To Live

Iridic — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:17:16 -0800

American audiences remember Akira Kurosawa as the genius of the samurai epic, a past master who used the form both to revise and revive Western classics - Shakespeare with Ran and Throne of Blood, Dostoevsky with Red Beard and The Idiot, Gorky with The Lower Depths - and to give splendid and ultimately immortal life to new archetypes, as in The Seven Samurai, Rashomon, Yojimbo. But Kurosawa also made films of his own time. His masterpiece, in fact, was the quiet story of a gray Japanese bureaucrat dying in post-war Tokyo, and of his attempt to do something of lasting good before he leaves. The film is Ikiru ("To Live"; 1952). Bonus Kurosawa: Stray Dog.

How could I have known that murder could sometimes smell like honeysuckle?

miss lynnster — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:56:10 -0800

"But, it's a post on film noir!" I told her. She jerked away from me like a startled fawn might, if I had a startled fawn and it jerked away from me. I knew that caving into my desires meant I might lose her. But I didn't care. I went out to the kitchen to make coffee -- yards of coffee. Rich, strong, bitter, boiling hot, ruthless, depraved. I knew she'd be back. They Made Me A Criminal (1939) I am a fugitive... I am hunted by ruthless men! I am shunned by decent women! I am doomed to hide forever! Directed by Busby Berkeley. Starring John Garfield, The Dead End Kids, Claude Rains and Ann Sheridan. Casa blanca (1942) As big and timely a picture as ever you've seen! You can tell by the cast it's important! gripping! big! Won 3 Oscars. Directed by Michael Ortiz. Starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Double Indemnity (1944) Paramount's terrific story of an unholy love, and an almost perfect crime! Written and directed by Billy Wilder. Starring Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyk and Edward G. Robinson. The Thin Man Goes Home (1944) Nick and Nora go on holiday, and end up involved in a murder. Starring William Powell and Myrna Loy. Mildred Pierce (1945) In her heart of hearts she knew it would happen this way!Joan Crawford in her Oscar-winning. Eve Arden and Ann Blyth were both nominated for Best Supporting Actress. It was also up for Best B/W Cinematography, Best Picture and Best Screenplay. Scarlet Street (1945) The GREAT STARS and DIRECTOR of "Woman in the Window" Directed by Fritz Lang. Starring Edward G. Robinson and Joan Bennett. Detour (1945) He went searching for love... but Fate forced a DETOUR to Revelry... Violence... Mystery! The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946) Fate drew them together... and only murder could part them! Starring Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin and Kirk Douglas. Out of the Past (1947) A MAN - Trying to run away from his past... A WOMAN - Trying to escape her future! Starring Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, Kirk Douglas and Rhonda Fleming The Big Sleep (1948) The type of man she hated . . . was the type she wanted! Directed by Howard Hawks. Written by Raymond Chandler. Starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. The Naked City (1948) The Most Exciting Story of the World's Most Exciting City! Starring Barry Fitzgerald and Howard Duff. The Third Man (1949) HUNTED...By a thousand men! Haunted...By a lovely girl! Directed by Carol Reed. Written by Graham Greene. Starring Joseph Cotten, Orson Welles, Trevor Howard and the city of Vienna. D.O.A. (1950) A picture as excitingly different as its title! Starring Edmond O'Brien and Beverly Garland. Beat The Devil (1953) Tongue-in-cheek spoof of The Maltese Falcon. Adventure at its boldest! Bogart at his best! Directed by John Huston. Screenplay by Truman Capote. Starring Humphrey Bogart, Jennifer Jones, Gina Lollobrigida, Robert Morley and Peter Lorre The Hitch-Hiker (1953) When was the last time you invited death into your car? Written and directed by Ida Lupino. Starring Edmond O'Brien. Dial M for Murder (1954) Kiss By Kiss...Supreme Suspense Unfurls! Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Starring Ray Milland, Grace Kelly and Robert Cummings. Mr. Arkadian (1955) Discovering the past can be murder... Written, directed by, and starring Orson Welles. Cape Fear (1962) The Original Masterpiece Of Revenge, Confrontation And Murder! Starring Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum and Polly Bergen

The Unsung Joe: Where bit--part actors go when they die

jack_mo — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:51:03 -0800

The Unsung Joe: Where bit-part actors go when they die. Biographies of the most obscure micro-stars of 1940s and '50s cinema, all remarkably well-researched and richly illustrated.

Noir Exam

lilboo — Fri, 07 Jan 2005 14:33:03 -0800

Remember the Noir Genius Exam? Wanna know the the answers?

MetaFilter posts tagged with cinema and noir

To Live

How could I have known that murder could sometimes smell like honeysuckle?

The Unsung Joe: Where bit--part actors go when they die

Noir Exam