Where was I? Oh yeah. We made our semi-occasional pilgrimage to Borders this weekend. Borders had a half-off sale on all DVDs, so I picked up several at half-off the "old movie" price. I was looking for a specific one (Heartbreak Ridge for those of you not paying close attention) but didn't find it in stock. [sigh] Maybe another time.
But I did pick up some others, some I've been looking for for a while, others that just piqued my attention when I saw them on the shelf.
Of those that piqued my curiosity because the looked interesting: Gray Lady Down and The Professionals. Gray Lady Down I remember from ads years back, looked interesting then, looks interesting now. The Professionals I don't recall ever hearing of, but it looks neo-cowboy-nihilist in the manner of The Wild Bunch. I'm looking forward to it someday. And it's got Burt Lancaster, Lee Marvin, Robert Ryan, and Jack Palance. Gotta be good!
Anyhoo, I picked up six DVDs total, including the two in the last paragraph. Others include a classic Agatha Christie, Ten Little Indians, a classic (CLASSIC I tell you!) western, My Darling Clementine (Henry Fonda - Oh Yeah!).
And one of which Dave will be especially proud of me: A Man for All Seasons. I am SO looking forward to that one. Even if I still haven't found my taped copy of Henry V.
Oh, and yeah, I picked up the Angela Lansbury flick which is the point of this post. I was on my normal, weekly telecommute day and decided to throw it in the DVD player for background while I worked. Bad mistake. It is far too good and far too intense for background. So I'll have to make up that two hours in the rest of my 50-60+ hour week. No need to thank me, it's what I do.
But, no matter what your particular political bent, please see this movie (unless you are a vile, soul-sucking COMMUNIST like Angela Lansbury).
It is. Too cool. For words. And Angela Lansbury rocks. So does Laurence Harvey. So does Frank Sinatra. And John McGiver. And others too numerous to tell of their rock-on-ishness.
7 comments:
"There are 57 confirmed Communists in the Defense Department"
I love the original so much that I haven't even given the remake a try, despite my appreciation for many of the actors involved. Denzel just isn't Frank.
HAHAHA! When they went with 57 communists, I thought I'd die!
Another movie in which she's good is The Court Jester.
Angela Lansbury is from the same mold as Jerry Orbach: one of those show-folk who are so versatile you wonder how anyone could cram all that talent into one body and mind. 60 years in movies, 40 on Broadway, 25 in TV roles. Academy, Emmy, Golden Globe, and Tony awards on her mantel. Everything from high drama like The Manchurian Candidate to Disney comedy.
Boggles the mind, she does.
The Portrait of Dorian Gray is another great Lansbury flick.
I'll be interested to hear your comments on A Man for All Seasons. I don't imagine you have a personal stake in the whole Horny Henry schism thing, so you'll probably see with an unrefracted lens. Nevertheless, when Paul Scofield makes his final exit you'll want to stand up and take of your hat. Both character and actor are incredible.
(Oh, and John Hurt is wonderfully despicable in a way we can all identify with. Petty and corruptible rather than malicious, but no less contemptible.)
If you want to see a different side of Angela Lansbury, get hold of the Bergman-Boyer version of "Gaslight" and just watch her character. She's a lecherous little tart, she is. Practically licks her chops at Charles Boyer.
Not to rub it in your face or anything, goodness no, but did I ever mention that Sis and I saw Lansbury on Broadway in the original run of Sweeney Todd?
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