Crawdaddy's "Random Thoughts" about Home Video, Film & TV (10 Viewers)

[Matt Hough]

I am juggling so many things I'm viewing right now, but I would like to see Cry Terror. Where to find the time?

 

[Hollywoodaholic]

I think you mean "Zero Hour!" because "Crash Dive" was a WWII movie about submarines that Andrews starred in with Tyrone Power.

As to that term "Good Trouble" I seriously doubt John Lewis copped that term from "Where the Sidewalk Ends".

Yes, "Zero Hour" and some of those other stern-faced appearances in films around that time.

I was being a bit facetious about Lewis getting the quote from this film, but rather that it was used this early, and maybe before. It was just fun to hear it from Willie.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Noir Alley

Can't wait for midnight tomorrow?

Tune in to TCM for a day of film noirs set in San Francisco during our daytime lineup.

 

[Angelo Colombus]

One of Woody Allen's best films Bananas will be shown on TCM over the weekend.

 

[Matt Hough]

Noir Alley

Can't wait for midnight tomorrow?

Tune in to TCM for a day of film noirs set in San Francisco during our daytime lineup.

Or in my case, lunchtime on Sunday!

 

[Robert Crawford]

This week's Noir Alley movie is "The Racket" (1951) starring Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan, Lizabeth Scott, William Talman, Ray Collins and William Conrad. This movie had a mixed reaction to it, but I always loved it. Perhaps because two of my all-time favorite actors are in it. I think one of the plot points with Lizabeth Scott hurt this movie, but it never bothered me. Perhaps, it was Mitchum being cast against type? Anyhow, I'm looking forward to reading what others think of it. It's a shame this movie and the superior movie "Crossfire" aren't available in HD anywhere.

Updated TCM's Noir Alley 2020 schedule:

03-07-20: Ride the Pink Horse (1947)
03-14-20: I Wake Up Screaming (1941)
03-21-20: Elevator to the Gallows (1958)
03-28-20: Crime Wave (1954)
04-04-20: Address Unknown (1944)
04-11-20: Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (1956)
04-25-20: Wicked Woman (1954)
05-02-20: Fallen Angel (1945)
05-09-20: Mildred Pierce (1945)
05-16-20: The Crimson Kimono (1959)
05-23-20: Cornered (1945)
05-30-20: A Kiss Before Dying (1956)
06-06-20: The Underworld Story (1950)
06-13-20: Murder by Contract (1958)
06-20-20: Underworld U.S.A. (1961)
06-27-20: The Lady from Shanghai (1947)
07-04-20: The Sign of the Ram (1948)
07-11-20: Bodyguard (1948)
07-18-20: Three Strangers (1946)
07-25-20: The Breaking Point (1950)
09-06-20: Night Editor (1946) "Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Only"
09-12-20: Danger Signal (1945)
09-19-20: Gilda (1946)
09-26-20: They Won't Believe Me (1947)
10-03-20: Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950)
10-10-20: The Racket (1951)
10-17-20: Destination Murder (1950)
10-24-20: Macao (1952)
10-31-20: The Seventh Victim (1943)
11-07-20: Nightfall (1957)
11-14-20: Fear (1946)
11-21-20: Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
11-28-20: Suspense (1946)
12-05-20: Tomorrow is Another Day (1951)
12-12-20: The Burglar (1957)
12-19-20: The Unsuspected (1947)
12-26-20: Detour (1945)

 

[Robert Crawford]

This scene has never been in the movie.


See THE RACKET ('51) this morning at 10am ET on #NoirAlley hosted by Eddie Muller.

 

[Robert Crawford]

One more thing, I always thought Mitchum was pretty tall, but Ryan is even taller.


See THE RACKET ('51) tonight at midnight ET with an encore tomorrow morning at 10am ET on #NoirAlley hosted by Eddie Muller.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Eddie tweeted out the link to this Criterion article from Imogen Sara Smith.

When Hollywood Was a Writers’ Town: A Conversation with Philippe Garnier

In this sprawling interview, the veteran French journalist recounts the long, eccentric research journey behind his newly translated portrait of the writers who fueled American cinema in the thirties and forties.

www.criterion.com

 

[Hollywoodaholic]

The Racket. This one didn't do anything for me, unfortunately. I felt like (and I guess not alone) that Mitchum was horribly miscast and is just walking through the role (though he does give that impression sometimes when he's not). This said, though Mitchum is a favorite of mine ever since I saw him while I was a young'un on a B&W TV showing of Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison. He should have stayed stoned for this one. It would have added a wonderfully ironic note to his role as a police officer.

I also made the mistake of yesterday (and again) watching a recorded TCM screening of Out of the Past, which just blows this somewhat dull procedural away in all categories. The best, and most ironic shot in this Noir is the street cleaner following the car in the last shot. That's not a spoiler by any stretch, just perhaps a pointed commentary by the filmmakers on the events that proceeded it. Practically everyone is dirty. And it will take a lot to clean up this town.

 

[Hollywoodaholic]

Eddie tweeted out the link to this Criterion article from Imogen Sara Smith.

When Hollywood Was a Writers’ Town: A Conversation with Philippe Garnier

In this sprawling interview, the veteran French journalist recounts the long, eccentric research journey behind his newly translated portrait of the writers who fueled American cinema in the thirties and forties.

www.criterion.com

Thanks for posting that. Overall, it sounds like things never really changed for screenwriters in Hollywood. Perhaps more feared (because content was always king) than respected. My term was mostly in the 80s, where an Eszterhas could get an auction studio price for a screenplay in excess of $3 million, but the rest of us could still eke out a living selling scripts that weren't produced (20!). And at those Musso & Frank's lunches, the producer or agent would always pick up the tab, but that didn't mean they were your pals; it was a minor investment for hopeful loyalty. But the only real loyalty ever was to the sell.

 

[Matt Hough]

I like The Racket. Ryan is always galvanizing when he's trying to protect someone he cares about (actually, he's always galvanizing), and while Mitchum wouldn't have been my first choice for the hero role (always better as a bad boy), I think he does all right by it. The murder of the cop near the end seems VERY predestined: not another cop in the precinct within miles at that precise moment but when a shot rings out, the place is flooded with them? Loved seeing Ray Collins in a rather sniveling role, so different from his Lt. Tragg in Perry Mason.

I was hoping Eddie would go into the supporting cast which is just jammed with familiar faces whose names might not be known to the general public (John Day, Richard Reeves, even William Conrad might not be recognized by all).

 

[B-ROLL]

One more thing, I always thought Mitchum was pretty tall, but Ryan is even taller.


See THE RACKET ('51) tonight at midnight ET with an encore tomorrow morning at 10am ET on #NoirAlley hosted by Eddie Muller.

The Interwebs say Ryan was 6'4' And Mitchum was 6'1" ...

 

[Robert Crawford]

Happy Birthday, Eddie!


Join us in wishing the Czar of Noir, our very own host Eddie Muller a very happy birthday today!

 

[Robert Crawford]

See RKO's DESTINATION MURDER ('50) Saturday at midnight ET with an encore at 10am ET Sunday on #NoirAlley hosted by Eddie Muller.

 

[Matt Hough]

See RKO's DESTINATION MURDER ('50) Saturday at midnight ET with an encore at 10am ET Sunday on #NoirAlley hosted by Eddie Muller.

Looking forward to it! I don't think I've ever seen it.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Looking forward to it! I don't think I've ever seen it.

Neither have I.

 

[bujaki]

Neither have I.

I have. Can't remember a thing about it. Guess I'll have to rewatch it.

 

[Robert Crawford]

This week's "Noir Alley" movie is "Destination Murder" (1950) starring Joyce MacKenzie, Stanley Clements, Hurd Hatfield and Albert Dekker. Again, this will be a first time viewing for me so I'm looking forward to watching this movie.

Updated TCM's Noir Alley 2020 schedule:

03-07-20: Ride the Pink Horse (1947)
03-14-20: I Wake Up Screaming (1941)
03-21-20: Elevator to the Gallows (1958)
03-28-20: Crime Wave (1954)
04-04-20: Address Unknown (1944)
04-11-20: Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (1956)
04-25-20: Wicked Woman (1954)
05-02-20: Fallen Angel (1945)
05-09-20: Mildred Pierce (1945)
05-16-20: The Crimson Kimono (1959)
05-23-20: Cornered (1945)
05-30-20: A Kiss Before Dying (1956)
06-06-20: The Underworld Story (1950)
06-13-20: Murder by Contract (1958)
06-20-20: Underworld U.S.A. (1961)
06-27-20: The Lady from Shanghai (1947)
07-04-20: The Sign of the Ram (1948)
07-11-20: Bodyguard (1948)
07-18-20: Three Strangers (1946)
07-25-20: The Breaking Point (1950)
09-06-20: Night Editor (1946) "Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Only"
09-12-20: Danger Signal (1945)
09-19-20: Gilda (1946)
09-26-20: They Won't Believe Me (1947)
10-03-20: Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950)
10-10-20: The Racket (1951)
10-17-20: Destination Murder (1950)
10-24-20: Macao (1952)
10-31-20: The Seventh Victim (1943)
11-07-20: Nightfall (1957)
11-14-20: Fear (1946)
11-21-20: Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
11-28-20: Suspense (1946)
12-05-20: Tomorrow is Another Day (1951)
12-12-20: The Burglar (1957)
12-19-20: The Unsuspected (1947)
12-26-20: Detour (1945)

 

[Matt Hough]

I love getting introduced to new films via Eddie Muller. Can't wait to watch it at lunchtime tomorrow.