tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121497265402071351.post2791655634600071891..comments2023-10-05T20:30:21.364-07:00Comments on Things That Don't Suck: For The Love Of Film Noir: Scenes #7: Kiss Me DeadlyBryce Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17040954580033470664noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121497265402071351.post-32138405451583769602011-02-20T23:15:48.282-08:002011-02-20T23:15:48.282-08:00Thanks again, and can't wait for your take on ...Thanks again, and can't wait for your take on Angel Face.Bryce Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17040954580033470664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121497265402071351.post-45802454331192709622011-02-19T21:48:23.892-08:002011-02-19T21:48:23.892-08:00Many, many thanks, Bryce!
We DID see your ANGEL FA...Many, many thanks, Bryce!<br />We DID see your ANGEL FACE post! We actually are slated to deconstruct BOTH AF and KMD at a future date, but we won't step on your keenly observational toes, we promise! And definitely try and see the 3 Aldrich films we mentioned (well, you should see ALL Aldrich when you can:)) -- they are actually that rare example of native film noir - not kitsch or self-aware, just pure Aldrich noir. Treats. Once again, very nice article -- nice comparison between Mike Hammer and Phillip Marlowe. Well stated.The Flying Maciste Brothershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17342766561263208927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121497265402071351.post-29304519103629840592011-02-19T21:16:49.397-08:002011-02-19T21:16:49.397-08:00@FMB: Very nice of you to say sir(s). I've bee...@FMB: Very nice of you to say sir(s). I've been a fan of your fine work for quite some time and if you don't believe me check out my Angel Face Review (or er- don't... you might stop following The Blog).<br /><br />I will admit that I have not seen the two Aldrich films you've mentioned, but I'll try to change that as soon as humanly possible. Thanks for stopping by.Bryce Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17040954580033470664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121497265402071351.post-84643167040971404252011-02-19T21:09:16.102-08:002011-02-19T21:09:16.102-08:00Very nice post -- we Macistes love your attention ...Very nice post -- we Macistes love your attention to Aldrich's screen language -- and, of course, the dummy-death! Though, we would most sincerely consider Aldrich's The Choirboys (1979), World For Ransom and Hustle (1975) film noir.The Flying Maciste Brothershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17342766561263208927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121497265402071351.post-75669968470642945922011-02-19T10:45:13.393-08:002011-02-19T10:45:13.393-08:00@ Ed Howard: Huh I hadn't thought of Lost High...@ Ed Howard: Huh I hadn't thought of Lost Highway (Though Tarantino and Richard Kelly leapt to mind) but now that you've mentioned it I'm shocked I never put two and two together.<br /><br />@ Hamletta: That was a great read. Thanks for the link!Bryce Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17040954580033470664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121497265402071351.post-28715584998184856102011-02-18T23:51:40.681-08:002011-02-18T23:51:40.681-08:00The lovely and talented Glenn Erickson has written...The lovely and talented Glenn Erickson has written extensively on the <a href="http://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s2356kiss.html" rel="nofollow">mangled ending of KMD</a>.hamlettahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13916989901259900422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121497265402071351.post-26162090601649988902011-02-18T13:12:21.849-08:002011-02-18T13:12:21.849-08:00Great stuff. This ranks among my favorite films, l...Great stuff. This ranks among my favorite films, let alone my favorite noirs, and that apocalyptic ending is a big part of it. Mike Hammer may survive in the restored ending (the one I prefer, personally) but it's hardly a happy ending. The image of Hammer and Velda clinging to one another in the water as the house explodes is just so desperate, so bleak, that it's as though it's not just a house that's blowing up but the world itself, and they're the last lonely survivors looking on in horror. It's every bit as harrowing as an ending where they're assumed to die in the explosion.<br /><br />I see this film as a big influence on David Lynch. <i>Lost Highway</i> especially has so many scenes that pay tribute to this movie (the exploding cabin!).Ed Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121497265402071351.post-23477979717119859192011-02-17T10:23:02.834-08:002011-02-17T10:23:02.834-08:00GAH! Thanks for the catch there Don. I misread IMD...GAH! Thanks for the catch there Don. I misread IMDB but should have been keeping better notes. It's been duly corrected now. <br /><br />I'm glad you liked piece otherwise. I agree that Bezzerides added a lot to Hammer's character. It's nothing that's not in Spillane's books, just subtle emphasis on the evidence that he's not a total heel. <br /><br />Thanks again for the kind words and the catch!Bryce Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17040954580033470664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121497265402071351.post-8889066910186963452011-02-17T07:01:48.898-08:002011-02-17T07:01:48.898-08:00Bryce,
Wonderful screencaps and a very solid "...Bryce,<br />Wonderful screencaps and a very solid "feel" for the extremities of KMD, a film that ushers in a brief "re-crescendo" of noir (SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, THE BURGLAR, and TOUCH OF EVIL all owe something to KMD's anarchic energy).<br /><br />Two facts need correcting here--that's Gaby Rogers who's opening the box, and her name in the film is originally Lily Carver, though it's made clear that she's been impersonating Christina Bailey's roommate and Dr. Soberin (Albert Dekker) refers to her as "Gabrielle" prior to his being mowed down by the "modern-day Pandora."<br /><br />Velda is Mike's "long-suffering girl friday", and it's Maxine Cooper (alas, who just passed away in the last year or so) who plays her.<br /><br />Let's also give credit to the great screenwriter A. I. (Buzz) Bezzerides for adding touches to the Mike Hammer character that allow us to both embrace and reject his seemingly innate "moral decrepitude." Part of what makes this film so "noir" is that Hammer actually tries to make some kind of amends for his heedless actions, but they are (fittingly enough) too little and too late!Don Malcolmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121497265402071351.post-4135431503109374502011-02-17T02:09:55.199-08:002011-02-17T02:09:55.199-08:00@ Neil: Many thanks for the kind words. As always ...@ Neil: Many thanks for the kind words. As always coming from you they are highly valued indeed.<br /><br />I must admit that I have a little affection for the utter go for broke nuttiness of Proyas's Knowing. It's not every film that will showcase a flaming deer. <br /><br />@ leopard13: No sir thank you! You're dead on though, that's Hammer as written if you don't like him blame Spillane. Then again quite a few people do blame Spillane so that's another story... <br /><br />@ Marilyn: Thank you Marilyn. I think it's one of those cases where which ever one you see first seems the most natural to you. I personally find the "death cut" a bit abrupt. Almost like a Monty Python Gag. But I can definitely see how their survival would look just as tacked on. <br /><br />Thank you for hosting the blogothon. Thanks for all the fine writing it's resulted in and all the good you've done for film. Congratulations on its success!<br /><br />@Rob: I hear you on The Leachmen sequence. I almost did it instead. That shot where The Henchman walks into the frame and he's just casually holding those pliers. Brrr...<br /><br />As for The Radiation, I know right? Guess it must have been a little bit more "mysterious" in those days. The scene where it got me was when Hammer and The Old Man first uncover the package from the locker. Hammer opens it and gets radiation burns and I couldn't help but think "And they both died of cancer..." lol.Bryce Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17040954580033470664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121497265402071351.post-58353920473201962862011-02-16T18:20:43.514-08:002011-02-16T18:20:43.514-08:00Really-an amazing post! For a film thats been anal...Really-an amazing post! For a film thats been analyzed to pieces, you really mined some new information (and those screencaps!)<br />This movie is so disturbing-what happens to poor Cloris Leachman, ai yi yi!-but I can never figure out how to take the ending (sure they make it out of the beach house, but still, with all the radiation that must be spreading...?)AKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02084216883655540363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121497265402071351.post-453232035994872092011-02-16T15:54:41.786-08:002011-02-16T15:54:41.786-08:00Bryce - This is a great look at an iconic scene. I...Bryce - This is a great look at an iconic scene. I have to admit that I think the earlier versions of the film in which Hammer doesn't make it out of the house in time are more noir, more hopeless. Nonetheless, nothing can take away from the horror of the reveal, flames, and explosion. It packs a wallop, to say the least! Thanks for supporting the blogathon!Marilynhttp://www.ferdyonfilms.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121497265402071351.post-23392684190728785982011-02-16T12:11:16.353-08:002011-02-16T12:11:16.353-08:00Excellent examination of the final scenes of this ...Excellent examination of the final scenes of this startling film, Bryce! I have friends who don't like this film, mainly for the portrayal of Mike Hammer (but Aldrich didn't want you to <i>like</i> him), however it remains one of my favorites. It's b&w cinematography and visual storytelling really stands out. A great film from a still too underrated director. Thanks for this.le0pard13https://www.blogger.com/profile/09421175808461787862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121497265402071351.post-59305507625930561302011-02-16T11:50:31.502-08:002011-02-16T11:50:31.502-08:00Bryce, the "Scenes" project represents h...Bryce, the "Scenes" project represents hands down some of the best work you've done on Things That Don't Suck. I thought that you'd set the bar about as high as it could go with 'The Red Shoes', but damned if this isn't your best "Scenes" article yet.<br /><br />You have absolutely nailed of one the most chilling and apocalyptic endings in cinema.<br /><br />Funnily enough, I watched 'Knowing' yesterday (review sometime soon on TAOTM) and this article made me think how much more devastating the prolonged shot of a beach shot being consumed by white light is than the entire planet buying it at the end of Proyas's bizarre folly.Neil Fulwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14686296295535235988noreply@blogger.com