Citizen Rules...Cinemaesque Chat-n-Review

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Women will be your undoing, Pépé

Streisand's voice was other-wordly, certainly among the very greatest of musical/pop female vocalists of all times. And she was enormously alluring as a comedic actress.

Music was my first career. It's interesting that in Cincinnati we gave the first permitted performances of Funny Girl off Broadway. The musical opened on Broadway in '64, and we gave several performances of it in 1965. It just so happened that we had a conservatory trained voice major with an operatic quality voice, who even looked a little like Streisand, to play the role. And she got standing O's every night. It's a wonderful musical with lyrics by Bob Merrill and music by Jule Styne.

Despite my experiences with the show, my favorite Streisand film is What's Up, Doc? Excellent direction by Bogdanovich (who also wrote with Buck Henry and others), and comedic timing by Streisand, Madelyn Kahn, and Kenneth Mars work together perfectly to make a hilarious film. Steisand's singing was used sparingly, but tastefully, to good effect.

~Doc
I am 100% with you when it comes to Streisand's voice and to how alluring she is when in a comedic role.
And I've been amazed for the love that What's Up, Doc? has among MoFos. Did NOT expect that when I nominated it for the 70s HoF, since I've never heard anyone talk about it. Hell, it didn't even make the 70s Countdown list.

And that was an excellent story about the off Broadway production of Funny Girl. Rather enjoyed that!



Women will be your undoing, Pépé
don't think I've seen Big since when it first came out but I do remember thoroughly enjoying it. Like you said, Hanks really delivers. In so many types of movies. I think I was MOST impressed by him was in Road To Perdition because I really didn't think he could play that kind of character and really pull it off -- but MAN was I mistaken.

Been curious about some of the movies with Cary Grant in the 30s and Wings in the Dark sounds like an intriguing one; and the fact that Myrna Loy is in it, makes it a sure thing for me. Big fan of hers. Especially in comedic roles.



...Been curious about some of the movies with Cary Grant in the 30s and Wings in the Dark sounds like an intriguing one; and the fact that Myrna Loy is in it, makes it a sure thing for me. Big fan of hers. Especially in comedic roles.
Myrna Loy that reminds me I need to get back to my Top 1930s Favorite Actors and Actress list



You can't make a rainbow without a little rain.
I'd never seen Big before, and just happened to run into it at the library. I didn't even know it was directed by Penny Marshal, but it stands a decent chance of making my Directed by Women countdown list. I really liked Penny Marshal's other well known film, A League of Their Own. I like her style of directing, but that's the only two films I've seen of hers. Have you seen any of hers that you can recommend?

I still haven't seen A League of Their Own, but I have the DVD so it's on my watchlist for the countdown. I think the only other movie I've seen that she directed was Awakenings (1990). It's been a while, but as I recall, it's a very good movie. (I'll probably rewatch that movie too before the countdown.)



Women will be your undoing, Pépé
Myrna Loy that reminds me I need to get back to my Top 1930s Favorite Actors and Actress list
Uh, YEAH you do! lol
I still haven't seen A League of Their Own, but I have the DVD so it's on my watchlist for the countdown. I think the only other movie I've seen that she directed was Awakenings (1990). It's been a while, but as I recall, it's a very good movie. (I'll probably rewatch that movie too before the countdown.)
Long time seeing either Awakenings or League of Their Own but do like them both




Bell, Book and Candle (1958)

Director: Richard Quine
Writers: Daniel Taradash (screenplay), John Van Druten (play)
Cast: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Jack Lemmon, Elsa Lancaster, Ernie Kovaks, Hermione Gingold
Genre: Drama Fantasy Romance Comedy

Synopsis: Gillian (Kim Novak) is a modern day witch who sells tribal art and hangs out with her fellow witches and warlocks. She has a crush on her upstairs neighbor, a mortal named Shep (James Stewart). As fate would have it Gillian went to college with Shep's fiancee and despises her. With the help of her brother a warlock named Nicky (Jack Lemmon) she concocts a love potion to make Shep for in love with her.

Review: The best part of Bell, Book and Candle is the world building. We're treated to the inner circle of witches and warlocks who live a very modern life in Greenwich Village New York. The witches have jobs and a need to earn money. Their power is limited and so they go about their lives in a mostly conventional way. Gillian (Kim Novak) has a shop that sells Primitive Art from Africa and Oceania. The shop is decked out with some pretty cool looking stuff, that to me looked authentic. It's a great set.

Part of the world building takes place at the witch's hang out, called The Cosmic Club, which is a hip, beatnik basement club with live music complete with Jack Lemmon playing bongos! Lemmon is a happy go lucky warlock who gets his kicks turning street lights green, all at once, he breaks the cardinal rule by divulging his secret to a drunken writer played by Ernie Kovaks.

The other part I liked was the strong cast and it's really strong. Besides Jack Lemmon who's pretty great, there's also Queenie (Elsa Lancaster) an eccentric aunt who's a charm every time she's on screen...and Bianca (Hermione Gingold) who's said to be the most powerful witch and has the best set in the movie...this old funky witch's house, which is stuffed to the rafters with some pretty cool looking antique curios.



Of course the big draw here is the lovely Kim Novak, who along with her familiar her cat Pyewacket, steals the show with her memorizing looks.

Usually James Stewart is a favorite of mine, but he has little chemistry with Novak...and while he was OK in this movie, the lack of chemistry keeps this from being a favorite.

This was James Stewart's last romantic leading role. At 50 he was twice as old as 25 year old Kim Novak. Even Stewart felt like he was too old be her love interest. And for that reason the romance part of this film doesn't work well. But that's OK as the cast of characters more than make up for it.





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I used to think Bell, Book and Candle was THE movie that inspired Bewitched, and it was, but it was one of at least two - the other was I Married a Witch with Frederic March and Veronica Lake (1942).
I think one aspect that BBandC lent heavily to the TV series was the regular bevy of the witch's zany magical relatives.



I used to think Bell, Book and Candle was THE movie that inspired Bewitched, and it was, but it was one of at least two - the other was I Married a Witch with Frederic March and Veronica Lake (1942).
I watched I Married a Witch the other night too and you're right, both movies inspired Bewitched.
I think one aspect that BBandC lent heavily to the TV series was the regular bevy of the witch's zany magical relatives.
Most definitely! BBandC had the fun loving, mischaveous brother played by Jack Lemmon who was very much like Uncle Arthur (Paul Lynde)...and the eccentric good natured Aunt Queenie (Elsa Lancaster) was very much like Aunt Claire (Maron Lorne)...and even say that all powerful head witch with red hair played by Hermione Gingold was the basis for Endora (Agnes Moorehead)

BBandC also had the concept that the witches were mostly good natured, thought mischievous at times, and had their own hangouts like the Cosmic Club. In Bewitched there was a Warlock's Club. And of course the beautiful blonde witch who's in love with a mortal but her witch-ness is a problem for their relationship.



You can't win an argument just by being right!
I'm repping that review, not because I've seen Jackie (I haven't), but I did see Parkland! (not even Zac Efron could ruin it!)
i repped it and i havent seen it either. thats a really good review, CR! I will still watch it but I enjoyed the read. further cements what i thought after dd's clarification. i'll like it for the sets and wardrbe. wont like the score if the trailer is anything to go by. I also put parkland on the watch list I havent even heard of it. Mustnt have been much promo here

i also enjoyed the repartee between the grandpas go you good things!

Sorry for the one handed typing and lack of caps.

going off to see your review of H and M - do you know what page of any chance ?





I Married a Witch (1942)

Director: René Clair
Writers: Robert Pirosh & Marc Connelly (screenplay)
Cast: Fredric March, Veronica Lake, Robert Benchley
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance


Synopsis: A lighting bolt strikes an ancient oak tree and releases the spirits of a warlock and his witch daughter, both who were burned at the stake in the 17th century. Once freed from their oak tree prison, they seek revenge on the descendant of the man who had them tried and burnt as witches.

Review
: Based upon the story: The Passionate Witch, by Thorne Smith. This film and Bell, Book and Candle were both the inspiration for the 1960s TV sitcom Bewitched.



One can see a lot of similarities to the TV show too. Here we have a beautiful and very mischievous young blonde witch (Veronica Lake) who falls for a stick in the mud, small town politician (Fredrick March).

I thought this was great fun. Veronica Lake is perfect as an impish witch with no good up her sleeve. And her father played by Cecil Kellaway reminded me very much of Maurice, the all powerful and willful warlock from Bewitched. Fredrick March as the straight man who ends up with a beautiful blonde in his life and bed, much to the chagrin of his fiance Susan Hayward!...was the stuff of comedy genius.



But this is really Veronica's movie and she makes the most of it too. Off screen she could be a handful. Originally her co-star from Sullivan's Travel Joel McCrea was slated to star opposite of her but couldn't be talked into it...he's quoted as saying, "Life's too short for two films with Veronica Lake".

Fredrick March didn't enjoy working with the temperamental actress either, he's said to have referred to this movie as "I Married a Bitch"....But one thing is for sure, Veronica lights up the screen with her presences. This might not be her best movie, but I would say it's her best role.




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If BBandC lent the zany relatives to Bewitched, then I Married a Witch lent the relationship between Samantha and her father, Maurice (played by Maurice "Dr. Zaius" Evans).
I always wondered, were Maurice and Endora supposed to be divorced or just separated? This always intrigued me because in the age of Bewitched divorce or long-term separations of married couples was rarely (if ever) mentioned on TV sitcoms. But it seemed Samantha's parents were split up (I don't ever remember them appearing together). Or maybe witches are like old time Catholics, where divorce just isn't something that's done.



If BBandC lent the zany relatives to Bewitched, then I Married a Witch lent the relationship between Samantha and her father, Maurice (played by Maurice "Dr. Zaius" Evans).
I always wondered, were Maurice and Endora supposed to be divorced or just separated? This always intrigued me because in the age of Bewitched divorce or long-term separations of married couples was rarely (if ever) mentioned on TV sitcoms. But it seemed Samantha's parents were split up (I don't ever remember them appearing together).Or maybe witches are like old time Catholics, where divorce just isn't something that's done.
An orangutan was Samantha's father! Damn I never knew that the same actor did both roles.

I'm 99% Maurice and Endora were married but couldn't stand each other so lived separate. Though it sounded like a more bohemian life style was the norm for witches & warlocks.

I had seen both of these films before, but man were they fun to watch over. Have got to see more Veronica Lake movies.



An orangutan was Samantha's father! Damn I never knew that the same actor did both roles.

I'm 99% Maurice and Endora were married but couldn't stand each other so lived separate. Though it sounded like a more bohemian life style was the norm for witches & warlocks.

I had seen both of these films before, but man were they fun to watch over. Have got to see more Veronica Lake movies.
Yeah, I didn't know they were the same actor for quite some time - that ape make-up really hid an actor's identity well (although the voice was a give-away). Speaking of which, did you know one of the orangutans that made up the tribunal (that tries Taylor) in the original Planet of the Apes was James Whitmore? Another case where the makeup made him unrecognizable.

And hey, if witches were such bohemians then maybe Samantha's parents were never even married (gasp!) Did Sam ever have a maiden name in the show (her father's last name)? Don't tell me witches don't have surnames either.

Also, as a kid watching Bewitched, I never knew Agnes Moorehead was such a huge actress!



Yup What's Up Doc was Ed's nom...a good one too!

OK, so based on you liking The Prince of Tides, I'll add that to my Babs watch list. I should have Funny Lady from the library fairly soon.
Looking forward to your review of Funny Lady Citizen...it's a good movie and I think it's gotten a bad rep over the years for being a lot worse than it really is.




Taxi Driver (1976)

Director: Martin Scorsese
Writer: Paul Schrader
Cast: Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd
Genre: Crime Drama


So I watched this for the very first time and I was totally impressed with Robert DeNiro! His performance was worthy of the Oscar, indeed he was nominated Best Actor. I mean he was the character! He immersed himself into the role, it was really quite an amazing feat of method acting.

And I'm guessing it's DeNiro as the mentally unstable taxi driver that people love. Sure I could see this movie being a cult classic, but one of the all time great classics? Nah, I don't think so.

The first act, which ends after he takes Cybil Shepard to a porn film was all amazing. The intensity and oddness of the taxi driver, along with the ultra realness of the gritty world that he inhabited, was powerful stuff. It felt like I was there! I'd give the first act a 4/5, good stuff!

But when the director Martin Scorsese appears in the film for the second time, things went downhill. As soon as I spotted him it took me right out of the film's world and made me acutely aware I was watching a movie. Worse than that, I realized as Scorsese set in the cab talking about shooting his cheating wife...his dialogue...and his body language was a duplicate of the taxi drivers. That took me out of the film even further...and it reminded me of Tarantino's stale choice to insert himself into Django Unchained. Neither director is a great actor, so leave the acting to the professionals.

In the final act I was hoping the relationship between Jodie Foster's 12 year old prostitute and her would be hero, the taxi driver, would be dynamic and would power the last part of the film. Unfortunately we only get one good scene between them in the restaurant, that develops their bond.

And while it can be said the prostitute was what triggered him to go on a shooting rampage, there wasn't enough about their relationship to bring the movie to a fevered pitch. Instead the final act of the shooting rampage just seems to be rushed. It's like there needed to be another scene before the ending.

As it was I found the ending emotionally unsatisfying, as I the viewer hadn't sufficiently been primed by the movie to hate the pimp and the hotel manager enough to really want to see them dead.

But I'm surprised I enjoyed the shooting spree as entertainment. I found it kind of funny/entertaining when he blows his fingers off, it was kind of comically filmed. But it lacked utter seriousness in the way it was filmed and so didn't deliver an emotional wallop like I would have hoped for.

Even the sound effects for the guns seemed muted and the camera angles got all artsy during the shooting. It was like Scorsese made a conscious decision to downplay the violence...especially in his choice of ending music score with an overbearing harp, of all things.








In the final act I was hoping the relationship between Jodie Foster's 12 year old prostitute and her would be hero, the taxi driver, would be dynamic and would power the last part of the film. Unfortunately we only get one good scene between them in the restaurant, that develops their bond.

And while it can be said the prostitute was what triggered him to go on a shooting rampage, there wasn't enough about their relationship to bring the movie to a fevered pitch. Instead the final act of the shooting rampage just seems to be rushed. It's like there needed to be another scene before the ending.

As it was I found the ending emotionally unsatisfying, as I the viewer hadn't sufficiently been primed by the movie to hate the pimp and the hotel manager enough to really want to see them dead.
Travis Bickle is a psychopath. He had been being blown up like a balloon the entire movie wanting to murder someone. He appears to have no social interaction, after meeting Jodie one time and seeing the situation she's in he thinks he has an immediate excuse to disguise his violent needs as a "heroic act". The ending isn't meant to be emotionally satisfying, we weren't meant to hate the pimps, they're just there for Travis to enact his violence on.

But I'm surprised I enjoyed the shooting spree as entertainment. I found it kind of funny/entertaining when he blows his fingers off, it was kind of comically filmed. But it lacked utter seriousness in the way it was filmed and so didn't deliver an emotional wallop like I would have hoped for.

Even the sound effects for the guns seemed muted and the camera angles got all artsy during the shooting. It was like Scorsese made a conscious decision to downplay the violence...especially in his choice of ending music score with an overbearing harp, of all things.
That's one thing that downplays the film for me. If the gun sound effects didn't sound like something from "Bonanza" and it was shot in a emotionless but brutal way the film would be a lot better.



...That's one thing that downplays the film for me. If the gun sound effects didn't sound like something from "Bonanza" and it was shot in a emotionless but brutal way the film would be a lot better.
Exactly, that's what I was saying about the ending. If it had been done like that I might have given it another popcorn.