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Author Topic:   Old Movies
berberry
Inactive Member


Message 1 of 44 (279978)
01-19-2006 9:47 AM


The idea for this topic occurred to me because I'm thinking of a film but can't remember the title. Instead of creating a new thread to simply ask what movie it is I thought I'd create one where we can recommend a favorite old movie that perhaps other people haven't seen.
I'm going to recommend the one in question, but like I said I can't remember the name. It's a French film from the early 80s about a young man who makes a bootleg tape of a concert performance by his favorite opera singer (a black woman, but like all the other actors here I don't know her name; it's not Jessye Norman or Leontyne Price, I'm sure of that). Somehow, he doesn't notice when his tape gets switched with one containing evidence about a mob crime. In the story, the opera singer has never allowed her voice to be recorded, so the guy knows he has something valuable and wants to protect it, but he has no idea why so many cops and mafiosi are after him.
It's a modern day film noir, and the real set piece is an absolutely riveting chase scene on mopeds that takes place in the tunnels of the Paris Metro (I thought the name of the film was Metro but apparently not). That chase is probably the most exciting I've ever seen, and I've seen both Bullit and The French Connection, et many al.
The style and cinematography of this picture reminded me of another classic French film: Breathless.
Does anybody know what movie this is, and/or does anybody have another one to recommend?

Replies to this message:
 Message 2 by Parasomnium, posted 01-19-2006 10:14 AM berberry has replied
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 Message 4 by JavaMan, posted 01-19-2006 10:24 AM berberry has replied
 Message 8 by Silent H, posted 01-19-2006 12:11 PM berberry has replied
 Message 22 by Tusko, posted 01-19-2006 5:33 PM berberry has not replied
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Parasomnium
Member
Posts: 2224
Joined: 07-15-2003


Message 2 of 44 (279980)
01-19-2006 10:14 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by berberry
01-19-2006 9:47 AM


Diva
Your film is Diva (1981). I haven't seen it, but found it in IMDb with some clues from your description.
If you like chases, you'll love the chase in "The Matrix Reloaded". Not an old film, sorry, but the chase is superb. Two people on a motorcycle, going against the traffic on a highway, chased by a car. Completely impossible, but it takes place in the Matrix, so anything goes.
An old film I can recommend is "Les uns et les autres", a tale of generations of musicians and dancers from different countries, from before WWII until 'now' (1981).
This message has been edited by Parasomnium, 19-Jan-2006 03:16 PM

This message is a reply to:
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JavaMan
Member (Idle past 2319 days)
Posts: 475
From: York, England
Joined: 08-05-2005


Message 3 of 44 (279981)
01-19-2006 10:16 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by berberry
01-19-2006 9:47 AM


I think the film you're looking for is called Diva. I haven't actually seen the film myself, but I remember the reviews.
Here's a link to the IMDb entry:
Diva (1981) - IMDb

The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible

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JavaMan
Member (Idle past 2319 days)
Posts: 475
From: York, England
Joined: 08-05-2005


Message 4 of 44 (279983)
01-19-2006 10:24 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by berberry
01-19-2006 9:47 AM


Kind Hearts and Coronets
One of the films I really love is Kind Hearts and Coronets. It's a black comedy in which the hero (Dennis Price) aims to kill the eight people who stand between him and the Dukedom (all eight being played by Alec Guinness of course!), only to find ... but I won't spoil it by revealing the twist(s).
It's one of the most perfectly pitched films I've ever seen. I can watch it over and over again and find different qualities to love in it each time.

The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by berberry, posted 01-19-2006 9:47 AM berberry has replied

Replies to this message:
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berberry
Inactive Member


Message 5 of 44 (279986)
01-19-2006 10:42 AM
Reply to: Message 2 by Parasomnium
01-19-2006 10:14 AM


Re: Diva
Parasomnium writes me:
quote:
Your film is Diva (1981).
Yep, that's it. Everyone should see it. Thanks!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 2 by Parasomnium, posted 01-19-2006 10:14 AM Parasomnium has not replied

  
berberry
Inactive Member


Message 6 of 44 (279988)
01-19-2006 10:46 AM
Reply to: Message 4 by JavaMan
01-19-2006 10:24 AM


Re: Kind Hearts and Coronets
JavaMan writes:
quote:
It's one of the most perfectly pitched films I've ever seen. I can watch it over and over again and find different qualities to love in it each time.
I agree! I love this one too, and I've watched it many, many times. I think the idea behind the plot came from Shakespeare's Richard III.

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Wounded King
Member
Posts: 4149
From: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Joined: 04-09-2003


Message 7 of 44 (279996)
01-19-2006 11:19 AM


I'm a big fan of 'Arsenic and old lace'.
TTFN,
WK

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Silent H
Member (Idle past 5820 days)
Posts: 7405
From: satellite of love
Joined: 12-11-2002


Message 8 of 44 (280007)
01-19-2006 12:11 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by berberry
01-19-2006 9:47 AM


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.

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

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by berberry, posted 01-19-2006 9:47 AM berberry has replied

Replies to this message:
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crashfrog
Member (Idle past 1467 days)
Posts: 19762
From: Silver Spring, MD
Joined: 03-20-2003


Message 9 of 44 (280011)
01-19-2006 12:25 PM


Before the Middle East became associated with Islam and people that want to blow themselves up, it used to be that you could make fantasy movies with a Persian feel. I'm thinking of the Sinbad movies, or the wonderful Thief of Baghdad. (good luck finding that one just about anywhere.)
Now cinematic fantasy is all Boris Valejo calendars and whiny Enya soundtracks. As great as the LOTR movies were, there's other ways to do fantasy besides chainmail and Celtic drum jigs. Fantasy can be based on a culture besides England, which is something they seem to have forgotten recently.
I like caper movies, too. To my mind, there's nothing better than The Sting, which is back out on DVD after being out of print for years.

Replies to this message:
 Message 13 by berberry, posted 01-19-2006 1:18 PM crashfrog has replied

  
berberry
Inactive Member


Message 10 of 44 (280013)
01-19-2006 1:04 PM
Reply to: Message 8 by Silent H
01-19-2006 12:11 PM


Kurasawa
Some excellent suggestions, holmes. I'm not familiar with Detective Story, but it sounds great. I have the original Manchurian Candidate and Inherit The Wind on DVD. I've seen your other suggestions and I agree with them.
quote:
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.
One of the best, absolutely! Not just a director, he write the screenplay to Runaway Train with Eric Roberts and Jon Voight, to my mind about the best American action movie ever made - one of the few to approach the quality of the best Chinese and Hong Kong action flicks.
Switching gears, I was at Wal*Mart while ago and picked up the original Mel Brooks 1968 The Producers for 15 bucks! I've scanned through it and it's a beatiful print. I haven't seen the new version but I have a hard time believing that it will come anywhere close to the original. If you watch it, be sure you don't have anything in your mouth when the production number Springtime For Hitler starts. I'm serious.

This message is a reply to:
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docpotato
Member (Idle past 5048 days)
Posts: 334
From: Portland, OR
Joined: 07-18-2003


Message 11 of 44 (280014)
01-19-2006 1:07 PM


Bad Company
Not too long ago, I finished a project where I watched one movie a day for three months and had a blog about the movies I was watching (see link in sig). This was an incredible drain on my time and energy. One of the lesser-known gems I found during this time was a Western called Bad Company starring Jeff Bridges.
It's a revisionist Western (with shades of Dickens) about a band of young wanna-be thiefs or bandits that has a feel similar to Bottle Rocket in the way these kids buy into the myths and misconceptions surrounding a life of crime. The movie's also effective at debunking the myth of the American West as a place where one can easily make dreams come true. Definately worth a view.

"In Heaven, everything is fine."
The Lady in the Radiator
Eraserhead
One Movie a Day/Week/Whenever

  
docpotato
Member (Idle past 5048 days)
Posts: 334
From: Portland, OR
Joined: 07-18-2003


Message 12 of 44 (280015)
01-19-2006 1:12 PM


Also...
Not entirely a "forgotten" film, but probably pretty unknown to non-film geeks like me is the original Cat People, a horror film about sexual repression notable for the way its low budget enhances its scariness by relying on the psychology of its characters and the universal fear of the unknown. I'd gotten bummed out on horror films prior to seeing this one and it reignited my interest in the genre.

"In Heaven, everything is fine."
The Lady in the Radiator
Eraserhead
One Movie a Day/Week/Whenever

Replies to this message:
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berberry
Inactive Member


Message 13 of 44 (280016)
01-19-2006 1:18 PM
Reply to: Message 9 by crashfrog
01-19-2006 12:25 PM


crashfrog recommends the excellent:
quote:
Thief of Baghdad
I assume you mean the Technicolor one with the great Sabu. There's another good one that I'd never seen until recently on TCM, an old silent version with Douglas Fairbanks.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 9 by crashfrog, posted 01-19-2006 12:25 PM crashfrog has replied

Replies to this message:
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crashfrog
Member (Idle past 1467 days)
Posts: 19762
From: Silver Spring, MD
Joined: 03-20-2003


Message 14 of 44 (280017)
01-19-2006 1:26 PM
Reply to: Message 13 by berberry
01-19-2006 1:18 PM


I assume you mean the Technicolor one with the great Sabu.
I didn't know he was "great", but yeah, that's the one I mean.
Sorry, I realize you all are geezers, or whatever, but any movie older than "Howard the Duck" counts as an "old movie" to me.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 13 by berberry, posted 01-19-2006 1:18 PM berberry has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 30 by berberry, posted 01-20-2006 5:19 AM crashfrog has replied

  
Yaro
Member (Idle past 6496 days)
Posts: 1797
Joined: 07-12-2003


Message 15 of 44 (280018)
01-19-2006 1:27 PM


Gunga Din
Awsome movie from the 30's that's as exciting and compelling even today. Great action, fun comedy, hijinks, adventure, and quite a bit of suspense. Carry Grant is as handsom as ever

  
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