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TMP #287 Favorite Films by Steven Spielberg

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My goal this year is to try and blog a little more. I’m going to use the Thursday Movie Picks by Wandering Through The Shelves to help reach that goal! I’m sure I’ll miss a few weeks but something is better than nothing. If you’re into movies you should check it out! It’s a fun and easy blogging prompt. The rules are simple: based on the theme of the week pick three to five movies and tell us why you picked them. My list is in no real order!

1. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

This is one of those movies that every time is on I find myself watching it. I don’t normally seek it out, but it’s a fun watch. Harrison Ford sure can play cocky characters extremely well. It’s a little weird to think about how this movie came out in 1984. That feels forever ago these days!

2. JAWS

I think this popped up on a few of my lists from last year but I like what I like. JAWS is such a classic film and I love learning about the filming of the movie and all the issues that surrounded it. If I had to pick a favorite scene, it would have to be The Indianapolis Speech by Quint. I would 100% believe you if you told me Robert Shaw lived through that. The way he delivered the speech was just astounding. You can read more about it here.

3. Jurassic Park

Yup, another movie that has made a few of my lists. It just holds such a special place in my heart. The way people feel about Star Wars is the way I feel about Jurassic Park. This movie was my childhood and helped expand my love of dinosaurs. When Dr. Grant and Dr. Sattler see a dinosaur for the first time, I felt that in my soul. And the use of practical effects was just *chef kiss* and make the movie beyond believable.

Just three this week! To be honest, I haven’t see too many of his films and some of his classics like “E.T.” actually scared me as a kid. I found that little alien to be terrifying and I stopped eating a certain candy for months because of it. Then there’s movies I thought he directed for some reason, like “The Green Mile” which I was 100% wrong on. Brains are weird!

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  1. I remember when Jaws came out and caused no end of panic on the beaches (and generated endless articles about sharks and the fact that the resorts were suffering because of it). I didn’t see it then, I’m not much of a fan of going in the ocean as is I didn’t need another reason!, but did finally catch up with it a few years later. It’s an excellent film and the three leads are all terrific but Robert Shaw probably steals the film almost as much as the shark.

    Likewise I was resistant to seeing Jurassic Park, that was more about my disdain for Laura Dern though, but a group of us went one night and it was a great thrill ride. The sequels unfortunately have always failed to come close however.

    Temple of Doom is my least favorite of the Indy films, I constantly want to smack Kate Capeshaw who is a poor substitute for Karen Allen’s spunky Marion. It has some good things in it but it’s no Raiders of the Lost Ark.

    A terrific theme you chose but I’ve used all of my favorites (Raiders, Saving Pvt. Ryan, Catch Me If You Can, Lincoln, Bridge of Spies and The Post) of his theatrical releases before and I try not to double dip so I turned to a handful of his early TV films that I admired.

    Duel (1971)-Suspense film of salesman Dennis Weaver driving through the desert and unconsciously offending a psychotic truck driver who then doggedly pursues him with the object of killing him. While it sounds simple Spielberg makes it incredibly taut. His first solo film directing effort was an enormous hit making his reputation.

    Something Evil (1972)-Married couple Paul and Marjorie Worden (Darren McGavin and Sandy Dennis) move into what seems to be a bucolic Pennsylvania farm house with their kids and at first all is good. But suddenly disturbing events begin to transpire and Marjorie suspects what had only been hinted at by the locals before-the house is possessed by the Devil! Good acting and Spielberg’s firm hand make it a cut above. A precursor of his later Poltergeist.

    Savage (1973)-Martin Landau plays Paul Savage, a renowned TV investigative reporter with his own weekly show (think a 70’s Anderson Cooper) covering the proposed nomination of a candidate to the Supreme Court. When the news is announced Savage is contacted by Lee Raynolds, a young woman in possession of damaging evidence she’s willing to sell. Savage goes to the network boss (a very young Dabney Coleman) for the cash but then word arrives that Lee is dead, a supposed suicide. But is that really so? Looking for answers leads Savage into a labyrinth of lies and deceit. A decent story enhanced by Spielberg’s directorial touches and aided by a strong cast including Barbara Bain (Landau’s wife at the time), Will Geer (Grandpa Walton) and Pat Harrington. This was Spielberg’s final TV gig before moving into features.

    Bonus:
    Eyes (1969)-Claudia Menlo (Joan Crawford) a fabulously rich but mercenary woman (she tells her doctor “My single abiding interest is MYSELF”!) who has been blind since birth blackmails a surgeon (Barry Sullivan-who also appears in Savage) to transplant the eyes of a desperate man she has bought so she can see for twelve hours. The surgery is a success but an unexpected hitch pitches her back into darkness. The second segment of the pilot for the TV show Night Gallery was Spielberg’s first professional directorial job and he aces it with an assured hand helped by Crawford’s accomplished performance.

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