# Movies you've seen recently (Part 2) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [August 27, 2024, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288 "2024-08-27T05:10:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 35
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2024, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/681 "2024-11-23T13:27:45Z")
There is a library in our building that includes a DVD carousel with a mish-mash of all sorts of videos. For some reason my wife thought that **Mr. Moto’s Last Warning** would be entertaining. This was a 1939 film starring Peter Lorre in the cringe-worthy title role, John Carradine, and a whole lot of actors nobody heard from again. It was only 71 minutes, but seemed like several hours. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2024, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/682 "2024-11-23T16:20:05Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > John Carradine, and a whole lot of actors nobody heard from again. Virginia Field and George Sanders were hardly nobodies. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2024, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/683 "2024-11-23T16:23:28Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Virginia Field and George Sanders were hardly nobodies. Well, I’ve never heard of them, but that doesn’t mean much. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2024, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/684 "2024-11-23T19:27:40Z")
I mostly recognize George Sanders from a mention in the Kinks song “Celluloid Heroes” > [@](#): > > If you covered him with garbage > George Sanders would still have style but, checking Wikipedia, I see there are a number of things he’s known for. > [@](#): > > His heavy, upper-class English accent and smooth bass voice often led him to be cast as sophisticated but villainous characters. He is remembered for his roles as wicked Jack Favell in _[Rebecca](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_(1940_film))_ (1940), Scott ffolliott in _[Foreign Correspondent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_Correspondent_(film))_ (1940, a rare heroic part), The Saran of Gaza in [_Samson and Delilah_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samson_and_Delilah_(1949_film)) (1949, the most popular film of the year), [theater critic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critic) Addison DeWitt in _[All About Eve](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_About_Eve)_ (1950, for which he won an [Oscar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Awards)), Sir Brian De Bois-Guilbert in _[Ivanhoe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivanhoe_(1952_film))_ (1952), [King Richard the Lionheart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_I_of_England) in _[King Richard and the Crusaders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Richard_and_the_Crusaders)_ (1954), [Mr. Freeze](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Freeze) in a two-part episode of _[Batman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_(TV_series))_ (1966), and the voice of [Shere Khan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shere_Khan) in Disney’s _[The Jungle Book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jungle_Book_(1967_film))_ (1967). ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2024, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/685 "2024-11-23T20:08:42Z")
“Dear World, I am leaving because I am bored. I feel I have lived long enough. I am leaving you with your worries in this sweet cesspool. Good luck.” How many lives have been saved because the person knew they could never surpass George Sanders’ suicide note? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2024, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/686 "2024-11-23T21:57:22Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > How many lives have been saved because the person knew they could never surpass George Sanders’ suicide note? I think George Eastman left the note that ended, “Why wait?” I’ve always remembered it. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2024, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/687 "2024-11-23T22:11:16Z")
Eastman’s full note was: “To my friends, my work is done – Why wait? GE." Many people leave off that last part so it’s surprising to see someone skipping the first part. One of the oddities of George Sanders life concerns his marriages. His 2nd wife was Zsa Zsa Gabor. His 4th wife was, very briefly, her sister Magda. I guess he didn’t see that coming for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2024, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/688 "2024-11-23T22:59:18Z")
Was the third wife Eva Gabor? ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2024, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/689 "2024-11-23T23:04:16Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > His 4th wife was, very briefly, her sister Magda. Very briefly, indeed. 32 days, according to **[Wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Sanders#Personal_life)**. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2024, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/690 "2024-11-24T04:25:02Z")
I watched _My Old Ass_ last night. I was expecting something completely different. I thought it was going to be more Apatow-esque. It’s basically a straight up coming-of-age drama with a weird super-natural (drug induced) twist. Once I figured out what kind of movie I was watching, I more or less enjoyed it. I wouldn’t say I’m exactly the target audience and I got a little bored around the hour mark waiting for something to happen. In the end, I enjoyed the performances but the story over all was kind of lame. Not to brag or nothin’ but I figured out what Chad did to upset Elliott about a half hour before it was revealed. ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2024, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/691 "2024-11-24T14:33:19Z")
**The Piano Lesson** , now available on Netflix, is a dramatic period-piece, based on a Pulitzer prize-winning play, produced by Denzel Washington and directed by his son. The story involves the arrival from the South of a brother to his sister’s home in Pittsburgh. He needs money to buy some land, and he hopes to convince his sister to sell a family heirloom to get it, a piano (stolen from a wealthy household years before) that is decorated with carvings of members of their family. The performances are universally excellent and the story moves at a brisk pace most of the time. It’s a bit stagey, as a motion picture based on a stage play might be. There are many characters, and there are some overly-talky parts as their individual motivations are revealed, but that’s not a distraction. (Turn on subtitles, as the dialogue is rapid-fire.) The story takes an especially unexpected turn near the end that I won’t reveal here. **The Piano Lesson** is certainly not for everyone, but we found it to be a rewarding experience. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2024, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/692 "2024-11-24T15:35:16Z")
We watched _My Old Ass_ last night. Yeah, not really what I was expecting. I though Plaza would be a more central character. That something was “off” about the future is clear, but we are left wondering. Typical coming of age thing otherwise. Well done, etc. but a fairly mundane story. Except for the time travel thing. Mostly mildly entertaining. Give it 3 cranberries. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2024, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/693 "2024-11-24T21:00:26Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > “Dear World, I am leaving because I am bored. I feel I have lived long enough. I am leaving you with your worries in this sweet cesspool. Good luck.” Very Russian. He and his brother, Tom Conway (who got his name first, so Tim Conway had to change his name from Tom) were born in Russian, but were pre-adolescents when they moved to the UK. They look somewhat alike, but they are total sound-alikes. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2024, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/694 "2024-11-24T23:19:03Z")
**Gladiator 2** Somewhat recommended. It’s pretty good, though the first half left me with “Meh, it’s OK” feelings. Second half was much better. 1. Denzel Washington is amazing. I had no idea he was even in it. I followed non of the marketing or hype. Holy cow, he was terrific. Oscar? I think so. Best movie performance I’ve seen of him, but I probably have missed his best. This was great. 2. Second half of movie was terrific, really good. Not in my top 10 of the year, but really well done. I was on board. Note: I have not seen Gladiator(2000) since its opening weekend in the theater. I thought it was fine, but not great. This more or less equals it. Good, really good sometimes, but not great. I hope Denzel Washington wins or is at least nominated. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/695 "2024-11-25T00:18:08Z")
He’s getting up there in age now, at the time when you want to put in a performance that folks will remember you for. He’s three days older than me. My favorite performance of his was in _Much Ado About Nothing._ The sneaky grin he had on his face when he was speaking to his men about getting Beatrix and Benedict to fall in love again just made my heart go pitter patter. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/696 "2024-11-25T01:06:31Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > He’s getting up there in age now, at the time when you want to put in a performance that folks will remember you for. He’s three days older than me. I would guess maybe Training Day or Malcolm X was his biggest performance, but I actually have not seen either. This one actually hit me in a way where If I had never heard of him, I would have said, “Who was that guy in the main villain role?” He was great. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/697 "2024-11-25T02:22:54Z")
He was great in _Glory_ as well. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2024, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/698 "2024-11-25T04:10:32Z")
**Out of the Loop** , a documentary about the stand-up comedy scene in Chicago. Free with Amazon Prime. I had a lot of fun watching this because I worked at a couple comedy clubs - and tried my hand at stand-up - during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, and many of the interviewees were people I used to know back in the day, including one or two that I actually still keep in touch with. Clearly made on a very low budget, it consists of talking-head interviews with no narrator, and as a result the narrative flow is pretty scattershot at times. About a third of the way through, it takes a turn I didn’t expect by introducing race in a pretty frank way (the director is a black comedian), which helped solidify its voice a bit. Not the greatest documentary you’ll ever see, but if you’re from Chicago and/or enjoy stand-up comedy, it’s worth a look. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/699 "2024-11-26T00:56:11Z")
**Memoir of a Snail** Recommended. A stop motion movie, but an R-rated one, but not for anything vulgar or violent. It’s just a very real story of a young brother and sister who are split up in the foster care system. Odd. Cute. Sad. But hopeful. I liked it quite a bit. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2024, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288/700 "2024-11-26T02:30:14Z")
**Miracle on 34th St.** (1947) This is number two or three on my all-time favorites list. Something about the way the Santa Claus lie bites all the adults in the ass really speaks to me. Clever, inventive with lots of amusing events running throughout (Maureen O’Hara’s look when she’s talking to drunken Mrs. Shellhammer on the phone is priceless). Of course there are mistakes and a few badly read lines, but I never tire of watching it. Stellar cast. Favorite line: Alfred: (talking about Sawyer) He’s a psychologist. Kris: That’s highly debata… (trails off). ROTFLMAOSTK9s [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288.md?page=34) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youve-seen-recently-part-2/1006288.md?page=36)