Favorite Films (lists up to participating site members)

[Pcdunn]

"Waterloo" was a movie my class got to see as a type of reward for winning some academic contest or other. We were all bussed down to Hollywood and saw it at the famous Chinese Theater in the 1970s, which only added to the reward. The film was pretty good, very much an old-style spectacular with battles and extras on horses and so forth. Possibly the best matinee I've ever been to in my life!

Didn't Armand Assante also play Napoleon Bonaparte, perhaps in a television film or miniseries?

[Steadmund Brand]

Not trying to be a jerk.... but you have to add to the Napoleon list Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure... I love how that film was made.. and then shelved for a few years by the studio.. then they decided to try and release it as a " teen summer film" which it did become, but from what I understand.. it was supposed to be a more adult geared comedy...making fun of the youth.. but showing what would happen if all there historical figures were put in modern times... and it really works on that level.. marketed a different way ( which worked for them) but I think it's original target audience missed it... and the original target audience would have gotten all the subtle jokes that I fell most younger audiences missed....

And thanks for bringing this thread back to life!!! and it's true purpose is realized yet again by you putting "Austerlitz" on your list... I'm not at all familiar with this film,...now I feel I should track it down... but I must ask... is it worth it? you didn't say how you felt about the films on your list

Thanks again

Steadmund Brand

[Mayerling]

I think you have covered all the films made of Napoleon's career. Would 'Love and Death' with Woody Allen qualify? I've never seen the French classic 'Napoleon,' made in 1927. I believe it is available through Amazon though I don't know what the print quality is like.

Actually "Love and Death" would qualify, even though it is a comedy. In fact it is a spoof of Tolstoi's "War and Peace". But Bonaparte is a character (and is hoping to create the "Napoleon" pastry before Wellington creates 'Beef Wellington").

Actually I have only seen some scenes from Gance's masterpiece. It has a strange editing history (including once by Gance himself) so that copies varied when found. In the 1980s, when Gance was till alived, a version that was as close to what it originally had been like was shown in New York City (Gance attended the viewing). It is a curious film because by tricks of multiple screens the actions at the conclusion of the film were visually in advance of the time (1927) when it came out.

Jeff

[Rosella]

I think you have covered all the films made of Napoleon's career. Would 'Love and Death' with Woody Allen qualify? I've never seen the French classic 'Napoleon,' made in 1927. I believe it is available through Amazon though I don't know what the print quality is like.

[Mayerling]

I decided to revitalize the thread - nothing on it since the beginning of the month.

Last year at this time was the one hundred year anniversary of World War I beginning. The last few months saw the centennial of the torpedoing of the Lusitania, and the two hundredth anniversary of Napoleon's last chance end at the battle of Waterloo.

So, I am going to make a list of those films I can think of regarding Napoleon's career. If you see I missed any feel free to add to it.

1. Napoleon (Abel Gance's silent classic)
2. Conquest (Charles Boyer as the Emperor, with Greta Garbo as his Polish lover)
3. Desiree (Marlon Brando as the Emperor, with Jean Simmons as Desiree Clary Bernadotte, future Queen of Spain - Merle Oberon played Josephine)
4. Austerlitz (French film of 1962 vintage - among it's stars was Orson Welles as American artist/inventor Robert Fulton - trying to market his submarine!)
5. Young Mr. Pitt (Robert Donat as William Pitt the Younger trying to defeat the French, with the opposition leader Charles Fox played by Robert Morley. Bonaparte played by Herbert Lom)
6. War and Peace (1956) - Herbert Lom (in a better written screenplay) again as Napoleon. With Henry Fonda, Audrey Hepburn, Mel Ferrer, John Mills.
7. Waterloo (Rod Steiger as Napoleon, Christopher Plummer as Wellington, and Orson Welles as the Bourbon King Louis XVIII).
8. Scaramouche (1951) - with Stewart Granger, Mel Ferrer, Eleanor Powell. At the end an unknown actor makes a comic cameo as Napoleon.

As for the "Lusitania" there have been some British and Canadian films on television dealing with the disaster, but no commercial film (on the level of James Cameron's epic "Titanic" or the 1958 "A Night to Remember") most likely because the White Star liner sank after two and a half hours of flooding, and the Cunarder went down (from WHATEVER cause) in only 18 minutes.

These films mentoned the disaster, although the first (an early cartoon) does a nice job showing the sinking.

1) The Sinking of the Lusitania (Winsor McCay - 1916 / it is on You Tube)
2) 'Til the Clouds Role By (pseudo-biography of Jerome Kern - Robert Walker Sr. - which shows the "Lusy" leaving NYC with Charles Frohman on board - he drowned in the disaster)
3) Night and Day (pseudo - biography of Cole Porter - Cary Grant. He and a friend are discussing the probable death of an acquaintance on the ship).
4) Yankee Doodle Dandy - (pseudo - biography of George M. Cohan - Jimmy Cagney - in which he hears of the news on the night his serious play "Popularity" flops. Interestingly enough, the photograph of the "Lusy" in the newspaper that is being hawked by a newsboy and looked at by Cagney is of the wrong ship - it is a photo of a two funnel vessel, not a four funnel vessel).

[Interesting that of the four films I could think of three are supposed biographical movies of popular song composers.]

Jeff

[GUT]

There is an interesting find on "You Tube". About 1935 (a few years before he died) William Gillette was talking to some students at Yale, and reminiscing about his youth in Hartford, Connecticut where he was a neighbor of Mark Twain. Gillette is talking about knowing Twain, and how Twain never made any recording (or any that survived), so Gillette tries to demonstrate what Twain sounded like. It is an interesting curiosity, linking two figures that I find fascinating.

Jeff

Cool so off to you tube I go to try and find it.

[Mayerling]

William Gillette on "You Tube"

There is an interesting find on "You Tube". About 1935 (a few years before he died) William Gillette was talking to some students at Yale, and reminiscing about his youth in Hartford, Connecticut where he was a neighbor of Mark Twain. Gillette is talking about knowing Twain, and how Twain never made any recording (or any that survived), so Gillette tries to demonstrate what Twain sounded like. It is an interesting curiosity, linking two figures that I find fascinating.

Jeff

[Steadmund Brand]

I just saw that Oct 15th of this year Flicker Alley will be releasing the 1916 Sherlock Holmes ( with William Gillette) on DVD and blu ray fully restored and with some great bonus material added.....Flicker Alley has done some great restorations in the past so this should be quite good... remember this film was considered to be a LOST silent film until a print was found last year.. and William Gillette was world famous for his portrayal of Holmes on stage... so we at last get to see his take on Sherlock....I think this is an amazing find

the price is a bit steep for pre-order of $34.99 ( On Amazon.com)but this is a 2 disc collection and well, these films are always a bit more expensive, what with the limited audience for them, and the cost it takes to restore these old films, I don't feel bad paying a bit more..

just thought I would share this with all you film fans!!


Steadmund Brand

[Mayerling]

What's the link between your mum and Goodman?

If you don't mind me asking.

G'Day GUT,

I don't mind you asking. Jonathan Goodman was a literary mentor and close friend of mine. He helped me get some writing published. In fact, the last work of mine published in "The Ripperologist" (aside from a book review) was Jon's obituary in 2008. When he was in New York City he visited me and my mother on several occasions, and they became friends. His book, "The Supernatural Murders" is dedicated to her as "the 'weird lady'". She is also mentioned with me in his last book "Tracks to Murder", because his transcontinental rail trip at the basis for that book begins in NYC and his contact with us.

Jeff

[GUT]

I know the feeling. My house is just too full of books I bought and said I'd read, but never did. Sometimes I do finally get around to reading them, and then get rid of them. I keep my autographs in several drawers but I really only started the habit four years back. My prize signed books include one by President Carter from April a year ago (his book signing was very business like, as he sat at a desk, was handed a book for his signature, and then said "Good morning". Next book, please.). Lesser celebrities, like actress Diane Keaton, you can actually talk to a bit. I have several signed by Jonathan Goodman, but those were gifts. One has a dedication to my mother in it! I'll have to go through the listing I began to put together to see what special autographs I do have.

Jeff

What's the link between your mum and Goodman?

If you don't mind me asking.

[Mayerling]

Nice, sounds like you have a great collection as well... I try to think of my favorite items... it's hard to say... I am really proud of my Ernie Kovacs, because it's not easy to find one... I have some great Boxing ones as well.. big shock to anyone who has read my posts hahah....My favorite signed book I have is a Bio of Houdini written by the Amazing Randi and Bert Randolph Sugar signed by both ( Bert was a great friend of mine and I miss him terribly..I don;t care what any commercial says, Bert was the "Most Interesting Man In The World"... seriously anyone who ever spent more then 2minutes with him would say the same thing... and I was lucky enough to call him a friend!!!)... I have a nice Boston Blackie display with Dick Kollmar and Chester Morris (the radio and movie Blackie... looking for a nice Kent Taylor the TV Blackie to add to it) problem is i keep getting stuff and have no room for it... so much of my collection is in storage it's sad..

Steadmund Brand

I know the feeling. My house is just too full of books I bought and said I'd read, but never did. Sometimes I do finally get around to reading them, and then get rid of them. I keep my autographs in several drawers but I really only started the habit four years back. My prize signed books include one by President Carter from April a year ago (his book signing was very business like, as he sat at a desk, was handed a book for his signature, and then said "Good morning". Next book, please.). Lesser celebrities, like actress Diane Keaton, you can actually talk to a bit. I have several signed by Jonathan Goodman, but those were gifts. One has a dedication to my mother in it! I'll have to go through the listing I began to put together to see what special autographs I do have.

Jeff

[Steadmund Brand]

Nice, sounds like you have a great collection as well... I try to think of my favorite items... it's hard to say... I am really proud of my Ernie Kovacs, because it's not easy to find one... I have some great Boxing ones as well.. big shock to anyone who has read my posts hahah....My favorite signed book I have is a Bio of Houdini written by the Amazing Randi and Bert Randolph Sugar signed by both ( Bert was a great friend of mine and I miss him terribly..I don;t care what any commercial says, Bert was the "Most Interesting Man In The World"... seriously anyone who ever spent more then 2minutes with him would say the same thing... and I was lucky enough to call him a friend!!!)... I have a nice Boston Blackie display with Dick Kollmar and Chester Morris (the radio and movie Blackie... looking for a nice Kent Taylor the TV Blackie to add to it) problem is i keep getting stuff and have no room for it... so much of my collection is in storage it's sad..


Steadmund Brand

[Mayerling]

Phil Silvers is one of my favorite autographs in my collection.. yes I am one of the autograph nerds!! I think I spent too many years collecting this stuff... I need a bigger apartment haha

any other collectors? if so what are some of your favorites?


Steadmund Brand

Hi Steadmund,

I confess to being one myself - running from autographed books to letters, and by all types. One of my prize ones is a note, from his Maida Vale apartment address (dated 1937) by George Arliss. It's fun to collect people few others collect.

Recently I got a signed photo of Linda Darnell.

Not all of the people I purchase autographs of are actors or actresses. I have politicians too, and some writers. Among the politicians I got were Charles Evans Hughes and Wendell Wilkie (I tend to get Presidential hopefuls who never made it). I have an eye for odd items - one of the oddest is a letter from a Mr. Adee, one of the Assistant Secretaries of State in 1901, to a Spanish gentleman in New York City, in response to the letter that man wrote hoping for the President's speedy recovery. The letter, dated in September 1901, was regarding (in Mr. Adee's phrasing) the ATTEMPTED assassination of President McKinley in Buffalo. It was sent about four days before McKinley died.

I have made inquiries about bad guys (passing such political figures as Nixon, for example, but stressing convicted criminals). I learned John Wilkes Booth is difficult to find examples of his signature on the market - it seems that after Lincoln's murder to be known to have been intimate with Booth was not a smart thing, and Booth's acquaintances tended to destroy correspondents they had with the actor/assassin.

Naturally I have never found an autograph from "Jack".

Jeff

[Steadmund Brand]

Phil Silvers is one of my favorite autographs in my collection.. yes I am one of the autograph nerds!! I think I spent too many years collecting this stuff... I need a bigger apartment haha

any other collectors? if so what are some of your favorites?


Steadmund Brand

[Mayerling]

I have actually seen this.. I am a big fan of Phil Silvers!! and you are right this is fun

Steadmund Brand

It was rather amusing and dates back to the early 1960s. Silvers has become the sheriff of a town in the west and uses his "psychological" (for want of a better description) approach to beat the desperados (one, about to die after a shoot out with other desperados, looks at his two colts, and calls them "My teddy bears!!!"). Silvers' foes hire Benny, considered the worse gunfighter around (he rarely wins) to confront Silvers because the latter is afraid of fighting - but the story ends with both men facing each other (apparently endlessly) calling for the other to draw his gun, and neither doing so.

Jeff