World Cinema Classics Free on Youtube, Curated by Daniel Gauss

There are a zillion great, old films for free on youtube. I wanted to bring them together on one blog for lovers of older films or people who want to learn about film history and see some of the best films ever. When I was younger there was a theater called the Parkway (in Chicago) that showed such films. It was torn down (so it goes). So this blog is kind of my own personal Parkway. djg51qu@gmail.com I will post new films each Saturday.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Aguirre, The Wrath of God by Werner Herzog 1972

I tend to think this film is over-rated. Herzog once said that he often didn't know what the dialogue for a scene was going to be (in this movie) until about 10 minutes before shooting the scene, and this shows.

If this is a 'great' film, it's not because of the dialogue.

Basically this is a film about a small group of Spanish conquistadores who search for the mythical City of Gold. They are led by a delusional and megalomaniacal leader who usurps his power from a more responsible and competent member of his expedition. The historical statement being made in the film, I'm assuming, is that the conquest and colonization of South America was accomplished by such buffoons - Aguirre was just unlucky, other buffoons were lucky beyond belief.

The film is worth watching, or I wouldn't place it here. :P Remember to click on the little 'cc' icon under the screen to get the English subtitles, although, as I wrote previously, you won't be missing much if you don't follow what is being said.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weuYp-XFxAo

Friday, December 27, 2013

The Seventh Seal by Ingmar Bergman 1957

A knight comes back to Sweden from the Crusades very disillusioned. He has realized that the great goal or plan for his life had been a lie, he has begun to question the power and even existence of God and, to really make things worse, he comes back to Sweden during the height of the black death (plague).

Indeed, death comes to take him, but he delays his capture by playing a game of chess with the grim reaper. During this game of chess he tries to answer some nagging questions and looks for the opportunity to do something truly meaningful.

This is the film which made Bergman and Max von Sydow hugely famous.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbgiWPJLSsM

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

The Bicycle Thief by Vittorio De Sica 1948

This film is considered one of the greatest films ever made. I won't spoil it for you by saying anything about it. Just watch it if you have some time.

click on the 'cc' button under the screen for subtitles if they don't pop up

Onibaba by Kaneto Shindo 1964

During a time of brutal and grueling civil war, when farmers cannot even tend to their fields, two women survive by killing lost samurai and selling their swords and armor. This is a very dark, elemental, pessimistic film in which life is stripped down to its Schopenhauerian essentials. It's a pretty raw movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQOBI0ixNFI

The Insect Woman by Shohei Imamura 1963

Imamura once wrote: "I like focusing, in my films, on the lower part of society and the lower portion of the human body."

The film is called "The Insect Woman" because an insect does not seem capable of learning from its mistakes - as would seem to be the case of the protagonist in this film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikn6c2AcUKo

Monday, December 23, 2013

Cries and Whispers by Ingmar Bergman 1972

This was never one of my favorite movies, but many people consider it to be a 'great' film. Basically it is about how two sisters deal with the impending death of a third sister. There's also a maid who seems to have developed a very close relationship to the dying sister. It seems to be a film about very cold people who are just incapable of responding with warmth and humanity, even in situations that demand warmth and humanity.

The irony is that the dying sister never really sees how hollow and callous her two sisters are. Perhaps this is the illusion of a happy, supportive family that she has to hold onto as the only way to endure her physical pain. It's also interesting to think about the extent of the relationship between the maid and the dying sister and why and how this relationship developed. It is obviously more than a platonic relationship.

So it's not a bad film, it's worth seeing and thinking about. There are some experimental aspects to this film that I liked. Bergman keeps the interior of the house a blood red color and contrasts that with the ultra immaculate white clothing the sisters wear (at least at the beginning of the film).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a8Jh-rtSQg

Remember to click the little 'cc' button under the screen for English subtitles.

Friday, December 20, 2013

The Decalogue by Krzysztof Kieslowski (1989)

An amazing series of 1 hour films originally made for Polish TV. Each film is about one of the 10 Commandments. You have to see this series to believe it. A cinematic masterpiece.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOucaDYKRDA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH6EbHriUbc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tV5diB5ME8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNYwzpEA8rU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIzw88K2Uac

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmmuiimSjLs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35D_FRGpdNc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecUMbLyQGEk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGH-glg1LdQ

Metropolis by Fritz Lang (1927)

Take a journey with Freder as he seeks the mysterious, kind-hearted woman who has rejected everything he had lived for.

In order to get the English subtitles, you have to click on the little 'cc' button under the screen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j92E9J8uafc

The Passion of Joan of Arc by Carl Dreyer (1928)

This movie by Dreyer is a work of art. It's one of the best directed films ever.

In the film there's an interesting contrast between Joan, for whom the Christian religion has become real, and the bored, apathetic and cynical English clergy, for whom Christianity became a job.

Dreyer never chose a definitive soundtrack, so this version of the film has a contemporary soundtrack by a group of musicians from Chicago who call their band: Joan of Arc. I kind of like their soundtrack.