General Chat

There's one of those "lovely" films on tonight that most people would regard as outside my normal taste and that's 'The Dead Poet's Society' with Robin WIlliams. I can't believe I first saw it 20 years ago when it came out in the cinema ...

How the years fly by, O Captain my Captain ...

No not seen that Edd and no one I know has seen it either, so can't give you anyones opinion on that. there's a trailer on You Tube for it...infact several. Two good actors in it, so must be good and if you enjoyed the book, well treat yourself!

Another favourite film of mine which came to me earlier and I can't believe I'd forgotton to put this one up, 'The Crying Game.' Stephen Rea was exellent in it. Very good cast actually. Miranda Richardson (she does an exellent Northern Irish accent) Adrian Dunbar and Forrest Whittaker as the English soldier (he also does a very good English accent - no Dick van Dyke!) Oh yes and Jim Broadbent. Very sad in places, and a surprise or two as you brobably know...exellent film. Boy George sings the film score well too.

Did anyone see the film "The Last Legion" which came out in 2007? It had Colin Firth and Ben Kingsley in it. I haven't actually seen it myself, but I've spotted it a few times in the shops and have been tempted to buy it - I read the book by Valerio Massimo Manfredi (a fantastic author who's work I'd recommend - especially Spartan and Tyrant) and was wondering if it will live up to the novel.

Just trying to get my birthday pressie list together ...

Hi Pam, just checked about Bacall and Bogart and according to Wikipedia they met whilst filming To Have and Have Not (one I've never seen)

Forgot about the Cincinnati Kid with Steve McQueen - they played proper poker in that one - Five Card Stud if I remember rightly as opposed to this excuse of a poker game Texas Hold 'em everyone plays nowadays.

Just googled it...Marriage Italian Style, Starring Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni. You can get it on DVD on e bay apparantly...yipee! ☺

Just thought of another great film (subtitled) as it was in Italian, Starred Sophia Loren an a wonderful Italian actor who I think died last year. Had to post this before I go to bed or might have forgot it again!! It was about an Italian couple and he the hubby had a roving eye, typical italian, and quite rightly the wife (Loren) was always doing her nutt!!! Anyone know the film I mean, it was very funny in places! Marriage Italian Style possibly.....

Hi Edd, yes Robert Mitchum was good in the original Cape Fear, saw it for the first time a couple of years back, it's not one to watch on your own!!

Edward G. Robinson was on TCM a few nights back I think with Steve Mc Queen in the Cincinnatie kid.(spelling?) Think Tuesday Weld was in it too.

Key Largo, is that the film where Humphry Bogart met lauren Bacall, or am I totally wrong.

Take care, night.

Couldn't agree more, Pam. Just seen Kate Winslett on the news, what on earth was she snivelling on about?

The luvvies do make you laugh sometimes.

Loved Cagney in White Heat, Angels With Dirty Faces and The Roaring Twenties.

Favourite gangster - now there's one to ponder ... probably have to be Edward G. Robinson in Key Largo, or maybe Robert Mitchum as Max Cady in the original Cape Fear.

Dumb and Dumber and also There's Somethng About Mary, both of these make me laugh!! The lavatory scene in Dumb and Dumber is so crude and I know I shouldn't laugh...but I can't help it! Also The american Pie films make me chuckle. :0)))

Think Kate Winslett went a bit OTT at the Golden Globes.

I remember seeing James Cagney being interviewed on the Michael Parkinson Show, he was very elderly at the time and died a year or so later, he came across as such a lovely old chap, and you imagined he was always that way and it wasn't because of his age, I agree with you PP a really great actor.
My favourite Gangster is and always will be GEORGE RAFT though!! Good dancer too. He was when really young as good looking as Valentino in my opinion.

Sunset Boulavard, starring Gloria Swanson and William Holden. First saw this film on the telly when I was about ten. It scared me a bit as it reminded me a little of The Adams' family house and Miss Swanson 'close up'., was scary too! None the less since seeing it as an adult it really is a classic in my opinion. At the end she says something like "Mr Demille I'm ready for you now". William Holden was exellent as always too.

the God Father, white heat James Cagney, anything with Cagney i love him, have most of his films.

Watching Blazing Saddles made me think of the comedy films I've seen Gene Wilder in; especially those where he co-starred with Richard Pryor:

The Silver Streak, Stir Crazy and See no Evil Hear no Evil

Probably three of the biggest side-splitters around.

Hello Nicky,

Yes Papillon also had Dustin Hoffman in it too - I also loved Rain Man!

We're well past the campfire scene in Blazing Saddles now - quite near the end as a matter of fact!

Love Eastwood in High Plains Drifter - I also liked him in Pale Rider, The Outlaw Josey Wales and Two Mules for Sister Sarah.

Yes I quite fancy Defiance too ...

Have you ever seen Daniel Craig in "The Trench"? Its about a group of Brisitsh soldiers in the days leading up to the Battle of the Somme. There was also a lot of young (at the time) English actors in it too, who I recognised by face but not name - the one that I do recall is Paul Nicholls.

Hi Ed....Papillion, I`d forgotten about that one, only seen it once or twice, many years ago, but found it quite difficult to watch, quite harrowing as I remember, wasn`t Dustin Hoffman in it as well? While I mention Dustin, can`t help but mention Rain Man...... he was brilliant in that, and no not because of tom Cruise, actually I`m not a huge Tom Cruise fan, just he`s made some very good films....... { a bit to vertically challenged for my liking} like the scenes where he must be standing on a box in Top Gun...always makes me chuckle.,

Blazing saddles another goodie, a long time since iv`e seen it though.

Clint Eastwood in High Plains Drifter... now theres a good film.

Yes I do want to see the new Tom Cruise film Valkyrie, also Defiance with Daniel Craig and Slum dog Millionaire which both opened this weekend, I saw a trailer for Defiance when I went to see Australia last week, and it looks really good, thats based on a true story as well, about 3 brothers who built a camp/village in the woods in Belarus and liberated thousands of Jews, should be riveting stuff.... I always like films based on fact.

Has it got to your "Beans" scene yet?

Nicky

Hi Nicky,

Are you planning to see the new Tom Cruise film, Valkyrie, when it is released?

It looks as though it has a great cast: Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Eddie Izzard, Terence Stamp among others.

The film is based on an actual plot to assassinate Hitler in 1944.

Oooh the Great Escape - now there's a film I'll watch every time it is on (so I've seen it about 40 times!) Love the bit with the line "Good luck!", when Richard Attenborough and Gordon Jackson are getting on the coach and being checked by the gestapo.

My favourite Steve McQueen role has to be as Henri Charriere in Papillon. Again, the film was based on the book by Charriere which is allegedly based on his life story (although I did read that he borrowed experiences of fellow convicts to spice the book up)

It is also hard to believe that criminals were actually treated like this only 75-100 years ago.

Hello all, back online after a couple of hectic work days. Watching one of my favourite comedies at the moment - Blazing Saddles. (I think it was mentioned in an earlier post). Just got to the the bit where Cleavon Little has been appointed sherriff and is riding through the desert past the orchestra!

Can't wait for the legendary campfire and beans scene!!

Hi Nicky,

Greyfriars Bobby is an old black and white film and based on a true story. It's about a little terrier dog named Bobby who's master dies and is buried in Geyfriars Cemetry, it's some where in Scotland I believe. Anyway the master has no headstone and the little dog lays by his grave for about ten years or so...possibly more. The local children take care of Bobby, but every night he goes back to the grave yard to be with his master. There's a monument to the little dog I believe and the owner does get a headstone. It's a real little tearjerker!! Don't watch it alone or if you're feeling 'down'!!

You and that Tom Cruise...people will talk! lol That Antonio Banderas keeps phoning me...I've told him to bu**er off back to Melanie, but what can you do eh!!

I agree with you about The Great Escape...but how does Steve keep those trousers so clen! Another good Steve McQueen one is Bullit! My son is a fan of Steve McQueen too, he really was the king of cool wasn't he.

Pam. ☺

Ladies in Lavender and Greyfriars Bobby...... must admit i havm`t heard of either ,but will keep a look out for them.

Reach for the sky........ what a wonderful film, Douglas Bader..... what a corageous man. I thought Kenneth Moores portrayal was excellent.

Have to confess sat up and watched Top Gun {again} last night..... didn`t finish till gone 2am, so may dissapear from the boards earlier tonight if I dont get my "second wind"..

another classic oldie The Great Escape, Steve Mcqueen at his most handsome, and a wonderful star studded cast....... another one I could watch over and over.


Nicky