Passages

[Michael Kerpan]

I would count Fires on the Plain as a comedy, one of the blackest.

I still have yet to see this.

No! Really? Could just be me, but I thought it was deadpan hilarious. And horrific. But there's a sardonic skirting around the subject (human flesh was called 'monkey meat') that I found funny.

I have a neighbor who bought Fires at the same time that I bought Burmese Harp. I guess we will have to work out a trade.

[Tomas]

It is a sad news about Kon Ichikawa, I really love some of his films.

RIP

No! Really? Could just be me, but I thought it was deadpan hilarious. And horrific. But there's a sardonic skirting around the subject (human flesh was called 'monkey meat') that I found funny.

Try watching (if you can get it) Kazuo Hara's The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On (Documentary), it gives a better perspective about Fires on the Plane.

[ellipsis7]

From The Guardian...

Kon Ichikawa
Award-winning Japanese film director best known for Tokyo Olympiad

Ronald Bergan
Thursday February 14, 2008

Guardian

'I have attempted to capture the solemnity of the moment when man defies his limits. And to express the solitude of the man who, to succeed, fights against himself." This statement of intent, made at the opening of Tokyo Olympiad, the film of the 1964 Olympic games, was made by the director Kon Ichikawa, who has died aged 92, and could well apply to most of his major films. War, and the memory and threat of war, are also dominant themes, concerning the effect of the Japanese defeat in the second world war and the anguish and degradation that resulted from it.
Ichikawa, who was born Uji Yamada, graduated from Tokyo University in 1933 and started working as an animator on cartoon and puppet films at the Toho Motion Picture Company. One of them, The Girl at Dojo Temple (1946), a puppet version of a kabuki play, was banned by the occupying Americans because the script had not been submitted for approval.

There followed a number of witty comedies, such as The Woman Who Touched the Legs (1952) and Mr Pu (1953), based on a cartoon character. To those occidental audiences who got to know Ichikawa's films from the mid-1950s, it was rather surprising to discover that he had once earned the nickname of the Japanese Capra.

There was nothing Capraesque about the films that made his name in the west. In fact, Ichikawa is credited with having introduced sophisticated, western-style satirical comedies to Japan. On these films, and most others in the future, he collaborated with his screenwriter wife Natto Wada, whom he had met at Toho where she was a translator, and married in 1948.

Although the early films were popular in Japan, they were seldom shown abroad. Finally, in 1956, after The Burmese Harp won a prize at the Venice film festival, Ichikawa became known internationally. The first film of his to explore what he termed "the pain of the age", it told the story of a young soldier-musician in Burma at the time of the Japanese capitulation in 1945 who takes on the role of a Buddhist priest and tries to bury as many bodies as he can. Fires on the Plain (1959) was a worthy companion to the earlier anti-war masterpiece. Depicted in visionary black and white images and a minimum of dialogue, it told of how a soldier, part of the retreating Japanese army in the Philippines, is forced to hide in the jungle, where he encounters death, disease, starvation and cannibalism.

Conflagration (1958), one of the director's own favourites, based on Yukio Mishima's novel, follows a young man who sets fire to a temple because he feels it has been contaminated by people. Beautifully photographed by Kazuo Miyagawa - for example the final shot of the burning temple as seen from the mountain - it was another typically Ichikawan study of a man pushed to extremes. Odd Obsession, which won the special jury prize at Cannes in 1960, revealed a different kind of extreme. Shot in appropriately muted colours, the film dealt with an elderly man, obsessed and frightened by his growing impotence, who encourages his daughter's fiance to have sex with his beautiful young wife in the hope that jealousy will restore his virility. Alone on the Pacific (1963) tells the true story of a young yachtsman who sailed from Osaka to San Francisco, a dangerous three-month voyage on a 19ft craft. He uses the wide screen to magnificent effect while integrating flashbacks to the sailor's life on shore.

One of Ichikawa's most fascinating, complex and ambiguous works is An Actor's Revenge (1963). The revenge is that of an actor of female roles in the kabuki theatre against three men responsible for the death of his parents. The DaieiScope screen is used to give the impression of Japanese prints, the theatre stage and comic strips, at the centre of which is the prodigious performance of Kazuo Hasegawa as the hero/heroine.

For Tokyo Olympiad, Ichikawa said that he "tried to penetrate human nature not through fiction but in the truth of the games". Not since the Berlin games of 1936 had a great film been made of the great event. Unlike Leni Riefenstahl's Olympia (1938), however, Ichikawa presented the human rather than the godlike qualities of the participants, although they are no less heroic. To achieve his aims, he employed 164 cameramen who used 232 different lenses. The result was a triumph of Japanese technical wizardry and creative genius.

Alas, although Ichikawa continued to be prolific, nothing he directed in the following three decades equalled the quality of his films from the mid-1950s to mid-1960s. Perhaps he lost his idealism and, with it, his lofty ambitions, but his decline paralleled that of Japanese cinema. Some of his later films would turn up at festivals, but there was always a sense of disappointment.

One of the exceptions was The Makioka Sisters (1983), an epic and beautifully measured study of a wealthy Japanese family before the second world war. Two years later, in what seemed an act of desperation, Ichikawa remade The Burmese Harp, one of his greatest past successes. Although a pointless exercise, the story retains much of its power and has splendid colour photography by Setsuo Kobayashi.

In 2000, the chain-smoking director was awarded the Berlinale Camera award at the Berlin film festival, where he presented his latest film, Dora-Heita, an entertaining samurai drama. "If Dora...#8209;Heita contributes to a revival of the costume-drama genre, which seems to be just around the corner, I'll be very happy," he commented. "But my own project hasn't really changed. I always try to show human beings the way they really are. That's what I always hope to achieve."

His wife died in 1983. He is survived by two sons.

· Kon Ichikawa, film director, born November 20 1915; died February 13 2008

[Fletch F. Fletch]

Steve Gerber RIP

I'm stunned. I had no idea he was sick. That really sucks. I remember reading his original run of Howard the Duck comics as a kid. Shame the movie sucked so bad.

The Comics Journal has posted an in-depth, exhaustive interview they did with Gerber on their site from way back in 1978. Well worth a look if you're into his work.

[colinr0380]

From Mobius, John Alvin, poster artist.

[tavernier]

A hero for our time.

[domino harvey]

A hero for our time.

God I love the Onion

[Arn777]

Alain Robbe-Grillet passed away earlier today from heart related problems, he was 85.

[tavernier]

I guess the screening in Manhattan of L'immortelle on Tuesday will now be a memorial.

[Barmy]

I guess he's not L'immortelle after all.

[Fletch F. Fletch]

Perry Lopez, veteran actor in iconic films and TV shows, dies
The Associated Press. February 16, 2008

BEVERLY HILLS, California: Perry Lopez, a veteran film and television actor whose career ranged from roles in "Chinatown" to "Star Trek" has died. He was 78.

Lopez died Thursday of lung cancer at The Rehabilitation Centre of Beverly Hills, said actor James Victor, Lopez's executor and friend.

Born in New York, Lopez got his start on the stage before moving into film with an uncredited role in "The Creature from the Black Lagoon." He went on to appear in dozens of iconic movies and TV shows, including "The Lone Ranger," "Bonanza," "Charlie's Angels," "Mission: Impossible" and "Star Trek."

He starred opposite Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway as Lt. Lou Escobar in the 1974 classic "Chinatown." Lopez reprised the role in the 1990 sequel, "The Two Jakes," which featured Nicholson as director and star.

During his 40-year career, Lopez shared the screen with Jack Palance, Clint Eastwood, Omar Sharif, Barbara Eden, Elvis Presley and John Wayne.

[Macintosh]

I guess the screening in Manhattan of L'immortelle on Tuesday will now be a memorial.

Just got back from this actually. The film was wonderful and it must of been a new 35mm print because it looked brand new.

[tavernier]

I guess the screening in Manhattan of L'immortelle on Tuesday will now be a memorial.

Just got back from this actually. The film was wonderful and it must of been a new 35mm print because it looked brand new.

Any mention of his passing? How well attended was it? And--most important--was Barmy there?

[Macintosh]

I guess the screening in Manhattan of L'immortelle on Tuesday will now be a memorial.

Just got back from this actually. The film was wonderful and it must of been a new 35mm print because it looked brand new.

Any mention of his passing? How well attended was it? And--most important--was Barmy there?

No mention of his passing, Barmy may have been to one of the three screenings during the day, the afternoon show i went to was nearly filled to capacity. My credit card was declined there and a very nice man bought me a ticket to get in. If you are reading this Sir, thank you very much, btw.

[Suzukifan]

... maybe Criterion can do the right thing and release Last Year at Marienbad?

[Macintosh]

... maybe Criterion can do the right thing and release Last Year at Marienbad?

It played at Film Forum last month so yeah, I'm pretty sure we can expect this within the next six months.

[tavernier]

If you saw someone taking notes on how the audience was reacting, that's Barmy.

[Barmy]

I am pleased to report that, according to my notes, the audience for Immortal was relatively quiet--surprising given that it was the usual crowd of grouchy, near-death seniors. Yes, the print looked fab.

[Fletch F. Fletch]

Actor Robert DoQui dies at 74
Known for role as Sgt. Reed in 'Robocop' films
By VARIETY STAFF

Stage, screen and TV actor Robert DoQui , who played the gruff Sgt. Warren Reed in three "Robocop" films, died Feb. 9 in Los Angeles. He was 74.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday at the Crystal Cathedral, 12141 Lewis St., Garden Grove.

DoQui also appeared in three Robert Altman films, "Nashville," "Buffalo Bill & The Indians" and "Short Cuts," for which he was part of the Golden Globe and Venice Film Fest award-winning ensemble cast.

Other notable roles include the pimp King George in blaxploitation classic "Coffy," "Fortune Cookie" and miniseries "How The West Was Won" and "Centennial."

Born in Stillwater, Okla., DoQui attended Langston U., was a member of singing group the Langstonaires, and served in the U.S. Air Force before heading to Hollywood.

Over a 50-year career, he appeared in dozens of TV shows including "Gunsmoke," "Tarzan," "I Dream of Jeannie," "Happy Days," "The Jeffersons," "Maude" and "E.R."

With a distinctive voice, he played Pablo Robertson for animated series "Harlem Globetrotters" and "Scooby-Doo."

DoQui served for ten years on the Board of Directors of the Screen Actors Guild, advocating for increased participation of women and minority groups in the media.

He is survived by his life partner Mittie Lawrence; four sons; a daughter; his 96 year old mother and 10 grandchildren.

I always remember his memorable turns in the aforementioned Robocop and a small but good one in Miracle Mile.

[gubbelsj]

I always remember his memorable turns in the aforementioned Robocop and a small but good one in Miracle Mile.

Robert DoQui had a great scene in Nashville when he drunkenly shouted at Tommy Brown, the African-American country singer character, to order a glass of milk from the bar.

[Oedipax]

One of the best cinematographers ever has passed - David Watkin has died from cancer at 82. His work on Catch 22 in particular is just astounding.

[colinr0380]

One of the best cinematographers ever has passed - David Watkin has died from cancer at 82. His work on Catch 22 in particular is just astounding.

Not to mention his work on The Devils, The Charge Of The Light Brigade, the 1990 Hamlet, Marat/Sade, Help!, To The Devil A Daughter etc

Mary Barclay

[solent]

Watkin gave an excellent interview for the American Film Theatre's DVD releases of THE HOMECOMING & A DELICATE BALANCE both of which he (obviously) photographed.

[Dylan]

One of the best cinematographers ever has passed - David Watkin has died from cancer at 82. His work on Catch 22 in particular is just astounding.

Catch 22 is absolutely mesmerizing to look at; while watching it I couldn't even imagine how long it must have taken to set up some of those shots, nor could I even imagine where the lights were set-up at certain points, and I was more than frequently hitting the back button to watch certain shots two, three, four times. I just watched The Knack...and How to Get It, which also looks wonderful, and then there's Out of Africa (which he won the Oscar for), Return to Oz, Help! and Chariots of Fire, all loaded with lovely photography.

I haven't seen Mademoiselle, The Bed-Sitting Room, The Devils, The Homecoming, A Delicate Balance or The Boy Friend, but I look forward to catching them someday and I have little doubt that they look gorgeous. Watkin was a great cinematographer.

[dx23]

Robin Moore, author of 'The French Connection,' dies at 82.