And the best Black and White movie ever is:

[ronmac]

I watched most of The Asphalt Jungle on TCM today. That was pretty harrowing! They've got a noir thing going today.

I caught some of that. I know I've seen the entire movie, but not necessarily in one sitting.

Anything with Poitier...

[nycsteve]

I caught some of that. I know I've seen the entire movie, but not necessarily in one sitting.

Anything with Poitier...

If you're saying Poitier is in Asphalt Jungle , he's not. I think you're thinking of Blackboard Jungle. Asphalt is way better.

[ronmac]

If you're saying Poitier is in Asphalt Jungle , he's not. I think you're thinking of Blackboard Jungle. Asphalt is way better.

Oops. Yep, it was on just the other day, so it was at the top of my mind. I stand corrected.

But, UGH! I just noticed that "White Heat" with Cagney is on right now.

At 8:00, we're watching "Lady on a Train" (1945). I've never seen it. It's a three-star comedy/murder mystery. Sounds kinda fun and the wife is sick of watching politics every night. I think I can spare a couple of hours without going through withdrawal. But, it'll be back on at 10:00!!

[JKL2000]

I watched most of The Asphalt Jungle on TCM today. That was pretty harrowing! They've got a noir thing going today.

If you're saying Poitier is in Asphalt Jungle , he's not. I think you're thinking of Blackboard Jungle. Asphalt is way better.

Poitier is not the kind of "noir" I meant!

[ronmac]

At 8:00, we're watching "Lady on a Train" (1945). I've never seen it. It's a three-star comedy/murder mystery. Sounds kinda fun and the wife is sick of watching politics every night. I think I can spare a couple of hours without going through withdrawal. But, it'll be back on at 10:00!!

I got through about 15 minutes of it. Light-hearted 40s humor just wasn't working tonight.

[nycsteve]

I got through about 15 minutes of it. Light-hearted 40s humor just wasn't working tonight.

I caught the last 20 minutes or so. The female lead was cute. Racy ,suggestive ending for the 40's.

[ronmac]

Nice double feature on Saturday night on TCM with "Remember the Night" (8:00) and, yes, "Christmas in Connecticut" (10:00).

[Jerjo]

We watched Christmas Carol with George C Scott the other night but I'm scanning the channels for the old black and white with Alastair Sim.

[ronmac]

We watched Christmas Carol with George C Scott the other night but I'm scanning the channels for the old black and white with Alastair Sim.

Sunday Night at 10:00 pm on TCM

[Jerjo]

Sunday Night at 10:00 pm on TCM

I'll set the DVR for repeat viewings!

[JKL2000]

Sunday Night at 10:00 pm on TCM

Thanks, just scheduled that!

[Hal...]

We watched Christmas Carol with George C Scott the other night but I'm scanning the channels for the old black and white with Alastair Sim.

Scott is good as the mean Scrooge and Finney is good as the reformed Scrooge. I've seen the '38 version with Gene Lockhart but don't remember how good Reginald Owen is in it; I do seem to remember the '38 version had the best Tiny Tim. I've never seen the '35 version or the one with Patrick Stewart. But, imo, no one does Scrooge like Sim. One of the great acting performances in the history of cinema.

The only thing about the '51 version that I have trouble with is a literal spoiler; highlight if you want to read, but be warned that once you read it, it may change your enjoyment of the movie forever: it occurs during the scene when Scrooge wakes up and realizes it's still Christmas. There's a shot of Alastair Sim with a mirror in the background. In the mirror you can see a crewman peaking from behind a curtain, which kind of rips you out of the fantasy. That's a pretty major error of continuity that I can't ignore any time I see the movie.

[JKL2000]

Scott is good as the mean Scrooge and Finney is good as the reformed Scrooge. I've seen the '38 version with Gene Lockhart but don't remember how good Reginald Owen is in it; I do seem to remember the '38 version had the best Tiny Tim. I've never seen the '35 version or the one with Patrick Stewart. But, imo, no one does Scrooge like Sim. One of the great acting performances in the history of cinema.

The only thing about the '51 version that I have trouble with is a literal spoiler; highlight if you want to read, but be warned that once you read it, it may change your enjoyment of the movie forever: it occurs during the scene when Scrooge wakes up and realizes it's still Christmas. There's a shot of Alastair Sim with a mirror in the background. In the mirror you can see a crewman peaking from behind a curtain, which kind of rips you out of the fantasy. That's a pretty major error of continuity that I can't ignore any time I see the movie.

If you get a chance to listen to the audio-recording of the Patrick Stewart one, it's very good. I used to listen to it while walking our dog during Christmastime years ago.

[ronmac]

I've seen the '38 version with Gene Lockhart but don't remember how good Reginald Owen is in it;

That one's on Christmas Eve at 10:00 pm on TCM.

[JKL2000]

Scott is good as the mean Scrooge and Finney is good as the reformed Scrooge. I've seen the '38 version with Gene Lockhart but don't remember how good Reginald Owen is in it; I do seem to remember the '38 version had the best Tiny Tim. I've never seen the '35 version or the one with Patrick Stewart. But, imo, no one does Scrooge like Sim. One of the great acting performances in the history of cinema.

The only thing about the '51 version that I have trouble with is a literal spoiler; highlight if you want to read, but be warned that once you read it, it may change your enjoyment of the movie forever: it occurs during the scene when Scrooge wakes up and realizes it's still Christmas. There's a shot of Alastair Sim with a mirror in the background. In the mirror you can see a crewman peaking from behind a curtain, which kind of rips you out of the fantasy. That's a pretty major error of continuity that I can't ignore any time I see the movie.

Scrooge is wearing a FitBit?

I read the spoiler, and a few other continuity errors and such online - but none of that will bother me.

[Hal...]

If you get a chance to listen to the audio-recording of the Patrick Stewart one, it's very good. I used to listen to it while walking our dog during Christmastime years ago.

I could see where the book on CD read by Patrick Stewart would be great. But there was also a movie version. Have you seen it?

That one's on Christmas Eve at 10:00 pm on TCM.

Thanks, but I don't get TCM anymore after cutting the cable.


There's a 1971 version that was made by animator Richard Williams. He was the animation director for Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and did the animation sequences for The Pink Panther movies. His version of ACC was only about a half hour but was so good. I loved it as a kid. I got it on DVD but haven't had a chance to see it because the guy who sold it on eBay said it was region free when it really wasn't.

[ronmac]

There's a 1971 version that was made by animator Richard Williams. He was the animation director for Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and did the animation sequences for The Pink Panther movies. His version of ACC was only about a half hour but was so good. I loved it as a kid. I got it on DVD but haven't had a chance to see it because the guy who sold it on eBay said it was region free when it really wasn't.

I remember that. The animation was pretty creepy. I recall the children hidden in the ghosts coat being super-creepy.



Gotta love YouTube!

[Hal...]

I remember that. The animation was pretty creepy. I recall the children hidden in the ghosts coat being super-creepy.

Yep. I thought a lot of the animation in it was really cool. I'll have to d/l that and watch it soon. Thanks!

[ronmac]

Nice double feature on Saturday night on TCM with "Remember the Night" (8:00) and, yes, "Christmas in Connecticut" (10:00).

I watched both of these last night. I had seen "Remember the Night" before, but not "Christmas in Connecticut" in its entirety. "Remember the Night" is definitely the better of the two, IMHO. That's not to take anything away from "Christmas in Connecticut." There was just something unconvincing about the performances of that one. Still a good one for holiday viewing.

I learned that, at the time "Christmas in Connecticut" was filmed, Barbara Stanwyck was the highest-paid woman in the country. Not surprising, as she could play any role so well.

[JKL2000]

If you get a chance to listen to the audio-recording of the Patrick Stewart one, it's very good. I used to listen to it while walking our dog during Christmastime years ago.

I could see where the book on CD read by Patrick Stewart would be great. But there was also a movie version. Have you seen it?

I did see it, but somehow his reading of it stuck with me more. I should probably watch the movie version again sometime. Oh, and for me it was cassettes, not CDs! They were a gift from my wife back in the 90s.

[JKL2000]

Ended up watching the Reginald Owen "Christmas Carol" and "The Bishop's Wife" while wrapping gifts. Now I'm bushed! G'nite all.

[Staun]

We watched Christmas Carol with George C Scott the other night but I'm scanning the channels for the old black and white with Alastair Sim.

I think this version has been on more than any other.

[Staun]

Film magazine , Sight And Sound , ranked Hitchcock's Vertigo as the #1 movie of all time. Personally its not even my favorite Hitch , much less best of all time . I always thought of Vertigo as plodding and a bit boring. There's an article on the film in todays NYT . As its a Hitchcock movie ,its better than a lot of its non Hitch completion , but IMO even in the Hitch cannon , not deserving of a title #1.

Don't think it's the greatest of all time and I don't know what is but, I think it's one of his best. Great story idea. For me this film has only one flaw. When Scotty meets her for the first time and Judy decides to go out with him, she sits down and writes a letter to Scotty telling him what's been going on. This entire scene should have been omitted because if you recall, Scotty has figured out everything and confronts Judy at the very end as he was taking her back up the stairs of the church. The letter sort of gives everything away too soon. One other thing I didn't like was the fact that both women died in the same place in the same way. That was a bit much but I never fail to catch this movie when it's on and I've just about worn down my disk. This is just a great film.

[Staun]

I remember that. The animation was pretty creepy. I recall the children hidden in the ghosts coat being super-creepy.



Gotta love YouTube!

I love the Mr. Magoo version.

[Staun]

Treasure of the Sierra Madre this weekend along with Double Indemnity. Bogy gets gold fever and Barbara Stanwyck does away with her old man. Two of my favorites.