We spent a few days relaxing in Puerto Rico, and the hotel that we stayed at had Cable TV, which, you may be amused to learn, we have not yet availed ourselves of. The contents of most of the channels consoled me in this decision, but one did not. It was TCM, the movie channel, and, indeed, I spent many enjoyable hours watching all or parts of 29 films during my five-day stay. Since I urged the class to write a few words on the films they see over the course of our 5 months together, I suppose it would not be fair to fail to do so myself. But, I won't mention all 29 films.
Moulin Rouge,195?. with Jose Ferrer as the deformed artist, Toulouse-Latrec was interesting, if only because Matt Pinho mentioned Absinthe in class last week. Apparently, the government has decided that wormwood is not so bad for us after all, and it is legal again after a century on the taboo list. Unfortunately, all teh film did was make me thirsty for a drink of that stuff in spite of the hero dying from its overuse.
They Shall Have Music 1939. A saccharine tear jerker about a music school for poor kids. I only watched a few scenes, but the ending is remarkable only because the great violinist Jascha Haifetz makes an appearance to save the day and he plays the most extraordinary violin solo I've ever heard. I have to look it up and find out what it was he played.
Boomerang 1947. Cool semi-documentary film noir. Unfortunately, I couldn't watch much of it, but I figured I'd get it on NetFLix, but they don't have it. Dana Andrews plays a DA who believes a man is innocent. How rare.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 1969. It's fun to watch any movie from 1967 to 1975 for one reason. They are always about the individual trying to free himself from the constraints of a repressive society. There is one scene that really doesn't work today at all. Robert Redford, as Sundance breaks into the house of a young woman and surprises her, then makes her undress at gun-point. This apparent rape scene ends with the girl exclaiming "don't be late next time" or something to that effect, so it was all a game, but the sensitivity of today makes it un-funny. I suppose it may have been un-funny then, too, but I don't think so.
Anatomy of a Murder 1957. This is a very superior film, and I encourage you to watch this one. The main character is a lover of Jazz, in particular Be-bop, a kind of improvisational Jazz that became popular in the 50's. You might want to ask yourself what the Jazz background has to do with the plot of the film, which is a murder trial of a man accused of killing the man who raped his wife. Directed by Otto Preminger, one of the biggest names among directors back in the day. Starring James Stewart and Lee Remick. Ben Gazarra is the defendant. Oh, and George C. Scott steals the show as always.
The Caine Mutiny 1954. I had forgotten how good this one is. Humphrey Bogart's performance as the crazy skipper is the reason to watch this one. But, the side plot involving a young ensign and his girlfriend makes for interesting social history, as well. In movies made before 1968 or so, if I girl sleeps with a guy, she usually has to be killed by the end of the film, or punished in some horrible way. This film seems to go along with that to a degree, but it's not unambiguous, and you all know how much I admire ambiguity.
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I noticed that The Caine Mutiny was on and I considered watching it but for one reason or another I didn't. I guess I should have ignored whatever it is I ended up doing. I watched 12 Anrgy Men for the first time on my break. I was blown away by it. I never realized watching 12 guys in a room have an argument could hold my attention so easily. I also watched the remake of the campy action film Death Race and it was terrible but pretty cool as far as action goes. But believe it or not, my heart pumped more during 12 Anrgy Men than it did for Death Race.
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