Crawdaddy's "Random Thoughts" about Home Video, Film & TV (1 Viewer)

[TravisR]

How about this Tweeter exchange from Eddie:






Eddie Muller
@EddieMuller

It gives Disney a huge catalog from which to pull remakes while burying the original films. Not kidding. I know writers and directors who have been approached to “pick a project from the catalog.” For a new generation, the original will not be available for comparison.

I'm sure the first part of that Tweet is true but how does he know that they won't make the original available too? I can't believe that Disney is saying to filmmakers "Hey, wanna remake [fill in the blank]? We'll burn the negative of the original one if you remake it."

 

[Robert Crawford]

I'm sure the first part of that Tweet is true but how does he know that they won't make the original available too? I can't believe that Disney is saying to filmmakers "Hey, wanna remake [fill in the blank]? We'll burn the negative of the original one if you remake it."

I think he's talking about movie theater revivals and perhaps discs as there is no way Disney isn't going to use those films on their streaming operations.

 

[Rodney]

I think he's talking about movie theater revivals and perhaps discs as there is no way Disney isn't going to use those films on their streaming operations.

I took it that way as well.

 

[Robert Crawford]

This weekend's "Noir Alley" movie is "Berlin Express" (1948) starring Robert Ryan, Merle Oberon and Paul Lukas. It's a movie I've never watched in its entirety until last year. That doesn't mean I never watched the movie beforehand as I've seen it so many different times in different 20-30 minute film segments over the years that I knew the entire movie plot from beginning to end. Anyhow, I'll sample this TCM broadcast to see if it's an improvement over the DVD presentation and will probably be dragged into watching the entire movie again. I'm sure Eddie will illuminate us with his comments and whether this film is actually a "Film Noir". Below is a link to my comments about the movie from my last viewing.

https://www.hometheaterforum.com/community/posts/4667674/

TCM's Noir Alley 2019 schedule.

03-09-19: D.O.A. (1950)
03-16-19: High Sierra (1941)
03-23-19: Lady in the Lake (1946)
03-30-19: Border Incident (1949)
04-06-19: 99 River Street (1953)
04-13-19: Nobody Lives Forever (1946)
04-20-19: M (1951)
04-27-19: Woman on the Run (1950)
05-04-19: Nightmare Alley (1947)
05-11-19: White Heat (1949)
05-18-19: Key Largo (1948)
05-25-19: Dead Reckoning (1947)
06-01-19: The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
06-08-19: Nora Prentiss (1947)
06-15-19: Pickup on South Street (1953)
06-22-19: Shadow on the Wall (1950)
06-29-19: On Dangerous Ground (1951)
07-06-19: The Tattooed Stranger (1950)
07-13-19: The People Against O'Hara (1951)
07-20-19: While the City Sleeps (1956)
07-27-19: Thieves' Highway (1949)
09-07-19: The Big Clock (1948)
09-14-19: Nocturne (1946)
09-21-19: The Woman on the Beach (1947)
09-28-19: The Harder They Fall (1956)
10-05-19: Trapped (1949)
10-12-19: Clash By Night (1952)
10-19-19: This Gun For Hire (1942)
10-26-19: Force of Evil (1948)
11-02-19: Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
11-09-19: Johnny Eager (1941)
11-16-19: The Hitch-Hiker (1953)
11-23-19: Kansas City Confidential (1952)
11-30-19: The Mask of Dimitrios (1944)
12-07-19: Berlin Express (1948)
12-14-19: Criss Cross (1949)
12-21-19: Cash on Demand (1961)
12-28-19: Repeat Performance (1947)
01-04-20: The Big Sleep (1946)
01-11-20: The Big Night (1951)
01-18-20: The Captive City (1952)
01-25-20: Try and Get Me! (1950)

I especially enjoyed Eddie's comments this week as I learned a couple of things I wasn't aware of. As I stated earlier in this thread, Paul Stewart is one of my favorite all-time character actors. I can't think of one role that I didn't enjoy him in. Like Eddie, I wished he did more voice-over work as his distinctive voice is so great to listen to.

 

[Flashgear]

Paul Stewart is one of my favorite all-time character actors. I can't think of one role that I didn't enjoy him in. Like Eddie, I wished he did more voice-over work as his distinctive voice is so great to listen to.

Robert, you might be interested in the newly released Filmchest DVD set of the 1959 syndicated TV series Deadline, a 39 episode half hour show that Paul Stewart was heavily involved in...he does on camera intros and closing commentaries for all the episodes, acts in 11 of the episodes and directed another 4. This is an earnest and effective series about heroic and dedicated newspaper reporters and based on real news stories of the day, each episode portraying a real journalist in what was often their career making turn. The film elements for this PD series were found by Filmchest, forgotten in a New Jersey garage, we are told...Filmchest previously released an Official Films companion series, Beverly Garland's policewoman show, Decoy...both series' film elements are in good shape, as witnessed by these screen captures I took from my DVD set...

A lot of very familiar faces in this NYC filmed show, Peter Falk, Simon Oakland, Joanne Linville, George Maharis, Leo Penn, Andrew Prine, Robert Lansing, Frank Sutton, Malachi Throne, Telly Savalas...here is a very young Diane Ladd (mother of Laura Dern), who was already a fine actress...many Broadway players in this series...

Filmchest's Deadline, 39 episodes on 3 discs (as with Decoy) is also very affordable...only $11.99 on Amazon...

https://www.amazon.com/Deadline-Com...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=9GMWA59MJHSEZ6551YJV

 

[Hollywoodaholic]

Berlin Express. Not really a Noir. And it didn't really hold my interest. Too much narration, and though superbly done by Paul Stewart, I just am not a fan of that much plot-point narrated explanation except in documentaries. The location ruins were great. That print was clean.

But the most memorable part of this whole standard intrigue story was at the end when Bernhard (Lukas) says something like, "Maybe the only time the Earth will get together is when they have Mars to hate." This sounds like where Meyer Dolinsky got his inspiration for "The Architects of Fear" episode for The Outer Limits (which was also later copped by The Watchmen graphic novel).

 

[HawksFord]

I liked Berlin Express well enough, but add me to the list that thought there was too much narration. It's a fun story, though, and the shots among the ruins were impressive.

 

[Matt Hough]

I thoroughly enjoyed Berlin Express with its various twists and turns which made it all the more engrossing to watch.

I, as always, appreciated Eddie's before and after comments especially giving us information on actors who played major roles but who were not especially well known. Would have liked if Robert Coote had been given more attention. Not an unknown, of course, but a very fine actor.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Man, I wish I could see one of my top ten films again at this theater with Eddie.

https://filmnoirfoundation.tumblr.com/post/181253685637/behind-the-scenes-shots-from-tonights

 

[Robert Crawford]

Yesterday, Kirk Douglas turned 103 years old.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Has anybody seen "Shakedown" (1950)? I know I haven't, but would love to.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Mike Clark's review of "The Bells of St. Mary's" Blu-ray Review. I'll be watching my disc in the near future before Christmas.

https://www.mediaplaynews.com/the-bells-of-st-marys-review/

 

[Matt Hough]

Has anybody seen "Shakedown" (1950)? I know I haven't, but would love to.

No, I've never seen it, but it sounds excellent. I'd love to see it.

 

[Robin9]

Has anybody seen "Shakedown" (1950)? I know I haven't, but would love to.

No I haven't seen it but I'd like to. I looked it up in IMDB and it sounds a bit like a template for Night Crawler, a much more recent film. There's also a British film called The Shakedown I want to see.

 

[Robert Crawford]

One of Eddie's favorite films on Noir Alley this weekend is "Criss Cross" (1948) starring Burt Lancaster, a hot Yvonne De Carlo and Dan Duryea. Matter of fact, it's a personal favorite of mine probably due to the ending. I've resisted the urge to watch the 2019 Shout Blu-ray for five months. That ends today and tomorrow as I'm going to watch it twice as the Blu-ray does have an audio commentary. Unfortunately, it's not Eddie Muller, but Jim Hemphill, who I know little about so it will be interesting to contrast his commentary against Eddie's limited commentary.

TCM's Noir Alley 2019 schedule.

03-09-19: D.O.A. (1950)
03-16-19: High Sierra (1941)
03-23-19: Lady in the Lake (1946)
03-30-19: Border Incident (1949)
04-06-19: 99 River Street (1953)
04-13-19: Nobody Lives Forever (1946)
04-20-19: M (1951)
04-27-19: Woman on the Run (1950)
05-04-19: Nightmare Alley (1947)
05-11-19: White Heat (1949)
05-18-19: Key Largo (1948)
05-25-19: Dead Reckoning (1947)
06-01-19: The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
06-08-19: Nora Prentiss (1947)
06-15-19: Pickup on South Street (1953)
06-22-19: Shadow on the Wall (1950)
06-29-19: On Dangerous Ground (1951)
07-06-19: The Tattooed Stranger (1950)
07-13-19: The People Against O'Hara (1951)
07-20-19: While the City Sleeps (1956)
07-27-19: Thieves' Highway (1949)
09-07-19: The Big Clock (1948)
09-14-19: Nocturne (1946)
09-21-19: The Woman on the Beach (1947)
09-28-19: The Harder They Fall (1956)
10-05-19: Trapped (1949)
10-12-19: Clash By Night (1952)
10-19-19: This Gun For Hire (1942)
10-26-19: Force of Evil (1948)
11-02-19: Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
11-09-19: Johnny Eager (1941)
11-16-19: The Hitch-Hiker (1953)
11-23-19: Kansas City Confidential (1952)
11-30-19: The Mask of Dimitrios (1944)
12-07-19: Berlin Express (1948)
12-14-19: Criss Cross (1949)
12-21-19: Cash on Demand (1961)
12-28-19: Repeat Performance (1947)
01-04-20: The Big Sleep (1946)
01-11-20: The Big Night (1951)
01-18-20: The Captive City (1952)
01-25-20: Try and Get Me! (1950)

 

[Matt Hough]

I'm looking forward to it as well. It'll be my lunchtime watch tomorrow.

 

[John Hermes]

Another tough day at the office for Burt.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Another tough day at the office for Burt.

Tell me about it.

 

[Cranston37+]

Another tough day at the office for Burt.

Reminds me of one of my favorite behind the scenes pics. You’re watching Alfred Hitchcock direct Cary Grant and Grace Kelly kissing and the guy on the left looks like he just wants to get the hell out of there

 

[Robert Crawford]

One of Eddie's favorite films on Noir Alley this weekend is "Criss Cross" (1948) starring Burt Lancaster, a hot Yvonne De Carlo and Dan Duryea. Matter of fact, it's a personal favorite of mine probably due to the ending. I've resisted the urge to watch the 2019 Shout Blu-ray for five months. That ends today and tomorrow as I'm going to watch it twice as the Blu-ray does have an audio commentary. Unfortunately, it's not Eddie Muller, but Jim Hemphill, who I know little about so it will be interesting to contrast his commentary against Eddie's limited commentary.

TCM's Noir Alley 2019 schedule.

03-09-19: D.O.A. (1950)
03-16-19: High Sierra (1941)
03-23-19: Lady in the Lake (1946)
03-30-19: Border Incident (1949)
04-06-19: 99 River Street (1953)
04-13-19: Nobody Lives Forever (1946)
04-20-19: M (1951)
04-27-19: Woman on the Run (1950)
05-04-19: Nightmare Alley (1947)
05-11-19: White Heat (1949)
05-18-19: Key Largo (1948)
05-25-19: Dead Reckoning (1947)
06-01-19: The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
06-08-19: Nora Prentiss (1947)
06-15-19: Pickup on South Street (1953)
06-22-19: Shadow on the Wall (1950)
06-29-19: On Dangerous Ground (1951)
07-06-19: The Tattooed Stranger (1950)
07-13-19: The People Against O'Hara (1951)
07-20-19: While the City Sleeps (1956)
07-27-19: Thieves' Highway (1949)
09-07-19: The Big Clock (1948)
09-14-19: Nocturne (1946)
09-21-19: The Woman on the Beach (1947)
09-28-19: The Harder They Fall (1956)
10-05-19: Trapped (1949)
10-12-19: Clash By Night (1952)
10-19-19: This Gun For Hire (1942)
10-26-19: Force of Evil (1948)
11-02-19: Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
11-09-19: Johnny Eager (1941)
11-16-19: The Hitch-Hiker (1953)
11-23-19: Kansas City Confidential (1952)
11-30-19: The Mask of Dimitrios (1944)
12-07-19: Berlin Express (1948)
12-14-19: Criss Cross (1949)
12-21-19: Cash on Demand (1961)
12-28-19: Repeat Performance (1947)
01-04-20: The Big Sleep (1946)
01-11-20: The Big Night (1951)
01-18-20: The Captive City (1952)
01-25-20: Try and Get Me! (1950)

Wow! What a beautiful looking and sounding Blu-ray. The TCM video presentation was good, but it's no where near as detailed and blemish free as this Blu-ray that is derived from a 4K Scan of the original nitrate negative. It was like watching this movie for the first time again even though I watched it several times in my lifetime. My old man had an affinity for Dan Dureya's character which he passed down to me. I remember watching this film for the first time with my father back in the late 1960's and telling him about Lily Munster. Yvonne was a total smoke show. Just a terrific film. Eddie's comments were dead on and I wholeheartedly agree with him. I loved the casting of this movie, particularly, the supporting characters. Robert Siodmak was one helluva director. It makes me sad that Mark Hellinger died so young as there is little doubt we would've seen some more great films from this fine movie producer. Miklos Rozsa was outstanding as always with his musical scoring.

This morning I've started watching this wonderful Blu-ray again with Jim Hemphill's commentary so I'll report back later on that commentary.