Happy Birthday to Don Ameche and Clint Eastwood
To celebrate Don Ameche’s birth I watched Heaven Can Wait. The film also stars Gene Tierney. Film directed by Ernest Lubitsch. When I saw this film as a child I found it somewhat disturbing. I don’t know why. I don’t know if it is the devil or hell or the thought of being old and dying.
Don Ameche plays an old man who has died and meets with the devil to decide his eternal fate. Don tells the story of his life though the women in his life. His mother, the French maids, the show girls, his wife, played by Gene Tierney, his nurse. He told the devil that he wanted to see one person but knew that she was in Heaven and he would be in Hell. It is the story of life: birth, childhood, growing up, living life, falling in love, marriage, having children, loss, aging and dying. He plays every age just right.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
May 30 Michael J. Pollard
Happy Birthday to Howard Hawks, Irving Thalberg and Michael J. Pollard.
To celebrate Michael J. Pollard’s birthday I watched Melvin and Howard. Michael plays a co-worker of Melvin, played by Paul LeMat. The two go Reno for the weekend. Mel’s first stop is a strip bar where his wife is dancing. He divorcees her. She is pregnant man wearing and they remarry. Michael is the best man in a blue jean suit, gold shiny Burt Reynolds shirt, string western tie and white cowboy hat.
Later it turns out that a man that Melvin saved from an accident was Howard Hughes. Howard named Melvin one of the beneficiaries of his will and had the will delivered to Melvin after his death. The media and everyone comes to the small Utah town to get his money. No one believes his story including the judge Dabney Coleman. Michael is in the courtroom as a character witness.
The story was based on a real life event. The will sent to Marvin was thrown out of court.
The most surreal moment of the film to me is later at the strip club nude women are dancing to a slow music version of Love Story Theme.
Michael had a very small role in the film. As I think of it friends are a small role in your life. They are there to support you when you need them and always around even if you don’t spend a lot of time with them.
Happy Memorial Day. Thank you to our soldiers who are currently serving and to all of those who have served in the past. You have made this a great nation.
To celebrate Michael J. Pollard’s birthday I watched Melvin and Howard. Michael plays a co-worker of Melvin, played by Paul LeMat. The two go Reno for the weekend. Mel’s first stop is a strip bar where his wife is dancing. He divorcees her. She is pregnant man wearing and they remarry. Michael is the best man in a blue jean suit, gold shiny Burt Reynolds shirt, string western tie and white cowboy hat.
Later it turns out that a man that Melvin saved from an accident was Howard Hughes. Howard named Melvin one of the beneficiaries of his will and had the will delivered to Melvin after his death. The media and everyone comes to the small Utah town to get his money. No one believes his story including the judge Dabney Coleman. Michael is in the courtroom as a character witness.
The story was based on a real life event. The will sent to Marvin was thrown out of court.
The most surreal moment of the film to me is later at the strip club nude women are dancing to a slow music version of Love Story Theme.
Michael had a very small role in the film. As I think of it friends are a small role in your life. They are there to support you when you need them and always around even if you don’t spend a lot of time with them.
Happy Memorial Day. Thank you to our soldiers who are currently serving and to all of those who have served in the past. You have made this a great nation.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
May 28 John Payne
Happy Birthday John Payne and Carroll Baker.
To celebrate John Payne’s birthday I watched The Great American Broadcast a black and white musical. The black and white is very crisp. John Payne is a great actor who could do any type of film: comedy, drama, musical, western and film noir. My favorite movie that he is in is probably Sentimental Journey which I have not seen in a long time. Every Christmas I do watch Miracle on 34th Street and I also listen to the radio program. TCM has been showing Miracle on 34th Street almost every month since it premiered in February. I don’t mind, but I read one blog on another site that it would be nice if TCM would show the film for the Christmas season.
The film also stars Alice Faye, Jack Oakie and Cesar Romero. It starts off in 1919 where pilot John Payne has difficulty in landing the plane in a field airport due to telephone wires being strung. Jack Oakie is the line man wiring the poles. After John fights off the phone manager they leave, leaving Jack. The two men go to Jack’s apartment where he has a room full of radio equipment, which is hobby. It is raining and the men get into their skivvies. John in a robe, showing off his garters and Jack in his long johns with a night shirt over it walks in the hallway Into another apartment, which is Alice Faye. Jack goes into is apartment to turn on the equipment and sings. John still in Alice’s apartment puts on headphones. Alice comes in and does not see him. She changes into a towel still wearing her hat when she sees him sitting in the chair. Alice fumbles behind a screen and wraps it around herself. It is a perfect height to cover her body and her head shows in the middle of the top frame. John has an idea to broadcast entertainment and the radio manufactures will pay them.
The first show they are in an outdoor tent with rain coming in in larger and larger leaks. The next day there is a newspaper article that basically radio isn’t going anywhere. Then comes a big fight that is broadcast over the wireless. There is actual footage of a Dempsey fight. Jack loves Alice but she loves John. Jack hits John when he finds out and leaves the two to go off with the financial backer, Cesar Romero. John and Alice marry. A year or two pass and radios are the thing. The young couple are struggling and Alice borrows money from Cesar. John finds out and leaves Alice. She gets a job with Jack and Cesar. She signs so sadly. There is physical comedy on the radio program. The live audience can see it but the radio audience hears only silence. That always bothers me in a film about radio. I know it is for the camera, but they are supposed to be on the radio. It is the Wiere Brothers (who I had never heard of before) are very funny as I watch them tap dance for radio show. The idea that John had Jack is going to do. John comes back to confront Jack. John goes out the window and Jack goes after him. Telling John that Alice is going to Reno to divorce him and marry Cesar. John is going to leave. Jack forces John back into the window. John “You can’t get me in that window”. Jack “You better get in there or I’ll throw you in there”. John “You couldn’t throw a fit”. John is pushed in through the window smashing the glass. Jack is shorter than John, but a little heavier, they fight on the floor. The couple are reunited.
The film also features The Four Ink Spots and the Nicholas Brothers. The latter played train porters and were not on the radio in the film. As I watch the making of featurette it was said that the Nicholas Brothers parts were generally separate pieces of action so that it could be edited out if needed in southern states. I know that things were bad for Black entertainers, but that seems outrageous. They were the greatest dancers. I may not watch the special features anymore.
To celebrate John Payne’s birthday I watched The Great American Broadcast a black and white musical. The black and white is very crisp. John Payne is a great actor who could do any type of film: comedy, drama, musical, western and film noir. My favorite movie that he is in is probably Sentimental Journey which I have not seen in a long time. Every Christmas I do watch Miracle on 34th Street and I also listen to the radio program. TCM has been showing Miracle on 34th Street almost every month since it premiered in February. I don’t mind, but I read one blog on another site that it would be nice if TCM would show the film for the Christmas season.
The film also stars Alice Faye, Jack Oakie and Cesar Romero. It starts off in 1919 where pilot John Payne has difficulty in landing the plane in a field airport due to telephone wires being strung. Jack Oakie is the line man wiring the poles. After John fights off the phone manager they leave, leaving Jack. The two men go to Jack’s apartment where he has a room full of radio equipment, which is hobby. It is raining and the men get into their skivvies. John in a robe, showing off his garters and Jack in his long johns with a night shirt over it walks in the hallway Into another apartment, which is Alice Faye. Jack goes into is apartment to turn on the equipment and sings. John still in Alice’s apartment puts on headphones. Alice comes in and does not see him. She changes into a towel still wearing her hat when she sees him sitting in the chair. Alice fumbles behind a screen and wraps it around herself. It is a perfect height to cover her body and her head shows in the middle of the top frame. John has an idea to broadcast entertainment and the radio manufactures will pay them.
The first show they are in an outdoor tent with rain coming in in larger and larger leaks. The next day there is a newspaper article that basically radio isn’t going anywhere. Then comes a big fight that is broadcast over the wireless. There is actual footage of a Dempsey fight. Jack loves Alice but she loves John. Jack hits John when he finds out and leaves the two to go off with the financial backer, Cesar Romero. John and Alice marry. A year or two pass and radios are the thing. The young couple are struggling and Alice borrows money from Cesar. John finds out and leaves Alice. She gets a job with Jack and Cesar. She signs so sadly. There is physical comedy on the radio program. The live audience can see it but the radio audience hears only silence. That always bothers me in a film about radio. I know it is for the camera, but they are supposed to be on the radio. It is the Wiere Brothers (who I had never heard of before) are very funny as I watch them tap dance for radio show. The idea that John had Jack is going to do. John comes back to confront Jack. John goes out the window and Jack goes after him. Telling John that Alice is going to Reno to divorce him and marry Cesar. John is going to leave. Jack forces John back into the window. John “You can’t get me in that window”. Jack “You better get in there or I’ll throw you in there”. John “You couldn’t throw a fit”. John is pushed in through the window smashing the glass. Jack is shorter than John, but a little heavier, they fight on the floor. The couple are reunited.
The film also features The Four Ink Spots and the Nicholas Brothers. The latter played train porters and were not on the radio in the film. As I watch the making of featurette it was said that the Nicholas Brothers parts were generally separate pieces of action so that it could be edited out if needed in southern states. I know that things were bad for Black entertainers, but that seems outrageous. They were the greatest dancers. I may not watch the special features anymore.
Friday, May 27, 2011
May 26 John Wayne
Happy Birthday Al Jolson and John Wayne.
TCM celebrated John Wayne’s birthday. I watched Trouble Along The Way. John Wayne plays a football coach recruited by a dean who is a priest, Charles Coburn, of a religious college. The college is bankrupt and Charles thinks the best way to raise money is with football. When the priest comes to recruit him John Wayne is playing pool and a small time bookie. He has a daughter and an ex-wife who is petitioning the courts to get visitation rights and/or sole custody of the child. He is a very protective father (he watches her out the window as she walks to school and is with the college boys getting ready for the game) but gives his daughter a freedom and independence. Donna Reed plays the social worker for the state. He seems more nervous giving her a dress and hat and explaining that she has to spend the day with her mother than upcoming game. “Stay out of trouble and kick on third down” is the advice he gives to his daughter as she is taken away to spend the day with her mother.
John Wayne is witty, sarcastic, caring, argumentative, hostile, loving and smart. I like the film. The actors are talented, the story is creative and even though there is not much football action there is enough to be entertaining
TCM celebrated John Wayne’s birthday. I watched Trouble Along The Way. John Wayne plays a football coach recruited by a dean who is a priest, Charles Coburn, of a religious college. The college is bankrupt and Charles thinks the best way to raise money is with football. When the priest comes to recruit him John Wayne is playing pool and a small time bookie. He has a daughter and an ex-wife who is petitioning the courts to get visitation rights and/or sole custody of the child. He is a very protective father (he watches her out the window as she walks to school and is with the college boys getting ready for the game) but gives his daughter a freedom and independence. Donna Reed plays the social worker for the state. He seems more nervous giving her a dress and hat and explaining that she has to spend the day with her mother than upcoming game. “Stay out of trouble and kick on third down” is the advice he gives to his daughter as she is taken away to spend the day with her mother.
John Wayne is witty, sarcastic, caring, argumentative, hostile, loving and smart. I like the film. The actors are talented, the story is creative and even though there is not much football action there is enough to be entertaining
May 27 Vincent Price
Happy Birthday to Christopher Lee, Vincent Price and Dashell Hammet.
To celebrate Vincent Price’s celebration of his 100th birth I watched The Las Vegas Story. Vincent Price plays a New England business man who needs money. He is married to Jane Russell. In Las Vegas Vincent looses money. He puts up Jane’s diamond necklace for a loan from a casino owner. Jane is making time with Victor Mature who is an old flame, who is now a police detective. The casino owner ends up dead and the necklace missing. Gig Young is a private detective who is hired by an insurance company to watch Vincent and the necklace. He and Victor investigate the murder. Vincent is arrested for murder. He tells the DA that he would like to say his wife was with him. The story has a great twist, so I won’t give it away.
Vincent speaks slowly and distinctly. He is droll, witty and a great performer. I haven’t seen a lot of horror films so I haven’t seen a lot of his work. If I hadn’t watched Champaign for Caesar for Ronald Coleman’s birthday (2/9), I would have probably watched that film. Maybe I will watch it again.
I am disappointed that TCM did not have a birthday celebration to honor the 100th anniversary of his birth. Sirus/XM radio classics has full 24 hours dedicated to him. As far as I know they have never done 24 hours in honor of one person. Usually it is only a 2 hour block.
To celebrate Vincent Price’s celebration of his 100th birth I watched The Las Vegas Story. Vincent Price plays a New England business man who needs money. He is married to Jane Russell. In Las Vegas Vincent looses money. He puts up Jane’s diamond necklace for a loan from a casino owner. Jane is making time with Victor Mature who is an old flame, who is now a police detective. The casino owner ends up dead and the necklace missing. Gig Young is a private detective who is hired by an insurance company to watch Vincent and the necklace. He and Victor investigate the murder. Vincent is arrested for murder. He tells the DA that he would like to say his wife was with him. The story has a great twist, so I won’t give it away.
Vincent speaks slowly and distinctly. He is droll, witty and a great performer. I haven’t seen a lot of horror films so I haven’t seen a lot of his work. If I hadn’t watched Champaign for Caesar for Ronald Coleman’s birthday (2/9), I would have probably watched that film. Maybe I will watch it again.
I am disappointed that TCM did not have a birthday celebration to honor the 100th anniversary of his birth. Sirus/XM radio classics has full 24 hours dedicated to him. As far as I know they have never done 24 hours in honor of one person. Usually it is only a 2 hour block.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
May 25 Bill "Bojangles" Robinson
To celebrate Bill “Bojangles” Robinson birthday I watched Just Around The Corner. Bill Robinson plays a doorman at a post New York City Hotel. What a great dancer. I noticed the same thing with Bill that I noticed with Gene Kelly. The floor around their feet, where they danced was worn as though they practiced, over and over and over. I wished there were more films available that he was featured.
I read Shirley Temple’s autobiography Child Star. In The Little Cornel, “Uncle Billy” as Shirley called him and Shirley touched fingers in the staircase dance. In the United States those scenes were edited so they did not touch. They were the first inter-racial dancing couple in movie history.
I read Shirley Temple’s autobiography Child Star. In The Little Cornel, “Uncle Billy” as Shirley called him and Shirley touched fingers in the staircase dance. In the United States those scenes were edited so they did not touch. They were the first inter-racial dancing couple in movie history.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
May 23 Frank McHugh
Happy Birthday to Joan Collins, Frank McHugh, Herbert Marshall and Douglas Fairbanks Sr.
I am glad that TCM did not celebrate a birthday today. That way I can watch films for Frank McHugh. About five years ago I watched One Way Passage for the first time. When I talked about the film friends they said the movie stared George Brent. That film was ‘Till We Meet Again (TWMA) a remake of One Way Passage (OWP) that stared Kay Francis and William Powell. That came on TCM and I watched it. Frank McHugh played the same exact character, even though a different name. Other than sequels or series I have never seen an actor play the same role in the same story remake. I watched the films side by side. That is very difficult to do. I know OWP passage pretty well and tried to focus on the differences.
OWP Frank is a thief and is run out Hong Kong. Frank meets up with William Powell right after he is arrested and states he is going back to San Francisco. When the boat leaves he runs up the steps as the gang way is pulling away and jumps on board. He sits on the edge of the boat as the Hong Kong police are backed away from getting on the gang plank.
TWMA Frank is drunk and hidden in a laundry basket and runs from the crowd around the basket. He runs up gang way and holds on to the edge of the boat with the police following him up. The crew grabs Frank and pulls him one board. The steward makes Frank pay for a ticket. Frank meet George Brent in a bar who explains he is going bank to San Quinton.
OWP Frank meet up with The Countess. He recognizes her as a friend and con-artist. He goes to the countess room to discuss plans. He explains the situation to her and tries to enlist her help to get William Powell free. Frank drunk, falls on the countess and the police officer assists the countess.
TWMA The Countess is a friend of George Brent. George asks Frank to meet up with the countess (who is a con-he artist) to assist him. The police officer is interested in The Countess. Frank tells her to ignore him. Frank goes to her room later after he put her escort to bed. Frank takes George to the countess room. The next day Frank plays cards with the escort again. He goes into the man’s room and takes the money from his wallet.
OWP Frank gets several free drinks at the bar. On is way out of the bar he sees himself in a mirror and thinks it is someone else and they are both trying to go through the door at the same time. Frank passes another doorway and sees the countess and the police officer dancing. The Countess gets the bullets from the gun and gives them to Frank.
Boat docks in Honolulu
OWP Frank tells the countess that William Powell is locked in the brig. The countess gets the key and hands it to Frank. Frank releases William Powell from the brig. In Honolulu Frank ties to pick a few wallets, but fails. The ship is ready to leave he once again runs up the gang way with police chasing him. He goes to the countess room to come up with another plan to help William Powell.
TWMA The countess slips the police officer a Mickey and gets the keys and gives them to Frank who George. Frank sees him leave with the girl instead of with escape. When the boat is getting ready to leave Frank is on the deck. He sees George come back onto the boat.
The two lovers agree to meet on New Years Eve at a bar in Mexico City.
TWMA the last scene a friend sits at a bar waiting.
OWP Frank sits at the bar waiting.
I like One Way Passage better. That film has a stark black and white tint and my favorite actors. There are beautiful shots of the beach. When they arrive in San Francisco Kay sees the city and William sees San Quinton and the hanging platform. My favorite scene is the very end. The camera sweeps across the room, the camera slows down as it passes Frank, he looks straight ahead and there is a strange expression on his face. The camera goes down the bar to shows two bartenders washing glasses. Glasses break and the final shot are of two glass stems crossed.
We Meet Again is grayish brown where everything seems to blend together: clothing, hats, staterooms and decks. The only thing that pops out are the crews white uniforms and the men’s tuxedos. Even Hawaii is blah.
It is the same story. An ill woman who wants to experience life while she can meets a man who has been captured to serve his sentence and they fall in love. A doomed love affair. When the man tells the woman he will not be getting back on the boat, the woman collapses. The man gives up his opportunity to flee by taking her back on board. It is close to the end of the voyage that they find out the truth about each other, but they pretend they don’t. The couple drink and break the glasses on the bar and cross stems on the bar. Both films were done at Warner Brothers based on Robert Lord’s story. The same music plays in each film. Orry-Kelly designed the clothing for each film.
One Way Passage
Tay Garnett director
William Powell
Kay Francis
Aline MacMahon the countess
Warren Hymer the police officer
Till We Meet Again
Edmund Goulding as director
George Brent
Merle Oberon
Pat O’Brien as policce officer
Geraldine Fitzgerald as friend
Binnie Barnes as the countess
I am glad that TCM did not celebrate a birthday today. That way I can watch films for Frank McHugh. About five years ago I watched One Way Passage for the first time. When I talked about the film friends they said the movie stared George Brent. That film was ‘Till We Meet Again (TWMA) a remake of One Way Passage (OWP) that stared Kay Francis and William Powell. That came on TCM and I watched it. Frank McHugh played the same exact character, even though a different name. Other than sequels or series I have never seen an actor play the same role in the same story remake. I watched the films side by side. That is very difficult to do. I know OWP passage pretty well and tried to focus on the differences.
OWP Frank is a thief and is run out Hong Kong. Frank meets up with William Powell right after he is arrested and states he is going back to San Francisco. When the boat leaves he runs up the steps as the gang way is pulling away and jumps on board. He sits on the edge of the boat as the Hong Kong police are backed away from getting on the gang plank.
TWMA Frank is drunk and hidden in a laundry basket and runs from the crowd around the basket. He runs up gang way and holds on to the edge of the boat with the police following him up. The crew grabs Frank and pulls him one board. The steward makes Frank pay for a ticket. Frank meet George Brent in a bar who explains he is going bank to San Quinton.
OWP Frank meet up with The Countess. He recognizes her as a friend and con-artist. He goes to the countess room to discuss plans. He explains the situation to her and tries to enlist her help to get William Powell free. Frank drunk, falls on the countess and the police officer assists the countess.
TWMA The Countess is a friend of George Brent. George asks Frank to meet up with the countess (who is a con-he artist) to assist him. The police officer is interested in The Countess. Frank tells her to ignore him. Frank goes to her room later after he put her escort to bed. Frank takes George to the countess room. The next day Frank plays cards with the escort again. He goes into the man’s room and takes the money from his wallet.
OWP Frank gets several free drinks at the bar. On is way out of the bar he sees himself in a mirror and thinks it is someone else and they are both trying to go through the door at the same time. Frank passes another doorway and sees the countess and the police officer dancing. The Countess gets the bullets from the gun and gives them to Frank.
Boat docks in Honolulu
OWP Frank tells the countess that William Powell is locked in the brig. The countess gets the key and hands it to Frank. Frank releases William Powell from the brig. In Honolulu Frank ties to pick a few wallets, but fails. The ship is ready to leave he once again runs up the gang way with police chasing him. He goes to the countess room to come up with another plan to help William Powell.
TWMA The countess slips the police officer a Mickey and gets the keys and gives them to Frank who George. Frank sees him leave with the girl instead of with escape. When the boat is getting ready to leave Frank is on the deck. He sees George come back onto the boat.
The two lovers agree to meet on New Years Eve at a bar in Mexico City.
TWMA the last scene a friend sits at a bar waiting.
OWP Frank sits at the bar waiting.
I like One Way Passage better. That film has a stark black and white tint and my favorite actors. There are beautiful shots of the beach. When they arrive in San Francisco Kay sees the city and William sees San Quinton and the hanging platform. My favorite scene is the very end. The camera sweeps across the room, the camera slows down as it passes Frank, he looks straight ahead and there is a strange expression on his face. The camera goes down the bar to shows two bartenders washing glasses. Glasses break and the final shot are of two glass stems crossed.
We Meet Again is grayish brown where everything seems to blend together: clothing, hats, staterooms and decks. The only thing that pops out are the crews white uniforms and the men’s tuxedos. Even Hawaii is blah.
It is the same story. An ill woman who wants to experience life while she can meets a man who has been captured to serve his sentence and they fall in love. A doomed love affair. When the man tells the woman he will not be getting back on the boat, the woman collapses. The man gives up his opportunity to flee by taking her back on board. It is close to the end of the voyage that they find out the truth about each other, but they pretend they don’t. The couple drink and break the glasses on the bar and cross stems on the bar. Both films were done at Warner Brothers based on Robert Lord’s story. The same music plays in each film. Orry-Kelly designed the clothing for each film.
One Way Passage
Tay Garnett director
William Powell
Kay Francis
Aline MacMahon the countess
Warren Hymer the police officer
Till We Meet Again
Edmund Goulding as director
George Brent
Merle Oberon
Pat O’Brien as policce officer
Geraldine Fitzgerald as friend
Binnie Barnes as the countess
Monday, May 23, 2011
May 21 Robert Montgomery
To celebrate Robert Montgomery’s birth and film career I watched Lady In The Lake. Robert Montgomery stared and directed the film. The film starts with Christmas music and credits listed on Christmas paper with holiday decorations. Robert comes on camera sitting behind his desk talking to the audience as Philip Marlow. “You’ll see it just as I saw it, you’ll meet the people, you’ll see the clues and maybe you’ll solve it quick, maybe you won’t.” Then it switches to camera point of view. You don’t see Robert’s face except in a few mirrors and his voice over. You see his hand, you see his eyes follow a pretty girl, he paces the camera goes around and smoke comes from the bottom of the screen. There are a few times where you see his shadow. When there is a view of Robert it is very strange. You expect to see you not Robert. There is a car chase and an accident where the car goes sideways. You see the accident happen. You see him try to get out of the car and stagger around and try to get to a call box from his point of view.
The whole film is done with the camera being a character. The few films that I have seen this way, only a few minutes or about half an hour are done this way. I like the point of view. I can understand how the audience at the time might have had a difficult time in understanding the style.
To do a film that you don’t see the star very often either takes a non egotistical actor or a great director. I think in this case it is both. There are very long scenes with few cuts. You are focused on the characters and their reactions to try to figure out what is going on.
The whole film is done with the camera being a character. The few films that I have seen this way, only a few minutes or about half an hour are done this way. I like the point of view. I can understand how the audience at the time might have had a difficult time in understanding the style.
To do a film that you don’t see the star very often either takes a non egotistical actor or a great director. I think in this case it is both. There are very long scenes with few cuts. You are focused on the characters and their reactions to try to figure out what is going on.
May 22 Laurence Olivier
For Laurence Olivier’s birthday I watched 49th Parallel. Laurence Olivier plays a French Canadian trapper. A German Uboat comes into Canada during WWII. The boat is sunk and the sailors look for shelter. They overtake the cabin that Laurence lives. He did not realize that they are at war. Once the sailors come into his home with guns he says “My father fight against you last time, we give you one good licking then and we do it again”. Laurence finally has an opportunity to talk on the short wave radio and is shot. He dies hours later cursing the Germans. A sailor puts a rosary in his hands.
The film shows Germans as ruthless killers and yet they underlying compassion and human. That is kind of daring for 1941 when Nazi were most hated an considered inhuman. This made the characters somewhat sympathetic but you knew they all had to die.
The film shows Germans as ruthless killers and yet they underlying compassion and human. That is kind of daring for 1941 when Nazi were most hated an considered inhuman. This made the characters somewhat sympathetic but you knew they all had to die.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
May 19 Nancy Kwan
To celebrate Nancy Kwan’s birthday I watched The Wrecking Crew. It is a Matt Helm film staring Dean Martin. Nancy plays a villain who enjoys outsmarting the hero. There are several times when she has cornered Dean Martin and she laughs and smiles. She plays a sexy villain who tries to seduce Dean Martin, but gets caught and yet is let go to fight again. She is a leader of her own gang. She is running up some steps and she is going up faster then the men. She and Sharon Tate have a fight scene. It is a form of karate/judo. Nancy gets knocked down several times but gets back up to fight again. Being a villain she does not win and the man who she works for has the final word.
This is the first Matt Helm film I have seen, it is very entertaining. Dean Martin singing, drinking, seducing and smart quips is great.
This is the first Matt Helm film I have seen, it is very entertaining. Dean Martin singing, drinking, seducing and smart quips is great.
May 20 James Stewart
Happy Birthday to James Stewart and Cher.
TCM had a day of films to celebrate James Stewart’s birth. I watched The Spirit of St. Louis. It is the story of Charles Lindbergh’s famous flight from New York to Paris. For about an hour it is just James Stewart. Sitting in his plane with his thoughts and his maps. It was riveting. There were a few times that he had flashbacks of his life and those stories would take over, but it is all about James Stewart. To hold an audience like that takes not only tremendous acting talent, but a great director like Billy Wilder. The scenes from the air were beautiful. The icebergs, the Irish country side and Paris at night when the plane landed. I think James Stewart was too old to play the role, but he played the man with such charismatic charm that it worked and eventually Stewart’s age didn’t matter. I have seen the plane at the Smithsonian. I remember thinking it was very small and flimsy and could not imagine how it actually made it all the way to Paris.
I probably first knew of James Stewart from It’s A Wonderful Life. But it was his appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson that I really enjoyed. When he read his poem about his dog, which if I remember right was named Blue, I cried along with James Stewart.
TCM had a day of films to celebrate James Stewart’s birth. I watched The Spirit of St. Louis. It is the story of Charles Lindbergh’s famous flight from New York to Paris. For about an hour it is just James Stewart. Sitting in his plane with his thoughts and his maps. It was riveting. There were a few times that he had flashbacks of his life and those stories would take over, but it is all about James Stewart. To hold an audience like that takes not only tremendous acting talent, but a great director like Billy Wilder. The scenes from the air were beautiful. The icebergs, the Irish country side and Paris at night when the plane landed. I think James Stewart was too old to play the role, but he played the man with such charismatic charm that it worked and eventually Stewart’s age didn’t matter. I have seen the plane at the Smithsonian. I remember thinking it was very small and flimsy and could not imagine how it actually made it all the way to Paris.
I probably first knew of James Stewart from It’s A Wonderful Life. But it was his appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson that I really enjoyed. When he read his poem about his dog, which if I remember right was named Blue, I cried along with James Stewart.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
May 16 Henry Fonda
Happy Birthday to Henry Fonda and Margaret Sullavan.
TCM celebrated Henry Fonda’s birthday with a movie marathon. I watched That Certain Woman staring Bette Davis. Henry plays a rich man’s son from a socially prominent family. Henry comes back from Europe and calls Bette whom he has been seeing for several years. He is excited to talk with her and after spending dinner with the family goes to take a drink with Bette. He wants to marry her but Bette does not. She wants Henry to be tough, an independent man and not use his fathers money. He decides to meet all her conditions and they get married. A few hours after they are married Henry’s father find them. The men argue and the father hit’s the son. The father feels that Bette is not good enough for his son or for his family. Bette tries to get Henry to leave with her, but Henry tries to convince his father that Bette is the best person for him. Bette leaves and vows to wait for him as long as it takes.
Bette has a child. The father had the marriage annulled. Four years pass. Their friend Ian Hunter dies. Henry comes to see Bette to pass along his condolences. He married a woman in Paris. He was driving drunk and caused his wife to be injured and be in a wheelchair. He states that he and his wife thought about adopting a baby and that he wanted to help her. Bette did not react well to this, thinking that he was going to take her son away. He only wanted to help her. Bette finally tells Henry that the boy is his son. He is very happy. He plans to leave his wife and leave with them for Europe.
Henry tells his father about the boy and the father files a retraining order so Bette cannot take the child out of the country. Henry is upset about this and defies his father. While Bette is packing Henry’s wife comes to visit. She wants her to take her husband away so he wont feel tied to her. Henry comes the Bette’s apartment. They talk and Bette decides the best thing is for Henry to stay with his wife. Bette decides the best thing to do is to give their son to Henry. “I’ve always been bad luck to men.”
TCM celebrated Henry Fonda’s birthday with a movie marathon. I watched That Certain Woman staring Bette Davis. Henry plays a rich man’s son from a socially prominent family. Henry comes back from Europe and calls Bette whom he has been seeing for several years. He is excited to talk with her and after spending dinner with the family goes to take a drink with Bette. He wants to marry her but Bette does not. She wants Henry to be tough, an independent man and not use his fathers money. He decides to meet all her conditions and they get married. A few hours after they are married Henry’s father find them. The men argue and the father hit’s the son. The father feels that Bette is not good enough for his son or for his family. Bette tries to get Henry to leave with her, but Henry tries to convince his father that Bette is the best person for him. Bette leaves and vows to wait for him as long as it takes.
Bette has a child. The father had the marriage annulled. Four years pass. Their friend Ian Hunter dies. Henry comes to see Bette to pass along his condolences. He married a woman in Paris. He was driving drunk and caused his wife to be injured and be in a wheelchair. He states that he and his wife thought about adopting a baby and that he wanted to help her. Bette did not react well to this, thinking that he was going to take her son away. He only wanted to help her. Bette finally tells Henry that the boy is his son. He is very happy. He plans to leave his wife and leave with them for Europe.
Henry tells his father about the boy and the father files a retraining order so Bette cannot take the child out of the country. Henry is upset about this and defies his father. While Bette is packing Henry’s wife comes to visit. She wants her to take her husband away so he wont feel tied to her. Henry comes the Bette’s apartment. They talk and Bette decides the best thing is for Henry to stay with his wife. Bette decides the best thing to do is to give their son to Henry. “I’ve always been bad luck to men.”
March 17 Nat King Cole
I celebrated Maureen O’Sullivan’s birthday 2 months early. Her birthday is May 17 and I celebrated March 17, or rather 19-20 when TCM showed a number of her films, like Tarzan The Ape Man and Hannah and her sisters. Two good films that are worth watching anytime. I am going to watch the films that TCM is airing today, but I have already done a blog.
To celebrate Nat King Cole’s birthday (March 17) I wanted to watch St. Louis Blues. Nat King Cole plays the great American composer W.C. Handy. I could not find a copy of the film. I may have to purchase this one. The film features Eartha Kitt, Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson, Ruby Dee, Billy Preston and Pearl Bailey.
Several years ago there was a PBS documentary about Nat King Cole. The one thing that really fascinated me was that he sang in different languages: French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and probably several others, but those are all I remember.
The best way to celebrate Nat King Cole is to listen to him.
To celebrate Nat King Cole’s birthday (March 17) I wanted to watch St. Louis Blues. Nat King Cole plays the great American composer W.C. Handy. I could not find a copy of the film. I may have to purchase this one. The film features Eartha Kitt, Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, Mahalia Jackson, Ruby Dee, Billy Preston and Pearl Bailey.
Several years ago there was a PBS documentary about Nat King Cole. The one thing that really fascinated me was that he sang in different languages: French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and probably several others, but those are all I remember.
The best way to celebrate Nat King Cole is to listen to him.
Monday, May 16, 2011
May 15 Joseph Cotten
Happy Birthday Joseph Cotten and James Mason.
To celebrate Joseph Cotten’s birthday I watched Shadow of a Doubt. The film opens with well dressed Victorian people waltzing. Joseph plays a man in the east coast who goes to visit his sister’s family in Santa Rosa CA. At his rooming house there are men who want to talk with him. Joseph goes right past them on the street and they follow but loose him in the streets. He has a lot of money on his end table and spilled over to the floor. He arrives in CA after spending most of the train trip in a curtained area pretending to be sick.
When two men come to talk with the sister to interview them as the perfect American family. He wanted nothing to do with them. When one man actually got his picture, Joseph asked for the film and was handed the film. Joseph goes to the bank to deposit money. He has over $40,000.00 cash. As Joseph reads the paper he finds something disturbing in the paper and tears it up, making a paper house. When Teresa Wright, Joseph namesake niece, goes to the library to see what was in the paper. There is a story about a murder. Two men killed 3 widow and the press called them Merry Widow Murderers. She thinks that he is one of those men. They talk, she doesn’t know exactly, but she knows enough. He agrees to leave in a few days. The other man is killed and Joseph decides to stay. Teresa wants him to leave. That day she goes down the steps and falls. As she looks into the stairs she finds that it has been cut. The next night she is to drive Joseph to a lecture. Joseph shuts her in the garage with the car running. She gets out and recovers but decides to stay at home to try to reach the detective. He decides to leave the next day, to the same city on the same train as a widow. As he leaves town he left money to the church children’s fund. The town people think that he is a hero.
Joseph plays the role very well. He plays the murder as a normal man with family who loves him and he loves. A charming man who can fool everyone.
The most telling speech is one that Joseph talks about city women:
In the cities it’s different: middle age widows, husbands dead; husbands who’ve spent their lives making fortunes, working and working, and then they die and leave their money to their wives--their silly wives. And what do the wives to, these useless women? You see them in the best hotels every day by the thousands; drinking the money; eating the money, losing the money at bridge, playing all day and all night smelling of money. Proud of their jewelry and nothing else. Horrible, faded, fat, greedy women. Are they human or are they fat, wheezing animals? Hmm? An what happens to animals when they get too fat and too old?
As he talks the camera moves closer and closer. Creepy.
I like this film. A small town with a lot of people walking around at 9 PM. For comic relief two people talk about murdering each other and trying to out do each other with their plots.
To celebrate Joseph Cotten’s birthday I watched Shadow of a Doubt. The film opens with well dressed Victorian people waltzing. Joseph plays a man in the east coast who goes to visit his sister’s family in Santa Rosa CA. At his rooming house there are men who want to talk with him. Joseph goes right past them on the street and they follow but loose him in the streets. He has a lot of money on his end table and spilled over to the floor. He arrives in CA after spending most of the train trip in a curtained area pretending to be sick.
When two men come to talk with the sister to interview them as the perfect American family. He wanted nothing to do with them. When one man actually got his picture, Joseph asked for the film and was handed the film. Joseph goes to the bank to deposit money. He has over $40,000.00 cash. As Joseph reads the paper he finds something disturbing in the paper and tears it up, making a paper house. When Teresa Wright, Joseph namesake niece, goes to the library to see what was in the paper. There is a story about a murder. Two men killed 3 widow and the press called them Merry Widow Murderers. She thinks that he is one of those men. They talk, she doesn’t know exactly, but she knows enough. He agrees to leave in a few days. The other man is killed and Joseph decides to stay. Teresa wants him to leave. That day she goes down the steps and falls. As she looks into the stairs she finds that it has been cut. The next night she is to drive Joseph to a lecture. Joseph shuts her in the garage with the car running. She gets out and recovers but decides to stay at home to try to reach the detective. He decides to leave the next day, to the same city on the same train as a widow. As he leaves town he left money to the church children’s fund. The town people think that he is a hero.
Joseph plays the role very well. He plays the murder as a normal man with family who loves him and he loves. A charming man who can fool everyone.
The most telling speech is one that Joseph talks about city women:
In the cities it’s different: middle age widows, husbands dead; husbands who’ve spent their lives making fortunes, working and working, and then they die and leave their money to their wives--their silly wives. And what do the wives to, these useless women? You see them in the best hotels every day by the thousands; drinking the money; eating the money, losing the money at bridge, playing all day and all night smelling of money. Proud of their jewelry and nothing else. Horrible, faded, fat, greedy women. Are they human or are they fat, wheezing animals? Hmm? An what happens to animals when they get too fat and too old?
As he talks the camera moves closer and closer. Creepy.
I like this film. A small town with a lot of people walking around at 9 PM. For comic relief two people talk about murdering each other and trying to out do each other with their plots.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
May 14 George Lucas
For George Lucas’ birthday I watched Star Wars. Almost everyone on the planet has seen Star Wars. Trying to figure out a different way to talk about the film is tough. The great visual, sound and style of the film is well known. The great John Williams score brings such depth to the film.
I know it is considered chapter 4, but it will always be considered 1 to me. I have seen all 6 films, but the Original Star Wars will always be my favorite. This is the first film I remember seeing in the theater. The lobby theater was white with a lot of glass, glass panels on the stairway, large glass windows. As we walked up the balcony the sun coming in and bouncing off the white was very bright. There were plants on the floor and art hanging on the walls. A few years after the film came out (I don’t exactly remember when), my dad got a VHS machine. He got a copy of Star Wars for me. It was grainy and hard to see, but I could see every frame clearly in my mind. When we moved from Ohio to Kansas by best friend Debbie gave me a copy of the books (with pictures) as a going away present.
Seeing Mark Hamill for the first time in the desert with the music swelling, be still my heart. I had such a crush on him. As I watch the film, I realize my ex-husband looked like him. I had magazines, books, cards, t-shirts and my brother had action figures.
Star Wars is still alive all these years later. There are different version, more details of some of the characters but it still lives on. There are parodies, Robot Chicken, Spaceballs and The Family Guy to name a few.
I know it is considered chapter 4, but it will always be considered 1 to me. I have seen all 6 films, but the Original Star Wars will always be my favorite. This is the first film I remember seeing in the theater. The lobby theater was white with a lot of glass, glass panels on the stairway, large glass windows. As we walked up the balcony the sun coming in and bouncing off the white was very bright. There were plants on the floor and art hanging on the walls. A few years after the film came out (I don’t exactly remember when), my dad got a VHS machine. He got a copy of Star Wars for me. It was grainy and hard to see, but I could see every frame clearly in my mind. When we moved from Ohio to Kansas by best friend Debbie gave me a copy of the books (with pictures) as a going away present.
Seeing Mark Hamill for the first time in the desert with the music swelling, be still my heart. I had such a crush on him. As I watch the film, I realize my ex-husband looked like him. I had magazines, books, cards, t-shirts and my brother had action figures.
Star Wars is still alive all these years later. There are different version, more details of some of the characters but it still lives on. There are parodies, Robot Chicken, Spaceballs and The Family Guy to name a few.
May 13 Harvey Keitel
For Harvey Keitel’s birthday I watched Thelma & Louise. Harvey plays an Arkansas police detective investigating a murder. He isn’t sure if Thelma (Gina Davis) or Louise (Susan Sarandon) killed the man, but they would have been witnesses. They evenly catch a drifter, Brad Pitt, that the girls gave a ride to OK City. Brad wouldn’t say anything and Harvey looked liked he wanted to beat him up. He tries to convince Brad to speak by hitting him with his own cowboy hat. Harvey says because Brad took their money they had to resort to armed robbery. So because of him the girls lost their chance. Harvey tries to get the girls to come back. They are headed to Mexico. Louise does not want to make any deals with the police and “don’t want to end up on the damned Geraldo show”. The police eventually trace a phone call and go after them. There is a scene where Louise is pulled over for speeding. Thelma pulls a gun on the office and locks him in the trunk. A man smoking weed (while riding a bicycle wearing a portable cassette player strapped to his arm) comes along and instead of rescuing him right away he blows smoke in one of the air holes in the trunk. The one thing that really bothered me was that from OKC they seemed to go the long way to Mexico. I understand taking the back routes, but it seems that they would have reached Mexico faster going through Texas.
The are caught at the Grand Canyon. As the girls drive off the cliff, Harvey starts to run after them. This is probably the most known scene of the film. I was kind of disappointed in the shots. I thought the shot should be of Harvey looking down at the wreckage, unbelieving what they had really done. On the DVD there was “extended ending”. It had more detailed ending. Where you followed the car a longer way down, you still didn’t see a crash, but you saw a helicopter follow down and Harvey looking down and then turn around and go back to the police. Ridley Scott thought this would be about Harvey and “would eclipse the girls“. The final shot of the extended ending is a single car driving in the desert. They also cut the original song “Better Not Look Down” by B.B. King. I like that deleted ending better. How do you cut B.B. King?
Since this is about Harvey, I thought that he had a good southern accent. He played the police detective as a concerned person not as a gung ho officer out for a capture.
As I was watching the police chase scenes I thought about Burt Reynolds. I have seen a few Burt Reynolds chase films for his birthday earlier this year. If you transposed this to a 1970’s Burt Reynolds film, Burt have lived, Harvey would have been killed in the chase Burt Reynolds always looked good, where the girls as they are referred to in the films were sun burnt, hair flying everywhere and dirty. Different times, different actors and different perspectives.
The are caught at the Grand Canyon. As the girls drive off the cliff, Harvey starts to run after them. This is probably the most known scene of the film. I was kind of disappointed in the shots. I thought the shot should be of Harvey looking down at the wreckage, unbelieving what they had really done. On the DVD there was “extended ending”. It had more detailed ending. Where you followed the car a longer way down, you still didn’t see a crash, but you saw a helicopter follow down and Harvey looking down and then turn around and go back to the police. Ridley Scott thought this would be about Harvey and “would eclipse the girls“. The final shot of the extended ending is a single car driving in the desert. They also cut the original song “Better Not Look Down” by B.B. King. I like that deleted ending better. How do you cut B.B. King?
Since this is about Harvey, I thought that he had a good southern accent. He played the police detective as a concerned person not as a gung ho officer out for a capture.
As I was watching the police chase scenes I thought about Burt Reynolds. I have seen a few Burt Reynolds chase films for his birthday earlier this year. If you transposed this to a 1970’s Burt Reynolds film, Burt have lived, Harvey would have been killed in the chase Burt Reynolds always looked good, where the girls as they are referred to in the films were sun burnt, hair flying everywhere and dirty. Different times, different actors and different perspectives.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
May 10 Anatole Litvak
Happy Birthday Fred Astaire and Anatole Litvak
TCM celebrated Anatole Litvak’s birthday with marathon of films. I watched The Sisters, which he directed. At the beginning of each section of the film, the book is open to a new chapter to introduce the action. Bette Davis plays one of the sisters. The story starts off in a small Midwestern town on election night of Theodore Roosevelt. The town has a dance to wait for the election results. While at the dance San Francisco newspaperman, Errol Flynn sees Bette and is instantly attracted. There is a great scene Bette and her beau, Donald Crisp are square dancing and she is directly in front of him. As she dances she stands directly in front of him and they just look at each other. While she finishes the dance he runs onto the floor to the few people that he knows to get them to introduce him. They have a whirlwind courtship. When he comes to supper Errol proposes. She goes with him that night to San Francisco.
The other two sisters also marry. The youngest Beulah Bondi and Donald Crisp and the middle Anita Louise to an older man Alan Hale who will take care of her and possibly give her the freedom to be who she wants to be a dancer in New York. With the natural progression of life both Bette and her younger sister are pregnant. Thanks to Max Steiner you know that Bette is not going to make it up the stairs to her apartment. She collapses and looses the baby. The youngest sister has a healthy child. The middle sister with her new husband and angry step daughter go to London England. The husband dies. Bette gets a job as a secretary so that Errol can work on his novel. They decide that she will quit and he will find work. No one will hire him. While in a bar he decides to go to China. He goes to see Bette at her office but does not tell her he is leaving. She finds a note when she gets home. She goes down to the dock but could not find him. She doesn’t believe his is gone.
The big quake hits. The shaking and falling of the debris lasts a long time. Word gets to the boat but they are not going to turn back. Errol goes crazy and tries to jump ship. Bette sits in the rubble of her apartment and refuses to leave even when they are going to dynamite. She is dragged out. She goes to a friends mothers house, which seems like a Bordello, but that is never pointed out. Her father goes to San Francisco. He and her boss find her. She stays in San Francisco. Several years pass and Errol comes back. Bette has gone home for the election ball. He and her boss go to her home town.
The youngest daughter’s husband is a workaholic who neglects his family. The middle daughter has remarried and is going to divorce and marry someone else. At the ball the couple reunite.
It was really a good film. I was able to watch this film before I went to work in real time. I have decided that I cannot do that any longer. I love watching films, but when I watch a film to celebrate a birthday the rest of the day just drags. The day is long enough already. Even though I have lots of films to watch and Robert Osborn to look forward too it is not the same.
TCM celebrated Anatole Litvak’s birthday with marathon of films. I watched The Sisters, which he directed. At the beginning of each section of the film, the book is open to a new chapter to introduce the action. Bette Davis plays one of the sisters. The story starts off in a small Midwestern town on election night of Theodore Roosevelt. The town has a dance to wait for the election results. While at the dance San Francisco newspaperman, Errol Flynn sees Bette and is instantly attracted. There is a great scene Bette and her beau, Donald Crisp are square dancing and she is directly in front of him. As she dances she stands directly in front of him and they just look at each other. While she finishes the dance he runs onto the floor to the few people that he knows to get them to introduce him. They have a whirlwind courtship. When he comes to supper Errol proposes. She goes with him that night to San Francisco.
The other two sisters also marry. The youngest Beulah Bondi and Donald Crisp and the middle Anita Louise to an older man Alan Hale who will take care of her and possibly give her the freedom to be who she wants to be a dancer in New York. With the natural progression of life both Bette and her younger sister are pregnant. Thanks to Max Steiner you know that Bette is not going to make it up the stairs to her apartment. She collapses and looses the baby. The youngest sister has a healthy child. The middle sister with her new husband and angry step daughter go to London England. The husband dies. Bette gets a job as a secretary so that Errol can work on his novel. They decide that she will quit and he will find work. No one will hire him. While in a bar he decides to go to China. He goes to see Bette at her office but does not tell her he is leaving. She finds a note when she gets home. She goes down to the dock but could not find him. She doesn’t believe his is gone.
The big quake hits. The shaking and falling of the debris lasts a long time. Word gets to the boat but they are not going to turn back. Errol goes crazy and tries to jump ship. Bette sits in the rubble of her apartment and refuses to leave even when they are going to dynamite. She is dragged out. She goes to a friends mothers house, which seems like a Bordello, but that is never pointed out. Her father goes to San Francisco. He and her boss find her. She stays in San Francisco. Several years pass and Errol comes back. Bette has gone home for the election ball. He and her boss go to her home town.
The youngest daughter’s husband is a workaholic who neglects his family. The middle daughter has remarried and is going to divorce and marry someone else. At the ball the couple reunite.
It was really a good film. I was able to watch this film before I went to work in real time. I have decided that I cannot do that any longer. I love watching films, but when I watch a film to celebrate a birthday the rest of the day just drags. The day is long enough already. Even though I have lots of films to watch and Robert Osborn to look forward too it is not the same.
May 9 Albert Finney
Happy Birthday Albert Finney and Glenda Jackson
To celebrate Albert Finney’s birthday I watched Murder on the Orient Express. Finney is practically unrecognizable as Hercule Poirot. He walks slightly hunched over. He is sometimes hard to understand with the Belgium accent. He as he breaks out the case to all those involved he talks for almost the last half hour of the film. As he paces the railcar as he talks. You watch all the great actors watching him.
It had been over 20 years since I have seen the film. The only thing I remember was who did the murder. I forgot the train was stuck in the snow, music, the costumes and the elegance of the film.
To celebrate Albert Finney’s birthday I watched Murder on the Orient Express. Finney is practically unrecognizable as Hercule Poirot. He walks slightly hunched over. He is sometimes hard to understand with the Belgium accent. He as he breaks out the case to all those involved he talks for almost the last half hour of the film. As he paces the railcar as he talks. You watch all the great actors watching him.
It had been over 20 years since I have seen the film. The only thing I remember was who did the murder. I forgot the train was stuck in the snow, music, the costumes and the elegance of the film.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
May 7 Gary Cooper
To celebrate Gary Cooper’s birthday I watched Mr. Deeds Goes To Town. Gary Cooper plays a small town man who inherits his uncle’s estate. At his farewell reception the lawyer is waiting for him at the station and is worried he won’t show up. The camera turns and he is playing the tuba in the band. Gary Cooper plays the role with childlike innocents and exuberant. He is intelligent and has common sense. He can see through everyone except Jean Arthur. Jean plays a reporter who purposely faints in his presence. He takes her out to dinner because she is hungry. She uses a phony name. They spend time together and fall in love, while all the time she is writing newspaper stories about him. He finds out she is a reporter and plants to leave town.
As he is leaving a man comes to see him to tell him off about all the wasted money while people go hungry. Gary feeds the man (the dinner he was going to give the Jean that he was going to propose to). Gary sits with the man and watches him eat. He decides to give away the money to people who apply for farmland. He personally interviews each person. One day the police come to arrest Gary. His cousin and wife (who thought they should have inherited) and Gary’s former lawyer think that Gary is insane for giving away the money. Most of the trial he doesn’t say a word and has little reaction. He movies a little bit but looks bored and exasperated by what is going on. The character witnesses, two sisters from his home town, think that he is pixilated because he walks in the rain without a hat, talks to himself, whistles and sometimes sings. Turns out everyone in that town is pixilated except for the two sisters. Jean speaks out for him when he wont. The forgotten people press him to speak. He takes stand (he moves the chair away from his former lawyer). He points out that everyone does something to help them think, whether it is doodling, nail-biting or playing the tuba. All he wants to do is help his fellow man in the way that he can. He is proven to be sane and gets Jean Arthur.
I don’t care much for Capra films. He is a talented director but is a little to sentimental or preachy for me. Gary Cooper even when doing nothing always grabs your attention. Walking in a room he has such a presence you can’t take your eyes off him.
As he is leaving a man comes to see him to tell him off about all the wasted money while people go hungry. Gary feeds the man (the dinner he was going to give the Jean that he was going to propose to). Gary sits with the man and watches him eat. He decides to give away the money to people who apply for farmland. He personally interviews each person. One day the police come to arrest Gary. His cousin and wife (who thought they should have inherited) and Gary’s former lawyer think that Gary is insane for giving away the money. Most of the trial he doesn’t say a word and has little reaction. He movies a little bit but looks bored and exasperated by what is going on. The character witnesses, two sisters from his home town, think that he is pixilated because he walks in the rain without a hat, talks to himself, whistles and sometimes sings. Turns out everyone in that town is pixilated except for the two sisters. Jean speaks out for him when he wont. The forgotten people press him to speak. He takes stand (he moves the chair away from his former lawyer). He points out that everyone does something to help them think, whether it is doodling, nail-biting or playing the tuba. All he wants to do is help his fellow man in the way that he can. He is proven to be sane and gets Jean Arthur.
I don’t care much for Capra films. He is a talented director but is a little to sentimental or preachy for me. Gary Cooper even when doing nothing always grabs your attention. Walking in a room he has such a presence you can’t take your eyes off him.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
May 6 Rudolph Valentino
Happy Birthday Rudolph Valentino and Orson Wells
I decided to write the blog early for Valentino is being featured on TCM on Friday for the anniversary of his birth. I have seen all the films being shown (thanks to TCM and the Kansas Silent Film Festival). All times are eastern.
8 AM Beyond the Rocks also starring Gloria Swanson, written by Elinor Glyn (based on her book). Released 5/7/22, 80 minutes. Gloria is forced to marry an older man. She meets Valentino before her marriage and several times throughout the marriage and they fall in love. There is a great scene where Gloria has written letters to each man but they end up going to the wrong man. Valentino tries to spare the husbands feelings but he has already read the letter. The husband goes on an expedition to Africa so the lovers can be together. It was considered a lost film except for one minute of footage. A print was found in Netherlands in 2003 and has been released on DVD.
9:30 AM Moran of the Lady Letty also staring Dorothy Dalton. Released 2/12/22, 71 minutes. Valentino as a Spaniard who is impressed onto a ship. He meets and falls in love with Dorothy a fellow crew member. In the Flicker Alley booklet the description “paramount pitched Moran as a rip-roaring seafaring adventure that would appeal to men as well as women and one Valentino picture that steered clear of anything exotic. It would showcase his he-man athletic prowess and beefcake appeal.”
10:45 AM Young Rajah also staring Wanda Hawley. Released 11/12/22, 53 minutes (restored). Valentino plays a young man who is told by his adopted father that his real father was an Indian Maharajah who was overthrown and he was taken to America for safety. He is convinced to go to India to overthrow the Maharaja. He is welcomed by the people and the army revolts. The film was considered lost. There is missing footage but TCM financed the restoration. There are stills and title cards that help to explain the missing sequences.
11:45 AM Camille also staring Alla Nazimova. Released 9/26/21, 70 minutes. It is a modern telling of the French story La Dame aux Camelias by Alexandre Dumas, fils. Nazimova plays a courtesan to whom Valentino falls in love with. Valentino’s father breaks up the relationship and both characters fall to ruin.
1 PM The Conquering Power also staring Alice Terry. Released 7/8/21, 89 minutes. After the death of his Father Valentino is taken into is uncle’s family. The uncle is a miser and plans to cheat Valentino out of his father’s money. Valentino falls in love with his cousin, but the uncle doesn’t like this and sends Valentino away and hides his letters. The uncle kills his wife and becomes unhinged, becoming more miserly and paranoid. He accidently locks himself in his safe room and he hallucinates (a really good scene) and then dies. There is pressure on the daughter to marry, now that she is a wealthy woman. After she announces her engagement Valentino comes back. It has been awhile since I have seen the film, but it seemed like many years had passed from when he was sent away to when he came back.
2:45 PM The Fourhorsemen of the Apocalypse also staring Alice Terry. Released 3/6/21, 133 minutes (edited addition). This one is hard to describe. An Argentine land owner has a son-in-law who is German (who he does not care for) and a son-in-law who is French (who he favors). Valentino plays his French grandchild. When the land owner dies the families go to their respective countries. In Paris he falls in love with Alice Terry a married woman. WWI breaks out. The cousins are reunited on the battlefield. There is a great Tango scene at the beginning that introduces the Valentino character. It is considered an anti-war film. During the French scenes Valentino and Terry spoke French to impress the lip readers. Part of the Library of Congress National Film Registry.
I decided to write the blog early for Valentino is being featured on TCM on Friday for the anniversary of his birth. I have seen all the films being shown (thanks to TCM and the Kansas Silent Film Festival). All times are eastern.
8 AM Beyond the Rocks also starring Gloria Swanson, written by Elinor Glyn (based on her book). Released 5/7/22, 80 minutes. Gloria is forced to marry an older man. She meets Valentino before her marriage and several times throughout the marriage and they fall in love. There is a great scene where Gloria has written letters to each man but they end up going to the wrong man. Valentino tries to spare the husbands feelings but he has already read the letter. The husband goes on an expedition to Africa so the lovers can be together. It was considered a lost film except for one minute of footage. A print was found in Netherlands in 2003 and has been released on DVD.
9:30 AM Moran of the Lady Letty also staring Dorothy Dalton. Released 2/12/22, 71 minutes. Valentino as a Spaniard who is impressed onto a ship. He meets and falls in love with Dorothy a fellow crew member. In the Flicker Alley booklet the description “paramount pitched Moran as a rip-roaring seafaring adventure that would appeal to men as well as women and one Valentino picture that steered clear of anything exotic. It would showcase his he-man athletic prowess and beefcake appeal.”
10:45 AM Young Rajah also staring Wanda Hawley. Released 11/12/22, 53 minutes (restored). Valentino plays a young man who is told by his adopted father that his real father was an Indian Maharajah who was overthrown and he was taken to America for safety. He is convinced to go to India to overthrow the Maharaja. He is welcomed by the people and the army revolts. The film was considered lost. There is missing footage but TCM financed the restoration. There are stills and title cards that help to explain the missing sequences.
11:45 AM Camille also staring Alla Nazimova. Released 9/26/21, 70 minutes. It is a modern telling of the French story La Dame aux Camelias by Alexandre Dumas, fils. Nazimova plays a courtesan to whom Valentino falls in love with. Valentino’s father breaks up the relationship and both characters fall to ruin.
1 PM The Conquering Power also staring Alice Terry. Released 7/8/21, 89 minutes. After the death of his Father Valentino is taken into is uncle’s family. The uncle is a miser and plans to cheat Valentino out of his father’s money. Valentino falls in love with his cousin, but the uncle doesn’t like this and sends Valentino away and hides his letters. The uncle kills his wife and becomes unhinged, becoming more miserly and paranoid. He accidently locks himself in his safe room and he hallucinates (a really good scene) and then dies. There is pressure on the daughter to marry, now that she is a wealthy woman. After she announces her engagement Valentino comes back. It has been awhile since I have seen the film, but it seemed like many years had passed from when he was sent away to when he came back.
2:45 PM The Fourhorsemen of the Apocalypse also staring Alice Terry. Released 3/6/21, 133 minutes (edited addition). This one is hard to describe. An Argentine land owner has a son-in-law who is German (who he does not care for) and a son-in-law who is French (who he favors). Valentino plays his French grandchild. When the land owner dies the families go to their respective countries. In Paris he falls in love with Alice Terry a married woman. WWI breaks out. The cousins are reunited on the battlefield. There is a great Tango scene at the beginning that introduces the Valentino character. It is considered an anti-war film. During the French scenes Valentino and Terry spoke French to impress the lip readers. Part of the Library of Congress National Film Registry.
May 5 Tyrone Power
To celebrate Tyrone Power’s birthday I watched Nightmare Alley. Tyrone plays a carney barker working with Zeena mystic played by Joan Blondell. He loves everything about the carnival. Joan is married to her partner whom she has been working an act in vaudeville. He is an alcoholic. Joan decides to put him in treatment. Tyrone buys a bottle of moonshine. When he sees the man he puts it in a trunk to hide it from him. As they talk Tyrone pulls out the bottle and gives it to him. The next morning the man is dead. The bottle was wood alcohol used as part of the act. Tyrone goes to the trunk and pulls out a bottle. It is the moonshine. He hides the bottle in the truck.
Tyrone and Joan revive the mind-reading act that was done in vaudeville. She is blindfolded and he holds up an item and she tells what he is holding. There is a code. I can’t figure out how they are selling tickets or making money on the act. Tyrone is interested in Colleen Gray a fellow performer Electra. The sheriff comes to arrest a few of the workers. Colleen for wearing a skimpy costume, the Geek for eating live chickens and another. Tyrone talks him out of it and the sheriff leaves without arresting anyone. Joan and Tyrone are going to leave the carnival and go onto better things. Tyrone and Colleen spend a lot of time together and her companion decide that she and Tyrone must get married. Tyrone decides to take the act into nightclubs with Colleen.
One night a woman tries to trick him. He sees through the trick. She invites him to his office to find out how he did it. She is a psychoanalyst who records what her clients say for further research. Tyrone sees this and decides that it is a new racket that he would like to get into when his night club contract ends. He works with the analyst in a con for $150,000. He is given $150 one dollar bills. He goes back to the analyst to get the money and he falls apart. He goes to the station where his wife meets him. He puts her on the train and he leaves the station. He becomes homeless and an alcoholic. He goes to a carnival and is offered a job as a Geek. That night he goes wild and his wife sees him and goes after him.
Tyrone is really good in the film. He starts off as a charming, handsome and ambitious man to a middle aged worn out alcoholic. The makeup at the end of the film has him look like the beast that he is playing.
Tyrone and Joan revive the mind-reading act that was done in vaudeville. She is blindfolded and he holds up an item and she tells what he is holding. There is a code. I can’t figure out how they are selling tickets or making money on the act. Tyrone is interested in Colleen Gray a fellow performer Electra. The sheriff comes to arrest a few of the workers. Colleen for wearing a skimpy costume, the Geek for eating live chickens and another. Tyrone talks him out of it and the sheriff leaves without arresting anyone. Joan and Tyrone are going to leave the carnival and go onto better things. Tyrone and Colleen spend a lot of time together and her companion decide that she and Tyrone must get married. Tyrone decides to take the act into nightclubs with Colleen.
One night a woman tries to trick him. He sees through the trick. She invites him to his office to find out how he did it. She is a psychoanalyst who records what her clients say for further research. Tyrone sees this and decides that it is a new racket that he would like to get into when his night club contract ends. He works with the analyst in a con for $150,000. He is given $150 one dollar bills. He goes back to the analyst to get the money and he falls apart. He goes to the station where his wife meets him. He puts her on the train and he leaves the station. He becomes homeless and an alcoholic. He goes to a carnival and is offered a job as a Geek. That night he goes wild and his wife sees him and goes after him.
Tyrone is really good in the film. He starts off as a charming, handsome and ambitious man to a middle aged worn out alcoholic. The makeup at the end of the film has him look like the beast that he is playing.
May 4 Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn
TCM celebrated Audrey Hepburn’s birthday with a marathon. I watched A Nun’s Story. Audrey played a young woman who becomes and nun and her life as a nun. It is not the most exciting movie I have ever seen, but it has its moments. At the beginning the journey into nunhood made me think of a person going into jail. Your identity changes from a person to a number. You cannot speak during parts of the day you cannot speak to the other nuns, you have your hair shortened and you to practice strict obedience.
After becoming a nurse she goes into the Congo to serve. Even in surgery she has to wear her habit. It is covered with a surgical gown, but it is still there. She has to take communion separately if she is assisting in a surgery. She becomes ill and after a short recuperation she is sent back home to fully recover. While at home Nazi solders have killed her father. She takes hate to her heart and feels that she cannot forgive her fellow man and decides she must leave the church. Everyone believes that she is taking it too hard and that she should stay in the church.
I always thought that Audrey Hepburn made a good nun because she had a ethereal presence.
TCM celebrated Audrey Hepburn’s birthday with a marathon. I watched A Nun’s Story. Audrey played a young woman who becomes and nun and her life as a nun. It is not the most exciting movie I have ever seen, but it has its moments. At the beginning the journey into nunhood made me think of a person going into jail. Your identity changes from a person to a number. You cannot speak during parts of the day you cannot speak to the other nuns, you have your hair shortened and you to practice strict obedience.
After becoming a nurse she goes into the Congo to serve. Even in surgery she has to wear her habit. It is covered with a surgical gown, but it is still there. She has to take communion separately if she is assisting in a surgery. She becomes ill and after a short recuperation she is sent back home to fully recover. While at home Nazi solders have killed her father. She takes hate to her heart and feels that she cannot forgive her fellow man and decides she must leave the church. Everyone believes that she is taking it too hard and that she should stay in the church.
I always thought that Audrey Hepburn made a good nun because she had a ethereal presence.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
May 3 Aline MacMahon
Happy Birthday Bing Crosby, Mary Astor, Aline MacMahon and Walter Slezak.
Of the above only Aline MacMahon does not get a birthday marathon. Bing Crosby got a day on Monday the 2nd, Mary Astor Tuesday the 3rd and Walter Slezak films will be shown Friday the 13th. There is one film shown in Mary’s honor that also has Aline MacMahon, The World Changes. Aline may be the lesser known of the three but she is a talented actress with a wide range of roles. My favorites are a con-artist countess in One Way Passage and a Fur coat designer in Side Street a pre-code drama. A lot of her films are available at WBshop.com/archive.
In The World Changes the story takes place 1856 to 1929. At the beginning of the film Aline plays a young married woman pregnant on a wagon in the Dakota territory. Next she is chopping wood with the baby in the cradle nearby. As a town develops she decides it will be called Orinville after her child and husband. A wedding takes place in town and Orin makes a speech which she tries to make him stop and she watches how much she drinks. When Custer comes into town to clear the Indians higher into the mountains he tells the people the war is over. “What war?” she asks. The war between the north and the south. We have been fighting the war for America since we got here. Orin, now grown, played by Paul Muni, decides to go to Texas to by cattle and bring them north to get better price his mother protests. We came out here to get land and a home for us. Not selfish seeking money. Orin leaves early in the morning with a note. She sees him leaves and a smile comes to her face.
1929 Orin’s granddaughter is getting married. Aline in Orinville sees the story in the paper and decides to go to NY for the wedding, On the train she gives final instructions to her workers. The grandchildren she has never seen thinks to put her in a quite corner and get her a nurse. When she gets to NY she stays with her grandchildren. She drills her great children and they don’t work. She grills her granddaughter’s husband to be, an English baron what he does and he can’t handle it and leaves the room. She becomes angry with her son, is this how you raised your children? The crash happens and Orin’s son, a broker commits suicide. Orin sees him lying dead on the ground and his life flashes before his life and he dies. Aline and her great-grandson Orin go to Orinville where they pray over the land. She sees in the distance her old wagon and the final shot of the film is her smiling a sad smile.
The montages that show the passage of time are very well done. There are pictures of major innovations with a world turning in the background.
Of the above only Aline MacMahon does not get a birthday marathon. Bing Crosby got a day on Monday the 2nd, Mary Astor Tuesday the 3rd and Walter Slezak films will be shown Friday the 13th. There is one film shown in Mary’s honor that also has Aline MacMahon, The World Changes. Aline may be the lesser known of the three but she is a talented actress with a wide range of roles. My favorites are a con-artist countess in One Way Passage and a Fur coat designer in Side Street a pre-code drama. A lot of her films are available at WBshop.com/archive.
In The World Changes the story takes place 1856 to 1929. At the beginning of the film Aline plays a young married woman pregnant on a wagon in the Dakota territory. Next she is chopping wood with the baby in the cradle nearby. As a town develops she decides it will be called Orinville after her child and husband. A wedding takes place in town and Orin makes a speech which she tries to make him stop and she watches how much she drinks. When Custer comes into town to clear the Indians higher into the mountains he tells the people the war is over. “What war?” she asks. The war between the north and the south. We have been fighting the war for America since we got here. Orin, now grown, played by Paul Muni, decides to go to Texas to by cattle and bring them north to get better price his mother protests. We came out here to get land and a home for us. Not selfish seeking money. Orin leaves early in the morning with a note. She sees him leaves and a smile comes to her face.
1929 Orin’s granddaughter is getting married. Aline in Orinville sees the story in the paper and decides to go to NY for the wedding, On the train she gives final instructions to her workers. The grandchildren she has never seen thinks to put her in a quite corner and get her a nurse. When she gets to NY she stays with her grandchildren. She drills her great children and they don’t work. She grills her granddaughter’s husband to be, an English baron what he does and he can’t handle it and leaves the room. She becomes angry with her son, is this how you raised your children? The crash happens and Orin’s son, a broker commits suicide. Orin sees him lying dead on the ground and his life flashes before his life and he dies. Aline and her great-grandson Orin go to Orinville where they pray over the land. She sees in the distance her old wagon and the final shot of the film is her smiling a sad smile.
The montages that show the passage of time are very well done. There are pictures of major innovations with a world turning in the background.
May 2 Brian Aherne
To celebrate Brian Aherne’s birthday I watched I Confess. It is a noir(ish) black and white Alfred Hitchcock film. The opening credits were over a church that was photographed from a boat on the river in Quebec. After the credits there is a sign after sign of “direction” a one way arrow. The final one points in a window where a body is seen on the floor with blood on his forehead. As the camera comes in the room the beaded curtain swings. It looks like a man in a priest coat walking out of the he building. A camera views sideways and upwards at the church. The camera shows Montgomery Clift in priests cloth at the window with the church reflected in the window. A man, the maintenance man at the church confesses to Clift that he killed a man by accident.
Brian Aherne plays a prosecutor. Detective Karl Malden comes to his office with a few witnesses. “Shall I bring in the girls?” the assistant asks. “Yes brings in the girls” Brian states with a gleam. In comes two pre-teen school girls. “Oh” he states disappointedly. He does several parlor tricks throughout the film.
During the investigation they go from church to church. There are camera views of upward and sideway shots of churches, mainly close up of steeples. Very interesting angles.
During the trial Brian Aherne is very soft spoken in his questions. He doesn’t come over as a bully or overbearing as most prosecutors are portrayed in films.
Brian Aherne plays a prosecutor. Detective Karl Malden comes to his office with a few witnesses. “Shall I bring in the girls?” the assistant asks. “Yes brings in the girls” Brian states with a gleam. In comes two pre-teen school girls. “Oh” he states disappointedly. He does several parlor tricks throughout the film.
During the investigation they go from church to church. There are camera views of upward and sideway shots of churches, mainly close up of steeples. Very interesting angles.
During the trial Brian Aherne is very soft spoken in his questions. He doesn’t come over as a bully or overbearing as most prosecutors are portrayed in films.
May 1 Glenn Ford
Happy Birthday Danielle Darrieux and Glenn Ford.
TCM showed Tea House Of The August Moon on Glenn Ford’s birthday. Glenn Ford plays Captain Grisby a man who was requested to request a transfer during the American occupation of Asia after WWII. He was requested to ask for a transfer from psychological warfare after his campaign of propaganda to undermine the enemies moral, undermined the staffs moral instead. Before that he had been asked to transfer from payroll where he had overpaid a total of half a million dollars in wages.
He is sent to instill democracy into Tobiki. He goes and creates a cabinet of leaders. It is decided to take the wood that is meant to build a school to make a tea house. There is a local drink of brandy which is created by sweet potatoes that they decide to manufacture and sell to raise money. The company is called Tobiki Brewing Co.
My favorite part is once the tea house is completed there is native dancing. The costume, the grace, the fan and the music just seem magical. Then Glenn and Edward Arnold sing and get the natives to clap during Deep In The Heart of Texas. The area commander comes and finds out what happened. He orders the tea house taken down and the stills broken. When he finds out that each person gets a share “that’s communism”. He orders Glenn to leave. Glenn tells Lotus Blossom good bye through interpreter Marlon Brando. The commander gets a call and a senator in the area wants to see the company as an example of American ingenuity. The natives put the tea house back together.
TCM showed Tea House Of The August Moon on Glenn Ford’s birthday. Glenn Ford plays Captain Grisby a man who was requested to request a transfer during the American occupation of Asia after WWII. He was requested to ask for a transfer from psychological warfare after his campaign of propaganda to undermine the enemies moral, undermined the staffs moral instead. Before that he had been asked to transfer from payroll where he had overpaid a total of half a million dollars in wages.
He is sent to instill democracy into Tobiki. He goes and creates a cabinet of leaders. It is decided to take the wood that is meant to build a school to make a tea house. There is a local drink of brandy which is created by sweet potatoes that they decide to manufacture and sell to raise money. The company is called Tobiki Brewing Co.
My favorite part is once the tea house is completed there is native dancing. The costume, the grace, the fan and the music just seem magical. Then Glenn and Edward Arnold sing and get the natives to clap during Deep In The Heart of Texas. The area commander comes and finds out what happened. He orders the tea house taken down and the stills broken. When he finds out that each person gets a share “that’s communism”. He orders Glenn to leave. Glenn tells Lotus Blossom good bye through interpreter Marlon Brando. The commander gets a call and a senator in the area wants to see the company as an example of American ingenuity. The natives put the tea house back together.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
April 29 Celeste Holm
Happy Birthday Duke Ellington and Celeste Holm
To celebrate Celeste Holm’s birthday I watched All About Eve. It is a film that I have tried to watch several times but just could not get into. When it aired recently I was able to see the last half hour. That got me intrigued and I decided to give the film another try. I am glad I did it is very well acted and a cohesive plot.
The film starts off at an award banquet. The final award has Eve Harrington’s name listed. George Sanders introduces the characters in a voice over. Celeste Holms is a playwrights wife. She is in the theater by marriage. A housewife with a very soft spoken voice (my description not George Sanders). Eve (Anne Baxter) is given the award and every one but Celeste Holms and Bette Davis applaud. The rest is a flashback. Celeste is the person who first meets Eve outside of the stage door and takes her backstage to meet Bette Davis a 40 year old living legend actress. Eve gets a job working as an assistant to Bette. Celeste and Eve talk at a party. Eve asks Celeste to talk with the producer to get him to hire her as the understudy for the play, which she gets. There is a great scene where people sit on the stairs at the party and talk. It is very intimate. Celeste sits at the top. She is part of the crowd but separate. Eve talks about what acting means to her and Celeste is very taken and sympatric with her. At rehearsal the playwright and Bette argue. Celeste has an idea that will give Eve her chance. When Bette is driven to the station after a visit out of town the car runs out of gas. A strange look comes over Celeste’s face. As she and Bette talk waiting for assistance she realizes how wrong about Bette and is racked in guilt. Eve plays the role that night. Which the critics knew she would before Bette even started for the station. The next day there is a piece in the paper about the performance and Celeste goes to console Bette, guilt and shame in her face and body movements. Eve then goes for the playwright. The playwright has a new play ready which he may give to Eve, but Eve wouldn’t ask for that. Celeste states “Eve would ask Abbott to give her Costello”. That is a great line. She has seen through Eve and her loyalties have changed.
At a restaurant after a performance Eve asks Celeste to meet her in the ladies lounge. As Eve explains what happened Celeste does not believe her and is very cynical. Then Eve talks her over again and Celeste starts to defend Eve to Eve. Eve wins her over again. Celeste is to tell her husband that Eve is the best for the lead in the new play. Eve blackmails Celeste “simple exchange of favors” by threatening to tell Bette about what really happened to cause her to miss the performance. Eve leaves and the camera stays on Celeste as she sits for a few moments trying to compose herself. When she goes back to the table she is not herself. When Bette states that she does not want the role in the new play Celeste starts laughing hysterically. Bette moves the glass of Champaign away from Celeste. Back to the opening banquet Celeste congratulates Eve politely then leaves.
Bette Davis has the best lines and gives a wonderful performance. All the actors were great. There is almost a subtext story of woman vs. man. Some of the lines repeat from character to character and they are said when the other characters are not present making it somewhat universal.
To celebrate Celeste Holm’s birthday I watched All About Eve. It is a film that I have tried to watch several times but just could not get into. When it aired recently I was able to see the last half hour. That got me intrigued and I decided to give the film another try. I am glad I did it is very well acted and a cohesive plot.
The film starts off at an award banquet. The final award has Eve Harrington’s name listed. George Sanders introduces the characters in a voice over. Celeste Holms is a playwrights wife. She is in the theater by marriage. A housewife with a very soft spoken voice (my description not George Sanders). Eve (Anne Baxter) is given the award and every one but Celeste Holms and Bette Davis applaud. The rest is a flashback. Celeste is the person who first meets Eve outside of the stage door and takes her backstage to meet Bette Davis a 40 year old living legend actress. Eve gets a job working as an assistant to Bette. Celeste and Eve talk at a party. Eve asks Celeste to talk with the producer to get him to hire her as the understudy for the play, which she gets. There is a great scene where people sit on the stairs at the party and talk. It is very intimate. Celeste sits at the top. She is part of the crowd but separate. Eve talks about what acting means to her and Celeste is very taken and sympatric with her. At rehearsal the playwright and Bette argue. Celeste has an idea that will give Eve her chance. When Bette is driven to the station after a visit out of town the car runs out of gas. A strange look comes over Celeste’s face. As she and Bette talk waiting for assistance she realizes how wrong about Bette and is racked in guilt. Eve plays the role that night. Which the critics knew she would before Bette even started for the station. The next day there is a piece in the paper about the performance and Celeste goes to console Bette, guilt and shame in her face and body movements. Eve then goes for the playwright. The playwright has a new play ready which he may give to Eve, but Eve wouldn’t ask for that. Celeste states “Eve would ask Abbott to give her Costello”. That is a great line. She has seen through Eve and her loyalties have changed.
At a restaurant after a performance Eve asks Celeste to meet her in the ladies lounge. As Eve explains what happened Celeste does not believe her and is very cynical. Then Eve talks her over again and Celeste starts to defend Eve to Eve. Eve wins her over again. Celeste is to tell her husband that Eve is the best for the lead in the new play. Eve blackmails Celeste “simple exchange of favors” by threatening to tell Bette about what really happened to cause her to miss the performance. Eve leaves and the camera stays on Celeste as she sits for a few moments trying to compose herself. When she goes back to the table she is not herself. When Bette states that she does not want the role in the new play Celeste starts laughing hysterically. Bette moves the glass of Champaign away from Celeste. Back to the opening banquet Celeste congratulates Eve politely then leaves.
Bette Davis has the best lines and gives a wonderful performance. All the actors were great. There is almost a subtext story of woman vs. man. Some of the lines repeat from character to character and they are said when the other characters are not present making it somewhat universal.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)