Crawdaddy's "Random Thoughts" about Home Video, Film & TV (3 Viewers)

[Robert Crawford]

I reviewed the Criterion Blu-ray of Kiss Me Deadly here.

I haven't made up my mind about rewatching it tomorrow. I probably will since I don't have any other pressing viewing engagements, but I'll certainly record the show for Eddie's comments.

I appreciate your fine review, but I disagree with your opinion about Gaby Rodgers. I thought she was really good in this film. However, I do agree with you about Cloris Leachman.

 

[Hollywoodaholic]

Kiss Me Deadly. Not much to say here since I have the Criterion BD. Why does this only get two stars on the TV menu channel? Granted, it's not much of a narrative; only Hammer rummaging around kissing women (or being kissed, actually), slapping men, and with the mysterious box as a McGuffin. Hammer is a great character, even if James Bond looks positively woke by comparison.

Nth time around you start noticing things like Hammer's impossible fireplace, Angels Flight, and where does he get that second temporary MG (loaner from Nick?). Otherwise much fun was had by all. Why didn't Meeker play Hammer again? Only Muller's missing post commentary could have told us. Collins didn't add much, or wasn't asked much. Not going to read Spillane (life's too short), but Hammer was uniquely suited for the screen (at a particularly chauvinist time).

 

[Matt Hough]

I watched the show (with the abbreviated outro, too; very frustrating). I always forget how mean and dark this film is. A great noir for sure, but these are human beings in name only. They're monsters.

 

[lark144]

I watched the show (with the abbreviated outro, too; very frustrating). I always forget how mean and dark this film is. A great noir for sure, but these are human beings in name only. They're monsters.

KISS ME DEADLY is a comic book. It always has been. It's necrophiliac and nihilistic. But then, so are Mickey Spillane's novels. In a way, the film is such an extreme version of Spillane's world view, that it ends up letting in the light of a new day. You have to kind of look on the other side of things, though. That world is so without redeeming value, so mired in violence, sex, money and the ephemeral, that the film forces you to critique what's going on. And the images, especially those long, hand held takes that seem to hover about the characters in a miasma of punch-drunkenness, have a reality and a grit and a knowingness that the characters lack.

 

[Robert Crawford]

IMO, it's the darkness of "Kiss Me Deadly" that makes it an excellent film noir.

 

[Robert Crawford]

The last segment of "Fans Ask Eddie".

 

[Robert Crawford]

By the way, for those interested a beautiful HD digital of "The Miracle of Morgan's Creek" is on sale at iTunes for $4.99. That same stream has been on HBO Max and it looks really good.

 

[Robert Crawford]

One of my all-time favorite actresses:


Noir Alley
47m ·
Remembering film noir icon Gloria Grahame who was born on this day in 1923. How fitting she was born during the month of #Noirvember.

Here she is in a photo from THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL ('52), she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.

 

[Robert Crawford]

This weekend's "Noir Alley" movie is "Suspense" (1946) starring Belita, Barry Sullivan, Bonita Granville, Albert Dekker and Eugene Pallette. Another Monogram film, but with an actual budget. I never watched this movie, though, one time, I attempted to buy the WA DVD, but didn't for some reason. Anyhow, I will watch this movie to see if I like it, but based on my research this movie is quite boring without much suspense despite its film title. Perhaps, that is the reason why I didn't buy the DVD. Also, Eddie has this thing for Belita.

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)[/code][/B]

 

[Matt Hough]

I've never seen it either, but I've already set my DVR to record it. It'll be lunchtime viewing tomorrow.

 

[Robert Crawford]

This weekend's "Noir Alley" movie is "Suspense" (1946) starring Belita, Barry Sullivan, Bonita Granville, Albert Dekker and Eugene Pallette. Another Monogram film, but with an actual budget. I never watched this movie, though, one time, I attempted to buy the WA DVD, but didn't for some reason. Anyhow, I will watch this movie to see if I like it, but based on my research this movie is quite boring without much suspense despite its film title. Perhaps, that is the reason why I didn't buy the DVD. Also, Eddie has this thing for Belita.

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)

Well, at least Eddie admitted his fixation for Belita. She was a terrible actress, but was good on the ice. A mediocre movie that could've been better with a few plot changes and a better lead actress. Again, Eddie disappoints with his lack of comments about some of the supporting actors like Bonita Granville and Eugene Pallette. Not even a mention of George E. Stone.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Today, I also watched "London By Night" (1937) starring George Murphy, Rita Johnson, Leo G. Carroll and George Zucco. An enjoyable "B" movie from MGM about a reporter tracking down a serial killer in London. A first time viewing for me using the TCM app.

Using the TCM app, I also watched "Man Alive" (1945) starring Pat O'Brien, Adolphe Menjou, Ellen Drew and Rudy Vallee. This "B" movie was released by RKO about a man that pretends to be dead and comes back as a ghost to discourage a suitor for his wife. IMO, another mediocre comedy that barely got a chuckle out of me. Thankfully, it was only 70 minutes long.

 

[Hollywoodaholic]

Suspense. Noir on Ice. The only real suspense was waiting for the premise or plot to show up (it took at least 45 minutes). I felt Sullivan's performance was really ham-fisted and anything but subtle. In fact, the only good performances were from the side players, whom, yes would have been better subjects for the commentary. And Chekhov's sword ring; the less said the better. Thank goodness for fast forward. This tale could have been compressed to 60 minutes. If I wanted full ice skating routines, NBC was airing them the same afternoon.

 

[Bert Greene]

"Suspense" (1946) certainly always had a number of flaws from its overlength to a certain heavy-handedness that hangs over everything. But I still always liked it far better than Monogram's Sullivan-Belita follow-up, "The Gangster" (1947), which I considered annoyingly artsy and pretentious. Oddly enough, it's probably the elements that turn off most modern buffs about "Suspense" that I like about it. I actually liked the pokey, easy-going pacing, as well as the musical/skating scenes. Probably because all this watered down the overwrought plot and dialogue elements, which would have grated on me more had the film been tighter and concentrated on them. I also frankly like Belita, despite (or maybe 'because' of...?) her being a somewhat unpolished actress. She helped keep the film afloat for me. I also enjoyed Belita even more in "The Hunted" (1947). As well as the earlier musical fluff "Lady, Let's Dance" (1944), although one of the big appeals of that one (for me) was the rare chance to see bandleader Henry Busse given a pretty prominent spotlight. When I was in high-school, and already a big-band buff, I had a couple of LP-collections of Busse's radio transcriptions that I used to listen to a lot.

Anyway, the print of "Suspense" certainly looked nice (for a Monogram). I was so accustomed to an off-air VHS recording I had of the film, which I'd taped off of WTBS back in 1985. For many years, it was actually a pretty rare movie, and I had people asking to borrow my tape all the time (which I did). Still actually have the tape. Nice that it's now looking so sharp, and is so easily available to see. No, I'm not saying I'm really all that wild about the film, and hardly have any need to revisit it all that much. But I do seem to like it a little more than most folks.

 

[Matt Hough]

As a suspense film, it was a yawner. Characters like the one Bonita Granville played just irk the crap out of me (you're mine, so if I can't have you, no one can: a staple in the movies and, sad to say, sometimes in life, too). Was this her first real grown-up part? I can't remember seeing her in anything after Now, Voyager until I saw this today. I found Eugene Palette's character more interesting, and yet we barely knew anything about him. All of the actors did act circles around Belita.

Since I'm such a fan of figure skating, I have to say that even though Belita didn't have Sonja Henie's credentials (ten world championships, three Olympic gold medals), her free skating style was much more effortless and appealing with spins that were fast and straight up (Henie hunched over in her fast scratch spins), and her single axels and double toe loops were much smoother and higher than Henie's, too. She just has more extension in her split jumps and landings. But Henie must have been a whiz at figures (which back then accounted for 60% of the score; they were eliminated in 1990) which gave her a great lead when the free style skating part of the competition commenced. The three big skating numbers did bring the proceedings to a complete stop, but in and of themselves, they were very enjoyable.

 

[Robert Crawford]

The December Criterion Channel Schedule:

The Criterion Channel’s December 2020 Lineup

As the year draws to a close, we’re serving up blasts from Hollywood’s past, visions of an Afrofuturist world, and much more.

www.criterion.com

 

[Hollywoodaholic]

As a suspense film, it was a yawner. Characters like the one Bonita Granville played just irk the crap out of me (you're mine, so if I can't have you, no one can: a staple in the movies and, sad to say, sometimes in life, too). Was this her first real grown-up part? I can't remember seeing her in anything after Now, Voyager until I saw this today. I found Eugene Palette's character more interesting, and yet we barely knew anything about him. All of the actors did act circles around Belita.

Since I'm such a fan of figure skating, I have to say that even though Belita didn't have Sonja Henie's credentials (ten world championships, three Olympic gold medals), her free skating style was much more effortless and appealing with spins that were fast and straight up (Henie hunched over in her fast scratch spins), and her single axels and double toe loops were much smoother and higher than Henie's, too. She just has more extension in her split jumps and landings. But Henie must have been a whiz at figures (which back then accounted for 60% of the score; they were eliminated in 1990) which gave her a great lead when the free style skating part of the competition commenced. The three big skating numbers did bring the proceedings to a complete stop, but in and of themselves, they were very enjoyable.

And they never explained why Joe had to leave New York, which I suppose was just a device, but it was central to what Bonita had on him (other than unmotivated cliché fixation, as you point out).

 

[Robert Crawford]

TCM's December schedule:

TCM Monthly Schedule - View the Full TCM TV Schedule

Find TCM's full month schedule and learn what classic movies will be airing on Turner Classic Movies. A printable schedule organized for the current month's programming is also available here.

www.tcm.com

 

[Angelo Colombus]

TCM's December schedule:

TCM Monthly Schedule - View the Full TCM TV Schedule

Find TCM's full month schedule and learn what classic movies will be airing on Turner Classic Movies. A printable schedule organized for the current month's programming is also available here.

www.tcm.com

Noticed some interesting documentaries coming in December like Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the Movie Palace, For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism and one i have in my dvd collection What She Said, The Art of Pauline Kael which was very good.

 

[Matt Hough]

Thanks for the notification of the December line-up. I went there early this morning, and TCM hadn't put it up yet.