In appreciation of Richard Fleischer (1 Viewer)

Heres a director that could it all. War--TORA TORA TORA--Musical---DOCTOR DOLITTLE [Fox how about releasing a TODD-AO bluray] Epic--BARABBAS --Thriller--THE BOSTON STRANGLER---Science Fiction---FANTASTIC VOYAGE---20000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA- Funny, I use to think he was British.

I was keeping my fingers crossed and fervently hoping we'd finally get a BD of BARABBAS for Christmas this year. It is truly one of the most unique and memorable epics of all time.

trajan said:

Heres a director that could it all. War--TORA TORA TORA--Musical---DOCTOR DOLITTLE [Fox how about releasing a TODD-AO bluray] Epic--BARABBAS --Thriller--THE BOSTON STRANGLER---Science Fiction---FANTASTIC VOYAGE---20000 LEAGES UNDER THE SEA- Funny, I use to think he was British.

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You realize who his father was as most of us grew up watching his work.

To me, the measure of any director is what they can cook up from less than ideal ingredients. John Huston was a master chef. Ditto Michael Curtiz. Ditto Robert Wise. And ditto Richard Fleischer.

Coincidentally, I just finished watching TT's Blu-ray of Che! and marvelled yet again over Fleischer's skill at drawing me in and holding my attention with such episodic, underdeveloped, and seriously telescoped material* Even when hampered by a less than cogent script plus some rather head-scratching casting, Fleischer served yet another tasty meal...

* 96 minutes? For this epic-style story?? Where's the rest of the movie???

No post about his accomplishments as a director should be considered complete without mentioning

THE VIKINGS

http://images.moviepostershop.com/the-vikings-movie-poster-1958-1020143970.jpg


He has three lavish large format productions to his credit, all not represented properly (or not at all) on Blu-ray:

Technirama (The Vikings)
Super Technirama 70 (Barabbas)
Todd-AO (Dolittle)

How about those MGM, Sony and Fox?

...also this pair of lesser known/shown Richard Fleischer films which have intrigued and dogged me on film and video for decades:

[*]Crack in the Mirror
[*]The Narrow Margin
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BTW, has anyone ever seen his 1967 Think Twentieth Docu-Promo Short?

Many great films as others have posted. The Narrow Margin and Armoured Car Robbery are on my wish list for 2014 (still nothing released or announced). 20,000 Leagues still not available. The best treatment of a Richard Fleischer film on blu-ray is the great Violent Saturday.

He did indeed make some memorable films, but I can't forgive him for "Ashanti".

What about The Jazz Singer (1980) fab in 70mm with Stereo Surrounds.

DP 70 said:

What about The Jazz Singer (1980) fab in 70mm with Stereo Surrounds.

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Let's draw a veil over that one also.

OliverK said:

No post about his accomplishments as a director should be considered complete without mentioning

THE VIKINGS

http://images.moviepostershop.com/the-vikings-movie-poster-1958-1020143970.jpg


He has three lavish large format productions to his credit, all not represented properly (or not at all) on Blu-ray:

Technirama (The Vikings)
Super Technirama 70 (Barabbas)
Todd-AO (Dolittle)

How about those MGM, Sony and Fox?

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I would buy every one of these on the day of release with the properly done transfers for such large format material.

10 Rilington Place is an extraordinary film - I saw it only a week or two ago when it was shown on the BBC as a tribute to The Mahattenborough.

Also, Mandingo is another great Fleischer film which I think is a sort of companion piece to Barabbas.

Matt Hough said:

I would buy every one of these on the day of release with the properly done transfers for such large format material.

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Same here - I would even buy Dolittle although I am not particularly fond of it.

It is probably more about that old slogan:

You're in the show with Todd-AO

nara said:

He did indeed make some memorable films, but I can't forgive him for "Ashanti".

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Hey, nobody's perfect and just about every prolific director has laid their eggs, particularly, late in their careers.

When Richard Fleischer asked his father whether he should take a job from former rival Walt Disney, Max said to him, "take the job, and tell Walt I think his judgment is good."

OliverK said:

Same here - I would even buy Dolittle although I am not particularly fond of it.

It is probably more about that old slogan:

You're in the show with Todd-AO

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One of my favorite Doctor Dolittle stories is the one about how Fox held steak dinners for the Oscar voters. Steak dinners. For a movie where the main character is a vegetarian. Who sings a song about being a vegetarian. And they STILL racked up the nominations. What was in those steaks besides cow?

MatthewA said:

When Richard Fleischer asked his father whether he should take a job from former rival Walt Disney, Max said to him, "take the job, and tell Walt I think his judgment is good."


One of my favorite Doctor Dolittle stories is the one about how Fox held steak dinners for the Oscar voters. Steak dinners. For a movie where the main character is a vegetarian. Who sings a song about being a vegetarian. And they STILL racked up the nominations. What was in those steaks besides cow?

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Great stories, especially the steak dinner - how could they resist if even Rex Harrison couldn't ?

He is an odd director, because I see quality in his work... The Boston Strangler is a notable experiment that was pulled off very well... But I don't see an unique directoral style running through his films. He did do a few stinkers (Doctor Dolittle)

bigshot said:

[..] But I don't see an unique directoral style running through his films. [...]

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You sound a little bit like Andrew Sarris

10 Rilington Place is an extraordinary film - I saw it only a week or two ago when it was shown on the BBC as a tribute to The Mahattenborough. Also, Mandingo is another great Fleischer film which I think is a sort of companion piece to Barabbas.

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Now that is an interesting comment Adrian.! Will have to think about it.

His early b&w crime films are pretty amazing.

Here's my IMDB review of BODYGUARD, starring Lawrence Tierney:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040178/reviews-12

If I had to pick a favorite Fleischer, it would be THE VIKINGS.