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Both favorites Linda Darnell & Jack Cassidy perished in senseless fires: They both saw some recognition, but should have enjoyed many more years of great performances. The tragedy is ours.

Dorothy Dell star of "Little Miss Marker" (1934) died too young in a car crash at 19.

In "Out of Africa " Meryl Streep is advised by Felicity (actress Suzanna Hamilton) that her hat won't do much to prevent sunstroke. Meryl responds "It's meant to be stunning. " Which it is. She does take Felicity's advice and later switches to more practical headgear.

Jennifer Jones looked sophisticated in these hats in MADAME BOVARY:

How about an embarrassing classic actor encounter? For many years I lived near a building in Manhattan called Manhattan Plaza, which occupies the entire block from 9th to 10th Aves and from West 42nd to West 43rd Streets. Manhattan Plaza is a government subsidized apartment building with priority for tenancy given to those in the arts. So, many residents were theatre and film people. I guess the most currently famous person from the building is Larry David (Seinfeld creator). I have been told that Gloria Grahame spent her last years there. On the 9th Avenue side of the building there was a great newsstand/store, which, given the concentration of performing arts people in the bldg, stocked every entertainment-related magazine, Variety, Filmfax, Films of the Golden Age, etc. One day in the 90s I'm in that store and I think I see Eli Wallach (beard, baseball cap). Me- "Mr Wallach, how are you, I am a big fan.. loved you in "The Good, The Bad, The Ugly" Him- "Jack Warden." Me- "Sorry Mr. Warden" Oooops.

The last two films I've seen are Inside Daisy Clover and Almost Famous, and it was fascinating how well Almost Famous solves the problem that Daisy can't quite manage: showing the film from the young protagonist's point of view. High marks to writer-director Cameron Crowe for getting this right. Patrick Fugit as the young William doesn't have a lot of charisma, nothing at all like the star quality of Natalie Wood, but he's the right age and he seems to behave naturally in front of the camera. Like most characters based on the author (many examples from film and literature, Sons and Lovers being the first that comes to mind), William is less interesting and colorful than the people he meets: rock stars, would-be rock stars, people who want to make money from rock stars, girls who want to sleep with rock stars (don't call them groupies: they are "Band-Aids" who inspire the songs, according to a groupie, er, Band-Aid). Billy Crudup is really outstanding as Russell Harmon, the lead guitarist of the band Stillwater (perfect period name) whom William hopes to interview, emulate, celebrate. We get a sense of why he could become a rock star and what aspects of his life might prevent this. I would have liked more character development of the other band members. For instance, in the big scene of the movie one of them makes a revelation about himself which would be more meaningful if we knew more about him. I would have preferred a bit less of Penny Lane, #1 Band-Aid (Kate Hudson), though Hudson's performance is fine. The writing, casting, and acting are on a generally high level. The unimpressive cinematography looks like many TV shows and movies today: dark brown interiors and steely blue exterior night scenes. Crowe gets the period (1973) right without underlining everything.

It will be your idea of tragedy, of course. An early death, a self destructive life style, a career that was blighted for reasons, perhaps, beyond their control, an actor/actress who was somehow a victim. Here's one who gets a nomination from me. John Gilbert The legendary silent matinee idol whose talkie career collapsed after a pair of poor early films (the word soon abounded that he had a "weak" voice, though viewing his talkie films proves that legend to be false). Gilbert became morose and a notorious alcoholic and was dead of a heart attack in 1936 at age 38. A decade earlier, when he enjoyed arguably his greatest film triumph in THE BIG PARADE and a couple of years later was heavily publicized as the lover of Greta Garbo, it would have been inconceivable that his star (and life) would be extinguished so soon. So what are your nominations for tragic film figures?

Child actor Bobby Driscoll who starred in some of Disney's best live-action movies of the 1940s and '50s, including Song of the South (1946), So Dear to My Heart (1949) and Treasure Island (1950). He was the animation model and voice for Peter Pan (1953). Awarded a Juvenile Oscar for The Window (1949). In the mid 1950s when his acting career began to decline, he became addicted to narcotics and was sentenced to prison for illicit drug use. After his release, he moved to New York to find work in television and became involved in the avant-garde art scene. In ill health because of substance abuse and broke, his body was discovered on March 30, 1968 in an abandoned building in Manhattan's East Village. He was 31 years old. Not realizing who he was, and with no one claiming his body, he was buried in Hart Island's Potter's Field in New York.

Anne Archer Jean Arthur Lauren Bacall Jeanne Crain Doris Day Marlene Dietrich Julie Harris Merle Oberon Lee Remick Lana Turner for actresses Brian Aherne Ralph Bellamy Kevin Costner Tony Curtis Robert Redford Franchot Tone Cornell Wilde Richard Widmark for actors

I made sure to visit her grave when visiting New Orleans-

John Garfield, dead of a heart attack at 39, the stress of his being on the Hollywood blacklist blamed by many as a major contribution to his death. A great acting talent extinguished so early in life.

Lil Dagover: Carole Lombard: Carole Lombard: Ann Southern: Anne Francis: Anna Sten - Nana (1934): Bebe Daniels and a cat not in a hat:

Stop forcing your opinions down our throats. Introduce the movie.Give State Facts. The Characters, Actors, Screenplays and Writers, Directors, Soundtracks, Remakes, Chemistry between actors, interactions between directors and actors, Famous Films that inspired Directors today and INFORMATIVE Facts are the reasons your channel was so unique and appealing. You can't tell me how to feel about films. This is ART. Just as some appreciate great paintings and classical music; your followers appreciate great works of the culmination of all those aforementioned. However, a Professor of Art, Dance or Music provides all variations of the art. Students learn from these Examples and develop their own opinions WITHOUT being instructed on how to FEEL. No one learns from a narrow minded teacher who selects which art is good or bad. As Individuals we form our own opinions. We prefer classical to jazz or rock. Visa versa. We may select Impressionist Art as opposed to Renaissance Art. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Let everyone form their own opinion. Do not make us feel GUILTY about History. We did not have anything to do with what happened and all we can do is appreciate the lessons learned from experience. We Have Morals. Don't lecture us. You are not there to judge You are there to ENTERTAIN. Otherwise the majority will STOP watching and you will end up like the NFL , NBA & MLB.

I'll shoot for May, sometime after Mother's Day, going through til late June.

The Great Race:

Lamas , Fernando

Totally agree. I think it's (more than) a bit condescending on the part of the hosts to feel they have to educate viewers through the opinions or beliefs they are sharing in the wraparounds. They are misusing their platform. And the only ones who will not take offense are the other liberals who think exactly like they do.

Two ladies with great comedic timing who were nominated for (so-so) mother-role drama performances: Joan Blondell (over 50 years of film credits) for The Blue Veil (1951) Una Merkel (over 40 years of film credits) for Summer and Smoke (1961) Lew Ayres (60 years of film credits) got one nom for Johnny Belinda

Happy Easter!

Irene Dunne always looked smart in a hat:

"Y'know, uh...I raise cattle." Robert McKimson's writers had a great sense for throwaway jokes on signs, and I have no idea why, but I used to crack up silly at the sign on the hamburger stand: "Hamburger Center - Raw! Raw! Raw!" 😂

Tyrone Power, dead of a heart attack at 44, just as his film career was enjoying a resurgence in popularity as well as critical acclaim as an actor.

The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) Next: Girl on a horse

I'd have to say Raul Julia. What a talent and I often think about how many incredible performances he would have given us had he not died of a stroke at 54.

Olson, Nancy

Anthony Perkins: Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Friendly Persuasion (1956) Alan Bates: Best Actor, The Fixer (1968) Laurence Harvey: Best Actor, Room at the Top (1960) Janet Leigh: Best Actress, Psycho (1960) Mary Tyler Moore : Best Actress, Ordinary People James Garner: Best Actor, Murphy's Romance David Niven: Best Actor (winner), Separate Tables Eve Arden: Best Supporting Actress, Mildred Pierce Hume Cronyn: Best Supporting Actor, The Seventh Cross Fred Astaire: Best Supporting Actor, The Towing Inferno

Is this the one you mean?

Or Dorothy's version, "Blanche: The Miniseries."

I tripped over a HAMMER HORROR that I did know existed [I think as I write this that I have seen 98% of HAMMER HORRORS]: THE TWO FACES OF DR JEKYLL (1960) aka JEKYLL'S INFERNO aka HOUSE OF FRIGHT aka THE MONSTER OF LONDON aka WHO IS HARRY KELLERMAN AND WHY IS HE SAYING THESE AWFUL THINGS ABOUT ME? (OK, I'm joshing you on the last one, but seriously, this thing went through a ****ton of title changes, apparently it was not successful.) It is a liberal retelling the JEKYLL/HYDE story directed by TERRENCE FISHER (who was their #1 director) and shot by JACK ASHER (although I did not think the visuals were as good as most HAMMER films.) FOR A FILM MADE IN 1960, THIS movie HAS AN ASTOUNDING AMOUNT OF FOUL LANGUAGE AND SEXUAL SITUATIONS. my phone was in the repair shop this morning, but as I watched it, I could not wait to look up this movie on imdb to see what year it came out (because of the names involved I knew it had to be ca. 1960, also OLIVER REED has a very small part, so I knew it was before CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF which was 1961), I was genuinely surprised this movie was released in America because really, it is randy! The word "b!tch" is used 4 times!!! as is the term "w h o r e" and, my favorite, "four-penny w h o r e", which I can GUARANTEE YOU I AM GOING TO BE USING THE NEXT TIME SOMEONE STANDS TOO CLOSE TO ME WITH THEIR MASK DOWN AROUND THEIR NOSE IN THE LINE AT THE TRADER JOE'S. A woman puts a python in her mouth in one scene and yes, it is OBVIOUS what they were going for with it. there is adultery, there is prostitution. there is a post-sex scene where two characters are in bed together, and there is a pretty brutal rape. All in all, not a bad way to kill some time on a Saturday morning there is also a lot of Can-Can dancing, which I can take or leave, but I imagine was the main reason for any repeat business this movie got. i do not know the lead's name, but CHRISTOPHER LEE plays a third wheel character (another way i knew the film had to be early Hammer) I bet you ANYTHING PETER CUSHING was offered the title role(s) but said "no" because of how truly edgy a film it was for the time.

Surprised Carole Lombard hasn't been mentioned yet who died at age 33 on TWA flight 3 on its last leg from Las Vegas to Los Angeles. She was returning from a trip to promote war bonds. http://www.latimes.com/includes/projects/hollywood/portraits/carole_lombard.jpg

James Murray (1901- 1936) was just a bit actor until King Vidor picked him to star in "The Crowd" in 1928. He never got a role that good again, but turned in good performances until alcohol took over his life. He was panhandling by 1934. In 1936 his body was found in the Hudson River. He died from drowning. What was never established was whether he fell in by accident, committed suicide, or was actually pushed in by somebody. Hard to imagine somebody having a life sadder than John Sims of "The Crowd" but he definitely did, and for some of the same reasons.

Noth, Chris

From April 3-6, 1921, the Poli ran Idols of Clay, starring Mae Murray as Faith Merrill and David Powell as Dion Holme. The film was released in November of 1920 at seven reels. A complete copy is held in the Gosfilmofond of Russia in Moscow. Plot: Faith Merrill lives on a South Sea island with her father. Despite his providing her with a religious upbringing, in reality he is a pearl-smuggler, who gives the natives whiskey, while pretending it is “holy water.” Faith is unaware of this, and has an innocent mind. One day, she finds a handsome stranger who has been washed ashore. The man, Dion Holme, is a sculptor, who has had a disastrous love affair with Lady Cray in London. He has renounced all women. Through Faith’s influence, Holme is rehabilitated. Then his old sculpting master arrives on the island, and the two men leave for London. After her father dies, Faith goes to London as part of a burlesque show, and looks for Holme. By now, the sculptor has been knighted and is being pursued again by Lady Cray. Faith appears at Holme’s studio. She is seen by Lady Gray, who plots revenge. Holme is about to leave for Greece, so he entrusts Faith into Lady Gray’s care. Under the guise of helping Faith, Lady Gray introduces the girl to the high life, drinking, and drugs. After Holme returns from a trip to Greece, a banquet is arranged. Faith, under the influence, performs a daring dance, which causes Holme to leave in disgust. Lady Cray commits suicide, but Faith is accused of her murder. The girl flees to an opium den in the Limehouse district, where she is eventually rescued by Holme. The two then move back to the South Sea island and find happiness. The still below shows Director George Fitzmaurice filming a scene with Mae Murray and David Powell: Wid’s Daily wrote “the picture despite its inconsistency in the latter reels has a popular appear and since there had to be some break to allow the introduction of high life and opium dens, perhaps it will be overlooked. … Miss Murray is seen in a rather daring dance which intimates considerable more than it actually portrays, and later in the Limehouse opium den she does her best work.” Picture-Play Magazine was not impressed, remarking that the film “tells the most impossible, improbable, fantastic story that has spun before us in a long time. … Mae Murray does a dance that ought to make an awful hit with college freshmen. … David Powell, a capable actor, has a role that makes him nothing but an utter fool.” Exhibitor’s Herald pulled no punches, writing “the characters in the story are witless, the incidents convenient, the plot meandering, and the situations unnatural and forced, so that, insofar as drama is concerned, the picture has little to compel interest. Toward the end the story has some effective moments, but for the most part it is mere artless, pointless movement.” The Strand Theatre in Seattle hooked up with a local outfitting store to create a window display promoting the film. Along with cutouts of Mae Murray in various poses, a sculptor also sat in the window from 11 to 5 daily, working his craft, while crowds watched him from the sidewalk: An odd side attraction featured twelve-year-old film star Bobby Connelly on stage, in a playlet entitled “A Man and his Wife.” As one reviewer described it, “Bobby is playing the hero part … he carries a gun and whips it out with all the ease of a Tom Mix or William S. Hart, hurling quasi-stentorian defiance to the home-breaker who dares to take from him his darling little wife, Dot Willens, aged seven.”

But they joined in with the "woke" and "cancel culture" bias in order to grossly diminish the movies they showed. They placed their political interpretations on the movies and interpreted them as being primarily prejudiced, biased and wrong. Therefore, viewers are basically told that we shouldn't enjoy this type movie.

I’m almost done with CLAUDELLE INGLISH. y’all remember that GOLDEN GIRLS episode where BLANCHE’s sister CHARMAINE shows up after writing a tawdry best seller called VIXEN: THE STORY OF A WOMAN? This film is a lot like what I imagine the feature film adaptation of that novel would be .

Well Stated. History cannot be cancelled. It is not ANYONE'S job to educate viewers how some find Gone With the Wind offensive. The hosts ruined"Breakfast at Tiffany's" with their detailed explanation of Asian hate for the character played by Mickey Rooney. No one ever complained about this Comedy. I'm offended by the choice TCM has made to join the cancel culture. Leave YOUR opinions out of the movie. You are losing subscribers.

RICH, YOUNG AND PRETTY

NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY (1968)

Silk Stockings

LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN (1945)

Wilson (1944) -- This biopic about Woodrow Wilson, although rather hagiographic, is one of the great all-time movie biographies. It was critically acclaimed and was nominated for ten Oscars, winning five. It lost money at the box office. I think it's a brilliant movie with a fabulous cast who give great performances. It also features the best representation of a political convention ever put on film, the Democratic Convention of 1912.

With still in mind, how about the proverbial tragic beauty of Inger Stevens: Many years before her suicide-ruled death, to my knowledge, she'd tempted Mr. Death by ingesting some cleaning fluid !

HOODLUM EMPIRE

Great job, Lonesome Polecat! As I noted when I posted my schedule, this is a first for me, and it gave me a real understanding of both how much fun this is, and how hard it is! I look forward to the next challenge!

Anina (2013) This is a quite lovely and quite quirky little movie. It is in some ways a children's movie and in some ways it is not. Uruguay is not usually the first country to come to mind when thinking of animation and this is a mixed bag of somewhat-minimalist pretty drawings with some clunky movements. That is easily forgiven as you become interested in the story. It does convey well the surrealism of her dreams and fantasies. It is the story of Anina Yatay Salas who very much hates her name because it is three times a palindrome and her classmates constantly make fun of it. Her emotions erupt one day on the playground and she fights a girl whom she does not like. They are both given black envelopes which they are to hold for a week before they learn of their punishment. Breaking the seal of the envelope will result in more dire punishment. I came to this movie after reading an article concerning how true-to-life it is to Uruguayan culture. I do not know how much I might have enjoyed it if I had believed that it had all sprung from a screenwriter's mind. I watched it on: Amazon Prime Video but it is listed also as being available on: TubiTV. I can find it only in: Spanish with English subtitles which means paying more attention to it than I commonly do these days but it is only eighty minutes and well worth the time. 7.2/9

Did someone say: Myrna Loy?

I love this hat Lena Horne wore in STORMY WEATHER:

I began to watch Calling Philo Vance (1940) when it was on TCM the other day, then realized it was a remake of The Kennel Murder Case (1933), so switched it off. Instead, I watched The Dragon Murder Case (1934), which I think I have seen before, but which is great fun. A mansion filled with people, most of whom don't like each other; a pool party where three men dive in, only two come out (of a very strange pool!) The film features as nutty and enjoyable a cast as you'd expect to find in a Philo Vance movie. Warren William excels as Vance, but the two most delightful characters are Eugene Pallette as Sgt. Heath, the bumbling inspector; and Etienne Girardot as Dr. Doremus, the exasperated coroner, who is always getting called away from his meals. The interplay between Heath and Doremus is hilarious. Pallette played Sgt. Heath in six movies; Girardot played Doremus in three films. Kudos also to Helen Lowell, as a mad old lady. Lyle Talbot is a major supporting character; mysterious at first, benevolent in fact. An odd thing: someone says to him, nastily, "That's just what I would expect from someone of your race." That's referred to once more, but there's no mention, as far as I could tell, of what his race is supposed to be. Two exchanges between Girardot (Doremus) and Pallette (Heath): Dr. Doremus: Ernest, it's clear that you don't know much about women. Now I'll tell you, women are, generally speaking... Sergeant Ernest Heath: You certainly said it! They ARE generally speaking! **************** Dr. Doremus: [Leaving the scene, thoroughly annoyed that the body was not dead] Now I'm going to get some breakfast... [turning for one last word] Dr. Doremus: ... and, Heath, don't you call me out here again unless you've got a corpse. I'm here as a coroner, not as a doctor! Sergeant Ernest Heath: [shouting after him sarcastically] Why don't you learn to carry a hard-boiled egg in your pocket? Eugene Pallette, Warren William, Etienne Girardot Helen Lowell, Lyle Talbot, Warren William