Paul C. Dobbs
@steadytiger.bsky.social
Living on Sydney Greenstreet
Haunted by Ida Lupino
Wants to be a Brontë
송강호는 내 부조종사다
Haunted by Ida Lupino
Wants to be a Brontë
송강호는 내 부조종사다
I might never have read Miller if it hadn't been for that essay. Orwell made it seem irresistible
November 11, 2025 at 6:32 AM
I might never have read Miller if it hadn't been for that essay. Orwell made it seem irresistible
A big part of Orwell's genius was simply to describe something, yes. His descriptions were often more persuasive than outright polemic. One of the most terrifying things I've ever read is Down the Mine, originally a chapter from Wigan Pier. I can feel a panic attack coming on just reading it
November 11, 2025 at 6:30 AM
A big part of Orwell's genius was simply to describe something, yes. His descriptions were often more persuasive than outright polemic. One of the most terrifying things I've ever read is Down the Mine, originally a chapter from Wigan Pier. I can feel a panic attack coming on just reading it
Me too, for years I was fascinated by books by and about tramps. Down and Out by Orwell, Ironweed by William Kennedy, Autobiography of a Super-Tramp by WH Davies. I ate that stuff up
November 11, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Me too, for years I was fascinated by books by and about tramps. Down and Out by Orwell, Ironweed by William Kennedy, Autobiography of a Super-Tramp by WH Davies. I ate that stuff up
Kerouac was very big for me. I learned to drive mainly because of him, no joke
November 10, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Kerouac was very big for me. I learned to drive mainly because of him, no joke
I was talking about it on here just the other week. It's an astonishing book. I keep meaning to revisit it. It's always bubbling up in me
November 10, 2025 at 4:06 PM
I was talking about it on here just the other week. It's an astonishing book. I keep meaning to revisit it. It's always bubbling up in me
I read this a few times in my 20s. Loooong time ago. But it made a big dent in me. That lock step towards death idea has always stayed with me
November 10, 2025 at 3:54 PM
I read this a few times in my 20s. Loooong time ago. But it made a big dent in me. That lock step towards death idea has always stayed with me
The one and only
November 10, 2025 at 3:48 PM
The one and only
I'm not sure but this rings a bell for Henry Miller, Tropic of Cancer
November 10, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I'm not sure but this rings a bell for Henry Miller, Tropic of Cancer
I've never been a big fan, but I'll be more on the lookout for him after this. He was 100% all in
November 10, 2025 at 2:51 PM
I've never been a big fan, but I'll be more on the lookout for him after this. He was 100% all in
Now THAT'S a proper picture
November 10, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Now THAT'S a proper picture
José Ferrer owns this picture lock stock and barrel. He has the only really good part, sort of Derren Brown meets Dr Caligari, and he chews the life out of it. He plays it dead straight though, no hamming, even in the teeth of the most laughable plot ever. Heroic work, way beyond the call of duty
November 10, 2025 at 2:39 PM
José Ferrer owns this picture lock stock and barrel. He has the only really good part, sort of Derren Brown meets Dr Caligari, and he chews the life out of it. He plays it dead straight though, no hamming, even in the teeth of the most laughable plot ever. Heroic work, way beyond the call of duty
Gene Tierney's character has fire and dimension, and she gets a couple of great scenes. We just don't believe it when she falls victim to an incredibly silly comic book psychological ‘fluence. It's so badly written she has no chance. Oh, and there's not enough close-ups of her either, nowhere near
November 10, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Gene Tierney's character has fire and dimension, and she gets a couple of great scenes. We just don't believe it when she falls victim to an incredibly silly comic book psychological ‘fluence. It's so badly written she has no chance. Oh, and there's not enough close-ups of her either, nowhere near
The considerable talents of Richard Conte and Charles Bickford are wasted here. One plays ‘loving husband’, the other ‘honest cop’. That's literally all there is to say about these roles. They're just stage props really. Both actors seem a bit bored with it
November 10, 2025 at 2:36 PM
The considerable talents of Richard Conte and Charles Bickford are wasted here. One plays ‘loving husband’, the other ‘honest cop’. That's literally all there is to say about these roles. They're just stage props really. Both actors seem a bit bored with it
I wasn't keen on that one either. I remember a lot of shenanigans on a train that knocked it over into unintentional comedy
November 9, 2025 at 9:35 AM
I wasn't keen on that one either. I remember a lot of shenanigans on a train that knocked it over into unintentional comedy
Yeah, I didn't pick up on anything like that while watching. Now that you mention it though, there was a scene where Philippe is getting it on with Marge, Tom is spying on them and gets upset like he's jealous. At the time I thought it was because he fancied Marge, but I'm thinking again now...
November 9, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Yeah, I didn't pick up on anything like that while watching. Now that you mention it though, there was a scene where Philippe is getting it on with Marge, Tom is spying on them and gets upset like he's jealous. At the time I thought it was because he fancied Marge, but I'm thinking again now...
That's the second recommendation I've had for the remake. I'll keep a look out for it
November 9, 2025 at 9:13 AM
That's the second recommendation I've had for the remake. I'll keep a look out for it
I can definitely see a better adaptation of this story being made, though Matt Damon would have to go a bit to be as good as Delon. Forbidden Games I saw as a child, and I remember bits of it quite clearly (I think!). I am planning a French season soon so will put it on the list
November 9, 2025 at 9:12 AM
I can definitely see a better adaptation of this story being made, though Matt Damon would have to go a bit to be as good as Delon. Forbidden Games I saw as a child, and I remember bits of it quite clearly (I think!). I am planning a French season soon so will put it on the list
Good grief what have they done to his hair
November 9, 2025 at 6:59 AM
Good grief what have they done to his hair
Me too, I haven't seen it since the 90s though. It's on Criterion along with a load of other French stuff I want to see. After a few more Italians I think I will go French for a bit
November 9, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Me too, I haven't seen it since the 90s though. It's on Criterion along with a load of other French stuff I want to see. After a few more Italians I think I will go French for a bit
I didn't know much about the story beforehand, so I was pretty gripped. The direction was a bit pedestrian, leagues below Hitchcock or Clouzot. But wow, that ending. Pretty nasty for Sunday matinee EBS. Loved it
November 9, 2025 at 6:49 AM
I didn't know much about the story beforehand, so I was pretty gripped. The direction was a bit pedestrian, leagues below Hitchcock or Clouzot. But wow, that ending. Pretty nasty for Sunday matinee EBS. Loved it