Saturday Evening Movie Thread 03-17-2018 [Hosted By: TheJamesMadison]

Casablanca

To continue with my series of posts highlighting my personal top ten movies of all time, (The Passion of Joan of Arc came first, and then Duck Soup) I move on with the next in chronological order, Casablanca.

Out of all the movies in my top ten, this is probably the one that pops up most in others. It's been a staple of American cinema pretty much since its release and when it won the Oscar for Best Picture of 1942. It's well loved by nearly everyone who sees it, and I think it's easy to see why.

In my mind there are two major reasons why both I love this film and why it's so beloved 76 years after its release: dialogue and the expert mixture of cynicism with romanticism.

First Things First

The movie nominally takes place in the city of Casablanca during World War II, but it's a version that seems fairly divorced from reality. The central plot device in the movie are a pair of letters of transit signed by Charles de Gaulle that will allow anyone carrying them to leave the city on the plane for Lisbon where they'll be able to find a way to America. The letters of transit were a complete fabrication of the writers of the original stage play that the movie was based off of.

The movie's larger geopolitical picture is, quite simply, a fantasy. It makes a certain amount of sense that the wildly corrupt Free French prefect would allow almost anything to happen in the city as long as he got his cut, but the Nazi presence feels almost benign compared to what one might expect from what a Nazi would actually do with that kind of presence in a city and confronted with possibly losing a high priority target like Victor Laszlo.

But, that's not the point. Casablanca isn't about World War II, the political realities of the war, or even the relationship Free France had with Nazi Germany. No, the movie is about two people, and those around them that affect their relationship.

Dialogue

That being said, I'm hoping we all know the story of Casablanca, so I'm going to skip a plot summary. Instead, I'm going to dive into the qualities that have helped the movie last so long.

Apparently, the cast thought the dialogue was silly and unnatural as they filmed it. One thing's for sure, no one speaks with this much wit in real life.

The script for Casablanca is the sort of high-octane, clever, dialogue driven script no one really writes anymore. Diablo Cody was in the same league with Juno a while ago, but audiences seem to want naturalistic dialogue in most circumstances. They'll allow some room for things like period pieces, but overall there's an insistence that everyone talk like they would in real life.

Which is a shame, although if everyone had the kind of constant one-liners that Rick, Ilsa, and Renault had, life could be significantly more fun.

The movie is well-known for its great exchanges, having six quotes in the AFI's list "100 Years…100 Quotes", more than any other movie in the list. There's the simple stuff like "Here's looking at you, kid," (an invention of Humphrey Bogart as he taught Ingrid Bergman English on set), but Claude Rains' Renault has all of my favorites. Out of context, the "shocked" line is funny for the pure absurdity of it, but in context it's even funnier.

I also love Renault's response to Rick threatening to shoot him in the heart as his least vulnerable spot. The movie is stuffed full of this fantastic sort of stuff that makes just listening to the dialogue a pleasure on its own outside of any other parts of the film.

Cynicism vs. Romanticism

I think this is really why the movie endures through the decades. It portrays a rather complex portrait of balancing the cynicism brought upon by loss and melancholy with the need for Romanticism in the world.

Rick starts the film as, what looks like, a pure cynic. He doesn't talk about his past and seems only concerned with keeping his bar open in such a tumultuous city with such a (poor) corrupt official in Renault. In the opening act, though, we see signs that there's more to him than that. Renault talks about some of Rick's past. He participated in two smaller wars by running guns, and in both the side he chose lost. The implication is that Rick was a romantic, but his behavior in the scene is designed to make it look like he's left it all behind. He says, "I stick my neck out for nobody," twice in the first twenty minutes.

All things considered, he probably would have continued on this path with the kind of behavior that leads him to idly stand by as a man he's friendly with is rounded up and taken away to surely be shot, but the source of his cynicism arrives. Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) arrives in Rick's place and Rick immediately begins to change. He drinks with customers (which he never does), he helps a young Bulgarian couple win at his own roulette tables so the young woman won't have to sell her body to Renault for the help they need to leave Casablanca.

Eventually, it all culminates in that side of Rick, that he has tried to suppress for years since Ilsa left him to return to her presumed dead husband Victor Laszlo, completely taking over. He removes himself from his shell and becomes completely selfless. Instead of using the letters of transit for himself, he gives them to Laszlo.

This move could mean one of two things, both related. It could mean that Rick has become a patriot, as Renault calls him, and is now fighting for a cause much like he used to, but it could also mean that he simply knew that Ilsa would never be happy with Rick if she knew that Laszlo was dead. He'd have her, but he'd be the architect of her husband's death. There couldn't be any love there, so he does what's right and walks away. The yearning to be a better man amidst a hostile world is appealing to many people.

Casablanca 2: Electric Bugaloo

Let me take a moment to talk about the very end of the movie. Ilsa and Laszlo have flown away. Rick has shot the main Nazi character. Renault has covered for Rick's actions, and the pair walk off into the fog, beginning a beautiful friendship. I don't want to be the "get off my lawn" cynic, but if that got made today there'd be work on a sequel before the movie opened, just in case it was successful. That sequel would possibly put Renault as the main character because he'd test really well in screenings, and Rick and Ilsa would end up together.

It wouldn't destroy the original, but it'd spit on it.

The beauty of that ending is that it allows us to imagine what could be, but also it ends that part of Rick's story at the exact right moment. He's completely changed from cynic to romantic, and we don't need to see anymore.

Warners wanted a sequel immediately after release (called Brazzaville), but they never made it. Also, can you believe that Madonna tried to remake it once? Ashton Kutcher would have been Rick. At least studio executives have one movie they refuse to try and remake, at least for now.

The Studio System

The making of the movie, which seems to wonderfully designed and assembled, was apparently a mess. Aside from the aforementioned distaste the actors had for the dialogue, there is the famous story of Humphrey Bogart being called to set to stand in a place and nod, for a reason he had no idea. It ended up being Rick telling the band to play the Marseilles. There were also rumors of multiple endings for a while that are largely untrue (although this joke from The Simpsons always puts a smile on my face), but there was an attempt to extend the ending with shots of Rick and Renault on an Allied ship invading North Africa (ugh, just try to ruin everything why don't you). I'm glad Claude Rains was apparently unavailable.

But, it was a studio picture and probably the best example of what the studio system did well. They had contract players they just pulled into pictures they thought would fit, hired directors who were technically competent and unflashy, and writers who could churn out quality work. When this system came together well, it ended up creating absolutely wonderful entertainments. It's not how every movie should be made, but it could work very, very well.

Movies of Today

Opening in Theaters:
Tomb Raider
Love, Simon
7 Days in Entebbe

Next in my Netflix Queue:
Demetrius and the Gladiators

Movies I Saw This Week:
Gentlemen Broncos (Netflix Rating 4/5 | Quality Rating 3/4) Poster blurb: "I don't really like Jared Hess' other stuff, but this one tickled me." [Netflix DVD]
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (Netflix Rating 5/5 | Quality Rating 3.5/4) [Rewatch] "Unpopular movie opinion! But seriously, after the first 20 minutes, this movie works really well." [Personal Collection]
Absolutely Anything (Netflix Rating 3/5 | Quality Rating 2/4) "Amusing in a low key sort of way, although far from the triumphant return of Monty Python that one might expect." [Netflix Instant]
Anomalisa (Netflix Rating 4/5 | Quality Rating 3/4) "Interesting, although I can't decide if it's about Asperger's or a demonstration of misanthropy." [Amazon Prime]
Casablanca (Netflix Rating 5/5 | Quality Rating 4/4) [Rewatch] "Here's looking at you, kid." [Personal Collection]
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I (Netflix Rating 3/5 | Quality Rating 2/4) [Rewatch] "I'm really happy that Lionsgate made an extra billion dollars, but seriously, this is a drag." [Personal Collection]
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part II (Netflix Rating 4/5 | Quality Rating 3/4) [Rewatch] "Should have been combined with the previous film, but it still overall works and is a fairly satisfying ending to a depressing dystopian story." [Personal Collection]

Contact

Email any suggestions or questions to thejamesmadison.aos at symbol gmail dot com.

I've also archived all the old posts here, by request. I'll add new posts a week after they originally post at the HQ.

Posted by: OregonMuse at 07:06 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Ugh...I left the Youtube embed too large.

Sorry everyone...

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 06:59 PM (V7Dgx)

2 Thats ok

Posted by: Skip at March 17, 2018 07:02 PM (aC6Sd)

3 Yay, film thread!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Gamestress of Triskelion at March 17, 2018 07:03 PM (qJtVm)

4 Was also wondering what everyone favorite Irish movie is? There must be a thousand of them.

Posted by: Skip at March 17, 2018 07:04 PM (aC6Sd)

5 It's the one movie I never tire of watching.. It's amazing but every time I watch it I notice something I hadn't noticed before. There isn't a weak spot in the movie. Perfection.

Posted by: Tuna at March 17, 2018 07:04 PM (jm1YL)

6 Rats, stopped to read the content.

Posted by: Darles Chickens at March 17, 2018 07:04 PM (BJdPM)

7 I'm over Casablanca. Now, the Maltese Falcon I can watch over and over again.

Posted by: JuJuBee, just generally being shamey at March 17, 2018 07:04 PM (2NqXo)

8 Good Lord! That looks like Pencil Neck Schiff in the first photograph with Bogie.

Posted by: Northernlurker but call me Teem. at March 17, 2018 07:04 PM (nBr1j)

9 Howdy all.

Posted by: AshevilleRobert at March 17, 2018 07:05 PM (w+Jhj)

10 8 Good Lord! That looks like Pencil Neck Schiff in the first photograph with Bogie.
Posted by: Northernlurker but call me Teem. at March 17, 2018 07:04 PM (nBr1j)

============

I didn't actually talk about Peter Lorre, so I had to at least include a picture.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 07:05 PM (V7Dgx)

11 "I feel unsafe kid."

Posted by: Lines not in Casablanca at March 17, 2018 07:05 PM (BsGS1)

12
This afternoon TCM showed the Fighting 69th with James Cagney and Pat O'Brien. There is a scene where a building housing wounded Americans is getting shelled. Pat O'Brien, playing a Catholic priest, calms the men by having them recite the Our Father. Cagney in one of his usual wise guy roles starts to say it and at the end falls to his knees. A scene like that would never be seen in a movie today or even the last 30 or so years.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 17, 2018 07:05 PM (SiINZ)

13 We watched Coco last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a lovely way to portray Mexican culture without preaching. Will be watching Thor Ragnarak tonight. I may have bought it for Chris Hemsworth's arms. Maybe.

Posted by: moki at March 17, 2018 07:05 PM (V+V48)

14 TheJamesMadison - I have an idea for a movie thread subject. How can I send it to you?

Posted by: AshevilleRobert at March 17, 2018 07:05 PM (w+Jhj)

15 TL;read a couple paragraphs.

Casablanca is still great.

Posted by: fluffy at March 17, 2018 07:06 PM (cHbmY)

16
Good Lord! That looks like Pencil Neck Schiff in the first photograph with Bogie.

Posted by: Northernlurker but call me Teem. at March 17, 2018 07:04 PM (nBr1j)

First time I saw Schiffhead, that's exactly who I thought he looks like

Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 17, 2018 07:06 PM (SiINZ)

17 11 "I feel unsafe kid."
Posted by: Lines not in Casablanca at March 17, 2018 07:05 PM (BsGS1)

============

"I'm gonna Tweet those Nazis until they cry, Ilsa. I promise, I'll hurt their feelings so bad."
-Victor Laszlo, scourge of the Third Reich

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 07:06 PM (V7Dgx)

18 My #1 movie, and with all the reasons you state. I think it is so easy to be swept up in the emotions, while everyone can relate to some part of the early cynicism while hoping for the romanticism to win out.

Posted by: Mordineus at March 17, 2018 07:06 PM (HJEdL)

19 "You wore blue and the Germans were inappropriate."

Posted by: Lines not in Casablanca at March 17, 2018 07:06 PM (BsGS1)

20 14 TheJamesMadison - I have an idea for a movie thread subject. How can I send it to you?
Posted by: AshevilleRobert at March 17, 2018 07:05 PM (w+Jhj)

==========

Email at the bottom of the thread.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 07:06 PM (V7Dgx)

21 4 Was also wondering what everyone favorite Irish movie is? There must be a thousand of them.
Posted by: Skip at March 17, 2018 07:04 PM (aC6Sd)

The Quiet Man.

My favorite part is the horse stopping at the pub. He knows his master all too well.

Posted by: moki at March 17, 2018 07:07 PM (V+V48)

22 "#Not My Vichy"

Posted by: Lines not in Casablanca at March 17, 2018 07:07 PM (BsGS1)

23 1 Ugh...I left the Youtube embed too large.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 06:59 PM (V7Dgx)

Fixed. I should've caught that prior to publication.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader & Global Rethinker at March 17, 2018 07:07 PM (jlKn3)

24 >>> I'm over Casablanca. Now, the Maltese Falcon I can watch over and over again.

False choice.

Posted by: fluffy at March 17, 2018 07:08 PM (cHbmY)

25 and Peter Lorre has been absolutely wonderful in every single thing I have ever seen him in. Even in, and perhaps most especially, all the Hammer Films stuff he did.

Posted by: Mordineus at March 17, 2018 07:08 PM (HJEdL)

26 Also, I loved Bogart's white tux.

Posted by: Tuna at March 17, 2018 07:08 PM (jm1YL)

27 23 1 Ugh...I left the Youtube embed too large.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 06:59 PM (V7Dgx)

Fixed. I should've caught that prior to publication.
Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader & Global Rethinker at March 17, 2018 07:07 PM (jlKn3)

==========

Thanks.

I was just so excited about the center tag, I got so carried away.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 07:08 PM (V7Dgx)

28 Pat O'Brien, playing a Catholic priest, calms the men by having them recite the Our Father.

Father Duffy, chaplain of the Fighting 69th. Still has a statue in Times Sq. For now.

Posted by: tu3031 at March 17, 2018 07:09 PM (O5Q3r)

29 I have a book I got back in the mid-70s called Casablanca: Script and Legend by Howard Koch. It contains the screenplay and how the story developed and was filmed. Haven't read it in decades but recall it was fun. I should dig it out since I always enjoy the movie.

Posted by: JTB at March 17, 2018 07:09 PM (V+03K)

30
I saw Peter Weir’s “Picnic at Hanging Rock” again after decades. It’s 1900. A group of schoolgirls from a young ladies’ academy in Victoria, Australia take a day trip to visit Hanging Rock, a weird volcanic outcropping in the middle of a lush forest.

It’s a beautiful day for a Valentine’s Day picnic and they while away the time singing, reading, and napping. A dreamy languor falls over the party as the sun burns overhead and the cicadas drone in the background. Four girls decide to go exploring. The girls climb higher and deeper into the rocks as though drawn by some old primitive force.

And then a girl screams and runs back down the mountain in terror…

Not much happens on camera. Inexplicable mounting dread. It’s all very interior, dreamlike, people wondering what is going on. If you like resolution this is not the film for you

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Gamestress of Triskelion at March 17, 2018 07:09 PM (qJtVm)

31 Casablanca is great and all, but it's no Three Amigos.

Posted by: garrett at March 17, 2018 07:10 PM (3uPPj)

32 I know I'm very late to the game. I just rarely have time to watch much TV, but Hacksaw Ridge was on last night on HBO. It had just started so I settled in with a glass of wine and watched. Great movie.

Posted by: Jewells45 at March 17, 2018 07:10 PM (dUJdY)

33 Was also wondering what everyone favorite Irish movie is? There must be a thousand of them.

Posted by: Skip at March

The Quiet Man.

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 07:10 PM (rIG58)

34 So, if Rick was a patriot before, who was he fighting for? Who did the fwench resist? I mean to begin with. Did he fight in Spain? Don't get me wrong, I think he was against the nazis and probably later he did them some hurt.

Posted by: Eromero at March 17, 2018 07:11 PM (zLDYs)

35 Speaking of Claude Rains...

The Lost World was on earlier today.

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 07:11 PM (rIG58)

36 Oh my gosh I finally make it to comments at the start! I have a 14-year-old boy who is a total movie aficionado and knows these and other movies like the back of his hand. We talk a lot about favorite movies of all time and _Casablanca_ is mine. I love this movie so much after having seen it for the first time in the cinema Valentine's Day 2017 (75th anniversary) - himself says best is a tie between _Jurassic Park_ and _Twelve Angry Men_, though he is also partial to _Lawrence of Arabia_. We both are mostly on your page about remakes and are completely opposed to remake of _Casablanca_ by *anybody*.

Posted by: Lisl at March 17, 2018 07:11 PM (OAB5z)

37

Claude Rains was a fantastic actor. He was good in Casablanca, I liked him as Prince John in Robin Hood as well as in Notorious.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 17, 2018 07:12 PM (SiINZ)

38 I'm over Casablanca. Now, the Maltese Falcon I can watch over and over again.

Posted by: JuJuBee, just generally being shamey at March 17, 2018 07:04 PM (2NqXo)

No, I'll never get over Macho Grande.

Posted by: Ted Stryker at March 17, 2018 07:12 PM (QLvwG)

39 "Email at the bottom of the thread.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison"

*Slaps head*

Posted by: AshevilleRobert at March 17, 2018 07:12 PM (w+Jhj)

40 #BringBackOurGambling

Posted by: JuJuBee, just generally being shamey at March 17, 2018 07:12 PM (2NqXo)

41 Not really certain but think 'letters of transit ' were used in previous centuries, they seem to pop up in my historical readings.

Posted by: Skip at March 17, 2018 07:12 PM (aC6Sd)

42 Casablanca is a great movie.

This past week I watched three 2017 movies nominated for various Oscars. Two were good and one was not.

Get Out-A comedic satire with horror/syfy tossed in.
I, Tonya-A funny yet sad movie about Tonya Harding.
Dunkirk-The kindest thing I can say is this was awful.

Posted by: Jake Holenhead at March 17, 2018 07:13 PM (8EJVd)

43 37

Claude Rains was a fantastic actor. He was good in Casablanca, I liked him as Prince John in Robin Hood as well as in Notorious.
Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 17, 2018 07:12 PM (SiINZ)

============

He's fantastic in all three.

Notorious also happens to be my favorite Hitchcock.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 07:13 PM (V7Dgx)

44 Rick starts the film as, what looks like, a pure cynic

If they re-make this film Insomniac should play Rick.

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 07:13 PM (rIG58)

45 watched Darkest Hour yesterday. Wonderful.

also watched Ouija: Origin of Evil which was nicely creepy.

about to watch I, Tonya

Posted by: votermom certified russian matryoshka bot at March 17, 2018 07:13 PM (hMwEB)

46 44 Rick starts the film as, what looks like, a pure cynic

If they re-make this film Insomniac should play Rick.
Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 07:13 PM (rIG5

============

They'd have to change actors halfway through.

It'd be a certain kind of experimental, for sure.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 07:14 PM (V7Dgx)

47 Watched lady bird and three billboards. Laughed a lot and enjoyed both

Posted by: NCKate at March 17, 2018 07:14 PM (1l010)

48 Who did the fwench resist?

San Franciscans ?

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 07:14 PM (rIG58)

49 For my own Question I love The Molly Maguire, fell jn love with that movie as a kid

Posted by: Skip at March 17, 2018 07:14 PM (aC6Sd)

50 21 .. "The Quiet Man.

My favorite part is the horse stopping at the pub. He knows his master all too well."

Moki, My favorite scene from that movie is near the beginning. The train conductors are giving Wayne directions.

"You see that road there? Well, pay it no mind. It will do you no good at all."

I smile everytime I hear it.

Posted by: JTB at March 17, 2018 07:14 PM (V+03K)

51 Irish Movies?

Darby O'Gill and the Little People

Posted by: Count de Monet at March 17, 2018 07:15 PM (QLvwG)

52 I liked Gentleman Broncos too, especially Jemaine Clement as the insufferable smug writer.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Gamestress of Triskelion at March 17, 2018 07:15 PM (qJtVm)

53 Casablanca as you said is a perfect confluence of factors that makes an enduring movie classic.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 17, 2018 07:16 PM (zHGeC)

54
Irish Movies?

Leprechaun

Posted by: tu3031 at March 17, 2018 07:16 PM (O5Q3r)

55 >>> Irish Movies?

The Commitments

Posted by: fluffy at March 17, 2018 07:16 PM (cHbmY)

56 Get Out-A comedic satire with horror/syfy tossed in.
I, Tonya-A funny yet sad movie about Tonya Harding.
Dunkirk-The kindest thing I can say is this was awful.

I liked Get Out. I didn't read anything political into it like some people. It was a fun movie. Haven't seen the other two but my son watched I, Tonya last night and he loved it. I was like meh... I lived through it and she's a fucking nut.

Posted by: Jewells45 at March 17, 2018 07:16 PM (dUJdY)

57 Dunkirk-The kindest thing I can say is this was awful.
Posted by: Jake Holenhead at March 17, 2018 07:13 PM

Well, of course it was. There were no Persons of Colour in it.

Posted by: JuJuBee, just generally being shamey at March 17, 2018 07:16 PM (2NqXo)

58 Dunkirk-The kindest thing I can say is this was awful.

Posted by: Jake Holenhead at March 17, 2018 07:13 PM

Well, of course it was. There were no Persons of Colour in it.

No trannys either.

Posted by: tu3031 at March 17, 2018 07:17 PM (O5Q3r)

59 "You see that road there? Well, pay it no mind. It will do you no good at all."

I smile everytime I hear it.

Posted by: JTB at March 17, 2018 07:14 PM (V+03K)

That is such a funny line. There are a lot of great ones. One of my favorites is Victor McLaughlin saying about John Wayne, "He'll regret it till his dying day. If ever he lives that long."

Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 17, 2018 07:18 PM (SiINZ)

60 NCKate.. Three Billboards had you laughing one minute and literally crying the next. All the performances were just top notch. Woody Harrelson is always great and Sam Rockwell was just amazing as always. I left the theater thinking it was one of the best movies I had seen in years.

Posted by: Jewells45 at March 17, 2018 07:18 PM (dUJdY)

61 My favourite line(s) from Casablanca was, quoting loosely--Rick tells somebody he moved to Casablanca for the water. "But we're surrounded by desert."
Ricke "I was misinformed."

My favourite Irish movie, without question is The Commitments.

Another one I really liked was "In the Name of the Father."

Posted by: Northernlurker but call me Teem. at March 17, 2018 07:18 PM (nBr1j)

62 Well, of course it was. There were no Persons of Colour in it.

No trannys either.
Posted by: tu3031 at March 17, 2018 07:17 PM (O5Q3r)
-----
I read that "Picnic at Hanging Rock" was remade as a t.v. series, with the same setting but a more diverse cast. Which kind of flies in the face of the whole point of the story, which is Proper Victorians transported whole cloth to the primitive landscape of Australia.

I do remember idly thinking, as I watched the movie, that there was a time when the entire cast of a film could be white.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Gamestress of Triskelion at March 17, 2018 07:19 PM (qJtVm)

63 "The Quiet Man.

Ward Bond was excellent as the priest.

"Father ! There's big fight in the town !

Shhhh... there's a big fight in this fish too !"

And the guy receiving the Last Rights jumps up when he hears the crowd coming.

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 07:20 PM (rIG58)

64 My ability to find deeper meaning in movies never progressed much beyond Wile E. Coyote and roadrunner stage.

Posted by: Weasel at March 17, 2018 07:20 PM (MVjcR)

65 ''My favourite line(s) from Casablanca was, quoting loosely--Rick tells somebody he moved to Casablanca for the water. "But we're surrounded by desert."
Ricke "I was misinformed."

Mine too. I love the way Bogart delivers it.

Posted by: Tuna at March 17, 2018 07:20 PM (jm1YL)

66 My husband watches a movie most nights, a few I watch, most I tune out. Last good one was Bad Day at Black Rock, I try to forget the garbage, but Beau Brummell with Elizabeth Taylor and Stewart Grainger was horrid

Posted by: CN at March 17, 2018 07:20 PM (BQPBQ)

67 >>I do remember idly thinking, as I watched the movie, that there was a time when the entire cast of a film could be white.

Even if the Film was about Indians!

Posted by: garrett at March 17, 2018 07:20 PM (3uPPj)

68 67 >>I do remember idly thinking, as I watched the movie, that there was a time when the entire cast of a film could be white.

Even if the Film was about Indians!
Posted by: garrett at March 17, 2018 07:20 PM (3uPPj)

===========

"Or Genghis Khan?"
-John Wayne

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 07:21 PM (V7Dgx)

69 My all-time favorite movie, Casablanca. No such thing as watching it too many times.

Thanks for posting this.

Posted by: crisis du jour at March 17, 2018 07:21 PM (L8DUW)

70 "Or Genghis Khan?"
-John Wayne
Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 07:21 PM (V7Dgx)
----
It had an Irish Tatar princess to. Talk about race-blind casting!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Gamestress of Triskelion at March 17, 2018 07:22 PM (qJtVm)

71 Now I'm in the mood for an old classic. Wonder what TCM is showing?

Posted by: Jewells45 at March 17, 2018 07:22 PM (dUJdY)

72 Bad Day at Black Rock

Ernest Borgnine was always a good choice for a bad guy.

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 07:23 PM (rIG58)

73 One of my most treasured memories is the first time I watched Casablanca, with my dad who was a WWII vet who fought in North Africa with the 813th Tank Destroyer Battalion. He never said much about the war but I got to share this movie with him. It's still one of my favorites.

Posted by: Mrs. Leggy at March 17, 2018 07:23 PM (prxs+)

74 My niece is on an Aer Lingus flight right now, NYC to Dublin, with her high school chorus. They'll be performing at a cathedral, a church, and an old folks' home this week while they do some sightseeing.

Posted by: JuJuBee, just generally being shamey at March 17, 2018 07:23 PM (2NqXo)

75 >>The Quiet Man.

Oh yeah.

Wasn't sure how my kids would react to the...old fashioned attitudes in it, but they really enjoyed it too.

Posted by: Mama AJ at March 17, 2018 07:23 PM (mtfdF)

76 TCM is showing Irish movies

Posted by: Skip at March 17, 2018 07:24 PM (aC6Sd)

77 68 67 >>I do remember idly thinking, as I watched the movie, that there was a time when the entire cast of a film could be white.

Even if the Film was about Indians!
Posted by: garrett at March 17, 2018 07:20 PM (3uPPj)

===========

"Or Genghis Khan?"
-John Wayne
Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 07:21 PM (V7Dgx)

Those British Empire movies set in India (for instance Four Feathers) were usually all white. I'm pretty sure the cast of Zulu wasn't.

Posted by: Northernlurker but call me Teem. at March 17, 2018 07:24 PM (nBr1j)

78
Other Irish movies I like:

It doesn't get a lot of air play but 'Shake Hands with the Devil' from 1959 with James Cagney. It's set around the time of the War of Irish Independence. A young Richard Harris is in it. And an old Richard Harris is in another good Irish movie called 'The Field' with John Hurt and Sean Bean

Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 17, 2018 07:24 PM (SiINZ)

79 ''Beau Brummell with Elizabeth Taylor and Stewart Grainger was horrid''

Yes indeed it is and I like Stewart Grainger but not in that one.

Posted by: Tuna at March 17, 2018 07:25 PM (jm1YL)

80 >>and Peter Lorre has been absolutely wonderful in every single thing I have ever seen him in. Even in, and perhaps most especially, all the Hammer Films stuff he did.

Yes!
He's in another one of my favorite old movies, "Arsenic and Old Lace."

Posted by: Lizzy at March 17, 2018 07:25 PM (W+vEI)

81
I woke up in the middle of the night the other night, turned on the TV, and DEATHWISH 3 is on.

What a weird movie. Each sequel got more cartoonish.

But still quite entertaining and satisfying.

He set up these spring-loaded boards with spikes in them for a Jewish couple living in the 'hood. They found it hilarious when the trap was sprung!

Posted by: Soothsayer Is Going There at March 17, 2018 07:26 PM (ANN6d)

82 Yes!
He's in another one of my favorite old movies, "Arsenic and Old Lace."
Posted by: Lizzy at March 17, 2018 07:25 PM (W+vEI)

Stirs memories of a pun I heard many years ago. The punchline is Lacenic and Old Arse. That's all I remember.

Posted by: Northernlurker but call me Teem. at March 17, 2018 07:26 PM (nBr1j)

83 Movies? It's midnight here in Rome. It's just me and the bartender at this old 1920s looking bar. I feel like I'm in the frigging shining.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at March 17, 2018 07:26 PM (7ff5K)

84
Movies!

Posted by: otho at March 17, 2018 07:27 PM (qGuLD)

85 Yes!
He's in another one of my favorite old movies, "Arsenic and Old Lace."
Posted by: Lizzy at March 17, 2018 07:25 PM (W+vEI)

We did that for my high school play. I was Aunt Abby. That was quite fun indeed!

Posted by: moki at March 17, 2018 07:27 PM (V+V48)

86 "Email at the bottom of the thread.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison"

Suggestion emailed to you. Thanks.

Posted by: AshevilleRobert at March 17, 2018 07:27 PM (w+Jhj)

87 83 Movies? It's midnight here in Rome. It's just me and the bartender at this old 1920s looking bar. I feel like I'm in the frigging shining.
Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at March 17, 2018 07:26 PM (7ff5K)

Rome Georgia?

Posted by: Northernlurker but call me Teem. at March 17, 2018 07:27 PM (nBr1j)

88 >>> another good Irish movie called 'The Field' with John Hurt and Sean Bean

In which Act does Sean Bean die?

Posted by: fluffy at March 17, 2018 07:27 PM (cHbmY)

89 By the way for what it's worth a friend of mine went and saw the new Death Wish. He liked it.

Posted by: Jewells45 at March 17, 2018 07:27 PM (dUJdY)

90 Even if the Film was about Indians!

Posted by: garrett

I think it was The Dean Martin Show

Dean was talking to John Wayne and Said something about Indians... and Duke said "Some Indians live just down the road from me."

Martin: "Are they friendly ?"

Duke " They'd better be, or I won't let 'em be in my next picture".

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 07:28 PM (rIG58)

91 "Or Genghis Khan?"

-John Wayne

The Conqueror, on of the funniest movies of all time. John Wayne with such lines as, "You're boodiful in your wrath!", "This Tartar woman is mine, and my blood says, take her!"
And then they all got cancer and died because they were testing atomic bombs about 20 miles away.

Posted by: tu3031 at March 17, 2018 07:29 PM (O5Q3r)

92 I think horryweird sticks people of color/gender in movies to 'prove' they can be in charge (Morg Freeman, Danny Glover), pretty (Hally Berry) Well, there is that, marry your daughter (Sidney Poitier). I know only one mixed race married couple that can be called successful by any standard. I know of absolutely no successful black president. Name one. See, you can't can you?

Posted by: Eromero at March 17, 2018 07:29 PM (zLDYs)

93 Love Casablanca!
And please, please, please, Hollywood, do not ever remake this one.

Posted by: Lizzy at March 17, 2018 07:30 PM (W+vEI)

94 you didn't do "The Quiet Man" on St Patty's day?

what kind of rat bastard commie are you?

Posted by: redc1c4 at March 17, 2018 07:30 PM (4xfzw)

95 I liked Terminator 3 as well.

Posted by: josephistan at March 17, 2018 07:31 PM (ANIFC)

96 Hey TJM and everyone.

It's interesting but I most recently learned, two of the movies considered the best-written of all time, Casablanca and Chinatown, were actually *being written, and rewritten,* the whole time the films themselves were being made.

Somehow, despite all the chaos (Kubrick once said that making a movie was kind of like trying to read War and Peace while riding on a roller coaster), the perfect stories ended up getting squeezed out of the process.

I guess it just backs up the theory that just the right amount of stress, causes people to live up to their highest potential.

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 07:31 PM (eMKNe)

97 Strange that Peter Lorre gets no mention. Admittedly, he was a minor character, but Peter Lorre was always great (no so much toward the end of his career) even if the movie...wasn't. (I'm looking at you, Quicksand.)

Casablanca actually has almost all the film genres in it. The only ones it lacks are sci-fi, horror and sports, though I guess if you consider gambling sports, then sports is in there too.

There's a story out there about how Claude Rains was really pleased about how his character evolved--from cad and conspirator to almost-hero--but I'm coughing my lungs up and can't look it up.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at March 17, 2018 07:32 PM (l9m7l)

98 Another good film and performance for Claude Rains:

Mr. Skeffington

Bette Davis very good in it too.

Posted by: Hands at March 17, 2018 07:32 PM (EzdLW)

99 >>I liked Terminator 3 as well.

I liked the Pinball Machine that spun off of that one.

Posted by: garrett at March 17, 2018 07:32 PM (3uPPj)

100 you didn't do "The Quiet Man" on St Patty's day?

what kind of rat bastard commie are you?

Posted by: redc1c4 at March 17, 2018 07:30 PM (4xfzw)

I'm not his type

Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 17, 2018 07:33 PM (SiINZ)

101 Irish Movies?

++++

The Field.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099566

Posted by: Anon Y. Mous at March 17, 2018 07:33 PM (pvjTE)

102 94 you didn't do "The Quiet Man" on St Patty's day?

what kind of rat bastard commie are you?
Posted by: redc1c4 at March 17, 2018 07:30 PM (4xfzw)

=============

I don't pay attention to calendars when it comes to writing these things usually (I did manage a Christmas thread last year, so yay).

Also, I'm a papist asshole.

Get it right.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 07:34 PM (V7Dgx)

103 TJM and everyone, I also wanted to share this:

https://tinyurl.com/ydx97q9n

I went ahead and pre-ordered a copy. 2001 is probably the ONLY movie I think is worth the extra expenditure of getting a 4k version of.

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 07:35 PM (eMKNe)

104 He's in another one of my favorite old movies, "Arsenic and Old Lace."

Posted by: Lizzy at

That's one of my faves too.

Cary Grant was a great comedic actor.

Did you ever see Operation Petticoat ?

His reactions in that movie were priceless.

Posted by: Lizzy at

Did you ever see

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 07:35 PM (rIG58)

105 I remember an interview with a famous child actor on TCM..I can't remember who it was..but she said that 'Casablanca" was shooting on the sound stage next to where her movie was shooting and she used to go over and watch during her breaks. Can you imagine having that wonderful memory?

Posted by: Tuna at March 17, 2018 07:36 PM (jm1YL)

106 I watched a fun movie last night, in honor of St. Patricks Day. "Grabbers." It's a monster movie made in Ireland, very much in the tradition of "Tremors" but with a great Moron twist--turns out if you're drunk out of your mind, your blood actually kills the titular vampiric beasties. I highly recommend it if you can find it.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at March 17, 2018 07:36 PM (l9m7l)

107 103 TJM and everyone, I also wanted to share this:

https://tinyurl.com/ydx97q9n

I went ahead and pre-ordered a copy. 2001 is probably the ONLY movie I think is worth the extra expenditure of getting a 4k version of.
Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 07:35 PM (eMKNe)

===========

I own a few 4Ks, but it's mostly because they were cheaper than the Blu-rays for a day or something.

Until I get an actual screening room in my house (which may or may not ever happen), I don't think the upgrade from Blu to 4K is really worth it because most people generally don't have the setups to actually be able to tell the difference.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 07:37 PM (V7Dgx)

108 And an old Richard Harris is in another good Irish movie called 'The Field' with John Hurt and Sean Bean
Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 17, 2018 07:24 PM (SiINZ)

Yup....good movie. If I remember right, as Bull was beating the Yank to death, he explained to the Yank that the Irish who left during the troubles and famine were weak and those that stayed were strong and that's why he was keeping his field, no matter what.

Whack, whack, whack.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at March 17, 2018 07:37 PM (EoRCO)

109 Michael Collins

The Commitments

Posted by: josephistan at March 17, 2018 07:37 PM (ANIFC)

110 The Casablanca that never existed. I wonder if the studio purposefully tiptoed around the Vichy/Free French thing. Operation Torch launched early Nov. '42.

Posted by: 13times at March 17, 2018 07:38 PM (K3B2k)

111 A good Irish movie that is not The Quiet Man;

The War of the Buttons.

Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at March 17, 2018 07:38 PM (3DZIZ)

112 >>Did you ever see Operation Petticoat ?

No, I haven't, but I like Carey Grant in comedies.

Posted by: Lizzy at March 17, 2018 07:38 PM (W+vEI)

113 Irish movies?

Dementia 13

Posted by: Hands at March 17, 2018 07:38 PM (EzdLW)

114 TJM, I agree.

The 4k is more or less for when I finally have that kind of a setup (which I *will* have, someday).

I also want to set up a really nice surround sound system. Maybe a future movie thread could contain your tips on that, as well as some of the best-sounding films of all time? :-)

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 07:38 PM (eMKNe)

115 ''Did you ever see Operation Petticoat ?

No, I haven't, but I like Carey Grant in comedi''

Must see. Still funny after all these years. Tony Curtis is a hoot.

Posted by: Tuna at March 17, 2018 07:39 PM (jm1YL)

116 OT/ I just gave the cab driver a huge gratuity. By mistake.

And I didn't even get Paolo action.

Posted by: prof disarray, gumdrop gorilla channel at March 17, 2018 07:40 PM (oBEt6)

117 Did you ever see Operation Petticoat ?

No, I haven't, but I like Carey Grant in comedies.

Posted by: Lizzy at
Ya gotta see it; you'll love it.

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 07:40 PM (rIG58)

118 BeckoningChasm, agreed about Peter Lorre.

Also, a legendary director who never seems to get much attention anymore, is David Lean.

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 07:40 PM (eMKNe)

119 114 TJM, I agree.

The 4k is more or less for when I finally have that kind of a setup (which I *will* have, someday).

I also want to set up a really nice surround sound system. Maybe a future movie thread could contain your tips on that, as well as some of the best-sounding films of all time? :-)
Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 07:38 PM (eMKNe)

==========

I'd have to outsource that to a friend of mine (the Tim mentioned in the Star Trek Discovery thread). He knows much more about setting that sort of stuff up than I do.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 07:40 PM (V7Dgx)

120 118 BeckoningChasm, agreed about Peter Lorre.

Also, a legendary director who never seems to get much attention anymore, is David Lean.
Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 07:40 PM (eMKNe)

=============

I just saw A Passage to India a few weeks ago for the first time.

But seriously, the man who directed Lawrence of Arabia will never be forgotten.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 07:41 PM (V7Dgx)

121 Tony Curtis is a hoot.

Posted by: Tuna

Yep, he was .

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 07:41 PM (rIG58)

122 " but with a great Moron twist--turns out if you're drunk out of your
mind, your blood actually kills the titular vampiric beasties."

I'd be screwed then.

Posted by: AshevilleRobert at March 17, 2018 07:41 PM (w+Jhj)

123 Cute movie with an Irish theme:
The Boys and Girl From County Clare

Posted by: browndog at March 17, 2018 07:41 PM (bGMOs)

124 I watched that Simpsons ending to Casablanca. It was hilarious but now I want to see It's a Wonderful Life Killing Spree Ending.

Posted by: Northernlurker but call me Teem. at March 17, 2018 07:41 PM (nBr1j)

125 TJM, understood.

I really, REALLY hope that quality, affordable wi-fi surround systems are coming soon. I've searched and searched (mostly at Amazon) and while a lot of systems apparently *claim* to be wireless, they're not really.

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 07:41 PM (eMKNe)

126 TJM, true.

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 07:42 PM (eMKNe)

127 125 TJM, understood.

I really, REALLY hope that quality, affordable wi-fi surround systems are coming soon. I've searched and searched (mostly at Amazon) and while a lot of systems apparently *claim* to be wireless, they're not really.
Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 07:41 PM (eMKNe)

=============

I don't trust wireless systems.

It's mostly a battery issue in my mind. I don't want to have to worry about the battery in the left rear speaker as I boot up a movie and start to notice something is wrong.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 07:42 PM (V7Dgx)

128 TJM, LOL. Good point.

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 07:43 PM (eMKNe)

129 >>> I wonder if the studio purposefully tiptoed around the Vichy/Free French thing.

To Have And Have Not was antagonistic towards Vichy. I imagine Passage To Marseille was, also.

Posted by: fluffy at March 17, 2018 07:44 PM (cHbmY)

130
Other good Cary Grant comedies are Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer and Monkey Business

Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 17, 2018 07:44 PM (SiINZ)

131
It really sucks when you want to jump into the Movie Thread but you can't because your VPN is banned and you're downloading a torr.......uhhhh, forgot how to log out of the VPM. Yeah, that's it.

As to the discussion of Rick's past, the film does a nice job of giving you just enough background to set up his character arc, but not enough to turn him into a pathetic pussy.

In one of his books, William Goldman has a nice discussion of the necessity of keeping Rick's past largely under wraps, and how in contrast, Michael Douglas basically ruined his character in The Ghost And The Darkness by insisting that his character have an elaborate background story, turning him into a fucking loser (Douglas was producing, so he got what he wanted).

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at March 17, 2018 07:44 PM (eXA4G)

132 ''Tony Curtis is a hoot.

Posted by: Tuna

Yep, he was .''

Actually, every actor in the movie had impeccable comic timing.

Posted by: Tuna at March 17, 2018 07:45 PM (jm1YL)

133
Tech has moved on obviously, but I still love the old soft focus female close up in an old flick.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at March 17, 2018 07:45 PM (r+sAi)

134 ...and Ingrid Bergman is to die for as she enters Rick's Cafe.

Fantastic outfit as well as drop dead beautiful.

I also like her outfit while she strolls through the bazaar...Ah for special friends of Rick. Delightful...

Posted by: browndog at March 17, 2018 07:45 PM (bGMOs)

135 you didn't do "The Quiet Man" on St Patty's day?

"The Quiet Man" is on TV tonight. Movie Channel.

7 or 8 pm I think.

Posted by: prof disarray, gumdrop gorilla channel at March 17, 2018 07:45 PM (oBEt6)

136 Get it right.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 07:34 PM (V7Dgx)
---
yer obviously NOT familiar with Teh Horde...

Posted by: redc1c4 at March 17, 2018 07:45 PM (4xfzw)

137
Looked up Four Feathers Criterion edition dvd on Amazon (19.99) and Barnes and Noble (28.74).

I can't figure out why Amazon is running circles around stores like Barnes and Noble and most everyone else.... /s Sigh.

It's amazing that a giant like Barnes and Noble, which has huge purchasing power, will fail so badly in matching prices to other stores on so many items. I guess they have no employees dedicated to price checking....the internets being so hard to traverse these days....

Posted by: Some Guy in Wisconsin at March 17, 2018 07:45 PM (YMuSO)

138 98 Another good film and performance for Claude Rains:

Mr. Skeffington

Bette Davis very good in it too.
Posted by: Hands at March 17, 2018 07:32 PM (
------
Interesting, will look that one up. Bette Davis did another movie with Rains called Now, Voyager that also starred Paul 'Laszlo' Heinrich as her love interest.

Posted by: BebeDahl at March 17, 2018 07:46 PM (yNyJy)

139 137
Looked up Four Feathers Criterion edition dvd on Amazon (19.99) and Barnes and Noble (28.74).

I loved Four Feathers.

Posted by: Northernlurker but call me Teem. at March 17, 2018 07:46 PM (nBr1j)

140 Shit. Nasty weather headed this way.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at March 17, 2018 07:47 PM (FJXGr)

141 I could be wrong but wasn't Casablanca somewhat of a box office bust when it was first released ?

Posted by: REDACTED at March 17, 2018 07:47 PM (VWsDy)

142 Irish movies?

The first movie I ever saw in the theater was Finian's Rainbow.

But I love The Quiet Man, The Commitments, Millions, and In America, too. Waking Ned Devine was supposed to be really good, and I remember thinking "meh."

Posted by: Gem at March 17, 2018 07:47 PM (XoAz8)

143 ''Other good Cary Grant comedies are Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer and Monkey Business''

'My Favorite Wife" and "The Awful Truth" . Both with Irene Dunne. She and Grant had great chemistry.

Posted by: Tuna at March 17, 2018 07:48 PM (jm1YL)

144
My wife was watching "Life with Father" earlier today. Excellent comedy.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at March 17, 2018 07:48 PM (r+sAi)

145 Other good Cary Grant comedies are Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer and Monkey Business

Posted by: TheQuietMan

I concur

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 07:48 PM (rIG58)

146
Tech has moved on obviously, but I still love the old soft focus female close up in an old flick.
Posted by: Guy Mohawk at March 17, 2018 07:45 PM (r+sAi)

In the old days, every Hollywood cinematographer worth their bones had a jar of Vaseline in their tool kit.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at March 17, 2018 07:49 PM (eXA4G)

147 It seems to me the beautiful women of the classics, for instance, Ingrid Bergmann, significantly outclass the actresses of today.

Posted by: Northernlurker but call me Teem. at March 17, 2018 07:49 PM (nBr1j)

148 "The Quiet Man" is on TV tonight. Movie Channel.

7 or 8 pm I think.

Posted by: prof disarray, gumdrop gorilla channel at March 17, 2018 07:45 PM (oBEt6)

7pm Central time

Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 17, 2018 07:49 PM (SiINZ)

149 Just bought a used copy of "Colossus: the Forbin Project" Saw when it first came out. Can't really remember it too much. So $6 wasted ??

Posted by: REDACTED at March 17, 2018 07:50 PM (VWsDy)

150 ''Interesting, will look that one up. Bette Davis did another movie with Rains called Now, Voyager that also starred Paul 'Laszlo' Heinrich as her love interest.''

Another movie I never tire of watching.

Posted by: Tuna at March 17, 2018 07:50 PM (jm1YL)

151 "Shit. Nasty weather headed this way.

Posted by: Mike Hammer"

Yeah. Been seeing the alerts popping up on the TV. It's because I washed the car today.

Posted by: AshevilleRobert at March 17, 2018 07:50 PM (w+Jhj)

152 Oh, and The March Hare, because I love old romances like that.

Posted by: Gem at March 17, 2018 07:50 PM (XoAz8)

153 Northernlurker, it helps a lot that we never had to hear about Ingrid's political opinions, or see her naked. ;-)

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 07:50 PM (eMKNe)

154 Claude Rains looked good in The Invisible Man.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at March 17, 2018 07:51 PM (IqV8l)

155 153 Northernlurker, it helps a lot that we never had to hear about Ingrid's political opinions, or see her naked. ;-)
Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 07:50 PM (eMKNe)

No doubt.

Posted by: Northernlurker but call me Teem. at March 17, 2018 07:51 PM (nBr1j)

156 118 - I don't think David Lean will ever be forgotten by real film fans, but I agree that he doesn't get a lot of attention these days. But consider, neither does Alfred Hitchcock, Howard Hawks, John Ford, Robert Wise or a hundred other important directors I could name.

Today's audiences just seem to want explosions, one-liners and flashy camera angles--all the things that call attention to the process instead of the story.

It's like I keep telling folks, today's movies aren't stories, they're roller coaster rides. And you can't get any depth, or insight, from a roller coaster ride. A ride can still be enjoyable, but it isn't going to tell you things you didn't know.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at March 17, 2018 07:51 PM (l9m7l)

157
It seems to me the beautiful women of the classics, for instance, Ingrid Bergmann, significantly outclass the actresses of today.
Posted by: Northernlurker but call me Teem. at March 17, 2018 07:49 PM (nBr1j)

I can't remember a time that I didn't want to drink Ingrid Bergman's bathwater.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at March 17, 2018 07:51 PM (eXA4G)

158 Actually, every actor in the movie had impeccable comic timing.

Posted by: Tuna

It's one of my all time faves.

Remember when Grant first met "Seaman Hornsby " ?

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 07:52 PM (rIG58)

159 @149 - It's a very interesting film, based on a very interesting book. I would recommend both.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at March 17, 2018 07:52 PM (l9m7l)

160 In the old days, every Hollywood cinematographer worth their bones had a jar of Vaseline in their tool kit.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur

The Simpsons did a funny bit about that. Homer is having sexy pics taken of himself for Marge, and the photographer is literally troweling vaseline on her lens. ;-)

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 07:52 PM (eMKNe)

161 Thanks! Will check out "Operation Petticoat".

Posted by: Lizzy at March 17, 2018 07:52 PM (W+vEI)

162 Seaman Hornsby is a perfect swine!

Posted by: goatexchange at March 17, 2018 07:52 PM (TfAcr)

163 Casablanca is a classic that just seemed to have all the things come together like magic. The director Michael Curtiz also directed Mildred Pierce. I think Curtiz used just the right lighting & direction to capture the actors' skill towards emotion. Love both movies. Nice movie thread, nice analysis, thanks.

Posted by: BebeDahl at March 17, 2018 07:52 PM (yNyJy)

164 BeckoningChasm, agreed.

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 07:53 PM (eMKNe)

165 For a tear jerking romance, "Random Harvest " my fav. The camera probably loved Greer more than anyone.

But Olivia gets the nod for the best performance of all time in "the Heiress"

Posted by: REDACTED at March 17, 2018 07:54 PM (VWsDy)

166 Steven Spielberg has cited Michael Curtiz as a major influence on his own style of filmmaking.

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 07:54 PM (eMKNe)

167 "Northernlurker, it helps a lot that we never had to hear about Ingrid's political opinions, or see her naked. ;-)

Posted by: qdpsteve"

I've noticed that once an actress takes her clothes off for a movie, they almost inevitably are hardly ever heard from in movies again. I can only think of a couple that did and still went on to have any sort of careers. It's kind of like the "nuclear option".

Posted by: AshevilleRobert at March 17, 2018 07:54 PM (w+Jhj)

168 154 Claude Rains looked good in The Invisible Man.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at March 17, 2018 07:51 PM (IqV8l)
-----

Posted by: BebeDahl at March 17, 2018 07:54 PM (yNyJy)

169 Seaman Hornsby is a perfect swine!

Posted by: goatexchange

LOL !

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 07:54 PM (rIG58)

170 Are there spoilers in this thread? Because I'm sure I haven't seen any of the top ten of all time.

Posted by: Fritz at March 17, 2018 07:55 PM (bJ0w+)

171 I've been binge watching Sherlock Holmes--both Jeremy Brett and Basil Rathbone. The Rathbone movies have female leads I've never heard of, but who are stunning.

Posted by: Northernlurker but call me Teem. at March 17, 2018 07:55 PM (nBr1j)

172 "The Simpsons did a funny bit about that. Homer is
having sexy pics taken of himself for Marge, and the photographer is
literally troweling vaseline on her lens. ;-)

Posted by: qdpsteve"

The "Penthouse" effect.

Posted by: AshevilleRobert at March 17, 2018 07:55 PM (w+Jhj)

173 170 Are there spoilers in this thread? Because I'm sure I haven't seen any of the top ten of all time.
Posted by: Fritz at March 17, 2018 07:55 PM (bJ0w+)

=============

Ilsa kills Hitler.

Tell your friends.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 07:56 PM (V7Dgx)

174 I loved Four Feathers.
Posted by: Northernlurker but call me Teem. at March 17, 2018 07:46 PM (nBr1j)

I'm interested in it now.... I like these movie threads because I often read about films I've never heard of....and I'm a bit of a movie buff so it's great to hear about good movies that were unknown to me.

The Amazon page is true to it's nature as they lump the remake review in with the 1939 version that most people seem to prefer.

It's a shame that Amazon can't afford to hire a person to separate movie reviews of the original movies from reviews of the remakes.... etc. Damn shame.

Posted by: Some Guy in Wisconsin at March 17, 2018 07:56 PM (YMuSO)

175 Asheville, yup.

I've also noticed that actresses who take their clothes off all the time, never get much respect or go very far. Beverly D'Angelo (Hair, the original National Lampoon's Vacation) comes to mind. Sure she did some big-grossing classic films, but nobody seems to remember anything about her other than her boobies, which she sure seemed to enjoy showing off.

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 07:56 PM (eMKNe)

176 Casablanca is great and all, but it's no Three Amigos.
...

Which is no Buckaroo Banzai.

Posted by: Gruesome Jon at March 17, 2018 07:57 PM (tZC/B)

177 I've seen parts of Casablanca dozens of times, but never the entire film. I think I'll go watch it.

Posted by: LASue at March 17, 2018 07:57 PM (Z48ZB)

178 Could never understand how the Big 5 didn't include Rains to make the Big 6

Posted by: REDACTED at March 17, 2018 07:58 PM (VWsDy)

179 Are there spoilers in this thread? Because I'm sure I haven't seen any of the top ten of all time.
Posted by: Fritz

Unfortunately yes, Fritz, there's some spoilers on this thread.

For example: the Allies (our side) won WW2.
;-)

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 07:58 PM (eMKNe)

180 175 Asheville, yup.

I've also noticed that actresses who take their clothes off all the time, never get much respect or go very far. Beverly D'Angelo (Hair, the original National Lampoon's Vacation) comes to mind. Sure she did some big-grossing classic films, but nobody seems to remember anything about her other than her boobies, which she sure seemed to enjoy showing off.
Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 07:56 PM (eMKNe)

===========

European actresses seem to follow a different set of rules.

Eva Green went naked long before she appeared in Casino Royale. Lea Seydoux did the same before her time in Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol.

Probably because nudity in European films is considered less of a thing and happens more frequently.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 07:59 PM (V7Dgx)

181
I don't know how I would do a top ten in movies. Casablanca probably for sure, and The Great Escape.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at March 17, 2018 07:59 PM (r+sAi)

182 TJM, I musta missed that part! ;-)

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 07:59 PM (eMKNe)

183 One thing that would be dropped out of remakes of the classics is the amount of smoking that was going on.
Everybody smoked, constantly.

Posted by: Northernlurker but call me Teem. at March 17, 2018 07:59 PM (nBr1j)

184 The Quiet Man is my favorite Irish movie. "Here's a nice stick to beat the lovely lady with!"

Posted by: Notsothoreau at March 17, 2018 07:59 PM (Lqy/e)

185
In the old days, every Hollywood cinematographer worth their bones had a jar of Vaseline in their tool kit.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at March 17, 2018 07:49 PM (eXA4G)

The Paolo, he keeps Vaseline handy for his tool. He is worth his bones.

Posted by: josephistan at March 17, 2018 08:00 PM (ANIFC)

186 U2 Live at Red Rocks is the best Irish film because I'm in it and I'm Irish!

Posted by: Bono The Smug Bastard at March 17, 2018 08:00 PM (zNpyh)

187 La die da die dee die.. La die da die dee die..

Play it, Sam.. Play As Time Goes By

What I loved is the cast of characters played by the usual suspects..

Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre Carl Sascha the bartenders..

A few of these made it into another one of my favorite wartime Bogie movies.. "All Through The Night".. hammy and awkward at times, it is still a great little movie about war time NYC and fifte columnists fought by none other than the local mobster.. Bogart.

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at March 17, 2018 08:00 PM (5tSKk)

188 Ken Levine, at his blog today, posted this rare clip of David Letterman on a quickly-cancelled 1981 sitcom:

http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2018/03/heres-tv-rarity.html

Honestly, IMHO Letterman could have had a great film career, playing cackling evil bosses and gubmint henchmen. "Here's the top ten reasons why I'm going to kill you!" ;-)

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 08:01 PM (eMKNe)

189
The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer is great.

Arsenic and Old Lace is another great Cary Grant film IMHO.

Posted by: Some Guy in Wisconsin at March 17, 2018 08:01 PM (YMuSO)

190 The Quiet Man is my favorite Irish movie. "Here's a nice stick to beat the lovely lady with!"
Posted by: Notsothoreau at March 17, 2018 07:59 PM (Lqy/e)

One of my fav lines in that movie. I laugh every time.

Posted by: prof disarray, gumdrop gorilla channel at March 17, 2018 08:02 PM (oBEt6)

191 So was HUMPhrey getting some of that INgrid?

Posted by: torabora at March 17, 2018 08:04 PM (8sPBR)

192 I feel like the middle part of Casablanca drags a little. In a remake, I'd add an alien invasion or an ape uprising.

Posted by: Modern Studio Exec at March 17, 2018 08:05 PM (H5knJ)

193
European actresses seem to follow a different set of rules.
...
Probably because nudity in European films is considered less of a thing and happens more frequently.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 07:59 PM

It's not nudity - it's European!

Posted by: Jerry Seinfeld's man bag at March 17, 2018 08:05 PM (EzdLW)

194 NCAA National Wrestling Championships.

American kids at their best! So awesome to see!

Posted by: Gruesome Jon at March 17, 2018 08:06 PM (tZC/B)

195 I used to go to a tiny theatre that ran European movies. Actresses spent much of the movie naked.

Posted by: Northernlurker but call me Teem. at March 17, 2018 08:07 PM (nBr1j)

196 Northernlurker, bet the floors were extra-sticky too. Hmm... ;-)

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 08:07 PM (eMKNe)

197 Here's my problem with Casablanca. Rick sells out his friend and partner Sam to a not so likable competitor. Behind his back, no less. Rick walks into the sunset with his new bestie while Sam gets to find out that his "friend" has sold the business and has taken off, leaving him behind.

Posted by: Frank Waturi - Advertising Dept. American Panascope at March 17, 2018 08:08 PM (5uQY+)

198 195 I used to go to a tiny theatre that ran European movies. Actresses spent much of the movie naked.
Posted by: Northernlurker but call me Teem. at March 17, 2018 08:07 PM (nBr1j)

And, no, the floors of the theatre were not sticky. Froggy movies with subtitles, which I almost wrote as Sub kitties.

Posted by: Northernlurker but call me Teem. at March 17, 2018 08:08 PM (nBr1j)

199 I love Casablanca but I love To Have and Have Not more.

Posted by: redbanzai the Southerner at March 17, 2018 08:08 PM (FTXAT)

200 Oh my. Loyola just knocked off Tennessee.

Posted by: AshevilleRobert at March 17, 2018 08:09 PM (w+Jhj)

201 Beverly D'Angelo did a great job as Patsy Cline in Coal Miner's Daughter. Some folks thought they should have used her in Sweet Dreams (instead of Jessica Lange).

And since we are talking about leading ladies, the one in Maltese Falcon is matronly.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at March 17, 2018 08:09 PM (Lqy/e)

202 196 Northernlurker, bet the floors were extra-sticky too. Hmm... ;-)
Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 08:07 PM (eMKNe)

You couldn't wear slip on shoes in those theatres, lest you lose them on the way out.

Posted by: Northernlurker but call me Teem. at March 17, 2018 08:09 PM (nBr1j)

203 Was Casablanca nominated for best picture?

Gotta love the Oscars today. How many BP noms were there last year, nine?! The way things are going, eventually they'll just give EVERYTHING a nom for BP.

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 08:10 PM (eMKNe)

204 In the old days, every Hollywood cinematographer worth their bones had a jar of Vaseline in their tool kit.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at March 17, 2018 07:49 PM (eXA4G)
---
I think there's a tad too much definition in today's cinematography. With HD I can see every wrinkle and mole and zit. It makes me long for the days of Vaseline and cheesecloth over the lens.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Gamestress of Triskelion at March 17, 2018 08:10 PM (qJtVm)

205 Michaleen Flynn: [looking thirsty] I don't suppose there's a drop of anything wet in the house?

"Red Will" Danaher: Help yourself to the buttermilk.

Michaleen Flynn: Buttermilk!

[shudders and in sotto voice]

Michaleen Flynn: The *Borgias* would do better.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 17, 2018 08:10 PM (SiINZ)

206 Beverly D'Angelo did a great job as Patsy Cline in Coal Miner's Daughter.

So you mean Patsy DIDN'T actually record "Crazy" live in the studio topless?!?!?

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 08:12 PM (eMKNe)

207 Great write-up, TJM. Wow. You hit upon reasons to love this movie I'd never realized.

I just love the beauty of the thing visually. The lights disappearing in mist, the light bouncing off wet cobblestones, Ingrid Bergman. That's one of the reasons I like two other films, The Thin Red Line, and Pappillon.

Posted by: Pastafarian at March 17, 2018 08:13 PM (sgHEm)

208 I watched that Simpsons ending to Casablanca. It was hilarious but now I want to see It's a Wonderful Life Killing Spree Ending.
Posted by: Northernlurker but call me Teem. at March 17, 2018 07:41 PM (nBr1j)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x54z92v

Not sure which came first, this or the Simpson episode, but somebody stole from somebody.

Posted by: BurtTC at March 17, 2018 08:14 PM (Pz4pT)

209 The all-time BEST killing spree ending (that of course was cut from the picture) is the one from Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory.

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 08:15 PM (eMKNe)

210 Water! Gunga Din, Wather !

Posted by: son-of-ceviche at March 17, 2018 08:16 PM (DYMfk)

211 Spencer Lee of Iowa. True Freshman.

National Champion!

Sweeeeeeeet!

Posted by: Gruesome Jon at March 17, 2018 08:17 PM (tZC/B)

212 Other Carey Grant movies I like in addition to the ones already meantioned:

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

Bringing Up Baby

Posted by: Count de Monet at March 17, 2018 08:17 PM (QLvwG)

213 Bad Day at Black Rock

Ernest Borgnine was always a good choice for a bad guy.

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 07:23 PM

Lee Marvin and Robert Ryan, too. All the best bad guys were in that great movie.

Posted by: huerfano at March 17, 2018 08:18 PM (EtMVh)

214 or mentioned

Posted by: Count de Monet at March 17, 2018 08:18 PM (QLvwG)

215 Other Carey Grant movies I like in addition to the ones already meantioned:

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

Bringing Up Baby

Posted by: Count de Monet

Again, I concur.

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 08:21 PM (rIG58)

216 I had never seen Casablanca up until about four years ago. Why? Part of it was that I wondered if it was as good as advertised. I worried that I would see it and have to shrug and say "eh, it was okay." But, happily, I found it to be as good as advertised.

I was far less impressed with Gone with the Wind, grand cinematography aside.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Feeling kinda Irish at March 17, 2018 08:21 PM (Mkuv2)

217 Gonzaga is beating up OSU. The husband is getting upset. I can turn the game off and listen to him talk back to the TV and know exactly what's going on.

Posted by: Tuna at March 17, 2018 08:22 PM (jm1YL)

218 "It's a Wonderful Life: Killing Spree ending".

Heh! I'm old enough to remember when The Simpson's were funny.

Posted by: Puddleglum at March 17, 2018 08:22 PM (PsiYn)

219 Just watching now the remake of "the Beguiled". Just pathetic. Why do they do these remakes ? Nicole Kidman following Geraldine Page, right

Posted by: REDACTED at March 17, 2018 08:24 PM (VWsDy)

220 4 Was also wondering what everyone favorite Irish movie is? There must be a thousand of them.
Posted by: Skip

Cal. That's if you like sad, depressing movies with soul crushing endings. If you do watch Cal, follow it up with The Commitments. A wonderful movie. Very underrated.

Posted by: Puddleglum at March 17, 2018 08:25 PM (PsiYn)

221 Watching "Mortal Combat." Probably the best movie-video game adaptation, and pretty certainly the best film Paul W.S. Anderson ever made.

Gonna watch "A Ghost Story" again. It's truly and honestly one for the ages.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at March 17, 2018 08:25 PM (l9m7l)

222 I never saw the Simpsons but have seen 'It's A Wonderful Life' probably a half dozen times. Never saw any killins' spreeful or no.

Posted by: Eromero at March 17, 2018 08:25 PM (zLDYs)

223 What would Casablanca look like colorized? Better or not?

Posted by: Skip at March 17, 2018 08:26 PM (aC6Sd)

224 Lee Marvin and Robert Ryan, too. All the best bad guys were in that great movie.

Posted by: huerfano

Yeah. I forgot about them.

I haven't seen that movie since I was a kid.

I remember the scene in the diner, where Borgnine said his seat was uncomfortable and he preferred Tracy's.

And you're right, Marvin and Ryan were GREAT bad guys.

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 08:26 PM (rIG58)

225 Was also wondering what everyone favorite Irish movie is? There must be a thousand of them.
Posted by: Skip

The Commitments. Period. full stop.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Feeling kinda Irish at March 17, 2018 08:26 PM (Mkuv2)

226 Bogart is in two of the best pictures ever made, Casablanca and Treasure of the Sierra Madre as well as four other outstanding pictures.

Easily the best actor ever.

Posted by: Kreplach at March 17, 2018 08:27 PM (UfMVm)

227 OT Question for the Horde:

If I go to karaoke tonight, is it OK to sing "Danny Boy", or is that cultural appropriation? I have Scots ancestry, so isn't that close enough?

Posted by: Captain Whitebread of the Spaaaaaaaaace Forrrrrrrce at March 17, 2018 08:27 PM (z05p0)

228 What would Casablanca look like colorized? Better or not?

I've seen it colorized. Not.

Posted by: tu3031 at March 17, 2018 08:27 PM (O5Q3r)

229 223 What would Casablanca look like colorized? Better or not?
Posted by: Skip at March 17, 2018 08:26 PM (aC6Sd)

=============

While looking for screenshots for the post, I saw some colorized stills.

They looked terrible.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 08:27 PM (V7Dgx)

230 4 Was also wondering what everyone favorite Irish movie is? There must be a thousand of them.
Posted by: Skip
Cal. That's if you like sad, depressing movies with soul crushing endings. If you do watch Cal, follow it up with The Commitments. A wonderful movie. Very underrated.
Posted by: Puddleglum at March 17, 2018 08:25 PM (PsiYn)

Even better, "16 Years of Alcohol".

Scottish, not Irish, but who's counting.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at March 17, 2018 08:27 PM (EoRCO)

231 On-topic: Casablanca is one of my all-time faves.

Posted by: Captain Whitebread of the Spaaaaaaaaace Forrrrrrrce at March 17, 2018 08:28 PM (z05p0)

232 If I go to karaoke tonight, is it OK to sing "Danny Boy", or is that cultural appropriation? I have Scots ancestry, so isn't that close enough?

Can ya do the Jackie Wilson version ?

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 08:28 PM (rIG58)

233 I count myself fortunate to have been friends with two WW1 soldiers, one Brit and one Austrian. Claude Raines served, entering in the ranks and retired as Captain.

Posted by: bill in arkansas at March 17, 2018 08:28 PM (xzqr4)

234 I see on imdb that Paul W.S. Anderson is directing "Monster Hunter", which is based on a video game. Is this video game based on the series of novels?

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Gamestress of Triskelion at March 17, 2018 08:30 PM (qJtVm)

235 ''I haven't seen that movie since I was a kid.

I remember the scene in the diner, where Borgnine said his seat was uncomfortable and he preferred Tracy's.

And you're right, Marvin and Ryan were GREAT bad guys.''

The lovely Anne Francis is in that movie too.

Posted by: Tuna at March 17, 2018 08:30 PM (jm1YL)

236
Back in 2010 it was announced there was going to be a movie called Connamara Days. It was supposed to be set during the filming of The Quiet Man. A fictional behind the scenes look at the making of the movie. They had signed Roger Moore to be in the movie along with Aidan Quinn. But I don't think the movie ever got off the ground. It used to be listed In Production on IMDB but it's status is now Unknown.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 17, 2018 08:30 PM (SiINZ)

237 If I go to karaoke tonight, is it OK to sing "Danny Boy", or is that cultural appropriation? I have Scots ancestry, so isn't that close enough?

If it's like any other bar I've been in on St. Paddy's Day, you could sing "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" in your birthday suit and nobody would notice.

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 08:30 PM (rIG58)

238 CW: drink a fifth of Jamesons first.

It'll make ya Irish, or at least Irish enough to fight anybody that questions ya. ;-)

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 08:31 PM (eMKNe)

239 I can't remember a time that I didn't want to drink Ingrid Bergman's bathwater.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at March 17, 2018 07:51 PM (eXA4G)

I have never understood her appeal to men Shes a good actress, and not unattractive, but always looked a bit manly to me.

Posted by: LASue at March 17, 2018 08:32 PM (Z48ZB)

240 The Brothers McMullen is a halfway decent Irish (American) movie.

OT, but PDT just ripped the Mueller investigation in his latest tweet. It sounds like he's about to fire him

Posted by: Andrew Lloyd Webber at March 17, 2018 08:33 PM (mc8++)

241 I have never understood her appeal to men Shes a good actress, and not unattractive, but always looked a bit manly to me.
Posted by: LASue at March 17, 2018 08:32 PM (Z48ZB)

Please accept our coupon. Please

Posted by: LENSCRAFTERS at March 17, 2018 08:34 PM (VWsDy)

242 Can ya do the Jackie Wilson version ?

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 08:28 PM (rIG5

(searches YouTube)

Oh, wow. I've been a Jackie Wilson fan for decades, but I had no idea. Doubt I could hit that high note, though. It's the reason I've never sung "Lonely Teardrops" in public. Everything is fine, until that...one...note...

Posted by: Captain Whitebread of the Spaaaaaaaaace Forrrrrrrce at March 17, 2018 08:34 PM (z05p0)

243 I can't remember a time that I didn't want to drink Ingrid Bergman's bathwater.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at March 17, 2018 07:51 PM (eXA4G)

I have never understood her appeal to men Shes a good actress, and not unattractive, but always looked a bit manly to me.

Yeah. She never did much for me. If it was me, that speech at the end would've a lot shorter."Yeah, okay, you owe me one. Now get on the plane so I can get outta here before more Germans show up."

Posted by: tu3031 at March 17, 2018 08:36 PM (O5Q3r)

244 OT, but PDT just ripped the Mueller investigation in his latest tweet. It sounds like he's about to fire him
Posted by: Andrew Lloyd Webber at March 17, 2018 08:33 PM (mc8++)

Waiting for Trump to tweet "Shit or get off the pot, Bobby"

Posted by: REDACTED at March 17, 2018 08:36 PM (VWsDy)

245 South Dakota State!

First National Champ Ever!

This. Is. Sport.

Gives me hope in America that such kids are working so hard. Bleeding, sweating training for years ... the next Generation.

There is much Hope.

Posted by: Gruesome Jon at March 17, 2018 08:36 PM (tZC/B)

246 Hello, can anyone tell me how to find The Empress and Carrot Boys podcast? Don't see it on sidebars.
Is it on Cut Jib?
Course I don't recall how that url goes either.

Posted by: random ~~lurker~~ commenter at March 17, 2018 08:36 PM (oLa9K)

247 CW, LOL. Karaoke bar owner to CW: "Ya owe us five thousand bucks for all the cracked glassware!" ;-)

In the meantime, today an FB friend posted a clip of Sinead O'Connor singing "Danny Boy." It was fine until she ripped up that pic of a leprechaun at the end... :-P

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 08:37 PM (eMKNe)

248 The lovely Anne Francis is in that movie too.

Posted by: Tuna at March

Yeah.... it's coming back...slowly.

I remember the plot...one armed Spencer Tracy
goes to his deceased Nisei friend's (who had saved his life ) home only to eventually find that the townspeople had murdered the family.

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 08:37 PM (rIG58)

249 Random, it's here:

https://drift-compatible.com/

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Gamestress of Triskelion at March 17, 2018 08:38 PM (qJtVm)

250 Big movie I saw this week was Space Blazurship Yamato, the live action one.

It sucked. I really needed a shot of Dr Sane's "spring-water" after watching it, not least because the movie deleted him and replaced him with a female doc who had no good lines.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at March 17, 2018 08:38 PM (6FqZa)

251 it wasn't entirely a fantasy. brazzaville?

i knew a french-american who, during the war, took a freighter to west africa, crossed the sahara, joined the free french, was transported to england and was with the french division in the normandy invasion and liberation of paris. his squad stopped the train taking stolen art to germany that served as the basis for the movie "the train".

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at March 17, 2018 08:39 PM (Pg+x7)

252 Paul W.S. Anderson is a haaaack.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at March 17, 2018 08:39 PM (6FqZa)

253 Ingrid Bergman was probably the greatest combination of talent/looks of all time with Vivien Leigh and Olivia de not far behind

Posted by: REDACTED at March 17, 2018 08:39 PM (VWsDy)

254 Redacted, yup. Olivia Newton-John was really easy on the eyes. ;-)

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 08:40 PM (eMKNe)

255 @240

He has to fire him, basically The Russia investigation has become a Seinfeld episode, an investigation about nothing.

But the corrupt asshole is going to keep expanding the investigation into every crack and crevice to turn up anything he can use to charge the President.

Im giving it less than two weeks before Trump lays the hammer down.

Posted by: Kreplach at March 17, 2018 08:40 PM (UfMVm)

256 Waiting for Trump to tweet "Shit or get off the pot, Bobby"

Posted by: REDACTED at March 17, 2018 08:36 PM (VWsDy)

It would nice if someone actually said that to him. Enough with going after Trump's paperboy route money. Either you've got something on the collusion or sod off

Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 17, 2018 08:41 PM (SiINZ)

257 249 Random, it's here:

https://drift-compatible.com/
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Gamestress of Triskelion at March 17, 2018 08:38 PM (qJtVm)

Thank you very much

Posted by: random ~~lurker~~ commenter at March 17, 2018 08:41 PM (oLa9K)

258 Fascinating:

Duke , for the first time, entered 5 kids in the NCAA Finals .

4 were brothers!!!!

Just incredible. Only in AMERICA.

https://is.gd/bMPvFD

Posted by: Gruesome Jon at March 17, 2018 08:41 PM (tZC/B)

259 A couple of other Irish movies that I like. They aren't great movies but I still watch them when they come on. Ryan's Daughter- Mostly for the cinematography. Its just a beautifully shot movie. The story is meh and the characters are stupid. Seems the writers couldn't figure out what they wanted story wise. Some solid actors are in it (Robert Mitchum) So its a sprawling epic of a movie that kind of wonders around. Not sure I recommend it but the cinematography is superb. I guess David Lean thought he could do Dr. Zhivago again but this time in N. Ireland.

I liked Michael Collins alot. Good solid historical epic. A little long though.

Posted by: Puddleglum at March 17, 2018 08:41 PM (PsiYn)

260 Mike Royko used to say that Bogie never would've enlisted in the Free French army with Reynaud because he'd end up spending the rest of the war trying to talk him out of surrendering all the time.

Posted by: tu3031 at March 17, 2018 08:41 PM (O5Q3r)

261 The Informer

Posted by: REDACTED at March 17, 2018 08:44 PM (VWsDy)

262 Puddleglum, David Lean took an absolute beating from the critics for Ryan's Daughter.

I agree though that the scope of the film was way too big for the story.

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 08:44 PM (eMKNe)

263 Oh, wow. I've been a Jackie Wilson fan for decades, but I had no idea

See ? See ?

Doubt I could hit that high note, though. It's the reason I've never sung "Lonely Teardrops" in public. Everything is fine, until that...one...note...

Practice.

Same way you get to Carnegie Hall.

With the high notes, the common error is to start too high. Start a bit lower and eeeeease into it.

With practice, I'm confident you can do it.

Google Carl Lewis National Anthem as an example of what NOT to do.

Good luck. I'm rootin' for ya.

Posted by: Captain Whitebread

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 08:46 PM (rIG58)

264 Well gall durn it, I left my cell phone at the hot dog place. Gotta go get it. :-)

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 08:46 PM (eMKNe)

265 I liked Michael Collins alot. Good solid historical epic. A little long though.

Posted by: Puddleglum at March 17, 2018 08:41 PM (PsiYn)

Michael Collins suffers from Julia Roberts. No reason at all for her to be in it

Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 17, 2018 08:46 PM (SiINZ)

266 262: Ryan's Daughter tries to be a Great movie and misses. There are moments which is why I still watch it when it shows up on TCM.

Posted by: Puddleglum at March 17, 2018 08:46 PM (PsiYn)

267 You missed it all I think. The movie is alive all these years because in the end Rick did the HONORABLE thing. If he had kept Ilsa Casablanca would just be another good old movie; not what it is today. IMHO.

Posted by: Doug Daman at March 17, 2018 08:46 PM (gBNW4)

268
One of the greatest lost opportunities was David Lean dropping out of making his Mutiny On The Bounty. Donaldson did an admirable job, but... what might have been had Lean directed.

Posted by: otho at March 17, 2018 08:47 PM (qGuLD)

269 Took my daughter to A Wrinkle In Time today.

It is her favorite movie ever!

And I spent the entire film stifling a scram due to the relentless presence of Mindy Kaling and Orca Winfrey.

Longest two hours of my life but my Kidlet is happy.

Posted by: Sharkman at March 17, 2018 08:47 PM (dDMQ9)

270 265: Heh! I barely notice that she's even in it. I still watch it regardless. Liam Neeson is a solid actor and does very well as Michael Collins.

Posted by: Puddleglum at March 17, 2018 08:48 PM (PsiYn)

271 @240

He has to fire him, basically The Russia investigation has become a Seinfeld episode, an investigation about nothing.

But the corrupt asshole is going to keep expanding the investigation into every crack and crevice to turn up anything he can use to charge the President.

Im giving it less than two weeks before Trump lays the hammer down.
Posted by: Kreplach

Why, let it roll on. We need to see Mueller deal with Judge Sullivan over the Flynn crap. A Monafort dismissal would be cool too

Posted by: Jean at March 17, 2018 08:48 PM (MS0+a)

272 Duke , for the first time, entered 5 kids in the NCAA Finals .

4 were brothers!!!!

YEAH ! The Duke, Dean Martin, Earl Holliman and some dope.

GREAT FLICK !

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 08:49 PM (rIG58)

273 I have never understood her appeal to men Shes a good actress, and not unattractive, but always looked a bit manly to me.
Posted by: LASue at March 17, 2018 08:32 PM (Z48ZB)
---------
As a woman myself, I get what you mean. I don't think it was any accident that Bergman was the number one pick to portray Golda Meir, in the movie Golda. No offense to any Bergman or Golda fans.

Posted by: BebeDahl at March 17, 2018 08:50 PM (yNyJy)

274 Mike Royko used to say that Bogie never would've enlisted in the Free French army with Reynaud because he'd end up spending the rest of the war trying to talk him out of surrendering all the time.

Posted by: tu3031

Mike Royko wrote a lot of Wry, funny stuff.

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 08:51 PM (rIG58)

275 There's no reason for Julia Roberts to be in anything.

Posted by: Bear with Assymetrical Balls at March 17, 2018 08:51 PM (H5knJ)

276 Watched STEEL RAIN last night on Netflix, interesting take on a Coup in North Korea, man they hate the Japanese. I thought it was interesting how they didn't use Kim's name and used number 1 instead.

Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at March 17, 2018 08:52 PM (dKiJG)

277 Took my daughter to A Wrinkle In Time today.

It is her favorite movie ever!

And I spent the entire film stifling a scram due to the relentless presence of Mindy Kaling and Orca Winfrey.

Longest two hours of my life but my Kidlet is happy.

Posted by: Sharkman

Wow.

They should give YOU an Oscar.

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 08:52 PM (rIG58)

278 Bear, agreed.

When sexbots are invented, someone should do a digital recut of Pretty Woman, with the bot replacing Julia in all of her scenes.

Okay, gotta go...

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 08:52 PM (eMKNe)

279 Okay, gotta go...

Posted by: qdpsteve

Just pee out the window.

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 08:54 PM (rIG58)

280 I know it's Jeff Wells, but stuff like this is why his site is hard to quit.

COLOR pics (except for one) of Stanley Kubrick, Peter Sellers, George C. Scott and others, on the set of Dr. Strangelove:

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2016/03/strangelove-color-trip/

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/2018/03/more-strangelove-color/

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 08:55 PM (eMKNe)

281 JT, I have OCD. No can doo-doo. ;-)

Posted by: qdpsteve at March 17, 2018 08:55 PM (eMKNe)

282 250 Big movie I saw this week was Space Blazurship Yamato, the live action one.

It sucked. I really needed a shot of Dr Sane's "spring-water" after watching it, not least because the movie deleted him and replaced him with a female doc who had no good lines.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at March 17, 2018 08:38 PM (6FqZa)

2199 is much better.

Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at March 17, 2018 08:56 PM (dKiJG)

283 IIRC, Jackie Wilson was Mr. Entertainment, right? Great talent, I always enjoy watching his performances, really sad what happened to him.

Posted by: BebeDahl at March 17, 2018 08:56 PM (yNyJy)

284 I always get Claude Rains and Adolph Menjou mixed up.

Posted by: Simone at March 17, 2018 08:57 PM (gvGwC)

285 The worst thing about Terminator 3:

I understand that John Connor, played by Furlong in T2, has to make the character arch from disaffected punk to ironclad war hero (Christian Bale) in a certain number of movies. My thought throughout 3 was "I though he would be further along by now. He's 22 for fucksake." Linda Hamilton makes this transition from dopey waitress quickly and credibly.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FutureBadass

Posted by: BourbonChicken at March 17, 2018 08:57 PM (rnAwa)

286 Good luck. I'm rootin' for ya.

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 08:46 PM (rIG5

Thanks. If I ever perform "Lonely Teardrops", I'll post the video somewhere.

I might even share the link if I do it well.

Posted by: Captain Whitebread of the Spaaaaaaaaace Forrrrrrrce at March 17, 2018 08:58 PM (z05p0)

287 And Don Ameche, they all have mustaches don't they?

Posted by: Simone at March 17, 2018 08:58 PM (gvGwC)

288 285 The worst thing about Terminator 3:

I understand that John Connor, played by Furlong in T2, has to make the character arch from disaffected punk to ironclad war hero (Christian Bale) in a certain number of movies. My thought throughout 3 was "I though he would be further along by now. He's 22 for fucksake." Linda Hamilton makes this transition from dopey waitress quickly and credibly.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FutureBadass

Posted by: BourbonChicken at March 17, 2018 08:57 PM (rnAwa)

============

Except, that at the beginning of 3, they averted Judgment Day and they're past the originally promised date.

Connor thinks they won. That win made him regress.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 08:59 PM (V7Dgx)

289 And Don Ameche, they all have mustaches don't they?

Posted by: Simone

And Jerry Colonna.

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 09:00 PM (rIG58)

290 I watched Thor:Ragnarok. It's not good. I can see why Hemsworth is calling it quits with the character.

Posted by: WOPR (With Full Auto Nuclear Ability) at March 17, 2018 09:02 PM (J70i0)

291 Except, that at the beginning of 3, they averted Judgment Day and they're past the originally promised date.

Connor thinks they won. That win made him regress.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison at March 17, 2018 08:59 PM (V7Dgx)

Yep, I found that to be an acceptable explanation. I always thought T3 got a bad rap. It's not great but it's solid and doesn't destroy what came before. With sequels that is a good outcome.

Posted by: WOPR (With Full Auto Nuclear Ability) at March 17, 2018 09:05 PM (J70i0)

292 I've given up on superhero movies. Just csn't watch more.

But if I were Hemsworrh, I'd keep cashing those checks.

Posted by: Bear with Assymetrical Balls at March 17, 2018 09:06 PM (H5knJ)

293 GREAT FLICK !
Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 08:49 PM (rIG5

--------
SOKE, great flick, agreed. I can never remember that youngest Elder actor's name - but dope works, too funny

Posted by: BebeDahl at March 17, 2018 09:06 PM (yNyJy)

294 SOKE, great flick, agreed. I can never remember that youngest Elder actor's name - but dope works, too funny

Posted by: BebeDahl at March 17, 2018 09:06 PM (yNyJy)

Michael Anderson. He was also in Major Dundee, The Greatest Story Ever Told and Logan's Run

Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 17, 2018 09:10 PM (SiINZ)

295 I loved the ending of T3. The movie was ok (not great, but ok) but the ending was very well done.

Posted by: Puddleglum at March 17, 2018 09:10 PM (PsiYn)

296
Did everyone leave? Looks up. Ohh..

Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 17, 2018 09:13 PM (SiINZ)

297 Michael Anderson. He was also in Major Dundee, The Greatest Story Ever Told and Logan's Run
Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 17, 2018 09:10 PM (SiINZ)
-------
Thanks, yeah Logan's Run. I knew seen in something I liked besides SOKE. Haven't see MD, but I've seen TGSET, who did he portray in The Greatest, cuz I can't remember.

Posted by: BebeDahl at March 17, 2018 09:16 PM (yNyJy)

298 I've given up on superhero movies. Just csn't watch more.

But if I were Hemsworrh, I'd keep cashing those checks.
Posted by: Bear with Assymetrical Balls at March 17, 2018 09:06 PM (H5knJ)

I've never been a big fan. I usually wait for TV or streaming. It seems like the Marvel movies are looking cheaper.

I don't think Hemsworth has to worry about money at this point.

Posted by: WOPR (With Full Auto Nuclear Ability) at March 17, 2018 09:17 PM (J70i0)

299 "There's no reason for Julia Roberts to be in anything."

Her mouth could play Brian Dennehy.

Posted by: Exile at March 17, 2018 09:19 PM (Fikbq)

300 If anyone wonders what Captain Whitebread and I were talking about.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0f5SpHTZrHU

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 09:20 PM (rIG58)

301 IIRC, Jackie Wilson was Mr. Entertainment, right? Great talent, I always enjoy watching his performances, really sad what happened to him.

Posted by: BebeDahl

Yes it eas.

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 09:22 PM (rIG58)

302 Was, even.

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 09:22 PM (rIG58)

303 John Conner just needs to listen to Jordan Peterson for about 50 hours and he'll stop being a bitch.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at March 17, 2018 09:23 PM (rnAwa)

304 Michael Anderson. He was also in Major Dundee, The Greatest Story Ever Told and Logan's Run

Posted by: TheQuietMan

Okaaaaaaaaay.

Now I feel bad.

Posted by: JT at March 17, 2018 09:24 PM (rIG58)

305 I had a filmic experience today. Hitchcockian. I'd been with friends from the car club, and had toured the Rouge Plant. We went to eat at a jumped-up burger joint with Ford memorabilia just around the corner from "the Henry Ford."

When I saw the waitress at the next table, why, it was so natural that it didn't register at first. Then she walked past. Yeah sure, I'll give a pretty girl a second look, but ordinarily I'm not all weird about it.

It was Kim Novak, just as she appeared in Vertigo. My neck hairs stood up.

I couldn't take my eyes off her. I...I...well I guess I felt like Jimmy Stewart. So after stammering to myself for a few minutes, I said to ~~Midge~~ my wife, I'm going crazy, right? Does that look like...
And she says, Kim. Novak.

I turned this over in my head for a while. If you're a dead ringer for Kim Novak, guys must be saying this to you all the time. "Excuse me, miss, but has anyone ever told you" YEAH YEAH Vertigo, off the tower, so what?

Trying hard to be a gentleman and keep it in my pants, I did what any modern man would do. When we were about to go outside, I had my wife talk to her. "Do you like old movies?" "Oh, I get that a lot." "OK then...."
"Because my name is Heidi and Shirley Temple." No, no...Kim Novak.

All right, she'd heard the name. Pronounced it "No-VOCK." No, she'd never really gotten into Hitchcock. Should she watch that one? "Oh, Miss," I venture. "Your life is about to change." "Yeah? Better or worse?" Hmmm. "It's hard to say. No spoilers."

A smile, a wave, and she's whispering to my wife as I go away. I have a nice wife, in a way. Later on she spills it. "I've been having a pretty rough time with some things lately. You don't know how much this means to me."

For anything else, I'd just cue up Twilight Zone music, but for this, well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_naJH44Lk3I

Walking Michigan Avenue in Dearborn, as we speak, is a woman so hauntingly beautiful that worldly, cynical grown men would gladly leap to their deaths for her. I love this country.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at March 17, 2018 09:29 PM (H5rtT)

306 One of the things that made Casablanca so great was the fact that it had pace. The story and the dialog just kept moving relentlessly. so when you add that to the fantastic lines, including the wonderful comic relief (e.g., for special friends of Rick's there is an extra special discount), you get a movie that just lives forever.

Other movies that have this special blend (but not at the same level), include The Maltese Falcon, Seven Days in May and Apollo 13. All are movies youcan watch over and over again.

Posted by: MichiCanuck at March 17, 2018 09:35 PM (y6zoY)

307 One more thing. Claude Rains was also great in Now Voyager (which also included Paul Heinreid). Rains played the psychiatrist who helps turn around the Bette Davis character and Bette is now trying to help out Heinreid's daughter. She says that Rains is God, but he complains that his powers have diminished since the passing of the free will law. Very cool dialog. Oddly enough, Davis as the frumpy ugly aunt is probably more appealing in this movie than any of her other films.

Posted by: MichiCanuck at March 17, 2018 09:41 PM (y6zoY)

308 Walking Michigan Avenue in Dearborn, as we speak, is
a woman so hauntingly beautiful that worldly, cynical grown men would
gladly leap to their deaths for her. I love this country.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at March 17, 2018 09:29 PM (H5rtT)

==========

Great story.
Thanks for the essay, TJM. They really don't make 'em like Casablanca anymore ... I used to love watching all the old classics on TCM a decade or so ago (giving one nostalgia for a more innocent time).
[Sadly, my wife doesn't like the old classics -- her loss.]

Posted by: Formerly Self-Banned at March 17, 2018 09:45 PM (BiLU+)

309 Casablanca is the best written film script ever.

Ever.

Posted by: SGTYork at March 17, 2018 09:45 PM (ITvKk)

310 since we got two game threads goin', and since I wore the Cone Of Shame last week so couldn't post anything then, I'm putting my vidja news dump in the next one.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at March 17, 2018 09:46 PM (6FqZa)

311 283 IIRC, Jackie Wilson was Mr. Entertainment, right? Great talent, I always enjoy watching his performances, really sad what happened to him.

Posted by: BebeDahl at March 17, 2018 08:56 PM (yNyJy)

==============

Per Wikipedia, his nickname was "Mr. Excitement" -- and he was a tenor with a four-octave vocal range. Wow!

Posted by: Formerly Self-Banned at March 17, 2018 09:49 PM (BiLU+)

312 Oregonmuse:
Of all the things you listed about this great film, you seem to have forgotten the sex...and there's a lot of it in Casablanca. I make mention of this because these instances are handled as they had to be, during the code years, with discretion and maturity.

"In her own way, she constitutes a second front"...might be why the Germans were so benign...they'd been pacified.

Posted by: SGTYork at March 17, 2018 09:49 PM (ITvKk)

313 Is Waking Ned Devine Irish?

Posted by: NaCly Dog at March 17, 2018 10:05 PM (hyuyC)

314 Damn it, missed the thread. Well, I'm gonna read and comment anyway!

Ah ha!

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at March 17, 2018 10:08 PM (xJa6I)

315 Ok, having read the article...I don't really have a lot to add.

I love Casablanca too, it's in my personal top 100. I love the dialog (film noir, especially anything by Chandler, can be delicious), I love the conflict and the characters. Well, all except Lazlo. He's so stiff. Boring. I honestly resent him ending up with Bergman.

I think Casablanca is an example in avoiding studio meddling. Hire the best actors you can, give them a good script and a good director and get out of their way.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at March 17, 2018 10:15 PM (xJa6I)

316 JTB - I have a book I got back in the mid-70s called Casablanca: Script and
Legend by Howard Koch. It contains the screenplay and how the story
developed and was filmed. Haven't read it in decades but recall it was
fun. I should dig it out since I always enjoy the movie.

JTB - I haven't read that one; I'll have to look it up. My favorite about Casablanca book is "Round Up The Usual Suspects" which I found at the library back in the '90s, and then had to buy my own copy, I liked it so much. Can't remember the author, and too lazy to go hunting through my horde of books, but it's worth finding, and very much worth reading.

Posted by: Bookaday at March 17, 2018 10:37 PM (2qDS0)

317 Apropos of nothing - Claude Rains is one of my favorite actors, everything he was in was wonderful.

And did anyone bring up "Play it Again, Sam" (1972) a whole comedic movie rift on Casablanca, by Woody Allen? I suppose I like that movie a lot because a) it's very funny, b) I saw it at an impressionable age, and c) it actually has a subtle but distinct message that meant something to me. In it, Woody Allen is this nebbish who idolizes film stars, especially Humphrey Bogart, who's character is everything he is not, but in the end, he realizes that the only way to find any happiness and fulfillment in life is to be who YOU are, not what some image on a screen is. It meant a lot to me, at just the right time.

Posted by: Tom Servo at March 17, 2018 11:19 PM (V2Yro)

318 Greetings:

Good Korean movie (subtitled) "The Age of Blood".

Posted by: 11B40 at March 18, 2018 12:33 AM (evgyj)

319 "the wildly corrupt Free French prefect..."

Renault, like all the officials in French North Africa, is subordinate to the Vichy government. The Free French in Casablanca are the "underground": the man shot while fleeing from police in the opening sequence, who is holding a leaflet with the Cross of Lorraine (the Free French emblem); also Berger, the Norwegian who introduces himself to Laszlo with a ring that has a concealed Cross of Lorraine.

The line about how the letters of transit were signed by De Gaulle was just a farble by the screenwriters.

Posted by: Rich Rostrom at March 18, 2018 12:57 AM (bT9ZN)

320 Ingrid Bergman had such a gloriously expressive face. The midpoint of the movie (when Rick proves he's taken a side by nodding to the band to play "La Marseillaise" and Victor leads the room in defiant nationalist sing-a-long) turns on her reax to the scene. We know by now she's in love with Rick, but the moment Victor courts disaster, the look on her face: "Oh, shit! How can I leave a man like him??"

She was also the definition of middle-age sexy opposite Walter Matthau & Goldie Hawn in Cactus Flower.

Posted by: Shopgirl #MooseIsBack at March 18, 2018 01:38 AM (R/1ty)

321 204 In the old days, every Hollywood cinematographer worth their bones had a jar of Vaseline in their tool kit.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at March 17, 2018 07:49 PM (eXA4G)
---
I think there's a tad too much definition in today's cinematography. With HD I can see every wrinkle and mole and zit. It makes me long for the days of Vaseline and cheesecloth over the lens.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Gamestress of Triskelion at March 17, 2018 08:10 PM (qJtVm)

Having seen a few black and white movies (I still get a kick out of Alexander Nevsky, I must admit; perhaps the best propaganda movie ever made), it amazes me that you could get away with a lot more with simpler technology. Eisenstein shot the battle scenes in Kazakhstan in the summer and what we think of as snow is actually dust. Don't even think of pulling that off with modern day equipment.

Posted by: CatchThirtyThr33 at March 18, 2018 04:42 AM (TmpiZ)

322 Back story...in the bar, after the Germans sang "Wacht um Rhein" and the rest of the bar sang the French National Anthem, the actors started to cry. They realized they weren't "acting". Most of the actors were REAL refugees........

Posted by: Spook at March 18, 2018 01:04 PM (pEkqu)

323 "Casablanca isn't about World War II, the political realities of the war, or even the relationship Free France had with Nazi Germany."

Vichy France. Not "Free France". Vichy France. They mention that it's Vichy France several times in the movie.

Vichy France.

Posted by: Monty James at March 18, 2018 02:27 PM (gKOMX)

324 321 Eisenstein shot the battle scenes in Kazakhstan in the
summer and what we think of as snow is actually dust. Don't even think
of pulling that off with modern day equipment.

I don't know whether 1965 counts as "modern-day", even in comparison with 1938, but Doctor Zhivago was shot in Spain in the summer time, using powdered marble to simulate snow.

Posted by: Rich Rostrom at March 21, 2018 05:41 PM (bT9ZN)

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