tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post3166681039352330739..comments2024-03-29T03:05:28.466-07:00Comments on DREAMS ARE WHAT LE CINEMA IS FOR...: A QUIET PLACE IN THE COUNTRY 1968Ken Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-9537376071335096332020-03-24T20:14:23.400-07:002020-03-24T20:14:23.400-07:00Starting with the credit sequence which reminds me...Starting with the credit sequence which reminds me of the opening of Bergman's Persona(1965), the film quickly becomes tiresome, pretentious, frustrating and pointless. It jumps around so much that it fails to really involve the viewer and leaves one with eye strain and a headache. Joseph Kearnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03360334357262197758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-85563247524992955372020-02-13T18:10:24.342-08:002020-02-13T18:10:24.342-08:00Ha! I’m not sure restraint had anything to do with...Ha! I’m not sure restraint had anything to do with it. I actually had about 4 screencaps of Nero to chose from---all of him in that diaper thing tied to that chair—but the obviousness of my motives made me laugh at myself.<br /><br />Not to say I'm not above posting gratuitous beefcake.<br />I'm only a recent admirer of Gian Maria Volonté, but Franco Nero has been a crush since adolescence. I only wish I knew of this film back then.Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-56267414194016371422020-02-13T03:14:38.123-08:002020-02-13T03:14:38.123-08:00You’re showing much more restraint than I ever cou...You’re showing much more restraint than I ever could with this: every other cap would be of Nero’s ‘diaper’ get-up if I had been in charge of putting this together...<br /><br />How extraordinary that Petri knew how to film male (quasi) nudity so well. This with Citizen’s exploitation of Volonté’s smoldering looks are seared into my memory.<br /><br />/Mangrove’s adolescent turmoils out/mangrovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08940525631457357126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-23304591750135459822020-02-10T08:52:36.053-08:002020-02-10T08:52:36.053-08:00If you've never seen any of the films of Emili...If you've never seen any of the films of Emili Petri, I think you'd find "The 10th Victim" a real visual treaty. Those "Casino Royale" (1966)and those Austin Powers movies were significantly inspired by it.<br />"A Quiet Place in the Country" is a new, unexpected favorite. I hope you give it a look. It's certainly a kick seeing Guenevere and Lancelot in far sexier roles.<br />And yes, the fake-looking blood of old was plenty scary enough for me when I was a kid, but when I see it in movies now, it can actually mar a scene (Your reference to "The Damned" is perfect). <br />Thank you for reading this and commenting!Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-53101429344169700192020-02-10T07:11:48.778-08:002020-02-10T07:11:48.778-08:00Ditto, I have never heard of this film or this fil...Ditto, I have never heard of this film or this filmmaker, but it sounds right up my alley, I certainly enjoyed reading about it and love that Vanessa and Franco had a happily ever after in real life (sigh). And I know what you mean about the red corn syrup doubling as blood, it was the same for Visconti's the Damned, it kind of killed the moment. loulou de la falaisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17120127948192259286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-35565872753174606892020-02-07T16:52:39.002-08:002020-02-07T16:52:39.002-08:00Hi Ben
As FOUR FLIES ON GREY VELVET is one of the ...Hi Ben<br />As FOUR FLIES ON GREY VELVET is one of the films Giallos in my collection (big fan of Mimsy Farmer), what you describe sounds to me like a terrific double-feature!<br /><br />But I understand the challenge presented by what I too find to be a tiresome narrative trope: the struggling/tormented male artist. Elio Petri's film sort of flew in the face of my resistance. At every turn I thought I was going to reject the film because I couldn't imagine myself sitting through another "inner struggle of an artist" movie, but for me, Petri's socio-political vision applied to A QUIET PLACE IN THE COUNTY altered it's narrow narrative scope. It became less about a man and more about the exploitation and the elusive creative impulse.<br />It's funny you mention Robert Altman's IMAGES, for it is one of my favorites and one of the few films about a tortured artist as a woman. I just happened to have rewatched it recently after writing this post. I wrote bout it back in 2013: https://lecinemadreams.blogspot.com/2013/09/images-1972.html<br />And you're right, IMAGES would make a great double feature paired with this film. Thanks very much for reading this post and commenting, Ben. Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-33594871184771938952020-02-07T16:22:52.442-08:002020-02-07T16:22:52.442-08:00Thanks very much, Chris! I'm always happy if m...Thanks very much, Chris! I'm always happy if my coverage of an obscure film or oddity sparks a reader's interest in at least checking it out. As much as I like Vanessa Redgrave, it's rather surprising to me that I went so many years never even knowing this film existed.<br />Your words are very kind and I hope, if you do give this one a look, you find it to be as intriguing a film as I did. Good to hear from you, and thanks for reading!<br />Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-13848672470944082412020-02-07T16:14:32.417-08:002020-02-07T16:14:32.417-08:00About 10-15 years ago I saw this as the second hal...About 10-15 years ago I saw this as the second half of a double feature with Dario Argento's FOUR FLIES OF GREY VELVET, and I remember just finding it totally exhausting and being annoyed at its sympathy with a narcissistic male artist. Now, I know that this is probably NOT a film you want to see as a second feature, and I also have somewhat more sympathy for the struggles of male artists...so I wonder if I'd like it more... I feel like you've almost definitely seen and possibly even written about Robert Altman's IMAGES, but on the off chance that you haven't, they'd make an interesting double feature.Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15154490186230397830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-61098435630669212072020-02-07T08:59:07.000-08:002020-02-07T08:59:07.000-08:00I had never heard of this film and having read thi...I had never heard of this film and having read this blog - it seems like a must see. Thank you, Ken, for opening my eyes to these little-known gems. My video collection has taken a turn for the better since discovering your blog. cyandersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08036629600212203978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-42707009998595578012020-02-01T21:40:39.367-08:002020-02-01T21:40:39.367-08:00Hi Ron - I wasn't at all aware that Onions'...Hi Ron - I wasn't at all aware that Onions' novella (which is really a very creepy bit of work) was adapted for an episode of that anthology program I well remember from my youth (The credit sequence gave me nightmares). I rushed to watch it on YouTube and was surprised by how traditional (I'll use your word, since mine would have been ruder) the result was. Watching the TV film and Petri's back to back would make for an excellent film class study in what a difference a director with a point of view can make.<br />Whether you wind up enjoying the Elio Petri film or not, having seen the TV program, you owe it to yourself to check out the movie. I think you'll find the differences and similarities fascinating to note.<br />Thanks for bringing this to my attention, I’ve included a link to the program in the body of my post.Ken Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04940648971296673233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2627032459273165000.post-39913994426573138812020-02-01T12:07:57.226-08:002020-02-01T12:07:57.226-08:00I was not familiar with this film but when I saw t...I was not familiar with this film but when I saw that it was somewhat based on the story "The Beckoning Fair One" I recalled watching an episode of "Journey to the Unknown" (Thanks Amazon Prime!) with that title. I checked it out on IMDB and that particular episode aired December of 1968. Which is interesting given that this film came out in 1968. Must have been something in the air that year. I found the TV episode to be an effective (though traditional) ghost story and I wonder if its tragic conclusion is at all mirrored in this film which (based on your review) seems to take the story in some interesting directions. I'll have to check it out. Ronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02624356466416350251noreply@blogger.com