Filmbrain's Screen Capture Quiz: Round 11, Week 11

Not a lot of love for the sailor man, judging by the (mostly) negative comments from the select few who were able to recognize Olive Oyl's girlfriends from Robert Altman's let's-go-to-Malta-and-make-a-movie adventure that was Popeye. A shame, for even with its flaws this circus of a film finds Altman at his insane best. Easily the director's most excessive work, the film's production problems (and off-set antics) are somewhat legendary. There was the nearly yearlong construction project to build the town of Sweet Haven (which included lumber shipped from Holland, and shingles from Canada), the intentional sinking of seaworthy vessels and construction of a breakwater to prevent flooding, and of course the rumored fistfights between Altman and producer Robert Evans. Then there are the reports of helicopters making regular deliveries of cocaine to the set (Evans was arrested for drug trafficking during the shoot) which served to make the film that much better. The songs by Harry Nilsson are wonderful, especially Olive's ballad He Needs Me, which Paul Thomas Anderson brilliantly co-opts in Punch Drunk Love. My message to Popeye haters -- give it another go, it's a real gem. Well, at the very least it's better than Quintet! With only two weeks to go, I'll toss out an easy one to make up for the past two, which seemed to stymie many of you. What can you say about this film? It's astounding. Name it. Submit your answers to this address. Good luck!

Comments

[filmbo]

QUINTET really shouldn't get the bad wrap that it does. Really, it's one of my favorite of Altman's, up there with THE LONG GOODBYE.

O.C. & STIGGS is the real stinker.

[Noel Vera]

Big fan of Popeye, myself.