Blake Edwards and THE PARTY (1968)

by Kimberly Lindbergs | April 27, 2011

Categories | Movie Reviews, Directors, American Cinema, Comedies, 1968, Peter Sellers

Peter Sellers and Claudine Longet in The Party (1968)

I recently wrote a piece about The Party (1968) for the newest issue of Screening the Past that you can read online. Issue #30 of Screening the Past is a tribute to the late director Blake Edwards and The Party is my favorite Edwards’ film. I really enjoyed delving into the movie again and discussing the ways in which Edwards’ film dealt with identity and the cultural climate of the the late 1960s. I admire the way that Edwards used The Party to take a swipe at old Hollywood, which is so often celebrated as “The Golden Age of Cinema” while its worst aspects like the subtle but abundant racism, sexism and religious intolerance is too often swept under the rug although not a lot has changed really. I love old movies but I have no problem discussing their faults and The Party is a great example of why I like to refer to the ’60s and the ’70s as “The Platinum Age of Cinema.” The following link will take you to my piece on The Party:
- The Party @ Screening the Past

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In Praise of Peter Sellers

by Kimberly Lindbergs | January 6, 2011

Categories | Actors, British Cinema, Comedies, Movie Morlocks, TCM, Peter Sellers, Hal Ashby

TCM’s “Star of the Month” for January is the one and only Peter Sellers. Sellers is one of favorite performers but I haven’t written much about him so I took the opportunity to discuss the actor and some of his best films at the Movie Morlocks today. Many of Sellers’ greatest movies such as I’m All Right Jack (1960), Lolita (1962), The Pink Panther (1963), A Shot In the Dark (1964), Dr. Strangelove (1964), Casino Royale (1967) and Being There (1979) are being showcased on TCM in the coming weeks. It’s a great opportunity for Sellers’ fans to revisit some of their favorite films and if you’re unfamiliar with his work you’ll find a wide variety of movies showing every Thursday that might spark your interest.
- In Praise of Peter Sellers @ TCM’s Classic Movie Blog

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Chase Away the Winter Blues with Ski Party

by Kimberly Lindbergs | January 3, 2011

Categories | Movie Reviews, Comedies, Musicals, Movie Morlocks, TCM

Frankie Avalon and Deborah Walley in Ski Party (1965)

Happy New Year! Last week I took a much needed net break but I did manage to post my weekly Movie Morlocks update about a fun-filled ’60s teen musical comedy called Ski Party (1965). If you’re looking for a silly ’60s movie to watch during the cold winter months I recommend giving this mindless teen romp a look. It’s the kind of movie that can be enjoyed by the whole family but you might want to warm up some hot buttered rum before you watch just to lighten the mood a little.
- Lets Have A Ski Party! @ TCM’s Classic Movie Blog

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I Married A Witch

by Kimberly Lindbergs | October 5, 2010

Categories | Comedies, Actresses, TCM, Bewitching Movies

Just a quick note to let readers know that TCM will be airing the great classic comedy I Married A Witch (René Clair; 1942) tonight starring the lovely & funny Veronica Lake in one of her best roles. I Married A Witch isn’t available on DVD in the US yet so if you haven’t had a chance to see it make sure you record it because it’s well worth a look. Fans of the television show Bewitched as well as movies like Bell, Book and Candle (Richard Quine ; 1959) should find I Married A Witch really entertaining. It’s one of my favorite comedies from the ’40s and it makes for some great Halloween viewing that the whole family can enjoy.

Recommended Links:
- Elisabeth Rappe’s recent piece about Veronica Lake for Chud THROUGH THE CRACKS: VERONICA LAKE
- Jeff Stafford’s article about I MARRIED A WITCH at the TCM website.

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Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush (1967)

by Kimberly Lindbergs | September 16, 2010

Categories | Movie Reviews, Directors, British Cinema, Comedies, Movie Morlocks, TCM

I recently watched Clive Donner’s teenage sex farce Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush (1967) for the first time. Soon afterward I learned that the director had died at age 84 so in tribute to Donner I decided to write about the film for TCM this week. I really enjoyed Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush and had so much fun taking screen grabs from the movie that I created a small gallery for them over at Flickr. If you’d like to read my piece about Clive Donner’s film you’ll find it at the Movie Morlocks Blog.

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Monsieur Hulot vs. The Modern World

by Kimberly Lindbergs | July 15, 2010

Categories | Movie Reviews, French Cinema, Comedies, Criterion, Movie Morlocks, TCM

Images from Jacques Tati’s Mon Oncle (1958)

I recently caught up with Jacques Tati’s delightful French comedy Mon Oncle (aka My Uncle; 1958). I had previously only seen one Tati film, Les Vacances de M. Hulot (aka Mr. Hulot’s Holiday; 1953) and frankly it didn’t engage me as much as I wished it had so I put off watching other Tati films, but that was a mistake. Mon Oncle completely won me over thanks to the brilliant color cinematography, incredible set design, wonderful performances and sentimental storyline involving a unconventional uncle who has trouble finding his footing in the modern world. The film is really a feast for the senses and a whole lot of fun to watch. You can read my further thoughts about Tati’s Mon Oncle at TCM’s Movie Morlocks Blog.

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Talking With Trina

by Kimberly Lindbergs | June 17, 2010

Categories | Movie Reviews, Spies & Secret Agents, Comedies, Actresses, Blaxploitation, Interviews, TCM

Trina Parks in Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

I recently had the opportunity to interview the actress Trina Parks who appeared in the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever (1971) and the fascinating blaxploitation movie Darktown Strutters (1975). Trina was really fun to talk to and I learned a lot about her during our exchange. You can read my interview with Trina Parks over at TCM’s Movie Morlocks Blog. Darktown Strutters will be playing on TCM Underground tomorrow night (June 18th) and if you haven’t had the opportunity to see the movie yet I highly recommend giving it a look. I guarantee that it’s unlike anything you’ve seen before.

- Talking with Trina @ TCM’s Classic Movie Blog

Recommended Links:
- Super Sisters On Cycles! - My review of Darktown Strutters (1975).
- Trina Parks Tribute

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Bachelor in Paradise (1961)

by Kimberly Lindbergs | March 25, 2010

Categories | Movie Reviews, American Cinema, Comedies, Movie Morlocks, TCM

Recently I’ve been re-watching some older films that feature great mid-century design to inspire my home renovation efforts. In my latest post for the Movie Morlocks I talk about the Bob Hope comedy Bachelor in Paradise (1961) that features lots of wonderful exterior shots of a cute California suburb called Paradise Village that happens to be filled with modern ranch homes. The movie also features two actresses that I adore, the lovely Lana Turner and the very funny Paula Prentiss. If you’d like to find out more about this stylish ’60s comedy visit the Movie Morlocks Blog.

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Modern Mondays: OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies (2006)

by Kimberly Lindbergs | November 9, 2009

Categories | Movie Reviews, French Cinema, Spies & Secret Agents, Comedies, Modern Mondays

If you’ve been reading Cinebeats for awhile you’re probably well aware of my fascination and fondness for spies. From the smart and exceptional Prisoner to the ridiculously silly Last of the Secret Agents?, I never seem to get tired of watching spy movies or television shows as long as they have a good soundtrack accompanying them. So it should come as no surprise that I think the recent French spy spoof OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies aka OSS 117: Le Caire, Nid d’Espions (2006) is one of the funniest films of the last decade.

The movie was directed and co-written by Michel Hazanavicius who based it on the original OSS 117 spy novels by the prolific French author Jean Bruce. The original books featured an American born spy with French roots named Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath who worked for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). OSS 117 predated Ian Flemming’s more well-known spy James Bond, alias 007, by 4 years, but both characters seem to share a lot of similarities. I haven’t read any of the original Jean Bruce novels myself or seen the early French films based on the books but according to director Michel Hazanavicius OSS 117 isn’t as ironic or clever as James Bond.

Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath, alias OSS 117, is played brilliantly by the handsome and very funny French actor Jean Dujardin. Dujardin has clearly based his character on Sean Connery’s Bond from the early ’60s as well as other self-assured male spies from the same period and he does a terrific job of mimicking their best and worst qualities. In the film agent OSS 117 is sent to Cairo to investigate the disappearance of his close friend and fellow OSS operative Jack Jefferson (Philippe Lefebvre). Finding his friend won’t be easy and over the course of the film OSS 117 becomes entangled in a web of international espionage involving Nazis, a fundamentalist uprising and two beautiful but dangerous women played by the lovely Bérénice Bejo and Aure Atika.

OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies takes place in 1955 and the film beautifully replicates the decade it’s boldly taking a jab at. Director Michel Hazanavicius clearly loves the movies he’s emulating and OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies comes across as a thoughtful homage as well as a clever parody. From the detailed set designs, to the stylized fashions and incredible soundtrack, OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies is a film that knows exactly what it’s doing while delivering a lot of laughs. The humor in OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies is slightly more sophisticated than the Austin Power films but the movie should appeal to Pink Panther fans and anyone who enjoys television shows like Get Smart.

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