Below are the most recent 12 friends' journal entries.

Saturday, December 19th, 2009
movie_greats [ dfordoom ]	7:16p	art deco in old movies A posting elsewhere has reminded me of one of my favourite things about the movies of the 1920s and 1930s - the art deco-influenced interior design. My favourite example is the 1921 silent version of Camille, with sets (and costumes) designed by the brilliant Natacha Rambova. What are your favourite movie interiors of that period? And here are some screencaps from the 1921 Camille. ( more pics behind cut ) (10 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, December 18th, 2009
movie_greats [ croatoan6000 ]	10:56p	The Tales of Hoffmann I'm new here, and thought I should introduce myself in order to avoid eternal lurking. I've been a big fan of old movies since I was little. I have particular fondness for camp horror (pretty much anything featuring Vincent Price), silent movies, Bette Davis, Marlene Dietrich, and pretty much anything made by Powell and Pressburger. I'm guessing that most people will be familiar with The Red Shoes, A Matter of Life and Death and Black Narcissus, so I thought I'd review one of their less known films (undeservedly so in my opinion), The Tales of Hoffmann (1951). It's basically the film of Offenbach's wonderful opera, the only difference being that it's translated into English. But don't let that put you off if you're not an opera fan! The cast is full of noted dancers and singers, preserving a sense of theatricality, but Powell and Pressburger make full use of their wonderful imaginations to really expand on the fantasy world of the opera. The use of colour is fantastic, and the sets are gorgeous. If that wasn't enough, the film is well worth watching for Robert Helpmann's Amazing Eyes of Doom alone: The basic plot synopsis is that Hoffmann, a poet, is passing the time with his friends in a tavern, waiting for his mistress, the prima ballerina Stella, to show up. To pass the time, he tells the story of the three great loves of his life, and how each affair resulted in disaster. Olympia, who turns out to be an automaton. Giulietta, a Venician courtesan, who tricks him into giving away his reflection. Antonia, a young woman with a beautiful voice, who risks her life if she sings. It's fantasy cinema at its best. This is one of my favourite scenes: Moira Shearer as Olympia: (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Thursday, December 17th, 2009
movie_greats [ ladylavinia ]	3:37p	Jennifer Jones (1919-2009) JENNIFER JONES (1919-2009) Oscar winning actress, Jennifer Jones, had passed away at the age of 90, today. She had won an Academy Award for her role in "THE SONG OF BERNADETTE" in 1943/44. She is also known for such movies like "DUEL IN THE SUN" and "LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING". She was also married three times to actor Robert Walker, producer David Selznick and wealthy businessman Norton Simon. Her oldest son, Robert Walker Jr., had appeared in an episode of the original "STAR TREK". Here is an ARTICLE about her. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
movie_greats [ retrovicious ]	5:50p	audrey hepburn picspam     ( You can always tell what kind of a person a man really thinks you are by the earrings he gives you ) (Comment on this)
Friday, December 18th, 2009
movie_greats [ dfordoom ]	1:34a	Star of the Week - John Gilbert. This week’s Star of the Week is John Gilbert. What are your favourite movie appearances by this actor? Is there anything you dislike about him? Despite the legend that he was unable to make the transition to talkies successfully, one of my two favourite John Gilbert movies is a talkie - Queen Christina. My other favourite being the silent Flesh and the Devil, again with Garbo. (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, December 17th, 2009
movie_greats [ emaline5678 ]	12:16a	"A Bridge Too Far" (1977) I'm not the biggest fan of war movies, but I love it when a lot of big names get together for a huge ensemble movie (ala "Murder on the Orient Express", "Kelly's Heroes", etc). And there was truly a lot of acting talent involved in this film: Olivier, Redford, Hopkins, Caine, Bogarde, Caan, O'Neil, Connery, Gould, Hackman (with the world's worst Polish accent), Schell and Liv Ullman. Some stars were, um, rather more famous in the '70's than today. Directed by Richard Attenborough, this war film is basically about a big push to get about 35,000 men into Germany to capture a few bridges and defeat the Germans. It doesn't end well - what can go wrong, pretty much will go wrong... ( I didn't ask how he was, I asked where he was ) (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, December 13th, 2009
movie_greats [ ladylavinia ]	7:05p	"ESCAPE FROM FORT BRAVO" (1953) Photo and Screenshot Gallery "ESCAPE FROM FORT BRAVO" (1953) Photo and Screenshot Gallery Here is a GALLERY of photos and screenshots from the 1953 Civil War Western called "ESCAPE FROM FORT BRAVO". Directed by John Sturges, the movie starred William Holden, Eleanor Parker and John Forsythe. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Saturday, December 12th, 2009
cult_classics [ teletomtommy ]	5:32p	ok, IDK if this is breaking the rules..... But I'm posting this anyways, for all of you hardcore Mommie Dearest Fans...... Current Mood: bitchy Current Music: Mommie Fiercest! (Comment on this)
Thursday, December 10th, 2009
movie_greats [ dfordoom ]	10:42p	Elephant Walk (1954) It’s difficult to explain exactly why I love Elephant Walk so much. This is a glossy 1954 Paramount romantic melodrama with a dash of gothic, directed by William Dieterle. It’s all totally ridiculous but it’s just so much fun. And its filled with so much visual lusciousness. ( more camp delights behind cut ) (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
movie_greats [ trypanophobic34 ]	9:41p	Intro Hi, guys! I just joined here recently, and I thought I'd introduce myself. My name is Lisa. My favorite classic actresses are Louise Brooks, Rita Hayworth, and Bette Davis. I love silent films, German Expressionism, and also film noir. Some of my favorite old movies are Pandora's Box, Gilda, Double Indemnity, Citizen Kane, Sunset Boulevard, and Vertigo, Vampyr, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, The Seventh Seal, etc. (I have a lot, hehe.) Anyway, I'm glad to be here in a community of people also obsessed with old movies! (6 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
movie_greats [ dfordoom ]	2:53p	silent movies in general Since we're on the subject of silent movies, and we haven't discussed this subject for a while - who else here likes silent movies? I was introduced to silent movies by watching German Expressionist movies of the 20s, and the German movies are still my favourites. Not just the Expressionist movies, but also stuff like Ernst Lubitsch's delightful The Wildcat. I've gradually come to like a lot of American silents as well, although I've never been able to appreciate the slapstick comedies. I do like some of the more sophisticated silent comedies though, like Cecil B. DeMille's Male and Female. And I'm a big fan of Valentino's movies - a very underrated actor. And of course Garbo's silent movies, which I adore. (37 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
movie_greats [ dfordoom ]	6:37p	La boheme (1926) Much as I adore silent cinema I can see why some people are put off by it. It is very very different from talking pictures, and there are things about silent movies that you have to make allowances for. La boheme, made by King Vidor at MGM in 1926, is an extremely good example of these disconcerting features, and it’s a movie I would definitely not recommend to anyone not familiar with silent movies. ( more behind cut ) (15 Comments |Comment on this)