I’ve heard similar attacks on “Rocky” before, that it doesn’t hold up as well as the other movies it was nominated with and won against for the Best Picture Oscar 1976. Many people believed that even when the movies were new. But more than 30 years later, here’s how the big three from 1976 ranked in the AFI’s latest top 100 movie list (2007):
52 Taxi Driver
57 Rocky
64 Network
I love all three films, so I’m very happy with those numbers.
The seniors did come out for “Marty”, the one show I’ve attended in this series. That was a 1955 release, so I guess the older the film, the better the attendance.
But I’d take that look in a heartbeat if it meant having a movie theater in Times Square once more. It’s still hard to believe there isn’t one left in the entire Square.
You’re welcome, MPol. I’ve never lived in the area either. In fact I’ve only been to Long Island three times: a Queen concert in 1975, a Bruce Springsteen concert on May 4th of this year (both at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale), and a pilgrimage to visit the grave of Bernard Herrmann, the greatest film music composer ever, in Elmont.
Bercy: most theaters in the US don’t have curtains anymore, which is why it’s such a treat to see them in use at the Ziegfeld (when they bother to use them, that is).
I too am not ashamed to admit I enjoyed “The Phantom Menace”, enough to see it 11 times in a theater. Looking back, it’s probably the best of the three prequels, Jar Jar and all, featuring my favorite performance in all three films (Liam Neeson’s) and the most amazing action sequence (the Duel of the Fates).
Jodar: The presentation of the movie itself was very fine overall (good and loud), but they didn’t use the curtain. There was a long gap between the Clearview pre-show stuff and the trailers, and I was hoping to see those curtains start to close, but no such luck.
The audience was very much into the movie (Friday 10:15 PM show), but there were a number of empty seats way down front and on the sides.
I too enjoyed hearing the 1966 ship sounds displayed so prominently. If I remember right, that’s one of the first things you hear when the movie begins. I do want to see it again.
A 12/23/54 NY Daily News ad for “the greatest Christmas attraction of all time”. Er, I don’t think so … even Paul Newman would take issue with that statement:
At a “West Side Story” screening at the Biograph Theater on 57th St. (revival house) sometime in the ‘80s, almost the entire audience did the fingersnapping in “Dance at the Gym” (when Tony and Maria first approach each other – first two snaps, then one) in unison without being prompted. And of course we all had a good laugh after we did it.
Thanks, Gabe, for that Jack Benny/Groucho clip. YouTube is such a wonderful source for old ‘50s TV clips. Here’s another one: Arlene Dahl as the mystery guest on “What’s My Line?” in 1959, plugging “Journey to the Center of the Earth”:
MPol: You’re very lucky to have attended that “West Side Story” screening in 2001. Robert Wise was in attendance, right? I’d taken some friends on the Radio City Tour a few weeks before, and the guide mentioned the upcoming screening. I got all excited, figuring we’d all come back to see it, when she pointed out it was going to be invited guests only. Oh well. But I’m glad you got to go.
I’d like to second what hotwaterbottle said. “Mad World” looked great up there on that big screen, especially from the second row. I know it was 35mm, but you could tell that it was designed for 70mm. It LOOKED like 70mm, even in a reduction print. The whole Big W sequence comes to mind – the way it was shot, the way the actors were arranged in the frame, camera placement, etc. I wonder how many days they had to close off that state park to the public to get that scene on film.
“West Side Story” didn’t play the Music Hall in 1961, but I did see it there in 1979. My brother and I made a triple feature out of that day: “West Side Story” at the Music Hall, “Rocky II” at the Cinerama (ex-Strand, ex-Warner), and “Alien” at the Criterion. That was some day at the movies.
I think I told this story before, probably on the Paramount page, but Jerry showed off his old ushering skills when my mom went to see “My Friend Irma” at the Paramount in 1949, and he took her ticket. I guess he and Dean were part of the live stage show.
Look for the small print at the very bottom: Late Film 11:45 PM. How I would’ve loved to see “Journey” at the Paramount and get out at 2 in the morning!
The ad for the State Theatre engagement in Jersey City, around the corner from the Loew’s … and the only one of the three great Journal Square showplaces that did not survive in some form. It’s now an apartment building.
I’ve heard similar attacks on “Rocky” before, that it doesn’t hold up as well as the other movies it was nominated with and won against for the Best Picture Oscar 1976. Many people believed that even when the movies were new. But more than 30 years later, here’s how the big three from 1976 ranked in the AFI’s latest top 100 movie list (2007):
52 Taxi Driver
57 Rocky
64 Network
I love all three films, so I’m very happy with those numbers.
Here’s a funny 1968 ad for “Planet of the Apes”, which moved over to the Guild from the Capitol when “2001” opened in April:
View link
Thanks for the “Auntie Mame” ad, Ken. I’d read a description of it in one of the Oscar reference books, but had never actually seen it.
Sorry you had a bad audience, Jeff. But did you like the movie? I want to see it again, myself. I haven’t done that with a new movie in years.
The seniors did come out for “Marty”, the one show I’ve attended in this series. That was a 1955 release, so I guess the older the film, the better the attendance.
But I’d take that look in a heartbeat if it meant having a movie theater in Times Square once more. It’s still hard to believe there isn’t one left in the entire Square.
Warren: That is a good picture. I like how they gave billing to Gypsy Rose Lee, even though she was only in the movie for one short scene.
You’re welcome, MPol. I’ve never lived in the area either. In fact I’ve only been to Long Island three times: a Queen concert in 1975, a Bruce Springsteen concert on May 4th of this year (both at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale), and a pilgrimage to visit the grave of Bernard Herrmann, the greatest film music composer ever, in Elmont.
Clearview executive Craig O'Connor visits this page occasionally. Maybe he can initiate a curtains-in-use-at-every-show policy?
Bercy: most theaters in the US don’t have curtains anymore, which is why it’s such a treat to see them in use at the Ziegfeld (when they bother to use them, that is).
I too am not ashamed to admit I enjoyed “The Phantom Menace”, enough to see it 11 times in a theater. Looking back, it’s probably the best of the three prequels, Jar Jar and all, featuring my favorite performance in all three films (Liam Neeson’s) and the most amazing action sequence (the Duel of the Fates).
Could the Islip Theater have presented the most hilariously mismatched double feature of all time back in December 1964? See what you think:
View link
The ‘60s sure were a wacky time.
Jodar: The presentation of the movie itself was very fine overall (good and loud), but they didn’t use the curtain. There was a long gap between the Clearview pre-show stuff and the trailers, and I was hoping to see those curtains start to close, but no such luck.
The audience was very much into the movie (Friday 10:15 PM show), but there were a number of empty seats way down front and on the sides.
I too enjoyed hearing the 1966 ship sounds displayed so prominently. If I remember right, that’s one of the first things you hear when the movie begins. I do want to see it again.
“Star Trek”: The best current movie I’ve seen at the Ziegfeld since “Chicago”, and that was back in 2002.
Two cool ads from Newsday:
11/15/60:
View link
8/63:
View link
A 12/23/54 NY Daily News ad for “the greatest Christmas attraction of all time”. Er, I don’t think so … even Paul Newman would take issue with that statement:
View link
Knucklehead: If you go to Roland Lataille’s excellent Cinerama website:
View link
you will count 141 theaters in the United States that showed Cinerama (3-strip and/or 70mm) at one time or another.
At a “West Side Story” screening at the Biograph Theater on 57th St. (revival house) sometime in the ‘80s, almost the entire audience did the fingersnapping in “Dance at the Gym” (when Tony and Maria first approach each other – first two snaps, then one) in unison without being prompted. And of course we all had a good laugh after we did it.
Thanks, Gabe, for that Jack Benny/Groucho clip. YouTube is such a wonderful source for old ‘50s TV clips. Here’s another one: Arlene Dahl as the mystery guest on “What’s My Line?” in 1959, plugging “Journey to the Center of the Earth”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTbcvphPWv4
MPol: You’re very lucky to have attended that “West Side Story” screening in 2001. Robert Wise was in attendance, right? I’d taken some friends on the Radio City Tour a few weeks before, and the guide mentioned the upcoming screening. I got all excited, figuring we’d all come back to see it, when she pointed out it was going to be invited guests only. Oh well. But I’m glad you got to go.
I’d like to second what hotwaterbottle said. “Mad World” looked great up there on that big screen, especially from the second row. I know it was 35mm, but you could tell that it was designed for 70mm. It LOOKED like 70mm, even in a reduction print. The whole Big W sequence comes to mind – the way it was shot, the way the actors were arranged in the frame, camera placement, etc. I wonder how many days they had to close off that state park to the public to get that scene on film.
“West Side Story” didn’t play the Music Hall in 1961, but I did see it there in 1979. My brother and I made a triple feature out of that day: “West Side Story” at the Music Hall, “Rocky II” at the Cinerama (ex-Strand, ex-Warner), and “Alien” at the Criterion. That was some day at the movies.
I think I told this story before, probably on the Paramount page, but Jerry showed off his old ushering skills when my mom went to see “My Friend Irma” at the Paramount in 1949, and he took her ticket. I guess he and Dean were part of the live stage show.
Here’s one more:
View link
Look for the small print at the very bottom: Late Film 11:45 PM. How I would’ve loved to see “Journey” at the Paramount and get out at 2 in the morning!
Some more “Journey” stuff:
The New York Daily News review – a positive one, but I would have given it one more star:
View link
The ad for the Paramount Theatre engagement:
View link
The ad for the State Theatre engagement in Jersey City, around the corner from the Loew’s … and the only one of the three great Journal Square showplaces that did not survive in some form. It’s now an apartment building.
View link