Siskel & Ebert Review - Arthur, Blow Out, Endless Love, Zorro the Gay Blade

[@davidnelson6874]

“Blow Out” was much, much more enjoyable than I expected.

[@gheller2261]

Arthur is a classic. What movie was Siskel watching? Hilarious throughout. A dozen classic lines that my wife and I use today. A week does not go by when at least one of us doesn't say "I'll alert the media."

[@PoofOfLogic]

Arthur is one of my all time favorite comedies. I consider Dudley Moore's performance to be pitch perfect and absolutely hilarious....

[@lowbridge7070]

Back then in 1981 I went to the movies once a week with my then best friend. We were both a couple of fanatics about the movies and went to the movies together once a week from the 1970s-1980s (and yes, we religiously watched Siskel and Ebert every week on his living room tv). Arthur is just one of many movies we saw. We were 12 years old. I can't recall my friends reaction, but we stayed to watch it a second time, so I imagine he liked it. I fell in love with the movie from my very first viewing. It quickly became one of my all time favorite movies right then and there and remains that to this day. In the following years, whenever Arthur popped up on tv, I would drop everything to watch it.

[@freddyfurrah3789]

And friends never last.

[@OhSankYouDoktor]

Wow, Gene really blew this one! "Arthur" is one of my favorite films since I first saw it as a child. Moore's work is up there with Gene Wilder in "Young Frankenstein" and Dustin Hoffman in "Tootsie" as one of the great comic performances.

[@fringelilyfringelily391]

"Normally, one would have to go to a bowling-alley to meet a person of your stature" ... now that's a great British burn from the great Gielgud..

[@gheller2261]

Arthur is one of my favorite comedies ever. One small thing everyone ignores - Arthur is the only English person in his family.

[@rickbrenner6079]

Love Gene, but he missed the boat on Arthur. Arthur us one of my favorite films of all time! It’s so funny, I root for the Arthur and Liza to get together, and it ends so heartwarming. Not to mention Arthur’s Theme is such a beautiful song. Big miss by Gene, but every one has their own view😊, I guess.

[@dmp04]

I loved Arthur. I think that Sir John Gielgud was really funny.

[@yournamehere6002]

Agreed!

[@broncobilly4029]

Blowout may have been Travolta's best acting performance.

[@robertkoelle8910]

Interesting that in their review of Blow-Out, they don't reference Antonioni's Blow-Up.

[@tommyboy6267]

Holy Crap!!! They finally got it right! Blow Out is one of the best movies of all time. And yes...24:20...that scene...and what Travolta says...will break your heart.

[@johnbogg7395]

Blow Out is great. I own the disc.

[@matthewschwartz6607]

Blow Out still holds up today. Lithgow was REALLY creepy!

[@darrenhood4033]

and it bombed because of its ending. Audiences who saw it couldn't accept the bleak ending and a film projected to do 60 million total box office sunk to about 30 million.

[@matthewschwartz6607]

@@darrenhood4033 - Oh, wow. I thought that it did okay . Lithgow did work with Depalma again for that Raising Cain movie (Which was ,um, well, NOT as good!).

[@darrenhood4033]

@@matthewschwartz6607 It did ok, but this was supposed to be a huge moneymaker based off of three consecutive box office successes. Conservative audiences of the day expected a happy ending because of John Travolta being a featured star and felt blindsided by the final act.

[@KahlessTheUnforgettable]

Blow up, the original; is even better!

[@kolst8406]

I rarely cry; I've seen Blow Out twice and cried both times. Siskel and Ebert's reviews are spot on. I would only add the platonic friendship between Travolta and Nancy Allen - and her naivete - makes the ending all the more devastating.

[@TheNameisPlissken1981]

Two actors that play a drunk fantastically are Dudley Moore in both 10 & Arthur and John Ritter in Skin Deep. Funny how 10 and Skin Deep were both written & directed by Blake Edwards. Some might argue that Moore in 10 is not a drunk, but watch the film again. He is drinking in almost every scene. As for the films on S&E, Arthur is a classic comedy and Blow Out is one of DePalma's greatest films.

[@eargasm1072]

He was also one in real life lol I met him when I was like 10 yrs old and can recall he reeked of booze! A very funny man and actor just the same

[@TheJameslehr]

and let's not forget Ray Milland in The Lost Weekend.

[@WilAdams]

Endless Love is yet another film that was only so-so, but which used a hit Pop song "Endless Love' Lionel Ritchie to advance it's ticket sales. As for Zorro, I will never understand why that film did not catch on the way that Love at First Bite did, my one theory is that in Love at First Bite included the monster Disco hit 'I Love the Night Life', while Zorro did not. Judging from other films (like the already mentioned Endless Love) that have achieved big box office because of the inclusion of hit songs (Meatballs, American Gigolo, Foxes, Grease, and of course Saturday Night Fever) I can surmise that Zorro should have included a popular song. Blowout did not blow my hair back. I wanted to like it, but I think I was coming off having seen Travolta and Allen in Carrie, and I just could not get their image from that film out of my mind.

[@natepeace1737]

It has! “Here’s to being free! La-La-La-La-La-La-La-La Zorro’s back!” Lol!

[@joesimon2029]

Endless Love had one REALLY good plot twist ! Brooke's father chases her boyfriend thru a city in broad daylight . The father , not looking carefully, then gets hit by a car and dies! Totally not expected in a movie like this .

[@newwavepop]

i LOVED Zorro The Gay Blade when i was a kid, i watched it ALL the time. now having not seen it in 30 something years watching the little clips they showed i was laughing my ass off. what i think Dudley Moore does so well in Arthur is he really does make you feel for him, behind all his jokes and laughter you really can see and sense the loneliness. re watched Blow Out just a few years ago, good film.

[@mccallosone4903]

I loved zorro as a kid. Watched it a lot on HBO

[@madahad9]

I probably enjoyed Arthur when I first saw it but now find it obnoxious. I like Dudley Moore, especially in 10 and Bedazzled with Peter Cook. The only likeable character is John Gielgud as Hobson. He deserved his Oscar. Blow Out is John Travolta's best performance. The ending is hearbreaking and unforgettable. It's also among Brian DePalma's best films.

[@MegaMagicdog]

Seeing that scene in Blow Out with the Jeep driving thru the parade, made me think of the Waukasha massacre!

[@mowm88]

Blowout was really good.

[@kristinschermann6581]

I Loved Blow Out- my sister & I used to watch it every time it came on HBO....funny that Roger's pick for the worst of the week was so very close to the titles of John Travolta's character from Blow Out supposedly worked on!

[@ricardocantoral7672]

My top five De Palma films: 1. Carlito's Way 2. Femme Fatale 3. Blow Out 4. Carrie 5. Sisters

[@bOmBAsTiK]

For me, it'd be: 1. Carlito's Way 2. Scarface 3. Untouchables 4. Blowout 5. Casualties of War

[@iluvmylovebirdandmybudgiet7729]

1) Body Double 2) Dressed to Kill 3) Blow Out 4) Scarface 5) Carlito`s Way

[@jusme164]

Dressed to kill !!!

[@digitalsixx]

Any chance you have their Dressed To Kill review?

[@ThatOldTV]

Dressed to Kill came out in July of 1980. I looked at reviews in that time period and didn't see it listed. Do you know if they actually reviewed that film on their show?

[@digitalsixx]

@@ThatOldTV i just had a look at the episode guide from Sneaks Previews that year and it looks like it may have been released between seasons.. so I’m guessing that they didn’t review it after all. I’d been on the look out for it for years.. guess it wasn’t meant to be. Thanks for all these uploads though.. terrific stuff 👍

[@ThatOldTV]

@@digitalsixx I read up on it and I saw they'd written individual reviews for Dressed to Kill. I'm guessing the same thing, it was likely released in between seasons. I couldn't find anything that indicated they'd review it on their show. Sorry about that.

[@eargasm1072]

I also looked for that this weekend after watching it again lol S&E were on summer vacation, that's why they didn't do any "at the movies" reviews of Empire, the Shining or Dressed

[@iluvmylovebirdandmybudgiet7729]

How about the episode with Halloween 3`s review?? Siskel gives it a thumb up.....missed the review on the original broad cast...

[@MADWORLD1427]

Gene was kind of a pretentious jerk in his taste, and I rarely agreed with him, I have been watching these videos and he disliked Rocky, 9 to 5, Poltergeist, Seems Like Old Times and now Arthur!

[@littlekingtrashmouth9219]

Don’t forget Apocalypse Now

[@joesimon2029]

@@littlekingtrashmouth9219 They liked "Dawn of the Dead" so ...............

[@littlekingtrashmouth9219]

@@joesimon2029 I feel like the only one who likes night of the living dead but not dawn of the dead

[@efan2012]

He also: hated At Close Range because it was "too violent," for the story it was trying to tell (despite the fact violence was all around the real life story," to begin with. He also didn't comprehend the plot to the original Terminator and thought they were coming from outer space and not time traveling. He really hated Roger Moore and Farrah Fawcett despite being making quality work (he just had it out for them.) Every once in a while he could be right but damn if it he wasn't a goof a lot of the time.

[@joesimon2029]

@@littlekingtrashmouth9219 I feel like they are 2 different movies - like WAY different. I hate DAY of the Dead. I'm the ONLY one on THAT !!

[@dougwylie1906]

Gene Siskel is occasionally way off and that was certainly the case with his assessment of Arthur. One of my favorite movies, and one of the rare really funny movies with a genuine heart.

[@WildFungus]

I watched Zorro the Gay Blade recently, and it was so funny, I dunno the whole Zorro tv / movie persona kinda is camp as hell so just making it a gay joke was super funny I dunno. George Hamilton nailed it. Blowout is an excellent thriller as well. Arthur holds up but it's crazy to think you'd call it a summer blockbuster once upon a time.

[@09rja]

I loved Zorro!

[@michaelorick2065]

I love Zorro the Gay Blade it's great

[@kali3665]

John Travolta always amazes me. He appears in some of the crappiest films ever, and then we see him in these incredible films (Blow Out, Pulp Fiction) and manages to pull it off. He DOES have talent, but I guess it takes a great director (or Quentin Tarantino - joke, people) to really bring out that talent. I did like Arthur at the time, but I find it very hard to watch now - changing times, I guess. The remake with Russell Brand is terrible, IMO. Zorro the Gay Blade has many of the same issues as Arthur - it has NOT aged well, but I think George Hamilton really pulls off these kinds of over the top characters. I still think Love at First Bite is one of his best performances, and Zorro is in the same, um, vein. Yes, I remain bothered that yet again Zorro is not played by a Hispanic actor, the accent is atrocious, and the gay jokes are pathetic, but Hamilton always gets the comic aspect. The action scenes are pretty good too.

[@laustcawz2089]

Check out Travolta in "Face/Off" & "White Man's Burden". The "Arthur" remake was indeed terrible, except for Russell Brand, who was terrific & deserved a much better remake in which to star.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

Travolta is a good actor who has appeared in a lot of bad films.

[@marcofalzone6469]

@@ricardocantoral7672 yes.

[@matthewschwartz6607]

There was a REMAKE of Arthur?

[@kali3665]

@@matthewschwartz6607 Yep. With Russell Brand -- and Helen Mirren as the butler character. Pathetic!

[@freemangriffin4953]

I don't like Arthur and I will never understand how John Gielgud won an Oscar for it - I love Gielgud but it was ridiculous Oscar win. Blow Out is by far the best of these films, truly inventive and fascinating!

[@gheller2261]

You just announced to the world that you have no sense of humor and would not know funny if it hit you in the face.

[@rdoyle29]

They kind of give away the entire plot of "Blow Out"

[@johnbogg7395]

Way to ruin the movie.

[@200wattstudio8]

They are notorious for that

[@KahlessTheUnforgettable]

Oh boy, what a travesty!

[@citygirl5705]

Yeah, disclosing that Nancy Allen meets John Lithgow at the end, as he poses as a reporter? They should have had more respect for their audience than to do that.

[@hodun8]

You mean they ruined a 42 year old movie for you? Ok.

[@malichitte]

Has anyone heard back from De Palma? Or is he still out to lunch? Just kidding, love that guy.

[@pam0626]

Endless Love was a fantastic novel. Brooke Shields and Martin Hewitt were miscast. Beautiful, but miscast. In the novel, Jade was unsympathetic and self-absorbed and Jade and David had a maturity beyond their years.

[@pam0626]

@@deckard97 Yes!!

[@donpinkston5263]

Couldn’t agree more! Would have loved to have seen a decent adaptation of that book!

[@pam0626]

@@donpinkston5263 I also would have loved having the Ann & David conversation play out onscreen, where he visits her NYC apartment after her divorce. Her feelings for him were so central to the book and Shirley Knight was a powerhouse actress. It’s a shame we didn’t get a chance to see her deliver that dialogue.

[@donpinkston5263]

@@pam0626 I haven’t seen the film in a while but I do seem to remember that scene. It sticks out in my mind only because I thought Ann’s NYC apartment was great. Also, I remember reading somewhere that Shirley Knight fought to get Jodie Foster cast as Jade. I can totally see Foster at that age in the part since Jade was described in the book as a tomboy.

[@pam0626]

@@donpinkston5263 Foster would have been amazing as Jade. Wow.

[@geoycs]

How does anyone not like Arthur!!! There is NOTHING not to like about the movie, and everything to love. Very strange.

[@gheller2261]

In my book, one of the top five film comedies of all time.

[@cariganpintalba9498]

One of the things I liked about Blow Out was the bad guy who assassinated the politician was not the cog in some omnipotent conspiracy. He was an unhinged sociopath his bosses could not control. It was indicative of the risks with running this kind of illicit activities. You run the risk of hiring sociopaths because stable people don’t do jobs like that.

[@citygirl5705]

And yet "Blow Out" didn't make either of their Top Ten lists for the year.

[@justinbergmans36]

There seems to be an Indication that without the Calvin Klein s influence, Ms. Shields wouldn’t have had much of an acting career. She wasn’t well regarded in most of her early work. But, I think she did the best she could.

[@grannyweatherwax8005]

No way some middle aged male movie reviewer could get away with referring to a teen girl now as "her whole career she's used her body as bait." I gasped.

[@stevegeorge6880]

It's kind of amusing that they discuss whether or not it would be appropriate for a 15 or 16 year old girl to refuse to do a nude scene for a movie role. I'm pretty sure that sort of thing is now looked at quite universally as a crime.

[@Hack_The_Planet_]

Times were certainly different, and to be fair I think they were arguing more from a professionalism standpoint. It’s definitely weird though lol

[@demondsims5411]

Arthur is a classic. Nuff Said.

[@Charliecomet82]

"Zorro, the Gay Blade" is just good dumb fun-how can you not like a movie that has a character who introduces himself as, "Don Luis Obispo, from Bakersfield!"

[@mykal.7424]

Endless Love is Tom Cruise's first movie role in a bit part

[@stephenosullivan9016]

After watching a large number of these videos from past Siskel & Ebert shows, it’s obvious that I agree much more with Roger Ebert then I do with Gene. So many times Gene over thinks a film, as in this case Arthur, and gives a ridiculously bad review. Arthur is one of the best comedies EVER! And though I don’t expect critics to love a film like I do, Roger seems to have a better understanding of what the film maker is going for. Gene is a sour pill a great many times. May they both rest in peace.

[@timothylewis2527]

These guys talking about movies from the ’30s is like if I was talking about movies from the '70s. Getting old sucks...

[@dathorndike4908]

Why is Zorro's blade "gay" in this movie?? Is the word "blade" supposed to be a sexual reference?

[@joemadden4160]

Saw Endless Love when I was 15. Hated it. Badly acted. Didn't like Arthur except for John Gielgud. Zorro The Gay Blade - Blah. Probably chuckled a few times. Blow Out I loved as a kid, but the ending gutted me. I loved Nancy Allen. I appreciate the film even more now that I'm in my 50's.

[@patcrites5274]

I loved the movie Aruthur

[@CaptainSpalding72]

Endless Love- fantastic book! Choppy, bullshit film with a cop out ending.

[@gridlo]

Idk is aurthur really that "screwbal"? And wtf Gene??

[@crystalshaw8744]

I know that scene...smile

[@yournamehere6002]

Well, Gene was wrong about ARTHUR, a stone classic

[@warriorv9359]

Arthur one of my favorite movies of all time reminded me of my life Rogers badass and right on target

[@tuffs4it]

"Ahhhhh haaaaaaa! I know you."

[@mateusrosito3436]

Zorro the gay Blade IS amazing

[@peternighswander9629]

Arthur was funny at the time but it wears very thin over time and I think Gene was correct in his assessment. In retrospect, it was ok- very 80s like, but does not wear well over time. The character is rather despicable if you think about, but I do have affection for Dudley Moore so it gets a little pass with me Gielgud was the best part for me Why they decided to make a sequel with the terminally unfunny and grotesque Russel Brand, I’ll never know

[@mikec6111]

What a terrible week at the movies. Love Siskel and Ebert though.

[@aliali-ce3yf]

11:26 - that's a disturbing take by Ebert

[@QBAN2010]

No empathy for Arthur

[@dmp04]

Zorro didn't make a Zee. He wasn't in the US. It was a Zed.

[@grannyweatherwax8005]

Movie takes place in California, my guy

[@dmp04]

@@grannyweatherwax8005 That is Old California. It was still part of Mexico during Zorro's time.

[@smoothwill]

Shit if my daughter ever had told me her puppy love boyfriend was staying after I told her he can’t stay they snuck and had sex . Shit let’s just leave it at that .

[@pandaeyes42]

9:13. WHAT OVERACTING?!?

[@jusme164]

6

[@CR055FIRE]

blow out is so boring

[@crystalshaw8744]

Endless Love is horrible. They all deserve Razzies.

[@mikec6111]

Dudley Moore is more of a dud.

[@chrisfinch8637]

Certainly not hen it comes to “10”, “Arthur”, and “Six Weeks”.

[@CaptainSpalding72]

Zorro is deliciously politically incorrect. ...

[@musicman76enator]

Movies like that would not be allowed, even produced, today.

[@JanetStarChild]

"Politically incorrect" because the gay Zorro is a flamboyant dandy? It's stereotypical, sure, but I wouldn't say it was offensive; especially since the character is portrayed as strong and charismatic and not as a pathetic, prejudice joke. The fact that you revel in political incorrectness has me a little concerned...

[@theessentials450]

Gene is wrong ln Arthur. Not sure why he missed that.

[@eargasm1072]

Oh that brats in love classic "Endless Misery"!!

[@crystalshaw8744]

😀😀😀

[@oobrocks]

1 of mine and QT's films is Blowout. It's simply a must c for movie fans! 18:22

[@crystalshaw8744]

It is a must see. Excellent movie.

[@theessentials450]

Endless Love was such a slash-up story. Made next to zero sense. I love the book.