What was the last film you watched?

[Mel O'Drama]

He's a surprisingly good actor with far more depth to his performances than you would expect from seeing him as Alan Partridge and Pauline Calf.

I haven't even properly seen him as Alan Partridge, though of course I'm aware of the character through reputation (plus the occasional clip and soundbite).

Since it looks like such a broad comedy, the film surprised me with how touching it was at times and it's to Steve's credit that he pulled off the moments of pathos or warmth really well.

 

[Angela Channing]

Indiscretion of an American Wife (1953)

Jennifer Jones plays a married American woman who has an affair with Montgomery Clift's character while visiting her sister in Rome. This is the second Montgomery Clift film I'm watch recently but sadly this one was no where as good as A Place In The Sun. It's not bad though and there are some great scenes and some real suspense and both Monty and Jennifer Jones are on top form but the film never really takes off and at times is slow and a little bit dull.

 

[Angela Channing]

I haven't even properly seen him as Alan Partridge, though of course I'm aware of the character through reputation (plus the occasional clip and soundbite).

Since it looks like such a broad comedy, the film surprised me with how touching it was at times and it's to Steve's credit that he pulled off the moments of pathos or warmth really well.

I never really warmed to Alan Partridge so I used to have a low expectation of any film with Steve Coogan until I saw him in Stan and Ollie (2018) and thought he was very impressive in it. Then I saw him in Philomena (2013) with Judi Dench and he was every bit as good as she was which saying something considering her status as a national treasure.

(I have subsequently listened to his latest podcast as Alan Partridge and found it really funny and I now think that character works better on radio than on TV or film).

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I used to have a low expectation of any film with Steve Coogan until I saw him in Stan and Ollie (2018) and thought he was very impressive in it. Then I saw him in Philomena (2013) with Judi Dench and he was every bit as good as she was which saying something considering her status as a national treasure.

That is high praise. I'll consider those two recommendations for me to check out at some point. In fact, Stan and Ollie popped up as a suggestion after watching Ideal Home.

(I have subsequently listened to his latest podcast as Alan Partridge and found it really funny and I now think that character works better on radio than on TV or film).

Oh interesting. And I can understand that might be the case considering the radio origins of the Alan Partridge character.

 

[Angela Channing]

I'm continuing watching films with Montgomery Clift and this one was next

Judgment At Nuremberg (1961)

Wow. This is as near to being perfect as any film I've seen. It's a gripping courtroom drama of a group of German judges who aided the Nazi regime during the time when Hitler was in power. It's the kind of film that stays with you long after you have finished watching it. I watched it last night and I'm still thinking about it today. The acting is first class and Montgomery Clift gives one of his best performances ever. He's only in the film for once scene but he mesmerising for his brief screen time. Judy Garland also gives a stunning performance. In fact there isn't a weak performance anywhere and the film is pack full of big Hollywood name. The film is nothing short of sensational.

 

[DallasFanForever]

I'm continuing watching films with Montgomery Clift and this one was next

I hate making suggestions cause we all have different tastes obviously but one movie with him that I’ve always enjoyed is From Here To Eternity. I’m not sure if you’ve seen this one yet but I think it’s his finest performance. All star cast and a great story. I was never a big fan of war movies to be honest but I’m definitely a fan of this one.

 

[Angela Channing]

I hate making suggestions cause we all have different tastes obviously but one movie with him that I’ve always enjoyed is From Here To Eternity. I’m not sure if you’ve seen this one yet but I think it’s his finest performance. All star cast and a great story. I was never a big fan of war movies to be honest but I’m definitely a fan of this one.

Thanks, it's already on my list after I Confess. I knew very little about Monty and his films a week ago but I'm now a big fan of his work.

 

[Alexis Colby Carrington]

Masters of the Universe

 

[Angela Channing]

I Confess (1953)

A great Hitchcock film about a priest who hears the confession of a murderer but because of his vows can't tell anyone even when he is put on trial for the murder himself. Monty does the tortured angst man so well.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

The Changeling (1980)

It's a treat to stumble upon a classic horror/thriller I've not watched and about which I know absolutely nothing apart from the title.

I think part of the reason it's taken this long to watch was that the title suggested to me that it was a sci-fi thriller about an alien metamorph. Thankfully, it's not. I love how grim it feels, helped by the late Seventies low budget feel that makes it feel raw and somehow more real.

The story itself reminded me of a number of other films (a couple of which came some time after this one, but with which I'm more familar): there are perhaps the obvious similarities with The Amityville Horror and Poltergeist. Plus the infanticide and substitution from The Omen. And it has What Lies Beneath's cry for justice from the grave.

I found myself invested in the story, and was even more chilled to learn it's partly based on true events.

I was so captivated by the fact that Trish Van Devere's vocal delivery and inflections made her sound uncannily like Victoria Principal that I didn't twig until this morning that I recently watched her play a terrific killer in Columbo.

 

[James from London]

I knew very little about Monty and his films a week ago but I'm now a big fan of his work.

I heard an interesting titbit about Montgomery Clift the other week, When entering a scene on a film or TV set, actors are usually given "marks", i.e., something on the floor to let them know where they need to end up standing to accommodate the camera. The tricky bit is to hit the mark without looking down - unless you're Clift, who apparently made a habit of incorporating the search for his mark into his performance, by looking moodily down at the ground until he reached his spot.

From Here To Eternity. I’m not sure if you’ve seen this one yet but I think it’s his finest performance. All star cast and story.

Including the roles that gave Frank Sinatra his great comeback, Miss Ellie 2 her Oscar, and Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster their iconic beach snog!

 

[Angela Channing]

I heard an interesting titbit about Montgomery Clift the other week, When entering a scene on a film or TV set, actors are usually given "marks", i.e., something on the floor to let them know where they need to end up standing to accommodate the camera. The tricky bit is to hit the mark without looking down - unless you're Clift, who apparently made a habit of incorporating the search for his mark into his performance, by looking moodily down at the ground until he reached his spot.

I've just finished a biography of Montgomery Clift and what I didn't realise about him before was how highly he was regarded as an actor amongst his peers. Some major Hollywood stars used to feel they had to up their game when they appeared in a film with him so they wouldn't look bad in comparison. He also was a generous actor and would rewrite dialogue for his co-stars and coach them for hours to help them give their best possible performance.

 

[Angela Channing]

From Here To Eternity (1953)

Not my favourite Montgomery Clift film but a good one and he's really good in this. The story of a group of soldiers based in Hawaii in the months leading up to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour. Great performances from all the principle actors.

 

[Angela Channing]

The Young Lions (1958)

A drama set during the Second World War telling to story of 3 soldiers, who are presumably the young lions. Two are American (Montgomery Clift and Dean Martin) and one is German (Marlon Brando). Montgomery Clift said this was the best performance he gave in a film but his performance was wasted on what is a very average film not helped by Marlon Brando playing his character with a German accent that wouldn't sound out of place in the sitcom 'Allo 'Allo.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Greed, murder and lots of hairspray for Mama Like/Mama Kill. There's also a fake-twin sister plot that allows the main character to return from her faked death.
The strange thing is that I was constantly thinking I was watching Stefanie Powers instead of Judith Light.
Stefanie Powers also played a villain in At Mother's Request, a mini-series that was competing with another mini-series doing exactly the same story (starring Lee Remick).

 

[darkshadows38]

i dunno that one to be honest,

since i've been reading the last harry Potter books iv'e been watching the movies so the last one was The Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

and the next one is Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire (2005)

 

[Angela Channing]

The Heiress (1949)

One of Monty's earlier films in which he plays a relatively poor pursuing the affections of wealthy heiress much to the chagrin of her father who thinks he's only after her money. The film is a bit old fashioned and the story is told in a straight-forward and slightly bland way but the performances of the actors makes this very watchable and there is a very satisfying ending.

 

[Angela Channing]

Raintree County (1957)

A drama set in the American South at the time of the American Civil War. Montgomery plays an abolitionist who is tricked into marriage by Southern Belle from a slave owning family.

Monty had a near fatal car accident during filming which caused extensive damage to his face and this is apparent in the scenes filmed before and after the crash. The film looks beautiful and has high production values and the acting is first class however, the story isn't particularly compelling.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Blow Dry (2001)

Neither the posters nor the Americanised trailer capture the tone of the film at all. Both push the two young American actors as the leads which they aren't (mercifully, since Josh Hartnett's West Yorkshire accent is one of the worst I've heard. His dialect coaches were apparently Ant & Dec, Ronan Keating and Dick Van Dyke). Which might explain why it was doomed to be a flop (American critics hated it).

The cast is truly impressive: Alan Rickman; Natasha Richardson; Muriel's Wedding's Rachel Griffiths; Bill Nighy; Warren Clarke. Even Peter Kay and Biggins himself show up in cameos.

The film itself was much better than I'd expected. Funny, poignant and very human. And it's good to see Keighley on film.

 

[Angela Channing]

The Defector (1966)

It's sad to think this was Montgomery Clift's final film because he was so good in it however, the film itself wasn't great. It's the story of a professor who is coerced by the CIA to collect a microfilm from a potential defector while he is visiting Berlin. Monty looks thinner than usual but was well enough to do all his own stunts in what was at times a very physical and energetic film. His escape at the end involves him climbing a high wall, swimming across a river, running at speed and suspending himself from underneath a bridge for an extended period of time. He puts in a really strong performance and he totally dominated this film and is in almost every scene. Sadly he died just 2 months after finishing this film but he went out in a lead role in which he impressed.