Classic Film Buffs - Check in Here!

Hi Sally

It's been a while since I've seen "Third Man". I first saw it as a teen and even then I was convinced Holly conspired with Harry for another escape. The movie gives us several clues which hint at this:


1) The old law of the Wild West. For decades it was rumor that Sheriff Pat Garrett did not kill Billy the Kid. That he gave him a warning and Billy fled before the posse arrived and he lived out his life all the while keeping his eye on strangers who passed by his ranch - that's what friends did in the Old West. Holly (a pulp fiction writer who wrote campy Western novels as many pulp fiction writers did in those days) has an exchange where it is said, "I'm not the sheriff and you're not a cowboy". It is likely that Holly adhered to the old Law of the West. Because of that, he would not have killed Harry.


2) An exhausted Holly is disgusted and says he was tired of being a "decoy duck" or words to that effect. Yet, at the end of the story he remains a decoy while Harry escapes (if my theory is correct).

3) You know the old story of a cat having 9 lives. Well, you surely remember this scene:







That's right - Harry's friend, his symbol if you like, is a cat! One with more than one life (???). And it appeared that he was wearing wing tipped shoes (hmmm, what can that symbolize?).



4) (this was the clincher for me) The Ferris Wheel scene


There is a lot of moral ambiguity in the film owing to its being representative of the post war Hell that was Europe. In that scene Harry tells Holly about all the evil that has transpired what with deaths, murder, war, corruption in Europe. And despite 500 years of peace, Switzerland only managed to create a clock while the rest of Europe created major advancements. The wheel goes through its cycle and the two part to their ways.

Life goes on. Why should a hard drinking ne'er-do-well like Holly undertake society's retribution? Sure Harry was a pr*ck. He was a schemer whose counterfeit medicines may have killed people. But how was that any worse from what others did? Besides, he was already convicted and served time in prison (from which he escaped) unlike others who profited from the war and remained unpunished completely. Harry is "dead" to the world. He survives by living and traveling through sewers like a rat. Holly has done the world a favor by "killing" Harry while the cops stood by at a distance and did nothing (note that the cops did not actually see Holly kill Harry). Or so it appears. Of course, the director did not show us Harry's body at the end of the film. Ask yourself, why and then consider all these clues. With these hints (and there are likely more) it is highly likely that Harry was alive and well for years after that.

 

'Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania!'? Oberon to er, Titania?

'O, when she's angry, she is keen and shrewd! She was a vixen when she went to school; And though she be but little, she is fierce.'

Great stuff.

 

Pretty good. I like the cat bit. That's fairly convincing.

 

Scorcese is one of my favorites. I think Casino is my favorite film of his with Raging Bull coming in a close second. I love how he shot that film in black and white instead of color.

I'm glad you brought up the Coen brothers - I forgot all about them. I've been trying to think of some movies to add to my DVD collection and I've gotta put No Country For Old Men on the list. What a great film - another instant classic...

 

Thanks! But in case anyone else isn't convinced, I should have pointed out that wingtip shoe design is believed to be symbolic of the phoenix which is defined as:


The phoenix is a mythological bird that recycles its own life. When it perceives its impending death, the phoenix ignites itself into a magnificent fire. In time, it reemerges from its own ashes - reborn, renewed, and very much alive.

http://tinyurl.com/y774naso



There was also a Harry Lime radio show which provides a major clue as to his fate but I will not post it as I don't want to give away the outcome for those who have not seen the movie at this point.

 

Interesting comment. The movie starts with people making an emotional response to certain claims but think over rationally and come up with a different view. That shows how they evolved from conservative to liberal. Society is so much better that way.

 

possibly the greatest morality tale ever told - of course, right wingers would disagree

 

Not a classic, but "Endless Summer" was an entertaining niche film. RIP Bruce Brown.


http://variety.com/2017/film/obituaries-people-news/bruce-brown-dies-dead-endless-summer-1202636238/

 

Bill Mazeroski, The Niekro Brothers, John Havlicek came from hat area...

 

Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Johnny Unitas

 

Correction: it IS a classic.

 

saw this film noir gem the other day:









http://www.noiroftheweek.com/2010/01/stranger-1946.html

 

Apologies if he's already been mentioned but I liked Will Hay as a comedy actor. He was born 1888 and died 1949.

Hay often portrayed incompetent authority figures who attempted to conceal their incompetence but whose true traits were exposed by those around him.

My youngest lad ordered me the DVD that has about 7 of his films on ot, should arrive any day soon.

 

Hadn't seen this before - looks kinda like American slap stick comedy but is unknown in the USA. This is likely because the British actors did not adopt the more generic type of accents used in TV nowadays that could be understood by Americans.


I'm sure you watched "Cold Comfort Farm":




This movie was a genuine classic - utterly hilarious. However, wiki called it as a "small success" in the USA unlike the UK where it was a smashing hit. The reason may not be obvious but it was to me: the actors all used local dialog and Americans cannot understand many of the words. In fact, when I watched on DVD, I used captioning and had to look up several words whose meaning I did not know. Once I fully understood what was being said, its comedy became more evident and I enjoyed the movie much more.


Over the years I have watched British/Scottish/Welsh soccer (what you folks call "football"). When players are interviewed (almost none of whom have ever gone to college unlike American athletes), I cannot begin to understand what the athletes are saying. This particularly so among northern Brits or Scots who speak the local Doric. I have a much easier time understanding Londoners as, I'm sure, most Yanks do.


I hope to see some more of Will Hay's work. Hopefully, it will be captioned so that the comedy can be more readily understood. Thanks for posting the video clip.

 

Will Hay was British but mainly and enjoyed particular success in countries such as South Africa, Canada and the USA.

Sorry, I've not seen Cold Comfort Farm.

I've just ordered, "The Man Who Could Work Miracles"

 

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/cold-comfort-farm-1996

fun movie

 

Ah, had a spy on Youtube. Does Stephen Fry appear in it much? Just that I can't stand him.

 

Ach, actually he had a significant role in the movie. I guess you won't like it, then.

 

Yes, he's dreadful, can't stand him.

 

How can Myrna possibly turn you on???


























Why ... she's just another ... uh ... {gulp} ... another pretty face. Right?

 

I just saw the Film about the life of
David Marshall "Carbine" Williams,
Jimmy stewart as Marshall Williams.

Marshall, was a Convicted Felon, for Murder, in the death of a Federal" Revenue-er, Raiding Williams illegal Distillery.

He went on to develop a then "New" piston (short stroke) action Rifle, that later resulted in the M-1 carbine, and a full pardon, and release from Prison, based on new evidence....

 

many of the Bolsheviks were Jews - Seigei Eisenstein was Jewish as was Edmund Meisel who wrote the original score for the movie

 

not sure if I've mentioned this gem before:







Safety Last, 1923 - Harold Lloyd


I've seen it at least one dozen times and still get a yuge laff out of it.

 

All of them were genuine classics - surprisingly, they were low budget.