The Searchers,The Iron Horse (1924), The Naked Spur, The Man From Laramie, Shane, Ride the High Country, Major Dundee, The Wild Bunch, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, Once Upon A Time In The West, The Ox-Bow Incident. Ride Lonesome, The Tall T, Two Rode Together, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence, Fort Apache, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon, Red River, Rio Bravo, Little Big Man, Man Of The West, Destry Rides Again, Johnny Guitar and Forty Guns (aka Woman with a Whip).
Most desperate novelties: The Terror of Tiny Town and the one where Sterling Hayden tames a town with a whaler’s harpoon.
35mm film is NOT made up of dots. The image covers all of the 35mm of film. If projected correctly on an appropriate scree, a 35mm film wil best ANY AND ALL dvds or B.S. bds.
As for the bd of “GWTW,” it doesn’t approach what “GWTW” looked like when it was released. How do I know. Because in the 1970s I saw at the FILMEX the first reel Selznick’s pristine personal print. I was stunned. The colors were yes, bright and clear, but not overly glossy, just natural. It had an illusion of depth. When the highly touted new “good as the original” was released some 15 years ago, I couldn’t wait to see the whole as pristine as Selznick’s print.
Need I say this restoration wasn’t even close. Too dark, where it should have been bright. Too bright, where should have been muted. Major disappointment.
“The Searchers—Why an at least passable dvd of this doesn’t exist is beyond me. I’ve heard something about problems getting the Vista Vision format on dvd. I don’t buy it.
When I lived in L.A. I saw “The Searchers” several times at LACMA. Always great prints, well projected. The first I saw it there Winton Hoch was present and Hank Worden. Then ads proclaimed a “restored” 35-mm print. Went. MERDE. Way too dark. How in the hell could it look so bad. Restoration?
Surely we owe it to an artist like Hoch a truly fine restoration of this—his greatest cinematography not the inept, tawdry current dvd and bd versions. This really is akin to mutilating the “Mona Lisa.”
I’m going to post more on “The Searchers” and a screening of it I saw as part of Warner-Bros. 75th Anniversary celebration at Manns Chinese.
I am definitely going to this. You are one the most savvy critics on the planet. Does this mean I’ll share the same opinion. I don’t know. But I do know I’m in for a very good film. I had seen an ad for it and rather dismissed it when I saw Polanski’s name. But immediately thought, he made “The Pianist,” which to me was one the best films of the decade.
He is still a very great filmmaker and truth-teller. Is there a better essaying of the true nature of political corruption then “Chinatown.” I doubt it. Thanks for the extra shove to reality.
That there could be more to this scandal then we are in here of United States of No Facts, really has me going. I could never figure out why the authorities were so hot to get Polanski. After all, if the system had any decency it would be hounding Bush, Cheney et al just as doggedly as Polanski.
Kate’s final line in which she pledges to obey, his said with a touch of sarcasm, that belies what she is saying. As a kid I saw this pix when it was released. Years later, when I saw it in a revival house, I couldn’t believe it got in the film. This is in a 1953 MGM musical. Feminist liberation if I’ve ever seen and heard it. I always loved her singing, but I love her for this subversive moment. Of course, this is the reading Shakespeare intended.
“I am ashamed that women are so.” Yeah, right on Kathryn.
My introduction to opera was NBC’s early 1950s operas. Several times a year they broadcast a full opera in English staged for TV. I watched many of them and remember being bored by “Madame Butterfly.” However, the broadcast of Beethoven’s “Fidelio” remains a high point in my experience. I was transfixed by it and emotionally touched by it in ways I can’t begin to express.
Rosi’s film of Bizet’s “Carmen” is extraordinary. It is realistic and one of the few really well-made opera films I’ve seen. The other being Zefferelli’s already mentioned “La Traviata.” And, of course, The Archers’ milestone “The Tales of Hoffman.” I’ve concluded it is the best movie musical of all.
I would also recommend Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess.” The Houston Grand Opera’s production of it was amazing and is the only opera that made me as ecstatic as “Fidelio.”
I have also loved stage production’s of “Peter Grimes” and “Nixon In China” was miraculous. I’d love to see “Dr. Atomic.”
I really don’t know any one film that made me fan. I’ve been going to film since the late 1940s.
I was 5 or 6 when my parents took me and my cousin to the El Monte Drive-In Theatre to see an old film my mother had primed me for. I couldn’t wait. She was right. It was the re-release of “The Wizard of Oz” and the next we kids were acting out the best parts.
Other movies that impressed around at that time were “King Solomon’s Mines.” I remember double-truck full color-ads in Look Magazine and billboards. Everyone was talking about seeing it and loved it. Still do. Deborah Kerr was so gorgeous in real Technicolor.
My second M-GM musical was “Two-Weeks With Love,” and I fell in love with Carleton Carpenter.
When I was in my 20s I went to a sneak preview at the Regent Theatre in Westwood. It was “Network,” which I loved. But I thought this is either going to bomb or be a big hit. Now its a classic.
What's the greatest Western? over 2 years ago
Here are my picks from a life-time of viewing:
The Searchers,The Iron Horse (1924), The Naked Spur, The Man From Laramie, Shane, Ride the High Country, Major Dundee, The Wild Bunch, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, Once Upon A Time In The West, The Ox-Bow Incident. Ride Lonesome, The Tall T, Two Rode Together, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence, Fort Apache, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon, Red River, Rio Bravo, Little Big Man, Man Of The West, Destry Rides Again, Johnny Guitar and Forty Guns (aka Woman with a Whip).
Most desperate novelties: The Terror of Tiny Town and the one where Sterling Hayden tames a town with a whaler’s harpoon.
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blu-ray is kinda bullshit about 2 years ago
David is right.
BD is B.S.
35mm film is NOT made up of dots. The image covers all of the 35mm of film. If projected correctly on an appropriate scree, a 35mm film wil best ANY AND ALL dvds or B.S. bds.
As for the bd of “GWTW,” it doesn’t approach what “GWTW” looked like when it was released. How do I know. Because in the 1970s I saw at the FILMEX the first reel Selznick’s pristine personal print. I was stunned. The colors were yes, bright and clear, but not overly glossy, just natural. It had an illusion of depth. When the highly touted new “good as the original” was released some 15 years ago, I couldn’t wait to see the whole as pristine as Selznick’s print.
Need I say this restoration wasn’t even close. Too dark, where it should have been bright. Too bright, where should have been muted. Major disappointment.
“The Searchers—Why an at least passable dvd of this doesn’t exist is beyond me. I’ve heard something about problems getting the Vista Vision format on dvd. I don’t buy it.
When I lived in L.A. I saw “The Searchers” several times at LACMA. Always great prints, well projected. The first I saw it there Winton Hoch was present and Hank Worden. Then ads proclaimed a “restored” 35-mm print. Went. MERDE. Way too dark. How in the hell could it look so bad. Restoration?
Surely we owe it to an artist like Hoch a truly fine restoration of this—his greatest cinematography not the inept, tawdry current dvd and bd versions. This really is akin to mutilating the “Mona Lisa.”
I’m going to post more on “The Searchers” and a screening of it I saw as part of Warner-Bros. 75th Anniversary celebration at Manns Chinese.
Go to Comment
The Ghostwriter almost 2 years ago
Thank you, David.
I am definitely going to this. You are one the most savvy critics on the planet. Does this mean I’ll share the same opinion. I don’t know. But I do know I’m in for a very good film. I had seen an ad for it and rather dismissed it when I saw Polanski’s name. But immediately thought, he made “The Pianist,” which to me was one the best films of the decade.
He is still a very great filmmaker and truth-teller. Is there a better essaying of the true nature of political corruption then “Chinatown.” I doubt it. Thanks for the extra shove to reality.
That there could be more to this scandal then we are in here of United States of No Facts, really has me going. I could never figure out why the authorities were so hot to get Polanski. After all, if the system had any decency it would be hounding Bush, Cheney et al just as doggedly as Polanski.
Go to Comment
Kathryn Grayson has passed away almost 2 years ago
I think Grayson is terrific in “Kiss Me, Kate.”
Kate’s final line in which she pledges to obey, his said with a touch of sarcasm, that belies what she is saying. As a kid I saw this pix when it was released. Years later, when I saw it in a revival house, I couldn’t believe it got in the film. This is in a 1953 MGM musical. Feminist liberation if I’ve ever seen and heard it. I always loved her singing, but I love her for this subversive moment. Of course, this is the reading Shakespeare intended.
“I am ashamed that women are so.” Yeah, right on Kathryn.Go to Comment
Opera Recommendations almost 2 years ago
I am not a big opera fan.
My introduction to opera was NBC’s early 1950s operas. Several times a year they broadcast a full opera in English staged for TV. I watched many of them and remember being bored by “Madame Butterfly.” However, the broadcast of Beethoven’s “Fidelio” remains a high point in my experience. I was transfixed by it and emotionally touched by it in ways I can’t begin to express.
Rosi’s film of Bizet’s “Carmen” is extraordinary. It is realistic and one of the few really well-made opera films I’ve seen. The other being Zefferelli’s already mentioned “La Traviata.” And, of course, The Archers’ milestone “The Tales of Hoffman.” I’ve concluded it is the best movie musical of all.
I would also recommend Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess.” The Houston Grand Opera’s production of it was amazing and is the only opera that made me as ecstatic as “Fidelio.”
I have also loved stage production’s of “Peter Grimes” and “Nixon In China” was miraculous. I’d love to see “Dr. Atomic.”
Go to Comment
What is the one movie, if any in particular, that sparked your interest in film? almost 2 years ago
I really don’t know any one film that made me fan. I’ve been going to film since the late 1940s.
I was 5 or 6 when my parents took me and my cousin to the El Monte Drive-In Theatre to see an old film my mother had primed me for. I couldn’t wait. She was right. It was the re-release of “The Wizard of Oz” and the next we kids were acting out the best parts.
Other movies that impressed around at that time were “King Solomon’s Mines.” I remember double-truck full color-ads in Look Magazine and billboards. Everyone was talking about seeing it and loved it. Still do. Deborah Kerr was so gorgeous in real Technicolor.
My second M-GM musical was “Two-Weeks With Love,” and I fell in love with Carleton Carpenter.
When I was in my 20s I went to a sneak preview at the Regent Theatre in Westwood. It was “Network,” which I loved. But I thought this is either going to bomb or be a big hit. Now its a classic.
Go to Comment