Movies and Videos
 

I'm one of those deferring travel for a while, but certain movies/videos are wonderful for armchair traveling. Just today I enjoyed "Paris Blues" starring Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Sidney Poitier, and Dianne Carroll. It was like viewing old black and white photographs of 1960 Paris, with the added bonuses of a musical score by Duke Wellington and a cameo performance by Louis Armstrong. Definitely a "must" for lovers of jazz and Paris. <BR> <BR>The following films are only a few to be shown on cable TV this week: <BR> <BR>Eleni -- Greece (a very good movie) <BR>Barcelona -- Spain <BR>Prague Duet -- Prague <BR>Howards End -- Britain <BR> <BR>I'd really appreciate hearing about similar movies that are evocative and also have a decent story to tell. In fact, I'd like to know more about the latter three movies, above, since I haven't seen them. THANKS!! <BR>

I'm topping my own post, because I'd still love to get some feedback on movies to watch while deferring travel to Europe. And hoping there are at least a few more people out there who feel the same. Thank you! <BR>

Duke Wellington? Is he any relation to Ellington's Victory? :-)

Enchanted April & Tea with Mussilini, will give you the urge to run away to Tuscany.I liked the newest version of Sabrina for the Paris scenes..then there is -any Fellini movie, Indochine with Catherine Deneuve,La Cage Aux Folles, great location in Cannes-more later, popcorn is ready..

From the movies you listed, I have only seen "Barcelona". This movie came out some years ago and I recalled the buzz about been a witty outlook on the clash of cultures on Americans abroad. The writer is from a nearby town in Upstate NY. I also recalled reading that the movie is based on his experiences while living in Barcelona (He married a Spanish woman and worked in Barcelona for many years).

Here's a few others with great European scenery and/or stories: <BR> <BR>1. Mediterraneo...Makes you want to live on a Greek isle <BR>2. Before Sunrise...Beautiful European cinematography set against a story of young love <BR>3. French Kiss... funny and touching, featuring some good French location shots <BR>4. Day of The Jackel (the original version)...riveting suspense set against many European locales <BR>5. A little Romance...charming film from the seventies featuring Sir Laurence Olivier and Europe <BR> <BR>Share and enjoy! <BR> <BR>David

Yes! David-French Kiss has some great scenes of Paris and the countryside, I especially liked the train scene with the frommage! <BR>Burnt by the Sun is an excellent Russian film, shows you life in the countryside, but I don't think it would make you want to go visit:)

Just thought of another one!! <BR>The Eye of the Needle, WWII spy drama, Donald Sutherland,Kate Nelligan, takes place in England and an island in Scotlands Hebrides, great atmosphere, locations~

The Talented Mr. Ripley is just about Italy porn, if you'll pardon the expression. Great movie, too. Also, Il Postino showing the lovely little island of Procida, Italy,

Wonderful film set and filmed in Prague is Kolya. Very touching. Won best foreign film Oscar.

Only You with Marisa Tomei. <BR> <BR>Wonderful scenes of Italy.

My favorite movies for armchair traveling to some of these places are: <BR> <BR>"Les Demoiselles de Rochefort," for Rochefort, France, by Jacques Demy, with Catherine Deneuve and Françoise D'Orleac ( her sister) <BR>"Les Parapluies de Chebourg", with Catherine Deneuve and Michel Piccoli, a Jacques Demy movie, for Chebourg, France, both with beautiful soundtracks by Michel Legrand <BR>"The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone", based on a Tenesee Williams novel, with Vivien Leigh, for Rome. <BR>"La Dolce Vita", by Frederico Fellini, with Marcelo Mastroiani , Anita Ekberg, Anouk Aimee. for Rome, its piazzas and fountains. <BR>"Todo sobre my madre", might be "Everything about my mother" in English, by Almodovar, for Barcelona. <BR>"Ma Tati Danielle", (My Aunt Danielle) a very interesting French movie with lots of the shooting made in Paris, and a little in Greece. Don't recall the director name or main actress, but it's a great movie. Some shooting made in Bois de Boulogne. Tati Danielle is a really nasty old lady. The actress that played the main character is exceptional, as are the Paris' scenes. <BR>A movie whose main character was played by Liv Ullman. She plays an older woman having an affair with a younger man in Greece. Very interesting. Sorry for not recalling the name of the movie, nor the director. <BR>I also love "Sabrina" with Audrey Hepburn, already mentioned, for Paris, and another movie with the Same Audrey and Cary Grant, with a ride on a bateau mouche on the Seine. Does anyone recall how is called? And another one with Audrey and Albert Finney, where they travel by Europe a lot by car. <BR>"Tender is the Night", with Jennifer Jones and Jason Robards, based on a novel by Scott Fitzgerald, a lot of shooting in Monaco, Monte Carlo, and Switzerland. <BR>Also "Shirley Valentine" for Greece, and "An American in Paris" with Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron. Lovely movie! <BR> <BR>Well, these are all (or nearly all are) old movies, but I'm old, too, sorry.:-)) <BR> <BR>Surlok <BR> <BR>

1. Shirley Valentine (greece) <BR>2. My life as a dog (Sweden) <BR>3. Women on the Verge of a nervous breakdown (spain) <BR>4.Julia and Julia (Italy) <BR>5.A fish called wanda (england) <BR>6.Dirty Rotten scoundrels (France) <BR>7.Only you (Italy) <BR>8.Map of the Human Heart (England and Canada) <BR>9.Hope and Glory (England) <BR>

I just found out, Hepburn& Finney's movie is called""Two for the Road." The action takes place in the Riviera, where they do a lot of driving, and some other European locations. <BR> <BR>Other Hepburn movie shooted in Europe is "Roman holiday" with William Holden, and another one is"How to Steal a Million", with Peter O'Toole, in Paris. There's also "Funny Face" with Fred Astaire, also shooted in Paris, Montmartre, with wonderful Givenchy clothes. <BR> <BR>Surlok

Local Hero (Scotland). A wonderful movie

Good morning Ladybug, <BR>First GIGI Inamed my cat after this favorite musical, great views of the Bois and Parc Montsouris and so much more. <BR>Breathless, So much Paris and Belmondo. Next for another dark side of Venice off season, Christopher walken and Helin Merrill in THE COMFORT Of STRANGERS. Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie in DON'T LOOK NOW. <BR>WILD REEDS, the beautiful LOt Valley. <BR>STEALING BEAUTY, Tuscany with Jeramy Irons and a wonderful cast and soundtrack. <BR>PURPLE NOON with Alain Delon, this is the original fimed version of Highsmiths Talented Mr. Ripley, This is far better and it is photographed in Southern Italy. <BR>RENDEZVOUS IN PARIS, another delightful Rohmer film. More Paris , LAST TANGO IN PARIS and one of my favorite films 400BLOWS <BR>THE AMERICAN FRIEND, moves from Hamburg to NY, another adaptation of Highsmith's Ripley series. <BR>RYAN'S DAUGHTER, Island <BR>CRYING GAME&lt; MORGAN, London. And so many more I could go on and on.

The film with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn is CHARADE, and then there is TO CATCH A THIEF, also great views of Monaco..Surlock, you know your movies!:) <BR>and Two for the Road is faaabulous! <BR>So glad this started,Ladybug, I must go out and rent them and enjoy them all over again..I think all of the Almadovar films are good-and FRANTIC with Harrison Ford, -loses his wife in Paris~wish someone would lose me in Paris:)

Try Jean de Florette and Manon of the Springs for life in a French village, Night of the Shooting Stars for Tuscany during World War II and, of course, Life is Beautiful for scenes from Arezzo and Castiglion Fiorentino. <BR> <BR>Surlock mentioned one of my all-time favorites: The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone with an young and incredibly beautiful Warren Beatty (or is that redundant?). <BR>

Just have to say, regarding "Barcelona," while not a great film, it does contain one of the funniest scenes ever (the one where the guy reads the Bible while dancing to "Pennsylvania 6-5000").

FYI Surlok, <BR>Roman Holiday stars Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, not William Holden... <BR>Ann

My alltime favorite- Cinema paradiso has beautiful scenes of Italy but it is the storyline that is unforgettable. I think it won best foreign film.

Ann, you're right, I was mistaken. Thanks for correcting me. I mixed up Sabrina with Roman Holidays, and put William Holden on the wrong movie. Sorry for that. <BR> <BR>S

A Month by the Lake with Vanessa Redgrave and Edward Fox. Filmed in the Lake Como area. Beautiful. <BR> <BR>A Man And A Woman - with Anouk Aimee (don't know if that is the correct spelling). This is an old movie from the 60's, but one I remember very fondly. Haven't seen it in years - lovely music and scenes of France. <BR> <BR>Four Weddings and A Funeral - England and Scotland. <BR> <BR>Notting Hill <BR> <BR>

Wim Wender's WING'S OF DESIRE-Berlin <BR>Fellini's NIGTS OF CABIRIA-Rome <BR>PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE-Edinburgh <BR>ROOM WITH A VIEW-Florence <BR>LA DOUBLE VIE DE VERONIQUE-Paris <BR>BELLE DE JOUR-France <BR>MA VIE EN ROSE-France <BR>WHITE-Warsaw and Paris

And don't forget: <BR>Last Year at Marienbad-France <BR>Diabolique-France <BR>Veronika Voss-Germany <BR>Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown-Spain <BR>

Just had to add "YES!" to the poster who said "The Talented Mr. Ripley" was Italy porn -- how true! Watched it several times just to look at the scenery. <BR>"YES!" that the funniest scene I've ever seen was Bible-dancing in "Barcelona." <BR>And to add that "Before Sunrise" not only has great shots of Vienna, but really captures the "feel" of being a kid on a train trip in Europe.

a few more of my favorites. <BR>CELINE AND JULIE GO BOATING-Paris <BR>CLAIRE'S KNEE-Lake Annecy <BR>BONJOUR TRISTISE-Paris and Cote d'Azure <BR>Spanish films I love-CRIA and THE SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE <BR>Russian-THE CRANES ARE FLYING <BR>Japaneese-A WOMEN DESCRNDING THE STAIRS, WOMAN IN THE DUNES, RAN, RASHAMON. <BR>Any early Bunuel film <BR>Polish- THE MARBLE MAN <BR>German-all Fassbinder <BR>

Mimi, <BR> <BR>The "Ryan's Daughter " was shooted in Ireland, not Island. and is really a great movie. It proved Robert Mitchum acting skills. I never thought he was such a good actor until I saw that movie. <BR> <BR>The French, original version of "The Talented Mr. Rypley", besides being much better, had Alain Delon playing Tom Ripley character, a lovely sight, in fact, besides the Italian Riviera scenario. Gosh, he was handsome!! Maurice Ronet was not bad at all, but Marie Laforet, playing Marge, left much to be desired. <BR> <BR>S

One of the best scenes in THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY is when Ripley gives Marge a present of perfume. If you notice the white container with the black ribbon, you will understand that the perfume is from the Farmaceutica Santa Maria Novella in Florence. Also, if you have seen the movie HANNIBAL, you will notice that when Dr. Lechter is searching for perfume for Clarice, he is in the Farmaceutica Santa Maria Novella in Florence.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Watched Summertime with Kathryn Hepburn last week. GREAT. Tonight I watched Tea with Mussolini, scenery in Florence and San Gimignano was wonderful. Tomorrow will watch Enchanted April in Tuscany. NOw I have all kinds of new suggestions. My problem. I live in small town.My Blockbuster doesn't have much selection of older movies. HOw do you get them? Thanks

Forgot to add. I loved Shirley Valentine because for a married women like me with all kinds of questions about the worth of my life. It was a real thought provoking movie. Highly recommend for women over 35 especially. No offense men.

I know Ryan's daughter was photographed in Ireland. It is a typing error as I am a bit disabled. Riley is spelled with an I.

Mimi, <BR> <BR>It was not my target to correct you, but inform those willing to see a movie in Ireland, and not having seen "Ryan's Daughter", that it has been made there, and not in Island. My remark didn't, in any way, mean to reduce the importance of your post. No one remembered of mentioning this extraordinary movie, but you. So, thanks for doing it. I'll rent it to see it again, and delight myself with the Ireland scenario and Mitchum & Sarah Miles extraordinary performances. <BR> <BR>And yes, I do a lot of typos myself, thanks for correcting them. <BR> <BR>Regards, <BR> <BR>S

Don't let the spelling police get you down, They are all comrades of John G. Our old British films can't be beat. Saturday Night, Sunday morning. <BR>Room at the Top. <BR>Ipcress File. <BR>The Lavender Hill Mob and now I am going to watch Diva, my mate has loaned me the vidio. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>i

A very good movie which takes place in Paris 1930's is Henry and June, which follows a bit of the lives of Henry Miller, his wife, June along with the diarist,Anis Nin. Fred Ward is perfect as Henry Miller and Uma Thurman plays June. <BR> <BR>I wish I could find "The Comfort of Strangers" with Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie in Venice. <BR> <BR>Thanks everyone for the contributions. One for the printer!

Charade and Two for the Road are two of my all-time favorite movies! And I was pleased to be reminded of Ryan's Daughter - actually the 'island' part wasn't wrong...I think it was filmed on an island (Blasket?) just off the west coast of Ireland, and we've meant to see the movie ever since our visit there. This is a great thread - I've made a list for my next foray to the video store. <BR> <BR>And for the person who said their rental resources are limited - perhaps you can request some of the titles through your library??

Annette: Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland are in DON'T LOOK NOW, and COMFORT stars Hellin Merrin, Chris Walken, Natasha Richardson and Rupert?(from my best friend,s wedding) <BR>If you are interested I know where you can rent by mail, email me if interested.

THANK YOU, Everyone, for the wonderful suggestions. You-all came through - as usual! I've seen some of the films and totally agree with your choices; the rest I'll look forward to seeing with great pleasure. <BR> <BR>Two more additions: "Lust for Life" with Kirk Douglas as Van Gogh, and "Forget Paris" with Billy Crystal because of the present-day shots of Paris. <BR> <BR>Yesterday I caught "Eye of the Needle" on TV and thoroughly enjoyed it. FYI, the following are some of your recommended films that will be on cable this coming week: <BR> <BR>Frantic - Harrison Ford in Paris <BR>Jean de Florette <BR>Manon of the Springs <BR>Tea with Mussolini <BR>Gigi <BR> <BR>Many of the movies mentioned in this thread are shown on cable TV quite frequently, saving the cost of renting videos. I think you're apt to see at least a couple in any given week, especially if you subscribe to premium channels like Flix, HBO, etc. (which we don't, but there's enough on our standard channels like AMC, A&E, TCM). <BR> <BR>Hope the weekend is going great for all of you!! <BR>

It's shameless of me to top this thread, but what the heck -- we could end up with new recommendations for films to watch over the holidays!<BR>

I can't believe no one has mention the greatest film of all...<BR><BR>The Sound of Music (Salzburg)