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SISTER CLODAGH'S SUPERFICIALLY SPIRITUAL, AMBITIOUSLY AGNOSTIC LAST-RITES-OF-SPRING MOVIE QUIZ
Few who have attended classes here at SLIFR University over the past seven years are likely to have known about the school’s modest but relatively ambitious religious studies program— faith, ritual, evangelism and the presence (or lack thereof) of divinity and providence in modern society are subjects of endless fascination for the staff here, but not ones they are given to pontificate at length upon, at least during school hours. (SLIFR history professor Mr. Hand has been seen of late standing on a milk crate across from the campus bookstore, haranguing passersby about Planned Parenthood.) However, one eminently qualified staff member is quite passionate on the subject of God and cinema, and we’ve decided that, upon the occasion of the opening of the new SLIFR House of St. Faith Divinity Annex and Multiplex Cinema, located high in the Himalayan Mountains, it’s time to give Sister Superior Clodagh her time on the pulpit before she and the department head for the hills. Sister Clodagh expects that the move to her new, more isolated educational and spiritual facility will facilitate better focus on godly matters and push away some of the rather more worldly influences that have tugged at her attention over the past few semesters.
To that end, she has fashioned a quiz organized loosely around themes of religious belief and representation in the movies, and like all of her students in habit-forming (sorry) classes like Church History and Scriptural Analysis, as well as more popularcredits like Catechism for Coffee House Hipsters, Convent Oscar-Party Etiquette, Cutting-Edge Fashions for the Cloister or Wine Tasting: How to Choose the Right Chalice for Your Heavenly Claret, she expects your undivided and immediate attention to these probing questions. And do not doubt that Sister Clodagh has her yardstick ready for knuckle-rapping, should any of you decide to loaf or read old copies of Mad magazine tucked inside your missals instead of paying attention to the questions. Beware and be reverent.
There are just a couple of bits of the usual formality business before we proceed. When you answer your questions, please be sure to copy and paste the questions into the comments column along with your answers—this is so readers will not have to continually scroll up and down referencing the questions to your answers. And speaking of the answers, Sister Clodagh does, as do all of the staffers here at SLIFR, value your honesty but equally so your loquaciousness, your willingness to participate elaborately. Answers are always much more fun to read if they go beyond the simple one or two-word response. Your logorrhea will not be punished here, only your reticence. (Your poor knuckles will come to appreciate this advice.)
So let us tarry no further. Sharpen up the number twos, adjust your collars and habits and enjoy Sister Clodagh’s Superficially Spiritual, Ambitiously Agnostic Last-Rites-of-Spring Movie Quiz. Communion has officially begun. (Extra credit for spotting the religious reference in the text below that is NOT found in any of the questions.)
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1) Favorite movie featuring nuns
2) Second favorite John Frankenheimer movie
3) William Bendix or Scott Brady?
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life?
5) Favorite Mitchell Leisen movie
6) Ann Savage or Peggy Cummins?
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child
8) What moment in a movie that is not a horror movie made you want to bolt from the theater screaming?
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum?
10) Best movie Jesus
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond of
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray?
13) Favorite cinematic Biblical spectacular
14) Favorite cinematic moment of unintentional humor
15) Michael Fassbender or David Farrar?
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie
17) Movie that makes the best case for agnosticism
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical
19) Third favorite Howard Hawks movie
20) Clara Bow or Jean Harlow?
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming?
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion
23) Phil Silvers or Red Skelton?
24) “Favorite” Hollywood scandal
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian)
26) The King of Cinema: King Vidor, King Hu or Henry King? (Thanks, Peter)
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat
28) Least favorite Federico Fellini movie
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no?
30) Mary Wickes or Patsy Kelly?
31) Best movie-related conspiracy theory
32) Your candidate for most misunderstood or misinterpreted movie
33) Movie that made you question your own belief system (religious or otherwise)
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63 comments:
1) "Viridiana"
2) "Seconds," nyuk nyuk
3) Abstain
4) Apichatpong Weerasethakul's JUMANJI remake...I don't think I've done this. I've waited in line for that long for rush tix for LA DAMNATION DE FAUST one time though. Didn't get 'em though.
5) Abstain
6) Abstain
7) No idea!
8) Audrey in the musical version of "Little Shop of Horrors" (I was very little)
9) Robert Mitchum
10) Dafoe
11) Maybe the "House on Haunted Hill" remake?
12) Emily Blunt
13) "Last Temptation of Christ"
14) Too many Steven Seagal moments to choose from...
15) Abstain
16) "A Serious Man"
17) "A Serious Man"
18) Too hard. "Life at Last" in PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE
19) "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"
20) Jean Harlow
21) In theater: "Sound of My Voice." On DVD: "Strange Fruit: The Beatles' Apple Records." Streaming: "Ninja Assassin."
22) Abstain
23) Abstain
24) Mitchum's a pothead?!
25) Abstain
26) KING HU
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat
28) Probably his segment for 'Love in the City.'
29) Fuck no. Reviewed it. Boooo.
30) Abstain
31) Muchkin hanging tree
32) Tie between "Cruising" and "Southland Tales."
33) "Beneath the Planet of the Apes"...thought it may have been one of the other sequels..I remember distinctly it was the image of the Ape god that did it. I thought, "Well if they have a monkey god, why is our God more valid than theirs?!"
1) Favorite movie featuring nuns: The Exorcist (They’re in there).
2) Second favorite John Frankenheimer movie: Seconds.
3) William Bendix or Scott Brady? Bonnie’s Kids vs. Lifeboat. I’ll pick Lifeboat.
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life? I haven’t, and at this stage in my live, I don’t think I would.
5) Favorite Mitchell Leisen movie: I’ve never seen one.
6) Ann Savage or Peggy Cummins? You’ve seen “Gun Crazy”, right? Cummings.
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child: George Pal’s 1958 flick “Tom Thumb” starring Russ Tamblyn. It must’ve been a rerelease (I was born in 1964), and I was so freaked out when the giant’s feet stomped towards the screen, that my parents had to take me home part way through the screening.
8) What moment in a movie that is not a horror movie made you want to bolt from the theater screaming? Joke answers about Robin Williams and Meg Ryan movies aside, the bloody climax from Taxi Driver.
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum? Both are great, but I love Pickup on South Street, so I’m going with Widmark.
10) Best movie Jesus: The guy at the end of L’age d’Or, because it shocked the hell out of me.
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond of: Off the top of my head answer - Jeff Lieberman’s Squirm.
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray? Blunt.
13) Favorite cinematic Biblical spectacular: This is not a genre I care for, although I would like to see Spartacus and DeMille’s 1923 The Ten Commandments.
14) Favorite cinematic moment of unintentional humor: Shock Corridor when Johnny thinks to himself, “Nymphos!”.
15) Michael Fassbender or David Farrar? Fassbender is about the sexy beast out there currently, he was in Inglourious Basterds, and he’s a fine actor to boot.
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie: It’s a Wonderful Life.
17) Movie that makes the best case for agnosticism: Ken Russell’s The Devils.
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical: Make ‘Em Laugh from Singin’ in the Rain.
19) Third favorite Howard Hawks movie: His Girl Friday.
20) Clara Bow or Jean Harlow? With all due respect to Harlow, I’m wrapped up in a Bow.
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming? Theatre: Cabin in the Woods, DVD/Etc: Rasputin the Mad Monk.
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion: It’s a topic I generally avoid unless possession or gateways to hell are involved, but I do remember liking A Change of Habit when I was a kid.
23) Phil Silvers or Red Skelton? Skeleton?
24) “Favorite” Hollywood scandal: Cary Grant and Randoph Scott.
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian): I Walked with a Zombie. Voodoo!
26) The King of Cinema: King Vidor, King Hu or Henry King? (Thanks, Peter): I think the best answer would be Kong, but I’ll go with Vidor.
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat: There are a lot of answers to this one, but to name a couple – Create characters to care about, and stop confusing a shaking camera for excitement.
28) Least favorite Federico Fellini movie: And the Ship Sails On.
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no? When I was a kid, yeah, but now I probably wouldn’t watch one of their flicks.
30) Mary Wickes or Patsy Kelly? The Naked Kiss, Rosemary’s Baby, Freaky Friday – Patsy Kelly!
31) Best movie-related conspiracy theory: Monroe killed by Kennedys.
32) Your candidate for most misunderstood or misinterpreted movie: Paul Verhoven’s Starship Troopers (or maybe Showgirls).
33) Movie that made you question your own belief system (religious or otherwise): The Long Day Closes brought home the fact to me that what I may consider trivial may be of major importance to someone else and that I should respect that. It also made be accept the fact that life is made up of little moments.
1) Favorite movie featuring nuns
Well, a nun, anyway -- Deborah Kerr in Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison
2) Second favorite John Frankenheimer movie
The Manchurian Candidate is obviously one, so The Train, two
3) William Bendix or Scott Brady?
William Bendix in a cakewalk, if only for The Big Steal, but for much, much more
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life?
None; nope
5) Favorite Mitchell Leisen movie
Easy Living, starring Jean Arthur, Edward Arnold and a fur coat
6) Ann Savage or Peggy Cummins?
Peggy Cummins for Gun Crazy
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken in a drive-in
8) What moment in a movie that is not a horror movie made you want to bolt from the theater screaming?
All the moments from Endless Love (1981) which I got roped into paying to see
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum?
Love Richard Widmark, but Robert Mitchum -- I mean, come on!
10) Best movie Jesus
the back of the guy's head in Ben-Hur (1959)
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond of
any of the old Universal classics
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray?
Emily Blunt
13) Favorite cinematic Biblical spectacular
Ben-Hur (1959)
14) Favorite cinematic moment of unintentional humor
don't remember ...
15) Michael Fassbender or David Farrar?
David Farrar. Some strange pairings this time around ...
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie
Top Hat, but as I explained at the Mythical Monkey, that's just me
17) Movie that makes the best case for agnosticism
anything directed by Michael Bay makes me question the existence of a god ...
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical
Gene Kelly and the kids singing "I've Got Rhythm" in An American in Paris
19) Third favorite Howard Hawks movie
If Rio Bravo is one, and The Thing (as producer) is two, then His Girl Friday. If The Thing doesn't count, then The Big Sleep
20) Clara Bow or Jean Harlow?
Clara Bow, but I love them both
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming?
Theater? The Secret World of Arrietty
Streaming? Old Wives For New (1918)
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion
don't remember ...
23) Phil Silvers or Red Skelton?
Red Skelton
24) “Favorite” Hollywood scandal
not into scandals ...
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian)
couldn't tell you ...
26) The King of Cinema: King Vidor, King Hu or Henry King? (Thanks, Peter)
King Vidor
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat
sophisticated comedy
28) Least favorite Federico Fellini movie
Satyricon
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no?
The Three Stooges 2012? No. The Three Stooges 1940? Yes!
30) Mary Wickes or Patsy Kelly?
Mary Wickes
31) Best movie-related conspiracy theory
you mean a movie about a conspiracy theory or a conspiracy theory about a movie?
32) Your candidate for most misunderstood or misinterpreted movie
don't remember ...
33) Movie that made you question your own belief system (religious or otherwise)
Radio Days made me question my devotion to Woody Allen movies -- didn't see another one until Crimes and Misdemeanors ...
1) Favorite movie featuring nuns - Bedazzled.
2) Second favorite John Frankenheimer movie - Birdman of Alcatraz.
3) William Bendix or Scott Brady? - Bendix, Bendix, Bendix.
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life? I -would- stand in line for "Humor Risk." I -did- stand in line for "The Exorcist."
5) Favorite Mitchell Leisen movie - Remember the Night.
6) Ann Savage or Peggy Cummins? Savage was a in Boston Blackie movie, so her.
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child - "101 Dalmatians" at the combination drive-in/walk-in theatre. I kept running back and forth all night.
8) What moment in a movie that is not a horror movie made you want to bolt from the theater screaming? - The whole of "Being John Malkovich."
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum? - Mitchum.
10) Best movie Jesus - Claude Heater ("Ben-Hur")
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond of - House of Wax.
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray? - Gray.
13) Favorite cinematic Biblical spectacular - "The Ten Commandments" (Heston version)
14) Favorite cinematic moment of unintentional humor - Wish I could think of one.
15) Michael Fassbender or David Farrar? - Fassbender
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie - None.
17) Movie that makes the best case for agnosticism - None.
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical - "They All Laughed" from "Shall We Dance."
19) Third favorite Howard Hawks movie - "Bringing Up Baby"
20) Clara Bow or Jean Harlow? - until I saw "Hoop-La" last year, I'd have said Harlow. Now it's Bow by a mile.
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming? Theatre: "The Thief of Bagdad." Streaming: "My Week with Marilyn."
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion - None.
23) Phil Silvers or Red Skelton? Silvers. Skelton has only five good minutes of film in his entire career.
24) “Favorite” Hollywood scandal - Roscoe Arbuckle.
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian) - None.
26) The King of Cinema: King Vidor, King Hu or Henry King? (Thanks, Peter) Vidor.
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat. Write snappy dialogue.
28) Least favorite Federico Fellini movie - Too many to name.
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no? - Yes.
30) Mary Wickes or Patsy Kelly? Wickes. Kelly is maybe the single-most annoying person in the history of film.
31) Best movie-related conspiracy theory - That Judd Apatow is funny.
32) Your candidate for most misunderstood or misinterpreted movie - 2001.
33) Movie that made you question your own belief system (religious or otherwise) - None.
1) Favorite movie featuring nuns -- Wouldn't disappoint Clodagh: Black Narcissus.
2) Second favorite John Frankenheimer movie -- Manchurian Candidate; fave is 7 Days in May
3) William Bendix or Scott Brady?
Bendix
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life? -- restored Greed or Ambersons, I suppose; closest experience in real life was approx.3-4 hours for Empire Strikes Back
5) Favorite Mitchell Leisen movie--[checks IMDB...]-- Murder at the Vanities
6) Ann Savage or Peggy Cummins?--Savage gets extra credit for that Guy Maddin movie.
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child -- believe it was The Man Called Flintstone.
8) What moment in a movie that is not a horror movie made you want to bolt from the theater screaming?
--Only time I bolted a theater at all was during Sleepless in Seattle, but I only screamed mentally.
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum? -- Mitchum
10) Best movie Jesus -- Max von Sydow
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond of -- House of Frankenstein
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray? Pass
13) Favorite cinematic Biblical spectacular -- The Ten Commandments, alas.
14) Favorite cinematic moment of unintentional humor -- it's a long moment but it's Plan 9 From Outer Space.
15) Michael Fassbender or David Farrar? Fassbender
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie -- Should recuse myself for lacking faith but will say Ordet.
17) Movie that makes the best case for agnosticism -- snarky answer would be Passion of the Christ; less snarky -- Agora.
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical -- Red Shoes ballet if that counts; if not "42nd Street."
19) Third favorite Howard Hawks movie -- [counts on fingers...] Rio Bravo.
20) Clara Bow or Jean Harlow? Harlow.
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming? Theater: Kid with a Bike; DVD: New Battles Without Honor and Humanity 2; Streaming: Black Jesus.
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion -- Suppose I should say Greatest Story Every Told to the extent it transcends its commercialism.
23) Phil Silvers or Red Skelton? Bilko counterbalances all Red's creations.
24) “Favorite” Hollywood scandal --pass; couldn't decide whom to insult by saying his or her career.
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian)--pass.
26) The King of Cinema: King Vidor, King Hu or Henry King? (Thanks, Peter)-- in terms of consistency over comparatively limited career, Hu ...but what about Zalman?!?...
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat -- succinctness!
28) Least favorite Federico Fellini movie -- of what I've seen, And the Ship Sails On.
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no? No despite positives from credible sources.
30) Mary Wickes or Patsy Kelly? Kelly.
31) Best movie-related conspiracy theory -- no "best" in such a category.
32) Your candidate for most misunderstood or misinterpreted movie -- any movie with vigilantes that gets called "fascist."
33) Movie that made you question your own belief system (religious or otherwise)--Birth of a Nation makes it hard to be a patriot or to give Griffith the credit he deserves.
It's spring, it's spring! The boid is on the wing! But that's absoid! The wing is on the boid! - L.M. Alcott
1) Favorite movie featuring nuns
Wow, I've seen a lot fewer nun movies than I would've thought. I'm going to go with Dead Man Walking - Susan Sarandon, as Sister Helen Prejean, embodies nonjudgement and forgiveness in a situation where not many could bring themselves to feel the same way.
2) Second favorite John Frankenheimer movie
My God! I've only seen one!
3) William Bendix or Scott Brady?
An Oscar nominee and an icon in radio and TV for leading the life of Riley vs. Lawrence Tierney's brother. Not to mention Bendix hit an actual home run off Lefty Gomez while playing Babe Ruth. It's no contest.
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life?
I stood in line for two hours to see Phantom Menace - NEVER AGAIN. Unless it's a Billy Wilder film about me.
5) Favorite Mitchell Leisen movie
Pass.
6) Ann Savage or Peggy Cummins?
Oh God, Peggy no question. It's hateful venom vs. uncontrolled ardor, and if you're going to be killing me, do it softly.
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child
It was either Snow White or Cinderella, and we brought our own popcorn to the theater. Colored kernels!
8) What moment in a movie that is not a horror movie made you want to bolt from the theater screaming?
My instinct is to say "I'm pretty sure it was something directed by Edward Burns." Truth is, though, nothing's ever evoked quite that reaction. Yet...
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum?
Mitchum. Period.
10) Best movie Jesus
John Turturro, The Big Lebowski.
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond of
Beginning of the End. Thanks, MST3K!
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray?
Not even a hint of a clue.
13) Favorite cinematic Biblical spectacular
Samson and Delilah, strictly for Groucho's wisecrack about it.
14) Favorite cinematic moment of unintentional humor
"Inspector Clay's dead. Murdered. And somebody's responsible!"
15) Michael Fassbender or David Farrar?
David who?
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie
I remember watching The Last Temptation of Christ and, when it was over, realizing that it was the first time I was glad that Jesus died.
17) Movie that makes the best case for agnosticism
I'm thinking "Crimes and Misdemeanors."
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical
For song, every second of "I'm Easy" from Nashville. For dance, Astaire and Powell in Broadway Melody of 1940.
19. Third favorite Howard Hawks movie
His Girl Friday. No shame in coming behind Rio Bravo & Red River. The tagline of David Thomson's "Have You Seen...?" review says it all: "Bliss."
20) Clara Bow or Jean Harlow?
Clara, as Chico Marx once said, "You got It - and you can keep it." I'm a Harlow man, silent T and all.
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming?
Theater: The Descendents. DVD: And Now For Something Completely Different. Streaming: My Dinner with Andre, in its entirety on YouTube.
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion
Signs by M. Night Shyamalan. Ten years later, Gibson and M. Night's stock has never been lower, but they still affect me here. I contend that if you make the aliens the backdrop to the loss of faith, instead of the other way around, you'll be amazed at how much the movie improves. (Though I can't quite defend the "swing away" nonsense...)
23) Phil Silvers or Red Skelton?
Silvers' work with Harry Speakup sets him poles apart.
24) “Favorite” Hollywood scandal
George S. Kaufman, Public Lover Number One.
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian)
Groundhog Day. No, wait - Witness.
26) The King of Cinema: King Vidor, King Hu or Henry King? (Thanks, Peter)
I'm going with Nosmo - unthinkable in the '40s, he now appears in theaters nationwide.
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat
Write parts for women that are smart and sexy without being subservient.
28) Least favorite Federico Fellini movie
John Lennon described Beatles tours as being like Satyricon. Imagine my disappointment at the lack of comedy. The girls didn't even scream.
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no?
I applaud the sentiment.
30) Mary Wickes or Patsy Kelly?
I choose Kelly based on Rosemary's Baby.
31) Best movie-related conspiracy theory
Marion Davies and Charlie Chaplin.
32) Your candidate for most misunderstood or misinterpreted movie
I rummaged around the net and found that someone had addressed this question and voted for Scarface, saying, "What everyone thinks the message is: Tony Montana is awesome! What it actually is: No, he isn’t!" That, to me, is the perfect answer.
33) Movie that made you question your own belief system (religious or otherwise)
It is very, very, VERY hard to stick up for a system that brings us The Human Centipede.
1) Favorite movie featuring nuns
Black Narcissus. (If all the questions are like this, this exam will be a piece of cake!)
2) Second favorite John Frankenheimer movie
Seven Days in May. A great political conspiracy thriller that pales only to The Manchurian Candidate (my favorite Frankenheimer).
3) William Bendix or Scott Brady?
Shotgun Slade over Chester A. Riley? I don’t think so.
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life?
To entertain such a notion, it would have to be a movie that no longer exists in its present form, like the full-length versions of Greed or The Magnificent Ambersons.
5) Favorite Mitchell Leisen movie
The Mating Season. One of my favorite film comedies, a cynical examination of the American Dream with a fantastic performance from Thelma Ritter (I think the people who did Hazel saw this movie when they first approached Thel about playing the part that eventually went to Shirley Booth.)
6) Ann Savage or Peggy Cummins?
Well, I like Ann…don’t get me wrong. But Cummins is in both Gun Crazy and Night of the Demon. That’s hard to top.
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child
My earliest movie memories are watching those Columbia comedy shorts with The Three Stooges, Andy Clyde, Buster Keaton, etc.
8) What moment in a movie that is not a horror movie made you want to bolt from the theater screaming?
The entirety of Steel Magnolias.
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum?
I can’t choose. Both of them are longtime TDOY faves, and are the epitome (along with Kirk Douglas and Robert Ryan) of cinematic rat bastards.
10) Best movie Jesus
H.B. Warner (King of Kings)
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond of
Son of Frankenstein.
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray?
Gray, only because I’ve seen more of her work (Clouds Over Europe, They Made Me a Fugitive).
13) Favorite cinematic Biblical spectacular
The Ten Commandments (DeMille’s 1923 version).
14) Favorite cinematic moment of unintentional humor
Well, practically any bit of dialogue from an Ed Wood film my all-time fave is the line from Plan Nine: “Visits? That would indicate visitors…”
15) Michael Fassbender or David Farrar?
Oh, Farrar…again, I’ve seen more of his work.
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie
Dreyer’s Ordet (The Word)
Part Deux:
17) Movie that makes the best case for agnosticism
Bruce Almighty. If God does exist, why in his name would he turn things over to someone like Jim Carrey?
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical
“Trouble” from The Music Man
19) Third favorite Howard Hawks movie
His Girl Friday. (Ball of Fire first, Scarface second.)
20) Clara Bow or Jean Harlow?
I love both, but for some odd reason I find Bow much sexier.
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming?
I hate answering this question, because I’ve not seen anything at the nabes since 2008 (Get Smart). On DVD, I watched Crazy House this morning.
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion
The Apostle.
23) Phil Silvers or Red Skelton?
Oh, geez…Silvers would get the advantage in television, Skelton was much more effective on radio (despite being a visual comedian). I’m going to have to go with Phil, because Bilko is one of the funniest sitcoms ever telecast.
24) “Favorite” Hollywood scandal
The Thomas Ince affair (1924)
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian)
Three Godfathers.
26) The King of Cinema: King Vidor, King Hu or Henry King? (Thanks, Peter)
King Vidor. A master in the art of silent cinema.
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat
Tell a freaking story. Blowing things up real good doesn’t entertain me and probably never will.
28) Least favorite Federico Fellini movie
Ginger and Fred. A little too twee for my tastes.
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no?
Oh, hell to the no. What brain trust thought the Stooges would be funnier with fart jokes?
30) Mary Wickes or Patsy Kelly?
Patsy Kelly, because of those wonderful two-reel comedies she made with Thelma Todd.
31) Best movie-related conspiracy theory
The great Stanley Kubrick Illuminati conspiracy
32) Your candidate for most misunderstood or misinterpreted movie
Cancel My Reservation.
33) Movie that made you question your own belief system (religious or otherwise)
The Rapture. It’s a cheerfully blasphemous film that states simply “God exists but he’s not worthy of our love.” It made the final push towards atheism for me.
1) Favorite movie featuring nuns
The Sound of Music. Black Narcissus, The Darjeeling Limited and Nacho Libre all sprang to mind, though. My favorite movie of the four is The Darjeeling Limited, but I don’t think it really features nuns.
2) Second favorite John Frankenheimer movie
I think Seconds. It’s been forever since I’ve watched a Frankenheimer film.
3) William Bendix or Scott Brady?
Scott Brady - The Dancin’ Kid!
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life?
I haven’t done so in real life, but I would gladly stand in line sixty hours to see the fictional version of Kill Bill starring Marilyn Monroe as Beatrix Kiddo and John Wayne as Bill that someone made a fake poster for.
5) Favorite Mitchell Leisen movie
I liked Midnight, but not as much as I thought I would.
6) Ann Savage or Peggy Cummins?
Peggy Cummins. I just watched Gun Crazy a few weeks ago.
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child.
The Wizard of Oz. I should maybe also mention that I’m only 29.
8) What moment in a movie that is not a horror movie made you want to bolt from the theater screaming?
Huh?
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum?
Really? Mitchum!
10) Best movie Jesus
Brian Deacon from Jesus (1979). Surely no one else is going to say that. I like Willem Defoe’s Jesus, too, though.
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond of
The Beast of Yucca Flats
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray?
Emily Blunt
13) Favorite cinematic Biblical spectacular
The Ten Commandments. Does anything else really come close? The Sign of the Cross comes to mind as well.
14) Favorite cinematic moment of unintentional humor
The sex scene/massacre in Munich
15) Michael Fassbender or David Farrar?
Michael Fassbender
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie
I have to agree with someone else who mentioned It’s A Wonderful Life.
17) Movie that makes the best case for agnosticism
Blade Runner. The Shawshank Redemption comes to mind, too. As does AI: Artificial Intelligence. I think a “good” case for agnosticism has to be fairly subtle. There’s nothing like genocide or world war for sending the majority of humanity running for God.
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical
It’s a hard fight between “Moses Supposes”, “Good Morning” and “Singin’ In The Rain”. But, it’s hard to shortchange Busby Berkeley numbers like “By A Waterfall” and “Shanghai ‘Lil” from Footlight Parade. Great, underseen song/dance numbers from last year? “Under Pressure” from Happy Feet 2 and “Love Is A Drug” from the director’s cut of Sucker Punch.
19) Third favorite Howard Hawks movie
His Girl Friday after Rio Bravo and Ball of Fire. I have seen all three of those films in the past year. Howard Hawks directed at least eight of my favorite 100 films of all time.
20) Clara Bow or Jean Harlow?
Clara Bow, mostly because I just watched Platinum Blonde and was nonplussed by Harlow’s performance.
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming?
Theater: The Three Stooges
At home: The Last Temptation of Christ
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion
The Gospel According to St. Matthew
23) Phil Silvers or Red Skelton?
Red Skelton
24) “Favorite” Hollywood scandal
Buster Keaton’s marriage during an “alcoholic blackout” to his nurse, Mae Scriven.
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
26) The King of Cinema: King Vidor, King Hu or Henry King? (Thanks, Peter)
King Vidor
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat
Someone else said “sophisticated comedy” and I can’t think of a better response, although I’d say “sophisticated, light comedy”. Shouldn’t each generation have a Preston Sturges, Ernst Lubitsch, Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and Billy Wilder?
28) Least favorite Federico Fellini movie
Satyricon
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no?
Yes. Although I was disappointed to find it didn’t hit the same highs of Stuck On You, which is one of my favorite films ever made. It still had great moments, though, and was wonderfully innocent.
30) Mary Wickes or Patsy Kelly?
Patsy Kelly
31) Best movie-related conspiracy theory
That Steven Spielberg actually directed Poltergeist. I’m sure there are better ones, but that was the first thing to pop into my head.
32) Your candidate for most misunderstood or misinterpreted movie
Fight Club
33) Movie that made you question your own belief system (religious or otherwise)
No Country For Old Men and The Road
You know, Bedazzled is a really good answer for question 1, but I never would have gotten it because I think of Bedazzled as a movie featuring the Devil. Please don't ask me whether Peter Cook or Walter Huston was the best cinematic Devil; I could never decide.
1) Favorite movie featuring nuns
I was going to say Black Narcissus. But Ken Russell's The Devils really is the only choice.
2) Second favorite John Frankenheimer movie
I'll go with Birdman of Alcatraz, since it came out the same year as his best movie.
3) William Bendix or Scott Brady?
William Bendix for sure, even though I have no idea who the other guy is. I'm watching Detective Story tonight!
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life?
I stood in line for 45 minutes for The Phantom Menace (too much for that movie). I was going to drive four hours to see Crispin Glover's WHAT IS IT?, but I couldn't get off work. I would definitely wait that long for something like London After Midnight. Do I get to bring a book?
5) Favorite Mitchell Leisen movie
I have not seen any of his movies, apparently.
6) Ann Savage or Peggy Cummins?
Detour + My Winnipeg > Gun Crazy + Curse of the Demon = Ann Savage
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child
I don't remember it anymore, but apparently I was awake through the Christopher Reeve Superman. I remember watching Return of the Jedi on Beta over and over pretty well, though.
8) What moment in a movie that is not a horror movie made you want to bolt from the theater screaming?
I got extremely ill while watching Miyazaki's Spirited Away, to the point where I couldn't get up and run away. This was probably not the film's fault. Probably.
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum?
Tough one. I'd have to go with Mitchum, because he's been in more good stuff. In comparing psycho-roles does one go with Kiss of Death or Cape Fear? I think Night of the Hunter decides it.
10) Best movie Jesus
Willem Dafoe or someone who isn't white.
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond of
The Unnamable II (for the Lovecraft connection)
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray?
Emily Blunt, just because she's still alive.
13) Favorite cinematic Biblical spectacular
Albert Brooks' Defending Your Life (kidding, but it's still my answer)
14) Favorite cinematic moment of unintentional humor
Many of the scenes in films in which Nicolas Cage acts
15) Michael Fassbender or David Farrar?
I don't get the connection here. I'll go with Fassbender. See #12 above.
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie
Dreyer's Ordet, Von Trier's Breaking the Waves, and/or Reygadas' Stellet Licht
17) Movie that makes the best case for agnosticism
The Matrix???
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical
I hated musicals as a kid, except Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I couldn't pick a favorite sequence, though.
Does the part with Grandpa Joe getting out of bed count as a 'dance sequence'? Does the part in the chocolate river boat ride where Gene Wilder half-sings "Is it raining, is it snowing...?" count as a song.
If so, there's my answer. I know there's something I'm not thinking of, though....
19) Third favorite Howard Hawks movie
After His Girl Friday being the best and several others being second best, I would say Sergeant York is my third favorite?
20) Clara Bow or Jean Harlow?
Jean Harlow, because of what came out of her mouth.
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming?
I think John Carter was the last current film I saw in the theater. I saw some Czech movie called Pupendo in the theater last weekend.
I watched The Prestige on Blu-ray this past Saturday and Caged! (with Eleanor Parker) on DVD the night before last.
I don't stream movies. Never will, unless I'm forced to.
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion
Random choices that popped into my head: The Prophecy (with Christopher Walken), Hal Ashby's Being There, and Sion Sono's Love Exposure.
23) Phil Silvers or Red Skelton?
I've never really given Red Skelton a chance, so I'll go with Phil Silvers. It's a Mad x 5 world
24) “Favorite” Hollywood scandal
Lana Turner and/or her daughter killing Johnny Stompanato. Hands down.
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian)
Battlefield Earth. (kidding again, and that's is most definitely NOT my real answer).
Let's go with 2001: A Space Odyssey. I would classify that as "post-Christian", if anyone objected to the choice.
26) The King of Cinema: King Vidor, King Hu or Henry King? (Thanks, Peter)
King Vidor came first.
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat
Telling a story with light and shadow. Inspired rewriting and staging due to limitations (by the production code). Reel changes subliminally affecting structure (like built-in commercial breaks that make the best TV so addictive even without the commercials).
28) Least favorite Federico Fellini movie
8 1/2. Yeah, I said it.
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no?
No, thank you.
30) Mary Wickes or Patsy Kelly?
I looked their filmographies up and I still have no idea who either of these women are.
31) Best movie-related conspiracy theory
That Stanley Kubrick filmed the moon landing on the back lot of Universal studios (AND that he is still alive)!
32) Your candidate for most misunderstood or misinterpreted movie
I'm going with Last Year at Marienbad. While I understand the intent somewhat, I still don't 'get' it (or maybe that's the other way around).
That's a literal answer. If you're expecting me to pick something that I personally think is undervalued because it is misunderstood, I'd like to suggest R. Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet".
33) Movie that made you question your own belief system (religious or otherwise)
Forrest Gump. It made me question whether or not I could truly appreciate a film whose message champions succeeding through blind ignorance and damns the counter-culture. The message of the film, projected to me, is that "hippies" deserve to get AIDS and die. That and the whole putting LBJ and Tom Hanks in the same frame really made me think about the future of Cinema...
1) Favorite movie featuring nuns
Been a while since I’ve seen it – maybe I’d change my mind now – but I’ll say Lilies of the Field.
2) Second favorite John Frankenheimer movie
# 1 is The Manchurian Candidate, so I guess # 2 would be Ronin.
3) William Bendix or Scott Brady?
I’ve seen films with both of them, and I can’t place either one. Shoot, is that a neither?
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life?
I’d do it for a new Jacques Tati movie. Only problem is, I bet I wouldn’t have to. Never did in real life.
5) Favorite Mitchell Leisen movie
I can’t remember how much of it I’ve seen, but it was one of my parents’ favorites, so I’ll say Golden Earrings.
6) Ann Savage or Peggy Cummins?
Ignorant as charged.
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child
The Sound of Music. I vaguely remember sitting in the theater for a looooong time, getting lots of explanations from my exasperated parents on what was happening, which apparently made no sense to me (when they were hiding in the graveyard, I was somehow under the impression they were hiding behind the Iron Curtain – although how that term came up in the first place, I don’t know!). Guess I liked the music though.
8) What moment in a movie that is not a horror movie made you want to bolt from the theater screaming?
The sex scene in The French Lieutenant’s Woman. I was freaked.
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum?
I enjoy seeing Richard Widmark on the screen more, although Mitchum as a person seems highly entertaining.
10) Best movie Jesus
Lothaire Bluteau in Jesus of Montreal
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond of
It’s Alive (1974 – who knew there had been a remake?)
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray?
Haven’t seen Sally Gray in anything, so my choice is Blunt.
13) Favorite cinematic Biblical spectacular
Tempted to go with Jesus of Montreal here too, although I’m guessing that’s not the sort of film you have in mind. I’ll go 70s style -- Jesus Christ Superstar. Wild threads, tanks, rock god (God?) Jesus, and early Andrew Lloyd Webber. Fun trivia – the guy who plays Annas was the original Amahl (of Night Visitors fame).
14) Favorite cinematic moment of unintentional humor
I should keep a list of things like this for when these questions come up. Why don’t I do that?
15) Michael Fassbender or David Farrar?
All I have to judge David Farrar on is Mr. Dean. I haven’t seen Fassbender in a lot yet, but he’s memorable, in a nondescript way, if that makes any sense. I’ll go with Fassbender.
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie
This is a tough one. Older films that deal with faith I find tend to deal very much in generalities, “being a religious person” rather than a serious grappling with the joys and doubts of living faith. Modern films, on the other hand, seem to go the other way, where faith can’t be accepted at face value. Hmm … I’ll cheat a little and go for a short-lived TV series, Nothing Sacred. Rubber-meets-the-road faith issues, and while it wasn’t around long enough to hit full stride, and some of the episode endings were a little pat, I thought it was quite good. Actually, to add an older film, maybe Lilies of the Field again.
17) Movie that makes the best case for agnosticism
I don’t know. I don’t think I could ever know what that would be.
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical
Aieeee, that’s like asking for your favorite movie beginning with “The”! Hmm … this is kind of minimalist, but I’ll say the “Ascot Gavotte” from My Fair Lady.
19) Third favorite Howard Hawks movie
I’ll count ‘em down. Er, up.
1. His Girl Friday
2. The Big Sleep
3. Bringing Up Baby
20) Clara Bow or Jean Harlow?
Know a little about both – never seen either one in a movie. I am functionally ilfilmate.
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming?
Theater: Oh man, I think this was my answer on the last quiz -- Captain America: The First Avenger.
DVD: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Fincher). Cold and hard, but I guess that’s expected. I was amazed how much of the book he had in there – the filming was so concise, hardly a wasted moment. When I was getting tired and attention was flagging, I had to turn on the subtitles – kept missing important stuff that went by so fast. Overall, very good.
Streaming: Does Storage Wars count as a movie? My nephew got me hooked.
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion
How about The Life of Brian? I love Monty Python, but I would have expected simply a skewering of religion in this film, and was surprised to find how thoughtful it was. And terribly funny, of course. Recommended for the religious of all persuasions!
23) Phil Silvers or Red Skelton?
I like them both a lot, but I prefer the simplicity and gentleness of Red Skelton. Hard to find a comedian like him anymore.
24) “Favorite” Hollywood scandal
The blacklisted Dalton Trumbo writing underground scripts.
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian)
I am sadly lacking experience here. I guess this counts as a religious movie: A Serious Man.
26) The King of Cinema: King Vidor, King Hu or Henry King? (Thanks, Peter)
Of these choices, I’ll go with Henry King, but I believe a Latin reading leads to the answer Rex Harrison.
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat
Make black-and-white movies. Of course, we don’t get many of them anymore, but older ones are so magical and atmospheric and modern ones seem … flat. I don’t think it’s that I’m used to color – I think directors and cinematographers of the time knew how to make the most of their medium, and even when people today know the methods, the result still comes out a little awkward.
28) Least favorite Federico Fellini movie
I’m ashamed to say the closest I’ve come to seeing a Fellini film is Sweet Charity.
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no?
I’ll probably give it a try, once it comes “free” on Netflix.
30) Mary Wickes or Patsy Kelly?
Mary Wickes. “Pick a little, talk a little, pick a little, talk a little”
31) Best movie-related conspiracy theory
I’d have to make one up. And there are better writers out there than I.
32) Your candidate for most misunderstood or misinterpreted movie
I’ve mentioned There Will Be Blood before. Hmm … maybe The Quiet Man. It seems to be held in a lot of reverence, and to be honest, I find the “quaint crazy Irish” stereotypes of the piece fairly offensive. Don’t understand the appeal of this one.
33) Movie that made you question your own belief system (religious or otherwise)
Having trouble coming up with a good answer. I suppose Platoon was one of the first things that made me start thinking about whether the United States’ role in Vietnam had been the right one.
As usual, another splendid movie quiz, Dennis. My answers would be found here. Many thanks.
17) Movie that makes the best case for agnosticism: Vertigo.
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical: Astaire and Charisse. Dancing In The Dark. The Band Wagon.
19) Third favorite Howard Hawks movie: “Calling Baranca. Calling Baranca.”
20) Clara Bow or Jean Harlow?: Bow. For Wings.
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming?: In a theater: The Lorax. At home: The Last Days Of Disco.
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion: Keeping The Faith. Possibly Norton and Stiller’s finest achievement, and most underrated movie.
23) Phil Silvers or Red Skelton?: Pass. But God bless.
24) “Favorite” Hollywood scandal: The Oscars?
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian): Christ, what’s with all these religion questions?
26) The King of Cinema: King Vidor, King Hu or Henry King? (Thanks, Peter): King Kong.
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat: Simple. A literate, witty script with a recognizable beginning, middle and end.
28) Least favorite Federico Fellini movie: Juliet of the Spirits.
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no?: Nyuk!
30) Mary Wickes or Patsy Kelly?: Pass.
31) Best movie-related conspiracy theory: The Seinfeld episode that parodied the JFK movie conspiracy theory. That was one magic loogie.
32) Your candidate for most misunderstood or misinterpreted movie: Citizen Kane. Does anybody really believe that Rosebud is his sled?
33) Movie that made you question your own belief system (religious or otherwise): I’m not sure I have a belief system, but if I did it would be this: “Well, I believe in the soul, the cock, the pussy, the small of a woman's back, the hanging curve ball, high fiber, good scotch, that the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent, overrated crap. I believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter. I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days.”
Hey Dennis, I posted my answers here.
1) Favorite movie featuring nuns
- The Devils, all the way.
3) William Bendix or Scott Brady?
- Scott Brady
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life?
- I would wait in line for six hours for no movie at all, 2 hours is my limit.
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child
- For some reason, "Space Jam" was some kind of event for me at 4 years old.
8) What moment in a movie that is not a horror movie made you want to bolt from the theater screaming?
- "La pianiste"... pretty much every other scene.
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum?
- Robert Mitchum, what are you nuts?
10) Best movie Jesus
- Jim Caviziel?
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond of
- The Evil Dead is my fourth favorite movie of all time.
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray?
- Emily Blunt.
13) Favorite cinematic Biblical spectacular
- Ben Hur or Quo Vadis, both color.
14) Favorite cinematic moment of unintentional humor
- The rape in "A Clockwork Orange"... I'm a monster.
15) Michael Fassbender or David Farrar?
- Michael Fassbender.
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie
- Love Exposure (2008)
17) Movie that makes the best case for agnosticism
- The Human Centipede (2010)
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical
- "Time Warp" from Rocky Horror Picture Show, both song and dance are perfect.
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming?
- On theater: 'El eco de las canciones' (2010), chilean found footage documentary.
- Bluray/DVD/Streaming: The Brides of Dracula (1960)
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion
- Quo Vadis is quite maligned by some, but it's hilarious.
24) “Favorite” Hollywood scandal
- Not actual favorite, but the whole Allen-Farrow thing fascinates me.
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian)
- Persepolis, I think?
26) The King of Cinema: King Vidor, King Hu or Henry King? (Thanks, Peter)
- King Vidor.
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat
- Silences, but adequate silences, not awkward long "Drive" silences.
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no?
- Nay
31) Best movie-related conspiracy theory
- The Dark Side of the Rainbow
32) Your candidate for most misunderstood or misinterpreted movie
- Either Domino, Southland Tales or Silent Hill.
33) Movie that made you question your own belief system (religious or otherwise)
- Donnie Darko (2001)
1) Favorite movie featuring nuns: Change of Habit. What nun wouldn’t rethink her vows for Elvis?
2) Second favorite John Frankenheimer movie: My problem is choosing my favorite Frankenheimer movie. But I wish more people would see his last movie, Path To War, which I think is brilliant.
3) William Bendix or Scott Brady?: Bendix, for being the man in the white suit who takes a nasty tumble in The Dark Corner.
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life?: I can’t imagine a movie I would stand in line six hours to see. I’ve seen movies that felt like they took six hours to watch, though.
5) Favorite Mitchell Leisen movie: Midnight is the obvious choice, but I prefer Hands Across The Table: MacMurray, Lombard, Bellamy and all those swank Paramount sets.
6) Ann Savage or Peggy Cummins?: “I want action!”
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child: Mary Poppins. For months afterward, I ran around the house with an umbrella and a carpetbag.
8) What moment in a movie that is not a horror movie made you want to bolt from the theater screaming?: When Travis Bickle takes Cybill Shepherd to the movies in Taxi Driver.
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum?: Tough call. Widmark’s scrappy and wiry, but I suspect Mitchum would be the better sucker-puncher. Cuz, as we all know, he don’t care.
10) Best movie Jesus: John Turturro in The Big Lebowski. That creep can roll.
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond of: The Fury.
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray?: Gray. For Obsession. And Green For Danger.
13) Favorite cinematic Biblical spectacular: The Devil’s Advocate.
14) Favorite cinematic moment of unintentional humor: See No. 11. Cassavettes’ head blowing off. Or maybe it’s supposed to be funny.
15) Michael Fassbender or David Farrar?: “Well if this is it, old boy, I hope you don't mind if I go out speaking the King’s.”
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie: The Band Wagon. When Astaire and Co. sing “That’s Entertainment” at the end, the heart lifts.
Blogger would not let me post my answers here so I put them on my own blog. Here's the link:
http://comingup4.blogspot.com/2012/04/sister-clodaghs-spring-movie-quiz.html
Larry is forgetting about Dolores Hart, who kissed Elvis onscreen, and later became a real life nun.
Sorry, Dennis. My comments got all messed up because of blogger's html character limit. Can you just delete my first comment? To see my answers, check them out here.
I'm late, aren't I? Do I still get credit? Oh well, answers on my blog: http://coolbev.blogspot.com/2012/04/film-quiz.html
After a long struggle with blogger, I have posted answers at My Blog.
Part One:
1) Favorite movie featuring nuns
Black Narcissus
2) Second favorite John Frankenheimer movie
The Manchurian Candidate (The more flawed but more fascinating Seconds is first.)
3) William Bendix or Scott Brady?
William Bendix
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life?
The restored version of The Magnificent Ambersons in its original cut and I can see that I'm not the only one.
5)Favorite Mitchell Leisen movie
Midnight
6) Ann Savage or Peggy Cummins?
Peggy Cummins (Savage is fantastic but Cummins in Gun Crazy is perfection.)
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child
Beauty and the Beast (1990)
8) What moment in a movie that is not a horror movie made you want to bolt from the theater screaming?
One of the combat scenes from Black Hawk Down, can't remember which, because I had a splitting headache and oh God, it was seizure-inducing.
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum?
Richard Widmark
10) Best movie Jesus
Robert Torti in Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical (2005). For serious Jesus, I suppose I prefer the way his presence is handled in Ben-Hur.
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond of
I'm not really up to speed on true campy horror so I'll say The Fly (1958).
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray?
Emily Blunt
13) Favorite cinematic Biblical spectacular
Ben-Hur. We watched it in my seventh-grade homeroom class, over the course of several days like a movie serial and I still say, big screens aside, that is the proper way to watch it. (Will Judah ever reunite with his family? Tune in tomorrow!)
14) Favorite cinematic moment of unintentional humor
Everyone and their accountant have made fun of this already but yes, the "I hate sand" dialogue from Attack of the Clones.
15) Michael Fassbender or David Farrar?
Fassbender is a very attractive man and a fascinating talent no question, but David Farrar has three Powell and Pressburger classics to his credit. Advantage, Farrar.
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie
Groundhog Day could affirm pretty near any faith.
17) Movie that makes the best case for agnosticism
I've pondered this one for some time and come up blank.
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical
For solo dance: Gene Kelly's "Singin' in the Rain"
For pair dancing: Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth, the "I'm Old Fashioned" number from You Were Never Lovelier
For dance as emotional narrative: The final dream sequence from Lili
19) Third favorite Howard Hawks movie
A tie between Ball of Fire and Rio Bravo.
20) Clara Bow or Jean Harlow?
Jean Harlow
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming?
Theater--War Horse. On actual DVD--The Magnificent Ambersons. On streaming--Robocop.
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion
The Truman Show
23) Phil Silvers or Red Skelton?
I really don't have a horse in this race.
24) “Favorite” Hollywood scandal
Favorite? The William Desmond Taylor murder remains one of the most fascinating, I guess.
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian)
Don't know about best, but I've loved Fiddler on the Roof since childhood.
26) The King of Cinema: King Vidor, King Hu or Henry King? (Thanks, Peter)
King Vidor
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat
Exposition, especially when it comes to pacing a film. Hollywood could learn so much from watching some of those good old snappy 70-minute programmers and how expertly they sum up the characters and the situation.
28) Least favorite Federico Fellini movie
Since I'm pledged to honesty, the only Fellini film I've seen is La Dolce Vita. You are now welcome to stone me to death with DVD copies of 8 1/2.
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no?
Not a Stooges fan.
30) Mary Wickes or Patsy Kelly?
Mary Wickes ("Dora, I suspect you're a treasure.")
31) Best movie-related conspiracy theory
All the theories about Walt Disney's corpse. Talk about random...
32) Your candidate for most misunderstood or misinterpreted movie
Network. How many times have we heard some pundit misappropriate the "I'm mad as hell speech" now?
33) Movie that made you question your own belief system (religious or otherwise)
Before watching The Unknown (1927), I was convinced I'd never wholeheartedly enjoy a silent film.
1) Favorite movie featuring nuns. The Trouble with Angels. It made being a nun look so safe and secure. As a pre-adolescent confused by the future and intimidated by growing up, I thought it was terrific. (Except for the "no guys" thing.)
2) Second favorite John Frankenheimer movie Birdman of Alcatraz
3) William Bendix or Scott Brady? Bendix
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life? Without a doubt, Jerry Lewis as Helmut Doork in The Day the Clown Died. First of all, how bad, how utterly tasteless could it be? Secondly, I'd like confirmation of its very existence. After all, we've been hearing rumors about it for decades.
5) Favorite Mitchell Leisen movie Remember the Night. A holiday movie starring Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck. I think we all agree they aren't the most wholesome couple ever, and yet it's rather sweet
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child. Mary Poppins. The heavy red curtains opened to reveal the rooftops of London. Thrilling!
8) What moment in a movie that is not a horror movie made you want to bolt from the theater screaming? Harvey Keitel naked in The Piano.
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum? Widmark. Because Lucy scaled his fence when the Riccardos were in Hollywood.
10) Best movie Jesus Ted Neeley
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond of Shewolf of London. C'mon! Lassie's mom and Gidget's dad and a lot of fur in jolly-old! You have to love it!
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray? Emily Blunt
14) Favorite cinematic moment of unintentional humor. "Boobies, boobies, boobies! Nothing but boobies! Who needs 'em? I did great without 'em!" The sublime Neely O'Hara from the incomparable Valley of the Dolls.
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie. It's a Wonderful Life. Yeah, I know. It's corny. But I love it, and I love my friends and believe they make me richer.
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical. Get Happy from Summer Stock.
19) Third favorite Howard Hawks movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
20) Clara Bow or Jean Harlow? Harlow
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming? Theater: Titanic in 3D. DVD: The Godfather
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion Two Mules for Sister Sara (it so is!)
23) Phil Silvers or Red Skelton? Red Skelton
24) “Favorite” Hollywood scandal Le Scandale on the set of Cleopatra
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian) Sorry, I got nothin'
26) The King of Cinema: King Vidor, King Hu or Henry King? (Thanks, Peter) Vidor
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat Small movies about real people. Like Holiday Affair. Too much emphasis on special effects and super heroes.
28) Least favorite Federico Fellini movie Spirits of the Dead
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no? No
30) Mary Wickes or Patsy Kelly? Mary Wickes
31) Best movie-related conspiracy theory JFK. Flawed theory but great filmmaking.
32) Your candidate for most misunderstood or misinterpreted movie Thinking of Oliver Stone: Scarface. You're idolozing a drug-addled loser who died in the end, people!
33) Movie that made you question your own belief system (religious or otherwise) Bonnie and Clyde introduced me to the idea of moral relativity. ("We don't want your money. Just the bank's.")
Dennis (and all), I've responded to the quiz with a video, playable here.
Walter, I'm speechless! What a way to do homework! You haven't heard the last of me on this yet! Thank you!
...aaaaaaand like most others I'm just going to link to answers.
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150789257908919
Facebook swears to me that security on that note is now public. SWEARS.
My answers are over at my joint.
Late to da party as always, but my answers are located at http://tamiroff.livejournal.com/36864.html
wv: sUnist spamat
for true!
1) Favorite movie featuring nuns – Lillies of the Field
2) Second favorite John Frankenheimer movie – Manchurian Candidate
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life? In 1984, in the dark ages when video was just coming into our lives, I stood in line for six hours to see the first showing of the Star Wars trilogy at World Con in Anaheim. Made a lifelong friend in that line.
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child – I saw King Kong in a theater at about seven years of age.
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum? Mitchum
10) Best movie Jesus Willem Defoe
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray? Emily Blunt
13) Favorite cinematic Biblical spectacular – Ten Commandents
15) Michael Fassbender or David Farrar? Fassbender for the win!
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie - Dogma
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical – final dance sequence in Victor/Victoria. Robert Preston was sublime.
19) Third favorite Howard Hawks movie – Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
20) Clara Bow or Jean Harlow? Jean Harlow
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming? Theater – The Avengers; Streaming - Beginners
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion - Dogma
23) Phil Silvers or Red Skelton? Red Skelton
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian) Witness
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat - Romantic comedies
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no? No way
30) Mary Wickes or Patsy Kelly? Mary Wickes
The hills are alive with my answers!
http://susiebright.blogs.com/susie_brights_journal_/2012/05/my-answers-to-the-nun-movie-quiz.html
Before I begin, I must beg divine forgiveness for my lack of movie knowledge and my very poor memory. Both will reflect negatively on me in my answers to these questions, I'm sure, and account for a sore lack of wit and originality. I will attempt to figure out who these people are whom I've never heard of, but this doesn't guarantee that I'll have any relevant opinions about them. So here I go, hubby!
1) Favorite movie featuring nuns
I often don't really recall nuns appearing in movies unless they do something really odd, but I think I enjoyed "Nuns on the Run" with Eric Idle. I enjoy almost anything with Eric Idle, so this seems a safe answer.
2) Second favorite John Frankenheimer movie
I LOVE "The Manchurian Candidate," but that would be first favorite. Thank God for IMDb since otherwise I don't know my Frankenheimer from my Frankenstein. Only other movie I THINK I saw of his was "Dead Bang," for what reason I have no idea, but maybe it was some kind of Don Johnson-induced hysteria. I don't think I liked it. So must say... um, I guess it'll have to be "Dead Bang."
3) William Bendix or Scott Brady?
IMDb didn't bother providing pictures of either of these dead gentlemen, and I have no memory of them. Bendix was described there as "burly" and "genial" so I'll go with Bendix.
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life?
At this point in my life there really is no movie I would even stand in line 15 minutes for, frankly. And the longest I waited in line in the past was for, I think, "The Empire Strikes Back," where I was squashed in the entryway of the Egyptian Theater for 3 hours with a billion other people, including my poor mother, and I was overwhelmed by fear that somebody was going to drive by and shout out what the special "secret" was at the end of the movie. Nobody did, and I was suitably shocked. "NO! IT'S NOT POSSIBLE!" I howled along with Luke.
5) Favorite Mitchell Leisen movie
My God, this man was born two centuries ago! I've never heard of him and IMDb says I've never seen a movie he's directed. I'm sure he was a good, manly man though.
6) Ann Savage or Peggy Cummins?
Now, this was hard. I've never heard or seen either of these women before. But Savage apparently made a late-career appearance in "Saved by the Bell," and that sort of makes me feel sorry for her. So I'll have to go with Ann Savage.
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child
I saw so many Disney cartoons and Bob Crane/Kurt Russell/Ken Berry live-action Disney movies, but they all blur in my mind. But early in life my father accidentally took my sisters and I to see a screening of (the already rather old) "Ben Hur." Some animated thing was supposed to be playing that night. And I remember being really bored and making all kinds of jokes about the costumes and such. And also being grossed out by the chariot scene, of course.
8) What moment in a movie that is not a horror movie made you want to bolt from the theater screaming?
Either the scene in "Mulholland Dr." when Naomi Watts is in the theater and suddenly starts weeping hysterically for seemingly no reason, or the scene in "Eraserhead" when the lady in the radiator starts singing "In Heaven Everything is Fine," or the scene in "Blue Velvet" when Dean Stockwell lipsyncs to Roy Orbison. Only Lynch can make me feel like I'm trapped in somebody else's nightmare and yet somehow it also feels like my own nightmare.
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum?
I'm not fond of either of these tree trunk type men, but I have an almost Ray-Milland-level fear of Widmark, mostly because he seemed to always play really creepy, jaded, power hungry, corrupt jerks anytime I saw him when I was a kid. Therefore, answer is Mitchum.
10) Best movie Jesus
I like my Jesus corny and singing, so I'll have to go with Ted Neely in "Jesus Christ Superstar." He doesn't hold a candle to Carl Anderson's Judas, but his light-metal singing voice still gets to me when he's faced with that "cup of poison." Second choice: Willem Dafoe.
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond of
I wish I had a good answer for this, but I've never been a fan of horror, so what I've seen tends to be sort of tongue-in-cheek anyway, like "Zombieland" or anything with Bruce Campbell.
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray?
I don't know who Sally Gray is, but I'm very fond of Emily Blunt. She was the BEST thing in "The Devil Wears Prada" by far, and though the movie is messy, in "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen," she and Ewan McGregor give wonderful performances with true sweetness mixed with a nice throwback feeling of screwball comedy. Blunt always seems smart and honest.
13) Favorite cinematic Biblical spectacular
I'm not fond of Biblical spectaculars. And I can't think of many. And I don't know how to look up Biblical spectaculars on IMDb. But epics, I assume is synonymous with spectaculars, and they don't appeal to me. Too many characters, too many animals, big sets, lots of extras.... zzzzzzz
14) Favorite cinematic moment of unintentional humor
Almost any scene in any old Japanese Godzilla, Gidra, Gamara, Mothra movie would fit this category.
15) Michael Fassbender or David Farrar?
I saw "Small Back Room," so I have a vague knowledge of Farrar. I'll have to go with Fassy because Dennis has a man-crush on him. Personally, I respect his acting, though I find his visage a little offputting in its harshness. Nice accent though.
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie
"The Rapture." No, just kidding. When I was a kid, "Heaven Can Wait," Warren Beatty version, was very comforting to me. Effective at the time. Haven't seen it in years, so I don't know anymore. Wish I had a better answer to this one too, and have a feeling I would if my memory was sharper. "Last Temptation of Christ" maybe. Really, as a teen, the TV movie "Jesus of Nazareth" really did it for me. Any “Veggie Tales” is effective faith-affirming as well. And every time I see “The Big Lebowski,” I feel a genuine sense of peacefulness and affection for mankind.
17) Movie that makes the best case for agnosticism
I remember “Fearless” as being really powerful and moving in the way Jeff Bridges’s character reacts to facing his own death and basically cheating death. He becomes convinced that he’s invincible, which leads to a complete life change and crazy risk-taking. The movie gives no real answers, but asks a lot of the big, tough questions.
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical
Nearly every single musical number in “Singing in the Rain” makes me feel like I’m in some kind of movie heaven, but especially the title number, “Moses Supposes” and “Make ‘Em Laugh.” Actually, Gene Kelly in any singing/dancing number is sublime. I also have a big weakness for the mad romance of “Come What May,” the duet between Ewan and Nicole Kidman, in “Moulin Rouge!” And then there’s Bruce Springsteen performing “Thunder Road” in “No Nukes” and Talking Heads and backup singers burning the house down with “What A Day That Was” in “Stop Making Sense.” The entire opening of “West Side Story” as well as Rita Moreno and George Chakiris and company tearing it up in “America” are just amazing. And The Band and the Staples Singers performing “The Weight” in “The Last Waltz.” I could probably go on. I’ll stop.
19) Third favorite Howard Hawks movie
“Bringing Up Baby” is number one, “Red River” is number two, so I guess number three is “His Girl Friday.” What a lot of great movies this guy made. I’m a bit ashamed I’ve only seen a handful.
20) Clara Bow or Jean Harlow?
I’ve never seen Clara Bow in anything despite my hubby’s current obsession with her, but I’ve seen Jean Harlow in a few films, so I’ll have to choose Harlow. Honestly though, I don’t know much about either of them.
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming?
Last movie I saw in the theater was “Jiro Dreams of Sushi,” a documentary about a master sushi chef in Japan. Very good. Made me so hungry. Said “Mmmm” out loud, though I was by myself, at least 3 or 4 times. Last movie on DVD? I’m sure some kind of anime my kids were watching.
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion
When I was young, I thought “Oh, God” was pretty funny. But at the time, I thought John Denver was pretty cool, so you know...
23) Phil Silvers or Red Skelton?
Silvers makes me nervous for some reason, but then Skelton seems very quiet clown-like and I’m afraid of clowns. Nevertheless, I’m choosing Red Skelton.
24) “Favorite” Hollywood scandal
Anything involving Robert Evans, because he’s so eerie and ridiculous and slimy and funny.
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian)
Kundun.
26) The King of Cinema: King Vidor, King Hu or Henry King? (Thanks, Peter)
Okay, I’ve been a good sport, but not even IMDb could help me with this one. I’m choosing King Hu ‘cause us Asians gots to stick together.
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat
How about allow quiet and subtlety and a slow pace to build into something meaningful, deeply felt and thoughtful. Or forgetting about how much a movie is supposed to make in its first weekend.
28) Least favorite Federico Fellini movie
Embarrassed again that I haven’t seen that many Fellini films, but of the ones I’ve seen, “La Strada,” “Nights of Cabiria,” “La Dolce Vita,” “8 ½,” “Amarcord” and “Ginger and Fred,” the only one I kind of didn’t like was “8 ½" because it was just a bit too pretentious and taken with itself.
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no?
Oh, hell, no! Not in the past, present or future!
30) Mary Wickes or Patsy Kelly?
No pictures of Kelly on IMDb, so I’m not sure who she is. However, I recognized Mary Wickes immediately. I remember seeing her in everything on TV while growing up, and they are fond memories, so a definite pick on this one– Mary Wickes.
31) Best movie-related conspiracy theory
Sorry, I can’t think of one! But if there was one involving either Robert Evans (my go-to sleazy man) or Werner Herzog/Klaus Kinski, that would be my vote for best.
32) Your candidate for most misunderstood or misinterpreted movie
Maybe “Tree of Life” mostly because, to me, it’s so hard to understand. I watched it three times, very carefully, actually not by choice. But that’s another story. I enjoyed it, appreciated its beauty and sense of mystery about life. I even enjoyed the dinosaurs. But I couldn’t figure out what the last 10 minutes meant, literally. And I had such a hard time getting any set answers from anybody else I knew who saw the movie. So maybe not misunderstood as just hard to explain.
33) Movie that made you question your own belief system (religious or otherwise)
“Bad Santa” and “American Reunion” both put me in such a bad place, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, for very different reasons, that I questioned my belief in the basic goodness of man/woman.
1) Black Narcissus but also The Devils
2) Seconds is first, so Manchurian Candidate must be second.
3) William Bendix. What a hunk of man!
4) The nine hour cut of Greed. that way I'd get the waiting/watching ratio in the right shape.
5) Remember the Night, right now, but there are so many...
6) Peggy for pulchritude
7) Apparently the first cinema trip was Dr Dolittle, but I have to see it again to see if I remember any of it.
8) Moulin Rouge!
9) Robert Mitchum, but only just
10) Conrad Veidt in The Passing of the Third Floor Back. (He IS Jesus!)
11) I love silly straight horror movies. Black Sabbath is the scariest silly one.
12) Emily Blunt for My Summer of Love
13) Does Ben Hur count?
14) There are some good ones in Antichrist.
15) Michael Fassbender acts better
16) Don't have a faith to affirm... The Wicker Man kind of affirms my atheism.
17) Well, i like how Sydow is the most thoughtful character in The Seventh Seal.
18) Rich Man's Froug from Sweet Charity
19) The Big Sleep
20) Clara Bow
21) Either Way (2012), Rum Diary
22) Paths of Glory
23) Phil Silvers
24) William Desmond Taylor
25) Jason and the Argonauts
26) King Baggot (just kidding: Vidor or Hu for me)
27) Leave you unsure what you just saw
28) Voice of the Moon
29) No (if you mean, Have I seen it?)
30) Patsy Kelly (but only because I know her work better)
31) The Martian invasion in Buckaroo Banzai, which used Welles' War of the Worlds hoax as cover. Welles himself suggests this is true in his trailer for F For Fake.
32) Well, most of the celebrated anti-war movies are pro-war.
33) I have yet to find such a movie, but I'd be interested to do so.
1) Favorite movie featuring nuns - don't have one, but love Lillian Gish as a mother superior in Portrait of Jennie
2) Second favorite John Frankenheimer movie - Seconds
3) William Bendix or Scott Brady? - Bendix
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life? - in answer to 2nd part, once did wait 2 hours to see Lawrence of Arabia on big NYC Ziegfeld screen on VERY cold February day. In answer to 1st part, based on LOA experience, when I nearly froze my ass off, wld not do so again - UNLESS to see that lost pre-Code movie, Convention City
5) Favorite Mitchell Leisen movie -Midnight
6) Ann Savage or Peggy Cummins? - Savage (I like the dyspeptic types)
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child - 1935 A Midsummer Night's Dream
8) What moment in a movie that is not a horror movie made you want to bolt from the theater screaming? - all of Forrest Gump - if I hear once more about that damn box of chocolates, I WILL rush out screaming
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum? -Mitchum
10) Best movie Jesus - the great von Sydow stands out in the otherwise truly awful The Greatest Story Ever Told
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond of - anything with Lionel Atwill
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray? - can't say; not familiar w/either.
13) Favorite cinematic Biblical spectacular - a tie between the 1932 Sign of the Cross and the 1951 Quo Vadis
14) Favorite cinematic moment of unintentional humor - ending of 1956 The Bad Seed (though I wonder - WAS it unintentional?)
15) Michael Fassbender or David Farrar? -Farrar
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie - Meet John Doe
17) Movie that makes the best case for agnosticism - The Greatest Story Ever Told (probably not in the way the filmmakers think...)
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical - Eleanor Powell dancing the should-be-better-known 'Tallulah' number from 1942 Ship Ahoy
19) Third favorite Howard Hawks movie - 3RD??? Ok, if I have to rate 'em, maybe Ball of Fire...no, wait...
20) Clara Bow or Jean Harlow? Harlow
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming? - in the theater, revival of Casablanca
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion - 1966 Bedazzled
23) Phil Silvers or Red Skelton? Skelton (ok, ok...)
24) “Favorite” Hollywood scandal - Lionel Atwill on trial for orgy-throwing
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian) - a beautiful 1956 Japanese movie called The Burmese Harp
26) The King of Cinema: King Vidor, King Hu or Henry King? (Thanks, Peter) - Henry King
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat - developing good, coherent stories with believable characters you care about; also special effects w/o relying on CGI.
28) Least favorite Federico Fellini movie - can't say
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no? - haven't seen the 2012 film; but a resounding YES to the original trio
30) Mary Wickes or Patsy Kelly? -Wickes
31) Best movie-related conspiracy theory - Men In Black's outer-space aliens among us
32) Your candidate for most misunderstood or misinterpreted movie - The Philadelphia Story - everyone thinks this is a great movie except me - I think it's and AWFUL
33) Movie that made you question your own belief system (religious or otherwise) - seeing Kurosawa's Throne of Blood for the 1st time - made me wonder why I would want to do anything else for a living except watch and write about movies
1) Favorite movie featuring nuns – Would have to be 'Two Mules for Sister Sara,' which I suppose would more technically be referred to as Favorite Movie Featuring A Prostitute Posing As A Nun. But hey, rules be damned.
2) Second favorite John Frankenheimer movie – I would love to be higher-minded here, but honesty prevents it; call it some kind of binding I feel with the religious theme, I guess. Anyway, he's certainly made “better” films, and 'Manchurian' is sort of unavoidable as numero uno, but 'Ronin' is one of those movies I could watch over and over and over again. Nobody shot car chases like Frankenheimer, and these might be the best I've ever seen.
3) William Bendix or Scott Brady? – 'The Glass Key'? 'The Blue Dahlia'? 'The Big Steal'? Bill, with a big damn bullet.
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life? – I've almost given up hope of ever seeing it, but I'd happily stand all day in the driving rain to get a look at Wim Wenders' full cut of 'Until The End Of The World.' (Understanding I may be the only one.)
5) Favorite Mitchell Leisen movie – 'Midnight' makes me weep with laughter.
6) Ann Savage or Peggy Cummins? – Oh, Savage Ann. Only thing that trumps Irish fire is Southern fire.
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child – The first one I have vivid memories of watching was 'The Music Man,' which played at the Naval base when I was maybe six or seven. As I recall, it was completely bewitching.
8) What moment in a movie that is not a horror movie made you want to bolt from the theater screaming? – Any given moment of Tim Burton's 'Planet of the Apes.' Which (not singlehandedly, but most decisively) converted me. From a Tim Burton fan to not.
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum? – Mitchum, for the creepiness of his unmatched duplicitousness.
10) Best movie Jesus – “What's this 'day of rest' shit?” John Turturro in 'The Big Lebowski.'
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond of – John Carpenter's 'Prince of Darkness,' about which there is something unshakably horrifying in spite of its periodic lapses into ridiculousness.
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray? – Insufficient data; Blunt had infinitesimal roles in the only movies of hers that I've seen.
13) Favorite cinematic Biblical spectacular – 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' (But really, “favorite” just means I made it all the way to the end without dozing off.)
14) Favorite cinematic moment of unintentional humor – In keeping with the religious theme, how about any given moment of 'Zardoz?'
15) Michael Fassbender or David Farrar? – Insufficient data; I've only yet seen Fassbender in 'Basterds' and 'Haywire.' But he dies well. [What's the inspiration for this and #12? There must be some story behind them.]
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie РRoland Joff̩'s 'The Mission'
17) Movie that makes the best case for agnosticism – 'Babette's Feast'
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical – Gene Kelly's ESL-classroom performance of “I Got Rhythm” from 'An American In Paris.' Impossibly cute.
19) Third favorite Howard Hawks movie – 'The Thing From Another World.' When I was a kid, that scene where they slam the freezer door on the creature and several of its fingers fly off was the most horrifying thing I'd ever seen. In fact, it haunts me still. (I'm looking at you, 'Primal Fear.' And 'Taxi Driver.' And 'Road Warrior.' And 'Bound.' And 'Black Rain.' And 'Planet Terror.' And 'True Grit.' And roughly a hundred others. I may be looking through [all of] my fingers, but I am looking.)
20) Clara Bow or Jean Harlow? – To be fair, I've only seen a couple of Clara Bow's movies, but I think even a more knowledgeable me would say Jean Harlow. I'm certainly more religious about Harlow. If by 'religious' you mean 'divinely bonerfied.'
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming? – Theatrically: 'The Hunger Games,' the sweeping critical appreciation for which completely baffles me. Streaming: 'The Interrupters'
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion – 'Contact'
23) Phil Silvers or Red Skelton? – Philly. Keeping we four-eyed fellas cool, baby.
24) “Favorite” Hollywood scandal – God, they all bore me to tears.
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian) – 'A Serious Man' was the most accurate exploration of religious ontology I've ever seen.
26) The King of Cinema: King Vidor, King Hu or Henry King? (Thanks, Peter) – There is no way to overestimate the contributions of Vidor and King, but as a Taoist and longtime wuxia disciple (not to mention a cinematography junkie), I think King Hu is absolutely incomparable.
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat – Dialogue is overrated. Shut up and show us.
28) Least favorite Federico Fellini movie – I haven't seen them all – not by a long shot – and I imagine this will be viewed as heresy yet again (I have a knack for it, apparently), but '8 ½' has never really connected with me. Certainly not as profoundly as his others.
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no? – There were well over two hundred Stooges shorts produced. That's plenty enough of the same vaudeville routine for me.
30) Mary Wickes or Patsy Kelly? – Mary Wickes. Which I say based primarily on her work in television. This being a film quiz, does that make this a wrong answer? (Let's say 'no.')
31) Best movie-related conspiracy theory – The one that claims Kubrick helped NASA fake the lunar landing.
32) Your candidate for most misunderstood or misinterpreted movie – Man, I misinterpret everything; I thought 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' was an extended commentary on Huguenot Calvinists in the 16th century and 'The Seventh Seal' was actually about chess.
33) Movie that made you question your own belief system (religious or otherwise) – 'Baraka'
yourblindspot: Regarding #12 and #15, I decided to reserve one spot per gender in the traditional "compare-and-contrast actors slot" for comparable female and male stars of the past and present. I thought Emily Blunt, being British and sexy and good at both drama and comedy, was a match for one of my favorite British stars of the '40s, Sally Gray. As for that one and the Fassbender-Farrar connection, well, the word "superficial" is in the quiz title! Fassbender bears a striking physical resemblance to Farrar, I think, and I thought it was his presence,(not Cary Grant's, as has been widely surmised) that he and Tarantino were invoking through Fassbender's performance in Inglourious Basterds. So, for what it's worth, there you have it!
1) Favorite movie featuring nuns
THE BLUES BROTHERS. Granted, it's only one nun, but it's Kathleen Freeman!
2) Second favorite John Frankenheimer movie
MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE. #1 is THE HORSEMAN.
3) William Bendix or Scott Brady?
Brady has JOHNNY GUITAR, but Bendix has a helluva lot more.
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life?
None. No.
5) Favorite Mitchell Leisen movie
FOUR HOURS TO KILL. No, I can't explain it, either.
6) Ann Savage or Peggy Cummins?
Cummins is cool, but Savage is cooler.
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child
I remember a kiddie matinee of THE WIZARD OF OZ, but I must have seen some Disneys prior to that.
8) What moment in a movie that is not a horror movie made you want to bolt from the theater screaming?
Snowden's shirt ripped off in CATCH-22. Couldn't eat for days afterward.
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum?
You don't make this easy, but gotta be Mitch.
10) Best movie Jesus
I guess Von Sydow, though the film itself is well nigh unendurable.
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond of
Does ROBOT MONSTER count as horror?
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray?
Odd choice, but Blunt.
13) Favorite cinematic Biblical spectacular
"Now see here, you mugs, there's no deliverer, see? Nyaah!" Gotta be TEN COMMANDMENTS.
14) Favorite cinematic moment of unintentional humor
DAY OF THE LOCUST: Donald Sutherland repeatedly introducing himself as Homer Simpson.
15) Michael Fassbender or David Farrar?
Not even close: Farrar.
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie
Tslkie version of THE MIRACLE MAN.
17) Movie that makes the best case for agnosticism
PASSION OF THE CHRIST.
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical
"Jumpin' Jive," Cab Calloway and the Nicholas Brothers, STORMY WEATHER.
19) Third favorite Howard Hawks movie
TODAY WE LIVE. (#2 is RED LINE 7000, #1 is everything else.)
20) Clara Bow or Jean Harlow?
Bow, only because Harlow was stuck at MGM, where comedy went to die.
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming?
Theatre: Old, PRIVATE HELL 36; new, SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN. DVD: BATTLE ROYALE (rewatched).
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion
THE NINTH CONFIGURATION, largely because it WAS so unexpected.
23) Phil Silvers or Red Skelton?
Tough choice, but ultimately, Silvers.
24) “Favorite” Hollywood scandal
Warren Hymer pissing on Harry Cohn's desk. (Cohn was a germophobe and had it burned.)
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian)
HISTORY OF THE WORLD, PART 1.
26) The King of Cinema: King Vidor, King Hu or Henry King? (Thanks, Peter)
I'm gonna go with Alan King.
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat
Not insult our intelligence.
28) Least favorite Federico Fellini movie
CASANOVA. WTF was he smoking?
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no?
No. Now spread out!
30) Mary Wickes or Patsy Kelly?
Too close to call.
31) Best movie-related conspiracy theory
Pass. Can't think of any.
32) Your candidate for most misunderstood or misinterpreted movie
LOONEY TUNES: BACK IN ACTION. Too many people simply didn't see how effing brilliant it is.
33) Movie that made you question your own belief system (religious or otherwise)
The entirety of Adam Sandler's career.
1) Probably Day of Wrath?
2) Black Sunday
3) Scott Brady?
4) I've done the wait for Shakespeare in the Park. I can't imagine waiting that long for a movie. Perhaps a screening of Vertigo with commentary by a suddenly alive Alfred Hitchcock?
5) Blind spot
7) I have two early movie memories. One is of 101 Dalmatians on VHS somewhere. I also remember going to a theater and sitting in like the front row for some movie about a giant. This was in 1991 or something, and I've never been able to figure out what the movie is.
8) This might not count since it's kind of sci-fi and horror (plus bad religious drama) but the amateur birthday party video scene in Signs made me check my closet every night for at least 5 years.
9) Mitchum, hands down.
10) I guess Dafoe. Only on popping to mind.
11) Suspiria bored me to death
12) I feel like this is a trick question, because I haven't seen any Sally Gray.
13) Ben-Hur
14) Bear punching a woman in the remake of The Wicker Man. Laugh every time.
15) Fassy is going places, but Farrar is already there.
16) Andrei Rublev
17) The Seventh Seal (yes really)
18) "Bye Bye Life" from All That Jazz
19) Only Angels Have Wings
20) Bow has got IT!
21) Godzilla (54 original in 35mm!) Last steaming was Sleepless Night (pretty good!)
22) I feel like Taste of Cherry fills this role
23) Plead the 5th
24) Don't know if this is a scandal, but "The Day The Clown Cried" and the controversy surround its non-exsistant relase
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian)
26) Vidor will always be King
27) Use pauses and silence
28) I need to rewatch it, but La Dolce Vita didn't really do it for me
29) No in the sense I'm not running out to see it
30) Mary Wickes
31) Dark Side of the Moon/Wizard of Oz
32) New York, New York, it's my 3rd favorite Scorsese
33) When I was a freshman in High school, I was on a golf trip in Kansas with some older High school dudes who would rent movies for us to watch when we were on the course. That week, we watched Pulp Fiction, Memento, and LA Confidential. Now, besides the 1st, these aren't all time greats, but it was the first time I realized movies could be more than entertainment, or at least done in a different way.
1) Favorite movie featuring nuns
Jacques Tati's "Playtime"
2) Second favorite John Frankenheimer movie
"Seconds"
3) William Bendix or Scott Brady?
Bendix -- "The Blue Dahlia"!
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life?
Orson Welles' cut of "The Magnificent Ambersons" or the four-hour TV cut once planned for Altman's "Nashville." No.
5) Favorite Mitchell Leisen movie
"Easy Living"
6) Ann Savage or Peggy Cummins?
Peggy.
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child
"101 Dalmatians"
8) What moment in a movie that is not a horror movie made you want to bolt from the theater screaming?
Any moment in which the name "Adam Sandler" (or the face belonging to it) appears on screen.
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum?
Mitchum.
10) Best movie Jesus
Kenneth Colley in "Life of Brian" (Best answer: John Turturro in "The Big Lebowski")
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond of
"Attack of the Crab Monsters"
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray?
What?
13) Favorite cinematic Biblical spectacular
"Life of Brian"
14) Favorite cinematic moment of unintentional humor
Toss-up between "Mommie Dearest" and the presence of Steven Seagal.
15) Michael Fassbender or David Farrar?
Fassbender.
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie
"A Serious Man"
17) Movie that makes the best case for agnosticism
"Passion of the Christ"
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical
Oh, jeeez. Maybe Fred & Ginger doing "Waltz in Swing Time"? Bob Fosse/Liza Minnelli's "Mein Herr" or "Cabaret" (the guy knew how to choreograph for the camera)? Or Jonathan Demme and Talking Heads' "Life During Wartime," "Girlfriend is Better," "What a Day That Was" or "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) from "Stop Making Sense"?
19) Third favorite Howard Hawks movie
"Bringing Up Baby"
20) Clara Bow or Jean Harlow?
Harlow.
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming?
Theater: "Citizen Kane" (Ebertfest). HD Streaming: "Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol"
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion
"Life of Brian" (perhaps the best movie ever made about religion)
23) Phil Silvers or Red Skelton?
Silvers. Red Skelton always creeped me out, even after I figured out his name was not "Red Skeleton."
24) “Favorite” Hollywood scandal
David Begelman ("Indecent Exposure")
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian)
"Sansho Dayu"
26) The King of Cinema: King Vidor, King Hu or Henry King? (Thanks, Peter)
Vidor!
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat
Pacing.
28) Least favorite Federico Fellini movie
"The Clowns"
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no?
No. I say that without the slightest desire to actually see it. So, that's a "no."
30) Mary Wickes or Patsy Kelly?
Wickes was a type; Kelly was more of an actress. Love 'em both, but I give the edge to Laura-Louise.
31) Best movie-related conspiracy theory
Does the whole "Dark Side of the Moon"/"Wizard of Oz" thing count?
32) Your candidate for most misunderstood or misinterpreted movie
"Donnie Darko," maybe. Even people who like it think it's a science-fiction movie. Heck, even the people who made it (the "Director's Cut," anyway) seem to think so.
33) Movie that made you question your own belief system (religious or otherwise)
"Chinatown"
My answers posted here:
http://kaedrin.com/weblog/archive/002313.html
As always, these quizzes are a pleasure!
1) Favorite movie featuring nuns
The Godfather. I think I saw a nun in the church scene.
2) Second favorite John Frankenheimer movie
Ronin (I actually like The French Connection II)
3) William Bendix or Scott Brady?
Pass
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life?
The Godfather. Wasn't born when it came out. Would love to pay that respect if it were to be shown on big screen.
5) Favorite Mitchell Leisen movie
Pass
6) Ann Savage or Peggy Cummins?
Ann Savage. Those Lips!!
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child
For Your Eyes Only. And what a pile of crap it was!
8) What moment in a movie that is not a horror movie made you want to bolt from the theater screaming?
When the tiger emerges from the mangrove in Apocalypse Now. Phenomenal shot!
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum?
Bob Mitchum
10) Best movie Jesus
Willem Dafoe in The Last Temptation of Christ
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond of
The Shining (it is not silly, though)
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray?
Pass
13) Favorite cinematic Biblical spectacular
Judas in The Last Temptation of Christ
14) Favorite cinematic moment of unintentional humor
Any serious scene from a James Cameron film. Probably the one of the old lady dropping the necklace or whatever it is in the Titanic. Epic fail.
15) Michael Fassbender or David Farrar?
Fassbendar
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie
Life of Brian
17) Movie that makes the best case for agnosticism
The Passion of Christ
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical
"It had to be you" performed by Diane Keaton in Annie Hall
19) Third favorite Howard Hawks movie
Pass
20) Clara Bow or Jean Harlow?
Pass
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming?
The Avengers
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion
Love and Death
23) Phil Silvers or Red Skelton?
Pass
24) “Favorite” Hollywood scandal
Brando and Olivier
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian)
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring
26) The King of Cinema: King Vidor, King Hu or Henry King? (Thanks, Peter)
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat
Good acting
28) Least favorite Federico Fellini movie
Ginger and Fred
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no?
No
30) Mary Wickes or Patsy Kelly?
Pass
31) Best movie-related conspiracy theory
Chaplin being a Communist
32) Your candidate for most misunderstood or misinterpreted movie
Avatar. It is unadulterated crap that is hailed as a modern classic.
33) Movie that made you question your own belief system (religious or otherwise)
Elmer Gantry
DC! Rather than crowd your mailbox, all my answers are in Ivanlandia--
http://ivanlandia1.blogspot.com/2012/05/hallelujah-april-2012-sergio-leone-and.html
Please visit!
Thanks,
Ivan
1) Favorite movie featuring nuns
Black Narcissus, of course.
2) Second favorite John Frankenheimer movie
52 Pick-Up. The one with the porn stars.
3) William Bendix or Scott Brady?
Say what? OK, Brady, he had more leading roles.
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life?
Nothing. Repeat: nothing. And no, I haven’t.
5) Favorite Mitchell Leisen movie
Midnight. I could also go for Remember the Night, thanks to Sturges and Stanwyck.
6) Ann Savage or Peggy Cummins?
Peggy, doll-like, hard-boiled, Gun Crazy.
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child
Gulliver’s Travels. Animated. I don’t think I liked it.
8) What moment in a movie that is not a horror movie made you want to bolt from the theater screaming?
Lucille Ball’s close-ups in Mame.
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum?
Please don’t make me choose! OK: Mitchum, in his Out of the Past mode.
10) Best movie Jesus
Pasolini’s guy, a Spanish non-professional. Lean and mean, the perfect left-wing zealot.
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond of
Bride of Frankenstein.
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray?
Emily. Sally who???
13) Favorite cinematic Biblical spectacular
Samson and Delilah. Some things you see at age 12 just never leave you.
14) Favorite cinematic moment of unintentional humor
From my favorite Biblical spectacular. When Olive Deering is asked the whereabouts of a victim of George Sanders’ tyranny, she turns her saucer eyes to the camera and utters, “Stoned.” This did not become funny until the 1960s.
15) Michael Fassbender or David Farrar?
Farrar. He makes even Mikey look like a girly guy.
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie.
The Bell episode in Andrei Rublev.
17) Movie that makes the best case for agnosticism
Viridiana.
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical
Jane Russell asking the boys, “Is There Anyone Here for Love?” from my third favorite Hawks.
19) Third favorite Howard Hawks movie
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
20) Clara Bow or Jean Harlow?
Jean, she could talk.
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming?
Headhunters, Norwegian thriller.
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion
Quo Vadis, another fave from my tween years (but Nero steals the show).
23) Phil Silvers or Red Skelton?
Silvers, especially in A Funny Thing… Red always tried too hard.
24) “Favorite” Hollywood scandal
The Mommie Dearest revelations, even if I think they’re mostly bullshit.
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian)
Fires on the Plain. Buddhist.
26) The King of Cinema: King Vidor, King Hu or Henry King?
Vidor, one of the true kings of American movies.
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat
Mise en scene.
28) Least favorite Federico Fellini movie
The final 2 or 3.
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no?
Still haven’t seen it, but I’m wary of biopics about movie legends.
30) Mary Wickes or Patsy Kelly?
Mary. Nurse Bedpan forever.
31) Best movie-related conspiracy theory
The Manchurian Candidate (Frankenheimer’s of course.) Brainwashing, terrorism, right-wing crazies.
32) Your candidate for most misunderstood or misinterpreted movie
Sawaariya. Bollywood, an undeserved flop.
33) Movie that made you question your own belief system (religious or otherwise)
Never happened with a movie, only with books.
I'm way late with this, but I've been kind of overwhelmed this month. My answers are on my blog. I appear to be the only one to pick Ms. 45 for number one. Pity.
Fear not, Vulnavia! I'm always late! And now I have TWO quizzes to complete. But you've inspired me. Maybe this week...?! Thanks for the link!
Am I too late?
http://microbrewreviews.blogspot.com/2012/05/meme-leech-new-slifr-quiz-is-go.html
1) Favorite movie featuring nuns: Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison
2) Second favorite John Frankenheimer movie: Seven Days in May
3) William Bendix or Scott Brady?
4) What movie, real or imagined, would you stand in line six hours to see? Have you ever done so in real life? I have not, and that point will not, but I can imagine having stood in line to see A Hard Day’s Night when it was released in 1964, assuming I’d been a kid who’d just heard the Beatles’ music for the first time. Other than that, I can’t think of a sufficient motivation.
5) Favorite Mitchell Leisen movie: To Each His Own
6) Ann Savage or Peggy Cummins?
7) First movie you remember seeing as a child: Around the World in 80 Days, in a mid-1960s re-release. I came down with stomach flu mid-way through, so I spent a good portion of the movie in the men’s room, heaving. An inauspicious introduction to the delights of cinema.
8) What moment in a movie that is not a horror movie made you want to bolt from the theater screaming? Most of Forrest Gump.
9) Richard Widmark or Robert Mitchum? Widmark. With only a few exceptions, Mitchum’s air of not giving a crap convinced me that he didn’t give a crap, which I never found enjoyable.
10) Best movie Jesus: I kind of like Graham Chapman’s Brian in Monty Python’s Life of Brian, but I suppose that’s a cheat. How about Michael Rennie in The Day the Earth Stood Still?
11) Silliest straight horror film that you’re still fond of
12) Emily Blunt or Sally Gray? Emily Blunt
13) Favorite cinematic Biblical spectacular
14) Favorite cinematic moment of unintentional humor: In The Exorcist II, when Linda Blair’s soul has been swiped by the Devil, or something like that, a (I’m willing to bet) very drunk Richard Burton announces in his most stentorian tones: “I know where she is! I’ll find her!”
15) Michael Fassbender or David Farrar?
16) Most effective faith-affirming movie: History Is Made at Night. I know it’s not overtly about religion, but its message is the transcendent power of love, which seems like the same basic idea.
17) Movie that makes the best case for agnosticism: Well, I love the moment in Time After Time when Malcom McDowell as a distraught and desperate H. G. Wells looks up at a cross on an altar in a church and says, “I don’t believe you exist.” That always makes me smile.
18) Favorite song and/or dance sequence from a musical: “Never Gonna Dance” from Swing Time
19) Third favorite Howard Hawks movie: To Have and Have Not
20) Clara Bow or Jean Harlow? Harlow
21) Movie most recently seen in the theater? On DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming? I’m embarrassed to admit I haven’t seen a movie in a theater since The King’s Speech.
22) Most unlikely good movie about religion: I know it suffers from its Oscar win, and its general tone of Masterpiece Theater, but I thought the depiction of the religious convictions of the one runner in Chariots of Fire was nicely done.
23) Phil Silvers or Red Skelton? Not wild about either, but Skelton helped the young Johnny Carson, so I’ll give him the nod.
24) “Favorite” Hollywood scandal: The Ince/Hearst/Davies/Parsons scandal, as laid out in The Cat’s Meow.
25) Best religious movie (non-Christian)
26) The King of Cinema: King Vidor, King Hu or Henry King? (Thanks, Peter): Creole!
27) Name something modern movies need to relearn how to do that American or foreign classics had down pat: Charm
28) Least favorite Federico Fellini movie
29) The Three Stooges (2012)—yes or no? I like the idea that people were still so taken with the Stooges that they put all the work and money needed into making a movie based on a new version of them. That kind of obsessive love can’t be dismissed easily. On the other hand, trying to reproduce something that must have been unique, because otherwise so many people wouldn’t still care about it so much, seems like a fool’s errand at best, and disrespectful of the very thing the makers love, at worst.
30) Mary Wickes or Patsy Kelly? Wickes
31) Best movie-related conspiracy theory: That Eddie Mannix had George Reeves killed for *not* sleeping with Mannix’s wife. (See: Hollywoodland.)
32) Your candidate for most misunderstood or misinterpreted movie: Close Encounters. I’ve always thought it was the best depiction of artistic vision - that is, the artist so driven by his creative vision that he must see it through to completion, no matter the cost, whereupon he’s carried away to another sphere of existence. Thankfully, no one connected with the movie has ever even hinted at expressing it in terms so heavy-handed, since that would ruin it. (That’s still how I see it, though.)
33) Movie that made you question your own belief system (religious or otherwise): When I saw Putney Swope during my sophomore year in college, at the height of my first rush of movie love, it was odious enough to make me realize that, sadly, some movies are really, really bad.
Not a response to this quiz, but I thought you might enjoy this one on comic book movies, asking people involved in making comic books:
http://blog.oregonlive.com/madaboutmovies/2012/07/once_a_fan_always_a_fan_portla.html
Here you go:
http://cinevistaramascope.blogspot.com/2012/07/headless-eels-gay-marxists-and-last.html
Posting this on behalf of my colleague Kevin (aka Jack Deth) is today sent over my way, Dennis.
#1/ ‘Lilies of the Field (Most touching) ‘The Trouble with Angels’ (Funniest)
#2/’The Train’. Followed closely by ‘Seconds’.
#3/Bill Bendix. A Hollywood staple through the 1940s and 50s.
#6/ Tough one! Anne Savage
#7/’The Thing from Another World’ on the family B&W Zenith.
#8/ ‘Winds Across the Everglades’. A great looking Audobon nature film with Burl Ives gave me nightmares after seeing it.
#9/Robert Mitchum. No one plays “Doomed with nowhere else to go” like he does. See ‘Out of the Past’ and ‘The Friends of Eddie Coyle and discover a master at work!
#11/ Toss up between ‘The Giant Claw’ from the 1950s. And its unintended 1982 Larry Cohen sequel, ‘Q’.
#12/Emily Blunt
#14/ A scene in ‘The Professionals’ where Lee Marvin and Burt Lancaster are sitting and discussing tactics. And a horse in the background is taking a dump.
#16/ John Huston’s ‘Heaven Knows Mr. Allison’.
#18/ The very early on “Cattle Call” mass audition sequence to “On Broadway” in ‘All That Jazz’. A masterpiece of editing and music!
#19/ ‘Ball of Fire’ with Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck’.
#23/ Phil Silvers
#26/ Budd Boetticher: King of low budget, Randolph Scott western.
#27/ Lose the shaky cam! Relax and let nature, sunlight and clouds add to a scene and make it even better.
#31/ ‘The Parallax View’. Still one of the best conspiracy flicks of the qo70s and beyond.
#32/ ‘The Ninth Configuration’. Great film. Awful title. With some of Stacy Keach’s best work under William Peter Blatty’s screenplay and direction.
Followed closely by Michael Mann’s ‘The Keep’.
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