tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post2333470773175130529..comments2023-05-21T03:16:13.000-07:00Comments on Down These Mean Streets: Scarlet Street (1945)Margot Shelbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06580855468061590981noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-23131935526776076062021-12-24T19:53:47.618-08:002021-12-24T19:53:47.618-08:00Margot, I wish you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HA...Margot, I wish you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!<br /><br />Best Wishes,<br />Walter S.Walter S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02507750468123235383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-6430857523554513672020-12-24T13:54:43.397-08:002020-12-24T13:54:43.397-08:00Hi Walter, Merry Christmas to you too. I hope you&...Hi Walter, Merry Christmas to you too. I hope you're doing fine. All in all this wasn't a particularly good year, obviously. <br />If you want, you can give me your email address and I can send you an email. I'll delete the post later, I don't like personal email addresses floating around on the internet.Margot Shelbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06580855468061590981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-48226841997053499182020-12-24T12:34:34.257-08:002020-12-24T12:34:34.257-08:00Margot, I wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY N...Margot, I wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!<br /><br />Best, <br />Walter S.Walter S. https://www.blogger.com/profile/00968355948247858157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-57414419168708795792020-07-19T16:34:30.838-07:002020-07-19T16:34:30.838-07:00JR/Margot - check this out Re: The Girl In Black S...JR/Margot - check this out Re: The Girl In Black Stockings Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fbYxld1RXU<br /><br />PS Leone Board is down a day now don't know for how long but my email is rayottulich@rayottulich.com to stay in touch through a second channel ;-)cigar joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10247683034889027958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-3651397546605131442020-05-06T13:46:14.943-07:002020-05-06T13:46:14.943-07:00It's certainly a movie that divides viewers.
...It's certainly a movie that divides viewers. <br /><br />About Hitch and strange backdrops, I've been telling myself the same thing, that it must have been a conscious decision on his part. A director like him wouldn't make sloppy mistakes. There must be a message trying to get out, but I'll be damned if I know what it is.Margot Shelbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06580855468061590981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-31746273890745115852020-05-06T12:23:44.369-07:002020-05-06T12:23:44.369-07:00Thank you, Barry. :)Thank you, Barry. :)Colin McGuiganhttp://livius1.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-81187613527192720812020-05-06T12:22:48.469-07:002020-05-06T12:22:48.469-07:00I think, in brief, Scarlet Street suffocates the v...I think, in brief, Scarlet Street suffocates the viewer.<br /><br />That does sound like an interesting title. But that price!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />Yes, Marnie probably gets the most criticism on that score but Hitchcock did similar things in many of his movies. I feel it was a conscious decision on his part, not mere expediency. A director like that, like any of the greats, was well aware of the necessary separation between art and reality.Colin McGuiganhttp://livius1.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-59258334095015988192020-05-06T12:18:48.434-07:002020-05-06T12:18:48.434-07:00Apparently I can't spell right today.Apparently I can't spell right today.Margot Shelbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06580855468061590981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-48866470167827351932020-05-06T12:11:58.430-07:002020-05-06T12:11:58.430-07:00Hi Colin, I agree this movie is Bleaksville. I'...Hi Colin, I agree this movie is Bleaksville. I'm trying to think of another Noir that is quite so depressing and can't come up with one. I can understand your reaction to it. I know you like the theme of redemption and obviously this movie tells us there will never be any, for anybody.<br /><br />Long ago I had a discussion on the now defunct imdb boards with someone who didn't like the movie because it harped on one string, bleakness and despair. I can totally see that but that's what makes it the purest Noir to me. It's not my favorite either though. Not exactly a movie to watch right now, I guess.<br />I like that Woman in the Window too, though the ending is a copout. <br /><br />On a different note, I'm a big fan of well-made sets. If they're well done, I think they lend an artistry all of itself to a movie. They once in Scarlet Street are very well done. It is a lost art now. As for sets/backdrops looking fake, they don't look any more fake than bad computer animation.<br /><br />As for Hitchcock, it's usually Marnie - one of my favorites - that comes under fire for that one admittedly odd backdrop in the movie. It does look weird.<br /><br />There is a book out I'd love to buy, called The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop. Unfortunately it costs $95! Well, sometime maybe. Margot Shelbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06580855468061590981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-25487730301395350462020-05-06T11:28:15.100-07:002020-05-06T11:28:15.100-07:00Colin, most astute comment of yours I have yet to ...Colin, most astute comment of yours I have yet to read. Another very smart and wise level.barrylanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09507827607600595861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-59197472463970602412020-05-06T10:53:57.565-07:002020-05-06T10:53:57.565-07:00An excellent dissection of the movie, as expected....An excellent dissection of the movie, as expected. I'm a huge fan of Lang's Hollywood movies, there's so much variety and so many themes touched on. This one is all about failure really, there are no successes to be seen. In thematic terms therefore, I think this may be Lang's purest movie. He never once veers away from the central vision of human failure. <br />Now I said the purest, but I don't say that it has to be his best - I'm not even sure I could choose his best and not change my mind a week or a month later. It's nice to be spoiled for choice. <br /><br />What I will say is that this is a movie I admire and respect for its purity, but it's a long way from being a favorite. It's relentless in its bleakness, the pitiless examination of all that is worthless and the ultimate conclusion that people cannot be redeemed is as sour as it gets. The one bright moment might be the suggestion that art does retain value, that it has at its core something higher to offer; even if those who create it may sink into despair and worthlessness, the art, their spiritual offering lives on on its own terms. But these are crumbs of comfort really. No, the despair, the lack of faith in dreams and the dismissal of the notion of redemption is very strong. I'm too soft-hearted to embrace that kind of nihilism. This is why I'm not troubled by The Woman in the Window (nor for that matter by Siodmak's Uncle Harry, a movie I mean to return to at some point), why I'm not one of those who rail against its ending - both films offer a moral lesson, but while the earlier movie acts as a kind of clip round the ear the later one just pounds your face without remorse. <br /><br />By the way, I was heartened too to read your defense of the use of sets. This was a genuine art in itself and I love watching movies that use these to best effect. people forget that artificiality has a purpose and is a legitimate artistic technique. It's common to hear it derided by some as cheap or lazy - Hitchcock, for example, has come in for a bit of stick for employing it. These people are, of course, wrong. Colin McGuiganhttp://livius1.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-85132066615552142312020-05-06T09:47:50.136-07:002020-05-06T09:47:50.136-07:00Ha, I had to look up Techniscope. Silly me.
I'...Ha, I had to look up Techniscope. Silly me.<br />I'll definitively check out the other two films. Heard a lot of good things about them.Margot Shelbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06580855468061590981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-24186249069081929352020-05-05T05:36:36.527-07:002020-05-05T05:36:36.527-07:00I only mentioned Alfie because it's amazing a ...I only mentioned Alfie because it's amazing a film as iconic as that has not yet had a Blu Ray release..typical of Paramount. I have not seen the film since it's initial release and my main attraction to see the film now would be to see all those London locations in cool Techniscope. Interestingly,Paramount seemed to like to use Techniscope for their London based films in the 60's like Up The Junction and The Strange Affair,the latter an interesting cop corruption thriller with excellent London location work,thus far The Strange Affair has not even had a DVD release. Techniscope at the time was generally used for down market fare like A.C.Lyles Westerns and low rent Spaghetti's....Leone and Eastwood changed all that perception as we now know. Margot you are in for a treat with The Good Die Young I hope that you get to see the restored Blu Ray. Check out the moment in Cast A Dark Shadow where Bogarde who preys on elderly rich widows is glimpsed in the hotel foyer reading a body building magazine,surely one of the most subversive moments in all UK cinema.john khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07080168531365446977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-56618587586145838992020-05-04T21:05:57.306-07:002020-05-04T21:05:57.306-07:00I've only heard about The Good Die Young and C...I've only heard about The Good Die Young and Cast a Dark Shadow. I'd like to see both of them. Robert Morley is always good value for the money. <br /><br />As for Alfie, not a movie I ever particularly enjoyed. And I like Michael Caine.Margot Shelbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06580855468061590981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-45656184114369511222020-05-04T06:29:28.585-07:002020-05-04T06:29:28.585-07:00Sorry to veer off topic Margot but I thought I'...Sorry to veer off topic Margot but I thought I'd just mention this, the exceptional Brit Noir The Good Die Young makes it's Blu Ray debut late July courtesy of the British Film Institute. I know there are many wonderful Noirs being released these days but this release in particular I'm very excited about especially as the DVD version was so awful. Details are scant at the moment regarding extras and knowing the BFI's previous releases they will be plentiful. What has been announced so far is that there will be an alternative version an export strength version never previously seen before. Possibly Kino Lorber will release a USA version as they have done before with other BFI releases. Normally the Kino versions do not include the extensive extras. The Good Die Young has a Noir cast to die for and was a transition piece for Lewis Gilbert moving up from B programmers to main features. Even Gilbert's B Noirs are very good and proved here was a director most capable of making something out of nothing. Gilbert's Brit Noir cycle ended with the supremely creepy Cast A Dark Shadow. The Good Die Young headlines Laurence Harvey as possibly the nastiest Homme Fatale in the history of movies-louche,totally amoral and ruthless. The scene in the gentleman's club where Robert Morley disowns his worthless son is unforgettable. Robert Morley in real life,by all accounts was in fact a Socialist...not many people know that! Which brings us on to the rumour that finally Gilbert's best known film Alfie is soon at last to make it's Blu Ray debut in all it's Techniscope glory.john khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07080168531365446977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-49623884258615630912020-05-03T14:20:25.145-07:002020-05-03T14:20:25.145-07:00Hi Ruth, opinions seem to be divided on that rainc...Hi Ruth, opinions seem to be divided on that raincoat. :)<br />I always liked it but it's certainly a dead giveaway.Margot Shelbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06580855468061590981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-27615755558147878452020-05-03T10:15:56.396-07:002020-05-03T10:15:56.396-07:00This is a superb film, and your review has done it...This is a superb film, and your review has done it justice. It's been some years since I've seen it – like you said, it's not one to re-watch regularly – but I'm jonesing to see it again. The ending is one that's always stuck with me, the getting away with murder but not getting away with it.<br /><br />I liked what you said about the sets not exactly having street cred, but using the soundstage to give the story an atmosphere of acute claustrophobia.<br /><br />Also: Not that it matters, but I think the see-through raincoat is just too much.Silver Screeningshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04955048716754142299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-8662613134093393752020-05-01T17:49:05.713-07:002020-05-01T17:49:05.713-07:00Nice review as alwaysNice review as alwayscigar joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10247683034889027958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-27200223035010785102020-05-01T08:38:33.962-07:002020-05-01T08:38:33.962-07:00Thanks Paul. It is a tragic movie and maybe really...Thanks Paul. It is a tragic movie and maybe really not the movie to watch right now. Something more upbeat is in order. Margot Shelbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06580855468061590981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-87535222128305946902020-05-01T04:15:38.276-07:002020-05-01T04:15:38.276-07:00LOVE Scarlet Street! It's one of my favourite ...LOVE Scarlet Street! It's one of my favourite films by Lang and EG Robinson is outstanding. In the pantheon of noir, it's probably the most desolate and truly tragic - 'getting away with murder' proves anything but and he is destroyed by the crime. Lang provides the most unique price to be paid by Chris and as you point out, we never get an answer to his fate. In essence, this makes things far worse and the thought of his wandering the streets in a state of hopelessness is too much to bear for us as an audience. Your final thoughts on the film (and the final humiliation for Chris) are so beautifully outlined - you really have a gift as a writer.Silver Screen Classicshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03028754308423562909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-60844945081932210372020-04-28T15:32:34.425-07:002020-04-28T15:32:34.425-07:00Hi John, about unwatchable films, Freaks is certai...Hi John, about unwatchable films, Freaks is certainly a tough one. So is Peeping Tom. It basically ruined Powell's career.<br />Robinson still had a decent career going in the 50s. <br /><br />I've seen Highway Dragnet and must say despite the very good cast I don't think it was very good.Margot Shelbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06580855468061590981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-35352536396625674872020-04-28T12:43:14.442-07:002020-04-28T12:43:14.442-07:00Further perspective on Walter Wanger. Louis did a...Further perspective on Walter Wanger. Louis did a film called Lady In The Iron Mask, not good but not as bad as you might expect. Walter produced it while serving time. At some point daily. Hayward, Gene Frenke, and Ralph Murphy met with Walter, behind barbed wire for consultation. For me, this is like celebrating a home invasion. No matter what the victim does, turns out to be wrong. Get hurt, unacceptable. Destroy the invader, and you may either face charges, or vengeance from his cohorts. You are always wrong. The only viable option is to come down hard on all violent crime from the political and police procedural perspective. No compromise. No pity for the perpetrator.barrylanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09507827607600595861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-73707152592168716712020-04-28T11:06:37.584-07:002020-04-28T11:06:37.584-07:00Thanks so much Barry,I knew you of all people woul...Thanks so much Barry,I knew you of all people would know.<br />I understand that Walter Mirisch had handed Wanger a life line when he was at Allied Artists,he let him produce a few cheap Westerns among other projects. I should imagine it was Mirisch that persuaded Allied Artists to cast Bennett in Highway Dragnet. Wanger was successful at Allied Artists with Riot In Cell Block 11 and Invasion Of The Body Snatchers and hit the big time again with I Want To Live. Then Wanger blew it all again with the debacle that was Cleopatra. Thanks again Barry for filling in the other details regarding Wanger's background,I must say some guys never learn especially having derailed his career previously with the mega budget flop Joan Of Arc.john khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07080168531365446977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-31539195762171580772020-04-28T10:48:34.527-07:002020-04-28T10:48:34.527-07:00John K.
Here goes. Of course this deranged Wanger...John K. <br />Here goes. Of course this deranged Wanger harmed her career. She had just co-starred with Spencer Tracy in Father of the Bride and Father's Little Dividend, a pair of successful films; she would never again co-star in another success. Now about Wanger:<br /><br />He was unusual for his time. An Ivy League graduate, relatively smooth and good looking. Had he been an actor, Walter could easily have replaced Melvyn Douglas and lost the girl in countless pictures. The worst that can be said about Joan; a normal, healthy, attractive woman who resented Wanger's harvesting her savings for Joan of Arc. So this distraught idiot shot Jennings Lang and got off with four months on a prison farm, which is the same kind of morality I object to in Canyon Passage, a Wanger production; the morality, not the execution. His participation in Cleopatra was at the level of the Bergman picture. <br /><br />So, of course it hurt Joan. She ended up on soap opera.barrylanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09507827607600595861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4797087968104121636.post-50608397085900989942020-04-28T10:05:14.087-07:002020-04-28T10:05:14.087-07:00Compelling reading as always,I do feel that you ha...Compelling reading as always,I do feel that you have more than 5 regulars,with that standard of writing you should have 5,000. Yes Scarlet Street is in many ways disturbing but not unwatchable for later viewings, like some of the other films mentioned in the comments. In Cold Blood and 10 Rillington Place were based on horrifying events that actually happened that makes all the difference. With In Cold Blood,in particular I remember seeing it when first released,I simply could not leave my cinema seat for what seemed like 10 minutes the film had such an impact on me..I've never seen it since. The film I would never see again under any circumstances is Freaks which I saw in 1963 thirty years after the UK ban on the film was lifted. True Horror probably never felt more apt. Recently,I watched a late night TV showing of Peeping Tom another film I had not seen in decades, at the cinema I might add.At the time Peeping Tom was released there were a whole raft of films from Hammer,Roger Corman,William Castle and Herman Cohen,those films were fun a term that could never be levelled at Powell's film. Peeping Tom to my mind is not a film to celebrate,it's too uncomfortable for that. I like to think I'm pretty unshockable but I disturb real easy. I could watch Scarlet Street again in a heartbeat,certainly not fun but disturbing in the tradition of many great Noirs. Edward G may have been on the skids at the end of Scarlet Street but his later career progressed very nicely indeed despite the odd setback here and there. In the 1960's in generally second leads he held his own very nicely with the likes of Paul Newman and Steve McQueen. I thought the later Soylent Green was a touching swan song for the veteran star. Robinson unlike many of his golden era peers was never reduced to degrading roles in very bad films. All this begs the question whatever happened to Joan Bennett? I'm sure Barry would have more detail on the Walter Wanger/Jennings Lang scandal...did it harm Bennett's career that much. By 1953 Bennett was reduced to playing in an Allied Artists cheapie Highway Dragnet,a far cry from her glory days. I don't even class Highway Dragnet as a Noir like some folks although it does have Noir elements,to be sure. In spite of it's micro budget I'm very fond of Highway Dragnet a B picture that I feel punches above it's weight.john khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07080168531365446977noreply@blogger.com