Monthly Archives: April 2018

Gate of Flesh (Nikutai no mon)
Directed by Seijun Suzuki
Written by Goro Tanada from a novel by Tajiro Tamura
1964/Japan
Nikkatsu
First viewing/Netflix rentalIt is

[box] We say that slavery has vanished from European civilization, but this is not true. Slavery still exists, but now it applies only to women and its name is prostitution. VICTOR HUGO, Les Misérables[/box]

Suzuki’s gonzo cinema investigates the decadence of Occupied Japan.

It is sometime just after the end of WWII in Tokyo. A group of take-no-prisoners women have banded together to engage in prostitution near a U.S. Army base.  They have cut out the middle man and limit their clientele to Japanese.  The strictest house rule is absolutely no sex without pay.  Those that violate that rule are ruthlessly punished.

Into this world comes Shintaro Ibuki (Jo Shishido).  He is hiding out after having stabbed an American serviceman and is nursing a wound.  He plays it super cool and attracts all the women while basically ignoring them.  Eventually a couple will succumb to his charms, leading to some graphic girl-on-girl violence.

This is the first Suzuki film I’ve seen that does not feature yakuza.  Between all the prostitution and black-marketeering there is plenty of crime though and even more sleeze than usual.  Quite an experience.

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

no subtitles but the images are like something out of Buñuel

Strait-Jacket
Directed by William Castle
Written by Robert Bloch
1964/USA
William Castle Productions
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Carol Harbin: I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! No I didn’t mean that, I love you. I hate you![/box]

Another fun over-the-top thriller from William Castle.  And what could be more fun than Joan Crawford as an axe-murderer!

As the story begins, party girl Lucy Harbin (Joan Crawford) unexpectedly comes home and finds her studly husband in bed with another woman.  Her young daughter is cowering in another room.  This does not deter Lucy from slaughtering the adulterous couple with an axe.  She is found to have been insane and sent away to the state asylum for twenty years.

Segue to 20 years later and Lucy has been declared sane and returns home to the family farm.  She reunites with her daughter Carol who has grown up to be Diane Baker.  Carol is almost engaged to the wealthy Michael.  The couple are afraid to declare their intentions to his straight-laced parents.  For reasons that will become only too clear, Diane decides what her mother needs is a make-over.  New clothes, shoes, and wig make Lucy look just like she did 20 years ago.  Will she feel the same as well?

I enjoyed this.  Crawford, who does most of her acting with her eyebrows, pulls out all the stops!

Cruel Gun Story
Directed by Takumi Furukawa
Written by Hisatoshi Kai and Haruhiko Oyabu
1964/Japan
Nikkatsu
First viewing/FilmStruck

[box] “It’s a fine line between a stray dog and a lone wolf.”[/box]

This Japanese noir is a darker, more violent version of Kubrick’s The Killing.

Togawa (chipmunk-cheeked Jo Shishido) is sprung from prison where he has been incarcerated for killing the guy who paralyzed his little sister.  The mob boss doing the springing wants Togawa to head up an intricate operation to rob an armored car carrying proceeds from a race track.  The boss supplies accomplices. Naturally nothing goes as planned and nobody can be trusted.  That is except our anti-hero, who can be trusted to shoot straight.

This is OK but not too different from your average Nikkatsu noir and I doubt that I will be remember it specifically in a few days.  It features an above average body-count and an unexpectedly bloody ending.

Clip of Jo Shishido smoking in slow motion with extraneous musical background

Zulu
Directed by Cy Endfield
Written by John Prebble and Cy Endfield
1964/UK
Diamond Films
First viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead: Cowardly blacks!

Adendorff: What the hell do you mean “cowardly blacks?” They died on your side, didn’t they? And who the hell do you think is coming to wipe out your little command? The Grenadier Guards?[/box]

This is the sort of combat movie the British did so extremely well — warfare with valor and heart.

This true story took place in Zululand, South Africa in 1879.  The Zulus have just wiped out an entire British column.  Next they set their sites on a small field hospital and warehouse protected by just 140 Welsh infrantry men.  Lieutenants Chard (Stanley Baker) and Bromfield (Michael Caine) ride ahead to warn the garrison.  So does preacher Otto Witt (Jack Hawkins) and his daughter.  Witt’s counsel is for the men to flee certain death.  He is soon sent packing.

Chard assumes command.  Most of the movie consists of intense combat action between the outnumbered but well-armed British and the wily spear-carrying Zulus.  The British display tremendous bravery.  Eleven of the men received the Victoria Cross.

This is just about perfect for what it is.  If you are looking for a stirring, action-packed drama about bravery under fire, go for it.  It also contains many interesting shots of the life and customs of the Zulus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7zoPJCuTBA

The T.A.M.I. Sho
Directed by Steve Binder
Written by William Sargent Jr.
1964/USA
Screen Entertainment Co./Screencraft International/Theatrofilm
First viewing/Netflix rental

[box] Tagline: It’s the Greatest, Grooviest, Wildest, Most Exciting Beat Blast Ever to Pound the Screen![/box]

Pure heaven.

On three glorious nights in 1964, the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium was lit up by thousands of screaming fans and the following acts:  Chuck Berry; Gerry and the Pacemakers; Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas; The Supremes; Smokey Robinson and the Miracles; Marvin Gaye; Leslie Gore; Jan and Dean; The Beach Boys; The Barbarians; James Brown and the Flames; and the Rolling Stones.

Each one of the performers was at or near their peak. Some enterprising young men captured the whole thing on “Electrovision”, making this one of the first uses of digital filming.

Each of the acts is given 10-15 minutes and sings a medley of their best 1964 songs – proving that 1964 was one of the greatest years for pop music ever.  The whole thing builds up to an unbelievable crescendo with the closing sets of James Brown followed by The Rolling Stones.  The only slight downside is lots of screaming and some distracting go-go dancers (including Teri Garr)  If you have any interest in the performers or the music, don’t miss this!

Amazing that the harmonies are so solid live.  Brian Wilson stopped touringdat the end of 1964.

Becket
Directed by Peter Glenville
Written by Edward Anhalt from a play by Jean Anouih as translated by Lucienne Hill
1964/USA/UK
Wallis-Hazen/Paramount Film Service/Keep Films
First viewing/Netflix rental

[box] King Henry II: Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest? [/box]

Despite the spectacular production values and fine acting, this really wasn’t for me.

The story takes place in the mid-12th Century.  Henry II (Peter O’Toole), a descendant of William the Conqueror, reigns in England.  He has ambitions of regaining Norman lands in France.  Henry forms a close bond with Thomas Becket, a Saxon deacon, and makes him a noble.  They are constant companions in debauchery and whoring.  Henry and the Church are at odds and it looks like the Church may be winning.  Henry decides to name Becket Archbishop of Canterbury to have his man in charge.

Unfortunately for Henry, Becket takes his new job deadly seriously and becomes pious. One of the most important conflicts between the Crown and the Church had been whether the clergy could be tried under the King’s law rather than in ecclesiastical courts.  Matters come to a head when Becket excommunicates a noble who has murdered a priest.  Thereafter Henry’s love for Becket turns to rage and Becket’s life is in danger.

This kind of long ponderous costume drama is really not my thing.  On the other hand, I have no criticism of any aspect of the production.  Burton and O’Toole are in top form. The production was filmed mostly on sound stages and looks like it was all done on location – it is glorious.

Becket won the Academy Award for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.  It was nominated in the categories of Best Picture; Best Actor (Burton); Best Actor (O’Toole); Best Supporting Actor (John Gielgud); Best Director; Best Cinematography, Color; Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color; Best Costume Design, Color; Best Sound; Best Film Editing; and Best Music, Substantially Original Score. Becket is tied with The Turning Point and The Color Purple for the most Oscar category losses – 11.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArLJHj4WKYA

Girl with Green Eyes
Directed by Desmond Davis
Written by Edna O’Brien from her novel
1964/UK
Woodfall Film Productions
First viewing/FilmStruck

[box] Malachi Sullivan: Ah, the milk of human blindness.[/box]

I could watch Rita Tushingham’s expressive face all day.

The film is set in Dublin and environs.  Kate Brady (Tushingham) and Baba Brennan (Lynn Redgrave) have recently graduated from convent school and have settled in Dublin.  Baba is out for laughs and what excitement the big city can offer her.  The romantic and naive Kate is her opposite.  The girls meet writer Eugene Gaillard (Peter Finch) in a bookstore and have tea with him. Kate takes a chance and pursues Eugene.  The much-older and still-married Eugene is not too hard to catch.

The rest of the movie covers their somewhat tentative love affair to its inevitable conclusion.

The story is somewhat slight but made up for by the excellent acting and considerable charm.  It’s a sort of mix between kitchen-sink British New Wave and more kenetic and arty French New Wave.  It’s nice to have a female coming-of-age story for a change.  I liked the movie quite a bit.

Lousy image quality – A-OK on FilmStruck

Guns at Batasi
Directed by John Guillermin
Written by Robert Holles, Leo Marks, and Marshall Pugh from Holles’s novel
1964/UK
Twentieth Century Fox/George H. Brown Productions
First viewing/Netflix rental

RSM Lauderdale: I have seen Calcutta. I have eaten camel dung. My knees are brown, my naval is central, my conscience is clear, and my willy is with my solicitors Short and Curly.

Richard Attenborough had two great performances in very different roles in 1964 – Seance on a Wet Afternoon and this one.

The British still have a role in the armies of Commonwealth countries in post-Colonial Africa.  They seem to spend a great deal of their time drinking when they are not training African soldiers.  This particular day is supposed to include nothing more exciting than festivities to celebrate the Queen’s birthday and a visit from a female liberal MP (Flora Robson).  Regimental Sergeant Major Lauderdale (Attenborough) rules his British and African subordinates with an iron hand.  In his free time, he tells war stories that everyone has heard a thousand times.

But this is not be a normal day at the outpost.  Commanding Officer Colonel Deal (Jack Hawkins) is called early on and told that there is an attempted coup in progress and the British are to stand down, put African officers in command, confine themselves to mess, and lock down guns and ammunition.  Shortly thereafter, the Colonel is called to the capital.

Almost immediately an African Lieutenant that supports the rebels captures loyal African soldiers and takes over command of the base by raiding the armory and cutting the phone lines.  This lieutenant just happens to be a protege of the British MP.  The rest of the story deals with Lauderdale’s sometimes misguided efforts to defend the British and loyal African soldiers.  With Mia Farrow in her film debut.

Oh how I love it when I discover a hidden gem!  This movie is just great and Attenborough is magnificent as an old-time, order-barking soldier.  The story kept me guessing to the end.  Attenborough won the BAFTA award for Best British Actor and Farrow won a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer.  Recommended.

Two good clips (spoilers)