Bright Young Things discussion

Please use this thread to nominate a film for us to discuss during August 2014.


Please provide the name of the film, the year of release, the director, and any supporting information to explain why you feel it would make a good choice of film.

The film must have been made between 1900 and 1945.

Timetable for BYT nominations for August 2014

Nominations: 30 May - 14 June
Polls: 14 June - 22 June
Results: 22 June, or...

Possible tie-break poll(s): 22 June-29 June
Results: 29 June

Here's to more great cinematic discussions here at BYT.

* Way Out West (Directed by James W. Horne) (1937) *




I withdrew this nomination last month to get behind T.A.'s nomination for "The Man with the Movie Camera", so instead I'm nominating it for August 2014.



Way Out West is a Laurel and Hardy comedy film released in 1937. The title is a spoof of the D.W. Griffith silent film Way Down East starring Lillian Gish.

Needless to say there's a lot of love for it here on Rotten Tomatoes

Click here to see the film's own website.

And here's why it's Jonathan Glancey's favourite film....

Way Out West, aside from being silly, warm and funny, reminds those of us caught up in a world where what seems to matter most is the here and now, the getting of things done far too quickly for anyone's happiness, being first, being overly serious and judgmental, that life is often a bizarre, if entertaining, comedy of fools. Child or adult, Way Out West – Cuckoo Song and all – laughs at us as we laugh with Stan and Ollie.

DVDs containing Way Out West can be purchased very cheaply in both the USA and UK.

The whole film is here on YouTube (sadly in colourised version but hey, it's free).

Finally it's just under 65 minutes so it's quick and easy to watch.


* Way Out West (Directed by James W. Horne) (1937) *

^Not "Sons of The Desert"?

Available at Amazon, too.

I think I saw it last month on TCM. Wonder if I DVR'd it.

T.A. wrote: "^Not "Sons of The Desert"?"

Not this time.

Jan C wrote: "I think I saw it last month on TCM. Wonder if I DVR'd it."

If not it's on YouTube (see above) or v cheap to buy on DVD.

On Amazon the essential Laurel & Hardy is $54 (probably $53.95).

^ I've just noticed that the cheapest DVD (c$5) is a UK import so no good for most US DVD players.

It is on YouTube though (see link in previous post) and and here for $19.96-$39.95 as part of "Laurel & Hardy II (Way Out West / Block-Heads / Chickens Come Home)"

Click here to rent the film from DVD Netflix.com in the USA Unlimited rentals starting at $7.99 a month. First month free.

It also appears to be on Turner Classic Movies on Sat 23 August 2014 as part of a day of L&H films. Click here to see more.

Nigeyb.....is this the film where they sing "In The Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia"?

That's right Jill. It is indeed.

I love it......they sang it rather well, didn't they?

I checked Netflix streaming last night and they didn't have it.

Jill wrote: "I love it......they sang it rather well, didn't they?"

It's a delight - and the song (actually titled The Trail of the Lonesome Pine) was a hit single in the UK in 1975.

Jan C wrote: "I checked Netflix streaming last night and they didn't have it."

Ah well - there's a few other options. I have a DVD but, if I didn't, I'd just watch it on YouTube (which is how I will be watching out June 2014 choice "M" which is a bit pricey on DVD).

Do you have that Turner movie channel? If so it appears to be showing in August which would be perfect timing.

And I just posted that they will be showing M later this month.

I'd like to nominate one of the greatest silent films - very appropriate given our current focus on the First World War. It was the first-ever winner of the Oscar for best film, together with 'Sunrise', which shared the honours that year.

Wings, directed by William A. Wellman (1927)



The film stars Clara Bow, the original "It" girl, Richard Arlen and Charles "Buddy" Rogers, and features spectacular aviation footage. It also has a memorable cameo by the young Gary Cooper, which helped him to stardom. There is some information about its making in our current non-fiction read, One Summer: America, 1927.

The film has been wonderfully restored, complete with colour tints, and is available on Blu-ray and DVD in both region 1 and 2. Although it is a silent, it does have a stirring musical score by J.S. Zamecnik. Here is a link to the trailer to give you a taster:

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

It can also be streamed via Amazon in the US and via the Paramount Movies UK Youtube channel in the UK, though there is a charge of £2.50 for this. I don't know about Netflix availability.

Oops, I meant to add that 'Wings' is being shown on Turner Classic Movies in the US at 2.15am on July 4.

Judy wrote: "Wings, directed by William A. Wellman (1927)"


That's a new one on me - and it sounds very intriguing. Thanks Judy, I'm off to investigate further.

Wouldn't make a bad double feature with Howard Hughes' "Hell's Angels".

It pays to read lips while watching Wings.....lots of cursing going on,especially in the dogfights!!!!

It's a great movie. I recently picked up Wellman's book - Go, Get 'Em! - about him going off to be a fighter pilot while still quite young.

Thanks for the July alert about it being on TCM.

T.A., I haven't seen 'Hell's Angels' as yet but definitely want to. Thanks for the tip about the lip-reading, Jill - I'm planning to revisit the film soon, as I've just got the Blu-ray, and will take a close look in those scenes!

Jan, I'd be interested to hear what you think of the book - I'm a big fan of Wellman's films and have been meaning to read his memoirs, but haven't done so as yet.

STEAMBOAT BILL, JR (1928) to be found streaming on Amazon and Netflix. Steamboat Bill, Sr. Is confused by his foppish son, fresh home from college, and in the company of his rival's daughter. The last of Keaton's great films. After this he lost his independence and came under the thumb of other producers/directors. Keaton did all of his own stunts, including when a wall falls on him. Had the wall fallen 1/4" off in any direction he would have been killed.

One of the highlights is when his father decides that Jr needs a new hat.

The original plan was to incorporate a deadly flood in Mississippi. When that was deemed in poor taste, the flood was changed to a cyclone.

This is one of my faves.

^ STEAMBOAT BILL, JR (1928) is also on YouTube which is always handy (and very cheap). I enjoyed watching "M" on YouTube.


Here's the link...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjl2F...

I consider "The Cameraman" to be the last film of Keaton's golden era. Even though it was his first film with the studio that would eventually destroy him, for this premier he really was at the height of his powers.

"The Cameraman" is also, perhaps the best preserved film from his silent picture days.

Speaking of planes, what is that early early airplane movie with a Cary Grant so young it looks like he graduated from high school the week before?

Shelley, http://dustbowlstory.wordpress.como

imdb shows 3 movies in the '30s where he was a pilot

The Eagle and the Hawk - 1933
Wings in the Dark - 1935
Only Angels Have Wings - 1939

Angels is the only one I have seen. That's with Jean Arthur as a showgirl stranded in South America where Cary is in charge of a group of cargo pilots. Rita Hayworth is also in it.

He's also a French pilot in 'Suzy' (1936), with Jean Harlow, and he does look very young in that - but it isn't really a plane movie.

I'm guessing the answer is 'The Eagle and the Hawk' as it is so early, but I haven't seen that one.

Greetings film-loving BYTers, here's a few BYT film-related notices...


August 2014 film discussion

The polls are going up on 14 June so only a few more days to get your nominations in.

So far we have....

Way Out West (Directed by James W. Horne) (1937) - Laurel and Hardy
Wings (Directed by William A. Wellman) (1927)
Steamboat Bill Jr. (Directed by Buster Keaton & Charles Reisner) (1928)

Any more?

*

June 2014 film discussion

Please come and get involved in our June 2014 film discussion about "M" (Fritz Lang) (1931)

Here's our discussion thread...
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The whole thing is on YouTube with English subtitles...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihDwCK...

*

July 2014 film discussion

UK-based BYTers should note that "Double Indemnity" (1944) Billy Wilder, our July 2014 film discussion, is on More4 this week...

Thu 12th Jun 2014
11:15 am - 1:25 pm

Watch it or set your recording device

Vote for a work of film for us to watch and discuss in August 2014...


https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

PLUS...

June 2014 film discussion

Please come and get involved in our June 2014 film discussion about...

"M" (Fritz Lang) (1931)

Here's our discussion thread...
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The whole thing is on YouTube with English subtitles...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihDwCK...

We will be discussing Wings (Directed by William A. Wellman) (1927) in August.

Message from Judy,....

The restored version, with the original colour tints, a much sharper picture and a full musical soundtrack, is available to stream online for £2.49 at this link - even if you do decide to go for the free version, watching the trailer will gives a taster of how different it looks following the restoration...

http://youtu.be/P6h-QPvZjGg

Here's to a great discussion.