Silent action film 'A Beast at Bay' holds up

A Beast at Bay (1912)

Starring: Mary Pickford, Alfred Paget, Edwin August, and Henry Lehrman

Director: D.W. Griffith

Rating: Nine of Ten Stars

After a young woman (Pickford) is carjacked and subsequently abducted by an escaped convict (Paget), her boyfriend (August) gives chase along side the prison guards.

"A Beast at Bay" is a clear display of the command that D.W. Griffith had on filmmaking and how he may even have been ahead of his peers in his methods and approaches. The acting, the pacing, the way scenes are staged and framed... almost everything about this film holds up nicely and it almost feels like it could have been made yesterday in a couple of places. This might even be a film that someone who says they think silent movies are dumb or boring or dusty relics can enjoy. It might even make them change their minds.

The film wastes no time getting underway (which is good since it only runs about a 1/4 of an hour), with action and tension from the get-go, switching back and forth between the parallel stories of a convict's escape and a spat between two young lovers. By the time the storylines intersect, viewers have a clear sense that Mary Pickford's character is facing real danger from the menacing bad guy played by Alfred Paget. This is not a mustache-twirling melodramatic villain, but one who feels far more real and who oozes dangerous evil and violence. There's a scene where, if Paget's character hadn't been interrupted, he would have undoubtedly has raped his young prisoner; the sense that is where things were headed was just as clear and horrifying as any 1970s exploitation film, or the slightly more modern revenge genre. It's rare that I have that sort of visceral reaction to a silent movie, because the acting is usually so stylized and overblown--but, as I've noted in previous reviews of Griffith's short films, he was far better at getting more naturalistic performances from actors than his contemporaries. This is one of the big reasons his films have stood the test of time--especially his short films.

The only point in the film where I initially snickered a bit was when the hero and the prison guards try to catch up with the carjacked maiden by commandeering a locomotive and go steaming down a track parallel to the road. "Seriously," I thought to myself, "why not just get a car?"

Then I remembered it was 1912 when this film was made, and it is clearly set in a rural area. The car driven by Mary Pickford's character was probably the only one for miles around at the time the chase began.

And so I was back to not really having anything negative to say about this nice little action film. D.W. Griffith was a visionary pioneer who helped lay the foundation for cinematic story-telling, so it's perhaps not at all surprising that his films can still be exciting to present day viewers. And while I watch mostly old movies these days, so I am perhaps more prone than most to find them exciting, but I really do think there might be enough here to appeal to more "normal" viewers, too.

Check it out my clicking below. Tell me if you agree or disagree in the comments section.

 

Princesses of Mars, Part 38

The Princesses of Mars want everyone to know that they support the right of citizens to own and bear arms. They also want everyone to know that they're not afraid to use them in self defense or against tyrants.

Of Wolves and Girls in Hoods: Sam the Sham

 

I am fairly certain everyone reading this knows the fairy tale "Little Red Riding Hood" (if not, read this and this, and then come back) and possibly even a few horror stories (by they film or comics) based on it. Some of you may even have seen more "adult" adaptations of the story.

This month, we're going to spotlight a few of the more unusual versions of the "Little Red Riding Hood" story. We're kicking things off with a couple of songs from Sam the Sham. (There are no neat visuals with them... that'll come with the cartoons when we post them.)

First, it's Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs with a song conveying a modernized, tongue-in-cheek version of the Little Red Riding Hood story, as seen through the eyes of the Big Bad Wolf. In 1966, this song was a smash hit on AM radio and reached the Top 5 and even better on numerous charts. 

Striking while the iron was hot, Sham and his back-up singers--the Sham-ettes, recorded and released a sequel/point-of-view reversal on the relationship between the wolf and the maiden in the first song. And the wolf may be in for a surprise. Without further ado, we invite you to click below and enjoy "Big Bad Wolf" by the Sham-ettes.

(Maybe I've seen too horror movies, or read too many horror stories, but in my imagination, these two songs add up to a couple of psychopathic stalkers finding that they're each other's soulmate and then go skipping off in search of victims.)

Happy birthday, Alyssa Diaz

Born in 1985, actress Alyssa Diaz has been a fixture on television since landing her first recurring role on the daytime soap "As the World Turns" at age 15. Most recently, she's been a member of the spectacular ensemble cast on the ABC police series "The Rookie" for three seasons. Here are some pictures in celebration of her 36th birthday... and a celebration of the fact we'll be seeing her on a fourth batch of "The Rookie" episodes (which are going to begin on ABC on September 26)!

Musical Monday with David Hasselhoff

We could introduce this video for David Hasselhoff's cover of Iggy Pop's "The Passenger" with comments on how nicely done it is, both musically and visually.

Instead, we're just going to say: "When KITT is in the shop, but you still have to cross town to stop the bad guys..."


The Passenger (2021)
Starring: David Hasselhoff
Director: Jens Eser
Rating: Seven of Ten Stars

"The Passenger" is included on Hasselhoff's just-released album, "Party Your Hasselhoff". We don't know if it's any good (aside from the one song featured here), but we're giving it Six Stars for that title alone.

(That said, the very nature of this blog is a constant reminded that we're all getting old... but Hasselhoff... jeeze! He got OLD!)

Bones Coffee's Salted Caramel

 It's Sunday, so that means another post about coffee we've been drinking here at Shades of Gray! Like most reviews so far, this one is based on coffee made from a pre-ground 4-oz. sample pack that made about 15 cups via a drip coffee maker.

Lily Gao: Caffeinated and ready to kill zombies!

BONES COFFEE COMPANY: SALTED CARAMEL

This is another of the flavored blends from Florida-based Bones Coffee. Like most of the ones we've had by them, it's a medium-roast using Brazilian Arabica beans, so it starts with a perfect foundation.

Opening the package was itself an experience; I could detect the aroma of caramel even before actively taking a whiff of it. That wonderful smell remained strong during the brewing process, and I could smell it all the way down the hall in my office.

And things only got better.

If you've read any of the previous entries in this series, you already know that I'm a wimp when it comes to coffee; I'm always putting almond milk and/or various creamers in everything I brew, from breakfast blends to the darkest of roasts...
⁠
But this blend? This one I can drink straight without needing to cut it. What a FANTASIC blend! Who needs to head to Starbucks or any such places when you can just brew a pot of Bones' Salted Caramel blend?!

Hot and fresh from the pot into the cup, this blend carried a perfect blend of caramel and salt and tangy coffee. Even as the coffee cooled, the flavor remained pleasing, with the various elements remaining in balance with one another. (This factor may be more important to me than some of you out there; I drink my coffee while working or reading, so it tends to sit awhile and grow cold as I drink it.)

At no point did I feel like my cups of this Salted Caramel blend needed any almond milk or sweetener, but, to remain consistent with other reviews of Bones' products, I did it anyway. 

When I added unsweetened almond milk, I felt it detracted from the flavor instead of enhancing it, washing it out instead of making it palatable. I also tried a cup with just a dash of Italian Sweet Cream-flavored creamer, which was a little better. The sweetness of the creamer blended well with the caramel and seemed to bring out more saltiness.

⁠Speaking of saltiness, when this blend was consumed chilled and over ice, the salty flavor emerges a bit stronger than when it is hot, but it mixes pleasantly with the caramel and coffee, instead of becoming overwhelming and ruining the flavor as happened with the Sinn-a-Bon blend. Over all, though, the flavor remained fairly stable whether I was drinking it hot or cold, the Salted Caramel flavor was perfect.

Although I was perfectly happy with the "uncut" taste of this blend over ice, I tried drinking it with unsweetened almond milk added, just so I could remain conistant with my other reviews. While I felt the milk detracted from the blend when hot, it didn't seem to add or reduce anything. The milk mixed with the existing flavors, but otherwise didn't seem to really seem to enhance or detract from my enjoyment. I didn't bother trying it with the Italian Sweet Cream creamer, because... well, because there's just no way to improve upon Bones' Salted Caramel blend.  

So--thanks, Bones! Now I can have maximize my caffeine intake with a minimum of fuss and effort, even if I'm in the mood for fru-fru coffee! I can have delicious Salted Caramel flavored coffee without spending waaaay too much money at a retail outlet and without even having to leave my home!

Modern Living with Richard Sala

 I have worked in the downtown area of a major American city for about five years now. During that time, the urban decay has been evident and accelerating. I imagine this cartoon from the late, great Richard Sala must reflect how people who actually live there live their lives. (Click on the cartoon for a larger, more easily read version.)

It's Cinderella!

Actually, it's Camila Cabello who plays Cinderalla in the latest film version of "Cinderella". It premieres today, September 3, 2021, on Amazon Prime after a year or so worth of Covid-19 and Developmental Hell delays.

Cabello got her start in show business as part of the successful girl band Fifth Harmony, but has recently found even greater popularity as a solo act. Now she's adding "actress" to her resume, although she does more than a little singing during her starring turn as the famous fairy tale character. Here are a few pictures of Cabello in celebration.

Picture Perfect Special with Salma Hayek

Celebrated Mexican actress Salma Hayek turns 55 today, September 2, 2021. We extend our best birthday wishes to her and celebrate this milestone with a few pictures that demonstrate the Unifying Theme.

The Avengers: Quick-Quick Slow Death

Qiuck-Quick Slow Death (1966)
Starring: Diana Rigg, Patrick Macnee, Eunice Gayson, Maurice Kaufman, James Belchamber, David Kernen, and Larry Cross
Director: James Hill
Rating: Eight of Ten Stars

A bizarre accident puts government agents John Steed (Mcnee) and Emma Peel (Rigg) onto a dance school that's serving as a conduit for infiltrating enemy spies into Great Britain. The pair set out to unravel the operation with some infiltrating (and dancing) of their own.

"Quick-Quick, Slow Death" is one of the funniest and overall comedy-oriented episodes of "The Avengers" that I've watched yet. It's crammed full of bizarre characters and even more bizarre situations and it gets goofier and goofier as it unfolds

In fact, it's so goofy that this episode is best enjoyed if one doesn't think too much about the hows and whys of the plot and the complicated scheme being executed by the bad guys, nor the clues that Steed and Peel uncover or how they're delivered (although that tattooed garlic sausage has got to be a highwater mark for comedic absurdity). For all those reasons, I'm keeping this review short, as I think this episode is one that's best experienced cold. 

I will say that Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg are at the top of their comedic game, with their deadpan or droll reactions to the various bizarre characters and situations that Steed and Peel are confronted with as the episode unfolds. Although Macnee gets to be the comedic center in a couple of scenes, it's the way he and Rigg serve as "straight men" to other performers that make this episode that much more fun. I think that's also one of the reasons that the climactic ballroom scene with dancers and partners being switched around works when it really shouldn't have: Macnee and Rigg are pitch-perfect in every scene throughout.

Speaking of dancing, the little comedy tag at the end of this episode is possibly also one of the best so far, with the fictional characters of John Steed and Emma Peel twirling across the dance floor and fading away as the end credits begin.