last movie you watched

[Greystoke]

watched sunday night THIS PROPERTY IS CONDEMNED (1966) per my recording of it off TCM channel some years ago.
A film starring Natalie Wood, Robert Redford , Charles Bronson and Cate Reid (Natalie's mother) this is a longtime favorite of mine. I suspect i may have reviewed it here one time before so apologies if im repeating stuff.

Although not great, it is a riveting storyline particularly if your old school 1960s movies and music buff ...and Natalie, who was already a screen icon , is utterly gorgeous and convincing in this movie as Alva who's desired by just about every man in town, except for Redford at least at the start, but then a love affair slowly develops.

Anyone here seen the movie ?

Spoiler alert...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Property_Is_Condemned

It's a really interesting film in a lot of respects. Great cast, too. And nice work by James Wong Howe, the film's DP. It's one I'll have to make a point of watching again, though. It's been a while.

Good one Greystoke,

Mate, i just ran a check on search here and yes indeed, i have in fact posted this before on Feb 25, 2022...

"This Property is Condemned, made in 1966.

Starring Natalie Wood, Robert Redford, Charles Bronson.

spoiler alert...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Property_Is_Condemned"


Think I better go back over this thread and make up a list on films i seen and posted here over the past 5,6 years so i don't end up repeating

I think we've all repeated several films we've seen on here. Keeps the conversation going.

Do you use IMDB or LetterBoxd to keep tabs on what you watch? Can be handy.

[pmp]

watched sunday night THIS PROPERTY IS CONDEMNED (1966) per my recording of it off TCM channel some years ago.
A film starring Natalie Wood, Robert Redford , Charles Bronson and Cate Reid (Natalie's mother) this is a longtime favorite of mine. I suspect i may have reviewed it here one time before so apologies if im repeating stuff.

Although not great, it is a riveting storyline particularly if your old school 1960s movies and music buff ...and Natalie, who was already a screen icon , is utterly gorgeous and convincing in this movie as Alva who's desired by just about every man in town, except for Redford at least at the start, but then a love affair slowly develops.

Anyone here seen the movie ?

Spoiler alert...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Property_Is_Condemned

It's a really interesting film in a lot of respects. Great cast, too. And nice work by James Wong Howe, the film's DP. It's one I'll have to make a point of watching again, though. It's been a while.

Good one Greystoke,

Mate, i just ran a check on search here and yes indeed, i have in fact posted this before on Feb 25, 2022...

"This Property is Condemned, made in 1966.

Starring Natalie Wood, Robert Redford, Charles Bronson.

spoiler alert...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Property_Is_Condemned"


Think I better go back over this thread and make up a list on films i seen and posted here over the past 5,6 years so i don't end up repeating

I'm rather pleased I have a poor memory for such things - it means I can keep watching films for a second or third time and still get much enjoyment out of them!

[pmp]

Tonight's film was Broken Lullaby, a 1932 film by Lubitsch, recently released on Indicator blu ray. This is based on the same source material as Frantz (2016), which I spoke about in glowing terms a couple of years ago. It is interesting that both Lubitsch and Ozon - both renowned for their sense of playfulness - were both drawn to such a dark and tragic story. The structure of the two films are quite different, though, and if you haven't seen either of the movies, Frantz is the one to watch first, as the first half of that film plays out as a mystery, whereas we know everything from the outset of Broken Lullaby. Bearing that in mind, I won't go into the plot here.

The print on the blu ray has its fair share of speckles, dust, and even tears, but it's good enough - but we tend to forget these films are 91 years old.

Broken Lullaby stars Lionel Barrymore (in a surprisingly restrained performance), Nancy Carroll, and Phillips Holmes. I've seen Holmes in several films before, but he is an absolute revelation here as a WW1 soldier suffering with what we would today call PTSD after the war has ended. The last reel of the film is gut-wrenching, and rather caught me unawares, in all honesty, and the tissues came in handy. I knew the story in advance, and so didn't expect to be affected by it in the way I was with Frantz, but Broken Lullaby ends up being just as moving as the later film, and there are a couple of really wonderfully realised scenes. Recommended.

[Greystoke]

This is a nicely made trailer for the new 100 Years of Warner Bros. documentary that's coming to HBO Max at the end of this month. I expect it will be on Sky, too.


..

[pmp]

Tonight I saw The Garment Jungle, another of Indicator's crime flicks from the 1950s, this time centring on the extortion racket in a clothing factory/shop. It's a neat little thriller, with some good performances. It goes pretty much where you might expect it to, but it's well-written and benefits from some crisp b&w photography. The blu ray is excellent, too, with a fine transfer and the film in great condition.

[Greystoke]

Tonight I saw The Garment Jungle, another of Indicator's crime flicks from the 1950s, this time centring on the extortion racket in a clothing factory/shop. It's a neat little thriller, with some good performances. It goes pretty much where you might expect it to, but it's well-written and benefits from some crisp b&w photography. The blu ray is excellent, too, with a fine transfer and the film in great condition.

I quite like The Garment Jungle. It takes the racketeering film into a different area of interest, and with nice photography, as you've said. A fine cast, and good location work, it's the kind of brisk, intriguing drama that takes a central premise and runs with it wholeheartedly. And the Indicator Blu-ray is really good.

[Greystoke]

I watched Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie on Apple TV + this morning. Which is a documentary about Micheal J. Fox now, and also how he got to this time in his life. Which is done through movie clips and recreations of events, interviews with Michael, whilst capturing various days in his life as this film is being made.

Fox is wonderful as discusses his life and career, how Parkinson's Disease affects him both physically and mentally, but also how this affects his family. Whilst looking back fondly on his career, including the incredible high of Back to the Future and Teen Wolf being number 1 and number 2 at the US box office at the same time, whilst he's also starring in Family Ties.

It's moving, melancholy, and whilst it's also sad in some respects, Fox isn't somebody looking for pity or even built for pity. He's determined to stand on his own two feet. But his charm and sense of humour shines through. Whilst the affection and love he has for his family is clear. And vice versa!

This is a documentary that's very much on Fox's side, although it doesn't shy away from periods when ego took hold, or when problems arose that he's very much candid about. And in doing so, it's so well-constructed and involving, that it's easy to be whisked back to a time when he was a young actor at the top of the world. I thought this was a pretty wonderful documentary.

[Greystoke]

I watched Mr. Brooks tonight, which was released in 2007 and stars Kevin Costner. It's a film that passed me by at the time and I've never got round to catching up with it until tonight.

This was the second of two films directed by Bruce Evans, who has been a screenwriter for some years with his writing partner, Raynold Gideon, who paired once again with Evans to write this film's screenplay.

This said, it feels as though more than two writers have had their hands on the screenplay, given how convoluted and messy this modern take on Jekyll & Hyde becomes. With the narrative leaning in numerous directions, often in contrived, unbelievable ways.

Costner is the titular Mr. Brooks. A happily married and successful businessman by day. And a serial killer by night. Until his plans go awry and another party gets involved. On his tail is a detective played by Demi Moore, who, like Costner's character, suffers from being pulled into disparate narratives in spite of what's happening at the film's core.

Costner brings a quiet and mildly compelling presence, although he does seem miscast, especially when his darker side whispers in his ear and that calm exterior is allowed the opportunity to slightly unhinge. I felt much the same about Demi Moore. She isn't convincing as the dogged detective who is also combating her husband over a divorce settlement. And who is involved in another serial killer case.

There is a sense of decency to Moore's character, although, as a counterpoint to Mr. Brooks' nocturnal activities, the film is never truly subversive, whilst it's also wanting a darker sense of humour and a more keen satirical bite. But the main problem here is how many disparate plot threads are tangled up in a film that's less than the sum of its parts. And if you know where those plot threads are being pulled from, you might also find Mr. Brooks quite predictable. I certainly did.

[Walter Hale 4]

I watched saturday evening The Hateful Eight 2014 but found it somewhat underwhelming.
Good cast and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Don't think it was anywhere near as good as some other Tarantino films.

spoiler alert...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hateful_Eight

[pmp]

Tonight I returned to The Shadow of the Cat, a 1961 Hammer film which is included on the final volume of Scream Factory's series of "Universal Horror." In many ways, this volume (6) is one of the more interesting, concentrating as it does on four films from the mid-50s to 1961 that still owed a debt to the classic universal and RKO series. The Shadow of a Cat opens with a woman reading from a volume of Edgar Allan Poe poems, which also links this to the Corman/Poe films in a rather unsubtle way. And there is something of The Black Cat here, too. The old woman's cat witnesses the murder of her owner, and then sets about tormenting those involved in the act, before starting to kill them off one by one. Sadly, it's a little drawn out at 80 minutes or so, but it's also effective, and there are some fine performances and the sense of place and time is also well-achieved. There's some interesting choices in the direction/cinematography, with some more unusual camera angles, and a distorted view when seeing through the eyes of the cat. Barbara Shelley is one of the stars here, and she's excellent - although the late-in-the-day interview with her included on the disc is a rather sad document. Apparently this movie was issued as part of a double bill with Curse of the Werewolf, although I have to say I think Shadow of the Cat is actually the better film. The US blu ray looks great.

[Greystoke]

Tonight I returned to The Shadow of the Cat, a 1961 Hammer film which is included on the final volume of Scream Factory's series of "Universal Horror." In many ways, this volume (6) is one of the more interesting, concentrating as it does on four films from the mid-50s to 1961 that still owed a debt to the classic universal and RKO series. The Shadow of a Cat opens with a woman reading from a volume of Edgar Allan Poe poems, which also links this to the Corman/Poe films in a rather unsubtle way. And there is something of The Black Cat here, too. The old woman's cat witnesses the murder of her owner, and then sets about tormenting those involved in the act, before starting to kill them off one by one. Sadly, it's a little drawn out at 80 minutes or so, but it's also effective, and there are some fine performances and the sense of place and time is also well-achieved. There's some interesting choices in the direction/cinematography, with some more unusual camera angles, and a distorted view when seeing through the eyes of the cat. Barbara Shelley is one of the stars here, and she's excellent - although the late-in-the-day interview with her included on the disc is a rather sad document. Apparently this movie was issued as part of a double bill with Curse of the Werewolf, although I have to say I think Shadow of the Cat is actually the better film. The US blu ray looks great.

I do quite like Shadow of the Cat. It really does establish its premise rather well. And the cast is great. Especially Barbara Shelley, as you've said. I think the interview you mentioned is also on the Indicator Blu-ray -- she's very elderly and frail if it's the same one.

[Greystoke]

I watched saturday evening The Hateful Eight 2014 but found it somewhat underwhelming.
Good cast and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Don't think it was anywhere near as good as some other Tarantino films.

spoiler alert...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hateful_Eight

I think the first half of The Hateful Eight is absolutely brilliant, then, as Tarantino is prone to do, he gets indulgent and doesn't have the discipline to reign in his own work, and so it becomes flabby and unwieldy.

I do like The Hateful Eight. I like all of Tarantino's films. And I appreciate that he has a truly individual voice in cinema, and the level of autonomy that allows him to make the kind of films he wants to make. But he's also a one man band in some respects. And that's his biggest shortcoming and the overwhelming flaw with the likes of Kill Bill, which didn't really have to be two films, The Hateful Eight, Django Unchained, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

[pmp]

Tonight I watched the German blu ray of the 1945 And Then There Were None, in the same range as the Val Lewton films as I discussed earlier. The problem with this film is that it's in the public domain, and finding a really good source seems to have been problematic - the US release is apparently the same. It's much better than those Godawful public domain DVD releases of it, but it has some issues, and in no way is it as crisp and clear as we have come to expect. I don't think that's anyone's fault - you can only do what you can with the source.

As for the film itself, it's a very long time since I have seen it, and I think it has aged somewhat. Considering there are lots of murders, it seems very odd to say that it is actually rather slow-paced and dull. This might well be more to do with the fact that it (like, I think, all screen versions) is based on the play by Christie and not the book, and there are notable differences - in particular a very dark ending in the book, which audiences of the time might not have liked in a 1940s film. It's "OK," but personally I prefer the more tongue in cheek (and faster paced) 1965 version (called Ten Little Indians). Whereas the 1945 film might be over-praised, I think the 1965 one might be undervalued, and is one heck of a lot more fun.

[Tang Lungs side kick]

I met Shelley in Bham UK in '09 , so nice and pleasent....she sgd my french Village of Damned 1sh , also have Sanders/Gwynne cuts so the whole trio

[pmp]

Tonight I returned to The Shadow of the Cat, a 1961 Hammer film which is included on the final volume of Scream Factory's series of "Universal Horror." In many ways, this volume (6) is one of the more interesting, concentrating as it does on four films from the mid-50s to 1961 that still owed a debt to the classic universal and RKO series. The Shadow of a Cat opens with a woman reading from a volume of Edgar Allan Poe poems, which also links this to the Corman/Poe films in a rather unsubtle way. And there is something of The Black Cat here, too. The old woman's cat witnesses the murder of her owner, and then sets about tormenting those involved in the act, before starting to kill them off one by one. Sadly, it's a little drawn out at 80 minutes or so, but it's also effective, and there are some fine performances and the sense of place and time is also well-achieved. There's some interesting choices in the direction/cinematography, with some more unusual camera angles, and a distorted view when seeing through the eyes of the cat. Barbara Shelley is one of the stars here, and she's excellent - although the late-in-the-day interview with her included on the disc is a rather sad document. Apparently this movie was issued as part of a double bill with Curse of the Werewolf, although I have to say I think Shadow of the Cat is actually the better film. The US blu ray looks great.

I do quite like Shadow of the Cat. It really does establish its premise rather well. And the cast is great. Especially Barbara Shelley, as you've said. I think the interview you mentioned is also on the Indicator Blu-ray -- she's very elderly and frail if it's the same one.

Yes, that must be the same one. I have to say the Scream Factory Universal sets are superb. I don't have the first one as Eureka issued the Poe movies, but vols 2 to 6 are very nice.

[Greystoke]

Tonight I returned to The Shadow of the Cat, a 1961 Hammer film which is included on the final volume of Scream Factory's series of "Universal Horror." In many ways, this volume (6) is one of the more interesting, concentrating as it does on four films from the mid-50s to 1961 that still owed a debt to the classic universal and RKO series. The Shadow of a Cat opens with a woman reading from a volume of Edgar Allan Poe poems, which also links this to the Corman/Poe films in a rather unsubtle way. And there is something of The Black Cat here, too. The old woman's cat witnesses the murder of her owner, and then sets about tormenting those involved in the act, before starting to kill them off one by one. Sadly, it's a little drawn out at 80 minutes or so, but it's also effective, and there are some fine performances and the sense of place and time is also well-achieved. There's some interesting choices in the direction/cinematography, with some more unusual camera angles, and a distorted view when seeing through the eyes of the cat. Barbara Shelley is one of the stars here, and she's excellent - although the late-in-the-day interview with her included on the disc is a rather sad document. Apparently this movie was issued as part of a double bill with Curse of the Werewolf, although I have to say I think Shadow of the Cat is actually the better film. The US blu ray looks great.

I do quite like Shadow of the Cat. It really does establish its premise rather well. And the cast is great. Especially Barbara Shelley, as you've said. I think the interview you mentioned is also on the Indicator Blu-ray -- she's very elderly and frail if it's the same one.

Yes, that must be the same one. I have to say the Scream Factory Universal sets are superb. I don't have the first one as Eureka issued the Poe movies, but vols 2 to 6 are very nice.

I've still to catch up with Eureka's Universal releases. I've probably missed a few of the limited edition releases. But I think I'm long overdue a blowout on Amazon that gets me a lot of what I'm after. Once I get a couple of 4K box sets that are due next month and July (Bruce Lee, The Changeling), that might be something I'll do.

[pmp]

Tonight I returned to The Shadow of the Cat, a 1961 Hammer film which is included on the final volume of Scream Factory's series of "Universal Horror." In many ways, this volume (6) is one of the more interesting, concentrating as it does on four films from the mid-50s to 1961 that still owed a debt to the classic universal and RKO series. The Shadow of a Cat opens with a woman reading from a volume of Edgar Allan Poe poems, which also links this to the Corman/Poe films in a rather unsubtle way. And there is something of The Black Cat here, too. The old woman's cat witnesses the murder of her owner, and then sets about tormenting those involved in the act, before starting to kill them off one by one. Sadly, it's a little drawn out at 80 minutes or so, but it's also effective, and there are some fine performances and the sense of place and time is also well-achieved. There's some interesting choices in the direction/cinematography, with some more unusual camera angles, and a distorted view when seeing through the eyes of the cat. Barbara Shelley is one of the stars here, and she's excellent - although the late-in-the-day interview with her included on the disc is a rather sad document. Apparently this movie was issued as part of a double bill with Curse of the Werewolf, although I have to say I think Shadow of the Cat is actually the better film. The US blu ray looks great.

I do quite like Shadow of the Cat. It really does establish its premise rather well. And the cast is great. Especially Barbara Shelley, as you've said. I think the interview you mentioned is also on the Indicator Blu-ray -- she's very elderly and frail if it's the same one.

Yes, that must be the same one. I have to say the Scream Factory Universal sets are superb. I don't have the first one as Eureka issued the Poe movies, but vols 2 to 6 are very nice.

I've still to catch up with Eureka's Universal releases. I've probably missed a few of the limited edition releases. But I think I'm long overdue a blowout on Amazon that gets me a lot of what I'm after. Once I get a couple of 4K box sets that are due next month and July (Bruce Lee, The Changeling), that might be something I'll do.

I have several from Eureka: Maniacal Mayhem (which is Invisible Ray, Night Key, and The Strange Door), the Poe/Karloff/Lugosi one (which, combined with Maniacal Mayhem, makes up vol 1 of the Scream Factory sets), Inner Sanctum, Karloff at Columbia, and the one with Monster on the Campus, Monolith Monsters (a surprising good film, I thought), and Man-Made Monster (the last of which I now have twice, I think). The latest one, with Horror Island, Murders at the Zoo, House of Horrors, and night Monster, is one where I have all the films on the US sets. But all four films are well worth getting, even if Horror Island isn't exactly a classic. I do rather like those hour-long movies, as they're perfect when I'm wanting a break from writing but don't want to stop long enough for a full-length film.

[Rob]

[Greystoke]

I'm very excited about getting both of these releases later in the year. And I'm loving what Warner are continuing to do this year with releases for their centenary. Hopefully there's a surprise or two in store, too.

20230523_152623.jpg

20230523_152627.jpg

[Greystoke]

It looks as though 88 Films are preparing a 4K release of The Witchfinder General, which is pretty exciting, in my opinion. This is one of my favourite films of its kind, and the Odeon Entertainment Blu-ray certainly improved upon previous DVD releases by a considerable margin. I'm hoping for something pretty special from 88 Films here and it will be another easy pre-order for me if they offer an appealing set.

[pmp]

It looks as though 88 Films are preparing a 4K release of The Witchfinder General, which is pretty exciting, in my opinion. This is one of my favourite films of its kind, and the Odeon Entertainment Blu-ray certainly improved upon previous DVD releases by a considerable margin. I'm hoping for something pretty special from 88 Films here and it will be another easy pre-order for me if they offer an appealing set.

I nearly bought the Blu ray recently. It's more of a film I admire than like, though, but it's interesting that 88 films are doing 4k now.

Tonight I watched Little Ashes. I've tried before and not got very far, but thought I'd give it another chance. There a good film lurking in there somewhere, but it's a mess on the whole, not helped by it not knowing which character it wants to concentrate on. Is it Bunuel, the budding filmmaker, Lorca the poet, or Dali the...whatever Dali is? It's not even sure if it's based on real events or just inspired by the characters. As Rossini said of Wagner, it has some great moments but dull quarter hours. And some very silly, rather embarrassing sequences, not least the sex scenes.

Worst of all is Robert Pattinson, who is utterly awful here as Dali. From the opening episodes in which Dali is a shy introvert, to his dalliance with homosexuality, and on to his somewhat more bizarre phase, Pattinson is never more than a caricature, and totally out of depth at this early stage of his career. Javier Beltran as Federico Lorca is excellent, though, but not enough to save the movie.

[pmp]

Unusually for me, I saw a second film tonight, which was Scream VI - which barely even got released in cinemas over here, I think. Despite that, apparently the US box office was significantly higher than last year's effort. The good news is that it's better than both Scream V and Little Ashes. And probably better than Scream 4, too, in all honesty. That doesn't mean it's particularly original - although the opening sequence has something of a twist, which is nice. But it is well executed, and far more eventful than #5. But it does repeat the old formula (again), and centres around the 4 survivors from the previous film. The issue with that is that the previous film was so forgettable that we don't remember who they are! Still, it's good entertainment if nothing else (although it's also somewhat pointless, too), and Courtney Cox's character gets a bit more depth this time around.

[Greystoke]

Just got this for the weekend, which is one of Radiance Films' latest releases. I really like what they're offering as a new label, and it will be great to see this film in what I expect to be superb quality. It's very good.

IMG_20230525_113317554.jpg

IMG_20230525_113413513.jpg

[pmp]

Just got this for the weekend, which is one of Radiance Films' latest releases. I really like what they're offering as a new label, and it will be great to see this film in what I expect to be superb quality. It's very good.

I still don't own any of the Radiance series yet, although I'm sure I'll delve in at some point. I see Eureka's announcements today were limited to two movies. I will get Keaton's Three Ages, but they seem to be quite limited in what they offer these days. They say it's to do with licencing issues when it comes to classic talkie era Hollywood, but Indicator seem to have no such issues.

Tonight I finally got around to watching the Arrow edition of Weird Science. I'm not sure I'd like the film quite so much if it wasn't for the memories that come with it from watching it the first time around, but it's great fun. The Arrow edition is superb, containing three versions of the film (the theatrical cut, an extended cut with two extra scenes, and the edited TV cut). There's even the chance to compare the original and edited TV version via a split screen, which is actually rather interesting in itself.

[Greystoke]

Just got this for the weekend, which is one of Radiance Films' latest releases. I really like what they're offering as a new label, and it will be great to see this film in what I expect to be superb quality. It's very good.

I still don't own any of the Radiance series yet, although I'm sure I'll delve in at some point. I see Eureka's announcements today were limited to two movies. I will get Keaton's Three Ages, but they seem to be quite limited in what they offer these days. They say it's to do with licencing issues when it comes to classic talkie era Hollywood, but Indicator seem to have no such issues.

Tonight I finally got around to watching the Arrow edition of Weird Science. I'm not sure I'd like the film quite so much if it wasn't for the memories that come with it from watching it the first time around, but it's great fun. The Arrow edition is superb, containing three versions of the film (the theatrical cut, an extended cut with two extra scenes, and the edited TV cut). There's even the chance to compare the original and edited TV version via a split screen, which is actually rather interesting in itself.

Eureka are certainly focusing quite nicely on a lot of Hong Kong and Japanese films, which I appreciate, although Indicator does seem to have stolen their thunder with regards to classic Hollywood.

And I think Radiance has sideswiped Arrow in some ways, too, given some of the titles they've been able to license. Especially with Arrow focusing on newer films now.

I last watched Weird Science three or four years ago when it was on BBC1. I think you're a bit more fond of it than I am, but Arrow's release looks quite excellent.