joe (Liverpool) Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 (edited) The last two films I purchased on DVD were; A Matter Of Life and Death (David Niven) and It's A Wonderful Life in black and white and colour (James Stewart) Edited August 7, 2012 by joe (Liverpool) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 The last two films I purchased on DVD were; A Matter Of Life and Death (David Niven) and It's A Wonderful Life in black and white and colour (James Stewart) Those are two wise purchases Joe, as both those movies are worth watching again and again...they're hardy perennials. Little needs to be said about "It's a Wonderful Life" as it is famous the world over thru its yearly appearance on television schedules at Christmastime. James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers as 'Clarence' trying to get his wings...Zuzu's petals!. I think many of us remember these characters and moments like they were our own family. One that I particularly enjoy, and think gets lost in the shuffle, is Gloria Grahame's 'Violet'. As for "A Matter of Life and Death", ANY Powell/Pressburger film is "must-see": "The Red Shoes", "Life and Death of Colonel Blimp", "Black Narcissus", "Tales of Hoffmann". And "A Matter of Life and Death". Which, funnily enough, was released in the U.S. as "STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN"! Remarkable for its ravishing scenes in Technicolor(and ravishing Kim Hunter...yes, that Kim Hunter: Dr. Zira), it has a plum cast including David Niven, Roger Livesey, and Richard Attenborough. Switching from colour for the Earth-bound scenes to black-and-white for the scenes in heaven, the film is a constant feast for the eyes as well as soul. It's great that you now have the dvd to pop in when you want(I hope it is the superior Criterion edition you got...earlier dvd issues suffered subpar image transfers), but if you ever gwt a chance to see "A Matter of Life and Death" shown in a theatre, grab it! In fact, the same goes for "The Red Shoes" and "Black Narcissus"...to see those lovely Technicolor images on a giant screen is overwhelming. One last question. It wasn't quite clear in your post, but you mentioned you having a colour and black n white dvd of "It's a Wonderful Life"? I hope you watch the B & W version and not the colour, as that is a travesty against nature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anjin-san Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Damn Ted Turner! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Damn Ted Turner! Finally! Something you and Jane Fonda can agree on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anjin-san Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Finally! Something you and Jane Fonda can agree on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Greed (1924) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe (Liverpool) Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Those are two wise purchases Joe, as both those movies are worth watching again and again...they're hardy perennials. Little needs to be said about "It's a Wonderful Life" as it is famous the world over thru its yearly appearance on television schedules at Christmastime. James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers as 'Clarence' trying to get his wings...Zuzu's petals!. I think many of us remember these characters and moments like they were our own family. One that I particularly enjoy, and think gets lost in the shuffle, is Gloria Grahame's 'Violet'. As for "A Matter of Life and Death", ANY Powell/Pressburger film is "must-see": "The Red Shoes", "Life and Death of Colonel Blimp", "Black Narcissus", "Tales of Hoffmann". And "A Matter of Life and Death". Which, funnily enough, was released in the U.S. as "STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN"! Remarkable for its ravishing scenes in Technicolor(and ravishing Kim Hunter...yes, that Kim Hunter: Dr. Zira), it has a plum cast including David Niven, Roger Livesey, and Richard Attenborough. Switching from colour for the Earth-bound scenes to black-and-white for the scenes in heaven, the film is a constant feast for the eyes as well as soul. It's great that you now have the dvd to pop in when you want(I hope it is the superior Criterion edition you got...earlier dvd issues suffered subpar image transfers), but if you ever gwt a chance to see "A Matter of Life and Death" shown in a theatre, grab it! In fact, the same goes for "The Red Shoes" and "Black Narcissus"...to see those lovely Technicolor images on a giant screen is overwhelming. One last question. It wasn't quite clear in your post, but you mentioned you having a colour and black n white dvd of "It's a Wonderful Life"? I hope you watch the B & W version and not the colour, as that is a travesty against nature. I watched the B& W version first as it was the only one I have ever seen. Then I watched the colour version out of curiosity, I will stick to the B&W version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 (edited) ^^^ Which version of "Greed" did you watch Babs? There are many different lengths out there, from 2 to 4 hours. Unfortunately the original Stroheim cut of over 10 hours is lost forever. Edited August 7, 2012 by Strider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 ^^^ Which version of "Greed" did you watch Babs? There are many different lengths out there, from 2 to 4 hours. Unfortunately the original Stroheim cut of over 10 hours is lost forever. I saw the 2 hour version. It wasn't until much later that I realized it was originally a 10 hour marathon. The thing that impressed me was the opening scene. It was a 1 shot, 10 minute or so intro. What a shame the footage is gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 The House of Hammer horror movies were great. I saw this in the theatre when I was a kid. Scared the hell out of me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aen27 Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 I love this movie and the theme. http://youtu.be/RjNNxzoiN5k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aen27 Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 I love Herbert Marshall so much in this opening scene. http://youtu.be/tmukqyKwnPU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aen27 Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 My favorite of Ginger's solo movies and my favorite of her solo numbers. http://youtu.be/KvNFHIMLaBw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepscoda Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 "I remember every detail. The Germans wore gray, you wore blue." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepscoda Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 The great Casablanca is on TMC. First time seeing it in HD! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted August 30, 2012 Share Posted August 30, 2012 The great Casablanca is on TMC. First time seeing it in HD! Good for you. "Casablanca" is the very definition of classic. One of the all-time screenplays...not a word, not a line out of place. Today I've been lazing around and baking stuff for tonight. It's Warren William's birthday and TCM has been showing Warren William movies all day. I've been watching a couple between the baking and US Open tennis. So far I've caught "Three On A Match"(with a young Bette Davis, Joan Blondell, Ann Dvorak, and Humphrey Bogart) and "Gold Diggers of 1933"(Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler, Ginger Rogers, Dick Powell). Later tonight, TCM finishes up Warren William day with the great "Employees Entrance", where you can see one of the inspirations to the Gordon Gekko character in "Wall Street". A tasty little Pre-Code number, with the always lovely Loretta Young. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babs Posted August 31, 2012 Share Posted August 31, 2012 (edited) Straightjacket with Joan Crawford Scared the crap outta me when I was a kid. Edited August 31, 2012 by Babs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redrum Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Just watched 'Dr. Mabuse' (1922) It's long at just under 4 hours. Also, though not really that old but considered a true classic: 'Quest For Fire' 'Atra' :^) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepscoda Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 (edited) Mortimer: Men don't just get into window seats and die! Abby: Of course not, dear. He died first. Mortimer: But how? Abby: The gentleman died because he drank some wine with poison in it. Now,I don'tknow why you're making such a big deal over this, Mortimer. Don't you worry about a thing! Edited September 10, 2012 by zepscoda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayceeporter Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 (edited) Ekstase (Austrian and Czech title for Ecstasy) is one of my favorite movies. In 1933, it was the first pre-code movie to show a woman having an orgasm (and didn't even have to show her naked body!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJs_F_z_McM Of course with the ever so beautiful Hedy Lamarr Edited September 11, 2012 by jayceeporter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepscoda Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Frankenstein is on TCM HD .......I love the sets in this film...and the script is awsome, there's some classic lines.... Edward Van Sloan: How do you do? Mr. Carl Laemmle feels it would be a little unkind to present this picture without just a word of friendly warning. We're about to unfold the story of Frankenstein, a man of science who sought to create a man after his own image without reckoning upon God. It is one of the strangest tales ever told. It deals with the two great mysteries of creation: life and death. I think it will thrill you. It may shock you. It might even horrify you. So if any of you feel that you do not care to subject your nerves to such a strain, now is your chance to, uh... Well, we've warned you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetLittleBaby Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 I couldn't even tell you the last modern movie I watched. I only ever watch classic movies. Some of my favorites are B movies that were never very popular in their day, but became cult classics. The Cat People and I Walked With a Zombie are two of my favorites. I also own all of the Road Shows with Hope and Crosby and cherish my Thin Man box set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetLittleBaby Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Mortimer: Men don't just get into window seats and die! Abby: Of course not, dear. He died first. Mortimer: But how? Abby: The gentleman died because he drank some wine with poison in it. Now,I don'tknow why you're making such a big deal over this, Mortimer. Don't you worry about a thing! Can you believe that movie was a flop when it came out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepscoda Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 Can you believe that movie was a flop when it came out? That is strange, maybe at the time (1944) war movies were a bigger draw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetLittleBaby Posted September 17, 2012 Share Posted September 17, 2012 Just watched 'Dr. Mabuse' (1922) It's long at just under 4 hours. Also, though not really that old but considered a true classic: 'Quest For Fire' 'Atra' :^) Is that the same as Das Testement des Dr. Mabuse? That movie was from the '40s and was actually banned in Nazi Germany by Hitler. It's a really good movie, though. Very creepy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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