I just saw Island in the Sky this weekend. I'll admit I wasn't expecting much - I'd seen the tail-end of the movie a while back, and it didn't look too hot, but I'm a wannabe John Wayne completist, so I took it upon myself to watch this 1953 effort as an outward and visible sign of my devotion.

It's a stunning film, for those who appreciate such things. The Duke plays against type to a degree here. He's a WWII-era transport pilot in this one whose plane goes off-course and crashes in an uncharted region of Labrador in -70F (-56C) temperatures. He's not exactly a hopeless neurotic - this is John Wayne, after all - but you can see his confidence falter as it becomes increasingly likely that he and his men aren't going to make it out alive. This is paralelled by the story of the search pilots, whose confidence also wanes as they poke around the confusing landscape trying to find the proverbial needle in a haystack. Great performances on that side of the story, too, most notably by Andy Devine, of all people. The juxtaposition of the two stories underscores the importance of friendship, devotion, courage, cooperation, and creativity. For the history-minded among you, it is also piques one's interest in radio and aviation technology of the WWII period - in ways the Duke's "fighter jock" movies like "The Flying Tigers" and "Flying Leathernecks" really do not. This is a remarkable film, well written in Hemmingwayesque sparse, masculine prose and effectively photographed in stark black and white. Highly recommended, especially for the odd duck who still believes that John Wayne couldn't act.

Here are a few more of my personal favourite 'sleepers'...movies that are head and shoulders above the usual fare but few have seen them -

Ballad Of the Sad Cafe- Vanessa Redgrave, Keith Carradine, 1991. A depression era piece which is superbly cast and doesn't disappoint at all.

What's Eating Gilbert Grape with Johnny Depp, Leonardo de Caprio and Mary Steenburgen. A slightly bizarre effort, but real in it's portrayal of real people who live far, far away from Los Angeles. It's a wonder they found the $$$ backing to make it - but I'm so glad they did. De Caprio's finest role, ever. And I'm not even a fan...


Ballad of Little Jo with mostly unknown Susan Amis . A western, also on the odd side, but touching and completely unpredictable [ my favourite kind of movie]

And perhaps the best of the lot is The Red Violin.[ 1998] An international cast with perfect direction, warm sensual photography. The captivating tale of a violin with a dark secret which produces it's unearthly sweetness of tone. The story spans three hundred years of being passed from devoted owner to thief to passionate musician - ending up on the Sotheby's auction block in twentieth century New York City.

The Usual Suspects. LOVE IT! Kevin Spacey is AMAZING!!!

'Usual Suspects' is more of a modern classic than overlooked, I'd think.

Oh, I loved The Red Violin! Totally not what I was expecting, it quite surprised me.

I'll have to think about my own personal favorites. Hmmm...

First to say, I'm afraid that I must be one of those "odd ducks". I still (and I've tried mightily) been unable to sit through any but one John Wayne movie. Which only means that I saw too many I didn't like at first and never gave him a fair shot after that, I know. But *sigh* I still feel compelled to "quack" there ...

As for overlooked movies? Oh, they're my favorites [usually]. "The Stunt Man" (1980) - Peter O'Toole at his finest, I thought. "Three Women" (1977) was irresistably mysterious. "Mike's Murder" (1984) was another one I thoroughly enjoyed. "Longtime Companion" (1990). Those come to mind first and, in some ways, they were noticed somewhat - some got an Oscar nomination or two, for whatever that's ultimately worth - but I don't think there were anything close to long lines at the box office when they were released. Quite frankly, when I was going to the movies a lot, the "shorter the line, the better the movie" seemed to be a good barometer when it came to where I'd buy a ticket.

I really like the movie Fried Green Tomatoes and alot of people I know have never even HEARD of it!

Fried Green Tomatoes is also a down home masterpiece. Thanks for thinking of it, King.

Holes is based on the award winning children's book and is probably the best, most sophisticated Disney movie to date - nothing sweet about this movie at all. I heard full grown men behind us cracking up as well as the kids. Nice bluesy soundtrack too.

I havn't seen Holes the movie, but I didn't particularly enjoy the book. I usually like the books more than the movies, so I might give watching it a skip.

These movies must be pretty overlooked, I've never heard of any of them.

I'm a big fan of the 1992 movie 'Sneakers'. It has a great cast of Robert Redford, River Phoenix, Sidney Poitier, David Strathairn, Dan Aykroyd, James Earl Jones, Mary McDonnell and Ben Kingsley. I can't believe a film with a cast like that is so easily forgotten.

I really enjoyed White Hunter, Black Heart. Starring Clint Eastwood. He doesnt kill anyone in this movie. Well kind of responsible for one death but anyway. Its very enjoyable.
I also love So I Married an Axe Murderer. Seen it countless times, nothing really special about it but always enjoyable. Hello!

Sneakers was a great movie. I need to watch that one again. I really enjoyed it.

Here's some others:

Salvador
They Live
The Serpent and the Rainbow
Repo Man
Searching for Bobby Fischer
Fresh
Daybreak (had to add one more)

I loved the movie Matchstick Men. If you're a Nicolas Cage fan, this is one of his lesser-known movies, but one of my favorites.

I really like the movie The Heathers, too but nobody ever talks about that one.

I like the following overlooked movies:

Maximum Overdrive
Eddie and The Cruisers
Eddie and The Cruisers 2: Eddie Lives
Final Exam
Graduation Day
Blood Beach
THEM

ROFL ! As always, an excellent quiz there, stu. Top-notch indeed! Y'see ~ so many Wayne vehicles I'd never even heard of before! John Wayne and Jean Arthur? In the same movie?? Hard for me to imagine it ... and I really, really need to see more of his films, since I judged him solely on ignorance of his whole body of work. I enjoyed that quiz, especially because it widened his resumé in my head.
Just no eyepatches, though, OK ?

Agreed. True Grit does have it's moments, though

Yes, excellent quiz.
I must say that I do enjoy many of his films, although it's in spite of his appearing in them, rather than because he's in them.
And please, keep me away from his propaganda, er, excuse me, war movies. Green Berets? *shudder*

But I love True Grit!

Enjoyed the quiz very much stu! I did pretty well, too. I only missed the question about the plane crash at -70 degrees...Never heard of that one.

Quote:

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The one with the ants?

Just saw it not long ago. Aside from the very unconvincing closeups, very stout movie. Surprising how much trust it places in the government - most films of the time emphasize the "no one will believe me" aspect of the situation.

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Yes, the one with the ants. I finally was able to locate and buy the movie online. It's considered the "granddaddy" of special effects.

Some overlooked great films are:

The Sweet Hereafter
Exotica
The Ice Storm
What's Eating Gilbert Grape

A few of my favorites that weren't mainstream even if they did have well-known stars:

3000 Miles to Graceland (great soundtrack too!)
About Schmidt
Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood
Galaxy Quest
Quigley Down Under
The Life of David Gale