Haven’t done one of these in awhile… but COVID-19 has most of us locked in our homes so watched a few more classic films (not all on Turner Classics, like past posts). So here’s a run down since the last update (some of which I saw well before any pandemics came along, for what it’s worth).
House of the Devil – 1896 – a very silent and very short horror/pantomime comedy from Georges Méliès himself. Not much as far as narrative or film-making goes… it was the 1800s! But it was an interesting watch from a historical point of view.
The Immigrant – 1917 – a short, decently amusing Charlie Chaplin movie about the Little Tramp aboard a ship bound for America. Mostly made up of physical comedy skits involving the swaying of the deck and seasick passengers (and paying for a meal once on land). Not a bad little short (and it’s on YouTube in full).
The Gold Rush – 1925 – classic Charlie Chaplin silent comedy with a lot of pathos and skit-based physical comedy. I was actually impressed by a lot of the sight gags and physical comedy in this one. Some of the comedic bits were reconcilable from a lot of the later Looney Tunes cartoons. I saw the original version (on YouTube as well) though was surprised Chaplin did a Lucas before Lucas and re-edited and updated the film in the 1940s.
Sunrise – 1927 – a very impressive silent film by F.W. Murnau… nothing much in way of plot (a married man falls for a girl from the City, he promises to murder his wife, he can’t go through with it) but a lot in terms of film making. Some of the shots, shot composition, and visual tricks are really amazing for their time. Had to be some of the first times for a number of camera moves and shots. Plus I really was into the storyline, more so than I thought I would be. Really impressive.
Steamboat Willie – 1928 – the original Mickey Mouse short, watched on Disney+. I’m not gonna say I liked it when I really didn’t. It was ok and was surely fantastic in its time… but that time hasn’t aged well. Steamboat Willie can stay the Disney Animation logo though… he is, at least, historic.
Sullivan’s Travels – 1941 – been meaning to see this one for a while… but wound up unimpressed. The story of a big time Hollywood director who wants to spend time with the poor and destitute so he can really understand the plight of the downtrodden. About the only thing I enjoyed was sultry Veronica Lake in both glitzy and comedy hobo mode. It takes a right turn in the last act and tries to be this story of human destitution and bondage… but then flubs everything by suggesting all the poor really needs are funny cartoons. Sure, self-important movie about Hollywood, that’ll solve everything.
The Apartment – 1960 – surely a controversial and risque movie for the time. Stars Jack Lemmon as a worker bee type in a bigtime New York office. He’s single with an in-town apartment so all the married men in the company want to borrow his key and kick him out so they can have flings (thus creating a lot of scheduling nightmares). He goes along with it since it will surely lead to promotions… but he meets Shirley MacLain’s character, falls for her, only to find out she’s one of the flings. Really enjoyed this one for how it balanced on the edge of good taste for the 1960s… and also how it played with the pop culture of the time. Created a neat time capsule.
Planet of the Vampires – 1965 – a truly terrible movie watched only because it was free on Amazon Prime and was allegedly an inspiration for the movie Alien (according to the documentary Memories: The Origins of Alien). It’s a bad 60s era english-dubbed Italian bit of pulp fiction about a bunch of astronauts in impractically goofy outfits who land on a planet only to have their bodies taken over by aliens (not vampires). The sets are on the cheap, the acting dubious, and the director (Mario Bava) has no conception of pacing. How this never showed up on MST3K is a mystery for the ages.