LesSmarberry
@lessmarberry.bsky.social
Random movie reckons. Mostly genre pictures, Gialli, French and Italian crime movies, horror from '30s-'60s
Known in the business as the Whispering Giant, but my eyes are quite hard
Known in the business as the Whispering Giant, but my eyes are quite hard
Pinned
LesSmarberry
@lessmarberry.bsky.social
· Apr 15
Going to make this an ongoing thread on old TV movies, a form which I think is ripe for resurrection in the age of streaming
Starting off with 2 favorites, Murder Once Removed(1971) & Murder By Natural Causes(1979)
Both twisty thrillers featuring rich husbands, adulterous wives, & murderous lovers
Starting off with 2 favorites, Murder Once Removed(1971) & Murder By Natural Causes(1979)
Both twisty thrillers featuring rich husbands, adulterous wives, & murderous lovers
Caligula: The Ultimate Cut (2023) A reconstruction of notorious porn epic Caligula, removing the hardcore sex spliced in by producer Bob Guccione without the knowledge of director Tinto Brass.
With no input from Brass, the project tries to get as close as possible to Gore Vidal's original script
With no input from Brass, the project tries to get as close as possible to Gore Vidal's original script
November 25, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Caligula: The Ultimate Cut (2023) A reconstruction of notorious porn epic Caligula, removing the hardcore sex spliced in by producer Bob Guccione without the knowledge of director Tinto Brass.
With no input from Brass, the project tries to get as close as possible to Gore Vidal's original script
With no input from Brass, the project tries to get as close as possible to Gore Vidal's original script
A multi-part adaptation of the Anno Dracula series by Kim Newman, in its entirety, with full practical effects & sets the size of a medium-sized urban center
If you were a despotic president, what movie would you force Hollywood to make? I want to see Quentin's Star Trek movie or maybe Kill Bill Vol 3.
November 25, 2025 at 9:54 PM
A multi-part adaptation of the Anno Dracula series by Kim Newman, in its entirety, with full practical effects & sets the size of a medium-sized urban center
Reposted by LesSmarberry
First watch: Soylent Green (1973, dir. Richard Fleischer). Dystopian sci-fi that should probably be congratulated for putting global warming on the Hollywood big screen, after breakthroughs in climate science of the 1960s. 1/3
November 25, 2025 at 7:24 AM
First watch: Soylent Green (1973, dir. Richard Fleischer). Dystopian sci-fi that should probably be congratulated for putting global warming on the Hollywood big screen, after breakthroughs in climate science of the 1960s. 1/3
The title cards for the restoration of Caligula are quite the journey aren't they?
Yes I am immediately following up Excalibur with Caligula
Very normal Monday evening
Yes I am immediately following up Excalibur with Caligula
Very normal Monday evening
November 24, 2025 at 11:43 PM
The title cards for the restoration of Caligula are quite the journey aren't they?
Yes I am immediately following up Excalibur with Caligula
Very normal Monday evening
Yes I am immediately following up Excalibur with Caligula
Very normal Monday evening
Reposted by LesSmarberry
This is John Boorman's brain.
This is TH White.
This is John Boorman's brain on TH White.
Partnership for a Drug-Free America.
This is TH White.
This is John Boorman's brain on TH White.
Partnership for a Drug-Free America.
November 24, 2025 at 11:16 PM
This is John Boorman's brain.
This is TH White.
This is John Boorman's brain on TH White.
Partnership for a Drug-Free America.
This is TH White.
This is John Boorman's brain on TH White.
Partnership for a Drug-Free America.
Have we considered the possibility that Boorman was playing the long game & made Zardoz with the sole intention of Excalibur then seeming less bonkers in comparison?
I love you John Boorman's Excalibur but why are you like this?
November 24, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Have we considered the possibility that Boorman was playing the long game & made Zardoz with the sole intention of Excalibur then seeming less bonkers in comparison?
I love you John Boorman's Excalibur but why are you like this?
November 24, 2025 at 10:19 PM
I love you John Boorman's Excalibur but why are you like this?
Reposted by LesSmarberry
Guilty Bystander (1950) is a Criterion Blackout Noir, and you do wonder how much of it Zachary Scott will remember when it’s all over. He’s after his missing son, but still on a right old bender, stoically declining drinks here, greedily chugging them there, fumes coming off him through the screen
November 24, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Guilty Bystander (1950) is a Criterion Blackout Noir, and you do wonder how much of it Zachary Scott will remember when it’s all over. He’s after his missing son, but still on a right old bender, stoically declining drinks here, greedily chugging them there, fumes coming off him through the screen
Both of us, I am sure, have experienced ad nauseam the technical satisfactions of this wretched war. But now your own side is going to shoot you. Don't you think it's time to recognise that there is as little worth on your side as there is on mine, Charlie Brown?
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.
all those moments will be lost in time. like tears in rain.
time to die, Charlie Brown
all those moments will be lost in time. like tears in rain.
time to die, Charlie Brown
I’m not the guy you kill, Charlie Brown. I’m the guy you buy!
November 24, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Both of us, I am sure, have experienced ad nauseam the technical satisfactions of this wretched war. But now your own side is going to shoot you. Don't you think it's time to recognise that there is as little worth on your side as there is on mine, Charlie Brown?
Bad Day At Black Rock (1955) A train stops in a podunk town & a stranger steps off. They don't care too much for strangers round there
Spencer Tracy is the one-armed man who, almost despite himself, is going to get to the bottom of things, assuming that he doesn't get killed in the process
1/11
Spencer Tracy is the one-armed man who, almost despite himself, is going to get to the bottom of things, assuming that he doesn't get killed in the process
1/11
November 24, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Bad Day At Black Rock (1955) A train stops in a podunk town & a stranger steps off. They don't care too much for strangers round there
Spencer Tracy is the one-armed man who, almost despite himself, is going to get to the bottom of things, assuming that he doesn't get killed in the process
1/11
Spencer Tracy is the one-armed man who, almost despite himself, is going to get to the bottom of things, assuming that he doesn't get killed in the process
1/11
Frankenstein (2025) viewing number 2, galvanic boogaloo
November 23, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Frankenstein (2025) viewing number 2, galvanic boogaloo
Reposted by LesSmarberry
"... but where does imagination end and reality begin? What is this twilight, this half-world of the mind that you profess to know so much about? How can we differentiate between the powers of darkness & the powers of the mind..?"
My Letterboxd review - boxd.it/bvF4jb
My Letterboxd review - boxd.it/bvF4jb
November 23, 2025 at 7:52 PM
"... but where does imagination end and reality begin? What is this twilight, this half-world of the mind that you profess to know so much about? How can we differentiate between the powers of darkness & the powers of the mind..?"
My Letterboxd review - boxd.it/bvF4jb
My Letterboxd review - boxd.it/bvF4jb
I was always destined to be a bureaucrat
Exhibit A:
For me, the iconic moment in Scanners is the ConSec board meeting & not the head exploding
Exhibit A:
For me, the iconic moment in Scanners is the ConSec board meeting & not the head exploding
November 23, 2025 at 12:33 PM
I was always destined to be a bureaucrat
Exhibit A:
For me, the iconic moment in Scanners is the ConSec board meeting & not the head exploding
Exhibit A:
For me, the iconic moment in Scanners is the ConSec board meeting & not the head exploding
Reposted by LesSmarberry
a few brief thoughts on Kelly Reichardt's Wendy and Lucy, which I enjoyed very much last weekend
letterboxd.com/jamesewand/f...
letterboxd.com/jamesewand/f...
A ★★★★ review of Wendy and Lucy (2008)
Kelly Reichardt is rightfully considered one of the best working American directors, and yet I still have a few major gaps. Wendy and Lucy is a sad, lyrical film about living on the margins, shot and ...
letterboxd.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:56 AM
a few brief thoughts on Kelly Reichardt's Wendy and Lucy, which I enjoyed very much last weekend
letterboxd.com/jamesewand/f...
letterboxd.com/jamesewand/f...
52 Pick-Up (1986) John Frankenheimer adapts Elmore Leonard on a Cannon Films budget
Roy Scheider's life goes sideways when he's caught in a honey trap & blackmailed by 3 small-time scumbags
If Spencer Tracy & Henri-Georges Clouzot made a sleazy 80s exploration flic, this would be that movie
1/7
Roy Scheider's life goes sideways when he's caught in a honey trap & blackmailed by 3 small-time scumbags
If Spencer Tracy & Henri-Georges Clouzot made a sleazy 80s exploration flic, this would be that movie
1/7
November 21, 2025 at 9:52 PM
52 Pick-Up (1986) John Frankenheimer adapts Elmore Leonard on a Cannon Films budget
Roy Scheider's life goes sideways when he's caught in a honey trap & blackmailed by 3 small-time scumbags
If Spencer Tracy & Henri-Georges Clouzot made a sleazy 80s exploration flic, this would be that movie
1/7
Roy Scheider's life goes sideways when he's caught in a honey trap & blackmailed by 3 small-time scumbags
If Spencer Tracy & Henri-Georges Clouzot made a sleazy 80s exploration flic, this would be that movie
1/7
Reposted by LesSmarberry
MY TOP 100 ITALIAN HORROR & GIALLO MOVIES
A completely unnecessary megathread of my favorite Italian giallo, gothic, supernatural, zombie, splatter, and psychological horror movies. Counting down from 100 to 1.
A completely unnecessary megathread of my favorite Italian giallo, gothic, supernatural, zombie, splatter, and psychological horror movies. Counting down from 100 to 1.
November 11, 2025 at 5:39 PM
MY TOP 100 ITALIAN HORROR & GIALLO MOVIES
A completely unnecessary megathread of my favorite Italian giallo, gothic, supernatural, zombie, splatter, and psychological horror movies. Counting down from 100 to 1.
A completely unnecessary megathread of my favorite Italian giallo, gothic, supernatural, zombie, splatter, and psychological horror movies. Counting down from 100 to 1.
Up to the 1960s the Swiss watch industry held an open competition to certify the most accurate watch movements, which were often custom built for the competition
In 1967 Seiko entered the competition, with regular production movements, & dominated
The Swiss cancelled the next year's competition
In 1967 Seiko entered the competition, with regular production movements, & dominated
The Swiss cancelled the next year's competition
Man, everything is so bleak, anyone got a fun fact or little bit of trivia they want to share
November 21, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Up to the 1960s the Swiss watch industry held an open competition to certify the most accurate watch movements, which were often custom built for the competition
In 1967 Seiko entered the competition, with regular production movements, & dominated
The Swiss cancelled the next year's competition
In 1967 Seiko entered the competition, with regular production movements, & dominated
The Swiss cancelled the next year's competition
Almost 40 years later & I still haven't forgiven my Dad for letting me think this was about football when he rented it
My ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review of PELLE THE CONQUEROR boxd.it/bMcUV7
Is Max von Sydow great? Of course.
But young Pelle Hvenegaard centers this bittersweet coming-of-age story...realizing his dad is just as fucked up as everyone else.
Bigotry, affairs, & death paint brutal pictures, but hope endures.
#filmsky 📽
Is Max von Sydow great? Of course.
But young Pelle Hvenegaard centers this bittersweet coming-of-age story...realizing his dad is just as fucked up as everyone else.
Bigotry, affairs, & death paint brutal pictures, but hope endures.
#filmsky 📽
November 20, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Almost 40 years later & I still haven't forgiven my Dad for letting me think this was about football when he rented it
Need to seem less approachable in public
Yesterday, while in line for the check-out a nice lady explained to me that electricity is the spirits of the dead trapped in pylons
And today, guy asked the time &, when I told him it was 2 o'clock, responded 'That's not good, I've been drunk since Monday'
Yesterday, while in line for the check-out a nice lady explained to me that electricity is the spirits of the dead trapped in pylons
And today, guy asked the time &, when I told him it was 2 o'clock, responded 'That's not good, I've been drunk since Monday'
November 20, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Need to seem less approachable in public
Yesterday, while in line for the check-out a nice lady explained to me that electricity is the spirits of the dead trapped in pylons
And today, guy asked the time &, when I told him it was 2 o'clock, responded 'That's not good, I've been drunk since Monday'
Yesterday, while in line for the check-out a nice lady explained to me that electricity is the spirits of the dead trapped in pylons
And today, guy asked the time &, when I told him it was 2 o'clock, responded 'That's not good, I've been drunk since Monday'
Irish trains not being able to run on European railroad tracks: problematic gauge gap
When you only have parsley, rosemary, and thyme: problematic sage gap
Melies film but there aren’t enough showgirls to play trouser roles as young servant boys in shorts: problematic page gap
November 20, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Irish trains not being able to run on European railroad tracks: problematic gauge gap
Reposted by LesSmarberry
“Three miles out of town and six feet down. All alone. With nobody to lie to.”
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950). Michael Atkinson called Barbara Payton childlike, yet “the most chillingly dangerous of noir actresses.” You can see what he means. She’s fragile as glass until she isn’t. Then she’s lethal
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950). Michael Atkinson called Barbara Payton childlike, yet “the most chillingly dangerous of noir actresses.” You can see what he means. She’s fragile as glass until she isn’t. Then she’s lethal
November 20, 2025 at 8:02 AM
“Three miles out of town and six feet down. All alone. With nobody to lie to.”
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950). Michael Atkinson called Barbara Payton childlike, yet “the most chillingly dangerous of noir actresses.” You can see what he means. She’s fragile as glass until she isn’t. Then she’s lethal
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950). Michael Atkinson called Barbara Payton childlike, yet “the most chillingly dangerous of noir actresses.” You can see what he means. She’s fragile as glass until she isn’t. Then she’s lethal
John Travolta's co-star is consistently absent from the set of Face/Off: problematic Cage gap
Melies film but there aren’t enough showgirls to play trouser roles as young servant boys in shorts: problematic page gap
Friend can't make it to the D and D session this week, and you really need those spells: problematic mage gap
November 19, 2025 at 11:47 PM
John Travolta's co-star is consistently absent from the set of Face/Off: problematic Cage gap
The Ruling Class (1972) Adaptation of a satirical stage play sees Peter O'Toole inherit a lordship despite the minor inconvenience of being severely schizophrenic
I'll say this, not every film features one of Dad's Army help bluff Army type Harry Andrews with a spot of autoerotic asphyxiation 1/6
I'll say this, not every film features one of Dad's Army help bluff Army type Harry Andrews with a spot of autoerotic asphyxiation 1/6
November 19, 2025 at 7:02 PM
The Ruling Class (1972) Adaptation of a satirical stage play sees Peter O'Toole inherit a lordship despite the minor inconvenience of being severely schizophrenic
I'll say this, not every film features one of Dad's Army help bluff Army type Harry Andrews with a spot of autoerotic asphyxiation 1/6
I'll say this, not every film features one of Dad's Army help bluff Army type Harry Andrews with a spot of autoerotic asphyxiation 1/6
Having never heard the phrase "The rabbit died" before, I've now seen 2 movies in 2 weeks that reference the Friedman pregnancy test, which required dissecting a rabbit to obtain a result
Apparently this was common enough in the early 20th.C to spawn the phrase
Truly the past is another country
Apparently this was common enough in the early 20th.C to spawn the phrase
Truly the past is another country
November 19, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Having never heard the phrase "The rabbit died" before, I've now seen 2 movies in 2 weeks that reference the Friedman pregnancy test, which required dissecting a rabbit to obtain a result
Apparently this was common enough in the early 20th.C to spawn the phrase
Truly the past is another country
Apparently this was common enough in the early 20th.C to spawn the phrase
Truly the past is another country
"I try to live a life defined by grace & not by rancour", I say as I drive the blade in again & twist it so the wound won't heal
American journalism is really something
American journalism is really something
November 18, 2025 at 2:06 PM
"I try to live a life defined by grace & not by rancour", I say as I drive the blade in again & twist it so the wound won't heal
American journalism is really something
American journalism is really something