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Post by Ish Kabbible on Oct 14, 2016 11:35:26 GMT -5
Ish, I loved your comments about the "Land of the Giants" sets at Universal. I used to live in Hollywood and I did the Universal tour a couple of times. (This would be in the 1990s.) In addition, I had a friend who worked at Universal and I drove over the hill to have lunch with her a couple of times. I was able to walk around the lot and I made my way to the German village set from the Frankenstein movies! It was so much fun to wander around those crooked streets and imagine the monster or Dwight Frye or Dr. Pretorius lurking just around the corner. When I watch those Universal horror movies, I sometimes feel like I was there ... because I was! My parents shot some home movie footage of out visit to Universal Studios. And even after 50 years, some of the attractions left a life long impression on me. On film, we have one of those western shootouts they stage with stuntmen a few times a day. On film you see a cowboy on the roof of a saloon get shot and falling off into a conveniently placed haystack on the street I mentioned the movie The Big Hangover with Elizabeth Taylor and Van Johnson. One of those Taylor film when she was making a transition into a young woman from child star. it came out, I believe , right after The Lost Weekend with Ray Milland. It's a comedy that revolves around Van Johnson, due to a war injury, getting totally sloshed even if he takes a little sip of liquor. It's funny that, Liz Taylor, as a student behavioral analyst, instead of coaxing Johnson to avoid alcohol, is trying to train him to minimize the drunkenness
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Post by Hoosier X on Oct 14, 2016 12:47:15 GMT -5
Back off, Hercules! No means no! I watched Hercules, Samson and Ulysses (1963) this morning. I love Italian "sword and sandals" movies. I haven't seen one for quite a while, so I DVRed this one off TCM a few days ago. I had never seen this one. I love these things! You never know what you're going to see! You might get a surprising gem of a low-budget adventure film like Hercules in the Haunted World. (With Christopher Lee! And directed by Mario Bava!) Or you might get a wonderfully bad, nonsensical romp like Hercules vs. the Hydra with Mickey Hargitay as Hercules, and Jayne Mansfield in a dual role as two sisters, one evil and one good, who both change their hair color every ten minutes. You might get Orson Welles as King Saul! ( David and Goliath.) Do you want to see a movie where there's a horse pooping in the foreground in a huge crowd scene? That's The Trojan Horse. Drew Barrymore's father plays Odysseus! And I think about how much I laughed and laughed at Hercules Against the Sons of the Sun! A big storm blows Hercules and his crew through the Strait of Gibraltar, across the Atlantic, around Cape Horn, and then north to Peru where they meet the Incas! A lot of them are just sort of there, I admit. And Hercules, Samson and Ulysses falls into this category. It's OK. I was never bored. But aside from a bunch of really gorgeous Italian actresses playing Penelope, Delilah and Hercules's wife Jole, there's nothing particularly noteworthy about it. Hercules and teenage Ulysses are blown all the way to Judaea by a storm where they get embroiled in the conflict between the Philistines and the Danites ... and they meet Samson and Delilah! I've seen worse.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Oct 14, 2016 15:14:16 GMT -5
And here we go with the first of 7 film reviews of that classic series Francis, The Talking Mule (1950) Donald O' Connor, Patricia Medina, Zazu Pitts, Frank Faylan, Tony Curtis, John McIntire Donald O' Connor plays Peter Stirling, a mild manner bank teller who is in danger of getting fired because the small town community is shunning him for some unknown reason. His bank manager calls him into his office to give him his walking papers. Peter pleads for his boss to hear his story. The rest of the movie is flashback until the last few minutes. Flashback to the Burma jungles during WWII and Peter is separated from his squad and under heavy fire from the enemy. Thankfully Peter encounters an Army Mule also caught in the same situation and together they figure a way out of the trap. Peter is slightly wounded and is recovering at the army hospital, convinced that the mule that helped him, and insulted him at the same time, was just a stress delusion. But no, the talking mule reappears once Peter is released from the hospital. The mule introduces himself as Francis, won't speak to others but has taken a liking to Peter for reasons he can't explain. Doesn't explain how he learned to talk either. But Francis the Mule gives Peter information about Japanese troop movements and advice on how to be a hero Whenever Peter acts on Francis's inside info and advice, being an honest man, Peter gives the mule credit. Which lands Peter in the psycho ward. Eventually he's released, meets Francis again, gets info and advice, becomes a hero and admits it was Francis that helped him. And back to the psycho ward goes Peter Francis the Talking Mule is voiced in his debut by Chill Wills. He's got a slight southern accent, booming voice and sounds similar to Mr. Ed. In fact Francis' film trainer was the same man who later trained Mr. Ed too. They get Francis to look like he's talking by putting a thread in his mouth and pulling it. I thought I once read they smeared peanut butter on his teeth but I guess not. Francis is pretty intelligent, a smart aleck, likes to put down humans and army people in general but he's a patriotic mule. And then halfway through the film Francis does something I was not expecting at all. Peter was threatened with permanent pyscho ward detention and to save his buddy, Francis started speaking to the General in Peter's defense. Francis even spoke to the army press corps.Peter was exonerated and Francis boarded a plain for America for fame and fortune Peter then hears the news that the plane crashed. All the human's bailed out in time but Francis refused to wear a parachute. After the war, Peter went to search the site of the plane crash and eventually found Francis who somehow survived.Peter takes him back home but is now shunned by the townspeople insisting Francis can talk. Peter brings the bank manager to the stable to meet Francis. I guess Peter's job is saved after Francis insults the banker All in all, not too bad. Better than a typical Mr. Ed episode and I'm interested to see where this goes outside of a military setting. And yes, in one of his earliest film rolls , Tony Curtis, billed as Anthony Curtis, has a very small role as a serviceman with one or two lines of dialogue Francis also had a record album And of course, Francis had his own comic books Francis started in his own popular novel
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Post by Hoosier X on Oct 14, 2016 15:45:10 GMT -5
I remember watching a bunch of Francis the Talking Mule movies on weekend afternoons when I was kid. (Which would be the 1970s.) It's been a very long time since I saw one so I don't remember any plots or any specific jokes. But I do remember thinking they were pretty funny.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Oct 14, 2016 15:49:55 GMT -5
I remember watching a bunch of Francis the Talking Mule movies on weekend afternoons when I was kid. (Which would be the 1970s.) It's been a very long time since I saw one so I don't remember any plots or any specific jokes. But I do remember thinking they were pretty funny. These will be my first viewing of Francis films. I watched Mr. Ed as a kid on TV , thought them decent enough but not a must-see. Hoping these prove to be superior
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Oct 14, 2016 16:16:57 GMT -5
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Oct 14, 2016 22:21:37 GMT -5
Major Bummer About once a week I go to Manhattan's Lincoln Center library. Tremendous selection of CDs and DVDs available. So a few days back I borrowed a batch of DVDs for the week. Among them was a film I was anxious to watch for the first time. This was filmed right after Joe Namath led the NY Jets to a Superbowl III victory and was the toast of the town. "Broadway" Joe he was known then, a major super-star celebrity. I was a regular viewer of the Johnny Carson tonight show at that time and Namath would appear often. I remember him hawking this film, running clips from it, and shilling the movie on other shows too. But i didn't go to the theaters to watch it and never saw it later on TV. Tonight, before the next Francis, The Talking Mule installment, it was on the docket So pop it goes into the player, got my snacks ready, Gabby the Cat wanted to check out Ann-Margaret and what do you know? Someone accidentally put the wrong movie in the DVD case and now I'm watching The Cold Light Of Day (2012) with Henry Cavill, Sigourney Weaver and Bruce Willis. It's an OK action/thriller, non-stop action for the most and i did see the whole thing. But Sigourney ain't no Anne-Margaret and Gaby went to the windowsill to check out the traffic instead. When I return the discs, I'm hoping to find some copies of Cold Light Of Day and wish that a CC And Company is inside one of them
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Post by berkley on Oct 15, 2016 1:12:51 GMT -5
Was there also a tv show about a talking horse or mule or something, or am I mis-remembering tv showings of the Francis movies? I'm thinking tv series because I have this image of a head poked up over a barn door, like the budget couldn't afford any more than that.
I recall seeing Joe Namath on some of the American tv shows we got on our two channels in the early 70s and having no idea why he was made so much of, since I had no inkling at the time of how huge American football was in the US - in contrast to boxing, for example, where I was totally tuned into how people like Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier and George Foreman were important, because they would be in the paper and so on. How times have changed.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Oct 15, 2016 2:22:37 GMT -5
Was there also a tv show about a talking horse or mule or something, or am I mis-remembering tv showings of the Francis movies? I'm thinking tv series because I have this image of a head poked up over a barn door, like the budget couldn't afford any more than that. I recall seeing Joe Namath on some of the American tv shows we got on our two channels in the early 70s and having no idea why he was made so much of, since I had no inkling at the time of how huge American football was in the US - in contrast to boxing, for example, where I was totally tuned into how people like Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier and George Foreman were important, because they would be in the paper and so on. How times have changed. Yes, I need to make this clear for our friends across the pond and our own young guppies. Francis The Talking Mule was a media sensation in films and comics in the early 1950s. 10 years later, starting in 1961 the Mr. Ed situation comedy TV show debuted on CBS and basically used the same concept but substituted a horse. The show lasted for 5 years on prime time TV and has been airing in syndicated reruns for just about forever. Here's the TV theme song which you probably know Now, it gets a little murky about the creators and influences of the two. Francis The Talking Mule first appeared in a novel by Dick Shawn in the early 1940s. Mr. Ed The talking Horse began as a series of short stories for children by Walter Books in Liberty Magazine beginning in 1937. After Francis ran it's course theatrically, the director of those films, Arthur Lubin thought it would make for a great TV series. But he had trouble getting the rights for further Francis productions. Arthur Lubin's secretary is credited with showing the director the Mr. Ed short stories and those rights were easily obtained. As I mentioned, besides Arthur Lubin's involvement in both series, the same trainer was used for both Mr.Ed and Francis. And the voice for Mr. Ed was so obviously patterned to resemble Chill Wills' Francis. Mr/ Ed's voice was done by Allen "Rocky"Lane Coming up next is Frances Goes To The Races which I just finished viewing but i think I've written enough about Francis for one evening
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Post by berkley on Oct 15, 2016 3:28:45 GMT -5
Of course, Mister Ed, I remember that now. Sorry for the unnecessary confusion, even if it was only on my part.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Oct 15, 2016 12:37:22 GMT -5
Francis Goes To The Races (1951) Donald O'Connor, Piper Laurie, Cecil Kellaway, Jesse White The 2nd Francis installment picks up exactly were the first film ends, a nice touch. That bank manger fires Peter even though the mule speaks. So Peter and his mule are on the road like a pair of tramps. Francis keeps insisting they split up, that Peter will find nothing but trouble if they stick together. Peter, though, is loyal besides being too honest and naive and dismisses the advice. They soon come upon a horse breeding farm run by Grandpa Cecil Kellaway and his Grand-daughter Piper Laurie. Francis goes in to check it out but it's more likely he's looking to get his rocks off Francis and the top racing horse become inseparable and they are both sent to the race track with Peter following and managing to get a job there too. Francis gets tips from the other horses during feeding time and relays the winning picks to Peter. Peter's miraculous winning streak at the races draws the attention of racing officials as well as the mob A decent film, not bad and not great. Lots of familiar faces including Hayden Rourke who later played I Dream Of Jeannie's Dr. Bellows, Jesse White who gained fame as the Maytag lonely repairman and Larry Keating who became a supporting actor on Mr. Ed. Lots of Mr. Ed connections Once again, for most of the film Francis keeps quiet to everyone but Peter, leading all to think Peter's nuts. But when his buddy is in dire straits, Francis speaks out to all, most likely with insults. And good god, Francis takes a bullet from the gangsters. Right in his rear. Your not going to find that on Mr. Ed
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Post by Hoosier X on Oct 15, 2016 18:57:26 GMT -5
The monster has found the brain he wants. This movie is so creepy. It really doesn't get the attention it deserves. Last night I watched The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942). This is another one that I've watched a bunch of times. Not as much as Frankenstein or Bride of Frankenstin. But I've watched it a lot. It is so creeeepy! The monster overhears all the talk of putting a new brain in his body and he thinks he should have a choice in the matter! So he goes and kidnaps the little girl that was nice to him earlier in the movie when the mean boys kicked her ball on the roof and he went and got it for her, killing two villagers in the process. Awww! The monster is learning how friendship works! Ygor gets jealous and spreads a rumor that the little girl wets the bed! Lon Chaney Jr. is actually great as the monster, all sulky and grumpy and mean-faced. But that all changes when he meets the little girl ... and all he can think of is her sweet little brain! It's adorable! I admit it. I love this movie. It's creepier than all other Frankenstein movies put together.
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Oct 15, 2016 23:23:22 GMT -5
Before the mule returns, here's a somewhat rare film of early Bogart as a good guy China Clipper (1936) Pat O'Brien, Ross Alexander,Beverly Roberts, Humphrey Bogart, Henry B. Walthall In 1935, Pan American Airlines established it's California to China flights using giant commercial planes. The public was enthralled and a film about the growth of commercial aviation was planned. But Pan American refused to sell rights to it's story. Therefore a totally fictional plot was used Pat O'Brien seeing the Charles Lindbergh parade quits his job and opens a small airline between Washington and Philadelphia, mostly as a mail carrier. But his dreams are establishing larger routes, first from Miami to the various Caribbean islands, then South America. His dedication to his dreams cause his wife to leave him. he then becomes more determined, more demanding and ruthless, as his own pilots and staff begin to hate him. His old war buddy ad air ace, Humphrey Bogart, joins the company. Ultimately Pat O'Brien plans what everyone says can't be done. The ultimate route:California-Honolulu-Midway Island-Philippines-China The world was all atwitter with those magnificent men in their flying machines back then. And Humphrey was the square-jawed hero of this film, flying that initial cross-pacific flight. Actor Henry B. Walthall played an elder airplane designer and died during the making of this film. They wrote his character's death into the script as a result. it's a rah-rah-rah film, a film about determination. But the Pat O'Brien character never seemed to learn his lesson on not treating his employees so roughly
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Post by Hoosier X on Oct 16, 2016 2:46:40 GMT -5
I've seen China Clipper. It's been a while but I remember thinking it was one of Bogart's most boring movies.
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Post by Hoosier X on Oct 16, 2016 11:20:10 GMT -5
Last night I watched The Body Snatcher (1945). It's not one I've seen as many times as Dracula or Frankenstein, but still I've seen it five or six times over the years. There's an IMDB thread discussing whether or not Cabman John Gray is one of Karloff's best performances (or maybe even his best!) and I can definitely see where they're coming from. He's really really awful. That scene where he kills the dog just fills me with revulsion. And then the blind girl! For a ten-pound note! He's a monster! And so slick about it! Henry Daniell is really good too. I love that scene where John Gray (Karloff) and Dr. MacFarlane (Daniell) are in a big fight and Gray's cat is on the chest of drawers, all puffed up and hissing. I hope the cat was OK! Lugosi doesn't have a big part but he has his moments! Great movie! One of Val Lewton's best. Directed by Robert Wise, who would later direct The Sound of Music and West Side Story.
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