Saturday, May 31, 2008

Blog News

June is guest blogger month. I have recruited several people to submit a piece to me and I will post their submissions over the next few weeks. They have free reign to submit anything their heart desires on whatever subject as long as it's classic film related. In fact, depending on when the submissions come in, I will probably be posting into July as well.

If you are interested in being a guest blogger, please e-mail me your submission (my e-mail link is to your right). Feel free to include photos. You can come up with a pen name if you so desire.

Also, I have joined The Golden Age of Hollywood (as some of you friends who were coerced... ahem encouraged to join already know). It's a social networking site for fans of classic films. It's a great way to meet other like-minded people as well as share your interests in films. If you join, please make sure to add me as a friend.
I've added some links to other cool new blogs. Check them out.

Finally, Out of the Past ~ A Classic Film Blog has received a rating of 9.1 on Blogged.com. My blog was critiqued based on 4 categories: Frequency of Updates, Relevance of Content, Site Design, and Writing Style.

Out of the Past at Blogged

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Raquelle's Favorite Genres

I got to thinking about genres and types of movies I like to watch. And I have to say, I have a very unique taste. Very specific things excite my wonderment and curiousity. I have talked about a few on here, but there are others, some of which I made up terms for, that I haven't really delved into. Do you have any very specific types of films that you enjoy? Please feel free to share!

Here is my list (some genres overlap with each other). Each category links to one of my favorite films in that given genre.


Contemporary French Films

Pre-Codes

'60's Sex Comedies & Romantic Comedies

Film Noir

'40s Romances

Screwball Comedies

Mormon Cinema

Controversial '50s Films

'90s Period Pieces

Visually Stylized Films

Contemporary Romantic Comedies

Office/Workplace-based Comedies

Book Industry-related Films

Literary Adaptations

Dating/Relationship Movies

Sweltering Deep-South Dramas

Americans Abroad - Comedies

Monday, May 26, 2008

Unseen Noir

The Harvard Film Archive had an Unseen Noir series over the long holiday weekend, showcasing numerous noir films that were not available through regular channels. This was a great opportunity for me and my friend Kevin to watch some unique film noirs!

On Friday night, Kevin and my new friend Bob and I watched a double feature of He Ran All the Way and The Sound of Fury. On Sunday night, Vivienne and Nate joined us for a screening of Pitfall. The place was packed on both nights, which gave me all sorts of warm proud feelings inside. To see so many people come out to watch these movies when they could be spending their money on some brainless blockbuster. Below are my thoughts and reactions or interesting information on each of the films.

He Ran All the Way (1951) - John Garfield plays Nick, who is running away from the police after accidentally killing a cop. Is he genuinely evil or is he a good guy gone bad due to circumstances? He romances Shelley Winters, as Peg, only to sequester her and her family in their apartment as he grows ever anxious of being caught. Peg is caught between her growing affection for Nick and her love and devotion for her family. And time is running out.

~ Why isn't this on DVD? Garfield + Winters + Noir = $$$
~ John Garfield's last film.
~ classic gutter scene. Every film noir should have one.
~ great camera angles and shots. Lots of focus on Garfield's face.
~ One scene, Garfield's face is half in shadow, showing how he's split between good and bad.
~ low-budget, short, so the focus is on the story and the rising tension.
~ Suspense was well-done. As the plot progresses, Garfield's character becomes less patient and more suspicious.
~ My favorite line was a suggestion made to Winters character about how a little lipstick, a hairdo and a nice dress can make a man do anything you want!

The Sound of Fury (1951) ~ Based on a true story, this is an interesting study in journalistic sensationalism and the violence that can erupt from mob mentality. Frank Lovejoy plays a family man, desperate for cash for his wife, kid and baby on the way, who gets entangled in a kidnapping gone wrong with the charismatic Llyod Bridges. The media and community are hungry for blood.

~ Why isn't this on DVD? Bridges + Mob Mentality + Noir = $$$
~ Uncomfortable to watch because it was so poignant. Left me somewhat depressed.
~ Wow. Llyod Bridges. Wow. Double wow.
~ Reminded me of the equally uncomortable They Won't Forget (1937).
~ Didn't help that they kept talking about how people won't forget.
~ Several funny moments helped us feel the intensity of the tragedies to come.
~ Kathleen Ryan reminded me of Melanie Lynskey.
~ Mob riot/jail scene was breathtaking!

Pitfall (1948) ~ Dick Powell is a jaded insurance man who is bored with his job + wife + kid = safe life scenario. He meets Lizabeth Scott who's boyfriend is in jail for stealing insured jewelry. Biggest mistake, sending a detective, played by Raymond Burr, over to Scott. Sadistic Burr wants Scott but so does Powell and the love triangle gets ugly.

~ Why isn't this on DVD? Powell + Young Raymond Burr + Noir = $$$
~ Raymond Burr gave me the chills. Burrrr...
~ Lizabeth Scott is like a combination of Lauren Bacall and Susan Peters!
~ One of a few great movies based on insurance companies. The Apartment, Double Indemnity.
~ My first Jane Wyatt film.
~ Any film with a fashion scene is a-okay with me.
~ Some of the story, especially dialogue, seemed to much like filler. Could have been more tension build up.
~ Dick Powell can do it all, in my honest opinion. He was superb in this.

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