BAD MOVIES WE LOVE (subtitled, Big Hair, Big Budget, Big Mistake) is one of the greats of bad movie literature. And, unlike most of the other books on the list, it doesn't focus on cheap, grade-z movies & actors you never heard of, instead its focus is front and center those delirious technicolor melodramas that people like Douglas Sirk and Delmer Dawes did so epically. Everything from "All That Heaven Allows" to "Reflections in a Golden Eye" to "The Oscar" to "Mommy Dearest." How I wish there'd been a sequel.
When I watched that Tony Bennett 90th birthday tribute last week, one thing that came to mind - but which, sadly, wasn't mentioned - was his performance (using that word very loosely) in THE OSCAR. Hymie Kelly, indeed. That should go in a category with THE LONELY LADY, the classic with Pia Zadora having a lifelong dream of being a screenwriter.
I love, love, love THE OSCAR and Italian-American Tony Bennett's role as Jewish-Irish American Hymie Kelly! Did you ever see SCTV's hilarious take-off, THE NOBEL? It's on YouTube and is amazingly true to the movie, even down to some of the dialog. Except instead of selling his soul for an Oscar, the Stephen Boyd character is relentless in his pursuit of a Nobel prize. Great stuff--but you have to know and love THE OSCAR to get the joke.
6 comments:
I've read the first three and Joe Bob.
BAD MOVIES WE LOVE (subtitled, Big Hair, Big Budget, Big Mistake) is one of the greats of bad movie literature. And, unlike most of the other books on the list, it doesn't focus on cheap, grade-z movies & actors you never heard of, instead its focus is front and center those delirious technicolor melodramas that people like Douglas Sirk and Delmer Dawes did so epically. Everything from "All That Heaven Allows" to "Reflections in a Golden Eye" to "The Oscar" to "Mommy Dearest." How I wish there'd been a sequel.
When I watched that Tony Bennett 90th birthday tribute last week, one thing that came to mind - but which, sadly, wasn't mentioned - was his performance (using that word very loosely) in THE OSCAR. Hymie Kelly, indeed. That should go in a category with THE LONELY LADY, the classic with Pia Zadora having a lifelong dream of being a screenwriter.
OK, Deb. Will look for that one.
I remember when BAD MOVIES WE LOVE was a website. Or I think I do.
I love, love, love THE OSCAR and Italian-American Tony Bennett's role as Jewish-Irish American Hymie Kelly! Did you ever see SCTV's hilarious take-off, THE NOBEL? It's on YouTube and is amazingly true to the movie, even down to some of the dialog. Except instead of selling his soul for an Oscar, the Stephen Boyd character is relentless in his pursuit of a Nobel prize. Great stuff--but you have to know and love THE OSCAR to get the joke.
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