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I'm probably not a movie buff, but I do enjoy watching movies.
I've probably not seen any movie dozens of times - - 1939's "The Wizard of OZ" might come close simply because when I was growing up, it was shown on TV only once a year. I don't particularly love the movie but I was, and still am, always drawn to Margaret Hamilton as "The Wicked Witch of the West." I think Hamilton creates "The Best Villain EVER" in film. And I would argue her performance is very possibly the "Most Perfect Performance Caught on Film."
"A Christmas Story" ~ makes me laugh every time I see it. I like the marathon showings in December. I particularly like Melinda Dillon's performance as "The Mother."
George Romero's 1968 original "Night of the Living Dead" ~ the movie still blows me away any time I see it -- a sense of dread permeates the film and never lets go. A terribly realistic movie once one accepts the premise of the dead returning to life. The characters seem like real people here -- no super-heroes, no one's perfect, all have a variety of character traits, like all of us -- a movie showing a group of people attempting to simply survive threats -- from outside the house and from each other. And it's a well-crafted, well-directed, darn scary movie.
:)
Thank you for a really swell reply WQ. Regarding Margaret Hamilton..don't forget the ghastly makeup that made her so scary! That wart? The green makeup? It should have won an award for makeup don'tcha think? I saw "A Christmas Story" and thought it was charming. I have never seen the last one about which you speak. Scary I avoid . It isn't a pleasant sensation for me. I get nightmares. I never tire of Yankee Doodle Dandy, Singin' in the Rain, An American in Paris, Casablanca, all Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers musicals, anything featuring Gene Kelly as long as he is dancing. They make me happy. I find myself singing along with the songs to which I learned the lyrics so many decades ago. I love the life stories of compose
ts like Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George Gershwin. Because their music will be featured and it is always a pleasure to listen to them . Watching them takes one back to simpler times. When you're younger life seems simpler. Happy Saturday! :)
what a great question.........YEP I"m a HUGE movie nut and love'em!!
speaking of the WOO,,,,,I HATE that movie; never liked it, never will......it was a great and beautiful production, but I swear if I hear "Over the Rainbow' one more time I will puke my guts out......sorry, WOO fans,,,,,,just my opinion!!
here's the movies I"ve seen many times:
LA DOLCE VITA.......SAW IT IN 1961 when I was 21, and it's been 'playing in the back of my mind' ever since...SOOO Many incredible performances and scenes.........if this film was a person, I'd marry it!!!!!!
A PLACE IN THE SUN.........SO HOW do you top Clift/Taylor/Winters in this incredible story!! all great performances, and tragedy at its best......
PSYCHO......can still recall the day I first saw it..........as for the famous murder scene, all sources say it was 50 pieces of film all edited BRILLIANTLY, of course, but when I watch it frame by frame on DVD I only count about 47 cuts...oh well.....Janet Leigh was INCREDIBLE in the role & should have gotten supporting actress award for it.......but they gave it to Shirley Jones, the goody goody two shoes, for playing a whore in "Elmer Gantry'........that's Hollywood for you!!
TWO WOMEN.........Sophia Loren at her best.........the scene in the bombed-out church haunted me for days afterwards........every night for a few nites, right before I'd fall asleep,I'd see that scene......won't spoil it for you, but this is MUST SEE filmmaking.......also has Jean-Paul Belmondo........DO SEE THIS ONE FOLKS!!!!!!!!!
all I can think of for right now!!!
Hi ben1011,
"Over the Rainbow" was always my least favorite part of that movie, ha!
:)
"A Place in the Sun" - - you're one of the very few, if any, people I've come across anywhere who have ever mentioned it. I agree with your take on it - - practically perfect in every way! And I was surprised at how 'modern' the story is, so to speak. I believe Clift is the best all-around actor I've ever seen. Every movie I've seen with Clift he is unbelievably honest and real to me. And Taylor and Winters are so good here, too! I could go on and on but you've summed it up well!
:)
And "Psycho" - - love it! Yes, Leigh was phenomenal. PLOT SPOILER!!! PSYCHO!!!!When I watch it now, I marvel at her in the scene in the Bates Motel lounge where she is conversing with Norman Bates and she's eating the light meal Norman made for her. I guess in reality, Leigh was probably reacting to someone just saying the lines? Because of the camera angles and eidts needed for her and Perkins in this scene? But she says hardly a word in that scene but everything she does, even chewing, shows a woman listening intently and reacting to every mannerism and word Norman Bates throws out. Between her and Anthony Perkins ,they make that scene possibly my favorite scene in the movie. I think Perkins was cheated of an Oscar nomination.
:)
I haven't seen the other two you mentioned.
Thanks, RosieG!
:)
Yeah, that "Night of the Living Dead" - - no movie has scared me more over my life!
:)
I haven't watched, though, a lot of musical-type movies when I think about it.
You're welcome WQ and Happy Sunday to you m'dear! :)
Nifty answer ben for which I thank you. I LOVED Two Women. Didn't Sofia Loren win an Academy Award for that? It was not an easy movie to watch. My movies would include Casablanca(Humphry Bogart is my favorite actor), Citizen Kane, Inherit the Wind, To Kill a Mockingbird for the more serious ones. Then Yankee Doodle Dandy (my father thanks you. My mother thanks you. My sister thanks you. And I thank you), Singin' in the Rain, An American in Paris. I also saw a movie...true story... called HACHI and it's about the devotion of a dog (an Akita) to his master. It happened in the late1920's and there is a statue of Hachi at the train station in Japan where he would wait for his master to come home daily for years after his master died. It is heartbreakingly beautiful. It starred Richard Gere as the professor. I've seen it a few times and right now in recalling it I am tearing up. If you love animals I highly recommend it ben. Happy Sunday! :) Oh and thank you for the compliment. I appreciate it! :)
