Sunday, June 24, 2012

Eight Cult Comedies Still Waiting For Their Audience

As years pass, film comedy reputations rise and fall. You can't call the 1968 version of The Producers a cult film anymore; its reputation rose during the '80s and '90s, and the success of the Broadway musical sealed it. The Rocky Horror Picture Show may have started out as a cult classic, but decades of midnight shows and its successful VHS release raised its profile years later. Now it's a legitimate part of film history.

But there are still films out there, under the radar, waiting to have the spotlight shine on them again. Sometimes there are odd reasons for their "anonymity." Some are considered minor works of their director ("1941," "Serial Mom"). Others have suffered due to the reputation of their remakes ("Unfaithfully Yours").

Whatever the reason, here are eight films that have stuck with me. Maybe they're not perfect; maybe they're not the best ever made. But they deserve another look. Here, in no particular order, are eight comedies that have a soft spot in my heart:

1.  The Twelve Chairs (1970)--Mel Brooks' followup to The Producers--and it also landed with a theatrical thud. This is a brilliant slapstick comedy about a diverse group of Russians looking for the twelfth chair in a matching set: one whose cushion is stuffed with a fortune in gems. An impoverished aristocrat, an Orthodox priest, and a con-artist will stop at nothing to get the jewels. Starring Ron Moody, Dom DeLuise, and in his film debut, Frank Langella;

2. Going In Style (1979)--Three aging geezers have nothing better to do than collect Social Security, sit around the park, and feed the pigeons. So to break the monotony of old age, they decide to rob a bank. The trio is perfectly played by Art Carney, George Burns, and Lee Strasberg--and if they look old in the film it's because director Martin Brest ordered the makeup artist NOT to make them look younger. This film plays so well on a number of levels, especially as a study on how we view senior citizens. Wait for the last line of the film: it's a classic.
3.  Lord Love A Duck (1966)--An absolutely manic, out-of-control '60s comedy that satirized '60s pop culture. Roddy McDowall was in his 40s when he played high school senior Alan Musgrave, who falls for innocent but manipulative Barbara Ann Greene (the underrated Tuesday Weld). To give her everything she wants, he'll even resort to murder. A very black comedy. Weld gives off sexual sparks and hints of the controlling character she later played in Pretty Poison.

4.  Unfaithfully Yours (1948)--Preston Sturges created a number of classics (Sullivan's Travels, The Lady Eve), but his career never recovered from the failure of this, one of his most ambitious films. A bitterly jealous conductor thinks his wife is cheating on him. He conducts three different musical pieces--and each one is accompanied in his mind by a different plan for revenge. A pitch-perfect slapstick comedy, with an unforgettable performance by Rex Harrison as the suspicious conductor.
5.  Serial Mom (1994)--Critics were divided on this John Waters' subversive comedy--not shocking enough, perhaps? But I thought Kathleen Turner gave a bravura performance as the title character, a tightly-wound woman who'd knock you off if you wore white after Labor Day.  Another inspired John Waters' film that casts an acerbic eye on America's fascination with true crime.

6. 1941 (1979)--Steven Spielberg's sprawling period film suffered from comparisons to his previous hits--but there's a lot to recommend in this riotous comedy about the panic in Los Angeles after Pearl Harbor was attacked in December, 1941. A grand ensemble cast--everyone from John Belushi, Christopher Lee, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Robert Stack, and Ned Beatty.


7.  The Dinner Game (1998)--Compare it to the American remake, Dinner For Schmucks; you'll be surprised at the difference in comedic tone. French writer/director Frances Veber (La Cage aux Folles) scored an international hit with this comedy about a group of friends who meet every Wednesday in a competition to find who can bring the stupidest person to dinner with them. The title of the film is Le Diner de Cons, "cons" meaning dumbbell. Wickedly funnier than the U.S. version.

8.  Where's Poppa? (1970)--Carl Reiner has made a lot of hit comedies, but none quite as subversive or gasp-out-loud funny as this one. George Segal plays a hot shot lawyer whose budding relationships are always ruined because he has to care for his pain-in-the-butt mother (played to the hilt by Ruth Gordon). When mom chases away another girlfriend, maybe murder is the only way out? Shocking for 1970: Reiner took full advantage of the "let it all hang out" '70s attitude and made a film that didn't sound or look like anything he has done since.
I hope you'll be encouraged to check these films out. And feel free to comment: what underrated comedies do you think are ripe for rediscovery?
To purchase three of these comedies, click on the pics:




Sunday, June 17, 2012

Eight Things You Didn't Know About The Beatles' "Yellow Submarine"

The Beatles' 1968 animated film Yellow Submarine has been released for the first time on Blu-Ray and i-Tunes. The trippy cartoon has The Fab Four battling The Blue Meanies in the magical, mythical world of Pepperland, with one of the best-selling soundtracks of all time accompanying them.

There are plenty of interesting stories behind the making of this animated classic--especially since The Beatles didn't want to make it in the first place. Here's some trivia about Yellow Submarine:

1. The Beatles had to participate in the film. It was part of their three-picture deal with United Artists. A Hard Day's Night (1964) was first, followed by Help! (1965). That's the reason the Fab Four make a non-animated appearance at the end;

2. The Beatles did sing all of the songs, but other actors portrayed their voices in the film;


3. Paul Batten provided the voice of George for the first half of the film. While recording his role one day, he was arrested for being a British army deserter. Another actor had to take over the role;

4. The look of the movie was wrongly attributed to psychedelic pop artist Peter Max. Max had nothing to do with the film; credit for the hip look goes to the film's art director, Heinz Edelman;

5. The villians were The Blue Meanies--deliberately meant as a sly reference to the police;

6. In 1969, the film was nominated for a Hugo--a prestigious science-fiction/fantasy award. Previous Hugo winners included Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, and Ray Bradbury;

7.  A number of writers worked on the screenplay, including Erich Segal, who, two years later, wrote the smash hit Love Story;

8. In the film, The Beatles run up against a multi-headed Meanie dog, and sing "Hey Bulldog!" This sequence was cut from the American release, and has been restored on Blu-Ray and DVD.

To order Yellow Submarine on Blu-Ray, click here:

Sunday, June 10, 2012

"Singin' In The Rain" Hits Theaters on July 12th For A One Time Screening

There aren't too many chances to see classic movies on the big screen anymore. So mark July 12th on your calendar: Turner Classic Movies will be sponsoring a one-time only showing of the classic musical Singin' In The Rain in select theaters across the country. The film will also be released on Blu-Ray in honor of its 60th anniversary.


The screening begins with an original production featuring TCM host Robert Osborne in an exclusive specially produced interview with star Debbie Reynolds. Reynolds shares memories of working with the late Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor.

Considered one of the best musicals ever made, (and #5 on AFI's Top 100 film list), Singin' In The Rain is a sly satire about dashing Hollywood swashbuckler Don Lockwood(Gene Kelly) who tries to find love while adjusting to sound features. His current film may also be his last: it's being turned into a talkie, co-starring silent star Lina Lamont (Oscar-nominated Jean Hagen), who regretfully has a voice that could shatter cement.



Singin' In The Rain is the quintessential MGM musical: brightly shot, full of vigor, with a well crafted screenplay by (songwriters) Betty Comden and Adolph Greene, and sparkling performances. The musical numbers are now legendary: besides the title number there's also "Good Morning!" "Make 'Em Laugh," and "Beautiful Girl," among others.

Although overlooked at the Oscars, the film's reputation steadily grew over the years. Singin' is now considered by many the best musical ever made. Another MGM musical, about a washed-up film star trying to mount a Broadway comeback, is also in the same league. Check out The Bandwagon (1954), starring Fred Astaire, which features the iconic song "That's Entertainment."

If you've never experienced the joy of seeing a classic in a real theater, this is one show not to miss.

For more on the July12th screening, and locations, click here:
http://www.fathomevents.com/classics/event/singinintherain.aspx

To pre-order Singin' In The Rain on Blu-Ray (July 17th):

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Ten Movies From The Year: 1944

America was still at war, so you'd expect 1944 to be a banner year for war and action films. But the great Hollywood studios kept releasing a variety of films; many of 1944's films have withstood the test of time and become true classics:

1. Double Indemnity--Billy Wilder's class film noir. Insurance salesman Fred MacMurray falls for femme fatale Barbara Stanwyck. They kill her husband for the money; his boss Edward G. Robinson smells a rat.

2. Laura--Another memorable film noir; Otto Preminger's first film. A hard boiled detective (Dana Andrews) falls for Laura, a classy dame who took a faceful of buckshot. Imagine his surprise when Laura turns up very much alive halfway through the movie. Cliftron Webb sealed his stardom in a flashy supporting role as acerbic critic Waldo Lydecker.

3. Meet Me In St. Louis--Not hyper and kinetic like the 1950s MGM musicals. This one showed the sentimentality and emotion of a family whose roots are about to get pulled up. Judy Garland sang "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas."



4. To Have and Have Not--Bogie meets Bacall. "You know how to whistle, don't you Steve? You just put your lips together and blow."

5. Gaslight--Evil Charles Boyer marries Ingrid Bergman, then attempts to drive her mad searching for a fortune. Atmospheric and creepy; Bergman won her first Oscar.

6. The Miracle of Morgan's Creek--Like many geniuses, director Preston Sturges ran hot for ten years and burnt out. But in those ten years, he changed film comedy for the better. An amazing comedy for what it got away with. Betty Hutton is wonderful as Trudy Kockenlocker (yes, it does sound dirty)--who has a soft spot for the GI's. So after a big party, she winds up married and pregnant...and can't remember who, when, how, or even why.


7. Between Two Worlds--The best movie on this list that you've never heard of. A group of people are killed in a London air raid. They wake up on a strange ship that will deliver them to either Heaven or Hell. One trip where you could leave your passport at home. A terrific cast, including John Garfield and Sydney Greenstreet.

8. Arsenic and Old Lace--How popular was this play? Frank Capra filmed this tale of dotty aunts killing their gentleman callers in 1941. The movie wasn't to be released until the Broadway play closed. It took three years. Cary Grant's most manic, physically demanding comedy performance--a tour de farce.

9. Lifeboat--You didn't think we'd leave Hitchcock out of this, did you? The Master of Mayhem loved a challenge, and this film certainly posed it: it takes place entirely on a lifeboat, as the survivors of a ship bombing try to figure out which one of them was on the U-boat that did it. Tallulah Bankhead's best film role; she won the New York Film Critics Award for Best Actress.

10. None But The Lonely Heart--Cary Grant shows up twice on our list, this time in a completely different performance. Grant showed amazing depth as a Cockney man trying to right his life by returning home to care for his mother. Unforgettably emotional; Ethel Barrymore (yes, those Barrymores) won a Supporting Oscar as his mum.

To purchase Lifeboat on DVD, click here:

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Debra Winger to Make Her Broadway Debut In David Mamet's "The Anarchist"

One of film's most elusive actresses, Debra Winger, will make her Broadway debut later this year opposite stage legend Patti Lupone, in David Mamet's play The Anarchist.

Winger will play a prison warden. The play is about a former political radical's plea for parole.



Winger has been noticeably missing from films the past decade, except for a showy role as the frosty matriarch in Rachel Getting Married. She made a spectacular film debut in Urban Cowboy, opposite John Travolta.

The actress has three Oscar nominations for Best Actress: Shadowlands, An Officer and a Gentleman, and the Best Picture Oscar winner Terms of Endearment.

For our money, she also made one of our favorite thrillers of all time, as a Federal agent determined to bring sociopathic killer Theresa Russell to justice in Black Widow.

For more info on one of our favorite movies, Terms of Endearment, click here:

Monday, June 4, 2012

Woody Allen Casts His New Movie: Andrew Dice Clay? Really?

Woody Allen, fresh off the critical reception of Midnight In Paris, his most popular film ever, has To Rome With Love coming out late June. And the Woodman just announced the casting of his next film, to be shot this summer in San Francisco.

If you're like me, you try to imagine what Allen has up his sleeve when he casts his films...because that's all we know about them until they open. (Notoriously secretive, Allen only gives cast members script pages that they need. No one ever sees a completed script.)


And Allen's casting is usually spot on. Diane Keaton, Dianne Weist, Michael Caine, Penelope Cruz, and Mira Sorvino have all won Oscars for their roles in his films.

The casting for this new film is a very eclectic mix.  Alec Baldwin, one of To Rome With Love's co-stars, again joins Allen. Also Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett, Lost star Michael Emerson, British actress Sally Hawkins, Green Lantern star Peter Sarsgaard, and two vastly different comedians--Louis C.K. and Andrew "Dice" Clay.


Never in my wildest dreams would I have come up with that combination of actors. Okay Woody, now we're interested.

To purchase Midnight in Paris on Blu-Ray, click here: