Happy Birthday to Sonja Henie & Mary Pickford.
TCM celebrated Mary Pickford’s birthday by showing three of her films. I have to admit I tried to watch Coquette, but I could not get through 5 minutes of Mary’s performance. It just struck a wrong cord with me.
I did watch Poor Little Rich Girl. Mary plays a lonely, rich girl in a large house who looks outside and sees all the children playing. The film has great title cards that really explain the characters.
Mary: In the home of everything but love.
Father: Money making schemes left little time for tenderness
Mother: social duties seem more important than the happiness of her child
Servants: Tyrants of modern civilization. Servants by position. Masters by disposition.
Mary goes to see her father but he is busy with this financial people. Mary is happy that her mother will spend a moment with her that day. Mother has to leave for a social engagement and promises once again to spend a moment with her tomorrow. “why do my tomorrows never come” Mary sighs. She goes to class on the estate where she is the only student and there are 5 instructors. The servants think she is not grateful for what she has. She has to take an afternoon drive every day. She wants to walk not be chauffeured around. The servants convince her that she will be kidnapped or bitten by a dog. The next day a plumber comes to the house. Outside and organ grinder plays. She invites him and his son to come into the house. As he plays he disturbs the housekeeper and butler (who always seem to be at tea when the parents aren’t around). Mary seems happy and dances with the plumber. The housekeeper and goes the butler force the organ grinder to leave. Her mother comes home and she brings a friend. Mary takes the blame, stating she was lonely. Mother’s friend has a daughter about the same age and agrees to bring her for the luncheon party planned for the next day. Mary tires to make friends with the girl, but she is a snot who is too good for the daughter of a woman who has a social bee in her bonnet. When lunch is ready Mary puts her plate right under the girl’s behind as she sits on a bench. Her mother states that she is to give her best silk dress to the girl. Mary disagrees and locks herself in her room so the girl can’t get the dress. Mary then throws all of her cloths, including what she is wearing out the window. The neighborhood children grab the clothing. Her parents decide that her punishment will be to dress in boys clothing. Mary decides she looks good in the clothing, after she unrolls the pants to below her knee. Boys in the neighborhood hit a baseball into the greenhouse. As they are getting the ball Mary comes into the room. They fight and she is covered in mud. The gardener stops the fight and hoses off Mary.
There is a birthday party for Mary, but she is not invited. It is a formal sit down social dinner. The nurse drugs her. She gets out of bed disoriented and falls down the stairs. Ghost girls dance in a circle around her a Grecian dance. A man comes to her and says she will be taken to the Garden of lonely children in the tell tale forest of dreams. The plumber who is once again fixing a sink that Mary broke finds her, carries her to her room. The story splits between the parents with the doctor with Mary and Mary’s dream. In the dream her father is at this huge piece of machinery, counting money. She calls out for her mother as she dreams she goes to the land where they burn the candles at both ends. The mother is there lighting thousands of candles. She comes to a forest and is happily dancing with an angel. Her parents come to her and she decides to go home with them. She is happy to be there. She then wakes up and the parents know she will live.
The next morning her fathers financial people come in and Mary’s father decides he doesn’t need more money. He has realized what is important. Mary’s mother has not left her side. The doctor prescribes country living for recuperation. The family huddle together as the film ends.
I can see why Mary Pickford was popular playing younger characters. She was playful, temperamental, spoiled, lonely, unhappy, happy, pathetic and adorable (sometimes 2 or 3 at once). TCM finished the rest of the day with a birthday salute to Virginia O’Brien. Her birthday is actually April 18th so I will watch those films later.
Monday, April 11, 2011
April 7 James Garner
I always like James Garner in Rockford Files. I watched that show every week. The show a great theme song, creative
story lines and talented supporting actors.
TCM showed a day full of films of James Garner for his birthday. I watched Mister Buddwing. I was captured within the first few moments of the film. The film is in black and white. The film opens up with strange music and the blurry tree branches. The music stops. The camera pulls back and you are looking up at the buildings, sideways. The scene straightens up, and it looks like Central Park in New York. The camera goes sideways to take in the surroundings and then levels off. Hands come into view, cover the camera, like you are rubbing your eyes and the camera goes down to his lap following his hands. He rubs his wrist, whether it is sore or looking for his watch I can’t tell. He pats his pants pocket then coat. He pulls out a Harlem Division time table, looking at it front and back. He continues to search his pockets. He pulls out a piece of paper with two capsule pills and a phone number listed. He pulls off his ring “from G.V.’ is engraved. The camera lifts up and starts to go towards a pathway (you hear the sound of his footsteps) and up some steps. There are very few people around. The scene morphs to being in front of a large building, walking up steps and through a revolving door. He into a lobby of hotel. At a mirrored door he sees his reflection it is James Garner. He looks dirty, rumpled, unshaven and confused. The opening credits start and the angle changes into a normal view as James walks away from the mirrored door. I have to admit that I watched this several times and watched in pause play so I could get everything. It was terrific.
He calls the number that is on the paper. It is Angela Landsbury. “Sam is that you?” she says “Sam” he repeats. “Why do you only call me when you are drunk?” As he goes to leave the hotel to go to her apartment he sees a Budweiser truck go by and a plane flying above. He thinks his name is Sam Buddwing. Angela does not recognize him. Angela feeling sorry for him offers him coffee. He looks around trying to find something that looks familiar. He doesn’t remember who he is or what happened. When Angela asks him, how old he was, what his name is, where he lives he answers each question as “I don’t know” getting more aggravated each time. When Angela asks him how he wants his coffee he starts to cry because he doesn’t know how he takes his coffee. As he leaves a mellow sax plays. He is confused and doesn’t know where to go. The camera switches to him looking down the street to scenes of the street. The camera then switches to an overhead angle from a balcony following him down the street. He sees a women “Grace” he calls. She gets in a taxi and he follows in another taxi. As the taxi driver talks a constant stream of nonsense James is very intently watching the other taxi, with a few slanted eye looks at him. He looses her at NYU. He goes to a café and reads a newspaper which headline “Dangerous mental patient escapes” he reads the story and states the name aloud Edward Volner (I think that is the last name). Jack Gilford comes up to him and joins him at his table. The patient stole a grey suit and walked out. James may be wearing a gray suit. He sees Grace, who is Kathryn Ross, but she is not Grace she is Janet. He says he is 25, “and how many?” she says. The camera freezes on him and he flashes back to being 25 sitting with Grace (Kathryn) on a park bench. There are several more scenes in the flashback, dates mainly and a great scene where he is talking with Grace’s uncle who has a large German Sheppard. It is a very interesting way for the character to remember his birthday, his life plans and his career (musical composition). They go into a church to get out of the rain and listen to the organ. The camera shows the two of them looking at each other and holding hands to their view of the interior of the church.
He says something and is back to modern day stating he is the mental patient. Kathryn is gone. A crowd gathers as a police officer questions James. Several men come to James aid and James escapes in the crowd with a man following. The man catches up with James and he says he says he is God. The man states he needs a disciple and James is the chosen one. James not believing him goes away. He wonders around the city. The camera angle changes from him to what he sees, including blurry vision. He stops at a café to take one of the capsules. The soda clerk states he has a migraine which is a psychosomatic condition. He sees Suzanne Pleshette, who he calls Grace. She is an actress who speaks very 60’s lingo. She does not know him either. She says he is lucky he doesn’t remember. She questions him to try to find out what he does for a living. She goes through the timetable Mount Kisco rings a bell, but he doesn’t know why. They go back to her place so he can shave, wash and get his closed cleaned. After a night together, Suzanne leaves the apartment and James follows (with great jazz music playing). Suzanne goes over the railing of the Queens borough bridge, he gets her before she falls over. It is a flashback scene. He states someone is waiting for him. There is a montage of flashbacks as he walks around the city at night. You are not sure what is real and what is not. He calls Angela because he is afraid and alone. She states her husband is there and hangs up.
A taxi pulls up and Jean Simmons states she is on a treasure hunt and needs a tall man in a grey suit. She takes a dislike to the driver and gets out of the taxi. Jean talks like a rough house dame. They drink alcohol on a stoop and go over the treasure hunt list $100,000 cash, black Cadillac sedan, your name in the newspaper, 3 good men and true to testify to your character. In a taxi to get the made up newspaper Jean tells him the story of her life and he closes his eyes and cringes in pain. In another taxi to a crap game to get the $100,000 he has another flash back with Jean as Grace. They argue in front of a mirror that looks like it is covered with streaks of gray like it is marbleized. While playing craps, the scene flashes between the game and his apartment where each roll of the dice brings back a memory, he finds a note from Grace. There is a light on under the door. The door is locked. He breaks down the door. Blood is all over the tub and a cut wrist is shown. He realizes the phone number is to a hospital. He still does not have his full memory back. When he gets there he sees Grace’s uncle. Grace is alive, barely. He sees Grace (but her face is not shown) and the camera goes to the window and down the park and follows the reverse of the opening of the film.
This is a great film. The actors switch back and forth between themselves and Grace. James shows so much emotion, frustration and confusion that you really believe he is loss and you want to help him by understanding the clues. It isn’t until the game that everything comes together. With one viewing you know what is going to happen but if you watch the film over and over, there will still probably be things that come up. Ellsworth Fredricks is the director of photography. I am going to have to look up more of his work. Delbert Mann directed the film. Fredric Steinkamp edited the film and the screenplay by Dale Wassermann based on Evan Hunter’s book Buddwing.
story lines and talented supporting actors.
TCM showed a day full of films of James Garner for his birthday. I watched Mister Buddwing. I was captured within the first few moments of the film. The film is in black and white. The film opens up with strange music and the blurry tree branches. The music stops. The camera pulls back and you are looking up at the buildings, sideways. The scene straightens up, and it looks like Central Park in New York. The camera goes sideways to take in the surroundings and then levels off. Hands come into view, cover the camera, like you are rubbing your eyes and the camera goes down to his lap following his hands. He rubs his wrist, whether it is sore or looking for his watch I can’t tell. He pats his pants pocket then coat. He pulls out a Harlem Division time table, looking at it front and back. He continues to search his pockets. He pulls out a piece of paper with two capsule pills and a phone number listed. He pulls off his ring “from G.V.’ is engraved. The camera lifts up and starts to go towards a pathway (you hear the sound of his footsteps) and up some steps. There are very few people around. The scene morphs to being in front of a large building, walking up steps and through a revolving door. He into a lobby of hotel. At a mirrored door he sees his reflection it is James Garner. He looks dirty, rumpled, unshaven and confused. The opening credits start and the angle changes into a normal view as James walks away from the mirrored door. I have to admit that I watched this several times and watched in pause play so I could get everything. It was terrific.
He calls the number that is on the paper. It is Angela Landsbury. “Sam is that you?” she says “Sam” he repeats. “Why do you only call me when you are drunk?” As he goes to leave the hotel to go to her apartment he sees a Budweiser truck go by and a plane flying above. He thinks his name is Sam Buddwing. Angela does not recognize him. Angela feeling sorry for him offers him coffee. He looks around trying to find something that looks familiar. He doesn’t remember who he is or what happened. When Angela asks him, how old he was, what his name is, where he lives he answers each question as “I don’t know” getting more aggravated each time. When Angela asks him how he wants his coffee he starts to cry because he doesn’t know how he takes his coffee. As he leaves a mellow sax plays. He is confused and doesn’t know where to go. The camera switches to him looking down the street to scenes of the street. The camera then switches to an overhead angle from a balcony following him down the street. He sees a women “Grace” he calls. She gets in a taxi and he follows in another taxi. As the taxi driver talks a constant stream of nonsense James is very intently watching the other taxi, with a few slanted eye looks at him. He looses her at NYU. He goes to a café and reads a newspaper which headline “Dangerous mental patient escapes” he reads the story and states the name aloud Edward Volner (I think that is the last name). Jack Gilford comes up to him and joins him at his table. The patient stole a grey suit and walked out. James may be wearing a gray suit. He sees Grace, who is Kathryn Ross, but she is not Grace she is Janet. He says he is 25, “and how many?” she says. The camera freezes on him and he flashes back to being 25 sitting with Grace (Kathryn) on a park bench. There are several more scenes in the flashback, dates mainly and a great scene where he is talking with Grace’s uncle who has a large German Sheppard. It is a very interesting way for the character to remember his birthday, his life plans and his career (musical composition). They go into a church to get out of the rain and listen to the organ. The camera shows the two of them looking at each other and holding hands to their view of the interior of the church.
He says something and is back to modern day stating he is the mental patient. Kathryn is gone. A crowd gathers as a police officer questions James. Several men come to James aid and James escapes in the crowd with a man following. The man catches up with James and he says he says he is God. The man states he needs a disciple and James is the chosen one. James not believing him goes away. He wonders around the city. The camera angle changes from him to what he sees, including blurry vision. He stops at a café to take one of the capsules. The soda clerk states he has a migraine which is a psychosomatic condition. He sees Suzanne Pleshette, who he calls Grace. She is an actress who speaks very 60’s lingo. She does not know him either. She says he is lucky he doesn’t remember. She questions him to try to find out what he does for a living. She goes through the timetable Mount Kisco rings a bell, but he doesn’t know why. They go back to her place so he can shave, wash and get his closed cleaned. After a night together, Suzanne leaves the apartment and James follows (with great jazz music playing). Suzanne goes over the railing of the Queens borough bridge, he gets her before she falls over. It is a flashback scene. He states someone is waiting for him. There is a montage of flashbacks as he walks around the city at night. You are not sure what is real and what is not. He calls Angela because he is afraid and alone. She states her husband is there and hangs up.
A taxi pulls up and Jean Simmons states she is on a treasure hunt and needs a tall man in a grey suit. She takes a dislike to the driver and gets out of the taxi. Jean talks like a rough house dame. They drink alcohol on a stoop and go over the treasure hunt list $100,000 cash, black Cadillac sedan, your name in the newspaper, 3 good men and true to testify to your character. In a taxi to get the made up newspaper Jean tells him the story of her life and he closes his eyes and cringes in pain. In another taxi to a crap game to get the $100,000 he has another flash back with Jean as Grace. They argue in front of a mirror that looks like it is covered with streaks of gray like it is marbleized. While playing craps, the scene flashes between the game and his apartment where each roll of the dice brings back a memory, he finds a note from Grace. There is a light on under the door. The door is locked. He breaks down the door. Blood is all over the tub and a cut wrist is shown. He realizes the phone number is to a hospital. He still does not have his full memory back. When he gets there he sees Grace’s uncle. Grace is alive, barely. He sees Grace (but her face is not shown) and the camera goes to the window and down the park and follows the reverse of the opening of the film.
This is a great film. The actors switch back and forth between themselves and Grace. James shows so much emotion, frustration and confusion that you really believe he is loss and you want to help him by understanding the clues. It isn’t until the game that everything comes together. With one viewing you know what is going to happen but if you watch the film over and over, there will still probably be things that come up. Ellsworth Fredricks is the director of photography. I am going to have to look up more of his work. Delbert Mann directed the film. Fredric Steinkamp edited the film and the screenplay by Dale Wassermann based on Evan Hunter’s book Buddwing.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
April 5
Happy Birthday to Bette Davis, Gale Storm, Roger Corman, Spencer Tracy, Melvyn Douglas and Gregory Peck.
TCM celebrated Melvyn Douglas Birthday. I watched And So They were Married which also starred Mary Astor. Mary a divorcee with daughter Edith Fellows goes to a grand opening of Snow Crest Lodge. Melvyn a widow with a son, Jackie Moran is joining him later. At check in they are mistaken for a married couple. As they get settled into the new hotel there is a smell of new paint. As she complains to the hotel manager Melvyn is already complaining and she states she finds the smell refreshing. The road has blocked so they will be the only guests for several days. The hotel staff tries to give them a gala time. Melvyn threw a rolled up serpentine and it landed in Mary’s soup splashing her. She then throws serpentine at him and he throws back. The camera goes back and forth following the action. In order to avoid the hotel staff they agree to take a walk together. The road has been cleared. The rest of the guests, including Jackie come to the hotel. Jackie takes a sled and goes up a hill. In the middle of the hill he meets Edith. She is making a snow woman. He uses pits to put eyes in her snow figure. They argue. He then goes to the top of the hill and slides down right into the snow figure destroying it. They physically fight in the snow.
That night Mary and Melvyn go to dinner together. They are still dancing after the music stops. The children are watching them from the balcony. A staff member talks about a sure sign of romance. The children, not liking this idea decide to take a dislike to each other and the other parent to halt the romance. As they plan the staff think the children “like” each other. Jackie has bought a dog for his father. Edith thinks she can get the dog to do what ever she wants and makes the dog eat soap. The dog gets away and runs through the hotel. With the soap foaming around his face people think it is a mad dog. The dog is chased outside (and returns to a pack). The next day at dinner Jackie agrees to spit pellets her. He ends up spitting them at a number of guests. A boy Horace, takes the credit (or blame if you will) for the action. The next time you see Horace he has a black eye. Edith and Jackie agree to a truce for Christmas (it is Christmas Eve Day). That night while they are looking at the tree and decorations, Horace throws an ornament at Jackie, breaking it over his head. He thinks that Edith did it and throws an ornament at him. The parents try to break them up but chaos ensues. The lights on the tree get blown and all the lights in the building go out. They get the children and go up to Mary’s room. They tell the children they are going to marry. Melvyn very upset spanks the child. The lights come up and it is Edith that he is spanking. This upsets Mary a great deal. They argue and split up. Both families leave Christmas morning.
New Years Eve Day Mary states she has to get away and they will be leaving for Europe in a few days. Edith calls Jackie and tries to get him to get his father to come over to the house. Jackie refuses and Edith says she does not want to go to Europe and she will run away. Jackie talks with his father about how he works all the time. He decides to run away with Edith. He goes over to her house and she is hiding in the garage. They decide that this will bring the parents together. Mary and Melvyn upset that the children are missing, call the police. Melvyn then comes over to Mary’s. They decide to go looking for the children. They take Mary’s cook car. The children are hiding in the back. The police spot the children and pull them over. Neither adult has ID. Jackie says Mary is not his mother and Edith states the Melvyn is not her father. They arrest the adults for kidnapping. While in jail a drunk man celebrating early the New Year identifies Melvyn and they are released. To punish the children the parents decide to arrest the children and Jackie and Edith defend each other and the parents realize they do like each other. The couple then decide to marry. Even though Mary Astor and Melvyn Douglas are the stars of the film, the Edith Fellows and Jackie Moran had equal parts in the film.
I have only seen Melvyn Douglas in a handful of dramas, I have mainly seen the comedies. His characters almost always seem to have a playful side, a carefree attitude towards life that makes the character seem more real.
TCM celebrated Melvyn Douglas Birthday. I watched And So They were Married which also starred Mary Astor. Mary a divorcee with daughter Edith Fellows goes to a grand opening of Snow Crest Lodge. Melvyn a widow with a son, Jackie Moran is joining him later. At check in they are mistaken for a married couple. As they get settled into the new hotel there is a smell of new paint. As she complains to the hotel manager Melvyn is already complaining and she states she finds the smell refreshing. The road has blocked so they will be the only guests for several days. The hotel staff tries to give them a gala time. Melvyn threw a rolled up serpentine and it landed in Mary’s soup splashing her. She then throws serpentine at him and he throws back. The camera goes back and forth following the action. In order to avoid the hotel staff they agree to take a walk together. The road has been cleared. The rest of the guests, including Jackie come to the hotel. Jackie takes a sled and goes up a hill. In the middle of the hill he meets Edith. She is making a snow woman. He uses pits to put eyes in her snow figure. They argue. He then goes to the top of the hill and slides down right into the snow figure destroying it. They physically fight in the snow.
That night Mary and Melvyn go to dinner together. They are still dancing after the music stops. The children are watching them from the balcony. A staff member talks about a sure sign of romance. The children, not liking this idea decide to take a dislike to each other and the other parent to halt the romance. As they plan the staff think the children “like” each other. Jackie has bought a dog for his father. Edith thinks she can get the dog to do what ever she wants and makes the dog eat soap. The dog gets away and runs through the hotel. With the soap foaming around his face people think it is a mad dog. The dog is chased outside (and returns to a pack). The next day at dinner Jackie agrees to spit pellets her. He ends up spitting them at a number of guests. A boy Horace, takes the credit (or blame if you will) for the action. The next time you see Horace he has a black eye. Edith and Jackie agree to a truce for Christmas (it is Christmas Eve Day). That night while they are looking at the tree and decorations, Horace throws an ornament at Jackie, breaking it over his head. He thinks that Edith did it and throws an ornament at him. The parents try to break them up but chaos ensues. The lights on the tree get blown and all the lights in the building go out. They get the children and go up to Mary’s room. They tell the children they are going to marry. Melvyn very upset spanks the child. The lights come up and it is Edith that he is spanking. This upsets Mary a great deal. They argue and split up. Both families leave Christmas morning.
New Years Eve Day Mary states she has to get away and they will be leaving for Europe in a few days. Edith calls Jackie and tries to get him to get his father to come over to the house. Jackie refuses and Edith says she does not want to go to Europe and she will run away. Jackie talks with his father about how he works all the time. He decides to run away with Edith. He goes over to her house and she is hiding in the garage. They decide that this will bring the parents together. Mary and Melvyn upset that the children are missing, call the police. Melvyn then comes over to Mary’s. They decide to go looking for the children. They take Mary’s cook car. The children are hiding in the back. The police spot the children and pull them over. Neither adult has ID. Jackie says Mary is not his mother and Edith states the Melvyn is not her father. They arrest the adults for kidnapping. While in jail a drunk man celebrating early the New Year identifies Melvyn and they are released. To punish the children the parents decide to arrest the children and Jackie and Edith defend each other and the parents realize they do like each other. The couple then decide to marry. Even though Mary Astor and Melvyn Douglas are the stars of the film, the Edith Fellows and Jackie Moran had equal parts in the film.
I have only seen Melvyn Douglas in a handful of dramas, I have mainly seen the comedies. His characters almost always seem to have a playful side, a carefree attitude towards life that makes the character seem more real.
April 6
TCM celebrated Walter Houston’s Birthday. I watched Treasure of the Sierra Madre. The story takes place in Mexico 1925. Humphrey Bogart is an American who has wound up in Mexico. He panhandles for money for cigarettes and food. He meets fellow American Tim Holt. They meet Walter at a cheap hotel talking about gold treasure. Bogart and Tim get work on a ferry. Once they get into port they are stiffed on payment. They meet up with the man and fight for their money. They only take what is due to them. They decide to pool their money and go on a treasure hunt with Walter. The camera is a close up of Walter with the arms of the other two shaking hands in the foreground (I really like that shot). They take a train into the interior of the country and the train is stopped due to bandits. They all fight. Once they reach their destination, they buy supplies and start to go into the hills. After a hard day of travel Bogart and Tim are exhausted while Walter is still full of energy. Walter tries to get then to eat but they are too exhausted. They finally find gold and start mining. While mining, there is a cave in and Bogart is in the cave. Tim starts to leave but turns around and goes to help him. In talking about what they will do afterwards Walter states he will open a little store and not prospect anymore. Tim states that he would like to own a fruit grower. Bogart states he would take a Turkish bath, go to a haberdasher to get a new suit and hat, go to a café and order everything. “What next?” Tim asks. “What do you think?” Bogart replies, (unspoken for woman). As they go along they start collecting enough to get worried about each other taking their goods.
Bogart goes into town and a man follows him back. They share the food and the campfire with him but tell him he has to leave in the morning. With the dawn the man blackmails them for a portion of their goods. Bandits attack, wanting the weapons and kill the man. They find a letter from his wife who talks about fruit tree farm. The amount of gold being mined is less and they have about $35,000 each and decide to leave the mountain. First they have to return the mountain as they found it. As they leave they say goodbye to the mountain. That night natives approach them. A boy fell in the water. He wasn’t dead, but he won’t come to. Walter goes with them to the village. He revives the boy. The next day some natives come up to them wanting Walter to come with him to honor him for what he has done. Tim states that he will watch his goods. Bogart and Tim continue on. Bogart has the idea to take all the gold. He shoots Tim. He goes to the campsite and then goes back to the body. Tim doesn’t move and Bogart goes to the campfire to sleep. Tim crawls off and finds natives to help him. Bogart goes to bury him the next day and finds that he is gone. Tim is taken to Walter who doctors him. They decide to go after Bogart. Bogart stops for water and is ambushed by bandits. The bandits take the mules into town to sell. The next part is all done in Spanish with no subtitles, but you know what is going on. The trader seeing his brand, eyes the men, taking in the pants, boots and hat. The men are arrested. The next scene they are digging graves. They are then put before a fire squad and killed, a straw hat blowing in the wind. Walter and Tim come up to the village as the guns fire. They find out that Bogart was killed. They go through the items and cannot find the goods. A boy says he heard the prisoners talking that they found bags of sand that would make the donkeys seem heavier to bring in more money. The bags of sand were at the ruins. As they go to the ruins a strong wind blows. When they get there they find empty bags. Walter starts to laugh. The gold was going back to where it came from. Walter decides to go back to the village and he talks Tim into going back to the states to talk with the widow of the man killed with a fruit tree farm and gives him his wallet full of money to get there. They decide that they only lost a little money but were still alive.
I have avoided the film for a long time, because I thought it would be boring. The film is a great action and pact adventure film. Bogart and Tim are quiet and speak softly; Walter is loud and noisy with a great laugh.
Bogart goes into town and a man follows him back. They share the food and the campfire with him but tell him he has to leave in the morning. With the dawn the man blackmails them for a portion of their goods. Bandits attack, wanting the weapons and kill the man. They find a letter from his wife who talks about fruit tree farm. The amount of gold being mined is less and they have about $35,000 each and decide to leave the mountain. First they have to return the mountain as they found it. As they leave they say goodbye to the mountain. That night natives approach them. A boy fell in the water. He wasn’t dead, but he won’t come to. Walter goes with them to the village. He revives the boy. The next day some natives come up to them wanting Walter to come with him to honor him for what he has done. Tim states that he will watch his goods. Bogart and Tim continue on. Bogart has the idea to take all the gold. He shoots Tim. He goes to the campsite and then goes back to the body. Tim doesn’t move and Bogart goes to the campfire to sleep. Tim crawls off and finds natives to help him. Bogart goes to bury him the next day and finds that he is gone. Tim is taken to Walter who doctors him. They decide to go after Bogart. Bogart stops for water and is ambushed by bandits. The bandits take the mules into town to sell. The next part is all done in Spanish with no subtitles, but you know what is going on. The trader seeing his brand, eyes the men, taking in the pants, boots and hat. The men are arrested. The next scene they are digging graves. They are then put before a fire squad and killed, a straw hat blowing in the wind. Walter and Tim come up to the village as the guns fire. They find out that Bogart was killed. They go through the items and cannot find the goods. A boy says he heard the prisoners talking that they found bags of sand that would make the donkeys seem heavier to bring in more money. The bags of sand were at the ruins. As they go to the ruins a strong wind blows. When they get there they find empty bags. Walter starts to laugh. The gold was going back to where it came from. Walter decides to go back to the village and he talks Tim into going back to the states to talk with the widow of the man killed with a fruit tree farm and gives him his wallet full of money to get there. They decide that they only lost a little money but were still alive.
I have avoided the film for a long time, because I thought it would be boring. The film is a great action and pact adventure film. Bogart and Tim are quiet and speak softly; Walter is loud and noisy with a great laugh.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
April 4
TCM celebrated Anthony Perkins birthday. I watched The Actress and Goodbye Again. In The Actress Anthony had a very small role. He played Jean Simmons boyfriend. He looked very good in the suits of he period. I was very impressed with the exuberance of Jean Simmons in the role of Ruth Gordon and Spencer Tracy as her father. I liked the turn of his character, he did not want his daughter to become an actress, but the moment that the producer didn’t like her he becomes very protective.
In Goodbye Again he plays a 25 year old an interested in 40 year old Ingrid Bergman. The opening credits show Ingrid leaving work and getting a taxi, Yves Montand walking to his car, who eyes woman walking by, and Anthony driving with the Arch of Triumph in the background. Ingrid goes to her apartment to get ready for a date. She gets a phone call and her date has to work late. It is the 6th anniversary of the date they met. After she hangs up sits in f the mirror and puts on cold cream to take off her makeup. The next Yves apologizes for the meeting. After he drops Ingrid he sees a woman in his rear view mirror. He moves the mirror to the vertical so he can see her full figure. The next day Ingrid meets with a woman who needs an interior decorator. Anthony plays her son. He sees her and starts to talk with her. After the interview he is outside and offers her a ride, which Ingrid takes. When Anthony gets to work around noon he is very happy and realizes that he does not know her name. Anthony meets up with the couple in a nightclub. Yves sees the woman there that he saw in the street. Anthony is drunk and the couple takes him home. He ends up sleeping on Ingrid’s breast in the car with a smile on his face. The next day Anthony goes to Ingrid’s work to apologize and take her to take her to lunch. At lunch he is very animated and makes Ingrid laugh. Anthony wants to be with her but she keeps putting him off. He asks her “Do you like Brahms?” (which is the title of the book the movie is based upon). She states she keeps her weekends free. The next scene is Yves with a woman barely covered in a sheet who states “men always smoke afterward”. They decide to go away for the weekend. Yves tells Ingrid that he has to work to close a big deal. Anthony sees Yves in the street with another woman. Anthony doesn’t tell Ingrid about the event. He does convince her to go to the concert. At the concert Anthony is so pleased to be with her that he can’t stop smiling and has a difficult time not staring at her. In the concert she flashes back to when she first met Yves. Anthony holds her hand and she moves his hand. Anthony states he loves her and will take her away from him.
Yves comes back home. In talking Ingrid realizes that he did not go where he said he was going. They both pretend that he went on the business trip. While in London for work he receives a note from Ingrid. He rushes home. When he gets back home his mother is throwing a dinner party. Ingrid and Yves are there. He changes into a tuxedo and sits next to Ingrid at the table. Yves is jealous and says some terrible things about her morals. He is leaving the next day for a business trip. She goes to airport to go with him on the trip (it is a real business trip). He refuses. She is concerned about herself, her reactions rather than his actions. She calls him at work to tell him that they cannot see each other. Anthony spends some time drinking. At one club Diahann Carroll sings about love. Days later he states he couldn’t stay away. They stand holding each other in the rain. The next scene is Ingrid in bed with a loud record playing. She is in shadow and you can’t quite tell if she is regrets or enjoyed what has happened. Anthony is in the kitchen signing. While she is at work he decides to spend the day alone thinking of her. There is a montage of him driving around the city and looking at clocks with happy piano music playing. Yves comes back and wants to see her. They arrange to have lunch the next day. She stats that she has been seeing Anthony. That he is more than amusing. Yves states that his girls are normal. Ingrid leaves. In the car she cries. She turns on the wind shield wipers to clear the image. The view switches several times to a watery view. Yves has other women, who he always said meant nothing to him but was not truly satisfied. While at work Anthony waits for her, he doesn’t go to work and she treats him more as a son than lover. While out for a weekend the couple meet up with friends of Anthony’s mother. The meeting makes Ingrid uncomfortable. Anthony realizes that Ingrid still loves Yves. The mother wanting to protect her son, talks his boss into sending him to the New York office. He refuses and quits his job. To celebrate they go to a restaurant where Yves also happens to be dinning. Yves realizes that he cannot live without her and he wants to marry her. When Ingrid tells Anthony he is naturally upset, but calm and angry at the same time. As he leaves the apartment he starts crying and joins the throngs of people on the sidewalk. The couple marry. The last scene repeats the first. Ingrid rushes home to get ready for a night out with her husband and he calls stating he has to work late. She sits in front of the mirror putting on cold cream.
I really wasn’t looking forward to this day. Anthony Perkins was a fine actor.
In Goodbye Again he plays a 25 year old an interested in 40 year old Ingrid Bergman. The opening credits show Ingrid leaving work and getting a taxi, Yves Montand walking to his car, who eyes woman walking by, and Anthony driving with the Arch of Triumph in the background. Ingrid goes to her apartment to get ready for a date. She gets a phone call and her date has to work late. It is the 6th anniversary of the date they met. After she hangs up sits in f the mirror and puts on cold cream to take off her makeup. The next Yves apologizes for the meeting. After he drops Ingrid he sees a woman in his rear view mirror. He moves the mirror to the vertical so he can see her full figure. The next day Ingrid meets with a woman who needs an interior decorator. Anthony plays her son. He sees her and starts to talk with her. After the interview he is outside and offers her a ride, which Ingrid takes. When Anthony gets to work around noon he is very happy and realizes that he does not know her name. Anthony meets up with the couple in a nightclub. Yves sees the woman there that he saw in the street. Anthony is drunk and the couple takes him home. He ends up sleeping on Ingrid’s breast in the car with a smile on his face. The next day Anthony goes to Ingrid’s work to apologize and take her to take her to lunch. At lunch he is very animated and makes Ingrid laugh. Anthony wants to be with her but she keeps putting him off. He asks her “Do you like Brahms?” (which is the title of the book the movie is based upon). She states she keeps her weekends free. The next scene is Yves with a woman barely covered in a sheet who states “men always smoke afterward”. They decide to go away for the weekend. Yves tells Ingrid that he has to work to close a big deal. Anthony sees Yves in the street with another woman. Anthony doesn’t tell Ingrid about the event. He does convince her to go to the concert. At the concert Anthony is so pleased to be with her that he can’t stop smiling and has a difficult time not staring at her. In the concert she flashes back to when she first met Yves. Anthony holds her hand and she moves his hand. Anthony states he loves her and will take her away from him.
Yves comes back home. In talking Ingrid realizes that he did not go where he said he was going. They both pretend that he went on the business trip. While in London for work he receives a note from Ingrid. He rushes home. When he gets back home his mother is throwing a dinner party. Ingrid and Yves are there. He changes into a tuxedo and sits next to Ingrid at the table. Yves is jealous and says some terrible things about her morals. He is leaving the next day for a business trip. She goes to airport to go with him on the trip (it is a real business trip). He refuses. She is concerned about herself, her reactions rather than his actions. She calls him at work to tell him that they cannot see each other. Anthony spends some time drinking. At one club Diahann Carroll sings about love. Days later he states he couldn’t stay away. They stand holding each other in the rain. The next scene is Ingrid in bed with a loud record playing. She is in shadow and you can’t quite tell if she is regrets or enjoyed what has happened. Anthony is in the kitchen signing. While she is at work he decides to spend the day alone thinking of her. There is a montage of him driving around the city and looking at clocks with happy piano music playing. Yves comes back and wants to see her. They arrange to have lunch the next day. She stats that she has been seeing Anthony. That he is more than amusing. Yves states that his girls are normal. Ingrid leaves. In the car she cries. She turns on the wind shield wipers to clear the image. The view switches several times to a watery view. Yves has other women, who he always said meant nothing to him but was not truly satisfied. While at work Anthony waits for her, he doesn’t go to work and she treats him more as a son than lover. While out for a weekend the couple meet up with friends of Anthony’s mother. The meeting makes Ingrid uncomfortable. Anthony realizes that Ingrid still loves Yves. The mother wanting to protect her son, talks his boss into sending him to the New York office. He refuses and quits his job. To celebrate they go to a restaurant where Yves also happens to be dinning. Yves realizes that he cannot live without her and he wants to marry her. When Ingrid tells Anthony he is naturally upset, but calm and angry at the same time. As he leaves the apartment he starts crying and joins the throngs of people on the sidewalk. The couple marry. The last scene repeats the first. Ingrid rushes home to get ready for a night out with her husband and he calls stating he has to work late. She sits in front of the mirror putting on cold cream.
I really wasn’t looking forward to this day. Anthony Perkins was a fine actor.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
April 2
What a day that I have had. I got Tunes of Glory to watch for Alec Guinness’ birthday. Since it is a Saturday, I started my day pretty much as I have done for about a year, watching The Bowery Boys film. I wanted to DVR Tarzan, but my DVR didn’t work. It had been slow, but it still worked. I still had plenty of memory, but it was about 5 years old and I have used it a lot lately. I did what the IT department always tell me when I have computer problems soft and then hard boot. Still it did not work. So I went out looking for new DVR. Apparently they are not being made any more. Living in a university town in Kansas there were only 3 stores that sold electronics. Only one store sold them and they were sold out. I went online and finally found some in a city about 30 minutes away. While I was looking the information my stomach started making funny sounds and had a physical problem I won’t go into. I felt fine, so it must have been something I ate. Once my stomach settled down, I decided to take a drive. I got to the store and even though online it was stock it wasn’t. I went to another store and they didn’t have it either. I basically wasted 2 hours and less than a ¼ tank of gas. I drove back home and thought about going to another city another 30 minutes away on Sunday. I looked online again and decided to order what I wanted and for less than a gallon of gas I could get the item on Tuesday. I feel like I spent the whole day trying to find something. It is always said “Buy Local”, but it is hard to buy local when the items are not local. I still have a VHS so I should be ok this week for Anthony Perkins on Monday and Melvyn Douglas on Tuesday.
Like most people my age the first film I remember seeing for Alec Guinness is Star Wars. I was only about 11 at the time and had no idea who he was. I was more interested in Mark Hamill. Within a few years I saw him in The Lady Killers and Bridge on the River Kwai. The characters that he played were diverse and he seemed to have a sense of playfulness in his comedies. He always seemed like the typical Englishman to me: stiff upper lip with a wicked sense of humor. I watched Tunes of Glory for Alec Guinness’ birthday. Alec played a leader of a Scottish troop. He is leaving his command after the war and John Mills is taking over. Alec as leader has the respect of the men both personally and professionally. John Mills is very regimented and only has the respect as leader, but not as a person. John never fit in with the group. John commits suicide. He has mental problems, but there seems to be a deeper reason I don‘t quite get. I watched part of the film a second time to try to understand. Alec is promoted to colonel. He has planned the military funeral but the men of the group do not believe in all the details since he committed suicide and he was not well liked. Alec thinks that he pushed John over the edge and the men were the accomplices. Tunes of Glory represent the bagpipes of his beloved homeland. As he makes his big speech of death and is basically describing his own funeral with his back to the men, the enlisted men are told to leave the room. Alec breaks down and is taken to his barracks.
Like most people my age the first film I remember seeing for Alec Guinness is Star Wars. I was only about 11 at the time and had no idea who he was. I was more interested in Mark Hamill. Within a few years I saw him in The Lady Killers and Bridge on the River Kwai. The characters that he played were diverse and he seemed to have a sense of playfulness in his comedies. He always seemed like the typical Englishman to me: stiff upper lip with a wicked sense of humor. I watched Tunes of Glory for Alec Guinness’ birthday. Alec played a leader of a Scottish troop. He is leaving his command after the war and John Mills is taking over. Alec as leader has the respect of the men both personally and professionally. John Mills is very regimented and only has the respect as leader, but not as a person. John never fit in with the group. John commits suicide. He has mental problems, but there seems to be a deeper reason I don‘t quite get. I watched part of the film a second time to try to understand. Alec is promoted to colonel. He has planned the military funeral but the men of the group do not believe in all the details since he committed suicide and he was not well liked. Alec thinks that he pushed John over the edge and the men were the accomplices. Tunes of Glory represent the bagpipes of his beloved homeland. As he makes his big speech of death and is basically describing his own funeral with his back to the men, the enlisted men are told to leave the room. Alec breaks down and is taken to his barracks.
April 1
Happy Birthday to Wallace Beery, Lon Chaney, Ali McGraw, Tashiro Mifune, Jane Powell and Debbie Reynolds.
TCM had an all day and night birthday celebration for two stars. The day was Jane Powell and the night was Debbie Reynolds.
For Jane Powell I watched Nancy Goes To Rio. The basic story is a mother and daughter are interested in the same man. It is a more musical (and color) version of It’s A Date. In Nancy, Jane plays the daughter of Ann Sothern a Broadway singing star. Ann goes to Rio to rest and get ready for her next musical. Jane is also a singer and gets a chance for a role. She rehearses the role on the boat to Rio to be with her mother. Barry Sullivan hears her rehearsing and thinks that she is in “trouble” and acts as a protector. He asks Carmen Miranda to talk with her woman to woman to guide her along. Jane develops a crush on Barry. When they get to Rio, Ann and her grandfather also hear her rehearsing. When Barry comes courting they think that he is the father. Barry admits to only meeting her recently on the boat. When Ann goes to confront Barry he is amazed about who she is and falls for her. When Jane sings Embraceable You to him he is embarrassed, but does not want to hurt her. Jane finds out the part offered to her is the same part that Ann is rehearsing. Jane doesn’t want to take the role, but will become engaged to Barry instead so they can go away. Ann realizes that she is too old for the role and makes sure that Jane gets the part.
It’s A Date has Kay Francis as the mother, Deanna Durbin as the daughter and Walter Pidgeon as the man. You can’t compare the films acting wise. All the actors are incredibly talented and play the role in their own way. Both are good films. In Nancy Goes to Rio Carmen Miranda sings several songs in Technicolor clothing and hats that make the movie just fun. Ann Sothern sings in a deeper tone than I have heard her sung before, but it sounds like her so I don’t think it is dubbed. It is also a more serious role for her. Kay Francis only had one song in It’s A Date, but it was not her voice. Nancy in Rio is not a shot for shot or same exact dialog as It’s A Date but there are a few similarities, namely the opening and ending of the film. At the beginning the daughter is in the audience or wings mouthing and singing along to her mother on stage. At the end of the films the role is reversed and the mother is in the audience and mouths the words of the song her daughter is singing on stage. I like that part. It is pride, encouragement and maybe a hint of jealousy but full of love.
For Debbie Reynolds I watched Mary, Mary. I have to admit the Monkee’s song keeps going through my head. This is a sophisticated adult comedy with great dialog. It made me realize that I miss sexual tension in a film. It enhances the story. If there is a sex scene or the couple has sex at the beginning of the film something seems to be missing in the film. The story is based on Jean Kerr play and is very play bound in the film. That is not necessary a bad thing, but it is obvious. Barry Nelson plays a publishers who is Debbie’s ex-husband who is being audited by the IRS and his accountant decides that Debbie is needed to help explain some missing details. Barry who playing the role on Broadway overdoes the action. Some of his actions are exaggerated. Michael Reninie plays an actor who wants to revitalize his career by having his memoirs published. Michael also played the role on Broadway. He doesn’t seem to overdo the action as Barry does. Or if he does it fits more with the character. Debbie comes to the apartment when Michael is there. Since there divorce about 9 months prior she has undergone a glamorous beauty treatment and bought new cloths that enhanced her figure. Michael and Debbie agree to have dinner. Barry who is getting married the next day goes to his fiancée’s parents house. On the way there, a terrible snow storm develops and they have to head back to the city. When he gets to his apartment, Debbie and Michael are kissing on his couch. Michael leaves and Debbie and Barry argue.
The next morning Debbie is woken up by the fiancée and practically searches the entire apartment looking for a cigarette. Barry comes in and states that he has been walking around all night in the snow with no coat. The fiancée thinks they slept together and is ok with that fact. Barry becomes quite upset that she would think that. The fiancée realizing that Barry is still in love with Debbie decides to break the engagement. Barry takes some vitamins to give him energy actually takes 3 sleeping pills by mistake. So for the rest of the film Barry struggles to stay awake or when he does fall asleep is rudely wakened. Barry tells Debbie that he likes being married and they get along well since they know each others faults and they should get remarried. Debbie did not like the comfortable speech. Michael wants Debbie to go away with him his publicity event in New Orleans. Debbie starts to go with him but Barry locks her in the closet and throws the key out the window, almost falling out himself. Michael goes alone. The fiancée leaves. Debbie opens the closet door. She still had the keys. They finally accept that they love each other. Barry finally falls into a deep sleep.
After seeing Debbie in films like Tammy and The Batchelor and Singing in the Rain it is very refreshing to see her in a fully adult intelligent modern role. Maybe mature is the word I am looking for. She played strong, shy, bewildered, angry and lively independent woman.
TCM had an all day and night birthday celebration for two stars. The day was Jane Powell and the night was Debbie Reynolds.
For Jane Powell I watched Nancy Goes To Rio. The basic story is a mother and daughter are interested in the same man. It is a more musical (and color) version of It’s A Date. In Nancy, Jane plays the daughter of Ann Sothern a Broadway singing star. Ann goes to Rio to rest and get ready for her next musical. Jane is also a singer and gets a chance for a role. She rehearses the role on the boat to Rio to be with her mother. Barry Sullivan hears her rehearsing and thinks that she is in “trouble” and acts as a protector. He asks Carmen Miranda to talk with her woman to woman to guide her along. Jane develops a crush on Barry. When they get to Rio, Ann and her grandfather also hear her rehearsing. When Barry comes courting they think that he is the father. Barry admits to only meeting her recently on the boat. When Ann goes to confront Barry he is amazed about who she is and falls for her. When Jane sings Embraceable You to him he is embarrassed, but does not want to hurt her. Jane finds out the part offered to her is the same part that Ann is rehearsing. Jane doesn’t want to take the role, but will become engaged to Barry instead so they can go away. Ann realizes that she is too old for the role and makes sure that Jane gets the part.
It’s A Date has Kay Francis as the mother, Deanna Durbin as the daughter and Walter Pidgeon as the man. You can’t compare the films acting wise. All the actors are incredibly talented and play the role in their own way. Both are good films. In Nancy Goes to Rio Carmen Miranda sings several songs in Technicolor clothing and hats that make the movie just fun. Ann Sothern sings in a deeper tone than I have heard her sung before, but it sounds like her so I don’t think it is dubbed. It is also a more serious role for her. Kay Francis only had one song in It’s A Date, but it was not her voice. Nancy in Rio is not a shot for shot or same exact dialog as It’s A Date but there are a few similarities, namely the opening and ending of the film. At the beginning the daughter is in the audience or wings mouthing and singing along to her mother on stage. At the end of the films the role is reversed and the mother is in the audience and mouths the words of the song her daughter is singing on stage. I like that part. It is pride, encouragement and maybe a hint of jealousy but full of love.
For Debbie Reynolds I watched Mary, Mary. I have to admit the Monkee’s song keeps going through my head. This is a sophisticated adult comedy with great dialog. It made me realize that I miss sexual tension in a film. It enhances the story. If there is a sex scene or the couple has sex at the beginning of the film something seems to be missing in the film. The story is based on Jean Kerr play and is very play bound in the film. That is not necessary a bad thing, but it is obvious. Barry Nelson plays a publishers who is Debbie’s ex-husband who is being audited by the IRS and his accountant decides that Debbie is needed to help explain some missing details. Barry who playing the role on Broadway overdoes the action. Some of his actions are exaggerated. Michael Reninie plays an actor who wants to revitalize his career by having his memoirs published. Michael also played the role on Broadway. He doesn’t seem to overdo the action as Barry does. Or if he does it fits more with the character. Debbie comes to the apartment when Michael is there. Since there divorce about 9 months prior she has undergone a glamorous beauty treatment and bought new cloths that enhanced her figure. Michael and Debbie agree to have dinner. Barry who is getting married the next day goes to his fiancée’s parents house. On the way there, a terrible snow storm develops and they have to head back to the city. When he gets to his apartment, Debbie and Michael are kissing on his couch. Michael leaves and Debbie and Barry argue.
The next morning Debbie is woken up by the fiancée and practically searches the entire apartment looking for a cigarette. Barry comes in and states that he has been walking around all night in the snow with no coat. The fiancée thinks they slept together and is ok with that fact. Barry becomes quite upset that she would think that. The fiancée realizing that Barry is still in love with Debbie decides to break the engagement. Barry takes some vitamins to give him energy actually takes 3 sleeping pills by mistake. So for the rest of the film Barry struggles to stay awake or when he does fall asleep is rudely wakened. Barry tells Debbie that he likes being married and they get along well since they know each others faults and they should get remarried. Debbie did not like the comfortable speech. Michael wants Debbie to go away with him his publicity event in New Orleans. Debbie starts to go with him but Barry locks her in the closet and throws the key out the window, almost falling out himself. Michael goes alone. The fiancée leaves. Debbie opens the closet door. She still had the keys. They finally accept that they love each other. Barry finally falls into a deep sleep.
After seeing Debbie in films like Tammy and The Batchelor and Singing in the Rain it is very refreshing to see her in a fully adult intelligent modern role. Maybe mature is the word I am looking for. She played strong, shy, bewildered, angry and lively independent woman.
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