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PatrickHFriel
Reviews
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)
Experienced Pelham at a sneak preview
I had no idea what to expect when a friend and me went to see a sneak preview, doubled up with The French Connection, a movie which I had seen a few times prior to that evening. In those days, a "sneak preview" was just that, a movie studio sneaked upcoming releases into the theatres without the benefit of early press reports. It was a tactic used to create early buzz through word of mouth from those who were fortunate enough to witness an early release of what may have gone on to become a hit
thanks, in part, to the "unwitting sneak preview marketing team".
That evening's sneak was Pelham and it was exactly what I wanted to see in a movie of that genre type. There was no "early word" no "buzz" no "plot description", just a story that unfolded before my eyes.
I loved it! The movie's most worthy accomplishment, in my opinion, was the way in which the movie's combined elements had it being a white-knuckle thriller along with moments of near hilarious tension breaking humor that were brought seamlessly together. I credit the movie-makers simply because the novel was a straight up caper movie.
Of course, I fully acknowledge that my experience may not be shared by today's audience because of all the repetition and idea stealing that follows in the footsteps of such a popular movie like a Pelham. For me, the movie had broken new ground for most caper movies and cops & robber movies of the time took themselves fairly seriously.
See for yourselves. This link will take you to the 1974 version of Pelham: http://tinyurl.com/9dy6ap and be sure to watch it in full screen mode.
Think about it, the movie makers had a lot of balls to introduce the kind of humor into what was to be a very serious storyline...even for today's audiences, particularly with 9/11 fresh in our collective memories. Need I say more? As with all things in our lives we are continually, even at this very moment in time, on the cutting edge of whatever mankind has to offer.
All of our current achievements are stepping stones toward future achievements and the current ones could only have happened based on past achievements. This goes for movie-making as well. Far too often older movies are not met with the respect they deserve merely because they are considered "old" or...Oh my God!...in Black & White.
For anyone to truly appreciate films from any era one must look at the movie through the eyes of the filmmakers at the time it was made. When King Kong of 1931 was released people ran from the theatres in terror. Those who saw it in theatres at the time of its release and who may still be alive remember Kong's effect on them; still retaining that visceral experience of being one of the first to have seen such cutting edge movie-making...up to that point in time.
A good movie with a solid story never loses its appeal. While some movies made today that are held in high esteem may be scoffed at and have us exclaim sometime in the future, "What were we thinking? Was "Out Of Africa" really the best picture of the year of 1985? Likewise, movies dismissed almost immediately upon release may well find an audience in the future. Examples abound of this phenomenon with the likes of Wizard of OZ; It's Wonderful Life; A Christmas Story and many more.
Can you tell that I love movies?
Laugh-In: Pilot (1967)
The Show That Changed TV Viewing Forever
It's very surprising to see no other comments attributed to the groundbreaking, innovative 1967 Pilot of "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In".
I remember the pilot distinctly to this day. Oh, I don't mean each gag or joke but, rather, the impact it had on my brain and all my senses. I felt, after watching the show, much the same as when a youngster experiences their first roller-coaster ride. "Wow!" I thought. "This is new and I want more-lots more!"
"Laugh-In" the pilot and the many seasons that followed planted its unique historical footprint with as much subtlety as General George Patton's tanks "tip-toeing" across Europe during World War II.
The show was responsible for causing a generation of TV style comedy to become extinct. No longer were we young TV viewers satisfied with sitting through "dull" adult style stand-up with the likes of a suited Jack Benny. Then, at that time, a Jonathon Winters could stand in front of a camera and transform an empty wallet into various hand puppet characters
for minutes on end!
Benny, Gleason, Winters, Coca, Caesar, Berle et al are truly comedic geniuses, an attribute which will never be taken away from them. However,"Laugh-In" robbed us young ones of our patience of having to sit through set-ups to the inevitable punch-line or sitting through Bob Hope's adult / political style banter with the home audience while going straight over the heads of we bored children at their feet.
No. No, indeed. When that young, hip, bawdy, naughty, machine gun joke delivering new generation comedy show "Laugh-In" rode into town
even if it was Burbank
a lot of pink slips rained down on those now old-time writers, producers and talent.
Geez! Forty years ago, huh? I must be getting old. I now enjoy watching Jackie Gleason's "The Honeymooners" on the tube.