Month: January 2018

#155) Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

OR “Parker & Longabaugh Just Didn’t Sound Right”

Directed by George Roy Hill

Written by William Goldman

Class of 2003

The Plot: Partially based on real events, Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid (Paul Newman & Robert Redford) are two outlaws who rob banks and trains throughout the Wild West. While travelling through Wyoming with their infamous “Hole in the Wall Gang”, the two discover a mysterious posse in pursuit of them (“Who are those guys?”). Running out of options, they meet up with Sundance’s girlfriend Etta Place (Katharine Ross) and hightail it to Bolivia, though their problems eventually follow them there.

Why It Matters: The NFR praises the work of Newman, Redford, Hill, Goldman, and composer Burt Bacharach.

But Does It Really?: As a continuation of New Hollywood’s deconstruction of the classic Western, “Butch Cassidy” is a fresh spin that never takes itself too seriously. Butch & Sundance are neither heroes nor villains, just two outlaws making it up as they go along. It may be a little too anachronistic for some (even William Goldman felt he overdid it on the “smart-assness”) but the chemistry between Newman & Redford helps smooth over any rough patches and prevents this from being “just another Western”. It might not be one of the great untouchables in film, but I’d put it in the “above average” category entertainment-wise, while its enduring popularity and cultural impact make for an obvious inclusion on this list.

Everybody Gets One: Composer Burt Bacharach, lyricist Hal David, and actor Ted “Lurch” Cassidy.

Wow, That’s Dated: Score by Burt Bacharach. (Yeah, he’s getting a lot of mentions here, but that score is very ‘60s.)

Seriously, Oscars?: Although “Butch Cassidy” won four Oscars (Original Screenplay, Cinematography, Score, and Song), it lost Picture and Director to fellow NFR entry “Midnight Cowboy”. Additionally, it lost Best Sound to “Hello, Dolly!”, a defeat the film can never live down. To add insult to injury, “Butch Cassidy” received no acting nominations for any of the three leads.

Other notes

• Robert Parker started off as a butcher, while Harry Longabaugh got his first jail sentence in Sundance, Wyoming. There’s your trivia answer.
• The film George Roy Hill directed immediately before this one? “Thoroughly Modern Millie”. Wrap your head around that one, why don’t cha.
• Ah, the glorious time when Katharine Ross got “above-the-title” billing.
• Speaking of, Ross would eventually marry Sam Elliott, who makes his film debut here as a card player in Sundance’s first scene. Elliott and Ross share no scenes and wouldn’t start dating until the late ‘70s, but they’re still going!
• How much of this movie is in sepia-tone?
• Butch Cassidy’s gang was actually called the Wild Bunch in real life, but I guess that name was taken.
• In addition to writing this, “The Princess Bride”, and “All the President’s Men” (among many others), William Goldman also wrote “The Season”, my personal theater bible. He started writing “The Season” shortly after selling the screenplay to “Butch Cassidy”.
• That’s George Furth as Woodcock, or as I’ll always know him, “Howard Johnson is right!” Coincidentally, this film features brief appearances by future “Young Frankenstein” co-stars Kenneth Mars and Cloris Leachman.
• The cinematography is just brilliant throughout. Kudos to Conrad L. Hall.
• “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” has nothing to do with the scene it accompanies (or the rest of the movie for that matter), but I’ll be damned if it’s not the catchiest. You can’t imagine any other song being in that scene.

• Paul Newman should have won an Oscar for the bike stunts alone.
• I have inexplicably gotten a lot of mileage out of the line “Think you used enough dynamite there, Butch?”
• There’s a lot of shots (especially during the chase sequences) where there’s action occurring literally miles in the background. That can’t be easy to coordinate. Well done everyone.
• Here’s what I like about this movie’s dialogue: no one’s spouting witty one-liners, it’s all very organic banter. It’s easy for me to accept that two charismatic outlaws would have this kind of natural repartee.
• Nope, definitely not stuntmen as Butch and Sundance float down the river.
• Very considerate of the murderous posse to give everyone time to pack for their trip.
• So everyone in Bolivia is from Mexico?
• In addition to the aforementioned catchy song, I greatly enjoy the selection “South American Getaway”. I hear you, Thurl Ravenscroft.
• As I’ve always said: Behind every great legendary bandit team is a woman whose identity and factual details remain a mystery to this day.
• Butch & Sundance’s wanted poster doesn’t really look like them. Now they know how Flynn Rider feels.
• Strother Martin? It’s a “Cool Hand Luke” reunion! Still poor communication skills, however.
• “Tried new Bolivian restaurant yesterday. Lovely patio seating, great service, but our meal was interrupted by climactic shoot-out. Good entrée, though. 2 out of 5 Stars.”

Legacy

• Newman & Redford would reunite with George Roy Hill for 1973’s “The Sting”, which won Hill an Oscar and would eventually find its own place on the NFR.

• The prequel “Butch and Sundance: The Early Days”, starring the legendary pairing of Tom Berenger and William Katt (“The Greatest American Antihero”?)

• Two separate films that focused on Etta Place’s life after Butch & Sundance: “Wanted: The Sundance Woman” with Katharine Ross reprising her character, and “Mrs. Sundance” starring Elizabeth Montgomery.

• Both leads named non-profits after elements of this film: Redford with his Sundance Institute (as well as the film festival), and Newman with his summer camp Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.
• The TV show “Alias Smith & Jones” got its general vibe from this film.

• Everyone who’s ever needle-dropped “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”.

• As for the real Butch & Sundance, who the hell knows?

Listen to This: There’s no Bacharach on the National Recording Registry? Come on!

#154) This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

OR “Mock & Roll”

Directed by Rob Reiner

Written by Reiner & Christopher Guest & Michael McKean & Harry Shearer

Class of 2002

The Plot: Filmmaker Marty Di Bergi (Rob Reiner) documents the British heavy metal rock band Spinal Tap and its three lead members (Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer) as they embark on a tour of America to promote their new album. The film chronicles the band’s clashing artistic styles, the tour’s frequent cancellations, and the mysterious deaths surrounding several former band members.

Why It Matters: The NFR credits “This Is Spinal Tap” with inspiring the mockumentary genre. I mean, it’s no “David Holzman’s Diary”, but what is?

But Does It Really?: Oh yes. In addition to its influence on mockumentaries (which is still being felt today), “Spinal Tap” is still one of the most consistently funny films ever made. You can tell that everyone involved got the joke, and what you’re seeing is the best of the best improvisations. There’s a love for real heavy metal rock here, which helps balance out the sheer ridiculousness of the band and its antics.

Everybody Gets One: Main band member Michael McKean, as well as pretty much the entire cast, most notably: Ed Begley Jr., Paul Benedict, Dana Carvey, Howard Hesseman, Patrick Macnee, Paul Shaffer, and Fred Willard.

Wow, That’s Dated: Besides the obvious references to the ‘80s heavy metal scene, there are references to cassettes and NBA player Julius “Dr. J” Erving.

Title Track: Jeanine actually does say, “This is Spinal Tap” when introducing the band at the Air Force Base.

Seriously, Oscars?: Critically hailed but commercially ignored on its initial release, “Spinal Tap” failed to receive any Academy Award nominations. In a year that included “Amadeus”, “Places in the Heart” and “The Killing Fields”, no one on the Academy was in the mood to laugh.

Other notes

• There’s that goddamn Studio Canal logo again. It’s so jarring. Who thought that was a good idea?
• This was Rob Reiner’s first film as a director. Way to hit it out of the park on the first try.
• This film actually fares okay on basic cable. Nothing gets cut; they just bleep out the language, like you would for an actual documentary.
• The songs in this film really don’t get the credit they deserve. Reiner & Guest & McKean & Shearer not only wrote rock songs that sound like the real things, but their pastiches of the band’s early folk incarnations are spot-on as well.
• Keep in mind that at this point in time, Michael McKean was best known for playing Lenny (or possibly Squiggy) on “Laverne & Shirley”. Quite a far cry from this type of comedy.
• Because of this film, I have used “Shit sandwich” as an expletive on multiple occasions.
• It’s fun to look for the shots where they clearly made each other laugh. Most of the time they immediately cut away, but if you look closely you can see everyone (most notably McKean) come close to corpsing on camera.
• What can I say about any of the film’s iconic moments? These go to 11, Stonehenge, getting lost to the stage. It’s all just as funny as it was the first time. I ain’t gonna try to analyze it. It still works.

• Don’t think I didn’t catch that, Harry Shearer using your real voice as the radio announcer.
• That’s future Oscar winner Anjelica Huston in an early film role as Polly Deutsch, the designer who misinterprets the Stonehenge blueprints.
• This film loves wordplay, most notably Sir Denis Eton-Hogg and the Isle of Lucy.
• A lot of the quick cameos in this film are worth noting, but my favorite is Fred Willard. He always excels as the guy who tries a little too hard to be everyone’s pal.
• My hometown of Stockton, California gets a shout-out towards the end of the film. Contrary to how it’s portrayed here, Stockton does not have a “Themeland Amusement Park”. To the best of my knowledge, that’s actually Six Flags Magic Mountain in Santa Clarita.
• I do love a good Joe Besser reference.

Legacy

• Christopher Guest waited a decade before bringing the “Spinal Tap” team back together for “Waiting for Guffman” and several other acclaimed mockumentaries (although he objects to the term “mocumentary” because he does not believe his films mock anyone).

• Spinal Tap reunited in 1992 to promote their new album “Break Like the Wind”, and again in 2009 with “Back from the Dead”

• Fran Drescher reprised her role of Bobbi Flekman in a 1997 episode of “The Nanny”.

• Many bands have cited “Spinal Tap” as an influence or as hitting too close to home. Metallica released its own Black Album in reference to “Smell the Glove”.

• “Up to 11” has become such a mainstream phrase it has its own Wikipedia page.

• But perhaps the band’s greatest reunion came on “The Simpsons” episode, “The Otto Show”. It helps that one of the regular “Simpsons” cast members is Harry Shearer.

Further Viewing: Spinal Tap’s long running opening act The Folksmen got their own film in 2003. “A Mighty Wind” is the Christopher Guest gang at the peak of their collaborations.

#153) Jam Session (1942)

OR “Six Ways to Soundie”

Directed by Josef Berne

“C Jam Blues” composed by Duke Ellington

Class of 2001

The Plot: Duke Ellington and his band perform “C Jam Blues” in a bar. That’s it. That’s the whole thing.

Why It Matters: The NFR mentions this film’s designation as a Soundie, described as “a musical film played on jukebox-like devices found in social clubs and bars.” An essay by jazz film expert Mark Cantor gives a thorough history of the Soundies.

But Does It Really?: We’ll get more of Duke Ellington throughout the Registry, but this short gets a pass for its representation of the Soundies. To quote the aforementioned essay “The significance of this film is clear, and its placement on the Registry well warranted!” Yeah, Cantor actually ends his essay with that. The exclamation mark is there too. Go ahead, click the link.

Everybody Gets One: Many of the band members also appear in Duke’s other NFR entry “Black and Tan”, but I’ll give them a shout-out anyway. On violin, Ray Nance! On trumpet, Rex Stewart! On saxophone, Ben Webster! On trombone, Tricky Sam Nanton! On clarinet, Barney Bigard! And on drums, Sonny Greer!

Wow, That’s Dated: “Harlem Cats Eatery”. Plus the halcyon days of the clarinet as a jazz instrument. It was mainly just Barney Bigard and Benny Goodman.

Other notes

• Did RCM Productions steal their logo from 20^th Century Fox?
• “The Soundies” seems like it should be the uninspired name for a sound mixing award, doesn’t it? How many times has Kevin O’Connell lost that one?
• Lunch is only 23 cents! That’d be about $3.50 today! It’s a steal!
• Trombonist Joe Nanton earned the nickname “Tricky Sam” from Duke’s saxophonist Toby Hardwick. The tricky part I get, it’s the Sam part that doesn’t add up. I guess you had to be there.
• So if I play jazz in a bar, women will randomly show up and fawn over me? Noted.
• In doing my research, I learned that one of the companies that made Soundies was called “L.O.L. Productions”. As best I can tell the initials stood for the founders, two of which were Arthur Leonard and Sam Oliphant. Oh, where are you, second L?

Legacy

• While Soundies went out of fashion with the advent of television, it did pave the way for the modern music video. I have an unlimited selection of music video I could link to, but God help me, it’s Mick Jagger and David Bowie’s “Dancing in the Street” that’s calling to me right now.

• “C Jam Blues” has been covered many times over the years. Lyrics were eventually added and the song came to be called “Duke’s Place”.

• Director Josef Berne would direct many Soundies, including a few more with Duke. His moment in the sun came when he directed the 1943 short “Heavenly Music”, which won the Oscar for Best Live-Action Short.
• An animated show where Duke Ellington is an advice-spewing ghost voiced by Jordan Peele? I mean, you’re picturing it, and we’re talking about it…

#152) Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957)

OR “Love is a Mansfield”

Directed & Written by Frank Tashlin. “Based” on the play by George Axelrod.

Class of 2000

The Plot: Rock Hunter (Tony Randall) is an ad writer trying to impress the bosses (Henry Jones & John Williams), while also trying to start a life with his secretary/girlfriend Jenny (Betsy Drake). To keep their client, Stay-Put Lipstick, Rock proposes a celebrity endorsement from buxom movie star Rita Marlowe (Jayne Mansfield). While visiting Rita to discuss the idea, Rock pretends to be Rita’s boyfriend to help her upset her TV star ex, Bobo (Mickey Hargitay). The ruse goes public, and Rock finds himself with instant fame, and the new nickname “Lover Boy”. But will success spoil him? Yes…wait, no. Um…pass!

Why It Matters: The NFR calls the film a “wry and risqué comedy” and states that the film’s satire “comes across as fresh and daring as it did in the 1950s.” I….don’t know about that.

But Does It Really?: This is another one of those movies that seems to have skipped ahead in the film preservation line. “Rock Hunter” has quite a few laugh-out-loud moments (thanks mostly to Tony Randall’s solid performance), but the plot wears thin pretty quickly, and the multiple dated references makes it all age poorly. A comedy classic? Hardly. An entertaining time capsule of Madison Avenue satire? Absolutely. I give it the slightest of passes.

Everybody Gets One: Jayne Mansfield, Mickey Hargitay (aka the future Mr. Jayne Mansfield), and Betsy Drake (aka the then-current Mrs. Cary Grant).

Wow, That’s Dated: This film is 100% the flannel suit-wearing, psychoanalysis-obsessing, Madison Avenue-centered world of 1957.

Take a Shot: The title is said three times, twice in the pre-credits sequence, and once during a “commercial interruption”.

Seriously, Oscars?: No Oscar nominations, but a little bit of precursor love. Tony Randall’s performance lost the Golden Globe to Frank Sinatra in “Pal Joey”, while Frank Tashlin’s script lost the WGA Award to “Love in the Afternoon”.

Other notes

• For starters, this film is an adaptation of the play in pretty much name only. The play is more of a modern Hollywood riff on Faust than a satire of Madison Avenue. And Rock Hunter himself isn’t even in the play!
• Just a reminder that due to a recent business transaction, this film is technically a Disney movie.
• I do love when a movie futzes with its opening logo. I also enjoy this film’s occasional fourth wall breaking, which is done sparingly, but always to great comic effect.
• These commercials are fun, but where’s Vitameatavegamin?
• This film is an excellent reminder that sometimes a good performance is about the quality a performer brings rather than their talent. Nobody ever called Jayne Mansfield a brilliant actor, but she plays a “Marilyn Monroe-type” very well.
• Is it any wonder David Hyde Pierce played the Tony Randall role in “Down with Love”? They both play fastidious yet funny so well.
• If Stay-Put needs a new ad agency, there’s always that up-and-coming Sterling Cooper.
• Practically every scene in this movie is dubbed! Did CinemaScope cameras come attached with jet engines? Did Sergio Leone direct this?
• The setting and era make me suspect that Rock Hunter will run into C.C. Baxter at some point.
• So many utterances of the word “poop”. The Hays Code people must have stepped out for a smoke or something.
• The squealing noise Rita makes is really annoying. Did she swallow one of Shamroy’s chew toys?
• I was quite amused by the newspaper headlines. Now there’s your topical humor!
• The scene of Rock being chased by fans is a lot of fun. Plus, they could have sued those “Hard Day’s Night” guys.
• This film is a waste of Joan Blondell.
• It makes sense that director/writer Frank Tashlin started off in animation (see “The Way of Peace”). A lot of this film’s action feels “cartoony”.
• When he tries on Bobo’s suit, Tony Randall IS David Byrne.
• So Ed Sullivan won’t appear in this film, but has no problem with “Bye Bye Birdie”?
• Just a reminder that Tony Randall’s second wife, Heather Harlan, would not be born until 13 years after this film’s release. As you were.
• Towards the end, when Rock realizes just how important the average Joe is, he tells Jenny “Who elects the Presidents? Nobody but us!” Well…
• Love that surprise guest star. The secret word is “catch”.

Legacy

• I feel like this film’s main legacy is Jayne and Mickey’s daughter: Mariska Hargitay.

#151) Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

OR “The First Indy Movie” (I am not proud of that one)

Directed by Steven Spielberg

Written by Lawrence Kasdan. Story by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman.

Class of 1999

The Plot: 1930s archaeologist Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is enlisted by the U.S. government to find the legendary Ark of the Covenant before it falls into the power-hungry hands of Nazis, aided by Indy’s rival Belloq (Jonathan Freeman). Indy’s trip to Egypt is sidetracked by a rendezvous with Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), a former flame, as well as the daughter of his old mentor. With their combined knowledge of the Ark, as well as the skill set of local digger Sallah (John Rhys-Davies), they travel from action sequence to action sequence in a mission to find the Ark.

Why It Matters: Despite a detailed plot synopsis, the NFR write-up has no justification of why “Raiders” is on the list. Whoever wrote some of these did not care for the more populist entries.

But Does It Really?: If the NFR won’t put in a good word, I will. “Raiders” is one of the rare films that completely succeeds at what it wants to be. Spielberg, Kasdan, and company made an updated version of the classic adventure film serials that doesn’t feel like a tribute, but rather like the real thing. The film is endlessly inventive, and is still as fresh and as fun as it was in 1981. Its impact on filmmaking can still be felt, and it is undeniably deserving of a place in the NFR.

Shout Outs: Indy’s truck stunt is an homage to a similar stunt in “Stagecoach”. And be on the look out for a brief reference to “Star Wars”.

Everybody Gets One: Most of the supporting cast, notably: Jonathan Freeman, John Rhys-Davies, Denholm Elliott, and a young Alfred Molina in his film debut!

Seriously, Oscars?: The runaway hit of 1981, “Raiders” scored eight Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. But the trend of small indie darlings taking home the grand prize was just beginning, and the Academy opted for “Chariots of Fire”. “Raiders” did, however, win four competitive awards (Art Direction, Editing, Sound, & Visual Effects), as well as one special award for Sound Design. Spielberg lost Best Director to Warren Beatty for “Reds”, and John Williams’ legendary score lost to Vangelis for “Chariots of Fire”. Another iconic score for sure, but come on.

Other notes

• How did this film not get an Original Screenplay nomination? Another count of “Seriously, Oscars?”
• And that’s how you introduce an iconic film character!
• My long-standing fan theory is that this entire film is Han Solo’s carbon freeze-induced fever dream. This applies to “Raiders” as well as one of the “Blade Runner” cuts. I can’t remember which.
• The iconic boulder chase wins the award for “Best Movie Scene Based on an Uncle Scrooge Comic“

• The establishing shot of Indy’s school was filmed at the University of Pacific in my hometown of Stockton, California. It looks like an Ivy League school, but is remarkably cheaper to film at!
• One of the government agents is Britain’s go-to American William Hootkins, aka “Porkins”.
• This may be the first mainstream film to turn Hitler into an archetypal film villain. The real Adolf Hitler wasn’t obsessed with the occult, but an action-adventure movie’s embodiment of evil would be!
• What happens to Indy’s class when he goes off on his adventures? Is there a boring substitute? Or does Indy only schedule his trips around weekends and holidays?
• Marion’s drinking game is one my favorite scenes in the film. I’m a sucker for a good one-shot sequence.

• Shout-out to Ronald Lacey as the dreaded Gestapo agent A Peter Lorre-Type.
• I hear you, Frank Welker as the Nazi Monkey. Those are your Abu noises!
• This movie does not portray Egyptians well. Where’s Omar Sharif when you need him?
• One of the film’s subtle joys is that they only give you the essential exposition, and then it’s back to another action scene. It helps the pacing tremendously.
• The “just shoot the guy” scene is a classic for a reason. It makes me laugh out loud every time.

• How did the Nazis know Marion’s dress and shoe size? Is that the information they tortured her to get?
• I have no problems with snakes, but this film doesn’t help.
• Unless I missed something, that’s the first “Wilhelm Scream” on this blog.
• And then a Jeep veers off a giant cliff that was not geographically established earlier and seemingly comes out of nowhere. It’s the only time I laughed at the film, as opposed to with.
• Let the record show that once the steamer ship is captured, Indy does not wear his trademark hat for the rest of the film. He wears a similar but different hat in the last scene to match the suit.
• I know it’s coming, but the exploding heads are always a bit gruesome. Someone please invent the PG-13 rating!
• Can we use the Freedom of Information Act to get the Ark back?

Legacy

• For starters, this is the reason Harrison Ford stopped being known only as Han Solo.
• Three sequels (Okay fine, two sequels and one prequel. Happy?) with another one slated for 2020, should we all live that long.

• A TV series that amped up the more “Forrest Gump” aspects of young Indy.

• Perhaps the most video game spin-offs of any NFR film (except for “All About Eve”, of course).

• Countless knock-offs in the ‘80s, including a misguided attempt at turning 1880s literary character Allan Quatermain into an action hero.

• With its exotic locales and iconic action scenes, is it any wonder “Indiana Jones” has lent itself so well to theme parks?

• This is another one of those movies where literally every shot has been spoofed at some point.

• Speaking of, some kids spent most of the ‘80s filming a shot-for-shot remake. It’s “Raiders” meets “Boyhood”!

• “Raiders” was inspired in part by the “Scrooge” comics, and “Ducktales” got the go-ahead thanks to “Raiders”. Cue “Circle of Life”!

• And finally, some loser on the internet keeps trying to make “Belloq Film” a thing. Let it go, man.

Further Viewing: Back in the late ‘00s, YouTuber Ivan Guerrero created a series of “premakes”: trailers for classic films comprised solely of clips from earlier films. His “Raiders” video pays tribute to the film’s original influences, primarily 1954’s “Secret of the Incas”. Check out his channel, they’re all great.