Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by koberulz

I get it, it's funny because he's clumsy and breaks things.

Humour is subjective.

I actually rarely laugh out loud myself at stuff, particularly at anything slapsticky. I do enjoy the Pink Panther films though. I prefer the smaller scale jokes such as the one in Return of the Pink Panther where the guy offers to take Clouseau's hat and coat then just walks out with them. I approach the films like they are straight adventure movies or mysteries and when something silly happens I find it far more amusing because it's so out of place, rather than watching them as comedies and expecting to laugh my ass off throughout.

I think that's why Return is my favourite, because apart from Clouseau everyone else in the movie by and large plays it straight.

[ogjongray]

Originally Posted by koberulz

I get it, it's funny because he's clumsy and breaks things.

It's not the slapstick humor that strikes a chord. It's the line that comes at the end of the clip. The clever script by Edwards and Frank Waldman includes dialogue that elevates the comedic timing of Sellers by providing him with lines that augment the admittedly cringe-worthy slapstick of certain scenes. It's not funny that he is bitten by a dog; it's funny that he's bitten by the wrong dog. It's not funny that he destroyed a Steinway piano; it's funny that he is able to remark upon its' destruction without apology or explanation. There is a scene in A Shot In The Dark involving bird poop. It's not funny. Full stop.

The point is that the obvious jokes are rarely funny. The ability to construct a screenplay with jokes that work on paper as well as on the screen is exceedingly rare. There's a reason that comedies quickly devolve into grotesque displays of flatulence and pratfalls. They are easy to write and anyone can get a laugh out of someone one time. It's much harder to make someone laugh four decades in the future with a line as simple as "Not anymore."

[koberulz]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

I actually rarely laugh out loud myself at stuff, particularly at anything slapsticky.

It's not just that I'm not laughing out loud, it's just not amusing. It's not clever, and I like clever humour. I love Aaron Sorkin shows, for example, the constant witty back-and-forth appeals to me far more.

Slapstick just isn't funny to me, for the most part. Keaton is the big exception for me, because while it's a lot of people falling over and being hit with things, there's also a whole lot of creativity and skill that goes into it that just isn't present with "spins globe, tries leaning on globe, falls over".

[ogjongray]

Originally Posted by koberulz

It's not just that I'm not laughing out loud, it's just not amusing. It's not clever, and I like clever humour. I love Aaron Sorkin shows, for example, the constant witty back-and-forth appeals to me far more.

Slapstick just isn't funny to me, for the most part. Keaton is the big exception for me, because while it's a lot of people falling over and being hit with things, there's also a whole lot of creativity and skill that goes into it that just isn't present with "spins globe, tries leaning on globe, falls over".

I will always listen to any argument from someone who loves Keaton.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by ogjongray

I will always listen to any argument from someone who loves Keaton.

I agree. He's a physical comedy genius:

[Show spoiler]

[Dailyan]

RIP Stanley Donen

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.the...-the-rain-dies

[nitin]

Originally Posted by koberulz

It's not just that I'm not laughing out loud, it's just not amusing. It's not clever, and I like clever humour. I love Aaron Sorkin shows, for example, the constant witty back-and-forth appeals to me far more.

Slapstick just isn't funny to me, for the most part. Keaton is the big exception for me, because while it's a lot of people falling over and being hit with things, there's also a whole lot of creativity and skill that goes into it that just isn't present with "spins globe, tries leaning on globe, falls over".

Aaron Sorkin is really not that clever, and is very repetitive in his own way.

[Rzzzz]

Originally Posted by koberulz

It's not just that I'm not laughing out loud, it's just not amusing. It's not clever, and I like clever humour. I love Aaron Sorkin shows, for example, the constant witty back-and-forth appeals to me far more.

Slapstick just isn't funny to me, for the most part. Keaton is the big exception for me, because while it's a lot of people falling over and being hit with things, there's also a whole lot of creativity and skill that goes into it that just isn't present with "spins globe, tries leaning on globe, falls over".

But you can laugh at the Three Stooges right? I dare you to watch the last 5 minutes and not laugh....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs6j6zjQ3bE

[DMRI2006]

Originally Posted by Zen_Amako

I'm really not sure what the deal is with Bedazzled. The Twilight Time Blu-ray is 2.35:1, but the picture does seem like it's a bit vertically stretched (in particular, Eleanor Bron's face looks too skinny). Is that just how the film is intended to look?

Noticed it also. Looks stretched for sure, and doesnt look right.

[koberulz]

Originally Posted by nitin

Aaron Sorkin is really not that clever, and is very repetitive in his own way.

Perhaps. I've seen the compilation of him re-using the same lines, but I've never noticed it while watching. Mind you, I've only seen The West Wing and The Newsroom.

[malakaheso]

Has anyone here picked up The Last Hurrah? If so, what's the picture like?

I've never seen it on sale. Might have to bite the bullet and pay full price.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

Has anyone here picked up The Last Hurrah? If so, what's the picture like?

I've never seen it on sale. Might have to bite the bullet and pay full price.

It was only released last September... it’ll definitely be on sale at some point.

[nitin]

Originally Posted by koberulz

Perhaps. I've seen the compilation of him re-using the same lines, but I've never noticed it while watching. Mind you, I've only seen The West Wing and The Newsroom.

I think it’s because it’s all ‘clever’ dialog, everyone sounds similar and I don’t think there is much actual characterisation. He is also not exactly subtle. Some actors definitely give it more depth though.

[chas speed]

Originally Posted by DMRI2006

Noticed it also. Looks stretched for sure, and doesnt look right.

I have heard a few people (very few) say that the "Bedazzled" DVD also looked "stretched", but I never noticed it. It is one of my all time favorite movies and I think I would pick up on something like that. Many of these same people thought it looked better with a 2:66.1 ratio on German Blu-ray rather then the correct 2:35.1 ratio. I am not one of those people. If it looks like the DVD, but in Blu-ray form I will be pleased.

[DMRI2006]

Originally Posted by chas speed

I have heard a few people (very few) say that the "Bedazzled" DVD also looked "stretched", but I never noticed it. It is one of my all time favorite movies and I think I would pick up on something like that. Many of these same people thought it looked better with a 2:66.1 ratio on German Blu-ray rather then the correct 2:35.1 ratio. I am not one of those people. If it looks like the DVD, but in Blu-ray form I will be pleased.

I havent seen the German disc but this does look squeezed. Its not cropped, but its definitely stretched slightly and looks a little "off".

[Kristian Idol]

Originally Posted by DMRI2006

I havent seen the German disc but this does look squeezed. Its not cropped, but its definitely stretched slightly and looks a little "off".

Why the long face, George?

[koberulz]

Originally Posted by Rzzzz

But you can laugh at the Three Stooges right? I dare you to watch the last 5 minutes and not laugh....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs6j6zjQ3bE

Done.

Originally Posted by nitin

I think it’s because it’s all ‘clever’ dialog, everyone sounds similar and I don’t think there is much actual characterisation. He is also not exactly subtle. Some actors definitely give it more depth though.

I'm talking purely in terms of my style of humour, not the political sledgehammer he frequently wields, or anything else. I'd never put on Sorkin for something deep and meaningful, but as a light-hearted option I don't have to pay too much attention to it's great. And I enjoy that style of humour generally, he's just the most well-known for it that I could think of.

[Rzzzz]

Originally Posted by koberulz

done.

Amazing !!

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by Screen Archives Entertainment

Updated TWILIGHT TIME blu-ray's for March go live for pre-order Wednesday, March 6th at 4pm eastern - THE WHOLE TOWN’S TALKING (1935), THE RIVER’S EDGE (1957) , THE QUILLER MEMORANDUM (1966) (Brand New 4K Transfer), THE BIG FIX (1978). The ESTIMATED street date is March 19th.

[GeoffOliver]

I love Twilight Time's covers, but I always wonder why they seem to feel the need to give B&W films B&W covers.