tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post5127121676848004302..comments2024-01-11T05:02:32.321-05:00Comments on Goodfella's Movie Blog: #70: I Wake Up Screaming (H. Bruce Humberstone, 1941)Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-58142266104138810272010-02-11T01:50:34.479-05:002010-02-11T01:50:34.479-05:00I keep forgetting about Sweet Smell of Success -- ...I keep forgetting about Sweet Smell of Success -- probably my 2nd favorite film after Sunset Blvd. Why do I forget about it? Because I think it's a phenomenon, not a movie, thus it does not fall into any genre.<br /><br />The Killing -- great movie, bad acting of Sterling Hayden (he totally SCREWED the ending, not right emotions AT ALL)<br />Murder My Sweet -- I have yet to see it<br />Scarlet Street -- good, I agree<br />Force of Evil, Body and Soul, Gun Crazy -- I haven't seen them yet<br />The Postman Always Rings Twice -- too long to be good<br />Detour -- quite good, but a lil' bit overrated, I agreeQuirky Characterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13590664018386916883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-408554771518017082010-02-10T17:44:24.392-05:002010-02-10T17:44:24.392-05:00Great comments and input from everyone. As for wh...Great comments and input from everyone. As for what is to come in the countdown, I'm not going to reveal much, but I will say that some will be surprised by some of the films that are and are _not_ included. To accommodate all of the movies I wanted to get to, I did some cutting and adding for what would be included -- that's the beauty of being in charge! :)Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-29364312129680292752010-02-10T13:48:45.778-05:002010-02-10T13:48:45.778-05:00Cronjager's cinematography here is simply stun...Cronjager's cinematography here is simply stunning, with it's expressionistic textures, a fact which I see Tony has also brought out in a review he penned months ago at his place that I haven't seen until now:<br /><br />http://filmsnoir.net/film_noir/i-wake-up-screaming-1941-bizarre-transference.html<br /><br />But this is one of your greatest threads yet Dave, in terms of the passionate comments, the enthusiasm for the choice, and the insatiable desire by a number of people to ascertain where you will go with the rest of this countdown. I would add though to that conjecture, as frankly it is spoiling the one major thrill you have left here: the element of surprise. While many of us know what the greatest noirs are, we neithe rknow what order they will be presented or what surprises may be in store. Suffice to say that this is an excellent choice - true what John and Tony say that it might have even been higher - but you have now reached the point where it's one masterwork after another.<br /><br />I agree Dave that Hunberstone and Cronjager are one hit wonders here, but ah what a hit they collaborated on! You are on a roll with the insightful essays. This is like six extraordinary reviews in a row!Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-71771838696173328832010-02-10T13:12:13.571-05:002010-02-10T13:12:13.571-05:00Quirky Character, High Noon is definitely more lin...Quirky Character, High Noon is definitely more linked to the mythology of the noir than the western, so I can see what you mean, although I don't think it's a good movie. Dave, Laird Cregar is one of my absolute favorite actors, and it's really nice to see this here. Victor Mature often gets a bad rap, but he's in way more good or great movies than his reputation suggests (this, My Darling Clementine, Kiss Of Death).Doniphonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02407443845368110678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-2652007124930816342010-02-10T12:40:53.082-05:002010-02-10T12:40:53.082-05:00Oh and Night and the City......M.RocaOh and Night and the City......M.RocaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-17266712759587178132010-02-10T12:39:39.007-05:002010-02-10T12:39:39.007-05:00Are Gaslight, The Ox-Bow Incident, and I Am A Fugi...Are Gaslight, The Ox-Bow Incident, and I Am A Fugitive From A Chain Gang noir? I love Kiss Me Deadly and think Dave will rank it pretty high as most noir lovers would. Other possible top ten picks are Sweet Smell Of Success, The Killing, Murder My Sweet, Scarlet Street, Force of Evil, Body and Soul, Gun Crazy, Kiss Me Deadly, The Postman Always Rings Twice, and Detour (though I find it overrated).....M.RocaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-89041446441255367922010-02-10T09:07:50.822-05:002010-02-10T09:07:50.822-05:00Oh, by the way, why don't we make bets about t...Oh, by the way, why don't we make bets about the top ten noirs in this countdown?<br /><br />I think they will be the following (not necessarily in this order):<br />= Sunset Blvd.<br />= Double Indemnity<br />= Out of the Past<br />= Laura<br />= Night of the Hunter<br />= Shadow of a Doubt<br />= The Third Man<br />= The Maltese Falcon (the one with Bogart)<br />= The Big Heat<br />= Touch of Evil<br />= The Big Sleep<br />= To Have and Have Not<br />(Oops, more than 10 already! Whatever...)<br /><br />I would definitely include Vertigo (I consider it a noir), but I know opinions differ very much on it. The same goes about High Noon -- definitely a noir in my book, though set in full daylight.<br /><br />Other noirs which I adore but which are unlikely to make the TOP-10 (but which I expect to see in the countdown):<br />= Nightmare Alley<br />= Strange Love of Martha Ivers<br />= The File on Thelma Jordon<br />= Mildred Pierce<br />= Ox-Bow Incident<br />= Pickup on South Street<br />= Where the Sidewalk Ends<br />= The Glass Key and This Gun for Hire<br />= The Lady from Shanghai<br />= I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang<br />= Les Diaboliques<br />= Ace in the Hole<br />= The Killers<br />= Criss Cross<br />= Dead Reckoning<br />= Gaslight<br />= In a Lonely Place<br />(more could be added, of course)<br /><br />And I HATE "Kiss Me Deadly" -- about the only noir I hate, and am not much of a fan of "Odd Man Out" or "Strangers on a Train."Quirky Characterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13590664018386916883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-21821235190527265722010-02-10T08:46:25.099-05:002010-02-10T08:46:25.099-05:00I remember I liked this noir, and it was the first...I remember I liked this noir, and it was the first (I think) where I saw Victor Mature (or was it "Kiss of Death"?) and decided that I like him rather than not. Though my favorite Mature performance is in The Shanghai Gesture (1941), which is unlikely to make this countdown.<br /><br />But I'm still doubtful about Betty Grable. I liked her in How To Marry a Millionaire, but not anywhere else.Quirky Characterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13590664018386916883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-2283173791267975502010-02-10T07:50:17.533-05:002010-02-10T07:50:17.533-05:00I was surprised how much I like this film because ...I was surprised how much I like this film because generally I do not think much of Victor Mature as an actor but this film is so filled with moody atmosphere that his limited talent is not too much of a distraction.<br /><br />As for Humberstone, his success here is probably due more to chance and talent. His body of work is a mixture of Charlie Chan films, Laurel & Hardy and eventually some Fox musicals (I looked it up on IMDB) and this film is really his only standout. By the way, I like the Chan films in general as well as L&H.<br /><br />Another well done piece Dave.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808503055317962289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-22201097923999925502010-02-10T01:09:14.442-05:002010-02-10T01:09:14.442-05:00Dave, I really like your description of the noir a...Dave, I really like your description of the noir atmosphere of the early scenes in the police-station: "The shadows of the interrogating officers don’t simply fall onto back walls; they completely envelop Christopher and heighten the anxiety". <br /><br />This is a fascinating noir with a gestalt that transcends its melodrama origins in fashioning a dark city landscape where sexual obsession weaves a disturbing web of entrapment and bizarre transference. I would rank it much higher.Tony D'Ambrahttp://filmsnoir.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-77690999508350173262010-02-10T00:46:06.638-05:002010-02-10T00:46:06.638-05:00I already stated recently that I think this film i...I already stated recently that I think this film is disappointing. It is definitely an important and influential movie. Laird Cregar was a tremendous actor and the look of the film is a clear precursor to future film noirs. I just find the dialogue and script to be really stilted and the use of "Over The Rainbow" as somewhat distracting. I also find Mature's acting to be fairly ho-hum throughout. I think this movie deserves to be on this list but there are at least 9 or 10 films you listed previously that I enjoy more....M.RocaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com