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The actor Tommy Kirk, who appeared in numerous Disney movies and television productions in the 1950s and 1960s, has died at the age of 79. He was one of many memorable young stars -- including Annette Funicello and Kevin "Moochie" Corcoran --who achieved fame on "The Mickey Mouse Club." The Hollywood Reporter said Kirk (pictured below at a memorabilia show) lived alone, and his body was found Tuesday in Las Vegas. Kirk once said that his career with The Mouse Factory was short-circuited because he was gay. “Disney was a family film studio and I was supposed to be their young leading man," he said. "After they found out I was involved with someone, that was the end of Disney.” Kirk also fell from grace after an arrest on December 24, 1964 on suspicion of marijuana possession at a Hollywood residence. He wasn't prosecuted for that or for a charge of possessing illegal drugs after barbiturates were found in his car. But his career suffered because of the incidents. Tim Considine and Kirk played the junior detectives Frank and Joe Hardy in episodes of "The Hardy Boys" -- serialized adventures that aired on "The Mickey Mouse Club." They appeared in "The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure" (1956) and "The Mystery of the Ghost Farm" (1957). Both actors and Corcoran were inducted as Disney Legends in 2006. Kirk starred in the classic 1957 Disney feature film "Ole Yeller," the story of young Travis Coates and his family as they coped with problems at their late-1860s Texas homestead while the father (Fess Parker) was away on business. Travis drew some comfort from his relationship with the title dog, which helped protect the boy, his mother Katie (Dorothy McGuire) and brother Arliss (Corcoran). The film was based on the award-winning 1956 children's novel by Fred Gipson. The movie's unforgettable ending inspired a funny sequence in a Season 2 episode of TV's "Friends," in which Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) discovered that her mother had misled her as a child by turning off the TV before the climactic scene. Considine and Kirk played romantic rivals in 1959's "The Shaggy Dog," the popular Disney live-action comedy feature about high school teen Wilby Daniels (Kirk) who became magically transformed into a Bratislavian sheepdog. Although he retained his human consciousness after the shape shift, Wilby realized he was in trouble because his mailman father (Fred MacMurray) detested dogs. Kirk was reunited with "Ole Yeller" co-stars McGuire and (Corcoran) for Disney's 1960 adventure film "Swiss Family Robinson," based on Johann David Wyss' about a family of shipwreck survivors on an island somewhere in the southwest Pacific. Sir John Mills starred as the family patriarch, McGuire was his wife and their three sons were played by James MacArthur, Kirk and Corcoran. In 1961, Kirk co starred with MacMurray and Keenan Wynn in Disney's live-action comedy feature "The Absent-Minded Professor," MacMurray played the title character, Medfield College's physical chemistry professor Ned Brainard. His legendary absent-mindedness resulted in three canceled wedding ceremonies, which exasperated his fiancée (Nancy Olson). Meanwhile, his explosive home experiments accidentally created an anti-gravity substance he called "flubber" (a portmanteau for flying rubber). Brainard found himself struggling to fend off the schemes of a greedy land developer named Alonzo Hawk (Keenan Wynn), who wanted to profit from flubber. Kirk played Hawk's son Biff. The movie's 1963 sequel was "Son of Flubber." In 1964, it was Kirk's turn to star as a Disney braniac. "The Misadventures of Merlin Jones" starred the actor as a college student whose experiments with mentalism resulted in his developing the ability to read minds. The sci-fi comedy also starred Annette, Leon Ames, Stu Erwin, Alan Hewitt and Norman "Woo Woo" Grabowski. Kirk and Annette starred in "The Monkey's Uncle," the 1965 sequel to "The Misadventures of Merlin Jones" that revolved around such plot devices as the custody of a chimp named Stanley and the invention of a human-powered flying vehicle. Annette sang the title song with musical backing by The Beach Boys. It was Kirk's final film for Disney. His contract was terminated by Walt Disney after it was discovered he had become involved with a male minor. Kirk continued to appear in movies, including the 1968 independent project "Mars Needs Women," which co-starred Yvonne Craig. The sci-fi comedy cast Kirk as a Martian on a search for females for The Red Planet. Although it was not released theatrically, it has developed a cult following through the years.

A Countess from Hong Kong (1967) - Sophia Loren Airport (1970) - Helen Hayes

Monkey Business (1931) -- Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and Zeppo stowaway and cause trouble onboard This Woman Is Mine (1941) -- Carol Bruce plays the stowaway all the men aim to woo The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin (1967) -- Roddy McDowall as Bullwhip is a stowaway for the California gold rush Snowpiercer (2013) -- an entire class system of stowaways

I saw Track of Thunder several years ago on YouTube. It wasn't bad. I reviewed it in this thread:: https://forums.tcm.com/topic/30569-richs-b-and-worse-juvenile-delinquent-thread/page/9/?tab=comments#comment-799557

Found this on Wikipedia. At least he seemed to be alright during his retirement. In 2006 he was retired with "a nice pension"[43] and living in Redding, California. He reflected: As I look back on the whole thing, it gave me the chance to be in three or four movies that people will enjoy long after I'm gone. I heard Pat Boone say in an interview that the bombs are just as important as the hits, because they are all part of life. I'm not bitter. I'm not unhappy things didn't go the way I wanted them to go with my career. I tried to be a good actor and an ethical person. I'm still trying to be an ethical and honest person. But I'm glad to be retired. I live in the middle of a national park, basically, with miles and miles of wilderness. Redding ain't glamorous. Monte Carlo it is not. It's small-town life, and it suits me.

So glad TCM is celebrating and I get to start my morning by watching one of my favorite films City Lights😊 Though everyday should be silent movie day in my opinion🤣 https://www.nationalsilentmovieday.org/ I wish I could've hosted a watch party or something today haha, anyone have any special plans? What's your go to silent film?

ROAD TO MOROCCO — the movie begins with them as stowaways CATCH ME IF YOU CAN — stowaway on a plane by pretending to be a pilot

...so can the can:

Disney’s SHIPWRECKED A NIGHT AT THE OPERA

“Call me irresponsible” from PAPA’S DELICATE CONDITION next another Oscar winner or nominee that’s less famous (i.e. not As time goes by or Over the Rainbow)

I will also also take the time to note that MAGDA AND SANDOR had the most stable, healthiest relationship on that show BY A MILE.

I know it seems like yesterday to a lot of us, but the 70s were now half a century ago. If you watched a 50 year old movie in 1971, it would've been made in 1921. That's why some of today's kids look at movies made in the 70s the same way many of us looked at movies made in the 1920s. They're cultural curiosities to most younger folks.

THANK YOU! I'm a Tormé fan and never read anything by him. Looked at my library first, which has a Tormé penned book "The Other Side Of The Rainbow" about Judy Garland. Requested that, should be an interesting read. Since they didn't have "It Wasn't All Velvet", I just purchased it from an Illinois Thrift Store on ABE books for $4. Thanks for mentioning that King Rat, now I've got something good to read!

They filmed it, but the ABC censors deemed it to be too hot for television.

Clothes Make the Woman (1928)

Monument Valley appears in each film?

I've met a few members of that family: Natasha, Lynn, Vanessa, and Rachel. Rachel was in a production of The Cocktail Party at the Phoenix Theatre in London in 1985. A friend of mine took me to see the play and gave me and Rachel and another actor in the cast (Robert Eddison) a ride home. I met Vanessa, Natasha and Lynn in New York. Back to you Chaya, for your next clue.

Gigi

I found the streetcar graveyard scene in Hellbound fascinating as a snapshot of a particular point in time, and it shows why old movies are worth watching regardless of what you think of their merits as a piece of art.

Nope, don't have Spotify. But, no biggie. I suspected that the Steve Hoffman Music Forum site that I linked to might interest and appeal to you. I found this 1968 tune from surgeon-clarinetist Jean-Christian Michel thereon.

Jack Palance next : who plays the slimy type well

I posted "Republican," it's on the previous page. ☺ I think depending how you get on a thread (looking at one of your comments that someone liked) it may not take you to the most recent post. It's happened to all of us.☺ **** *** Broderick Crawford Next: soft spoken

June Haver

True, but to be honest I started crying just in the middle of reading your now ten-year-old description (at the line "Nothing...only I thought he had returned"). Just the anticipation of what I know is coming next, and the poignancy of the situation, triggered an involuntary reaction in me. I realize, of course, that much of that comes from the way Chaplin staged the scene, and the quality of the acting, rather than from the situation itself (which out of context could sound very contrived or even maudlin). This reminds me that many years ago, when I first read about the making of the film (for which the shooting alone took nearly two years), I tended to view Chaplin's habit of only working out the details of a scene once he was on-set, his relentless perfectionism and penchant for numerous takes, as being self-indulgent and needlessly hard on his actors. (My reaction may also have been colored by thoughts of what Buster Keaton could have done with similar artistic freedom and financial resources around this same time.) But these days, I find myself thinking instead that there's something infinitely touching about Chaplin's unwavering commitment to capturing a moment so fragile. His willingness to spend months constantly thinking about every nuance of the scene, so that he could arrive finally at something that felt true and honest to him, and (as it turned out) imperishable. Now obviously you can always overthink things, and lose any sense of freshness or spontaneity if you work them to death. The miracle is that this didn't happen, and I guess that is one mark of an artist--the ability to keep a constantly elusive goal clearly in mind without any loss of enthusiasm.

If you want to learn more about Janette Scott, you might read Mel Tormé's autobiography, It Wasn't All Velvet, which I just finished. (And thanks to Mr. Gorman's post above, I was able to spell Mel's last name correctly.) They were married for several years. She had previously been involved with David Frost. Janette Scott gave up the lead in Sands of the Kalahari to follow Mel to America.

BLONDIE IN THE DOUGH

Doctor Friggin' Zhivago . Which TCM loves to show, it seems every other week. I cannot understand why this looong over-wrought film is so popular with so many. It's too long, I get sick of all the snow, and I get sick of Lara's long-suffering smile. Oh, the poor dears, having an affair in the middle of a revolution, it's so hard to meet. Every time I hear that "Somewhere My Love" theme, I want to whack a samovar over the besotted couple's heads.

Had Prince William Adelin lived, we probably would not have had at least two good films: Becket and The Lion in Winter, because the events that led to the reign of Henry II would not have occurred. It would have changed the course of English history. (Actually, Henry II was a pretty good king.)

Moviecollector: Maybe I haven't posted enough around here yet; but when in doubt, go for the joke. (You'll know when I'm serious about something.) But I am sorry I caused you some puzzlement and perhaps a little distress. You certainly don't have to sell me on the total horror of using AI somehow to "resurrect" our idols of the past and command new performances out of them against their wills. A few years ago, there were some commercials that used dead actors to pitch some products -- John Wayne comes to mind first, but there may have been some others. Completely irreverent and shameful this was. Good old Swithin was proposing some doozies of stories that I thought would be fascinating to watch. So in the spirit of "Hey gang, let's put on a show," I wished to buoy the enthusiasm a bit. I may have miscalculated a little and caused a whole new "White Ship Disaster." (I just saw the notice that Swithin posted a reference to a book). So I'll go ahead and take a look at this. Be not afraid Moviecollector, I love the old movies way too much to see them torn apart, junked for scraps and fodder to be used in new outrageous ways.

maybe he ate some of the earth food.

I just recently saw him on another channel that was showing CATALINA CAPER ('67). Was amused at his character ogling all the bikini clad "babes" considering his being gay. But actors are paid to act, and he did pull it off.(no pun intent). Rest In Peace. Sepiatone

I've seen The Shining and Barkleys. Don't know about other films.

Happy centennial birthday to Deborah Jane Trimmer (Deborah Kerr), born on September 30th, 1921 in Hillhead, Glascow, Scotland!

Ava here is saying... "Oh REALLY?! I've never heard that!"

Before THE DECLINE of western civilization... Beach punks seen in a pre-BLACK FLAG incarnation named PANIC! pose in their hometown Hermosa Beach - note the Aviation Boulevard street sign, Dargo: Glen "Spot" Lockett, a multi-ethnic/multi-talented dude who engineered and produced BLACK FLAG records, took some wonderful snapshots of life in Los Angeles' South Bay area - especially on the Strand during the late 1970s period: If I can get your momentary attention here, Dargo, note the old Baptist church in the background which by then or was soon offering Sacrament to the notorious beach punk scene eventually captured on celluloid by Penelope Spheeris for her 1981 rockumentary.

BRINGING UP BABY (1938)

True. It is more about how they complain. Often, like we see here, the complainer is misinformed and way over the top.

I only have Disraeli Gears uploaded, but for CREAM I wish I had Wheels Of Fire...

I like the Ekberg noir film Screaming Mimi (1958). The setting is a jazz club owned by Gypsy Rose Lee, that features dancing and Ekbreg is one of the dancers. A few first rate jazz performances.

I can generally take or leave most silents. Silent comedies are more to my liking. All depends on what it is and about. Like Georges Milies early camera trickery is hard for me to resist. I'll keep an eye out for what's being offered over the day. Sepiatone

I'm not at all "biased" against post-code classic films at all. I'm not a snob or a rich person but I can still use the word "curate". I think it would be nice to keep comments to films and not get personal. We all share something in common loving classic movies. Why be unkind to each other?

Sous`e, Egbert--W, C. Fields in The Bank Dick

A common complaint is that TCM shows certain films way-too-often, too many from the main studios of Warner, MGM and RKO, too much focus on star actors and directors and their big-budget films, and that generally, TCM should open up their rotation. Eddie does that here with Hellbound; A United Artist, low budget film with no big name actors (other than maybe Whitman, who was just starting to make somewhat of a name for himself when this film was made). I guess my overall point is there is no pleasing of all-the-people-all-the-time.

6 Day Bike Rider (1934)

@FXREYMAN: Greetings. → Why not offer up a few nuggets of why some of the movies on your list are not enjoyable viewing? Doesn't have to be an expansive list of complaints; could be something as simple as "This movie runs so long I lose interest and get bored" or "the subject matter doesn't interest me in the least". That's why I don't fancy LAWRENCE OF ARABIA: It's so long + the desert doesn't interest me enough to watch a 3½-hour movie. If it were 100 minutes I'd give it a go. Like the 1965 movie SANDS OF THE KALAHARI seems interesting enough, but it doesn't run 215 minutes either so I'd be willing to watch that should it pop up on TCM (or maybe it already has and I've just missed it).

?? don't like "White Christmas" ? What's with you guys? It's an utterly charming, entertaining, enjoyable movie. And you don't even have to be someone who celebrates Christmas to like it. Let me count the ways it's good: It's fun and good-natured. It doesn't ask you to take it seriously, it's shamelessly unrealistic and silly, like most movie musical plots are. I don't ask for or even necessarily want seriousness in a musical . ( ok, lots of exceptions to that...West Side Story, Cabaret, even Oklahoma has its dark moments.....but most musicals are fluffy and fun, and there's nothing wrong with that.) The 4 leads are likable and talented. Bing and Rosemary are fantastic singers, Danny can sing and dance and make us laugh, and Vera-Ellen dances the pants off everyone . That number near the beginning, "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing", is so delightful to watch, truly good dancing, great, fun choreography, and such a catchy, sweet tune. Which brings me to the main reason "White Christmas" is a wonderful movie: The music. all the songs are by the great Irving Berlin, one of the best songwriters of the 20th century. And the dances they devise to go with this great music are a perfect match. Musicals are all about the quality of the music, which in the case of "White Christmas" is first -rate, followed closely by the cleverness and skill involved in the dance numbers, ditto for "White Christmas". Plus, as I said, it's fun and unabashedly light and frothy. Truly a "feel good" movie, I think anyone who doesn't like it probably doesn't like musicals, period.

Ah...TOM Kirk. All grown up and ready to rumble? And Faith Domergue??? I'll be there.