Thursday, January 21, 2021

Thursday Movie Picks: Police Detectives

Yup, I am late this week and hope to not be for the rest of the year. I work late Wednesday and didn't have my post written yet. I was going to go to the computer and get it done but hubby put in a movie(The White Countess) and I watched that instead. There are so many police detectives in film that I was wondering which ones to choose plus I was trying to avoid the private eye  type. I will enjoy everyone’s choices so head over to Wandering Through The Shelves and find out what other detective films were chosen. So here are my 3...

1. CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA-1936

I used to watch Charlie Chan movies all the time because I love the mystery and I loved the character and his #1 son. The character is a detective from Honolulu and travels around with his son ending up in all sorts mayhem involving death. Keye Luke played #1 son who later became famous as the old blind man in Kung Fu and Sydney Toland played Charlie. Sydney was...Swedish! I love that fact but he “looked the part" because his grandmother had Mongolian in her lineage.  This is considered one of the best of the Charlie Chan series  which takes place at the opera( no kidding). A lunatic, Boris Karloff,  gets his memory back and escapes bent on revenge. The scene of the crime is behind the scenes of the  opera with the leads as well as others who could all be a possible murderers but Charlie Chan will get to the bottom of it. This is quite well acted, with a good storyline and great costumes especially the one Boris wears.

2. THE BIG HEAT-1953


I am finding out I really like Fritz Lang(Metropolis) films which seem to always deal with social injustice and this is another where Glenn Ford plays an honest cop who finds out that his town is run by some very corrupt a-holes..Lee Marvin being one of them. Many on his police force are also corrupt and Ford takes it to a new level when his wife is blown up in their car(the bomb was meant for him). You made Glenn one very angry cop who ends up working with Lee Marvin's moll(Gloria Grahame) to put an end to these S.O.B.'s. A great film, in my humble opinion, that is brutal for its time.

3. THE PINK PANTHER STRIKES AGAIN-1976




On to lighter fare with the great Peter Sellers as the fumbling French detective, Inspector Clouseau. I don't like the Steve Martin films which don't even compare to Peter Sellers who portrayed the inspector 5 times, I believe(the last film, Sellers died during the making of the movie, so the film was made around his disappearance). This film starts off where the Inspector visits his former boss, played brilliantly by Herbert Lom who should have received an Oscar Nomination for this role, to see him on the day Lom is leaving the insane asylum, cured of his insanity. Let's just say, within a few minutes, Lom's eye starts twitching and he really wants to kill this incompetent detective. Lom and his evil minions kidnap a scientist and his daughter and hole up in a castle in the Alps wanting money and the nations to kill Clouseau or else. You have the inspector having to dodge his manservant Kato who tries to kill him to keep the Inspector on his toes, funny disguises, a beautiful woman, Omar Sharif and Lom's twitching eye. Poor Sellers couldn't do a lot of his stunts since he had a weak heart, but he is so funny and this is one of my favourites. 

I wanted just one clip from the Pink Panther but, somehow, 3 showed up...oh well...enjoy!

So which 3 would you pick?

38 comments:

  1. Hi, Birgit!

    I've been checking for this post since 6 am, dear friend. Glad you got it completed and pubbed. It's another interesting topic, one of my favorite genres.

    Yessum, in my boyhood I watched Charlie Chan on TV as part of a syndicated package of old films distributed to local TV stations for broadcast in the late afternoon daypart when networks relinquished airtime until 6:30 pm. I love mystery series. It was always a blast to see one of my favorite monsters of filmland, Boris Karloff, show up in movies like At The Opera.

    I like movies that feature gangsters' girls, vice, dice and corruption, and I remember enjoying The Big Heat when I watched it during my 2007 binge on movies of the early and mid 20th century. Lee Martin is one of my favorite actors. My dad and I never missed his TV detective series M Squad. I also admired Glenn Ford's acting, and loved two other noirish crime mystery films he made that co-starred a couple of my favorite actresses: Ransom! (1956) which co-starred Donna Reed, and Experiment in Terror (1962) starring Lee Remick.

    I'm one of the few living souls who didn't care that much for the Pink Panther series. However I greatly admired Peter Sellers in many of his other films including Lolita, Dr. Strangelove, The Party and Being There.

    Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend BB!

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    1. I had a feeling you saw the Charlie Chan films and glad you saw The Big Heat. Bummer you don’t like the Pink Panther films, I find them hilarious. His other films are so good, love The Party and Being There is one I need to revisit. I also love The Mouse That Roared.

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  2. I've heard of the last one, but haven't seen any of them. The way you describe it, I would love to see the Charlie Chan films. BTW, I'm such a NON-film person, I didn't even know that Steve Martin had played the Pink Panther. I just enjoy reading your synopses. They are fun and sometimes even irreverent.

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    1. You might get a kick out of the Charlie Chan films. They are not overly long and are quite entertaining. I’m always glad you like reading my synopsis.

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  3. Terrific choices!!

    The Big Heat is a tremendous film, just re-watched it again for the umpteenth time last week! Ford is terrific and grounds the film with a sure hand but it's the two main women in the cast who punch it across. Jeanette Nolan is wonderfully hissably evil as the rapacious cop widow but for me this is Gloria Grahame's best onscreen performance and how she missed out on being nominated and winning will forever puzzle me. Actually I think her win in Supporting Actress the year before this screwed her out of her rightful place here.

    Somehow when I was a kid I missed the Charlie Chan series but last year I corrected that by working my way through all of the series that was available, there are one or two that have proved elusive. The original Chan Warner Oland was good but I prefer Sidney Toler in the role, Roland Winters took over after Toler's death and did okay but Toler was best. They are quick, breezy affairs with just enough mystery, and usually good supporting casts dotted with future stars, to keep them interesting.

    The Pink Panther films are the height of silliness but mindless fun and I LOVE Herbert Lom!

    SO many choices for this! I narrowed by doing dual themes, 70's flick with one word titles of their main character.

    Serpico (1973)-Based on the autobiographical book of the same name this looks at honest NYPD cop Frank Serpico (Al Pacino) and his struggles against the corruption that permeated the department in the 60’s and his ultimate role of whistleblower after earning his detective shield. Gritty drama anchored by Pacino’s Oscar nominated performance captures the feeling of a grimy corruption plagued New York City.

    Brannigan (1975)-Chicago police detective Jim Brannigan (John Wayne) hops a plane to England to extradite American gangster Ben Larkin (John Vernon). His brash ways clash with the more reserved British methods of Scotland Yard Commander Swann (Richard Attenborough) but when Larkin is kidnapped before Brannigan can take him into custody rough and tumble cop takes off on a manhunt through the streets of London assisted by Detective Sergeant Jennifer Thatcher (Judy Geeson). Fun actioner was one of the Duke’s final films, the fresh locale invigorating his performance.

    Stone (1974)-In 70’s Australia members of the biker gang The GraveDiggers witness a political assassination while under the influence of hallucinogenics and shortly afterwards begin to be killed one by one. Police detective Stone (Ken Shorter) goes undercover within the gang to try and ferret out the killer. He bonds somewhat with the members but when he uncovers a conspiracy, he must make a choice between his job and loyalty to the gang. VERY 70’s film is more concerned with footage of motorcycles, skinny dipping and exploitation than telling a really cohesive story.

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    1. I’m glad you like my picks and I thought for sure I wrote Toler so have no clue why I keep screwing up in names. I must be more careful but, I do agree with you that he was the best. I want to watch The Big Heat again and Gloria should have won for this role not the one she won for the year before which I thought was meh, Serpico is excellent and I need to see it again. I love Brannigan even though Wayne, whom I love, seems a bit too old for the part. I have not seen your last pick but I can just imagine the 70s style for this flick.

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  4. While I did see the first two a long time ago, the memory is fuzzy, so I appreciate your insights, Birgit. I always liked Glenn Ford. You're right about Steve Martin not comparing well to Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau! Serpico is one of my favourite cop movies. Al Pacino gave a stellar performance and it is based on a true story. I also like the Dirty Harry and Lethal Weapon (the first 2) series, as well as the French Connection. No classic era movies come to mind.

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    1. Serpico is a great film and one I need to see again. Dirty Harry is perfect and Lethal weapon films are a hoot and are always fun to watch. French Connection is also based on a true story and the lead, Gene Hackman, is one cop you dislike.

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  5. Pink Panther! Now that's a fun pick.
    Any Sherlock Holmes fits the bill. Or the more recent Knives Out.

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    1. Pink Panther films are fun ones for sure. Sherlock Holmes does fit but unsure if he is a private eye or a detective?? I have to see Knives Out.

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  6. The Pink Panther movies are always fun. Naked Gun is one of the funniest movies ever--love that one!

    Lots of other films that I've seen in this category, but I'll be darned if I can remember any names right now.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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    1. OMG! I forgot about the Naked Gun films which are hilarious and love the great Canuck-Leslie Nielsen.

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  7. I haven't seen any of your picks but The Big Heat is one I'd like to see eventually.

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    1. It's a really good film and hope you do see it one day.

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  8. My first thought was In the Heat of the Night with Sidney Poitier. I loved Peter Sellers Pink Panther movies. Did not even know Steve Martin remade them.

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    1. I almost chose In The Heat Of The Night and love that scene where Poitier bitchslaps that old dude. Peter Sellers is THE Inspector Clouseau. It's aok if you didn't know that Steve Martin played the Inspector twice!

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  9. Because of your reviews, Birgit, I've seen movies I didn't think I would like. There's something about Peter Seller that rubs me the wrong way (why? I don't know) so I've avoided his movies, but now I'm ready to watch a Pink Panther movie.

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    1. The Pink Panther films are excellent but Peter Sellers was an odd duck. He could be intimidating and had very weird habits which made working with him often quite difficult. He had a very bad heart and died too young in my book.

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  10. I haven't seen any of these. I might have seen the Pink Panther one when I was younger on TV, but I don't recall it. Interesting picks. If I was more of a mystery person, I'd check them out.

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    1. Yeah, if you are not into mysteries or cop/detective shows, you may like them. The Pink Panther films are all out comedies though.

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  11. Hi Birgit, I'm afraid I've only seen bits of The Pink Panther, I'm not really a Peter Sellers fan, although he is very funny. Maybe that's why it doesn't appeal to me, I much prefer murder mystery films, oh and of course Columbo, even although there is no mystery as you know who the murderer is, but I love the way the brilliant Columbo finds the evidence, keep safe, Kate x

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    1. Columbo is an excellent tv show with the unique bit in knowing who the murderer is but you love how Columbo finds out all the evidence.

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  12. Yeah, there sure are a ton indeed. Haven't seen the first, but yeah, others sure are good and pffft to the Steve Martin ones indeed. They are remaking it again fyi. Die Hard is a detective. Always go with that lol

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    1. They are making a 3rd Pink Panther?? No...why??? Ughhh. Die Hard is a good pick. Just watched the 2nd Die Hard flick. It is so stupid and I should have counted how many time Bruce Willis gave that Chewbacca type of yell.

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  13. I recall seeing your last pick when I was really young. Needless to say I don't remember anything about it. I do want to revisit it one of these days. Haven't seen either of your other picks.

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    1. I hope you get a chance to see them all. They are all quite good.

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  14. Great choices! I would go with Laura's Det. Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews), The Thin Man's Nick and Nora Charles (William Powell and Myrna Loy), and Chinatown's Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson).

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Excellent choices and would have chosen Laura if I had not done so for a previous theme. Love Nick and Nora. Chinatown is an ugly film, well done, but so seedy and disturbing.

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  15. I did not know the background on Sydney Toland. Your knowledge always amazes me.
    Hope you are feeling okay.
    Stay safe. Be well.

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    1. Thank you! I goofed on his bloody name but, oh well. I am in a lot of pain but, despite the lockdown I will go to my infusion this Sat.

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  16. Oh, the Pink Panther. Somehow I never got into the movies and even when I was a kid I didn't even like the cartoon. 😅

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  17. You can officially say I am behind. But I am catching up. I love the Pink Panther series. The ones from the 70's remind me of my grandmother who I used to go see them with. She loved the films and would laugh like crazy. Thanks for that nice memory.

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  18. The Big Heat sounds good....
    Take special care.

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  19. The Pink Panther was such a fun series. I loved it. Thanks for the fun flashback, Birgit. You always pick winners.
    Be well.

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