Classics

  • Delmer Daves & Karl Malden & Vincent Sherman – The Hanging Tree (1959)

    1951-1960ClassicsDelmer DavesKarl MaldenUSAVincent ShermanWestern

    In 1873, on the Gold Trail, Montana, the mysterious and controlling Dr. Joseph Frail arrives in the small town of Skull Creek with miners in a gold rush. Dr. Frail buys a cabin on the top of a hill and he sees the smalltime thief Rune wounded and chased by a mob that wants to hang him. Dr. Frail helps and heals Rune; but in return, he demands that the young man becomes his bond servant. The alcoholic healer and preacher George Grubb tells to the locals that Dr. Frail, who is an excellent gambler and gunfighter, is a devil and has a mysterious past but nobody gives attention to his words. Soon the stagecoach is robbed by thieves that kill the passengers but the coachman survives and three days later he reaches Skull Creek. He tells that the horses had speed down the hill with a young woman inside the stagecoach. The men organize a pursuit and the rude Frenchy Plante finds the Swedish Elizabeth Mahler burnt and blind. Dr. Frail and Rune take care of her and they learn that Elizabeth and… Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilRead More »

  • Howard Hawks – Twentieth Century (1934)

    1931-1940ClassicsComedyHoward HawksScrewball ComedyUSA

    Synopsis:
    Broadway director Oscar Jaffe (John Barrymore) is a bigger ham than most actors, but through sheer drive and talent he is able to build a successful career. When one of his discoveries, Lily Garland (Carole Lombard), rises to stardom and heeds the call of Hollywood, Oscar begins a career slide. He hits the skids and seems on his way out, until he chances to meet Lily again, on a train ride aboard the Twentieth Century Limited. Oscar pulls out all the stops to re-sign his former star, but it’s a battle – because Lily, who is as temperamental as Oscar is, wants nothing to do with her former mentor.Read More »

  • Jean Negulesco – Humoresque (1946)

    1941-1950ClassicsDramaJean NegulescoUSA

    A classical musician from the slums is sidetracked by his love for a wealthy, neurotic socialite.Read More »

  • Riccardo Freda – Caccia all’uomo AKA Les Misérables (1948)

    1941-1950ClassicsDramaItalyRiccardo Freda

    Jean Valjean, pursued through the years for a minor infraction by the implacable policeman Javert, attempts to create a life for himself and for his adopted daughter Cosette amid the revolutionary struggles of France.

    The film, based on the novel by Victor Hugo, was released divided into two episodes: the first was titled Caccia all’uomo, the second, Tempesta su Parigi.Read More »

  • Kenji Mizoguchi – Aien kyo AKA The Straits of Love and Hate (1937)

    1931-1940ClassicsDramaJapanKenji Mizoguchi

    A young country girl becomes pregnant, is spurned by her lover and takes up the life of an itinerant player.Read More »

  • Teuvo Tulio – Olet mennyt minun vereeni AKA You Have Gone Into My Blood (1956)

    1951-1960ClassicsDramaFinlandNordic NoirTeuvo Tulio

    Quote:
    The Finnish national tendency toward alcoholism lurks behind Teuvo Tulio’s association of destruction with drinking—downing the first shot marks the beginning of dissipation in all of his films. Alcohol is inextricably intertwined with sex, corruption of innocence demonstrated by a woman accepting a glass of wine from a man, lost virginity symbolized by a tipped over or broken champagne flute. Regina Linnanheimo’s final collaboration with Tulio addressed alcoholism head on in You Have Gone Into My Blood (1956). Since his career was on its final downturn in the mid-50s, the film was made under the auspices of alcohol prevention education to ensure funding. In a project she scripted herself, Linnanheimo plays Rea, a sheltered plain-jane who is driven to drink after two worldly men seduce her into a romantic triangle.Read More »

  • Mikio Naruse – Shûu AKA Sudden Rain (1956)

    1951-1960ClassicsDramaJapanMikio Naruse

    Synopsis:
    THE SADNESS OF THE FIGHT IS THE SADNESS OF LOVE. THE JOY AND DECLINE OF LIFE THAT ONLY COUPLES KNOW.

    A husband and wife’s pet peeves and minor irritations escalate into major rifts and animosity.Read More »

  • Prakash Mehra – Zanjeer AKA Chains (1973)

    1971-1980ClassicsDramaIndiaPrakash Mehra

    Essential Hindi popular cinema classic and a pioneer entry of the 1970’s Indian crime films. This is the breakthrough film of superstar Amitabh Bachchan, seen here in his “angry young man” persona for the first time. The people behind this was Salim-Javed, a screenwriting team who were responsible for bringing in a hardhitting socially-slanted style in Hindi cinema, penning such classics as Deewar, Sholay and Trishul.

    The plot is a revenge story in the mould of the spaghetti western Death Rides a Horse, with Bachchan witnessing the murder of his parents as a child, and a chain on the murderer’s wrist acting as a flashback device…Read More »

  • Shaji N. Karun – Piravi (1989)

    1981-1990ClassicsDramaIndiaShaji N. Karun

    Quote:
    Raghu, the only son of Raghava Chakyar was born late for him. So he poured his entire love and affection on him. Raghu, studying in an engineering college in a far away city has to arrive at his home to attend the engagement ceremony of his only sister. But he doesn’t. The father starts his endless wait for his son. He daily waits at the bus stop till the last bus from the town also returns. Raghava Chakyar comes to know from newspapers that Raghu was taken into custody by the Police for political reasons. He reaches the capital and meets the higher Police officials. But they pretended helpless as there is no proof that Raghu was taken into custody. Raghu’s sister comes to understand that he probably would have died in police custody after being tortured, but cannot bear to tell this to her father. The old man’s grip on reality slowly slips and he starts dreaming that his son is with him.Read More »

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