haineshisway
Senior HTF Member
Well, sadly the thread was deleted, otherwise I'd be happy to give you quotes from your posts, none of which were about Mame and all of which were comments to me, attempts at personal slurs. But that's past history. Are you really looking for discourse? Because I've made my thoughts very clear about the film, as have others, in this very thread and in the thread I began weeks ago. Not good in what sense? Lumbering direction, horrid choreography, and several performances that leave a lot to be desired. That is my opinion and it obviously differs from yours. As I have stated ad nauseum there are things in the film I enjoy - I'm a huge Bacharach fan and I love the underscore and I love most of the songs. But the overall film is plodding and a bore - in MY opinion. That doesn't mean I don't pull it out and watch it every now and then, because I do. You're acting like I've said it's the worst film ever made or that I have made terrible and specious comments about it. Afraid not. You respond only to me, not to others who have stated similar opinions but who feel much more negatively about the film than I do. Why do you only respond to me? Interesting question.Cineramic said:Bruce, I never made homophobic comments on any board towards you or anyone else. I said fans of the movie MAME are primarily Lucy fans and gay men. Hardly homophobic. I was responding to people who come to boards primarily to trash a film for no other reason but to be cynical. Frankly, I don't read all the comments on a thread. I was also responding to your comment about LH not being a good film. Not good in what sense? In the sense that it's not going to transcend the art of cinema, win awards or be embraced by critics or the mass public? Okay, then I agree with you, but then I don't believe those things are the definitive word on a films merit. If one can say LH is entertaining, diverting, nice to look at, funny, enjoyable to watch and nice to listen to, then for those reasons the film is good. Maybe for other reasons than what people who support AFI lists would agree on . "A good bad film" perhaps? Lost Horizon's biggest fault is it's elements don't mesh the way they should, but many of the criticisms launched towards it can be said for any number of movies. Would you say HELLO DOLLY is a good film? Is MAN OF LA MANCHA a good film or ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER, HALF A SIXPENCE, THE HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE, DARLING LILI, STAR!, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, PAINT YOUR WAGON, SWEET CHARITY or TOM SAWYER?
There are embarrassing dance movements in great musicals too, WEST SIDE STORY, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, GIGI, etc.
Lost Horizon is an ensemble piece. It isn't like MAME where as the entire film rests on the shoulders of one person being good. It was cast with foreign markets in mind. We all know that Ross Hunter wasn't happy with the score, nor did he want Bacharach for the job. Bottom line with Lost Horizon is if you don't like the music, you won't like the film. Lost Horizon singled the end of an era. Even if it had worked, dramatic big lavish musicals were not only going out of style but too expensive to make. Even great musicals like CABARET and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF weren't blockbusters.
Richard Zanuck's quote about "THE SOUND OF MUSIC doing more damage to the industry than any other picture" can be argued. Yes, the studios poured millions into musicals that didn't recoup their costs, but many of these films grosses were big. They would have turned a profit if they hadn't been so exorbitantly expensive to make.
To address your other points, which are all directed at me as if I've made pronouncements on any of the subjects, which I haven't. I don't know about "people" who support AFI lists. I find all lists a bore, including AFI. You then list a lot of films and ask me if I'd say they were good films. Let me take them on a case by case basis: Man of La Mancha. Not a good film. On a Clear Day. Not a good film. Half a Sixpence. Like Lost Horizon, I really like the score, and the film, like Lost Horizon, has its moments - that said, overall it is not a good film. The Happiest Millionaire. Nice songs, terrible movie, but a nice opening number and good performances. Darling Lili. Huge Blake fan, but this film is a failure in just about every way. Nice to look at, good Mancini, good performances, all for naught. Star! Really not a very good film, although I know it has its followers. Nice music, Julie, but it doesn't work at all, IMO. Thoroughly Modern Mille. Enjoyable. Not great. Some fun choreography and Bea Lillie is great. Paint Your Wagon. One of the worst ever. Sweet Charity. I like it. I think it works. Tom Sawyer. Not a good film.
Moving on: I find no embarrassing dance movements in West Side Story. Please do point out the ones you find embarrassing because Mr. Jerome Robbins hasn't done many embarrassing dance moves in his career - he was, in fact, a genius. I find no embarrassing dance moves in The Sound of Music - I do see excellent choreography throughout. I don't know Annie Get Your Gun well enough to comment. Then about Lost Horizon you say "If you don't like the music you won't like the film." I love the music. I don't like the film. Oops.