LynneK100

In the wake of Gene Hackman's death, we are seeking out Hackman movies that we have not seen before. As we are both cinephiles and big fans of GH's, we were only able to find a few that we've not see before. "All Night Long" is one that we acquired yesterday on Blu-Ray. We were not quite as surprised as some of you on this thread at how hilarious this movie is. We actually found some rave reviews from Paulene Kael (NYT), Time Magazine and NY Film Critics.

Hackman, much like the Great Miss Barbara Stanwyck, was one of the best dramatic actors of his generation but his talent as a comedic actor is exceptional. Like Stanwyck, he's simply REAL.

The Blu Ray contains Bonus material, including an interview with the screenwriter, W. D. Richter who provides great insight as to the pairing of Hackman and Streisand. Another actress was who played Cheryl was fired after a week at the behest of Hackman. He felt, according to Richter, that they had no chemistry. Streisand was eager to accept the role to work with Hackman. The Streisand that showed up was not the prima donna we often hear about, but rather a real pro who took a second lead to Gene Hackman. The film was well paced, the supporting cast superb -- Dennis Quaid, William Daniel, Kevin Dobson and Diane Lane all wonderful. Not to be overlooked, a great score with some very recognizable pieces.

We're glad we bought it -- we will watch it again and again.

I love movies about newspapers. If I had to pick one genre as my favorite, it would easily be newspaper stories. "His Girl Friday", "Deadline USA", "Spotlight", "Richard Jewell", "Absence of Malice", "All the President's Men", and "The Post" comprise my collection of newspaper films. I cherish them all. Up until "Spotlight", "All the President's Men" was my gold standard. I should note that I was a Watergate junkie, having read Woodward/ Bernstein's book when it was published, I arranged my work schedule so I could listen to the Senate hearings on the car radio my way home, then race into the house to switch over to TV. When the movie was released in 1976, I saw it twice in the theater. As soon as the DVD became available, I bought it - I have probably watched that DVD a couple of dozen times over the years. I loved that movie.

Until yesterday.

After streaming "Becoming Katharine Graham", a 2025 documentary, my opinion of ATPM has plummeted. Now, I am remorseful for ever having liked the film. How could I have missed the absence of the most important character in the story, the Washington Post publisher, Katharine Graham? In the documentary, Ms. Graham expresses how hurt she was to have been left out, but then again, she was well accustomed to being "invisible". Watching the documentary, you realize that Editor Ben Bradlee and Katharine Graham were constantly on the phone and meeting on a very frequent basis. Yet, she was not even portrayed in ATPM.

Then I thought about "The Post". I recalled a particular scene where Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks) tells his wife Tony (Sarah Paulson) what a risk he was taking to publish (the Pentagon Papers) and she forcefully reminds him that the one who had it ALL on the line was Katharine Graham. SHE ALONE would lose her paper which had been in the family for decades whereas Bradlee could hop over to another job the next day. I watched that scene very carefully last night and conclude that Director Spielberg and Screenwriters Liz Hannah and Josh Singer made a great contribution toward giving credit where credit was due. Too bad it comes too late for Katharine Graham to see it.

Upon revisiting "The Post" I have a greater appreciation for the production quality, the attention to detail, the well-told story, and the fantastic ensemble cast. For too many years this movie, in my estimation, has lived in the shadow of ATPM.

No more.

Charming romantic comedy starring one of the best comedic actresses of her time, the great Carole Lombard. I saw this film about 30 years ago on AMC. The introduction by host Bob Dorian described it as a Hitchcock film that is "rarer than a hen's tooth". I will never forget that. He was right. It is a unique Hitchcock film. But the standout performance in my opinion is that of Robert Montgomery. I have always considered him to be one of the most underrated actors of his time. Never has he been more hilarious than in his portrayal of Mr. Smith! Montgomery is the reason I have watched this film multiple times.