dougmarshall_94142 Reviews

A Hard Day's Night (1964)

The Beatles in this film are NOT THE BEATLES

[12 October 2011]

Right. What do I mean they aren't the Beatles? The Beatles in this film have a manager named Norm and a roadie named Shake. The REAL Beatles manager was Brian Epstein, and the roadie(s) were Neil Aspinall and Mal Evans. The Beatle Paul in the film had a grandfather John McCartney. Paul's real grandfather was no longer alive. In the film Paul says he brought along his grandfather because his mother thought the trip would do him some good. Paul's real mother had died many years before.

Mind you, these remarkable look alike Beatles in the film do a very good job of portraying the real Beatles, and credit must be given to Alun Owen, the screenwriter. And Richard Lester's sometimes fantasy world sequences (like the boys running along side the train when only a few seconds before they were ON the train.

Catch John pulling a face whilst "miming" If I Fell.

Classic, timeless.

Holiday Inn (1942)

Politically correct?

[9/10 · 3 December 2006]

This would be an excellent movie, if it weren't for the way it portrays African-Americans. It's not just THIS movie, but every movie until the mid 50's and 60's. Black people all speak the same: they say you IS instead of You are. I knows, instead of I know, Sho' nuff, Yassuh, etc. When they are on the screen, the music will be jazz. The kids are all dressed like kids of slaves. I understand that the Abraham Lincoln birthday scene is often cut, when shown on TV. White actors in black face. The men are all like Uncle Tom, or better yet, Uncle Remus. Shuckin' and jivin'. Grey hair, bad back. Pickaninnies. God, help us, I am embarrassed when I watch such scenes. And the tragedy of it is, unless a black performer agreed to be portrayed like this, they didn't get cast. When and under what circumstances did the way blacks were portrayed on film change? When or whatever did it, I'm glad. Cos it's revolting.

War and Peace (1956)

Why?

[2/10 · 19 November 2006]

When the films of Audrey Hepburn and Henry Fonda are discussed, War and Peace is never included. This is one movie where I can say, without fear, READ THE BOOK INSTEAD. And this has a LITTLE bit to do with the length, and MORE to do with King Vidor's failure to justify those three hours PLUS. The only performance I consider worthy is Herbert Lom's portrayal of Napoleon. And that is because he is generally known for being Inspector Dreyfuss is the Pink Panther series. Everyone else, INCLUDING Fonda and Hepburn, could have been played by ANY other actors. And it could have been reduced in size to half, and have been far more entertaining. OR As I advised before. READ THE BOOK INSTEAD. The only OTHER amazing thing about this movie is that it was filmed at the height of the Anti-American investigation hearings. Did any of these actors get dragged before McCarthy? Did any of the people who went to see the movie get dragged before the committee for watching a play with majority Russian characters? Amazing. All that wasted film.

The Train (1964)

A unique movie

[10/10 · 8 September 2006]

This movie could NOT have been made, as it is, without Burt Lancaster. There are at least two scenes involving Lancaster's character that are single-camera moves. He does ALL or MOST of the stunts, and this makes the film completely believable. No one else but Lancaster had the physical ability to do these stunts. His background as a circus performer served him well in this film. Otherwise, a somewhat typical WW2, end of the war type of film. Paul Scofield's performance is controlled, but even so, we KNOW that he will not succeed in transporting the paintings to Germany, because Lancaster is the hero. I would have liked to have seen the train actually arrive in Germany. It would have added further tension. Wonderful film. Under-appreciated.

Click (2006)

I Laughed, I Cried

[10/10 · 30 July 2006]

Adam Sandler's movies will keep getting better and better. He will be standing up with an Oscar clutched in both hands. One day. Because he has the kind of understanding that is required to make consistently great movies: he understands the person in the movie theater who plunks down $8-10, takes his seat, and cries out ENTERTAIN ME! That person will watch this movie, come back again with a friend, and will be one of the first to snatch it up when it comes out on DVD.

And I can imagine he goes over the script, no matter who wrote it, and makes it an Adam Sandler film. He has never been known as a good writer, but he takes what is written for him, and makes it his own. Few film comedians can compare. And they are all Saturday Night Live alumnus. Made fairly low budget, makes great profit. Audiences like. Studios like.

If he keeps his head on his shoulders, he will have a long successful career. If he lets it go to his head, he'll make a costly movie that will bomb, and then another, and he'll wind up hosting a late night talk show, or sitcom, and bye-bye. But I truly think that will never happen.

In this movie he celebrates classic films, with a Jewish point-of-view. Go see it. Laugh. Cry. Go out of the theater a better person.

Lady in the Water (2006)

Oscar winner

[9/10 · 26 July 2006]

Two-thirds through this movie, I said to myself, Paul Giammati is going to win an Oscar for this. I also said to myself, one of these days M.Night is going to be the main character. If this were a movie told in the usual Hollywood way, all the characters in the apartment building would have gone through at least an hour of thinking Story was crazy, or Heep was crazy. But they don't. They have come to regard Heep as a trusted man, and if he says this girl is a Narf, and we've got to help her, they do what they can to help. AND they do help. They did something, and what they did had a good affect on the outcome. There is your message. And its a good message. OK, not a Best Picture. But Best Actor? Paul Giamatti has a good chance!

A Night at the Opera (1935)

Harpo the Important Ingrediant

[10/10 · 25 July 2006]

This movie has been analyzed for the last 70 years. Still alive is Kitty Carlisle Hart, who plays Rosa. She had the chance to sing opera, and she pulls it off admirably. (She married Moss Hart, who was associated with George Kaufman, who wrote this and other Marx comedies. YOU do the math!) Why isn't SHE on the commentary track for this film on DVD? Leonard Maltin is OK, but even HE doesn't know that "Frenchy" Marx, the father of the Marx Brothers, is seen sitting on the dock, waving at the ship, in "Monkey Business", NOT "Night At The Opera".

Allan Jones fills in Zeppos shoes, with a fine singing voice, and a likable personality. Groucho's lines, classic or not, and Chicko's piano playing, unrivalled, and who is responsible for giving us Mel Torme, nevertheless could have been done by ANY leading film comedian; it is Harpo Marx that makes this, or any Marx Brothers movie, distinguishable from other movies by other comedy teams. How could a screenwriter write for Harpo? How much is his contribution, and how much the suggestion of the screenwriter or director? My guess? NONE. His expression as he passes along the buffet, as food upon food is piled up on him, is classic. It is honest. His playing with the kids on the piano, and his playing to the old Italian woman, touching her cheek at the end of Alone, speaks VOLUMES about Harpo. His scenes playing the harp are extraordinary. Look at his face! His whole demeanor changes. He wrote in Harpo Speaks that there are two Harpos. The crazy one. And the one playing harp. The one playing harp represents the real Harpo Marx. Look at the pancake scene. Groucho is almost laughing out loud at Harpo's antics! Alan Jones is laughing out loud! How many takes it took to film these scenes without the crew being heard laughing is anyone's guess. My guess is they had to really bite their lips. Groucho's wise cracks may have been equalled by any, Chicko's dialect, ditto. But Harpo? Maybe Chaplin came close, but he had no equal EVER!

Way Out West (1937)

Flying Burros!

[10/10 · 24 July 2006]

What a delightful movie.

Very charming moment when Stan and Ollie dance to a tune sung by The Avalon Boys, featuring Chill Wills.

A musical moment, Oliver Hardy joining in singing Trail of the Lonesome Pine, became a hit record in England that reached number 2! Almost 40 years later!

This movie stands up as a Laurel and Hardy vehicle, a western, and one of the few movies to show a donkey flying!

Melodrama. What Laurel and Hardy movie would be complete without Jimmy Finlayson? He had the best "slow burn" in the business.

Fantasy. Burning thumbs!

Also noteworthy for being the first time Stan Laurel was credited for being producer.

Enjoyable from beginning to end.

The "tank" where Hardy sank into, featured in many Laurel and Hardy films, was formally dedicated to the pair in the mid 50's by Hal Roach Jr.

Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)

Takes To Long To Make An Obvious Point

[7/10 · 21 July 2006]

This is an overrrated movie. Certainly one of Cagney's memorable roles. Certainly a great Cagney-O'Brian film. But I should think any major actor of that period, particularly the Warners contract actors, could have pulled this role off. Humphrey Bogart is the bad lawyer, but again, anyone could have played Frazier. He's not important to the story, except as a measuring stick for the Bogart that was to come later. That the actors did a good job is not important. The story was important. The message was important. The message was just obvious by the time the first third of the movie runs through the projector.

I have heard the radio version of this movie, with Cagney and O'Brian reprising their roles. It was only an hour, and MUCH BETTER. The walk to the chair is classic. It moves one to tears. And is one of the few TRUE moments in the movie.

Semi-related note: Ann Sheridan did a cameo role as a prostitute in Treasure of the Sierra Madre. almost 10 years later, and looks 10 years younger in THAT movie. Finished her career doing a spin-off of As The World Turns. The OOmph Girl. No Oomph here. She was probably sick of the title anyway. But she played mols many more times. Under studio rule I'm sure. Her association with Bogart movies goes way back to THIS movie. But even SHE is more or less wasted in this movie. Anyone could have played any of the characters in this movie, with the possible exception of the East Side Kids, who went through various names and members, acted in incredibly stupid pictures,( by 21st Century standards, Bela Lugosi? Come On!) but maintained their characterization as Bronx punks even when they were middle aged men!

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)

Next Summer Can't Come Too Quickly

[9/10 · 19 July 2006]

As a sequel, this is a great movie. As a Disney movie, it is a FANTASTIC movie. Disney has, of late, become sequel crazy. Hunchback of Notre Dame 2? Lady and the Tramp 2? Remakes of Parent Trap and The Love Bug? Why Oh Why? But this movie demands a sequel, and that we already KNOW there will be one, guarantees POTC 3 another attendance breaker. I'll be there. And so will YOU!

They may have to build three versions of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney land, maybe switch them without warning. Who knows? Maybe a ride where you yourself BECOME a pirate, and dunk someone else in a well? ANd if Keith Richards isn't available to play Jack Sparrow's dad, have Johnny Depp play Jack Sparrow's dad.

You, Me and Dupree (2006)

Look Out For You Me and Dupree 2!

[4/10 · 19 July 2006]

I had to choose between "Little Man" and " You, Me and Dupree". Guess which one I chose. OK. This is another married couple vs in-laws movie, but with a weird friend thrown in. It could have been Owen Wilson or Adam Sandler. Owen Wilson co-produced the movie. Owen Wilson is the weird friend! Only he is the only character who is true to himself. And that is, to me, the theme of this movie, being true to yourself. Always a good theme when you expect kids to be in the audience. Having him caught JACKING OFF? Not something you want kids to be in audience for. "Dad, what was he doing?" "Uh, he was,uhhh, sorting his laundry!"The usual comic situations aside, the main characters bond, and they come out better people for knowing each other. That is a good message. That Dupree was a hit with the neighborhood kids says a lot about him. How he built a skateboard ramp without complaints from the neighbors is one of those plot things we're not supposed to notice!And, having been on the Universal back lot, I can tell when you're looking at the familiar Universal backlot neighborhood, the neighborhood of Leave It To Beaver, Marcus Welby, and countless others, and when the neighborhood is a location shot. That Michael Douglas is in it, well, either he had a vacation in Hawaii already planned, or he had money invested. There are two things I definitely concluded after watching this movie. 1. Matt Dillon looks better with his hair brushed forward, and 2. There will be You, Me and Dupree 2 next Summer.

That will bring Carl Peterson's parents into the story, and the only thing the filmmakers have to deal with is who to cast as Carl's parents, OK, Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn. Then we can have an intrigue about how Kate looks like Carl's mom, and Michael Douglas remembers dating her, and Carl and Katie WIND UP BROTHER AND SISTER!!!! OK, that is not going to happen. Reality? The Petertson's will have a baby, because that is the only thing that could possibly merit a sequel. A baby. Then you'll get a mash of another bunch of movies. OK? See ya next Summer!

La soldadera (1966)

Mexican Revolution View from the Sidelines

[10/10 · 4 July 2006]

Back in the 30's, famed Russian film maker Sergei Eisenstein came to the U.S.A. to make movies at Paramount. One of his first projects was "Que Viva Mexico!". He filmed three fourths of the movie, but Paramount abandoned the project, and was never completed. Nevertheless, the film has squeaked out in various forms. The part that was unfinished was Soldadera, the story of the Woman Soldiers of the Mexican Revolution. It has been rumoured that THIS movie, "La Soldladera", is based on the script and editing notes by Eisenstein for HIS Soldadera portion of "Que Viva Mexico!" One only has to watch it to see the Eisenstein touches, and further inflame the imagination to wonder how it would have looked IF Eisenstein had completed the picture.

Silvia Pinal is the star. She has very little dialogue. She NEEDS no dialogue. Her eyes and face and body language speak PAGES of dialogue. She is STILL a great star and has given many WONDERFUL performances in Spanish and Mexican films. Check out "Shark!" starring Burt Reynolds, and you'll get a good English language film of hers to appreciate her talents. Some nice person out there in film land should do English subtitles for this.

One of the more fantastic scenes in this movie is when, having raided a landowners home and ransacked it, destroyed it, the women are all dressed up, with gaudy make-up, and sit down in the town square to watch a silent movie. Truly one of the great all-time scenes in the history of film. Watch it, and if you don't know Spansih, have a friend who DOES nearby to translate. But you really don't need it. This movie gets the message through in ANY language.

Waist Deep (2006)

Urban western

[7/10 · 1 July 2006]

This would have been a great B Western film. Having an R rating, I expected lots of sex and nudity, but there wasn't ANY. And the one love scene was refreshingly tasteful and brief. Gibson has a great future as a leading man. Gives real performances in unreal situations, but his big film hasn't been made yet, but it will be. The girl could have been played by any foxy black chick. Meagan Good added nothing to the film. The Game also could have been played by any black actor who can scowl. Like a rap CD album cover. It's gotten really old, that mean scowl. Like he's just eaten a stink bug. Larenz Tate? Also a part that any black actor could have played. Gibson and the boy who played his son were the only actors who rose above and grabbed your eye. And the only real funny moment in the film comes from the only white guy in the film. Whoa! Destined for the under $5 DVD rack at a used DVD store near you.

Since You Went Away (1944)

The Other Side of War

[10/10 · 21 May 2006]

There are hundreds of movies about wars, usually from the fighting side. But few gave us a glimpse of the wives, parents and friends of the fighting man. This movie probably best portrayed that side of a war. There are few movies to compare it to. We Were Soldiers comes to mind. We build monuments to the fighting man, but few to the survivors. This is a fitting monument. If you don't get emotional watching Claudette Colbert's face at the end of this movie, you've got a heart of stone. And Shirley Temple will do a good job melting that stone. 3 hours long, but it goes by without notice. It took a while for the DVD to come out. Get it, and play it on Memorial Day, but be sure to have an extra box of Kleenex.

The Frisco Kid (1979)

Sweet and real movie about friendship

[10/10 · 4 May 2006]

When "The Frisco Kid" first came out, people were expecting a Mel Brooks type of comedy, because Gene Wilder had been in Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein (and The Producers). And because of this the film wasn't appreciated as it should have been. Comedies don't have to be vulgar, they don't have to resort to toilet humor, unless that is the type of comedy that a film maker does best. Here is an example of a sweet story, which probably can tell you so much about being Jewish in a non-Jewish world than any other movie. Gene Wilder jumping off the cliff, yelling Sheeeee-it, and Harrison Ford following, yelling Oy Kavol! is one of moviedom's funniest moments.Gene Wilder telling Harrison Ford, "You are my best friend. You're my only friend!" one of the most honestly emotional moments. The chemistry between the two is magical. They should have done more. The DVD release has been long awaited.

Around the Beatles (1964 TV Special)

Historic

[10/10 · 22 July 2005]

This was the first time the Beatles themselves were given a chance to do a variety show. They chose their favorite entertainers, many of whom were struggling Liverpool musicians themselves.

The Beatles themselves were perched up on a scaffold that surrounded the stage, along with audience, dancers, etc., introducing each act with much gusto, whilst the musicians took center stage.

Sounds Incorporated, featuring dancing numbers whilst playing saxophones, toured with the Beatles, and can be heard on Revolver Lp ( Got To Get You Into My Life), and Sgt.Pepper (Good Morning), and can be spotted dancing away on the scaffolding.

P.J. Proby is probably known mostly in Canada these days. A powerful voice, very powerful indeed.

And Cilla Black, who was almost as popular in Liverpool as the Beatles. She was also managed by Brian Epstein.

The bit from Midsummer's Night Dream is funny. Curious that there were no more shows like this done by the Beatles.

The Beatles finish the show, performing their hits, including a rare medley. Curious thing: the music was live, but pre-recorded, and all the musicians are miming to their songs. John Lennon didn't have a harmonica to play the opening harmonica riff from "Love Me Do", so he just mimed playing one.

The "Shout!" number was a standard Mersey Beat audience participation song.

So, this is indeed an historic record that any Beatles fan, or 60's music fan should own.