Just watched this & their critcisms of then current films are even more valid now.To find a major film that has any quiet moments is practically impossible.I really believe the studios are dumbing down movies to fit an increasingly overstimulated audience-Everything has to play out like a graphic novel or video game.
Two great film critics who unlike current "experts" regarded cinema as being more than "tent pole" entertainment & always displayed a profound love for the art form.
I really miss these guys. And I miss those days when this show was on PBS. Life was so much simpler then. It's sadly ironic that it was Gene's strong point was his thinking and Roger's strength was in his voice. Gene died of a brain tumor and Roger died of throat cancer. It's almost a Greek tragedy. Rest in Peace, Gentlemen. Thanks for all the greatness.
I too have had that thought about their strong points. It is really sad. I sometimes try to recreate them in my mind as I watch movies today-which supporting actor would Gene take the time to credit? How would Ebert describe the sense and the experience of the picture?
Robbie R. Esq. Some of that is subject to interpretation. Roger's strength was his voice? But Gene's stands out too. His writing voice is stronger than Gene's though.
These reviews clearly shows the movie lovers in them. They don't see film as a first and foremost entertainment medium, they see film as art. I don't always agree with them and I don't always think their points are spot on but I often love hearing from them. Their love and passion for film is incredible.
My first contact with either of these classics was this Siskel and Ebert episode, which I first watched at age 19. I can recall with particular delight their enthusiasm for these films, specifically their analysis of the shots of the criminals holding court in "M" (1:00, 2:45) and Alain Delon during the opening credits of "Le Samourai" (3:36). Ebert's description of the latter has stuck with me (verbatim) all these years later. Watching this as a teenager reinforced what I was looking for in film and art at the time, making me want to learn and seek more. Thank you very much for posting.
M is my favourite German film (and easily one of the best films of the 1930's) and La Samourai is my absolute favourite French film (and also one of the best films of 1960's and I have seen over 200 films from that decade). Both films ended up Ebert's Great Movies list and rightfully so. They are stunning. I love foreign language films.
Metropolis features some iconic imagery but that doesn't excuse the sloppy narrative. Prime Fritz Lang is M, the first two Mabuse films, and You Only Live Once.
