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TSMov_freak
post Jan 3 2014, 10:57 PM, updated 6y ago

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Thought it would be fun to revisit older movies.

I have noticed in the past, some people finds it cumbersome to read my reviews for older movies in the My Movie Review thread.

With that in mind, I thought it might be nice to have a home for any movie reviews for movie prior to 1980s.

Come in one and all, and share your thoughts!

Cheers

P.S.

I have since update this to Pre 2000's... Apparently, not so many old uncle like me on this forum.... cry.gif

P.S.S.

Rebranding this thread. For reviews of movies that is not current, but deserving of mentioning/Attention.

If you have a better idea for the title, please let me know

Cheers

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: May 26 2020, 05:50 PM
TSMov_freak
post Jan 3 2014, 10:57 PM

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Desk Set (1957)

Most of you know that I'm kinda a movie freak.

Some of you might know that I actually also like OLD movies.

Case in point Desk Set (1957).

I believe I first watched this on Australia TV...

Two things about this movie stand out for me

1) The undeniable Spencer Tracy & Katharine Hepburn.

2) One of the very first movie from Hollywood which feature a (drum roll) computer!!

Some of you might know Spencer Tracy & Katharine Hepburn. Their on/off screen romance was the stuff of legend (Spencer Tracy was a married man and a devout Catholic, but his affair with Katharine Hepburn is practically known by everyone in Hollywood. Katharine Hepburn was by all account a strong and independent woman, but when it come to Spencer Tracy... Ain't love... weird... laugh.gif

Now computers in 1957 were very mysterious items.

1) They were huge (a computer, back then, will less computing power than, lets say our pocket calculator, were the size of a class room)
2) They needed punch card for data input (If you know what score cards are, or card that you used for presentation, wait, you guys know used Power Point and have no idea what I mean, right!!? laugh.gif
3) They were amazingly sensitive!!

On the topic of computers, I believe I have mention this before, in the 1960s, scientist told computer hardware engineers, if the engineers can provide to them 64K of memory, scientist would be able to solve WORLD PROBLEMS!!!!

Guess what, we are now in the age of petabyte (1,000,000,000,000,000 bytes) and we have even more WORLD ISSUES then in the 1960s... laugh.gif tongue.gif

But I digress

This movie is pretty good. A lite RomCom if you must.

Richard Sumner (Spencer Tracy) is a computer engineer, hired by a big company to put the latest in computing wonder into the company's resource center which provide information to anyone who calls them (think 1960 Google, but you have to call this number, ask you question, and then wait for the researcher to call you back with the answer!! Sometimes it takes them MONTHS to get back to you.)

Bunny Watson (Katharine Hepburn) run the resource department and is concern that the machine is here to take her colleague's and her job away...

But the computer engineer is just so darn engaging!! laugh.gif

I like this movie, the technical stuff was right on the money and Spencer Tracy & Katharine Hepburn were at the top of their game!!

If you like RomCom and you like OLD movie (1980s movies are NOT old!!) give this a go

My Two Sen

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Jan 3 2014, 11:00 PM
TSMov_freak
post Jan 5 2014, 12:31 PM

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QUOTE(dundermifflin @ Jan 5 2014, 09:10 AM)
i think ive watched the famous ones, such as Star Wars's, The Godfather's, Psycho, Kurosawa's, Bruce Lee's and few horrors ones. not many, probably around 25 titles overall.
*
Please put your reviews here. Would love to hear you thoughts on those. Especially the Kurosawa's stuff. Me, I've got 236 Shaw brothers Martial Arts movies to go through... (1965 to 1986)... Not sure if I post all the reviews here... Don't think there is a big readership here for these movies... laugh.gif
TSMov_freak
post Jan 5 2014, 08:42 PM

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dinodog_Jr

> Indeed need to have a productive time management to watch so alot of movies.

True that...

> Alfred Hitchcock got tons of filmworks. If i am going to revisit a few of them. I will pick up 'Vertigo' for its Suspension Mood, 'North by Northwest' of its Romantic Thriller.

'Lifeboat' and '39 Steps' are on my waiting list.


I'm a huge Alfred Hitchcock fan and have watched Lifeboat (1944), and thought the script is quite cleverly constructed but for some odd reason have not posted my reviews at My Alfred Hitchcock Movie Reviews

>I actually like the Character design found from Akira Kurosawa Samurai movies.
'Yojimbo' would be my personal favourite over '7 Samurai'


Am also a huge fan of Kurosawa. I like 7 Samurai, and most people have watched this movie but they do not know it (eg alot of western movies had emulated this movie, including Star Wars). If Japan horror is what you crave, try Kwaidan (1964)

Please comeback often

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Jan 6 2014, 10:26 PM
TSMov_freak
post Jan 5 2014, 08:57 PM

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QUOTE(MjMax15 @ Jan 5 2014, 04:10 PM)
the only i remember- fright night- the dracula movie
*
Fright Night (1985), is a B movie, and have to add, it has alot of heart (not to be confused with it's remake), so much so it is considered a classic now.

I too, like this movie alot.
TSMov_freak
post Jan 5 2014, 09:01 PM

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QUOTE(skylinelover @ Jan 5 2014, 07:37 PM)
haha just watched "its a wonderful life" 1946 and "miracle on 34th street" 1947 on christmas day itself laugh.gif both are the finest christmas movies ever made in the 20th century rclxms.gif
*
Both movies I like alot!!

Believe it or not, I'd watched the newer Miracle on 34th Street (1994, with Richard Attenborough, Elizabeth Perkins and Dylan McDermott [who showed... too much of himself in American Horror Story laugh.gif]) first and then discovered it's classic counterpart.

Another interesting note, did you know that there is a colorised version of the It's A Wonderful Life? It was recently release on Bluray. Another interesting note is that I actually recommended this movie to a Christian friend of mine (2012 Christmas), and for some odd reason, he and his family had never watched this movie before and it has now become a Christmas viewing for them!! laugh.gif

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Jan 5 2014, 09:04 PM
TSMov_freak
post Jan 10 2014, 08:57 AM

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QUOTE(supermoto @ Jan 9 2014, 10:52 PM)
» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

*
Wow, really amazing collection as you stated off the usual mainstream stuff.

Good review for Wake in Fright. Will try to look for it.

I'll always wonder what the Valley of the Dolls is all about

Any possibility of a review here?

I have all of Basil Rathbone's Sherlock Holmes, admittedly the The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939) is the only one that is faithfully adapted from Arthur Conan Doyle material. The rest are at best... pseudo Arthur Conan Doyle, taking place during the 1930s...

Recently alot of Vincent Price stuff were made available on HD, namely

The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)

This is a really REALLY weird movie. The motivation for Dr. Phibes is really mystery until the and and using the word abominable to describe Dr. Phibes is apt!! The way he handles his victims demise are gruesome....

Pit and the Pendulum (1961)

This is adapted from Edgar Allen Poe's story called... Pit and the Pendulum. I'm always surprise by how celebrated Edgar Allen Poe's works are in the States. They are really macabre... Having said that, I do always enjoy The Simpson's Bart's storytelling of Edgar Allen Poe stuff in their Halloween specials!! laugh.gif Again, Vincent Price speciliase in the weird and this movie is weird to the max!! B movie mind you but amazingly weird!!

House of Wax (1953)

This movie was made to highlight the wonders of 3D in the movie. I have watched this a couple of times and is most surprise to find that Charles Bronson plays the romantic male lead!! I keep expecting him to shoot something, but he doesn't... laugh.gif

All camp fun stuff!! laugh.gif

Also watch the original The Haunting (1963) Mov_freak's The Haunting (1963) Review a few months back

I am actually hoping that they would release all of William Castle's stuff on HD, namely
House on Haunted Hill 1959
The Tingler 1959
13 Ghosts 1960
etc

I think I have most of Charlie Chaplin, Abbot and Costello and Marz Brothers stuff

What I really REALLY hope would eventually be lease on HD is Cecil B DeMille's The Ten Commandment (1923) (The Silent Movie version, not the one with Charleston Heston)

You come back here often you hear

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Jan 11 2014, 10:31 PM
TSMov_freak
post Jan 11 2014, 10:27 PM

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dinodog_Jr

I'm glad you enjoy!! smile.gif

Kwaidan (1964)

This is probably one of the most... haunting movie I have ever watched!

There are a total of 4 short stories that I would rename as

1) There is no fury like a woman scorned, even if you are a Samurai!! laugh.gif I believe this movie influence more modern movies like Nang-Nak (1999) (Thai). It is able to built up the suspense and then the reveal. My favorite story of the four.

2) For Pete's sake, keep you promise. This story is actually a retelling of Japanese folklore. I also believe this is the exact story for the Hong Kong movie Golden Swallow (1987) with Cherie Chung. If only us men, can learn to keep our mouths shut!! Life would be wonderful.... laugh.gif

3) Like applying suntan lotion and insect repellent, do NOT miss a spot!! This is a spooking story, and visually memorable. I remember a snapshot of this short was used as the cover for the Laserdisc. Not for the faint hearted. I also believe this movie inspired movie like Shaw Brother's (who borrowed heavily from Japan) Hex (1980) which is actually a retelling of the French movie Les Diaboliques (1955, which is based on the french novel Celle qui n'était plus, by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac).

4) Conscience is a bit©h. So much so that you cannot even have a drink without panicking... laugh.gif

The Japanese, especially their 50s and 60s stuff was made with alot of artistry.

This is a very visually stunning movie, even to date.

My Two Sen

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Jan 11 2014, 11:27 PM
TSMov_freak
post Jan 11 2014, 11:26 PM

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** Deleted **

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Jan 11 2014, 11:27 PM
TSMov_freak
post Mar 22 2014, 11:12 PM

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The Lady from Shanghai (1947)

It turns out, of all the classic movies I have watched, I rarely watched Columbia's stuff. I believe today it the first time I have watched a movie with... Rita Hayworth!! laugh.gif

Madonna actually got it right:

QUOTE
They've got style, they got grace, Rita Hayworth gave good face!! tongue.gif


This is the first time I watched this movie and it is interesting!

I really don't know Orson Welles materials well.

He and Rita Hayworth apparently were married when this was made.

Rita Hayworth was Columbia's biggest star and Orson Welles previous movie, Citizen Kane (1941) did not do so well.

Because of Rita Hayworth, This movie got made, and it did not make any money when it was first release. But, since then it is consider a very good example of what Film Noir is!!

Story is interesting, although a little strange.

Alot had been written about the ending of the movie, but for me, I think the Courtroom scene is the money shot!!

They REALLY do not make movies like they use to.

If you like mystery and film noir, give this a go.

My Two Sen.
TSMov_freak
post Mar 22 2014, 11:15 PM

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supermoto Marion Davies had stunning eyes.

I wonder if her material have survive to date and whether any studios/distributors are willing to give them a HD transfer/remaster....

Quoting from Little Britain:

QUOTE
Computer says no.... sad.gif

TSMov_freak
post Mar 23 2014, 11:53 AM

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Die Nibelungen: Siegfried (1924)

QUOTE
Die Nibelungen (The Nibelungs) is a series of two silent fantasy films created by Austrian director Fritz Lang in 1924: Die Nibelungen: Siegfried and Die Nibelungen: Kriemhild's Revenge.

The screenplays for both films were co-written by Lang's then-wife Thea von Harbou, based upon the epic poem Nibelungenlied written around 1200 AD.[1] Siegfried was released in the U.S. on 23 August 1925, premiering at the Century Theatre in New York City in the short-lived Phonofilm sound-on-film process. Kriemhild's Revenge was released in the U.S. in 1928.

(excerpt from Wikipedia)

Now for something completely different.

This is probably one of Fritz Lang best known work (the other being Metropolis (1927))

They are silent movies... (for you young'un, the first movies were silent. They have not really figured out how to record sound, or more specifically, how to synchronize sound with moving picture.)

This is a fantasy movie, with Dragons (the highlight of the movie. A 60 feet mechanical dragon was made for this movie), people with special powers (Siegfried is super strong, invincible and can turn invisible and shape shift).

This is a full restoration.

Note that this movie is 89 years old.

There is no way the picture quality of this would compare to what we have now...

Having said that, as a 89 year old movie, It actually looks... good. Not as impressive as Metropolis (1927), but good.

What impress me most is the soundtrack. Let me explain, Silent movie we almost always accompanied by an orchestra. They would play music and product "sound effects" in synch with the movie.

What the restores did (and this is impressive) as to go back into the archive and look for the original score, and did a modern recording of the said score for the restored movie. Now THAT is dedication!!

Many works from the silent era is fast disappearing.

They are either bio degrading in storage somewhere or is lost completely (even Willis H. O'Brien stuff. He is Ray Harryheusen teacher/mentor).

There isn't much funding to restore them and I suppose, there really is not much demand for said movies (with some exception, like Charlie Chaplin)

This movie is NOT for everyone, but if you are into black & white and silent movie, you cannot go wrong with this!

Bring on Nosferatu (1922)!!!

My Two Sen.
TSMov_freak
post Mar 24 2014, 01:06 PM

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zachozoi

12 angry man
double indemnity
good bad and ugly - Watched. When I was really young. Might have to revisit
rear window - Watched. One of my favorite Alfred Hitchcock. Do check out my Hitchcock Thread
judgement at nuremberg
to kill a mocking bird
vertigo - Watched. Another favorite Hitchcock movie.
witness for prosecution
psycho - Watched. Need I repeat? tongue.gif
metropolis (I think you mean Fritz Lang 1927 one) - Watched. I like this
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb - Watched. A little too weird for me.
seventh seal
7 samurais - Watched thumbup.gif thumbup.gif thumbup.gif
TSMov_freak
post Mar 24 2014, 01:14 PM

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supermoto

>never know the hound of the baskerville is one of the Basil Rathbone's collection. is it part of the Sherlock Holmes collection?

Sorry for the late reply. Yes it is.
TSMov_freak
post Mar 24 2014, 01:16 PM

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skylinelover

The Birth of a Nation (1915)

Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages (1916)

Wow, I have not watched any of these!! Will try and look for them.

If you like the above, you should look for

Greed (1924)

When Astro started in 1996, I was one of the early adopter.

Believe it or not, Astro then and now is REALLY different!!

There actually had MGM Classic, and I remember MGM had a silent movie marathon and Greed was one of the highlights!!

I miss Astro of yester-years... The programing was diversed! (As oppose to the current Homogenised Astro... laugh.gif)
TSMov_freak
post Mar 25 2014, 02:37 PM

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Horror by decades 1920s

Der Golem: Wie Er In Die Welt Kam (aka The Golem: How He Came Into The World) (1920) [German]
Directors: Paul Wegener/ Carl Boese
Starring: Paul Wegener, Albert Steinrueck

Have not watched this but I want to. Have to locate a copy first... sad.gif

Das Kabinett Des Doktor Caligari (aka The Cabinet of Dr Caligari) (1920) [German]
Director: Robert Weine
Starring: Werner Krauss, Conrad Veidt

I also have not watch this and am hoping to locate a copy...

Nosferatu, Eine Symponie Des Grauens (1922) [German]
Director: F.W. Murnau
Stariing: Max Schreck, Gustov von Wangenheim

This was release on bluray end of last year and looking at the age of the movie, I do not think we can ask for a better representation. Max Schreck will forever be associated with the role, so much so that in the year 2000, director E. Elias Merhige wrote a love letter to this movie in the form of a movie called Shadow of the Vampire starring John Malkovich, Willem Dafoe & Udo Kier. This really highlight how "progressive" German was towards this new medium Nickelodein, much much earlier compared to the Americans. Very haunting movie. If you do not find it haunting, it is because, it has been emulated so many times, you are just very familiar with the "style"

The Phantom of the Opera (1925) [US]
Director: Rupert Julian
Starring: Lon Chaney, Mary Philbin, Norman Kerry

I have this on DVD. A pretty good adaptation of Gaston Leroux book. Lon Chaney (the man with the thousand faces) is very convincing here as The Phantom. Alas, I believe the musical version is more popular (sexy? laugh.gif) today.


Well, this is not a exhaustive list of horror movies from the 20s, just my little, wish list. Feel free to add your wish list. I'm hoping to find the time to do this decade by decade. Let's see if I manage that.

See yas at the movies

My Two Sen.
TSMov_freak
post Apr 29 2014, 02:10 PM

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To Catch a Thief (1955)

This is an interesting Alfred Hitchcock movie, though not at the top of my Alfred Hitchcock must see list.

Why, because it actually DOES NOT INVOLVE MURDER!! (Yes, I am THAT macabre) laugh.gif

Cary Grant was thinking about retiring, and Hitchcock managed to talk him out of it to do this. (And after that to do North By Northwest)

Grace Kelly's last few works in Hollywood before she became Princess Grace!! She supposedly like the script to Marnie (1964) , but because of her duty to her adopted country and family, did not return to Hollywood to do that.

Lyn Murray (composer who scored this) introduced Bernard Herrmann to Hitchcock and they say, the rest is History.

I also would like to take a minute here to talk about Edith Head. I think in the Hollywood movie industry, she well know, not because he is the BEST costume designer around, but because she is the most "people oriented" designer at the time, which made her very popular amongst the stars!! The reason why I want to talk about her is that, Google her, find a picture of her. Does she look familiar? No?? Really? Not familiar at all? All I can say is Edna 'E' Mode (think The Incredibles (2004)) laugh.gif She is THAT well know in the movie industry, even Pixar paid Homage to her!!

Okay, sorry for my ramblings, back to the movie.

As stated above, not one of my favorite Hitchcock movie, though there are some interesting bits to it.

Cary Grant plays a retired "cat thief" who is living the life at the French Riviera.

Out of the blue the well to dos are losing their precious diamond collection one after another.

An insurance company representative H.H. Hughson, tracks down John Robie (Cary Grant) and requested him to find out who the "Cat" is and in the midst, John Robie meet up with a wealthy Jessie Stevens & and her daughter Frances Stevens (Grace Kelly)

While John Robie is trying to discover who the diamond thief is, Frances Stevens is trying to steal his heart!!

This is a rare thing for Hitchcock. Half of this movie was actually film on location (French Riviera) and the other half in the studio. Hitchcock HATES to film on location because of the lighting.

This movie also impress on us how Hitchcock alluded the censors. Back then he cannot show men or women in sexual context. What does he do, he has Grace Kelly wear a one piece swimsuit at the beach, rubbing sunscreen onto her skin! And when Cary Grant and Grace Kelly kisses, they then cut to a firework in the sky scene, letting the audience know that more is happening then meets the eye. I know they are sound rather tame by today's standards because these scene are copied to death, but back then, no one had done it before....

If you like Hitchcock stuff, you know who you are, watch this!!

My Two Sen

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Apr 29 2014, 09:01 PM
TSMov_freak
post Apr 29 2014, 02:10 PM

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QUOTE(pj_guitarist @ Apr 4 2014, 06:47 PM)
One flew over the cuckoo's nest anyone?
*
Not yet, been meaning to get around to that... laugh.gif
TSMov_freak
post Apr 29 2014, 02:13 PM

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Hartigan

1. Where Eagles Dare

I have not watch this

2. The Guns of Navarone

Or this

3. The Great Escape

I might have seen this

4. Kelly's Heroes

Might have also seen this

5. The Dirty Dozen[/i]

Maybe

Not really a fan of war movies... tongue.gif
TSMov_freak
post Apr 29 2014, 03:44 PM

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QUOTE(+Newbie+ @ Apr 29 2014, 03:39 PM)
Try 12 Angry Men. It's really good.
*
Thanks for the recommendation

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