色花堂

If you like Gene Hackman and Liv Ullmann there is a simple but good movie on U tube called, Zandy,s Bride.
Made in 1974 but I found it an interesting film about pioneer life in Big Sur and the hardships of being a mail order bride in the 1800,s. - @Marilyn Tassy

I watched this movie on YT and it was quite good.聽 The streaming quality was underwhelming unfortunately.

I wasn't too happy about the subject matter and I wanted Liv to shoot Gene right up until the end.聽 But it came kind of good at the end.聽 I liked the scenery. I've actually been to Big Sur and it was a bit of a reminder. I had forgotten how rugged it was! Sure was a tough life way back in the 1800s.

For those who want to know....

Apparently Bergerac the famous (UK) Channel Islands TV detective is coming back in a.聽 It's got a new cast and is once again set in Jersey.聽 John Nettles turned down a cameo, which is a shame.

It's being broadcast on UK channels (U&Drama or UKTV Play).聽 Never heard of them. If I remember correctly, UKTV comes out of the studios of the former franchise holder for London, Thames TV.聽

The only way to get this for us expats will probably be download.聽 Available after 27 February 2025 so not long to wait.

Old Begerac titles:

@fluffy2560

The first episode was shown the other day in Jersey at the cinema in St. Helier.

I lived in Jersey for a couple of years, so will be interesting to watch this.

@fluffy2560The first episode was shown the other day in Jersey at the cinema in St. Helier.I lived in Jersey for a couple of years, so will be interesting to watch this. - @SimCityAT

Cool!

I used to live in Southampton and I used to go to Jersey for the weekend from Southampton airport.聽 聽Few bevvies of Mary Ann, bit of a drive about in a very cheap open top hire car.聽 拢10 a day if I remember correctly.聽 Could hardly get out of 2nd gear due to the low speed limit.聽 Nice beaches and interesting scenery.聽 Hardly the hot bed of Bergerac's crime ridden Jersey. I was also in Alderney once on a day trip - Aurigny Air Tri -islander prop plane.聽 A real backwater.

@fluffy2560

A pint of the local beer was 拢1.25, pack of 20 cigarettes was 拢2.00. We went to a nightclub called Quids Inn, and all drinks were 拢1.

Oh those were the days.... I only ment to have gone for the summer, I ended up lasting 2 years.

@fluffy2560
A pint of the local beer was 拢1.25, pack of 20 cigarettes was 拢2.00. We went to a nightclub called Quids Inn, and all drinks were 拢1.
Oh those were the days.... I only meant to have gone for the summer, I ended up lasting 2 years. - @SimCityAT

Oh, yes, it was a lot cheaper.聽 No VAT.聽 It's聽 a quirky place. British but not quite. I am not sure what it would be like living there permanently.聽 Any island would end up being claustrophobic to me. In any case, it used to be 拢10M minimum in the bank to buy a house there.聽 Not many ordinary plebs can do that from petty cash.

This arvo, I wasted time watching this movie from 1969 starring one of my fave stars of that era, namely Glenn Ford.聽 This was one of his worst films and patronising in the extreme over the American Indians living in the area of Ford's ranch.聽 Yet only Ford can save the day and rescue the children as Ford's wife called them (i.e., the Indians).聽 It also drove me nuts as they continously referred to Ford's character as Smith, even his improbably bouffant'd wife and his goofy son. It was like they were being paid each time they inserted the name Smith into the dialogue.聽 No doubt the silly nature of this movie is down to it being produced by Walt Disney. Apparently the plot was based on an episode of the High Chapparal.

I did say in Absolutely Anything Else trouble follows some people.聽 I should not have mentioned him.

If they were all dead, then it's either murder/suicide, suicide or a faulty gas powered water heater.

Now I've got to watch all Hackman's movies.聽 There has to be an upside.

"5,000 rupees ($57) for the 鈥渕ental agony鈥濔煠�

"5,000 rupees ($57) for the 鈥渕ental agony鈥濔煠� - @SimCityAT

Seems a bit stupid.聽 He didn't HAVE to go to the movies.聽 He paid the ticket, sat in the seat and therefore entered into an unwritten contract.聽 And he saw the movie.聽 He cannot unsee it.聽

I've often wondered if the movie was crap, if you could get your money back.聽 It's very rare I've left a movie mid-screening.聽 Only one I can think of is Father of the Bride 2.聽 Mrs F and I couldn't stand it and we left.聽 Pronto.

Omg, Gene Hackman and his wife found dead at their home in New Mexico.

Omg, Gene Hackman and his wife found dead at their home in New Mexico.
- @SimCityAT

Yes, I said that first thing this morning.

If I was into spooky things, It's because we mentioned him in previous discussions here!聽 And I've watched two of his movies in the past week.聽 It's like Final Destination.聽 Mentioning someone means they meet their maker.聽 it's not working on Trump or Musk (yet).

And another one.....

And another one.....
- @SimCityAT

Yes, saw that.聽 Wondered if it was drugs given that she was so young.聽 Buffy was a massively popular show with my older kids (now in their 30s).聽 One tribute said she was finding things difficult and her fame and jobs were waning.聽 That tribute said she needed help. Makes me wonder, if people knew, why didn't they help her sort herself out then?聽 聽Maybe she felt she'd run out of road. Waste of a life.聽

Gene Hackman latest:聽

I did say carbon monoxide poisoning earlier on today so my crystal balls might have been working.

You'd think they'd have had a CO alarm.聽 聽 We have two - one in the room with the woodburner and one on the landing near the gas boiler.聽 30 or 40 EUR for both. They cost almost nothing and save lives.聽 Even better get a combined CO and smoke alarm.聽 Makes sense.

It's also been reported that there is no evidence of a gas leak and a pill bottle was found by the bodies.

It's a fast moving story so I guess we will have to wait for the autopsy report for an answer.

Not a rag that I totally believe.....

It's also been reported that there is no evidence of a gas leak and a pill bottle was found by the bodies.
It's a fast moving story so I guess we will have to wait for the autopsy report for an answer.



Not a rag that I totally believe..... - @SimCityAT

CO poisoning is hard to detect. People don't know they are being poisoned.聽 You have thought if it was suicide, then they've be on the bed together and not in different rooms as was reported.聽 It might be his wife had a headache due to the CO, tried to take a pill for it but ultimately misunderstood what was happening.聽 If she'd opened the window, she'd probably have survived.聽

I looked up the weather for Santa Fe and it's surprisingly cold there, so they could have had the heating on, possibly with a blocked flue.聽 I also didn't know Santa Fe is at 2000m.聽 Could be freezing at night in February and heating would be needed.聽 聽

Friday arvo's Gene Hackman movie (his last gig):

Any good on Netflx?

Any good on Netflx? - @SimCityAT

Dunno, I'm watching a show called Marcella on Netflix.聽 聽Toxic Town has got Dr Who in it (Jodie Whittaker) who has to be one of the most over-rated actors in the world.聽 She really messed it up in Dr Who.聽 Put me right off.

I watched Welcome to Mooseport.聽 This was Gene Hackman's last film. He looked good, healthy and happy in it.聽 聽It's easy to watch and Gene Hackman does a great job, eclipsing everyone.聽 It's not going to stretch anyone's brain and there's a very capable supporting cast.聽 I think it's on YT if anyone wants to see it. I got it another way.

Might be worth a punt:

Wheel of Time returns for Season 3 on 13 March 2025:

Update on Marchella (狈别迟蹿濒颈虫).听

I watched the whole lot - 24 episodes.聽 It was worth watching although I wondered if the story was going a bit wonky sometimes. The ending was OK too - left it a bit open to new stories or another season.聽 Shame Marchella won't come back for more episodes.聽 I could see possibly a revival down the line a bit.

Potential TV show called - screened in the UK 18-24 March 2024 - likely only available on a download or YT.聽 4 episodes Looks a good cast - Jason Watkins is a top actor.聽 It was filmed in Budapest substituting for some English town (which seems rather unlikely!):

Probably worth a look as there are some famous names in it.聽 Billed as a comedy-horror movie.聽 Possibly only available as a download.聽 聽Famous names in this one - Brian Cox and Lisa Kudrow.

We went to Arena Plaza yesterday and decided to check out where the cinema city was located.

It was 1:15 and the film I had been wanting to see was playing at 1:30. We decided on a whim to go in.

The Brutalist.

We had the entire theater to ourselves, pick of seats.

It was a brutal 2 plus hours plus the 15 min.intermission .

Not the film I had expected at all from the short clips I had seen.

Boring overall, if not for Adrian Brodys acting the times would of been a nightmare. My husband was falling asleep I was getting antsy to leave. Even thought of leaving at intermission.

It had been at least a decade since we went to the film house and it looks like it will be another decade before we chance it again.

The costumes were good though.

We went to Arena Plaza yesterday and decided to check out where the cinema city was located.It was 1:15 and the film I had been wanting to see was playing at 1:30. We decided on a whim to go in.The Brutalist.We had the entire theater to ourselves, pick of seats.It was a brutal 2 plus hours plus the 15 min.intermission .Not the film I had expected at all from the short clips I had seen.Boring overall, if not for Adrian Brodys acting the times would of been a nightmare. My husband was falling asleep I was getting antsy to leave. Even thought of leaving at intermission.It had been at least a decade since we went to the film house and it looks like it will be another decade before we chance it again.The costumes were good though. - @Marilyn Tassy

Oh dear, looks like The Brutalist will be off our list.聽 I hope you got free parking!聽 聽 Most movies are 1.5h to 2.5h and exceptionally over 3h.聽 If films are over 3h, I'd have to watch it in chunks over a couple of days.

I wasn't so sure about the subject matter of the Brutalist.聽 I mean, there are plenty of Brutalist buildings in any large city. It's not like they are cool or good to look at as they are mostly concrete monstrosities.聽 London has plenty of them and they are just awful.聽 Really they are mistakes and should probably be knocked down.聽 We know more about how people should live now and they do not want to live in barren, concrete deserts that are not communities.聽 聽That's an experiment that failed.聽 Big time.

Meanwhile, in my lazy pre-retirement days, I watch an excellent Audie Murphy Western movie called.聽 It's not Shakespeare but the story is good, the pace excellent, the cast good, it's not over sentimental and the countryside looks interesting - California desert/rock formations (actually Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, CA).聽 As with all Audie Murphy's movies, there's a happy ending.

Thankfully we took the bus over to the movie.

The Brutalist was simply put, a film about a Jewish family that was separated in WW2 and made it through the camps.

The guy came to the US post war and was hired by a rich dude and they had their issues. Loads of sex scenes that were a bit disturbing and did nothing in my mine to make the story better; Male rape,ladies of the night etc;

Filmed with a dark lense, made it a depressing film and way too long.

I thought they would have shown Hungary but na, nada;

Audie Murphy was a real US WW2 hero.

Loads of films and TV shows were made in Simi Valley, Ca;

The Lone Ranger, Little House on the Prarie and many other, even the low budget horror film from the 50,s The Creature from the Black Lagoon;

Audie Murphy was a real US WW2 hero.Loads of films and TV shows were made in Simi Valley, Ca;The Lone Ranger, Little House on the Prarie and many other, even the low budget horror film from the 50,s The Creature from the Black Lagoon; - @Marilyn Tassy

Audie Murphy was of course the most decorated soldier of WW2.聽 聽He made the transition to the movies and because of his youthful looks, didn't ever seem to look over 21.聽 聽His movies were always "clean".聽 One brave dude for sure. Unfortunately died in a plane crash.聽 Nazis couldn't get him but impact with the ground via unqualified pilot did.聽 聽

Another film I saw had Jim Brown in it - his first movie, Rio Conchos.聽 Former "football" player.聽 So yet another one to transition into the movies. I guess like OJ Simpson.聽 Kind of interesting to move into the movies from other forms of show business.

I've queued up another Audie movie for my semi-retired arvo.聽 聽No Name on the Bullet.聽 Apparently his finest.聽 That remains to be seen.

I am pretty sure I've seen those famous Alabama Hills in episodes of Star Trek.聽 Kirk was fighting some rubbery monster there.聽 And I don't mean the orangey Teflon Don.

This looks like a pretty strange movie.聽 I was going to watching in the afternoon, but maybe it'll be tonight.聽 Has a very solid cast.聽 And despite the subject matter, it did make money.

Watched this on Netflix.聽 Slow paced. Episode 6 is quite good.聽 The robbery was done in one take - no editing.聽 Interesting how they did it - there's a "how they..." featurette.聽 聽Quite good technology on how they did the backgrounds etc.

And of course, it was made in Hungary.聽 In Swedish with subtitles.聽 Some of the prime players were good.聽 They will be in bigger international movies for sure.

Watched a Audie Murphy film last night;

Saw it years ago but it is still a good one.

The Unforgiven. Also had Burt Lancaster and Audrey Hepburn.

Happy ending too.

Watched a Audie Murphy film last night;
Saw it years ago but it is still a good one.
The Unforgiven. Also had Burt Lancaster and Audrey Hepburn.
Happy ending too. - @Marilyn Tassy

Ah yes, that's a good one.聽 Trapped in a cabin and shooting out with attackers.聽 Good cast, pacing and plot.聽 聽But it was panned by critics.聽 What do they know? The underlying questions of native child abduction were never answered.

There's also the Clint Eastwood movie too.聽 Possibly THE finest Western ever made.聽 Hackman, Morgan Freeman and Richard Harris are in it too!聽 Quadruple whammy!

I rate Clint's Western movies extremely highly.聽 The excellent "Outlaw Josey Wales" - as close to a perfect movie as can be.聽

I got lined up - not Audie Murphy but Dean Martin and George Peppard and Jean Simmons.聽 聽 I've still got a few Murphy films to go - Destry and Quiet Gun.聽 聽I'll see if I can fit them in.聽

I always wondered how Dean Martin managed to stay on his horse or say his lines because he was rumoured to be an absolute boozer and smashed most of the time.

Maybe they gave Deans horse a few belts to sway with Dean?

I had such a crush on Clint Eastwood as a little girl .His Rawhide days of being Rowdy Yates.

So strange how old Hollywood would cast a white European lady as a full blooded native American;A bit of grease paint and they were good to go.

One reason I enjoyed seeing Dancing with Wolves, they used real natives Americans.

Maybe they gave Deans horse a few belts to sway with Dean?I had such a crush on Clint Eastwood as a little girl .His Rawhide days of being Rowdy Yates.So strange how old Hollywood would cast a white European lady as a full blooded native American;A bit of grease paint and they were good to go.One reason I enjoyed seeing Dancing with Wolves, they used real natives Americans. - @Marilyn Tassy

If you mean Audrey Hepburn, she was was indeed European.聽 She had a British (father) and Dutch (mother).聽 And not American native or otherwise.聽 She was quite the international child.聽 I had a bit of a crush on her.聽 I thought her very elegant.聽 But she had a horrible life during the war in Arnhem, experiencing starvation and sickness that nearly did her in.聽 Might explain why she was so stick insect thin.

My Audie Murphy film was full of people hamming it up as natives with obvious body paint.聽 And some of the dialogue was plain racist and sexist.聽 Interestingly, part of the plot involved the authorities in聽 the film courts-martialling the US Cavalry officer who massacred the Indians living peacefully on their reservation.聽 聽So on one side, Audie was fighting the Indians but meanwhile the authorities were jailing the real perps.聽 聽And during all the shenanigans of the cursory courts-martial, there was not a single Indian giving evidence.聽 聽 The victors do indeed write their version of history.

I've never actually seen Dancing with Wolves.聽 That could be a good movie for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

As for Clint, he's everyone's hero.聽 聽Good looking dude for the ladies and bad ass tough guy for the lads.聽 Universal appeal.聽 And fantastically successful.聽 And quite the womanizer.聽 聽I'm afraid he's not going to be around too much longer.聽 He's way into his 90s.聽 聽Now we've mentioned him, if our run of bad luck continues, maybe with a month, he'll be gone like Hackman.

Adolescence on Netflix - a child is accused of murder.聽 There are only 4 episodes.

This is quite well done.聽 One of the most interesting and unusual production feature is that each episode is filmed as one single shot with the camera moving rapidly by following the story as it flows between characters.聽 聽It's amazing really they managed to do it like that.聽 聽In some ways it's a bit like watching a play.聽 If there are joins or edits, they are really hard to see, maybe only one I thought might be an edit.聽 聽There might have been a mistake or two but the cast recovered really well.聽 聽

A key element of the story is the role of social media.聽 It's come as a revelation.聽 My son is 15 and he spends a lot of time on his PC.聽 We have no idea what he's doing.聽 I am considering introducing restrictions now as the harm it could be doing is incalculable.