# Name a little-known movie that deserves more recognition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [August 18, 2022, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922 "2022-08-18T23:52:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2022, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/321 "2022-09-05T13:46:13Z")
> [@rippingtons\_fan](#): > > I think that another movie that deserves more recognition is **C.S.A. The Confederate States of America** , a film by Spike Lee, that I watched on DVD recently. It’s about a version of America where the South had won the Civil War. I think I saw that one. Was the conceit that it was a documentary about the Civil War, interspersed with commercials for things like Little Black Sambo’s restaurant, N\*\*\*\*r Toothpaste, and _Cops_-style reality shows about catching runaway slaves? Powerful. Especially the epilogue, that showed that all the incredibly racist products advertised were real things that had been sold in the not-too-distant past. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2022, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/322 "2022-09-05T14:20:24Z")
> [@Pavelb1](#): > > Heaven Can Wait Which one? [the 1943 version](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven_Can_Wait_(1943_film)), starring Don Ameche or [the 1978 version](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven_Can_Wait_(1978_film)), starring Warren Beatty, which was a remake of the 1941 film [Here Comes Mr. Jordan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Here_Comes_Mr._Jordan) The 1943 version is great. I have not seen the other two. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2022, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/323 "2022-09-05T14:27:43Z")
The Wrong Trousers is as perfect a short movie as anything. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2022, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/324 "2022-09-05T15:31:05Z")
Yes! Bill Nighy’s old Father Christmas is hilarious. Kids will love that film but there is plenty of humour for the grown ups too. ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2022, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/325 "2022-09-05T15:31:42Z")
In my opinion the greatest 25 minutes in television/cinema history. Utter perfection. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2022, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/326 "2022-09-05T15:47:08Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Which one? > [the 1943 version](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven_Can_Wait_(1943_film)), starring Don Ameche > > or > [the 1978 version](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven_Can_Wait_(1978_film)), starring Warren Beatty, which was a remake of the 1941 film [Here Comes Mr. Jordan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Here_Comes_Mr._Jordan) > > The 1943 version is great. I have not seen the other two. The '43 version is about as good as it gets, the Warren Beatty version is about a step-and-a-half below that (but if you’re a Buck Henry [he co-wrote it], or Charles Grodin fan you’ll want to adjust that upward), and I haven’t seen _… Mr. Jordan_. Some day. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2022, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/327 "2022-09-05T15:48:05Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > The Wrong Trousers is as perfect a short movie as anything. > [@iamatractorboy](#): > > In my opinion the greatest 25 minutes in television/cinema history. Utter perfection. “Have you seen this chicken?” while making a glove gesture is still my wife and I’s go-to expression for complete obliviousness. ---
**Author:** ![Pavelb1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pavelb1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pavelb1)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2022, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/328 "2022-09-05T17:33:34Z")
Both! I havent seen Here Comes Mr. Jordan…Id say for sure the Ameche film qualifies as little known. When we first got cable in the 70s there was a channel dedicated to smaller movies and along with HBO i devoured it. The 1943 Heaven Can Wait played a lot along with The 27th Day ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2022, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/329 "2022-09-05T17:44:04Z")
**Night of the Generals** A German military policeman investigates the murder of a prostitute, with the only witness saying the killer wore a red stripe on his uniform pants – identifying him as a German general. Great role for Peter O’Toole. ---
**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:** [September 5, 2022, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/330 "2022-09-05T18:40:02Z")
I’ve seen both _Heaven Can Wait_s and _Here Comes Mr. Jordan_ (dumb title). I love the '43 HCW and HCMJ. I wanted to like the Warren Beatty version, but it was just o.k. and didn’t click with me. A slightly cheesy end-of-the-world pic I liked a lot is _The Night of the Comet_. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2022, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/331 "2022-09-05T18:55:43Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > It was protested by Christian groups not sure why spoilers Roman Catholicism is One True Church Christ was One Begotten Son the Lord loves us and is all forgiving. Yeah plenty of objectionable stuff there. Forgive errors typing on phone This was by far the best protest for obvious reasons. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DWmlFDYjVV4/hqdefault.jpg "Kevin+Smith+Protests+Dogma\_xvid.avi") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWmlFDYjVV4) ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2022, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/332 "2022-09-05T19:05:00Z")
Good grief, it’s you!! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2022, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/333 "2022-09-05T19:05:59Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Aaredman is badly overlooked in general I feel the same way about Will Vinton’s studio. Vinton’s the one who coined the term “Claymation”, and copywrighted it, IIRC. Didn’t stop people from using it. He did lots of short subjects and commercials (probably best known for the Califoria Raisins, but he also did the Noid for Pizza Hut, and a slew of others). They did the music video for John Fogerty’s **Vantz can’t Dance** , and the special effects for a movie that belongs in this thread, **Return to Oz** and for _Captain EO_. the Michael Jackson 3D Disney film But Vinton studios also did a couple of feature-length films that ought not to be forgotten. **The Adventures of Mark Twain** (1985), with the voice talent of (among others) James Whitmore as Twain. Uses elements from _The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County_, _Extracts from Adam and Eve’s Diary_, _The Mysterious Stranger, Captain Stormfield’s Visit to Heaven,_ and others, interspersed with bits and pieces of Twain’s autobiography and the ostensivble plot about Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn, and Becky stowing away aboard Twain’s balloon trip to Halley’s Comet. Well worth looking up. **The Festival of Claymation** I suspect the reason Aardman animation isn’t better known in the US is that many of their productions got little or no distribution here. I didn’t find out about _Sean the Sheep_ until I saw it at a science fiction convention. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2022, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/334 "2022-09-05T19:08:34Z")
I agree that _The Adventures of Mark Twain_ was particularly good. If no one’s mentioned _Return to Oz_ in this thread, I will. Very faithful to Baum’s sensibility and quite creepy. Still, the imagination is breathtaking. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2022, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/335 "2022-09-05T19:14:52Z")
I mentioned Adventures Of Mark Twain I feel invisible ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2022, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/336 "2022-09-05T21:25:03Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > If no one’s mentioned _Return to Oz_ in this thread, I will. Very faithful to Baum’s sensibility and quite creepy. Still, the imagination is breathtaking. I did, in the post you’re commenting on. > [@](#): > > I mentioned Adventures Of Mark Twain I feel invisible Sorry about that. As you can see, it happens to us all. ---
**Author:** ![rippingtons\_fan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rippingtons_fan/32/11767_2.png) [@rippingtons\_fan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rippingtons_fan)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2022, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/337 "2022-09-05T21:44:00Z")
A movie that deserves more recognition is **The Fabulous World of Jules Verne** , filmed in 1958 in a process they called “Mystimation”, with live action, animation, puppets and engravings combined. It was dubbed into English. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2022, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/338 "2022-09-05T22:51:26Z")
As long as we’re talking Karel Zeman films, _The Fabulous Baron Munchausen_ (1962), _War of the Fools_ (1964) and _The Stolen Airship_ (1967) are all equally worthwhile and little known. Separately… _Rope of Sand_ (1949) - This was Burt Lancaster’s least favorite of his own films, probably because he was forced by the studio to do it. Nevertheless, it’s actually quite entertaining with an excellent cast, including Claude Rains, Paul Henreid and Peter Lorre (all were in _Casablanca_ a few years earlier). _The Gamblers_ (1970) is a little known but very amusing caper/comedy based on a Gogol story. It was shot in - what was then - the beautiful resort town of Dubrovnik in the former Yugoslavia and features (of all people) Stuart Margolin in a fun role. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/339 "2022-09-06T02:48:41Z")
> [@rippingtons\_fan](#): > > A movie that deserves more recognition is **The Fabulous World of Jules Verne** , filmed in 1958 in a process they called “Mystimation”, with live action, animation, puppets and engravings combined. It was dubbed into English. Seen it, and I agree. The “Mystimation” was animation that deliberately imitated the steel engravings used to illustrate the original texts. It’s also an adaptation of one of the more obscure Verne novels, _Face au Drapeau_, translated as _Facing the Flag_. The Fitzroy/ARCO edition was titled **For the Flag** and published under that title in paperback by Ace books in 1969 (that’s the copy I have). The novel (and film) feature a submarine – the third Verne novel to do so, after 20,000 Leagues and The Mysterious Island (there was also a short story with a sub published early in his career). It also features a sort of guided missile weapon, although the film turns this into a super-cannon. I haven’t seen Zeman’s other films. They are (or were) more difficult to find. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922/340 "2022-09-06T11:29:33Z")
I really liked The Lives of Others: > **[The Lives of Others](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lives_of_Others)** > > The Lives of Others (German: Das Leben der Anderen, pronounced \[das ˈleːbm̩ deːɐ̯ ˈʔandəʁən\] (listen)) is a 2006 German drama film written and directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck marking his feature film directorial debut. The plot is about the monitoring of East Berlin residents by agents of the Stasi, East Germany's secret police. It stars Ulrich Mühe as Stasi Captain Gerd Wiesler, Ulrich Tukur as his superior Anton Grubitz, Sebastian Koch as the playwright Georg Dreyman, and Martina... Highly rated and won a lot of awards, but given that it’s a German film, it probably fits @ekedolphin’s definition of “little-known” in that less than 1% of people you asked in Times Square would have heard of it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-a-little-known-movie-that-deserves-more-recognition/969922.md?page=18)