Movies for rainy Sunday afternoons

[elspeth]

What do you watch on these long winter Sunday afternoons?

My favourites are black and white movies... Sherlock Holmes with Basil Rathbone (The only time I can usually bear to watch these!), Miss Marple with Margaret Rutherford, the Ealing comedies like Kind Heart and Coronets or The Ladykillers.

Or, an occasional foray into colour films... pretty much any of Ray Harryhausen's monster films.

[henrah]

Amelie - always cheers the spirit. Or delving into the magic Disney used to have with Lion King or Beauty and the Beast.


Or Shine, that's always a joy to watch.

[pianistimo]

i happened to turn on an old movie late at night and about died laughing from the sword fight in that 1954 movie 'knights of the roundtable' or somesuch movie.  these two knights go at it - but it become hilarious when one of the swords gets stuck in a tree - and the other knight has to help the first knight pull it out of the tree.

'it happened one night' is one of my other very favorite old movies. 

and, i like international films.  they can even be silent and quite intrueiging.

[elspeth]

Ooooh, I'd forgotten about Amelie. Such a good film, and I haven't watched it in ages. That's my evening sorted!

[ahinton]

Go you big red fire engine!

I realise that this is off-topic (aso may I be forgiven for this brief digression), but the passage a few minutes ago of three such vehicles, all sirens screaming and at breakneck pace, along the street near where I live (must be another cat stuck up a tree or the Batheaston branch of al-Q'aeda playing little games with fireworks again) prompts me to ask you if you could please explain the origin of and reason for the above sign-off? Just curious!...

Best,

Alistair

[elspeth]

I'll post a new thread to explain this for you, it's a bit of a story!

[thalbergmad]

Scott of the Antarctic.

Makes you realise that the weather outside is not really that bad.

How us English love our failures.

Thal

[ahinton]

Scott of the Antarctic.

Makes you realise that the weather outside is not really that bad.

How us English love our failures.

Thal

Nice one!

god, jesus, bible, jesus, jesus, god, bible, god, jesus, bible, bible, jesus, god, jesus, bible, bible, god, jesus, jesus, bible, god, god, bible, jesus, bible, bible, god - welcome to PIANOSTREETS

Remembering the tale of the good Samaritan, you could always pass by on the other side of those streets, you know. Anyway, was it mere modesty or poor memory that prompted you to omit "Thal" from the above list?

Best,

Alistair

[le_poete_mourant]

Or Shine, that's always a joy to watch.

A joy, but perhaps not an accurate, truthful joy.  You should read the book by Helfgott's sister. 


Anyway, go out and get some older comedies, the good ones.  It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is great.  Also, The Party, a lesser-known Peter Sellers film in which he portrays an Indian man. 

[pianowolfi]

"Once upon a time in the west". I love this music by Ennio Moricone and the tension and everything. It is a legendary movie!

[thalbergmad]

I like that as well Wolfi, but i prefer "for a few dollars more".

Thal

[pianowolfi]

Yeah sure that one is legendary too.

[ahinton]

religion, religion, religion, religion, religion, religion, religion, religion, religion, religion, religion, religion, religion, religion, religion, religion, religion, religion, religion, religion

That's twenty. A score, in other words (which, one may suppose, may lend it some kind of perceived musical connection). But is that the sum total of the number of world religions of which you are aware, Thal?

OK - so now go change your sign-off again (just like you did earlier) - if so you wish, that is...

Sorry - back to topic now, folks...

Best,

Alistair

[mycrabface]

Saw

[wishful thinker]

One of the thirties Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.  The sets are great, and there's some great swing time.  The Gay Divorcee, Swing Time and of course, Top Hat 

[henrah]

Ah yes, Top Hat! Brilliant film, but kinda confused me at first, it took me a while to realise the true relationships standing between the characters, so much banter it was hard to tell who was who!

[johnny-boy]

I bought an Audrey Hepburn DVD trilogy last week. I already watched them all. Great pick-me-up movies.

Audrey Hepburn Trilogy CD:
1. Breakfast at Tiffany's
2. Sabrina
3. Roman Holiday

They're 5 star movies for sure; but I'm sure these flicks will seem a little corny & mild to some youngsters.

John

[thalbergmad]

My favourites are black and white movies... Sherlock Holmes with Basil Rathbone (The only time I can usually bear to watch these!), Miss Marple with Margaret Rutherford, the Ealing comedies like Kind Heart and Coronets or The Ladykillers.

I love the old Sherlock Holmes films. Recently bought a box set full of them.

I spent a lovely afternoon watching "The Maggie". Can't beat the old Ealing Comedies.

Thal

[elspeth]

I have a soft spot for the old Sherlock Holmes films... if I'm taking it seriously, give me Jeremy Brett every time, but Basil Rathbone is worth it for comedy value.

[thalbergmad]

Yeh, Brett was the best Holmes for years and played a great part, but there is always something more creepy about black and white.

The "master blackmailer" was on over Chrsitmas, which i think was one of his best.

Thal

[ahinton]

Yeh, Brett was the best Holmes for years and played a great part,

Indeed so - but whatever happened to him? (one never seems to hear anything about him these days)...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

Indeed so - but whatever happened to him? (one never seems to hear anything about him these days)...

Best,

Alistair

https://www.nndb.com/people/704/000090434/

[ahinton]

https://www.nndb.com/people/704/000090434/

Thank you for this timely reminder, Thal; I must have forgotten that he died more than a decade ago - which is exceedingly remiss of me. His first wife was herself a well-known actress, of course. I note also that he was a bipolar case, which I did not previously know; Stephen Fry is one such another and he presented a television programme about it recently - did you see it by chance?

Best,

Alistair

[elspeth]

Jeremy Brett died about ten years ago, more's the pity. He was an odd man... manic depressive, among other things.

Mind you, actors' legend says the part of Holmes is cursed. Any actor who plays him is either hopelessly typecast or never works again.

[ahinton]

Jeremy Brett died about ten years ago, more's the pity. He was an odd man... manic depressive, among other things.

Thal's post above (which must have appeared as you were writing yours) also mentions both these facts, as you will now see.

Best,

Alistair

[elspeth]

Great minds... or something... I only saw the first part of Stephen Fry's documentary. I work with a lot of actors and performers, and you see it scarily often in them. I suppose it goes with the territory, in some ways.

The "master blackmailer" was on over Chrsitmas, which i think was one of his best.

My favourite in the Brett series is Sign of Four, with the again much missed John Thaw. It seems so many of our finest actors are dying out, and notably not being replaced ver quickly.

[burstroman]

La Dolce Vita
The Manchurian Candidate
Laura, An Unforgettable Woman
Brazil

[le_poete_mourant]

Although it's Monday, I just finished watching "Hotel Rwanda," again.  And it is incredible.  It changed my life.  Watch it. 

[thalbergmad]

Mind you, actors' legend says the part of Holmes is cursed. Any actor who plays him is either hopelessly typecast or never works again.

Didn't do Peter Cook any harm

[pianistimo]

what about the live broadcast where peter cook was a little nervous and worse off for the alcohol and accidentally asked kirk douglas 'who are you?' instead of 'how are you?'