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12/31/06: WOMEN OF THE NIGHT (Kenji Mizoguchi, 1948) ***1/2 Kenji Mizoguchi is arguably the greatest Japanese film-maker ever and it is truly a pity, therefore, that this is only the fifth film of his I have watched; luckily, the host of the Italian TV programme which showed WOMEN OF THE...

12/30/06: NEVER WEAKEN (Fred Newmeyer, 1921) *** This is one of Harold Lloyd’s best shorts and the second of his thrill comedies (in chronological order) to be included in this collection. The film can be neatly divided into three sections: the first sees Harold ingeniously gathering patients...

Re: Michael's end-of-year list, here's the choices I'm most pleased with: 1.Napoleon (1927) – I can’t believe Michael watched this before I did:)! 2.Big Business (1929) 3.Un Chien Andalou (1929) 4.Waterloo Bridge (1931) - I still haven’t picked this set up, dammit:frowning...

Joe, I was wondering if you were going to pitch in with your 2006 summation and I’m glad that you did; I’m particularly pleased about your inclusion of THE PENALTY (1920), THE MAN WHO LAUGHS (1928), THE DEVIL’S BROTHER (1933), NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959) and BELLE DE JOUR (1967) – who would...

TOTALS FOR 2006: 877 Films Watched; 722 First Viewings Best First Viewing of 2006 was PICKPOCKET (1959). Other notable First Viewings (in order of getting watched) were: •HARAKIRI (1962) •DEATH BY HANGING (1968) •LES ANGES DU PECHE` (1943) •THE LOST ONE (1951) •THE SNIPER (1952)...

12/24/06: NUMBER, PLEASE? (Hal Roach and Fred Newmeyer, 1920) **1/2 This middling Harold Lloyd short is neatly divided into three sections: concerning romatic rivalry at an amusement park, it starts off with a dog chase (this early part also involving a distorted mirror gag); the mid-section...

With regards to Jack Nicholson's Audio Commentaries, the fact that he recorded more of them is news to me but, again, that only goes to show the level of interest I have towards modern film fare...:)! HEARTS OF THE WORLD (1918) is one Griffith film I've been meaning to watch...particularly...

12/23/06: CARRY ON UP THE JUNGLE (Gerald Thomas, 1970) *** This (surprisingly) consistently funny spoof of the Tarzan jungle epics from the “Carry On” gang is one of their better efforts I’ve watched so far: the rude, crude jokes come flying by with a welcome regularity and the old reliables...

12/15/06: THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (Michael Curtiz and William Keighley, 1938) **** Possibly the greatest (and most celebrated) of swashbucklers, it’s also the best Robin Hood film (once again improving on Douglas Fairbanks’ already impressive Silent version) and Errol Flynn’s finest...

Quote (originally posted by Sandro): “Mario, I think you nailed it on Nazarin. The point is that Bunuel is also satirizing the priest and the strict tenets of a religion that will not bend on any points. Of course those who are bending the rules don't get a lot of sympathy either. Last...

Quotes (originally posted by Michael Elliott): “Nazarin (1958) Luis Bunuel's "religious" film about a good hearted priest (Francisco Rabal) who does anything he can to help sinners but this might cause his fall from grace. I don't normally mind Bunuel's overbearing religious stances but...

12/18/06: WELCOME TO SHERWOOD! – THE STORY OF "THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD" (TV) (Jeff Kurrti, 2003) *** A typically solid and thorough Turner Classic Movies documentary about the making of this classic film: running for some 56 minutes, it’s highly informative – but, given the subject...

12/16/06: DR. JACK (Fred Newmeyer and, uncredited, Sam Taylor, 1922) **1/2 Harold Lloyd’s third feature-length film can be divided into three loosely-related sections: a) episodes in the life of a country doctor (presenting several typical gags while taking swipes at then-fashionable...

Jeeee-zus…so much to reply to:)!!! First things first: Quote (originally posted by Jeff Reis): “I rarely post comments--in the internet age it often feels like every possible opinion has already been expressed, but for my money Mario, Michael, Joe, Haggai and many others have made this...

12/15/06: FREDDIE RICH AND HIS ORCHESTRA (Lloyd French, 1938) ** This quaint little short is simply a showcase for the band leader, his band and the musical and singing styles of the late 1930s. Not exactly inspiring or compelling to watch today but somewhat interesting on a historical level...

12/13/06: THE MARK OF ZORRO (Rouben Mamoulian, 1940) **** This is simply one of the greatest action adventure films and, hands down, the definitive incarnation of Zorro in cinema history (even if I loved the two Silents made by Douglas Fairbanks about the character – the original of 1920 and...

Quote (originally posted by Brook K): "Mario, entering the way back machine, I can confirm that the TCM showing of The Exterminating Angel did indeed included the repeated scene so any future Criterion edition should be complete. Also glad to see you thought highly of Vagabond. Haggai, I...

12/10/06: LAPUTA – CASTLE IN THE SKY (Hayao Miyazaki, 1986) *** As I was about to write this, I decided to re-read my review of Miyazaki’s HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE (2004) – which I watched earlier this year – and I realized that what I had said about that film pretty much applies to this one as...

12/09/06: THE PRESTIGE (Christopher Nolan, 2006) ***1/2 I’ve been interested in this period drama about the rivalry between a couple of magicians ever since I first heard about it, promising to be the kind of film they don’t make ‘em like anymore – it was that, and then some! Still, if...

12/05/06: ASSASSIN OF THE TSAR (Karen Shakhnazarov, 1991) **1/2 This is an intriguing and generally engrossing parable which eventually becomes confusing and with the point of it all, ultimately, remaining obscure; it also makes some interesting (though not exactly novel) comments on class...

I've been looking forward to CHRISTMAS EVIL (1980) ever since I learned that Leonard Maltin gives it a *** rating in his Film Guide (listed under its original title of YOU BETTER WATCH OUT). Incidentally, I've just received the new Synapse SE DVD of CHRISTMAS EVIL a few days ago but that first...

Michael Elliott, For some reason, my last 2 e-mails to you were sent right back to me undelievered...so, you have a PM:)!

That'll be the day...:)!!

I wouldn't dream of disappointing anyone here...you least of all, pal. Goodbye Mr. Kaplan, wherever you are:)!

Jaw-droppingly profound as always.

12/02/06: ASK FATHER (N/A, 1919) *** At long last, I’ve allotted sizeable time (which should take up to the very last day of the year) to check out New Line’s massive THE HAROLD LLOYD COMEDY COLLECTION 7-Disc Set! I started off with this one, which is basically a one-joke short (albeit...

LOL:)! Nice one, Joe. Thanks for putting me in an even better mood than I already was after yesterday's bash of Bugs Bunny cartoons...:)!

Adam, I'm sure your post is complimentary overall but I can't quite figure out how:confused:!

11/29/06: THE BLOODSTAINED BUTTERFLY (Duccio Tessari, 1971) *** I only heard about this giallo recently, but it’s undoubtedly one of the best examples of the subgenre that I’ve watched. Besides, from the little I’ve checked out of Tessari’s work so far (incidentally, I’ve just recorded his...

11/25/06: FANTOMAS (Paul Fejos, 1932) *** I learned of this film’s existence while browsing the Internet after watching Louis Feuillade’s Silent serial of 1913-14 and coming upon a website dedicated to this arch criminal! Given director Fejos’ involvement, I was obviously intrigued by this...