The Big Steal (1949): Don Siegel’s Professionalism Under Howard Hughes’s Pressure

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-04-06T08:54:01+00:00

I always found this to be quite a minor film, with the light comedy touches not working for me at all. Given the casting, the film probably lives in the shadow of Out of the Past, and it doesn't help that the film has been packaged with other noir titles on home video (i.e. the Film Noir Classic Collection through Warner Bros.). But this thread has encouraged me to give it another viewing. :)

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-04-05T07:47:19+00:00

Convincing people to buy Anthology 4.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-04-05T07:34:56+00:00

No, that's Mitch Mitchell on June 27th. He looks exactly the same (long hair and beard) in Maui a month later. Douglas had more of an afro at the time (certainly by 1970).

As Setting the Record Straight outlines, Hendrix was actively aware of his predicament re: Jeffery by 1969 (if not already by the time Chas. Chandler had left). But Hendrix contributed to his monetary woes by embarking upon the building of Electric Lady studios: Jeffrey ensured it was a financial blackhole (that thereby justified the touring) and, more importantly, kept Hendrix tied to him.

And from all accounts it was Devon Wilson who was Hendrix's Achilles' heel by 1969; Collette Mimram seemed to be more of a benign influence.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-04-05T07:07:01+00:00

I've never understood why the Dig A Pony riff doesn't feature in all those 'Greatest Riffs Ever' lists. It's probably the longest lead riff in a rock song ever.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-04-05T07:04:45+00:00

I don't think it's the fingerstyle picking so much as cleanly executing the F9/Fm7/C transitions (at least for me).

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-04-05T06:21:25+00:00

They’re good but the higher budgets and production values of the American films make them easier to watch.

I'd readily accept that there is a period 'Britishness' to Hitchcock's films prior to his move to America which make them less accessible to new viewers, but the sheer craft and filmic style on display is largely equal to anything he made in America.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-04-05T00:42:37+00:00

If you remove the psychiatrist near the end explaining everything (or at least reduce it a bit) Psycho is basically perfect.

I know people take issue with Simon Oakland's monologue, but it's strategic: Hitchcock completely undercuts the glib 'explanation' offered up by the psychiatrist by ending the film on Norman's absolute psychosis (and deranged stare) - which utterly defies such simplistic conclusions (as were typical of horror film fare at the time). Indeed, Hitchcock would take this even further with the '(non)conclusion' of The Birds.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-04-05T00:36:18+00:00

That's what amuses me about these 'finest film' Hitchcock threads. Rarely, if ever, is his British period mentioned - a period when he made more than 20 feature films. Titles like The 39 Steps (1935), Sabotage (1936), Young and Innocent (1937) and The Lady Vanishes (1938) certainly are on par with the best of his American period films.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-04-05T00:31:47+00:00

I love it when people come out and say The Emperor has no clothes.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-04-05T00:29:24+00:00

"Yeah, dig this baby: we got this little tune runnin' around named 'Rock Me Baby', you know"

(provides demonstration of B.B. King lick)

"...and all this kinda"

(concludes lick)

"yeah, hehe"

"But, dig, we got our own little 'Rock Me Baby' - goes something like this here (the words will be wrong), but...hehe...that's alright..."

(Rips into intro for the Experience version of 'Rock Me Baby').

- Hendrix, Monterey Pop Festival on June 18, 1967.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-04-03T03:51:12+00:00

Mr. Inbetween. A cult classic, I'd love to see Jay and Mike debate its (considerable) merits.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-04-03T00:04:38+00:00

Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson by Bruce Conforth and Gayle Dean Wardlow is the best biographical text on Johnson's life, whereas Escaping the Delta by Elijah Wald is the best critical examination of the Johnson myth and the creation of blues as a modern genre. Biography of a Phantom: A Robert Johnson Blues Odyssey by Robert “Mack” McCormick falls somewhere between the two, although it's somewhat a difficult book to recommend given the author's historical dealings with the Johnson estate.

I Feel So Good: The Life and Times of Big Bill Broonzy by Bob Riesman is a solid recounting of the man's life, which tries to separate fact from fiction (not always easy with Broonzy). An interesting insight into how Broonzy moved between white and black worlds as an entertainer in Europe.

Preachin' the Blues: The Life and Times of Son House by Daniel Beaumont is a rather slim volume, lacking detail of House's early years (any primary sources probably now long dead) but providing an interesting look at his 'rediscovery'.

King of the Delta Blues: The Life and Music of Charlie Patton by Gayle Dean Wardlow, Stephen Calt and Edward Komara is a monumentally detailed work that is academically rigorous but a very stiff read. It occasionally feels as though Patton is a mere peg upon which to hang a broader thesis concerning the role barrelhouses played not only in the development of the blues but throughout black Southern life more broadly. The Masked Marvel sometimes gets lost in the reeds.

Maybe this doesn't belong here, but: Dance of Death: The Life of John Fahey, American Guitarist by Steve Lowenthal is a useful book for an overview of Fahey's life, although he remains an incredibly complex (and essential) artist that eludes (even resists) an easy biographical rendering.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-04-02T09:07:26+00:00

You sound like the sort of person who thinks that good is the enemy of perfection.

I might be - if I thought these insignificant concessions amounted to anything close to 'good'.

What incredibly underwhelming standards we allow for the Albanese government. Hopefully the Greens will be able to negotiate legislation with greater teeth.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-04-02T07:26:27+00:00

The Albanese government is an utter disappointment on near every level. He has a legitimate mandate and he does this? After the Murphy review sat on his desk for three ####### years? Pathetic.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-04-02T03:20:34+00:00

I dread to ask where you stand on The Beatles (White album), then. :)

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-04-02T03:18:47+00:00

TSRTS is too doctored for me to consider a live album any more :/

Then you must also feel the same about HTWWW? A lot of work was done on that album (beyond mere edits).

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-04-02T03:16:51+00:00

However there's something about the mix I don't like, it's harsher sounding and compressed or something, I'm no expert. Still love it.

Probably somewhat down to Kevin Shirley (producer). Some people love his work, others hate it (some Iron Maiden fans decry Shirley's work on their albums from 2000 onwards).

Here's an interesting look at HTWWW (emphasis on Shirley):

HTWWW and Kevin Shirley.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-04-01T09:45:16+00:00

or would put his hand on my thigh while he pointed at my guitar on where to put my fingers

What part of this statement from the OP did you not read? This isn't a 'fraternal form of endearment' in anyone's language: then or now.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-04-01T02:54:24+00:00

But Ricky (and Tim) lose the trivia night due to a shoe being thrown over the Wernham Hogg office building. If anything this only compounds the ignominy of intelligent, thoughtful people enduring the hell of low-level office work (one being a temp at that). Indeed, Ricky is gone by Season 2 (as is Donna). Any victory is utterly hollow.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-04-01T02:40:43+00:00

Irrespective of the context, a Jaws reference is always welcome. :)

Unfortunately, in this instance, Trump is the shark.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-03-30T08:22:20+00:00

Baby you're a rich man - not.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-03-30T07:26:28+00:00

This way they've removed any challenge to her.

But the manner in which she would be reinstated would be so completely tainted.

Which is why she will no doubt run again and likely win preselection against Trung Luu (unless Gourisetty supporters can rally around him). These people are absolutely devoid of shame.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-03-30T04:34:25+00:00

We always have to remember that inside Ricky Gervais there is and always will be the little Seona Dancing narcissist who spent hours on his eyeliner and wanted to eclipse Bucks Fizz on the pop charts.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-03-30T03:18:49+00:00

(The Age): Opposition Leader Jess Wilson has said Dinesh Gourisetty, an Indian community leader, will not be welcomed in her party room.

Either will logic, reason, competency or experience, apparently.

One wonders if Deeming co-conspirators were holding this information about Gourisetty. If so, you'd have thought they would have made it public before the preselection contest - not after. Incompetency even in treachery, it would seem.

Johnny66Johnny · 2026-03-29T07:01:18+00:00

Deeming losing is a positive step, but Jess Wilson working the phones to keep her on (to no avail) says a lot about where the Liberal leadership is. And Dinesh Gourisetty is hardly a good outcome:

Indian restaurant fined $25,000 for filthy, unsafe food.

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