Speaking of movies

[ellen_datlow]

I've been reading an article by film critic David Denby about Otto Preminger in January's New Yorker--yes. I'm that far behind. Not only is it fascinating, but it has inspired me to want to see a bunch of his noirs (with Dana Andrews, one of my first movie star crushes):
Balance of Terror

This quote really particularly impressed me:
"So many pictures now are bloated with unnecessary spectacle and backstory that the economy and decisiveness of the noirs—violent, saturnine, dark-city crime narratives driven by strongly motivated characters—seems more miraculous than ever. Like many noir heroes, Preminger’s are tormented, sleepless men pursuing women, money, and respect."

YES!

Comments

[fixnwrtr.livejournal.com]

I'm farther behind than you are. Work always gets in the way, and then the tiredness sets in.

My favorite movie is Laura, best ever noir. Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney with Otto directing. That is the way movies should be.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

I'm embarrassed to say that I only first saw Laura about a year ago when I was staying with Kim Newman. Yeah...it's fine.

[fixnwrtr.livejournal.com]

I especially liked the beginning and how Laura is seen only in flashback with the cop falling more and more for her every moment and then she appears as though nothing is wrong. The whole setup, the slow build to the reveal. I definitely want to see more Preminger.

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

"Laura" is indeed a classic.

Speaking of Dana Andrews, "Curse of the Demon" wasn't half bad.

[crowleycrow.livejournal.com]

Just recently watched Anatomy of a Murder, which was fine, except for two oddities: the original was in color, not B&W, and at the end they found the torn panties in the trash at the trailer park. Actually those were my own memories of the first time I saw it, when it came out. Nothing can reveal the oddities and partialities of memory like looking at old movies you think you remember.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

I THINK I saw it on tv many years ago...oh there are plenty of movies I remember being in color but were actually in B&W...

[crowleycrow.livejournal.com]

Another I was sure was in color was John Huston's Red Badge of Courage, with Audie Murphy, that I saw in high school.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

For me it was Some Like it Hot!

[(Anonymous)]

Dana Andrews?

Rick Bowes

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Yes. I don't know why.
He and Sterling Hayden and Darren McGavin (the latter was my very first--I saw him in a Jerry Lewis movie).

"Dana Andrews said prunes....

[themadblonde]

gave him the runes
& passing them used lots of skills..."