AFI 100 Years Series Discussion & Challenges, vol. 2 - Page 5

george kaplan · 04-14-2006, 12:27 PM

Lew,

You're right of course, but I still love Roman Holiday (though admittedly not as much as Charade, for instance). But I do think this film is Peck's best (yes, even better than Mockingbird).

I guess mostly I think the comparison as it regards this film is a little unfair. Many films, most of them not as good as Roman Holiday, could have benefitted from having Cary Grant in them.

Just like numerous films that could have been improved if they'd been directed by Hitchcock or Wilder.

**HTF Ads**

Adam_S · 04-14-2006, 01:57 PM

One has to wonder what sort of film we'd have now if Wilder had ever managed to snag his elusive prey, Grant.

Grant would have been superb in the film, but I do like Peck's performance, though I wouldn't put it over To Kill a Mockingbird.

glen_esq · 04-14-2006, 07:48 PM

Knute Rockne All American (Bacon, 1940)

100 Quotes - Tell 'em to go out there with all they got and win just one for the Gipper.

What a great line. Reagan was quite good in this, did a bang up job delivering this heart-tugger. Really liked the first half of the movie as Rockne struggles with his decision to make coaching a career (and when Reagan appears in the film). Thought Pat O'Brien was pretty good in the lead.

Didn't much care for the second half of the film, it dragged badly IMO once Rockne becomes a success.

As an old rugby player, got a kick out of the shape of the old footballs - quite round, and some of the highlight reel plays they showed - lots of lateral passes.

Lew Crippen · 04-15-2006, 07:51 AM

Quote:

I guess mostly I think the comparison as it regards this film is a little unfair. Many films, most of them not as good as Roman Holiday, could have benefitted from having Cary Grant in them.

Indeed, but since it is so easy (almost impossible not) to make the comparison, it just sprigs to my mind.

In any case my point was not to demean Peck, but rather to point out what a superb actor Grant was.

george kaplan · 04-15-2006, 08:11 AM

Again, Lew, agree completely, and, just to clarify, I wasn't so much defending Peck (who isn't one of my favorites by a long shot), as I was Roman Holiday, which I really like a lot.

In other words, Roman Holiday might have been even greater with Grant, but it's great enough without him. Other films which might have been great with Grant, are just mediocre, or even bad without him.

Lew Crippen · 04-18-2006, 09:17 AM

This isn't Dallas, it's Nashville! They can't do this to us here in Nashville! Let's show them what we're made of.

Nashville may well be the quintessential 70s movie—if not quite, it is no doubt the film that defines director Robert Altman. Filled with his famous overlapping dialogue,, delivered by a score of characters, none who could be considered ‘lead’, but at two of whom (Lily Tomlin and Ronee Blakley) were nominated for Oscars in the ‘Supporting’ category, this is a movie made for adults.

This time I was struck by the strength of Henry Gibson’s performance—next time I’ll no doubt focus on yet another aspect.

Adam_S · 04-22-2006, 06:23 AM

Going My Way -

Songs list - swingin on a star

Good little film with bing crosby. A bit long. Beautifully written and directed. Enjoyed the whole thing, not a big favorite but entertaining and well worth the time.

Adam_S · 05-07-2006, 03:22 AM

South Pacific -

70mm restored print (not roadshow)
Songs list - Some Enchanted Evening

terrible movie, with terrible songs (including the above) with cinematography that makes me want to punch Joshua Logan and his cinematographer in the nose repeatedly for taking something so beautiful and making it look appalling and ugly.

bastards.

Also, great staging, medium close up of Gaynor and just have her stand still and sing and stare at the camera, pathetic!

The gay subtext was hilarious though, I wish this guy I know, John, had been there, and been drunk because he would have enjoyed the hell out of this movie for that reason.

Oh and making a movie partially about overcoming racism but killing one character so he can't marry out of his race and letting the most racist character of all marry a white guy is more than a cop out it's damn stupid hypocrisy, it makes the movie more loathsome to watch.

That drag sequence was really funny though, and the movie made me laugh throughout, but I thought the whole thing was overblown, overdone, and really badly badly made and put together.

I can't imagine watching another twenty minutes of this (roadshow) *shudder*

MattPeriolat · 05-10-2006, 04:38 AM

Is this a private party or can anyone play?

I ask because I'm about to start on something rather ambitious. Not only am I going to try to watch the AFI lists starting with the 100 Greatest American Movies of all Time, but I'm also going to use the list to introduce my fiance to classic movies. True, we've seen SOME of them, but I know for a fact she's never seen movies like Godfather, Singin' in the Rain, Citizen Kane, et al.

So anyway, if it's alright, I'll join the group and post thoughts from both me and the significant other.

And for the record, AFI has another list coming up I think in June: the 100 Greatest Cheers, the 100 Most Inspiring Movies of All Time.

If To Kill a Mockingbird isn't #1, I for one will be very surprised.

Lew Crippen · 05-10-2006, 07:16 AM

Welcome Matt—and good luck introducing your fiancé to some great movies. With any luck she will be too far down the path to turn back.

MattPeriolat · 05-10-2006, 12:29 PM

Well, she's hardly ignorent. She's got Wizard of Oz, Star Wars, West Side Story and The Sound of Music already under her belt. Call this expanding horizons.

I'll be keeping you all posted on the success of the project.

Adam_S · 05-10-2006, 06:03 PM

I think that To Kill a Mockingbird is a likely top ten contender, but I'd have said the same thing about "no, I am your father" last year for the quotes list.

I'll be extremely surprised if "It's a Wonderful Life" is not the number one film, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Casablanca highly rated simply because it's Casablanca.

Enjoy viewing these films, all of the top 100 are on DVD except the African Queen and the Jazz Singer and any decent public library should have those two on VHS.

Speaking of To Kill a Mockingbird I satisfied a four year old wish and finally got to see it on film. Now Universal didn't provide the Academy with a pristine, perfectly restored print the way that WB always does and Fox usually does, but the print was quite good, but it could have been much better. Mary Badham was there afterwards and told some wonderful stories. Henry Bumstead the production designer was supposed to be there but was not as at 91, he's still working and doing some pick up work for Flags of our Fathers.

Anyway, I love this film, and the opening credits were much more effective on a big screen, where the size of the image is really effective at conveying the quiet beauty of the macros of the childs toys. a dvd on a tv just doesn't do that sequence justice. As usual the film had me tearing up throughout, especially at "Hey, Boo" which is probably one of my favorite single moments in any movie, the final narration and "Miss Jean Louise. Stand up now. Your father's passing." Love this film, love the performances, love Atticus Finch--I think the AFI never got anything ever as right as when they named him the number one hero of all time, because he truly is.

A superb, stellar film from start to finish, one of the very best there is.

those retarded southern schools trying to take the book out of schools for language should lose accredidation.

Adam