I just now watched (for the eleventy-hundredth time?) the 1987 movie 'HOLLYWOOD SHUFFLE', which I think is hilariously funny. One quote from that movie which I use almost daily (at the very least, multiple times weekly) is "That shit could really happen!"
One segment in that movie is a Neo-Noir spoof called 'Death Of A Breakdancer'. You *must* see it!
Also, one of my all-time favorite sitcoms is 'Moonlighting'. Another TV series in which I own every episode on DVD. You may be familiar with it (this show turned Bruce Willis into a major star), but if you're not, I wanna tell ya that the series ran for 5 seasons and my second favorite episode of the entire series was 'THE DREAM SEQUENCE ALWAYS RINGS TWICE' (season 2, episode 4) which was a wonderful spoof of the Film Noir genre. I included part of a scene from that episode (via a YouTube video) in the body of this blog bit. If you haven't seen the entire episode, you really should seek it out and watch it, because I'm sure you'll really dig it! It was obviously a take-off on the Noir classic 'The Postman Always Rings Twice', but for my money, the Moonlighting spoof is much more entertaining than the famous film.
~ D-FensDogG
[Link> HOLLYWOOD SHUFFLE: Death Of A Breakdancer
DeleteYer welcome, Bruhthuh.
No need to thank me by sending a check for $860.86 to:
Sir D-FensDogG
8686 86th Street
Palookaville, Utah
86086
So you've lived in Cali. Looking up at the photo of mine truly, at the top of your blog, I am going to ask just for the fun of it: What more-or-less famous actor -- if you're inclined to tell -- have people always said you look like?
DeleteAnthony Lapaglia's awesome. Never knew he ever appeared in Frasier though. That's cool. Will also have to check out Mixed Nuts. Mere trivia here, but if you ever saw a quirky early '90s film called Strictly Ballroom, there's a great actress in it whom Lapaglia eventually married in real life, Gia Carides, I think her name is.
Dead Again's "Keep them. I just quit." is indeed a subtle and hilarious line.
I had no idea that that film lent itself to understanding the Bible and those other points you mention. And I love discovering hidden/latent meanings in movies, so ... very interesting. I hadn't known about your 5-part series. If you mentioned it to me once, did I perhaps not notice a link to it? Or I didn't get a link, it may not have been easy to locate. In any case, I would love to check it out. (I'll have a quick look around and see if it's actually just been staring me in the face all this time.)
I'm going to have to look up Hollywood Shuffle now too. Another potentially good one I've missed (never even heard of, actually). Looking forward to it.
I'm definitely familiar with Moonlighting. I remember last seeing it circa the mid-nineties. Such a great series with awesome chemistry between the two characters. I got to see the woman (I forget names sometimes) in an older, black-and-white, kind of existential film back when she was maybe early twenties. Stunningly beautiful.
But I bet I've only ever seen the equivalent of maybe a single season worth of Moonlighting. Would like to reboot and see them all if I can. Especially S2E4, as you point out. Will go up and find the YouTube link now though.
Thanks as always for the recommendations!
> Yer welcome, Bruhthuh.
Delete> No need to thank me by sending a check for
> $860.86 to:
> Sir D-FensDogG
> 8686 86th Street
> Palookaville, Utah
> 86086
HAHA. With an address like that I don't even need to use a rubber check. Not that your link provisioning service isn't worth it.
Back in 1981, the actor Charles Haid told me that he thought I looked just like a slightly younger version of his very best friend, the actor John Savage. And then circa 1983, I was told that the artist Kenneth Kendall (see the documentary 'James Dean: The First American Teenager') thought that I looked like a younger version of Jack Nicholson. I do see the John Savage likeness a bit, but Jack Nicholson? Huh?!
DeleteAs far as I know, those are the only two actor comparisons that have been made regarding me... when I was much, MUCH younger than I am now. So, who did you have in mind? Either one of those?
Yes, in 8 episodes of 'Frasier', Anthony Lapaglia played Simon Moon, Daphne Moon's drunken loafer brother. He was hilarious! He was my second favorite semi-regular on the show, after Harriet Sansom Harris, who played Bebe Glazer, Frasier Crane's hysterical agent. She was essentially channeling "Norma Desmond" from the classic Noir 'Sunset Boulevard', and she was simply brilliant in that role. Way over-the-top, just like Norma was!
Yes, I have seen 'Strictly Ballroom', but it was so long ago that I only remember the basic storyline. Checking Gia Carides' credits at IMDB, apparently I've also seen her in the movies 'Phar Lap' and 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding'.
'Dead Again' wasn't *deliberately* making any sort of theological statement, it's just that what they illustrated was Biblically accurate, unbeknownst to most people. The link I provided was on one of those substack blogs awhile ago. But here's the URL for it: http://stephentmccarthysstuffs.blogspot.com/2010/07/reincarnation-holy-bible-part-1-of-4.html
Apparently Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis didn't get along much of the time. Or maybe they were just practicing some "Method Acting". Ha! I'm thinking that perhaps the Cybill Shepherd movie you have in mind was 'The Last Picture Show' (1971), as I believe that was the only black & white movie she appeared in.
I recall a humorous thing I learned awhile back: When Cybill Shepherd first read the pilot for 'Moonlighting', she told the producer / writer Glenn Gordon Caron that what he had created was a modern take on the Screwball Comedy genre, and he apparently didn't even know what that was, so she wrote a list of classics from that genre (e.g., 'Bringing Up Baby', 'Adam's Rib', et al.) and recommended that he watch them ASAP. Funny, and hard to believe, that the mastermind behind 'Moonlighting' didn't even know what a Screwball Comedy was when he created the pilot episode for that show.
~ D-FensDogG
I think Savage is the one! Indeed, if someone had told me that STM was really Savage blogging undercover, I'd have believed it. I briefly wondered if Michael Rooker might have been a candidate too but changed my mind. Jacko Nick though? Never crossed my mind.
DeleteI hear you on Dead Again. I think that unintentional though accurate schemas are still useful and interesting to identify. In another movie I rewatched recently there's seems to be an inferable statement about life and death that's interesting to me even though I'm not positive that it was intended by the director. (Fincher's "The Game" with Douglas and Penn.)
Thanks for reincarning your link on reincarnation (and more). Looking forward to reading next time I'm online again.
MOONLIGHTING. Managed to catch two or three episodes, including the dream sequence from S2E4. REALLY well done. Total noir, well acted and with a perfectly realistical noir look-and-feel. I also found the pilot episode and the Christmas episode from one of the seasons. I hadn't remembered how good this show was. For one thing, among all the other things I could praise, I couldn't believe my eyes and ears when they actually sang a real, classic Christmas carol, in full, on mainstream TV. Also, there are some "fourth wall" quips here and there that caught me completely off guard in a great way.
I did read (and was surprised) that Cybill and Willis didn't completely get along sometimes. I thought that was a shame but am glad that they still (somehow) made it work so well.
You mentioned Cybill informing the producer/writer that he was unwittingly manifesting the Screwball Comedy genre. I have to this: In the pilot episode, as soon as Cybill and Willis made first contact at the offices of City of Angels Investigations, I thought I was watching "His Girl Friday." The dialogue and physical comedy and general interaction were such an (approximately) exact match, I assumed there was no way it wasn't intentionally inspired specifically by Grant and His Girl.
Anyway, the humor in Moonlighting is so good and so old school, I think I could watch all these episodes through the course of the end of the world and be content.
Michael Rooker... hmmm.... I wasn't at all familiar with the name, and at first I thought I had never seen him in anything. But actually, I've seen 'Tombstone' countless times, and I may have even seen 'Mississippi Burning' eleventy-hunnert years ago.
Delete'The Game'... I didn't think I'd seen that one, but reading a brief synopsis of it, I realized that I have seen it, about nine-hunnert years agone. I should maybe rewatch that one.
I concur entirely about 'Moonlighting' seeming 'His Girl Friday'-esque. I'd be curious to know if the screenplay for the pilot episode was always that way, or did the creator / producer / writer alter it some after having seen the Screwball Comedies that Cybill Shepherd had recommended to him. (I've got to assume that 'His Girl Friday' was amongst the recommended films.)
And, yes, I loved that bit when the entire cast and crew sang 'The First Noel'. Not 'Rudolph' or 'Frosty', but a song which proclaimed Jesus to be "the King of Israel". Gotta wonder if there was some displeasure about that in the corridors of Hollyweird.
Here's an excerpt of an Email I sent to a friend of mine named "Julio" early last January:
As you know, I'm a big fan of "Breaking The 4th Wall" in plays, movies & TV shows. And I have often said that 'Moonlighting' was the absolute King of breaking the 4th wall; they turned it into a genuine art form!!
Then I mentioned some of my all-time favorite examples of breaking the 4th wall, one of which was this:
In 'His Girl Friday' (1940), Walter Burns (Cary Grant) describes Bruce Baldwin (Ralph Bellamy) as a guy who "looks like that actor -- uh... Ralph Bellamy". GOL!
Others that I specifically mentioned occurred in the TV movie 'Columbo: Undercover' (1994), and the Martin & Lewis movie 'Hollywood Or Bust'. I said that 'Rocky & Bullwinkle' broke the 4th wall almost as often as 'Moonlighting' did. But nobody ever did it better than 'Moonlighting'. I probably shouldn't say this and ruin it but I can't stop myself: In one 'Moonlighting' episode, David & Maddie were trying to solve a case. Suddenly David explains to Maddie how the crime was committed. She's astounded and asks him when he figured all of that out, and David Addison replies, "During the commercial". Guffaw-Out-Loud! Like I said to Julio, 'Moonlighting' turned breaking the 4th wall into a genuine art form.
'Moonlighting' was so well made that most episodes seemed more like mini-movies than a TV series. Due to production costs (including lots of extra shots and fancy lighting that TV shows don't usually indulge in) and due to other issues, 'Moonlighting' was notorious for not having episodes finished on time, and thus they had to show reruns instead of new episodes. They had fun mentioning that fact at times to the audience (always busting up that 4th wall time and time again).
PRO TIP: In my opinion, the greatest 'Moonlighting' episode ever made was 'Atomic Shakespeare', but one shouldn't see that ep until they've become extremely familiar with the whole format of the show, because there are a bunch of inside jokes that won't otherwise be understood. In fact, 'Atomic Shakespeare' is my very favorite single episode ever created by any show in TV history.
Bless & Be Blessed, Brother!!
~ D-FensDogG
> And, yes, I loved that bit when the entire cast and crew sang 'The First Noel'. Not 'Rudolph' or 'Frosty', but a song which proclaimed Jesus to be "the King of Israel". Gotta wonder if there was some displeasure about that in the corridors of Hollyweird.
DeleteYeah, I read somewhere that Moonlighting pushed the envelope in that one, and in other places and ways as well.
> Here's an excerpt of an Email I sent to a friend of mine named "Julio" early last January:
> As you know, I'm a big fan of "Breaking The 4th Wall" in plays, movies & TV shows. And I have often said that 'Moonlighting' was the absolute King of breaking the 4th wall; they turned it into a genuine art form!!
Truly. First one I experienced was this:
Willis: "Don't worry. We're gonna figure this out."
Shepard: "How do you know that?"
Willis: "Because another show starts in about 12 minutes."
Out of context and in text form, sure, this snippet may not sound like much, but unexpected as it was, and in the flow of the scene, ... primo line.
> Then I mentioned some of my all-time favorite examples of breaking the 4th wall, one of which was this:
> In 'His Girl Friday' (1940), Walter Burns (Cary Grant) describes Bruce Baldwin (Ralph Bellamy) as a guy who "looks like that actor -- uh... Ralph Bellamy". GOL!
Nice call. That one has stuck with me forever since the first time I saw it. One of the most brilliant bits I've ever heard.
As I said, I'm looking to get ML on DVD asap, and will *try* not to skip forward to "Atomic Shakespeare."
Meantime, I got my hands on Frasier.
MR. C.M. ~
Delete>>... Meantime, I got my hands on Frasier.
Well...
(Never mind. I was going to make a cheesy joke there but... I'll spare ya. :^)
I gotta say sumpin' 'bout 'Frasier'...
I literally grew up watching 'The Andy Griffith Show', and TAGS (specifically seasons 1-5; the black & white episodes) was, is, and always will be my very favorite TV series. I mean, someone even created a Bible study program based on TAGS episodes. I've never seen it, but I've known about it for decades, and that impresses me. TAGS had so much heart and down-home moral lessons in so many episodes, I can understand how it could have inspired a Bible study course. It was also a very funny show.
But IMO, when it comes strictly to humor - laughs-per-minute - nothing has ever come even remotely close to 'Frasier'. Yes, it was pretty embarrassingly amoral at times - lots of un-Biblical sexual promiscuity - and a lot of stupidity / bad decision-making on display from every character at various times, but - HOKEY-SMOKE! - that show was guffaw-out-loud hilarious and often astoundingly clever.
In the 11 seasons of 'Frasier' (1993-2004), there were maybe a dozen episodes I actively disliked for one reason or another. But there were so many episodes that I actually marveled at because the writing was so imaginative and the casting was just as brilliant. I'm usually laughing AT, not with, the characters in 'Frasier'. And while it doesn't have the real warmth and good messages that so many classic TAGS episodes had, it's my go-to show when I need a lot of hearty laughs and just want to escape "reality" for 30-90 minutes. (I also appreciate that so much of the comedy was quite intelligent; a person really needs to know some history, art, and literature in order to get some of the jokes in 'Frasier'.)
Many people have said that 'Seinfeld' was the funniest TV show ever. I agree it was funny, but nowhere close to 'Frasier'. You may already be extremely familiar with 'Frasier', so what I've written is just old news to you. But if not, I feel I can safely say you're not going to regret your recent DVD purchases!
Just for the helck of it, I'll list my Top 10 favorite 'Frasier' episodes (but there are so many truly great ones I had to leave out, when limiting myself to a mere 10).
FRASIER:
1. Dial M For Martin - season 6, episode 3
2. Merry Christmas, Mrs. Moskowitz - s6e10
3. Morning Becomes Entertainment - s7e19
4. Sliding Frasiers - s8e13
5. Hooping Cranes - s8e15
6. Forgotten But Not Gone - s8e18
7. Don Juan In Hell (Parts 1 & 2) - s9e1&2
8. Trophy Girlfriend - s10e15
9. Fraternal Schwinns - s10e16
10. Roe To Perdition - s10e18
If I had to select a #1, I believe it would be 'Sliding Frasiers'. That one was so clever and intricate that at one point the writers even had to warn the viewers, "Pay attention, because this gets tricky". When even intelligent 'Frasier' fans need to be told to concentrate, you know you're getting into some extra-special deep stuffs!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZD3gOSC6GU
Also, I should probably mention that I felt the same way about Daphne Moon (Jane Leeves) as Niles Crane did! Hoo-Wee!
~ D'DogG
Mr. D.F.D.:
ReplyDeleteTo be able to make a joke without even making it... Nice.
There's no way I can do better justice to TAGS and Frasier than you just did. I thoroughly agree with your estimate of TAGS. It was *good* stuff. Pure, good, old-fashioned wonderfulness.
And Frasier (with which I am indeed very familiar already) -- the consistent, high level of wit and humor in an atmosphere of class and intelligence have given me lot of joy over the years. No wonder it lasted so long. As you say, it's a really great little world to retreat to when one needs to escape from whatever mundane shite is dragging one down. A soul reset.
Thanks for the list of recommended episodes. Given the name of and your intriguing description of "Sliding Frasiers," I find myself wondering if this is a play on "Sliding Doors," with Gwyneth. Great little "alternative universe" type of storyline. I'll find out. Maybe I should start with seasons 8, 9, and 10.
> Also, I should probably mention that I felt the same way about Daphne Moon (Jane Leeves) as Niles Crane did! Hoo-Wee!
You ain't the only one. I've had a thing for that lass for a couple of decades. But also with Frasier's producer, Roz. Speaking of whom:
Your link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZD3gOSC6GU
"Frasier Clips: Frasier breaks up for Roz in French"
One commenter said: "Classic scene. If you speak French, the scene is even funnier. You realize how completely disinterested this guy is in Roz, and how he's much more interested in finding a good restaurant, his tone and everything, just hilarious."
When YouTube lets me watch this clip without confirming that I'm "not a bot," I'm gonna love this.
Speaking of French, I can't help but bring to your attention the following black-and-white film from 1937. Takes place in Paris and New York City. It's not technically noir, and it's not in the universe of comedic TV series that we've been talking about recently, but it's got plenty of comic, quite romantic, and also dark moments throughout. It's almost completely unknown, but it's one of the best old flicks I've seen. Some reviewer called it "the most romantic movie ever made" but it's not just sap. It's got more than that. It's been free online for years. I present the link here in case it might appeal one day upon an otherwise boring evening:
"History is Made at Night," with Charles Boyer and Jean Arthur.
FULL FILM FREE ONLINE:
History is Made at Night (1937) ... Charles Boyer :: Jean Arthur
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_qO9J1dQRA
MUH BRUHTHUH ~
DeleteIndeed, 'Sliding Frasiers' was a nod to 'Sliding Doors'... which I've never actually seen. To be upfront and old curmudgeonly honest, I gave up on Hollyweird long ago. Off the top o' me noggin, I can think of only 3 movies I've seen in the 21st Century which I liked enough to buy on DVD: 'The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button', 'The Big Short' (an absolute cinematic masterpiece!), and 'Slumdog Millionaire' - which was actually the last film I ever bought a ticket to see and watched in a real movie theatre. (Nope, I haven't been in a movie theatre for the last 17 years.)
>>... Speaking of French, I can't help but bring to your attention the following black-and-white film from 1937. ... Some reviewer called it "the most romantic movie ever made" ... I present the link here in case it might appeal one day upon an otherwise boring evening:
I think the most romantic movie ever made was 'The Ghost And Mrs. Muir', in which Gene Tierney and The Ghost (Rex Harrison) never even kiss. Nevertheless, that's a terrific recommendation. I thanx ya! I will definitely watch it very soon. I've come across the title before but I don't believe I've ever seen the movie. Then again... maybe I have. To steal from Don Ameche in [Link> 'Heaven Can Wait', I've spent a lot of time "floating on an ocean of whiskey and soda" where memories from the past fade away... thank God!
I love Jean Arthur (what a sexy voice!) -- absolutely one of my favorite actresses ever! She was fantastic with Uncle Jimmy in 'Mr. Smith Goes To Washington', but if God told me I could watch only one Jean Arthur movie for the rest of my life, I'd have to select 'The Devil And Miss Jones' -- another one of the absolute classic Screwball Comedies which I own and watch every couple of years.
Thanks again for the Jean Arthur movie recommendation! I'll get on it muy pronto!
Holly is definitely weird. Don't blame you a whit for neglecting the modern stuff, though I keep trying to find nuggets.
Delete"The Big Short." Holy cripe, yes. One of the most original, compelling, entertaining, and enjoyable movies ever to spin in my player. I bought a copy too.
So I *have* seen Gene Tierney before! Must have been a couple of decades at least. Definitely going to rewatch "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" very soon.
"I've spent a lot of time "floating on an ocean of whiskey and soda" where memories from the past fade away... thank God!"
LOL, and don't I hear you.
Jean Arthur *is* a delight. No one else could have done a better job in "Mr. Smith Goes ...," and in "History ..." she's perfectly, purely ah-dor-ah-bluh, as the French would say. Boyer = a class act too. Trite but true: they don't make 'em like that anymore. If I had my choice, I'd reincarnate about 100 years backwards in time.
Speaking of that last point, I've got your 5 articles saved to disk with first one down, and moving forward as time permits. Nicely presented, and I much appreciate how you analyze and how you permit yourself to go in an independent direction as compared to what's merely commonly accepted. At one point, you approvingly mentioned Natalie Cole's lyrics: "The greatest thing you'll ever learn Is just to love and be loved in return." Which reminds me of a story I heard recently, related first-hand from someone I'd met -- I wish I could give details -- that forced me to give new and unusually serious consideration to this concept. It was the behavior of one stranger to another in this story that struck me as the most persuasive example I'd yet seen of the possible (probable) profound truth of this particular point of yours. Anyway, I should be writing this under your article. Must run now, though.
Thanks for the extra Gene and Jean flicks for my watch list.
>>... "If I had my choice, I'd reincarnate about 100 years backwards in time."
DeleteWell, your attraction to that era may very well be one clue indicating that perhaps you WERE here then. An organic but unexplainable fascination with certain periods in history, music, fashion, personalities etc. is often a clue to a person's past. It's generally a decent starting point.
>>.... "I much appreciate how you analyze and how you permit yourself to go in an independent direction as compared to what's merely commonly accepted."
Well, trust me, I don't call myself a "Maverick Christian" without good reason. And it's not that I ever set out to be a maverick about... anything. It just worked out that way. As the notable observer of human nature said...
Is it not apropos that asses can be found in the word "masses"?
~ Louie Banana
Below is the URL to an interesting video, but this doesn't even begin to scratch the surface; this is just one more tiny bubble of evidence in a sea of near-scientific proof:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMRCDzJl9Zc&list=PLNBztZRTnDxCKxeK4moZ5u1vIh9pJDBqN
If at some point you decide to watch - at YouTube (or ScrewYouBoob, as I refer to it) - Gene Tierney at her most gorgeous, I found a copy with much better image quality than the one I previously linked to. You'll find it here:
[Link> 'HEAVEN CAN WAIT'
Bless & Be Blessed, C.M.!!
~ D'DogG