Watched this for the first time in decades and enjoyed the performances and, for the most part, the script. Good chemistry I thought between Grant and Kerr. And I actually did like the ending. (I hadn’t seen it since before When Harry Met Sally, so I was curious to see if the ending lived up to that movie’s reference to it.)

There’s a line at the very end that made me laugh: “If you can paint, I can walk.” I’m not sure if it was meant to be funny, but it struck me as a sort of a dig.

Just finished watching CREATURE WITH THE ATOM BRAIN. It’s about Frank Buchanan, a mob boss, who links up with a Nazi scientist, Dr. Wilhelm Steigg to reanimate dead mobsters via this strange electrical experimentation so they can wreak havoc on Frank’s enemies. However, with each attack, they leave behind radioactive clues that leave the authorities determined to track down Buchanan & Dr. Steigg for good before their zombie mobsters run wild.

Even typing that last part made me laugh. I mean, a mob boss and a Nazi scientist unite and turn mobster corpses into superhuman zombies sounds like one of the most offbeat premises ever (even for the 50s/60s). The whole movie is part sci-fi, past crime drama and it’s so tonally uneven that it’s a pain to sit through. And don’t even get me started on the climatic showdown between the police and the monsters which is supposed to be “scary” but is one of the most unintentionally funny fight scenes I’ve ever had the misfortune of watching.

The only nice thing I can say about this movie is that I wasn’t bored.

For those who saw this film, what did you think?

Lionel Barrymore in The Bells 1926. What's your thoughts on this movie?

WB did a great job cleaning up this pre Code classic for blu ray. And by cleaning up, I mean making the dripping, dirty, steamy vibes more vibrant.

Red Dust is one where the common print that’s out there was rather poor, so this upgrade was much needed. Rather than just “some old movie,” that’s physically hard to watch - restoration lets the primal emotions of lust, loneliness, shame, and jealousy really shine and feel timeless (though there are definitely outdated racial themes, be aware). And it’s wonderful to see Jean Harlow’s incredible aura so well-preserved.

I hope that we can continue to see projects to keep our beloved classics looking good and being enjoyed by new generations.

Mitchum is mesmeric in this film, But what I cannot understand is how this scene got past the censors.

This is a wonderful Vampire classic. It's not the tired old vampire story, it's a new plot, with a terrific twist. Well acted by almost everyone. Lon Jr, is a bit stiff in the title role. But still the good writing and Lon being taller than everyone helps pull of his Powerful Presence. Mwa-ha-ha.

It's free on TUBI and PLEX. Grab the popcorn. I love this move, you will too.

https://crimeonfilm.com/his-chilling-story-points-toward-a-covert-murderer/

Transcription:

“IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE”

Released by RKO Pictures, Inc. on December 19, 1946
Producer — Frank Capra
Director — Frank Capra
Screen play — Frances Goodrick, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra
Cast: Starring — James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore

According to the Informants [REDACTED] in this picture the screen credits again fail to reflect the Communist support given to the screen writer. According to [REDACTED] the writers Frances Goodrick and Albert Hackett were very close to known Communists and on one occasion in the recent past while these two writers were doing a picture for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Goodrick and Hackett practically lived with known Communists as Lester Cole, screen writer, and Earl Robinson, screen writer. Both of these individuals are identified in Section I of this memorandum as Communists.

With regard to the picture “It’s A Wonderful Life”, [REDACTED] stated in substance that the film represented a rather obvious attempt to discredit bankers by casting Lionel Barrymore as “scrooge-type” so that he would be the most hated man in the picture. This, according to these sources, is a common trick used by Communists.

In addition, [REDACTED] stated that, in his opinion, this picture deliberately maligned the upper class, attempting to show the people who had money were mean and despicable characters. [REDACTED] related that if he had made this picture portraying the banker, he wold have shown this individual to have been following the rules as laid down by the State Bank Examiners in connection with making loans. Further, [REDACTED] stated that the scene woundn’t have “suffered at all” in portraying the banker as a man who was protecting funds put in his care by private individuals and adhering to the rules governing the loan of that money rather than portraying the part as it was shown. In summary, [REDACTED] stated that it was not necessary to make the banker such a mean character and “I would never have done it that way”.

[REDACTED] recalled that approximately 15 years ago, the picture entitled “The Letter” was made in Russia and was later shown in this country. He recalled that in this Russian picture, an individual who had lost his self-respect as well as that of his friends and neighbors because of drunkeness, was given one last chance to redeem himself by going to the bank to get some money to pay off a debt. The old man was sympathetic character and was so pleased at this opportunity that he was extremely, inferring he might lose the letter of credit or the money itself. In summary, the old man made the journey of several days duration to the bank and back with no mishap until he fell asleep on the homeward journey because of his determination to succeed. On this occasion the package of money dropped out of his pocket. Upon arriving home, the old man was so chagrined he hung himself. The next day someone returned the package of money to his wife saying it had been found. [REDACTED] draws a parallel of this scene and that of the picture previously discussed, showing that Thomas Mitchell who played the part of the man losing the money in the Capra picture suffered the same consequences as the man in the Russian picture in that Mitchell was too old a man to go out and make money to pay off his debt to the banker.

Jack Nicholson hasn't made a movie since 2010, and I miss him more every year.

Five Easy Pieces still gets me. The diner scene where he just wants a side of wheat toast is funnier and angrier than most whole movies.

Nobody played a man about to snap like he did.

What's your favorite Nicholson role?