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

[Robert Crawford]

I'll be watching The Housemaid tomorrow for the first time. As for the repeaters, I understand your conundrum as you're so much more well versed on noir than most, but other than Out of the Past, which I've seen numerous times and have on Blu-ray, the other titles don't ring bells though I've probably seen them.

@Matt Hough What do you think about "The Housemaid"?

 

[Robert Crawford]

I spent yesterday, watching the new Ignite Blu-ray of "The Story of G.I. Joe" (1945) starring Robert Mitchum and Burgess Meredith. This was the movie that catapulted Mitchum's career. It's the only movie in which he was nominated for an Oscar, Best Supporting Actor. The film was nominated for four Oscars. It was directed by the great William Wellman. The movie is derived from stories written by Ernie Pyle, the great WWII correspondent. He was killed by a sniper on Okinawa just two months before the movie opened in June 1945. This movie has such an emotional impact with its realism and the daily struggles of an infantry soldier.

 

[Matt Hough]

@Matt Hough What do you think about "The Housemaid"?

I started it on Sunday but got taken away within fifteen minutes for something else going on and haven't returned to it. Today is going to be equally busy, so I'm not sure when I'll get back to it.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Last night's "Ask Eddie" segment:

 

[Robert Crawford]

I recommend people interested in Warner Archive titles to listen to this latest "The Extras" podcast with George Feltenstein. It has a lot of important information besides just discussing the upcoming September titles. Hint: "North by Northwest".

Tim Millard's "The Extras" podcast with George Feltenstein:

Warner Archive September Release Announcement - The Extras

George Feltenstein joins the podcast to update us on some recent happenings with the Warner Archive and to announce six September Blu-ray releases, including a highly requested noir, a musical, and more Hanna Barbara. George provides backgro...

theextras.buzzsprout.com

 

[Robert Crawford]

A nice 3-D Presentation from Kino and 3-D Film Archive. However, the movie itself is really bad. It makes me appreciate "The Ghost and the Darkness" (1996) more as a much superior film about the same subject matter. So much so, the 2022 Shout! Factory Blu-ray has moved up on my Blu-rays to watch in the near future.

This 1948 movie about a man-eating tiger in India isn't a great film by any means. However, it's a much better movie than "Bwana Devil". With capable actors, storyline and director. I would give this movie a 3/5 film grade with 5 being the highest. I liked it enough that I will watch it again with the David Del Valle and Dan Marino audio commentary. Back in the day, this is the type of movie I would watch on a lazy Saturday or Sunday afternoon on a local TV station when nothing else was going on.

 

[Robert Crawford]

I started it on Sunday but got taken away within fifteen minutes for something else going on and haven't returned to it. Today is going to be equally busy, so I'm not sure when I'll get back to it.

There is no "Noir Alley" this weekend and the next four weekends. Are you going to finish "The Housemaid"?

 

[Robert Crawford]

Yesterday afternoon, I watched the 4K/UHD of "The Lady from Shanghai". A kind of a mess of a movie but it's still very entertaining and one of the best film noirs produced in the 1940s with an iconic ending. However, I'm with Harry Cohn, I never liked Rita in blond hair. This 4K/UHD has a superb video presentation.

 

[Matt Hough]

There is no "Noir Alley" this weekend and the next four weekends. Are you going to finish "The Housemaid"?

I'm reviewing today, but since there will be no new installment of Noir Alley this weekend, I'll likely get back to The Housemaid at lunchtime tomorrow.

 

[jayembee]

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Yesterday afternoon, I watched the 4K/UHD of "The Lady from Shanghai". A kind of a mess of a movie but it's still very entertaining and one of the best film noirs produced in the 1940s with an iconic ending. However, I'm with Harry Cohn, I never liked Rita in blond hair. This 4K/UHD has a superb video presentation.

I just watched it last night (last in a triple-feature of UHDs, preceded by High Noon and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1.85 version). I completely understand why it was dismissed back in the day, but I think it's all the things that people think are so wrong about it that makes it such a unique film.

One of the things that struck me this time is that, like Chinatown, it seems that no matter how many times you see the film, you still find yourself wondering all over again just what the hell all of the various characters are up to.

And like with Welles's The Magnificent Ambersons, I kinda feel robbed in not being able to see the film as Welles intended it.

 

[Matt Hough]

Well, I have now seen The Housemaid. Shades of The Woman in the Window except much darker and more psychologically unhinged! For most of the film, I wanted to take a stick to the husband being so weak and utterly manipulated by every person in the story. Maybe it's a cultural thing I just don't get, but to let such a situation get SO out of hand! A very frustrating watch though it certainly held my interest throughout.

And I don't see the noir of it at all. Seemed more like domestic horror to me: The Hand That Rocks the Cradle kind of thing. And, it was too long.

 

[titch]

Dark summer: why film noirs often work better in the sunshine

A new collection of classics, from Niagara to Purple Noon, reminds us that the darkest acts can occur in broad daylight

www.theguardian.com

 

[Robert Crawford]

A good "Film Noir Foundation" video about "Body and Soul" (1947) with Alan K. Rode and actor Jim Beaver.

 

[Robert Crawford]

A picture of the cast and crew for "Sorry, Wrong Number" (1948):

 

[Angelo Colombus]

Noticed TCM will broadcast on Friday night The Luck of Ginger Coffey (1964) with Robert Shaw in one of his finest performances. Have the dvd which is out of print so i hope TCM will show a better print of the film. By the way Mary Ure gives a great performance too.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Last night's "Ask Eddie" episode:

 

[Robert Crawford]

Friday Nights at 8PM ET

Politics affects every part of our daily lives. Its reach is general and wide, dictating everything from the cleanliness of our water, land and air to more personal and interpersonal affairs. Though movies can be enjoyed simply as entertainment, film as a medium is an inherently political tool, a pr

www.tcm.com

 

[Robert Crawford]

Today, I watched two of my recent 4K/UHD purchases:

Talk about a reference level 4K/UHD release with a beautiful video presentation and a 5.1 soundtrack that didn't disappoint at all. It also has the original 2.0 Mono audio track. I always loved this film with its over-the-top violence and dark comedy.

Not quite a reference 4K/UHD release but this 1972 crime drama has never looked or sounded better in a home video setting. An outstanding 4K/UHD release for this gritty movie that I first watched in a downtown grimy movie theater that no longer exists. A definite re-watch with two audio commentaries during our annual "Film Noir Noirvember Challenge".

 

[Robert Crawford]

TCM's September Schedule:

TCM Daily and Weekly Movie Schedule

See when your favorite movies will be airing on Turner Classic Movies today, tomorrow, or next week! A printable schedule organized by each day of the week is also available here.

www.tcm.com

 

[Robert Crawford]

I spent yesterday, watching the new Ignite Blu-ray of "The Story of G.I. Joe" (1945) starring Robert Mitchum and Burgess Meredith. This was the movie that catapulted Mitchum's career. It's the only movie in which he was nominated for an Oscar, Best Supporting Actor. The film was nominated for four Oscars. It was directed by the great William Wellman. The movie is derived from stories written by Ernie Pyle, the great WWII correspondent. He was killed by a sniper on Okinawa just two months before the movie opened in June 1945. This movie has such an emotional impact with its realism and the daily struggles of an infantry soldier.

View attachment 227702 View attachment 227703

By the way, it appears that Amazon has a December 10th release date for this Ignite Blu-ray of "The Story of G.I. Joe".