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| whiskeypriest |
 Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 12:49 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 6916
Location: "It's a Dry Heat."
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gromit wrote: billyweeds wrote: The Awful Truth is one of the funniest movies ever, and Grant and Dunne are brilliant; so is Ralph Bellamy.
I just tried to think of one funny moment from the film. I liked the way Grant ran out of the room chasing the music teacher. Good brief physical comedy. Though that gag tried my patience with the ridiculous amount of noise coming form their fight in the next room, for an over-extended period of time, while Dunne et. al pretend that it's nothing.
Handing off the brush off letter with the line Here's your diploma was witty, though Aunt patsy transitioning into an Eve Arden role seemed a bit odd.
But the movie was mostly a mish-mash of other films, including Asta the Thin Man dog as Mr. Smith (that was Asta, right?)
"I guess it was easier to her to change her name than for her whole family to change theirs." didn't make you laugh? |
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| Syd |
| Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 2:14 pm |
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Location: Norman, Oklahoma
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| Asta (real name Skippy) is also in Bringing Up Baby and Topper Takes a Trip. He's only in the first two Thin Man movies; after that it's alternate Astas. |
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| gromit |
| Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 3:46 pm |
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Joined: 31 Aug 2004
Posts: 9016
Location: Shanghai
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IMDb Awful Truth trivia:
Quote: Much of the film was improvised by director Leo McCarey and the cast during filming each day
If true, that might explain the pacing problems.
Though I felt like too many of the lines/jokes seemed overly written.
Quote:
Cary Grant was so convinced this film was not working, he begged to released during production. The film turned out to be a big hit.
I can see what he was worried about.
Quote: Premiere voted this movie as one of "The 50 Greatest Comedies of All Time" in 2006.
I can't see that though. |
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Killing your enemies, if it's done badly, increases their number. |
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| Marj |
| Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 3:54 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
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| With the right actors, Leo McCarey loved improvisation. You can clearly see it in Love Affair - also with Irene Dunne, and his own remake of that: An Affair to Remember - also with Cary Grant. Clearly one has to like these actors - I love them, in order to like his films. |
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| whiskeypriest |
| Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 4:22 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 6916
Location: "It's a Dry Heat."
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Marj wrote: With the right actors, Leo McCarey loved improvisation. You can clearly see it in Love Affair - also with Irene Dunne, and his own remake of that: An Affair to Remember - also with Cary Grant. Clearly one has to like these actors - I love them, in order to like his films.
James Stewart, by the way. |
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I ask you, Velvel, as a rational man, which of us is possessed? |
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| carrobin |
| Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 4:28 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
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Location: NYC
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| I was watching "North by Northwest" on TCM last week--still my favorite Hitchcock--and pondering the ineffable style of Cary Grant. The very idea of anyone trying to kill him seems bizarre. (James Mason and Martin Landau are so good at being evil, though, that it works.) |
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| gromit |
| Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 4:44 pm |
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Joined: 31 Aug 2004
Posts: 9016
Location: Shanghai
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| Arsenic and Old Lace |
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Killing your enemies, if it's done badly, increases their number. |
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| Marj |
| Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 11:11 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
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Location: Manhattan
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whiskeypriest wrote: Marj wrote: With the right actors, Leo McCarey loved improvisation. You can clearly see it in Love Affair - also with Irene Dunne, and his own remake of that: An Affair to Remember - also with Cary Grant. Clearly one has to like these actors - I love them, in order to like his films. True enough; Grant is one of my two favorite actors of all time, and especially in screwball romantic comedy. He was the best ever at it - Awful Truth, Bringing Up Baby, Girl Friday, Philadelphia Story....
James Stewart, by the way.
And I was sure it was Orson Welles. Shoot! |
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| Marj |
| Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 11:17 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
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Location: Manhattan
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gromit wrote: Arsenic and Old Lace
We're getting into the right time of year for it. I always thought Arsenic and Old Lace was such a wonderful Autumn flick. It just is. And just as I must watch The Family Stone every Christmas, I also must watch Arsenic and Old Lace every fall.
I have my traditions after all. |
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| billyweeds |
| Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 11:28 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 20618
Location: New York City
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James Stewart is my favorite movie actor of all time, and possibly my favorite actor period. Second favorite is Buster Keaton, btw. Third, coincidentally, is also named Keaton--Michael.
Actresses? Leslie Caron, Shirley MacLaine. Thinking, thinking. |
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| Marc |
| Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 1:28 am |
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Joined: 19 May 2004
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It's hard for me to come up with a favorite actor or actress. Easier to arrive at a favorite performance by an actor. Two that instantly come to mind are
Marlon Brando in "Last Tango In Paris."
Gena Rowlands in "A Woman Under The Influence."
Oh, and two more...
Cloris Leachman in "The Last Picture Show."
Sean Penn "At Close Range." |
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| billyweeds |
| Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 6:11 am |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
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Location: New York City
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| Good choices. Honestly, though, I have never been able to get through A Woman Under the Influence. Cassavetes's directing style is a genuine turnoff for me. Even though the acting sometimes breaks through, he allows his actors too much free rein. Gazzara and Falk are the major casualties of this approach. Both are fine actors who do not benefit from a loose leash. Rowlands is likewise terrific, but she's allowed too much self-indulgence. The movie is waaay too long and unfocused. |
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| carrobin |
| Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 9:25 am |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 7795
Location: NYC
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| I loved Cassavetes, and I liked almost all of his films. Except the sequel to the original "The In-Laws," called "Big Trouble." Same writer, same actors, but directed by Cassavetes. "The In-Laws" is one of the funniest movies ever made; "Big Trouble" had barely a giggle in it. I remember Falk and Arkin creeping down (or maybe it was up) a marble staircase in a mansion and it should have been a hilarious scene, but I kept wondering, why isn't this funny? I love Cassavetes, but he wasn't a comedy director. |
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| whiskeypriest |
| Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 9:26 am |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 6916
Location: "It's a Dry Heat."
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gromit wrote: Arsenic and Old Lace |
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I ask you, Velvel, as a rational man, which of us is possessed? |
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| bartist |
| Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 9:58 am |
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Joined: 27 Apr 2010
Posts: 6961
Location: Black Hills
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| I'm a fan of minimalism. Props are for wusses. |
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