Films/DVD Asylum

John Huston�s "The Dead", and Erice�s "The South"

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orejones

(D)

In Reply to: name a movie that was better than the book posted by TA on October 26, 2004 at 17:19:43:

Huston made Joyce�s small jewel ( a short story from a book dedicated to Dubliners ) into one of the best films in whole history. That was his testament, and his gift to us all.
And "The South" follows the same pattern..., only that the original story was not so good: Erice made an outstandingly poetical, deeply human film, which is year-lights ahead of the story it�s based on.
Another one which now comes to my mind is Welles�s "The Immortal Story", based on one of Dinesen�s tales: another gem, which is even better than the excellent original one.
And now, while writing this, I realize that all three have Death as their gravity center...
Regards
BF

Follow Ups:

As Rico, I and others have opined before - Auricle 14:26:51 10/27/04 (0)
a beautiful swan song . . . and a remarkable film.
The only thing to compare it to is the Joyce . . . and one is left bereft of words. Better? Who cares!
The Dead? - Bulkington 11:52:32 10/27/04 (2)
It's a fine, fine movie, and a shame it's not available on DVD, but it's not better than the story. I think in this case it's just not useful to make the comparison, because they're both exemplary in their respective media. That the film has to end with voice-over from the book betrays the extent to which it's still in its source's shadow, actually. (Though I'll admit that since seeing the film my reading of the story has been in the shadow of the film: I find it difficult to extricate how I imagine some of the characters from how they appear on screen: Freddy Malins, Mr. Brown, Kate and Julia....) Regardless, a beautiful film no doubt. I haven't seen it in years, actually. What the hell? I suppose folks here have it on laser disk or something....
- Re: Yes - rico 12:16:11 10/27/04 (1)
  I have "The Dead" on laserdisc but it is not in the correct aspect ratio.
  I used to laugh when the video rental stores would file "The Dead" in the horror section.
  - LOL - Bulkington 12:44:14 10/27/04 (0)
    I wonder how many people have rented it and how far they got before they realized no blood was going to be shed. "Okay, Freddie's gonna freak any second now...."
Re: You mean Victor.... - patrickU 09:35:28 10/27/04 (1)
Erice?
Hehe..Can that be?
We talk so many times about J. Huston " The Death " and do you know what? Still it is enough!
I will have my once a year, always in Autumn, viewing soon.
What a film. What a film. I pity the one who still has not see it.
- Yes, that�s the man. And it�s a pity his films are so few... (nt) - orejones 10:38:35 10/27/04 (0)

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