3 things about Paul Henreid’s DEAD RINGER

Posted on November 29, 2018 by robchristopher

Dead Ringer [1964]

1. Still wearing her shoes, she steps out of her panties.
2. The look on her face as she watches him being mauled to death.
3. Henry’s known all along.

RIP FilmStruck 😦

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3 things about Compton Bennett’s THE SEVENTH VEIL

Posted on November 28, 2018 by robchristopher

The Seventh Veil [1945]

1. “If you can’t think anything better, play chromatic scales or a five fingers exercise. But spare me that suburban shopgirl trash!”
2. Hugh McDermott’s murky American accent.
3. Those last two shots nearly ruin the movie! Why oh why didn’t it end with her standing at the top of the stairs, looking down on the men and smiling?

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3 things about David Lean’s THIS HAPPY BREED

Posted on November 27, 2018 by robchristopher

This Happy Breed [1944]

1. The first order of business when moving in is to put the kettle on.
2. Numerous parallels to It’s a Wonderful Life, including a Charleston scene!
3. “So you’ve come back, have you? You bad girl.”
“Yes, mum.”

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3 things about Basil Dearden’s ALL NIGHT LONG

Posted on November 26, 2018 by robchristopher

All Night Long [1962]

1. Dave Brubeck and “It’s a Raggy Waltz” with an unaccompanied cigarette burning in an ashtray on top of the piano.
2. Using a China marker on the tape.
3. Drumming alone to a band that isn’t there.

An incredible set and lots of incredible music. The plot, however, ain’t credible.

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3 things about Steve McQueen’s WIDOWS

Posted on November 25, 2018 by robchristopher

Widows [2018]

1. The house is located one block inside the boundary of the ward.
2. “What I’ve learned from watching people like my father is, you reap what you sow.”
“Let’s hope so.”
3. Inside the Golden House restaurant, a mirrored pillar: their two faces side by side.

If you’re a Chicagoan and you don’t go see this movie, you’re doing it wrong.

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Happy Thanksgiving! Aperitif cocktail recipe: 2 O’CLOCK WHISTLE

Posted on November 21, 2018 by robchristopher

Here’s what we’ll be serving as a “welcome” cocktail to our dinner guests. I tried to design a drink that was decidedly simple to make, bittersweet enough to stimulate the palate, and had a relatively low ABV (so that no one would get too pie-eyed before the turkey was ready). I like it!

2 O’CLOCK WHISTLE

1 oz. Campari
1 oz. Aperitivo Cappelletti
1 oz. Plantation Stiggins Fancy Pineapple Rum
splash (2 oz. or so) of fizzy water

Combine in an old fashioned glass with a single, very large ice cube and stir. Garnish with a large lemon peel.

To make it even easier you can prebatch the spirits an hour or so before everyone arrives; then all you have to do is measure out 3 oz. for each drink and add the fizzy water and garnish.

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3 things about Djibril Diop Mambéty’s TOUKI BOUKI

Posted on November 19, 2018 by robchristopher

Touki Bouki [1973]

1. She tries to join them on the paddleboat but he waves her away. “Go over with the other women,” he says.
2. Red blood on a yellow cardoor.
3. “Excuse me, miss, haven’t I seen you before?”
“It was probably in New York.”

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3 things about Vincent Sherman’s ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT

Posted on November 19, 2018 by robchristopher

All Through the Night [1942]

1. “You’re not a bad-looking character. I’d hate to see that fine nose of yours smeared all over your pan.”
2. Fire axe through Hitler’s portrait.
3. A Chinese man clobbers a Nazi.

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3 things about Steven Soderbergh’s AND EVERYTHING IS GOING FINE

Posted on November 18, 2018 by robchristopher

And Everything Is Going Fine [2010]

1. Rubber garden hose.
2. Liking telling stories about life more than living life.
3. A veterinarian’s van.

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3 things about Lynne Littman’s TESTAMENT

Posted on November 16, 2018 by robchristopher

Testament [1983]

1. Teasingly, he plucks at her nightshirt.
2. “Larry left us today. He just crawled into a ball and died.”
3. She gently lifts him out of the sink; the water has turned brown. She swaddles him in clean towels and then we see a large red spot.

This ought to be discussed as one of the masterworks of 20th Century filmmaking.

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