Shoshanna, Serena, Lulu

I'm finally turning in my answers, right at the tail end of summer, for the most recent movie quiz at Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule, this one administered by one Professor Ed Avery. I have yet to see Bigger Than Life, but I'm looking forward to it. All I know is that it involves James Mason scolding children, and that's enough for me.

1) Depending on your mood, your favorite or least-loved movie cliché.

In horror movies, the fake-out scare followed three beats later by the real thing. I love or hate it depending on the execution and my mood.

2) Regardless of whether or not you eventually caught up with it, which film classic have you lied about seeing in the past?

I'm a terrible liar, so I don't bother.

3) Roland Young or Edward Everett Horton?

Roland Young

4) Second favorite Frank Tashlin movie

The Girl Can't Help It

5) Clockwork Orange-- yes or no?

Yes, definitely.

6) Best/favorite use of gender dysphoria in a horror film (Ariel Schudson)

My first thought was The Silence of the Lambs, but as Hannibal Lecter explains, Jame Gumb isn't actually a transsexual. So let's go with Dressed to Kill.

7) Melanie Laurent or Blake Lively?

How can I not go with Melanie Laurent?

8) Best movie of 2011 (so far…)

The Tree of Life. Overwhelming, challenging, sometimes frustrating, beautiful and ultimately awe-inspiring.

9) Favorite screen performer with a noticeable facial deformity (Peg Aloi)

Michael Berryman

10) Lars von Trier: shithead or misunderstood comic savant? (Dean Treadway)

I wouldn't say "savant," but I thought the "Hitler" press conference was hilarious. He just kept digging himself deeper and deeper.

11) Timothy Carey or Henry Silva?

Henry Silva

12) Low-profile writer who deserves more attention from critics and /or audiences

Although Albert Brooks is certainly well-known, his work as a writer/director deserves the same attention given to Woody Allen. Modern Romance and Lost in America, in particular, are perfect screenplays.

13) Movie most recently viewed theatrically, and on DVD, Blu-ray or streaming

Theatrically: Fright Night. It's a blast, and worthy of the original. On DVD: Fiddler on the Roof. Way more entertaining than I remembered (though I last saw it when I was about five years old).

14) Favorite film noir villain

Noah Cross

15) Best thing about streaming movies?

The ease and availability of titles encourages people to be a little more adventurous in their movie-watching choices.

16) Fay Spain or France Nuyen? (Peter Nellhaus)

Fay Spain

17) Favorite Kirk Douglas movie that isn’t called Spartacus (Peter Nellhaus)

Paths of Glory

18) Favorite movie about cars

Two-Lane Blacktop

19) Audrey Totter or Marie Windsor?

Marie Windsor

20) Existing Stephen King movie adaptation that could use an remake/reboot/overhaul

It is one of the best books about childhood and the most terrifying book Stephen King ever wrote. The TV movie is creepy, the entire cast is strong and Tim Curry is of course outstanding as Pennywise. But it was limited by the restrictions of network TV, not just in content but in condensing some of the more esoteric aspects of the book's mythology. A three-hour movie or, perhaps better yet, an HBO miniseries that is more faithful to the book could be one of the all-time great horror movies. But the plans I've heard for a proposed remake (updating the timeline to present day, shooting for a PG-13) aren't very encouraging.

21) Low-profile director who deserves more attention from critics and/or audiences

Keith Gordon makes consistently interesting movies aimed at smart adult audiences that barely receive any attention. At least he's been busy in recent years directing episodes of Dexter.

22) What actor that you previously enjoyed has become distracting or a self-parody? (Adam Ross)

De Niro is the obvious answer, unfortunately.

23) Best place in the world to see a movie

The Brattle!

24) Charles McGraw or Sterling Hayden?

Sterling Hayden

25) Second favorite Yasujiro Ozu film

Floating Weeds

26) Most memorable horror movie father figure

Jack Torrance

27) Name a non-action-oriented movie that would be fun to see in Sensurround

Moulin Rouge

28) Chris Evans or Ryan Reynolds?

I worked as an extra on a Chris Evans movie, and he seemed like a pretty good guy. And he's great in Scott Pilgrim ("That's actually hilarious.")

29) Favorite relatively unknown supporting player, from either or both the classic and the modern era

Dick Miller

30) Real-life movie location you most recently visited or saw

The first one that comes to mind is the Whately Diner, which I used in Black Light and, I found out later, was also used extensively in In Dreams.

31) Second favorite Budd Boetticher movie

I'm ashamed to admit I have to pass on this one (see #2).

32) Mara Corday or Julie Adams?

Mara Corday

33) Favorite Universal-International western

Winchester '73

34) What's the biggest "gimmick" that's drawn you out to see a movie? (Sal Gomez)

Probably the time Images Cinema had a 3D Porn Night.

35) Favorite actress of the silent era

Louise Brooks

36) Best Eugene Pallette performance (Larry Aydlette)

Friar Tuck in The Adventures of Robin Hood

37) Best/worst remake of the 21st century so far? (Dan Aloi)

Best: Solaris Worst: The Fog

38) What could multiplex owners do right now to improve the theatrical viewing experience for moviegoers? What could moviegoers do?

Owners: Take a cue from a good theatre chain like Cinemagic or Cinemark and make perfect presentation a priority (forgive the alliteration). Moviegoers can turn off their fucking phones.