WELLESNET MESSAGE BOARD

Actually, I really liked Bogdanovich's version of NOISES OFF - I think his timing is superb in that film - truth is, I think he should make more comedies - just, not with Burt Reynolds...

I agree, Sergio. Whatever else you may say about him, the man knows how to direct scenes of farce and I find "Noises Off" to be as funny as "What's Up, Doc."

(Oddly enough, it was financed by Spielberg's company and yet got completely buried in theatres.)

Peter

Saw PAPER MOON for the first time this weekend. Really charming flick. I'll have to give What's Up Doc a new viewing, with adult eyes. I've never actively rented a Babs flick, though. What am I, crazy?

Agree completely on "Paper Moon," Fredric. Another great one of his is "They All Laughed" (which I'm currently at work on an appreciative article on... I'll post if/where it appears in print.)

I enjoy "What's Up, Doc" a great deal... alas, the only Babara Streisand flick I've ever seen.

Peter

Having finally seen this on DVD, I have to say enjoyed it quite a bit. Excellent performances, particularly from Kirsten Dunst as Marion Davies. As a portrayal of the corrupting influence of power, it's right in line with Welles. Edward Herrmann is good as the pathetic, bullying creep that is W.R. Hearst, a man who pulls all the strings yet deeply fears losing any control. Eddie Izzard does well as Charlie Chaplin, despite the lack of resemblance. And of course, there is Jennifer Tilly as the seemingly clownish Louella Parsons, who blackmails the "Chief" into giving her a lifetime contract for her silence. I was glad to see small details, like Marion Davies' stutter, were included. Overall, a nice return for PB, and well worth checking out. The DVD has a commentary from Bogdanovich.

What's that quote Peter has in Other Side of the Wind: "They'll just keep writing, Skipper, that I stole everything from you."

When I watch Paper Moon it seems a sublime pastiche of Amersons and Touch of Evil, the nostalgia of the former and decay of the latter. It really looked like a Mercury Production. I too was so turned off by Nickelodeon I never watched any more Bogdonavich films, and still haven't seen Targets or even Last Picture Show.

Store Hadji,
You should see The Last Picture Show. It's by far Bogdanovich's best film. Welles reportedly wanted the role of Sam the Lion, which Ben Johnson won an Oscar for. I can't really see Welles doing it anyway.

As for other Bogdanovich films, Targets is worthwhile too. Daisy Miller is badly flawed but interesting in a Wellesian way. They All Laughed from 1979 is a fine movie too, although an aura of tragedy hangs inevitably over it because of the Stratton murder.

His latest, The Cat's Meow is pretty well made and acted, with beautiful cinematography. But it's speculations about these events are not entirely convincing. It's hard to imagine the bubbly, comedic Marion keeping quiet all those years and not being affected about Hearst shooting someone in the head. And why would Louella Parsons remain so sycophantic towards Hearst if she had that kind of info to blackmail him with? The film, interestingly enough, reminded me quite a bit of RKO281, another speculative, but reasonably well-made work about Hearst. The two might make an interesting double feature.

Let me second this and recommend a number of "late" Bogdanovich pictures: Saint Jack (originally a Welles property), They All Laughed, and Texasville. The first two in particular are among his very best and all three lack the overly film conscious aura which slightly marred some of his early work.

I also enjoyed "The Cat's Meow" and hope it allows him to make a project of his own writing soon...

Peter

So Cat's Meow is about Hearst? Does Peter include anything about Kane or having someone portray Welles?

..............

has Cat's meow been released to dvd yet?

hadji:
no welles in The Cat's meow. the film covers a murder that hearst suposedly commited in the silent film days. i don't know how bogdanovich spun the tale, but a book i have says hearst's yaught arrived at port, tom ince was dead with a bullet hole between the eyes, and the coroner listed cause of death as accute indigestion. ince's wife received a lot of money.

the bullet was meant for chaplin, who was playing 'stinky-finger' with marion davies.

Just saw the Cat's Meow the other day. It's well directed & acted but the script is really weak. Disappointing too, because there are some great performances in it. Nothing extra on the DVD really.