Guest Post ~ Carlos' Indiana Jones Adventure

Hello! I am Raquelle’s husband, Carlos. Raquelle and I share a great passion for movies. She primarily reviews movies made in the 1920s though the 1960s. I concentrate on movies mostly from the 1960s to the present. Between the two of us we have every decade covered!

The Indiana Jones movies have been a passion of mine since 1981, when Raiders of the Lost Ark was released. All four Indiana Jones movies were being shown for one Saturday only. The reason for the rerelease was to drum up business for the upcoming Blu-ray box set. These movies were extremely well received by audiences who were treated to exotic locations, a wise-cracking archaeologist, and nearly unattainable ancient artifacts.

I asked my manager for a Saturday off. This is a rare treat in the world of retail. Saturday’s is the busiest day of the week so it is all hands on deck. I joke with customers who ask if I work on Saturdays. I tell them if  I’m not at work on a Saturday it means I am either on vacation or dead! He gave me the ok and I purchased two tickets, one for myself and my Dad. I invited Mrs. S. but she declined. 

Knowing the popularity of the movies and not having been shown in the theaters for a quarter century, I wanted to get there as early as possible. We arrived at the movies around 9:45 am and the gate to the entrance was down. There were about 40 people waiting to get in. I was expecting more fans of the movie to turn out for this once-in-a-lifetime event. At 10 am the gates were raised and everyone shuffled in. We were corralled into a line, so we could be given a commemorative poster and lanyard. The lanyard was more functional as it was an indicator of our paid admission. There was a 30 minute break between movies which gave us the opportunity to eat and stretch our legs. 

Back of the Lanyard

Front of the Lanyard - This is the idol that Indiana Jones almost acquires in the first movie.

Movies:

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)'

As a movie buff where I plant my ass in a theater is of utmost importance. Almost to the extent of where and why Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory sits. I need to sit in the center of the theater about three quarters of the way up. In this location my eyes are level looking at the center of the screen. Also my ears are treated to a perfect balance of sound. I located the most centrally available seats and settled in with my Dad to my left. 

The lights go down...Raiders starts! It was a thrill to watch this movie again after so many years. We stayed for the first three movies, but we skipped “Kingdom of  the Crystal Skull”. I had seen it in 2008 when it came out.

Before “Last Crusade” an Indiana Jones trivia contest was held. The prizes were commiserate with the questions. Here are the questions:

1. What is Indiana afraid of? 
2. What is Indiana full legal name?  
3. How does Indiana get the grail? 
4. How did Indiana get the scar on his chin? 
5. How did Indiana get the fedora? 

(See answers at the bottom of the post)

The best prize was the box set of all the movies on Blu-ray. I only knew the answers to questions 1 and 3. 

Sunday previous I trekked to the same theater for a special screening of Raiders of the Lost Ark. It was being promoted for a special screening on Imax for one week only. I know what you are thinking: you went to see Raiders of the Lost Ark on  Imax and a week later you go back to see Raiders of the Lost Ark AGAIN and the three more Indiana Jones movies! 

Watching a movie on an Imax has no equal as it represents the zenith of current digital movie technology. It is engineered for the highest degree of high definition and 6 channel uncompressed audio. There is a catch however. The are two types of Imax’s: Classic Design and Multiplex Design. Classic Design is built in a certain manner to take full advantage of the experience. This is not your grandfather’s movie theater. Important features include seats set at a steep incline, a very large screen,  72 x 52.8 feet, and the seats placed much closer to the screen.  Multiplex Design is a regular theater has been turned into an Imax. It does not contain the important attributes needed for the full experience. As I entered the “Imax theater” I stopped in my tracks and wondered if I went into the wrong theater. I was expecting a Classic Design Imax, but I was in a regular theater. I went back out and asked the man who took my ticket if I was in the right theater. He explained it was “technically an Imax”. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and went back in and found my seat. The movie started and I kept waiting for the Imax experience to kick in. Within five minutes I realized that was not going to happen. I stayed through the entire movie, disappointed. When I returned the next weekend for the marathon, I explained what happened to a supervisor and she returned the cost of the ticket, $16. Lesson learned! If you want to see a movie on an Imax, it must be on a Classic design not a Multiplex design.

Answers:

1) Snakes

2) Dr. Henry Walton Jones Jr.

3) The notes in his father’s diary

4) A whip used to hold back the lion

5) Given to him by the treasure hunter who found the Cross of Coronado

Catching Up with 'Quelle (2)

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Movie Star Diet – Something Celeste Holm said in an interview about High Society (1956) has wedged itself in my brain and hasn’t wanted to let go. She said that Grace Kelly was very conscious about her weight and her lunch on set was always a cup of tea with honey and a grapefruit. Yikes! I think my ulcer would come back if I ate like that. I sometimes wonder what movie stars ate? Especially when they were working on a movie. Then there is Ava Gardner (the only actress I truly despise) who would eat like a horse and not gain weight. Her daily meal consumption included:

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Breakfast: Southern-fried chicken, grits, biscuits, gravy, coffee.

Lunch: A large steak, veggies, potatoes, salad, apple-pie with ice cream, iced-tea.

Snack: A milkshake. Cornbread dipped in cooked vegetable juices.

Dinner: Another steak, with all the trimmings.

Dessert: ____

Evening snack: An omelette.

Geez at least she skipped dessert!

Robert Mitchum iPhone 4 Case - I got it!

And I love it! It pretty much represents who I am. Someone who loves modern technology but yearns for the past.

You can custom make your own iPhone case over at CafePress.com . The above image is from my Instagram. If you'd like to follow me on there, my username is QuelleLove.

Recuperating - I had surgery on Friday so I've been (trying) to take it easy this weekend. Lots of movies seen! I hope you all have a good week.

Liz and Dick - I recently watched the trailer for the new Liz and Dick TV movie. What do you think of Lindsay Lohan as Elizabeth Taylor? I know a lot of you are strongly against it. I wasn't happy with Jennifer Love Hewitt as Audrey Hepburn and I'm expecting similar from Lohan.

Lightning Flash Giveaway ~ Lawrence of Arabia (1962) 50th Anniversary Event

It's time for another Lightning Flash giveaway hosted by Sony Pictures Entertainment and NCM Fathom Events!

 I'm giving a way 3 pairs of tickets for Lawrence of Arabia (1962) screening on Thursday October 4th  in select US theaters. Check out NCM Fathom Events' official page for the Lawrence of Arabia event for details on where it's showing.

The event features an introduction by Omar Sharif, a newsreel from the New York premiere of Lawrence of Arabia, an interview with Director Martin Scorsese and some extra fun features. The film has been digitally restored in celebration of the 50th anniversary. 

Also on November 13th, a fantastic new Blu-Ray set will be available for sale! (I swear no one is paying me to say this, I just like really nice looking collector's editions boxed sets. I wish I could own them all!)

 You can enter to win a chance to see this here! It's a lightning flash giveaway so please be prepared to respond ASAP to my email if you are contacted. Read the rules and regulations and fill out the form below.

Rules and Regulations:

1) US participants only.

2) Enter by Sunday September 30th at Noon EST.

3) Winner will be chosen at random and contacted via email.

4) There is only ONE SHOWING. If you are not available to see this on Thursday October 4th, please do not enter this contest.

5) If you win, you must reply to my announcement email by 8 am EST on Monday October 1st so NCM Fathom can get you the tickets.

Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW OVER. 

Winners are Merry, Steve and Bill. Congratulations! Thank you to everyone who participated.

Warner Archive Wednesday ~ Any Number Can Play (1949)

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Any Number Can Play (1949) was shown recently on TCM (Turner Classic Movies). Host Ben Mankiewicz chose to screen it right after Gilda (1946) because both movies dealt with casinos and the people who run them and how that affects the people in their lives. Any Number Can Play has a terrific cast. It stars Clark Gable who was still a major star but according to Mankiewicz needed something to boost his career after a bit of a slump after WWII. Gable also had to compete with the new popular media: Television. So instead of a fancy film about casinos, this one is more about the emotional toll casinos and gambling take on the folks involved.

Clark Gable plays Charley Kyng, the owner of an underground casino. The years of dealing with staff, gangsters and gamblers has taken a toll on him. He's developed a pain in his chest (angina) and wants to take some time off. But it's harder to pry himself free from his business than he thought. He sees how his choice of career is affecting his family: his wife Lon (Alexis Smith) is sad and worried and his son Paul (Darryl Hickman) lashes out.

This film has a terrific cast. Audrey Totter plays Alice, Charley Kyng's sister, and Wendell Corey plays her husband Robbin who works at the casino. Mary Astor plays Ada, Charley's old lover who still harbors strong feelings for Charley even though he won't reciprocate. Frank Morgan plays a regular at the casino. 

Image Source: Another Old Movie Blog

And then there is Lewis Stone. Oh my goodness. How I do love Lewis Stone. I have a serious soft spot for him. Lewis Stone plays Ben, an old widower and ex-insurance agent with a penchant for drink and gambling. In one scene, he comes to Charley (Clark Gable) for a loan. He's done it several times in the past but this time he has collateral. He leaves behind the flask his deceased wife Imogee left to him. It's at this point where I just burst in to tears. A lot of tears. Every single scene with Lewis Stone just gets me crying. Balling. Sobbing. Lewis Stone. I'll save you! Don't give up! I'll adopt you! Let me give you a hug!

I also really sympathized with Clark Gable's character Charley. I have been having some bad chest pains too (although mine are muscle related due to an inflammation around my rib cage). It gets worse with every day stress of work, chores and other health problems. I wish I was in the situation where I had enough money to take a break. But alas I don't.

The film has a good cast but it moves very slowly. It could have used the noir touch for some added intensity and drama. The promotional poster (see above) says this film is not suitable for children but it's not as dark as it pretends to be. It's worth watching for the terrific cast though. 

The movie is available on DVD via Warner Archive.


Warner Archive Wednesday - On (random) Wednesdays, I review one title from the Warner Archive Collection. Movies selected are rented from Classicflix, watched on TCM or purchased from Warner Archive, Classicflix or TCM. This series is not sponsored by Warner Archive.