What do you think of Torn Curtin?Originally Posted by ronmac
What do you think of Torn Curtin?
The older I get, the better I was.
I don't think I've ever seen it.
"The White Zone is for loading and unloading only. If you got to load or unload go to the White Zone!"
Hitch sends Paul Newman behind the iron curtin as a defector to give the Germans false information on new weapons that are being developed. It doesn't get a great deal of air play but it's Newman. There was a scene where Newman does away with a German soldier by forcing his head into a gas oven. The thing was done in the pure Hitchcock style of course.
The older I get, the better I was.
The Train, with Burt Lancaster.
The older I get, the better I was.
You can say this for the Germans, they had the coolest military uniforms.
The older I get, the better I was.
Top 15 for me. Love that movie.
“From thirty feet away she looked like a lot of class. From ten feet away she looked like something made up to be seen from thirty feet away.” – Philip Marlowe
Beats me why even TCM doesn't show it that often. This isn't a diamond in the rough type movie, this is a flat out great film. Well, I suppose others can name films that don't get their due either.
The older I get, the better I was.
Two of my favorite films
Marketa Lazarová (1967) is a Czechoslovak historical film directed by František Vláčil. It is an adaptation of the novel Marketa Lazarová (1931) by Vladislav Vančura. The film takes place in an indeterminate time during the Middle Ages, and tells the story of a daughter of a feudal lord who is kidnapped by neighbouring robber knights and becomes a mistress of one of them.
Guy Maddin : the saddest music in the world (2004)
Dieter Moebius : "Art people like things they don’t understand!"
Looks like "Torn Curtain" is on TCM tonight at 10:30 EST.
"The White Zone is for loading and unloading only. If you got to load or unload go to the White Zone!"
I saw Torn Curtain years ago. Can't say I was terribly impressed with it. The same with Topaz. But I'd like to see both of those movies again because I love a good spy story.
It's always seemed to me that Hitch's films after The Birds just weren't up to the same level as his previous output, with Marnie being a bit of a dud, imo.
There is a shot from Frenzy, tho, that is pretty brilliant (it starts at around 54:17, which I can't seem to get PE's video function & YouTube to cooperate on):
“From thirty feet away she looked like a lot of class. From ten feet away she looked like something made up to be seen from thirty feet away.” – Philip Marlowe
No, TC isn't his best but we see Hitch trying to deal with a world issue instead of personal stories. Being British the storyline is perfect but using an American as bait illustrates his overall world view.
The older I get, the better I was.
This Friday is Lon Chaney night on TCM:
8:00 PM - Phantom of the Opera, The (1925)
9:45 PM - Laugh, Clown, Laugh (1928)
11:15 PM - Tell It to the Marines (1926)
1:15 AM - West of Zanzibar (1928)
2:45 AM - Where East Is East (1929)
4:15 AM - Unholy Three, The (1930)
Some don't know that Chaney was originally offered the role of Dracula for the 1931 classic. Man, that would have been something to see.
"The White Zone is for loading and unloading only. If you got to load or unload go to the White Zone!"
Wow, I had never heard that. Reading over a bunch of trivia about the film, just now, here are some more interesting bits:
- Bette Davis (who had a contract at Universal at the time) was considered to play the part of Mina Harker. However, Universal head Carl Laemmle Jr. didn't think too highly of her sex appeal.
- At no point does Dracula display fangs. Also, the famous vampire bite mark on the neck is never shown either (though it is visible in the Spanish version).
- Universal's original plan was to make a big-budget adaptation of "Dracula" that would strictly adhere to the Bram Stoker novel. However, after the stock market crash of 1929 and the beginning of the Great Depression, Universal chose not to risk an investment on such a sprawling film. Instead, it adapted the much less expensive Hamilton Deane stage play.
- Due to studio demands to cut costs, the film was shot in sequence.
- After viewing the initial cut, Universal president Carl Laemmle Sr. reportedly said that the film gave him the "heebie-jeebies" and ordered that it be re-edited. Tod Browning was bitterly disappointed by the studio's 11th hour re-edit, and claimed that his best work ended up on the editing room floor. The re-cut apparently introduced a number of continuity errors into the film...
- Richard Matheson claimed to have conceived of his famous science fiction story 'I Am Legend' after viewing this film.
- Apparently morose over the loss of friend and collaborator Lon Chaney and in the midst of severe alcoholism, the normally meticulous Tod Browning was said to have been sullen and unprofessional during the shoot. Cinematographer Karl Freund directed many scenes.
- John Carradine was among the actors considered for the title role. However, there is no corroborating evidence from that time period, only Carradine's own later testimony.
- The studio did not want the scene where Dracula attacks Renfield to be filmed due to the perceived gay subtext of the situation. A memo was sent to the director stating "Dracula is only to attack women".
- Throughout the movie, there's no scene where Dracula ever blinks. This was done to maintain Bela Lugosi's famous stare.
- When this film was re-released after the Production Code was strictly enforced in 1934, several deletions were ordered made to the soundtrack. The deletions include Renfield's scream as he is being killed and Dracula's moan as the stake is driven through his heart. These deletions were restored.
“From thirty feet away she looked like a lot of class. From ten feet away she looked like something made up to be seen from thirty feet away.” – Philip Marlowe
Now I'm going to go around telling people how much I know about Dracula
The older I get, the better I was.
Lon Jr. had just about every type role you could think of. From The Defiant Ones, to High Noon to The Indestructible Man.
The older I get, the better I was.
Another fact is that the Spanish version, which was filmed in the evenings during production of the English version (and used the same sets), is actually considered better by some. It's available on the remastered release.
To a thug in an episode of "The Monkees."
"The White Zone is for loading and unloading only. If you got to load or unload go to the White Zone!"
See, I told you
The older I get, the better I was.
We were talking westerns.
"The Searchers" is on TCM Saturday night at 10:30 EST.
"The White Zone is for loading and unloading only. If you got to load or unload go to the White Zone!"
Sure is. I've seen some beautiful prints of this movie. My copy looks really good not being BR. This is the type film that's made for the big screen. Ward Bond is a main stay.
The older I get, the better I was.
Watched Lawman, with Burt Lancaster last night. I get the feeling that this movie was shot at just about the same time as, Chatos Land, with Charles Bronson. Another star packed film. As a matter of fact, Richard Jordan played in both films.
The older I get, the better I was.
^^^^^^^ SPOILERS!!! ^^^^^^^Hitch sends Paul Newman behind the iron curtin as a defector to give the Germans false information on new weapons that are being developed. It doesn't get a great deal of air play but it's Newman. There was a scene where Newman does away with a German soldier by forcing his head into a gas oven. The thing was done in the pure Hitchcock style of course
"Diabolique" is on next Friday 8/25 on TCM at 10:15 EST. I'll probably post a reminder next week. This is one cool movie. French subtitled, for those who don't know.
"The White Zone is for loading and unloading only. If you got to load or unload go to the White Zone!"
From what I remember of Torn Curtain, Staun's precis isn't really spoiling anything. We're led to believe, for about 5 minutes, that Paul Newman is a defector to the USSR but, hey, it's Paul Newman for chrissakes! The soldier's death was intended by Hitchcock to show the reality, and difficulty, of actually killing someone in cold blood, but it almost comes across as farcical.
That was a wild scene and that poor woman in the house. Your probably right, it may have been a bit too much explanation for those who haven't seen it. I'll watch my step in the future
The older I get, the better I was.
Ronmac, I forgot to ask but did you go ahead and watch the Quiet Man as well?
The older I get, the better I was.
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