Comments on: This Week on TCM: Lubitsch!

By: This Week on TCM: Short Thoughts » DVDs Worth Watching

This Week on TCM: Short Thoughts » DVDs Worth Watching — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:11:27 +0000

[...] this movie was director Billy Wilder’s homage to Ernst Lubitsch. Instead, why not try the real thing? Wednesday night (Thursday morning), starting at 1 AM, TCM [...]

By: Grant

Grant — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 23:58:12 +0000

I thought Trouble In Paradise was fun. Not Lubitsch best film ever, but lots of fun. I liked Kay Francis wooing Marshal and the bit about Marshal getting the goods on Francis accountant. Miriam Hopkins was in a lot of really fun early thirties comedies.

I missed out on Pandora’s Box. My cable went out, bummer. :(

By: Grant

Grant — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:18:47 +0000

I’m not a huge fan of the MacDonald/Eddy films either, mostly because I’m not a big “musical” guy. But even I thought Maytime was good.

Another musical thats pretty good is “Seven Sweethearts” by one of my favorite directors of classic film Frank Borzage. About a cynical new york reporter stuck in a small dutch village in Michigan during the “tulip festival”. Funny stuff.

By: bern

bern — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:25:45 +0000

hohanna- i cannot explain it – their voices blended so beauitfully together- they were so intimate with each other- very addicting and also they gave depression audiences a chance to appreciate operetta-a genre that most folks were not in tune with- they called them crossover artists -rock stars of their time
and anyone with a heart could see the real love and passion between them
a liflong love affair with many issues-
many folks watch one of thier movies expect corniness but it was a different time- but then realize the charm of them-
i would try maytime or sweethearts or rosemarie-ya never know if you may get “hooked” too

By: Johanna

Johanna — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:15:28 +0000

Thanks for sharing those additional recommendations!

By: Grant

Grant — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:18:42 +0000

I’m looking forward to Pandoras Box. But yeah, some of Pabst stuff is hard to follow. I recently watched his Mistress Of Atlantis (L’Atlantide) and found it incomprehensible.

I’d also recomend a couple very well made film noirs. one by Robert Siodmak called Phantom Lady. It’s not available on dvd and rarely shown on TCM. It’s on tonight at eleven. The other by Fritz Lang called “Ministry Of Fear”, on at 9am on the 30th.

And there’s a very sweet, early 30s coming of age comedy/drama with Walace Beery called “Ah, Wilderness”. It also stars one of my favorite 30s actresses Aline MacMahon. It’s on the 31st at 6am.

And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Ernest Borgnine marathon at 8pm on the 30th. Some great stuff there, Bad Day at Black Rock, Marty, Wild Bunch, among others.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 13:57:30 +0000

To be fair, I haven’t seen an actual full movie with them — it’s the old-fashioned singing style that turns me off. What do you like about their films? Maybe you can educate me on their appeal.

By: bern

bern — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 12:39:40 +0000

hello- i think lubitsch was ahead of his time and he did get away with a lot pre code
but to say that the movies of jeanette and nelson were awful- what planet is that true- perhaps your not a romantic or dislike opera or musicals-but i respectfully so-disagree

By: Johanna

Johanna — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 11:50:27 +0000

Ha! You’re right, thank you for the correction. I’ve fixed it.

By: Steely Dan

Steely Dan — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 01:45:49 +0000

Re: “To Be or Not To Be”

In your reference to the remake, I think you meant to say Mel Brooks, not Mel Blanc.

By: Jim Perreault

Jim Perreault — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:50:39 +0000

I caught Ninotchka on PBS recently. The plot stuck me as very odd, but I agree Garbo is fantastic.