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#1
Entertainment / Re: What have you been listeni...
Last post by Rev. Powell - Today at 12:10:21 PM
"Under My Umbrella" by Miss Grit
"Ernie Kovacs' Record Collection". Turns out I already had a bunch of these (Ernie & I have the same taste), including Leona Carrington's absolute banger "Rats in My Room," originally from "Music to Suffer By."
https://youtu.be/beQc-WDMnow?si=heXhT2J67sryLp9I
#2
Off Topic Discussion / Re: Random Thought Thread Part...
Last post by LilCerberus - Today at 11:43:37 AMCourts blocked a New Jersey carpetbagger's power grab, the SPLC got caught paying for the Charlottesville riots...
Best Confederate history month ever!
Best Confederate history month ever!
#3
Good Movies / Re: 100 movies with FOOD in th...
Last post by zombie no.one - Today at 10:45:43 AM40. WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (1971)
#4
Good Movies / Re: Recent Viewings, Part 2
Last post by M.10rda - Today at 09:42:23 AMBEFORE DAWN (1933):
One of those liminal ones that has some cool elements and also some lame ones. Much of the coolness is probably attributable to Edgar Wallace's original story. (He co-wrote KING KONG and an endless array of crime novels adapted to German krimis.) The first three scenes are all set in distinct locations and focus on separate characters, allowing the viewer to gradually connect the dots on our own, which is a fun approach to exposition. Eventually though the action settles on one house, where some characters are seeking to protect a hidden fortune, some are trying to find and abscond with it, and some are just trying to stay alive and figure out what's happening. There are hidden passageways, murders, clairvoyance, and several more-or-less useless cops - all standard Old Dark House tropes - but alas no gorillas!
The tense and mildly spooky stuff is handled decently, though the dramatic/character development bits are underwhelming. Warner Oland takes a break from yellowface to play a psychoanalyst who discusses Freud with the cops. (Freud was still alive and making headlines in 1933, which is kind of an interesting/timely aspect to the screenplay.) Unlike Freud, though, it's pretty obvious that Dr. Oland is up to no good. One of the other shady characters is a rather overwritten charlatan played by Dudley Digges, who played the bad guy in MASSACRE the following year. Although his character is broad and 1.5-dimensional at best, that character is eventually utilized in a somewhat interesting and surprising climax. The psychic female lead, Dorothy Wilson, underplays everything in a way that is convincing and compelling though in stark contrast to the hammy (or just plain bad) acting of most of the supporting cast.
3/5 Okay, coulda' been better.
One of those liminal ones that has some cool elements and also some lame ones. Much of the coolness is probably attributable to Edgar Wallace's original story. (He co-wrote KING KONG and an endless array of crime novels adapted to German krimis.) The first three scenes are all set in distinct locations and focus on separate characters, allowing the viewer to gradually connect the dots on our own, which is a fun approach to exposition. Eventually though the action settles on one house, where some characters are seeking to protect a hidden fortune, some are trying to find and abscond with it, and some are just trying to stay alive and figure out what's happening. There are hidden passageways, murders, clairvoyance, and several more-or-less useless cops - all standard Old Dark House tropes - but alas no gorillas!
The tense and mildly spooky stuff is handled decently, though the dramatic/character development bits are underwhelming. Warner Oland takes a break from yellowface to play a psychoanalyst who discusses Freud with the cops. (Freud was still alive and making headlines in 1933, which is kind of an interesting/timely aspect to the screenplay.) Unlike Freud, though, it's pretty obvious that Dr. Oland is up to no good. One of the other shady characters is a rather overwritten charlatan played by Dudley Digges, who played the bad guy in MASSACRE the following year. Although his character is broad and 1.5-dimensional at best, that character is eventually utilized in a somewhat interesting and surprising climax. The psychic female lead, Dorothy Wilson, underplays everything in a way that is convincing and compelling though in stark contrast to the hammy (or just plain bad) acting of most of the supporting cast.
3/5 Okay, coulda' been better.
#6
Good Movies / Re: 100 movies with FOOD in th...
Last post by HappyGilmore - Today at 09:10:45 AM39?? Milk
#8
Good Movies / Happy APRIL Birthdays!
Last post by M.10rda - Today at 07:59:49 AMHappy Birthday (a day late) to Chainsaw Midget - and about three weeks late to Burgomaster! (I just discovered the "Birthdays" info, lol.) 
