I watched this 1941 film for the first time. Coop's first Oscar.

What a thoroughly enjoyable movie! Different style from today's Hollywood.

It's so well done and it makes you cozy up to the religion in it too.... Wow.

I agree with Russell wholeheartedly, "It's somewhat ignominious to live a life sustained by lies."

Very true, but man... with two thousand years of practice, those lies are REALLY comfortable. Who doesn't like comfort? Piously believing in a god with other who do also, makes you comfortable, no doubt about it.

Much better than facing the darkness alone unaided... if it weren't for the ignominy part... that is.

Even in a movie as comfortable as the most expensive and plum MyPillow, there is still evidence against religion... Not that many would have noticed...

Before going to war, York is told that God will protect him, if he lets God into his heart. It worked. Various machine guns and rifles shoot at York and miss... A German office empties his pistol at York at close range and misses too.

What are the chances? Well. Even 1% probability means it CAN happen. And it did. So was God really looking out for York, as his guidance had told him?

But THEN... how about all the others who fell like blades of grass being mowed, presumably including pious soldiers with God in their hearts?

It worked for York, but for most others it was a false promise.

That makes me uncomfortable.

On Friday, April 28, 2023 at 12:28:36 PM UTC-10, Tiglath wrote:
> I watched this 1941 film for the first time. Coop's first Oscar.
>
> What a thoroughly enjoyable movie! Different style from today's Hollywood..
>
> It's so well done and it makes you cozy up to the religion in it too.... Wow.
>
> I agree with Russell wholeheartedly, "It's somewhat ignominious to live a life sustained by lies."
>
> Very true, but man... with two thousand years of practice, those lies are REALLY comfortable. Who doesn't like comfort? Piously believing in a god with other who do also, makes you comfortable, no doubt about it.
>
> Much better than facing the darkness alone unaided... if it weren't for the ignominy part... that is.
>
> Even in a movie as comfortable as the most expensive and plum MyPillow, there is still evidence against religion... Not that many would have noticed....
>
> Before going to war, York is told that God will protect him, if he lets God into his heart. It worked. Various machine guns and rifles shoot at York and miss... A German office empties his pistol at York at close range and misses too.
>
> What are the chances? Well. Even 1% probability means it CAN happen. And it did. So was God really looking out for York, as his guidance had told him?
>
> But THEN... how about all the others who fell like blades of grass being mowed, presumably including pious soldiers with God in their hearts?
>
> It worked for York, but for most others it was a false promise.
>
> That makes me uncomfortable.

Yes, First-Rate Howard Hawks film. In a class by itself, with The Big Sleep.

See, another Hawks film, Only Angels Have Wings, if you haven't.

I'm assuming you've seen Red River, Bringing Up Baby, Air Force and The Thing.

On Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 2:23:05 PM UTC-4, D. Spencer Hines wrote:

> Yes, First-Rate Howard Hawks film. In a class by itself, with The Big Sleep.
>
> See, another Hawks film, Only Angels Have Wings, if you haven't.
>
> I'm assuming you've seen Red River, Bringing Up Baby, Air Force and The Thing.

No, but I will. Thanks for the tip. I only saw the The Thing. It broke new ground in its genre too.

Many people who love boomer actors like De Niro, Pacino, etc., don't realize that they too have their idols, and a main one was Gary Cooper. People instinctively like good economy - to do much with little - and that is what Coop does. The art of understatement... IN AMERICA! No wonder it was a hit of fresh air.

On Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 10:41:28 AM UTC-10, Tiglath wrote:
> On Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 2:23:05 PM UTC-4, D. Spencer Hines wrote:
>
> > Yes, First-Rate Howard Hawks film. In a class by itself, with The Big Sleep.
> >
> > See, another Hawks film, Only Angels Have Wings, if you haven't.
> >
> > I'm assuming you've seen Red River, Bringing Up Baby, Air Force and The Thing.
> No, but I will. Thanks for the tip. I only saw the The Thing. It broke new ground in its genre too.
>
> Many people who love boomer actors like De Niro, Pacino, etc., don't realize that they too have their idols, and a main one was Gary Cooper. People instinctively like good economy - to do much with little - and that is what Coop does. The art of understatement... IN AMERICA! No wonder it was a hit of fresh air.

Cooper was also a good friend of Ernest Hemingway. He had an extraordinary career -- from Marco Polo to High Noon and beyond.

You'll probably like John Garfield in Air Force -- excellent performance.

On Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 5:18:09 PM UTC-4, D. Spencer Hines wrote:
> On Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 10:41:28 AM UTC-10, Tiglath wrote:
> > On Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 2:23:05 PM UTC-4, D. Spencer Hines wrote:
> >
> > > Yes, First-Rate Howard Hawks film. In a class by itself, with The Big Sleep.
> > >
> > > See, another Hawks film, Only Angels Have Wings, if you haven't.
> > >
> > > I'm assuming you've seen Red River, Bringing Up Baby, Air Force and The Thing.
> > No, but I will. Thanks for the tip. I only saw the The Thing. It broke new ground in its genre too.
> >
> > Many people who love boomer actors like De Niro, Pacino, etc., don't realize that they too have their idols, and a main one was Gary Cooper. People instinctively like good economy - to do much with little - and that is what Coop does. The art of understatement... IN AMERICA! No wonder it was a hit of fresh air.
> Cooper was also a good friend of Ernest Hemingway. He had an extraordinary career -- from Marco Polo to High Noon and beyond.
>
> You'll probably like John Garfield in Air Force -- excellent performance.

Ok, I'll watch it.

Few war films I don't like, if any. If you recommend it, I know it's going to be good.
I watched the latest Midway film many times, CGI fest and all. It makes you want to fly with them...

During the pandemic I started a sweep of the Golden Ages of Hollywood and Athens. Watch old films... read ancient plays. They mix better than I thought. I am still half-way. But found nice surprises...

'The Land of the Pharaohs' (1955) is a little film with a budget only 1/10 of 'Cleopatra.' Not great, but I liked it. An unrecognizably young Joan Collins, and a heavy dose of British gravity with the great Jack Hawkins, playing Khufu, the pharaoh who build the big pyramid; surprise ending too. There is a faint hint of bible Jews in the slave workers, but anachronisms were mostly avoided.

'The Battle of Algiers’ (1966) is also a discovery. There is a nice connection between this film and ‘The Day of the Jackal’ (1973). In the The Battle of Algiers, Colonel Mathieu, leading the paratroopers sent to police the rebellious Arab quarters, the Casbah, is the same guy the French torture to death in The Day of the Jackal, an ex-OAS member being made to reveal the codename of the hitman hired to kill de Gaulle. It rhymes well; it could be the same guy (character) in Algiers. It is the same actor, only older: Jean Martin. He is so convincing because he fought in La Resistance and was a paratrooper. His martial air when he marches his granite face in front of his troops is a work of art and the movie’s poster. The clandestine OAS was composed of French ex-military opposing Algerian independence, as you may recall.

On Monday, May 1, 2023 at 10:43:21 AM UTC-10, Tiglath wrote:
> On Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 5:18:09 PM UTC-4, D. Spencer Hines wrote:
> > On Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 10:41:28 AM UTC-10, Tiglath wrote:
> > > On Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 2:23:05 PM UTC-4, D. Spencer Hines wrote:
> > >
> > > > Yes, First-Rate Howard Hawks film. In a class by itself, with The Big Sleep.
> > > >
> > > > See, another Hawks film, Only Angels Have Wings, if you haven't.
> > > >
> > > > I'm assuming you've seen Red River, Bringing Up Baby, Air Force and The Thing.
> > > No, but I will. Thanks for the tip. I only saw the The Thing. It broke new ground in its genre too.
> > >
> > > Many people who love boomer actors like De Niro, Pacino, etc., don't realize that they too have their idols, and a main one was Gary Cooper. People instinctively like good economy - to do much with little - and that is what Coop does. The art of understatement... IN AMERICA! No wonder it was a hit of fresh air.
> > Cooper was also a good friend of Ernest Hemingway. He had an extraordinary career -- from Marco Polo to High Noon and beyond.
> >
> > You'll probably like John Garfield in Air Force -- excellent performance.
> Ok, I'll watch it.
>
> Few war films I don't like, if any. If you recommend it, I know it's going to be good.
> I watched the latest Midway film many times, CGI fest and all. It makes you want to fly with them...
>
> During the pandemic I started a sweep of the Golden Ages of Hollywood and Athens. Watch old films... read ancient plays. They mix better than I thought. I am still half-way. But found nice surprises...
>
> 'The Land of the Pharaohs' (1955) is a little film with a budget only 1/10 of 'Cleopatra.' Not great, but I liked it. An unrecognizably young Joan Collins, and a heavy dose of British gravity with the great Jack Hawkins, playing Khufu, the pharaoh who build the big pyramid; surprise ending too. There is a faint hint of bible Jews in the slave workers, but anachronisms were mostly avoided.
>
> 'The Battle of Algiers’ (1966) is also a discovery. There is a nice connection between this film and ‘The Day of the Jackal’ (1973). In the The Battle of Algiers, Colonel Mathieu, leading the paratroopers sent to police the rebellious Arab quarters, the Casbah, is the same guy the French torture to death in The Day of the Jackal, an ex-OAS member being made to reveal the codename of the hitman hired to kill de Gaulle. It rhymes well; it could be the same guy (character) in Algiers. It is the same actor, only older: Jean Martin. He is so convincing because he fought in La Resistance and was a paratrooper. His martial air when he marches his granite face in front of his troops is a work of art and the movie’s poster. The clandestine OAS was composed of French ex-military opposing Algerian independence, as you may recall.

Yes, The Battle of Algiers is one of my favorites too. I lived in Paris during the Algerian War. Razor Wire around the Eiffel Tower.

Don't miss Pépé le Moko with the great Jean Gabin -- and Mireille Balin [1937]. There is also a 1938 version called Algiers, with Charles Boyer and Hedy Lamarr.

On Monday, May 1, 2023 at 10:21:15 PM UTC+1, D. Spencer Hines wrote:
> On Monday, May 1, 2023 at 10:43:21 AM UTC-10, Tiglath wrote:
> > On Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 5:18:09 PM UTC-4, D. Spencer Hines wrote:
> > > On Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 10:41:28 AM UTC-10, Tiglath wrote:
> > > > On Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 2:23:05 PM UTC-4, D. Spencer Hines wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Yes, First-Rate Howard Hawks film. In a class by itself, with The Big Sleep.
> > > > >
> > > > > See, another Hawks film, Only Angels Have Wings, if you haven't.
> > > > >
> > > > > I'm assuming you've seen Red River, Bringing Up Baby, Air Force and The Thing.
> > > > No, but I will. Thanks for the tip. I only saw the The Thing. It broke new ground in its genre too.
> > > >
> > > > Many people who love boomer actors like De Niro, Pacino, etc., don't realize that they too have their idols, and a main one was Gary Cooper. People instinctively like good economy - to do much with little - and that is what Coop does. The art of understatement... IN AMERICA! No wonder it was a hit of fresh air.
> > > Cooper was also a good friend of Ernest Hemingway. He had an extraordinary career -- from Marco Polo to High Noon and beyond.
> > >
> > > You'll probably like John Garfield in Air Force -- excellent performance.
> > Ok, I'll watch it.
> >
> > Few war films I don't like, if any. If you recommend it, I know it's going to be good.
> > I watched the latest Midway film many times, CGI fest and all. It makes you want to fly with them...
> >
> > During the pandemic I started a sweep of the Golden Ages of Hollywood and Athens. Watch old films... read ancient plays. They mix better than I thought. I am still half-way. But found nice surprises...
> >
> > 'The Land of the Pharaohs' (1955) is a little film with a budget only 1/10 of 'Cleopatra.' Not great, but I liked it. An unrecognizably young Joan Collins, and a heavy dose of British gravity with the great Jack Hawkins, playing Khufu, the pharaoh who build the big pyramid; surprise ending too. There is a faint hint of bible Jews in the slave workers, but anachronisms were mostly avoided.
> >
> > 'The Battle of Algiers’ (1966) is also a discovery. There is a nice connection between this film and ‘The Day of the Jackal’ (1973). In the The Battle of Algiers, Colonel Mathieu, leading the paratroopers sent to police the rebellious Arab quarters, the Casbah, is the same guy the French torture to death in The Day of the Jackal, an ex-OAS member being made to reveal the codename of the hitman hired to kill de Gaulle. It rhymes well; it could be the same guy (character) in Algiers. It is the same actor, only older: Jean Martin. He is so convincing because he fought in La Resistance and was a paratrooper. His martial air when he marches his granite face in front of his troops is a work of art and the movie’s poster. The clandestine OAS was composed of French ex-military opposing Algerian independence, as you may recall.
> Yes, The Battle of Algiers is one of my favorites too. I lived in Paris during the Algerian War. Razor Wire around the Eiffel Tower.
>
> Don't miss Pépé le Moko with the great Jean Gabin -- and Mireille Balin [1937]. There is also a 1938 version called Algiers, with Charles Boyer and Hedy Lamarr.

Did razor wire exist then?

On Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 5:18:09 PM UTC-4, D. Spencer Hines wrote:
> On Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 10:41:28 AM UTC-10, Tiglath wrote:
> > On Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 2:23:05 PM UTC-4, D. Spencer Hines wrote:
> >
> > > Yes, First-Rate Howard Hawks film. In a class by itself, with The Big Sleep.
> > >
> > > See, another Hawks film, Only Angels Have Wings, if you haven't.
> > >
> > > I'm assuming you've seen Red River, Bringing Up Baby, Air Force and The Thing.
> > No, but I will. Thanks for the tip. I only saw the The Thing. It broke new ground in its genre too.
> >
> > Many people who love boomer actors like De Niro, Pacino, etc., don't realize that they too have their idols, and a main one was Gary Cooper. People instinctively like good economy - to do much with little - and that is what Coop does. The art of understatement... IN AMERICA! No wonder it was a hit of fresh air.
> Cooper was also a good friend of Ernest Hemingway. He had an extraordinary career -- from Marco Polo to High Noon and beyond.
>
> You'll probably like John Garfield in Air Force -- excellent performance.

Yep. Good movie. Many thanks, Spencer.

Old movies like this have a je-ne-sais-quoi that is mighty satisfying. I think is the acting, light and agile. No one tries to be Brandon.

Howard Hawks liked George Tobias, it seems; he was in Sergeant York as well.. B-list actors like him were in many films and are easy to recognize, but not many remember the name. He seemed to specialize in roles of dim-witted pals of the lead.

It's a bit odd that the captain protagonist dies just past half time. But there is a scene that reminded me of something personal.
They are fueling the B-17 Mary-Ann from a truck, before the Japanese infantry arrives, using cans filled with fuel, which soldiers in a long line pass to each other, from the truck to the plane, for some 50 feet or so... it takes many soldiers. Is that how the US military did this sort of thing? Hope not.

When I was in the army, in our 88/56 Flak batteries of four pieces similar to this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8.8_cm_Flak_18/36/37/41#/media/File:Flak18-36.jpg
half the crew did the same sort of passing but with two-foot tall artillery shells. The ammo behind the gun and four men passing shells to each other to get it to the loader. But that's slow. I earned my promotion to sergeant, because my gun could fire 18-20 rpm, almost twice as fast as the others.

Instead of precariously passing a shell from one pair of hands to the next and finally to the loader. I told them they were all loaders and for each to fetch a shell from the pile, get it fast to the breech and load it. By the other method they were lucky to fire 11-12 rpm. The new way was not only faster but also made it less likely to drop a shell, which stopped everyone's heart for a tick or two.

The movie illustrates the problem. As they pass the gas cans they spill some because it's not a smooth motion. Whereas on flat ground, walking with a fuel can would be much more stable and QUICK. I'd forgotten about that, but 'Air Force' nicely reminded me....

I was never at war so it doesn't count, but I am no stranger to its roar.

Next: 'Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo' (1944).... Mitchum/Tracy. All right!

On Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at 7:54:09 PM UTC-10, Tiglath wrote:
> On Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 5:18:09 PM UTC-4, D. Spencer Hines wrote:
> > On Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 10:41:28 AM UTC-10, Tiglath wrote:
> > > On Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 2:23:05 PM UTC-4, D. Spencer Hines wrote:
> > >
> > > > Yes, First-Rate Howard Hawks film. In a class by itself, with The Big Sleep.
> > > >
> > > > See, another Hawks film, Only Angels Have Wings, if you haven't.
> > > >
> > > > I'm assuming you've seen Red River, Bringing Up Baby, Air Force and The Thing.
> > > No, but I will. Thanks for the tip. I only saw the The Thing. It broke new ground in its genre too.
> > >
> > > Many people who love boomer actors like De Niro, Pacino, etc., don't realize that they too have their idols, and a main one was Gary Cooper. People instinctively like good economy - to do much with little - and that is what Coop does. The art of understatement... IN AMERICA! No wonder it was a hit of fresh air.
> > Cooper was also a good friend of Ernest Hemingway. He had an extraordinary career -- from Marco Polo to High Noon and beyond.
> >
> > You'll probably like John Garfield in Air Force -- excellent performance.
> Yep. Good movie. Many thanks, Spencer.
>
> Old movies like this have a je-ne-sais-quoi that is mighty satisfying. I think is the acting, light and agile. No one tries to be Brandon.
>
> Howard Hawks liked George Tobias, it seems; he was in Sergeant York as well. B-list actors like him were in many films and are easy to recognize, but not many remember the name. He seemed to specialize in roles of dim-witted pals of the lead.
>
> It's a bit odd that the captain protagonist dies just past half time. But there is a scene that reminded me of something personal.
>
> They are fueling the B-17 Mary-Ann from a truck, before the Japanese infantry arrives, using cans filled with fuel, which soldiers in a long line pass to each other, from the truck to the plane, for some 50 feet or so... it takes many soldiers. Is that how the US military did this sort of thing? Hope not.
>
> When I was in the army, in our 88/56 Flak batteries of four pieces similar to this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8.8_cm_Flak_18/36/37/41#/media/File:Flak18-36.jpg
> half the crew did the same sort of passing but with two-foot tall artillery shells. The ammo behind the gun and four men passing shells to each other to get it to the loader. But that's slow. I earned my promotion to sergeant, because my gun could fire 18-20 rpm, almost twice as fast as the others..
>
> Instead of precariously passing a shell from one pair of hands to the next and finally to the loader. I told them they were all loaders and for each to fetch a shell from the pile, get it fast to the breech and load it. By the other method they were lucky to fire 11-12 rpm. The new way was not only faster but also made it less likely to drop a shell, which stopped everyone's heart for a tick or two.
>
> The movie illustrates the problem. As they pass the gas cans they spill some because it's not a smooth motion. Whereas on flat ground, walking with a fuel can would be much more stable and QUICK. I'd forgotten about that, but 'Air Force' nicely reminded me....
>
> I was never at war so it doesn't count, but I am no stranger to its roar.
>
> Next: 'Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo' (1944).... Mitchum/Tracy. All right!

There's a lot of hokum in that one.

On Friday, May 5, 2023 at 12:53:35 PM UTC-10, D. Spencer Hines wrote:
> On Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at 7:54:09 PM UTC-10, Tiglath wrote:
> > On Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 5:18:09 PM UTC-4, D. Spencer Hines wrote:
> > > On Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 10:41:28 AM UTC-10, Tiglath wrote:
> > > > On Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 2:23:05 PM UTC-4, D. Spencer Hines wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Yes, First-Rate Howard Hawks film. In a class by itself, with The Big Sleep.
> > > > >
> > > > > See, another Hawks film, Only Angels Have Wings, if you haven't.
> > > > >
> > > > > I'm assuming you've seen Red River, Bringing Up Baby, Air Force and The Thing.
> > > > No, but I will. Thanks for the tip. I only saw the The Thing. It broke new ground in its genre too.
> > > >
> > > > Many people who love boomer actors like De Niro, Pacino, etc., don't realize that they too have their idols, and a main one was Gary Cooper. People instinctively like good economy - to do much with little - and that is what Coop does. The art of understatement... IN AMERICA! No wonder it was a hit of fresh air.
> > > Cooper was also a good friend of Ernest Hemingway. He had an extraordinary career -- from Marco Polo to High Noon and beyond.
> > >
> > > You'll probably like John Garfield in Air Force -- excellent performance.
> > Yep. Good movie. Many thanks, Spencer.
> >
> > Old movies like this have a je-ne-sais-quoi that is mighty satisfying. I think is the acting, light and agile. No one tries to be Brandon.
> >
> > Howard Hawks liked George Tobias, it seems; he was in Sergeant York as well. B-list actors like him were in many films and are easy to recognize, but not many remember the name. He seemed to specialize in roles of dim-witted pals of the lead.
> >
> > It's a bit odd that the captain protagonist dies just past half time. But there is a scene that reminded me of something personal.
> >
> > They are fueling the B-17 Mary-Ann from a truck, before the Japanese infantry arrives, using cans filled with fuel, which soldiers in a long line pass to each other, from the truck to the plane, for some 50 feet or so... it takes many soldiers. Is that how the US military did this sort of thing? Hope not.
> >
> > When I was in the army, in our 88/56 Flak batteries of four pieces similar to this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8.8_cm_Flak_18/36/37/41#/media/File:Flak18-36.jpg
> > half the crew did the same sort of passing but with two-foot tall artillery shells. The ammo behind the gun and four men passing shells to each other to get it to the loader. But that's slow. I earned my promotion to sergeant, because my gun could fire 18-20 rpm, almost twice as fast as the others.
> >
> > Instead of precariously passing a shell from one pair of hands to the next and finally to the loader. I told them they were all loaders and for each to fetch a shell from the pile, get it fast to the breech and load it. By the other method they were lucky to fire 11-12 rpm. The new way was not only faster but also made it less likely to drop a shell, which stopped everyone's heart for a tick or two.
> >
> > The movie illustrates the problem. As they pass the gas cans they spill some because it's not a smooth motion. Whereas on flat ground, walking with a fuel can would be much more stable and QUICK. I'd forgotten about that, but 'Air Force' nicely reminded me....
> >
> > I was never at war so it doesn't count, but I am no stranger to its roar.
> >
> > Next: 'Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo' (1944).... Mitchum/Tracy. All right!

> There's a lot of hokum in that one.

In Air Force:

Yes, as you say, Captain Michael Aloysius "Irish" Quincannon Sr. dies early -- he's played by John Ridgely, who was of course Eddie Mars in The Big Sleep.

I'm particularly interested in your opinions about Pépé le Moko, with Jean Gabin [1937].

George Tobias is one of my favorites too.

He's even in Tora! Tora! Tora!

On Friday, May 5, 2023 at 7:15:45 PM UTC-4, D. Spencer Hines wrote:

>
> I'm particularly interested in your opinions about Pépé le Moko, with Jean Gabin [1937].
>

Saw Pépé le Moko: Interesting film. One that feels most dated of all the old films I saw recently.
I am not with you on Jean Gabin. Not so great for me. Totally miscast in this movie. Gabin is best in roles like a police inspector or mature leader, not a romantic hero. The film noir genre has much better than Gabin to offer. Alain Delon, for example, or similar who preceded him, who while suffering from the ‘Robert Redford Syndrome,’ when handsome looks distract from other talents, is still the winner for a film noir lead, romantic or not, in my opinion. Jean Gabin is much too homely looking for those roles, even as young as Pépé. Mireille Balin fits the role better, but she comes out as a Marlene wannabe, sans the charm.

The film is also much too rushed and choppy, without enough character development. For all the meat in it, it needed another half hour at least.
The Casbah scenes are well shot, though, but the plot is somewhat confusing, and defies belief, given how carefreely Pépé behaves.

I want to see also, Ascenseur pour l'échafaud or Elevator to the Gallows (1958). I’ve known about this film noir for a long time, because Miles Davis, one of my heroes, composed the soundtrack. The album of this film is absolutely brilliant at conjuring up the mood of a seedy Pigalle nighclub say, built in an old church where the hall has natural reverb… Miles didn’t write a single note on paper for it. He and the excellent backing French musicians, just watched the film and improvised over the images they saw. It’s a tour-de-force. Most people discover the music first, and then see the film, featuring Jeanne Moreau.

On Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 12:38:47 PM UTC-10, Tiglath wrote:
> On Friday, May 5, 2023 at 7:15:45 PM UTC-4, D. Spencer Hines wrote:
>
> >
> > I'm particularly interested in your opinions about Pépé le Moko, with Jean Gabin [1937].
> >
> Saw Pépé le Moko: Interesting film. One that feels most dated of all the old films I saw recently.
> I am not with you on Jean Gabin. Not so great for me. Totally miscast in this movie. Gabin is best in roles like a police inspector or mature leader, not a romantic hero. The film noir genre has much better than Gabin to offer. Alain Delon, for example, or similar who preceded him, who while suffering from the ‘Robert Redford Syndrome,’ when handsome looks distract from other talents, is still the winner for a film noir lead, romantic or not, in my opinion. Jean Gabin is much too homely looking for those roles, even as young as Pépé. Mireille Balin fits the role better, but she comes out as a Marlene wannabe, sans the charm.
>
> The film is also much too rushed and choppy, without enough character development. For all the meat in it, it needed another half hour at least.
> The Casbah scenes are well shot, though, but the plot is somewhat confusing, and defies belief, given how carefreely Pépé behaves.
>
> I want to see also, Ascenseur pour l'échafaud or Elevator to the Gallows (1958). I’ve known about this film noir for a long time, because Miles Davis, one of my heroes, composed the soundtrack. The album of this film is absolutely brilliant at conjuring up the mood of a seedy Pigalle nighclub say, built in an old church where the hall has natural reverb… Miles didn’t write a single note on paper for it. He and the excellent backing French musicians, just watched the film and improvised over the images they saw. It’s a tour-de-force. Most people discover the music first, and then see the film, featuring Jeanne Moreau.

I think Pépé le Moko has a charm you seem to have missed. Maybe you will like _Algiers_, the Charles Boyer and Hedy Lamarr version better.

I've seen Ascenseur pour l'échafaud or Elevator to the Gallows (1958) and enjoyed it.

On Friday, May 5, 2023 at 6:53:35 PM UTC-4, D. Spencer Hines wrote:

> > Next: 'Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo' (1944).... Mitchum/Tracy. All right!
> There's a lot of hokum in that one.

'Air Force' is mostly fiction, I understand. Only the fact that B-17s flying to elsewhere saw the Pearl Harbor attack is true, the rest never happened..

It doesn't bother me as much as others. We had the longest thread here on 'Braveheart,' It is a good feeling if one knows the actual history behind a film, but movies are entertainment not lectures, so I enjoy fiction as much as the truth in that mode.

On Friday, May 19, 2023 at 4:28:17 PM UTC-10, Tiglath wrote:
> On Friday, May 5, 2023 at 6:53:35 PM UTC-4, D. Spencer Hines wrote:
>
> > > Next: 'Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo' (1944).... Mitchum/Tracy. All right!
> > There's a lot of hokum in that one.
> 'Air Force' is mostly fiction, I understand. Only the fact that B-17s flying to elsewhere saw the Pearl Harbor attack is true, the rest never happened.
>
> It doesn't bother me as much as others. We had the longest thread here on 'Braveheart,' It is a good feeling if one knows the actual history behind a film, but movies are entertainment not lectures, so I enjoy fiction as much as the truth in that mode.

Yes, lots of folks enjoy hokum.

"Air Force" is good wartime propaganda and excellent character development. It's one of John Garfield's [born Jacob Julius Garfinkle (1913-1952)] best roles.

On Friday, May 19, 2023 at 4:28:17 PM UTC-10, Tiglath wrote:
> On Friday, May 5, 2023 at 6:53:35 PM UTC-4, D. Spencer Hines wrote:
>
> > > Next: 'Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo' (1944).... Mitchum/Tracy. All right!
> > There's a lot of hokum in that one.
> 'Air Force' is mostly fiction, I understand. Only the fact that B-17s flying to elsewhere saw the Pearl Harbor attack is true, the rest never happened.
>
> It doesn't bother me as much as others. We had the longest thread here on 'Braveheart,' It is a good feeling if one knows the actual history behind a film, but movies are entertainment not lectures, so I enjoy fiction as much as the truth in that mode.

Lots of folks enjoy hokum.

"Air Force" is excellent wartime propaganda and character development. It's one of John Garfield's [born Jacob Julius Garfinkle (1913-1952)] best roles.