Filmbrain's Screen Capture Quiz: Round 15, Week 5

I've honestly never been able to decide exactly how I feel about Stanley Kramer as a director. Though I've only seen about half of his films (and only one of his post-1970 titles), it's been many years since I've revisited most of them. While I'm sure Inherit the Wind still stands up, I wonder if I'd have the patience for The Defiant Ones or The Pride and the Passion. One can hardly blame Kramer for trying something as ambitious as It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World during the era when epic comedies were en vogue, but his nearly three-hour star- and cameo-studded slapstick affair suffers from excessive bloat. Sure, it has its moments (such as Dick Shawn as the beach bum momma's boy, as seen in last week's quiz), but whereas I enjoyed watching this on the 4:30 movie (over five days) getting through it last week was quite an ordeal. However, judging by the emails received, it seems that quite a few of you have a soft spot for the larger-than-life comedy. I prepared this post (as well as the quizzes for the next two weeks) before leaving for Berlin, so if you're reading this, then Typepad has done its magic. Huzzah! This week: the ingénue as ingénue. The face may look familiar, but is the film? Name it? Submit your answers to this address. Good luck!

Comments

[Erin Donovan]

I watched "the Defiant Ones" again about a month ago and still loved it. And last week we reviewed "On the Beach" on a podcast I co-host (www.showmeyourtitles.com) and generally thought it got a bit clunky at times but the special effects held up surprisingly well.

Sorry for the self-promotion but seriously, I've got to jump on the Stanley Kramer references as they come around.

[cinetrix]

Hee! I can't wait for the treasurer's report.

[john]

The Saul Bass (-like?) opening credits for "Mad Mad" go on forever, stretching out each visual pun as if hoping to pull in every kid in the special ed class. An indication of things to come.

[jan]

where can I get the answers to the past screen capture quizes dag nabit!

[Filmbrain]

Jan --

You'll have to comb through the old quizzes to see the answers. Each quiz contains the answer to the previous week's quiz.

[Campaspe]

I wrote a bit about The Defiant Ones last year. That one and Inherit the Wind hold up the best, along with some bits of Judgment at Nuremberg. I never though Mad Mad etc. was very good.

Hope Berlin is being good to you. I am reading a history of UFA and it is making want to see the city for myself.

[mike]

while not directed by Kramer, you really ought to watch the movie The men from 1950.

An unknown classic.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042727/

[Filmbrain]

Campaspe -- Regarding The Defiant Ones, it's hard for me to think of that film and not think of Lenny Bruce's routine about the film, but perhaps I'll give it another go.

Mike -- thanks for the tip about The Men, I've not seen it.