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Reviews
Angels Hard as They Come (1971)
Big Leap From This Starter Movie
I, John Hand, was the editor of CUSTOM CHOPPER Magazine in 1971 and I had a car and bike painter friend named Bill Carter who was appearing in the movie with his Harley. So I went out to the desert and watched them shoot some scenes. I put a report of this movie in my magazine but I have to admit that I never saw the movie later. Mr Demme the director sent me a letter with some clarifications about the movie and I put the letter in my magazine. Jonathan Demme, the director also told me to keep my eye on Scott Glenn, because he was going to go places. Well, as it turned out, they both went on to make and star in the big blockbuster and award winner SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. Who would have thought?
Pipe Dreams (1976)
Comment after seeing Pipe Dreams
I saw Pipe Dreams when it first came out somewhere in the Hollywood area. Two gals came with me. I really remember little about the movie, since it was so long ago. I think we went to see Gladys Knight. Afterwards, in the lobby, one gal, Susie, said.."That was a boring movie." To which I replied, "Yes, but it took an Academy Award." She looked stunned. The other gal looked at me with dis-belief, along with another couple in the lobby who had overheard. They all turned towards me while Susie asked.."An Academy Award? What for?" And I replied..."Most snow." They looked stunned, and then it sank in. It got a good laugh.
The Seven-Ups (1973)
Best Chase Sequence?
Seven Ups has been compared to Bullitt for the chase scene, but does not come anywhere near matching Bullitt. Bullitt has a beginning that builds builds builds. When McQueen leaves the seedy hotel, gets into his Mustang, which is parked under the Embarcadero Freeway (now torn down) and notices the Charger sitting nearbye, you know you are about to see something spectacular. From that moment on, when McQueen starts that car, begins the best car chase sequence ever filmed. Adding to it is a terrific Lalo Schriffin If I remember correctly sound track. This goes on for a long time before you actually hear the first tires squealing. That shot of McQueen's Mustang suddenly appearing in Bill Hickman's rear view mirror is unmatched for visual impact. Hickman's look of surprise and double take really adds to the effect. Then of course, San Francisco is unmatched for the setting of cars racing up and down hills and around bends. Also, Bullitt being filmed in the 60s when cars were still "Hot" (Mustang GT and Dodge Charger) made for a better set of wheels then two boring, smog device laden Pontiacs in the 1970s Seven Ups. Bill Hickman was the driver of the bad guy car in both movies. I saw him sitting at an insider movie preview once on the Univeral lot when I was doing movie reviews for a paper. They gave it a good try in Seven Ups though with the chase scene. Seven ups had a few "jumps" over little hills, (Yawn) but of course they were not San Francisco hills. The Seven Ups chase, where they are actually going fast, is longer than the go fast sequence in Bullitt. But the scene of a single shotgun blast totally blowing the hood OFF of Roy Schieders Pontiac is the height of absurdity. Strictly Hollywood, I would say, except that it was filmed in New York.
Electra Glide in Blue (1973)
Music In Electra Guide in Blue
This movie impressed the (Heck) out of me. At the beginning of the movie (at least back when I saw it at the premiere) there is a blurb that says something like "Be sure to stay for the credits and hear 10 minutes of music," or something like that. All I know is, most people walk out of a movie when the credits roll, but the music at the end of Electra Guide is worth waiting for. I liked one shot in the beginning, where the camera is going along as officers in ranks are inspected, sideways goes the camera, we see faces, and then, after three or four, the camera hits "Space", lowers down, and there is short little Robert Blake. Cute, real cute.
The House in the Square (1951)
Mostly, I remember the very touching ending.
Like many I haven't seen this movie in years, but it gave me a lasting impression. Thing I remembered the most is when the gal in the past (Ann Blyth) knew that Tyrone was going back to the future (where have I heard that phrase before?) she told him that she would have the letters in her tombstone cut deep so that he could read them in the future. When he returned to the future (his present) he went to the cemetery and found her tombstone, old and fading, but still marked as she had promised. Touching, and sad. Then later, lo and behold, the spitting image of her appears in his present and he has a chance to "renew" his love. Great movie, in the great old black and white format. You could categorize it as the forerunner of Somewhere in Time, with Jane Seymour appearing as possibly the loveliest woman in film.