It’s a little off-topic but I went to see a restored print of David Lean’s ’Hobson’s Choice’ last night and am now very much looking forward to Criterion’s forthcoming DVD. It’s a wonderful film, full of joy and pitch-perfect performances.
Hi. I’m a transplanted Brit living in Vancouver; earning money as a 1st AD in commercial land; blog-writer (http://fmtm-revengeoftheblog.blogspot.com/); podcast producer (http://www.cyclemedia.net/fmtm/FMTM_all/Welcome%20to%20FMTM.html); and general film obsessive. Very happy to be part of The Auteurs and looking forward to some healthy and heated well-informed debate about film.
I’m in! As for Canadian films this Vancouver boy wants everyone to see this classic: RITUALS (AKA The Creeper). A cheap by-line would be that it’s a Canuck Deliverance but it’s really much more of backwoods slasher film. Produced in 1976 it’s an atmospheric and twisted film that is in need of re-appraisal and a proper DVD release (all I have is a bootleg German DVD struck from a scratched up old print). Check it out if you’re able and let me know if you hold the rights!
Horribly difficult to pick just one but that is the challenge. My favourite films change form day-to-day, from mood-to-mood. There’s also the question of admiration versus rewatchableness (it that a word? It is now!); I admire L’Aventura but Rushmore or Fargo or Airplane! bring me more repeatable pleasure. So it’s a toss-up between transcendent film (2001) and fiercely romantic (I know Where I’m Going). It’s 2001….
The Thief Of Bagdad certainly has the feel of a multi-director film; it’s unity seems to come from the art direction and the wardrobe rather than a directorial cohesion. It’s one of the least interesting works in his canon; the recent Criterion release of ‘The Small Back Room’ was a great Powell discovery for me.
That is a very interesting question; it supposes that a significant film work is the sole property of the director (the old auteur theory) that seems to be universally accepted as the only way to look at that work. I think ‘Goldfinger’ is a canonical work that fits your description as not being directed by a canonical director (Guy Hamilton); but I suggest part of it’s importance is due to the score which is by a canonical composer – John Barry.
But to add to the list by your criteria: STAR WARS (please don’t say Lucas id a canonical director!)
PLANET OF THE APES
CAPE FEAR (the original)
It’s not strictly necessary as his films are on DVD already (albeit in bare-bones WB discs) but I’d freak if Criterion did a box-set of the Hammer films by Terence Fisher with absurdly lavish booklets, docs and commentaries: a 6-disc boxset – HORROR OF DRACULA, CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN, FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED, THE DEVIL RIDES OUT and THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES…
Sorry completely geeked out there for a moment.
Then they could follow ot with a MICHAEL REEVES set: THE SORCERERS and WITCHFINDER GENERAL…
Bliss.
One could argue John Barry and Ken Adam are the two auteurs of the James Bond films; Barry’s scores and Adam’s sets are far more significant contributions to the iconography of those films than any of the hired hands that directed them.
Worst Criterion DVDs over 3 years ago
It’s a little off-topic but I went to see a restored print of David Lean’s ’Hobson’s Choice’ last night and am now very much looking forward to Criterion’s forthcoming DVD. It’s a wonderful film, full of joy and pitch-perfect performances.
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New to The Auteurs? You Belong Here over 3 years ago
Hi. I’m a transplanted Brit living in Vancouver; earning money as a 1st AD in commercial land; blog-writer (http://fmtm-revengeoftheblog.blogspot.com/); podcast producer (http://www.cyclemedia.net/fmtm/FMTM_all/Welcome%20to%20FMTM.html); and general film obsessive. Very happy to be part of The Auteurs and looking forward to some healthy and heated well-informed debate about film.
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Films for Canadians over 3 years ago
I’m in! As for Canadian films this Vancouver boy wants everyone to see this classic: RITUALS (AKA The Creeper). A cheap by-line would be that it’s a Canuck Deliverance but it’s really much more of backwoods slasher film. Produced in 1976 it’s an atmospheric and twisted film that is in need of re-appraisal and a proper DVD release (all I have is a bootleg German DVD struck from a scratched up old print). Check it out if you’re able and let me know if you hold the rights!
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If you had to pick ONE film as your favorite... over 3 years ago
Horribly difficult to pick just one but that is the challenge. My favourite films change form day-to-day, from mood-to-mood. There’s also the question of admiration versus rewatchableness (it that a word? It is now!); I admire L’Aventura but Rushmore or Fargo or Airplane! bring me more repeatable pleasure. So it’s a toss-up between transcendent film (2001) and fiercely romantic (I know Where I’m Going). It’s 2001….
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Some Movies that always lifts You up are... over 3 years ago
I KNOW WHERE I’M GOING (MICHAEL POWELL, UK, 1945) – God bless Wendy Hiller and Pamela Brown…
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Disturbing Movies that You Love... over 3 years ago
Witchfinder General – Michael Reeves
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Movies That Should Be In the Criterion Collection over 3 years ago
ISLAND OF LOST SOULS
THE DEVILS
DEATH LINE (aka RAW MEAT)
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Classic movies you can't get on d.v.d. over 3 years ago
ISLAND OF LOST SOULS
THE DEVILS
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Contributions of Michael Powell over 3 years ago
The Thief Of Bagdad certainly has the feel of a multi-director film; it’s unity seems to come from the art direction and the wardrobe rather than a directorial cohesion. It’s one of the least interesting works in his canon; the recent Criterion release of ‘The Small Back Room’ was a great Powell discovery for me.
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Canonical Films by Non-canonical Directors over 3 years ago
That is a very interesting question; it supposes that a significant film work is the sole property of the director (the old auteur theory) that seems to be universally accepted as the only way to look at that work. I think ‘Goldfinger’ is a canonical work that fits your description as not being directed by a canonical director (Guy Hamilton); but I suggest part of it’s importance is due to the score which is by a canonical composer – John Barry.
But to add to the list by your criteria: STAR WARS (please don’t say Lucas id a canonical director!)
PLANET OF THE APES
CAPE FEAR (the original)
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WHICH DIRECTORS...NOT...CURRENTLY REPRESENTED IN THE CRITERION COLLECTION DO YOU WANT TO SEE INCLUDED? over 3 years ago
It’s not strictly necessary as his films are on DVD already (albeit in bare-bones WB discs) but I’d freak if Criterion did a box-set of the Hammer films by Terence Fisher with absurdly lavish booklets, docs and commentaries: a 6-disc boxset – HORROR OF DRACULA, CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, FRANKENSTEIN CREATED WOMAN, FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED, THE DEVIL RIDES OUT and THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES…
Sorry completely geeked out there for a moment.
Then they could follow ot with a MICHAEL REEVES set: THE SORCERERS and WITCHFINDER GENERAL…
Bliss.
Go to Comment
What non-directors could be thought of as "auteurs" in their own right? over 3 years ago
One could argue John Barry and Ken Adam are the two auteurs of the James Bond films; Barry’s scores and Adam’s sets are far more significant contributions to the iconography of those films than any of the hired hands that directed them.
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