MovieChat Forums > Gangster Story Discussion > I cannot believe....

I cannot believe....

posted 13 years ago by atthev
9 replies | jump to latest

That Turner Classic Movies (TCM) actually aired this "movie" (for want of a better description). Worst movie I have ever seen. Even the music was horrible. Thank god he never, ever directed again!

[–] vpilutis 13 years ago

We only saw it since we were big Walter fans, what a mess
See some stars here
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[–] wendysamuelson 12 years ago

utter rubbish film!..from start to finish it gave me the impression that walter was trying to act the part when his real vocation is as a comic actor or one with pathos. hard guy??never. ridiculously structured and awful photography. it felt like it was filmed on a hand held movie camera. thank goodness it was his only attempt at directing!!....I cannot believe that it was ever considered suitable for release on the public!...

[–] vpilutis 12 years ago

I cannot believe that it was ever considered suitable for release on the public!...

I fear I can say the same for a lot of the junk that comes out these days.

See some stars here
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[–] srklondie 11 years ago

" when his real vocation is as a comic actor "

You obviously haven't seen much of his work. I suggest you check out A Face in the Crowd, Lonely Are the Brave, Charade, Fail-Safe, Mirage, Charley Varrick, The Laughing Policeman and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three before you suggest that Matthau was a one trick pony.

[–] mlmerit 11 years ago

Oh yes it was tough to watch....Compared to anything else Matthau was in it was at the very best "low buget"...

Of course it was Low Budget...$75,000 and a 5 man crew, shot in the homes of the crewmembers...Matthau was said to rewrite the script every day because it was worse than we saw...It certainly did look like it was shot with someone's 8mm handheld....

Bet it made money...

[–] srklondie 11 years ago

Are you replying to the correct poster?

[–] davidwile 11 years ago

Hey Srklondie,

I agree with you completely about Matthau's talent being quite diverse. Every one of the films you mentioned is a fine example of his talents, and there are far more. Odd as it may seem, I may be the only one who did not care all that much for the "Odd Couple" film. Sure, he was good, but the film was just not to my liking. I also did not like the TV series either, but I sure did like Matthau.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

[–] srklondie 9 years ago

" Worst movie I have ever seen " Have you ever seen ' Raiders From Beneath the Sea ' ( 1964 )? Fox Movie Channel plays it several times each year. Compared to RFBTS, Gangster Story is Citizen Kane.

[–] kino66 9 years ago

This is a film for Matthau fans. Probably Matthau's worse film (which he admits), but I enjoyed it because it is such an oddity.
The female lead was his wife, Carol, who was not a good actress, but lead an interesting life. She was a long time friend of Truman Capote & Capote wrote about Carol (& Walter) in his short story “La Côte Basque 1965”:
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2012/12/truman-capote-answered-prayers

Some of the dialogue sounded ad libbed; apparently the script was awful.
Additionally, the film's media itself was also odd, as if this movie was shot on kinescope or 16 mm? Strange.