As we approach another anniversary of August 9, those who participated in “the decision” are all but gone.
But the reminders are with us, thanks to a new book by Evan Thomas, “Road to Surrender,” the forward for which reads “To save lives, it was necessary to take lives — possibly hundreds of thousands of them.” And, of course, Christopher Nolan’s epic portrait of the man who was never allowed to forget, Robert Oppenheimer.
We can’t hide under our desks anymore, but we can view ten other works that scared the hell out of us.
“On the Beach” (United Artists)
“On the Beach” (1959)
As a little girl in 1959, I found my parents watching this black and white film on TV. Excited, I asked if it was the latest with Annette and Frankie Avalon. Uh, no. They allowed me to stay, and two hours later, I was shaken to the core.
But the reminders are with us, thanks to a new book by Evan Thomas, “Road to Surrender,” the forward for which reads “To save lives, it was necessary to take lives — possibly hundreds of thousands of them.” And, of course, Christopher Nolan’s epic portrait of the man who was never allowed to forget, Robert Oppenheimer.
We can’t hide under our desks anymore, but we can view ten other works that scared the hell out of us.
“On the Beach” (United Artists)
“On the Beach” (1959)
As a little girl in 1959, I found my parents watching this black and white film on TV. Excited, I asked if it was the latest with Annette and Frankie Avalon. Uh, no. They allowed me to stay, and two hours later, I was shaken to the core.
- 8/9/2023
- by Michele Wilens
- The Wrap
American film-maker who caused uproar with his 1968 documentary de-demonising Cuba's leader, Fidel Castro
In 1970, New York's Fifth Avenue Cinema was bombed and the Haymarket theatre in Los Angeles was burned down in order to prevent a certain movie from being screened. The inflammatory film was Fidel, a documentary directed by Saul Landau, who has died aged 77 of bladder cancer.
Fidel, the cause of anger among anti-Castro Cuban exiles, was the extraordinary film record of a weeklong jeep tour of the eastern mountains region of Cuba on which Landau accompanied Castro in 1968. The 95-minute feature, which de-demonised the charismatic Cuban leader for the American public, was finally shown in selected theatres around the Us and on the PBS network, except in Florida. A bomb was thrown through a window at a New York television station during the broadcast.
Landau, who made several pro-Cuban films, and many other left-leaning features and television documentaries,...
In 1970, New York's Fifth Avenue Cinema was bombed and the Haymarket theatre in Los Angeles was burned down in order to prevent a certain movie from being screened. The inflammatory film was Fidel, a documentary directed by Saul Landau, who has died aged 77 of bladder cancer.
Fidel, the cause of anger among anti-Castro Cuban exiles, was the extraordinary film record of a weeklong jeep tour of the eastern mountains region of Cuba on which Landau accompanied Castro in 1968. The 95-minute feature, which de-demonised the charismatic Cuban leader for the American public, was finally shown in selected theatres around the Us and on the PBS network, except in Florida. A bomb was thrown through a window at a New York television station during the broadcast.
Landau, who made several pro-Cuban films, and many other left-leaning features and television documentaries,...
- 9/16/2013
- by Ronald Bergan
- The Guardian - Film News
Washington, Sep 12 (Ians/Efe) Writer and Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker Saul Landau, one of whose productions was on Fidel Castro, has died after battling cancer at his home in California.
The 77-year-old filmed more than 40 documentaries, including the 1968 "Fidel", based on a week-long trip around Cuba with the now ill Castro. He died Wednesday.
Among other topics addressed by Landau in his films were the 1970-73 government of Chilean president Salvador Allende and the 1994 Zapatista uprising in Mexico.
The 1979 documentary, 'Paul Jacobs and the Nuclear Gang', co-directed by Landau and Jack Willis, won an Emmy and the George Polk Award for investigative reporting.
The documentary explored health effects.
The 77-year-old filmed more than 40 documentaries, including the 1968 "Fidel", based on a week-long trip around Cuba with the now ill Castro. He died Wednesday.
Among other topics addressed by Landau in his films were the 1970-73 government of Chilean president Salvador Allende and the 1994 Zapatista uprising in Mexico.
The 1979 documentary, 'Paul Jacobs and the Nuclear Gang', co-directed by Landau and Jack Willis, won an Emmy and the George Polk Award for investigative reporting.
The documentary explored health effects.
- 9/12/2013
- by Diksha Singh
- RealBollywood.com
By Allen Gardner
Quadrophenia (Criterion) Franc Roddam’s 1979 film based on The Who’s classic rock opera tells the story of working class lad Jimmy (Phil Daniels) struggling to find his identity in a rapidly changing Britain, circa 1965. Jimmy is a “mod,” a youth movement dedicated to wearing snappy suits, driving Vespa motor scooters bedecked with side mirrors, popping amphetamines and obsessed with the new sound of bands like The Who and The Kinks. Their other pastime is engaging in bloody brawls with “rockers,” throwbacks to the 1950s, who listen to Elvis and Gene Vincent, wear leather biker gear, grease in their hair and drive massive motorcycles a la Marlon Brando in “The Wild One.” Often cited as a worthy successor to “Rebel Without a Cause” as the greatest angry youth picture ever made, it is that and more, including a first cousin to the “kitchen sink” dramas of scribes John Osborne,...
Quadrophenia (Criterion) Franc Roddam’s 1979 film based on The Who’s classic rock opera tells the story of working class lad Jimmy (Phil Daniels) struggling to find his identity in a rapidly changing Britain, circa 1965. Jimmy is a “mod,” a youth movement dedicated to wearing snappy suits, driving Vespa motor scooters bedecked with side mirrors, popping amphetamines and obsessed with the new sound of bands like The Who and The Kinks. Their other pastime is engaging in bloody brawls with “rockers,” throwbacks to the 1950s, who listen to Elvis and Gene Vincent, wear leather biker gear, grease in their hair and drive massive motorcycles a la Marlon Brando in “The Wild One.” Often cited as a worthy successor to “Rebel Without a Cause” as the greatest angry youth picture ever made, it is that and more, including a first cousin to the “kitchen sink” dramas of scribes John Osborne,...
- 9/4/2012
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
DVD Playhouse—August 2011
By Allen Gardner
High And Low (Criterion) Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 adaptation of Ed McBain’s novel King’s Ransom is a multi-layered masterpiece of suspense and one of the best portraits ever of class warfare in post-ww II Japan. Toshiro Mifune stars as a wealthy businessman who finds himself in a moral quandary when his chauffer’s son is kidnapped by ruthless thugs who think the boy is Mifune’s. Beautifully realized on every level. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Kurosawa scholar Stephen Prince; Documentary on film’s production; Interview with Mifune from 1984; Trailers and teaser. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-hd 4.0 surround.
Leon Morin, Priest (Criterion) One of French maestro Jean-Pierre Melville’s rare non-crime-oriented films, starring Jean-Paul Belmondo as a devoted cleric who is lusted after by the women of a small village in Nazi-occupied France. When Fr. Morin finds himself drawn to a...
By Allen Gardner
High And Low (Criterion) Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 adaptation of Ed McBain’s novel King’s Ransom is a multi-layered masterpiece of suspense and one of the best portraits ever of class warfare in post-ww II Japan. Toshiro Mifune stars as a wealthy businessman who finds himself in a moral quandary when his chauffer’s son is kidnapped by ruthless thugs who think the boy is Mifune’s. Beautifully realized on every level. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Kurosawa scholar Stephen Prince; Documentary on film’s production; Interview with Mifune from 1984; Trailers and teaser. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS-hd 4.0 surround.
Leon Morin, Priest (Criterion) One of French maestro Jean-Pierre Melville’s rare non-crime-oriented films, starring Jean-Paul Belmondo as a devoted cleric who is lusted after by the women of a small village in Nazi-occupied France. When Fr. Morin finds himself drawn to a...
- 8/8/2011
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
DVD Playhouse—March 2009
By
Allen Gardner
Let The Right One In (Magnolia) An awkward 12 year-old boy, ignored by his mother and the target of bullies, finds himself drawn to his new neighbor: a girl his own age who only appears at night, and seems herself to be as lonely an outcast as he. Haunting film from Sweden is best described as The 400 Blows meets Nosferatu, and contains some of the most haunting imagery of any film in recent memory. Truly a unique and memorable work. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Featurette; Photo and poster gallery. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
Paramount Centennial Collection Paramount offers two more classic titles, restored, remastered and loaded with extras. Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch A Thief stars Cary Grant as a retired jewel thief trying to enjoy his sunset years on the French Riviera with a minimum of drama, until he catches the eye of a high-maintenance heiress (Grace Kelly,...
By
Allen Gardner
Let The Right One In (Magnolia) An awkward 12 year-old boy, ignored by his mother and the target of bullies, finds himself drawn to his new neighbor: a girl his own age who only appears at night, and seems herself to be as lonely an outcast as he. Haunting film from Sweden is best described as The 400 Blows meets Nosferatu, and contains some of the most haunting imagery of any film in recent memory. Truly a unique and memorable work. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Featurette; Photo and poster gallery. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
Paramount Centennial Collection Paramount offers two more classic titles, restored, remastered and loaded with extras. Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch A Thief stars Cary Grant as a retired jewel thief trying to enjoy his sunset years on the French Riviera with a minimum of drama, until he catches the eye of a high-maintenance heiress (Grace Kelly,...
- 3/11/2009
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
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