Unpopular movie opinions...

[Feraud]

Tell them Liz from the Strand says hello, and she's looking forward to seeing them this summer!

Will do!

 

[John in Covina]

A man is supposed to sacrifice himself for his bride.

 

[martinsantos]

About music to silent films... I knew in person a musician who played in a small theater at 20s and beginning of 30s (when silent where still running in the country!). Only two musicians really could read music sheets: himself and a music teacher (and by then a somewhat knew songwriter). The others just played "by ears", very intuitive. Some films came with sheet music, but they didn't ever open it; all was improvisation.

(for curiosity, the group playing was two clarinets/flaute, piano, a 7 seven-cord guitar and a six-cord one)

When I show silent films I don't like to put music. I tried few times, but it's hard to select and do not take the attention about the film itself.

 

[scottyrocks]

I remember watching the occasional silent film on TV when I was a kid in the 60s, and there was always the inevitable piano accompiment. Thinking about it, I wonder if that music was authentic to the film - iow, was it a recording of the original sheet music that martin mentions, or was it just the stereotypical what the pianist thought should be played, because much of the music I remember hearing sounded very much alike from film to film.

 

[Edward]

I've heard that before, but I don't see the Oedipal complex in Hamlet either. He was just angry at her and with anger comes passion.

It's been repeated so often it has become the orthodoxy (I even had a little bitch about it in a footnote to my Master's Thesis...), but it's no less nonsense for that.

A man is supposed to sacrifice himself for his bride.

Well, to save her yes, but not much gained if she's already dead. Not to be unsympathetic, mind.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I remember watching the occasional silent film on TV when I was a kid in the 60s, and there was always the inevitable piano accompiment. Thinking about it, I wonder if that music was authentic to the film - iow, was it a recording of the original sheet music that martin mentions, or was it just the stereotypical what the pianist thought should be played, because much of the music I remember hearing sounded very much alike from film to film.

Most silent pictures in the Era were scored from "cue sheets," which were compliations of classical and popular music designed to suit the action -- only the most prestigious pictures would go out with an original, fully-composed original score, and this would usually be heard only at the better houses. The neighborhood theatres usually made due with cue-sheet scores arranged for organ or a small orchestra -- piano, cornet, and drums being one of the most common lineups. The idea of a lone pianist accompanying movies ad-lib on an out-of-tune upright is a caricature, which didn't have a lot of reality beyond the nickelodeon era.

That said, though, there were some excellent piano scores composed in the sixties and seventies. My introduction to silents came when I was seven years old, and discovered "The Silent Years" on PBS. These films all had piano scores composed and performed by William Perry, and to this day those versions remain definitive for me when I think of "Broken Blossoms", "The General," or "It."

 

[scottyrocks]

Well, to save her yes, but not much gained if she's already dead. Not to be unsympathetic, mind.

I was thinking about John's post, myself. Yes, self-sacfrice is a noble thing for one who love, but once their already gone? I think that approaches martyrdom, if its not already there.

 

[rue]

I was thinking about John's post, myself. Yes, self-sacfrice is a noble thing for one who love, but once their already gone? I think that approaches martyrdom, if its not already there.

What if you believe in the hereafter? Then it could be about joining them instead of living without them. Just a thought [huh]

 

[Feraud]

These films all had piano scores composed and performed by William Perry, and to this day those versions remain definitive for me when I think of "Broken Blossoms", "The General," or "It."

Speaking of Broken Blossoms.. I just watched this on TCM and enjoyed it. Richard Barthelmess did a fine job in what could easily have been a badly done one dimensional character. Lillian Gish was inspiring when asked to put a smile on.
I had to look up the scene chewing "Battling Burrows" because I just knew that face from other films. It turned out Donald Crisp had a long Hollywood career.

 

[LizzieMaine]

"Blossoms" is the most memorable film I've ever watched. I've seen it exactly twice in my life -- once when I was seven, and then again about twenty years later, and every scene is burned into my mind. I've seen a lot of movies in my life, but that, by far, is the most emotionally intense picture I've ever seen. It's not fashionable these days to give D. W. Griffith any praise whatsoever, but he was, indeed, the director who set the standard for everyone else.

 

[scottyrocks]

What if you believe in the hereafter? Then it could be about joining them instead of living without them. Just a thought [huh]

Believing in the hereafter is one thing. Wanting to get there prematurely is quite another, no matter the reason. I believe that a lost beloved spouse would want the surviving spouse to be happy on Earth, even if that involved finding a new partner.

But, I seem to be getting philosophical here, and if I've gone overboard, I apologize.

 

[rue]

Believing in the hereafter is one thing. Wanting to get there prematurely is quite another, no matter the reason. I believe that a lost beloved spouse would want the surviving spouse to be happy on Earth, even if that involved finding a new partner.

But, I seem to be getting philosophical here, and if I've gone overboard, I apologize.

Happy is one thing, but if my husband married someone after I died I'd come back from the hereafter and kill him


To get back on topic....
I didn't like Full Metal Jacket. It was upsetting when the drill sergeant was killed.

 

[martinsantos]

But this idea is wonderful! A myth, but a good one...

We forget ever that movies stay in theater for several days - time enogh for musicians select what and how they will play. And some films stayed playing not for weeks or months, but for years. My grandmother saw "The perils of Pauline" in mid 20s. My father saw several episodes 20 years after, in the same theater (but no more music behind, unhappilly).

The idea of a lone pianist accompanying movies ad-lib on an out-of-tune upright is a caricature, which didn't have a lot of reality beyond the nickelodeon era.

 

[scottyrocks]

Happy is one thing, but if my husband married someone after I died I'd come back from the hereafter and kill him

Apparently our views differ slightly on a couple of points. I have heard a number of people profess that they would want their spouse to remarry and be happy after they passed on, being the at-peace-with-oneself-angel that they'd be. Who knows if they really mean it.

As far as believing in the hereafter, Im not sure but Id like to think that when Im gone that I can spend my eternity with my S.O. whether she passes before or after me.

 

[rue]

As far as believing in the hereafter, Im not sure but Id like to think that when Im gone that I can spend my eternity with my S.O. whether she passes before or after me.

Then our views don't differ that much, since I would want the same.

 

[Edward]

Happy is one thing, but if my husband married someone after I died I'd come back from the hereafter and kill him


To get back on topic....
I didn't like Full Metal Jacket. It was upsetting when the drill sergeant was killed.

That is actually my favourite of the eighties era Vietnam picture trend. I liked that scene a lot, though my favourite is actually the ending, with the GIs marching through the burned ruins of a Vietnamese City while singing the Mickey Mouse Club theme song. Beautifully worked metaphor.

 

[Chasseur]

That is actually my favourite of the eighties era Vietnam picture trend.

Agreed, Full Metal Jacket is one of few Vietnam War movies I actually like, Apocalypse Now has its moments but I find uneven, and I just cannot stand Platoon...

 

[rue]

But they killed the guy from Mail Call and the Geico commercial.... he's not bad, he's just impatient

 

[jamespowers]

But they killed the guy from Mail Call and the Geico commercial.... he's not bad, he's just impatient

:rofl:

 

[rue]

I knew you'd like that lol