King Kong's Recent Activity - Spout

Film:King Kong

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 01:29:06 GMT

Title: King Kong
Year: 1933
Director: Ernest B. Schoedsack, Merian C. Cooper
Plot: "How would you like to star opposite the tallest, darkest leading man in Hollywood?" Enticed by these words, brunette leading lady Fay Wray dyed her hair blonde and accepted the role of Ann Darrow in King Kong -- and stayed with the project even after learning that her "leading man" was a 50-foot ape. The film introduces us to flamboyant, foolhardy documentary filmmaker Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong), who sails off to parts unknown to film his latest epic with leading lady Darrow in tow. Disembarking at Skull Island, they stumble on a ceremony in which the native dancers circle around a terrified-looking young girl, chanting, "Kong! Kong!" The chief (Noble Johnson) and witch doctor (Steve Clemente) spot Denham and company and order them to leave. But upon seeing Ann, the chief offers to buy the "golden woman" to serve as the "bride of Kong." Denham refuses, and he and the others beat a hasty retreat to their ship. Late that night, a party of native warriors sneak on board the ship and kidnap Ann. They strap her to a huge sacrificial altar just outside the gate, then summon Kong, who winds up saving Ann instead of devouring her. Kong is eventually taken back to New York, where he breaks loose on the night of his Broadway premiere, thinking that his beloved Ann is being hurt by the reporters' flash bulbs. Now at large in New York, Kong searches high and low for Ann (in another long-censored scene, he plucks a woman from her high-rise apartment, then drops her to her death when he realizes she isn't the girl he's looking for). After proving his devotion by wrecking an elevated train, Kong winds up at the top of the Empire State Building, facing off against a fleet of World War I fighter planes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 21
Number of Lists: 53
Number of blog posts: 10
Number of discussion threads: 11
SpoutRating: 3

Spout Post: The one true king of monster movies

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:56:33 GMT

Post By: The_MOW
Post To: The_MOW Blog
Post Date: 4/27/2009 10:56:33 AM
Body: This is one of the best monster movies ever made. And, unlike more recent movies in the genre, one the entire family can watch where parents do not have to worry about scenes of graphic violence. "Carl Denham" (Robert Armstrong) is a high-risk-taking motion picture director known for risking the lives of his cast and crew, but always brings them back with spectacular films that garner fair reviews. He was able to gain possession of a hand-drawn map which leads to an island unknown to civilzation. "Denham" charters a boat with a tough crew under command of "Captain Englehorn" (Frank Reicher) and his First Mate "Jack Driscoll" (Bruce Cabot). "Denham" brings on board his latest star discovery, "Ann Darrow" (Fay Wray, in her most famous role), whom he found on a New York City street looking for food. "Denham" takes the boat, her crew, and "Darrow" to the unknown island, which has a mountain with features that resemble a skull face. He then leads the ship's crew, commanding officers and his movie's star to shore, where they find a native village with an enormous wall that is said to be keeping something away from the village. After the people from the ship goes back on board for the night, men from the island sneak on board and kidnap the lovely, young woman. The natives take her back to the island, where they offer her as an offering to something not seen by any one from the West -- an enormous gorilla the natives call "Kong." After discovering "Darrow" is missing, the men on the ship return to the island to save her. They find the natives on top of the wall and go through the large door built into the structure. What they find is a dense tropical jungle which has living dinosaurs, as well as "Kong". Most of the men from the ship are either killed by a dinosaur or "Kong." "Capt. Englehorn," "Driscoll", "Denham" and "Darrow" are the only ones who survive. "Kong" is captured and brought to New York City, where he is put on display by "Denham" as part of a stage show to tell of their adventure to "Skull Island" and their discovery of the renamed "King Kong" and its capture. Even if you haven't seen this movie, you know "Kong" escapes and eventually makes his famed climb to the top of the Empire State Building. Therefore, I won't go any further. For 1933, this was THE movie you had to see if you wanted to see a special effects movie. Although the only effect that really does not work, in my opinion, is where the actors are interacting with "Kong," who obviously appears on a large screen in some scenes. Even the mechanical puppet head, built for close-ups of Kong's face, looks good -- even if it does look fake. The acting is very good. You believe that "Kong" is in the scenes with his human co-stars. The dialog is also well written, with very few badly worded lines. If you are looking for a good monster movie, but don't want graphic, bloody violent scenes, this is an excellent choice. This is one monster good for the entire family. If you rent a movie video/DVD, or you buy your movies on video or DVD, I encourage you to make this a "First Choice" selection

Spout Post: Revisiting(ish) King Kong (1933) for the AFI Project

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 23:56:27 GMT

Post By: pippin06
Post To: Reel Thoughts
Post Date: 1/6/2009 6:56:27 PM
Body: What's the AFI Project, you ask? For more information, or if you just enjoy my bemused ramblings, read here: http://www.spout.com/blogs/pippin06/archive/2008/3/1/25756.aspx King Kong (1933) is on the following AFI lists: The Original Top 100 (#43)100 Most Heart-Pounding Movies (#12)100 Years...100 Passions (#24)100 Movie Quotes (#84 - Carl Denham: "Oh, no, it wasn't the airplanes. It was Beauty killed the Beast.")25 Film Scores (#13)The Revised Top 100 (#41)10 Top 10's (#4 Fantasy) I say revisiting(ish) in the title of this entry because I'm fairly certain that I saw this, the original version of King Kong, when I was a very little girl. I remember a time when I was 5 or 6 years old, and I got so sick with strept throat and some upper respiratory infection that I was out of school for weeks. And I remember that there were many movies and TV marathons, and I remember enjoying HBO quite a lot at the time. And I remember seeing two King Kongs in a row, this one and the surprisingly spades-lamer 1976 version with Jessica Lange. Because I was a very little girl, however, I couldn't tell you what I remembered from this film because it's literally been that long since I've seen it. Plus, if you haven't noticed, a few other versions of King Kong have come out since then, and I think I've officially seen them all. I digress. After making use of the wondrous Netflix queue, I revisited King Kong, thusly, with an approach more akin to viewing it for the first time but also with a somewhat scientific veneer. After all, I've now been exposed to the incredibly protracted Peter Jackson version, which is basically a retooling of this version, only hours longer and with more CGI ape, so I didn't know how I would feel about it in the end. Plus, I was interested in how the film came to be rated so highly on so many AFI lists, since the film is basically a highly lauded monster movie. I must say I was pleasantly surprised, and I honestly think that this film is my favorite of all three known King Kongs. Maybe that reaction is not surprising in and of itself, but I was pleased with how much I felt oddly satisfied by the original Eighth Wonder of the World. In case you don't know the story, filmmaker Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong) has built a reputation of making films about the dangerous and exotic, and he's cooked up another nugget based on the account of an uncharted island holding the mysterious and mythic Kong. No one knows what Kong truly is, since the name is stuff of rumor and legend, but the captain of the ship Denham has hired to sail him to this island expects only trouble because Denham attracts it. In fact, no agent will contract with Denham to provide a leading lady, so Denham takes it upon himself to scour New York City streets. At a homeless shelter, he spots budding beauty Ann Darrow (Fay Wray), and down on her luck as she is, she quickly accepts the promise of high adventure, fame, and fortune. The trip to the island is largely uneventful but for Ann's budding dalliance with first mate Jack (Bruce Cabot); however, the arrival to the island proves to be a whole new story. First, there are the natives, who are wary of the "white man" and seem to be sacrificing one of their own to the great big wall dividing their village from the rest of the jungle. Second, there's the natives' fascination with "golden girl" Ann, whom they end up kidnapping and tying to a sacrificial post beyond the great wall doors. Everyone should know what happens next: Kong finds Ann, and despite her constant screams of fear and protest, the great big ape is entranced by her beauty, and takes her to his lair atop high rocky precipices. Later, after Jack rescues Ann from her captivity, Denham manages to capture the beast and bring him back to New York, with the idea of exhibiting him to paying ticketholders. And, naturally, Kong gets loose to disastrous and yet iconic results. I'm sorry if I'm spoiling the film, but, really, most people should know the story, even if they haven't seen any of the available three versions. And I haven't spoiled any of the details...yet :-). Mwa ha ha. Ok, I'm just kidding. Don't read further if you have never ever seen a King Kong in your life because if you ever see this version, I would hope that you are as pleasantly surprised as I was. Now, don't get me wrong. The original King Kong, owing to the year in which it was made, is nothing short of sexist, racist, endangers animals, is paleontologically inaccurate (thanks to what knowledge was available in 1933), and is pockmarked by some cheesy dialogue. I literally bust out laughing when first mate Jack, who had been something of a cuddly misogynist from the beginning of the film and resistant to Ann's coquettish charms, finally submits to his manly urges and replies to Ann's, "Jack, I thought you hated women," with, "I do. But, gee, I guess I love you." Seriously, I heartily laughed at this stunning revelation. Also, King Kong himself sometimes looks like a stuffed animal with moving facial features. Once you get past all of these dated shortcomings, however, and consider the film on its merits, it's actually quite a wonder, especially given the year in which it was made. First of all, the story is fantastic. I mean fantastic first in the sense that it's a great fantasy story playing on a sense of mystery and wonder that has managed to spawn two remakes and influence any number of creature features to follow, including modern marvels like Jurassic Park. The story is timeless, ageless, and still hooks you: what if there was a land that time forgot and in that land lived a great, intelligent primate with a penchant for fair-haired humans? The story is also fantastic in the sense that each character is both complex and simplistic, archetypes with layers, not the least of which includes Kong himself, and the entire adventure captures the imagination in many ways. Second of all, the visual effects in this film are actually quite amazing, thanks to the animator that ultimately provided the template for claymation and CGI renderings in hundreds of later movies. Kong himself is kind of a lumpy mess, and the dinosaurs are a little mushy-looking, but the great wall, the fights (including Kong lifting the log of crewmen), the rear projection techniques - these are stage effects translated superbly to screen and because they were innovations in this film, they're that much more charming. Third of all, if you watched the uncensored special edition like I did, you'd realize that for a black and white oldie like this original version, King Kong is actually quite gory and sexy. Made prior to the Hayes code, the restored edition includes bloody monster battles (including Kong vs. the airplanes) and the great ape peeling clothes off of a swooning Ann Darrow in his gigantic hand. Code censors later chopped and spliced the movie to more innocent and audience-friendly version, so this restored cut was actually quite entertaining, honest, and endearing. Most of all, though, the story is so good and the spirit of it is so enthralling that King Kong is nothing short of a riproaring good time. Just be prepared for some of the most legendarily protracted and shrill screaming in movie history. After all, this is considered a horror film too! While I was initially skeptical of King Kong's many placements on AFI's various list-happy rankings, I have to say that I agree with just about every placement. The movie is thrilling from its basic story to its groundbreaking filmmaking. It's a touching and tragic love story, at least from one side. That final quote is iconic, philosophical, and one of the perfect last lines in film history (in addition to the perfectly tragic ending of the film). The score by Max Steiner is monster movie goodness in one exciting symphonic package, and the movie is an undoubtably great fantasy. Thus, it's no surprise that it would be ranked one of the greatest. Still, I don't love the film. I've seen King Kong now, between all three versions, quite a few times, and even if the original is the best, it's still one more iteration. Plus, the movie has its minuses which are not as timeless as the story itself. So, I'm inclined to rate the movie an 8 for being very good with minor flaws (that would normally be major flaws, but the film gets a pass on account of being so old). As to the test, I don't think it passes, only because I've seen my fill of King Kong and don't anticipate wanting to pull it out for a lark, but I'd probably be inclined to stop on it if I was looking for some random cable flick to pass the time. King Kong is a wonderful film, though, and this great original should not be missed.

Spout Post: Re:The Best Fantasy

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 19:56:36 GMT

Post By: Dr_Gor
Post To: The Imagination of Fantasy
Post Date: 12/27/2008 2:56:36 PM
Body: Pippin has already included a few of my favorites including The Wizard of OZ and The Princess Bride ... I will try to come up with ONLY ten more that have not yet been listed... 1. King Kong ; A GREAT story and groundbreaking special effects by Willis O'Brien and a young protoge of his named Ray Harryhausen. 2. Son of Kong ; See above. 3. Mighty Joe Young ; See above. 4. The 7th Voyage of Sinbad ; ANY movie with the name Ray Harryhausen listed in the special effects department is worth watching! 5. The Golden Voyage of Sinbad ; See above. 6. Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger ; See above. 7. Jason and the Argonauts ; See above. 8. Clash of the Titans ; See above. 9. 20 Million Miles to Earth ; See above. 10. The Valley of Gwangi ; See above. Damn! I've run out, haven't I? Well, THAT will be my official "top ten" list. But honorable mention MUST be given to SEVERAL great movies including Forbiden Planet , ZARDOZ , Conan the Barbarian , 300 , The 13th Warrior , Tommy , Pink Floyd: The Wall , Wizards , Heavy Metal , Fritz The Cat , Debbie does Dallas ... the list goes on and on.... < GOR >

Spout Post: 10 Tips for the Unemployed from 1930s Movies

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:01:04 GMT

Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 11/19/2008 1:01:04 PM
Body: Unemployment is about to get even worse now that Citigroup has announced it will cut 52,000 jobs early next year. And falsely reported news of a killing in Santa Clara, California (the shooter was fired, not laid off) only adds to the bleak atmosphere surrounding the already upsetting job market. But while desperate times may lead to desperate measures, it’s vital for us to remember what we learned from the films of the 1930s, when the Great Depression caused a nearly 25% rate of unemployment (we’re currently at 6.5%). Hopeful stories of upward mobility and implausible solutions were popular at the time, though many of them had downsides or inspired the desire for unlikely prospects. Still, there was some guidance to be found buried within the fantasies of Hollywood, and SpoutBlog has compiled this handy list to help you make the right choices during your current or imminent joblessness. Film: Little Caesar (1931) Tip: Dancing is ultimately more lucrative than crime. We learned over and over from films in the 1930s that crime doesn’t pay, and with Little Caesar we learned the additional tip that if you’re going to be a cocky, power-hungry little jerk with leadership goals, you better have the balls to back up your bite. However, the best advice acquired from Francis Edward Faragoh and Robert N. Lee’s Oscar-nominated screenplay is that life as a dancer is a much better career path than that of a gangster. Sure, there may be a few dangers if your gig is at a mob-run club or if your former best friend is your boss’ rival, a la the conflict between Joe (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) and Rico (Edward G. Robinson) in Mervyn LeRoy’s film. But unlike your old buddy, who will literally die in a gutter, you might find wealth, stardom and love. Worst-case scenario, you don’t become rich and famous but you get a job teaching little kids at a dance studio in suburbia. Whereas there’s no such thing as a crime studio. Film: Trouble in Paradise (1932) Tip: Falling for your mark, and/or your boss, is fine as long as you get a bonus out of it and then return to your true love It’s clear from the start that fellow pickpockets Gaston (Herbert Marshall) and Lily (Miriam Hopkins) are made for each other. Yet when the duo acquire jobs working for the wealthy perfumer Madame Colet (Kay Francis) in a scheme to con her out of her money, Gaston goes and complicates things by developing feelings for his new employer/mark. Fortunately, after dipping his hands into both her purses (oh the innuendo!), he comes away with the jackpot and is able to fall back into place with his equal. Getting a job where you’re partially a gigolo can be rewarding in terms of special perks, both sexual and financial, but ultimately a relationship between employee and employer is difficult, especially if there’s a real class clash involved. So get in quick, get out on top and find a nice girl with whom you’ve got more in common. Film: King Kong (1933) Tip: If you’re cast in a film, make sure it’s a local production. Tons of unemployed people turn to showbiz as a solution to their situation, and a quick glance on Craigslist reveals plenty of calls for film and TV extras. But be wary, because if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And be suspicious of “directors” who approach you on the street offering you the role of a lifetime. It’s possible the guy’s a real Hollywood player like Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong), but it’s also possible that the gig will bring you to a remote island where you’ll attract the largest stalker ever imagined. In the end, you might actually become a big star, just like Ann Darrow (Fay Wray), but by then many will have paid for your social status with their lives, and you’ll have to live with the guilt. So when answering ads looking for actors, don’t get on any boats headed to far off places. Stick to locally shot films, on which you’re likely to experience fewer dangers and meet fewer giant apes. Film: Lady for a Day (1933) Tip: Don’t lie to your family about being underemployed, because you’ll just wind up more depressed. Apple Annie (May Robson) ends up getting away with her masquerade, in which she convinces her daughter that she’s a well-to-do socialite rather than a poor fruit peddler, but at what cost? Now she’s lied to her child and, worse, given herself a taste of the good life, a high from which she must come down. And with that perspective in mind she’s surely going to hate her true social place even more. So if you’re underemployed, don’t lie about it, not even to your parents. Best circumstance, they help you out a little with your finances. Worst circumstance, you feel even more depressed about your situation and you take your own life — whether literally or, like Annie, figuratively. Plus, if your parents do end up finding out the truth, they’ll be more disappointed with you than they would have been if told the truth all along. Film: Triumph of the Will (1935) Tip: Don’t work for a mad, genocidal dictator unless you want the association to follow you to your grave. Leni Riefenstahl may have denied having full allegiance to Hitler and the Nazis, but she’ll forever be known as the director who helped propagandize the party right up until the beginning of World War II. And to many that makes her one of the bad guys. Whether she’s truly guilty by association, her kind of situation is constantly a topic of ethical debate. Maybe working for later-exposed criminals will keep you from getting elected one day. Maybe working for evil emperors will get you blown up while doing contract work on a giant space station. Either way, it’s best to do as much of a background check on your potential bosses as they’re doing on you. Film: Modern Times (1936) Tip: Don’t be a slave to the machines, or one day they’ll enslave you. That sounds like advice to be gotten from The Matrix, but that film’s dystopia is precisely the kind of future Chaplin was warning about. So much of the imagery in this film consists of workers depending on machines, either to help do the job or feed them, and workers being trapped in machines, figuratively enslaved by them. If you end up getting a job on the internet, and that’s more and more likely to be your best shot at employment these days, you’ll understand Chaplin’s fears better than he could ever have imagined. Film: Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) Tip: Breaking into a rich man’s home will likely get you a job. It’s thanks to a desperate little farmer that the newly rich Deeds (Gary Cooper) decides to divvy up his millions and donate plots of land to the poor. And the gun-wielding intruder doesn’t get thrown in jail; he becomes one of the many who are eligible for some of that free acreage. Hollywood pipe dream, sure, but the concept also seemed to work outside of American cinema. In Renoir’s The Rules of the Game, a man (Julien Carette) is caught trespassing on a wealthy estate and he’s offered a job. However, it may not be necessary to actually commit the crime of breaking and entering to get the attention of potential beneficiaries and employers. In Renoir’s Boudu Saved From Drowning the titular bum is merely witnessed attempting suicide in the Seine (though in Paul Mazursky’s ‘80s remake, Down and Out in Beverly Hills, the bum is also an intruder). And in My Man Godfrey the titular bum is plucked out of the trash and eventually brought home and employed as a butler. Which brings up the next tip. Film: My Man Godfrey (1936) Tip: If forced to become a servant, don’t steal the boss’ daughter’s necklace, pawn it and then gamble with the money made in order to further improve your situation, because only William Powell is good enough to get away with it. You are not as smooth as William Powell; it’s just not possible. So, while he (and his character, Godfrey) is able to come out of this film on top, in the same situation you would more than likely end up back on the garbage heap (without a nightclub built on the spot, that is). Firstly, he’s able to charm the socialite Irene (Carole Lombard) enough to escape homelessness, acquire a position as her family’s butler and eventually win her heart. Secondly, when Irene’s bitter sister, Cornelia (Gail Patrick), attempts to frame him as a necklace nabber, he beats her at her game and follows through to win out even more. What he does with the jewelry, though, would still get most people arrested, even if the ends do justify the means. Never do as Powell does, because nobody can pull off anything as well as he can. Film: You Can’t Take it With You (1938) Tip: Taking up seemingly utopian residence in a commune full of oddballs will likely get you thrown in jail. Grandpa Vanderhof (Lionel Barrymore) wasn’t claiming to be prophet nor did he (as far as we know) have a harem of young wives stored away somewhere in his house, but these days a freewheeling place like his might attract the attention of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms or some other government agency assigned to shutting down cults and terrorist organizations. Even then his home was suspected of being a den for treasonous plots, leading to an FBI raid and mass arrest. So, while it may seem like a dream come true to be wooed in by a jolly old man promising free living and the chance to be a toymaker, there’s actually no such thing as Santa Claus, and that man is probably doing something illegal to accommodate such a lifestyle. Film: The Grapes of Wrath (1939) Tip: Don’t settle for wages lower than is standard for the work. If you’re really hungry and desperate for work, you might think about taking only 25 cents an hour for a job you used to do for 30 cents. This happens often with competitive fields, whether it is migrant farming or blogging, but it only lowers your worth and it encourages your employers to keep decreasing the wages as long as someone is willing to settle. Eventually, either your fellow workers or the previous, underbid employees are going to be provoked by the situation and then there’s the chance of violence and further oppression. Plus, then you might be out of the job anyway. Potentially on the run, like Tom Joad (Henry Fonda), too. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog

Spout Post: Re:iAyudame! (that means "help!" in Spanish!)

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 01:30:18 GMT

Post By: Dr_Gor
Post To: HORROR MOVIES 101
Post Date: 11/15/2008 8:30:18 PM
Body: [quote user="Risselada"] Do you ever hold off on watching a movie you know will be fantastic because you want the timing to be just right? [/quote] Actually, I have been holding off on watching several movies I would like to see because my goddamn DVD player broke about a month ago... But now I have the money to replace it and I am planning on remedying this situation tomorrow... When I was a very young kid and first started watching television, there was a local TV station that would show a triple feature of King Kong , Son of Kong and The Mighty Joe Young every single Thanksgiving for several years! I have more than a couple excellent copies of all three of these movies on VHS and I have been (more or less) carrying on the tradition over the years... Don't ask me what the connection is... I am planning to watch those three movies this Thanksgiving... Perhaps the "colorized" versions... I don't know yet... I think that is something like what you were talking about ... I have certain "feel-good" movies that I can watch anytime and they will cheer me right up! Movies like Zombie (Fulci) and Night of the Living Dead and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and JAWS and The Exorcist always make me feel better when I am down... < GOR >

Spout Post: Re:Classic Horror

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:05:04 GMT

Post By: Risselada
Post To: HORROR MOVIES 101
Post Date: 9/15/2008 2:05:04 PM
Body: [quote user="Dr_Gor"]Haxan (Witchcraft Through The Ages) ; Is a work of fiction presented as a documentary. [/quote] Oh this is fiction? This one is on my list to see very soon. I hadn't read too much about it, but my impression is that it was real. I wonder if I would have watched it and never realized it was fake. Or is it faily clear that it's not real when you are watching it? [quote user="Dr_Gor"]Island of Lost Souls ; This was the first, and best, version of the classic H. G. Wells' story to hit the big screen. Charles Laughton's performance as Dr. Moreau is the best I have ever seen. Yes, he even out-did Marlon Brando and Burt Lancaster! [/quote] I heard the Marlon Brando version was pretty crappy. What say you? [quote user="Dr_Gor"]Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ; This is the best version of this story ever filmed just for the extraordinary acting of Fredric March. With the help of some amazing make-up effects you would swear you were watching two different actors in that role! Recomended![/quote] Thanks! I feel like this is a classic tale but for some reason have never heard this movie mentioned in discussions here before. I wondered if maybe it wasn't up to the calibur of some of the other classics, but maybe it's just been looked over in coversations. [quote user="Dr_Gor"]Mad Love ; This is the first movie version of "The Hands of Orlac" which would be redone several times. A very good movie but my favorite version of this story is The Hands Of Orlac (not listed on SPOUT) starring Mel Ferrar and Christopher Lee from 1960. [/quote] They do have the 1960 version in Spout. I'm not sure why the title is listed in French though. [quote user="Dr_Gor"]If you are a fan of Fay Wray you should also check out Doctor X and The Vampire Bat and Mystery of the Wax Museum ... not to mention King Kong ![/quote] I have seen Mystery of the Wax Museum, as well as the 1953 House of Wax. And they are both very good! I almost mentioned The Vampire Bat in my little list up top there too, and then I remembered that you or someone had recommended it at another time. [quote user="Dr_Gor"]Dead of Night ; Was one of the original English horror anthology movies and was considered by most people to be the best. I think this movie was a major inspiration for the notorious EC Comics of the late 50's - early 60's which in turn were the inspiration for some of the great English anthology movies of the 60's and 70's! My personal favorites were Tales From The Crypt and Asylum ... [/quote] Thanks, I'll check those out too! [quote user="Dr_Gor"]Rizzo (and others), I hope all of this has been of some help to you. I do try.[/quote] Indeed, I appreciate it very much. I love hearing your comments on these.

Spout Post: Re:Classic Horror

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:55:39 GMT

Post By: Dr_Gor
Post To: HORROR MOVIES 101
Post Date: 9/13/2008 9:55:39 PM
Body: [quote user="Risselada"] Thanks for all of these suggestions Gor. Here's a list of films from the early days that I have run across that have horror elements. I'm wondering which of them you've seen and can recommend. Körkarlen (The Phantom Carriage) Häxan Dr. Mabuse: The Gambler, and The Testament of Dr. Mabuse Waxworks Island of Lost Souls Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Mad Love The Most Dangerous Game Mystery of Edwin Drood Dead of Night [/quote] Ok, Rizzo, here are the ones I have seen from your list... Haxan (Witchcraft Through The Ages) ; Is a work of fiction presented as a documentary. It is a most interesting work if you are a student of witchcraft and demonology (like me). It is all here, everything you have heard of, Black Sabbath's, human sacrifice (young, virginal children), babies boiled alive, body parts from human corpses used in potions, orgies and sexuall perversions (including some nudity!) that include priests and nuns having sex and witches swearing their allegiance to Satan by kissing his anus! There are even witches flying around on broomsticks! I thought the most interesting parts were the descriptions and demonstrations of the torture devices used by the 'witch-hunters' and the Inquisition. Needless to say, this movie was (and is) highly controversial and disturbing! I would recomend it! Island of Lost Souls ; This was the first, and best, version of the classic H. G. Wells' story to hit the big screen. Charles Laughton's performance as Dr. Moreau is the best I have ever seen. Yes, he even out-did Marlon Brando and Burt Lancaster! Bela Lugosi was at his best as the leader of the 'animal-men' and this movie was genuinely creepy and frightening in a way that the remakes couldn't match. Highly recomended! Also, if you are a fan of the works of Charles Laughton you MUST check out the 1939 version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame ! I can not recomend this one enough! Quite simply one of the best movies ever made! Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ; This is the best version of this story ever filmed just for the extraordinary acting of Fredric March. With the help of some amazing make-up effects you would swear you were watching two different actors in that role! Recomended! Mad Love ; This is the first movie version of "The Hands of Orlac" which would be redone several times. A very good movie but my favorite version of this story is The Hands Of Orlac (not listed on SPOUT) starring Mel Ferrar and Christopher Lee from 1960. The Most Dangerous Game ; This is one of my favorite movies. Made by the same production company that brought us King Kong , this movie was filmed on the same sets and with many of the same actors. This is the classic story that has been remade several times of an insane big-game hunter who has grown bored with hunting helpless animals and has chosen to spend his time hunting 'the most dangerous game'... human beings! Using a phony lighthouse, Count Zaroff lures passing ships into the dangerous reefs surrounding his island. When the survivors wash up on shore they are fed and clothed and prepared for 'the game' ... Fay Wray is one of these survivors who is doomed to be hunted by Zaroff. She has never looked lovelier running through the jungle getting her clothes ripped off bit by bit. If you are a fan of Fay Wray you should also check out Doctor X and The Vampire Bat and Mystery of the Wax Museum ... not to mention King Kong ! Dead of Night ; Was one of the original English horror anthology movies and was considered by most people to be the best. I think this movie was a major inspiration for the notorious EC Comics of the late 50's - early 60's which in turn were the inspiration for some of the great English anthology movies of the 60's and 70's! My personal favorites were Tales From The Crypt and Asylum ... Rizzo (and others), I hope all of this has been of some help to you. I do try. < GOR >

Spout Post: 10 Worst Updates of 1930s Classics

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:01:08 GMT

Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 9/9/2008 4:01:08 PM
Body: Anticipating the worst from Diane English’s new remake of The Women is not just typical low expectations regarding remakes in general. My dread is specifically based on dissatisfaction with remakes and updates of films from the 1930s, arguably the best decade in cinema (it is certainly my favorite). While I may recognize and appreciate some favorable redos, such as DePalma’s Scarface (of which I’ve never really been a fan), Mazursky’s Down and Out in Beverly Hills and the multiple repeats from Hitchcock, I am more often disappointed with attempts to recreate ‘30s classics, even when I approach them with already low standards. Worst, for me, doesn’t necessarily have to do with the quality of the film alone, especially when related to remakes and updates. The titles and versions I’ve selected are hardly the worst in terms of craft or production value — you’ll note there are no Dracula movies on this list — and a few would almost be acceptable if they were more unique or solitary works. 10. Return to Oz (1985) I begin with a film that is not a remake in any form but tone. Yet I still see it as a kind of response to and update of the far more popular classic The Wizard of Oz (1939), which was viewed by some as not faithful enough to the source literature of L. Frank Baum. It was a bit of a guilty pleasure for me growing up, but I lost regard for the film after suffering through a professor’s defensive screening of it on the last day of a film history course. Sure, it’s truer to Baum and the illustrations of W.W. Denslow and John R. Neill, but as MGM’s beautiful 1939 interpretation shows, it’s better to be imaginative than loyal when translating works between mediums. 9. The Front Page (1974) Billy Wilder’s version of the Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur play, which was first adapted to film in 1931, is plenty hilarious thanks to stars Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, as well as to a slew of terrific character actors, including Vincent Gardenia, Charles Durning, Austin Pendleton and Dick O’Neill. Also, the film’s homosexual innuendo is an interesting way of acknowledging Howard Hawks’ 1940 gender altering redo, His Girl Friday. I’d definitely choose Wilder’s film over the subsequent big screen version, the 1988 update Switching Channels, but compared to earlier adaptations and to Wilder’s earlier work, the ’74 Front Page is still quite a dissatisfying effort. My biggest problems are with the film’s artificial look, particularly its use of costumes that look more appropriate for a costume party than a period film, the gaudiness of the dialogue, especially the double entendres, and the miscasting of both Carol Burnett and Susan Sarandon (though my annoyance with the women in the film provide further acceptance of the gay undertones). 8. The Distinguished Gentleman (1992) This loose and uncredited reworking of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) could have been a worthy update had it included more laughs and more of a bite. The concept of placing a small-time con man in the big-time con of politics is ripe for good comedy and satire, plus it makes me think of the respectable crook/crooked respectability angle of Lubitsch’s Trouble in Paradise. Too bad the script was unsatisfactory (not surprising given it came partly from the screenwriter behind Leonard Part 6) and star Eddie Murphy was at the awkward moment of his career when he somehow lost his usual talent for comedy. 7. Flash Gordon (1980) I have to admit that I do actually love this movie. Well, to be fair, I only really love Queen’s score, Brian Blessed’s voice and Max Von Sydow’s makeup. The rest I just like. Anyway, despite my guilty pleasure in watching the thing on television throughout my childhood, it’s neither a good movie nor a successful update. It doesn’t really do the ‘30s Flash Gordon serials justice by being either a big-budget improvement or a tonally and narratively faithful throwback (comparatively, Star Wars succeeded at doing both). 6. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) Disney’s idea to animate Victor Hugo’s novel was of questionable taste, but the studio’s need to so closely imitate William Dieterle’s 1939 adaptation was of questionable creative judgment. When I watch Disney’s Robin Hood, I’m not reminded of how much better Michael Curtiz’s 1938 version is; similarly, I’m able to appreciate the animated Beauty and the Beast and Alice and Wonderland without thinking of previous adaptations. Especially given the controversial lewdness and the simplification of the story, Disney’s version of Hunchback seems an insult to the source novel, Dieterle’s film and Charles Laughton’s characterization. 5. Meet Joe Black (1998) I’m a hypocrite to criticize anyone’s inability to be concise, but a three-hour remake of a 78-minute film (1934’s Death Takes a Holiday) displays a level of excess that even my meandering can’t compare to. Don’t get me wrong, though; I’m no hater of long films. But if you can make a long story short, it’s preferred that you do so. 4. The Mummy (1999) There’s no problem with reimagining a classic horror film as a blockbuster action movie, but taking something so iconically frightening as Boris Karloff’s Imhotep (in the ‘32 version) and updating the look with laughably cartoonish CGI is unfortunate. I know I’m on the other side of the fence from the moviegoers who made this a hit, but I would have actually enjoyed it more if the villain were depicted as a guy wrapped in bandages. 3. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994) Of course, CG may have been better than this. In fact, the only thing worse than Robert De Niro as the Creature would have been a hand-drawn animated Frankenberry in the role. 2. King Kong (2005) Technically, the 1976 remake with Jeff Bridges is a worse film, but that version at least took some interesting liberties in updating the 1933 classic. Peter Jackson’s intention seemed to be only to faithfully recreate the original with better special effects. And given the fact that many of the CG sequences are embarrassingly awful, I have to say this film was a more monumental failure in terms of purpose and promise. Jackson gave me yet another reason for questioning the point of filmmakers remaking their favorite films. 1. Mr. Deeds (2002) Other than the minor way in which this comedy updates the conservative message of Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), there is really no reason for Capra’s film to have been remade, especially with such broad, immature comedy from Adam Sandler. While the original Mr. Deeds completely speaks to and of its time, this includes no topicality, no compelling historical or contemporary relevancy and no lasting cultural significance. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog

Spout Post: Movie Characters Who Should Use Twitter

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:01:05 GMT

Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 8/27/2008 4:01:05 PM
Body: Twitter, the popular micro-blogging service, has turned into a powerful tool in the hands of not only consumers but marketers of all stripes as well. Comcast, Paramount Pictures and a handful of others have all latched on to it as a way to communicate with customers, acting not only as a distribution platform but a conversation hub and customer service hub as well. Some of the biggest names in the social media marketing world are spending serious time brainstorming how to use Twitter for marketing, debating its usefulness and otherwise hashing out a series of best practices for utilizing the service. Media outlets have also turned to Twitter for many of the same reasons. TV Guide, Fox News and even Spout have a presence there to, again, promote their content and, in some cases, even engage in a back-and-forth with readers. But did you know that Darth Vader is twittering? How about Cobra Commander? In one of the most widely-discussed instances of fictional characters with Twitter accounts, the staff of Sterling Cooper - the ad agency in the hit AMC series Mad Men - have all been posting 140 charcter status updates. Initially thought to be an official effort by the cable channel, it was later found that no, these were fan efforts that almost fell victim from what was later construed as “miscommunication“, but which at first apparently looked like a take-down notice filed under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. With all these movie and TV characters expressing themselves, we thought it would be fun to see who our followers on Twitter thought should make their thoughts known in 140-characters or less. Here’s what we got back. Characters played by Val Kilmer appeared twice in the feedback. @treobenny put in his vote for Doc Holiday from Tombstone and Ryan Budke nominated Gay Perry from Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. @sabine24 put forth a bunch of names, including Frank N. Furter, Stanley Kowalski and Jack Sparrow. The Big Lebowski’s The Dude got the nod from @povertyjetset and @champura went deep into the well to bring out Daniel Plainview from There Will Be Blood. @tigershungry went even further for Pistachio Disguisey, Dana Carvey’s character from 2002’s Master of Disguise. Finally, @ryananderson will be taken out back and horse-whipped for suggesting Jar Jar Binks. In addition to this worthy list of nominations, here’s who we’d like to see on Twitter: The Guru Pitka (The Love Guru): Yes, the movie might have bombed and forced Mike Myers back into re-evaluating Austin Powers 4, but the pithy Pitka’s bumper-sticker life lessons are made for the format. Carl Dehham (King Kong): “Rough day. Locals speak of something we think translates to ‘big angry monkey.’ But filming continues. Ann seems wary, tho.” Capt. Jeffrey T. Spaulding (Animal Crackers): Come on. I’m a little ashamed of everyone - and myself - that a Groucho Marx character wasn’t among the first ones I thought of. I’m going with Spaulding simply because I think he gets off some better one-liners than my other choice, Duck Soup’s Rufus T. Firefly. Wolverine (X-Men): “Stabbed guy with claws. Had beer.” (repeat time and time again.) Gypsy (Mystery Science Theater 3000): The robot in charge of the Satellite of Love’s operations would be the ideal candidate to report on how Joel, Crow and Servo are holding up, as well as throw the occassional “@drforrester: You suck.” Master Control Program (Tron): Every post would conclude with “end of line.” Plus, he could brag about how easy it is to crack into Windows servers. Isaac Davis (Manhattan): Imagine the possibilities of Woody Allen’s character obsessing over the minutia of his relationships as well as sending missive after missive about his love of New York City and Ingmar Bergman film to all his followers. (Side note: Mariel Hemingway’s character Tracy would, on the other hand, have a Tumblr blog.) Peter Gibbons (Office Space): Maybe it’s a cop-out to think of Gibbons venting on his frustrations with his boss on Twitter (likely under a pseudonym to protect his shaky job) but it would still be pretty funny. Matt Hooper (Jaws): “Got call from some hick sheriff with what’s probably just an over-active imagination. At least he’s paying for the trip.” Chris Kelvin (Solaris): Just because every other post would be “Did I just see my dead wife? WTF!!!”" So who do you think would make a good presence on Twitter? Originally posted on:SpoutBlog

Spout Post: Re:Weekly Theme for August 25: Monster Madness

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:26:52 GMT

Post By: Dr_Gor
Post To: Weekly Theme
Post Date: 8/26/2008 8:26:52 PM
Body: I recently rewatched The Valley of Gwangi and I was stunned (again) by what a good movie this is! When is the last time you have seen a T-Rex being burned alive inside a church? This got me thinking about how much I LOVE the stop-motion animation effects of the great Ray Harryhausen... He began his historic career working on the amazing film Mighty Joe Young working under the tutelege of his mentor Willis O'Brien who was the effects genius behind the original King Kong . Harryhausen went on to perfect his own method of stop-motion animation that used both rear projection and front projection to import his creations onto any background... He called this technique "Dynamation" . Besides the films mentioned above, here are some GREAT monster movies where you can check out the craft of this master in action... The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms It Came From Beneath The Sea Earth vs. the Flying Saucers 20 Million Miles to Earth The 7th Voyage of Sinbad Mysterious Island Jason and the Argonauts First Men in the Moon One Million Years B.C. The Golden Voyage of Sinbad Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger Clash of the Titans ... Monsters Rule!

Spout Tag:love

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:13:41 GMT

love
Number of films tagged: 12477

Number of people who tagged: 336

Number of times used: 1475

Spout Tag:Classic

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:54:36 GMT

Classic
Number of films tagged: 816

Number of people who tagged: 312

Number of times used: 1453

Spout Tag:fantasy

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:54:25 GMT

fantasy
Number of films tagged: 1044

Number of people who tagged: 128

Number of times used: 480

Spout Tag:adventure

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:34:17 GMT

adventure
Number of films tagged: 227

Number of people who tagged: 95

Number of times used: 367

Spout Tag:escape

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:51:44 GMT

escape
Number of films tagged: 2868

Number of people who tagged: 76

Number of times used: 279

Spout Tag:kidnapping

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 05:39:42 GMT

kidnapping
Number of films tagged: 2851

Number of people who tagged: 49

Number of times used: 172

Spout Tag:bad

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:26:01 GMT

bad
Number of films tagged: 65

Number of people who tagged: 48

Number of times used: 71

Spout Tag:monster

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:22:02 GMT

monster
Number of films tagged: 1143

Number of people who tagged: 41

Number of times used: 95

Spout Tag:island

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:54:50 GMT

island
Number of films tagged: 1021

Number of people who tagged: 34

Number of times used: 74

Spout Tag:beauty

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:05:37 GMT

beauty
Number of films tagged: 62

Number of people who tagged: 32

Number of times used: 78

Spout Tag:Entertaining

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:09:49 GMT

Entertaining
Number of films tagged: 33

Number of people who tagged: 28

Number of times used: 40

Spout Tag:dinosaurs

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:04:09 GMT

dinosaurs
Number of films tagged: 350

Number of people who tagged: 20

Number of times used: 24

Spout Tag:animal

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:04:09 GMT

animal
Number of films tagged: 1773

Number of people who tagged: 18

Number of times used: 42

Spout Tag:giant

Mon, 18 May 2009 13:02:09 GMT

giant
Number of films tagged: 202

Number of people who tagged: 18

Number of times used: 22

Spout Tag:spooky

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:37:30 GMT

spooky
Number of films tagged: 24

Number of people who tagged: 18

Number of times used: 27