Rob Christopher's Blog, page 119
November 25, 2019
3 things about Billy Wilder’s STALAG 17
Stalag 17 [1953]
1. Delousing for Christmas.
2. Betty Grable on the dancefloor.
3. “I like the odds this time.”
November 24, 2019
3 things about James Bridges’ THE PAPER CHASE
The Paper Chase [1973]
1. A birthday cake lit with candles standing on a table in an empty room.
2. No gratuitous female nudity; gratuitous male nudity.
3. He calls him down to the front of the class and gives him a dime.
November 20, 2019
3 things about Edward Dmytryk’s WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
Walk on the Wild Side [1962]
1. “Imagine, an innocent person walking–”
“And of course you make your living by walking.”
2. The way she lights her cigarette with infinite laziness and then disdainfully throws away the match.
3. He wheels himself up to Dove and then gut-punches him savagely.
This doesn’t get enough respect. It’s got butch Barbara Stanwyck, Jane Fonda as a good time gal from Paducah, chili cookin’ Anne Baxter, cool/hot Capucine, Saul Bass’ black cat title sequence & Elmer B.’s powerhouse theme. For starters.
November 19, 2019
3 things about Howard Hawks’ THE BIG SLEEP
The Big Sleep [1946]
1. Sign at the diner: COUNTRY SAUSAGE TWO EGGS 35¢.
2. “I liked that. I’d like more.”
3. Death in an empty insurance office.
November 18, 2019
3 things about Guy Maddin & Evan Johnson & Galen Johnson’s THE GREEN FOG
The Green Fog [2017]
Title card: “Chapter 1. Weekend at Ernie’s.”Rock Hudson carefully studies a Backstreet Boys music video.An ’80s-style makeover.
November 17, 2019
3 things about Ron Peck’s NIGHTHAWKS
Nighthawks [1978]
1. When the guy doesn’t show, he goes to the telephone in the pub and looks through his little black book.
2. “You will call me Thursday, won’t you?” (Knowing he won’t.)
3. It’s 1 in the morning but he’s not ready to go home yet.
Pretty extraordinary.
November 16, 2019
3 things about Blake Edwards’ THE GREAT RACE
The Great Race [1965]
1. “I won’t discuss such an intimate subject!”
2. “Up, up, up, idiot, up!”
3. “Or would you prefer an engraved invitation?”
November 12, 2019
3 things about Errol Morris’ THE THIN BLUE LINE
The Thin Blue Line [1988]
1. 9PM Carol Burnett Show.
2. Taillight variations.
3. “I’m the one that knows.”
3 other things.
November 11, 2019
3 things about John Waters’ HAIRSPRAY
Hairspray [1988]
1. Negro Day, the last Thursday of each month.
2. Kicking aside the rat.
3. “Oh my God! There are colored people in my house!”
November 10, 2019
3 things about John Waters’ POLYESTER
Polyester [1981]
1. “Children would get in the way of our erotic lifestyle.”
2. Marguerite Duras triple feature.
3. Air freshener happy ending.
