Just saw this in HD on Netflix streaming on a big tv. Such great moments, speeches, rents, and such a sweet movie in intention with some really cutting edge shit for Hollywood back then. And the intensity of the performances is incredible. Just great.

[Edited 8/6/10 7:39am]

And as a complete contrast...now (also in HD) on comes "Jungle Fever". Saw that in a packed theater back in the day.

nobody's seen this?

I was still trying to find who rented what in it.

This movie was absolutely fantastic. It wasn't until about 10 years ago that I watched it. I really had no idea what it was about. It's odd because I'm a big Katharine Hepburn fan, but just never saw that one.

Even Whoopi Goldberg mentioned that movie the other day when President Obama was on The View. Race was brought up and she made the point about Sidney's line of "The difference between you and me is that you think of yourself as a negro man. I think of myself as a man."

Isabel Sanford had some great lines in it. My favorite comedic moment is when Hillary comes over to see the situation and balk over it in a condescending way. Katharine escorts her to her car, and lays into her with, "Now I have some instructions for you. Start your motor." and it ends with "Don't speak Hillary, just GO." I know that whole thing by heart, and LOVE it.

People would view it now and think "So what, it's an interracial couple", but in the late 60's? Pffft, forget about it! People were run out of towns, or MURDERED for such a thing. It was "even worse" when it was a black man and a white woman (although a white man and a black woman wasn't seen very favorably either). You could really feel the race tensions in that movie, and rightly so. They were fine actors, very much portraying the social headset of the day.

The ending scene with Spencer Tracy giving his dinner speech is touching. He was dying, and Katharine, and everyone else, was fully aware of it. Her tears are quite real, because of the words he was saying, and knowing he was so close to death. Seventeen days after filming had been completed on the film, he died of a heart attack having long suffered from emphysema. The film was released in December, six months after his death.

For those that don't know, the woman playing Hillary, Virginia Christine, was also the Folger's Coffee lady in the 70's. Here's one of her many commercials. I love this one because she looks like the character (even down to the car itself) from the movie, yet less bitchy.

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner.

Here's Kate's diss to Hillary. Look at Kate's face after Hillary's first line. It's right then that she wants to knock her head off, but maintains her composure, and gears up for one of the most awesome diss speeches in film history!

And let's not talk about the horrible remakes and "borrows" of the film, namely Guess Who with Ashton Kutcher and Bernie Mac. Won't even begin to watch it. Some things should never be touched. EVER. This movie is one of them. Don't touch the original by remaking it, and don't touch the remake because it's going to be bad.

Great individual performances (except for the white girl who clearly got the role cuz Katharine was her aunt). And I also thought a lot of the script was contrived and totally implausible. But, most importantly to me, Sidney was a complete eunuch in this. Fear of the black dick strikes again.

[Edited 8/6/10 7:43am]

Ive never seen, but now will be checking it out. Thanks.

One of my favorite movies of all time.

ernestsewell said:

Here's Kate's diss to Hillary. Look at Kate's face after Hillary's first line. It's right then that she wants to knock her head off, but maintains her composure, and gears up for one of the most awesome diss speeches in film history!

Just awesome, and then her playful dialogue to her daughter right after playing off the suggestion to fire Hillary. This movie used the word "bitch" a lot, and I was surprised.

Genesia said:

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner.

Ah, thanks.

SCNDLS said:

Great individual performances (except for the white girl who clearly got the role cuz Katharine was her aunt). And I also thought a lot of the script was contrived and totally implausible. But, most importantly to me, Sidney was a complete eunuch in this. Fear of the black dick strikes again.

[Edited 8/6/10 7:43am]

What do you expect from Hollywood? Not one of my favorites.

ufoclub said:

Genesia said:

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner.

Ah, thanks.

Fantastic film! I haven't had the pleasure of seeing it in HD (only on TCM during Black History month)

thekidsgirl said:

Fantastic film! I haven't had the pleasure of seeing it in HD (only on TCM during Black History month)

It's beautiful HD transfer! I like seeing the film grain.

What do you all think of "Jungle Fever"?

ernestsewell said:

And let's not talk about the horrible remakes and "borrows" of the film, namely Guess Who with Ashton Kutcher and Bernie Mac. Won't even begin to watch it. Some things should never be touched. EVER. This movie is one of them. Don't touch the original by remaking it, and don't touch the remake because it's going to be bad.

Wow, I forgot they remade it. I wonder what that is like? How strange. Or is there something to the remake?

thekidsgirl said:

Fantastic film! I haven't had the pleasure of seeing it in HD (only on TCM during Black History month)

I'll admit I've never seen this film because I hate Katharine Hepburn. Her voice just goes through me like a knife and I don't think her acting is very natural. I feel like I'm watching someone act. I was never able to finish Suddenly, Last Summer because my blood pressure was going up listening to her monologues.

If you want to experience some classic "race" movies I recommend:

A Patch of Blue, 1965 - Starring Sidney Poitier, Elizabeth Hartman - a black man befriends and falls in love with a blind white girl. Not as corny as it sounds!

Nothing But A Man, 1964 - Starring Ivan Dixon and Abbey Lincoln - A black man lives his life during the early 60s in the South, dealingh with racism, classism, etc. INCREDIBLE!

Odds Against Tomorrow, 1959 - 3 men try and pull of a heist, but one of the men (who is white) is not thrilled to learn that the 3rd man is a black man.

Pinky, 1949 - A young light-skinned black woman (played by a white woman) passes for white, but her white fiance has no idea she is black.

And for shits and giggles:

My Baby is Black!, 1961 - A French woman gives birth to a black baby and faces a harsh reaction from those around her.

[Edited 8/6/10 10:18am]

MidniteMagnet said:

I'll admit I've never seen this film because I hate Katharine Hepburn. Her voice just goes through me like a knife and I don't think her acting is very natural. I feel like I'm watching someone act. I was never able to finish Suddenly, Last Summer because my blood pressure was going up listening to her monologues.

I LOVE Suddenly, Last Summer. It's so twisted, and dark.

Katharine is a gem, and I love everything about her. Admittedly I got into her after On Golden Pond (Ethel and Norman are SO my parents!), but I really do appreciate her work.

ufoclub said:

Wow, I forgot they remade it. I wonder what that is like? How strange. Or is there something to the remake?

It's racially reversed. Ashton plays the white boyfriend that black girl brings home to daddy Mac. They did it as a slapstick comedy. I never watched it. Once I knew what they were doing, I refused to entertain it with my money or time.

ernestsewell said:

MidniteMagnet said:

I'll admit I've never seen this film because I hate Katharine Hepburn. Her voice just goes through me like a knife and I don't think her acting is very natural. I feel like I'm watching someone act. I was never able to finish Suddenly, Last Summer because my blood pressure was going up listening to her monologues.

I LOVE Suddenly, Last Summer. It's so twisted, and dark.

Katharine is a gem, and I love everything about her. Admittedly I got into her after On Golden Pond (Ethel and Norman are SO my parents!), but I really do appreciate her work.

Hmm, I may have to give it a second chance then. I do love Montgomery Clift and Liz Taylor.

I forgot about On Golden Pond...I loved that one!!

ernestsewell said:

Here's Kate's diss to Hillary. Look at Kate's face after Hillary's first line. It's right then that she wants to knock her head off, but maintains her composure, and gears up for one of the most awesome diss speeches in film history!

I love it.

ufoclub said:

thekidsgirl said:

Fantastic film! I haven't had the pleasure of seeing it in HD (only on TCM during Black History month)

It's beautiful HD transfer! I like seeing the film grain.

What do you all think of "Jungle Fever"?

I enjoyed it, although aside from John Turturro's part (which was really rich) I think the protagonists' respective familes were written a bit too cliché and unidimensional. I also read that Annabella Sciorra and Spike had some differences over how her character should be performed. I got the impression Spike wanted her to play up a mere novel interest in Wesley Snipe's blackness, but she, on the other hand, played her character as earnestly interested in the whole man... until the pressures on the relationship became too much. In the end, I think she had the better approach. Her character came off more genuine; conflicted, but genuine -- and also more sympathetic.

[Edited 8/6/10 11:20am]

Lammastide said:

ufoclub said:

It's beautiful HD transfer! I like seeing the film grain.

What do you all think of "Jungle Fever"?

I enjoyed it, although aside from John Turturro's part (which was really rich) I think the protagonists' respective familes were written a bit too cliché and unidimensional. I also read that Annabella Sciorra and Spike had some differences over how her character should be performed. I got the impression Spike wanted her to play up a mere novel interest in Wesley Snipe's blackness, but she, on the other hand, played her character as earnestly interested in the whole man... until the pressures on the relationship became too much. In the end, I think she had the better approach. Her character came off more genuine; conflicted, but genuine -- and also more sympathetic.

[Edited 8/6/10 11:20am]

I agree with every word of this post.

Lammastide said:

ufoclub said:

It's beautiful HD transfer! I like seeing the film grain.

What do you all think of "Jungle Fever"?

I enjoyed it, although aside from John Turturro's part (which was really rich) I think the protagonists' respective familes were written a bit too cliché and unidimensional. I also read that Annabella Sciorra and Spike had some differences over how her character should be performed. I got the impression Spike wanted her to play up a mere novel interest in Wesley Snipe's blackness, but she, on the other hand, played her character as earnestly interested in the whole man... until the pressures on the relationship became too much. In the end, I think she had the better approach. Her character came off more genuine; conflicted, but genuine -- and also more sympathetic.

[Edited 8/6/10 11:20am]

good movie, though I seem to remember some of spencer tracy's speeches coming off as a little preachy now

MidniteMagnet said:

thekidsgirl said:

Fantastic film! I haven't had the pleasure of seeing it in HD (only on TCM during Black History month)

I'll admit I've never seen this film because I hate Katharine Hepburn. Her voice just goes through me like a knife and I don't think her acting is very natural. I feel like I'm watching someone act. I was never able to finish Suddenly, Last Summer because my blood pressure was going up listening to her monologues.

If you want to experience some classic "race" movies I recommend:

A Patch of Blue, 1965 - Starring Sidney Poitier, Elizabeth Hartman - a black man befriends and falls in love with a blind white girl. Not as corny as it sounds!

Nothing But A Man, 1964 - Starring Ivan Dixon and Abbey Lincoln - A black man lives his life during the early 60s in the South, dealingh with racism, classism, etc. INCREDIBLE!

Odds Against Tomorrow, 1959 - 3 men try and pull of a heist, but one of the men (who is white) is not thrilled to learn that the 3rd man is a black man.

Pinky, 1949 - A young light-skinned black woman (played by a white woman) passes for white, but her white fiance has no idea she is black.

And for shits and giggles:

My Baby is Black!, 1961 - A French woman gives birth to a black baby and faces a harsh reaction from those around her.

[Edited 8/6/10 10:18am]

Oh Thanks!! The only one of those I've ever heard of is Pinky. I definitely want to see the last one!

.

[Edited 8/7/10 9:54am]

Fantastic movie that should have NEVER even been green lighted 4 a remake.

thekidsgirl said:

MidniteMagnet said:

I'll admit I've never seen this film because I hate Katharine Hepburn. Her voice just goes through me like a knife and I don't think her acting is very natural. I feel like I'm watching someone act. I was never able to finish Suddenly, Last Summer because my blood pressure was going up listening to her monologues.

If you want to experience some classic "race" movies I recommend:

A Patch of Blue, 1965 - Starring Sidney Poitier, Elizabeth Hartman - a black man befriends and falls in love with a blind white girl. Not as corny as it sounds!

Nothing But A Man, 1964 - Starring Ivan Dixon and Abbey Lincoln - A black man lives his life during the early 60s in the South, dealingh with racism, classism, etc. INCREDIBLE!

Odds Against Tomorrow, 1959 - 3 men try and pull of a heist, but one of the men (who is white) is not thrilled to learn that the 3rd man is a black man.

Pinky, 1949 - A young light-skinned black woman (played by a white woman) passes for white, but her white fiance has no idea she is black.

And for shits and giggles:

My Baby is Black!, 1961 - A French woman gives birth to a black baby and faces a harsh reaction from those around her.

[Edited 8/6/10 10:18am]

Oh Thanks!! The only one of those I've ever heard of is Pinky. I definitely want to see the last one!

.

[Edited 8/7/10 9:54am]

That one called Pinky sounds crazy..... maybe racially paranoid? I don't know what its stance is.