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Re: Have you seen "Ninotchka"?

209.178.97.48

Posted by Robert on July 25, 1999 at 10:34:42

In Reply to: Have you seen "Ninotchka"? posted by Victor Khomenko on July 23, 1999 at 05:30:49:

Victor! Victor! Victor! You've pulled out the heavy artillary old boy...
Lubitsch, Brackett, Wilder, Garbo, Douglas... Lugosi?!? Even with Bela this is a great film, no doubt about it. Good reminder, I'll have to pull it out and watch it again.(when I have a chance!)

MGM was a fireball that year, generating more outstanding films in a single year than it (*and* other studios) has been able to muster in entire decades since. I can't blame Spielberg and Lucas entirely for the glut of quality films today. I'll take "American Graffiti" over "American Pie" any day. There are good filmmakers out there, one just has to make a larger effort to see their work than one did in 1939 (just as *great* audio components are not found in all those Circuit Cities next to all those Cineplexes showing "Fart Wars: May The Merchandise Be With Us").

As for the forced style of "12 Angry Men," it was based on the stage play, and that comes across in the writing and acting. Many "filmed plays" come off this way.

There are many terrific classic films that deserve your time. If you rented all the films on the following list @ $1.00 ea. you'd be out $20, but you'd get more bang for your buck than if you'd used the noney to see "I Know Who You Did Last Summer Part IX ½". In no particular order:

Magnificent Ambersons
To Be Or Not To Be
Stalag 17
Some Like It Hot
Love In The Afternoon
Anna Karenina
Queen Christina
Bridge On The River Kwai
The Third Man
The Lady From Shanghai
The Postman Always Rings Twice
The Philadelphia Story
Sullivan's Travels
Bringing Up Baby
White Heat
The Grapes of Wrath

Great films not in the "studio" pipeline:

The Seventh Seal
Smiles Of A Summer Night
Roshoman
The Hidden Fortress

A terrific movie about cinematographers that's *not* boring and will give you some great ideas for film rentals is "Visions of Light." Okay, we're at $21! I'll shut up! My list is beginning to read like Film 101...

I've been dying to reply to this post for two days, but haven't had the time I wanted to spend. The post is still *short,* but you're probably grateful that I'm so busy. Wonderful post, Victor!

Robert

P.S.

Did you know Charles Brackett (co-screenwriter of Ninotchka and partner of Billy Wilder) wrote the 1953 "Titanic"? As an aside, on the ASC (American Screen Cameramen) site, Russell Carpenter, who photographed 1997's Titanic was asked to recommend a great unseen gem. His choice-- Solaris.

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