Film No. 20. 13th film shown Thurs 7th June.
Philip French said "Edward Said called this dramatised Marxist essay the best film ever made about neo-colonialism. It stars Marlon Brando as a cynical 19th century English aristocrat who first arranges the overthrow of the Portugese rulers of a Caribbean island, then subverts the supposedly democratic government he's helped to create. Intelligent, articulate, beautiful looking, but due to Spanish interference and Hollywood cold feet it was first rewritten then half-heartedly released."
Sunday 10 June 2007
The Front Page
Film No. 9. 12th film shown Thurs 31st May
Philip French said "Hecht and MacArthurs classic newspaper comedy is frequently revived on stage and has been filmed four times. This first film version, a milestone work in every sense, helped, through its fast wise cracking dialogue and rapid editing, to change the sight and sound of the new talkies. Adolph Menjou as the suave double crossing editor Walter Burns and Pat O'Brien as his star reporter head a great cast."
Philip French said "Hecht and MacArthurs classic newspaper comedy is frequently revived on stage and has been filmed four times. This first film version, a milestone work in every sense, helped, through its fast wise cracking dialogue and rapid editing, to change the sight and sound of the new talkies. Adolph Menjou as the suave double crossing editor Walter Burns and Pat O'Brien as his star reporter head a great cast."
Sunday 13 May 2007
Bill Douglas Trilogy
Film No. 26. 11th film shown Sat 12th May 2007
Lizzie Francke said "Douglas started working on this whilst at film school. It charts his growing up in a Scottish mining village in the 1940's - a stark childhood evoked with an unsentimental lyricism. Sadly the only other full length film he made was the sweeping epic Comrades about the Tolpuddle Martyrs. One wonders what longer career this true poet of cinema might have had, had he been born in France rather than Newcraig hall"
Lizzie Francke said "Douglas started working on this whilst at film school. It charts his growing up in a Scottish mining village in the 1940's - a stark childhood evoked with an unsentimental lyricism. Sadly the only other full length film he made was the sweeping epic Comrades about the Tolpuddle Martyrs. One wonders what longer career this true poet of cinema might have had, had he been born in France rather than Newcraig hall"
Cockfighter
Film No. 40. 10th film shown Thurs 10th May 2007
Philip French said "Hellmans masterpiece, based on Charles Willeford's novel about clandestine sporting contests in the Deep South (and scourge of animal rights protestors) was shown only twice, and refused a BBFC certificate. Terrific performances from Warren Oates and Harry Dean Stanton, lovingly photographed by Nestor Almendros."
Philip French said "Hellmans masterpiece, based on Charles Willeford's novel about clandestine sporting contests in the Deep South (and scourge of animal rights protestors) was shown only twice, and refused a BBFC certificate. Terrific performances from Warren Oates and Harry Dean Stanton, lovingly photographed by Nestor Almendros."
Sunday 29 April 2007
Tin Cup
Film No. 35. 9th film shown Thurs 26/04/07
Jason Solomons said "A rarity this, a serious golf movie, with another rarity, a cool performance by Kevin Costner playing a washed up pro taking a shot at the big title. there's a purity of narrative as it follows the trajectory of a perfect golf shot. Bizarrely, the story prefigured the real life, self destructive hillbilly hero, John Daly"
Jason Solomons said "A rarity this, a serious golf movie, with another rarity, a cool performance by Kevin Costner playing a washed up pro taking a shot at the big title. there's a purity of narrative as it follows the trajectory of a perfect golf shot. Bizarrely, the story prefigured the real life, self destructive hillbilly hero, John Daly"
Friday 6 April 2007
The Swimmer
Film No. 7. 8th film shown Thursday 05/04/07
Lizzie Francke said "Adapted from a John Cheever short story, this is Hollywood at its eccentric best. Burt Lancaster is mesmerising as the middle-class dropout whose nose dive from suburban society precipitates the strangest odyssey. Adorned only in swimming trunks and his startling muscle tone, he pool dips his way across his waspish East Coast neighbourhood and attempts to understand his downfall. Structured episodically, there is an elegant craziness to this satire of sorts, as if it has been dreamt up in vivid Pucci-esque colours after one too many dry Martinis. But it captures the schizophrenic mood of late 1960's America - as one nation burned, another cooled off by the pool".
Lizzie Francke said "Adapted from a John Cheever short story, this is Hollywood at its eccentric best. Burt Lancaster is mesmerising as the middle-class dropout whose nose dive from suburban society precipitates the strangest odyssey. Adorned only in swimming trunks and his startling muscle tone, he pool dips his way across his waspish East Coast neighbourhood and attempts to understand his downfall. Structured episodically, there is an elegant craziness to this satire of sorts, as if it has been dreamt up in vivid Pucci-esque colours after one too many dry Martinis. But it captures the schizophrenic mood of late 1960's America - as one nation burned, another cooled off by the pool".
Sunday 4 March 2007
The Day The Earth Caught Fire
Film No. 32. 7th film shown Sun 04/03/07.
Jason Solomons said "A brilliant London film, a great journalist movie and a classic example of period sci-fi cinema. Loe McKern is thrilling as the Daily Express writer (it was shot in the paper's old Fleet Street HQ) who has discovered global warming - Val Guest's film seems more prescient every year. Also there's an early cameo from Michael Caine as a policeman ushering crowds out of the city, a scene eerily reflected in Alfonso Cuaron's Children Of Men this year"
Jason Solomons said "A brilliant London film, a great journalist movie and a classic example of period sci-fi cinema. Loe McKern is thrilling as the Daily Express writer (it was shot in the paper's old Fleet Street HQ) who has discovered global warming - Val Guest's film seems more prescient every year. Also there's an early cameo from Michael Caine as a policeman ushering crowds out of the city, a scene eerily reflected in Alfonso Cuaron's Children Of Men this year"
Robin Hood
Film No. 44. 6th film shown Sat 03/03/07.
Jason Solomons said "Never counted among Disney classics, but my favourite because Robin was a cool, Flynn style hero and Marian was, well a fox. Peter Ustinov's spoilt brat King John is pure joy and still one of the best ever voice over performances"
Jason Solomons said "Never counted among Disney classics, but my favourite because Robin was a cool, Flynn style hero and Marian was, well a fox. Peter Ustinov's spoilt brat King John is pure joy and still one of the best ever voice over performances"
Wise Blood
Film no. 43. 5th film shown Mon 26/02/07
Philip French said "Huston's low budget masterpiece adaptation of Flannery O'Connor's 1952 novel about rival fundamentalist preachers in America's Bible Belt"
Philip French said "Huston's low budget masterpiece adaptation of Flannery O'Connor's 1952 novel about rival fundamentalist preachers in America's Bible Belt"
Sunday 25 February 2007
The Mad Monkey
Film No. 39. 4th film shown Thurs 1st Feb
Mark Kermode said "Despite several Goya Awards this extraordinary adaptation of Christopher Franks book wasrongly trashed by critics in Britain and America. A spine tinglingly twisted take on Peter Pan, this intense psychological thriller boasts a career best performance by Jeff Goldblum. The climactic Paris morgue scene is heartstopping."
Mark Kermode said "Despite several Goya Awards this extraordinary adaptation of Christopher Franks book wasrongly trashed by critics in Britain and America. A spine tinglingly twisted take on Peter Pan, this intense psychological thriller boasts a career best performance by Jeff Goldblum. The climactic Paris morgue scene is heartstopping."
Sunday 11 February 2007
Less Than Zero / Breathless
2nd & 3rd films shown Sat 27th Jan 2007
Film No. 33 Less Than Zero. Nick Love said "An example of an over-rated book being beaten by the film version. When researching my Eighties set film The Business it brought back all the neon lighting, the fashions and the emptiness of the era. It Has this amazing sadness and helplessness to it and at it's heart there's a career defining performance from Robert Downey Jr. It prefigures all that twitty teen stuff on Beverley Hills 90210 and the weedy OC"
Film No. 31 Breathless. Mark Kermode said "Critics howled at the blasphemy of Hollywood remaking Godard's A bout de souffle as a racy erotic thriller, but Jim McBride's joyous crime against cineacademia is a rip roaring rock n roll ride. Terrific location work makes this one of the best LA movies of the eighties, while a finger popping soundtrack jitterbugs between Jerry Lee, Link Wray and The Pretenders. Richard Gere looks great in ridiculous checked trousers, and even better out of them. Memorable scenes include Dick shagging a shower to pieces to the naked strains of Elvis Presley's Suspicious Minds"
Film No. 33 Less Than Zero. Nick Love said "An example of an over-rated book being beaten by the film version. When researching my Eighties set film The Business it brought back all the neon lighting, the fashions and the emptiness of the era. It Has this amazing sadness and helplessness to it and at it's heart there's a career defining performance from Robert Downey Jr. It prefigures all that twitty teen stuff on Beverley Hills 90210 and the weedy OC"
Film No. 31 Breathless. Mark Kermode said "Critics howled at the blasphemy of Hollywood remaking Godard's A bout de souffle as a racy erotic thriller, but Jim McBride's joyous crime against cineacademia is a rip roaring rock n roll ride. Terrific location work makes this one of the best LA movies of the eighties, while a finger popping soundtrack jitterbugs between Jerry Lee, Link Wray and The Pretenders. Richard Gere looks great in ridiculous checked trousers, and even better out of them. Memorable scenes include Dick shagging a shower to pieces to the naked strains of Elvis Presley's Suspicious Minds"
Saturday 20 January 2007
Two Lane Blacktop
First film shown : No, 45 Two Lane Blacktop Wed 18th Jan 2007
Philip French said "This magnificent, existential road movie pits sportscar driving conman Warren Oates against hot rod aces James Taylor and Dennis Wilson. Best of its time."
Comments welcome
Philip French said "This magnificent, existential road movie pits sportscar driving conman Warren Oates against hot rod aces James Taylor and Dennis Wilson. Best of its time."
Comments welcome
Wednesday 10 January 2007
Introduction
This blog has been set up to chart the progress of a group of movie fans who are attempting to track down and watch the 50 Lost Movie Classics as chosen by a number of critics in The Observer of 17/12/06. The films are as follows:
1 Salt Of The Earth (1953)
2 Petulia (1968)
3 The State Of Things (1982)
4 Newsfront (1978)
5 Fat City (1972)
6 I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978)
7 The Swimmer (1968)
8 Under The Skin (1997)
9 The Front Page (1931)
10 The Damned (1961)
11 Ace In The Hole (1951)
12 The Beaver Trilogy (2001)
13 Top Secret ! (1984)
14 Bamboozled (2000)
15 3 Women (1977)
16 Twin Peaks : Fire Walk With Me (1992)
17 Let's Scare Jessica To Death (1971)
18 The Low Down (2000)
19 A New Leaf (1971)
20 Quiemada ! (1969)
21 The Hired Hand (1971)
22 Safe (1995)
23 Housekeeping (1987)
24 Le Petomane (1979)
25 Lianna (1982)
26 Bill Douglas Trilogy (1972-78)
27 The Parallax View (1974)
28 Babylon (1980)
29 Dreamchild (1985)
30 Ride Lonesome (1959)
31 Breathless (1983)
32 The Day The Earth Caught Fire (1961)
33 Less Than Zero (1987)
34 Day Night Day Night (2006)
35 Tin Cup (1996)
36 The Ninth Configuration (1980)
37 Cutters Way (1981)
38 Save The Last Dance (2001)
39 The Mad Monkey (1989)
40 Cockfighter (1974)
41 The Narrow Margin (1952)
42 Terence Davies Trilogy (1984)
43 Wise Blood (1979)
44 Robin Hood (1973)
45 Two Lane Blacktop (1971)
46 Beautiful Girls (1996)
47 Millions (2004)
48 Round Midnight (1986)
49 Jeremy (1973)
50 Grace Of My Heart (1996)
Is it possible. Watch this space.....
1 Salt Of The Earth (1953)
2 Petulia (1968)
3 The State Of Things (1982)
4 Newsfront (1978)
5 Fat City (1972)
6 I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978)
7 The Swimmer (1968)
8 Under The Skin (1997)
9 The Front Page (1931)
10 The Damned (1961)
11 Ace In The Hole (1951)
12 The Beaver Trilogy (2001)
13 Top Secret ! (1984)
14 Bamboozled (2000)
15 3 Women (1977)
16 Twin Peaks : Fire Walk With Me (1992)
17 Let's Scare Jessica To Death (1971)
18 The Low Down (2000)
19 A New Leaf (1971)
20 Quiemada ! (1969)
21 The Hired Hand (1971)
22 Safe (1995)
23 Housekeeping (1987)
24 Le Petomane (1979)
25 Lianna (1982)
26 Bill Douglas Trilogy (1972-78)
27 The Parallax View (1974)
28 Babylon (1980)
29 Dreamchild (1985)
30 Ride Lonesome (1959)
31 Breathless (1983)
32 The Day The Earth Caught Fire (1961)
33 Less Than Zero (1987)
34 Day Night Day Night (2006)
35 Tin Cup (1996)
36 The Ninth Configuration (1980)
37 Cutters Way (1981)
38 Save The Last Dance (2001)
39 The Mad Monkey (1989)
40 Cockfighter (1974)
41 The Narrow Margin (1952)
42 Terence Davies Trilogy (1984)
43 Wise Blood (1979)
44 Robin Hood (1973)
45 Two Lane Blacktop (1971)
46 Beautiful Girls (1996)
47 Millions (2004)
48 Round Midnight (1986)
49 Jeremy (1973)
50 Grace Of My Heart (1996)
Is it possible. Watch this space.....
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