[WonderWomanUSA]

Last night I watched Taxi Driver (1954) with Dev Anand -- it's a perfectly typical "noir" film. Dev Anand is, in this, a lot like Robert Mitchum, Humphrey Bogar, or Jean Gabin -- a tough, handsome guy in a suit.

He rescues a young woman from thugs, takes her home (ah, but so chastely -- he sleeps in the taxi and gives her his room), the thugs eventually find them again.

Just a few songs, and those were very pretty. No choreography to speak of, though someone gets credit for dance moves. The "other girl" has visible "sweaty armpits" and enough makeup to open a shop!

In all, I enjoyed it very much, so thanks to whoever metnioned it (Hyderabadi? Jyoti?) 'cause I'd never have found it on my own.

Are there any more like that?

[jyotirmoy]

Check out
CID (1956)
Paying guest (1957)

[noflylist]

Teesri Kasam - 1966

[WonderWomanUSA]

Okay, I ordered Teesri Kasam and CID; Paying Guest is not available. Thanks for the tips!

[noflylist]

http://www.upperstal...eesrikasam.html

Quote

It is one of Indian Cinema's tragic ironies that a sensitive and poetic film like Teesri Kasam sank without a trace indirectly leading to its producer lyricist Shailendra's death due to stress of financial problems caused by the failure of the film. The irony is even more so as today the film is recognised as one of the the all-time great films of Indian Cinema.

[KABAARY]

I assume we are talking of films featuring Dev Anand ? If yes, Teesri Kasam featured Raj Kapoor.


Hum Dono, Guide, Jewel Thief, Hare Rama Hare Krishna...

[noflylist]

I believe , "Noir" is the key word, though "Teesri Kasam" is not dangerous to Raj Kapoor in the same way, it does "threaten" long held societal beliefs and sense of properiety. It is threatening in that way!

Edited by !Noflylist, 06 July 2008 - 02:59 AM.

[WonderWomanUSA]

KABAARY, on Jul 5 2008, 01:51 PM, said:

I assume we are talking of films featuring Dev Anand ? If yes, Teesri Kasam featured Raj Kapoor.


Hum Dono, Guide, Jewel Thief, Hare Rama Hare Krishna...

Actually, I am thinking of films in that "noir" mode, not necessarily with Dev Anand.

I have seen, finally, "Hare Ram, Hare Krisnam." It was the top film when I first encountered India 30-many years ago, and people used to sing that title song whenever a foreigner got onto the bus or train. It was, erm, quite a movie -- but not at all in that "noir" mood!

But I digress .. here's Wikipedia on "film noir:"

>> Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize moral ambiguity and sexual motivation. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as stretching from the early 1940s to the late 1950s. Film noir of this era is associated with a low-key black-and-white visual style that has roots in German Expressionist cinematography, while many of the prototypical stories and much of the attitude of classic noir derive from the hardboiled school of crime fiction that emerged in the United States during the Depression. <<

[WonderWomanUSA]

Since "Teesri Kasam" is available on Netflix, there may be a whole new audience for it!

[Hyderabadi]

Here's a list of 'Top Bollywood Films' from Wikipedia, from the 30s to 2008:

Quote

This is a list of popular Bollywood films in reverse chronological order.

When box office data is available, this list gives the top-grossing films of the year, or decade. The capsule reviews are written in the usual brief television-film-schedule style. More complete reviews can be found by clicking on links to films that have their own pages.

http://en.wikipedia....Bollywood_films

With short synopses:

Quote

Awaara (1951): A young man (Raj Kapoor, who directed and starred) is rejected by his father, a judge, and turns to crime. He is redeemed, in the end, by his love for a young lawyer (Nargis). The film, especially the title song Awaara Hoon, was famously popular in China, the Soviet Union, Turkey, and much of the Mideast and Africa.

[noflylist]

Crime dramas "Jewel Thief" starring Dev Anand again! I believe Hollywood style "Noir" films would be few in classic Indian cinema!


But, social commentary and great movie, "Guide" again by Dev Anand could not be recommended enough! Guide has a live in unmarried relationship (gasp!), abandonment of a husband, thoughts about philosophy, God, miracle and CBS television ( you have to watch it!)

[WonderWomanUSA]

Awaara, Guide and Jewel Thief all sound very interesting, so I'll put them on my Netflix queue.

Even Kurosawa made a couple of noir films, which I saw in the 60s ...

[WonderWomanUSA]

!Noflylist, on Jul 4 2008, 09:34 PM, said:

Teesri Kasam - 1966

Ah, I should have this one before the weekend; Netflix didn't have one available in California so they are shipping one from Rochester, NY!

Meanwhile, I can enjoy Robert DeNiro in "Once Upon A Time in America."

Did I tell you how much I love Netflix?  

Edited by WonderWomanUSA, 24 July 2008 - 02:48 AM.

[Somerset]

WonderWomanUSA, on Jul 23 2008, 09:17 PM, said:

Ah, I should have this one before the weekend; Netflix didn't have one available in California so they are shipping one from Rochester, NY!

Meanwhile, I can enjoy Robert DeNiro in "Once Upon A Time in America."

Did I tell you how much I love Netflix?  

Have you ever tried Nehaflix for India movies? I don't think they rent, just sell at cheap prices.

When you finish Once upon a time in America, I have a question for you: what is it about? That isn't a sarcastic question, I'm quite serious. It is one of my favorite movies and I've watched it several times, but I recently heard an alternative interpretation that has really got me going.

[noflylist]

WonderWomanUSA, on Jul 23 2008, 04:17 PM, said:

Ah, I should have this one before the weekend; Netflix didn't have one available in California so they are shipping one from Rochester, NY!

Have you managed to see Teesri Kasam, any views! Was it lame or exciting!

Edited by !Noflylist, 24 July 2008 - 08:22 AM.

[Shashank]

for noir lovers, Check out 'Manorma Six Feet Under' IMDB link : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0920464/

[WonderWomanUSA]

Somerset: I've never heard of Nehaflix .. and I'm not really into buying movies. I am a book person recently gone astray.

Noflylist: I won't have Teesri Kasam for at least another day. Will let you-all know what I think when I have seen it.

[WonderWomanUSA]

!Noflylist, on Jul 23 2008, 07:52 PM, said:

Have you managed to see Teesri Kasam, any views! Was it lame or exciting!

I finaklly watched it last night. A very romantic picture, though 'way too much high-pitched singing for my pleasure! But the story was good and I enjoyed much of it.

Never saw a bullock cart move so fast as when he was trying to get to the station before the train pulled in!  :cool: