Here’s a masterful reading, in 15 parts, of Rogue Male, the novel by Geoffrey Household that was adapted in the previously posted movie, Man Hunt.
A Household Book
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“Sporting Stalk” Adolph
If you have seen Inglorious Basterds, you know that Quentin Tarantino indulged revisionist history about Hitler. An alternative fate for Hitler likewise drives the story in Man Hunt. Directed by Fritz Lang, who had escaped from Nazi Germany, it was released six months before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. I was hooked watching Man Hunt from the start, with its unnervingly realistic depiction of Hitler in the crosshairs of Walter Pidgeon’s rifle.
Canadian-born Pidgeon plays an Englishman, and Russian-born George Sanders plays a German. They’re both fine in their roles, especially Sanders, who seemed to have spoken German as impeccably as he did English. Constance Bennett’s younger sister Joan is a delight, with her Eliza Doolittle accent. In one scene she looks so disappointed when Walter says he’s going to sleep on the couch, it’s obvious that she wanted him to join her in bed. I’m surprised it wasn’t cut by the censors. (Pidgeon was actually quite gay.)
Slow and Steady Joe Pera
Coming up at 8 tonight ET, watch Joe Pera’s Full Comedy Special.
Border Noir
On Turner Classics Movies right now is Border Incident, about illegal immigration along the Mexican border 75 years ago. If you don’t mind the Japanese subtitles over the movie, here is another simulated TCM Noir Alley presentation, with Eddie Muller’s informative commentary.
https://youtu.be/-Gaq6qqsdHM
Going In Breaking Bad Style
Someone who I know checks this site every so often might remember me liking Going in Style, when it came out in the memorable month of December, 1979. I haven’t seen the 2017 remake.
The premise of three average, old, law-abiding men robbing a bank is silly, but a lot of what happens in the story is at least plausible. The point of the movie isn’t the robbery, but the lives of the three retired friends who share a low-rent New York apartment to save on expenses.
Last night I watched Going in Style with an old man’s appreciation. Checking on their ages, George Burns, 83, was old enough to be Art Carney’s father. At 61, Carney was younger than I am now. With that in mind, Carney’s interest in women is established early in the movie. It’s one of the plausible parts. 😉
Carney’s character is tempted to take advantage of an opportunity with an obviously top-dollar “working girl” at a casino. Burns spoils it by indicating there’s no point in offering. Some friend he is!
I have no big point to make about the movie other than remembering how young I was when first seeing it, and realizing I’m now in the age group of the characters.
P.S. How plausible is it that all three men were widowers? Not very. A hidden subplot must be that at least one of them was a murderer before turning to robbery.
Netflix Discards Discs
January, 2004 I became a Netflix customer.
Three years later, Netflix gave me access to its brand-new streaming service.
With streaming barely out of the starting gate, that August The Boston Globe profiled the expansive Netflix disc distribution center that serviced the area.
In February, 2009, exactly two years after having my first taste of Netflix streaming, the service had expanded enough to justify buying a first generation Roku player. Half a dozen streamers have come and gone from the house since then, with two Rokus and a Fire TV stick remaining.
In September, 2011 Netflix CEO Reed Hastings announced Qwikster, a premature move away from discs.
In April, 2017, one month after retiring, I ended my Netflix disc subscription.
The final few days of Netflix’s physical media service, ending what it began, are here. Slate has a good opinion piece about it.
https://slate.com/culture/2023/09/netflix-dvd-rental-service-ending-movies-queue.html