Filmically Perfect

Not surprisingly, it took Germany's "uber-director" Fritz Lang a few years before he was ready to make his first sound film. In fact, he released two more silent features AFTER the release of "The Jazz Singer!" Knowing Lang, he was waiting until either he was comfortable with the idea os sound, or until the technology of sound had reached a level where it did not stifle his creativity. Either way, it was worth waiting for!

Warren Williams goes toe-to-toe with the demure and extremely cute Loretta Young and the not so demure but still somewhat cute (in a manly way) Wallace Ford in Roy Del Ruth's great comic-drama from 1933. Sex, lies, treachery, and men's underpants come together in this story of a ruthless Department Store manager and his minions.

As far as French film directors go, Raymond Bernard is one of the most neglected. At the time he made "Wooden Crosses" in 1932, there were few directors rated in higher in France. In fact, the success of this film allowed Bernard to mount an amazing three film adaptation of "Les Miserables" that is still considered by many to be the best version of the film. "Wooden Crosses" is an agonizing anti-war film, picturing war as a day-to-day drudgery, accentuated with violent an often pointless battles and deaths. Many compare it to "All Quiet on the Western Front," but we find it much more akin to Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket" in its depictions. FIND THIS FILM AND WATCH IT!!

Arguably one of the best and most gothic of the early sound horror film cycle, with Bela Lugosi at his best as the villainous Murder Legendre. Made on a shoe-string budget, with borrowed sets and a major star paid only $5000, White Zombie remains as a wonderful example of what could be accomplished inside Hollywood by people who were outside the hollywood scene. And because it is in the Public Domain, you can watch the whole thing right here!

WELCOME TO EPISODE 100!!

Charles Laughton created a singular work of art with "The Night of the Hunter." A film so intensely personal that it could never be remade or even duplicated. To prove this, a hideous TV version of the story was made in 1991 and has never been seen again. The Film Guys get a little testy in this one, stating their belief that this is a film for lovers of film only and every one else can go watch something else--like "Love, Actually."WELCOME TO EPISODE 100!!

Charles Laughton created a singular work of art with "The Night of the Hunter." A film so intensely personal that it could never be remade or even duplicated. To prove this, a hideous TV version of the story was made in 1991 and has never been seen again. The Film Guys get a little testy in this one, stating their belief that this is a film for lovers of film only and every one else can go watch something else--like "Love, Actually."

The last time we spoke about Luis Buñuel, he was making fun of rich hypocrites in The Exterminating Angel. In this earlier film, a far angrier diatribe on the destructive lives of Mexico City’s street children, Buñuel makes one of his most powerful social statements--and still manages to fit in a few surreal elements!!

“The Boys.”

“Two Minds Without a Single Thought.”

“The Fiddle and the Bow”

“Dick und Doof.”

No matter what they are called, or in what language, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy are two very funny men. Their genteel yet destructive comedy has delighted millions for more than seventy years and here we discuss their single award-winning short from 1932.

Back again after a much longer hiatus than we expected!! Two movies, both great in their own way but not quite perfect, chosen without consultation between “The Film Guys.” Ironically (or maybe not), they chose similar films about youth in fast cars, crime, and the law. The California Kid is a TV movie starring Martin Sheen and Vic Morrow and Streets of Fire is director Walter Hill’s love poem to his lost youth. Both are well worth your precious viewing time!!

An intensely personal piece of cinema, which severely damaged its director’s career and almost killed its star. Yet thirty years on it still packs a punch, whether seen as originally released or with Coppola’s later “older and wiser” edit.

Jeunet and Caro's delightful delicacy "Delicatessen" is arguably the best post-apocalyptic cannibal comedy--ever. Combining a singular look, hearkening back to the silent era of great European cinema, with a wild and ultimately touching story of a clown, a girl and a butcher, "Delicatessen" does what perfect movies do--it pulls you in and, just for a time, removes you from your hum-drum existence.