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Author
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Topic: Izzy and Moe Super 8 optical sound feature!
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Osi Osgood
Film God
Posts: 10204
From: Mountian Home, ID.
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted May 02, 2013 01:02 PM
I have always loved that ole bombastic Gleason, but I was always disappointed with his theatrical outings in the mid 70's through the end of his life where it looked like, as a general rule, he was phoning in his performances. It hadn't always been that way. He also did dramtic roles such as "Fats" the pool player in the Paul Newman classic, "The Hustler" as a good example. Though a comedy, his film "Papas Delicate Condition" was another classic.
His sheriff in "Smokey and the Bandit", while a big hit for him, pretty much ended his career as a serious actor. The sequels were dreadful, and pretty much anything else he did was sub par for the actor ...
except for one exception, a brilliant exception ...
IZZY and MOE
Izzy and Moe is about the true life exploits of these two during the prohibition. Moe (Carney) was a bar owner, shut down by the prohibition, and IZZY (Gleason) was his best customer, who is behind the financial 8 ball, (it is the depression, after all) with a whole passle of kids and family at home, not to mention an annoying mother in law.
Izzy comes up with the idea ... why don't they become prohibition agents?
They do so, (much to the chagrin of they're police chief boss, who thinks they are too old and just a big annoyance), and in doing so, use any number of disguises in order to bust the illegal hooch runners and club owners, and mobsters, such as posing as thirsty sailors on pass, a husband and wife, (with a funny Carney as the woman) ect.
They were quite successful, even with a policeman working as an informer for the Hooch running mobster, (but he is, of course, caught). The mother in law sarcastcally says to IZZY "If you are EVER a success, I will personally light your cigar in the window of Macy's department store!" Izzy takes her up on it and sure enough, the film ends with the family and whole gang in the Macy's department store window, with a cigar lighting ceremony.
"How Sweet It Is!"
The best thing about this film is the wonderful pairing of Jackie Gleason and Art Carney, who most people remember from the hilarious "The Honeymooners" TV show. After not working together for about 15 years, they are paired together for the last time and they work together brilliantly, as always.
This must have been a very special project for Jackie Gleason as he not only acts in the film, but also provided the soundtrack for the film as well. Not many people know these days, but Jackie Gleason had a whole series of records in 60's that were big band and such, so this Ragtime soundtrack was a natural for Gleason and he must have relished this last opportunity to work in such a manner.
Sadly, Gleason would make one last feature "Nothing in Common", a lacklustre film with Tom Hanks, and then leave us, but at least he left us with this great little comedy. This was originally to be released theatrically, and has that better than TV look, but originally premiered on TV. However, we happily have this on super 8 optical sound because this was released for the in flight movies for the airlines.
The print I have is a slight curiosity. Reel one has a slightly brownish quality to reel, (the first 18 or so minutes), but you get into the rest of the film and the color is perfect, spot on, so I think that the first reel of this film was a poor color master, as the rest of the film has brilliant color. This was a complete print, un-spliced, on a large spool, so it's not a case of one reel coming from one lab and another from, well, another.
The sharpness is pin sharp, quite lovely on the big screen and the optical track is that better 80's optical which is nice and loud.
For those that are fans of Gleason and Carney, I highly recommend this optical feature on super 8. This is, however, a fairly rare one on optical sound super 8. happy hunting and, as always ...
Long Live Super 8!!!!
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"All these moments will be lost in time, just like ... tears, in the rain. "
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Winbert Hutahaean
Film God
Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted May 04, 2013 08:42 AM
Osi, yes, "optical sound".
Vidar, yes, that is the same reel. I have 3 reels.
Pat, this is the first reel of "Izzy and Moe". As Osi says. Shipping willbe $7.80, I guess. If you are interested, PM me
cheers,
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Winbert
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