Well done, RHS – -

You wont see me stepping up for a fight. In fact, I may join you on your side of the line…For me, ESPECIALLY the one about Joan Blondell and Grease.

One that I might add is “You love Young Frankenstein (a film i’m not to keen on) but you’ve never seen the original Boris Karloff Frankenstein trilogy (and then you add, “Who is Boris Karloff again?).” Aargh. (Still, I may be the only one who looks at those three early classics AS a trilogy, believing Son Of Frankenstein is the equal of the first two.)

Thanks for them fightin’ words,
Ben

…or people who think a “really old” movie is from the 70s or 80s! Heathens!

My wife had a friend who would exclaim, upon seeing Gene Hackman, “There’s Lex Luthor!”, as if he’d never been in another movie.

You can’t hit a girl! I wouldn’t say that “Citizen Kane” is over-rated, because the consensus around its excellence is solid, but I don’t have to like it. Aline MacMahon was, however, always and forever, the shiz.

Not shamed, mind you, but my conscience was slightly seared by “still haven’t gotten around to seeing THE UNINVITED (1944)”.
I’d bought the bluray,but hadn’t yet watched it.
Just now finished the film, and it was wonderful. When Gail Russell first appeared on screen I stopped the movie for a few moments just to look at her eyes.
I knew Ruth Hussey only from “The Philadelphia Story” and one of the ‘Thin Man’ movies-she and Milland play off of each other perfectly in “The Uninvited”. A great movie.

Welcome to the club, Doug!

I expected this post to be really angry but when I read the list I started laughing out loud. It really hit my funny bone because it very humorously expresses the frustration I think we all get when people ignorantly dismiss or overlook movies, actors/directors etc that we genuinely hold in high regard. Richard I’d happily join your gang of film avengers. Cheers!

The Jackie Cooper still — was that “Sooky” (played by Jackie Coogan). (I tear up, thinking about it.)

I was ahead of the pack in thinking that John Wayne was an underrated actor but anyone who won’t admit he was “limited” should be forced to sit through THE CONQUEROR — twice!

I don’t recall who played the mini-Fascist is in the top still (NOT Jackie Coogan) but I’d still like to step on him.

Robert Coogan, not Jackie. (Jackie’s younger brother) (CORRECTION)

I find the whole “limited” actor discussion to be specious. Not every actor can play every part but that doesn’t make any one actor limited or less of an actor than another. THE CONQUEROR was a bad idea and nobody’s finest hour, despite the fact that so many talented people were involved. But, you know, that’s showbiz. And John Wayne is forever.

Marjorie, the mini Fascist was Jackie Searl. I think he looks like Baby Hans Conried in that picture!

I’m on board for all of these except THE CRAZIES, since I haven’t seen either version. I will say, however, that I’ve enjoyed the two Breck Eisner films I’ve seen, a USA Network sci-fi thriller titled THOUGHTCRIMES and the much-maligned SAHARA, starring Matthew McConaughey.

My pet peeve: those who rail against the “over-the-top” acting styles of classic film while giving a pass to any egregious overacting in a modern film. Or how people who gladly consume the most preposterous modern studio blockbusters but somehow can’t wrap their mind around older films because “nobody talks like that” or “the world isn’t in black-and-white.”

>Tell me more about how Joss Whedon is a genius but you don’t know who this is.

Joss is a genius, but I do know who that is, so I assume the fight is off?

Gee, I love I good fight, but you’re not giving me a whole lot to work with…

I guess the only one I could bite on is Kane. I don’t think I ever used the “O” word, but my official stance is as follows: “a very technically impressive film that I don’t emotionally connect with in any way, shape, or form”

This has held true from my first viewing (at about age 15), to my last (about three months ago), including one viewing on the big screen (well, that place on W. Houston which isn’t exactly a BIG screen, but bigger than a television).

I really wish I could puff out my chest and use the “O” word, but to be honest, I find such terms sort of meaningless when talking about movies. In fact, the only time I use over/under is when talking with my bookie.

“I find the whole “limited” actor discussion to be specious. Not every actor can play every part but that doesn’t make any one actor limited or less of an actor than another.”

Some actors have a famously wide range in all kinds of parts (Alec Guinness). Others seem limited but have a surprisingly wide range nonetheless (James Stewart). Other actors can really only play one type of character, but within that limitation are superb (John Wayne).

Marjorie- I think you mean Jackie Cooper, not Jackie Coogan.

RHS- I’ll definitely join you in the defense of John Wayne. My ignorant roommate likes to dis the Duke, and yet I’ve never seen her watch a single one of his movies. Oh! But she assures me she has! Riiiiiiiight.

With you on Aline, for sure. I did pre-order Halloween III (oy…), but at least I’ve seen The Uninvited, although only on VHS. As far as Ned Sparks goes, I love his work now, but initialy I only knew him through many, MANY caricatures in Looney Tunes.

As for that Hackman remark, I remember when a friend of mine was working at a local art house cinema, but didn’t have a huge background in film. When they showed Pelle the Conqueror, he referred to its star Max Von Sydow as “that guy who played Ming the Merciless …. and the brewmaster in Strange Brew!”

I once dated a girl who had never seen a “Charlie Chapman movie”. Ugh.

Max Von Sydow-just for fun, look up his pics from the Exorcist where they aged him, and then look at him in “Shutter Island”.
Amazing.
Ned Sparks-he was in a lot of stuff, but it was “Magic Town” where I first noticed him and went, “That guy! I’ve seen him before…?”
Swac,your mention of ‘caricatures in LOONEY TUNES’ sparked a memory-when watching Vincent Price in “The Comedy of Terrors” I guessed that both Price and Richard Matheson were fans of the comic strip “Pogo” by Walt Kelly. In the strip we find a tall buzzard mortician named “Sarcophagus MacAbre” who speaks in Gothic type much like Price’s Waldo Trumble. He was often in league with a shorter accomplice, Deacon Mushrat.

[…] girl’s just got to let off a little steamo excuse me while I borrow a page from my fellow Morlock Richard H. Smith and draw your attention to a few things that have got me seeing red lately. Wanna rumble? Here’s […]