Words Fail
No one watching this classic 1959 film has ever paid attention to Martin Landau's offscreen dialogue once Eva Marie Saint spots the matchbook. Go ahead -- try to pay the slightest attention to Landau's words: "There he is. He's heading pretty far out on the north leg and awfully high. I guess he's going play it safe with a long slow descent. Hmm....couldn't ask for a better night than this. Ceiling and possibilities unlimited. Ahh, there he goes, starting his turn. Well, we'd better get moving. He should have is wheels on the ground inside of three minutes."
The Stink<< previous
|
next >>Retardo & Clarabelle
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 10, 2008 at 7:50 PM
comment #1
BurmaShave says ...
Landau is unreal in this movie. The first and best "Creepy Fag" archetype I can remember, but with a deep reservoir. His interaction with Mason is flawless. That said, point taken.
Posted by BurmaShave at August 10, 2008 8:03 PM
comment #2
Mgmax says ...
"The first and best "Creepy Fag" archetype I can remember"
Watch Gilda. "I may need both my friends tonight."
Posted by Mgmax at August 10, 2008 8:21 PM
comment #3
BurmaShave says ...
Damn, you're so right.
Posted by BurmaShave at August 10, 2008 8:35 PM
comment #4
PerfectTommy says ...
Actually, I think I paid attention to that dialouge for the first time a couple of weeks ago. On a family vacation, I was driving the van on the way to Mt. Rushmor. We had "North by Northwest" on the DVD player, so I was listening but not watching.
Posted by PerfectTommy at August 10, 2008 8:38 PM
comment #5
Glenn Kenny says ...
The thing is, the dialogue is not gratuitous. "Ceiling and possibilities unlimited" is clearly Leonard projecting his hopes for life with VanDam now that he believes he's gotten the pesky female out of the way. And the "wheels on the ground in three minutes" line sets the countdown ticking. It's part of the film's genius—nothing is wasted, and details emerge even in parts wherein the audience isn't expected to engage.
Posted by Glenn Kenny at August 10, 2008 9:18 PM
comment #6
Pinko Punko says ...
Yeah, Gilda is so much more insane than you think it would be when you see it. You feel like Glenn Ford's character has blue balls for the entire film, while the casino head probably has never had an erection in his life, or at least with his wife.
Posted by Pinko Punko at August 10, 2008 9:22 PM
comment #7
scooterzz says ...
i'm a little shocked at how cavalier you guys are about tossing the 'creepy fag' label around....jus' sayin'...
Posted by scooterzz at August 10, 2008 9:23 PM
comment #8
BurmaShave says ...
grow some. It's obviously arcane and impolite. but seriously. grow some. jus' sayin'
Posted by BurmaShave at August 10, 2008 9:41 PM
comment #9
moviemaniac2002 says ...
Let's not forget the much more obvious
moments...
Vandamm: Leonard...you're...jealous!
Leonard: Call it...my woman's intuition....
While Otto Preminger enjoyed his titanic battles
with the Production Code office...Hitchock, ever
the practical joker, loved just sneaking this
stuff in....such as Grant and Eva Marie Saint's
relationship consummated with the final shot of
the train barrelling into a tunnel.
Speaking of the villains, always noticed something interesting about Valerian (Adam
Williams) the knife-throwing "muscle" of
Vandamm's outfit....his portly wife, the housekeeper looks 25 years his senior...and
though he poses as a major threat...at key
moments (the start of the Long Island drunk chase and the final death struggle on Mt.Rushmore), Cary Grant always
manages to effortlessly push him away, as though he's lighter than air.
As for the third guy, Licht.(Robert Ellenstein)
Hitchcock apparently left it to us to figure out he
was the guy flying the cropduster....even though
Lehmann's script actually includes a shot of Licht burning in the cockpit.
Yeh, this is pretty much number one on my
favorite ten movies of all time. There's an air of
elegance and light-hearted humor to it that's
completely missing in today's scripts and films.
You can wait around and hope, but I don't know when and if you'll ever see another movie that so deftly combines laughs, thrills and romance in one perfect package.
Posted by moviemaniac2002 at August 10, 2008 9:47 PM
comment #10
scooterzz says ...
burma--- blow me!
people have been banned from this site for revealing [deleted] and you fatuous assholes get to freely use archaic perjoritives....grow some?!?.....yeah, try using the term 'creepy nigger' and see how far you get....you fuckwit moron.....
Posted by scooterzz at August 10, 2008 9:51 PM
comment #11
BurmaShave says ...
haha you just did.
Posted by BurmaShave at August 10, 2008 10:00 PM
comment #12
BurmaShave says ...
In all seriousness, the reason I put it in quotes is because it's an understood (and yes, unfortunate) concept seen in films going back a long while, even in worthwhile depictions like THE TALENTED MR RIPLEY. Don't be so sensitive, it's going to be pretty hard to talk about old films. And in all seriousness, there was more homophobia and racism in your response than in anything we 'fatuous assholes' have written.
Posted by BurmaShave at August 10, 2008 10:04 PM
comment #13
scooterzz says ...
stop dancin', burma....
'don't be so sensitive'...... you folk kill me....
(no, literally...you folk kill me)...you want links?
Posted by scooterzz at August 10, 2008 10:14 PM
comment #14
BurmaShave says ...
Legitimately, some of my best friends are gay. You're being ridiculous. What is your malfunction? Obviously malice was not any part of my original writing. You're looking awfully hard for oppressors and enemies.
Posted by BurmaShave at August 10, 2008 10:21 PM
comment #15
quitstaringatme says ...
You're all acting like fags. If you want fags to stop saying fags on the internet, you got a lot of faggin' faggotry to fag.
Posted by quitstaringatme at August 10, 2008 10:27 PM
comment #16
scooterzz says ...
you aren't REALLY going to say . "some of my best friends are gay" ?!? do ypu have any idea what a joke/chiche that is?...really?.....
you are just so full of shit......and, BTW, malice is often part of your writing.....
but, really.....'some of my best friends are.....' how 70's...
Posted by scooterzz at August 10, 2008 10:30 PM
comment #17
quitstaringatme says ...
Also, thanks Jeff for bringing this up, there's an outdoor screening of North By Northwest here in Rochester, NY coming up, and I have something extra to look for
Posted by quitstaringatme at August 10, 2008 10:35 PM
comment #18
Mgmax says ...
I think he's right, "creepy fag" is insensitive. But I have a solution.
"Landau is unreal in this movie. The first and best "Andrew Sulivan" archetype I can remember, but with a deep reservoir. His interaction with Mason is flawless. That said, point taken."
Posted by Mgmax at August 10, 2008 10:40 PM
comment #19
BurmaShave says ...
Mgmax, as always, you have the best and final word. Goodnight all.
Posted by BurmaShave at August 11, 2008 12:06 AM
comment #20
Pinko Punko says ...
I don't think Andrew Sullivan works in this context, but I thought Burma's more serious reply was decently thoughtful. The phrase was in quotes really suggesting the type of role as a total stereotype/concoction. That said, have people been following the Clark Rockefeller business? Very very "Talented Mr. Ripley" without the gay aspect, just the chameleonesque sociopath angle.
Posted by Pinko Punko at August 11, 2008 12:51 AM
comment #21
frankbooth says ...
Did you know that NBNW stars Ed Binns and Leo G. Carroll? Gotta love that Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0790749815/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=
Posted by frankbooth at August 11, 2008 1:08 AM
comment #22
Mgmax says ...
That's crazy, everyone knows it stars Jessie Royce Landis and Les Tremayne.
Posted by Mgmax at August 11, 2008 7:36 AM
comment #23
CitizenKanedforChewingGum says ...
Some of my best friends ARE gay.
Here, everyone, meet Scooterzz...
Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum at August 11, 2008 11:09 AM
comment #24
Herry2008 says ...
I'd like to share it with the hotties who also like sports I met at ***R I C H L O V I N G.C O M***,where the hot affluent singles and sexy girls and models to
hook up for Hot Love, Flirt and Sexy Dating!
Posted by Herry2008 at August 12, 2008 2:22 AM
comment #25
Gucci Outlet o
says ...
Very happy to share this website, which product genuine goods at reasonable prices, the style be also the most popular this year
Posted by Gucci Outlet o
at April 18, 2011 7:36 PM
comment #26
janee
says ...
Si vous etes interesses par le dossier, ou desirez en savoir plus, contactez-moi par mail, et je vous mettrai en contact.
Best regards,Jane, CEO of high availability solution
Posted by janee
at May 17, 2011 11:48 PM