davidHartzog
Senior HTF Member
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Tonight, film noir double feature, The File on Thelma Jordan and Plunder Road.
Watching Tora! Tora! Tora! right now as I compose this post.Vic Pardo said:Tomorrow I was gonna watch the latest Pokemon movie, "Genesect and the Legend Awakened," since the disc just arrived, but then I remembered it's December 7th, so I'm gonna watch TORA! TORA! TORA! instead.
I wound up watching my DVD of IN HARM'S WAY (1965) instead, a film I'd never seen from start to finish in one sitting before. I was quite impressed with it. Directed by Otto Preminger, It's more of a human drama against a backdrop of war, rather than a combat film, but it does open with Pearl Harbor. (Hugh O'Brian has an unbilled cameo as an early victim.) It's got an all-star cast and was shot entirely in Hawaii and at sea on board seven different naval craft. John Wayne plays his patented tough, but compassionate commander and I think it's one of his best acting jobs. He has a tender, adult romance with Patricia Neal as a nurse lieutenant, echoing their relationship in an earlier Pacific War-themed movie, OPERATION PACIFIC (1951). Wayne's co-star is Kirk Douglas, who goes native at one point and lets his beard grow, making him look like Vincent Van Gogh. Also on hand: Burgess Meredith, Henry Fonda (a two-scene cameo), Dana Andrews, Franchot Tone, Patrick O'Neal, Tom Tryon, Paula Prentiss, George Kennedy, Carroll O'Connor, Jill Haworth and, in an interesting turn as Wayne's estranged son, Brandon de Wilde.Vic Pardo said:Tomorrow I was gonna watch the latest Pokemon movie, "Genesect and the Legend Awakened," since the disc just arrived, but then I remembered it's December 7th, so I'm gonna watch TORA! TORA! TORA! instead.
I did a longer write-up on IN HARM'S WAY on my blog:Vic Pardo said:I wound up watching my DVD of IN HARM'S WAY (1965) instead, a film I'd never seen from start to finish in one sitting before. I was quite impressed with it. Directed by Otto Preminger, It's more of a human drama against a backdrop of war, rather than a combat film, but it does open with Pearl Harbor. (Hugh O'Brian has an unbilled cameo as an early victim.) It's got an all-star cast and was shot entirely in Hawaii and at sea on board seven different naval craft. John Wayne plays his patented tough, but compassionate commander and I think it's one of his best acting jobs. He has a tender, adult romance with Patricia Neal as a nurse lieutenant, echoing their relationship in an earlier Pacific War-themed movie, OPERATION PACIFIC (1951). Wayne's co-star is Kirk Douglas, who goes native at one point and lets his beard grow, making him look like Vincent Van Gogh. Also on hand: Burgess Meredith, Henry Fonda (a two-scene cameo), Dana Andrews, Franchot Tone, Patrick O'Neal, Tom Tryon, Paula Prentiss, George Kennedy, Carroll O'Connor, Jill Haworth and, in an interesting turn as Wayne's estranged son, Brandon de Wilde.
It's not as overwrought as other films on the subject, but simply lets the stories of these characters play out as the war progresses behind them. A classical Hollywood narrative, with a few adult touches added, courtesy of its time. Great understated score by Jerry Goldsmith also.
I just learned that the new "Sound of Music" is being shown again tomorrow night (Sat. Dec. 14) on NBC at 8PM.David Weicker said:Heavy into Christmas viewing. Some things I will hold off for next weekend when my boys are here. But plenty to sit and watch.Plus I haven't yet watched the live Sound Of Music.Plus will probably see The Hobbit on Sunday