xpost to Noodle Vagueoh wait, I think we're talking about totally different things! By "frame story" I simply meant the prologue with Andrew Gray piloting a yacht with two English people on it (played by Powell and his wife, Frankie) to the island. I didn't mean the story Powell wrote to flesh out the original evacuation of the island story---is that what you thought I meant? At any rate, I totally agree about myth-making and almost totally agree with Powell's own extremely negative stance on documentaries.
All that said, there's actually a bit in the prologue that I love. Powell's character asks Andrew what Hirta (the island's name) means. Andrew says very portentously "it means...death." Cut to an ominous shot of an eagle hunting a lamb. Just before it can kill the lamb, the eagle is shot by Powell.
― elephant rob, Wednesday, 21 July 2010 20:57 (thirteen years ago) link
ha okay I'd forgotten that bit. I get ya now. Still fits into the ghost story theme I guess tho, and I like that "tourists stepping onto sacred ground" kind of feeling.
― Zuckerzeit Abrahams Zuckerzeit (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 21 July 2010 20:59 (thirteen years ago) link
Like he's building layers to make it easier for City folk to get into the story.
― Zuckerzeit Abrahams Zuckerzeit (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 21 July 2010 21:00 (thirteen years ago) link
i've only seen a couple of BR discs projected onto a living room wall but they do look really, really good - seems like the perfect home video format for the archers, tati, etc (until the next thing comes along in 2020 or whatever)
cunga i loved IKWIG! - the location shots alone are like damn
― "slapsie" (donna rouge), Wednesday, 21 July 2010 21:03 (thirteen years ago) link
xpYeah, your initial response made me rethink things and while it is a little tacked-on (and forgettable, ha!) it still has some nice footage and that hunting bit. And I agree it makes sense thematically and narratively in the way you're suggesting. Also in retrospect it adds to the tragedy that Andrew is reduced to piloting around some English swell's yacht after leaving Hirta.
Donna, you should see Edge of the World if you haven't--the location shooting might even be superior to IKWIG's at times. Maybe not superior, but wilder and very beautiful.
― elephant rob, Wednesday, 21 July 2010 21:08 (thirteen years ago) link
The eagle sequence is a fore-runner of the hawk-into-Spitfire shot at the beginning of A Canterbury Tale if I'm remembering right.
― Zuckerzeit Abrahams Zuckerzeit (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 21 July 2010 21:10 (thirteen years ago) link
This thread is making me want a fancy TV btw
I have to confess I ordered RS and BN despite not owning either a bluray player (yet) or a fancy TV. In my defense, they were 50% off and uh... :/
― elephant rob, Wednesday, 21 July 2010 21:14 (thirteen years ago) link
vibing out to 'the spy in black'
― i am legernd (history mayne), Friday, 3 September 2010 10:18 (thirteen years ago) link
conrad veidt seems like a suitable case for some kind of treatment - biography, biopic - v. interesting figure - get on it, nrq!
― Ward Fowler, Friday, 3 September 2010 10:33 (thirteen years ago) link
The Spy in Black is excellent. Also look for Contraband from around the same time (also with Veidt).
― optimizing the emotional effects of Redneck Hoe by Insane Clown Posse (corey), Friday, 3 September 2010 20:56 (thirteen years ago) link
Veidt's also pretty much my favorite actor ever.
― optimizing the emotional effects of Redneck Hoe by Insane Clown Posse (corey), Friday, 3 September 2010 20:57 (thirteen years ago) link
Given the one-a-year drip feed of hi-def reissues, I finally ponied up and bought the 11-disc dvd box set so I can fill in the gaps of what I've seen in the meantime. Watched A Canterbury Tale last night, enjoyed it enormously for many of the reasons people have noted upthread. Another standout scene for me was Colpeper's speech during his presentation about the old pilgrims' road:
"When you lie flat on your back and rest, and watch the clouds sailing, as I often do, you're so close to those other people, that you can hear the thrumming of the hoofs of their horses, and the sound of the wheels on the road, and their laughter and talk, and the music of the instruments they carried. And when I turn the bend in the road, where they too saw the towers of Canterbury, I feel I've only to turn my head, to see them on the road behind me."
― Bill A, Tuesday, 26 October 2010 14:12 (thirteen years ago) link
beautiful.
― candid gamera (s1ocki), Tuesday, 26 October 2010 14:59 (thirteen years ago) link
Been running these boxset discs as Sunday-afternoon-specials, which has always been the best time for filmic drama imo. Last week's was I Know Where I'm Going!, another that I'd never seen, and was absolutely delighted again. My wife made a point that their films are often actually very strange in many regards, but because they are so well made, acted and written one just accepts this.
On a Powell related note, "Peeping Tom" is out on blu-ray next week (and is getting some stupendous reviews). Currently only on Region-B locked issue from Optimum, but I'd be surprised if Criterion don't issue it too in the near future.
― Bill A, Thursday, 18 November 2010 11:25 (thirteen years ago) link
just saw 'the red shoes', not even on blu, but the new dvd
just astonishing in every way
must see 'hoffman'
― rip whiney g weingarten 03/11 never forget (history mayne), Thursday, 2 December 2010 00:21 (thirteen years ago) link
ya man.
― shirley summistake (s1ocki), Thursday, 2 December 2010 00:29 (thirteen years ago) link
I watched Hoffmann before going to bed and when I closed my eyes I saw nothing but bright saturated colors.
― for the next throbbing minutes (corey), Thursday, 2 December 2010 00:45 (thirteen years ago) link
tales of albert hofmann
― nakhchivan, Thursday, 2 December 2010 00:55 (thirteen years ago) link
hadn't noticed before how when vicky and the composer meet after getting their new jobs, it's looks very obviously like a stage set, but at the end, it's the spot she falls from and it's a real location... moira shearer apparently hadn't acted before? she's so affecting in this.
― rip whiney g weingarten 03/11 never forget (history mayne), Thursday, 2 December 2010 00:56 (thirteen years ago) link
beautiful too.
gonna sit down with the fam and watch a bunch of P&P movies today.
― absinthe of malithe (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 2 December 2010 09:30 (thirteen years ago) link
<3 powell's red hair obsession
― buzza, Thursday, 2 December 2010 09:49 (thirteen years ago) link
>gonna sit down with the fam and watch a bunch of P&P movies today.
Best idea I've heard this week.
― Bill A, Thursday, 2 December 2010 09:52 (thirteen years ago) link
has anyone seen his episodes of the 1960s series 'espionage'? it's on dvd but not to rent
― rip whiney g weingarten 03/11 never forget (history mayne), Thursday, 2 December 2010 09:56 (thirteen years ago) link
fopp adverts in papers today have the 9dvd box set for £9
― koogs, Friday, 17 December 2010 16:32 (thirteen years ago) link
£18 today
― conrad, Sunday, 19 December 2010 14:22 (thirteen years ago) link
anyone seen this early German sound film co-written by Pressbuger? (dir R Siodmak)
http://germanyinnyc.org/index.php?section=catevent&cat_evt_id=1880&cat_id=9
― kind of shrill and very self-righteous (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 6 January 2011 16:47 (thirteen years ago) link
Newly restored Col. Blimp begins run in NYC today; Scorsese introduces tonight, Thelma Schoonmaker tomorrow.
http://www.filmforum.org/films/blimp.html
― Dr Morbois de Bologne (Dr Morbius), Friday, 18 November 2011 17:51 (twelve years ago) link
so fuckin jealous
― the jazz zinger (s1ocki), Friday, 18 November 2011 19:45 (twelve years ago) link
You going, Morbius? Don't think I can.
― Miss Piggy and Frodo in Hull (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 18 November 2011 19:45 (twelve years ago) link
this would come along in the midst of the year-end/in-review shitstorm, of course. It's for 2 weeks, I guess I'll try during Thanksgiving break.
(Scorsese sold out online)
― Dr Morbois de Bologne (Dr Morbius), Friday, 18 November 2011 19:49 (twelve years ago) link
plus i'm sure he'll be speaking on the DVD, plus his Britfilm doc.
― Dr Morbois de Bologne (Dr Morbius), Friday, 18 November 2011 19:50 (twelve years ago) link
Finally getting around to watching Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff. Very good so far. Wish I had bought a copy of Magic Hour when I had the chance.
― Croupier (Superstar) (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 29 January 2012 16:14 (twelve years ago) link
Wish i had DVRed some other things that night like Pandora and the Flying Dutchman
― Croupier (Superstar) (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 29 January 2012 16:47 (twelve years ago) link
Don't think I've ever seen anything he directed, not even Sons and Lovers.
The documentary does not mention his relationship with Sophia Loren.
― Croupier (Superstar) (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 29 January 2012 17:14 (twelve years ago) link
That Cardiff documentary was great, I was really happy to happen across it on TCM one evening when nothing more interesting was going on.
― Rotary Boy of the Month (WmC), Sunday, 29 January 2012 18:09 (twelve years ago) link
how's The 49th Parallel?
― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 10 September 2012 23:04 (eleven years ago) link
awesome, as you might expect.
trivia: that was actually their most popular film in britain on original release! (If you don't count korda's thief of bagdad.)
― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Monday, 10 September 2012 23:06 (eleven years ago) link
I can believe it, based on what I've read.
― a regina spektor is haunting europe (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 10 September 2012 23:08 (eleven years ago) link
I barely remember it now, but here's what I said when CC released it.
― Eric H., Monday, 10 September 2012 23:08 (eleven years ago) link
eric portman is great as a nazi. and it has laurence olivier as a french-canadian fur trapper. do you need a higher recommendation?
― flesh, the devil, and a wolf (wolf) (amateurist), Monday, 10 September 2012 23:09 (eleven years ago) link
A critical roundup marking the Criterion BluRay and the new 4K digital restoration of Black Narcissus, which I would see at Film Forum if I didn't know there'll be shitheads laughing all the way through.
http://www.fandor.com/blog/daily-powell-and-pressburgers-black-narcissus
― saltwater incursion (Dr Morbius), Friday, 4 January 2013 15:58 (eleven years ago) link
laughing because of the colonial (and other) stereotypes?
one glare from kathleen byron shld silence the gigglers:
http://www.independent.co.uk/migration_catalog/article5119886.ece/ALTERNATES/w460/kathleen-byron.jpeg
― Ward Fowler, Friday, 4 January 2013 16:11 (eleven years ago) link
There is a hardcore group of under-35s in NYC who go to old films simply to laugh condescendingly at them. For any reason.
― saltwater incursion (Dr Morbius), Friday, 4 January 2013 16:20 (eleven years ago) link
The resto of Colonel Blimp is out on disc in March I think.
― Big Sambola & The Tailspinners (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 4 January 2013 17:53 (eleven years ago) link
xp I think I've told this here before. I went to see All That Heaven Allows and throughout people were laughing at some of the (non-funny) dialog. Some woman shouted out, "This is not a comedy! Why don't you all go home and watch television!" Which shut everyone up for the rest of the movie. Later, there's a shocking scene at which point she adds, "Not so funny now is it?!"
― fit and working again, Friday, 4 January 2013 18:29 (eleven years ago) link
Haha. Bravo!
― contrarian, zing thyself (cajunsunday), Friday, 4 January 2013 18:35 (eleven years ago) link
hero
― saltwater incursion (Dr Morbius), Friday, 4 January 2013 18:37 (eleven years ago) link
<333
― steaklife (donna rouge), Friday, 4 January 2013 18:38 (eleven years ago) link
that is a fantastic story, fit and working again (wld happily buy a volume of ppl's cinema-going stories, anecdotes etc)
in a nice piece of synchronicity, i'm planning to spend the weekend w/ a sirk collection before lending it to a friend - looking at the set, i realised i'd never seen Magnificent Obsession, and can always re-watch All That Heaven Allows (my favourite)
― Ward Fowler, Friday, 4 January 2013 21:08 (eleven years ago) link