Old Movies

I had not seen that film, but I will when I have the chance.There are so many movies, especially old movies, that have been overlooked due to their age or where they were made. And some have been buried intentionally because some themes won't play well.I still think Akira Kurasawa is one of the best, if not the best, director of all time. I'd recommend almost any of them.But if pressed to choose one nonforeign film that has been almost forgotten/buried, it would be "Detective Story".That has Kirk Douglas as a relentless police detective on the trail of an abortionist, among some other cases. Yes that's right, back in the "good old days" when abortion was firmly illegal and considered murder. It takes place almost exclusively in a station house with Douglas being confronted with several types of crimes, allowing the viewer to explore what makes up right and wrong and question if black/white morality should exist, if indeed it does exist.Where morality begins, humanity begins to end. Watching Douglas come apart as his investigation reveals a world he could not conceive existed is worth some small bits of lesser acting by a cheesy cardboard criminal on a side case.Despite being nominated for 4 oscars and winning several awards, it appears to have been blocked from video distribution (probably like Disney's Song of the South). You can see it on AMC sometimes, or maybe a regular channel late at night if you are very lucky.Other movies which were popular in their day, and wholly or semi-forgotten today, but have morals that need reviving:
1) The Hucksters: Clark Gable teaches us that advertising doesn't have to be annoying and people shouldn't live in fear of powerful businessmen.
2) Executive Suite: William Holden teaches us that big business should not be all about the profit line, and instead should be about quality that make the workers proud of what they build, sellers what they sell, and consumers what they buy.
3) Manchurian Candidate: The OLD version. Frank Sinatra teaches us that blind fanatical patriotism is worthless in the land of the free, except for those who don't want people to be so free.
4) Inherit the Wind (1960): Spencer Tracy teaches us that evolutionary theory does not have to mean the end of God, but might mean the end of blowhards who like to make things up as they go along and pretend they are God.
5) Double Indemnity OR Caine Mutiny: Fred MacMurray teaches us that you shouldn't judge the ability of an actor by the cheesy tv series he may have ended up in later in life. That guy never got the recognition he deserved.

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holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

You know I never saw that one, simply because I don't like Jon Voight... well don't like is too harsh, he just doesn't draw me in. I will add that to the list. Heheheh... I always got a kick out of that film.

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holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

Oh, I've always wanted to see that but never had the chance. I was only able to see the "remake" with Nastassia Kinski.Along those same lines, the original The Haunting, is fantastic. Its essentially all psychology of the characters. Watching the remake of that made me very very angry, they replaced pure psychological horror with the cheap thrills of "He was a child killer" and CGI.

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holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

Oh yeah, Kirk Douglas and Robert Mitchum? Seen that one for sure.

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holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

I looked up Tourneur at imdb, and discovered that I had also seen another movie of his that I liked called Night of the Demon.

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holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

I was the first one here to call him great, perhaps the best, so I'll pick up the gauntlet on this one. I do realize art is subjective so anyone could say otherwise and be correct, however I was discussing his skill as a director. That can be analyzed to some degree.I don't see how an influence from westerns and an obsession with samurai (have you seen his nonsamurai films?) is a discussion of whether he was a brilliant filmmaker. His style was distinct and clean and consistent. Beyond use of B&W they don't feel old (dated) even when watched today.Best director ever is a totally different topic of course, but I am unsure of any other director who has the consistent quality of picture as Kurasawa. Whether you get tired of the genre, or simply don't like his style (slow pans to allow a viewer to see and make up there own minds what is happening) will effect whether you want to watch him, but not a discredit to his work.By the way I have not read Sight and Sound and in fact do not know what it is. I assume its a book on direction that praises him? I hope it does get around to some of the other greats too. If every film looked like Kurasawa's work the film world would admittedly become very dull very fast. Crash noted Leone (someone I would have mentioned if the topic was great directors), and your list is pretty good. I'd also mention Scorsese, Argento, Tati, Carpenter, Von Trier and the Scotts and the Cohens (though they have more mixed work they have great style). This is not to mention Takeshi Miike, Takeshi Kitano, Juzo Itami, and to some degree Jackie Chan.Diversity is wonderful.This message has been edited by holmes, 01-20-2006 06:31 AM

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holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

Smart, witty series. I watch them any time they are on. I still think one of the most underrated movie series of all time were the miss marple movies starring Margaret Rutherford. They were fantastic and it showed how powerful an old lady could be, never playing her for a fool.

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holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

I would say pretty much yes. As the series gets to the end (6 in all) it is fair to say that the formula gets well trod, though honestly I still find it working, even if not as immediately snappy as the earlier ones.Interestingly, I think it may be the second in the series which I find the least interesting (less interesting case?), though I still watch it as well. I went through the list at imdb to try and remind me if there was any I just wouldn't recommend, and I couldn't fine one.

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holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

Not sure if I should take that as a compliment or what. Honestly I never heard of it. I just looked it up and am now certain I had not heard of it. Others may have discussed it, perhaps in front of me, and I must have just let it go in one ear and out the other.Then again to be honest I have been focused on the screenwriting end of things for a while (my transition away from science). If you know screenwriting mags I'd likely have heard of them.Then again maybe I just live under a rock. I didn't know what NME was either.I notice your updated list of directors included Kubrick which I think I forgot to put on mine. I knew I wanted to place him on it, but for some reason in trying to think of others I pushed him out of my mind. Should I take it that S&S promotes Kurasawa too much? Being british I'd figure they'd choose someone like Kubrick more.

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holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)