Naturally, we'd all seen this movie, but Bruce hadn't seen it since he was "a kid" (maybe 15 years ago). I had taped this off TNT many years ago so here and there were fuzzies and wobblies but overall not too bad.
You forget how much comedy is mixed in with the overall serious purpose. The film starts off dark, with a hanging at a military prison with the prisoners upset. Also the title/credits don't start until 10 minutes into the film, an innovation in 1967, but then, Robert Aldrich was known for being unconventional. The script was written by Nunnally Johnson and Lukas Heller and is outstanding for its succinct way of giving each character's development in a line or two.
It's basically a three-act play: act 1 is the military brass (Ernest Borgnine, Robert Webber) giving Maj. Reisman (Lee Marvin) a last chance to save his Army career. He'll take a dozen "dregs" from a military prison, shape them up, and lead them on a perilous mission the day before D-Day. He meets the twelve prisoners, all convicted killers or psychopaths or both, quickly asserts his dominance over them, and transports them into the countryside to set up a secret training camp. We meet Donald Sutherland (very early in his career), Clint Walker, John Cassavetes, Telly Savalas, Jim Brown, Trini Lopez, Charles Bronson, and some others to round out the dozen.
Act 2 is the welding of the prisoners into a cohesive unit. The Army psychiatrist (Ralph Meeker) warns against keeping Maggott (Savalas) because of the religion-inspired hatred of women (sluts! whores!) and the voices in his head telling him to kill them for god. But Reisman is determined to keep them all and make the mission succeed. Colonel Breed (Robert Ryan) is an enemy of Reisman's and there are several scenes of the DD turning the tables on Breed's elite paratroopers. Eventually, the brass hears about the feud and the DD is put up against the Army and Breed in some war games. Highly amusing hi-jinks ensue with George Kennedy doing excellent work as an Observer who can't interfere.
Act 3 is the mission: infiltrate a chateau in France filled with high-ranking German officers and their ladies and kill as many as possible (to keep them from D-Day). The first scene is when Reisman and the DD are sitting at a long table, with Reisman in the Jesus spot and Maggott in the Judas spot, and memorizing a crude poem detailing the steps of the op while looking at a model of the chateau. When they parachute in that night, it looks just like the model but things don't go exactly as the poem says. They improvise and Jim Brown gets to do his famous broken-field run with the grenades. All of the DD are killed except one. Reisman survives, as does Sgt. Bowren (Richard Jaeckel), who's been with the mission from the prison. END
Based on a book by E.M. Nathanson. I've read that there was a group called The Devil's Brigade that actually did something like this sort of mission.
Anyhow, we all enjoyed the movie very much and it was fun to see these actors again.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Working
So I'm doing a few hours a week for a company that does "rainwater management," which includes gutters, drainage, roofs, etc. Starting out small, about 5 hrs/week, working in Quickbooks and also doing some data updating on the client database. Most of my work will be done remotely, though I'll walk over and get all the papers, bring them back and do the bookkeeping here at home. The office is only two blocks away so that makes it very convenient.
They are talking about buying some land about 10 miles away and moving operations there, but that's down the road a little. By that time, all systems should be working smoothly so I can drop by once a week or so. And they can scan stuff, send it to me for massaging.
I think it's going to work out fine. And I'll have a little extra money to do some things with. Yay!
They are talking about buying some land about 10 miles away and moving operations there, but that's down the road a little. By that time, all systems should be working smoothly so I can drop by once a week or so. And they can scan stuff, send it to me for massaging.
I think it's going to work out fine. And I'll have a little extra money to do some things with. Yay!
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Job
A company I interviewed with last Fall has called to see if I want to be their bookkeeper for 5-10 hrs/week, depending on their workload etc. So I'm going on Monday to talk to their current person (and why is she leaving?) and get up-to-date on what they need, how often, etc. At this point, anything is better than nothing, and I'll have a little extra to spread around, which will be nice.
Snowy and cold today, with gusty wind. Sunday sunny but still very cold. First real taste of winter here, and it's been a long time coming.
I have a new, critically acclaimed book to read (from a friend): The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern. I picked it up about a month ago and read the first 12 pages, thought "oh, it's like The Circus of Dr. Lao," and then it started not to be but still seemed interesting, put it down to go to sleep, and haven't picked it up since. Why? No idea. It's been so long now I'll have to start over. I have some sort of ingrained bias against "critically acclaimed" books, which may be an inverse snobbery sort of thing. If I ever do finish it, I'll let you know.
The February Birthday Bash at John and Hazel's has been canceled for tonight as it may be treacherous driving (supposed to be 18 tonight), so it'll be a good night to drink hot tea, read, watch TV, listen to music, do crosswords, putter online at various blogs, and the like.
TTFN
Snowy and cold today, with gusty wind. Sunday sunny but still very cold. First real taste of winter here, and it's been a long time coming.
I have a new, critically acclaimed book to read (from a friend): The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern. I picked it up about a month ago and read the first 12 pages, thought "oh, it's like The Circus of Dr. Lao," and then it started not to be but still seemed interesting, put it down to go to sleep, and haven't picked it up since. Why? No idea. It's been so long now I'll have to start over. I have some sort of ingrained bias against "critically acclaimed" books, which may be an inverse snobbery sort of thing. If I ever do finish it, I'll let you know.
The February Birthday Bash at John and Hazel's has been canceled for tonight as it may be treacherous driving (supposed to be 18 tonight), so it'll be a good night to drink hot tea, read, watch TV, listen to music, do crosswords, putter online at various blogs, and the like.
TTFN
Friday, February 3, 2012
RIP
Ben Gazzara
I've been a fan of his for 50 years. Wait, is that right? Yep, at least. He was in Anatomy of a Murder in 1959. But the one I really remember is The Strange One, (1957), set in a boy's school. He was a badass early on. He was also in Saint Jack, based on a Ross Thomas (as Oliver Bleeck) novel (and I collect Ross Thomas). And there's my guilty pleasure, Roadhouse, with another fave Sam Elliott.
I'll miss him.
I've been a fan of his for 50 years. Wait, is that right? Yep, at least. He was in Anatomy of a Murder in 1959. But the one I really remember is The Strange One, (1957), set in a boy's school. He was a badass early on. He was also in Saint Jack, based on a Ross Thomas (as Oliver Bleeck) novel (and I collect Ross Thomas). And there's my guilty pleasure, Roadhouse, with another fave Sam Elliott.
I'll miss him.
Movie Night
Circle of Iron
1978
David Carradine, Jeff Cooper, Christopher Lee, Eli Wallach, Roddy McDowell
An idea conceived by Bruce Lee, James Coburn (student of Lee), and Stirling Silliphant, about a martial artist on a journey to find the book of all wisdom held by Zetan. On the way, he is "guided" by an aphorism-spouting, flute-playing martial artist, who shows up in many guises and fights in many styles.
Lee would have played the guide, and I suppose that Coburn would have played the seeker. Of course, Lee died before the movie could be made. Carradine bought the rights and played the guide. Cooper played the seeker. Christopher Lee played Zetan (one long scene), McDowell had one long scene, and Wallach had a long scene that is the highlight of the film, as a man in a large pot filled with oil that he is slowly dissolving in because he can't control his lust and wants to be rid of his love tool.
Carradine, who fancied himself as a great martial artist, has a grand time chewing the scenery. Cooper is not a bad actor, he's a bad fighter. Everybody else is phoning it in but they're professionals and do their best. Filmed in Israel.
Bruce, our young friend, loved it, and it is a lot of fun if you just sit back and disengage all critical faculties and knowledge of martial arts and just enjoy the silliness.
1978
David Carradine, Jeff Cooper, Christopher Lee, Eli Wallach, Roddy McDowell
An idea conceived by Bruce Lee, James Coburn (student of Lee), and Stirling Silliphant, about a martial artist on a journey to find the book of all wisdom held by Zetan. On the way, he is "guided" by an aphorism-spouting, flute-playing martial artist, who shows up in many guises and fights in many styles.
Lee would have played the guide, and I suppose that Coburn would have played the seeker. Of course, Lee died before the movie could be made. Carradine bought the rights and played the guide. Cooper played the seeker. Christopher Lee played Zetan (one long scene), McDowell had one long scene, and Wallach had a long scene that is the highlight of the film, as a man in a large pot filled with oil that he is slowly dissolving in because he can't control his lust and wants to be rid of his love tool.
Carradine, who fancied himself as a great martial artist, has a grand time chewing the scenery. Cooper is not a bad actor, he's a bad fighter. Everybody else is phoning it in but they're professionals and do their best. Filmed in Israel.
Bruce, our young friend, loved it, and it is a lot of fun if you just sit back and disengage all critical faculties and knowledge of martial arts and just enjoy the silliness.
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