Filmstrip Memories: A new classic film review blog...BY ME!

[pap64]

I have to agree about My Fair Lady. While I greatly enjoyed the film, I believe it would have been much better with Andrews as Eliza. As much as I love Audrey and I think she did great, you can tell that her acting discipline is different from Andrews. Andrews was a Vaudeville/Broadway performer since childhood, so she gained a huge stage presence and energy that allows her to play any role and have great vocal range.

Hepburn, on the other hand, was trained to be elegant and graceful. Note how most of her roles invoke honesty, sincerity, elegance, grace and even naivete. She has said that playing Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's was a challenge because she would be playing an extrovert while she was an introvert, so a character like Eliza is a challenge for her since she needs to be loud, energetic, fun and excellent vocals. I read that she was dubbed save for one musical number, so it affected the movie.

It's still a great film, and the whole "Andrews/Hepburn" debacle is silly, but I often wonder how the film would have been like with Andrews as the leading roles.

[Avaitor]

You know, I don't believe that I've actually seen The Sound of Music in it's entirety. I may have when I was younger, but if I did, I don't recall it. Based on your article and other obvious sources, it seems like I may have to change that soon, then.

[Escapay]

Excellent review, pap. The Sound of Music is one of my favorite films of all time, though I think in the past few years, I've not given it its due. Likely because I used to watch it frequently (and I mean FREQUENTLY) as a child. There are many fond family memories attached to the film, that I can never just watch it as a movie, I always watch it as my own personal time capsule to the past. For example, whenever "Lonely Goatherd" comes on, I always remember how the NJ trio used to imitate that scene by dangling dolls and stuffed animals over the dividing half-wall between our family room and kitchen. And whenever the Laendler waltz is done by Maria and Georg, I remember learning it and performing (a variation of) it for my sister's sweet sixteen. It was also one of my aunts' favorite films, so much so that our double-VHS set was always either at our house or her house (until her son finally got her a DVD in 2002). It's one of the few films I have on both VHS and DVD (and twice on DVD, due to the differing supplements and transfers), and one I know I'll be buying on Blu-Ray.

As for My Fair Lady, it was the very first Audrey Hepburn movie I saw, as well as one of the earliest DVDs I had in my collection (it was a Christmas gift from my sister in 2002). Not knowing the backstory of it at the time (I was only 10, so this is 1995), I absolutely loved Hepburn in the role, and still do. I'm sure Andrews was great in it, but since I grew up with Hepburn as Eliza, she's my preferred Doolittle. And tying in with The Sound of Music somewhat, we also learned the Embassy Waltz from this film for my sister's sweet sixteen.

albert

[pap64]

Yes, Audrey was unrecognizable as Cockney Eliza, and she did fantastic considering she was always typecasted as the clean, innocent, soft spoken girl.

That's a great story, Albert, especially the one about The Lonely Goatherd. I can just imagine the toys flying around the room XD .

[pap64]

This new update is the fourth in my Classic Film Homages, References and Tributes segment of the blog. I focus on Orson Welles and the jokes he inspired on The Critic:
http://filmstripmemories.blogspot.com/2 ... s-and.html

[Avaitor]

Ah, The Critic. Fun show. Easily the best of the adult cartoon boom that happened after the success of The Simpsons, at least until King of the Hill started.

Fun clips, too. I need to find a copy of the complete series set sometime soon.

[pap64]

Tonight's review is the first Marx Brothers movie I review for the site, Duck Soup!
http://filmstripmemories.blogspot.com/2 ... -1933.html

The story behind the dedication is that me and my nephew saw the movie a couple of weekends ago. Him being a 16 year old teenager I thought he wouldn't like it. Much to my surprise, he loved the film! We both nearly died of laughter at the many scenes, and we constantly quote the movie to each other or act our scenes.

It proved to me that a great movie can transcend generational barriers regardless of what era it was made in.

[jpanimation]

I'm sure Andrews was great in it, but since I grew up with Hepburn as Eliza, she's my preferred Doolittle.

Coincidently, that was my first Hepburn movie to and she's the only Eliza I know (I can't imagine it any other way). She was excellent in the role. Andrews made the role on Broadway and was experienced in it, so I often wonder what it would've been like if she had played Eliza, but I never regret Hepburn. I just wish they would've let Hepburn sing herself, instead of dubbing over her, as I thought she sang really well in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Ah, The Critic. Fun show. Easily the best of the adult cartoon boom that happened after the success of The Simpsons, at least until King of the Hill started.

It was like the precursor to Family Guy. The random jokes and movie references, it's just a shame that it never shared the same kind of success. I never saw The Critic in it's original run but I discovered it a couple of years ago on ReelzChannel, and instantly loved it.

Tonight's review is the first Marx Brothers movie I review for the site, Duck Soup!
http://filmstripmemories.blogspot.com/2 ... -1933.html

I don't remember liking this movie that much. I watched it as part of a New Years Eve - Marx Bros marathon on TCM years ago and I think I was just too tired by the time it came on (maybe even fell asleep as it was the last one of the night). I really want to re-watch it but keep forgetting to. I remember not being impressed with any of the other Marx Bros films played that night, but then at a later date I saw A Night at the Opera and I REALLY loved it. I think if I re-watch Duck Soup fully awake, I'll feel the same way.

[pap64]

In my honest opinion, some people criticized The Critic for being like Family Guy: having a lot of jokes for the sake of having them. I disagree. In Family Guy, the jokes are often irrelevant to the story and appear out of thin air. In The Critic, at least, the jokes are relevant to the theme of the show, which is movies. So, a joke about Speed Reading is expected because that's what the show sets out to do. In Family Guy, they often make long winded jokes about X celebrity for no reason whatsoever. So in my honest opinion, The Critic edges Family Guy on that regard.

As for Duck Soup, I should note that this is the first Marx Bros. film that I saw, so I had little to no expectations, and was surprised to see that it surpassed mine as well as my nephew's (which REALLY surprised me). I should also note that I tend to like overly silly, witty, prop based comedy since that was the stuff I was raised on. Hence why in my review I made the statement that the only thing against the film was that not everyone is bound to enjoy it.

[jpanimation]

In my honest opinion, some people criticized The Critic for being like Family Guy: having a lot of jokes for the sake of having them. I disagree. In Family Guy, the jokes are often irrelevant to the story and appear out of thin air. In The Critic, at least, the jokes are relevant to the theme of the show, which is movies. So, a joke about Speed Reading is expected because that's what the show sets out to do. In Family Guy, they often make long winded jokes about X celebrity for no reason whatsoever. So in my honest opinion, The Critic edges Family Guy on that regard.

I agree with everything said. This is why it's a shame it hasn't enjoyed the same amount of success. Family Guy just took The Simpsons concept and The Critic type of humor and merged them. It's not as original as people seem to think it is.

As for Duck Soup, I should note that this is the first Marx Bros. film that I saw, so I had little to no expectations, and was surprised to see that it surpassed mine as well as my nephew's (which REALLY surprised me). I should also note that I tend to like overly silly, witty, prop based comedy since that was the stuff I was raised on. Hence why in my review I made the statement that the only thing against the film was that not everyone is bound to enjoy it.

Sounds like you're defending yourself for liking the movie, which is unnecessary. Everyone I've talked to that has seen Duck Soup has loved it, and the fact that I love A Night at the Opera (which I watched totally awake) just seems to add fuel to the argument that I was just too tired when I viewed it. I really want to re-watch it now.

[pap64]

Here's the second entry in the Filmstrip Reflections series. I read so many things against the AFI's lists and decided to chime in my two cents:
http://filmstripmemories.blogspot.com/2 ... eever.html

[jpanimation]

When they talk about the best movies ever made, I think of the following criteria:
- The movie, no matter the genre, is an excellent example of what filmmaking can be
- It has left a huge impact on society and the industry
- It's a great success in terms of critical acclaim and audience acceptance
- It inspired many generations of filmmakers and have either created tributes or borrowed techniques from these films

The AFI list is extremely flawed and the sentences in bold are the reasons why. What you listed as criteria is the exact same criteria AFI gave for their choices in one of their press releases. They have too many movies listed on a "greatest American movies ever" list that are only there because of their cultural impact (mostly movies with social commentary) and NOT because they're great movies. I made it a goal a few years back (before the new list) to see all the movies on the AFI top 100 list and I quickly noticed just how many underwhelming movies there are. When the new list came out, I watched the couple I had never seen before. It righted some wrongs and created some new problems. I reiterate, the list is extremely flawed.

[pap64]

I agree that some movies are underwhelming or overrated, but I always figured out that its all subjective and didn't pay much attention, much less analyze it to death.

For example, they always list West Side Story as the best of nearly everything. I personally didn't like it at all. I liked the songs and the dancing, but the storyline is empty and the characters are very two dimensional and unlikable.

I disagree on that aspect, but I never antagonized them for it. It's a matter of opinion, and the opinion there that it's a great movie.

Same deal with the Best Picture Oscar. It doesn't confirm that the winning IS the best of the bunch, and winning it doesn't mean it be always remembered, but I don't see a problem in them giving the award to a movie. I may disagree with the decisions, but I won't lose sleep over it like some people do.

Their mistake was trying to sell their lists as fact instead of opinion. Note that this is just my "fair" attitude talking, and I ain't no film expert, just a fan.

[pap64]

Sorry for taking so long with the latest update, with school nearing its end I have to catch up on things.

Here's the latest review, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town:
http://filmstripmemories.blogspot.com/2 ... -1936.html

While I think Mr. Smith and It's a Wonderful Life are better films, Mr. Deeds is very enjoyable, and in many ways I see myself in Mr. Deeds.

[Avaitor]

I haven't seen Frank Capra's original Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, but I have seen Adam Sandler's Mr. Deeds, a movie whose very thought of makes me sick to my stomach.

One of these days I shall watch the original, to see how they compare.

[pap64]

Well, for one thing, Adam Sandler is no Gary Cooper .

But in all seriousness, I've only seen a handful of Mr. Deeds scenes, but from what I could tell, they turned the movie into a typical Adam Sandler comedy. Mr. Deeds in that version was basically a goofy Adam Sandler character.

In the original, Mr. Deeds was eccentric but never goofy or outrageous. He was very smart, knew how to think and got the most out of people. He was also a gentleman that never took crap from anybody (the scene where he punches one of the pretentious writers at the restaurant is one of my favorites).

So yes, watch the original as soon as you can.

[pap64]

I just wanted to apologize for not updating the blog as of late. First, my mother is recovering from a fall she had a few weeks back and I am attending her and constantly worry about her. Second, I am entering my last two weeks of school, and the pressure has been CRAZY. It has been draining me emotionally and physically. I cannot sleep well at night, can't concentrate and at times I stay up till seven or even eight in the morning just finishing schoolwork.

So yeah, I promise to update as much as humanly possible once all of this blows over.

[Avaitor]

I'm sorry, man, I wish the best for you and your mother.

[pap64]

Thanks, Avaitor!

Anyways, I finally got around to posting a review and finishing another entry in my Classic Film References column (trust me, you guys will be interested in that one!).

Tonight's review is Adam's Rib, the second Spencer Tracy/Katharine Hepburn movie that I recently saw (the first was Guess Who's Coming to Dinner):
http://filmstripmemories.blogspot.com/2 ... -1949.html

[jpanimation]

Anyways, I finally got around to posting a review and finishing another entry in my Classic Film References column (trust me, you guys will be interested in that one!).

So I just now got around to reading your Classic Film References column on Orson Welles in The Critic and it reminded me of the Orson Welles cameo in Tim Burton's Ed Wood. In that film, Orson Welles is portrayed by Vincent D'Onofrio but his voice is dubbed over by Maurice LaMarche (the same voice actor who would voice Orson Welles on The Critic). It makes for one of the best impersonations of Orson Welles I've ever seen.

Tonight's review is Adam's Rib, the second Spencer Tracy/Katharine Hepburn movie that I recently saw (the first was Guess Who's Coming to Dinner):
http://filmstripmemories.blogspot.com/2 ... -1949.html

I personally never cared for any of the Hepburn/Tracey pictures, except maybe Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (Kramer certainly knows how to take a controversial matter and make it a good movie, two of my favorites of his being The Defiant Ones and Inherit the Wind). Hepburn/Tracey was a big deal because everyone knew they loved each other in real life and it reflected in the films. I just don't think they were great like the teaming of Bogart/Bacall or Astaire/Rogers or Flynn/de Havilland or Powell/Loy (the greatest on-screen couple), who made some of their best movies together, while Hepburn/Tracey made some of their best movies apart.