TCM
TiVo ALERT
For
October
15–October 22
DAVID’S
BEST BETS:
WHILE
THE CITY SLEEPS (October
17, 8:00 pm): Directed by Fritz Lang, this underrated film
features three upper-management types fighting it out over who
will be executive director of a major corporation with a newspaper
and radio station, inherited by Vincent Price, who's father just
died. Price does his usual excellent job as an eccentric in a very
entertaining and engaging way. The winner has to produce a major
exclusive on The Lipstick Killer, a murderer terrorizing the city.
The film is fast-paced with smart dialogue and great acting. The cast
includes George Sanders, Dana Andrews, Ida Lupino and Howard Duff.
ASHES
AND DIAMONDS (October
22, 6:15 am): This is the last film of Polish director Andrzej
Wajda's outstanding must-see war trilogy. This 1958 film tells the
story of two Poles who are assigned to kill their town's Communist
leader during the day the Germans officially surrender to end World
War II. Wajda brilliantly captures the emotions of those who have
survived the war, but are still fighting to move on with their lives.
The story is wonderful as is the acting. It's best to watch the
trilogy in order, A
Generation (1954)
and Kanal (1956)
before Ashes and
Diamonds, even though
there is little carryover from one to another. But if you watch this
film first, you'll want to see the others.
ED’S
BEST BETS:
BREATHLESS
(October 15, 12:00 am): Who can dislike a film dedicated
to Monogram Studios? It’s Jean-Luc Godard’s first – and some
say still his best – film. Jean-Paul Belmondo shines as a petty
crook who impulsively kills a motorcycle cop after stealing a car.
Idolizing Bogart and acting out his life as if he were Bogart, he
tries to convince his American girlfriend (Jean Seberg) to flee with
him to Rome. No studio sets here, with a budget of only about
$80,000, Godard used the streets hotel rooms and cafes of Paris as
his studio, melding street life into a veritable symphony of chaotic
sounds. Through the use of hand-held cameras and placing the
cameraman in a wheelchair, Godard makes maximum use of jump shots to
convey the chaotic atmosphere felt by the main characters. Also watch
for the appearance of Jean-Pierre Melville as the novelist
Parvulesco. An inside joke: when Belmondo’s character, Michel
Poiccard, receives a check from Tomatchoff, Poiccard asks how he can
cash it, to which Tomatchoff replies, “Try Bob Montagne.”
Poiccard’s reply: “But he’s in jail.”
NIGHTMARE
ALLEY (October 16, 9:45 pm): Who knew Tyrone Power could
act? Well, he’s utterly magnificent in this film from director
Edmund Golding as ambitious carny worker Stan Carlisle, who learns
the tricks of the mentalist con from Zeena (Joan Blondell) and her
alcoholic husband, Pete (Ian Keith). Having absorbed the act, Stan
leaves for the big time and become a famous mind reader, engaging in
a confidence game that ultimately leads to his downfall. This is one
of the classics of film noir – and an essential.
WE
DISAGREE ON ... ANDREI RUBLEV (October 21, 2:45 am)
ED:
A+. I can only say
that the fact this movie not only could, but actually was made in the
U.S.S.R. of the mid-60s, was in itself a miracle. It’s the story of
the famous medieval Russian icongrapher and chronicles his struggle
to retain his faith and artistry deriving from that faith in a world
of unlimited cruelty, ignorance, and suffering. Little was actually
known about Rublev, and much of the movie comes from the imagination
of the director as to what might have happened behind the scenes and
what was the motivation in certain instances. I mention this because
while director Andrei Tarkovsky might have simply written it as a
sweeping epic of its time, what the audience does get is a stunning
work of the inner mind and the relationship of the ethereal to what
is oft times cruel reality. And now a word of warning – this film
moves at a snail’s pace and requires patience to absorb its plot
and message. The last time I saw it was over 30 years ago in
New York with my friend during a triple bill of Russian movies. (He
fell asleep during this, which enabled me to help myself to his big
box of Milk Duds.) I don’t remember a lot of detail, but I do
remember clearly the Tartar attack on the town. Also be warned that
it is extremely bloody and I read that the Soviet censors wanted it
excised completely from the film. Tarkovsky argued strenuously for
its inclusion and won the day, but not the battle, ultimately, as the
authorities banned it from being shown until 1971. I think that with
today’s technology, the best thing to do is to watch it in
increments, then reflect on those increments. As the film is divided
into episodes, that should be easy.
DAVID:
C-. Unlike Ed, I saw this film for the first and only
time about six months ago, and his memory of this snoozefest (see his
friend and Milk Duds above) from over 30 years ago is better than
mine. I mostly remember that the movie is really long and boring. For
all the talk from critics and cinefiles about the movie's moving
portrayals of art, religion, passion, intensity, knowledge,
suffering, beauty, symbolism, freedom, integrity, jealousy and
individuality, the movie is about 3 1/2 hours and seems like it will
never end. We really don't learn much about Rublev as this film is
very loosely based on his life. Whatever the viewer is supposed to
take from the movie is lost as it's extraordinarily confusing. I defy
anyone who's seen it to truthfully say they were able to follow it.
Did I mention that it's really long and slow moving? I must admit
that parts of it are beautifully filmed and there are some compelling
scenes, but overall I can think of much better ways to spend about
205 minutes than watching this movie. If you're into art, watching
paint dry is one suggestion.
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