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Yeah he sometimes played the wiseguy bookish chap. He's a fairly good looking guy, but he certainly isn't up there with the real glamour pusses of Hollywood. But as the saying goes, love is blind, so Joan fell for the guy. Maybe it was partly the piano playing. Speaking of looks, I thought Joan didn't look too good when she had bangs. I wouldn't be surprised if that contributed to her mental derangement.

Thanks to everyone who's posted here about this delightful actress. Another film Elsa was featured in was a little-known but very enjoyable noir called Mystery Street ( which, by the way, also features another of one of my favourite under-rated actresses, Jan Sterling.) I strongly recommend this movie, it's a wonderfully constructed, taut, suspenseful, and highly entertaining film. Ricardo Mantalban really carries it, but all the players are outstanding. Especially our girl, Elsa Lanchester ! Oh my god, she is so funny and amusing as the greedy cunning landlady ! I don't want to put out spoilers - again, Mystery Street is well worth watching for many reasons, I hope TCM airs it soon -- but I'll just say Elsa , as usual, plays a relatively minor but key part in the film. Actually, maybe not that minor, she has several scenes, all of which are what you'd expect from Miss Lanchester, engaging and , well, just plain funny. I think it's partly her voice, which someone else mentioned on this thread (sorry, can't remember who off-hand.) She has this kind of fake cultured accent (after all, she was British), and she uses it to great effect, especially when she's being all demure and pretending she's an honest hard-working landlady. Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth ! There's also her pet parrot- or budgie, or canary, I can't recall - and the very important role it plays in the story. And then there's her visit to the shipbuilder. She's being so what is now called "passive-aggressive", she's a riot ! Anyway, anyone who has not as yet had a chance to catch Mystery Street, try and watch it if it comes up on TCM or any other way you can-- it's one of my favourite noirs, and a fine example of Elsa Lanchester at her best.

Thanks MissWonderly3 for starting this thread! Elsa Lanchester is great in everything she does, although Hollywood didn't use her talents as much as I would have liked. She really used her voice a lot to convey charactor, it's amazing she did not speak in her most well known role. Her autobiography "Herself", is rare, rare, rare & I was lucky enough to find a completely beat up copy a couple decades ago. Fascinating read, insightful. She had a tough upbringing, but you absolutely see why she went into acting, it was natural for her. She describes her life with Laughton with fondness even though the relationship brought her heartbreak. Truly a great, strong woman-so glad she shared her talent with us! I think she was very beautiful, here's a few pretty shots of her: Those EYES! Such a beautiful bow mouth:

Really interesting observations about Possessed, speedy. I like the comparison to Fatal Attraction, very apt. I too wondered if Joan's character was already "bonkers", or at least, had the potential to become so, and that she was triggered by David's rejection of her. I didn't find her as sympathetic a character as you did, though...at times, I actually found her a bit annoying. I mean, ok, I guess we're supposed to think she couldn't help it, she had some kind of latent mental illness, but honestly, people get dumped all the time. Millions of women (and men) have been rejected by someone they adore, it was ever thus. And 90 per cent of them can handle it. I do agree, we don't know whether Van Heflin's character had led her on...we only get that one scene between them, and Van breaks up with her before it's over. On the other hand, he certainly never leads her on after that. He tells her as straight-forwardly and as kindly as he can, that he doesn't love her. This is always news that is hard to take, I would guess that most people at some point in their lives have experienced something similar. And most people are upset, heart-broken maybe...but they eventually suck it up and move on. I found it a bit eye-rolling that Joan just couldn't and wouldn't do that. Of course, as you suggest, she may have been mentally unstable already and this rejection was just the event that set it off. I don't agree with Vautrin that David was a "cad" -- as I said, he seems pretty honest with her throughout the story. I agree with you, it didn't help Louise that he kept showing up again-- the best way to get over someone who's broken your heart is to never see them again. And yes, especially nowadays, the age difference between David and Dean's daughter (Carol) does seem a bit creepy to a 2021 audience. But we must remember that it was pretty common back then. Getting back to what you speculated about whether David led Louise on: Something that's very much implied in that scene in David's cottage, you know, where he's playing the piano and Joan's hanging around adoring him, is that they've slept together, to put it bluntly, it seems clear they've had sex. And maybe have been lovers like that for a while. When I heard David say "better get dressed", I thought, "wow, they're being really open about what they've just done !" But then I realized that you're supposed to think they've just been swimming, and he means, she should get changed out of her bathing suit and robe . But I suspect this was just a way to signal to the viewer that she'd been undressed around him before, and not just for swimming . Anyway, that hint of intimacy between them might partly explain why Joan was so heart-broken, and so shocked when she realized David didn't "feel that way" about her. Back in 1947, I'm guessing that it was a big deal for a woman like Louise, a "respectable" woman , a nurse (she was clearly not a "floozie" of any kind) to sleep with a man out of wedlock (as they used to call it.) So perhaps in her mind, for David to have sex with her so casually was a kind of betrayal. Of course in 1947 they couldn't be too direct about that kind of thing.

Clarence Williams III, the stage-trained performer who rose to fame in the late 1960s as one-third of TV's youthful "The Mod Squad," has died at the age of 81. He died Friday in Los Angeles of colon cancer. The veteran actor's career spanned more than five decades in theater, television and film. In 1965, Williams and co-star Carolan Daniels received Tony nominations for their performances in a Broadway production of playwright William Hanley's "Slow Dance on the Killing Ground. Williams was nominated for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play. Daniels received her nod for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play. From 1967 to 1984, Williams was married to the actress Gloria Foster, who probably is best remembered for her performances as The Oracle in the first two installments of "The Matrix" trilogy. They remained friendly after their divorce. When she died of diabetes complications at the age of 67 on September 29, 2001, it was he who announced it. In 1968, Michael Cole, Peggy Lipton and Williams starred in ABC's "The Mod Squad," one of network television's first attempts at relevancy for younger viewers. Pete Cochran (Cole), Julie Barnes (Lipton) and the magnificently Afroed Lincoln "Linc" Hayes (Williams) -- all survivors of difficult pasts -- were undercover police officers recruited by Captain Adam Greer (Tige Andrews). During the drama series' five-season run, the unit (described in promos as "One White, one Black, one blonde") infiltrated schools and youth groups, and took down adult criminals who preyed on young people. The program, whose co-producers included Aaron Spelling and Danny Thomas, received a 1970 Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Dramatic Series. During Season 1 of "The Mod Squad," Foster guest starred as Janny Willis, a blind woman who receives protection from the undercover cops after she's attacked. The episode, titled "A Hint of Darkness, a Hint of Light," first aired on February 11, 1969. Foster reprised the role of Janny in the Season 2 episode "Return to Darkness, Return to Light" (original air date: March 17, 1970). In "Purple Rain," Prince's 1984 semi-autobiographical screen musical/drama, Williams played the abusive father of the rock star's character -- The Kid. Olga Karlatos appeared as The Kid's mother. "Purple Rain" was the year's 10th highest-grossing film. John Frankenheimer's gritty 1986 drama "52 Pick-Up" featured Williams as Bobby Shy, a skeevy and menacing member of a blackmail operation that threatened the security of an L.A. businessman (Roy Scheider). Also starring in the film: Ann-Margret, Vanity, John Glover and Kelly Preston. The movie's screenplay was adapted by Elmore Leonard from his 1974 novel. Keenen Ivory Wayans' 1988 comedy “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka,” which lampooned blaxploitation films of the '70s, co-starred Williams as the longtime Black Panther member, Kalinga. Eve Plumb, the erstwhile Jan Brady of TV's "The Brady Bunch," appeared as Kalinga' wife. In 1990, Williams was reunited briefly with Lipton on an episode of David Lynch's offbeat ABC drama series "Twin Peaks." He played FBI Agent Roger Hardy, who arrived in the Washington town for some serious discussions with Special Agent Dale Cooper (series star Kyle MacLachlan). During his visit, Hardy stopped by the Double R Diner, owned by Norma Jennings (played by Lipton, a series regular). Williams starred as Mr. Simms, the creepy mortician who tells four stories in the 1995 Afro-centric horror film "Tales From the Hood." The anthology from executive producer Spike Lee and director Randy Cundieff attained a cult following after it was released for home video consumption. In the 1997 historical drama "Hoodlum," Laurence Fishburne (pictured at right) portrayed the Harlem crime kingpin Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson. Williams had the role of Bub Hewlett, the right-hand man of gangster Dutch Schultz (played by Tim Roth). Williams would later portray Johnson in the 2007 film "American Gangster," which starred Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. In the 2000s, Williams co-starred in 10 installments of The Hallmark Channel's "Mystery Woman" series of made-for-television films. He co-starred with Kellie Martin, who played the bookstore owner-turned-sleuth Samantha Kinsey. Williams appeared as Philby, the bookstore's caretaker. Vernon Reid @vurnt22 Mod Squad broke new ground. Clarence Williams III broke new ground. You can draw a direct line from Clarence Williams III to both Denzel & Idris. It’s his MF moody blood running through The Kid in Purple Rain that’s the furnace of his pain & genius. Rest In Power , Linc. 4:13 PM · Jun 6, 2021·Twitter for iPad Michael McKean @MJMcKean In 1965 my HS drama class attended a matinee of Slow Dance on the Killing Ground. Afterwards, as the bus pulled away from the Plymouth Theater, we spotted the young actor who had electrified us for 2 1/2 hours, walking down the street Clarence Williams III was terrific on the stage, and even cooler out in the world that day. It made the whole idea of being a stage actor more magical somehow. RIP. 7:24 PM · Jun 6, 2021·Twitter Web App Peyton Reed @MrPeytonReed I got to work with Clarence Williams III on my second TV movie, THE LOVE BUG, back in 1995. I had grown up watching him as Linc in THE MOD SQUAD and thought he was the epitome of cool. Turns out he was. Rest In Peace, Clarence. 5:39 PM · Jun 6, 2021·Twitter for iPhone Lenny Kravitz @LennyKravitz When I was a kid growing up in NYC Clarence Williams III was a face on TV that I identified with and that inspired me. From the Mod Squad, to Purple Rain and Sugar Hill, he always performed with dynamic energy. Rest in power, king 6:20 PM · Jun 6, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

Re: This Program Contains Outdated Cultural Depictions

Ach! What in the world makes them think we the people would think any cultural depictions in any old, long discontinued TV westerns with story lines that take place roughly a century before those shows were created and produced aren't outdated? Sepiatone

I just finished watching The Big Clock, for maybe the 5th time. Great little movie, I love it. But that's not what I want to talk about here. What I want to talk about is how funny, how likable (because she's funny), how quirky, how memorable Elsa Lanchester is in everything she touches. As was the case most of the time with Elsa, she has a small but important role in The Big Clock. As usual, she plays a quirky side character, not a lead, but her part plays a key role in the story. This is also the case with another great little noir, Mystery Street. What can I say? Anyone who's seen this extremely unusual and talented actress knows how she takes a character and makes them completely her own. No matter what you see her in, no matter how small the part, you remember her. And god, what a natural comedian she was ! She's so damn funny, her voice, her mannerisms, the way she says her lines. She's a treasure to classic Hollywood (not to mention other earlier British films she was in) and I love everything I've ever seen her in. She brightens the screen with her oddball presence - she's hilarious ! I love her.

Unreliable -- Bob & Bing in ROAD TO movies Reliable -- Trusty in LADY AND THE TRAMP keeps mentioning his grandpappy Old Reliable

Yes! I thought he was a jerk for crashing a wedding he wasn’t invited to. I got the sense that he wasn’t even a friend of Raymond Massey’s but more of an acquaintance due to his being a neighbor. Was he really there for the free food and drink? Or was he trying to torment Joan? A total passive aggressive move. Yes Joan might have been mentally unstable, but David only made it worse. Wouldn’t a scorned partner telling you essentially that she/he doesn’t accept the break up and that she/he won’t be ignored send up a red flag that this person is nuts and maybe you should stay away?

Well, let's see... it's not like one of those cases where the man is almost ugly, but has some kind of magnetism (nobody would claim that Humphrey Bogart, for instance, was "ugly", but he's certainly not "handsome" either...craggy looking? ) anyway, Van is handsome. Maybe not Cary Grant level handsome, but who is? Van's handsome and yet kind of accessible looking at the same time. Shirley you can think of some female stars with a similar quality? Also - and maybe this is the crux of the biscuit -- he's intelligent looking. And, as you yourself conceded above, he "usually plays the more intelligent sort of man". Exactly, intelligence is a very attractive quality. Also, he usually played interesting characters who were both likable ( to a greater or lesser extent) and decent. (Ok, maybe David in "Possessed" isn't very "decent"... but he is clever and charming.) Also, I like his voice. Here's a pic of him in his prime. Looks good to me:

I love Elsa Lanchester! She was masterful at revealing the eccentricities of the characters she played without ever crossing the line into caricature, at least not in any of her performances that I have seen. She appeared in three Disney movies beginning with Mary Poppins where she played Katie Nanna, whose resignation as the nanny for the Banks children paved the way for the hiring of Mary Poppins. Katie Nanna's attempt to quit and collect her pay is delayed when Mrs. Banks bursts into the song "Sister Suffragette." Elsa Lanchester's mother Edith had actually been a suffragette! Elsa Lanchester also appeared in That Darn Cat! and Blackbeard's Ghost.

I find her very funny in that I Love Lucy ep.

Almost forgot about the Ken Russell double feature on Imports tonight (or tomorrow for you Easties). Love him, hate him, or love and hate him, he is one of the most startling directors. Visually lush, extravagant, his movies for me are sometimes tiring to watch, sometimes irritating, but never boring. I haven't see either of the two movies slated, Mahler (1974), and Lisztomania (1976). But the two subjects of his movies, Mahler and Liszt, are right in line with his style.

Thompson -- I'm certain Richard Boone has been in a few noirs but the only one my poor Baby Boomer brain can come up with for now is VICKI, the remake of I WAKE UP SCREAMING. And speaking of Victor Mature, lol, he's not my physical type but definitely an underrated actor. I've never been drawn to Sterling Hayden yet can't give you a reason. Burt's not my cup of tea either....Go figure. And, apropos of nothing, I never understood Bette Davis' attraction (and ultimate marriage to) Gary Merrill. That persistent five o'clock shadow, ugh! Hairy ape!

In 'Vicky" the remake of "I Wake Up Screaming", and "The Garment Jungle" and maybe "I Bury The Living"

Actually it was just her face on a billboard. Buzz got a look at her and drove off the highway. *** Of all the discussions of this movie I have seen, David Sutton comes out relatively unscathed. Generally there is a whole host of sutton bashers, and they always overdo it. He has some bad boy traits but he not so bad overall. Crashing a reception for food and drink makes him neither a cad or a heel. These terms relate to unsavory treatment of women. That attachment to the younger woman was necessary to the plot and comes across a bit forced. Puzzling is his remark about spending the money, It may be a little out of character, I don't remember elsewhere in the movie where he reveals himself capable of anything so dire. I have tried to convince myself that he uttered that statement as a throwaway line as he left Louise in the room. I did feel sorry for Louise when she was relieved to learn that she did not really kill her husband's first wife. She was excellent in that scene and I was able to feel what it would be like to deranged as she was and be grateful finding she didn't do it.

The Dawn Patrol 1930 Cimarron 1931 A Farewell To Arms 1932 Queen Christina 1933 Cleopatra 1934 The Lost Patrol 1934 The Scarlet Empress 1934

How can you argue with this logic?!?! Walt Peregoy on layout artist Ernie Nordli:

Silent epics-- BEN HUR TEN COMMANDMENTS THE BIG PARADE GREED

For me, The Long Hot Summer is the only summer movie. The rest just happen to take place in the summer. Re-watch it frequently and I can identify with Summer in The South before AC.

I watched LISZTOMANIA. Without intending to offend anyone, I'll just just say I think it would fit in perfectly in the Underground time slot.

Going back in time 83 years is quite the trick.

Really? I've always thought Brian Keith was exceptionally UNattractive. Hm, I'll have to think about this...maybe they are kind of similar, with Van being the good-looking side of the coin, and Brian Keith being the fun-house mirror version of Van.

You're literally making me laugh out loud with your descriptions of some of these guys ! Full disclosure: ok, I know how odd this is going to sound, but when I was a kid - and I mean, about 8 - I kind of had a crush on Bugs Bunny. I mean, obviously I didn't imagine going out with him or anything (the logistics around many aspects of that would be extremely problematic), but, I thought he was very cool. I thought he was smart and he always won whatever battle was being fought (with Yosemite Sam or Elmer Fudd or even Daffy Duck). So, what part of that is the weirdest: that I sort of "liked" a character who was a cartoon, or who was a bunny? Either way, not human. ( In my own defence, I also had a crush on that guy in "Time Tunnel"- I suppose that was a little more normal. ) Also, talking about Robert Young and Robert Montgomery (damn, there were a lot of Roberts back then, weren't there?): I always did and still do get them mixed up. They look almost exactly the same to me. Best way to tell them apart is, Robert Montgomery's a little less bland than Robert Young.

Elsa Next: Robert, Shelley, Wayne

He's over on the Sinatra Thinks Monroe was Whacked thread.

Miss W, I called Van a heel, not a cad. A cad is a heel with better dialogue, though I admit it's a thin line. I do give him credit for telling Joan that he didn't love her. I didn't mind that he came late for her marriage and then chowed down on the free food and drink. Rather humorous. It was a little creepy when he set his sights on Ray's daughter and also admitted her money was at least part of the attraction. What Van should have done was build a time machine, go into the future and come back with a copy of He's Just Not That Into You for Joan. Might have solved some problems.

Actually Bronxie, Van is VERY good in that role, and as I recall might've been the very film that would cement in my mind of what a great actor he was, and after watching this film for the first time probably 30-some years ago. Hell, even Herbert Marshall who made a career out of playing this type, couldn't have done a better job. (... although, I disagree with you that this type of role was "atypical" for Van to play...seems to me he played this type quite often, in fact)

I had to laugh near the end of the film when Van is in a medium shot where you can see him from head to toe and I noticed he had a bit of Fred Mertztitis, the pants trying to gobble up the shirt. I'm sure if he had lived he would have corrected that.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)

Yes, I loved the opening exterior scene shot in the actual Los Angeles location rather than on a studio set. I thought the Coca Cola sign was especially interesting knowing Joan Crawford's later association with Pepsi.

Yes, I enjoyed POSSESSED a lot too. I knew going into that I'd seen at least some of it before, but as the movie progressed during this viewing I realized I had seen the entire movie before but had forgotten some of the details . * For me, Van Heflin's character crossed into cad territory when showed up at the wedding reception for Joan Crawford and Raymond Massey's characters even though neither had invited him. He just came for the free food? Yeah, right! Jerk! He knew how Crawford's character felt about him. (Yes, he's a fictitious character, but . . .) I really like these movies from the middle period of Joan Crawford's career, especially POSSESSED, FLAMINGO ROAD and SUDDEN FEAR. (I think I want to re-watch FLAMINGO ROAD now .) * SPOILER: *********************************************** For example, I remembered the part where Joan Crawford's character pushed her step-daughter down the stairs but I had forgotten that this was all in Crawford's character's mind.

John Garfield -- the big ears were always a turn-off. (however, I do find Clark Gable adorable as **** in SAN FRANCISCO) Humphrey Bogart -- it would be scary waking up next to him. One of my favorite actors but he looked like a ghoul Robert Ryan -- creepy, beady-eyed, face like a Japanese demon mask. I'd be terrified. Robert Mitchum -- never thought he was attractive. Something off-putting about that face, it always looked bloated Dan Duryea -- I'm partial to blondes but don't care for lantern jaws Steve Cochran -- Ugh. Just ugh. Nasty, sleazy, all-around repulsive Robert Taylor -- No chin but pretty Tyrone Power -- Strange dark marble eyes Dick Powell -- looked like a hound dog which made him perfect in YOU NEVER CAN TELL Dana Andrews -- I never thought he was sexy until just recently. Don't ask me how or why

Susan Hayward

I've always thought Van moderately good-looking and even fairly sexy. I wouldn't turn him down.

I watched Dr. Renault's Secret tonight, never having seen it before. The makeup was fairly subdued yet obvious enough that, from J. Carrol Naish's first appearance in the film, the secret of the doctor was pretty obvious, I thought. Not a bad little film, with good performances from Naish and George Zucco (familiar as this kind of mad scientist role was for the Englishman), the film having a further slickness, despite its "B" programmer budget, from the handsome Fox "A" production sets upon which it was filmed, as well as first rate photography.

First thing I thought of. Picnic is one of my earliest memories of a whole movie. The scenes with Novak and Holden and particularly the dance scene.

Coleen Gray

Rex Ingram always brought great dignity to his roles, and Sahara gave him one of his better screen opportunities. And what a rich, deep voice he had! (I wonder if he worked on radio). In a later, more progressive time this same actor undoubtedly would have had a more stellar film career. One of my very favourite Ingram roles was as the genie in Korda's marvelous Thief of Bagdad.

I'm not certain if I've ever watched this film. But I have a copy of it on disc and will probably play it tonight. This is one of the great pleasures of having an extensive collection of old films on DVD, the ability to pop any one of so many different titles into a machine and watch it at a moment's notice. I never dreamed when I was a kid collecting 10 minute segments from movies on 8mm Castle Films that I would one day have a dream film collection such as I now have thanks to modern technology. Movie collectors have never had it so good or easy as they do today..

JC as an auteur? Hahahahahahahahaha. From padded shoulders to a padded room. I couldn't remember if I had seen this one before. Then when Van took Joan back to her employer's house in his motor boat it started to click. Must have seen it a long time ago because I only remember a few parts of the movie. Nice change of pace to see a big budget A picture with big stars and a longer running length, though this baby went on a little too long for me. I could see Joan going around the bend for Cary Grant or Ty Power, but Van Heflin. I like VH, but it's hard to see women going totally crazy over him, especially in this flick playing a grade A heel with a slight booze problem. Then she ends up marrying Raymond Massey, who has all the charisma of a leaf blower. It was fun watching Joan take a stab at going bonkers and she does a pretty good job, but after awhile it gets a bit tiresome. I don't know much about Geraldine Brooks' movie career, but she appeared in a lot of TV westerns back in the day. But after many mental trials and tribulations, all's well that ends well. After shooting and killing Heflin, whose math calculation came out terribly wrong, Joanie will spend a few years in an upscale nut house, helped along by Massey's moneybags expenditures, and then return to civilian life. Nice work if you can get it. We don't like to use the word insane Miss Smith. We much prefer the phrase as nutty as a fruitcake. I didn't know JC toted around a suitcase full of vodka. I'd do that if only if I also had a suitcase full of Kahlua and another full of bottles of cream.

Possessed is a movie that I actually own, but hadn't watched yet. It came in a Joan Crawford box set that I have. I really enjoyed it. It was like a precursor to Fatal Attraction, minus the horrific bunny on the stove scene. Joan's character was bonkers, but also sympathetic. Was she just that enamored with Van Heflin that she didn't want to take "no" for an answer? It seemed like the film tried to explain that Van's rejection of Joan triggered her psychosis, as if it were lying dormant, waiting to come out. I wish we'd seen more of his relationship with Joan. Did he lead her on only to reject her? Or was he just keeping things casual and she made the relationship more than it was? I know that he was the co-star of the film, so he couldn't do this, but I wish he'd stayed away from Joan. Each time he re-surfaced, he re-ignited her obsession. When he hooked up with Geraldine Brooks, I felt like he fully crossed into cad territory. It was weird how she points out to him that they last met when she was 11, and then he's checking her out and wanting to go out with her. But anyway, she was an adult, so I digress. I think Geraldine was interested in him because he was an older man and had a bit of a mysterious aura around him. With him though, I was thinking that he was perhaps a golddigger, and maybe liked the idea of having a young woman on his arm. Joan was a little long in the tooth for him if Geraldine is more his speed. Anyway, I really liked this film. I'm always a fan of the films that Joan made during the "woman in peril" part of her career and this film was no exception. Poor Joan is now seen as a "Mommie Dearest" caricature with the big lips, the big eyebrows, the shoulder pads, all that. But I think that Joan was actually a very attractive woman in the 1940s, more attractive than she was during her ingenue days.

Since my favorite films Elsa was in have been mentioned, I'll add a charming, small role she had in The Razor's Edge. Elsa sings a song to herself in the film. It's lovely, she gives Tyrone an invitation for dying Clifton Webb. Another sweet role I don't think anyone's mentioned was in The Bishop's Wife. Elsa was always a joy to watch no matter the role.Wonderful actress.

She was great in that role. I wish TCM would more often show the other films they made together. I tried but couldn't find a clip of their "Frankie And Johnny" duet from "Comets" but found this. Sepiatone

And something of a dish in her heyday, if I may say so! Her Bride of Frankenstein has such a spark (forgive the on the nose phrase) because she treads this bizarrely alluring line between monster and sex symbol, which set the tone for that quirkily appealing quality you describe in her body of work. She was also one of those character players who were equally at home in high-brow and low brow-productions. She could elevate B material with her high-tone theatricality and yet not seem incongruously pretentious for the effort, perhaps a side effect of that same quirky gameness. I remember seeing her in a very silly but entertaining technicolor adventure of the 1950s, Buccaneer's Girl, in which she basically plays a placage madame in old New Orleans, and she's as delightful and committed to her craft in that as any of her finer films. It's just a joy to watch!

Not a movie, but I love Elsa in her episode of "I Love Lucy" where Lucy and Ethel mistake her for an escaped hatchet murderess based on a radio report and circumstantial evidence. Meanwhile, Elsa mistakes Lucy for the escaped hatchet murderess based on another radio report that indicates that the grey-haired woman may have dyed her hair red. Elsa, Lucy and Ethel are on pins and needles throughout most of their trip, until Elsa ditches the girls about a 100 miles away from their destination. Elsa's character is so delightfully wacky and weird, that you don't blame Lucy for thinking that there's something off with her. But Lucy herself is also a nut, that you also can't blame Elsa for thinking the same thing about Lucy. My favorite part: ETHEL: What's that you're eating? ELSA: Watercress sandwich (Lucy and Ethel start eating Watercress sandwiches) LUCY: Very tasty. If you love buttered grass. (Ethel tries to take Lucy's sandwich) LUCY: I love buttered grass! --- I also love Elsa in The Spiral Staircase where she plays one of the weird servants at Ethel Barrymore's house. At one point, Elsa's character is passed out in the kitchen, having drunk all the brandy.

I love her very much! She definitely brings a special smile to every role. I love her dearly as the slightly addled and more than slightly inept witch in: Bell Book and Candle (1958). She is perfect as the saucy nurse in: Witness for the Prosecution (1957). I could go on and on because she was quite wonderful in every role.

Gidget. Gidget is one of my all-time favorite movies. I've seen this movie dozens of times and it's still fun to watch each and every time. Sandra Dee and James Darren are adorable. Darren and Cliff Robertson are smokin' hot. This film has hot guys, the beach, surfing, what more could I want from a film? A Summer Place. This film is amazing and has everything I want from a good melodrama, plus it has memorable theme music. I knew the music long before I'd seen the film for which it was written. I love Picnic. It takes place on Labor Day, which is typically considered the unofficial end of summer (even though summer technically ends later in the month). Picnic is just so much fun with the love triangle, the drama, the romance, I just love it. The Parent Trap. Hayley Mills and Hayley Mills meet at a summer camp run by Miss Inch and Jane Hathaway. They discover they're actually twins, separated at birth and decide to switch places. I love this movie. I've seen it dozens of times and I never tire of it. Hayley Mills is my favorite of the Disney child stars. Summer Stock. Despite having one of the worst musical numbers of all time ("Heavenly Music"), it also features one of the best, most iconic musical numbers of all time ("Get Happy"). Judy Garland and Gene Kelly are a lot of fun together, even if the plot of this film is nothing special. This film is driven by the sheer star power of Garland and Kelly. Plus, I like that the action of this film starts on my birthday, as evidenced by the calendar at the beginning of the film! I also love the aforementioned Summertime. I love genuine romantic films that play out realistically and don't include the typical contrived plot points that plague many other romantic films (see Hallmark's drivel). The summer season provides such a great setting for film. I don't know if it's the heat and the lazy, sweltering atmosphere that it provides, or what it is about the summer. The summer is often the setting for one of my favorite subgenres, the 50s-60s teen beach movie. But despite not having listed any above, I think the summer also provides a great backdrop for film noir.