I’ve seen Citizen Kane three times, each time I have found something new to enjoy. Maybe a fourth viewing is inorder to see if it measures up to Touch of Evil.
I have seen The Lady from Shanghai. It’s excellent, but it is definatly convoulted (I needed a second viewing in order to fully understand it) thanks to studio edits. Rita Hayworth (as always) is sexy, sulty and sizzling. Everything you want from a Noir Femme fatale!
I would personally rather watch Intolerance twice than to watch Citizen Kane 3 times.
Ha ha, I can’t say I’ve seen Intolerance (silents have never been my strong point), but I gather that’s a pretty damning comparison?
[quote=“Mortimer, post:399, topic:1786”]The different opinions and points of view are what make it fun. If we all agreed with each other on everything I doubt we’d see much discussion.
Cheers.[/quote]
Precisely, amigo, precisely!
I would personally rather suffer intolerance than to watch CITIZEN KANE 3 times! ;D
Actually, I have seen CITIZEN KANE 4 times. The first time I saw it because I wanted to see it (and I really feel that anyone that claims to be a true film buff should watch it at least once). The second time I had to watch it for a college class. The third time it was forced upon me by an ex-girlfriend who was seeing it for the first time (she hated it, by the way). And the fourth time I just happened to sit down in front of the TV and it was the only thing even remotely worth watching on at the time (bad night for TV! ha ha!).
Having seen it 4 times, I can say (just speaking for myself, of course)…that I have probably seen CITIZEN KANE 3.5 times too many! 
I must admit i’ve never seen Citizen Kane.
Lonelyhearts (Vincent Donehue)
This Noir had been on my watch list for quite a while. It was john Alton’s last work in Noir which caught my eye. And ever since seeing the Killing and Touch of Evil, I had been interested in late 50’s Noir to experience the feverish stylization. This film acks that but still retains the beauty of Alton’s previous work. It’s probably only slightly more Noirish than a film like Clash by Night but is still undeniably dark and noirish.
You can tell by the poster that this was after Montgomery Clift’s terrible car accident. His nose is more bulbous and his voice seems shaky and somewhat raspy. But he puts on a great show as does Robert Ryan as an intelligent yet physcologically cruel man.
4/5
I, the Jury (Harry Essex)
This was the first Mike Hammer ever appeared on screen. I thought I’d watch it again to get into the spirit while reading the novels. This one is routine yet good. John Alton behind the camera again and even though it was filmed in 3-D (BW/sepia), in only one scene does it obviously strut it’s stuff 3-D wise. Just what the doctor ordered altogether.
4/5
I’ve always been interrested in I, the Jury. It’s pretty obscure, I think, so do you know whare you can get it?
Anyone seen The Letter starring Bette Davis? I’m thinking about renting it.
Sorry if it’s been discussed before.
@John:
I got it from a torrent site. I went through hell and high water finding the torrent so yes, it is pretty obscure. But it doesn’t live up to Kiss Me Deadly.
[quote=“korano, post:410, topic:1786”]@John:
I got it from a torrent site. I went through hell and high water finding the torrent so yes, it is pretty obscure. But it doesn’t live up to Kiss Me Deadly.[/quote]
How did it compare with the adaptation of I, the Jury from the early 80s - not in terms of graphic content, of course, but otherwise?
I don’t know much (if anything) about these sort of films but i did pick up Bogey in THE DESPERATE HOURS last week, not watched it yet though.
[quote=“The Gringo, post:409, topic:1786”]Anyone seen The Letter starring Bette Davis? I’m thinking about renting it.
Sorry if it’s been discussed before.[/quote]
Gringo, it’s certainly worth seeing. Not the best film with Bette Davis in it but an enjoyable one. It’s been several years since I saw it but I do remember a few scenes vividly.
Did you see the question I asked you in the forum re: The Red Desert?
RAILROADED! - PRC (1947)
When a bookie joint robbery goes bad, innocent Steve Ryan takes the fall for both the robbery and the murder of a cop. John Ireland and Jane Randolph play the gangster and his moll who are behind everything. Hugh Beaumont plays the lead detective who begins to suspect Steve might be innocent.
Anthony Mann directs this flick for the ultra-low budget Producers Releasing Corporation. There’s plenty of noirish goodness in this. The opening scene with the robbery gone wrong is really well done. Almost halfway through there’s a fun catfight where the girls knock over the lamp leading to some shadowy wrasslin’. And the big finale takes place in a club after closing time, good stuff. Solid performances all around make this well worth seeing. Not a top noir, but a good one.
Fun Factor - 6/10
I wouldnt classify that one as a noir, more of a classic thriller, and a good one too…
On a another note, viewed the visceral performance of Lee Marvin in the classic neo noir Point Blank. This movie doesnt let up, Boorman’s fashionable prose is unparreled. Gotta admore it…
T-MEN - Eagle-Lion Studios (1947)
This is a police procedural style crime flick, with Dennis O’Keefe and Alfred Ryder playing Treasury Agents. Their job is to infiltrate and break up a counterfeiting ring who’ve gotten hold of some very good paper. Good 'ol Wally Ford plays a broken down mobster who’s seen better days in more ways than one.
Anthony Mann directed this great looking film, but besides the great visuals this just ain’t my cup’a tea. I’m more of a fan of the noirs which have a femme fatal or greaseball guy pushing the plot along, making everyone miserable. I’m also not a big fan of voice-over narrations in general, and this one is no exception. Definitely worth seeing once, but i probably won’t be re-visiting anytime soon.
Fun Factor - 5/10IN A LONELY PLACE - Columbia (1950)
A while back JW asked me why i didn't consider this a noir, and i think about all i could come up with was that it just never struck me as a noir. So i re-watched it today with this in mind. Firstly, the storyline, wonderful as it is, isn't my idea of noir. And secondly, although it is stylishly directed by Ray and he does make some use of shadows. There is nothing done so strikingly as to push this into noir territory for me. Don't get me wrong, Sony markets this as noir and i realize it's on a lot of lists. I've got no problem with someone else finding this to be noir, it just isn't to me. All that being said, if you ask me what my fave Bogie is, i'll pick this one seven days outta ten.
Fun Factor - 9/10I understand your reasons Spaghetti Monkey and it’s fine if you don’t consider it a Noir - personally, despite playing aganist type, and being very good at it - I don’t think it’s Bogart’s best performence is The Maltese Falcon.
THE MALTESE FALCON is definitely a fun one, probably number three Bogie for me.
RAW DEAL - Eagle-Lion Studios (1948)
We open with Claire Trevor visiting Dennis O’Keefe in jail. But woops, Marsha Hunt is already visiting him. Seems she is his lawyers secretary and she has developed an interest in him as well. Once Marsha leaves, we find Claire has arranged an escape for Dennis with the help of a vicious gangster played by Raymond Burr. But Burr has only set this up hoping that Dennis will get killed before he can get back to Frisco. Against all odds Dennis does make it out with Claire’s help and the two of them wind up forcing Marsha to help as well. The threesome wind their way to Frisco avoiding several close calls along the way. As they go along Marsha goes from interested in Dennis to appalled by him and finally falling in love with him, much to Claire’s chagrin.
Anthony Mann and John Alton team up for another gorgeous B-flick. In the opening scene in prison Alton manages to capture a literal sparkle in both girl’s eyes as they visit Dennis, very cool. This is quite a violent flick for it’s time with Burr playing a particularly sadistic character who throws a flaming cauldron on a girl who dares to bump into him at one point. O’Keefe shows he is quite capable of violence as well when pushed by one of Burr’s henchman played well by John Ireland. The two women playing both sides of the coin, Marsha as the good girl and Claire as the bad girl, are very enjoyable as well. All in all, a very entertaining noir with a particularly memorable ending. Recommended.
Fun Factor - 7.5/10
I’m going to watch these noirs soon:
The Letter
The Woman in the Window
Angel Face
Where the Sidewalk Ends
I also want to see Pepe le Moko but have no luck finding it anywhere.