Tikisoo

FYI....after this thread piqued my interest, I found a book in the library about Rains. Fairly recently published, written by David Skal, whom I have met at horror festivals. Skal's lectures on the history of horror films was insightful and enlightening so I expect an excellent book. It's very thick and detailed, skimming through and looking at the pictures. I read a few passages and actually found the story I had "heard".... Despite several marriages, Rains only had one child, a daughter and he took her to see THE INVISIBLE MAN when Universal re-released their horror films in the 50's. During the film he whispered all the details about the making of the film. The theater was small and sparsely populated and NO ONE was watching the screen, but instead turned in their seats intently listening to the famous voice they recognised behind them. Another passage I had read was Rains reflecting on his life. Apparently he was an unhappy tortured man, alcoholic at the end and said he "only lived in roles"....if he wasn't acting, he wasn't a person. Sad. The book seems to concentrate a lot on his early stage roles and film by film descriptions, which I often find a bore. I'm glad it's a library book because I'm not sure it's a "keeper".

As for women being "meatier" back then & skinny now....do you realize Marilyn Monroe is BIG with the high school crowd? They think she's beautiful because of her round curves. I think chunkier girls identify with her body type and the boys are confirming they like it too. Thank goodness, the concentration camp Audrey look is OUT. The reason why romantic leading men of old are sexier than the romantic leading men of today is most certainly because of personality. Gable had a "hunkster" personality, Cagney had a "bad boy" persona and Cary Grant's voice and mannerisms are almost cartoony. No wonder people could do IMPRESSIONS of them. Even though they had distinct personalities, they always could play against type and we still accepted them. As much as I love Paul Newman, he seems to be the first ushering in the "modern" era of men- handsome but kind of plain, average style speaking voice & mannerisms. OK, but not nearly as memorable performances as actors with "charactor" At least leading men in movies look better than the guys you see on the street: exposed buttocks, shaved head, mumblers that just look like giant toddlers shuffling along.

Thank you HelenBaby....French Cancan was everything you suggested- colorful costumes & sets, wonderful story and great performances. The theme of ART being greater than self, of course touched my heart. In this way the story reminded me of THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL. This was my first Jean Gabin film and I can completely see why he is so well loved by Cinephiles. What a great actor, great charactor face and beautiful performance. Seeing & hearing Edith Piaf perform was an extra bonus! My favorite scene is when the heroine, after finding out her love has replaced her with another, pouts and refuses to go on stage. She is standing in the theater basement wearing a mauve pink dress, leaning against the wall painted mauve pink. As she contemplates whether to go "on" or not, she realizes performing for the audience is more important to her than her own love life. Visually, she appears to meld into the wall, becoming "part of the theater" itself. Also extraordinary are the various close ups of all the audience faces as the girls perform, showing the joy art brings to people. This movie is a nod to artists and the sacrifice they make with their personal lives for others' entertainment.

Well, with my job I often have only a b&w photo as a guide for reproducing colors. All you can really tell is hue (the amount of white added to a color) and saturation (the amount of pure color to the mix) That dress's hue & saturation does not look lime green to me, it's too "dark". The straps, empire tie & ruffles seem to be a different hue than the stripes on the body of the dress. And the word is "flow-ING" I don't know where this new term "flow-y" comes from, but it's not a real word. And I can definitely discern a red head from honey brown hair in a b&w movie. Greer is definitely a red head, but a lighter more blonde red than mahogany haired Maureen O'Hara. And Myrna is a less fiery red head, more of an auburn honey red head, at least to my eyes.

Did TikiKid elaborate on what made her love the movie? Oh she's 17 and kind of an unrealistic romantic. She was just happy the couple found each other and lived happily ever after. The "love conquers all" theme. Hey, at least she followed the story...she's easily confused by plot lines. A testament to a kid's anemic attention spans. I often worried she might be ADD, but now think attention is a learned skill that (hopefully) will come with maturity.

Well, I'm recording 3 days in a row: 5/27 8pm THE STAR with Bette Davis 5/28 ROMANCE IN MANHATTAN with Ginger Rogers 5/29 7:30am MISS PACIFIC FLEET with Joan Blondell 3 movies I've never seen. You can always count on Bette Davis to be a hoot. And then 5/31 NOTHING LASTS FOREVER....a movie recommended by some on this board. Hope I like it too. (i'm still watching April's picks)

The week started with a screening of REBECCA OF SUNNYBROOK FARM....Shirley Temple is always a crowd pleaser. Love the movie, but not enough Raymond Scott (only the end number) I noticed the plethora of close ups on Miss Shirley's face. I think that's the appeal of these movies-Shirley had the ability to give sincere smiles-a human brain can instantly recognise a fake smile. Shirley's smile is genuine and it's infectious. Then I watched the recorded Underground William Castle movie IT'S A SMALL WORLD. I actually enjoyed this "serious" look at what life for a "midget" was like in the past. Of course, it's viewed as campy and exploitative, but I think it was a sincere attempt. The guy who starred in it was very good and put into a lot of bad situations. His first friend after escaping a sideshow is Todd Kearns, son of Roscoe Kearns ("Shapley's the way I like 'em") the actor best known for playing Harry Bailey; "To my big brother George, the richest man in town!" It was fun seeing him in another role- playing a good guy, just out of the service who is a shoe shiner. Nobody told him to remove his wedding band for the role. The movie has a happy ending in Cole Brothers Circus with the "midget" finding true love. Another fun watch this week was THE STEPFORD WIVES. I was expecting that lilting theme, but that was VALLEY OF THE DOLLS. Same story? From the first frame showing crazy 60's wallpaper, I knew I was in for a treat. Katherine Ross reminded me of Kathy Ireland and Tina Louise reminded me of Shelly Long. Both were really good in their roles, I was surprised at how good Tina Louise was in this. The story was predictible, but fun in the way it was told. It did get just a bit scary at the end. I noticed all sorts of foreshadowing imagery in the movie: the man carrying the mannequin in the beginning of course, but also the living room had an antique dress form "doll", the bedroom had a man's valet, and a shot from the kitchen showed an odd print of a hanging dead rabbit. The husband, played by Peter Masterson, behaved like a big 12 year old dope; "I want to screw in every room of the new house" He could have been played by Clint Howard just as effectively. Peter is Mary Stuart Masterson's dad and she played one of his daughters in the movie-early start for her career. I saw this movie as a metaphor for the bland conformity of suburbia. Not a movie, but we watched old episodes of POLICE SQUAD with the family on our home movie night. The kid at first complained how "corny" it was, but by the end of episode one was laughing and enjoying it. It was kind of like the Marx Brothers in that MrTeek laughed at some things, I laughed at others and the kid laughed at completely different things. Fun. Last night we attended a screening of RANDOM HARVEST. This was touted as a "requested" film and many in our audience were excited to see this new restoration. It did look wonderful, Greer Garson is a gem, especially in her mini skirt kilt. I was hoping seeing it with an audience might bring a new enjoyment of this story, which I always found preposterous. Confirmed: I hate this movie. I was surprised MrTiki felt exactly the same way as I did-this was his first viewing and I didn't say a WORD about my impressions of it. TikiKid loved it. Ronald Coleman is awful, I cannot warm up to him. I realize his charactor is confused, but he will just about do anything any woman suggests. Amnesia shouldn't make you stoopid. The story is far fetched until Garson decides to be his secretary to be "near" him. Then it falls into ridiculous. It should have been edited about 15 minutes shorter, I could feel the audience losing patience with the story near the end. Some were hoping he'd get hit by another car and be done with it. But as I said, if you like this soaper, the restoration is glorious. Makes me want to see the far superior MRS MINIVER again. My least favorite movie this week was a silent double feature of Louise Brooks in THE SHOW OFF and Clara Bow in THE PLASTIC AGE. I just can't get into watching silents home alone on TV. Endless time spent on showing people packing to go away to college, or walking to a destination, title cards instead of snappy dialogue....they just didn't have the medium of film honed yet.

I am angered and appalled. I am sorry about your pain. If you are so unhappy with what cable television has scheduled for you to watch, you can turn the channel. Or if nothing interests you, turn off TV and do something else for entertainment. Rather than complaining to a bunch of people who have zero control over your situation...why not DO something about it? Once I was disgusted over the price of cable and the substandard quality of product provided for that cost, I just discontinued the "service". Vote with your dollars.

No, no option. Guess they figure it's not worth bothering with. My goodness....it shouldn't be so difficult to FIX. After all, post #1 SHOULD be post #1. This post, which will be the seventeenth post in this thread, will become #1. DUMB. As Valentine said: "If you want to refer back to an old post, its number never changes, so you can find it." That's reason enough to tell you this current set up is wrong.

As much as I love Magnani, I found the story just a little preposterous.

I had recorded William Castle's IT'S A SMALL WORLD last week and saw the new Underground opening. Thank goodness it's been changed-I was really bored with the last one of the dreadlock headed guy putting up posters. The new opening isn't very good either, but at least it's NEW. The new opening lists what categories "underground" films fall within; cult, monsters, horror, etc. Is anyone else getting a little tired with all these categories & sub categories? Movies, music, clothing...everything fits under some tile. Recorded and waiting to watch great double feature IT'S ALIVE & THE BABY. Thank you TCM Underground for providing fun movie options. Maybe not classic films in the traditional sense....but movies I certainly enjoy.

I'd like to know if there's any GOOD biography about Rains' life. I'd like to know more about him. Autobiography is even better. I recall hearing a story, possibly told by his daughter, recounted to me via a film friend: I knew he lived in Putney VT, a lovely New England town which is where he is buried. His children had no idea what "daddy did" so he took her (them) to a movie he was featured in. His daughter says her surprise seeing him on the screen confused her! Guess she got used to it. But the core element of the story is he separated his private & professional life apparently. Can anyone validate this? I have a copy of THE CLAIRVOYANT and love it! (Btw, in addition to being the son of Robert Morley, he is the grandson of Gladys Cooper). Really Swithin? Robert Morely is Gladys Cooper's son? Never knew THAT. I adore Cooper and always surprised to recognise her....she so becomes a "different" person in every role. One of the most beautiful old ladies in film. (but could "look" ugly like in NOW VOYAGER-a talent she shared with Bette Davis, who could act "beautiful")

I'm hoping Rains gets a SUTS day this year. Well, the Now Playing guide when Claude Rains was SOTM is framed in my house-the photo of him was gorgeous! I have never seen it before, he was leaning out of a train. Rains had the wonderful ability of being a good guy or delicious villan with equal amounts of pathos & believability. The only other actor I can think of just as talented at this is Vincent Price....at opposite ends of the height spectrum!

Great post! Hayden always surprises me in a movie...for whatever reason I never recognise his face. When I see his name in the credits, am always amazed it's the "same guy as Jack D Ripper". Not only versatile, but chameleon-like in my book. He seems to be just a regular guy, but can transform himself to be convincing in any role. That's the definition of a really great actor, isn't it? Great choice for a SOTM. I like that TCM is showing quite a few unusual titles along with Hayden's chestnuts.

I like the fact that enjoyment of movies is so subjective, and like all the points made - even though I don't feel the same way. I love Citizen Kane & 2001, but I don't expect everyone else to. It's like musicals....you either love 'em or hate them. And it's especially fun when you dislike a movie, then see it again another time and then say "oh now I get why so many people like it".

I agree.... "Instant hit"? What about "instant classic"? Oy.

Vertigo2 said: That opening of "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning!'" coming from an actor pretending to sing would have been too disturbing for R and H (and maybe audiences) to have been tolerated. The strongest portion of the movie, imho. A handsome guy riding a horse smiling & singing along corn rows? Yummy, I like it at least. But isn't the actor just lip synching a playback anyway? We all know there isn't a boom mike following that horse walking. Sure, it's more believable if it's his own voice, but what's the difference if it's an actor doing the lip-synch or the person whose voice is recorded on the playback? Why do you think one is more believable than the other? I always wondered what it would be like on a set during a singing number like that. Would the actor really sing, albeit softly? Or just mouth the words? In A STAR IS BORN the scene where Judy Garland is being filmed singing, the playback is so loud, it drowns out her voice if she is singing along with herself. In MY FAIR LADY obviously Audrey Hepburn sang the songs during the filming. Marni Nixon syncronized her singing to the film of Audrey's mouth moving, pretty seamlessly, I might add.

That picture shows her wearing the same bikini Marilyn posed in-they traded clothes back when they were roommates. Many do not know they were very good friends. I just finished reading Shelly's second autobiography, and in it she addresses her frequent screen murders. She took it in stride, actually joking about it. Like any of us, she just wanted work so she could earn a living. She was picky about choosing parts, and wanted to work with the best directors and fellow actors. But there was a time when she had to take whatever the studio put her in. Her "B" picture time period, as she refers to it. I think she was an extraordinary actress. Irritating.... yes. But that was the role. Any actress would have been irritating. She just took similar roles to work with great talents like Charles Laughton, Robert Mitchum, George Stevens, Stanley Kubrick, etc.

I think the Post button got stuck. Naw, he's just competing with the troll for "most posts" on page 1

I was surprised when turning on the TV and saw her in KINGS ROW-a film I've never watched before. Surprised because I never thought Sheridan was anything speshel. But boy, she sure was a knockout in that movie - maybe a little younger and less make up than I'm used to seeing her? I never understood the "oomph" about her, but hey, I'm not a guy. Her acting was believable, and I could see why young men going off to war thought of her as the type of girl they "were fighting for". She had a very natural sweetness about her that didn't do so well "tarted up" as in movies like THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER which is the first role of hers that comes to mind. And Ben's intros & outros are showing more lighthearted personality than Robt O's ever have. Bravo Ben!

I'm with Polecat on that one....I find new cartoons trite and most other new films just too boring. All dizzying movement and zero story to engage me. As for classic movies, I harbor disdain for oh-so-beautiful dramatic songbirds like Katherine Grayson & Jeanette MacDonald. While I think MacDonald is ok in a role, I can't stand her singing. Intolerable when accompanied by Nelson Eddy. Get the needles. (Singing only works for me in lighter venues, such as Wizard of Oz or Unsinkable Molly Brown) And a hate, hate, hate westerns & mysteries. Westerns are a bore and being a horse person myself, totally unrealistic. Mysteries are resolved in a neat bow in the last 10 minutes by some smug charactor-big surprise. And nothing irks me more than the parade of non Asians playing Charlie Chan. Get the needles again.

What are you really asking? If you want to buy a jukebox just like that one, there are many available out there-same model. A big auction of jukeboxes is coming up in Central NY (brzostek.com or Toll Free: 800-562-0660) Owning a jukebox can be difficult-any old mechanical machine is subject to temperature & humidity. My old pinball machine "hums" when it's humid and does not like to work properly when under 50º If you want to know what happened to that particular jukebox, well that's just speculation. Generally, studios sold props off and it's in some collector's warehouse like the piano from Casablanca.

The Time Machine?

Witness for the Prosecution The Ghost and Mrs. Muir I Could Go on Singing A Child is Waiting These are EXCELLENT films. All unusual. You'll be blown away by Garland's acting chops in the last 2. Footlight Parade Yankee Doodle Dandy I just showed TikiKid Footlight Parade this past Fri and was shocked, shocked at how much she loved it. She was enthralled with the Busby Berkeley dance numbers instead of thinking them silly! I wanted her to see Cagney (her fave) dancing. She wasn't as taken with YDD, although she cracked up seeing me cry when he dances down the stairs at the end. I've seen George M Cohen movies and he DOES dance just like Cagney depicts. Lust for Life You're not going to believe what a "painterly" movie this is. Great direction by Minnelli, great acting by Douglas. Baby Doll Saw this for the first time last year. I needed a bath afterwards. It's painfully gritty. Thelma & Louise Saw THAT for the first time last year too. Good, but once was enough.