‘Shichinin no samurai, one of the greatest films in the history of Japanese cinema has its pride of place in the best 100 best films of all time. The film belongs to a genre that is called jidai-gecki( historical swordplay films) and can be rightfully considered the mother of all action films. The number of [...]
Archive for April, 2008
Seven Samurai-1954
Posted in action films, tagged action films, Best 100 films, black and white, Japanese films, ronin, swordplay films, Toshiro Mifune on April 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Obit: Albert Hoffmann
Posted in medicine, tagged Add new tag, mental health, politics of drugs, recreational drugs, truth serum on April 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
LSD was a lucky strike of Dr. Albert Hoffmann who was incidentally looking for a circulatory and respiratory stimulant. However, no real benefits of the compound were identified and its study was discontinued. This was in 1938. In the 1940’s, interest in the drug was revived because of its structural relationship to a chemical that [...]
The Wit Of Women
Posted in anecdotes, tagged Colette, Humphrey Bogart, Ilka Chase, Mae West, soprano Schumann-Heink on April 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
47.
Actress Ilka Chase (1900-1978) was exceptionally gifted and highly articulate. She had a number of books to her credit and one day she ran across the formidable Humphrey Bogart at a cocktail party and he rasped,”Say baby, that book of yours that just came out- that was a smart job. Who wrote it for you?”
“I [...]
Stiff Upperlip, Col. Bogey!
Posted in War Movies, tagged Alec Guinness, Col. Bogey March, David Lean, Geneva convention, War Movies on April 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The Bridge On The River Kwai-1957
This is just a game, this war! You and Colonel Nicholson, you’re two of a kind, crazy with courage. For what? How to die like a gentleman… how to die by the rules… when the only important thing is how to live like a human being.
It’s World War II and [...]
Gimme A Break
Posted in Uncategorized on April 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Notice to my readers:
I shall be away for a week or so. However much I love reading what I post I must have a life away from myself.
I wish a nice week ahead to each and every one of my readers.
benny
The Graduate -1967
Posted in entertainment, tagged Anne Bancroft, Dustin Hoffman, editing technique, Mike Nichols on April 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
This is the movie that made Dustin Hoffman’s name. It didn’t do director Mike Nichols any harm either. It is a great comedy, mocking in turns the values and expectations of both the older and younger generation.
Ben Braddock (Hoffman) returns to his comfortable California suburb after graduating college. His parents and their friends hassle him [...]
Lawrence of Arabia-1962
Posted in spectacle, tagged 100 Best Films, Anthony Quinn, Arabia, Biopic, guerrilla, O'Toole, Sideshow, WWI on April 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
To those who in the dark days following the WW1 hero-happy public he was a guerrilla genius, the Galahad of World War I. To his military superiors he was a popinjay. To the Arabs he was Sheikh Dinamit, the spirit of the wind who led them to victory over the detested Turk. To Biographer [...]
Anecdotes
Posted in anecdotes, tagged Add new tag, FDR, Marshall Plan, Secretary of State, Top Brass, Truman on April 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
General George C. Marshall( 1880-1959) U.S soldier, statesman.
As a child George was so sensitive that he hated to be laughed of. Once he and his friend managed to get a flat bottomed boat which they used in the neighborhood stream. It served as a ferry and they went into business. Mostly his passengers were his [...]
Pathar Panchali-1955
Posted in Bengali Cinema, tagged Bengali Renaissance, India, Mrinal Sen, Ray, Ritwick Ghatak on April 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Song of the Little Road
India. 115 min, B/W, In Bengali with subtitles.
Satyajit Ray began his career as a commercial artist for D. J. Keymer advertising agency, Calcutta, 1943; co-founder, Calcutta Film Society, 1947; met Jean Renoir while making The River, 1950; completed first film, Pather Panchali, 1955;
Ray’s work can be divided into three periods on [...]
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