Yup, it’s spooky month but I am opting for this week and next for spooky times and what better way than to go the way of the devil. When I was a kid, I made my parents laugh when, at the dinner table, I did something( what? I have no idea) and when my mom asked me why, I said, “The devil made me do it.” My parents were surprised by that and started to laugh and I felt good. Too good, because I overused this sentence and I did not get away with it which was a bummer. This just shows how the devil can rule us or not. I am choosing 2 films very well known and one old one but a gem that more should see. Here are my picks…
1. FAUST - 1926
I watched this film about 9 months ago and was blown away by the phenomenal direction, camerawork and acting. You have an old alchemist who wishes he could stop the plague. Of course, you know who ends up in front of Faust allowing him to end the plague, but for a price. When Faust agrees, he is made young by the devil, but must give up his soul once the day is done. Obviously, there is a love interest and Faust falls in love and she with him but that damn devil keeps getting in the way. Emil Jannings plays the devil and grabs the scenery in every scene but to great aplumb. The style of this film, the costumes and the brilliant photography, by Carl Hoffmann, is all orchestrated by the great director F. W. Murnau and is a must see.
2. THE OMEN-1976
Omen…Exorcist…Omen…Exorcist….I’m going with The Omen. This film still freaks me out in just about every scene and stars Gregory Peck and Lee Remick as a loving couple who are going to have baby. He is an ambassador to London and strange events start to happen, mainly weird and freakish deaths all relating back to their sweet 5 yr old boy, Damien who is the Devil’s spawn. A priest tries to warn Peck bout his son and is rewarded by being speared to death. A photographer, played the great David Warner, notices that his photos showcase the death before it happens. Peck and Warner team up to find out what is going on and they find out, but is it too late? This is one film that still gives me the utter creeps and I still have nightmares from this film. I’m surprised that Gregory Peck starred in this film, but that was a good ploy since he was and is considered a heroic, good man that always wins in the end. You have scary dogs, a freaky nanny and a boy that plays the devil’s spawn really well.
3. CROSSROADS-1986
If you can find this gem of a film, watch it! I’m surprised this stars Ralph Macchio as a classical guitarist from Juilliard who has a fascination with blues music. He starts to investigate the life of famed Robert Johnson who, legend says, he sold his soul to the devil to gain his artistry in the blues. From there he finds a man who knew Johnson, Willie Brown, who is in prison but denies that he is Willie until he hears the kid play. He tells him he will help him find this crossroads but the kid must break him out of prison. Once he does, they end up on an adventure which provides the soul the kid needs when he plays the music. The kid finds out that Willie did sell his soul to the Devil and now, both of them are at the mercy of the Devil unless the kid can outplay the Devil’s best musical champion. If you love blues music, this is a must see film not only for. Great plot devised from a legendary story, but also the music which has its own character. I need to find this film on DVD and own it, but, I promise, not to sell my soul to the devil.
What devil movies can you think of?
Oh, Damian... I haven't seen The Omen, but I heard about it. So many kiddos named Damian, and I'm pretty sure their parents aren't aware. Or else they'd never have named their kids that.
ReplyDeleteOf these, I'm most familiar with Crossroads, having written a post that talks about it. Robert Johnson ws the founding member of the 27 Club.
ReplyDeleteHaven't seen The Omen (or The Exorcist, for that matter), but it sounds interesting. Not a film you'd think of, starring Gregory Peck! ☺
Faust sounds familiar, but I haven't seen it either. The trailer was very effective, with the dramatic music.
My favourite devil movie is Al Pacino's The Devil's Advocate, also starring Keanu Reeves. Campy fun! ☺
Hi Birgit!
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely that hair-raising time of year, the blustery winds have moved in, and the leaves are turning colors and blowing all around the place!
I haven’t seen the Karate Kid’s movie but the other two are terrific choices!
Faust is a great film, and Emil Jannings was a brilliant actor. I know there are a fair deal of his films I haven't seen, and I expect a substantial portion are lost, but in everything I have watched he was a powerful commanding presence capable of great depth of feeling. Such a pity he was a literal Nazi! He adds a tremendous amount to this film but Murnau’s genius at direction and composition makes it the master work that it is.
In the Omen vs. Exorcist discussion, I come down firmly that “The Exorcist” is the better film but “The Omen” is still deeply disturbing.
I ADORE Lee Remick and think she was terribly underappreciated but hers is not the showpiece role between the two adult leads. Gregory Peck is so ideally cast in his role it seems absurd that he was about the sixth choice. Charlton Heston, William Holden, Charles Bronson, Roy Scheider and most intriguingly of all Dick Van Dyke (a fascinating “what if”) turned it down and Warners wanted Oliver Reed before they turned to Gregory. It’s a head scratcher since his resolute dignity is so perfectly attuned to the part of an ambassador.
The first film that comes to mind is the 1942 “The Devil and Daniel Webster” with Walter Huston having a high old time playing Mr. Scratch in a battle of words and wits with an equally terrific Edward Arnold as Daniel Webster.
Then there is the sort of awful but still fun “The Devil’s Advocate” (1997) which provides Al Pacino all the chances he could possibly want to chew the scenery.
Keeping the theme going is the low budget 1961 movie “The Devil’s Hand” with Robert Alda lured by Linda Christian into a satanic cult headed by Commissioner Gordon from the TV show “Batman”!!
I've seen The Omen but not the other two. I mostly avoid movies of a satanic nature though I know I've seen more than a few in my lifetime. No particular titles come to mind at the moment. I'm almost scared to think long enough to come up with any.
ReplyDeleteLee
Huh. I wonder if the idea for the song The Devil Went Down to Georgia came from the movie Crossroads.
ReplyDeleteHi Birgit - interesting choices ... the Faust film sounds fascinating - one I'd love to see ... while Crossroads sounds intriguing ... two for the future - thanks for these - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've seen 'THE OMEN' since it was playing in the theatres. I ought to revisit that one sometime.
ReplyDeleteI really like 'CROSSROADS' and watch it about every three years or so. I actually won tickets from a radio station to see it the night it premiered at the famous Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. The only knock I have on the movie is the young actress who played the role of Ralph Macchio's love interest. She was devoid of any likeability and really miscast in the part. If the movie wasn't so good otherwise, she could have ruined it for me.
I don't care for the Horror genre, but one of the few movies in that category that I do like is the low-budget, mostly forgotten 'THE SENTINEL' with Burgess Meredith as Charles Chazen ("the adversary"). "Black and white cat, black and white cake!" A pretty creepy movie.
A far less threatening devil is Laird Cregar in 'HEAVEN CAN WAIT', which is a favorite comedy of mine.
~ D-FensDogG
I remember Flip Wilson using "The Devil Made Me Do It" phrase on his show which always brought a good laugh out of everyone. The interesting thing is the Devil doesn't have to make anyone do anything, it's the free will in us that drives us to do the wrong thing. Unfortunately, none of us are perfect. I definitely do not know the first vintage film share. The second one, I may have watched when I was kid. The last one, I haven't seen, either. Although, I probably won't get a chance to watch it, I think this one might be interesting to see. Thanks for sharing. Have a bootastic week, Birgit!
ReplyDeleteI've long been a fan of "The Devil's Advocate" and should watch it again soon despite Joel's evaluation of the film as "sort of awful," lol! Another favourite of mine is "Angel Heart."
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