What is the last movie you saw? and rate it.

[Janine]

I have been watching a lot of old films lately - classics.

Shadow Of A Doubt ~ Hitchcock
Strangers On A Train ~ Hitchcock

Both terrific! 10/10's for sure. How can one beat classic Hitchcock? I like Strangers best, but they both were wonderful and full of quirpy characters and great suspense. Both are early B/W films. I love that effect for suspense and mystery/drama.

Last night I watched

East of Eden ~ James Dean

I loved it! 10/10 most definitely! Wonderful mesmerizing performances. Emotional and very intense.

I will write more up on these later on. I highly recommend all three.
Extras on all DVD's were super interesting and informative, also.

[AmericanEagle]

Shadow Of A Doubt ~ Hitchcock
Strangers On A Train ~ Hitchcock

I loved "Strangers on a Train", too.

I didn't really like "Shadow of a Doubt", mostly because of the strange relationship between Uncle Charlie and Young Charlie.

[Janine]

I loved "Strangers on a Train", too.

I didn't really like "Shadow of a Doubt", mostly because of the strange relationship between Uncle Charlie and Young Charlie.

Yeah, that was strange, wasn't it? It was almost like she was attracted to him sexually. I wasn't quite sure of the relationship from the beginning. In the extras, it said she was young and just bored and he added color to all their lives. I do think they all, including the mother (his sister), had this strange distorted view of him; afterall, what did they even know of his life? I found that a bit odd, too. Wouldn't they want to know how he made his living, etc? Did you know that Hitchcock actually liked this film the best of all his films. Patricia Hitchcock said so in the extras. Now once before, I saw Pat Hitchcock in an interview; she claimed his favorite film was Notorious, but perhaps she meant for the major films, or I may be wrong memory-wise.

By the way, wasn't Pat Hitchcock a riot in Strangers On A Train? He picked her because she resembled the wife. The glasses were a great way to link them also. Love that shot in the glasses; a very famous shot. I can post it here since I copied it from Wikipedia. Now this film is another one with a strange attraction, but this time between two men. The extras went into that quite a bit. I felt from the beginning, that the man approaching Guy was acting awfully close and chummy with him in a homeosexual manner, not purely friendly. They said this was true and I believe in the British version it was played up more or it might have been visa versa, not sure now. I still have the alternative version to watch - my DVD came with both. Should be interesting to compare the two. That last scene was something else - truly amazing, wasn't it? Never have seen anything quite like it before. Wonderfully executed.

The guy who played Guy was in Rope, another of my favorites, even though it's somewhat a problem play/film. I still find it emensely interesting.

[AmericanEagle]

Yeah, that was strange, wasn't it? It was almost like she was attracted to him sexually. I wasn't quite sure of the relationship from the beginning. In the extras, it said she was young and just bored and he added color to all their lives. I do think they all, including the mother (his sister), had this strange distorted view of him; afterall, what did they even know of his life? I found that a bit odd, too. Wouldn't they want to know how he made his living, etc?

Yeah, they seemed more like lovers than uncle and niece.

Did you know that Hitchcock actually liked this film the best of all his films.

Really? I think that "Shadow of a Doubt" pales in comparison to "Vertigo" and "Psycho".

Now there is another one with a strange attraction between the two men. The extras went into that. I felt from the beginning that the man approaching Guy was acting awfully close and chummy with him in a homeosexual manner.

Something similar like that happened in "Rope", also starring Farley Granger.

[Janine]

Yeah, they seemed more like lovers than uncle and niece.

Exactly...but then again I think a lot of young girls could become enamoured with older men, even their uncles. My problem with that was I don't personally find Joseph Cotton that charming or attractive so I could not quite see what she saw in him. Now, had it been maybe someone more appealing and oozing charm I might understand her being drawn to him but Cotton doesn't do it for me; even though he did well layering the character to some degree.

Really? I think that "Shadow of a Doubt" pales in comparison to "Vertigo" and "Psycho".

I love Vertigo and many others, especially Rear Window and Dial M For Murder. Believe it or not, I have never seen Psycho. I need to see that one; for years I would not watch it, knowing the murder takes place in a shower or bathtub. I figured that would freak me out too much. I own most of the ones I mentioned but not the last three above since my library owns two of those; the other, I should request they get it from another library so I can finally view it - Psycho. I think I am brave enough now. haha

Something similar like that happened in "Rope", also starring Farley Granger.

I have to watch Rope again. I did write in my last post that Farley Ranger was in Rope too. I think that Shadow Of A Doubt and Rope have the same problem with the general public; the story relies on people (the star and anti-hero) who are intimate and key to the story, but who are a-moral. A-moral movies are usually not vastly popular, because they make people feel very uncomforable. I found that true of Doubt too, didn't you? I thought it was also filmed very 'edgy' and felt very 'uncomfortable' (angles of shots, etc) on purpose.

[AmericanEagle]

Exactly...but then again I think a lot of young girls could become enamoured with older men, even their uncles. My problem with that was I don't personally find Joseph Cotton that charming or attractive so I could not quite see what she saw in him. Now, had it been maybe someone more appealing and oozing charm I might understand her being drawn to him but Cotton doesn't do it for me; even though he did well layering the character to some degree.

If Uncle Charlie had been portrayed by Gregory Peck, I would definitely understand why Young Charlie would have been attracted to him

[AmericanEagle]

Believe it or not, I have never seen Psycho. I need to see that one; for years I would not watch it, knowing the murder takes place in a shower or bathtub. I figured that would freak me out too much. I own most of the ones I mentioned but not the last three above since my library owns two of those; the other, I should request they get it from another library so I can finally view it - Psycho. I think I am brave enough now. haha

You should definitely watch "Psycho." The shower murder scene isn't too gruesome.

[Janine]

You should definitely watch "Psycho." The shower murder scene isn't too gruesome.

I know, I have heard that from many now. I am sure it's not nearly as gruesome as some film scenes I have witnessed. haha.. Plus I loved Anthony Perkins; actually saw him once in a bar in Philadelphia - my friend spotted him and I didn't believe it; after he was gone we asked his friend at the bar and sure enough it was him appearing in Playhouse in the Park.

[Janine]

If Uncle Charlie had been portrayed by Gregory Peck, I would definitely understand why Young Charlie would have been attracted to him

Right, I agree. I am not sure why he choose Cotton, but he was later in a few other Hitchcock films, I believe. I think he is rather non-descript, don't you? I did like him in Citizen Kane though.

[AmericanEagle]

^ I agree that Cotton comes across as very bland.

[Janine]

^ I agree that Cotton comes across as very bland.

That's it exactly...I was going to write pale, but bland is right-on. When he gets angry in the diner it seemed out-of-character for him; but then maybe that was just the point. Still, I don't see why she would have been attracted to him. I also didn't see how they were anything alike, did you?

[AmericanEagle]

I also didn't see how they were anything alike, did you?

I also didn't see how they were alike. I just put that down as a plot hole, which many Hitchcock films have.

[grace86]

Coraline - 8/10. It kinda weirded me out a little bit but I loved it.

The Soloist - 8/10. It was strange too but I liked it.

[Janine]

Coraline - 8/10. It kinda weirded me out a little bit but I loved it.

The Soloist - 8/10. It was strange too but I liked it.

Hi Grace, I am laughing since, everytime I see some newer film now I seem to be weirded out too or they seems strange. I haven't found one film, I would rave over this from this past year. I did want to see The Soloist though. I heard it was good and I like Robert Downing, Jr. He was great in Chaplin. Ever see it? Pretty sure he won an oscar for it. He deserved it.

[grace86]

Hi Grace, I am laughing since, everytime I see some newer film now I seem to be weirded out too or they seems strange. I haven't found one film, I would rave over this from this past year. I did want to see The Soloist though. I heard it was good and I like Robert Downing, Jr. He was great in Chaplin. Ever see it? Pretty sure he won an oscar for it. He deserved it.

Haven't seen Chaplin but I will because I like him too! Yeah I don't know, the movies were just kind of weird...I haven't seen one I truly enjoyed in a long time. I've seen some really good old ones though recently.