For Your Halloween Enjoyment, The Wilhelm Scream

I'll let Wikipedia explain: The Wilhelm scream is a frequently-used film and television stock sound effect first used in 1951 for the film Distant Drums. The effect gained new popularity (its use often becoming an in-joke) after it was used in Star Wars and many other blockbuster films as well as television programs and video games. The scream is often used when someone is either pierced with an arrow or falls to his death from a great height, or because of an explosion.
The Wilhelm scream has become a well-known cinematic sound cliché, and is claimed to have been used in over 216 films and even certain video games.
The sound is named for Private Wilhelm, a character in The Charge at Feather River, a 1953 western in which the character is shot with an arrow. This was believed to be the second movie to use the sound effect and its first use from the Warner Brothers stock sound library.

You Know You're a Film Lover If....

You never tire of watching this.

I've Met and Fallen in Love With "Vivre sa vie"

I recently discovered a new film and fell head over heals in love with it. Jean-Luc Godard's Vivre sa vie (1962) starring Anna Karina. Where has it been all my life? I've been trying to write about it for the past few days but have been unable to find the words. It can be like that with strong emotions towards something new. For now i'll just provide this brief clip.

Coming Soon to Riku Writes...The Sixties!

Coming soon to this blog will be a post about how to feel the spirit of the Sixties through films, music and books of that era. Included will be a look at the Strawberry Statement (1970), a film that captures the zeitgeist of that remarkable era.

Featuring the music of Neil Young, the Beatles and more.

"You Wouldn't Have Had Much Fun in Stalingrad, Would You?"

Today I watched a horrid movie from Germany called Mein Fuhrer (2007). It was a weak attempt at satirizing Hitler and his regime ala The Great Dictator (1940). It's tricky business lampooning something as awful and as awfully deadly as the Third Reich. The above clip starring the great Monty Python Comedy Troupe shows how it can be done.

If Cartoon Characters Do "It" "It" Must be OK

I tell people about this and they think I'm making it up. Here's the proof. Straight from the unbelievable but true files.

It's Eminently Habitable

I've seen the A Serious Man twice now and can't wait for its DVD release. The above scene is just one small example of its brilliance. Nice to know they still make a great film every now and again. Two this year, counting this and Inglourious Basterds.

Cinema Magic From Fellini's Amarcord

One of the Best Christmas Cartoons Ever, If Not the Best -- Peace on Earth

A powerful message well told. Timely then and, sadly, still timely today.

Let's Imagine You Had a Really Weird Dream About Hitchcock's North by Northwest....

This was posted today on Jim Emerson's Blog. In his words: "I can't explain it but I kinda like it." It sure helps if you've seen North by Northwest (1959) a few times. I don't know if it would help if you've experimented with psychedelics (and by the way, I'd strongly recommend against it). Mostly it helps if you've got a mind that you're welling to let step outside for a walk every now and again.

Dig it.

Let's Try It Again, Betty, This Time Try To Put A Little Life Into It

Other than The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (1944) and the above clip I haven't seen a lot of Betty Hutton, but what I have seen I've loved. You go, girl.

It's Not Just a Great Movie Song, It's Educational!

Fred and Barney do Scorsese