tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post9047704607740440536..comments2024-01-11T05:02:32.321-05:00Comments on Goodfella's Movie Blog: 1942: Casablanca (Michael Curtiz)Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-77943479114114103892011-11-03T09:23:42.907-04:002011-11-03T09:23:42.907-04:00I'm not a fan of the musical, with rare except...I'm not a fan of the musical, with rare exception, and so I postponed watching YDD for a long while.iserve pharmacyhttp://www.pharmacywiki.org/iservepharmacy.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-19698799682136160682011-05-11T13:13:26.628-04:002011-05-11T13:13:26.628-04:00the name of this movie is one of the most importa...the name of this movie is one of the most important in the history, It is so common to many people, I feel so happy with this kind of movie!!viagra onlinehttp://www.xlpharmacy.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-608179689983509412009-10-11T12:30:01.382-04:002009-10-11T12:30:01.382-04:00Good to see another that can't resist the temp...Good to see another that can't resist the temptation of Casablanca! :-)<br /><br />The reason that I always think about the studio cut travesty when I watch Ambersons is that about midway through it I think "My God, this really is going to outdo Citizen Kane"... but then it doesn't for me. That's when it becomes obvious to me that there was very likely some great stuff cut out in that second half and makes me just cross my fingers for a miracle find.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-21748388276547176702009-10-11T11:06:43.844-04:002009-10-11T11:06:43.844-04:00I can get on board with this pick, definitely.
As...I can get on board with this pick, definitely.<br /><br />As for The Magnificent Ambersons, the studio cut is definitely a travesty but I have kind of an unusual perspective on the film. I find the decline of the movie as a movie reflects the onscreen decline of the family in compelling if unintended ways:<br /><br />http://thedancingimage.blogspot.com/2008/11/magnificent-ambersons.htmlMovieMan0283http://thedancingimage.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-60332131056862018092009-08-04T21:13:05.540-04:002009-08-04T21:13:05.540-04:00Casablanca is one of my top two films of all time....Casablanca is one of my top two films of all time. Claude Rains' greatest performance.Angelo D'Arminiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12967199908662031230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-49446202143112145302009-06-27T07:34:36.302-04:002009-06-27T07:34:36.302-04:00CagneyFan and Judy - I agree with your sentiments ...CagneyFan and Judy - I agree with your sentiments on Yankee Doodle Dandy. Cagney's performance certainly is what carries that film for me.<br /><br />Judy - I hesitated to include Mrs. Miniver because it has been so long since I saw it, that I need to just go back and revisit it again before I pass judgment on it. You're point about the war movies just starting at this point in 1942, whereas the war had already been raging for a few years, is interesting. I have no idea why the delay, but it's interesting to consider.<br /><br />Shubhajit - Good point about the noir elements. I don't think I'd quite classify it as noir either, but you're spot on that a lot of the elements used to identify a film noir are apparent in Casablanca.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-68396249636265692072009-06-27T06:03:45.071-04:002009-06-27T06:03:45.071-04:00Your review of the movie is testament enough of ho...Your review of the movie is testament enough of how much you love the movie. It happens to be one of my favourites as well. There's everything that one could ask for - stellar performances, great screen chemistry between the leads, unforgettable dialogues, and a wonderful script. <br /><br />Rick is quintessential Humphrey Bogart - the cynicism, the existentialist detachment, the wry humour, and a sentimental heart concealed underneath the cold exterior. Ingrid Bergmen's Ilsa could easily be one of the most beautiful screen ladies ever - someone you just can't avoid but fall in love with. The interplay of light and shadows, too, have been magnificently used to create a dark and unforgiving world where surviving is all that matters. <br /><br />In fact, given the combination of various factors ranging from the cynical lead and fatalism to the the B/W photography, the movie does fall within the purview of film noirs, though not many like to call Casablanca one.<br /><br />"Here's looking at you kid..."Shubhajithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02040495040897333606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-44879809653562762662009-06-27T02:01:34.644-04:002009-06-27T02:01:34.644-04:00I'm another one who loves 'Casablanca'...I'm another one who loves 'Casablanca' and would choose it as the best - and loved your evocative account of the film, Dave. About a year ago I was lucky enough to see it on the big screen, which was a memorable experience - I'd love to see more old movies as they were made to be seen.<br /><br />I also like 'Mrs Miniver' from 1942 - an amazing scene with an injured German airman cornered in Greer Garson's kitchen. (I see we are getting on to war movies, with this and 'Casablanca', though interesting that neither of them is actually focusing on the frontline.) I also really like a couple of Bette Davis melodramas from that year, 'Now Voyager' and 'In This Our Life' - both mad plots but amazing performances - plus the comedy 'The Man Who Came to Dinner', where she only has a small part, which is just so witty. <br /><br />I love Cagney's performance in 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' but am always slightly tempted to skip the opening scenes tracing Cohan's childhood. And what about 'The Talk of the Town'? All in all, another great year, and once again there are a lot of great movies other people have named which I haven't seen yet... JudyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-3237939035884997302009-06-26T14:54:59.554-04:002009-06-26T14:54:59.554-04:00Count me in the Casablanca Camp. As you said, Dav...Count me in the Casablanca Camp. As you said, Dave, it's a movie that requires no particular mood or mind set. It's always good. Like you and many others, I'd choose "Casablanca" as the best for '42.<br /><br />"Yankee Doodle Dandy" is a worthy honorable mention. Admittedly, I'm not a fan of the musical, with rare exception, and so I postponed watching YDD for a long while. When I finally did, I came away deeply impressed with the movie, mostly with Cagney's performance. Huston's performance is also good.<br /><br />Everyone else has named other excellent '42 choices. "This Gun for Hire," while not a contender for best film, is a personal favorite worth mentioning.<br /><br />Another excellent post followed by great comments!CagneyFanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12528836819712630455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-15210746970832207092009-06-26T13:30:54.640-04:002009-06-26T13:30:54.640-04:00Great stuff guys. Just want to also reiterate how...Great stuff guys. Just want to also reiterate how much I love "To Be or Not to Be." I've been on a real Lubitsch kick lately, so watching this one again for the countdown was great.<br /><br />Samuel - Casablanca was premiered in December '42, but then released nationally in the United States in January '43. For me personally, Casablanca would have won Best Picture honors in any year except for maybe 5-6 over the course of film history. Just a movie I love and obviously have a strong personal attachment to. Like I said, I like "The Magnificent Ambersons" but I do think it feels a bit rushed or like something is missing from it. I understand the reasons for this, but I can't help feeling at times like there are _vital_ parts missing.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-48657829864930830202009-06-26T12:01:25.463-04:002009-06-26T12:01:25.463-04:00This must have been in a period when the Oscar yea...This must have been in a period when the Oscar year didn't match the calendar year very closely, since the Academy deems Casablanca the best film of 1943, and Mrs. Miniver the best of 1942. Well, it wouldn't have won either year with me. It's a good film and still one of the most quotable ever, I've never really understood why people elevate it so highly. Maybe I'm just showing the limits of my romantic consciousness. Meanwhile, for 1942 I'm in the Ambersons camp. Even mutilated, it has all the virtues of Welles's technique and sensibility unburdened by his narcissism, and Tim Holt shows what Welles could do with actors apart from himself. Cat People would be my runner up.Samuel Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934870299522899944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-41315496824310667122009-06-26T11:19:50.775-04:002009-06-26T11:19:50.775-04:00John:
Regarding the Visconti film, we can remedy ...John:<br /><br />Regarding the Visconti film, we can remedy that easy enough!<br /><br />My e mail address is:<br /><br />TheFountain26@aol.comSam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-86151258876451385462009-06-26T11:03:46.520-04:002009-06-26T11:03:46.520-04:00A Yankee fan! you're a good man Sam. I agree a...A Yankee fan! you're a good man Sam. I agree about the strong strain of sugar in "Pride of the Yankees" but it is one of those films that as a life-long Yankee fan, life yourself, I always enjoy. <br /><br />"Obssessione" is a film I would love to get hold of, having read so much about it.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808503055317962289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-65824106075141083112009-06-26T10:00:13.100-04:002009-06-26T10:00:13.100-04:00A great and deliriously enthusiastic review of one...A great and deliriously enthusiastic review of one of those timeless films that one never grows tired of. Needless to say, when the smoke clears in 1942, one must not deny this film of its pre-eminence. It is the greatest film of 1942, despite a strong bid of Welles's THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS and a host of others.<br /><br />My #1 Film of 1942:<br /><br /> Casablanca (Curtiz)<br /><br />Runners-Up:<br /><br /> The Magnificent Ambersons (Welles)<br /> Kings Row (Wood)<br /> Ossessione (Visconti; Italy)<br /> Thunder Rock (Boulting; UK)<br /> Bambi (Hand-Disney)<br /> Cat People (Tourneur)<br /> Listen to Britain (Jennings; UK)<br /> To Be or Not to Be (Lubitsch)<br /> The Pride of the Yankees (Wood)<br /><br /> I have no issue at all with some of the runners-up that John named (and agree with a few) and was generous to name PRIDE OF THE YANKEES among their lot, as I'm a life-long Yankee fan. But it has a strong strain of sugar, almost oppressively so. But it's very well-acted and mounted.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-49417546286010683792009-06-26T08:18:38.334-04:002009-06-26T08:18:38.334-04:00Dave! A great review – So many great scenes, the b...Dave! A great review – So many great scenes, the battling national anthems, the amazing dialogue – how “shocked” Renault was to find gambling going on, Rick coming to Casablanca for the waters and how he must have been misinformed. Of course, the performances, the cynical Humphrey Bogart at his best! Bergman so beautiful and enticing, Claude Rains as Renault with is fantastic, Greenstreet and the best screen weasel of all time, Peter Lorre And not to be forgotten Dooley Wilson as Sam and that great song! This film ranks as one of my all time favorites. Some films you have to be in the mood, but as you say, “Casablanca” is one of those films you can always be in the mood for.<br /> <br /><br />#1 Casablanca<br /><br />And then the best of the rest: “To Be or Not to Be”, “Woman of the Year”, “Cat People”, “The Palm Beach Story”, “The Talk of the Town” and “The Man Who Came to Dinner” and a film that may not be quite in the same league but a personal favorite “Pride of the Yankees”Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808503055317962289noreply@blogger.com