DIShGo

9 minutes ago, MC Horoscope said:

Yes to Stagecoach! I love westerns too much to pick a top one, or five, or even ten, but Stagecoach is right up there for me,  not Shane. I like elements of the Shane story better in Pale Rider with Clint Eastwood, Carrie Snodgrass, Michael Moriarty, and Sydney Penny. I like the supernatural element in Pale Rider.

The plot and players were much more interesting in Stagecoach. And the female characters were more complex and developed.

Shane's influence on the makers of future Westerns (like Pale Rider) might be part of the reason why it is beloved by so many.

12 hours ago, The Hersch said:

I saw Shane about 20 years ago and I absolutely could not stand it and wondered why it enjoyed the reputation it had and still has. Unfortunately, I don't remember many particulars of what made it seem so awful to me. The one thing I remember distinctly is the whiny, irritating performance of Brandon deWilde. Anyway, that makes at least four of us.

The only thing I found more annoying than Brandon deWilde (who did have a Dennis the Menace cuteness about him) was Jean Arthur's portrayal of Marian Starrett. Her voice, to my ears, was like fingernails on a chalkboard.

I saw this exhibition yesterday. As I entered the second room, a colorful portrait of an African American girl holding an oversized coffee cup grabbed my attention. The colors, her expression, her jaunty red hat, white gloves and crisp polka dot dress, drew me in.

Her eyes exude confidence, while her skin, painted grey, stands in sharp contrast to the pretty blue background and her bright clothes.

As I moved closer, I saw that this painting, "Miss Everything (Unsuppressed Deliverance)" by Amy Sherald of Baltimore, had won first prize. 

I had several favorites, but for me, this one was the standout.

After reading rave reviews from critics and seeing "Shane" listed as one of the best films ever made, I decided to watch it, with high expectations. I was disappointed. It seemed corny and dated, and several of the actors seemed miscast to me.

Am I missing something? I realize it was filmed in 1953, and a lot of Westerns that have come along since may have been inspired by it, but I recently saw "Stagecoach," filmed 14 years earlier, and I think it is a much better film.

My 19-year-old son is obsessed. I have never seen him voluntarily go on so many walks. Last night he taught himself the Pokemon theme song on his guitar.

I have a 52-year-old friend who loves it, too, and enjoys catching Pokemon with her kids. So far, I have avoided it. Words With Friends already takes up too much of my time!   

It has been my experience that fresh mushrooms simply don't last very long, no matter how they are stored. I buy them in bulk rather than by the box so I only get as many as I need. When I buy the box, I end up throwing too many away, unless I am making a dish that calls for a lot of mushrooms. I don't know if it is true or not, but it seems like when i buy brown cremini mushrooms rather than the white variety, they last longer.

When I buy white mushrooms to eat raw on salads, I often buy the large stuffer size. One mushroom is all I need for one salad, so there isn't any waste. Also, if you buy in bulk, you can look at the stems to see how fresh they are. You can't do that when you buy a box.

46 minutes ago, DonRocks said:

Yeah, for whatever reason, the best-looking girls seem to react better when they're semi-ignored - they're so used to being fawned over that it catches them off-guard when they aren't. It's a useful tactic in the battle of the sexes.

Either that, or catch one after they've been in a bad marriage - they're so grateful to be treated decently that they're willing to overlook major flaws. 

And if you think Jeff is "so far gone" in his voyeurism, you haven't seen me when I'm trying to work on my website. 

No, you are mistaken again! Women, no matter what they look like, react best to being treated well. 

And I HAVE seen you working on your website. You make Jeff appear disinterested in his neighbors, by comparison. 

Roger Ebert wrote a great review of this film. He compares the way Jeff in "Rear Window" and Scotty in "Vertigo," both played by Stewart, mistreat the caring women who love them. 

30 minutes ago, DonRocks said:

*** MILD SPOILERS FOLLOW ***

Grace Kelly (playing Lisa Carol Fremont) seemed wildly out-of-place for this role - I just don't see this impossibly beautiful woman throwing herself at Jimmy Stewart (playing "Jeff" Jeffries, a fine-looking, reputable man to be sure, but he was a somewhat ordinary (okay, fairly successful) photographer who was almost completely ignoring her - he didn't even realize he loved her (assuming he did) until late in the film. Lisa was about as perfect-looking as a woman can be, and it just seemed beneath her to be groveling as she did, when in reality, Jeff would have been groveling after her. (I understand I'm being superficial talking about looks here, but if you see the film, you'll know what I mean - he looked completely beyond her, into the wild beyond).

I see your point about Kelly, but I think she was perfectly cast as the "perfect" girlfiriend. The fact that Jeff could ingnore someone like that strengthens the case for how far gone he was into voyuerism. If he ignored an "ordinary" girl, it wouldn't be as jarring. Having said that, when she walked out on him early in the film, I was secretly saying, "you go, girl!"

On one hand, it seems implausible that she would tolerate his treatment. She was beautiful and successful in her on right, and she seemed bright and caring. But there are countless stories about attractive, competent women who put up with much worse treatment from men, so I think this idea really isn't such a stretch. Some movies from this era depict couples who "fall in love" quickly and unbelievably. I found Kelly's portrayal of Lisa believable. I bought that she truly loved Jeff and would do what she had to in order to make their relationship work.

"It doesn't take much to see that the problems of three little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world." Reading this book made me think of that famous line uttered by Rick in "Casablanca."

What a beautiful, wild and wondrous world this is. And what a tiny little speck am I in it. A friend loaned me this book, and he raved about it. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it or not. I didn't study much science in college, taking "Understanding the Weather" for an easy A, only to find the cushy professor who always taught the class was replaced that year by someone who cared about cumulus clouds

I loved this book, perhaps because of my lack of knowledge about the topic. Reading it on an airplane beside my college-aged kids, they rolled their eyes at me as I shared tidbits. "Everyone knows that, mom. We learned that in fourth grade."

My educational shortcomings aside, this is a book that scientists and the less scientifically inclined can enjoy. Richard Fortey, a senior paleontologist at the Natural History Museum in London, writes extensively about life on earth, in all of its stages. I enjoyed his writing style, and I never felt like I was reading a biology textbook. His tone is conversational, and he even throws in pieces of poetry, here and there, for people whose brains work like mine.

I learned a great deal reading this book, and I enjoyed every minute of it. 

A recent discussion about "Vertigo" on this website made me think about watching "Rear Window" again. I saw this film years ago, and I loved it. I watched it again last night with the same result.

This film is regarded by many critics as one of Hitchcock's best. It stars James Stewart as a world famous photographer sidelined with a broken leg. As he sits in his apartment recovering from his injury, he becomes a voyuer, passing the hours watching the lives of his neighbors unfold through their rear windows.

The result is a fascinating look at human nature, and our desire to watch. Like Stewart's character, Jeff, we are drawn into the lives of these strangers, without knowing their names or in some cases, ever hearing them speak. Love, marriage, fidelity, success, failure and of course (it is Hitchcock after all) murder--all of these subjects are put on display, simply by allowing us to sit and stare out of the window with Jeff.

Grace Kelly is luminous as Jeff's girlfriend, Lisa Fremont. A successful fashion model who is madly in love with him, she appears in one gorgeous dress after another, begging for Jeff's attention, but failing to draw his gaze away from the window with her more than ample charms.

Hitchcock films Lisa so that we are seduced by her, even when Jeff is not. She faces the camera as she kisses his neck, begging him to pay attention to her. Her Edith Head wardrobe is divine. Anyone remotely interested in 1950s fashions will love seeing the frocks Kelly so beautifully wears.

Jeff ignoring Lisa for his voyeuristic pursuits makes this film feel relevant in 2016. Who hasn't seen groups of people sitting together, heads down, scrolling through their Facebook feeds or reading the news on their phones? Would they be happier if they looked up and talked to each other? Or, consider the concert-goers, taking endless photos and posting them on social media. Would they enjoy the performance more if they pocketed their phones and lost themselves in the music?

In 1954, Hitchcock was making a statement about people watching films and, perhaps, TV. Think about how much more pervasive passive voyeurism has become in the past 60 years.

"Rear Window" succeeds on many levels. It is a story of romance and mystery. There is a great deal of suspense in this film as it unfolds, all extremely well done by the master. If you haven't seen "Rear Window," I highly recommend that you do. 

On 7/5/2016 at 10:16 PM, DonRocks said:

Now that I have seen it, I can safely say I'd put it on my list of Top 10 Films of All-Time, and it's quite possibly my favorite Alfred Hitchcock film. It isn't good; it's *great*, and it has everything I could possibly want by Hitchcock.

If you have a chance to see "Vertigo," seize the opportunity - it is a sensational movie. I always thought there was "Psycho" and whatever was second-best; now that I've seen this, I think Vertigo might have to take its place.

It quite possibly is my favorite Hitchcock movie as well, but I need to watch "Rear Window" again, because I recall loving that when I first saw it. I definitely prefer them both to "Psycho."

I have seen a lot of Alfred Hitchcock films, and "Vertigo" is one of my favorites. I can watch this movie over and over, and find something new and interesting each time.

My most recent viewing was in the National Gallery of Art East building. I was delighted to see a restored version of this film on the big screen. "Vertigo" has everything I want in a Hitchcock film: suspense, romance, interesting cinematography and a fantastic score. Kim Novak beautifully embodies the iconic Hitchcock heroine--cool, blonde and sophisticated. Jimmy Stewart is wonderful as Scottie, the retired police detective with a fear of heights. Critics have written that the way Scottie objectifies Novak's character is emblematic of the way Hitchcock viewed women, making this one of his most personal films.

SPOILERS FOLLOW!

I live in the San Francisco Bay area, so I also enjoyed seeing the City and surrounding areas depicted in "Vertigo." There is so much to appreciate in this film, but the heartbreaking ending is what resonates most with me. "Vertigo" depicts the objectification of a manipulative and manipulated woman who, in the end, becomes sympathetic and real. The viewer can't help but root for their fatally flawed love to succeed. It is heart-wrenching to watch these two people, who love each other so much, in unbearable pain over what cannot be, and what cannot be undone.

What is life? My daughter graduated from college, and the following weekend, my dad celebrated his 90th birthday, surrounded by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Seeing her at the onset of adult life, and him near the end, has prompted me to reflect on the years in between.

What is life? My answer may sound trite, but it is what I believe. Life is love. The love a parent feels for a child. Romantic love. The love of a friend who would do anything for you. Passion, kindness, respect and gratitude all stem from love. For me, love is what makes life worth living.

2 hours ago, DonRocks said:

Addison's Disease?

I don't think so. According to this, his aversion to theatrical makeup and his admiration for Douglas Fairbanks led to his year-round, "healthy" glow.

1 hour ago, DonRocks said:

Never having seen "Rear Window," "High Noon," or "Dial 'M' for Murder," I'm pretty sure this is the first movie I've ever seen Kelly in start-to-finish, and gosh was she beautiful.

She was. I love these photos of two iconic beauties backstage at the 1956 Academy Awards. 

12 minutes ago, DonRocks said:

I want one.

Until the moment comes when I need to repair it. Think about the last time you've seen a Yugo (aka "Yu Don't Go") on the road - not only did the company go out of business; the *country it was made in no longer exists*. In all seriousness, what the hell do you do if you need a part?

Also, as sexy as it looks, that Sunbeam goes 0-60 in something like 20 seconds.

"Mad Man in a Death Machine" on comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com

Still, surprisingly, it (from what I've read) can be had in excellent condition for around $30,000, which seems ridiculously inexpensive, and makes me ask myself, "I bought a *what*?! I'm driving a *what*?!"

I thought I remembered that car from an episode of "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee." Ricky Gervais was terrified the entire time he was riding in it!

I think a silk chiffon scarf and chic leather driving gloves would be a prerequisite for driving one.

1 hour ago, DonRocks said:

*** SPOILERS FOLLOW ***

There's a *knee* that went up behind Robie at the climax! See that gray lump on the left?  Surprisingly, this is not on the IMDB "Goofs" list.

Very, very basic question (and I don't rule out the possibility that I'm missing something): If Robie wanted to prove his innocence, why didn't he simply confide in the chief of police, and agree to secretly leave the area for a week or two? If a crime happened during that time, he was, by definition, innocent (assuming he didn't have an accomplice).

Good catch with the knee. I didn't notice that, but it clearly is there.

Good question about why Robie didn't simply leave. Maybe he was getting bored with his straight-laced life and wanted to feel the thrill of his old ways once again. 

1 hour ago, DonRocks said:

And if you're wondering what that gorgeous car is they're driving, it's a 1955 Sunbeam Alpine Series III Classic Drive.

That IS a gorgeous car. And it matches Grace Kelly's eyes.

The Edith Head costumes were lovely, and Kelly wore them well.

Cary Grant was charming, as usual. I have now watched three of his films in a row. He plays the good/bad guy role extremely well, and his characters are always romantically pursued by the leading ladies.

I haven't seen an actor that tan since the heyday of George Hamilton.

11 hours ago, DonRocks said:

Twenty-two years is a long time, but it still surprised me to see how much Cary Grant aged between "Suspicion" (1941) and "Charade" (1963) - I guess it's the difference between being 37 and 59, and since I haven't seen much in the middle, it stood out to me, not that this matters one iota. Audrey Hepburn aged gracefully between "Roman Holiday" (1953) and "Charade" (although she's still only 34) - I guess the 50's were the strongest decade, in terms of rugged-handsome and pixie-cute, for both Grant and Hepburn.

I read that Grant refused the role until screenwriter Peter Stone changed the script so that Hepburn's character made all of the romantic advances.

Sometimes an age gap of that size is offputting to me, but it wasn't in this case. Maybe that is why. 

10 hours ago, DonRocks said:

*** SPOILERS FOLLOW ***

Note to DIShGo: I could swear Norman Lloyd has a uncredited, bit part in the "pass the orange" scene at the nightclub - amazingly, Lloyd is still alive: At 101 years of age, he's the oldest working actor in Hollywood. He was also married for *75 years* before being widowed, and was still playing tennis twice a week until last summer. Regarding the pass-the-orange scene, Hepburn darned near turned that into a very touching, romantic moment, but Grant reverted to screwball-comedy mode, and didn't let her - I'm pretty sure that was by design, although it was a big letdown for the viewer - maybe it's too early in the movie for anything but a tease.

It truly makes me laugh out loud at how chic Reggie is in her Givenchy outfits (Where is she *getting* them from? She was left with nothing), and I also like this little secondary joke between Hamilton Bartholomew (Walter Matthau) about "agents" and "spies."

I loved the passing the orange scene. I remember when people used to play that at parties. I have no idea if that was Norman Lloyd. I loved the facial expressions Grant made when he tried to take the orange from his buxom first partner.

As for Audrey's outfits, she did have one suitcase, but those hardly look like the clothes one would take on a ski vacation!

30 minutes ago, DonRocks said:

*** SPOILERS FOLLOW ***

Basic question: When Tex Panthollow (James Coburn) is threatening Reggie Lambert (Hepburn) by holding up matches to her in the phone booth, why doesn't she just blow out the matches?

I wondered that as well! He was holding them up by her mouth before he dropped them.

I decided to watch "Charade" tonight for a number of reasons. I recently watched "Suspicion," a 1941 thriller starring Cary Grant directed by Alfred Hitchcock. While "Charade" was not directed by Hitchcock, it has a Hitchcockian feel. I adore Carey Grant, and felt like spending another evening being charmed by this embodiment of the Hollywood leading man. I am obsessed with Audrey Hepburn, and I was born in 1963. It seemed like a no-brainer that I should give this film another viewing.

Although I saw this film several years ago, I remembered very little of it. While Hitchcockian in style and plot twists, it lacks the cinematic magic of an actual Hitchcock film. The plot is a bit like "Suspicion," with the leading lady unsure whether she should or should not trust Grant. The witty banter between Hepburn and Grant made me think of Nick and Nora in "The Thin Man." Their repartee is amusing, but not nearly as fast and funny as Nick and Nora's.

I enjoyed watching Grant and Hepburn together, and I was drawn in by the plot's twists and turns. At times, "Charade" seems self conscious, and the film feels like it is trying too hard. While Grant and Hepburn make a charming couple, their chemistry pales in comparison to the sparks that flew between Hepburn and Gregory Peck in "Roman Holiday." Hepburn tells Grant time and again in this film that she loves him. She never once uttered those words to Peck in "Roman Holiday," but their love seemed more believable.

Perhaps this is because at its core, "Charade" is a silly and stylish movie. It has an early '60s feel throughout, from the opening cartoon-like credits to Audrey's oh-so-chic Givenchy wardrobe. It isn't a great film, but it is an enjoyable one.

8 hours ago, DonRocks said:

I've read some reviews about this, one of which said that Grant played his part so well that it could have gone either way, but I agree with you: Hitchcock's ending would have been better, period. 

*** SPOILERS FOLLOW ***

Grant was not a good person even in the best of scenarios, and the ending Hollywood imposed upon Hitchcock is not in keeping with what he worked so hard to build up, and his original ending would have been very much in keeping with his track record (remember, "Shadow of a Doubt" came soon afterwards). Plus, it would have just plain made more sense.

***SPOILERS FOLLOW***

Agreed! Grant played the role extremely well. Joan Fontaine won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Lina, but frankly, I think his performance was better. Because he played it so well, the ending wasn't exactly a happy Hollywood one, and we were still left to wonder if he wasn't again pulling the wool over poor Lina's eyes.  

I am a huge Cary Grant fan, and he did not disappoint in this film. The milk scene was Hitchcock at his best. I also liked the scene a little before that where the shadows cast in the foyer make Lina look like she's trapped in a giant spider's web.

It is interesting that the film's ending was imposed by the studio and not what Hitchcock wanted. I think his intended ending would have been better.

Both of my children were at UCLA yesterday during the lockdown following the murder/suicide. My daughter was locked in her apartment near campus, and my son, who was heading toward the engineering building, was diverted to a small classroom on North campus where he hid with 20 other students and one teacher.

As a mother, this was terrifying. I am happy they are safe. Details about the shooter are still emerging. The teacher who was killed had two small children and sounds like a wonderful human being. Needless tragedy.

The iconic image of a knight playing chess with the personification of death is all I knew about "The Seventh Seal" ("Det sjunde inseglet") before viewing it. The knight, brilliantly portrayed by Max von Sydow, seeks the meaning of life and death, and questions the existence of God, during the Black Plague.

Answers to his questions elude the knight (Antonius Block), and the closest he comes to finding meaning in life is an idyllic afternoon he spends eating strawberries and drinking milk with a married pair of traveling thespians. Watching their toddler son frolic around the campsite, Block remarks, "I shall remember this moment: the silence, the twilight, the bowl of strawberries, the bowl of milk. Your faces in the evening light...I shall carry this memory carefully in my hands as if it were a bowl brimful of fresh milk. It will be a sign for me, and a great sufficiency."

This is my favorite scene, and it stands in sharp contrast to the darkness Block encounters on his journey through Sweden's countryside during the plague. The burning of a young "witch" at the stake and self-flagellation by a group of passing peasants ( in their futile attempt to ward off the Black Death) reinforce Block's doubts about the existence of a higher power.

The chess game with death continues throughout the film, and Block gradually accepts that this is a game no one can win. Other characters are stalked by death in a variety of ways, but always with the same result. While the subject matter is bleak, the film is not. Surprisingly, there is a lot of humor in the film. The antics of the traveling actors, and relationship advice from Block's down-to-earth but woman-weary squire, made me laugh out loud.

"The Seventh Seal" is a classic film, considered a masterpiece by many critics. With its gorgeous cinematography, thought-provoking  themes, witty dialogue and empathetic and engaging characters, I can see why.

5 hours ago, DonRocks said:

If you're anywhere near Sonoma County - and I mean anywhere within an hour - make a detour to the Fremont Diner, one of the greatest restaurants in the Napa-Sonoma region.

I have eaten at the Fremont Diner several times, and I have never been disappointed with the food or the service. In addition to the items you mentioned, they have wonderful milkshakes and the best bacon I have ever tasted. 

If you want to make a day of it, there is the delightul Di Rosa contemporary art gallery nearby, or you can sample sparkling wine and pinot noir at Domaine Carneros. Downtown Sonoma, with its charming square filled with shops, is about a 10 minute drive from the diner.