ABCs at the Movies: The Doubles Round!

[MaineWriter]

==from IMDb:

Though I am not a fan of the music of Janis Joplin, I found this to be a refreshing look at the brief life and times of the Texas-born wailer. Completely lacking in artifice, Joplin comes across as the archetypal high school outcast, a frumpy artistic type who found liberation living the life of a San Francisco hippy and singing the blues. Joplin comes across as extremely likable and is bluntly honest about her shortcomings as a singer: she pays tribute to Aretha Franklin, acknowledging her own lack of subtlety which, she hoped wistfully, might come in time. That time, of course, never came, and we are left with the extremely erratic results. Joplin is best remembered for her decent if clumsy takes on Ball and Chain and Piece of My Heart, and those tracks are represented here, but the versions of Tell Mama, Cry Baby, and Maybe are frankly embarrassing. Joplin also struggles with Gershwin's Summertime, but the results there are better, partly because the song is so mighty it defies all attempts to lessen its power, and partly because the Kozmic Blues Band wisely chose to arrange it in a raga rock style which still sounds quite fresh today. The film ends with a wistful photo montage set to the tune of Me and Bobby McGee, the posthumous 1971 hit that reunited Janis with the country music of her childhood. Regardless of how you rate Joplin's music, I defy anyone to watch this film and not come away deeply impressed by the humor, intelligence, and warmth of its subject.





Next up: K in 1973

[oilgun]

==Comment==
This looks interesting enough to seek out.  I used to have quite a thing for John Savage.

KILLING KIND (1973)
Film Noir
Curtis Harrington/83 minutes/Color

Cult Film Director Curtis Harrington’s The Killing Kind is an undiscovered classic. Oscar™ Nominee John Savage (The Deer Hunter, Thin Red Line) shines in an early role, which calls for him to present disturbing behavior ranging from his private fantasies, to brutal murders and the twisted relationship with his domineering mother, played by veteran actress Ann Sothern.

Harrington’s direction is taut, the murder scenes brutal and realistic in a non-exploitive sort of way. While What’s the Matter with Helen? may be Harrington’s most known film, Killing Kind is arguably far superior in many ways with some darkly humorous moments, and plenty of genuine suspense. As is the case in many of Harrington’s films there is a great and unexpected ending to this film noir. A very young Cindy Williams (American Graffiti, Laverne & Shirley) also gives a good performance in a supporting role.



Next up:  L in 1972

[Meryl]

Scandalous for the sex, but I remember it mostly because they raised ticket prices to an outrageous $5.00. 


Note:  Leslie, I changed my "A" to a 1983 flick

[dot-matrix]

Oooooo  4 tracker stereo sound! "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" is the account of Joe Cocker's 1970 American Tour if you're looking for some good music and classic concert footage, this movie is a hit.

[opinionista]

IMDb comment:

Softt-core period piece that has the 'action' taking place during the days of the Roman Empire falls flat. Whereas "the Secret sex lives of romeo & Juliet" had it's quite attractive women to fall back on as well as a fews actually humorous jokes, this film has neither. The women are not that attractive (and the men are outright hideous). The movie is a deadly dull chore to watch even for a few minutes much less the whole thing. Any watcher of Something Weird's dvds can attest to the films they release are purely hit or miss. This one being an obvious all-around miss.

Something Weird DVD Extras: 2 short features (Cleopatra's milk bath, and Cleopatra's asp); gallery of Harry Novak art; and Trailers for "the Brazen women of Balzac", "A Clock Work Blue". "Fanny Hill", "the Nine Ages of Nakedness", "Roman Love Triangle", & "the Secret Sex lives of Romeo and Juliet" (The latter of which is also on this double feature DVD)

Eye Candy: all the women show skin, but most you don't want to see them naked

Next up: O in 1969

[oilgun]

==Comment==
With George Lazenby, the Bond that nobody talks about...(Or would that be Timothy Dalton?)



Next:  P in 1968

[MaineWriter]

==from IMDb==

Bestselling writer George Plimpton (Alan Alda) takes on an assignment for Sports Illustrated. He is to go incognito to the Detroit Lions training camp and try out for a position as third string Quarterback. He is quickly found out by the team members featuring Alex Karras and Mike Lucci. The entire team finds it amusing to cause stumbling blocks in the writer's determination to Quarterback for a series in a real game.

This movie is Alda's debut and also helped Karras leave the gridiron for acting. Besides the 1968 Detroit Lions, the cast also includes "Sugar Ray" Robinson, Roy Schieder and Lauren Hutton. Alex March directs this story based on Plimpton's book.



Next up: Q from 1967

[southendmd]

Daffy Duck tries to catch Speedy Gonzales while disguised as an enchilada.  Oy.  Sorry, not much in the "Q" department this year.

Next:  "R" from 1966.

[dot-matrix]

From IMDb:
Mr. Ford never got the recognition he deserved for the consistent quality of his acting. 'Rage' also seems to have been forgotten in the shuffle, but is actually a very enjoyable film. The story is simple: Dr. Ruebens a lush and a doctor is bitten by a rabid dog and has only a limited time to find the antidote before the diseases manifests itself. Doesn't sound like much of a story, but with a little help from Stella Stevens, who puts in a good performance as 'fallen woman', the plot moves along nicely. Some local flavor of the Mexican countryside is thrown in and all in all, a very enjoyable flic



Next: S 1965

[oilgun]

Next: T in 1964