Tuesday, October 31, 2006
I Recommend
a film called Thieves' Highway (1949, Jules Dassin). A good film noir that keeps you expecting an untimely end for the main character Nick, who's thrust himself into the cruel world of apples and other produce, and it's hard to know who is on his side (okay, now that I write it, it sounds silly, but really, the produce provides good drama). Highlights include a game of imaginary tic tac toe played on his chest, Nick's ability to shrug off a serious neck injury, and his half unconscious laments:
"Forget about Mike Figlia"
"Figlia!"
"Don't you remember Ed?"
"Ed!"
Jules Dassin also directed Night and The City (1950). This one is a fantastic film noir that surrounds Harry Fabian's attempts to make a buck; any buck. He tries to control London's wrestling circuit with the help of an old greek wrestling brute named Gregorious. Criterion created a really nice DVD release with this film, offering a short documentary on the separate British and American versions of the same film. Each has a unique soundtrack, one composed for each, and the differences are fascinating. One is traditional melodramatic fare, the other is a jazzier modern soundtrack, highlighting the differences and expectations of both societies in the mid-20th Century.
Anyhoo, I recommend checking out some of Jules Dassin's films.
"Forget about Mike Figlia"
"Figlia!"
"Don't you remember Ed?"
"Ed!"
Jules Dassin also directed Night and The City (1950). This one is a fantastic film noir that surrounds Harry Fabian's attempts to make a buck; any buck. He tries to control London's wrestling circuit with the help of an old greek wrestling brute named Gregorious. Criterion created a really nice DVD release with this film, offering a short documentary on the separate British and American versions of the same film. Each has a unique soundtrack, one composed for each, and the differences are fascinating. One is traditional melodramatic fare, the other is a jazzier modern soundtrack, highlighting the differences and expectations of both societies in the mid-20th Century.
Anyhoo, I recommend checking out some of Jules Dassin's films.
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