tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581099872724683650.post359976820050172666..comments2024-01-20T05:36:17.500-06:00Comments on Bardfilm: Peter Lorre as Hamlet?kjhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14863005904313974654noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581099872724683650.post-44631187815763610802023-02-25T08:03:47.619-06:002023-02-25T08:03:47.619-06:00Thanks, TV (returning the favor) . . . except that...Thanks, TV (returning the favor) . . . except that BF can stand for Best Friend as well as Bardfilm, and I don't know what else TV could stand for. Tuberculosis Vaccine, perhaps?<br /><br />I was just at a conference where someone spoke on the book <i>20,000 Leagues Under the Sea</i>, and that (combined with a renewed interest in Peter Lorre) led me to request the film from my local library.<br /><br />I'll let you know if I find any Shakespeare in it! I don't think Shakespeare ever mentions giant squid, but he's aware of the leviathan:<br /><br />Fetch me this herb; and be thou here again <br />Ere the leviathan can swim a league. —<i>Midsummer Night's Dream</i><br /><br />Thanks again!<br /><br />kjkjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14863005904313974654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581099872724683650.post-14842832721632873242023-02-24T14:27:32.943-06:002023-02-24T14:27:32.943-06:00(I'm going to keep calling you "BF" ...(I'm going to keep calling you "BF" because it's so much more mysterious sounding than "kj," BF...)<br /><br />Criterion has a fantastic edition of the Lorre <i>Man Who Knew Too Much</i> (as I'm sure you know).<br /><br />I am lucky (lucky! or just spendy?) enough to have the three Vincent Price collections from Shout! Factory (I think the first two or all three are out of print) so I've got great copies of the Lorre performances there. Though -- those "Poe" "comedies" are a little tough to get through. Again feels like a bit of a waste esp. since I think Price and Lorre were both capable of being actually really funny! With good writing.<br /><br />Here's a Lorre performance that I loved as a kid, own now and am way overdue to rewatch: <i>20,000 Leagues Under the Sea</i>, one of the first Disney live-action full-length films ever and very possibly still the best of all. (Sorry, <i>That Darn Cat!</i>.) Peter Lorre plus Kirk Douglas playing the ukulele -- what could possibly be better than that?!Thom Verrattihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06066017713465140847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581099872724683650.post-19698927347042849222023-02-24T07:50:52.362-06:002023-02-24T07:50:52.362-06:00You mean you don't consider Comedy of Terrors ...You mean you don't consider <i>Comedy of Terrors</i> to be dramatic?<br /><br />Yes, the first <i>Man Who Knew Too Much</i> that I saw was the 1934 one. That's the one I recall (though the later one has much better production values).<br /><br />On my list for watching (or re-watching) are <i>M</i>, <i>Comedy of Terrors</i> (for the Shakespeare), and <i>The Raven</i>.<br /><br />Thanks, Thom Verratti!<br /><br />kjkjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14863005904313974654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7581099872724683650.post-16903370045458087392023-02-24T07:44:55.316-06:002023-02-24T07:44:55.316-06:00So interesting, BF -- I love it when Lorre pops up...So interesting, BF -- I love it when Lorre pops up in any role anywhere, and it's fascinating to imagine him in these roles that never happened. Have you seen him in the first _Man Who Knew Too Much_ (1934)? Obviously people prefer Hitchcock's own remake but Lorre is so perfect in the original. I wish he'd had more serious dramatic roles especially later in his career.Thom Verrattihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06066017713465140847noreply@blogger.com