Tikisoo

One of my favorite dramatic roles of Blondell's A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN '45. She's perfect. Although I also really love CRY HAVOC, both pictures have been screened by our local classic film group and the entire audience was SILENT & ENRAPTURED during key scenes.

Blondell is an absolute favorite in this household. Mr Tiki who isn't well versed in early movies calls her "Banjo Eyes". Recently, my mother convalesced at my house for a month after a hospital stay. She watched a lot of my TCM recordings always asking for Joan Blondell pre-codes. Joan's snappy saucy personality in a cute story is a great pick-me-up for those feeling down which is probably why she was a darling of the Depression. As she matured so did her roles, especially good in CRY HAVOC! BTW, which month will she be featured? (like I don't already own so many recordings)

speedy, I love your take on I LOVE LUCY. I love Lucy and Desi, their stories, tragedies & triumphs.

So was my Nana in her last stages of Alzheimers. It was marvelous watching her watch The Simpsons, what would make her laugh, mostly visuals. She always laughed at Marge's hair. I've been amazed when discovering Lucy is not universally loved. People from other cultures and 20 somethings think Lucy is acting like a child-which she is. Some just don't see the absurdity of the humor, I guess. I sometimes bristle at the idea of the Man Of The House dictatorship and the woman as his charge. But my parents had that dynamic in the 60's when I was growing up, so I've experienced it. But to younger generations, humiliating a woman is not a setting for a comedy. And the re-runs after school. Great songs, great voice performances. Cr***y animation, but clever sight gags. I haven't seen one in decades, wonder how they hold up? Pictures of me as a kid show I carried a Flintstones lunch box to school. Used to have this mechanical toy: I have the original 45 recording that was sped up as Pebbles & BamBams voices. It's a religious hymn. Ann Margrock! Ah, childhood memories!

THANKS! I have MASK OF DIMITRIOS recorded and love watching noirs in winter. Also thanks for the heads up on TCM Premiere REPEAT PERFORMANCE coming up Dec 29, sounds right up my alley!

Wish Elfman's "composing" would finally end too.

For years I listened to TCM during my entire 8 hour workday, without watching. (silents & foreign films didn't work) This technique definitely illustrates good dialogue vs awful dialogue. When listening, I found an incredible similarity to the voices of Gene Kelly and John Garfield. They both have that same register and kind of breathy quality to their voices. Sorry, there aren't many good video snippets to illustrate:

Was that jab really necessary? Sorry, the fave quote wasn't called out in that last post. Is it "Lucky to get a cracker"? Did you catch Howard Morris' voice as the announcer? "Bay-bee, bay-bee, bay-bee!" (Howard Morris was Jett Screamer too)

HILARIOUS! I actually perfected that jerky walk as a child, never failing to crack up my older brother. (bet I still can do it too) He ALWAYS asked for a "Rocks on the rocks in a dirty glass" which made us all roll on the floor in laughter. The other oft used Flintstones quote in our household, "Everybody into the pool" (pronounced "puel")

Yup. It's taken Americans 40 years to realize Shatner was a major factor in the series success. People can make fun of him all they want, but in reality he's a character. Shatner's acting style is his schtick, making him interesting to watch. People embrace Cary Grant's schtick -really- who speaks in that cadence? Also, you can't discount Nimoy or any of the other supporting a actors, along with pretty interesting story lines. Sure, the costumes/sets were pretty schlocky, but Trekkies embrace that as "quaint". (I can't believe searching "Star Trek OS pizza monster" resulted in this-I thought I was the only one who called it that!)

Certain comedians movies fall into "not interested" for me. I have zero interest in seeing any Danny Kaye chestnuts. I tried watching his "best" most recommended and aside from the gorgeous Technicolor, sets & costumes, the movie left me cold. The same reaction I have to the 60's Rankin-Bass Christmas Specials. Not entertaining enough for adults-at least when sober. Red Skelton also falls into this category for me. I can tolerate a few of his movies, if supported by a better script & actors, but even then I'd have to be talked into watching it. Definitely do not seek them out. I did seek out Jerry Lewis movies and while having a few chuckle moments, for the most part I found embarrassing and just decided they're not for me.

I just found this in a box of sheet music-Welk here was singing about "my gal", not cigarettes or sausages: (last word "packed") Sorry to derail topic....

Re: UNDER CAPRICORN- thanks for your review, prompting me to look this one up. I must have seen this during my Hitchcock course but have totally forgotten it. Will be most interesting as when living in Australia many of my friends were descendants of "Scottish Convicts". (if you think there's a racial divide in the US, Australia has us beat)

The case for todays accompanists as well. It's actually fun watching the pianist watch the screen and shift playing to suit the scene.

So Ted Turner has ownership of all those colorized movies....he can have 'em! This is why I loved the now discontinued TCM's Young Composers Competition. A good film score is a wholly different thing than a typical composition. There are few artists who are truly talented at the art of film music composition and I wholly support film & music schools teaching this.

You better believe Disney won't have it. It's the way it should work, but I do believe that's why studios "restore" films - The restored version becomes their property for the next 95 years. And TCM is the only channel that shows movies "uncut & commercial free". Even Paramount's streaming movie channel shows commercials.

I dislike the shift to the bright, saturated colors Disney starting using in the 50's, much preferring the subtler, more natural colors used in the earlier films. I do like however, the more angular stylized style I think was first seen in SLEEPING BEAUTY- the Disney style of charactors before that was more doll like cutie. It's visually interesting when Disney 2d animation shift drawing styles, like 101 DALMATIONS has a "hand drawn" feeling with some night sets becoming toned outlines. Some animation studios feel their "look" is their trademark and never changed, like Gibli. Omigod that Mad Madam Mim clip! AMAZING!

I just watched 2 movies recorded last month from TCM: IN PERSON '35 This was kind of early in Ginger's career, right at the beginning of her Astaire/Rogers musicals. This was most likely one of her first leading roles and she shows her ability to carry a lightweight romantic comedy. The usual fluff plot: a beautiful actress can't deal with fame so she goes out in public disguised with wig, glasses & crazy teeth. She meets up with the male romantic lead, big bottomed George Brent who is kind to her, but is certainly not attracted to her. (I found this sort of shallow on his part) They end up alone together on a vacation and (spoiler?) he falls in love with her "personality". OK a pretty bland programmer made watchable by the talented sparkling Ginger Rogers. She has a few song & dance numbers and I was happy to see she can hold her own without Fred. I don't know who said she was "inferior" and needed Fred to make her look better dancing- she dances great. And with Hermes Pan choreographing, dances just as well without Fred. Ginger Harlow anyone? Second feature was 1942's FINGERS AT THE WINDOW. Just another 80 minute programmer about an axe murderer stalking the heroine played by Laraine Day. This was my first time seeing Day as well as Lew Ayres and they both made quite an impression. Day is gorgeous and Ayres is extremely likable, reminding me a bit of Jack Lemmon. Spoilers here include: Girl is lying & motive needs to be unwrapped, young & handsome Basil Rathbone is the villain, although not the killer. Another simple picture, but well acted and fun. I had always heard about Lew Ayres, but never actually saw him in a leading role. He's nothing like I had imagined, but I do wonder why he didn't become a bigger star. Enjoyable double feature-like a movie novella. How do you like this poster? "Danger at Nightfall, Romance at Daybreak" woo-hoo!

Agreed, he was an understated, natural actor. Too bad his goofy face typecast him. I referred to him as "Michael J Dullard" because of his face & persona. I really like that first picture posted in this thread, it helps break that illusion. I betcha he was a very intelligent & hard working man who was good at acting like a dullard!

My answer to the question posed by OP is: Any threads about particular movie stars should be in the Your Favorites sub-forum category, not General Discussions. I've participated in discussions about individual stars (Alan Ladd/Paulette Goddard) & character actors (Dane Clark, Thomas Mitchell) there and would be great if more people migrated & contributed to other sub-forums now & then.

I will not disagree with you Miss W, and I'm GLAD you wrote out your explanations. While I can understand and somewhat agree with many of your impressions, I love the movie every time I see it. Maybe it's Bette Davis' stilted portrayal along with Raines calm strength and all the "suitors" supporting performances that overcome the thin story. Maybe some of us know vain, narcissistic people like Fanny and it's fun to see her get her comeuppance with her old bf "reunion" scene. Maybe I'm more forgiving of the silliness because I was brought up by parents who instilled in me: "your face is your fortune". Luckily, I learned earlier than Fanny how wrong that mindset is. And NOTHING is funnier than a mature lady still dressing in the same edgy clothing/mini skirts/sequins/make up they've been wearing the past 30-40 years. I always say, "There goes Fanny!"

Don't agree. I think Disney offers a lesser tier of shorts & features to TCMs channel as a teaser/advertisement to prompt viewers to check into what incredible programming is offered over at Disney+.

I'd be completely fine with all the cartoony antiseptic-plexes becoming obsolete. People ruin the theater experience for others with their phones on/talking/etc anyway. Let the great unwashed masses plop in their recliner in PJs dining on Hot Pockets, never leaving their home to talk through the latest cgi fluff movie. Then, all the great old movie palaces could show classic movies-even Fathom events- for people to participate in a theater experience. People who want to become absorbed in the story, with a hundred other people. Better when serving "better" snacks. Even better when you have a café where strangers discuss what they're seeing. It could happen. Upstate NY has several of these classic movie experiences.

Ted Turner has tried to do more positive things with his life rather than destructive acts. He will always be remembered by this group as the "jerk who wanted to colorize classic movies". Glad he quickly realized his mistake, but still, I understand his reasoning/intent was only to make them more acceptable to the close-minded.

For me it's the insulting vocalizations. They are ridiculing the clumsiness of assimilating a new language. I'd rather appreciate than mock them. For some reason Fanny Brice, Chico Marx & El Brendel seem more affectionate & gentle with their immigrant vocalizations, you're laughing with them, not at them.