TiVoPlex
By John Seal
May 7, 2012
BoxOfficeProphets.com
Tuesday 5/8/12
Midnight Turner Classic Movies
The Purple Gang (1960 USA): Isn’t this the bunch Elvis was singing about in Jailhouse Rock? Maybe not - these guys don’t play any instruments, unless you count those gats they carry in their violin cases. In real life, The Purple Gang were infamous Jewish hoodlums who bootlegged and murdered their way through Roaring ‘20s Detroit; in the film version, they’re deracinated baddies led by a vaguely psychotic character named Honeyboy Willard (Little Bobby Blake, in one of his most memorable performances). Eager to muscle aside the city’s established gangs, Honeyboy takes on Motor City criminal bigwig Eddie Olsen (Joe Turkel), but must also contend with Bill Harley (Barry Sullivan), a police lieutenant eager to the put the Purples permanently out to pasture. A fairly typical gangster period piece, The Purple Gang is worth a look for Blake’s ripe effort and Ellis Carter’s evocative black and white cinematography.
Wednesday 5/9/12
1:35 AM Sundance
My Kidnapper (2010 GB-COL): Ah, nothing like a reunion of old chums to rekindle happy memories of days and glories past. Then there’s the get-together documented in this film: that of kidnapped filmmaker Mark Henderson, seized along with seven traveling companions by FARC revolutionaries whilst on a backpacking holiday in Colombia. Held captive for over three months, Henderson was eventually released and returned to the UK - where months later he received an e-mail from one of his captors, beginning a new and unusual relationship that eventually culminated in an invitation to his old chum’s wedding! And that’s not all - one of Henderson’s fellow captives was Facebook-friended by another FARC soldier. My Kidnapper records the ensuing reunion, proving conclusively that social networking really is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
2:20 AM More Max
Duel (1971 USA): Steven Spielberg's made-for-TV movie Duel is as good as its reputation suggests, featuring an at the top of his game Dennis Weaver in a tall tale of a man being pursued by a mysterious and murderous stranger in a truck. The concept was unashamedly appropriated in John Dahl's Joy Ride (2001), a decent film that occasionally bogged down in hormonal overdrive. This is presumably the slightly expanded version Spielberg cut for theatrical release outside the US, but either way, it's worth watching.
Thursday 5/10/12
3:00 AM Fox Movie Channel
Wild on the Beach (1965 USA): For those looking for a Beach Party knock-off shot in black and white, look no further! This Fox cheapie stars Frankie Randall and Sherry Jackson as Frankie and Annette — er, Adam and Lee — two young people fighting over possession of a beach house. One wants to rent its rooms to boys, the other to girls and before you can say Eric von Zipper, battle (and, eventually, romance) commences. Musical highlights are provided by Sonny and Cher, The Astronauts, and Sandy Nelson. Dramatic highlights are provided by no one.
8:15 AM Turner Classic Movies
Ace of Aces (1933 USA): A pacifist does a full 180 at the behest of his hero-hungry girlfriend in this excellent anti-war drama helmed by J. Walter Ruben. Richard Dix stars as Rocky Thorne, an artist opposed to the War to End All Wars - until gal pal Nancy (Elizabeth Allan) shames him into signing up. Once in the Army, Rocky decides to take up flying and becomes the Air Corps’ "ace of aces," shooting down over two dozen Kraut aircraft and loving every minute of it. The film brilliantly depicts the dehumanizing effects of war and violence, but don’t worry - it’s still a Hollywood movie, and there’s a happy ending of sorts to keep the romantically inclined on board.
Friday 5/11/12
3:15 PM Showtime 2
Ondine (2009 IRE): Writer-director Neil Jordan dips his toe into the vast waters of Celtic folklore in this enjoyable shaggy dog tale. Colin Farrell headlines as Syracuse, a magnificently mulleted Irish fisherman who finds something surprising in his net one day: a selkie! What’s a selkie, you ask? It’s a bit like a mermaid, but without the fishy bits. In other words, it’s a fully formed woman named Ondine (Alicja Bachelda), who wishes to remain Syracuse’s little secret but eventually comes out of her shell when introduced to our handsome hero’s crippled daughter (Alison Barry). Much cuteness ensues, but it’s all well handled by Jordan, who manages to keep the mawkishness to a minimum. Farrell’s hairdo is distracting but Bachelda delivers the otherworldly goods as his catch o’ the day, whilst Ondine looks great thanks to Christoper Doyle’s stunning cinematography (which hopefully can be appreciated in its original aspect ratio this afternoon).
10:30 PM Showtime
Ghosts of Goldfield (2007 USA): This is a pretty terrible direct-to-video horror cheapie, but it’s here because I can’t overlook the presence of the one and only Rowdy Roddy Piper, here cast as a hotel manager with spooky sideburns. Piper is truly the finest thespian professional wrestling has yet given us, his work leaving that of Hulk Hogan, John Cena, and others in the dust. Well, maybe not The Rock’s work. The Rock’s pretty good, too. Regardless, Ghosts of Goldfield also features some guy who was in Twilight a few years later - which is why it finally got a DVD release after sitting in the can for a while. Also airs 5/12 at 1:30 AM.
Saturday 5/12/12
9:00 AM Turner Classic Movies
Perils of Pauline (1933 USA): The seventh, eighth, and ninth chapters of Universal’s Perils of Pauline serial air this morning. Chapter nine, entitled The Mummy Walks, sounds particularly promising!
Sunday 5/13/12
11:00 PM Turner Classic Movies
Autumn Sonata (1978 SWE): Here’s something cineastes dreamed about for years before it actually happened: a film in which Swedish director Ingmar Bergman got to direct unrelated Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman! This was Ingrid’s last film, and she ended her career on a high note as Charlotte Andergast, a renowned pianist whose fame has come at a price: she’s been estranged from her children, including daughter Eva (Liv Ullman). Now living in Norway with clergyman husband Viktor (Halvar Bjork), Eva invites Mom for an autumn holiday - and the result is a series of suitably (Ingmar) Bergmanesque long, gloomy, and illuminating conversations between the two women as they come to terms with their awkward relationship. A Golden Globe Best Foreign Film winner, Autumn Sonata is followed at 1:00 AM by the rarely seen made-for-Swedish television Ingmar doc Bergman Island (2006). Unfortunately, this is the heavily cut US version, but it’s better than nothing.