Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[oildude]

I am glad Rapture is getting some love from members here. My favorite TT release, and one I have plugged repeatedly over the past three years.

One highly recommended film that I don't see mentioned hardly at all, if ever, is another of TT's best releases - Nicholas and Alexandra.



Nicholas and Alexandra is the film that director Franklin J. Schaffner made between Patton and Papillon, and like those two, N&A is an intimate character drama placed within epic events. The acting is simply superb, from the two leads, Michael Jayston and Janet Suzman, to the children, various ministers, and other supporting roles. Standout supporting roles include:

Michael Bryant in a chilling and yet humanly vulnerable portrayal of the violence-minded Lenin,
Child actor Roderic Noble as the tragic tsarevich, Alexei,
A young, dark haired Ian Holm (Bilbo from Lord of the Rings) also has a brief but memorable appearance as a commissar,
And above all there is Tom Baker as Rasputin, giving an Oscar-worthy performance as the depraved charismatic monk.

The film is based heavily on Robert Massie's excellent book about the lives of the last Russian tsar and his family, along with a portrait of the era in which they lived. TT’s blu-ray is the first time I have seen the movie. It is remarkably faithful to the book, and is one of the most accurate historical films ever made. The main differences, common to many historic epics, are to compress some of the time lines and to reduce or eliminate some of the characters. N&A is a fantastic drama. Parts of it are as moving as anything ever put on film; there are several scenes that burn into your memory, including the events of Bloody Sunday, when a crowd of peaceful subjects marches on the Winter Palace to present a petition to their tsar.

Nicholas II is portrayed accurately as a flawed and willfully stubborn monarch, who is determined to lead Russia as best he can while preserving the absolutism of royal power. There is a telling moment when his ministers inform him of Bloody Sunday and the tsar, while horrified, readily admits he wouldn’t have listened to the petitioners anyway. Nicholas is a tragic figure. His decisions are often clouded and poisoned by the violent nature of turbulent times catching up to a Russia that has been painfully slow to modernize its government institutions and society. Even his attempts to keep secret from the public a dreadful hereditary illness afflicting his son Alexei - out of fear its revelation will make the dynasty appear weak at a time when he believes his people want a strong monarch - are in hindsight misguided. This secrecy and aloofness contributed immensely to the downward spiral of his reign. While a decent man, he is nevertheless reviled by many of his subjects, who see him and his German-born wife as unsympathetic tyrants. The First World War crashes upon Russia and the Romanov regime, unleashing a series of uncontrollable events. Riding the wave are immense personalities able to influence the outcome of history, including the appearance of Rasputin whose ability to bring relief to the sufferings of young Alexei gives him outsized and ultimately disastrous influence over Alexandra.

I am not sure why N&A has never achieved the level of recognition of other similar epics, even among the films of Schaffner. Perhaps it is because large parts of the film take place indoors (the interior sets are splendid, and look stunning in high def) giving it a more subdued visual sweep compared to films like Lawrence of Arabia. Much of the plot is dialogue driven, as we witness monumental events played out against the intimate portraits of a family of royals who seem unaware of how they are dancing on the edge of a precipice. N&A also came along at a time when Hollywood was moving away from this type of film.

The PQ is spectacular, with rich colors and fine grain showing the incredible amount of period details that make many scenes complete visual treats. The film score is magnificent and my only nitpick is I wish it had a more expansive presentation than mono can give it. Nevertheless, it is faithful to the original. TT has hit another one out of the park. Thanks Nick Redman and company for bringing this “lost” epic back to life, and allowing a new generation to rediscover its power and majestic beauty.

[AndersonVision]

Just watched N&A on Tuesday night. Seeing a young Brian Cox as Leon Trotsky was odd.

I thought the guy was born old.

[ChromeJob]

I remember seeing parts of N&A on KTVU Oakland CA growing up. I remember a

[Show spoiler]very subtle but sad ending with the kids....

I may pick it up on your recommendation, oildude. I recall it being on the scale of Doctor Zhivago without the syrup.

I thought someone posted about delayed payment and/or reduced shipping costs after crossing the US$100 mark. (Oy vey, do I really need to buy this much tonight?) I don't find anything on the site referring to anything like that. Help?

... I used to have this last line memorized ... buying Inherit the Wind just to hear Gene Kelly again...

"I do hateful things for which people love me, and I do loveable things for which they hate me. I'm admired for my detestability. Now don't worry, little Eva. I may be rancid butter, but I'm on your side of the bread."

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

However I know some people collect labels and buy films they don't love just to complete a collection, and I hope that person isn't doing that. Not healthy behavior.

It's no less healthy than collecting stamps or coins or comics or Star Wars action figures.

[Aclea]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

EDIT: does anyone have anything good to say about Royal Flash? I read a bunch of reviews and no one seemed to like it much. It just caught my attention cause it costars Florinda Bolkan, who I've been seeing star in a lot of great stuff recently and she always impresses me.

Well, she is a very impressive woman...



"Never hit a man when he's down. He may get up."

Despite the enduring popularity of George Macdonald Fraser's novels, the exploits of Harry Flashman, the school bully who made Tom Brown's schooldays such an ordeal and whose subsequently chronicled military career saw him popping up across the globe at historically propitious moments, didn't have much luck with the big screen. An attempt to film Flashman, the first novel, with John Alderton as the bounder and Richard Lester directing was cancelled only days before shooting was scheduled to start in 1970 and even after Lester and Macdonald were coming off the success of The Three and Four Musketeers, 1975's Royal Flash came almost as close to being cancelled before a last-minute change of studios saved the day only for the film's box-office failure to kill off all hope of sequels. Which is a shame, because it's a wonderful comedy adventure spin on The Prisoner of Zenda (the novel's conceit is that it was Anthony Hope who stole the idea after Flashman told him of his exploits) which just happens to involve real historical figures like Otto Von Bismarck (a coldly pompous Oliver Reed), Lola Montes (Florinda Bolkan), King Ludwig of Bavaria and even bare-knuckle boxer-turned-Member of Parliament John Gully (`Our `Enry' Copper, dubbed by Norman Rossington).

Flashman's certainly a wonderful comic hero for an increasingly cynical and disillusioned age. The hero of Afghanistan is almost the British Empire incarnate in all its self-righteous self-serving cynicism, a shamelessly xenophobic exploiter who wraps himself up in all the great British values he doesn't hold but who still constantly ends up doing some good by complete accident and bad luck while trying to fill his boots. He's not exactly a complete coward, though he always tries to manipulate the odds in his favour ("Come on down and fight like a man." "Don't be ridiculous!"), he's certainly a braggart and a bigot and the kind of person who is always absolutely guaranteed to let you down and steal your girlfriend and your last five pounds in the process, yet, as Big George Webley says in one of the DVD and Bluray's accompanying featurettes, you still want to be his mate.

While Fraser's first choice for the role, Errol Flynn, was too dead and his second, David Niven, too old, Malcolm McDowall makes a very pleasing and surprisingly acrobatic substitute even if the surface emphasis shifts from charm to selfishness, and he's surrounded by an excellent supporting cast - Alan Bates on wonderfully witty form and an excellent foil for McDowall in the Rupert of Hentzau role, Britt Ekland cast against type as a frigid duchess, Alastair Sim (not given much to do in one of his last roles), Lionel Jeffries, Tom Bell, Joss Ackland, Christopher Cazenove (who could have made a decent Flashman himself had his profile been higher), Michael Hordern, Bob Hoskins and David Jason. It's given top notch production values too, from cinematography by Geoffrey Unsworth to production design by Terence Marsh and some excellent location work in Bavaria. All of which would just be window dressing if it weren't for the film's wickedly entertaining sense of fun that at once manages to debunk period swashbucklers while celebrating them, with Lester throwing in some wonderful sight gags (one with a bored maid washing the floor at an especially dramatic moment in the story is a particular gem) without losing sight of the story. As the TV spot included on the disc says, it's `A terribly funny film with absolutely no redeeming social value,' and one which definitely seems to have improved with age.

Like Fox's DVD release, Twilight Time's limited edition region-free Blu-ray of the general release version doesn't offer any of the deleted scenes (the film was trimmed after previewing badly, losing Arthur Lowe and Roy Kinnear's scenes) but does have the same satisfying extras package, pride of place going to an enjoyable audio commentary with McDowall affectionately looking back on the film (he's particularly good on his warm relationship with Bates and how they had to rewrite the script to appeal to his admitted vanity and on Sim's tendency to sputter his lines causing him to despair of having to dub his lines). Also included are two featurettes featuring Fraser and both his admirers and some of those who worked on the film, one on the making of the film, the other on the Flashman books, and isolated music and effects track and a booklet (a different one to that included on Fox's DVD). The impressive transfer is a noticeable improvement over the DVD version, though like many 70s films it does occasionally have a deliberately diffused look.

[StingingVelvet]

Originally Posted by Angel Eyes

Sci Fi films can be drama as well. Maybe you mean more "action/adventure" Sci Fi films?

No, I mean sci-fi in general, as a genre. Action, drama, horror, what-have-you. The point was I don't collect many straight dramas without that sci-fi or fantasy edge to them that makes them more rewatchable for me. I might love Heaven and Earth or Remains of the Day but that doesn't mean I have to own them. There are a million decent films out there, for me to want to own it and watch it every year it has to be right in my wheelhouse, something tuned in to my specific interests, which sci-fi, fantasy and 80's action movies are.

I feel bad for someone who feels the need to own every movie they ever liked. That sounds like compulsion to me, and an expensive one.

Originally Posted by ElliesDad

And yet your avatar is Cary Grant? Go figure...

Hope there's no snobbish tone here, I don't deserve that. I love drams and all manner of films, I just don't want to own them all. Cary Grant's are often among those I do own or want to own, and I am a big fan. Not sure why that would be hard to understand.

[CinemaScope]

Originally Posted by Aclea

Like Fox's DVD release, Twilight Time's limited edition region-free Blu-ray of the general release version doesn't offer any of the deleted scenes (the film was trimmed after previewing badly, losing Arthur Lowe and Roy Kinnear's scenes)

Yes, I saw this a day or two after it opened in London's West End, & can remember a scene with Flashman "roasting" a pupil in front of an open fire (the headmaster Michael Horden was talking about Flashman's early schoolboy years near the start of the film). The next time I saw it, that scene was gone, & maybe the others too (I can't remember them). I loved the film at the time, not so keen on it now. Are you sure our 'Enry was dubbed? It sure sounds like him to me.

...& I thought Florinda Bolkan was just so sexy. It goes to prove that a woman doesn't need big boobs to be sexy, Florinda was virtually flat chested!

[docc]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

I feel bad for someone who feels the need to own every movie they ever liked. That sounds like compulsion to me, and an expensive one.

Please don't feel bad for me, I'm happy

[chidecki]

Ordered:

Buddy Holly Story (One of those, 'watch every time it's on' type of movies)
Experiment into Terror (Noir I've never seen, but always wanted to)
Inherit the Wind (Spencer Tracy in a courtroom drama? Money!)

[CinemaScope]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

I feel bad for someone who feels the need to own every movie they ever liked. That sounds like compulsion to me, and an expensive one.

If you can afford it, why not? And I don't find it expensive. If you shop around, Blu-rays are cheap, DVD's were never as cheap. Most of my buys are between £5-£9, & as my favourite decades are 60's 50's & 40's (in that order) & I don't buy region A locked discs, it's not every week or even every month that a film I like is released.

I also buy every book I like & every CD album I like.

[ChromeJob]

Originally Posted by Aclea

Well, she is a very impressive woman...







...

Thanks. I have a paperback of the first book, and was lukewarm to the movie. All these extras tip the scale for me, though.

[jmclick]

Originally Posted by chidecki

Ordered:

Buddy Holly Story (One of those, 'watch every time it's on' type of movies)
Experiment into Terror (Noir I've never seen, but always wanted to)
Inherit the Wind (Spencer Tracy in a courtroom drama? Money!)

I consider Experiment in Terror to be highly underrated. It's really not so much a noir, at least not in the classic sense; it's more a cat-and-mouse suspense thriller with a bit of mystery and a dash of horror thrown in for good measure. Lovely Lee Remick gives a great performance (she and Helen Chandler had the most beautiful eyes in the history of cinema) and Glenn Ford and Ross Martin are both very effective. The cinematography is excellent (this is one of those black-and-white films that wouldn't have worked as well in color), and Blake Edwards' direction is sure-handed.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I have over the years!

[lefty23]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

I feel bad for someone who feels the need to own every movie they ever liked. That sounds like compulsion to me, and an expensive one.

I would like to own every movie I like, but I try to take into consideration how likely I am to re-watch the film multiple times. If its something I will watch often, I don't mind paying $20 or $30 for it. If its a film I like, but probably won't watch often (like say a 'tree of life'), then I just wait for a good sale.

I know a lot of people who don't like to re-watch dramas, but I'm kind of the opposite. I can watch a good dramatic film like Ace in the Hole or Last Picture Show and get much more enjoyment on re-watches than I do re-watching most genre stuff (like the Marvel movies or horror films).

But, I do still get a ton of fun out of re-watching what I guess would be considered guilty pleasure movies like Road House or Over the Top.

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by CinemaScope

If you can afford it, why not? And I don't find it expensive. If you shop around, Blu-rays are cheap, DVD's were never as cheap. Most of my buys are between £5-£9, & as my favourite decades are 60's 50's & 40's (in that order) & I don't buy region A locked discs, it's not every week or even every month that a film I like is released.

I also buy every book I like & every CD album I like.

DVD's were just as cheap. I used to always rent up until the late 90's, but then after a few years of DVD's (probably by the early 2000's) it hit me that prices were getting so low I could BUY many of those movies for just a bit more than a rental. Which was the same $5-$10 sweetspot range that I eventually found for blu-ray (after blu-ray had been out a couple of years).

Yes, there are some bizarre situations nowadays where the blu-ray might be priced LOWER than the DVD, but for the most part both are very cheap.

I've actually been more into the niche films and collector lables on blu-ray than I was with DVD (I only had about 15-20 Criterions on DVD, but now I have well over 100 on blu-ray, plus Twilight Time, Shout,etc). So I probably spend a bit more than I used to.

[hilts]

Originally Posted by GaragePoet

yep, looks like i'll have to return the 3 items and re-order them in order to get the discounted price. seems like a lot of extra hassle for a very simple issue, but $30 is $30...

Bad break, but from a business standpoint SAE did the right thing. They just fulfilled a lot of orders from the last release that probably included items on the sale. I ordered Killer Elite with JTTCOTE and FMOTM, and it was delivered two or three days before the sale.
My guess is SAE would be hammered with credit requests if they allowed it to be that simple, and then there would be the arguments with people who want them to go back just a little bit further to include their purchase.

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by hilts

Bad break, but from a business standpoint SAE did the right thing. They just fulfilled a lot of orders from the last release that probably included items on the sale. I ordered Killer Elite with JTTCOTE and FMOTM, and it was delivered two or three days before the sale.
My guess is SAE would be hammered with credit requests if they allowed it to be that simple, and then there would be the arguments with people who want them to go back just a little bit further to include their purchase.

I paid more for three of the titles I ordered a couple of weeks ago, but I got a signed copy of Fright Night...not going to complain about it .

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

I feel bad for someone who feels the need to own every movie they ever liked. That sounds like compulsion to me, and an expensive one.

I buy movies that I like enough to watch more than once, and I blindly buy movies that I think that I will like enough to watch more than once. So far, I've had a 100% success rate with my collection.

I won't deny that there is a compulsive element to collecting movies this way, I won't deny that my collection is a commitment in terms of storage space, although I purposely go out of my way to buy the simplest editions of most Blu-rays, and I certainly will not deny that this is an expensive compulsion.

I do not feel a need to own every single movie that I have ever liked, though. There are quite a few flicks that I love and hold in high esteem, but simply have no desire ever to watch more than once. My Girl (1991) and 12 Years a Slave (2013) are a couple of examples that come to mind.

I do tend to buy all movies from the 1980s that even remotely intrigued me when I was younger. I have a lot of fond memories from that decade, and the cinema from that era is like bottled-up doses of happy nostalgia, even with regard to the horror movies or bleak drama films. I suppose that this seems pretty weird to most people, but, hey, that's how I roll, and it is what it is.

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by Sho-Nuff

Wow. That's pretty damn annoying. "Most" companies would credit you the difference. Customer service 101.

Like you said, $30 is $30.....I'd do the same.

It's somewhat of a recent phenomenon, really. Amazon is the first I recall adjusting the price on the fly automatically, but that only applies if the item hasn't shipped. If it's already shipped, not so much. (their CS would almost certainly do it after the fact, but they consider it a negative customer service event). Now some big box retailers give you like 14 days, and they do this to compete with Amazon, but I'd hardly say it's "customer service 101".

Most businesses will just laugh at you if you say you want a price adjustment AFTER you already agree and paid for a deal. Big Box Retail is really the only place it happens IMO.

[Yojimbo]

Originally Posted by jmclick

I consider Experiment in Terror to be highly underrated. It's really not so much a noir, at least not in the classic sense; it's more a cat-and-mouse suspense thriller with a bit of mystery and a dash of horror thrown in for good measure. Lovely Lee Remick gives a great performance (she and Helen Chandler had the most beautiful eyes in the history of cinema) and Glenn Ford and Ross Martin are both very effective. The cinematography is excellent (this is one of those black-and-white films that wouldn't have worked as well in color), and Blake Edwards' direction is sure-handed.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I have over the years!

Experiment in Terror was great! It definitely had a Dirty Harry vibe at times for me, especially the ending.

[Brent L.]

They just posted on FB that Leave Her to Heaven is now sold out!