The Heart of France

The passion of Joan of Arc (1928, French silent)
La Passion de Jeanne D'Arc
This 1985 restored French silent movie is the result of restoration of lost rolls and miraculous re-appearances. This 1928 film which courted controversy even before its release has a surprisingly elaborate set-up and effects. Most of the expressions rely on facial expressions as there no musical score in the background. The story is a short one depicting the last hours of the heart of France, Joan of Arc.
Even though we studied about Joan of Arc in our Standard 5 history lessons, I was shocked that the present 17year olds in the national schools are clueless about this lady who has bestowed a saints status!
The film starts with the interrogation of Joan by the Jesuit priests and judges. She was asked about her allegation that she was God sent. She was then asked about her dream when St Michael appeared. They also enquired about her dressing, like that of a man?

Renée Jeanne Falconetti as Joan of Arc

Her reply to them was that she was sent by God with the mission to save France from England.
The priests than concocted a letter apparently written by King Charles of England to her about their attack. The priests accuse her of being Satan's creature and sent her to the torture chamber demanding for her to sign a declaration she has been misled and is wrong. The sight of the priests sanctioned torture tools were too overwhelming that she faints.
 She is nursed back to health and she asked to the same in full view of the public.
A big argument ensues trying to claim is a better Christian than the other. After much persuasion and cajoling, Joan endorses the document. She is shaved bald and sent to jail for rehabilitation. In the jail, however, she retracts her statement. She felt guilty denying her God for fear of the stake (punishment by burning). She is sent to be burnt alive in the centre of town.
During the stake, Joan kept chanting the name of Jesus. the public then realised that they have burnt a saint. A riot erupts. Fin..

*It is interesting that in the evolution of mankind, we have gone through a lot of nonsensical teachings from our religious leaders. We, the unenlightened and the not-so-wise (in the theological sense) have taken it in wholesale without questioning them as if they were directly communicated to them by by the Gods via special ports. Did you know that at one time it was sacrilege to use pain killers? "If one cannot appreciate a little bit of pain, how can one appreciate the pain of Jesus dying on the cross to wash the sins of all man?" they said!

Morons in Moronika!

Three Stooges  - You Nazty Spy (1940)

Another controversial film sneering at Hitler and his grandiose plans even before the Second World War went into full steam. It was done about the same time as Charlie Chaplin's 'The Great Dictator'. Unlike Chaplin's full-length feature film, this flick from the favourite comedians from the time we were growing up in RRF, as usual, is in a short 15-minute show.

Curly Gallstone, Larry Pebble,
 Moe Hailstone

Three businessmen making money from making ammunition find that the business is slow. The going was brutal as their King, the King of Moronika, was a peace-loving man. They decided to appoint a dictator to overthrow the country's monarchy and start a war to stimulate interaction. And who is to be given the honours of being picked as a dumb dictator? Moe, of course. His buddies, Curly and Larry, fellow wallpaper-applying workers, are appointed Field Marshall and Minister of Propaganda, respectively.

After creating their usual ruckus and stupid wisecracks, they started a storm until the disposed of King retaliated with his subjects. Whilst escaping the mob, our three geniuses locked themselves in a lions' den! Guess what, the lion's meal for the day - The three stooges!

Any way you like it!

Oh My God! (Hindi, 2012)

As we always indulge in intellectual talks revolving about life and such after our weekly endorphin filled runs, somebody in the running gang suggested that I should watch this Hindi flick about about an atheist. Rajesh Parwal acts as Kanji, an atheist who surprising earns a living by selling religious deities. Secretly, he and his assistant keep laughing at his customers and the world at their gullibility. He even laughs at his neighboring shopkeeper who leaves his non-profit making business for a month to perform his haj! He also ridicules a grieving son who never took care of his sick mother but now wants to take all relatives for a special pilgrimage so that her soul would rest in peace!

One day, Kanji's religious wife and children were at a religious function in praise of Lord Krishna. (Here Prabhu Deva performs a God praising seductive street dance with a voluptuous female dancer as if mocking the religious practice). Seeing his child who was about to sit for an important exams, doing a dangerous stunts, he stops the function. Inciting the wrath of a religious saint who was leading the ceremony, he is cursed. What do you know? Mumbai is hit by a Richter 3.5 scale earthquake and Kanji's shop is the only one which crashes to the ground!
The insurance company refuse to pay his claims as it deemed as an act of God and was clearly excluded in the policy. So our atheist friend decides to sue God!
As no lawyers wants to represent him, he represents himself with the help of a disillusioned disabled Moslem lawyer (Om Puri). That is when his problems starts. His wife, with his children leave him thinking that he is mad. All the town folks and even his neighbors are up in arms against him. As in all good Indian movie, when every avenue is exhausted and the situation seem hopeless, who comes to the rescue? Yes, God himself comes in the form a mysterious stuntman (Akshay Kumar) on a fancy motorcycle to sweep him off the chasing mob. He introduces himself as Krishna Vasudev Yadav of Gokul (the flute playing, butter stealing, milk-maid disturbing cheeky cowherd Lord Shree Krishna himself) and stays in his house.

Priestess

Kanji sues a group of famous 'beholders' of God - an effeminate Mithun Chakrabarthy, a hot tempered bald priest and ravishing forever manicuring priestess as defendants. As his case gets accepted for trial, he garners more and more support as others who lost their belongings in natural calamities (e.g. Tsunami) join suit. With the help of the media, he soon becomes the people's hero.
After the usual roller coaster as in any Indian movie, Kanji argues in the later part of the movie that God indeed has given clear proofs in the holy scriptures (Gita, Bible and Koran) that he would destroy the world. The holy bodies were sentenced to pay damages to Kanji and all the others.

Street Dance for God?

In a dramatic ending, Kanji the atheist is afflicted by paralysis and drawn over to the 'good side' by Krishna's healing powers and explanation that men themselves made the mess they were in. God just created them! It is up to man themselves to know what is good and what is bad for them.

I thought it was an entertaining movie dealing with a sensitive subject. At the end of the day, both believers and non believers have something to say in their favour - the naysayer about the commercialization aspect of the religion, the unnecessary need for intermediaries to communicate with the omnipotent omnipresent omniscient force  called God; the believers on the aspect that the film actually accepts the presence of God and his actions on his subject. At the end everybody goes home happy, the viewers (atheist or believers) and the producers smiling all the way to the bank!

What do you know, a Facebook entry by a temple recommended this film for its followers! Just like a daily horoscope reading or a fortune cookie, the message can be viewed any way which is your convenience...

*An Australian movie in 2001 (The Man who sued God) was out with the same theme, a fisherman suing God when his boat was struck by lightning and his insurance claim was denied for being an Act of God!

Cheap Matinee

The Las Vegas (1952)
This thriller produced by Howard Hughes' RKO Radio Pictures featuring Hughes' heartthrob Jane Russell and Vincent Price.

Linda (Jane Russell) makes an unscheduled stop at Las Vegas as a married lady with her husband Lloyd Roland (Vincent Price in a non Dracula role), a man with many secrets up his sleeves. Linda used to be a singer in a small bar where she used to have a fling and admirer, Dave Andrews (a rather unknown actor Victor Mature who looks like a young Sylvester Stallone), an ex-Navy, now a lieutenant in the local police force.
Linda was quite a hit during the time sh)e was there in a bar named 'Last Chance' where she paired with a pianist, Happy (Hoagly Carmichael who in real life was a talented composer and singer).
The shady Roland made this sudden stop at Las Vegas apparently running away from his office on Boston. From the telegram received, we gather that some money is missing from his office. He goes on a gambling spree and soon Linda's priced necklace is used as collateral for funds. Meanwhile, a insurance investigator (Hubler) is seen becoming pally with the pair.
In the background, Linda pays her old place a visit for old time's sake and in the process rekindles her old flame. The new owner of 'Last Chance' is murdered and the necklace goes missing. Roland is accused of murder. The masala of the B-grade film noir goes round and round the desert countryside and the real killer Hubler is apprehended. Roland, meanwhile, is sent back East for embezzlement leaving Linda and Dave to get lost in each other again.
This film is a product of a studio with a rich studio with a rich background falling into bad times. This, is one of the string of money losing B-grade film noirs made by RKO under the business control of the freakish Howard Hughes. It is said he was interested in making money and flying machines (besides pretty women). Being the flamboyant flying entrepreneur that Howard was, he made sure that the first helicopter and car chase on screen was shown here. The ever gorgeously curvaceous Russell who was the pin up girl for many a American soldier have used her cleavage and assets to the maximum here. The pianist (Carmichael) is quite impressive with his rendition.

101 and still running!

Chardikala literally means "Rising Spirit". It is an expression of always being in High Spirits, forward thinking
and progressive. It can also be an expression to promote Goodwill.

The PJ Sikh Gurudwara organized a charity run with Fauja Singh as the star. After running in the Singapore SC 10km race, he made a stop over at Malaysia to flag off the runner - a lot of activity in a day for a 101 year old - The man who ousted David Beckham as their mascot in Adidas. Disappointed with the non participation of the centurion, 1000 participants still thronged the Astaka Stadium in Petaling Jaya amidst the drizzle and threat of downpour to witness this historic event, more to see the Man in real light.
What is a Punjabi function without loud music, right? As part of their warm up session, the Masters of Ceremony (DJ The Flying Singh of Traxx FM) and Niphon led the crowd through bhangra!

After a not very pompous start, the runners, mostly not-so-serious runners of all races started running. Some were even holding their open umbrellas! But what the heck, all in the name of charity. The run was a loop from the stadium pass Crystal Crown Hotel, Hussein Onn Eye Hospital, PJ Hilton, PJ New Town, pass AmCorp Mall and back to the Stadium almost 4-5km.
The end of the run was ushered in with free food. What I really needed at that time after the wet run, which was sorely missing, was spiced North Indian tea (garam garam chai). I just had to make do with the next beat thing which was available - cold Milo drinks given out by the Milo truck!

Pumped with bhangra: Runners dancing before the run.
(Check out the the guy in red in centre with No.77).

Turbaned tornado coming in: Fauja arriving to flag off the Chardikala Fun Run at Padang Astaka in Petaling Jaya.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/12/3/nation/12403557&sec=nation

Star of the silent & talkies!

The Dictator (1940, B/W)
Acted, written, music and directed by: Charlie Chaplin
I always thought Charlie Chaplin only acted in silent movies. Obviously, I was wrong. Here, he stars in a dual role. It is actually a satire of Adolf Hitler. At the time of production and well anticipated time of screening, it was considered controversial as US had no bad blood with Germany and was not even involved in WW2 yet. It is interesting to note that years before the the end of Hitler's megalomaniac ambitions, these events and persecution of Jews are shown here. Of course, the non-believers of the existence of holocaust will say it is actually an orchestration by the Jews and Hollywood even before the world was at war!

Absent minded barber shaving
the whiskers of lady!

Chaplin stars in dual role, in a way, to show off to the world of his his ability to  act in two worlds, the silent and the talkies. In the role of a Jewish barber (unnamed), he shows off his slapstick type of acting and comedy, as the The Tramp, with cane, over sized shoes and ill-fitting suit. As the dictator, he exhibits his oratory skills and perhaps his political affiliations! As we know this Englishman surrendered his American citizenship after being accused of being a communist in the McCarthy era.
Chaplin is a soldier in the tail end of the First World War. A Jewish barber in civilian life, he is a bumbling soldier but manages to saves a commander (Schulz) in the war but gets a concussion and is hospitalised for a long time after the war

During his hospitalisation, his country, Tomainia,  is ruled by a despot, Adenoids Hynkel, who is out to make a blond blue eyed nation and harbours plans to be the Dictator of the world! Incidentally, Adenoid Hynkel looks a carbon copy of the barber.

Hynkel, who talks incessantly with no full stops in a language which sounds very much like adulterated German is assisted by Garbisch (sounds like garbage), the Minister of Propaganda and Herring, the War Minister.
Meanwhile, the amnesiac barber walks out of the hospital one day to resume his civilian duties, having no recollection of the war he was involved and the changes in the country where Jews are prosecuted.
The soldiers, the storm troopers, harass the people of his ghetto until Schultz comes to his rescue. He is given immunity by Schultz as token for saving his life in war.

Rare picture of 5'5"Chaplin & 5'3" Gandhi

Certain turns of events make Schultz be accused of undermining Hynkel and is imprisoned.
Meanwhile, Hynkel makes plans to attack his neighbouring country, Osterlich. His ally in war, the dictator of Bacteria, Benzino Napaloni (obvious reference to Benito Mussolini of Italy) visits him.
This starts a show of might by both dictators with comical results.
It continues with Schultz escaping from prison, being a fugitive on the run with the barber. Then there is switch of role during a duck hunting accident and escape from concentration camp that the barber becomes Hynkel. He ends the war with Osterlich, frees Jews from persecution in a lengthy classic address on the state radio pleading for hope for mankind.

Everyone enjoys a nice murder!

"Daily Mail" True Crime: Classic, Rare and Unseen(2009)
By Tim Hill

Sometimes, we wonder why is it that, human beings have a fascination towards murder and other heinous crimes. Just have a look at almost all prime time TV shows. They all feature killings and evil as their central pillar. Anyway, with the blurring of what used to be prime time and since now TV is on 24/7 and is cheap and is available all rooms of the house (include the toilet), the concept of prime time where the whole family would sit together after their dinner is not existent.
That propagated mini-series and soap operas that also include the above sins as well as other vices like infidelity, cheating and lying for good measure!

In the old days when one has to wait a full week for his dose of crime, with the advent of cable TV, he is on a perpetual chronic overdose!

In spite of the society's abhorrence to violence, the world we live in, animal or human kingdoms, is full of violence. In the animal kingdom, animals kill for food, mate and dominance. Humans, besides including all of the above, also consists of a group of individual who would do it for the sheer pleasure and hide under the cloak of insanity and mental derangement. Our breaking news on TV and stop press newspaper invariably involve destruction rather than some record-breaking feat. Who says crime does not pay?

Hitchcock and his fixation in bringing
murder to everyone's living room!

The last book that I read recently is a hardcover coffee table type of compilations of stories that appeared on the British 'Daily Mail' daily. (Hardly appetising to digest during a tête-à-tête tea session.)
It covered a lot of murders and crimes involving the myriad of characters spanning all the way from the USA to England (mainly) and an Australian trial of the century case involving Mrs Chamberlain's missing baby allegedly carried away by dingos.
The book comprises newspaper cuttings of cases and analyses the background of the criminal as well as the progression of the situation in court.


The American crimes involve modern day 'Robin Hood' @ Scarface Al Capone, the romanticized Valentine Day Murder, his incarceration for tax evasion and later death by tertiary syphilis; the sad tale of falsely accused of murder of Hollywood's high grossing star of Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle and his sad end; the trigger happy deadly duo of Bonnie and Clyde; the kidnapping of Charles Lindberg Jr., O. J. Simpson and his hyped trial of his estranged wife; Charles Manson and his cult and killing involving famous stars; the charismatically manipulative Ted Bundy's devious ways as well the flamboyant 'Teflon Don' John Gotti's crimes.

Over the other side of Atlantic, the daily covered extensively crimes like the Great Train Robbery where the loot was magnanimous at that era; Yorkshire Ripper and his 13 victims; the Profumo Affair where a minister had to resign over an affair with a stripper who also dated a Russian official for fear of espionage and leakage of sensitive information; the A6 senseless murder; the Krays twins and organized crimes; Teddington towpath murders of young girls; The West couple and their House of Horror where incestuous crimes, killings and burying of remains remain buried; Dr Harold Shipman- the serial killer doctor who killed 200 over patients; and many more sickening examples.

Our past violent history of killing, conquering and drawing first blood bears testimony to the fact that our civilisation is so entwined with violence and hatred that crime is here to stay for good (sic).