For Richard Chamberlain’s birthday I watched Petulia. George C. Scott and Julie Christie are the stars of the film. Joseph Cotton and Richard Chamberlain co-star. It is a story that takes place in 1968 San Francisco. I was pretty much lost after the opening credits so there is no way I can describe the plot of the film. There are some interesting montages that are interspersed with psychedelic music and lava like painting on the camera lens. John Barry scored the film but there were songs by The Grateful Dead and Big Brother and the Holding Company. They could have performed the music in the film, but I could not tell.
Richard was very intense in his role and looked good. I should have stuck with my original idea of watching The Thorn Birds, no matter how long it takes to watch the whole program. My favorite mini-series of his is The Count of Monte Cristo, which happens to be my favorite Dumas story also.
It just occurred to me that my all time favorite movie is Slipper and the Rose, a musical version of Cinderella with Richard as the Prince. Why did I not watch that? I have obviously been working too hard.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
March 28
For Freddie Bartholomew’s I watched David Copperfield. Freddie’s Hollywood debut. Freddie makes his appearance as a normal boy, bored in church and doing his family duty. The intelligence in Freddie’s eyes shine through. When talking with the adults he looks everyone in the eyes. When he has displeased his stepfather and is dragged from the room, he shakes and trembles so much you really think he is terrified. When he does get beat his screams are very realistic. After his mother dies he is forced to work in London. He works at a winery. After his boss is released from debtors prison he goes to his aunts in Dover. His money and items are stolen and he walks all the way. He sells his coat for money to buy food. When he finally gets to Dover he is tired, hungry and his clothing is torn. His aunt takes him in. When his stepfather comes for him, he wants to stay. The aunt fights for him and he gets to stay.
Freddie was an amazing actor.
Freddie was an amazing actor.
March 29
TCM showed 7 Crime Doctors films and a drama to celebrate Warren Baxter’s birthday. The Crime doctors series are so short I was able to watch several and still watch Jean Harlow films.
The original film Crime Doctor starts off with a car passing a sign re-elect Herbert Hoover. From a speeding car a door opens and a man comes out and rolls down a hill. The man is taken to a hospital. You can’t see who it is. In the hospital a man has bandages taken off by a doctor who tells the patient he was hit by a car. Once the bandages come off it is Warren Baxter and he has amnesia. While he is recovering a man comes up to him and asks him “where is the valise?” and to drop the act. He tries to choke Warren. Warren gets rescued before any damage can be done. The next day they go to the police station to have Warren fingerprinted to see if he matches any records. Outside as a group of policemen go by Warren backs up to the wall having second thoughts about going in the building. The doctor and Warren work to get his memory back, but no luck. Warren lives a wild life drinking and women. The doctor talks him into trying to find a new life because he can’t get the old one back. There is a montage of Warren studying to be a doctor. He has the name Robert Ordway. 9-10 years pass.
At a nightclub a man cuts his hand on a glass he squeezed when he saw Warren. Warren takes him to another room and takes care of his hand. The man asks “haven’t we met before?” Warren tries to get more information but doesn’t get much. To find out more about himself before his amnesia he does a lot of pro bono work with a prison and becomes a member of the parole board. While making a speech that is transmitted to all the prisons in the area, a woman Pearl recognizes the voice. She applies to the parole board to see him and to test him. At the review she states his is Phil Morgan who robbed a $200,000 payroll. Warren tracks down the others in the gang, who want the money, to reenact the events to see if he can get his memory back. While going over the events at the hideout there is a fight. Warren gets his memory back. He turns in the gang and the money. He confesses to the police and stands trial. At his trial he makes an impassioned speech that there are two men involved, one who committed the crime and an innocent man. The jury finds him guilty with a recommendation of clemency. The judge sentences him to the minimum amount of 10 years, but suspends the sentence based on the juries request of clemency.
I like films that show you the time reference. Instead of showing exactly what year, there is a sign ‘re-elect Herbert Hoover”. Instead of showing one, two, three etc years there is a montage of book, studying and then operations. It is probably supposed to be coming to modern times 1943 when the film was released. The film series was based on the radio program. The stories are very creative.
The original film Crime Doctor starts off with a car passing a sign re-elect Herbert Hoover. From a speeding car a door opens and a man comes out and rolls down a hill. The man is taken to a hospital. You can’t see who it is. In the hospital a man has bandages taken off by a doctor who tells the patient he was hit by a car. Once the bandages come off it is Warren Baxter and he has amnesia. While he is recovering a man comes up to him and asks him “where is the valise?” and to drop the act. He tries to choke Warren. Warren gets rescued before any damage can be done. The next day they go to the police station to have Warren fingerprinted to see if he matches any records. Outside as a group of policemen go by Warren backs up to the wall having second thoughts about going in the building. The doctor and Warren work to get his memory back, but no luck. Warren lives a wild life drinking and women. The doctor talks him into trying to find a new life because he can’t get the old one back. There is a montage of Warren studying to be a doctor. He has the name Robert Ordway. 9-10 years pass.
At a nightclub a man cuts his hand on a glass he squeezed when he saw Warren. Warren takes him to another room and takes care of his hand. The man asks “haven’t we met before?” Warren tries to get more information but doesn’t get much. To find out more about himself before his amnesia he does a lot of pro bono work with a prison and becomes a member of the parole board. While making a speech that is transmitted to all the prisons in the area, a woman Pearl recognizes the voice. She applies to the parole board to see him and to test him. At the review she states his is Phil Morgan who robbed a $200,000 payroll. Warren tracks down the others in the gang, who want the money, to reenact the events to see if he can get his memory back. While going over the events at the hideout there is a fight. Warren gets his memory back. He turns in the gang and the money. He confesses to the police and stands trial. At his trial he makes an impassioned speech that there are two men involved, one who committed the crime and an innocent man. The jury finds him guilty with a recommendation of clemency. The judge sentences him to the minimum amount of 10 years, but suspends the sentence based on the juries request of clemency.
I like films that show you the time reference. Instead of showing exactly what year, there is a sign ‘re-elect Herbert Hoover”. Instead of showing one, two, three etc years there is a montage of book, studying and then operations. It is probably supposed to be coming to modern times 1943 when the film was released. The film series was based on the radio program. The stories are very creative.
March 30
For Warren Beatty’s birthday I watched Lillith. The first thing that gets you is the beautiful black and white cinematography. Warren Beatty plays a recently discharged soldier who applies for work at a mental institution that is near the city in which he lives. When he meets someone in the street she says “I heard you were wounded or something” Warren replies “or something”. Warren gets the job. He treats all the patients as equals and tries to help them the best he can. On a picnic a woman, Jean Seberg drops her paintbrush and another patient Peter Fonda goes to get the brush. Warren has to help him climb back up.
During a staff meeting about Schizophrenia. There is a presentation with transparences. The camera shows the speaker’s head in between the legs of the projector.
Warren get caught up in the world of Jean. They become very close and intimate. When he finds out that Jean is also sleeping with a woman another patient he gets very upset. He fights both women and is forceful with Jean. He takes the women out for a movie, but doesn’t see the film. They wait outside a few moments and the film lets out, they go back to the institution. Later when a patient commits suicide Jean goes back into her old delusion of her brother’s death. The manager of the institution goes to see Warren but his is not in his room. There she sees the fish tank with the blond doll floating upside down and the photos of his ex-girl friend and Jean (who look a lot a like). She tracks him down at a bar. They talk very little. He gives a drink to a woman at the bar and says “This is for you Bit***.” He goes back to the institution and does something to Jean. The DVD froze so I don’t know exactly what happens (I may not want to know what happens). He goes through the hallway and on the grounds as if it is a normal occurrence. He sees the doctor and the manager and goes up to them “help me”.
During a staff meeting about Schizophrenia. There is a presentation with transparences. The camera shows the speaker’s head in between the legs of the projector.
Warren get caught up in the world of Jean. They become very close and intimate. When he finds out that Jean is also sleeping with a woman another patient he gets very upset. He fights both women and is forceful with Jean. He takes the women out for a movie, but doesn’t see the film. They wait outside a few moments and the film lets out, they go back to the institution. Later when a patient commits suicide Jean goes back into her old delusion of her brother’s death. The manager of the institution goes to see Warren but his is not in his room. There she sees the fish tank with the blond doll floating upside down and the photos of his ex-girl friend and Jean (who look a lot a like). She tracks him down at a bar. They talk very little. He gives a drink to a woman at the bar and says “This is for you Bit***.” He goes back to the institution and does something to Jean. The DVD froze so I don’t know exactly what happens (I may not want to know what happens). He goes through the hallway and on the grounds as if it is a normal occurrence. He sees the doctor and the manager and goes up to them “help me”.
Monday, March 28, 2011
March 26
Happy Birthday to Alan Arkin, James Caan, Sterling Haydon, Sruther Martin, Leonard Nimoy and Diana Ross.
To celebrate Diana Ross’ birthday I watched Mahogany. At the start of the film there is a fashion show and Diana comes out at the end of the show as Mahogany. She is basking in the glory of people accepting her designs. Backstage someone is telling her that she made it, that there is a party to celebrate with everyone. She freezes and as the credits start she is in fashion school. The great theme starts. As she is walking home from class she sees Billy Dee Williams. He is an alderman trying to get the people to rally to stop the city from tearing down buildings. By day she is a secretary for a model agency. While assisting she catches the eye of photography Anthony Perkins. She tells her boss that she has a doctors appointment, but is out trying to sell her designs. No one is interested. Her boss finds out that she is lying and fires her. She tries other places to sell her designs but again no one is interested. She works at Billy’s office and they date. Perkins calls her from Rome offering her a job as a model. She agrees and flies out that day. In Rome she goes to Perkin’s apartment. There are photographs of a woman “My Last Duchess” he states. There are darts on one picture. “You’re only young once, but you can be immature forever” as he pulls the darts off the picture. He calls people names of inanimate objects. “You are rich, dark, beautiful and rare. I shall call you Mahogany”. She becomes a model. The next part is a montage. Diana in costumes being photographed, interspersed with scenes of Rome and still photographs with the theme song once again playing.
Perkin’s in unable to become her lover. He tries to humiliate her but she stands tall. She is on the run way in one of her creations and Jean-Pierre Aumont purchases the dress for $20 million lira. Billy comes to Rome. At a party Perkin’s tries to kill Billy in an act of jealousness. Billy tries to get Diana to come back home and be herself not Mahogany. They argue and Billy leaves. The next day at a photo shoot, Perkin’s takes photos of her in a car. He is still upset and jealous. He takes photos instead of driving. They end up off the road in an accident. Diana is hurt. Perkin’s is killed. Jean-Pierre helps her recover. He creates a studio at his home. She becomes a demanding task manager. After the fashion show that opened the film Jean-Pierre wants to become lovers. He recognizes that she doesn’t want to have sex with him but would if he requested, that it was time to pay the piper. This discourages him and he leaves. Diana goes back to America and reunites with Billy at a political rally. Even though she realized her dreams it was nothing without the man she loved.
At the end credit’s the theme song played again. The costumes were designed by Diana Ross.
To celebrate Diana Ross’ birthday I watched Mahogany. At the start of the film there is a fashion show and Diana comes out at the end of the show as Mahogany. She is basking in the glory of people accepting her designs. Backstage someone is telling her that she made it, that there is a party to celebrate with everyone. She freezes and as the credits start she is in fashion school. The great theme starts. As she is walking home from class she sees Billy Dee Williams. He is an alderman trying to get the people to rally to stop the city from tearing down buildings. By day she is a secretary for a model agency. While assisting she catches the eye of photography Anthony Perkins. She tells her boss that she has a doctors appointment, but is out trying to sell her designs. No one is interested. Her boss finds out that she is lying and fires her. She tries other places to sell her designs but again no one is interested. She works at Billy’s office and they date. Perkins calls her from Rome offering her a job as a model. She agrees and flies out that day. In Rome she goes to Perkin’s apartment. There are photographs of a woman “My Last Duchess” he states. There are darts on one picture. “You’re only young once, but you can be immature forever” as he pulls the darts off the picture. He calls people names of inanimate objects. “You are rich, dark, beautiful and rare. I shall call you Mahogany”. She becomes a model. The next part is a montage. Diana in costumes being photographed, interspersed with scenes of Rome and still photographs with the theme song once again playing.
Perkin’s in unable to become her lover. He tries to humiliate her but she stands tall. She is on the run way in one of her creations and Jean-Pierre Aumont purchases the dress for $20 million lira. Billy comes to Rome. At a party Perkin’s tries to kill Billy in an act of jealousness. Billy tries to get Diana to come back home and be herself not Mahogany. They argue and Billy leaves. The next day at a photo shoot, Perkin’s takes photos of her in a car. He is still upset and jealous. He takes photos instead of driving. They end up off the road in an accident. Diana is hurt. Perkin’s is killed. Jean-Pierre helps her recover. He creates a studio at his home. She becomes a demanding task manager. After the fashion show that opened the film Jean-Pierre wants to become lovers. He recognizes that she doesn’t want to have sex with him but would if he requested, that it was time to pay the piper. This discourages him and he leaves. Diana goes back to America and reunites with Billy at a political rally. Even though she realized her dreams it was nothing without the man she loved.
At the end credit’s the theme song played again. The costumes were designed by Diana Ross.
March 27
I decided to watch some comedy shorts for Gloria Swanson. I have the Gloria Swanson DVD Set and the first DVD is dedicated to comedies. She was in a Charlie Chaplin short His New Job (1915). She was basically an extra as a secretary in the casting office.
The Danger Girl (1916) she is interested in Bobby Vernon. Several other women come around who tempt him away. Gloria dresses up as a man to take the other women away from him. She is very convincing except when she physically fights.
Teddy at the Throttle (1917) she plays a heiress with Wallace Beery as her guardian. Her boyfriend Bobby Vernon asks her to marry him and she agrees. Wallace with his sister have been stealing funs from both of them. They decide that Bobby will marry his sister. Wallace gets another telegram that if Bobby doesn’t marry Gloria that Gloria would get the funds. Wallace doesn’t share the information and decides to marry Gloria. Bobby breaks his engagement to Gloria and gets engaged to another woman. At a party the couple decide to elope. Gloria resists Beery and finds out the truth. She tries to get to Bobby to tell him what is going on, but keeps getting pushed away by his eager fiancée and then locked in the coat closet. Beery gets her out of the closet and she tells him she knows the truth and will have him arrested. She goes after the couple. The weather has changed to a terrible storm and the couple get stranded in the mud. Gloria also gets stranded and gets a man help her out of a puddle, he gets stuck and she steals his bike. She catches up with them to tell Bobby the truth but will have nothing to do with him. Beery to stop her from telling the police ties her up to the railroad tracks with an iron chain (when I saw this several years ago at a festival a groan came from the audience). She whistles for her dog Teddy and he comes running. He can’t get her out. She gives him a note. He takes it to Bobby. The two of them race to her. Bobby can’t get her out and tries to signal the train. Teddy goes to the train and gives the engineer the note. They slowdown and the train goes right over her and breaks the chain. Teddy trees Beery and he is arrested. Bobby, Gloria and Teddy get on the train.
Sultan’s Wife (aka Caught in a Harem) (1917) Gloria and Bobby Vernon are on a boat and agree to marry when they reach land in India. Bobby has a dog Teddy, and Gloria has a monkey. Bobby takes a liking to the native girls. Gloria helps a rajah when he falls out of his carriage. The rajah tries to get her to go to his castle, but she escapes him. The monkey runs away and goes into the palace. Gloria and Bobby follow. The rajah recognizing the money plans to trick Gloria. She is taken into the harem. The prime minister who is unhappy with the rajah get the single men in the city to go against the rajah to divorce some of his wives so they can marry. Bobby finds Gloria. They decide to switch cloths so she can get away. She as Bobby is to be executed. Bobby as Gloria dances and everyone likes the dancing and everyone dances the same. The men start to revolt which creates a diversion and the two go back to their clothing. Teddy and the monkey are outside the palace. They get a note to Teddy who gets the note to Bobby’s father at the docks. Bobby is once again caught and to be executed. Teddy comes over the wall gets the executioner and scares the men into another room. Once again Teddy saves the day.
The Danger Girl (1916) she is interested in Bobby Vernon. Several other women come around who tempt him away. Gloria dresses up as a man to take the other women away from him. She is very convincing except when she physically fights.
Teddy at the Throttle (1917) she plays a heiress with Wallace Beery as her guardian. Her boyfriend Bobby Vernon asks her to marry him and she agrees. Wallace with his sister have been stealing funs from both of them. They decide that Bobby will marry his sister. Wallace gets another telegram that if Bobby doesn’t marry Gloria that Gloria would get the funds. Wallace doesn’t share the information and decides to marry Gloria. Bobby breaks his engagement to Gloria and gets engaged to another woman. At a party the couple decide to elope. Gloria resists Beery and finds out the truth. She tries to get to Bobby to tell him what is going on, but keeps getting pushed away by his eager fiancée and then locked in the coat closet. Beery gets her out of the closet and she tells him she knows the truth and will have him arrested. She goes after the couple. The weather has changed to a terrible storm and the couple get stranded in the mud. Gloria also gets stranded and gets a man help her out of a puddle, he gets stuck and she steals his bike. She catches up with them to tell Bobby the truth but will have nothing to do with him. Beery to stop her from telling the police ties her up to the railroad tracks with an iron chain (when I saw this several years ago at a festival a groan came from the audience). She whistles for her dog Teddy and he comes running. He can’t get her out. She gives him a note. He takes it to Bobby. The two of them race to her. Bobby can’t get her out and tries to signal the train. Teddy goes to the train and gives the engineer the note. They slowdown and the train goes right over her and breaks the chain. Teddy trees Beery and he is arrested. Bobby, Gloria and Teddy get on the train.
Sultan’s Wife (aka Caught in a Harem) (1917) Gloria and Bobby Vernon are on a boat and agree to marry when they reach land in India. Bobby has a dog Teddy, and Gloria has a monkey. Bobby takes a liking to the native girls. Gloria helps a rajah when he falls out of his carriage. The rajah tries to get her to go to his castle, but she escapes him. The monkey runs away and goes into the palace. Gloria and Bobby follow. The rajah recognizing the money plans to trick Gloria. She is taken into the harem. The prime minister who is unhappy with the rajah get the single men in the city to go against the rajah to divorce some of his wives so they can marry. Bobby finds Gloria. They decide to switch cloths so she can get away. She as Bobby is to be executed. Bobby as Gloria dances and everyone likes the dancing and everyone dances the same. The men start to revolt which creates a diversion and the two go back to their clothing. Teddy and the monkey are outside the palace. They get a note to Teddy who gets the note to Bobby’s father at the docks. Bobby is once again caught and to be executed. Teddy comes over the wall gets the executioner and scares the men into another room. Once again Teddy saves the day.
Friday, March 25, 2011
March 25
I have seen all but one of the films that TCM is showing for David Lean’s birthday, The Happy Breed. The opening title card says it all “this is a story of a London family from 1919 to 1939”. Robert Newton & Celia Johnson play a married couple who move to a new house in suburban London in 1919 with the whole family. The opening scene is Thames sweeping to the right over London, to the suburbs, into an empty house to the front door where Robert comes in preceding his family. It is a history of England told through one family. The story goes through the returning soldiers from WWI, British Exposition, transportation strikes, talking pictures, Charleston dance contests, marriages, births, deaths, friendships, rise of fascism, the Kings death, Chamberlain and the threat of war in Europe. The story ends as the family and Robert leave the house, the camera starts at the closed door, goes through the house, to the outside in the suburb then to London and the Thames.
March 23
Happy Birthday to Joan Crawford, Akira Kurosawa and Damon Runyon.
TCM is celebrating all three this month. Joan Crawford films on March 26, Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai was on 22nd and the Damon Runyon films ran during the evening and overnight.
I watched Little Miss Marker and The Big Street for Damon Runyon birthday celebration. Is there anyone more adorable than Shirley Temple? She makes you laugh, cry and feel all warm inside. I can see why she was so popular. I am very glad that TCM now has some of the Fox films and can show a treasure like Little Miss Marker.
The Big Street stars Henry Fonda & Lucille Ball. Lucille Ball plays a singer in a nightclub with a gangster boyfriend. Henry Fonda plays a busboy. In a club Henry saves Lucille dog from being run over by a car. Henry gets fired for leaving his post. Lucille has him hired at the club where she sings. Henry has a crush on Lucille, he treats her with awe like her nickname “your highness“. Lucille is a tough primadonna singer in a second rate club. Henry acts as her personal willing servant. Lucille breaks up with her boyfriend, he backhands her and she falls down the steps. He spine is damaged and she can not walk. Her maid pawns the jewelry to pay the medical bills. The money runs out. Henry pays (without Lucille’s knowledge) so she won’t have to go to a charity hospital/clinic. Friends help raise money. When Lucille leaves the hospital she stays with Henry. They throw a party for her, give her a wheelchair and is reunited with a dog. Lucille is upset with people seeing her as weak and asks them to leave. Henry tries his best to make things better for her, but she is bed bound and afraid. Lucille and Henry follows his sister and her new husband to Florida. Henry pushes Lucille in her wheel chair on the road and tries to go through the Holland Tunnel. The police won’t let her walk in the tunnel. A police man states the wheelchair is not a vehicle. He sees Lucille in the wheelchair and says maybe it is a vehicle and asks the next person. This happens several times. A truck driver unhappy with the wait offers them a ride. They walk and hitch rides all the way to Florida.
In Florida Henry carries her around, wearing his white coat so people will think he is an attendant. She sees the man that she left the gangster for and he was very cold and overly polite to her. Lucille thinks that he did on purpose and is angry. Lucille doesn’t think Henry is good enough to take care of and asks him to leave. He gets a job as a busboy who is the same gangster from New York. Henry in a remarkable act of anger hits him. Lucille is sick more of mental anguish. I DVR this film. At this moment with the doctor gives details the screen goes black and EEEEEEEK EEEEEEEK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEK goes off. Weather Alert Test. Ugh. When the film comes back up, Henry is walking the streets. There has been a jewel robbery. Henry has his friend who was in the robbery business. He has retired so Henry decides to go on his own. He sneaks into a room to steal some jewelry. A couple comes in and Henry bluffs his way out of the room with the jewelry and dress. Henry takes the jewelry to the gangster who is actually the main jewel robber. Henry wants the club for a private party for Her Highness. The dress and the jewelry are recognized as Lucille is spotlighted by Ozzy Nelson. Lucille sings. Henry has asked his friends and the wait staff to get everyone to make a big deal about her. Henry changes into a tuxedo and joins the party. When Lucille wants to dance, Henry carries her around. She is able to take a few steps, but collapses. Henry carries her lifeless body out of the club.
Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball are really good in this film. Henry Fonda cares for only one thing Lucille Ball. Everything he does he does for her, no matter what she says to him or what he as to do to make her happy. Even after he has left her when she becomes ill he still cares. Lucille Ball is a strong willed woman use to being independent and the bell of the ball (no pun intended). After her injury, the people she considered friends were no longer her friends and Henry’s friends and relatives, didn’t really like her but were willing to put up with her due to Henry. One moment she is complacent, the next she is angry and the next she is sad/afraid.
TCM is celebrating all three this month. Joan Crawford films on March 26, Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai was on 22nd and the Damon Runyon films ran during the evening and overnight.
I watched Little Miss Marker and The Big Street for Damon Runyon birthday celebration. Is there anyone more adorable than Shirley Temple? She makes you laugh, cry and feel all warm inside. I can see why she was so popular. I am very glad that TCM now has some of the Fox films and can show a treasure like Little Miss Marker.
The Big Street stars Henry Fonda & Lucille Ball. Lucille Ball plays a singer in a nightclub with a gangster boyfriend. Henry Fonda plays a busboy. In a club Henry saves Lucille dog from being run over by a car. Henry gets fired for leaving his post. Lucille has him hired at the club where she sings. Henry has a crush on Lucille, he treats her with awe like her nickname “your highness“. Lucille is a tough primadonna singer in a second rate club. Henry acts as her personal willing servant. Lucille breaks up with her boyfriend, he backhands her and she falls down the steps. He spine is damaged and she can not walk. Her maid pawns the jewelry to pay the medical bills. The money runs out. Henry pays (without Lucille’s knowledge) so she won’t have to go to a charity hospital/clinic. Friends help raise money. When Lucille leaves the hospital she stays with Henry. They throw a party for her, give her a wheelchair and is reunited with a dog. Lucille is upset with people seeing her as weak and asks them to leave. Henry tries his best to make things better for her, but she is bed bound and afraid. Lucille and Henry follows his sister and her new husband to Florida. Henry pushes Lucille in her wheel chair on the road and tries to go through the Holland Tunnel. The police won’t let her walk in the tunnel. A police man states the wheelchair is not a vehicle. He sees Lucille in the wheelchair and says maybe it is a vehicle and asks the next person. This happens several times. A truck driver unhappy with the wait offers them a ride. They walk and hitch rides all the way to Florida.
In Florida Henry carries her around, wearing his white coat so people will think he is an attendant. She sees the man that she left the gangster for and he was very cold and overly polite to her. Lucille thinks that he did on purpose and is angry. Lucille doesn’t think Henry is good enough to take care of and asks him to leave. He gets a job as a busboy who is the same gangster from New York. Henry in a remarkable act of anger hits him. Lucille is sick more of mental anguish. I DVR this film. At this moment with the doctor gives details the screen goes black and EEEEEEEK EEEEEEEK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEK goes off. Weather Alert Test. Ugh. When the film comes back up, Henry is walking the streets. There has been a jewel robbery. Henry has his friend who was in the robbery business. He has retired so Henry decides to go on his own. He sneaks into a room to steal some jewelry. A couple comes in and Henry bluffs his way out of the room with the jewelry and dress. Henry takes the jewelry to the gangster who is actually the main jewel robber. Henry wants the club for a private party for Her Highness. The dress and the jewelry are recognized as Lucille is spotlighted by Ozzy Nelson. Lucille sings. Henry has asked his friends and the wait staff to get everyone to make a big deal about her. Henry changes into a tuxedo and joins the party. When Lucille wants to dance, Henry carries her around. She is able to take a few steps, but collapses. Henry carries her lifeless body out of the club.
Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball are really good in this film. Henry Fonda cares for only one thing Lucille Ball. Everything he does he does for her, no matter what she says to him or what he as to do to make her happy. Even after he has left her when she becomes ill he still cares. Lucille Ball is a strong willed woman use to being independent and the bell of the ball (no pun intended). After her injury, the people she considered friends were no longer her friends and Henry’s friends and relatives, didn’t really like her but were willing to put up with her due to Henry. One moment she is complacent, the next she is angry and the next she is sad/afraid.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
March 22
Happy Birthday to Karl Malden, Chico Marx and William Shatner.
TCM celebrated Karl Malden‘s birthday. I watched Come Fly With Me. The opening theme of the song with the same name was sung by Frankie Avalon. It is a story of a flight crew. The story mainly focuses on 3 of the stewards and the co-pilot. The first leg of the trip is NY to Paris. On the long flight is Karl Malden. He plays a southern gentleman (complete with cowboy hat) and he asks an attendant out. In Paris he goes to the hotel room where the 3 flight attendants share a tiny room. The women convince him a place that she really likes to eat. When the two of them get there he tells her that her friends told him it was her favorite place. She had never been there before and was unhappy about wasting money. They spend the evening at an amusement park. The next day he goes to the airport to see her before she leaves, but he can’t get to the plane without a ticket and the flight was full. He goes to sit outside and watches a flight take off. While he is a tourist in Paris he hears on a portable radio a song that they heard at the park. He moves closer to the person with the radio to hear the music. In Vienna they are taken to a posh 3 bedroom suite that has a full meal laid out. Karl comes in with a large box of chocolate. He paid for the room. He wanted them to have a nicer room then they had in Paris. The steward thinks he is not serious about a relationship, and that she will not go along for a joyride. The flight attendants leave the room and get a new room. He looks stunned and angry at her accusations. Back in Paris one of flight attendants has diamonds in a cigarette box (a friend asked her to pick up the package and promptly leaves once they are discovered). The police take all the attendants away. Karl is on the other side of glass and he tries to get her attention and is almost dragged away. He tries to find out what is going on but no one will tell him. The women are released. The next day Karl charters the plane to get her to talk with him.
This is not one of his most famous roles of course. But it is a fun film with 3-4 different story lines.
TCM celebrated Karl Malden‘s birthday. I watched Come Fly With Me. The opening theme of the song with the same name was sung by Frankie Avalon. It is a story of a flight crew. The story mainly focuses on 3 of the stewards and the co-pilot. The first leg of the trip is NY to Paris. On the long flight is Karl Malden. He plays a southern gentleman (complete with cowboy hat) and he asks an attendant out. In Paris he goes to the hotel room where the 3 flight attendants share a tiny room. The women convince him a place that she really likes to eat. When the two of them get there he tells her that her friends told him it was her favorite place. She had never been there before and was unhappy about wasting money. They spend the evening at an amusement park. The next day he goes to the airport to see her before she leaves, but he can’t get to the plane without a ticket and the flight was full. He goes to sit outside and watches a flight take off. While he is a tourist in Paris he hears on a portable radio a song that they heard at the park. He moves closer to the person with the radio to hear the music. In Vienna they are taken to a posh 3 bedroom suite that has a full meal laid out. Karl comes in with a large box of chocolate. He paid for the room. He wanted them to have a nicer room then they had in Paris. The steward thinks he is not serious about a relationship, and that she will not go along for a joyride. The flight attendants leave the room and get a new room. He looks stunned and angry at her accusations. Back in Paris one of flight attendants has diamonds in a cigarette box (a friend asked her to pick up the package and promptly leaves once they are discovered). The police take all the attendants away. Karl is on the other side of glass and he tries to get her attention and is almost dragged away. He tries to find out what is going on but no one will tell him. The women are released. The next day Karl charters the plane to get her to talk with him.
This is not one of his most famous roles of course. But it is a fun film with 3-4 different story lines.
March 24
Happy Birthday to Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, Harry Houdini & Richard Conte.
To celebrate Richard Conte’s birthday I watched House of Strangers. Edward G. Robinson and Susan Hayward have billing above Richard. The movie starts with Richard walking along the sidewalk with a purpose (the camera jolted around like it was on a flatbed truck and there were a lot of potholes in the road) and into the bank like he owned the place. He goes into the office to see his family. The actors that play brothers could have been brothers of Richard Conte and sons of Robinson. Richard was in jail for 7 years. He doesn’t want money from his family, he wants his life back. “Vengeance is a rare wine, a joy of the vine. I’m going to get drunk on it.” He tells this to Susan who is his girl. She wants the two of them to go away, but he wants revenge, She insults his dead father, he slaps her and then goes to his family home. He plays an opera record, the camera goes up the stairs and time goes backward. Edward is singing the same song in the bath.
Richard was an attorney. He was actually the favorite son. He is independent and strong. The family is sitting at the dining room table for Richard an opera record plays in another room. No one can eat anything until Richard gets there. When his children and their wives complain about not liking the opera music, Edward says they can find another bank to work. Before the food is passed down to Richard he receives a phone call and has to leave. Susan who hired him to help a friend who got into some trouble has another friend in trouble. He goes right over to her apartment. He and Susan spend time together. His fiancée mother wants the engagement broken, but the girl wants to marry him. He wants Susan, a possessive desire not love. She cares for another man is going to marry. She didn’t marry she was just using him to get back at Richard.
The government closes the bank, stating loans were given out without the proper paperwork and collateral. There is a riot and Edward is hurt. The idea to save the bank and family was to split things 4 ways. The oldest son states he is a clerk, not a son to split responsibility. Another son is a fighter. He doesn’t think he has the head to be involved. The third son is diplomatic and stands with the oldest brother, weak his father calls him. When the mother comes in Richard said “Did you know you brought up a house of strangers?” Edward tells his sons what he thinks of them. “I have no sons, I have strangers”. Richard states just the two of them can make things work out. Mother states that things were better when they were poor, because they had love. Now they have nothing in her opinion.
During the trial Edward is called a money lender and he becomes upset. Richard finds out that one of the jurors is sympathetic. He goes to her house to talk with her and tries to give her a bribe. She refuses and doesn’t give him any information. Outside her apartment the police are waiting and he is taken to jail. Edward signed the bank over to his wife and she signed it over to her sons. The bank is changing from the old style that Edward had to the new bank his sons run. The sons treat Edward worse then he treated them. While Richard is in jail his fiancée breaks up with him and plans to marry one of his brothers. Edward asks Richard to “make them pay, for me”. Richard promises. Edward dies. Richard is given a pass to visit the family and viewing. He gives his brothers a sign. The mother says she has no one, no husband, so sons, no family.
The scene goes to a record spinning under the needle and it is back to modern time. He is talking to the picture of his father, where to we start? He has all the plans for each one, but has decided that he has come back to life. He buried all those feelings with him. He calls Susan and decides to leave town with her. The brothers come to the house. Richard states that he has had a change of mind. The brother who is a fighter knocks him around. The oldest brother states “more“. Richard, almost unconscious, is carried to the balcony, he oldest brother wants him dropped of the balcony. The brother refuses and attacks him. Richard stops the fight. Susan arrives and he gets into her car.
The black and white tone of the film seemed darker than other black & white films. It is like the film is underdeveloped but lit so well the actors don’t seem too dark. I have written it before and I will probably write it again, Richard Conte is the epitome of 1950’s leading actor: handsome, talented and has all the right moves. In this film he comes off as the smart one and you really feel for him. I can’t believe his brother would want to throw him off the balcony. He is trying to protect his home, family and business but that seems to be extreme. Yet Richard tries to help him.
To celebrate Richard Conte’s birthday I watched House of Strangers. Edward G. Robinson and Susan Hayward have billing above Richard. The movie starts with Richard walking along the sidewalk with a purpose (the camera jolted around like it was on a flatbed truck and there were a lot of potholes in the road) and into the bank like he owned the place. He goes into the office to see his family. The actors that play brothers could have been brothers of Richard Conte and sons of Robinson. Richard was in jail for 7 years. He doesn’t want money from his family, he wants his life back. “Vengeance is a rare wine, a joy of the vine. I’m going to get drunk on it.” He tells this to Susan who is his girl. She wants the two of them to go away, but he wants revenge, She insults his dead father, he slaps her and then goes to his family home. He plays an opera record, the camera goes up the stairs and time goes backward. Edward is singing the same song in the bath.
Richard was an attorney. He was actually the favorite son. He is independent and strong. The family is sitting at the dining room table for Richard an opera record plays in another room. No one can eat anything until Richard gets there. When his children and their wives complain about not liking the opera music, Edward says they can find another bank to work. Before the food is passed down to Richard he receives a phone call and has to leave. Susan who hired him to help a friend who got into some trouble has another friend in trouble. He goes right over to her apartment. He and Susan spend time together. His fiancée mother wants the engagement broken, but the girl wants to marry him. He wants Susan, a possessive desire not love. She cares for another man is going to marry. She didn’t marry she was just using him to get back at Richard.
The government closes the bank, stating loans were given out without the proper paperwork and collateral. There is a riot and Edward is hurt. The idea to save the bank and family was to split things 4 ways. The oldest son states he is a clerk, not a son to split responsibility. Another son is a fighter. He doesn’t think he has the head to be involved. The third son is diplomatic and stands with the oldest brother, weak his father calls him. When the mother comes in Richard said “Did you know you brought up a house of strangers?” Edward tells his sons what he thinks of them. “I have no sons, I have strangers”. Richard states just the two of them can make things work out. Mother states that things were better when they were poor, because they had love. Now they have nothing in her opinion.
During the trial Edward is called a money lender and he becomes upset. Richard finds out that one of the jurors is sympathetic. He goes to her house to talk with her and tries to give her a bribe. She refuses and doesn’t give him any information. Outside her apartment the police are waiting and he is taken to jail. Edward signed the bank over to his wife and she signed it over to her sons. The bank is changing from the old style that Edward had to the new bank his sons run. The sons treat Edward worse then he treated them. While Richard is in jail his fiancée breaks up with him and plans to marry one of his brothers. Edward asks Richard to “make them pay, for me”. Richard promises. Edward dies. Richard is given a pass to visit the family and viewing. He gives his brothers a sign. The mother says she has no one, no husband, so sons, no family.
The scene goes to a record spinning under the needle and it is back to modern time. He is talking to the picture of his father, where to we start? He has all the plans for each one, but has decided that he has come back to life. He buried all those feelings with him. He calls Susan and decides to leave town with her. The brothers come to the house. Richard states that he has had a change of mind. The brother who is a fighter knocks him around. The oldest brother states “more“. Richard, almost unconscious, is carried to the balcony, he oldest brother wants him dropped of the balcony. The brother refuses and attacks him. Richard stops the fight. Susan arrives and he gets into her car.
The black and white tone of the film seemed darker than other black & white films. It is like the film is underdeveloped but lit so well the actors don’t seem too dark. I have written it before and I will probably write it again, Richard Conte is the epitome of 1950’s leading actor: handsome, talented and has all the right moves. In this film he comes off as the smart one and you really feel for him. I can’t believe his brother would want to throw him off the balcony. He is trying to protect his home, family and business but that seems to be extreme. Yet Richard tries to help him.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
March 21
I was able to watch several films TCM aired to celebrate W.S. Van Dyke II birthday. The Feminine Touch starring Rosalind Russell, Don Ameche and Kay Francis, Rage in Heaven staring Robert Montgomery and Ingmar Bergman and I Married An Angel. The story seemed interesting, but when watching a film with Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy I have fallen asleep. I like Van Dyke, so I thought I would give this one a try. I was surprised at all the comedy that was in the film. It may have been due to Anita Loos adaptation. I liked it.
In I Married An Angel Van Dyke is credited as a Major. The film came out in 1942. The story takes place in Budapest Hungary with the opening title “Gay days of not so long ago”. The women’s clothing seems like it is a current story but it might be only 10 years prior. Nelson plays a swinging titled bachelor who spends a few hours a day at his family business a bank. Jeannette plays a meek shy lower secretary in the office. She has a crush on Nelson. Nelson is having a costumed birthday party to celebrate his 35th birthday. Jeanette attends dressed as an angel. She has a halo that slips and slides and hits Nelson in the head as they dance. The family wants Nelson to marry, he doesn’t want to. Nelson bored with own party goes to his room and takes a nap. While he is sleeping (there are many cuts of him sleeping during the action so you know it is a dream) Jeanette as a angel comes to him singing. When he tries to put his arms around her, statues fall into his arms. When he tries to kiss her an invisible wall is there. He decides to marry her. They climb off the balcony into heaven and away from the family. After the wedding night Jeanette’s wings disappear. The family finds them and they decide to go home.
The family throws a reception for the newlywed couple. At the reception Jeanette tells a music critic he does not know a note she sang, she tells a woman “the gown does not make you fat, you are fat”, and she tells an older woman that she is a sweet old lady. Nelson tells her that you tell people the opposite of the truth. She calls a beautiful young woman an old ugly lady. She calls her husband (a much older man) her grandfather. At dinner Jeanette decides the gentlemen are not sitting by the girls they are fond of. Married men who have young girls they give expensive presents to. After a few people move around, the wives have had enough and sit next to their husbands. The music starts off very refined, but as the people change the music switches to square dancing country music. A servant vacuums the carpet in between movements. Everyone leaves the dining room. Nelson goes to get them back. Jeanette stays with the Baron. She and the Baron kiss as everyone comes back. Nelson very upset throws a slow punch at the Baron. The Baron decides to get back at Nelson through the bank. Nelson and Jeanette argue. To help him out she goes to the Baron. While Nelson is behaving worse than normal at a nightclub, Jeanette comes in (dressed in red sequins) with the Baron. She is a combination of Irene Dunn and Joan Crawford. A refined voice with a hint of sass and sarcasm. Nelson goes back to his apartment and hears Jeanette singing from the balcony. He sees her singing in country costumes of Spain, Italy and the Pacific Islands with the Baron in the background. He sings to her. When she and Baron are water skiing and the boats hit the balcony he wakes up. He decides that he loves Jeanette his office worker. He goes to her still sitting in the same spot, only a few minutes have passed. He asks her to marry him. She says she doesn’t fit in his world. As he reaches for her hand he squeezes the cake instead. As he starts singing “I married and angel” she signs with him.
I watched a drama, a comedy and a musical. The films were very different. I could not find a common style or something that would identify the director. Maybe that is the mark of a good director, the stamp is seamless.
In I Married An Angel Van Dyke is credited as a Major. The film came out in 1942. The story takes place in Budapest Hungary with the opening title “Gay days of not so long ago”. The women’s clothing seems like it is a current story but it might be only 10 years prior. Nelson plays a swinging titled bachelor who spends a few hours a day at his family business a bank. Jeannette plays a meek shy lower secretary in the office. She has a crush on Nelson. Nelson is having a costumed birthday party to celebrate his 35th birthday. Jeanette attends dressed as an angel. She has a halo that slips and slides and hits Nelson in the head as they dance. The family wants Nelson to marry, he doesn’t want to. Nelson bored with own party goes to his room and takes a nap. While he is sleeping (there are many cuts of him sleeping during the action so you know it is a dream) Jeanette as a angel comes to him singing. When he tries to put his arms around her, statues fall into his arms. When he tries to kiss her an invisible wall is there. He decides to marry her. They climb off the balcony into heaven and away from the family. After the wedding night Jeanette’s wings disappear. The family finds them and they decide to go home.
The family throws a reception for the newlywed couple. At the reception Jeanette tells a music critic he does not know a note she sang, she tells a woman “the gown does not make you fat, you are fat”, and she tells an older woman that she is a sweet old lady. Nelson tells her that you tell people the opposite of the truth. She calls a beautiful young woman an old ugly lady. She calls her husband (a much older man) her grandfather. At dinner Jeanette decides the gentlemen are not sitting by the girls they are fond of. Married men who have young girls they give expensive presents to. After a few people move around, the wives have had enough and sit next to their husbands. The music starts off very refined, but as the people change the music switches to square dancing country music. A servant vacuums the carpet in between movements. Everyone leaves the dining room. Nelson goes to get them back. Jeanette stays with the Baron. She and the Baron kiss as everyone comes back. Nelson very upset throws a slow punch at the Baron. The Baron decides to get back at Nelson through the bank. Nelson and Jeanette argue. To help him out she goes to the Baron. While Nelson is behaving worse than normal at a nightclub, Jeanette comes in (dressed in red sequins) with the Baron. She is a combination of Irene Dunn and Joan Crawford. A refined voice with a hint of sass and sarcasm. Nelson goes back to his apartment and hears Jeanette singing from the balcony. He sees her singing in country costumes of Spain, Italy and the Pacific Islands with the Baron in the background. He sings to her. When she and Baron are water skiing and the boats hit the balcony he wakes up. He decides that he loves Jeanette his office worker. He goes to her still sitting in the same spot, only a few minutes have passed. He asks her to marry him. She says she doesn’t fit in his world. As he reaches for her hand he squeezes the cake instead. As he starts singing “I married and angel” she signs with him.
I watched a drama, a comedy and a musical. The films were very different. I could not find a common style or something that would identify the director. Maybe that is the mark of a good director, the stamp is seamless.
Monday, March 21, 2011
March 19
Ursula Andress
To celebrate Ursula Andress’ birthday, I watched Casino Royal (1967). I have seen the film many times. It is a long complicated story, which really doesn’t make a lot of sense. It is a good parody. It is great music written by Burt Bacharach with the great Herb Alpert theme song. The who’s who of Hollywood actors (including some English actors) are in the film. John Houston didn’t do many comedies which may have helped the film be more serious than a Mel Brooks film, even though it does have some strange moments.
I will focus on Ursula’s story line. She is a beautiful blonde actress. Where most of the cast seemed to be playful and over the top, she was very serious in her role. She plays Vesper Lynd a successful business woman who buys and/or owns national monuments like Rockefeller Center, Lord Nelson’s statue and the Eiffel Tower. Sir James Bond played by David Niven visits her to make a deal to get her 5 million pound tax in arrears get reduced. She meets Peter Sellers at a casino and the song The Look of Love starts to play. When he goes to her room, the camera is on one side of a large aquarium and they walk on the other side. Dusty Springfield voice fills the screen. It is slow motion and the feathers on Ursula’s dress flutter like angel wings. She flashes her piercing/seductive eyes and they go into the bedroom. The next scene they are in her bedroom, Peter doing push ups and Ursula in a pink negligee circling her bed with feathers or paper pink hearts fluttering around like bubbles. She is once again in slow motion. I always liked that part, she looks like she is in a snow globe. She convinces Peter to play another man at baccarat, Orson Wells under the name James Bond. I don’t really understand the part where she has him dress up as Hitler, Napoleon and Lautrec and takes his picture. When they are at the casino she stands next to Peter, so most of the time you only see her from the shoulders down, which admittedly she is very attractive. Whey they leave the casino she is kidnapped. Peter goes to Orson to get her back. He is in a real life nightmare where he is trapped in a Scottish bagpipe march. Ursula is member of the players. She has a machine gun bag pipe and kills everyone but Peter. She says “never trust a rich spy” and she kills Peter. Much later in the film she goes to the casino to kill David. Everybody is fighting everybody. Woody Allen is a human time bomb. He explodes and everybody dies.
To celebrate Ursula Andress’ birthday, I watched Casino Royal (1967). I have seen the film many times. It is a long complicated story, which really doesn’t make a lot of sense. It is a good parody. It is great music written by Burt Bacharach with the great Herb Alpert theme song. The who’s who of Hollywood actors (including some English actors) are in the film. John Houston didn’t do many comedies which may have helped the film be more serious than a Mel Brooks film, even though it does have some strange moments.
I will focus on Ursula’s story line. She is a beautiful blonde actress. Where most of the cast seemed to be playful and over the top, she was very serious in her role. She plays Vesper Lynd a successful business woman who buys and/or owns national monuments like Rockefeller Center, Lord Nelson’s statue and the Eiffel Tower. Sir James Bond played by David Niven visits her to make a deal to get her 5 million pound tax in arrears get reduced. She meets Peter Sellers at a casino and the song The Look of Love starts to play. When he goes to her room, the camera is on one side of a large aquarium and they walk on the other side. Dusty Springfield voice fills the screen. It is slow motion and the feathers on Ursula’s dress flutter like angel wings. She flashes her piercing/seductive eyes and they go into the bedroom. The next scene they are in her bedroom, Peter doing push ups and Ursula in a pink negligee circling her bed with feathers or paper pink hearts fluttering around like bubbles. She is once again in slow motion. I always liked that part, she looks like she is in a snow globe. She convinces Peter to play another man at baccarat, Orson Wells under the name James Bond. I don’t really understand the part where she has him dress up as Hitler, Napoleon and Lautrec and takes his picture. When they are at the casino she stands next to Peter, so most of the time you only see her from the shoulders down, which admittedly she is very attractive. Whey they leave the casino she is kidnapped. Peter goes to Orson to get her back. He is in a real life nightmare where he is trapped in a Scottish bagpipe march. Ursula is member of the players. She has a machine gun bag pipe and kills everyone but Peter. She says “never trust a rich spy” and she kills Peter. Much later in the film she goes to the casino to kill David. Everybody is fighting everybody. Woody Allen is a human time bomb. He explodes and everybody dies.
March 20
To celebrate Michael Redgrave’s birthday, I watched The Lady Vanishes. The story starts off in a European town Avalanches have covered the tracks with snow and people are stranded. One man is Michael Redgrave. He is cataloging dances and songs. He is playing and a couple is dancing in his room. It happens to be the room above Margaret Lockwood. She complains. She ends up bribing the manager to kick him out of the room. Michael goes to her room and plans to spend the night in her room unless she gets his name cleared with the manager. She does and he goes back to his original room. The next day the tracks are cleared and the people can leave by train. Right before the train leaves Margaret gets hit on the head by a flower pot, she is dazed but fine. An older woman Dame May Whitty assists her on the train and helps her and they go the dinning car for tea. Later when Margaret wakes up May is gone. The passengers in the compartment deny there was another woman. She goes throughout the train and to the authorities to find her, but people state they did not see an older woman and due to the bump in the head, they think she made it up and was causing a scene. When going through the car she comes across Michael. He sees she is not well and upset and agrees to help her. They go through the train and try to find her.
Eventually Michael sees a nun with high healed shoes. She is nursing a woman with bandages covering her face. The doctor treating her comes in and forces them out of the room and to the dining car. After they leave he tells the nun to go to the steward and put something in their drinks. The doctor then takes them back to another compartment where he tells them that it is May, and he is going to operate and she will not survive. Michael pretends to pass out and the doctor locks them in. Michael climbs out the window into the next compartment. The nun, who is English, states that she didn’t put anything in their drinks and helps him. Another suspicious woman comes in they wrap her face and put her in May’s place. Michael takes May to the next compartment where she hides and they go back into their passed out positions.
The train stops. The patient is taken off the train. The doctor unwraps the face and finds out that it is not May. He then confers with the police and the car is uncoupled. Michael thinking they are safe finds out the rest of the train is gone and they are not going in the right direction. They go into the dining car where the English are having tea. Michael tries to convince them of what is going on, but no one believes him. The nun tied up and gagged comes in and the train stopped. A military man comes on board, apologizes and asks them to leave the train. The nun tells Michael it is a trick and not to leave. He hit’s the military man on the head with a chair, knocking him unconscious. Men approach the train and there is shooting. May gets away into the forest. It is decided to get the train started and go back. Michael and another man climbs up over the top and goes into the engine. With an unloaded gun they get the engineer to start the train. As they are going backwards the soldiers get in their cars and follow, shooting. They kill the two engineers and Michael drives the train and they make it over the border. May as it turns out is a British agent.
There is not a lot of in the film. You know the woman was the train, you know who knows she on the train. You know who is who, but you don’t know why they are lying. That is what makes the film very suspenseful. In the Criterion Collection version there is a documentary on the film. It goes over all the hidden aspects and symbolism that Hitchcock put in the film about what was going on in England before the world war started pacifism and such. I didn’t get that at all.
This is the first time I have ever seen Naunton Wayne and Basil Radford. They are really great. They are part of the comic relief. In the same documentary it is mentioned that the characters are homosexual. Again I did not get that. I have never been good at symbolism. I watch films for enjoyment. I don’t look for hidden meanings or messages.
Eventually Michael sees a nun with high healed shoes. She is nursing a woman with bandages covering her face. The doctor treating her comes in and forces them out of the room and to the dining car. After they leave he tells the nun to go to the steward and put something in their drinks. The doctor then takes them back to another compartment where he tells them that it is May, and he is going to operate and she will not survive. Michael pretends to pass out and the doctor locks them in. Michael climbs out the window into the next compartment. The nun, who is English, states that she didn’t put anything in their drinks and helps him. Another suspicious woman comes in they wrap her face and put her in May’s place. Michael takes May to the next compartment where she hides and they go back into their passed out positions.
The train stops. The patient is taken off the train. The doctor unwraps the face and finds out that it is not May. He then confers with the police and the car is uncoupled. Michael thinking they are safe finds out the rest of the train is gone and they are not going in the right direction. They go into the dining car where the English are having tea. Michael tries to convince them of what is going on, but no one believes him. The nun tied up and gagged comes in and the train stopped. A military man comes on board, apologizes and asks them to leave the train. The nun tells Michael it is a trick and not to leave. He hit’s the military man on the head with a chair, knocking him unconscious. Men approach the train and there is shooting. May gets away into the forest. It is decided to get the train started and go back. Michael and another man climbs up over the top and goes into the engine. With an unloaded gun they get the engineer to start the train. As they are going backwards the soldiers get in their cars and follow, shooting. They kill the two engineers and Michael drives the train and they make it over the border. May as it turns out is a British agent.
There is not a lot of in the film. You know the woman was the train, you know who knows she on the train. You know who is who, but you don’t know why they are lying. That is what makes the film very suspenseful. In the Criterion Collection version there is a documentary on the film. It goes over all the hidden aspects and symbolism that Hitchcock put in the film about what was going on in England before the world war started pacifism and such. I didn’t get that at all.
This is the first time I have ever seen Naunton Wayne and Basil Radford. They are really great. They are part of the comic relief. In the same documentary it is mentioned that the characters are homosexual. Again I did not get that. I have never been good at symbolism. I watch films for enjoyment. I don’t look for hidden meanings or messages.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
March 6
I love Abbott & Costello. I will admit I like Costello more than Abbott. Abbott always seemed to be a mean older brother, but always looking out for Costello. I have all of their films on DVD and a few of the television shows and recordings of the radio programs. I know Who's on First by heart and laugh every time I hear it performed. Some of the routines are long, some are almost one liners. In their first screen performance One Night in The Tropics Lou has a cigar in his mouth.
Bud “There is no smoking in here.”
Lou “What makes you think I'm smoking?”
Bud “You have a cigar in your mouth”
Lou “I got my shoes on, but I'm not walking”.
Simple lines yet very funny. I don't remember seeing the film before, but since Abbott & Costello are billed third, it may not have been shown as an Abbott & Costello film as the others.
I finally have time to watch some films for Lou Costello. Most of the films that Abbott & Costello made were for Universal. My favorites happen to be the two they made at MGM, Lost in a Harem and Abbott & Costello in Hollywood. There is something different about these films. The characters are the same, the music sometimes break out at strange times and all the films are great. Bud and Lou are stranded in the middle east with Marilyn Maxwell a singer. They were part of a troupe that included Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra. Bud & Lou perform magic. Lou gives away the disappearing bottle trick. The club owner does not want Bud & Lou but wants Marilyn and she won't perform if they don't. The boys cause a riot and destruction of the club. The police come and take the trio to jail. In jail they meet a man who goes into the “Slowly I turn” route based on the word “Pocomoco”. This is a running gag through out the whole film. A well dressed man who is interested in Marilyn breaks them from jail and he takes them to his desert camp. The man is a prince whose uncle has usurped power to make himself King, and he has a weakness for blonds. The Prince takes the trio into the city to help bring down the King's power. The King tortures his people and hypnotizes people to do his bidding with cat's eye rings. The Prince wants the trio to steal the rings. In the city there is a parade with Jimmy Dorsey and his orchestra complete with piano and other non traditional marching band instruments like the cello. When the trio go to the palace the guard tells the King that the trio are there to speak with him. The King asks if the girl is blond and the guard gives him a lock of her hair. The says first take me to her at once, then go to my treasure and tell him to give you a piece of gold then go to my executioner and tell him to give you 10 lashes for cutting the hair of my soon to be wife. Marilyn at first is able to resist the spell. The King asks the trio to look at a painting. He goes behind the wall and puts the rings in the eye sockets and hypnotizes the trio. The King takes Marilyn away, she is to become his 38th wife.
The Prince finds her and breaks the spell but she is safe where she is for now. He then finds the boys and breaks the spell. The King comes in captures the Prince but Bud & Lou get away and are hidden in the Harem. They get Marilyn out and run but are captured again. They all escape but are caught again after a chase. The Prince and the boys are put in jail and Marilyn is taken back to the Harem. The Prince and the boys escape. Bud & Lou find a cloths closet. Bud dresses up as the King and Lou dresses up as one of the wives. The King finds Lou as his wife. Bud and the King perform the mirror routine. As the King goes to the other side of the room Lou as the wife passes by the mirror with Bud walking on the other side. The King knows what is going on and goes after Lou but Bud knocks him out. They take the rings and hypnotist the King to think that he is one of the wives. When the King comes out of the trance, he is going to kill Lou. Right before the execution can happen the wives perform for him and tie up all the men. The Prince and his men come in and take care of the men. Marilyn stays with the Prince and Bud & Lou with their reward head for home. Their driver, who is a loyal subject of the Price is the same man from jail. When Lou says Pocomoco the driver stands up in the car and the boys jump out and run into the desert.
In Abbott & Costello in Hollywood, it is one gag after another. They play barbers in a Hollywood shop. They go to an agents office to give an agent a shave and shine when a young man comes in to see about getting the agent to represent him. The boys decide they want to be agents. There are a lot of backstage scenes with the studio police chasing Lou around and Lou getting into trouble. Lucille Ball has a cameo. The climax of the scene is a chase on a roller coaster that is going to be blown up for a film.
Bud “There is no smoking in here.”
Lou “What makes you think I'm smoking?”
Bud “You have a cigar in your mouth”
Lou “I got my shoes on, but I'm not walking”.
Simple lines yet very funny. I don't remember seeing the film before, but since Abbott & Costello are billed third, it may not have been shown as an Abbott & Costello film as the others.
I finally have time to watch some films for Lou Costello. Most of the films that Abbott & Costello made were for Universal. My favorites happen to be the two they made at MGM, Lost in a Harem and Abbott & Costello in Hollywood. There is something different about these films. The characters are the same, the music sometimes break out at strange times and all the films are great. Bud and Lou are stranded in the middle east with Marilyn Maxwell a singer. They were part of a troupe that included Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra. Bud & Lou perform magic. Lou gives away the disappearing bottle trick. The club owner does not want Bud & Lou but wants Marilyn and she won't perform if they don't. The boys cause a riot and destruction of the club. The police come and take the trio to jail. In jail they meet a man who goes into the “Slowly I turn” route based on the word “Pocomoco”. This is a running gag through out the whole film. A well dressed man who is interested in Marilyn breaks them from jail and he takes them to his desert camp. The man is a prince whose uncle has usurped power to make himself King, and he has a weakness for blonds. The Prince takes the trio into the city to help bring down the King's power. The King tortures his people and hypnotizes people to do his bidding with cat's eye rings. The Prince wants the trio to steal the rings. In the city there is a parade with Jimmy Dorsey and his orchestra complete with piano and other non traditional marching band instruments like the cello. When the trio go to the palace the guard tells the King that the trio are there to speak with him. The King asks if the girl is blond and the guard gives him a lock of her hair. The says first take me to her at once, then go to my treasure and tell him to give you a piece of gold then go to my executioner and tell him to give you 10 lashes for cutting the hair of my soon to be wife. Marilyn at first is able to resist the spell. The King asks the trio to look at a painting. He goes behind the wall and puts the rings in the eye sockets and hypnotizes the trio. The King takes Marilyn away, she is to become his 38th wife.
The Prince finds her and breaks the spell but she is safe where she is for now. He then finds the boys and breaks the spell. The King comes in captures the Prince but Bud & Lou get away and are hidden in the Harem. They get Marilyn out and run but are captured again. They all escape but are caught again after a chase. The Prince and the boys are put in jail and Marilyn is taken back to the Harem. The Prince and the boys escape. Bud & Lou find a cloths closet. Bud dresses up as the King and Lou dresses up as one of the wives. The King finds Lou as his wife. Bud and the King perform the mirror routine. As the King goes to the other side of the room Lou as the wife passes by the mirror with Bud walking on the other side. The King knows what is going on and goes after Lou but Bud knocks him out. They take the rings and hypnotist the King to think that he is one of the wives. When the King comes out of the trance, he is going to kill Lou. Right before the execution can happen the wives perform for him and tie up all the men. The Prince and his men come in and take care of the men. Marilyn stays with the Prince and Bud & Lou with their reward head for home. Their driver, who is a loyal subject of the Price is the same man from jail. When Lou says Pocomoco the driver stands up in the car and the boys jump out and run into the desert.
In Abbott & Costello in Hollywood, it is one gag after another. They play barbers in a Hollywood shop. They go to an agents office to give an agent a shave and shine when a young man comes in to see about getting the agent to represent him. The boys decide they want to be agents. There are a lot of backstage scenes with the studio police chasing Lou around and Lou getting into trouble. Lucille Ball has a cameo. The climax of the scene is a chase on a roller coaster that is going to be blown up for a film.
March 17
Happy Birthday to Nat “King” Cole and Maureen O'Sullivan.
TCM celebrated with a Birthday salute to Maureen O'Sullivan on Saturday night 19th and Sunday morning 20th. I watched Hannah & Her Sisters and Tarzan the Ape Man. I saw Hannah and Her Sisters when it was first released in 1986 as a teenager. At that time I did not know who Maureen O'Sullivan or Lloyd Nolan who played her husband. Maureen played Hannah's mother (who is also Mia Farrow's real mother) who is a performer. Maureen was only in a few scenes but her talent really shows. She and Lloyd were arguing but when Hannah came in over she calmed down. I like that scene. You see them as they are today, but they show photographs of what they looked like when they were younger. In 1986 I bought the soundtrack, vinyl form if I remember right. My favorite scene is when Allen finds out he is fine. The music swells he comes out of the office is a joyful mood and then walking down the street he stops, not really satisfied with life.
I have never seen Tarzan the Ape Man before. It is one of my friends favorite movie. Maureen plays a young British woman who goes to live with her father C Aubrey Smith, a trader. The father and the assistant plan to go to the Elephant grave yard to harvest the ivory tusks. Maureen goes along. It is a great adventure movie. I know that some of the animals weren't real, but some were, even if they were filmed separately so it was a little scary. In one scene they were crossing a river in tree rafts and the hippos surround the rafts. A big hippo destroys one of the rafts and then alligators go into the water and attack some of the people who fell in. Once they get to the other side and start to make camp, Tarzan makes his first appearance. I liked the elephants. They go to Tarzan for help when an elephant cub is trapped, one goes to his aid after he is shot and has just fought off 3 large animals and they stampede a native village.
Maureen has a really good role. She does most of the talking in the scenes when she is with Tarzan. She expresses joy of being with her father, fear when Tarzan takes her away (and several other occasions), hysteria when she thinks that Tarzan is going to rape her, heartache when she is first taken away, sadness when her father dies and love when she stays with Tarzan. I have to admit Johnny Weissmuller in a loin cloth is a good site to see. I know that when the production code came it there were issues due to Tarzan and Jane not being married and Maureen's skimpy costume, but I don't remember anything being mentioned about Johnny's loin cloth.
TCM celebrated with a Birthday salute to Maureen O'Sullivan on Saturday night 19th and Sunday morning 20th. I watched Hannah & Her Sisters and Tarzan the Ape Man. I saw Hannah and Her Sisters when it was first released in 1986 as a teenager. At that time I did not know who Maureen O'Sullivan or Lloyd Nolan who played her husband. Maureen played Hannah's mother (who is also Mia Farrow's real mother) who is a performer. Maureen was only in a few scenes but her talent really shows. She and Lloyd were arguing but when Hannah came in over she calmed down. I like that scene. You see them as they are today, but they show photographs of what they looked like when they were younger. In 1986 I bought the soundtrack, vinyl form if I remember right. My favorite scene is when Allen finds out he is fine. The music swells he comes out of the office is a joyful mood and then walking down the street he stops, not really satisfied with life.
I have never seen Tarzan the Ape Man before. It is one of my friends favorite movie. Maureen plays a young British woman who goes to live with her father C Aubrey Smith, a trader. The father and the assistant plan to go to the Elephant grave yard to harvest the ivory tusks. Maureen goes along. It is a great adventure movie. I know that some of the animals weren't real, but some were, even if they were filmed separately so it was a little scary. In one scene they were crossing a river in tree rafts and the hippos surround the rafts. A big hippo destroys one of the rafts and then alligators go into the water and attack some of the people who fell in. Once they get to the other side and start to make camp, Tarzan makes his first appearance. I liked the elephants. They go to Tarzan for help when an elephant cub is trapped, one goes to his aid after he is shot and has just fought off 3 large animals and they stampede a native village.
Maureen has a really good role. She does most of the talking in the scenes when she is with Tarzan. She expresses joy of being with her father, fear when Tarzan takes her away (and several other occasions), hysteria when she thinks that Tarzan is going to rape her, heartache when she is first taken away, sadness when her father dies and love when she stays with Tarzan. I have to admit Johnny Weissmuller in a loin cloth is a good site to see. I know that when the production code came it there were issues due to Tarzan and Jane not being married and Maureen's skimpy costume, but I don't remember anything being mentioned about Johnny's loin cloth.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
March 18
Happy Birthday to Robert Donat, Peter Graves and Edward Everett Horton.
TCM celebrated with a Birthday salute to Edward Everett Horton. I first heard Mr. Horton on the Rocky & Bullwinkle as the voice of Fractured Fairy Tales. That was my favorite part of the show. He has such a great voice and it seemed the same in the 1930's as the 1960's. There was only 1 film I had seen before, Smarty I wrote a blog on this site last year on the film.
I watched Easy to Love a pre-code comedy. The main character Genevieve Tobin is married to Adolphe Menjou. Genevieve and her husband go out with friends, Genevieve's friend Mary Astor and Adolphe's friend Edward Everett Horton. They take cars to a the married couple's house Genevieve and Edward and Adolphe & Mary. Each couple is kissing in the backseat. Adolphe agrees to see Mary the next day at 2:30, he tells his wife he is playing polo. The couple have separate bedrooms with a connecting door. The next day the wife goes to see a friend of theirs, a doctor. She finds out her husband has not been playing polo for months. In the same building she sees a detective's office and hires him to follow her husband, played by Hugh Hubert. Very quickly Hugh finds out what is going on and gives the information to Genevieve. She calls Edward and tells him that she will become his lover and she wants to look over an apartment. Pretending they are on the wrong floor she goes to the door number the detective gave her and Mary opens the door. Adolphe hears his wife at the door and runs into the bedroom. Mary states she is visiting a female friend who has stepped out. There is a cigar in the ashtray. Mary states it is hers and smokes the cigar (for quite awhile). Mary sees a hat on the chair and puts it under the seat cushion. Genevieve decides to tour the apartment and Adolphe goes into the closet. Genevieve tells Mary that she and Edward are going to become lovers and are renting an apartment in the building as a love nest and that she knows there is a man in the closet, which Mary says it is a General out of uniform. Adolphe in the closet becomes very upset at this. The couple leave and when Edward puts his hat on, it is too small but he doesn't notice. After Genevieve and Edward leave Adolphe comes out of the closet and leaves with a hat too big. He goes to Edward who realizes he was there and he won't say anything. Adolphe wants him to leave his wife alone.
When he gets home, Genevieve is getting ready for her dinner party by taking a bath. They talk but he doesn't look at her while she is in the bath. She throws the soap by him and he hands her the soap giving her quite a long look over. When Genevieve is getting ready she asks Adolphe for assistance, which he does. Mary comes in at that time and is jealous. Everybody comes clean and they know what is going on. They talk about divorces which greatly upsets their 17 year old daughter who is engaged. The next day Genevieve and Edward go shopping. When they get to her house she asks him to take the packages to her bedroom. He is upset that her husband is in the next room. This is a great scene. The men are jealous of each other and don't trust each other alone with Genevieve. The men turn at the same time, they close the door at the same time, they come back at the same time, they look at each other in the doorway at the same time and the scene ends when Adolphe in the doorway of his room watches Edward in the stairway. The couple argue and decide that they are going to divorced and he is going to leave. They call their sweethearts to come over. The daughter comes in and finds out what is going on. She and her fiance talk and they tell her parents that they are going to live together and not get married. The parents of course become very upset. The girl and her fiancee go to a hotel. The parents follow. Right after the parents leave, Mary and Edward arrive and they also go to the hotel. At the hotel the young couple won't let the parents in the room because they are in bed. Edward and Mary show up. Adolphe get the ax from the fire extinguisher and threatens to break down the door. A maid comes by and opens the door for them. The young couple are in separate twin beds, covers up to their neck. All the people argue. A justice of the peace comes in and the parents try to get him the marry the young couple but he can't marry unwilling people. He gets the daughter to tell the exact story. The justice says that Adolphe is crazy for messing around. Mary and Edward leave together. The young couple are already married. The parents have a room reserved for them and Adolphe says he is not going to play any more polo.
I also watched Sing and Like It with Edward as a Broadway producer. During a safe robbery, gangster Nate Pendleton he hears ZaSu Pitts sing a song about mother and it is the most beautiful thing he has ever heard, he weeps. ZaSu cannot sing. It is not awful, but is not good. Nate decides to get her into a Broadway production. He offers to finance a production for Edward if ZaSu sings her song. Her boyfriend is not happy, but wants her to have her chance. ZaSu moves in with Nate and his girlfriend Ruby. She is also a performer and is upset that Nate is not going to help her, but ZaSu. After a bit of rough housing the girlfriend decides to accept ZaSu and becomes her understudy. That night leaves the window open and feeds her pickles, cherries, ice cream and milk as a snack to get her with a cold and indigestion, but ZaSu is very healthy. Rehearsals begin and no one wants to work with ZaSu voluntarily. Nate and his crew force them to work. Nate comes up with a publicity stunt to kidnap ZaSu. Ruby blackmails a gang member to make it real. Nate goes all over town to every hood to see who has her. The gang member confesses and ZaSu's boyfriend makes Ruby confess. When they get to where ZaSu was held the kidnappers were tied up. ZaSu was taken by other people. The kidnappers want $15,000 which Nate pays and ZaSu is returned. To get tickets sold, the gang forces the ticket sellers to convince people to see the show. A famous critic is in the audience. People talking outside the theater state to watch the critic not the rest of the audience. During a so so comedy type Vaudeville routine the gang member forces the critic to laugh. So other people start to laugh. When ZaSu sings the critic squeezes his finger to force himself to cry. After the song, there is dead silence. The gang member starts the critic to applaud, say bravo and stand in ovation. Everyone else starts to do the same. ZaSu has has her “hour of triumph” and leaves the show and Nate. She then goes back to her previous life and boyfriend who has enough money to start there farm.
ZaSu is the star of the film. There is a really talented cast. Nate Pendleton has the biggest role as the tough gangster with a very strong love of mother. Pert Kelton gets knocked around most of the film. In one scene her character gets two black eyes. Edward Everett Horton plays a Broadway producer who is trying to make the show work. He has moments of frustration, anxiety, and complacency. My favorite character is probably Nate's right hand man Toots portrayed by Ned Sparks. Is is the interpreter for Nate. He either explains to people what Nate is asking or he tells Nate what other people are saying to him. He has a lot of one liners.
TCM celebrated with a Birthday salute to Edward Everett Horton. I first heard Mr. Horton on the Rocky & Bullwinkle as the voice of Fractured Fairy Tales. That was my favorite part of the show. He has such a great voice and it seemed the same in the 1930's as the 1960's. There was only 1 film I had seen before, Smarty I wrote a blog on this site last year on the film.
I watched Easy to Love a pre-code comedy. The main character Genevieve Tobin is married to Adolphe Menjou. Genevieve and her husband go out with friends, Genevieve's friend Mary Astor and Adolphe's friend Edward Everett Horton. They take cars to a the married couple's house Genevieve and Edward and Adolphe & Mary. Each couple is kissing in the backseat. Adolphe agrees to see Mary the next day at 2:30, he tells his wife he is playing polo. The couple have separate bedrooms with a connecting door. The next day the wife goes to see a friend of theirs, a doctor. She finds out her husband has not been playing polo for months. In the same building she sees a detective's office and hires him to follow her husband, played by Hugh Hubert. Very quickly Hugh finds out what is going on and gives the information to Genevieve. She calls Edward and tells him that she will become his lover and she wants to look over an apartment. Pretending they are on the wrong floor she goes to the door number the detective gave her and Mary opens the door. Adolphe hears his wife at the door and runs into the bedroom. Mary states she is visiting a female friend who has stepped out. There is a cigar in the ashtray. Mary states it is hers and smokes the cigar (for quite awhile). Mary sees a hat on the chair and puts it under the seat cushion. Genevieve decides to tour the apartment and Adolphe goes into the closet. Genevieve tells Mary that she and Edward are going to become lovers and are renting an apartment in the building as a love nest and that she knows there is a man in the closet, which Mary says it is a General out of uniform. Adolphe in the closet becomes very upset at this. The couple leave and when Edward puts his hat on, it is too small but he doesn't notice. After Genevieve and Edward leave Adolphe comes out of the closet and leaves with a hat too big. He goes to Edward who realizes he was there and he won't say anything. Adolphe wants him to leave his wife alone.
When he gets home, Genevieve is getting ready for her dinner party by taking a bath. They talk but he doesn't look at her while she is in the bath. She throws the soap by him and he hands her the soap giving her quite a long look over. When Genevieve is getting ready she asks Adolphe for assistance, which he does. Mary comes in at that time and is jealous. Everybody comes clean and they know what is going on. They talk about divorces which greatly upsets their 17 year old daughter who is engaged. The next day Genevieve and Edward go shopping. When they get to her house she asks him to take the packages to her bedroom. He is upset that her husband is in the next room. This is a great scene. The men are jealous of each other and don't trust each other alone with Genevieve. The men turn at the same time, they close the door at the same time, they come back at the same time, they look at each other in the doorway at the same time and the scene ends when Adolphe in the doorway of his room watches Edward in the stairway. The couple argue and decide that they are going to divorced and he is going to leave. They call their sweethearts to come over. The daughter comes in and finds out what is going on. She and her fiance talk and they tell her parents that they are going to live together and not get married. The parents of course become very upset. The girl and her fiancee go to a hotel. The parents follow. Right after the parents leave, Mary and Edward arrive and they also go to the hotel. At the hotel the young couple won't let the parents in the room because they are in bed. Edward and Mary show up. Adolphe get the ax from the fire extinguisher and threatens to break down the door. A maid comes by and opens the door for them. The young couple are in separate twin beds, covers up to their neck. All the people argue. A justice of the peace comes in and the parents try to get him the marry the young couple but he can't marry unwilling people. He gets the daughter to tell the exact story. The justice says that Adolphe is crazy for messing around. Mary and Edward leave together. The young couple are already married. The parents have a room reserved for them and Adolphe says he is not going to play any more polo.
I also watched Sing and Like It with Edward as a Broadway producer. During a safe robbery, gangster Nate Pendleton he hears ZaSu Pitts sing a song about mother and it is the most beautiful thing he has ever heard, he weeps. ZaSu cannot sing. It is not awful, but is not good. Nate decides to get her into a Broadway production. He offers to finance a production for Edward if ZaSu sings her song. Her boyfriend is not happy, but wants her to have her chance. ZaSu moves in with Nate and his girlfriend Ruby. She is also a performer and is upset that Nate is not going to help her, but ZaSu. After a bit of rough housing the girlfriend decides to accept ZaSu and becomes her understudy. That night leaves the window open and feeds her pickles, cherries, ice cream and milk as a snack to get her with a cold and indigestion, but ZaSu is very healthy. Rehearsals begin and no one wants to work with ZaSu voluntarily. Nate and his crew force them to work. Nate comes up with a publicity stunt to kidnap ZaSu. Ruby blackmails a gang member to make it real. Nate goes all over town to every hood to see who has her. The gang member confesses and ZaSu's boyfriend makes Ruby confess. When they get to where ZaSu was held the kidnappers were tied up. ZaSu was taken by other people. The kidnappers want $15,000 which Nate pays and ZaSu is returned. To get tickets sold, the gang forces the ticket sellers to convince people to see the show. A famous critic is in the audience. People talking outside the theater state to watch the critic not the rest of the audience. During a so so comedy type Vaudeville routine the gang member forces the critic to laugh. So other people start to laugh. When ZaSu sings the critic squeezes his finger to force himself to cry. After the song, there is dead silence. The gang member starts the critic to applaud, say bravo and stand in ovation. Everyone else starts to do the same. ZaSu has has her “hour of triumph” and leaves the show and Nate. She then goes back to her previous life and boyfriend who has enough money to start there farm.
ZaSu is the star of the film. There is a really talented cast. Nate Pendleton has the biggest role as the tough gangster with a very strong love of mother. Pert Kelton gets knocked around most of the film. In one scene her character gets two black eyes. Edward Everett Horton plays a Broadway producer who is trying to make the show work. He has moments of frustration, anxiety, and complacency. My favorite character is probably Nate's right hand man Toots portrayed by Ned Sparks. Is is the interpreter for Nate. He either explains to people what Nate is asking or he tells Nate what other people are saying to him. He has a lot of one liners.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
March 16 Jerry Lewis
Happy Birthday to Jerry Lewis and Guy Kibbee.
I have always liked Jerry Lewis, even as a small child. My family never understood why I liked him, but back when there were only 4 o 5 television channels if a Jerry Lewis film was one, they would always tell me so I would be able to watch. Usually I was in another room already watching it. I was very fortunate to see him in person a few years ago as part of a speaking engagement. He still loves to make people laugh at age 85.
I watched probably my favorite film of his Cinderfella. It is the male version of Cinderella, Jerry Lewis as Fella. I hesitate to call it a musical. Jerry Lewis does sing, but the main music is part of the comedy, a pantomime that Jerry performs to. A stepmother and two handsome stepbrothers instead of ugly stepsisters. Fella's father was rich and hid his money. In his will Fella's father said that everything was left to his wife, but she had to take care of Fella. Right at the start you see the difference in Fella's status. His bed is a twin mattress on top of a california king spring. As he goes into the hallway there is defiantly a dividing line between the house and Fella's part. Fella's part has no carpet and the walls are dulled, unpainted for many years. He is a servant in his own household. When he is serving the family he wears a blue waiters jacket, but when he is part of the family he takes off the jacket. At the dinner table is at least 20 feet away from the rest of the family, he has a paper table cloth on top of the regular table cloth,, the dinner wear is ordinary while the family has china and has plastic over the chair. As he eats if the family needs something he changes out of his dinner jacket into the waiters jacket. When called he has to get up to find what they want. When he does he goes back to his chair, changes coats serves the family goes back to his chair changes into his dinner jacket and sits down to eat his cold food. The family requests a lump of sugar in the coffee, refilling the wine glasses and lighting of a cigarette. When he gets praise for the meal, he doesn't know how to handle the compliment. As he is cleaning the pool, his fairy godfather played by Ed Wynn visits him telling him he will be going to a ball and will be a person. The stepbrothers try to get Fella to tell them where the money is hidden so they act nice and include him in their events.
The stepmother is holding a ball for Princess Charming, played by Anna Maria Albergetti, whose country's color is periwinkle. When she first visits the family Fella watches her arrive in violet car from his room, which he has been locked in by the family. Fairy Godfather visits him. I think this scene shows how good of an actor that Jerry is. As the Fairy Godfather tells his story he looks very doubtful, amazed and as if the Fairy Godfather is crazy. Fella has been to chosen to correct the error of the original Cinderella story. That women were waiting for their Prince Charming, but since there was only one Prince Charming they had to settle for who ever was available, making the men miserable for being second best. The stepbrothers do their best to charm the Princess. The night of the ball, Fella wears his father's suit, which is too big and his family laughs at him and won't allow him to attend the ball. He is ordered to go into the cellar and stoke the coal. Fella decides to take what is his. The Fairy Godfather is appalled by his lack of faith, gets him ready for the ball.
Jerry Lewis always makes great entrances in films. At the ball Count Basie is playing with a full orchestra. Jerry (in a red tuxedo and gray in his hair) makes his entrance walking down the steps to the ball. The camera starts off from behind showing him creatively going down the steps and the crowd parting to the sides of the steps to watch him. The camera switches to the front and he comes down with style, grace and the Princess is watching every movement. He then crosses in front of every woman who are also captivated. As the song ends he stands in front of the Princess. He requests a dance. When the Princess asks who she is dancing with he replies “Someone who is truly fond of you and who worships you.” They dance a combination of Fred and Ginger, Gene Kelly and the Twist. As midnight hits Jerry has to leave, leaving his black leather shoe. At home one of his stepbrothers confronts Fella and asks where his red coat is. He then asks for the money, which Fella gives him. It rains down from the tree, knocking the brother over. The family decide to leave. Fella gives them the money so they can stay. Fella decides to leave. As he is leaving on his bike he is stopped by the Princess. He denies it is shoe and the Princess follows him saying she loves him. But he feels he is not good enough and rides away. He slowly walks back to her and they waltz in the garden. It transitions into the two of them alone the ballroom and with Count Basie Orchestra playing, balloons drop from the ceiling and “and they lived happily ever after” appears on screen.
I have always liked Jerry Lewis, even as a small child. My family never understood why I liked him, but back when there were only 4 o 5 television channels if a Jerry Lewis film was one, they would always tell me so I would be able to watch. Usually I was in another room already watching it. I was very fortunate to see him in person a few years ago as part of a speaking engagement. He still loves to make people laugh at age 85.
I watched probably my favorite film of his Cinderfella. It is the male version of Cinderella, Jerry Lewis as Fella. I hesitate to call it a musical. Jerry Lewis does sing, but the main music is part of the comedy, a pantomime that Jerry performs to. A stepmother and two handsome stepbrothers instead of ugly stepsisters. Fella's father was rich and hid his money. In his will Fella's father said that everything was left to his wife, but she had to take care of Fella. Right at the start you see the difference in Fella's status. His bed is a twin mattress on top of a california king spring. As he goes into the hallway there is defiantly a dividing line between the house and Fella's part. Fella's part has no carpet and the walls are dulled, unpainted for many years. He is a servant in his own household. When he is serving the family he wears a blue waiters jacket, but when he is part of the family he takes off the jacket. At the dinner table is at least 20 feet away from the rest of the family, he has a paper table cloth on top of the regular table cloth,, the dinner wear is ordinary while the family has china and has plastic over the chair. As he eats if the family needs something he changes out of his dinner jacket into the waiters jacket. When called he has to get up to find what they want. When he does he goes back to his chair, changes coats serves the family goes back to his chair changes into his dinner jacket and sits down to eat his cold food. The family requests a lump of sugar in the coffee, refilling the wine glasses and lighting of a cigarette. When he gets praise for the meal, he doesn't know how to handle the compliment. As he is cleaning the pool, his fairy godfather played by Ed Wynn visits him telling him he will be going to a ball and will be a person. The stepbrothers try to get Fella to tell them where the money is hidden so they act nice and include him in their events.
The stepmother is holding a ball for Princess Charming, played by Anna Maria Albergetti, whose country's color is periwinkle. When she first visits the family Fella watches her arrive in violet car from his room, which he has been locked in by the family. Fairy Godfather visits him. I think this scene shows how good of an actor that Jerry is. As the Fairy Godfather tells his story he looks very doubtful, amazed and as if the Fairy Godfather is crazy. Fella has been to chosen to correct the error of the original Cinderella story. That women were waiting for their Prince Charming, but since there was only one Prince Charming they had to settle for who ever was available, making the men miserable for being second best. The stepbrothers do their best to charm the Princess. The night of the ball, Fella wears his father's suit, which is too big and his family laughs at him and won't allow him to attend the ball. He is ordered to go into the cellar and stoke the coal. Fella decides to take what is his. The Fairy Godfather is appalled by his lack of faith, gets him ready for the ball.
Jerry Lewis always makes great entrances in films. At the ball Count Basie is playing with a full orchestra. Jerry (in a red tuxedo and gray in his hair) makes his entrance walking down the steps to the ball. The camera starts off from behind showing him creatively going down the steps and the crowd parting to the sides of the steps to watch him. The camera switches to the front and he comes down with style, grace and the Princess is watching every movement. He then crosses in front of every woman who are also captivated. As the song ends he stands in front of the Princess. He requests a dance. When the Princess asks who she is dancing with he replies “Someone who is truly fond of you and who worships you.” They dance a combination of Fred and Ginger, Gene Kelly and the Twist. As midnight hits Jerry has to leave, leaving his black leather shoe. At home one of his stepbrothers confronts Fella and asks where his red coat is. He then asks for the money, which Fella gives him. It rains down from the tree, knocking the brother over. The family decide to leave. Fella gives them the money so they can stay. Fella decides to leave. As he is leaving on his bike he is stopped by the Princess. He denies it is shoe and the Princess follows him saying she loves him. But he feels he is not good enough and rides away. He slowly walks back to her and they waltz in the garden. It transitions into the two of them alone the ballroom and with Count Basie Orchestra playing, balloons drop from the ceiling and “and they lived happily ever after” appears on screen.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
March 15
George Brent
TCM celebrated with a Birthday salute to George Brent. Quite a few people on the site think that he is bland. It is true his is not the most overpowering charismatic actor but he is talented. Last week Robert Osborne stated that women in Hollywood wanted to work with him because he didn't overshadow his leading ladies. I thought that was the perfect way to describe him. I would have liked a Kay Francis film, but there was a nice variety shown. I think he is very talented. He may not outshine the leading woman, but he does outshine the men in the film.
I watched They Called it Sin with Loretta Young. Loretta plays a Kansas woman who dates a New York man, Jimmy traveling through the state. She spends the day with him until almost midnight, telling her mother that she had nothing to be ashamed of. Her mother tells her that she is not her mother, her mother was a singer passing through and they don't know who her father is, she took her in because her husband asked her to. Loretta goes to New York to find Jimmy. When she gets to his apartment George Brent is also there as a doctor friend. He takes her to a hotel as Jimmy's fiancee comes over for dinner. When Jimmy tells his fiancee he met the girl in church her father spits out his drink (I love that). The next day Loretta finds out that he is engaged and leaves the hotel without a forwarding address. She applies as chorus girl at every agency. At this point she doesn't drink or smoke. At one agency she meets Una Merkle as a cartwheeling southern dancer. Una who has been in the business a long time ambushes the producer to watch her dance to Loretta's piano playing. The producer likes how Loretta looks and plays music. They are both hired and become roommates. Una as a dancer in front of the chorus and Loretta is hired to play at rehearsal. The producer decides to help her with her music compositions. They record her playing the songs. The story of Jimmy's marriage is on the front page of the newspapers. At a party George sees Loretta with the producer, who is a rouge and goes to talk with her. Loretta is now smoking and drinking. When the producer calls her “Sweets” George whips his head around to look at him with a dangerous gleam in his eyes. They occasionally date, but Loretta acts like she doesn't really care for him. George asks him to marry him but she refuses since she doesn't love him, she sees him as a friend. At a party the producer tells Loretta that she is invited to a breakfast party of which she is the only guest. She refuses. The producer sees her and Jimmy kiss and decides he is through with her. He leaves her a check stating “we are closing you as of today”. The next day Una is getting ready for rehearsal and sings a song. It is a new song in the show, which Loretta wrote. Loretta furious that the producer has taken her music she goes down to the rehearsal theater to confront him. Both Loretta and Una stand up to the producer. The producer stated that he wrote the numbers and has the two women thrown out. It takes two big men to get rid of each woman. There is a story in the newspapers about the incident. Jimmy goes to Loretta. He then goes to confront the producer at his apartment. They argue. The producer who is already drunk, falls off the balcony. Jimmy scared runs away. Loretta goes to the police to admit that she was the reason he was hurt to protect him. The producer is in very bad shape. George wants to clear Loretta and performs surgery so that the producer can talk to tell what really happened. After the surgery the producer wakes up for a brief time and states what really happened. It was accident and Loretta is cleared. Jimmy decides to leave his wife, but Loretta states she is going to marry George. There are some great stylized framing of the actors, especially Loretta.
I then watched Weekend Marriage. Loretta Young also stars in this film. She is interested in a man who won't commit to marriage. Her sister-in-law played by Aline MacMahon (who is a working married woman) helps her trick the man into marriage. At first Loretta resists, but falls into the temptation of marriage. The man did not want to marry until he had enough money to live in proper style. He was going to take a job offer in Brazil, but they get married instead. Loretta quits her job and is completely bored. She decides to go back to work. It is a pre-code film so the husband and wife share a bed and even kiss and become romantic, first thing in the morning. She works long hours and the husband gets upset. One of which is after a day of work she goes home and cleans, makes the bed and does the dishes. The husband went to visit a friend in his workshop. George works at the same company as Loretta. One day a female co-worker asks Loretta come home with her and help her stand up to her father who wants her to marry a man. The father forces her to marry the man by physically abusing her. Loretta's husband who was making dinner when she called to say she would be home late, left the food where it was and left the apartment. When Loretta gets home about 10:30 PM he is not home. A few hours later she gets a phone call, he is in jail for drunkenness. When she goes down and bails him out a woman was also arrested with him and she pays her bail. When Loretta gets to work, her boss offers her a job in St. Louis as his executive assistant. She and her husband argue, he won't go to St. Louis even though he does not have a job. He leaves her and blames her for his lost opportunity (which I knew would come up at some point). While there George states that he is interested in her. At her birthday party she gets a telegram that her husband is ill. She leaves on a mail cargo plane. George looks at her when she leaves, knowing he will never see her again. When she gets to her husbands apartment, the woman who she bailed out is there. She has been taking care of him. The doctor (who spends hours with the patient) gives her a lecture about woman's role in the house (old fashioned, egotistical and chauvinistic lecture in my opinion). She sees her husband telling him she was fired and will be staying. The woman who was taking care of him packs her suitcase and leaves. There are a lot of really great scenes in this film, better than the doctors lecture. Aline going through the whole scenario of how to trap the man, writing the notes in shorthand in a book for easy reference. At the very beginning of the film the couple are at the theater to see a Lee Tracy film, while in line they hide behind a large man to kiss. At a restaurant Loretta and her co-worker talk about what they want out of life doesn't matter, it is the men who run everything and are selfish with their desires and careers.
I also watched So Big and The Painted Veil. I had planned to go to bed early, but I got so engrossed in the films I had to stay up and watch them.
TCM celebrated with a Birthday salute to George Brent. Quite a few people on the site think that he is bland. It is true his is not the most overpowering charismatic actor but he is talented. Last week Robert Osborne stated that women in Hollywood wanted to work with him because he didn't overshadow his leading ladies. I thought that was the perfect way to describe him. I would have liked a Kay Francis film, but there was a nice variety shown. I think he is very talented. He may not outshine the leading woman, but he does outshine the men in the film.
I watched They Called it Sin with Loretta Young. Loretta plays a Kansas woman who dates a New York man, Jimmy traveling through the state. She spends the day with him until almost midnight, telling her mother that she had nothing to be ashamed of. Her mother tells her that she is not her mother, her mother was a singer passing through and they don't know who her father is, she took her in because her husband asked her to. Loretta goes to New York to find Jimmy. When she gets to his apartment George Brent is also there as a doctor friend. He takes her to a hotel as Jimmy's fiancee comes over for dinner. When Jimmy tells his fiancee he met the girl in church her father spits out his drink (I love that). The next day Loretta finds out that he is engaged and leaves the hotel without a forwarding address. She applies as chorus girl at every agency. At this point she doesn't drink or smoke. At one agency she meets Una Merkle as a cartwheeling southern dancer. Una who has been in the business a long time ambushes the producer to watch her dance to Loretta's piano playing. The producer likes how Loretta looks and plays music. They are both hired and become roommates. Una as a dancer in front of the chorus and Loretta is hired to play at rehearsal. The producer decides to help her with her music compositions. They record her playing the songs. The story of Jimmy's marriage is on the front page of the newspapers. At a party George sees Loretta with the producer, who is a rouge and goes to talk with her. Loretta is now smoking and drinking. When the producer calls her “Sweets” George whips his head around to look at him with a dangerous gleam in his eyes. They occasionally date, but Loretta acts like she doesn't really care for him. George asks him to marry him but she refuses since she doesn't love him, she sees him as a friend. At a party the producer tells Loretta that she is invited to a breakfast party of which she is the only guest. She refuses. The producer sees her and Jimmy kiss and decides he is through with her. He leaves her a check stating “we are closing you as of today”. The next day Una is getting ready for rehearsal and sings a song. It is a new song in the show, which Loretta wrote. Loretta furious that the producer has taken her music she goes down to the rehearsal theater to confront him. Both Loretta and Una stand up to the producer. The producer stated that he wrote the numbers and has the two women thrown out. It takes two big men to get rid of each woman. There is a story in the newspapers about the incident. Jimmy goes to Loretta. He then goes to confront the producer at his apartment. They argue. The producer who is already drunk, falls off the balcony. Jimmy scared runs away. Loretta goes to the police to admit that she was the reason he was hurt to protect him. The producer is in very bad shape. George wants to clear Loretta and performs surgery so that the producer can talk to tell what really happened. After the surgery the producer wakes up for a brief time and states what really happened. It was accident and Loretta is cleared. Jimmy decides to leave his wife, but Loretta states she is going to marry George. There are some great stylized framing of the actors, especially Loretta.
I then watched Weekend Marriage. Loretta Young also stars in this film. She is interested in a man who won't commit to marriage. Her sister-in-law played by Aline MacMahon (who is a working married woman) helps her trick the man into marriage. At first Loretta resists, but falls into the temptation of marriage. The man did not want to marry until he had enough money to live in proper style. He was going to take a job offer in Brazil, but they get married instead. Loretta quits her job and is completely bored. She decides to go back to work. It is a pre-code film so the husband and wife share a bed and even kiss and become romantic, first thing in the morning. She works long hours and the husband gets upset. One of which is after a day of work she goes home and cleans, makes the bed and does the dishes. The husband went to visit a friend in his workshop. George works at the same company as Loretta. One day a female co-worker asks Loretta come home with her and help her stand up to her father who wants her to marry a man. The father forces her to marry the man by physically abusing her. Loretta's husband who was making dinner when she called to say she would be home late, left the food where it was and left the apartment. When Loretta gets home about 10:30 PM he is not home. A few hours later she gets a phone call, he is in jail for drunkenness. When she goes down and bails him out a woman was also arrested with him and she pays her bail. When Loretta gets to work, her boss offers her a job in St. Louis as his executive assistant. She and her husband argue, he won't go to St. Louis even though he does not have a job. He leaves her and blames her for his lost opportunity (which I knew would come up at some point). While there George states that he is interested in her. At her birthday party she gets a telegram that her husband is ill. She leaves on a mail cargo plane. George looks at her when she leaves, knowing he will never see her again. When she gets to her husbands apartment, the woman who she bailed out is there. She has been taking care of him. The doctor (who spends hours with the patient) gives her a lecture about woman's role in the house (old fashioned, egotistical and chauvinistic lecture in my opinion). She sees her husband telling him she was fired and will be staying. The woman who was taking care of him packs her suitcase and leaves. There are a lot of really great scenes in this film, better than the doctors lecture. Aline going through the whole scenario of how to trap the man, writing the notes in shorthand in a book for easy reference. At the very beginning of the film the couple are at the theater to see a Lee Tracy film, while in line they hide behind a large man to kiss. At a restaurant Loretta and her co-worker talk about what they want out of life doesn't matter, it is the men who run everything and are selfish with their desires and careers.
I also watched So Big and The Painted Veil. I had planned to go to bed early, but I got so engrossed in the films I had to stay up and watch them.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
March 14
Happy Birthday to Michael Caine and Billy Crystal.
For Michael Caine's I watched Educating Rita. It had been awhile since I had seen it, I forgot how good it was. I can identify with both main characters of the film. The music is loud. It is an 80's synthesizer sound. It is composed, performed and arranged by David Hentschel.
Michael played a bored university professor who use to write poetry. At first you think that he is a pompous arrogant professor. He drinks before class (a bottle is hidden in the book shelf behind a copy of The Lost Weekend) to both forget his problems and his boredom and his students. He has to tutor an open university student, played by Julie Waters (the real character's name Susan but she decides to be Rita after her favorite author). Julie is a 26 year old hairdresser who wants to improve her life and her husband and parents don't understand her. She has a common accent and uses a lot of slang. She has very little self-confidence. Her husband wants children and she states she has stopped taking the pill 6 months earlier, but she continues to take them on the sly. When he finds out he burns her books and tells her to stop going to school. Michael invites Julie to a party, but he stands outside looking in and doesn't go in. She goes to a pub to be with her family and looks in the window. She doesn't fit in either world. When she went to see Michael the next time she stated that her mom was crying during a song, she asked her why she was crying and she said “There must be better songs to sing than this”. Julie says “that is what I am trying to do, to sing a better song”. I thought that was a great analogy. Michael and Julie become friends and Michael becomes her mentor. Julie and her husband separate. Julie goes to summer school in the a different city where she gains confidence and quits smoking. Her language also starts to change to a more socially acceptable tone and little slang. When she comes back she rooms with a woman and picks up her mannerisms and works as a waitress. Michael reads her letters very animated.
Michael is married, but is separated from his wife. He lives with another woman who is having an affair with a married man. The man always pretends to use the phone to speak to his publisher when Michael comes in the house. One time Michael comes in and tells him the phone was disconnected that morning. Micheal's girl-friend tells him she is leaving. Michael's drinking is getting worse and is disrupting his classes. He is called on the carpet by the university staff, but not fired. He gives his poetry to Julie to read. She likes it, but Michael being drunk decides that it is crap and tears up the papers. They argue and she leaves. Her roommate overdoses and Julie takes her to the hospital and spends the night. Michael drunk tries to find her and tell her the exam is the next day. He wakes up the dean in the middle of the night. The next day Julie takes her test and goes to see Micheal. He is being transferred to Australia. Michael asks her to go with him. She says no, she doesn't know what she is going to do with her future. In the final scene he leaves for Australia and she is at the airport to say goodbye. He went to the school to get her test results. She passed with distinction.
For Michael Caine's I watched Educating Rita. It had been awhile since I had seen it, I forgot how good it was. I can identify with both main characters of the film. The music is loud. It is an 80's synthesizer sound. It is composed, performed and arranged by David Hentschel.
Michael played a bored university professor who use to write poetry. At first you think that he is a pompous arrogant professor. He drinks before class (a bottle is hidden in the book shelf behind a copy of The Lost Weekend) to both forget his problems and his boredom and his students. He has to tutor an open university student, played by Julie Waters (the real character's name Susan but she decides to be Rita after her favorite author). Julie is a 26 year old hairdresser who wants to improve her life and her husband and parents don't understand her. She has a common accent and uses a lot of slang. She has very little self-confidence. Her husband wants children and she states she has stopped taking the pill 6 months earlier, but she continues to take them on the sly. When he finds out he burns her books and tells her to stop going to school. Michael invites Julie to a party, but he stands outside looking in and doesn't go in. She goes to a pub to be with her family and looks in the window. She doesn't fit in either world. When she went to see Michael the next time she stated that her mom was crying during a song, she asked her why she was crying and she said “There must be better songs to sing than this”. Julie says “that is what I am trying to do, to sing a better song”. I thought that was a great analogy. Michael and Julie become friends and Michael becomes her mentor. Julie and her husband separate. Julie goes to summer school in the a different city where she gains confidence and quits smoking. Her language also starts to change to a more socially acceptable tone and little slang. When she comes back she rooms with a woman and picks up her mannerisms and works as a waitress. Michael reads her letters very animated.
Michael is married, but is separated from his wife. He lives with another woman who is having an affair with a married man. The man always pretends to use the phone to speak to his publisher when Michael comes in the house. One time Michael comes in and tells him the phone was disconnected that morning. Micheal's girl-friend tells him she is leaving. Michael's drinking is getting worse and is disrupting his classes. He is called on the carpet by the university staff, but not fired. He gives his poetry to Julie to read. She likes it, but Michael being drunk decides that it is crap and tears up the papers. They argue and she leaves. Her roommate overdoses and Julie takes her to the hospital and spends the night. Michael drunk tries to find her and tell her the exam is the next day. He wakes up the dean in the middle of the night. The next day Julie takes her test and goes to see Micheal. He is being transferred to Australia. Michael asks her to go with him. She says no, she doesn't know what she is going to do with her future. In the final scene he leaves for Australia and she is at the airport to say goodbye. He went to the school to get her test results. She passed with distinction.
Monday, March 14, 2011
March 13
Henry Hathaway
There are two things I have learned since I have been doing these blogs, 1) my spelling has not improved as much as I have been trying and 2) I don't know directors as well as I thought I did.
Henry Hathaway is know for directing westerns, but in looking up his films he did a number of different styles. To honor his work on his birthday I watched The Dark Corner a film noir. There are a lot of circles of light moments in the film, some to show the actors and some to show the silhouette of the actors. It is very atmospheric.
The film stars Mark Stevens as a private eye and Lucille Ball as his secretary. While the two are on a date at an arcade a man follows them, a man in a white suit played by William Bendix. They meet up at Mark's office where William said he is also a private detective. When he empties his pocket there is a close up of a role of nickles “a poor mans brass knuckles” and a horseshoe key chain. When asked how long he was following him William says “Two days. I was climbing in your pocket all the time.” “Who buys the tickets?” (just the beginning of great dialog). William states that Jardine hired him. Jardine was Mark's partner in San Francisco, a charming man with a hobby of blackmail. Years ago Jardine drugged Mark and Mark caused an accident which killed a man and he was sentenced to jail for 2 years. The next night Mark was knocked down by a car. William was driving that car. He drops it off at Clifton Webb's house and he honks the horn. William goes into his own car. The next scene Clifton is meeting with Jardine. Clifton looks at his watch and calls it an end to the meeting he has an appointment. It is Jardine's car that William was driving. Jardine is having an affair with Clifton’s wife, who is a much younger woman who visits him. Mark got a partial license plate and was able to trace it to an apartment. Mark goes to that address and Jardine is surprised. Jardine denies any knowledge of hiring a private defective. They fight and the woman calls the police.
The movie takes a strange turn when art gallery owner Clifton shows a select few an old Italian painting that he was obsessed with that looks just like his wife. Jardine and Clifton's wife talk about going away that night, just a few feet away from Clifton. He sees their shadow in a circle of light as they kiss. William then meets with Clifton and makes an arrangement to meet with Mark with Clifton sets up Jardine. Mark goes to apartment where William is waiting for him and Mark gets chloroformed. William hits Jardine with a poker and puts the poker in Mark's hand and trashes the place and stomps on Mark's thumb. Mark wakes up to Lucille ringing the door bell. He stashes the body and Lucille cleans up the apartment. Music from the night club down the street plays in the background during the entire scene. He tries to track down William. “I'm backed up in a dark corner and I don't know who is hitting me.”
Clifton goes to his wife to see if she is ready to leave for a party. He said he needs to meet with Jardine at the party to talk about one of his friends who has discovered his wife is having an affair and to find out a way of getting rid of him legally. He tells his wife that Jardine was in love with another woman a Mrs. Wilding. The wife states jealously that he loathed her. Clifton states “he loathed her rather intimately” in his dry witted humor style. He continues “My love for you is the only malady I've contracted since the usual childhood diseases and it's incurable.”
Mark comes up with the idea of tracking down cleaners for William's white suit which he rubbed ink on in his office. They finally come up with a positive match. They go to that rooming house. William has already left. A little girl heard a phone conversation and told Mark where William went to, but Mark did not understand everything she said. At the same time Jardine's body was discovered at Mark's house. William goes to meet Clifton. When Clifton goes to give him the money he drops some, William bends down to pick it up and Clifton pushes him out the window. This gets me every time. You just don't realize it is coming. Mark sees the role of nickles and the horseshoe key chain on the ground by the body. Mark steals the cab with Williams belongings with the police in hot pursuit Mark gets away and goes to his office where he and Lucille go through the belongings. They then figure out what the girl was saying as the police show up. Mark gets away and goes to the art gallery. Pretending to purchase a statue he waits for Clifton in his office. Clifton's wife comes in while he is waiting and he recognizes the perfume. She faints and Clifton comes in with a gun, upset that Mark is touching his wife's hand. Clifton takes Mark down to the safe. I won't give it away, but hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
There are two things I have learned since I have been doing these blogs, 1) my spelling has not improved as much as I have been trying and 2) I don't know directors as well as I thought I did.
Henry Hathaway is know for directing westerns, but in looking up his films he did a number of different styles. To honor his work on his birthday I watched The Dark Corner a film noir. There are a lot of circles of light moments in the film, some to show the actors and some to show the silhouette of the actors. It is very atmospheric.
The film stars Mark Stevens as a private eye and Lucille Ball as his secretary. While the two are on a date at an arcade a man follows them, a man in a white suit played by William Bendix. They meet up at Mark's office where William said he is also a private detective. When he empties his pocket there is a close up of a role of nickles “a poor mans brass knuckles” and a horseshoe key chain. When asked how long he was following him William says “Two days. I was climbing in your pocket all the time.” “Who buys the tickets?” (just the beginning of great dialog). William states that Jardine hired him. Jardine was Mark's partner in San Francisco, a charming man with a hobby of blackmail. Years ago Jardine drugged Mark and Mark caused an accident which killed a man and he was sentenced to jail for 2 years. The next night Mark was knocked down by a car. William was driving that car. He drops it off at Clifton Webb's house and he honks the horn. William goes into his own car. The next scene Clifton is meeting with Jardine. Clifton looks at his watch and calls it an end to the meeting he has an appointment. It is Jardine's car that William was driving. Jardine is having an affair with Clifton’s wife, who is a much younger woman who visits him. Mark got a partial license plate and was able to trace it to an apartment. Mark goes to that address and Jardine is surprised. Jardine denies any knowledge of hiring a private defective. They fight and the woman calls the police.
The movie takes a strange turn when art gallery owner Clifton shows a select few an old Italian painting that he was obsessed with that looks just like his wife. Jardine and Clifton's wife talk about going away that night, just a few feet away from Clifton. He sees their shadow in a circle of light as they kiss. William then meets with Clifton and makes an arrangement to meet with Mark with Clifton sets up Jardine. Mark goes to apartment where William is waiting for him and Mark gets chloroformed. William hits Jardine with a poker and puts the poker in Mark's hand and trashes the place and stomps on Mark's thumb. Mark wakes up to Lucille ringing the door bell. He stashes the body and Lucille cleans up the apartment. Music from the night club down the street plays in the background during the entire scene. He tries to track down William. “I'm backed up in a dark corner and I don't know who is hitting me.”
Clifton goes to his wife to see if she is ready to leave for a party. He said he needs to meet with Jardine at the party to talk about one of his friends who has discovered his wife is having an affair and to find out a way of getting rid of him legally. He tells his wife that Jardine was in love with another woman a Mrs. Wilding. The wife states jealously that he loathed her. Clifton states “he loathed her rather intimately” in his dry witted humor style. He continues “My love for you is the only malady I've contracted since the usual childhood diseases and it's incurable.”
Mark comes up with the idea of tracking down cleaners for William's white suit which he rubbed ink on in his office. They finally come up with a positive match. They go to that rooming house. William has already left. A little girl heard a phone conversation and told Mark where William went to, but Mark did not understand everything she said. At the same time Jardine's body was discovered at Mark's house. William goes to meet Clifton. When Clifton goes to give him the money he drops some, William bends down to pick it up and Clifton pushes him out the window. This gets me every time. You just don't realize it is coming. Mark sees the role of nickles and the horseshoe key chain on the ground by the body. Mark steals the cab with Williams belongings with the police in hot pursuit Mark gets away and goes to his office where he and Lucille go through the belongings. They then figure out what the girl was saying as the police show up. Mark gets away and goes to the art gallery. Pretending to purchase a statue he waits for Clifton in his office. Clifton's wife comes in while he is waiting and he recognizes the perfume. She faints and Clifton comes in with a gun, upset that Mark is touching his wife's hand. Clifton takes Mark down to the safe. I won't give it away, but hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
March 12
Gordon MacRae
I watched On Moonlight Bay for Gordon MacRae birthday. I don't care for Gordon MacRae. I don't know what it is. He is a great singer and a talented actor. I like the films, the stories, the actors, the crews, but something about the films he is in annoy me. I have of course never meet the man, his family or remember reading anything bad about him.
When his films are on TCM I will watch them and maybe things will change or I will figure out what my problem with the actor may be.
I watched On Moonlight Bay for Gordon MacRae birthday. I don't care for Gordon MacRae. I don't know what it is. He is a great singer and a talented actor. I like the films, the stories, the actors, the crews, but something about the films he is in annoy me. I have of course never meet the man, his family or remember reading anything bad about him.
When his films are on TCM I will watch them and maybe things will change or I will figure out what my problem with the actor may be.
March 11
Dorothy Gish
For Dorothy Gish's Birthday I watched Orphans of the Storm by DW Griffith. It is almost like watching 2-3 different movies. One of the French Revolution and of the girls. I am going to focus on Dorothy and Lillian's story. The story starts off as a noble woman married a commoner and has a child and the commoner is killed by her family. The family takes the baby and leaves her at a foundling house. The woman leaves a note in a locket that her name is Louise and to take care of her. Another man goes to leave a baby at the foundling home and finds Louise. He realizes what will really happen to his child and takes her and the other baby back home. When he shows the baby to his wife they discover the note and a packet of coins. They raise the two girls as sisters. Louise is played by Dorothy and Henriette the Lillian Gish. They first appear in the about 15 minutes into the film as young ladies 16-18 years old I think. They do not have a credit in the beginning with the other actors but do have the their name listed on single title cards, whereas the other actors don't. Their parents have died from the plague a few years earlier and Dorothy is blind (dare I say spoiled) by mother hen Lillian. The sisters go to Paris where a doctor may help Dorothy regain her sight. When the girls get to Paris Dorothy is abducted by and Louise is left to fend on her own. She is taken in by a street Hag. The hag and her crew want her to sing so the Hag can beg for coins. She refuses and is locked in a cellar complete with rats. Dorothy meanwhile has been taken to a royal/society party, I don't know if it is an orgy but it is scandalous. Several men grab her and she begs for help. One man helps her. They go to where she was abducted and tries to find Dorothy but they can't find her. A doctor sees the girl and tells the hag that he can cure her, but the hag tells the girl there is nothing he can do for her. The hag takes her shawl so that she will really shiver in the cold. The Countess is Dorothy's mother. She sees the girl in the streets and gives her a coin. The Countess then goes to see Lillian who is involved with her nephew, the man who rescued her. While in Lillian's rooms Dorothy's voice is heard. She is begging in the street. Dorothy and Lillian finally find each other. As Lillian is going to the door the police come in and arrest her. She is taken to the jail kicking and screaming. Dorothy is taken away by the hag. At the jail, Lillian meets the doctor that saw her sister and finds out where she is staying. Then the French Revolution happens. The women are freed from jail and she goes right to the area. Lillian sees the hag wearing Dorothy's shawl and hag tells her Dorothy is dead. Devastated Lillian goes back to her apartments. Where she is turned in for having housed a nobleman. Dorothy is not dead she was begging in the streets. When they get back to their place one of the gang members attacks her and another gang member defends her and they fight. Dorothy and the man get away after the other man is wounded.
At the court Lillian and the man she loves are sentenced to die at the guillotine. Dorothy is one of the peasants in the courthouse. Lillian is given an hour to spend with her sister before she is taken away. The next part, which is the climatic part of the film, is very long. One blog I read stated that the the film could have been cut down, but the editing to prolong the anticipation of the actual death sentence is very good. At the court Lillian and her friend are defended by an impassioned speech, cut to Lillian getting on the cart to be taken to her execution. Back to the court, cut to Lillian several times, including one time seeing Dorothy in the streets. The court gives Lillian and her friend a stay of execution. As they try to get to the guillotine there are many obstacles. Lillian is put on a platform and lowered and locked into the guillotine that has a sticky catch. I have great respect for Lillian on doing that, she was in there for a long time. When the moment of execution comes the man who saved Dorothy comes onto the platform and knifes the executioner, but is knocked down by guards. As the hand rises to commence death the men from the court finally reach the platform and execution is halted. I have to admit, I did not think she would be saved, I had too sigh in relief. The last scene Dorothy and her mother are reunited and Dorothy can now see. Lillian is going to marry her man and life for them is good.
I am a little mixed on Dorothy's performance. At times she underacts and at times she overacts. Part of the overacting can be due to the fact it is a silent film. I first thought in comparison to Lillian, Dorothy was not as good. But the end of the film but them on an even level. At the end of the film when Dorothy gets her sight back she was happy and childlike in her exuberance.
For Dorothy Gish's Birthday I watched Orphans of the Storm by DW Griffith. It is almost like watching 2-3 different movies. One of the French Revolution and of the girls. I am going to focus on Dorothy and Lillian's story. The story starts off as a noble woman married a commoner and has a child and the commoner is killed by her family. The family takes the baby and leaves her at a foundling house. The woman leaves a note in a locket that her name is Louise and to take care of her. Another man goes to leave a baby at the foundling home and finds Louise. He realizes what will really happen to his child and takes her and the other baby back home. When he shows the baby to his wife they discover the note and a packet of coins. They raise the two girls as sisters. Louise is played by Dorothy and Henriette the Lillian Gish. They first appear in the about 15 minutes into the film as young ladies 16-18 years old I think. They do not have a credit in the beginning with the other actors but do have the their name listed on single title cards, whereas the other actors don't. Their parents have died from the plague a few years earlier and Dorothy is blind (dare I say spoiled) by mother hen Lillian. The sisters go to Paris where a doctor may help Dorothy regain her sight. When the girls get to Paris Dorothy is abducted by and Louise is left to fend on her own. She is taken in by a street Hag. The hag and her crew want her to sing so the Hag can beg for coins. She refuses and is locked in a cellar complete with rats. Dorothy meanwhile has been taken to a royal/society party, I don't know if it is an orgy but it is scandalous. Several men grab her and she begs for help. One man helps her. They go to where she was abducted and tries to find Dorothy but they can't find her. A doctor sees the girl and tells the hag that he can cure her, but the hag tells the girl there is nothing he can do for her. The hag takes her shawl so that she will really shiver in the cold. The Countess is Dorothy's mother. She sees the girl in the streets and gives her a coin. The Countess then goes to see Lillian who is involved with her nephew, the man who rescued her. While in Lillian's rooms Dorothy's voice is heard. She is begging in the street. Dorothy and Lillian finally find each other. As Lillian is going to the door the police come in and arrest her. She is taken to the jail kicking and screaming. Dorothy is taken away by the hag. At the jail, Lillian meets the doctor that saw her sister and finds out where she is staying. Then the French Revolution happens. The women are freed from jail and she goes right to the area. Lillian sees the hag wearing Dorothy's shawl and hag tells her Dorothy is dead. Devastated Lillian goes back to her apartments. Where she is turned in for having housed a nobleman. Dorothy is not dead she was begging in the streets. When they get back to their place one of the gang members attacks her and another gang member defends her and they fight. Dorothy and the man get away after the other man is wounded.
At the court Lillian and the man she loves are sentenced to die at the guillotine. Dorothy is one of the peasants in the courthouse. Lillian is given an hour to spend with her sister before she is taken away. The next part, which is the climatic part of the film, is very long. One blog I read stated that the the film could have been cut down, but the editing to prolong the anticipation of the actual death sentence is very good. At the court Lillian and her friend are defended by an impassioned speech, cut to Lillian getting on the cart to be taken to her execution. Back to the court, cut to Lillian several times, including one time seeing Dorothy in the streets. The court gives Lillian and her friend a stay of execution. As they try to get to the guillotine there are many obstacles. Lillian is put on a platform and lowered and locked into the guillotine that has a sticky catch. I have great respect for Lillian on doing that, she was in there for a long time. When the moment of execution comes the man who saved Dorothy comes onto the platform and knifes the executioner, but is knocked down by guards. As the hand rises to commence death the men from the court finally reach the platform and execution is halted. I have to admit, I did not think she would be saved, I had too sigh in relief. The last scene Dorothy and her mother are reunited and Dorothy can now see. Lillian is going to marry her man and life for them is good.
I am a little mixed on Dorothy's performance. At times she underacts and at times she overacts. Part of the overacting can be due to the fact it is a silent film. I first thought in comparison to Lillian, Dorothy was not as good. But the end of the film but them on an even level. At the end of the film when Dorothy gets her sight back she was happy and childlike in her exuberance.
Friday, March 11, 2011
March 10
Happy Birthday Barry Fitzgerald and Gregory La Cava.
Gregory La Cava was spotlighted for his birthday on TCM. I was really looking forward to the films there is a nice mixture, pre-code, comedy, drama and Gene Kelly. I have seen Living In a Big Way before and loved it. It is more of a drama than musical, but Gene does have a few dance and song numbers. Gene always looks good.
I watched Smart Woman with Mary Astor. Mary is married and meets a rich noble British man on the boat from Europe to America. She and her husband are separated and he is interested in another woman. Mary, the Britain, her husband, his girlfriend, the girlfriend's mother, Mary's sister and sister-in-law all meet up at Mary's house. Mary acts like she love the Britain, but she really loves her husband. The brother-in-law and the Britain each encourage the girlfriend to the Britain, so the couple can stay married. The Britain convinces the girlfriend and her mother to leave on their own. Great fast paced story pre-code story.
I also watched The Half-Naked Truth. It is a 1933 film and what I feel most intrigued about is the variety of voices in the film. The fast talking Lee Tracey, the accented Lupe Velez (wearing a racy costumes for most of the film and who sings without an accent, and when she is angry she speaks Spanish very fast), the deep voiced Eugene Pallette and the bumbling stuttering Frank Morgan.
Lee plays a carnival hawker for Lupe. He comes up with the idea for Lupe to admit that a man in the town was Lupe's father who “deceived” Lupe's mother. Lupe will tell the town the man's name at the evening show. At the nights show the police come arrest the workers as a fraud. There is a big fight and Lee, Lupe (in costume with her little dog) and Eugene go to NYC. Lee convinces people that Lupe is a Turkish princess and stays in a swanky Broadway hotel. Lee hires a lion and gets raw meat as a photo op for reporters. Lee goes to Follies producer, played by Frank Morgan to hire Lupe. Frank kicks Lee out of the theater. Lee doesn't give up and plants a story in the newspaper that Frank has hired Lupe. Lee writes a contract for Lupe to work in the Follies for Frank. He doesn't like the contract, but signs it anyway. Lupe then sings for Frank. It is not good. Since he signed the contract he keeps her in the show as an exotic dancer. When she dances the people in the audience are bored. Lee decides to cause a ruckus off stage stating that a Turkish man in the crew is upset because the dance is sacred. Lee has Lupe go into the song that she sang for Frank and modern jazz dancing. This the audience likes. It is a combination Bessie Smith, Josephine Baker and Fanny Brice in a skimpy costume. The musicians give their best, the people on stage start dancing and the audience is riveted.
The next night Lupe has dinner with Frank and Lee is jealous, of Frank or what Frank can do for her publicity wise I can't tell. Lee and Eugene leave. Lee starts his own publicity agency and the first thing he does is create a nudist colony. The nudists cover themselves with straw, that looks like bird nests. Lee does his best to ruin Lupe. He puts a story out who Lupe is really. He puts a huge picture of Frank and Lupe on the building across the street. He then takes the nudists out for a ride through NYC, which a huge crowd follow them. Of course the police stop them. Lee blackmails Frank into taking one of the nudists into his show. Lupe is then fired. Eugene buys a carnival and Lupe joins him. Eugene asks Lee to join him while they are in town. The last line is that Lee says “I've a big surprise for you” to Lupe as she dances on stage. As “The End” comes up the wedding march plays. This is probably the most unique and different film I have seen. Or maybe second to The Loved One. It is very much a comedy, but the actors play it straight like they are in a drama and let the story carry the comedy. That is probably due to La Cava's direction. That also happens in My Man Godfrey.
Gregory La Cava was spotlighted for his birthday on TCM. I was really looking forward to the films there is a nice mixture, pre-code, comedy, drama and Gene Kelly. I have seen Living In a Big Way before and loved it. It is more of a drama than musical, but Gene does have a few dance and song numbers. Gene always looks good.
I watched Smart Woman with Mary Astor. Mary is married and meets a rich noble British man on the boat from Europe to America. She and her husband are separated and he is interested in another woman. Mary, the Britain, her husband, his girlfriend, the girlfriend's mother, Mary's sister and sister-in-law all meet up at Mary's house. Mary acts like she love the Britain, but she really loves her husband. The brother-in-law and the Britain each encourage the girlfriend to the Britain, so the couple can stay married. The Britain convinces the girlfriend and her mother to leave on their own. Great fast paced story pre-code story.
I also watched The Half-Naked Truth. It is a 1933 film and what I feel most intrigued about is the variety of voices in the film. The fast talking Lee Tracey, the accented Lupe Velez (wearing a racy costumes for most of the film and who sings without an accent, and when she is angry she speaks Spanish very fast), the deep voiced Eugene Pallette and the bumbling stuttering Frank Morgan.
Lee plays a carnival hawker for Lupe. He comes up with the idea for Lupe to admit that a man in the town was Lupe's father who “deceived” Lupe's mother. Lupe will tell the town the man's name at the evening show. At the nights show the police come arrest the workers as a fraud. There is a big fight and Lee, Lupe (in costume with her little dog) and Eugene go to NYC. Lee convinces people that Lupe is a Turkish princess and stays in a swanky Broadway hotel. Lee hires a lion and gets raw meat as a photo op for reporters. Lee goes to Follies producer, played by Frank Morgan to hire Lupe. Frank kicks Lee out of the theater. Lee doesn't give up and plants a story in the newspaper that Frank has hired Lupe. Lee writes a contract for Lupe to work in the Follies for Frank. He doesn't like the contract, but signs it anyway. Lupe then sings for Frank. It is not good. Since he signed the contract he keeps her in the show as an exotic dancer. When she dances the people in the audience are bored. Lee decides to cause a ruckus off stage stating that a Turkish man in the crew is upset because the dance is sacred. Lee has Lupe go into the song that she sang for Frank and modern jazz dancing. This the audience likes. It is a combination Bessie Smith, Josephine Baker and Fanny Brice in a skimpy costume. The musicians give their best, the people on stage start dancing and the audience is riveted.
The next night Lupe has dinner with Frank and Lee is jealous, of Frank or what Frank can do for her publicity wise I can't tell. Lee and Eugene leave. Lee starts his own publicity agency and the first thing he does is create a nudist colony. The nudists cover themselves with straw, that looks like bird nests. Lee does his best to ruin Lupe. He puts a story out who Lupe is really. He puts a huge picture of Frank and Lupe on the building across the street. He then takes the nudists out for a ride through NYC, which a huge crowd follow them. Of course the police stop them. Lee blackmails Frank into taking one of the nudists into his show. Lupe is then fired. Eugene buys a carnival and Lupe joins him. Eugene asks Lee to join him while they are in town. The last line is that Lee says “I've a big surprise for you” to Lupe as she dances on stage. As “The End” comes up the wedding march plays. This is probably the most unique and different film I have seen. Or maybe second to The Loved One. It is very much a comedy, but the actors play it straight like they are in a drama and let the story carry the comedy. That is probably due to La Cava's direction. That also happens in My Man Godfrey.
March 8
Happy Birthday to Cyd Charisse and Claire Trevor.
TCM showed films to celebrate Claire Trevor's birthday. At first I wasn't looking forward to the the films. The films being shown didn't really appeal to me. The films shown really encompass her long career.
I watched Allegheny Uprising (1939) co-starring John Wayne. Claire played a daughter of a saloon owner during and after the French and Indian War. It was a good role where she plays a rough and tumble yet feminine colonialist.
I also watched Borderline (1950) co-starring Fred MacMurray and Raymond Burr. Claire plays a police officer who goes to Mexico to infiltrate a Mexican drug cartel led by Burr. MacMurray plays a rival cartel member who takes out Burr and abducts Claire. That cartel decides to have Claire and Fred pose as man and wife to bring drugs into the states. The smuggle bags of drugs in a false bottom tray in a parrot cage and music box. The first night they stop Claire dusts the drugs in the music box for fingerprints and takes pictures. Fred does the same to her handbag. They have adventures on the road and fall in love or maybe it is just part of the game. As a married couple they did share a room but Fred slept in a chair. Burr catches up with them by the border and Fred arrests him. At the border they find out they are both police officers and they brought each other to the border to arrest each other. I thought their reactions, both to being used amusing. After that it becomes your typical police drama, they continue their charade meet up with the smugglers and there is a shoot out. Fred and Claire kiss at the end. Claire is really good in this film also. She plays a mature, dignified woman who shows intelligence, becomes a flirty chorus girl to attract Burr, fits into the situation she is forced into and angry at Fred for leading her on. She is a very strong independent woman.
I also watched Two Weeks In Another Town (1963). She played a shrewish wife of director Edward G. Robinson. She yells mostly at Edward, to encourage, defend and argue with him. The film also co-starred Kirk Douglas as another actor/director in love or having an affair with several women (I couldn't keep track really of all the women). It is strange watching Kirk watch himself in the film within a film (Bad & the Beautiful) mouth the words he is saying in the other film. Cyd Charisse is also in the film as the woman that Kirk loved years ago, as a gold-digger. The big scene for Claire is at a party in a restaurant. Edward is standing speaking and his leading lady is touching his side or back and Claire drunk is jealous and verbally and physically attacks the leading lady. That scene is great. There is a lot going on in the film, but it is all enjoyable.
TCM showed films to celebrate Claire Trevor's birthday. At first I wasn't looking forward to the the films. The films being shown didn't really appeal to me. The films shown really encompass her long career.
I watched Allegheny Uprising (1939) co-starring John Wayne. Claire played a daughter of a saloon owner during and after the French and Indian War. It was a good role where she plays a rough and tumble yet feminine colonialist.
I also watched Borderline (1950) co-starring Fred MacMurray and Raymond Burr. Claire plays a police officer who goes to Mexico to infiltrate a Mexican drug cartel led by Burr. MacMurray plays a rival cartel member who takes out Burr and abducts Claire. That cartel decides to have Claire and Fred pose as man and wife to bring drugs into the states. The smuggle bags of drugs in a false bottom tray in a parrot cage and music box. The first night they stop Claire dusts the drugs in the music box for fingerprints and takes pictures. Fred does the same to her handbag. They have adventures on the road and fall in love or maybe it is just part of the game. As a married couple they did share a room but Fred slept in a chair. Burr catches up with them by the border and Fred arrests him. At the border they find out they are both police officers and they brought each other to the border to arrest each other. I thought their reactions, both to being used amusing. After that it becomes your typical police drama, they continue their charade meet up with the smugglers and there is a shoot out. Fred and Claire kiss at the end. Claire is really good in this film also. She plays a mature, dignified woman who shows intelligence, becomes a flirty chorus girl to attract Burr, fits into the situation she is forced into and angry at Fred for leading her on. She is a very strong independent woman.
I also watched Two Weeks In Another Town (1963). She played a shrewish wife of director Edward G. Robinson. She yells mostly at Edward, to encourage, defend and argue with him. The film also co-starred Kirk Douglas as another actor/director in love or having an affair with several women (I couldn't keep track really of all the women). It is strange watching Kirk watch himself in the film within a film (Bad & the Beautiful) mouth the words he is saying in the other film. Cyd Charisse is also in the film as the woman that Kirk loved years ago, as a gold-digger. The big scene for Claire is at a party in a restaurant. Edward is standing speaking and his leading lady is touching his side or back and Claire drunk is jealous and verbally and physically attacks the leading lady. That scene is great. There is a lot going on in the film, but it is all enjoyable.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
March 4
John Garfield
Now that the 31 days of oscar is over mini birthday celebrations are starting again on TCM. The first one of the month is John Garfield. They showed the quintessential The Postman Always Rings Twice, which is a great film. I really like the look that John gives Lana Turner when he first sees her. Steamy.
I was able to watch They Made Me a Criminal staring John Garfield and the “Dead End” Kids”. It co-starred Claude Rains and Ann Sheridan. John plays a winning boxer with a seemingly pure life. After winning a match he says hello to his mother on the radio and that he will be home soon. He tells the reporters that he stays away from women and booze. That night while he is drinking with Ann Sheridan and friends he states that it is all the made up. One of the people there is a reporter who can't resist the story. John and the reporter fight and John gets knocked out (possibly passed out). Another man hits the reporter in the head and the man dies. The man and Ann take John to another house and leave him to recuperate. They take his money and watch. They end up dying in a car accident. The man has John's watch and they think it is him. John wakes up the next day and sees the story in the paper. The paper actually turns on screen as he turns the paper to read the rest of the story (I don't remember seeing that done before). He goes to his agent to get his winnings, but the agent only gives him part, keeping the rest as basically a bribe. John goes across country running from the law. There is a montage of a map and John walking across county. He ends up at a date farm in the southwest. He passes out and stays at the farm. The “dead end” kids are at the farm as part of church program. John teaches the boys how to really box and the boys look up to him. To get money John enters a boxing match. Claude Rains is the only police man who doesn't think that John is dead. He tries to find him. Claude had an unfortunate incident and has little credibility. With the promotion for the boxing match Claude finds him. After the match the Claude takes John to the train station to take him back to face charges. Claude decides to let John go. I wasn't expecting that. John did not kill the man and the killer did die, but the police think that John killed the man. I really don't understand why Claude let John go.
I also watched Pride of the Marines. John plays a man who is blinded in WWII. There is great dialog that really would apply today, probably any war. Men trying to re-figure their lives after being injured in war. Some well enough to go back into battle. Some wounded like John to figure out what to do with the rest of their life or even how to live with their disability.
Now that the 31 days of oscar is over mini birthday celebrations are starting again on TCM. The first one of the month is John Garfield. They showed the quintessential The Postman Always Rings Twice, which is a great film. I really like the look that John gives Lana Turner when he first sees her. Steamy.
I was able to watch They Made Me a Criminal staring John Garfield and the “Dead End” Kids”. It co-starred Claude Rains and Ann Sheridan. John plays a winning boxer with a seemingly pure life. After winning a match he says hello to his mother on the radio and that he will be home soon. He tells the reporters that he stays away from women and booze. That night while he is drinking with Ann Sheridan and friends he states that it is all the made up. One of the people there is a reporter who can't resist the story. John and the reporter fight and John gets knocked out (possibly passed out). Another man hits the reporter in the head and the man dies. The man and Ann take John to another house and leave him to recuperate. They take his money and watch. They end up dying in a car accident. The man has John's watch and they think it is him. John wakes up the next day and sees the story in the paper. The paper actually turns on screen as he turns the paper to read the rest of the story (I don't remember seeing that done before). He goes to his agent to get his winnings, but the agent only gives him part, keeping the rest as basically a bribe. John goes across country running from the law. There is a montage of a map and John walking across county. He ends up at a date farm in the southwest. He passes out and stays at the farm. The “dead end” kids are at the farm as part of church program. John teaches the boys how to really box and the boys look up to him. To get money John enters a boxing match. Claude Rains is the only police man who doesn't think that John is dead. He tries to find him. Claude had an unfortunate incident and has little credibility. With the promotion for the boxing match Claude finds him. After the match the Claude takes John to the train station to take him back to face charges. Claude decides to let John go. I wasn't expecting that. John did not kill the man and the killer did die, but the police think that John killed the man. I really don't understand why Claude let John go.
I also watched Pride of the Marines. John plays a man who is blinded in WWII. There is great dialog that really would apply today, probably any war. Men trying to re-figure their lives after being injured in war. Some well enough to go back into battle. Some wounded like John to figure out what to do with the rest of their life or even how to live with their disability.
March 5
Happy Birthday to Rex Harrison and Dean Stockwell.
On Saturday TCM did show Storm in a Tea Cup with Rex Harrison. I fell asleep at the beginning, but woke up when all the dogs in the house of the film started barking. I can't imagine what it was like on the set that day or days all those dogs were there. It seemed like every dog in England as in that film. To celebrate Rex Harrison's birth date I watched Unfaithfully Yours. The film also started Linda Darnell as Rex's wife, Rudy Vallee as Rex's brother-in-law and Barbara Lawrence as Linda's sister. The film was written, directed and produced by Preston Sturges. Rex is an orchestra conducter who went out of the country on a tour. While he was gone he asked Rudy to keep an eye on Linda. Rex meant to take her out if she was lonely, but Rudy had a detective follow her.
The detective comes to Rex's rehearsal to give him the report and Rex burns the papers and cause a fire. Rex goes to the detectives office to complain and finds out that the wife went to another apartment in the middle of the night. He rips up the report, but suspicions are raised in his mind. During the performance, the camera goes into a close up of Rex's eye, a unique way of going into his mind. As the music plays Rex and Linda back home after the performance and Rex convinces Linda to go dancing with his assistant Tony. As Linda gets ready Rex plans the way that he is going to kill her and blame Tony. He kills her, gets Tony's fingerprints on the razor and leaves apartment. Tony goes into the bedroom, knocks over the phone which goes to the switchboard. The switchboard calls the police. Fast moving the trial has Tony sentenced to die, proclaiming his innocence. Rex starts laughing in the court room and the camera goes back away from his eye and he is still laughing as he conduct. This is always the hardest one to watch. You don't see any blood, but you see him slashing and you see Linda's hand moving as she struggles. I don't know the music, but it is very strong and loud.
The second time they are once again home after the performance. Rex lets her go and gives her a check so she won't have to worry about anything. The music is very soft and somber.
The third time Rex, Linda and Tony are at their apartment after the performance. Rex plays Russian Roulette. Rex ends up killing himself. The music is kind of a fast confusing piece.
It is the end of the concert and Rex leaves without a final bow. He goes home and recreates or at least tries to recreate his first vision of killing Linda. Nothing works as well as his vision. The music is similar to the first piece of the concert, but there are a few sound affects when things don't go well. He tries to record his voice on a record low and slow so that a different speed it will sound like a female screaming. The recorder is on a a top shelf. He can't get it down and when he does he knocks things off the shelf onto the ground. He breaks the chair he is standing on. He knocks the recorder on the balcony breaking a window. Turns out it is not the recorder but a game set. He can't figure out how to make the recorder work. He keeps knocking over the phone and you hear the switchboard operators voice. Finally Linda and Tony come home. Linda and Rex argue. Rex goes into the bathroom to get ready for bed. He sees the razor strap and searches all through the cabinet to find a razor. Linda comes into the bathroom as he is testing the razor, startles him and he cuts his thumb. He decides he can't kill her and will forgive her and write her a check. He spills ink all over the checks. He decides to challenge her to Russian Roulette. He can't find bullets. Linda tells him that her sister went to visit Tony. She went to tell her sister that Rudy was looking for her. Rex realizes that he was all wrong and how much they really loved each other. The music has switched to a patriotic anthem.
I like how the music played in the background, as part of the orchestra that Rex conducts or just as background as Rex attempts to make the first sequence come true. Admittedly the first Unfaithfully Yours I saw was the 1980's version with Dudley Moore as a first run film. It was good and modern version of the story, but the original I think is better.
On Saturday TCM did show Storm in a Tea Cup with Rex Harrison. I fell asleep at the beginning, but woke up when all the dogs in the house of the film started barking. I can't imagine what it was like on the set that day or days all those dogs were there. It seemed like every dog in England as in that film. To celebrate Rex Harrison's birth date I watched Unfaithfully Yours. The film also started Linda Darnell as Rex's wife, Rudy Vallee as Rex's brother-in-law and Barbara Lawrence as Linda's sister. The film was written, directed and produced by Preston Sturges. Rex is an orchestra conducter who went out of the country on a tour. While he was gone he asked Rudy to keep an eye on Linda. Rex meant to take her out if she was lonely, but Rudy had a detective follow her.
The detective comes to Rex's rehearsal to give him the report and Rex burns the papers and cause a fire. Rex goes to the detectives office to complain and finds out that the wife went to another apartment in the middle of the night. He rips up the report, but suspicions are raised in his mind. During the performance, the camera goes into a close up of Rex's eye, a unique way of going into his mind. As the music plays Rex and Linda back home after the performance and Rex convinces Linda to go dancing with his assistant Tony. As Linda gets ready Rex plans the way that he is going to kill her and blame Tony. He kills her, gets Tony's fingerprints on the razor and leaves apartment. Tony goes into the bedroom, knocks over the phone which goes to the switchboard. The switchboard calls the police. Fast moving the trial has Tony sentenced to die, proclaiming his innocence. Rex starts laughing in the court room and the camera goes back away from his eye and he is still laughing as he conduct. This is always the hardest one to watch. You don't see any blood, but you see him slashing and you see Linda's hand moving as she struggles. I don't know the music, but it is very strong and loud.
The second time they are once again home after the performance. Rex lets her go and gives her a check so she won't have to worry about anything. The music is very soft and somber.
The third time Rex, Linda and Tony are at their apartment after the performance. Rex plays Russian Roulette. Rex ends up killing himself. The music is kind of a fast confusing piece.
It is the end of the concert and Rex leaves without a final bow. He goes home and recreates or at least tries to recreate his first vision of killing Linda. Nothing works as well as his vision. The music is similar to the first piece of the concert, but there are a few sound affects when things don't go well. He tries to record his voice on a record low and slow so that a different speed it will sound like a female screaming. The recorder is on a a top shelf. He can't get it down and when he does he knocks things off the shelf onto the ground. He breaks the chair he is standing on. He knocks the recorder on the balcony breaking a window. Turns out it is not the recorder but a game set. He can't figure out how to make the recorder work. He keeps knocking over the phone and you hear the switchboard operators voice. Finally Linda and Tony come home. Linda and Rex argue. Rex goes into the bathroom to get ready for bed. He sees the razor strap and searches all through the cabinet to find a razor. Linda comes into the bathroom as he is testing the razor, startles him and he cuts his thumb. He decides he can't kill her and will forgive her and write her a check. He spills ink all over the checks. He decides to challenge her to Russian Roulette. He can't find bullets. Linda tells him that her sister went to visit Tony. She went to tell her sister that Rudy was looking for her. Rex realizes that he was all wrong and how much they really loved each other. The music has switched to a patriotic anthem.
I like how the music played in the background, as part of the orchestra that Rex conducts or just as background as Rex attempts to make the first sequence come true. Admittedly the first Unfaithfully Yours I saw was the 1980's version with Dudley Moore as a first run film. It was good and modern version of the story, but the original I think is better.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
March 1
David Niven
To celebrate David Niven's birthday I watched The Pink Panther. I always like the Pink Panther series. The great music, the stealing of the jewels and the great Peter Sellers. David Niven is the star of the film, but Peter Sellers steals the film. David plays a sophisticated English man who may or may not be the thief Phantom.
To celebrate David Niven's birthday I watched The Pink Panther. I always like the Pink Panther series. The great music, the stealing of the jewels and the great Peter Sellers. David Niven is the star of the film, but Peter Sellers steals the film. David plays a sophisticated English man who may or may not be the thief Phantom.
March 2
Jennifer Jones
To celebrate Jennifer Jones' birthday I watched Beat The Devil. Jennifer is almost unrecognizable as a blonde British wife of a soon to be coffee planter. She falls in love with the married Humphrey Bogart. I wouldn't say this is her best film, but her talent does show through.
To celebrate Jennifer Jones' birthday I watched Beat The Devil. Jennifer is almost unrecognizable as a blonde British wife of a soon to be coffee planter. She falls in love with the married Humphrey Bogart. I wouldn't say this is her best film, but her talent does show through.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
February 28
Happy Birthday to Charles Durning, Zero Mostel, and Ben Hect.
I watched Wirlpool in honor of Ben Hect. He is a great screenwriter who wrote comedy, drama and action films. The film has a great cast of Gene Tierney, Richard Conte and Jose Ferrer and directed by Otto Preminger. Jose catches Gene stealing from a store and blackmails her and hypnotizes her to get her to bend to his will, which even subconsciously she will not follow his lecherous plans. Gene is framed for murder. Richard who plays her husband is the only one who really believes that Gene is innocent and tries to prove his wife's innocence. I won't give away the film noir, but it is very well plotted.
In my days of wanting to be a screenwriter I read a biography of Ben Hect. He had quite a life. One of my favorite quotes on Hollywood writing is by his friend Mankiewicz, “In a novel a hero can lay 10 girls and marry a virgin for a finish. In a movie this is not allowed. The hero as well as the heroine, has to be a virgin. The villain can lay anybody he wants, have as much fun as he wants, cheating and stealing getting rich and whipping servants, but you have to shoot him in the end.”
I watched Wirlpool in honor of Ben Hect. He is a great screenwriter who wrote comedy, drama and action films. The film has a great cast of Gene Tierney, Richard Conte and Jose Ferrer and directed by Otto Preminger. Jose catches Gene stealing from a store and blackmails her and hypnotizes her to get her to bend to his will, which even subconsciously she will not follow his lecherous plans. Gene is framed for murder. Richard who plays her husband is the only one who really believes that Gene is innocent and tries to prove his wife's innocence. I won't give away the film noir, but it is very well plotted.
In my days of wanting to be a screenwriter I read a biography of Ben Hect. He had quite a life. One of my favorite quotes on Hollywood writing is by his friend Mankiewicz, “In a novel a hero can lay 10 girls and marry a virgin for a finish. In a movie this is not allowed. The hero as well as the heroine, has to be a virgin. The villain can lay anybody he wants, have as much fun as he wants, cheating and stealing getting rich and whipping servants, but you have to shoot him in the end.”
February 27
Happy Birthday to Elizabeth Taylor, Franchot Tone, and Joanne Woodward.
To celebrate Elizabeth Taylor I watched Butterfield 8. What a great film. Over the opening credits the camera stays on Elizabeth who is a sleep, for the entire time. When she wakes up, that scene is wonderful. She looks around for cigarettes, not finding any she smokes a cigar, chokes and goes for a glass of alcohol. She goes into the (hideous pink) bathroom, puts the toothbrush in the alcohol, brushes her teeth and gargles with alcohol. She explores the rooms and you can tell it is not her apartment. She finds her purse and the man left her $250. Upset she writes “no sale” on a wall mirror with lipstick. She leaves the money and takes a mink coat. Her dress is ripped so she leaves in her slip and the mink. This between 5 - 10 minutes long, no dialog and you are just amazed in watching her move. She goes to her friend Eddie Fisher to get her car and gets his girlfriend to bring some cloths for her to wear. She leaves the fur coat, which Eddie hangs up in the closet. I have to admit, he is pretty good in the film. Laurence Harvey is the man that Elizabeth is involved in. No one seems to like the life they have. Laurence's wife comes back and discovers the mink is missing. He realizes that Elizabeth took the mink. He is upset, he doesn't want to divorce his wife, but he feels guilty about being involved with Elizabeth and tries to cheapen the relationship. There is a great argument scene in a restaurant. They go to a hotel and Elizabeth changes her mind and leaves. Laurence chases after her. Her car goes off the road and she dies at the hospital. I really didn't expect that. It did reminded me of a John Gilbert/Greta Garbo film.
To celebrate Elizabeth Taylor I watched Butterfield 8. What a great film. Over the opening credits the camera stays on Elizabeth who is a sleep, for the entire time. When she wakes up, that scene is wonderful. She looks around for cigarettes, not finding any she smokes a cigar, chokes and goes for a glass of alcohol. She goes into the (hideous pink) bathroom, puts the toothbrush in the alcohol, brushes her teeth and gargles with alcohol. She explores the rooms and you can tell it is not her apartment. She finds her purse and the man left her $250. Upset she writes “no sale” on a wall mirror with lipstick. She leaves the money and takes a mink coat. Her dress is ripped so she leaves in her slip and the mink. This between 5 - 10 minutes long, no dialog and you are just amazed in watching her move. She goes to her friend Eddie Fisher to get her car and gets his girlfriend to bring some cloths for her to wear. She leaves the fur coat, which Eddie hangs up in the closet. I have to admit, he is pretty good in the film. Laurence Harvey is the man that Elizabeth is involved in. No one seems to like the life they have. Laurence's wife comes back and discovers the mink is missing. He realizes that Elizabeth took the mink. He is upset, he doesn't want to divorce his wife, but he feels guilty about being involved with Elizabeth and tries to cheapen the relationship. There is a great argument scene in a restaurant. They go to a hotel and Elizabeth changes her mind and leaves. Laurence chases after her. Her car goes off the road and she dies at the hospital. I really didn't expect that. It did reminded me of a John Gilbert/Greta Garbo film.
February 23
Peter Fonda
I celebrated Peter Fonda's birthday by watching Buster Keaton's The General with live accompaniment of Mont Alto Orchestra. I finally had time to watch a Peter Fonda film on 27th. I watched Easy Rider. I didn't get the film. I understand the sense of freedom and the open road. I liked the music, photography and the transitions but I really didn't get it. I don't get the hippy thing the drug thing. I can see why it was so popular, but not my taste.
I celebrated Peter Fonda's birthday by watching Buster Keaton's The General with live accompaniment of Mont Alto Orchestra. I finally had time to watch a Peter Fonda film on 27th. I watched Easy Rider. I didn't get the film. I understand the sense of freedom and the open road. I liked the music, photography and the transitions but I really didn't get it. I don't get the hippy thing the drug thing. I can see why it was so popular, but not my taste.
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