25: Pinocchio unknowingly behaves in a self-destructive way: he put his finger in a flame and his finger catches fire; his father puts it out. Something new has happened: the inventor has a puppet that is alive and the puppet needs to be more careful or he's going to hurt himself. The birth of something new.
-45 and 45 (1:27 - 45 = 42): When Pinocchio tries to leave to go back home, Stromboli imprisons him in a birdcage. Stromboli tells Pinocchio they will tour the world. Stromboli calls Pinocchio his wooden goldmine: "You will make lots of money for me and when you get too old you'll make good firewood." Jiminy Cricket visits Pinocchio and discovers that he's locked up. Jiminy tries but fails to open the lock. The blue fairy arrives and asks Pinocchio how he got locked up. Pinocchio lies and his nose grows. He promises to be good and the blue fairy frees him. Now that I'm aware and Discovery.
60 and -25 (1:27 - 25 = 1:02): Pinocchio and his new best friend Lampwick play pool and smoke cigars. Jiminy finds them and tells Pinocchio to go home and go to school. They tell Jiminy they don't want to leave, so Jiminy walks away. Soon, Pinocchio and Lampwick turn into donkeys. Eventually, Pinocchio and Jiminy return home, learn that the inventor is in the belly of a whale and they search and find him. After displaying bravery and other good qualities he becomes a real boy. There's no going back now and The final turning point.
La Ronde
The opening with Anton Walbrook is original and priceless. Later in the movie there's a brief shot of Anton holding several yards of celluloid film and a pair of scissors, indicating they had to cut a sex scene. The film was made in 1950 and though it seems tame now, for a few years La Ronde was banned in New York.
25: The young man nervously prepares to kiss the chambermaid by darkening the room and closing blinds. Anton stops a professor from entering the home and interrupting the couple. The birth of something new.
45: The young man and the married woman prepare to make love and we cut to Anton on a carousel hammering something and then ringing a bell... The young man and married woman dance and Anton guides us to another romantic episode involving a young woman and her husband. Now that I'm aware.
-45: Husband and wife Charles and Emma lie in bed, she prefers not to speak with him, he prefers to calculate numbers. Charles says husbands can't always be lovers, that there are calm periods and periods that aren't so calm. Discovery.
60: The husband and a young woman talk in a private dining room. He kisses her and during dessert as they sit on a sofa he tells her he adores her. The lights go out and we infer that they consummate their affections. There's no going back now.
-25: The husband and lover sit in a car. He talks about getting a love nest for the two of them and as he talks we see the lover with another man, a complicated poet, as they enter a private apartment. Eventually we go through several other episodes: the poet loves an actress, the actress loves a count, and the count speaks with the first woman Anton approached after he introduced himself at the beginning, so we go full circle as the title suggested we would. The final turning point.
25: The young man nervously prepares to kiss the chambermaid by darkening the room and closing blinds. Anton stops a professor from entering the home and interrupting the couple. The birth of something new.
45: The young man and the married woman prepare to make love and we cut to Anton on a carousel hammering something and then ringing a bell... The young man and married woman dance and Anton guides us to another romantic episode involving a young woman and her husband. Now that I'm aware.
-45: Husband and wife Charles and Emma lie in bed, she prefers not to speak with him, he prefers to calculate numbers. Charles says husbands can't always be lovers, that there are calm periods and periods that aren't so calm. Discovery.
60: The husband and a young woman talk in a private dining room. He kisses her and during dessert as they sit on a sofa he tells her he adores her. The lights go out and we infer that they consummate their affections. There's no going back now.
-25: The husband and lover sit in a car. He talks about getting a love nest for the two of them and as he talks we see the lover with another man, a complicated poet, as they enter a private apartment. Eventually we go through several other episodes: the poet loves an actress, the actress loves a count, and the count speaks with the first woman Anton approached after he introduced himself at the beginning, so we go full circle as the title suggested we would. The final turning point.
The Spy Who Came In From The Cold
Richard Burton heads a great cast in this film noir classic .
25: Burton exits prison, Nan, his new girlfriend from the library greets him and invites him to dinner. A new character observes Nan get on a bus. He then introduces himself to Burton in the park. Eventually, this new character begins Burton's journey to being a fake paid defector. The birth of something new.
45: In East Germany, Richard Burton is driven to a beach house where he's pumped for info; he expects to be well paid for his defection to the Communists. His attempt to destroy Mundt begins. Now that I'm aware.
60: Burton with Fiedler, a man who hates and believes well known spy named Mundt is actually a double agent. Burton gives info about Mundt and repeatedly tells Fiedler Mundt couldn't be a double agent. We know what Burton is up to (at least at this point we think we do); by denying something he appears more believable to Fiedler. It's clear that Fiedler believes Mundt must be prosecuted and begins a trial. There's no going back now.
-45: Fiedler and Burton talk about money. Burton signs papers to get money. Fiedler tries to reward Burton and offers to provide him with a woman. Burton declines and Fiedler mentions Nan, the librarian. Burton indicates Nan means nothing to him but we can tell from the look on Burton's face Nan means a lot to him. In the next scene we discover that Nan intends to travel to East Germany. Discovery.
-25: Fiedler argues that Mundt is a double agent, Mundt's lawyer presents his case that Mundt is being unjustly accused. Nan arrives and her testimony about George Smiley, a known British agent, visiting her and telling her that Burton is a friend of Smiley ruins Fiedler's case and seems to be a death sentence against Burton. Eventually, we learn that Mundt really is a double agent (!) and during their escape Nan is shot in the back while trying to scale the wall to West Germany. Instead of going back, Burton decides to stay and be shot to be with Nan in death. A powerful ending to an excellent film noirclassic . The final turning point.
25: Burton exits prison, Nan, his new girlfriend from the library greets him and invites him to dinner. A new character observes Nan get on a bus. He then introduces himself to Burton in the park. Eventually, this new character begins Burton's journey to being a fake paid defector. The birth of something new.
45: In East Germany, Richard Burton is driven to a beach house where he's pumped for info; he expects to be well paid for his defection to the Communists. His attempt to destroy Mundt begins. Now that I'm aware.
60: Burton with Fiedler, a man who hates and believes well known spy named Mundt is actually a double agent. Burton gives info about Mundt and repeatedly tells Fiedler Mundt couldn't be a double agent. We know what Burton is up to (at least at this point we think we do); by denying something he appears more believable to Fiedler. It's clear that Fiedler believes Mundt must be prosecuted and begins a trial. There's no going back now.
-45: Fiedler and Burton talk about money. Burton signs papers to get money. Fiedler tries to reward Burton and offers to provide him with a woman. Burton declines and Fiedler mentions Nan, the librarian. Burton indicates Nan means nothing to him but we can tell from the look on Burton's face Nan means a lot to him. In the next scene we discover that Nan intends to travel to East Germany. Discovery.
-25: Fiedler argues that Mundt is a double agent, Mundt's lawyer presents his case that Mundt is being unjustly accused. Nan arrives and her testimony about George Smiley, a known British agent, visiting her and telling her that Burton is a friend of Smiley ruins Fiedler's case and seems to be a death sentence against Burton. Eventually, we learn that Mundt really is a double agent (!) and during their escape Nan is shot in the back while trying to scale the wall to West Germany. Instead of going back, Burton decides to stay and be shot to be with Nan in death. A powerful ending to an excellent film noir
Gran Torino
Starring Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino is a film noir classic.
25: Crusty, foul mouthed old Walt (Clint Eastwood) aims his rifle at gang members and prevents them from kidnapping/recruiting a young man named Thao. Thao's family offer Clint many gifts. The birth of something new.
45: Clint arrives at a party and becomes aware of his neighbor's customs. A Hmong shaman provides insight into Walt's character. Walt coughs up blood and says to the mirror that he's got more in common with the Hmong than his own family. Now that I'm aware.
60: Walt guides Thao as he does acts of service around the neighborhood. Walt coughs up blood and sees a doctor. At the clinic he sees several people from various cultures. The doctor will do tests and when Walt calls his son we notice Walt looking and acting more serious as he holds the medical test results. His son and his family no longer want to spend time with Walt. There's no going back now.
-45: Walt and Thao stand in Walt's garage. Walt provides Thao with WD40, duct tape, and vice grips and tells him those three things will resolve half of whatever he'll need to fix around the house. Walt coughs up blood. Thao tells Walt to see a doctor. Walt asks about those gang members he chased off before. Thao reveals that as part of his initiation he had to steal Walt's Gran Torino. Later, Walt asks for Thao's help moving a heavy freezer. They argue about who which one of them will do the heavy lifting and Walt backs down after Thao threatens to leave. Walt gives Thao the freezer at a discounted price. Discovery.
-25: Walt offers Thao his Gran Torino so he can ride in style with his date. The gang members shoot up Thao's house and seriously injures Thao's sister. Eventually, Walt will resolve things with the gang members in a new and original way, and Thao ends up with the Gran Torino. The final turning point.
25: Crusty, foul mouthed old Walt (Clint Eastwood) aims his rifle at gang members and prevents them from kidnapping/recruiting a young man named Thao. Thao's family offer Clint many gifts. The birth of something new.
45: Clint arrives at a party and becomes aware of his neighbor's customs. A Hmong shaman provides insight into Walt's character. Walt coughs up blood and says to the mirror that he's got more in common with the Hmong than his own family. Now that I'm aware.
60: Walt guides Thao as he does acts of service around the neighborhood. Walt coughs up blood and sees a doctor. At the clinic he sees several people from various cultures. The doctor will do tests and when Walt calls his son we notice Walt looking and acting more serious as he holds the medical test results. His son and his family no longer want to spend time with Walt. There's no going back now.
-45: Walt and Thao stand in Walt's garage. Walt provides Thao with WD40, duct tape, and vice grips and tells him those three things will resolve half of whatever he'll need to fix around the house. Walt coughs up blood. Thao tells Walt to see a doctor. Walt asks about those gang members he chased off before. Thao reveals that as part of his initiation he had to steal Walt's Gran Torino. Later, Walt asks for Thao's help moving a heavy freezer. They argue about who which one of them will do the heavy lifting and Walt backs down after Thao threatens to leave. Walt gives Thao the freezer at a discounted price. Discovery.
-25: Walt offers Thao his Gran Torino so he can ride in style with his date. The gang members shoot up Thao's house and seriously injures Thao's sister. Eventually, Walt will resolve things with the gang members in a new and original way, and Thao ends up with the Gran Torino. The final turning point.
Kansas City Confidential
25: In a bar, a delivery man receives info on who framed him when a new character arrives and tells him one of the guys involved in a bank robbery is in Mexico and provides specific info on how to identify him. After a few searches at various gambling spots he finds who he is looking for. The birth of something new.
45: The leader of the thieves reveals his identity: he's a retired cop who plans to turn in the thieves he recruited and led to get the $250k reward money. Because none of the thieves knows the other, the crooked cop's plan appears to be working. But when the crooked cop becomes aware that his own daughter has fallen for the delivery man (John Payne), things start to unravel. To catch the crooks Payne assumes the identity of one of the thieves, thinking that they won't know what the real crook looks like. Now that I'm aware.
-45 (138 -45 = 53): At a card table, all the thieves and Payne play cards. They talk about Kansas and lots of distrustful eye shifts. The leader jokes that there's always room for one more sucker, and since we know he's about to cross these crooks his joke has depth. Payne purposely drops a torn King card on the table. The crooks know what it means: they think they've discovered one of their partners in crime. Discovery.
60: Payne and Lee Van Cleef talk about who the leader is. Payne begins to bond with the leader's daughter. They go swimming together as the leader observes. A few moments later Payne is under intense turbulence as two of the thieves want him dead. The leader's daughter hands Payne his gun, saving his life and cementing their relationship. There's no going back now.
-25: The leader of the crooks mails each thief a letter with a torn King card and instructions on how they will get their share of the bank robbery money. Letters are delivered to each thief. Eventually Payne gets the girl, the thieves and crooked cop get what they deserve with a poignant twist at the end. This is a well-crafted story. The final turning point.
45: The leader of the thieves reveals his identity: he's a retired cop who plans to turn in the thieves he recruited and led to get the $250k reward money. Because none of the thieves knows the other, the crooked cop's plan appears to be working. But when the crooked cop becomes aware that his own daughter has fallen for the delivery man (John Payne), things start to unravel. To catch the crooks Payne assumes the identity of one of the thieves, thinking that they won't know what the real crook looks like. Now that I'm aware.
-45 (138 -45 = 53): At a card table, all the thieves and Payne play cards. They talk about Kansas and lots of distrustful eye shifts. The leader jokes that there's always room for one more sucker, and since we know he's about to cross these crooks his joke has depth. Payne purposely drops a torn King card on the table. The crooks know what it means: they think they've discovered one of their partners in crime. Discovery.
60: Payne and Lee Van Cleef talk about who the leader is. Payne begins to bond with the leader's daughter. They go swimming together as the leader observes. A few moments later Payne is under intense turbulence as two of the thieves want him dead. The leader's daughter hands Payne his gun, saving his life and cementing their relationship. There's no going back now.
-25: The leader of the crooks mails each thief a letter with a torn King card and instructions on how they will get their share of the bank robbery money. Letters are delivered to each thief. Eventually Payne gets the girl, the thieves and crooked cop get what they deserve with a poignant twist at the end. This is a well-crafted story. The final turning point.
The Magnificent Seven
Love the music in this movie. A remake of The Seven Samurai.
25: Yul tells Harry the job is not about getting rich, it's about helping farmers. Harry doesn't believe him. Yul recruits Steve McQueen after Steve loses his money gambling. The birth of something new.
45: They reach the farm, it's deserted. An alarm bells brings them out in the open and the seven gunmen meet the farmers. Now that I'm aware.
60: The youngest gunfighter notices he's being watched, tracks her down and after they exchange intense turbulence he carries her to the village. Another romance begins and they end up together. There's no going back now.
-45: Steve and a farmer wait for the bandits to come back, they have guns ready. The farmer talks about being nervous and how his hands are sweaty and throat dry. The farmer says when he saw the leader of the thieves/killers "run away from us, that's a feeling worth dying for." Steve says he envies him. Discovery.
-25: The seven gunfighters dismount and arrive at the thieves/killers hideout but it's deserted. They go back to the village and learn that the farmers have cut a new deal. The seven can leave and live, or stay and die. They leave, but 15 minutes later they come back and finish off the thieves/killers. The final turning point.
25: Yul tells Harry the job is not about getting rich, it's about helping farmers. Harry doesn't believe him. Yul recruits Steve McQueen after Steve loses his money gambling. The birth of something new.
45: They reach the farm, it's deserted. An alarm bells brings them out in the open and the seven gunmen meet the farmers. Now that I'm aware.
60: The youngest gunfighter notices he's being watched, tracks her down and after they exchange intense turbulence he carries her to the village. Another romance begins and they end up together. There's no going back now.
-45: Steve and a farmer wait for the bandits to come back, they have guns ready. The farmer talks about being nervous and how his hands are sweaty and throat dry. The farmer says when he saw the leader of the thieves/killers "run away from us, that's a feeling worth dying for." Steve says he envies him. Discovery.
-25: The seven gunfighters dismount and arrive at the thieves/killers hideout but it's deserted. They go back to the village and learn that the farmers have cut a new deal. The seven can leave and live, or stay and die. They leave, but 15 minutes later they come back and finish off the thieves/killers. The final turning point.
Nothing Sacred
A short film, only about 114 minutes long so the 5 moments are unusually placed here, but if you've never seen a Carole Lombard film this is a good one to start with. Also good with Ms. Lombard is Twentieth Century with John Barrymore. My favorite Lombard movie is My Man Godfrey.
25: People falsely believe young Hazel will die soon. Wally and Hazel know the truth. They watch a wrestling match. The match stops and a spotlight hits her when she stands. The announcer asks for 10 seconds of silence. He kisses her hand. Sobbing is heard. She starts crying too. On a boat, she asks him if he's married. The birth of something new.
-45: At a swanky nightclub it's Hazel Flagg night with dancing. There's talk of celebrities and phoniness. Discovery.
45: A man in Hazel's room collecting flowers finds Hazel's suicide note. Wally and the cops arrive at the river shortly after becoming aware of the note. Wally and Hazel both jump in the river. They argue. Now that I'm aware.
-25: At a nightclub, Hazel sees up close how people suffer over her fake fatal illness. She hiccups. People cry. Wally: "For good clean fun there's nothing like a wake." The final turning point.
60: Wally's publisher learns over the phone that Hazel is sick and that a real doctor will take care of her. Eventually, Wally and Hazel leave the city and remain together. There's no going back now.
25: People falsely believe young Hazel will die soon. Wally and Hazel know the truth. They watch a wrestling match. The match stops and a spotlight hits her when she stands. The announcer asks for 10 seconds of silence. He kisses her hand. Sobbing is heard. She starts crying too. On a boat, she asks him if he's married. The birth of something new.
-45: At a swanky nightclub it's Hazel Flagg night with dancing. There's talk of celebrities and phoniness. Discovery.
45: A man in Hazel's room collecting flowers finds Hazel's suicide note. Wally and the cops arrive at the river shortly after becoming aware of the note. Wally and Hazel both jump in the river. They argue. Now that I'm aware.
-25: At a nightclub, Hazel sees up close how people suffer over her fake fatal illness. She hiccups. People cry. Wally: "For good clean fun there's nothing like a wake." The final turning point.
60: Wally's publisher learns over the phone that Hazel is sick and that a real doctor will take care of her. Eventually, Wally and Hazel leave the city and remain together. There's no going back now.
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