World Cup, Season 2, Match Final: Italy vs USA

[weirdboy]

1. Lonesome
2. Una giornata particolare

[Mario Gaborović]

At the beginning of the film, Sophia says something like "I, the mother, has to make everything clean, then cook for all, and only then I can have some sleep myself".

Well had you taught your brats to make bed themselves and not make pigsty out of dining table, you'd have one duty less.

Good film nevertheless. I also like the film's pigment, kinda like Hitlerjugend hotpants.

[jdidaco]

Which city is that?

São Paulo, that is. The city loves the Italians (and Scola and Monicelli in particular, whose films were all immense successes here).

[Angel Glez]

Two very good films indeed; great final:

1. Lonesome
2. Una giornata particolare

My enthusiastic reaction when I watched 'Lonesome' five years ago at a Silent Film Festival: "I saw Fejös exceptionally beautiful and poignant film ‘Lonesome’ on a pristine 35mm print from the George Eastman House. I was riveted by the juxtapositions of the first images, the actors' interplay (especially Glenn Tryon's body language), and, for me at least, the wonderfully surprising and touching final shot. Another aspect I quiet liked (although I may be alone in this) were the few talking scenes which I found rather charming in their primitive awkwardness, especially the first one on the beach, it reminded me of the same simplicity of Rohmer's "beach/summer films"." I love Scola's too, having the opportunity to watch it a couple of times during theatrical revivals (it’s a perennial favorite in this city, like many Scolas are), featuring remarkable “against-type” performances from the two stars.

JD, have you seen "Broadway"? I've seen the talky version and didn't like it, just to find out that the silent version was the right one (according to Lourcelles).

[BijitaQ]

1. Lonesome (1928)
2. Una giornata particolare [A Special Day] (1977)

[joachimt]

Una giornata particolare - Lonesome: 16 - 12

[jdidaco]

JD, have you seen "Broadway"? I've seen the talky version and didn't like it, just to find out that the silent version was the right one (according to Lourcelles).

Angel!!! Oooooh, not even that jaw-dropping opening sequence/montage with "the beast of the city" stepping over Broadway? I've seen the same version as you (talky, with the two-strip Technicolor finale restored), and I enjoyed it very much, particularly those vertiginous crane shots and the sweeping camera movements over that impressive, gigantic set where the musical numbers are staged. There's a Hungarian silent version circulating, would love to take a look at it (apparently the musical numbers were excised in that version!).

[sortile9io]

Una giornata particolare - Lonesome: 16 - 12

Last year's final result was 17-18. With one week of voting still ahead, I guess we're having more than 35 votes so... anything can happen!

[Mario Gaborović]

1. Una giornata particolare 6.5/10
2. Lonesome 5/10

Una giornata particolare - Lonesome: 17 - 12

A bit less than 8 days left.

[Angel Glez]

JD, have you seen "Broadway"? I've seen the talky version and didn't like it, just to find out that the silent version was the right one (according to Lourcelles).

Angel!!! Oooooh, not even that jaw-dropping opening sequence/montage with "the beast of the city" stepping over Broadway? I've seen the same version as you (talky, with the two-strip Technicolor finale restored), and I enjoyed it very much, particularly those vertiginous crane shots and the sweeping camera movements over that impressive, gigantic set where the musical numbers are staged. There's a Hungarian silent version circulating, would love to take a look at it (apparently the musical numbers were excised in that version!).

Of course it's technically superior, but too vaudevillesque for my refined taste.

[Nathan Treadway]

A Special Day
Lonesome

[Cynical Cinephile]

1. Lonesome
2. A Special Day

[perceval]

1. Lonesome
2. Una giornata particolare

[Hunziker]

Great pair.

1. Una giornata particolare - 8.5/10
2. Lonesome - 7.5/10

[sortile9io]

1. Una giornata particolare — 7/10
2. Lonesome — 7/10

I liked very much the dynamic and refined style of Lonesome, with all those genuine silent close-ups and shots of crowds playing and running around Coney Island. Also appreciated that, in spite of the bitterness and gloom that the title seemed to anticipate, it turned out to have a rather joyful spirit. The talking segments seem to be completely out of place but fortunately, they are brief. I would have preferred a less thin and commonplace story though.

[Mario Gaborović]

Una giornata particolare - Lonesome: 20 - 14

Four days left to raise the trophy.

[Angel Glez]

1. Lonesome
2. A Special Day

Just one of the greatest films ever.

[Fergenaprido]

This was a great round, definitely worthy of the final.

Italy - This took a bit of warming up to, and I wasn't too big of a fan of the colour scheme at first, but by the end I really liked it. Loren and Mastroianni look amazing for their ages, but I disagree with whoever said they were too glamorous for their roles. I kind of tuned out during the radio parts, but the scenes with the two leads were captivating. A rare world cup film I would actually rewatch.

USA - The silent part of the movie irritated me at first because of the (necessary) overacting; it's almost like they thought "hey, with sound it's so much easier, maybe the audience won't understand us anymore if there's no sound, so let's make everything bigger!" That aside, the silent part was better than the talkie part, but it still manages to all fit together somehow. I also liked how the silent part had a more cohesive soundtrack than most silents who just had a piano score. It was also nice to get a glimpse of life in the late '20s before the crash; but did people really get that excited over ticker tape parades, going to the beach, and amusement parks? Mind you, kind of reminds me how excited the folks on stage at the DNC looked when balloons fell from the ceiling.

1. Una giornata particolare - 7.8
2. Lonesome - 7.6

[sortile9io]

I knew you would like it and I'm glad that you did. Still missing votes from Armoreska, monty and PeacefulAnarchy. Anyone else?

[joachimt]

I knew you would like it and I'm glad that you did. Still missing votes from Armoreska, monty and PeacefulAnarchy. Anyone else?

Members with at least 67% participation who haven't voted yet in this match:

Armoreska
Ettinauer226XL
tommy_leazaq
Carmel98
monty
Mochard
PeacefulAnarchy

[bjornam]

1. Lonesome
2. A Special Day

[joachimt]

Una giornata particolare - Lonesome: 21 - 16

[sortile9io]

I knew you would like it and I'm glad that you did. Still missing votes from Armoreska, monty and PeacefulAnarchy. Anyone else?

Members with at least 67% participation who haven't voted yet in this match:

Armoreska
Ettinauer226XL
tommy_leazaq
Carmel98
monty
Mochard
PeacefulAnarchy

Carmel1379 = Carmel98? Because the former already voted.

[joachimt]

I knew you would like it and I'm glad that you did. Still missing votes from Armoreska, monty and PeacefulAnarchy. Anyone else?

Members with at least 67% participation who haven't voted yet in this match:

Armoreska
Ettinauer226XL
tommy_leazaq
Carmel98
monty
Mochard
PeacefulAnarchy

Carmel1379 = Carmel98? Because the former already voted.

Right. I did an Excel-comparison.

[Armoreska]

We've all conspired to vote for USA on the final day! Beware.

[Pretentious Hipster]

I knew you would like it and I'm glad that you did. Still missing votes from Armoreska, monty and PeacefulAnarchy. Anyone else?

Members with at least 67% participation who haven't voted yet in this match:

Armoreska
Ettinauer226XL
tommy_leazaq
Carmel98
monty
Mochard
PeacefulAnarchy

Sorry. I don't think I'll be able to. I'm sure you understand.

[Mochard]

I enjoyed both but the Italian entry edges it for me.

Una giornata particolare - 7/10
Lonesome - 7/10

[PeacefulAnarchy]

Same, but the opposite:
Lonesome - 9/10
Una giornata particolare - 8/10

[joachimt]

I knew you would like it and I'm glad that you did. Still missing votes from Armoreska, monty and PeacefulAnarchy. Anyone else?

Members with at least 67% participation who haven't voted yet in this match:

Armoreska
Ettinauer226XL
tommy_leazaq
Carmel98
monty
Mochard
PeacefulAnarchy

Sorry. I don't think I'll be able to. I'm sure you understand.

Of course, take care.

[Armoreska]

Una Giornata Particolare 8(.5)/10
Lonesome 8/10

[Mario Gaborović]

Una giornata particolare - Lonesome: 23 - 17

18 hours left.

[tommy_leazaq]

1. A Special Day - Hmm. Sophia Loren, a mother of six children and Marcello Mastroianni. Surely I have seen this combination before. Anyway, this is really nice drama, touching interesting themes and gives some historic perspectives. Sepia tone was slightly irritating. Also, I've been wondering what are some of great pre-1938 American movies where they shoot Indians with bows and arrows.

2. Lonesome - More than story and acting, its the technical department that scores here. Some of the editing and visual effects were stunning. The "search" felt too long even in a 70 min film.

[monty]

This was a close race:

1. Lonesome
2. A Special Day

[sortile9io]

Also, I've been wondering what are some of great pre-1938 American movies where they shoot Indians with bows and arrows.

What do you mean?

[Armoreska]

Also, I've been wondering what are some of great pre-1938 American movies where they shoot Indians with bows and arrows.

What do you mean?

The invaders decide having firearms is an unfair advantage and try to beat the indians in their game! ;)

[PeacefulAnarchy]

Also, I've been wondering what are some of great pre-1938 American movies where they shoot Indians with bows and arrows.

What do you mean?

It's a reference to a line in A Special Day where they brag about the Italian military, unlike the US who still uses bows and arrows.

[Hunziker]

Una giornata particolare FTW!

[monty]

Much can still happen - there are plenty of IMDb refugees who have yet to vote...

[pitn]

1. Una giornata particolare 8,5. Really loved the new Cultfilm edition
2. Lonesome 7,5

[sortile9io]

Last hour!