MAKSQUIBS CINEMATHEQUE: CAPTAIN SCARFACE (1953)

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Like just about everyone with an interest in the movies, I'm watching more films on DVD and going out to movie houses a lot less. Convenience trumps the better experience.
Of course, you lose audience interaction and the poor film now has to compete with all the comforts of home.
It's a bit like seeing Rembrandts & Titians in a book reproduction, or from posters with iffy color values, no texture or weight to the surface and the wrong dimensions . . . all while snacking on chips & soda. (Oops! You get that at your local cinema,too.)
The ease of instant movie gratification risks turning an art form (well, sometimes) into little more than low-grade eye-candy & mindfodder. So, maybe it's worthwhile to write a bit down on what we're all viewing, just to keep fully engaged.

DVDs: the latest opiate of the people meets the internet, where everyone's a critic.
God help us.

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Tuesday, July 15, 2025

CAPTAIN SCARFACE (1953)

Dreary bargain-basement product (for a Grind House triple-bill?) produced by Hal Roach Jr (on Pop’s studio lot) has supporting actor Paul Guilfoyle debuting as director from Charles Lang’s original script. (Not Lang the cinematographer, BTW.) Third-billed Leif Erickson takes the lead as a So. American based foreman on the run from his boss and taking the first ship out of port. That’s how he ends up on Los Baños, mad Captain Barton MacLane’s doomsday vessel. (Longtime Warners character heavy MacLane failing to pull off his Russian accent.) Seems the captain has kidnapped an explosives expert and plans on taking down the whole Panama Canal along with everyone on board. Yikes! This ought to be a bit more fun than it is, but so flatly lit, written, staged and acted, there’s little to redeem it.*

WATCH THIS, NOT THAT/LINK: Adding insult to injury, most Public Domain and Free Streaming copies in excellent physical shape. In the history of film preservation: the good die young, while crap endures. If you’re looking for a man-on-the-run meets Evil Ship’s Captain story, tough to beat THE SEA WOLF/’42. https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-sea-wolf-1941.html

ATTENTION MUST BE PAID: *Well, maybe just one thing. Somebody managed to get away with naming the ship ‘Los Banos,’ Spanish for The Bathroom. Flush away!

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Tuesday, July 15, 2025

CAPTAIN SCARFACE (1953)

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