BBC 4 (UK)
This movie was on BBC 4 (UK Digital TV) last night, as a double-bill with Aguirre: Wrath of God :)
Who else saw it?
Hello speccyboy. I watched the Herzog double bill. I'd wanted to watch them both for many years and was ashamed to admit that my patience in waiting for a TV screening was almost at an end! I'd even lined both the DVDs up only last week and was on the verge of buying them. I could hardly believe it when I looked in the Radio Times and both films were on the excellent BBC4! I taped Fitzcarraldo and watched them both in chronological order and was so impressed by both that I'm going to buy the DVDs anyway! I thought both were beautifully shot and acted and will stay with me for many years. I still feel the 'atmosphere' of them both now, a few days on from watching them.
What was your opinion of them?
I think Fitzcarraldo is one of Kinski's more diverse performances, playing an almost obsessive but sane man instead of the crazed lunatics he was best known for playing - the shot of the boat being pulled up the mountain, and the final scene are both some of the best images I have ever seen in any film.
On the other hand, Aguirre: Wrath of God was probably the defining moment of Kinski's career, alongside Fitzcarraldo and The Great Silence (A downbeat movie by Sergio Corbucci - I suggest you check it out). His performance alone is convincing and electrifying - especially in the final scene, where he is all alone.
[deleted]
markbc-2, you just brought the film 'Codename Wildgeese' to mind - one I watched as a kid many times! The less said the better!
I agree with you about BBC2. The upside is that BBC4 is better now than BBC2 was even in it's prime. It's the first station I look to for quality programmes and films.
[deleted]
I agree - Aguirre was a role made exclusively for Kinski and he didn't disappoint, as with Fitzcarraldo. I wonder how much of these performances were down to Herzog though, especially after reading the methods that Herzog used to get what he wanted out of him!
I haven't seen The Great Silence, but I've just had a look at it's IMDB page and I've added it to my 'To Watch' list. I like a lot of Trintignant's work too, so I'd really like to see that one. Thanks for the recommendation. To repay it, if you haven't had the pleasure of watching a Jean-Pierre Melville film yet, then do yourself a favour!
I'll watch the first Jean-Pierre Melville film I clap my eyes on :)
share