55 Days at Peking (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter lancer
- Start date
PJDeluhery
Corporal
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2009
- Messages
- 586
Great movie! I have the DVD. Time to re-shuffle my Trophy Boxer Rebellion Display! 
theBaron
Major
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2008
- Messages
- 10,338
Yes, great movie!
I first saw it when I was in junior high, the administration showed us movies at an assembly, as a reward for doing something like having a good fund drive, or other activities that involved the whole school.
That's where I first saw "El Cid", too. I think our principal was a Charlton Heston fan...
Prost!
Brad
I first saw it when I was in junior high, the administration showed us movies at an assembly, as a reward for doing something like having a good fund drive, or other activities that involved the whole school.
That's where I first saw "El Cid", too. I think our principal was a Charlton Heston fan...
Prost!
Brad
Good catch. At least it was just a brief cameo.A classic indeed, one can even forgive the use of Browning M-1917 rather than 1895 machine guns.
-- Al
Spitfrnd
Banned
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2008
- Messages
- 6,923
The US version is not very good. As the third of Samuel Bronston's great epics, it was originally scheduled for restoration and new release as a Miriam Collection version, like El Cid and Fall of the Roman Empire. Unfortuately the sales were poor for both of these (I bought them
) so the rest were cancelled. I understand there is a much improved anamophic widescreen version as an Asian release that is region free. You can read about it here.
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReviews15/55_days_at_peking_dvd_review.htm
marco55
Brigadier General
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2008
- Messages
- 11,409
I bought El Cid too.I'll be honest I like the old movies but I just don't think they can compare with today's movies.I don't think the actors of today are better but I think there is no arguement that movie technology has jumped leap and bounds.The scripts might not be better but are more realistic.I know I'm gonna get jumped on this but this is just my opinion.
Mark
Mark
4th Hussar
Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2007
- Messages
- 1,464
I have this on VHS and have not seen in years. Guess I have to dust off the old VHS player an d hook it up to the big screen. Better use of time than painting bathroom
Spitfrnd
Banned
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2008
- Messages
- 6,923
That's OK Mark; I assume you weren't thinking of Transporters though?
There was just something about the passion and pagentry of the older classics like El Cid and The Adventures of Robin Hood and 55 Days that just sucked you into the moment. That doesn't happen as often for me with most modern movies as much as I try to let it happen. Forbidden Kingdom, not on the same scale as the Bronston classics, did that recently. Of course Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven did it too so all is not lost perhaps.
The Military Workshop
1st Lieutenant
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2005
- Messages
- 4,778
"Chuck Heston and a cast of thousands"
Correction : David Niven and a cast of thousands.
Correction : David Niven and a cast of thousands.
LOL, my mistake."Chuck Heston and a cast of thousands"
Correction : David Niven and a cast of thousands.
-- Al
The Military Workshop
1st Lieutenant
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2005
- Messages
- 4,778
Al,
That is why we won at Peking but lost at Khartoum. It is all in the casting
Regards
Brett
That is why we won at Peking but lost at Khartoum. It is all in the casting
Regards
Brett
Hi Brett. I hadn't really considered casting in regards to winning or losing but I think in the case of Heston, you are correct. He does have a rather long history of dying and suffering in his films. Being on his side could be brutal. Nobody did the agony of life like Chuck. -- AlAl,
That is why we won at Peking but lost at Khartoum. It is all in the casting
Regards
Brett
The Military Workshop
1st Lieutenant
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2005
- Messages
- 4,778
Forgive me guys but I am on to something here
Another reason why Niven won at Peking and Heston lost at Khartoum is that Niven graduated as an officer from Sandhurst in 1930. He rejoined in WWII and ended up a LTCOL.
Now Heston on the other hand was an Air Force Staff Sergeant serving in the Aleutian Islands. How could he possibly have won at Khartoum ?
To make my point Niven got his Oscar for best actor the year before Heston.
Just kidding guys I am also a fan of Heston.
I think the first autobiography I ever read was Niven's The Moon's A Balloon.
Wikipedia is a wonderful thing and has some funny stories about Niven's military service.
Both died of similar causes.
Regards
Brett
Another reason why Niven won at Peking and Heston lost at Khartoum is that Niven graduated as an officer from Sandhurst in 1930. He rejoined in WWII and ended up a LTCOL.
Now Heston on the other hand was an Air Force Staff Sergeant serving in the Aleutian Islands. How could he possibly have won at Khartoum ?
To make my point Niven got his Oscar for best actor the year before Heston.
Just kidding guys I am also a fan of Heston.
I think the first autobiography I ever read was Niven's The Moon's A Balloon.
Wikipedia is a wonderful thing and has some funny stories about Niven's military service.
Both died of similar causes.
Regards
Brett
marco55
Brigadier General
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2008
- Messages
- 11,409
That's OK Mark; I assume you weren't thinking of Transporters though?
I don't think today's movies has the granduer of the old ones and the actors aren't as unique as the actors of old.All you had to do was hear a voice and you knew who it was.Yes I know I'm back tracking a little bit here but what I do like about today's movies is they try to be more accurate in details, the characters are more realistic as real people and the technology is great,if it is not overblown and doesn't take priority over the characters.I loved Gladitor and the ending of Kingdom of Heaven and also Master and Commander.Troy was ok but I didn't like Alexander.I also don't think you have the actors of yesteryear like,Heston,Flynn,The Duke,Kirk Douglas,Cagney,Bogart to name a few.
Mark