My takes:
I hated La Strada, but that was 18 years ago. I felt trapped in the movie, and couldn't figure out why anyone (the characters, the audience) wouldn't want to get out. Anyone want to rhapsodize?
Shane felt a little canned, its vision of the kid a little cute ("Shane! Shane!"), but I know Western fans love it, and it has some exciting fights and romantic tension. I'd probably watch it again.
Rebel Without a Cause is Beautiful, and I'll keep going back to it (Invasion didn't make my Top 20 either), but its overt sociology is silly. I don't know when the first realistic depiction of American parents and teens hit a screen (maybe the American Family doc on PBS in the '70s?), but this one is laughable enough to throw me out of the film, no matter how good Dead is.
Imitation of Life is great, but it's all sacrifice, tragedy, and pain, where All That Heaven Allows involves a rebellion, which is so much more poignant. I think that's why the combination in Far from Heaven.
I loved Night and the City, but didn't remember it well enough. The first wrestling noir?
I also loved Ed Wood, but couldn't sit through Plan 9.
― Pete Scholtes, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 18:31 (fifteen years ago) link
Ha, I meant Dean, not Dead.
― Pete Scholtes, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 18:32 (fifteen years ago) link
Shane ... I know Western fans love it
hmmm, not cineaste western fans. It's by GEORGE STEVENS, for God's sake. Big fans of it should get an enforced Boetticher/ Mann oater marathon.
(not only are those 2 not gonna show up on this list, we're gonna get High Noon too, right?)
― Dr Morbius, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 18:34 (fifteen years ago) link
Rebel Without a Cause is a melodrama; what's silly about it is just as silly in Imitation of Life.
― Dr Morbius, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 18:36 (fifteen years ago) link
Sal Mineo in Rebel is rather proto-Emo. Its kind of odd that Emo kids never picked up on the mismatched socks.
― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 12 November 2008 18:41 (fifteen years ago) link
I think that's why the combination in Far from Heaven.
The rest of this unfinished sentence sure as hell better not be something along the lines of "works better than either."
― Eric H., Wednesday, 12 November 2008 18:44 (fifteen years ago) link
(x-post)
On the same tip, was there ever a confirmation that Natalie Wood lost her virginity to Nick Ray?
― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 12 November 2008 18:44 (fifteen years ago) link
if i had voted i likely would have gone with 'on dangerous ground' for #1, but i didn't
― omar little, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 18:49 (fifteen years ago) link
I saw that recently. I liked it, but felt it came off like two halves of better movies that got glued together.
― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 12 November 2008 18:51 (fifteen years ago) link
I heard rumor that Ray had Dean, Wood, Mineo.
I watched Ray's Bitter Victory again last night. Like a lot, but Curt Jurgens' character is too transparently craven, and Burton baldly enunciates the theme several times.
― Dr Morbius, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 18:54 (fifteen years ago) link
without the divide it would never have worked
― omar little, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 18:55 (fifteen years ago) link
It's pretty packed for 80 minutes. No waste at all.
― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 12 November 2008 18:58 (fifteen years ago) link
"I think that's why the combination in Far from Heaven." = I think that's why you find the combination in Far from Heaven.
I LOVE melodrama, but do you really think teens in the '50s were suffering from too LITTLE parental authority? The whole weak-father trope in Rebel Without a Cause is the thing I find laughable. Maybe that's just one part of the film, but the structure truly feels like a cautionary tale, where Imitation of Life isn't quite so neat. I didn't vote for either film, though...
― Pete Scholtes, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 19:44 (fifteen years ago) link
Gawd what a depressing run of films!
― Kevin John Bozelka, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 19:52 (fifteen years ago) link
Plan 9 < Glen or Glenda?
OTM. And Morbs waaaaaaaaaaay OTM about Shane. You just KNOW High Noon and Seven Samurai are coming up. But please spare us Kwai.
P.S. For the record, I placed Imitation of Life at number one.
P.P.S. James Dead. Ouch.
― Kevin John Bozelka, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 19:58 (fifteen years ago) link
It's pretty packed for 80 minutes.
The UK version of Bitter Victory, which finally got put out on disc, is 103 minutes. So there is some waste, and like in Strangers on a Train much of it is named Ruth Roman.
― Dr Morbius, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 20:07 (fifteen years ago) link
Have to admit I found Imitation Of Life irritating, despite its many charms. Just couldn't feel for the main characters like I did in All That Heaven Allows
― Daniel_Rf, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 20:21 (fifteen years ago) link
Shane eased me into Westerns, and not just because of that wonderfully ambiguous ending. There are themes in that film that are actually in a lot of westerns, but when I was younger, I had never noticed them before in other ones. I know it's about as cliché as "hey let us compare John Ford/John Wayne westerns through three decades", but it's still a good stepping stone into what is now one of my favourite genres. I seem to remember Ebert's Great Movies entry being pretty good: Shane
As hokey as Rebel is, there is something about James Dean that is so captivating that I can forgive it. I much prefer his performance in Giant, however, so that should be where the James Dean recognition should go.
Roman Holiday is still great, but I love Audrey and Gregory.
Wish Smiles of a Summer Night was higher. The moment where the statue lever is hit and the bed moves into the other room is simply perfection.
― Gukbe, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 20:23 (fifteen years ago) link
Also, Elevator the Gallows is overrated.
― Gukbe, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 20:25 (fifteen years ago) link
everything in Giant except Dean is pretty mediocre to terrible!
― Dr Morbius, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 20:26 (fifteen years ago) link
OK, I can accept that (even though I'm pretty sure I actually hate Far From Heaven in retrospect).
― Eric H., Wednesday, 12 November 2008 20:33 (fifteen years ago) link
ha - Liz is actually in character for once!
I never understood Lola Montes and Johnny Guitar's reputations. And wtf High Society?!
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 20:33 (fifteen years ago) link
Which is why it is the real testament to Dean's abilities! Watching Rebel, you can understand why his early death meant the loss of an icon. Watching Giant, you can see that the real tragedy is the loss of a really good actor. Dude made a 3-hour slog really quite enjoyable to watch.
― Gukbe, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 20:35 (fifteen years ago) link
xpost, btw
― Gukbe, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 20:36 (fifteen years ago) link
I always felt Johnny Guitar's reputation had more to do with the crowing on of the Cahiers set than anything. Only saw the movie once, years ago, and don't really remember it though.
― Gukbe, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 20:38 (fifteen years ago) link
Raise your hands if you voted for Shane, fuckos.
Lots of Orpheus doesn't scan, but appropriating totalitarian chic for a conception of the afterlife as chilling as David Byrne's has a lot of resonance. Maria Casares and her black rubber gloves is my idea of an enforcer.
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 20:38 (fifteen years ago) link
blaming Alfred for low Smiles position
???
― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 20:41 (fifteen years ago) link
I voted for Shane. And I'm not ashamed!
― Gukbe, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 21:56 (fifteen years ago) link
xp: cuz you didn't vote, right
― Dr Morbius, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 21:58 (fifteen years ago) link
(of a Summer Night)
― Dr Morbius, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 21:59 (fifteen years ago) link
xxpost We'll be ashamed for you, Gukbe.
j/k j/k much love!!! (although ask whoever buys you gifts for the Boetticher box for whatever holiday you celebrate...I know I'm doing that!)
― Kevin John Bozelka, Wednesday, 12 November 2008 23:53 (fifteen years ago) link
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51AAH6IwZLL._SS500_.jpg
45. The Day The Earth Stood StillRobert Wise, 1951POINTS: 82VOTES: 3#1s: 0COMMENTS:“really enjoyed The Day the Earth Stood Still at the Paramount the other night. It was a double feature with Forbidden Planet, but I didn't stay for that. The actual Earth standing still part was pointless, but the main alien guy was captivating.”― Kenan Hebert
COMMENTS:
“really enjoyed The Day the Earth Stood Still at the Paramount the other night. It was a double feature with Forbidden Planet, but I didn't stay for that. The actual Earth standing still part was pointless, but the main alien guy was captivating.”
― Kenan Hebert
BONUS FEATURE
― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 13 November 2008 15:53 (fifteen years ago) link
http://people.bu.edu/rcarney/cassoverview/images/shadows_cover.jpg
44. ShadowsJohn Cassavetes, 1959POINTS: 83VOTES: 3#1s: 0COMMENTS:“And thus began a life of sin - Hollywood's not Cassavetes'.”- Kevin John Bozelka
“And thus began a life of sin - Hollywood's not Cassavetes'.”
- Kevin John Bozelka
― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 13 November 2008 16:00 (fifteen years ago) link
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41HPU1k3HsL._SS500_.jpg
42 A. Diary of A Country PriestRobert Bresson, 1951POINTS: 87VOTES: 3#1s: 0COMMENTS:“actually, I just found a reference where Pauline is quoted as saying "Diary of a Country Priest is one of the most profound emotional experiences in the history of the cinema."if that's correct, I say she nailed it, and proves she was capable of real insight occasionally when she wasn't being lazy and switched on auto-schtick”― timmy tannin
“actually, I just found a reference where Pauline is quoted as saying "Diary of a Country Priest is one of the most profound emotional experiences in the history of the cinema."if that's correct, I say she nailed it, and proves she was capable of real insight occasionally when she wasn't being lazy and switched on auto-schtick”
― timmy tannin
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/518GGA2G5GL._SS500_.jpg
42 B. Gentlemen Prefer BlondesHoward Hawks, 1953POINTS: 87VOTES: 3#1s: 0“I do (predictably) think Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is one of the greatest films ever made.”― Eric H. “Rosenbaum called this a “capitalist Potemkin” and he's right! Where Eisenstein's editing offered a filmic correlation to dialectical materialism, the remarkable final track in to the Dorothy-Lorelei coalition exemplifies capitalism's repetition compulsion. And give it up for George Winslow who should have won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance as lecherous piggy in the making Henry Spofford III.”- Kevin John Bozelka
“I do (predictably) think Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is one of the greatest films ever made.”
― Eric H.
“Rosenbaum called this a “capitalist Potemkin” and he's right! Where Eisenstein's editing offered a filmic correlation to dialectical materialism, the remarkable final track in to the Dorothy-Lorelei coalition exemplifies capitalism's repetition compulsion. And give it up for George Winslow who should have won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance as lecherous piggy in the making Henry Spofford III.”
― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 13 November 2008 16:08 (fifteen years ago) link
Now that's a tie if I've ever seen one!
― Eric H., Thursday, 13 November 2008 16:16 (fifteen years ago) link
Cassavetes did (a little) better later.I went for different Hawks & Bresson. (those 2 films tying is amusing, haha xpost)
at least Day the Earth Stood Still finished ahead of Plan 9.
It was a double feature with Forbidden Planet, but I didn't stay for that.
KENAN = DEAD TO ME
― Dr Morbius, Thursday, 13 November 2008 16:18 (fifteen years ago) link
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ItS0pDGJL._SS500_.jpg
40 A. Madame de.../The Earrings of Madame de…Max Ophüls, 1953POINTS: 94VOTES: 4#1s: 0COMMENTS:“The peak of Max's dolly. As knowing and sad as it gets.”-Dr. Morbius“The dance sequence pretty much defines cinematic magic.”― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain)
“The peak of Max's dolly. As knowing and sad as it gets.”
-Dr. Morbius
“The dance sequence pretty much defines cinematic magic.”
― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain)
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TJ0ADHMML._SS500_.jpg
40 B. On The BeachStanley Kramer, 1959POINTS: 94VOTES: 4#1s: 0
“Kinda corny at times, but (sadly) still not out of date.”
― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 13 November 2008 16:18 (fifteen years ago) link
we will have to screen the Bresson-Hawks double feature at the ILX Cinematheque.
OK, that last one is a really WTF tie.
― Dr Morbius, Thursday, 13 November 2008 16:22 (fifteen years ago) link
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51fr14AUZcL._SS500_.jpg
39. On The WaterfrontElia Kazan, 1954POINTS: 96VOTES: 5#1s: 0COMMENTS:“I don't care if it's too heavyhanded and politically suspect, it's the fulcrum of American film acting, and to diminish its importance is churlish. "You turned out very nice."” --Dr. Morbius“Nothing great about On the Waterfront excuses its director's naming names before HUAC, any more than his actions condemn the movie, which feeds on the experience without becoming an allegory for it. Those who would compare gangsters to the Communist Party USA imperil their own credibility rather than the movie's (and many argue Elia Kazan did both). For me, On the Waterfront is about what it's about: gangsters and dockworkers. Terry Malloy's painfully birthed realization that informing isn't betrayal if what you're informing on betrayed you a long time ago could use a re-airing in the "stop snitching" era, as corporations and governments behave like street-corner muscle and vice versa. His final walk is heroic no matter what haters say: It's about owning your place in a community even when power and peers have turned on you.”― Pete Scholtes
“I don't care if it's too heavyhanded and politically suspect, it's the fulcrum of American film acting, and to diminish its importance is churlish. "You turned out very nice."” --Dr. Morbius
“Nothing great about On the Waterfront excuses its director's naming names before HUAC, any more than his actions condemn the movie, which feeds on the experience without becoming an allegory for it. Those who would compare gangsters to the Communist Party USA imperil their own credibility rather than the movie's (and many argue Elia Kazan did both). For me, On the Waterfront is about what it's about: gangsters and dockworkers. Terry Malloy's painfully birthed realization that informing isn't betrayal if what you're informing on betrayed you a long time ago could use a re-airing in the "stop snitching" era, as corporations and governments behave like street-corner muscle and vice versa. His final walk is heroic no matter what haters say: It's about owning your place in a community even when power and peers have turned on you.”
― Pete Scholtes
― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 13 November 2008 16:26 (fifteen years ago) link
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51pTYKFmVgL._SS500_.jpg
37 A. Bob le FlambeurJean-Pierre Melville, 1956POINTS: 99VOTES: 5#1s: 0COMMENTS:“Yay for Melville. A very nice print of Bob le flambeur played last year at a local rep--what a pleasure to see on the big screen.”― slutsky “Bob le flambeur - Nouvelle Vague before Nouvelle Vague (and a charming crime story, to boot!); still distinctly French (of course), but also has a tiny bit of Italian sensibility to it. Not perfect, but very close.”― Girolamo Savonarola“The first time I saw this, I stood up and cheered at the ending. I was at home at the time.”― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain)
“Yay for Melville. A very nice print of Bob le flambeur played last year at a local rep--what a pleasure to see on the big screen.”
― slutsky
“Bob le flambeur - Nouvelle Vague before Nouvelle Vague (and a charming crime story, to boot!); still distinctly French (of course), but also has a tiny bit of Italian sensibility to it. Not perfect, but very close.”
― Girolamo Savonarola
“The first time I saw this, I stood up and cheered at the ending. I was at home at the time.”
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5121PJVR6FL._SS500_.jpg
37 B. What’s Opera Doc?Chuck Jones, 1957POINTS: 99VOTES: 5#1s: 0COMMENTS:“Do people dare to diss "What's Opera Doc"? Especially here, where we spend way too much time trying to obliterate the line between high and low culture, a line which Chuck Jones erased in the Fifties? And that's not even considering the editing or the light effects.”― B:Rad “I actually had no idea What's Opera, Doc and Rabbit of Seville were different cartoons, they blur together as one classic.”― Pete Scholtes
“Do people dare to diss "What's Opera Doc"? Especially here, where we spend way too much time trying to obliterate the line between high and low culture, a line which Chuck Jones erased in the Fifties? And that's not even considering the editing or the light effects.”
― B:Rad
“I actually had no idea What's Opera, Doc and Rabbit of Seville were different cartoons, they blur together as one classic.”
― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 13 November 2008 16:44 (fifteen years ago) link
I can only assume everyone hedged their bets on "Duck Amuck."
― Eric H., Thursday, 13 November 2008 16:59 (fifteen years ago) link
After watching What's Opera, Doc? again:
There's obviously something profoundly American about a Bronx BrerRabbit in drag reclining on a galloping fat horse to seduce a hunterwith a speech impediment, but I'm laughing too hard to parse it.
― Pete Scholtes, Thursday, 13 November 2008 17:00 (fifteen years ago) link
Bugs is BROOKLYN imho
― Dr Morbius, Thursday, 13 November 2008 17:02 (fifteen years ago) link
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61YegTsBtOL._SS500_.jpg
36. Forbidden PlanetFred M. Wilcox, 1956POINTS: 100VOTES: 4#1s: 0COMMENTS:“Forbidden Planet, best movie of the '50s.”― DavidM“I love Forbidden Planet and its crypto Lovecraftianism.”― The Real Dirty Vicar
“Forbidden Planet, best movie of the '50s.”
― DavidM
“I love Forbidden Planet and its crypto Lovecraftianism.”
― The Real Dirty Vicar
― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 13 November 2008 17:02 (fifteen years ago) link
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HWC1MGPWL._SS500_.jpg
35. Throne of BloodAkira Kurosawa, 1957POINTS: 101VOTES: 5#1s: 0COMMENTS:“re: Throne of Blood, I don't think I've seen a better Shakespeare film.”― poortheatre“I love Throne of Blood. Not as much as Ran, maybe, but the austerity -- severity, even -- of the filmmaking perfectly suits the story.”― gypsy mothra “i finally saw throne of blood recently and it is indeed pretty damn incredible. parts of it (the witch scene, the ending) actually improve on the original. #2 on my shakespeare fillum list (after chimes), easily.”― J.D.
“re: Throne of Blood, I don't think I've seen a better Shakespeare film.”
― poortheatre
“I love Throne of Blood. Not as much as Ran, maybe, but the austerity -- severity, even -- of the filmmaking perfectly suits the story.”
― gypsy mothra
“i finally saw throne of blood recently and it is indeed pretty damn incredible. parts of it (the witch scene, the ending) actually improve on the original. #2 on my shakespeare fillum list (after chimes), easily.”
― J.D.
― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 13 November 2008 17:06 (fifteen years ago) link
http://vintagestills.com/photosales2/131fplanet18.jpg
― Dr Morbius, Thursday, 13 November 2008 17:09 (fifteen years ago) link
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51cohu77D8L._SS500_.jpg
34. Nights of CabiriaFederico Fellini, 1957POINTS: 102VOTES: 5#1s: 1COMMENTS:“the scene at the end of nights of cabiria where masina is walking down the street while the kids are playing music and she gradually cheers up. that scene kills me.”― dave k“Still my favorite. Giulietta Masina was an angel. That’s all I have to say about this.”― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain)
“the scene at the end of nights of cabiria where masina is walking down the street while the kids are playing music and she gradually cheers up. that scene kills me.”
― dave k
“Still my favorite. Giulietta Masina was an angel. That’s all I have to say about this.”
― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 13 November 2008 17:17 (fifteen years ago) link
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41cxGMBQH9L._SS500_.jpg
33. OrdetCarl Theodor Dreyer (uncredited), 1955POINTS: 105VOTES: 3#1s: 0COMMENTS:“i just would like to say that "ordet" is such a stone-cold masterpiece and its brilliant. its slow, but so worth it.”― todd swiss“I'm perplexed as to why anyone would view Ordet as filmed theater. Just the scene where Johannes enters and lights candles early in the film is so steeped in camera movement and off-screen presence.”― Eric H.“I agree that Ordet (1955) is a stone-cold masterpiece. It does exactly what you expect but totally defies all expectations. I don't think any other film comes as close to wearing the label "miraculous".”― The Narwhal
“i just would like to say that "ordet" is such a stone-cold masterpiece and its brilliant. its slow, but so worth it.”
― todd swiss
“I'm perplexed as to why anyone would view Ordet as filmed theater. Just the scene where Johannes enters and lights candles early in the film is so steeped in camera movement and off-screen presence.”
“I agree that Ordet (1955) is a stone-cold masterpiece. It does exactly what you expect but totally defies all expectations. I don't think any other film comes as close to wearing the label "miraculous".”
― The Narwhal
― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 13 November 2008 17:24 (fifteen years ago) link
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51NFCZKTCCL._SS500_.jpg
32. Wages of FearHenri-Georges Clouzot, 1953POINTS: 107VOTES: 4#1s: 0COMMENTS?
COMMENTS?
― The Wild Shirtless Lyrics of Mark Farner (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 13 November 2008 17:29 (fifteen years ago) link
A fine gay film.
― Kevin John Bozelka, Thursday, 13 November 2008 17:34 (fifteen years ago) link