TiVoPlex
By John Seal
September 6, 2010
From the obscure to the obscurest to the merely overlooked or under-appreciated; they all have a home in the TiVoPlex! All times Pacific.
Tuesday 9/07/10
7:45 AM Showtime
The Naked Face (1985 USA): The last feature film to date by director Bryan Forbes, The Naked Face doesn’t come close to matching the man’s best work (Séance on a Wet Afternoon, The Whisperers), but at least features a superb cast to distract us from its failings. Roger Moore plays Judd Stevens, a cardiganed Chicago shrink whose clinic seems to be a serial killer’s victim supply center. When the police connect the dots between his practice and the murders, suspicions naturally fall upon Judd, who determines to take matters into his own hands in order to clear his name. The Naked Face isn’t the least bit original and its cheapo eighties production values are a major weakness, but Moore is ably supported by Rod Steiger (devouring the screen as usual), Anne Archer, Elliot Gould, Art Carney, and David Hedison. Also airs at 10:45 AM.
11:35 AM Showtime Extreme
The Last Safari (1967 GB): It might more accurately be entitled The Last Gasp - director Henry Hathaway was getting close to the end of the line, as was star Stewart Granger - but this shot-in-Kenya adventure tale looks pretty good thanks to Ted Moore’s location photography. Whether or not Showtime Extreme will be airing the film in its correct aspect ratio will ultimately determine whether or not you should watch, but assuming the best case scenario, here’s the skinny: Granger plays Miles Gilchrist, a seasoned big game hunter accompanying annoying wet-behind-the-ears youngster Casey (Kaz Garas) on a hunt. It’s another example of a plot being well past its sell by date, but again, there’s compensation: though Granger looks thoroughly disgruntled onscreen and Garas is pretty much a non-entity, viewers can enjoy the scenery, John Dankworth’s score, and, erm, Johnny Sekka. The Last Safari was based on a novel entitled Gilligan’s Last Elephant, which was apparently NOT set on an uncharted desert isle.
6:00 PM HBO
My Trip to al-Qaeda (2010 USA): This brand spanking new HBO original doc makes its world television premiere this evening. I haven’t seen it yet, but considering it’s directed by Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, Taxi to the Dark Side) it has to be considered must-see material. Oddly, the film is apparently based on a play, but one written by journalist Lawrence Wright, author of the well-regarded (though unread by moi) The Looming Tower: al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11At the very least, this promises to be a most interesting film. Also airs at 9:00 PM and throughout the month.
Wednesday 9/08/10
4:15 AM Turner Classic Movies
Man in the Road (1956 GB): Fans of obscure British cinema - assuming they exist beyond the confines of my living room - will be thrilled to bits by this one. Derek Farr plays James Paxton, a brilliant government scientist who takes a blow to the head, loses his memory, and gets placed in the care of Professor Cattrell (Donald Wolfit). There’s a scheme afoot, however, as Cattrell subsequently tries to convince Paxton that he’s actually an accountant named Mason. Will our forgetful hero catch on to the subterfuge - or will he cough up his valuable scientific secrets to the nefarious commies plotting against Her Majesty’s Government? Man in the Road is a few degrees better than your average quota quickie and marked the final screen appearance of American actress Ella Raines, who retired in favor of family life in 1957.
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