Mt TV Ramble: May 2 - 8
Daniel Frankham
My TV Ramble is a miscellaneous commentary on the coming week's TV. It aims
to provide information about shows which other TV highlights columns
ignore, especially shows screening in those hours when only VCRs and the
unemployed are still awake.
Programs on SBS screen half an hour later outside Adelaide. Schedules may
change at short notice, and usually do.
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==========
Saturday 2
==========
----------------------------------
Movie: The Awful Dr Orloff (1962) / SBS midnight [check local guides]
----------------------------------
An early example of medical horror, and an early film directed by prolific
schlockfiend Jesus Franco, who has directed (to date) 141 movies. Based on
his own novel, it's about a mad doctor who abducts beautiful young women
for their skin.
---------------------------------
Xena: Warrior Princess: "Ulysses" / Ten 7:30pm
---------------------------------
Former _Neighbours_ and _Blue Heelers_ star Rachel Blakely co-stars as
Penelope, in this episode written by XWP series creator RJ Stewart.
------------------------------
Movie: Blood and Roses (1961) / Nine 2:50am [Sunday]
------------------------------
Roger Vadim's adaptation of Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's seminal vampire novel
_Carmilla_, starring Elsa Martinelli and Annette Vadim as incestuous
lesbian vampires. It is, after all, a Roger Vadim movie.
Cinematography is by Claude Renoir, who also cinematographed _Barbarella_
(1968) and _The Spy Who Loved Me_ (1977). The movie owes a lot of it's look
to Cocteau, especially _La Belle et la Bete_ (1946); but it doesn't
approach the ethereally eldritch heights of Carl Dreyer's adaptation of
_Carmilla_, _Vampyr_ (1931).
The novel btw, is in the public domain, and is available on the web at
http://dept.english.upenn.edu/~nauerbac/crml.html
========
Sunday 3
========
----------------------------
Movie: Call Me Bwana (1963) / Seven 11:30am
----------------------------
Bob Hope comedy, one of the few non-James-Bond movies produced by Albert
Broccoli and Harry Saltzman after _Dr No_ (1962). (After _Dr No_ the only
non-Bond films Broccoli produced were this movie and _Chitty Chitty Bang
Bang_ (1968), while Saltzman produced a variety of movies, including the
Harry Palmer films, starring Michael Caine.) Cast includes Anita Ekberg,
who played Sylvia in _La Dolce Vita_ (1960), and Venusian Woman in _Abbott
and Costello Go To Mars_ (1953).
-----------------------------
Movie: The Great Race (1965) / Nine 2:30pm
-----------------------------
The first of those great broad-comedy/historical/vehicle-race movies from
the 60s. The cast includes Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Peter (Columbo) Falk,
Natalie Wood and Larry (_F-Troop_) Storch. Directed by Blake (_Pink
Panther_) Edwards.
-------------------------
Movie: Breathless (1959) / SBS 10pm [check local guides]
-------------------------
Directed by Jean-Luc Godard, who later went on to direct such brilliant
oddities as _Alphaville_ (1965) and _Week-End_ (1967). This is his first
and most accessible film, a nihilistic celebration of and reaction against
the American gangster movies of the 1930s. Godard has a small role as an
informer. It was banned in Australia in 1959, but then, what wasn't?
Co-stars Jean Seberg, who is also the subject of a documentary which
precedes it, as SBS continues its season of "Great Actresses About Whom SBS
Has Documentaries in Its Archives".
========
Monday 4
========
-------------------
Welcome Back Kotter / Nine 5pm
-------------------
Hot on the heels of its pay-TV premiere a few weeks ago, _Welcome Back
Kotter_ returns to FTA for the first time in about twenty years.
Unfortunately, as a 70s show it was made at a time when TV had considerably
less advertising; considering that even recent shows like _Cheers_ have
been savagely cut in this timeslot, expect at least a few minutes of
snippage.
---------------------------
Movie: Mannekin Pis (1994) / SBS 9pm [check local guides]
---------------------------
I don't know anything very interesting about this movie (not that that's
ever stopped me before) but with a title like that I had to mention it.
Just the other day I was reading a very humorous article about companies
which come up with brand names, and the efforts they go to to make sure
they don't mean something rude in any of the major languages... OTOH I
gather that a urination scene has great significance to the plot...
=========
Tuesday 5
=========
----------------------------
Movie: Captive Women (1952) / Nine 3am [Wednesday]
----------------------------
aka _3000 AD_ (UK title) and _1000 Years From Now_ (1956 re-release title)
One of the earliest -- if not the earliest -- post-nuclear-holocaust
movies, about groups of survivors attacking each other in the ruins of
Manhattan. The hero is played by Australian Ron Randell, and the heroine by
Margaret Field, Sally's mother. The cast also includes William Schallert,
who memorably played the Admiral, the centenarian founder of CONTROL, in
several episodes of _Get Smart_, as well as Carson Drew, Nancy's dad in the
original _Nancy Drew_ series. This was the last of the few ultra-low-budget
films directed by Stuart Gilmore, after which he returned to his previous
work as a film editor, working on such distinguished productions as _The
Enemy Below_ (1957), _The Alamo_ (1960), and _The Andromeda Strain_ (1971).
===========
Wednesday 6
===========
--------------------------
The X-Files: "Kill Switch" / Ten 8:30pm
--------------------------
Last week we saw the X-Files episode that Stephen King almost wrote; this
week it's the one William Gibson did (in collaboration with Tom Maddox).
Features the Lone Gunmen, and co-stars Kristin Lehman, who played beautiful
vampire Urs in _Forever Knight_.
----------------------------------
Movie: Pelle the Conqueror (1992) / ABC 11:15pm
----------------------------------
Intending viewers might be interested in knowing that there are several
versions of this movie -- which won the 1988 Best Foreign Film Oscar --
doing the rounds, ranging in length from 138 minutes to 160 minutes. This
is the 138 minute version.
==========
Thursday 7
==========
-------------------------------
Movie: Romeo and Juliet (1954) / ABC 12:25am [Friday]
-------------------------------
Italian/UK co-production, in English. The director, Renato Castellani, won
the Golden Lion for it at the Venice Film Festival of that year. Susan
Shentall, who plays Juliet, was discovered by the director in a
restaurant... after this she stopped acting (some say she never started)
when she got married. The cast also includes John Gielgud, as the Chorus,
and Flora Robson as the Nurse -- she must have been good at it, because she
played her again in the BBC version a year later. The regal Ms Robson, who
was damed in 1960, also had the distinction of playing Queen Elizabeth in
three unrelated films, _Fire Over England_ (1937), _The Lion Has Wings_
(1939), and _The Sea Hawk_ (1940), as well as Empress Elisabeth in
_Catherine the Great_ (1934), Livia (also an Empress) in the
never-completed Charles Laughton version of _I, Claudius_, and even the
Queen of Hearts in _Alice in Wonderland_ (1972).
========
Friday 8
========
-----------------------------------------
Movie: Captain Fracassa's Journey (1990) / SBS midday
----------------------------------------- [check local guides]
Movie about actors in 17th century France, based on a novel by 19th century
writer Theophile Gautier. Stars the frequently naked Emmannuelle Beart; and
Ornella Muti, who played the almost naked Princess Aura in _Flash Gordon_
(1980).
=====================================================================
"We have now come to what is known as a station break: a rent in the
fabric of television entertainment" (_The Alfred Hitchcock Hour_)
chacmul
On Thu, 30 Apr 1998 18:07:30 GMT, dan...@wantree.com.au (Daniel
Frankham) demonstrated genuine ignorance of the scientific method when
publishing the following thesis:
>-------------------------
>Movie: Breathless (1959) / SBS 10pm [check local guides]
>-------------------------
>Directed by Jean-Luc Godard, who later went on to direct such brilliant
>oddities as _Alphaville_ (1965) and _Week-End_ (1967). This is his first
>and most accessible film, a nihilistic celebration of and reaction against
>the American gangster movies of the 1930s. Godard has a small role as an
>informer. It was banned in Australia in 1959, but then, what wasn't?
It is very hard to see why it was banned - my only guess is the implied
sex by an unmarried couple. Great film though - almost a necessity for
any amateur film buff.
Godard has done so many great films. Alphaville is brilliant (although
its sequel was not) and Week-end is quite enjoyable, if a little odd.
Pity it is so hard to view his films here.
Jean Seberg is very cute in this film, even if she is somewhat
reminsiscent of a young Mia Farrow.
<snip>
>========
>Friday 8
>========
>-----------------------------------------
>Movie: Captain Fracassa's Journey (1990) / SBS midday
>----------------------------------------- [check local guides]
>Movie about actors in 17th century France, based on a novel by 19th century
>writer Theophile Gautier. Stars the frequently naked Emmannuelle Beart; and
>Ornella Muti, who played the almost naked Princess Aura in _Flash Gordon_
>(1980).
IIRC, the "frequently naked" Beart actually keeps her clothes on in this
film. Enjoyable film nevertheless.
Fans of Ornella Muti should check out the film Tales of Ordinary
Madness, based the works of Charles Bukowski. Sheis unforgettable in
that role...... I was never able to look at safety-pins the same again
after seeing this film. :-)
...W
--
Attn aus.sf.b5: If it hasn't been shown on Aus TV, I haven't seen it and thus am only speculating.
=========================================================================
I have become a Buddhist because I am hoping to be reincarnated as a bonobo.
Warren Tully <*> Chacmul <kla...@connexus.net.au%DELETE_THIS>
La Trobe University Biological Science student
=========================================================================
My address (above) has a spamblocker. Please delete "%DELETE_THIS" to email.
Daniel Frankham
Argh! I spelled the subject header wrong again! Always happens when I post
after 5am...
On Fri, 01 May 1998 06:54:58 GMT, chacmul wrote:
>On Thu, 30 Apr 1998 18:07:30 GMT, dan...@wantree.com.au (Daniel
>Frankham) demonstrated genuine ignorance of the scientific method when
>publishing the following thesis:
[Re Breathless]
>It is very hard to see why it was banned - my only guess is the implied
>sex by an unmarried couple. Great film though - almost a necessity for
>any amateur film buff.
I've not seen it yet... From what I've heard about it, I suspect it might
have been the romanticisation of crime, and the hero's justification of his
violence which offended the censors. And if the hero gets away with his
crimes unpunished, that might have been enough too.
>Godard has done so many great films. Alphaville is brilliant (although
>its sequel was not) and Week-end is quite enjoyable, if a little odd.
>Pity it is so hard to view his films here.
I love Alphaville, and Week-End has some great bits. The long political
essay is a bit much for me, though :)
>>-----------------------------------------
>>Movie: Captain Fracassa's Journey (1990) / SBS midday
>>----------------------------------------- [check local guides]
>Fans of Ornella Muti should check out the film Tales of Ordinary
>Madness, based the works of Charles Bukowski. Sheis unforgettable in
>that role...... I was never able to look at safety-pins the same again
>after seeing this film. :-)
Ahah! I knew she was in it, but I didn't realise who she'd played. I've
never been able to look at needle and thread the same since :)
Ian Galbraith
:==========
:Saturday 2
:==========
:----------------------------------
:Movie: The Awful Dr Orloff (1962) / SBS midnight [check local guides]
:----------------------------------
:An early example of medical horror, and an early film directed by prolific
:schlockfiend Jesus Franco, who has directed (to date) 141 movies. Based on
:his own novel, it's about a mad doctor who abducts beautiful young women
:for their skin.
Actually based on the earlier classic Film from Georges Franju, Les Yeux
Sans Visage, which has the most amazing dreamlike atmosphere that Jess
Franco was unable to imitate, Orloff is very much an early example of
Eurotrash horror.
:---------------------------------
:Xena: Warrior Princess: "Ulysses" / Ten 7:30pm
:---------------------------------
:Former _Neighbours_ and _Blue Heelers_ star Rachel Blakely co-stars as
:Penelope, in this episode written by XWP series creator RJ Stewart.
Stewart is a great writer. he wrote the wonderful Day in the Life episode
of Xena, so expect it to be a good'un.
Be Seeing You
--
Ian Galbraith
Email: igalb...@ozonline.com.audelete_this ICQ#: 7849631
(To email me remove delete_this from my address)
"Only those whose lives are brief can imagine that love is eternal. You
should embrace that remarkable illusion, it may be the greatest gift your
race has ever received."
Babylon 5, Into The Fire, Lorien, written by J. Michael Straczynski
Daniel Frankham
On Fri, 01 May 1998 13:59:35 GMT, Ian Galbraith wrote:
>On Thu, 30 Apr 1998 18:07:30 GMT, dan...@wantree.com.au (Daniel Frankham)
>wrote:
>:Movie: The Awful Dr Orloff (1962) / SBS midnight [check local guides]
>:----------------------------------
>:An early example of medical horror, and an early film directed by prolific
>:schlockfiend Jesus Franco, who has directed (to date) 141 movies. Based on
>:his own novel, it's about a mad doctor who abducts beautiful young women
>:for their skin.
>
>Actually based on the earlier classic Film from Georges Franju, Les Yeux
>Sans Visage, which has the most amazing dreamlike atmosphere that Jess
>Franco was unable to imitate, Orloff is very much an early example of
>Eurotrash horror.
True -- I guess his novel must've been "inspired" by Eyes Without a Face...
(But the specific story of the movie is adapted from the novel, according
to my source (the Horror volume of the usually reliable _Aurum Film
Encyclopedia_).)
Brian Kraft
Daniel Frankham wrote on Fri, 01 May 1998 08:45:58 GMT:
>On Fri, 01 May 1998 06:54:58 GMT, chacmul wrote:
>
>>>-----------------------------------------
>>>Movie: Captain Fracassa's Journey (1990) / SBS midday
>>>----------------------------------------- [check local guides]
So how good is this? Did anyone catch it? Unavailable in the U.S.
>>Fans of Ornella Muti should check out the film Tales of Ordinary
>>Madness, based the works of Charles Bukowski. She is unforgettable in
>>that role...... I was never able to look at safety-pins the same again
>>after seeing this film. :-)
>
>Ahah! I knew she was in it, but I didn't realise who she'd played. I've
>never been able to look at needle and thread the same since :)
Yep, I'm a fan... Can't find "The Last Woman" w/ Depardieu,
"Especially on Sunday", "Love and Money", "The Bilingual Lover"
on video or cable either; I've never seen them. "Swann in Love" is in
all the video stores, though.
--
Brian Kraft bhk...@gj.net Grand Junction, Colorado
chacmul
On Sat, 09 May 1998 01:28:47 GMT, bhk...@gj.net (Brian Kraft)
demonstrated genuine ignorance of the scientific method when publishing
the following thesis:
>Daniel Frankham wrote on Fri, 01 May 1998 08:45:58 GMT:
>>On Fri, 01 May 1998 06:54:58 GMT, chacmul wrote:
>>>>-----------------------------------------
>>>>Movie: Captain Fracassa's Journey (1990) / SBS midday
>>>>----------------------------------------- [check local guides]
>So how good is this? Did anyone catch it? Unavailable in the U.S.
Its an enjoyable enough film, but no great loss if you never see it.
>>>Fans of Ornella Muti should check out the film Tales of Ordinary
>>>Madness, based the works of Charles Bukowski. She is unforgettable in
>>>that role...... I was never able to look at safety-pins the same again
>>>after seeing this film. :-)
>>Ahah! I knew she was in it, but I didn't realise who she'd played. I've
>>never been able to look at needle and thread the same since :)
>Yep, I'm a fan... Can't find "The Last Woman" w/ Depardieu,
>"Especially on Sunday", "Love and Money", "The Bilingual Lover"
>on video or cable either; I've never seen them. "Swann in Love" is in
>all the video stores, though.
"Especially On Sunday" is a compendium film with the Muti short one of
the better stories (IIRC, it also featured Bruno Ganz). It has been
shown a couple of times on SBS and is not a bad film. Like most
compendium films, it is a little up and down though.
...W
--
Attn aus.sf.b5: If it hasn't been shown on Aus TV, I haven't seen it and thus am only speculating.
=========================================================================
Why is a Star Trek fan like Sylvester the Cat?
Because neither is able to get a chick.
Brian Kraft
chacmul wrote on Sun, 17 May 1998 00:57:01 GMT:
>"Especially On Sunday" is a compendium film with the Muti short one of
>the better stories (IIRC, it also featured Bruno Ganz). It has been
>shown a couple of times on SBS and is not a bad film. Like most
>compendium films, it is a little up and down though.
Shown edited for SBS, I assume; not as reviewed at:
http://www.prairienet.org/ejahiel/especial.htm
Bruce Paris
I've seen it both on SBS and Pay TV and I don't remember any difference.
Great film!!!
--
Bruce Paris | bpa...@iig.com.au |
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/5839/
Home Of The Cat Saga and The Week That Woz
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