Ernest Borgnine
TCM showed Mr. Borgnine films on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th as a tribute to his SAG Life Achievement. I decided to watch Marty. I tried to watch The Dirty Dozen and The Wild Bunch but the violence got a little too intense for me. Yes, I know it is a movie, but violence in films disturb me.
In Marty Mr. Borgnine plays a middle aged, single, lonely butcher. Every day is the same. The women cuts of beef and his family hound him to get married, since all of his younger siblings are settled. He is a kind, decent man who lives with his mother. He meets someone he is interested in and spends a long evening with her. He promises that he will call her the next day. His friends convince him that she is not pretty enough for him. He doesn't call and goes out with his friends instead. That evening he realizes he is an idiot and calls her. There a lovely shot of her at her home with her parents when she gets the call at the end of the film. I can identify with both main characters. Your friends, your family and acquaintances meddling in your affairs to push you in a direction that you don't want to go. I have spent many a night at home waiting for the phone to ring, pretending it doesn't hurt, when it really does.
Monday, January 31, 2011
January 30
Happy Birthday to Dorothy Malone and Gene Hackman.
Since I put Gene Hackman on the calendar I decided to watch the French Connection. I have wanted to see the film for several years, but I just never got around to it.
Probably the most known scene is the where Gene Hackman is in the car underneath the subway, chasing a train. This was beautifully shot and edited. When the camera is in the car, POV of Gene, it is somewhat nauseating. The fast side to side motion, the accidents, it is like you are in the car. I cannot imagine what it would have been like to see on the big screen. When the camera switches to show Gene through the windshield you can see the frustration and his swearing. When the camera is in the train, everything seems normal (other then the guy with the gun).
The movie has great views of New York City, the good points and the bad points of the city. My favorite scene in the film is Gene in a bar sleeping, a window behind is bright with the morning sun, he wakes up abruptly and for a few seconds you see the confusion on his face. He then reaches for the drink in front of him, drinks the shot and then leaves the bar. This is a very minor scene, it is only a few seconds long, but there is something about the moment.
In a news magazine several months ago that Gene Hackman had retired. He didn't make an announcement, but he decided that since he did not want to play certain roles, the things that he was offered. I hope that is not true. He is a very talented actor and can do it all.
Since I put Gene Hackman on the calendar I decided to watch the French Connection. I have wanted to see the film for several years, but I just never got around to it.
Probably the most known scene is the where Gene Hackman is in the car underneath the subway, chasing a train. This was beautifully shot and edited. When the camera is in the car, POV of Gene, it is somewhat nauseating. The fast side to side motion, the accidents, it is like you are in the car. I cannot imagine what it would have been like to see on the big screen. When the camera switches to show Gene through the windshield you can see the frustration and his swearing. When the camera is in the train, everything seems normal (other then the guy with the gun).
The movie has great views of New York City, the good points and the bad points of the city. My favorite scene in the film is Gene in a bar sleeping, a window behind is bright with the morning sun, he wakes up abruptly and for a few seconds you see the confusion on his face. He then reaches for the drink in front of him, drinks the shot and then leaves the bar. This is a very minor scene, it is only a few seconds long, but there is something about the moment.
In a news magazine several months ago that Gene Hackman had retired. He didn't make an announcement, but he decided that since he did not want to play certain roles, the things that he was offered. I hope that is not true. He is a very talented actor and can do it all.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
January 29
W.C. Fields
Today was a toughest day yet. W.C. Fields birthday. I had to watch The Dentist, The Golf Specialist, The Fatal Glass of Beer, International House and Man on the Flying Trapeze. Everyone knows someone like the W.C. Field character. The curmudgeon, the old man who doesn't like kids, the hen-pecked husband, drinks too much and has little respect for anyone. He could be your father, your brother, your grandfather or your cousin. To be fair, it doesn't have to be a man, it can be a woman. If you don't know anyone like that, it may be you.
W.C. Fields sometimes comes off as a large, obnoxious character. But I like him. You know exactly where he stands and what he believes in. So instead of trying to describe his work, I going to do something different and let his words be the blog. The listing below has been attributed as statements that Mr. Fields has said.
Some weasel took the cork out of my lunch...
I certainly do not drink all the time. I have to sleep you know.
Twas a woman who drove me to drink. I never had the courtesy to thank her.
Women are like elephants to me: nice to look at, but I wouldn't want to own one.
I am free of all prejudices. I hate everyone equally.
If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then quit. There's no use being a damn fool about it.
...more people are driven insane through religious hysteria than by drinking alcohol.
Now don't say you can't swear off drinking; it's easy. I've done it a thousand times.
I exercise extreme self control. I never drink anything stronger than gin before breakfast.
Comedy is a serious business. A serious business with only one purpose--to make people laugh.
Christmas at my house is always at least six or seven times more pleasant than anywhere else. We start drinking early. And while everyone else is seeing only one Santa Claus, we'll be seeing six or seven.
How well I remember my first encounter with The Devil's Brew. I happened to stumble across a case of bourbon--and went right on stumbling for several days thereafter.
I like to keep a bottle of stimulant handy in case I see a snake, which I also keep handy.
I don't believe in dining on an empty stomach.
I once spent a year in Philadelphia, I think it was on a Sunday.
I was married once--in San Francisco. I haven't seen her for many years. The great earthquake and fire in 1906 destroyed the marriage certificate. There's no legal proof. Which proves that earthquakes aren't all bad.
Say anything that you like about me except that I drink water.
Anyone who hates children and animals can't be all bad.
Children should neither be seen or heard from - ever again.
Don't worry about your heart, it will last you as long as you live.
I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.
I drink therefore I am.
I must have a drink of breakfast.
I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish do in it.
I never drink water; that is the stuff that rusts pipes.
I never met a kid I liked.
If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull.
It ain't what they call you, it's what you answer to.
Never cry over spilt milk, because it may have been poisoned.
Never give a sucker an even break.
Start every day off with a smile and get it over with.
Today was a toughest day yet. W.C. Fields birthday. I had to watch The Dentist, The Golf Specialist, The Fatal Glass of Beer, International House and Man on the Flying Trapeze. Everyone knows someone like the W.C. Field character. The curmudgeon, the old man who doesn't like kids, the hen-pecked husband, drinks too much and has little respect for anyone. He could be your father, your brother, your grandfather or your cousin. To be fair, it doesn't have to be a man, it can be a woman. If you don't know anyone like that, it may be you.
W.C. Fields sometimes comes off as a large, obnoxious character. But I like him. You know exactly where he stands and what he believes in. So instead of trying to describe his work, I going to do something different and let his words be the blog. The listing below has been attributed as statements that Mr. Fields has said.
Some weasel took the cork out of my lunch...
I certainly do not drink all the time. I have to sleep you know.
Twas a woman who drove me to drink. I never had the courtesy to thank her.
Women are like elephants to me: nice to look at, but I wouldn't want to own one.
I am free of all prejudices. I hate everyone equally.
If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then quit. There's no use being a damn fool about it.
...more people are driven insane through religious hysteria than by drinking alcohol.
Now don't say you can't swear off drinking; it's easy. I've done it a thousand times.
I exercise extreme self control. I never drink anything stronger than gin before breakfast.
Comedy is a serious business. A serious business with only one purpose--to make people laugh.
Christmas at my house is always at least six or seven times more pleasant than anywhere else. We start drinking early. And while everyone else is seeing only one Santa Claus, we'll be seeing six or seven.
How well I remember my first encounter with The Devil's Brew. I happened to stumble across a case of bourbon--and went right on stumbling for several days thereafter.
I like to keep a bottle of stimulant handy in case I see a snake, which I also keep handy.
I don't believe in dining on an empty stomach.
I once spent a year in Philadelphia, I think it was on a Sunday.
I was married once--in San Francisco. I haven't seen her for many years. The great earthquake and fire in 1906 destroyed the marriage certificate. There's no legal proof. Which proves that earthquakes aren't all bad.
Say anything that you like about me except that I drink water.
Anyone who hates children and animals can't be all bad.
Children should neither be seen or heard from - ever again.
Don't worry about your heart, it will last you as long as you live.
I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.
I drink therefore I am.
I must have a drink of breakfast.
I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish do in it.
I never drink water; that is the stuff that rusts pipes.
I never met a kid I liked.
If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull.
It ain't what they call you, it's what you answer to.
Never cry over spilt milk, because it may have been poisoned.
Never give a sucker an even break.
Start every day off with a smile and get it over with.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
January 28
Ernst Lubitsch
I have seen all the Lubitsch films that TCM showed for his birthday. Last month Shop Around the Corner was shown 3-4 times. I have always like the line by Jimmy Stewart “Dearest sweetheart Clara, I can't stand it any longer, please take you key and open post office box 237 and take me out of my envelope and kiss me.” That is very suggestive.
Since I am still not feeling well and barely made it through work but I got to watch Trouble in Paradise starring Kay Francis, Herbert Marshall and Miriam Hopkins. I truly enjoy this film. There are great supporting actors Charles Ruggles, Edward Everett Horton and C. Aubrey Smith.
My favorite scene even though it does not feature Kay is when Herbert and Miriam are having their first meal together. They are sitting at the table eating and Miriam calls Herbert “a crook” and accuses him of robbing a wallet from a man in another room. Herbert states “You are a thief. The wallet is in your procession. I knew it very well when you took it out of my pocket. In fact you tickled me. Your embrace was so sweet.” He gets up, locks the door and closes the window curtains. He then shakes her until the wallet falls. He takes her pin and she takes his watch. “I hope you don't mind if I keep your garter?” She reaches down her leg and he pulls the garter out of his pocket. He kisses it and puts it back in his pocket. Miriam yells “Darling” and rushes to embrace him. He is a world known major thief.
Kay inherited a perfume company from her husband and is very wealthy, but has no head for business. She purchased a purse for 125,000 francs. At the Opera she has the bag on the balcony. Herbert with his binoculars looks at the bag looks at her, looks at the bag. She goes to the restroom where she looses the purse. (To reflect the time of the opera it starts out I Love You, I Love You. The pages of the score flip and the star sings I Hate You, I Hate You.) Kay puts an ad in the paper to get the purse returned with a reward of 20,000 francs. Miriam and Herbert decide to return the purse for the reward. While Kay turns to tell the butler to dismiss the rest of the people waiting Herbert looks at the other statues and items in the room. He gets himself in the household has assistant. He then hires a secretary, Miriam. Miriam is interested in the jewels, but Herbert states in this economy it is a cash business.
Kay is personally interested in Herbert but he is only interested in the contents of her safe (unbeknownst to Kay). Kay has a party and one of her suitors, Edward Everett Horton, seems to recognizes Herbert as the man who robbed him, but Herbert talks him out of that idea. They decide to leave. They are going to take the midnight train. Herbert calls Miriam and states they leave in the morning. C. Aubrey Smith as the company leader finds out who Herbert is, but Smith is the one who has taken money from the company. While Kay is at a party, Herbert is gets ready for her return, lowering the lights in her room, closing the curtains when he sees Miriam in another room. She is taking the money from the safe. She takes the money and leaves. Kay goes to open the safe and Herbert talks her out of it telling her about Smith and that he came to take her money but he was in love with her. As he was at the window he sees Miriam in the window of Kay's room. Miriam admits to taking the money, she throws the money on the bed, but then takes the money back. Herbert takes the pearls and leaves Kay to go with Miriam. In the last scene he is looking for pearls. Miriam pulls out Kay's 125,000 handbag and has the pears. She looks for the money and Herbert pulls the money from his pocket.
To me there are 4 qualities that make an excellent film: talented cast, good story and/or witty dialog, great photography and wonderful score. This film has it all. Every actor in the film is great. Miriam Hopkins plays a more lively character than I have seen before. The story which was based on a play that Lubitsch and the screenwriter Raphaelson threw out right away (because they did not read the play). Herbert Marshall can talk his way out of any situation. The photography shows all the actors to their best advantage and some great styled shots by Victor Milner. The score is a romantic sting orchestra that enhances the story. When the characters think about Vienna the O Solo Mia plays with a soft violin. A bonus in this film is Kay Francis looks delightful in her wardrobe and jewels.
Since it is Lubitsch birthday I should say more on him. The Lubitsch touch is the light sexual comedy styling he has on this film. It is a sophisticated comedy that does not have to resort to slapstick, but you still laugh out loud. You wonder what is going on behind closed doors. This is not the first Lubitsch film I saw, but it is the first film that I understood what the Lubitsch touch was.
I have seen all the Lubitsch films that TCM showed for his birthday. Last month Shop Around the Corner was shown 3-4 times. I have always like the line by Jimmy Stewart “Dearest sweetheart Clara, I can't stand it any longer, please take you key and open post office box 237 and take me out of my envelope and kiss me.” That is very suggestive.
Since I am still not feeling well and barely made it through work but I got to watch Trouble in Paradise starring Kay Francis, Herbert Marshall and Miriam Hopkins. I truly enjoy this film. There are great supporting actors Charles Ruggles, Edward Everett Horton and C. Aubrey Smith.
My favorite scene even though it does not feature Kay is when Herbert and Miriam are having their first meal together. They are sitting at the table eating and Miriam calls Herbert “a crook” and accuses him of robbing a wallet from a man in another room. Herbert states “You are a thief. The wallet is in your procession. I knew it very well when you took it out of my pocket. In fact you tickled me. Your embrace was so sweet.” He gets up, locks the door and closes the window curtains. He then shakes her until the wallet falls. He takes her pin and she takes his watch. “I hope you don't mind if I keep your garter?” She reaches down her leg and he pulls the garter out of his pocket. He kisses it and puts it back in his pocket. Miriam yells “Darling” and rushes to embrace him. He is a world known major thief.
Kay inherited a perfume company from her husband and is very wealthy, but has no head for business. She purchased a purse for 125,000 francs. At the Opera she has the bag on the balcony. Herbert with his binoculars looks at the bag looks at her, looks at the bag. She goes to the restroom where she looses the purse. (To reflect the time of the opera it starts out I Love You, I Love You. The pages of the score flip and the star sings I Hate You, I Hate You.) Kay puts an ad in the paper to get the purse returned with a reward of 20,000 francs. Miriam and Herbert decide to return the purse for the reward. While Kay turns to tell the butler to dismiss the rest of the people waiting Herbert looks at the other statues and items in the room. He gets himself in the household has assistant. He then hires a secretary, Miriam. Miriam is interested in the jewels, but Herbert states in this economy it is a cash business.
Kay is personally interested in Herbert but he is only interested in the contents of her safe (unbeknownst to Kay). Kay has a party and one of her suitors, Edward Everett Horton, seems to recognizes Herbert as the man who robbed him, but Herbert talks him out of that idea. They decide to leave. They are going to take the midnight train. Herbert calls Miriam and states they leave in the morning. C. Aubrey Smith as the company leader finds out who Herbert is, but Smith is the one who has taken money from the company. While Kay is at a party, Herbert is gets ready for her return, lowering the lights in her room, closing the curtains when he sees Miriam in another room. She is taking the money from the safe. She takes the money and leaves. Kay goes to open the safe and Herbert talks her out of it telling her about Smith and that he came to take her money but he was in love with her. As he was at the window he sees Miriam in the window of Kay's room. Miriam admits to taking the money, she throws the money on the bed, but then takes the money back. Herbert takes the pearls and leaves Kay to go with Miriam. In the last scene he is looking for pearls. Miriam pulls out Kay's 125,000 handbag and has the pears. She looks for the money and Herbert pulls the money from his pocket.
To me there are 4 qualities that make an excellent film: talented cast, good story and/or witty dialog, great photography and wonderful score. This film has it all. Every actor in the film is great. Miriam Hopkins plays a more lively character than I have seen before. The story which was based on a play that Lubitsch and the screenwriter Raphaelson threw out right away (because they did not read the play). Herbert Marshall can talk his way out of any situation. The photography shows all the actors to their best advantage and some great styled shots by Victor Milner. The score is a romantic sting orchestra that enhances the story. When the characters think about Vienna the O Solo Mia plays with a soft violin. A bonus in this film is Kay Francis looks delightful in her wardrobe and jewels.
Since it is Lubitsch birthday I should say more on him. The Lubitsch touch is the light sexual comedy styling he has on this film. It is a sophisticated comedy that does not have to resort to slapstick, but you still laugh out loud. You wonder what is going on behind closed doors. This is not the first Lubitsch film I saw, but it is the first film that I understood what the Lubitsch touch was.
Friday, January 28, 2011
January 27
Donna Reed
Ms. Reed was probably most know for her role in It's A Wonderful Life. She is good in that film. She plays a young woman to a middle aged married woman, with a spinster thrown in for a good measure. She got a lot of grief for her role on Dallas as Miss Ellie. I always that that she did not deserve that. Who did not love The Donna Reed Show?
I watched They Were Expendable. She had a small role, but was integral to the story. She played a nurse in the pacific islands in the early days of WWII. John Wayne played a soldier who is wounded and goes to the hospital where she is stationed. She is tough and feminine and can force John Wayne to do her bidding. I have never seen a woman better lighted in more ways in a film before. When a group of wounded soldiers come in and the are under attack while performing surgery the light shines on her face and you see the determination and concentration with an underling layer of fear. There is a flickering of light so it is black then you see her face. This happens several times until the lights don't come back on. Several days later there is a dance and when Donna first sees John the light on her face is horizontal lines, like thin blinds. It is a very striking affect. You see her eyes light up and she goes to him. They then dance and go to a side area and sit and talk, where they are silhouetted and then they are sitting on a hammock where they are looking in the same direction and the light is on the profile of their faces. The last time she is seen on film ¾ of her face is shown in light while most of the scenery is dark.
There is plenty of action in the film. It is almost like watching a newsreel of the real action. Robert Montgomery plays a PT commander and the story is really told by the PT boats. They are really the center of the story. The story starts out a few days or a day before the Pearl Harbor attacks. At that time they have 6-8 boats. The base commander does not think the boats are worthy of anything except running messages and transportation carrier. When their base is attacked Robert takes the PT boats out and get several Japanese planes. One of the boats takes the wounded soldiers to the hospital. On the next mission 2 boats go out but only one comes back. Same on the next mission. In Bataan 4 boats leave to escort The General and staff to a safer place. 1 boat is lost and they never find it. When they are at a break after the mission a boat gets damaged by a coral (Wayne jumps in the water and swims to the boat to check the damage) and they take it to get repaired. 2 boots go out on a mission and they get separated afterwords. Wayne's boat is damaged but they manage to get to shore where a Japanese plane destroys the boat. When the smoke clears and Wayne sees the destruction of his boat, he takes off his hat and he falls to sand as if his knees could not hold him up anymore. Wayne goes back to where the 1 one boat was being repaired, but the boat is gone, but it is never explained how. Wayne meets up with Montgomery and the last boat is being taken by the army. The boat is on a flat bed truck and is driven away. Like launching a boat in the sea the boat slowly drives out of sight on land with Anchors Away playing softly on the soundtrack.
Ms. Reed was probably most know for her role in It's A Wonderful Life. She is good in that film. She plays a young woman to a middle aged married woman, with a spinster thrown in for a good measure. She got a lot of grief for her role on Dallas as Miss Ellie. I always that that she did not deserve that. Who did not love The Donna Reed Show?
I watched They Were Expendable. She had a small role, but was integral to the story. She played a nurse in the pacific islands in the early days of WWII. John Wayne played a soldier who is wounded and goes to the hospital where she is stationed. She is tough and feminine and can force John Wayne to do her bidding. I have never seen a woman better lighted in more ways in a film before. When a group of wounded soldiers come in and the are under attack while performing surgery the light shines on her face and you see the determination and concentration with an underling layer of fear. There is a flickering of light so it is black then you see her face. This happens several times until the lights don't come back on. Several days later there is a dance and when Donna first sees John the light on her face is horizontal lines, like thin blinds. It is a very striking affect. You see her eyes light up and she goes to him. They then dance and go to a side area and sit and talk, where they are silhouetted and then they are sitting on a hammock where they are looking in the same direction and the light is on the profile of their faces. The last time she is seen on film ¾ of her face is shown in light while most of the scenery is dark.
There is plenty of action in the film. It is almost like watching a newsreel of the real action. Robert Montgomery plays a PT commander and the story is really told by the PT boats. They are really the center of the story. The story starts out a few days or a day before the Pearl Harbor attacks. At that time they have 6-8 boats. The base commander does not think the boats are worthy of anything except running messages and transportation carrier. When their base is attacked Robert takes the PT boats out and get several Japanese planes. One of the boats takes the wounded soldiers to the hospital. On the next mission 2 boats go out but only one comes back. Same on the next mission. In Bataan 4 boats leave to escort The General and staff to a safer place. 1 boat is lost and they never find it. When they are at a break after the mission a boat gets damaged by a coral (Wayne jumps in the water and swims to the boat to check the damage) and they take it to get repaired. 2 boots go out on a mission and they get separated afterwords. Wayne's boat is damaged but they manage to get to shore where a Japanese plane destroys the boat. When the smoke clears and Wayne sees the destruction of his boat, he takes off his hat and he falls to sand as if his knees could not hold him up anymore. Wayne goes back to where the 1 one boat was being repaired, but the boat is gone, but it is never explained how. Wayne meets up with Montgomery and the last boat is being taken by the army. The boat is on a flat bed truck and is driven away. Like launching a boat in the sea the boat slowly drives out of sight on land with Anchors Away playing softly on the soundtrack.
January 26
Paul Newman
I have seen very few Paul Newman films. I know he is a great actor by reputation, liked racing, has beautiful blue eyes and has great charity food line. I actually do have a DVD with Paul Newman 2 to be exact, Cars and A Silent Movie.
For Mr. Newman's birthday I decided to watch The Sting. I remember when the film came out but was too young to watch the film in the theater. My mother had the album of the soundtrack. I always like The Entertainer and Scott Joplin's music. I think in the 1980's I tried to watch the film, but could not get past the strippers and language. I am older now and can handle things and accept things better.
Robert Redford plays a two-bit con with another man and end up taking money from a hoodlum. The hoodlum, Robert Shaw (with a great Irish accent) of course wants his money and the man killed. Robert's partner was killed and he make a run for it and meets up with someone that his partner trusted, Paul Newman. Robert wants revenge, he is not a killer but wants it to hurt, money and humiliation. Paul Newman starts out as a has been big league con and a drunk, working at a carousel ride. The carousal might actually be a front for a bordello, but I cannot quite tell. A lot of people don't like the hoodlum and did like the man that was killed. So the two of them decide to get to get a group together and get get their revenge. In one scene Paul takes Robert to the barber shop and there is a female manicurist. There is music over the action and Paul's look of amused disgust as Robert tries to charm her is great. There is con after con after con. Paul and Robert go to extreme lengths and expense to get the man with the perfect con with the hoodlums money to make things happen. When Paul beats Robert Stack by out cheating the cheater at cards he has a sweet smile of success on his face. The people you think are the good guys are bad guys and the ones you think are the bad guys are the good guys. I like that in a story. You never know what is going to happen. Paul Newman plays the character in serious playfulness or playful seriousness. What I mean by this is Paul takes what he does seriously but has a good time. No matter what happens he is going to enjoy the ride. Robert “why are you doing it?” Paul with a smile and a light in his eyes “it seems worthwhile doesn't it?”
My favorite scenes in the film involve Eileen Brennan. When she walks around the carousel warehouse, when she talks with the Charles Durning and when she is with the girls. There is one scene where she states that “things are a little slow tonight and I want to open the round for the girls”. The scene then goes to a running carousel with women in evening gowns in the inside row of the carousel. It is only a few seconds of film, but it makes me happy.
I was very tired and went to bed after one film. I woke up the next morning and ached literally from head to toe (even my fingers hurt). I called in sick and went right back to bed. Often times when I am sick, I lay on the couch and watch TCM and take naps. I felt so bad I went right back to bed. I woke up a few hours later feeling better but still achy. I was going to watch Sweet Bird of Youth, but the DVD was in such bad shape it didn't work. TCM will eventually show the film so I will have wait. I still have the Joplin songs playing in my head.
I have seen very few Paul Newman films. I know he is a great actor by reputation, liked racing, has beautiful blue eyes and has great charity food line. I actually do have a DVD with Paul Newman 2 to be exact, Cars and A Silent Movie.
For Mr. Newman's birthday I decided to watch The Sting. I remember when the film came out but was too young to watch the film in the theater. My mother had the album of the soundtrack. I always like The Entertainer and Scott Joplin's music. I think in the 1980's I tried to watch the film, but could not get past the strippers and language. I am older now and can handle things and accept things better.
Robert Redford plays a two-bit con with another man and end up taking money from a hoodlum. The hoodlum, Robert Shaw (with a great Irish accent) of course wants his money and the man killed. Robert's partner was killed and he make a run for it and meets up with someone that his partner trusted, Paul Newman. Robert wants revenge, he is not a killer but wants it to hurt, money and humiliation. Paul Newman starts out as a has been big league con and a drunk, working at a carousel ride. The carousal might actually be a front for a bordello, but I cannot quite tell. A lot of people don't like the hoodlum and did like the man that was killed. So the two of them decide to get to get a group together and get get their revenge. In one scene Paul takes Robert to the barber shop and there is a female manicurist. There is music over the action and Paul's look of amused disgust as Robert tries to charm her is great. There is con after con after con. Paul and Robert go to extreme lengths and expense to get the man with the perfect con with the hoodlums money to make things happen. When Paul beats Robert Stack by out cheating the cheater at cards he has a sweet smile of success on his face. The people you think are the good guys are bad guys and the ones you think are the bad guys are the good guys. I like that in a story. You never know what is going to happen. Paul Newman plays the character in serious playfulness or playful seriousness. What I mean by this is Paul takes what he does seriously but has a good time. No matter what happens he is going to enjoy the ride. Robert “why are you doing it?” Paul with a smile and a light in his eyes “it seems worthwhile doesn't it?”
My favorite scenes in the film involve Eileen Brennan. When she walks around the carousel warehouse, when she talks with the Charles Durning and when she is with the girls. There is one scene where she states that “things are a little slow tonight and I want to open the round for the girls”. The scene then goes to a running carousel with women in evening gowns in the inside row of the carousel. It is only a few seconds of film, but it makes me happy.
I was very tired and went to bed after one film. I woke up the next morning and ached literally from head to toe (even my fingers hurt). I called in sick and went right back to bed. Often times when I am sick, I lay on the couch and watch TCM and take naps. I felt so bad I went right back to bed. I woke up a few hours later feeling better but still achy. I was going to watch Sweet Bird of Youth, but the DVD was in such bad shape it didn't work. TCM will eventually show the film so I will have wait. I still have the Joplin songs playing in my head.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
January 25
Dean Jones
I always liked Dean Jones. He appeared in numerous Disney films like The Love Bug series, Million Dollar Duck and my favorite The Ugly Dachshund. This is the one I watched. It also stared Suzanne Pleshette and Charles Ruggles. Suzanne is obsessed with her dachshund (they are like her children) and it has puppies. At the vet's there is a Great Dane that came from a too large litter and could not get enough milk so the dachshund wet nursed the puppy. The dachshund puppies cause all kinds of trouble. They eat birthday cake on the table, they wrap yarn all over the room and do damage in Dean's studio. The Great Dane tries to get the dachshunds to stop and ends up getting the blame for the problems and he does cause some damage just because he is so big. The scenes where the dogs destroy the studio and a party are great. The Great Dane is tied up in a shed and Dean gives him a bone. One of the Dachshunds takes the bone and the Great Dane follows the other dog to get his bone back. The chase destroys most of the party. Dean tries to find his place with all the females in the house. He plays the frustrated husband very well.
I wanted to watch another film besides the Disney ones, but there is little selection available. He is listed as being in Jailhouse Rock. When I saw the film for the first time last year I was so impressed with Elvis' performance that I didn't pay attention to the rest of the cast. I thought I had that on my DVR, but I could not find it. It was checked out at the library it was checked out and there only Disney films available. I found a DVD documentary on the cast recording of Company. He sang Being Alive. He has a great voice, but on the documentary he stated he doesn't think he can sing. I did not realize how great a cast it was in 1970.
I always liked Dean Jones. He appeared in numerous Disney films like The Love Bug series, Million Dollar Duck and my favorite The Ugly Dachshund. This is the one I watched. It also stared Suzanne Pleshette and Charles Ruggles. Suzanne is obsessed with her dachshund (they are like her children) and it has puppies. At the vet's there is a Great Dane that came from a too large litter and could not get enough milk so the dachshund wet nursed the puppy. The dachshund puppies cause all kinds of trouble. They eat birthday cake on the table, they wrap yarn all over the room and do damage in Dean's studio. The Great Dane tries to get the dachshunds to stop and ends up getting the blame for the problems and he does cause some damage just because he is so big. The scenes where the dogs destroy the studio and a party are great. The Great Dane is tied up in a shed and Dean gives him a bone. One of the Dachshunds takes the bone and the Great Dane follows the other dog to get his bone back. The chase destroys most of the party. Dean tries to find his place with all the females in the house. He plays the frustrated husband very well.
I wanted to watch another film besides the Disney ones, but there is little selection available. He is listed as being in Jailhouse Rock. When I saw the film for the first time last year I was so impressed with Elvis' performance that I didn't pay attention to the rest of the cast. I thought I had that on my DVR, but I could not find it. It was checked out at the library it was checked out and there only Disney films available. I found a DVD documentary on the cast recording of Company. He sang Being Alive. He has a great voice, but on the documentary he stated he doesn't think he can sing. I did not realize how great a cast it was in 1970.
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