DIRECTORS’ CUP 2011 VOTING, SEMIFINALS, MATCH 1: Kenji Mizoguchi (Straits of Love and Hate) vs Fritz Lang (Scarlet Street)

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A tie with two hours left…I’ll try to restrain from clicking refresh over and over again.

Straits of Love and Hate – 0 vs. Scarlet Street – 1

I recognize that Lang gets better results in his German films, but I am fascinated by the harshness in his American films. I am shocked every time one of those bitterness-filled scenes comes along, and Scarlet Street does not pull it’s punches when it’s chance comes. If these two had met in the Final (5 vs. 5), my vote would have gone to Mizoguchi, and this is another very good film from him. Did he ever make a bad movie? Anyway, great match, great directors, great managers.

p.s.
I love Fury.

Oh, the final is 5 v 5? I hadn’t realised! Anyway, i’m glad you like Straits.

Maybe 5 vs. 5 isn’t the best way to describe to it. We vote on which group of 5 films used in the Cup we prefer. It’s not like the 3v3 World Cup format.

Kenji Mizoguchi (Straits of Love and Hate) 1 – Fritz Lang (Scarlet Street) 0

If it’s not too late. Anyway, It’s difficult to choose one over the other.

So, if my vote makes a tie, it’s the best result.

9-9 with just a few hours left…

@ Sir Douglas: Ah yes, i understood you correctly. I actually thought the last round was gonna be 4v4 on the lines you said (picking Sansho for that round turned out a fortunate one), and the final was gonna be just the one film picked in the semi.

This match is turning into a cracker, like Ali v Frazier

I might be pointing out something that no one noticed and thus I’m just making myself look like a fool for pointing it out, but I wanted to point out that in the OP when it says “July” obviously it should mean “November”

i think i mentioned SS being a remake on its thread

Oops, sorry I missed that.

I believe this match ends at 2 PM Pacific time, which means everyone who’s only seen one film has just enough time to watch the other. Let’s see some more votes!

I’m finishing Scarlet Street in the next hour. Both films are fantastic!

Kenji Mizoguchi (Straits of Love and Hate) 0 – Fritz Lang (Scarlet Street) 1

What a fun movie day, to get to watch these two films. I just finished the Lang and I really love it. Definitely has his mark. What a bunch of unlikable characters, which is the film’s charm, and of course a great ending—the only way that tale could end.

But I’m voting for this surprise Mizo—I’d never even heard of this film, and now it’s one of my favorites of his.

Great choices, guys!

Kenji Mizoguchi (Straits of Love and Hate) —1 vs. Fritz Lang (Scarlet Street) —0

EDIT: And looks like we still have a tie ;)

Yep, still a tie with just one hour left!

Man, Fritzy had the lead for all of five minutes there.

Phew, i’ve just returned thinking the match was due to finish just before HOL voted.

51 minutes and counting…

Just two small requests: (call them ideas too)

In case Lang makes it, I’d love to see him in the final with a German film (with or without Nibelungen)

In case Mizoguchi makes it, I’d love to see Kenji throwing in The 47 Ronin (in spite of its humongous length)

I thought each finalist simply had the 5 films already chosen

^ Ah, new set of rules? Pardon me then :(

Yes, the rules are different now.

But Dimitiris makes a good point: everyone should see Die Nibelungen and The 47 Ronin. :-)

Managing Mizo with his big filmography (and Duncan must feel the same with Lang) it’s frustrating not being able to select lots more, but it gives a reasonable chance to some other directors, to avoid repetitions like last cup, especially if films are hard to get hold of. And time constraints too, i guess..

I think the 5 film rule has been round for a long time. 47 Ronin would fill the 1940s gap in my choices- i can imagine it would split opinion.

Yes, big filmographies are fun to manage, but also frustrating with what must be left out. I met my goal of showing a Lang film from the 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s, but I wish I’d taken the chance to branch out of crime thrillers and noirs, since the man also dabbled in sci-fi/fantasy, straight-up adventure, westerns, swashbucklers, and even the weirdest musical comedy to come out of Hollywood.

We have a tie

Voting will be extended until 10:00 pm GMT on Friday, November 18

Oh no!

Attila the Hun can’t stand the suspense.

Would we prefer a sudden death of next vote wins, or 24 long hours?

Definitely 24 hours. It means there’s a (small) chance that I’ll be able to watch Scarlet Street and vote, depending on how busy I end up tomorrow :P

24 hours tends to be traditional, plus it gives a greater number of people a chance to see both films.