Thursday, October 27, 2016

Thursday Movie Picks-Epidemic/Pandemic/Outbreak


So we are saying good-bye to October very soon which means spooky month is almost over with. I have been late with posting my next furbaby which I will do on Monday. I know you are in suspense to read the thrilling saga of the animals that keep me as their pet aren't you? :) OK so this week is all about  suffering through a great epidemic whether it be something similar to the horrific reality of the Spanish Flu Epidemic of 1918 or people turning into, yes, you guessed it, Zombies. Head on over to Wandering Through the Shelves to check out what the other people have chosen. Here are my 3....

1. THE RAINS CAME-1939


This is a romantic story starring Myrna Loy who travels with her elderly husband to India (Ranchipur) and meets up with her old flame who has been living there for a few years and is lost in more ways than one. Dear Myrna ends up falling in love with an Indian doctor (Tyrone, be still my heart, Power) who is trying to save a nation never mind just his patients. After a devastating hurricane and flood, cholera spreads creating an epidemic. The heroine decides to work along side her Doctor to help the sick. It's a melodrama but one with a punch due to the great special effects for its time. It's worth a look.

2. PANIC IN THE STREETS-1950


This is a race against time when an ill man, who stowed away on a ship, dies in an altercation with 2 men in New Orleans. When the dead man is brought to the morgue, the chief health inspector is called in who soon realizes the man has pneumonic plague. He and a cop  try to find the 2 men who killed him and retrace his steps before an outbreak can ensue. It is a taught film noir that leaves you on the edge of your seat and reminds me of the real case of Typhoid Mary. This was the screen debut of Jack Palance.

3. OUTBREAK-1995


Poor monkeys always get the wrap when it comes to plagues recently, so it goes in this film where a very deadly, Ebola like virus, has made its way from Africa to California. A small team from the Nation's Health Organization, set out to a small town to find out why so many are contracting this horrible disease. They realize there is a monkey running around and try to capture this monkey to create an anti serum before a mad general decides to blow up the town. I found this film quite nail biting and a good film to watch. It is not scary like "I Am Legend" and no dogs are killed or animals are killed because they are turning into zombies so I'm glad about that.

Which films would you choose? Let's hope we never have another 1918 flu pandemic no matter how much the media likes to try and scare us.

29 comments:

  1. Have not seen any of these. Tyrone, eh? Never one of my favorites but the movie sounds interesting.

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  2. I haven't seen the first one, but I've watched the other two. Tough choice - not a lot of epidemic type films. Allowing zombies, I'd say 28 Days Later. No zombies, I'd go back to a creepy David Cronenberg film called Rabid.

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  3. I know I've seen Outbreak but I don't remember a thing from it. Haven't seen the other two either. Shocking, I know. lol

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  4. Not seen any, and yes, I am awaiting the next fur baby!

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  5. Hi, Birgit!

    Yessum, believe it or not, I do look forward to seeing your pets and the pets of other blog friends. I love animals and seeing pictures of them brightens many a day.

    The only one of these I have seen is the third, Outbreak, starring Dustin Hoffman. Dustin is one of my favorite actors but, as I recall, I didn't like Outbreak very much.

    I had to laugh at the smoking scene in The Rains Came because it is similar to many others I have watched over the years in which a young woman tries to look grown up and worldly by smoking but reveals her inexperience instead. I believe that was Brenda Joyce doing the puffing. You could tell she was a novice by the awkward way she held the cigarette and the fact that she didn't inhale. I read that in this film each block of credits dissolves after it appears, making it seem as if it was washed away by the rain in the background - a very creative touch!

    Richard Widmark and Paul Douglas were two of my favorite actors and Barbara Bel Geddes was 28 years away from joining the cast of the hit TV series Dallas. I am eager to watch Panic in the Streets.

    Thanks, BB!

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  6. Haven't seen these three. Cannot think of a movie that fits the theme, but read a book last year about a flu epidemic. It was fiction, but it made me think about being more prepared for emergencies. I look forward to your next fur baby post.

    Bettt

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  7. I can't believe it but we have two matches!! I surely didn't expect that this week.

    I LOVE The Rains Came!! I thought of it but had used it previously for the weather theme. It was something a bit different for Myrna since Edwina Esketh was a bit of a fallen woman before the story begins but she does well by it and looks great. This is the one film I think George Brent gives anything close to an award worthy performance in. Power is SO handsome even if he's ridiculously cast as an Indian.

    Of our two matches Panic in the Streets is a wonderfully tense drama. I think it's the first film I saw Richard Widmark in which I think is why when I saw him later in his famous villainous roles I didn't find him as deeply creepy as he must of appeared when he burst onto the scene in the 40's. He's one of my top 5 favorite actors.

    Outbreak was a decent if unspectacular thriller, one of Dusty's last big solo starring gigs.

    Like you I steered away from the horror aspect and went with more drama based fare. My first choice is a film that I love even if it is profoundly sad.

    Longtime Companion (1989)-The AIDS epidemic is viewed through the prism of its impact on a small group of friends. We begin with young Willy (Campbell Scott), his best friend John (Dermot Mulroney) and a few others going about their day both in Manhattan and Fire Island during the summer of 1981 as one of them, Lisa (Mary Louise Parker) notices a small article in The New York Times mentioning a new disease at first called "GRID: Gay-Related-Immune-Disorder". As time passes and the government remains indifferent to the disease’s spread the group is slowly decimated by the disease. At times searingly sad but also balanced with humor and beautifully acted. Bruce Davison was deservedly nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

    Panic in the Streets (1950)-When called in to do a routine autopsy on an unknown gunshot victim in New Orleans Dr. Clint Reed (Richard Widmark) discovers he also has signs of the infectious pneumonic plague. He alerts the authorities who at first are skeptical but when he explains they have only 48 hours to locate anyone he came into contact with to prevent a pandemic the chief of police (Paul Douglas) goes into action. Meanwhile the dead man’s killer (Jack Palance) and associates begin to fall victim to the disease. Probably the only film noir pandemic movie you’ll ever find.

    Outbreak (1995)-A deadly contagion breaks out in a California town and once alerted a group of scientists realize that it could spread through the rest of the country in a matter of days. But as the military quarantine tightens, the head scientist (Dustin Hoffman) begins to suspect that there’s more than the outbreak to worry about, and that he himself might be in danger for knowing it.

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  8. Yay! I've seen one :) I've seen Outbreak. I do enjoy movies like this, even though they are generally predictable. Thanks for sharing, Birgit. Have a lovely week.

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  9. Outbreak was a good one. Zombies seem to be the epidemic films. First is the only one I haven't seen.

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  10. I haven't seen these three, but Contagion is a great movie about a pandemic.

    Love,
    Janie

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  11. Not my kind of genre.

    Ultraviolet (Milla Jovovich) might count. Loosely.

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  12. I've seen Outbreak but not the other two. I bet they're good.

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  13. I really need to see The Rains Came. I ADORE Myrna Loy! Haven't seen the other two - or at least, I MIGHT have seen Outbreak at some point, but I really don't remember.

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  14. Unless the new Planet of the Apes counts as a sudden outbreak of something, I can't recall any. Your choices sound very interesting. I want to see them all.

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  15. Intresting picks as ever, two of which I've never heard of. Outbreak.

    I quite like watching films with special effects ahead of their time, so I many check The Rains Came out.

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  16. As usual, not seen any of those. Have heard of Outbreak. I don't get to the movies much and have to wait for the DVDs any more.

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  17. I have seen Outbreak. I probably saw it in the theater.

    There was another film that dealt with a large outbreak that I only saw a bit of. Some teacher was showing it to her class, so I got to see an hour of it. Let me see if I can find it on IMDb... Contagion. One of these days I have to find out how that one ends.

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  18. Mmm~ My personal favorite. I have this weird soft spot in my heart for zombies and contagion stories. I've always wanted to write one but have never been satisfied with the end result.

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  19. I've heard of these movies, but haven't seen any of them. My picks would be #1 and #2. Did you read Stephen King's "The Stand" or see the mini-series starring Gary Sinese? Gripping stuff!

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  20. Haven't seen any of these. Sad part is Outbreak has been on my watchlist since it came out way back when.

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  21. Interesting picks - liking the theme within a theme. Not seen these but the first two sound good.

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  22. I think 'Outbreak' and 'Panic in the Streets' both look good. Fortunately, I've never had to deal with an epidemic before. Unless you count my ex-wife.

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  23. I haven't heard of any of your choices, Birgit, and I'm afraid I have none to offer - sorry! :)

    Susan A Eames at
    Travel, Fiction and Photos

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  24. It's a little frightening to see all that cigarette smoke in "The Rains Came". I love the old movies!

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  25. Outbreak is a classic :) gosh I loved that movie.

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  26. Loved Outbreak. Like OE said, a classic.
    I haven't seen the other two.
    Have a great one.

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  27. Hope you are feeling so much better from this bug. Seems to take a while to bounce back, if it's anything like what DH had. Have been hearing of other folks who've been dealing with it locally as well. OK, today at least I have seen #1. And I like the older version much better than the later one that was made (with Richard Burton I think?). Haven't seen the other 2. I love the oldies. TFS & take care.

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  28. I haven't seen any of these, and I'm surprised to find a romantic story but I think I'd like The Rains Came.

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  29. I am so sorry for not replying to all your beautiful comments. I always pick movies most have not seen. My pain has been severe so I am good one day and horrible the next. Alex-I will check out your pick. Suzie-Planet of the Apes works for sure. Shady-it is funny how she is trying to look posh in her smoking. Joel-I love it when we match although this week I can't find one. Jeffrey-you are too funny and my brother would agree with you. Thanks again everyone!

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