207-208 The Criminal Code & Twentieth Century

[swo17]

It'd be cool if they advertised this (same goes with Indicator's Twentieth Century's "stickers") as I'm sure more people would have pre-ordered copies directly from the sites with some notice- I know I would have for both. I realize it's a nice gesture to honor those who get there early without creating a rush from publicity, but it could only benefit sales figures, and perhaps stretching the number of copies including these items would raise sales overall. Hell, I'd buy a second copy of Twentieth Century in a heartbeat to get those stickers!

The 20th Century sticker is a simple B&W computer printout on adhesive paper. One could easily replicate it, if one were so inclined

[domino harvey]

Yes, it reminded me of the old CD printer labels. A nice gesture, but not really a “sticker” like a die-cut bumper sticker et al

[therewillbeblus]

Oh, well thanks, I feel better now

[swo17]

I mean, it still changed my life though

[Rayon Vert]

If it makes anybody feel better, I didn’t understand what the piece of paper was about and just ripped it up. It’s only when I read this thread that I got it.

[Black Hat]

The 20th Century sticker is a simple B&W computer printout on adhesive paper. One could easily replicate it, if one were so inclined

Where is the 20th Century sticker? Did it come in the package of the preorder or inside?

[reaky]

In the box, but not inside the sealed disc. I’d actually thrown mine out until I read about it here, dug the packaging out of the recycling and found it inside.

[Black Hat]

Then mine sleeps with the fishes.

[domino harvey]

Here’s a pic for reference

[Black Hat]

HA! Then I do have it! It's somewhere lying around my apartment, last time I saw it I said, "What the hell is this?" but since it was a sticker I kept it under the "all stickers must be connected to something cool" statute.

[reaky]

You’ll be tearing the place up like Gene Hackman at the end of The Conversation.

[Finch]

Ha, because this got split off from the Criterion Nightmare Alley thread I thought for a second that Signal One had gone under and Indicator had rescued Nightmare Alley for their slate.

[rapta]

Ha, because this got split off from the Criterion Nightmare Alley thread I thought for a second that Signal One had gone under and Indicator had rescued Nightmare Alley for their slate.

I wish...but they've consistently reiterated they're still 'on the way'. In fact they've finally got a few of their titles sorted out and they'll be released early August (The Rare Breed, Halls of Montezuma, Let's Make Love). I thought they'd have scrapped the extras but those last two have a video essay for each.

But yes, still a big question mark over Nightmare Alley and The Gunfighter as to what kind of package they'll be able to deliver. Last I heard the latter had Alex Cox involvement, but who knows if that still stands?

[MichaelB]

The commentary that Johnny Mains and I recorded for Nightmare Alley close to three years ago should definitely be included - they paid for it (impressively promptly*) so they have no reason not to.

(*personally, if I had to choose between getting paid quickly for a commentary that then isn’t released, or having to chase up my fee for months after the release, it would be a bit of a no-brainer…)

[swo17]

So just as I move the Twentieth Century tangent here, we're back to discussing Nightmare Alley. Sounds about right

[therewillbeblus]

To be fair, they’re practically the same movie

[MichaelB]

To be fair, they’re practically the same movie

I suspect if a geek (complete with chicken) had popped up on the Twentieth Century as it roared across the countryside, nobody else aboard would have batted an eyelid. John Barrymore would probably have offered him a contract.

[therewillbeblus]

I mean, both protagonists are manipulative narcissists who make it their mission to exploit others for personal ego-profit, and are fatalistically marked by their solipsistic traits. One just sees the behavior as more humorously absurd while the other takes a sincere approach of horror!

[Rayon Vert]

Finally caught up to the Indicator blu ray release of Twentieth Century. Carole Lombard is justly lauded, but this time I couldn't take my eyes off Barrymore. He's just spellbindingly terrific here, with all of his mannerisms and vocal articulations. I still feel the second half of the film is, comparatively, a little weaker script-wise (good thing the makers added the spendidly written early third or so that apparently wasn't part of the original source material), but his performance especially keeps me fascinated.

[therewillbeblus]

The film brilliantly spins out and exhausts itself with its spinning, exhausting central couple. Basically the same structure of L’avventura only with manic humor instead of tranquillizing depression

[soundchaser]

Finally caught up to the Indicator blu ray release of Twentieth Century. Carole Lombard is justly lauded, but this time I couldn't take my eyes off Barrymore. He's just spellbindingly terrific here, with all of his mannerisms and vocal articulations. I still feel the second half of the film is, comparatively, a little weaker script-wise (good thing the makers added the spendidly written early third or so that apparently wasn't part of the original source material), but his performance especially keeps me fascinated.

Interesting! It's that first third that gives me trouble every time I watch this one or show it to people -- feels like the film doesn't really start until Lombard explodes out of her apartment bedroom. Curious what you find splendidly written about it.

(Agreed that Barrymore is a titan here, though. "I close the iron door on you" works only because of his 100% sincerity in delivery.)

[Rayon Vert]

I don't know if I could give you too many specifics. I was just smiling consistently throughout it and kind of magnetized. Somewhere during that train journey that stops being true in terms of the jokes themselves (e.g. the gags with the "repent" guy Clark seem kind of extraneous, apart from adding to the manic lunacy), although the leads' performances keep drawing you in.

Watching Barrymore address and coach his minions on the stage with the chalk lines and everything ("ting-a-ling-a-ling-a-ling-a-ling"), that's far and away the best part for me.

[Rayon Vert]

This is still before the train sequences, but I was struck by that scene where Barrymore throws up paint all over that huge billboard. I mean it looks like he had one shot at it and he nailed it! Hysterical watching him bloviate after with all the paint splatter over himself.

[Rayon Vert]

The film brilliantly spins out and exhausts itself with its spinning, exhausting central couple. Basically the same structure of L’avventura only with manic humor instead of tranquillizing depression

My thoughts also go to New York, New York, which has its own kind of mania. I seem to remember Scorsese saying something about making a film about how romances between artists/performers are doomed to failure. I wonder if this one of the films he was thinking of. Or course there's A Star Is Born and probably tons of others.

[Matt]

One detail that I always enjoy is how Lombard increasingly absorbs and mimics Barrymore’s mannerisms and gestures throughout the picture. There’s one moment where she slaps her hand to her head, fingers in her hair, that is so exactly like a movement Barrymore does earlier that it’s kind of startling.

I quote this movie all of the time, to myself and to my husband. (“Anathema! Child of Satan!” “What do you want, scorpion?” “I close the iron door on you!”) I can never look at opening credits where a filmmaker has multiple title cards without thinking to myself, “Oscar Jaffe announces a new play personally supervised by Mr. Jaffe with a typical Jaffe cast to be presented at the Jaffe Theatre.”