They just don't design movie posters like that anymore. (pic courtesy of www.impawards.com )
I can't say that Alan Ladd was a favourite of mine, even though I liked him in This Gun For Hire and Shane. I don't think I've seen him in much else, to be honest.
Despite what I've read of the plot of this film over the years, I'm looking forward to seeing this one. I have to say I always get a buzz when I finally catch up with some old movie that I've never seen.
The production of this film is the stuff of Hollywood legend. Crime writer (an absolute favourite of mine) Raymond Chandler had been told by studio executives that the ending would need a re-write. However, filming had already begun and the revised finale had not been completed. Chandler, a life-long alcoholic, spoke to Producer John Houseman about the approaching deadline for the re-write. He told Houseman that he could finish the script in the allotted time-frame, but he could not do it sober. And he had a few stipulations also.
So, Chandler resumed drinking heavily while working on the screenplay. Outside his house, two limousines were on standby, to deliver finished pages to the set. Also on call were a doctor and two nurses, who would give Chandler regular glucose injections during this time, as he was drinking heavily, but not eating a thing.
He completed the screenplay by the deadline.
Released in 2011, the gameplay is phenomenal. Sure, it has shootouts and car chases, but this game places more emphasis on story and it requires you to think a little more than most games of its time, as you interview witnesses and suspects and then try to determine if they're lying to you or not. This is brilliantly staged using a new motion capture technique whereby the actors were filmed with an array of cameras that picked up every little nuance in their expressions. Aaron Staton plays Cole Phelps. He starred as Ken Cosgrove in Mad Men throughout its entire run and he's excellent in this game, with his 1940s suits and his Kirk Douglasesque face. Set in 1947, you get a picturesque Post-War L.A., with its wide streets and shady characters. It's a very cinematic game, with the slanted block-letter font for each chapter, reminiscent of classic film noir title design. Coupled with the atmospheric music score, this game beautifully plunges the player into the City of Angels of the late 1940s. The game has been recently re-released for the Playstation 4 console in a new 1080p transfer, which basically means that the graphics should look even better than they did on the original release. Hmmm....
This screen-cap below is courtesy of www.nintendoeverything.com.
L.A Noire was developed by Team Bondi and published by Rockstar Games in 2011.
Likewise enjoy the 'noir' - many films in it that still are very good to watch. Last one watched here (in the winter cold) was 'The City That Never Sleeps'; for a low-budget B-movie it still is very watchable.
ReplyDeleteI've grown to more easily accept typos, it makes the piece more raw and physically real, compared to, say, a printout of a Word document that's been auto corrected. Typos are direct evidence that a real human has been at it! Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteDon't fear the typos. IF I did I'd never get a post completed. One thing I do not miss from living in Florida is the heat and super humidity of summer. Keep cool and enjoy a cold one while typing in the shade.
ReplyDelete@ RobertG, some of the better noirs were B-grade. Check out "Raw Deal" starring Dennis O'Keefe.
ReplyDelete@ Joe V, yes, I think I should worry a whole lot less about typos. Might be an idea to proof-read them afterward with a red pen and correct the more grievous errors.
@ Bill M, I do believe that, despite the wonderful Art Deco that still exists in Miami, the humidity in Florida would probably drown me. As for cold ones, the fridge was bare.I had to resort to Gin & tonics, followed by a lot of iced water. Still wound up having perhaps the worst night's sleep in a very long time. It didn't cool down too much overnight, and the house became a kiln throughout the day's heat.
Today (Monday) was a shoddy day at work. I was firing on three cylinders all day. COuldn't wait to get out of there.
However, tomorrow's another day. And it's currently raining outside. That's the cool change kicking in. Hopefully, it wont make for a humid day tomorrow.
Thank you for the pointer - watched it. (And as most pre-photographic posters, a neat poster too :)
DeleteIf only we could swap places for a couple of days, getting tired of winter over here :)
ReplyDeleteDon't play games to often anymore, but I might just try L.A. NOIRE this winter. Thanks for the tip!
Stijn, if you have a PS4, then I suggest you get the newly remastered version of the game, which was released just before Xmas. Word of warning- those old 1940s cars can be tricky to steer, and you get penalised for property damage. Let your partner drive. The map of LA is pretty big, and you get calls to attend to random crimes when you're on your way to interview a suspect.
DeleteAnd for God's sake, don't shoot any innocent bystanders.
Seems to be solid advice, certainly that last bit. :) Although I probably, as a car fanatic, will take the wheel sooner or later. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I say go for it. Bear in mind that a 1940s Plymouth (even a virtual one) doesn't hug sharp corners. Although, if you hit your siren (L3), traffic gets out of your way. People were more polite back then. Even in PS4 games.
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