Dreamlike tour of the Hermitage Museum, guided by French nobleman and writer Marquis de Custine as he walks about giving clever, dry criticisms to an unseen 'dreamer' about the art, Russia, its aristocracy, history, culture, St. Petersburg, people from history..... Features a huge troupe of actors wearing 19th Century finery, some portraying historical figures. It's a visual feast, filmed (before 'Birdman') in one uninterrupted take.
Oh, Lord. The Godfather. As close to perfection as film can get. Everybody says Godfather II is better, but I disagree. It's great, but The Godfather... that's art of world historic importance, IMO.
I'm a huge Kubrick nut, as some of you know. I'd like to share one of his favorite pieces of music. He never used it in any of his films, but he played it over and over again on the set of 2001, to set the mood. It's Ralph Vaughan Williams' Sinfonia Antarctica.
Jerky » Tue Feb 20, 2018 2:45 am wrote:Oh, Lord. The Godfather. As close to perfection as film can get. Everybody says Godfather II is better, but I disagree. It's great, but The Godfather... that's art of world historic importance, IMO.
Agree! (And who can forget the brilliant editing in the baptism/Corleone revenge-massacre scene?)
What was with all those oranges?
Was Coppola planning to grow oranges w/his proceeds before settling on grapes?
Oranges used to be of greater cultural significance than they are nowadays... a semi-decadent treat for the well off and middle classes. They were popular Christmas gifts up to the late 60's.
I recommend the book "Rooted in America: Foodlore Popular Fruits and Vegetables". It's got a ton of great back-stories and historical context. There's an extensive chapter on oranges being seen as a symbol of youth, vigor, sexuality and matrimony, as well as other facts that may or may not be germane to the subject at hand.
They have numerous videos, I really get a kick out of them.
As I recall, when I posted them before my thought was that all militaries should be turned into institutes of music & dance.
“The purpose of studying economics is not to acquire a set of ready-made answers to economic questions, but to learn how to avoid being deceived by economists.” ― Joan Robinson
“The purpose of studying economics is not to acquire a set of ready-made answers to economic questions, but to learn how to avoid being deceived by economists.” ― Joan Robinson
Currently watching other classic films; after I finished 'The Godfather' Sunday night, woke, Monday morning craving orange (color, not juice). I'm not much of a fruit eater, except citrus, and esp. clementines, they're so damn tasty, thirst-quenching and aromatic.
Very interesting about the cultural significance of oranges; reminds me of 'Women In Love', another earlier film, and a scene where one of the main characters, Berkin, mansplains the sexual symbolism of figs to Hermione (seated to his left), her guests and to signal the death of his affair w/her.
Too bad there aren't more clips from the film, inc. one w/Gudrun and homosexual artist, Loerke, playing dress-up for their fantasy ride on the Trans-Siberian Express.
Another great scene-- Hermione's ostentatious, self-aggrandizing dance (ultimately hijacked by her audience) of grieving Naomi, Orpah and Ruth; casting herself in the lead, flanked by Ursula & Gudrun.
The greatest sin is to be unconscious. ~ Carl Jung
We may not choose the parameters of our destiny. But we give it its content. ~ Dag Hammarskjold 'Waymarks'