Members Curate Cultpix

"The Doll" (19

In a new strand we invite Cultpix members to curate a personal selection of their favourite films from the 1,700+ titles that have been shared on Cultpix over the past few years. It can be a bewildering array of genres, themes, years and titles, so having someone's picks about what stands out to them can help you discover one of our many hidden gems. If you would like to see your picks here, get in touch. First up is half-a-dozen treats from FourEye on Films, who isn't afraid of the ecclectic or even foreign films that don't (yet) have English subtitles. 

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"The Doll" (1962) (Sweden) - a surprisingly engrossing story of a man in love with a store mannequin. With a premise like that, you might think it would be a comedy, and indeed that would have been the easier route to go stylistically for the average director, but in the capable hands of Arne Mattsson, it is a thought-provoking and well-developed character study. The lead actor here does a fantastic job in what is really a one-man show (he carries it), in the role of a character probably more challenging to play than the obvious comparison to Psycho's Norman Bates, as he was tasked not with appearing outwardly sinister, but with bringing his illusions and internal turmoil to life in a convincing way. The fact that he did it without turning the character into a caricature, is impressive indeed, and very well-worth watching. Much more drama than horror.

"Lucky Stiff" (1988) - this family's Christmas dinner is psycho!

"Lucky Stiff/My Christmas Dinner" (1988) (USA) - Following on the Norman Bates' reference above, watched this entirely to see Anthony Perkins in one of his mere two directorial outings (the first being Psycho III). If you're a Perkins fan then it's worth checking out on that basis alone. Quite a gong show, and perhaps more so than Perkins intended... afterall, a Christmas comedy/horror movie about cannibalism, is a pretty niche subgenre and would probably be a tall order for any director, let alone an inexperienced one. But that of course is its appeal as a cult film, as it veers off the road into absurdity at various points, and you try to figure out what on earth Perkins was thinking. Hitchcock it's decidedly not. Favourite scene was a very funny bit of very well-timed back-and-forth between hotel restaurant staff and the lead character, as they confirmed repeatedly that he was dining alone. The film does make me want to see more work by lead actor Joe Alaskey in the hands of a more capable director (sorry Anthony) if he did any. Had never heard of him before this (and it must be said, any scenes in the movie that worked well, worked because of his comedic sensibilities).

Spot the alien in "The Man From The First Century" (1962)

"The Man From The First Century" (1962) (Czechoslovakia) - The best 1962 Czech-directed futuristic sci-fi with comedy elements film you've never seen. And that's underselling it. Insightful, amusing, and you get to see what the year 2447 will look like. If, like me, you'd never heard of director Oldrich Lipský before, there's a good chance you'll want to see more of him after enjoying this highly creative outing. VERY well done!

Soundies and Beauties!

"Soundies Volume 1:" If you're a big fan of 1940s music like me (or even just curious about it), this is a real treat, and proves they knew how to do music videos a LOT better before MTV reared its pompous head, when it was more about the music and telling a story with it, and less about padding the ego of the artists. "The Man That Comes Around" will get stuck in your head, you'll marvel at the expressiveness of Fats Wallers' eyebrows (not to mention his singing voice), and will enjoy the comic stylings of Spike Jones and his City Slickers' on "Clink, Clink, Another Drink", the superhuman banjo playing on "My Strum", and will see what made Cab Calloway such a great bandleader. If you haven't given this kind of music a chance before, what better way than when it's paired with these fascinating visuals. It's a treat.

"Jammin, Jumpin' & Jivin' Volume 1:" A great companion piece to Soundies Volume 1, this has, for the most part, more extended pieces, combining music with captivating stories in longer form. Highly recommend the first 3 short films especially: 1929's "Music Hath Harms", Lena Horne in "Boogie-Woogie Dream" (the dual pianos number with Albert Ammons and Pete Johnson is nothing short of amazing), and Sammy Davis Jr. in his first film, 1933's remarkable "Rufus Jones For President". Somehow Fats Waller and his expressive eyebrows manage to make a repeat appearance in between the latter two. Guess he knew you couldn't get enough of him.

Presented in un-subtitled and glorious Mono Swedish sound: "The Skillet Trip" (1950)

"The Skillet Trip" (1950)/"Little Fridolf & I" (1956) (both Sweden): If like me you do not know any Swedish, you might be interested to find how little dialogue can matter to the enjoyment of a film, by watching well-constructed stories like these (sans subtitles). I'd never tried doing this before, but discovered that if the plot and acting is captivating enough (which it was in both of these), it's quite possible to enjoy them and follow along with the plot easily, despite having no idea exactly what's being said. Worth trying!

The henpecked "Lille Fridolf och jag" (1956)