In my opinion, Mike Oldfield is one of greatest composers and musicians of the late 20th Century. He has yet to get the full credit and recognition he is due, but that will come some day, I hope.
In the meantime, we can enjoy his highly underrated music, as well as what few interesting covers that have been of it over the years. One of the most interesting ones is from 2000 and was recorded by Italian synthpop/dance outfit Bamble B. It was promoted with a black-and-white video that put me in mind of early Mario Bava films... which makes it a perfect choice for a Musical Monday and the ongoing string of cover tunes.
The Hitch-Hiker (1954) Starring: Frank Lovejoy, Edmund O'Brien, William Talman, and Jose Torvay
Director: Ida Lupino
Rating: Eight of Nine Stars
A pair of friends (Edmond O'Brien and Frank Lovejoy) find themselves at the mercy of a psychopath when they give a ride to the wrong hitchhiker (William Talman).
"The Hitch-Hiker" is an acclaimed thriller co-written and directed by Ida Lupino, an actress who turned to directing and producing during a time when she was fighting with Studio Bosses over the sort of roles they kept giving her versus the parts she wanted to play. She went onto direct, write, and/or produce ten movies and over 100 episodes of television series ranging from westerns, to dramas, to comedies.
The tension you feel as this film unfolds is amazing, fueled by great camera-work, well-chosen locations, great lighting, and the performances of the three principal actors. It is also blessed with a perfectly paced script and tight editing. William Talman is especially effective as the psychotic killer. If you liked him as Perry Mason's courtroom adversary on the television series, you'll love him in this one.
"The Hitch-Hiker" (1953) is a chilling film that will keep you guessing as to how it will all end up until literally the final fade-out. It becomes even a little more scary when you consider it was based on real events, and that Talman's character was based on an actual killer who preyed upon motorists and took two friends hostage in a fashion similar to what happens in the film. Even Talman's strange, unsettling quirks are echoes of the real-life murderer.
This film has been the inspiration/model for dozens of similarly themed chillers, and it holds up nicely to comparisons with any of those that followed. Fittingly, it was added to the U.S. National Film Registry in 1998.
You can enjoy this excellent film by clicking below. Go microwave some popcorn, grab a drink, and lean back and enjoy "The Hitch-Hiker"!
Retired actress and singer Jane Birkin passed away on July 16, 2023. She was 76 years old. In here memory, here's a gallery of photos she posed for at her height of fame during the 1960s and 1970s.
Rumor has it that Jane Birkin didn't wear shoes until she was 27 years old. After taking a walk in the snow on her 27th birthday, she discovered the usefulness of footwear!
Jane Birkin was the subject of quarterly posts here at Shades of Gray in 2021. You can enjoy those pictures by clicking on her name underneath this post.
Meet/Kiss/Kill (2012) Starring: Anonymous Director: "Temporal Jessica" Rating: Eight of Ten Stars
The title sums up what happens in this two-minute film.
"Meet/Kiss/Kill" is a fascinating little art film that plays with light and shadow and archetypical film noir costuming and camera angels. I like everything about it visually and pacing-wise, but could have done without the old-timey film projector sound that made up the entire soundtrack. I'm sure what I would have in its place--there are a couple of Mike Oldfield tracks I think would work nicely, but then I feel he has music that would work for almost anything--but complete silence might not have worked either. And sound effects would be right out, I think.
But how about you take a couple minutes to check it out? If you like creative filmmaking and the film noir genre, I think you'll find the time well spent.
American actress Sarah Jones turns 40 years old today. She is perhaps best known for her roles in television series such as "For All Mankind" (2019-2021), "Damnation" (2017-2019), and the Shades of Gray favorite--but a love not shared by many--"Alcatraz" (2012).
While we observer her birthday with a few pictures, we're also going to take the opportunity to demonstrate the Unifying Theme!
Today, we offer some pictures of the lovely and talented Jean Seberg (1938-1979).
Why? No reason other than we want to call attention to the fact that a Friend of Shades of Gray is going to be screening "The Mouse That Roared" (1955) on his YouTube Channel. The photos below are mostly publicity stills for the film where she plays Helen, the daughter of a scientist who claims to have invented the most powerful bomb ever created.
Whether you can make the live YouTube broadcast and chat with fellow movie fans, or you watch "The Mouse That Roared" later, we're sure you'll enjoy Peter Sellars, William Hartnell, Jean Seberg, and the rest of the great cast in this classic comedy!
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