JackBurley

"Do you have the Beau Hunks CDs of Hal Roach music? I haven't played mine in a long time. If I remember aright this group didn't use strings." I have the two-disc set of the Beau Hunk's playing Leroy Shield's music for The Little Rascals. It features: Ilone de Groot - violin Tineke de Jong - violin, viola Eelco Beinema - violincello Alida Schat - violin Ernst Grapperhaus - violin, viola

La Notte di Cabiria to Sweet Charity

Thank you all for indulging me. I'd tried a Billy Barty connection too, but couldn't find the path. Clarence Geldart was the key! And with the impressive work of wordmaster and MrWrite, I can now sleep soundly tonight.

"Hey Jack and everyone else: We have a Composer/Film Music thread over in the Films and Filmmakers Forum if you would like to add your thoughts and ideas to it!" Thanks Lynn, I've already written odes to Max Steiner and Nino Rota over there; and will probably babble on about my other favorite composers in the next few weeks...

"But I am befuddled by the idea that people can't suspend their disbelief for a movie musical..." There must be more to it than their inability to suspend disbelief. The same viewers who complain of this surreal quality about musicals have no problems believing that the hero of that film noir survived the barrage of bullets from the tommy gun while the villain only required one shot from the pistol. Or that a human being could survive the battery that the three stooges gave to each other. Or that Johnnie and Lina Aysgarth (Suspicion) could ever have a happy ending. The "inability to suspend disbelief" excuse regarding the inability to get musicals... well, maybe it's in our genetic foundation. Perhaps there's a musical appreciation gene in our makeup that inspires us to applaud Busby Berkeley and stare in awe at the Nicholas Brothers.

I've known many singers and dancers over the years. I too saw that post that read that "no one bursts out in song" in real life. And I thought, "In my world they do!". I work with a guy who sings medleys all day. Okay, I'll confess: I break into song all the time. I just need to hear the correct song cue, and I'm off. When no one is looking -- other than the receptionist -- at the firm where I work, I've been known to break into a tap dance while waiting for the elevators. When I'm finished (at the "ding" of the elevator), I dedicate the dance to the receptionist. And I was reminded of Rio de Janeiro, a city where the population is very in tune to music. They'll just start sining. Sit on a city bus, and some guy will sit next to you and start singing. That poster must live in a very dull world...

"They also had some lights that had ?masks? that could be placed over them. I think a mask could be cut out of thin metal and shaped in various ways, so that just the light flowing through the mask would hit the subject. " Nice post, Mr. Dobbs. I believe the mask that you're describing is a "gobo". These metal sheets could be cut in various ways to create patterns of light and shadow or to point out certain areas of the frame (Joan Crawford's eyes, for instance). And lest we forget the key light, that helped enhance Marlene Dietrich's cheekbones... "I've read that there were some actresses who were so aware of their lighting that they could tell by "feel" what lights were on them or what lights should be-Norma Shearer and Marlene Dietrich,for two." Hello daddysprimadonna, This is actually a skill that most would acquire from working on stages. When I was in school, our director would have us on stage -- blindfolded -- and we were instructed to find the light. One grows accustomed to feeling the light and its main focus.

My thoughts? My thoughts are that I need to fly up to Canada and get a look at your collection! Do you still have a laser disk player? Should I set aside a month to go through everything? And what's this about a cd of The Women? Did I misunderstand? I wasn't aware of one. I have the Overture and "Mary Explains" queue that are featured on the Lion's Roar: Classic M-G-M Film Scores disc, but that's all. I would love to have the entire score on cd. I'm still searching for full scores of Jezebel, The Apartment, Le Notte Bianche, Wuthering Heights. I have a cd of Wuthering Heights but it's a reorchestration, not the original soundtrack; and it pales in comparison. I have the original soundtrack on vinyl. Same with Since You Went Away; a soundtrack that was released by the Max Steiner Foundation. But this didn't include the sound queue of the GIs singing on the train -- a musical moment that's a highpoint in that movie. I also found The Apartment on vinyl; but await a remastered cd version. There used to be a record store called A-1 Records near the Paramount studios in Hollywood that I would haunt; but alas, now it's gone. I got my vinyl recording of The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. Terwilliker there... Where did I get that 40-disc set? It was on sale at Tower Records in San Francisco. I have others from this label as well, but the sound quality is often poor. Sometimes I think they recorded it off a TV set. Still these cds are the only way I could get recordings of The Gangs All Here, Step Lively and Higher and Higher, Sun Valley Serenade, among others. You're right, of course, that the Rhino/TCM (Handmade and otherwise) released the best products. They've spoiled me. I drool over the pictures and liner notes included in the sets. I also appreciate the details of the track lists that include recording dates, and all the performers. The extras are great. For a long time I was searching for the soundtrack of Yolanda and the Thief. A local record store that is painfully aware of my obsession with this stuff kept denying there was such a recording. Then I found that some Yolanda and the Thief tracks were included as extras on the Handmade recording of Three Little Words. The had it all along and didn't even know it... I wish TCM had a Forum for soundtracks and "Suggest a Soundtrack". You know they only made 2,500 of each Handmade soundtrack? Can it be that there are only 2,500 of us who want these things? I was stunned when I found them, because I'd stumbled upon them by accident. It made me wonder how many of these soundtracks are out there, but I just haven't found them yet...

Just take care not to be influenced by the pronounciations by Ricky Ricardo; you'd have lot so "splainin'" to do...

I used to live in Winnetka; does that count? There's an IMAX at Navy Pier...

"...last year we enjoyed 'The Polar Express'..." I attended screenings of Polar Express both last year and the previous. It's shown on the local IMAX in 3-D and it's a wonder to behold. I hope they'll revive it each year; I'll certainly attend every year that its shown.

"Are you going to this showing or are you just reporting an advertisment you saw? It's a long way to go from San Francisco to NYC just to see Pola!!!!" I looked it up to see if there were other screening scheduled; perhaps even in San Francisco. Alas, I couldn't find any others. I have been hankering for a trip to Manhattan (ever since seeing The Devil Wears Prada), so don't be surprised if I use Ms. Negri as my excuse. I wouldn't be the first time I've flown to New York to see a movie. And if I go, I will certainly report herewith.

" The second movie is really hard to explain as I only vaguely remember one particular scene where some mannequin torso (those figure torsos they use in fashion design) comes to life at night and rocks back and forth while this lady tries to sleep." Only the torso? Do you mean a "dress form"? There was a Twilight Zone episode (from the 1960's) wherein a mannequin comes to life at night. Anne Francis played the dummy...

Wait! I mean... um... would you mind if we waited for the final answer on MrWrite's challenge? He said there's a better result yet to come. I've been working on it, and if no one can figure it out I hope he'll give it to us before we leave it in the dust. Normally, we don't move on to the next question until the challenger has given us the go-ahead... From MrWrite: James Cruze to Tom Cruise (acting capacity only) The masterly wordmaster entered: James Cruze < Johnny Get Your Gun > Noah Beery Noah Beery < The Bad Man of Brimstone > John Qualen John Qualen < Anatomy of a Murder > George C. Scott George C. Scott < Taps > Tom Cruise To which, MrWrite replied: "Good try... but it can be done in one step less."

I have bits and pieces from these movies on cd. For instance, Lena Horne's "Honeysuckle Rose" is featured on the Rhino/Turner Classic Movies' Ain' It the Truth: Lena Horne at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. "In a Little Spanish Town" is on Rhino/Turner Classic Movies' Alive And Kickin': Big Band Sounds At M-G-M disc. I also have a 40-disc(!) set called The Sound of Movies on the History label that includes two numbers from Thousands Cheer: Judy Garland singing a rendition of "The Joint is Really Jumping Down at Carnegie Hall" with Jose Iturbi and Martha Tilton singing "I'll Walk Alone". The Judy Garland number is also found on Judy Garland: Collector's Gems from The M-G-M Films two-disc set (also from Rhino/TCM). The "Walter Winchell Rumba" and "Yo Te Amo Mucho (And That's That!)" (both featuring Xavier Cugat) from Holiday in Mexico is featured on the Rhino/TCM Maracas, Marimbas, And Mambos Latin Classics At M-G-M. I join you in anxiously waiting for more product from Rhino/TCM. I wonder if they've dissolved their relationship, since they haven't released any new discs in quite a while now?

"Found it on the web site in a downloadable version but don't like giving my credit card number out to total strangers. Also - would like to own the jacket and end notes that Rhino's releases are justly famous for." You read my mind! The link that I gave below gets you to the site to buy the downloads, but no. I too want the liner notes and disc. I'll be on the hunt in our local stores...

"it was about a young scientist who discovered a real cave-man somewhere. I think the cave-man was found frozen in ice, and a young doctor thawed him out and brought him back to life." I guess it's not The Iceman Cometh, eh?

Yes, they worked on Pocketful of Miracles together and apparently Glenn Ford's ego got in the way, making him very difficult to work with. I wish I had some specific quotes at hand; anyone have a copy of Name Above the Title handy?

It wasn't written for a movie, but it's been used in many movies: Out of Sight (1998) Dogfight (1991) Love Hurts (1991) Good Sam (1948) Diamond Horseshoe (1945) The Iron Major (1943) Thousands Cheer (1943) Blossoms in the Dust (1941) Waterloo Bridge (1940) Swiss Miss (1938) Make Way for Tomorrow (1937) Baby Face (1933) Anna Christie (1931) Mothers Cry (1930) As well as the aforementioned Betty Boop cartoon Let Me Call You Sweetheart (1932) which features a sing-along with bouncing ball and the musical shorts The Opry House (1929), Old Lace (1931) and Honeymoon Beach (1932).

"I would agree, if the references were to their appearances in the clips. But as they also appear in footage filmed for the movie itself (albeit a documentary)..." Excellent point. You're right! The Last Days of Pompeii < Louis Calhern > Athena Athena < Steve Reeves > Gli ultimi giorni di Pompei

[i believe you're right, wordmaster. Mr.Write hasn't turned over the baton to anyone yet; not until someone can find the answer with one less step. I'm still working on it; haven't found it yet...]

Yes, Patsy Kelly was a prolific comedienne in the 1930's-early 1940's. She was in numerous shorts with titles like Bum Voyage and Three Chumps Ahead; and she was featured in musicals like Going Hollywood and Pigskin Parade, but one of her final (and most memorable) roles was that of Laura-Louise in Roman Polanski's Rosemary's Baby. Talk about a wide-range; let's give her her due!

I greatly admire Mr. Peck and his work. Never considered him overlooked. There are documentaries and books about him. He received many accolades and is well remembered. I believe he was nominated for five Oscars and won the Best Actor Award for To Kill a Mockingbird, a favorite of mine from the 1960's. He was also awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1967. There is even a thread in another TCM Forum where the poster complains there are too many Gregory Peck movies shown, and not enough Richard Widmark. When I think of Gregory Peck, I immediately hear his voice. The warm timbre that harkens to paternal protection; a feeling that "everything will be okay"... Ms. Finnie discusses his narrow range, but this hadn't occurred to me. I see his frustration and confusion in Spellbound as differing from the cynical reporter out on a lark with the princess in Roman Holiday; I note his unspoken gentle mourning as the father in To Kill a Mockingbird as a departure from the confrontational writer with a nobel cause in Gentleman's Agreement. Lewt's lurid lust in Duel in the Sun against the counsel for the defense in The Paradine Case. Gregory Peck? Not overlooked; and with good reason.

As long as they end the Patsy Kelly day with Rosemary's Baby...

"According to Rhino's website, they never issued a CD called "Mario Lanza at MGM," which may be why you can't find it." I found it on their website: http://www.rhino.com/store/digital/detail.lasso?upc=081227295868 Now I just have to find it in the store... P.S. I just listened to the excerpt of "Love is Music" on the Rhino site; it sounds suspiciously like a theme from Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony...