Duck Soup

The movie Duck Soup by the Marx brothers was slap-stick funny.  You have to enjoy these kinds of films to be entertained.  I grew up with them on television  and  many Saturdays watched the Three Stooges, Laurel and Hardy, Bowery Boys, etc.  This was family entertainment during those hard times of struggle of the 1930's.,40's and 50's. 
The working class people needed an outlet for everyday exsistence adn these types of movies provided that entertainment.

Chinatown

I thought Chinatown was a good movie.  Jack Nicholson played his part excellent.  Faye Dunaway was queen of her time.  I enjoyed the history factor of Los Angeles in the plot.   It was an interesting movie to watch.

V for Vendetta

V for Vendetta was surprisingly a good movie.  By the title, I assumed it was a mafia or gang war movie.   I was surprised.  The movie showed alot of violence for my taste, but I did like it.
It also was comprised of some well known British actors.

Midnight Cowboy

Midnight Cowboy was one of the best films of it's time.  The scenes were on point with locations in New York City.  It is a hustle and bustle world out there.  Yes, that is exactly what the streets looked like back in the late 1960's.  This movie showed the seedier side of life, including drug use.
Dustin Hoffman was on point with his character of  Ratso and Jon Voight was the cowboy, wet behind the ears when it came to city life. The two characters were so opposite that they were drawn to one another..like the saying opposites attract but in a bond of friendship.
This lifestyle was part of a cultural era and even though times change, they remain the same, only the names and faces are different.

Black Narcissus

I thought Black Narcissus was a wonderful dramatic film.  The colors and displays of light and shadow and closeups were magnificent.   The cinematography enriched the film with the vivid colors of fauna and flora of the landscape.The use of camera closeups and shots helped create the dramatic efforts needed to reveal the storyline.  For younger persons watching this film probably would consider it boring. 
It would help in understanding the film to have knowledge of nuns and their order so one can relate to the storyline of their calling.
I was surprised to see a very young Jean Simmons playing the character of a native girl. Did you notice she had no speaking part?  Also Sabu (from Jungle Book) was the character of the Little General.
Deborah Kerr(Sister Superior) has always been a very dramatic actress. She exudes a calm demeanor in times of strife throughout the film.
I found it amusing the way "Black Narcissus"was introduced from the classroom setting by the "Little General."
Interestingly enough the makeup use on "Sister Ruth" throughout caught my eye to the orange/red color undereyeliner and the increase of color from closeup scene of her eyes as the mental instability increased!
I also listened to the commentary's afterwards and through Martin Scorcese was surprised to learn the film was NOT done on location, but majority on sets in England!  Surprise!

Me and Orson Welles

I finally got to watch the movie Me and Orson Welles the other day, and I found it to be a very good film.  The scenes with closeups were done very well and the dramatic effects helped to move the film along.  The film seemed to be two stories in one.  You were involved in the young man's growing up stage of life and some harsh reality's in the working world of theatre during the times involved.
The actor who portrayed Orson Welles did a wonderful job in showing what we perceive to be the true personalities of Mr. Welles.  I remember the remark by the character Sonja to Richard about standing in the way of Orson Welles spit!  As Orson was reciting you could see the spit fly out and also the character of Cesar, the effect was the same.  I thought that was hysterical!  So we got to see a side of the great man other than Citizen Kane.  He was a genius!

link

I came across this link while looking to download movies for FREE! and I thought some of you might be

http://www.openculture.com/free_film_noir_movies

interested in the category of "film noir" movies.  From the list some looked really interesting to view.

Lady Shanghai

I thought this clip was really neat!  I liked the use of mirrors giving the viewer a vision which  keept me guessing.  I thought it was a good element of the film, the angles shown, of course black and white film of the time created a dramatic effect.

Citizen Kane

Hello Classmates!  When I saw the syllabus, I said to myself..uggghhh Citizen Kane and Orson Welles!  Actually, it wasn't so bad.  I noticed different things when viewing a second time.
I love the size of that fireplace, when Orson Welles is standing right infront of it..It's like you can just push him in!!! 

Everyone stay safe and hopefully see ya Tuesday.

Pamela