coffeedan1927
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Posts posted by coffeedan1927
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You nailed it, feaito! Randolph Scott was "The Gentleman From Virginia," and that title was used most often to promote his westerns.
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I'm with you, Larry -- I reall don't know what ol' mitch was expecting. There are several reasons why I think Cary Grant and Randolph Scott were not "that way" about each other:
1. Cary Grant had a similar living arrangement with future costume designer Orry-Kelly when both of them were eking out a living in New York, painting neckties and other such things. No one ever questioned this relationship, even when it came out years later when both men were famous.
2. Grant and Scott were often photographed enjoying each other's company walking on the beach, playing cards, eating together, etc. In one of the photographs, Scott is even wearing an apron! In this context, I think the two of them were just having fun with the media's and the public's suppositions about their friendship -- nothing more.
3. If Grant and Scott were really more than "just friends," do you think that their studio (Paramount, at the time) would have let those pictures circulate? I don't think so! Bear in mind that they also poked fun at public perceptions of their relationship in the movie MY FAVORITE WIFE (1940), where they were competing for the attentions of Irene Dunne. Again, I don't RKO would have done anything to encourage rumors that could have hurt them as well as their actors.
4. I was in a similar situation once, where I set up housekeeping for a year and a half with a close male friend. At the time, we were both on the skids and recovering from disasterous relationships with women. We got along well and did a lot of things together, but a few rumors still flew, even though we were both well-known in the community, went to the same church, etc. At first, we were offended, but gradually we came to kid people about their perceptions, which probably encouraged more rumors! Funny, this almost never happens when two single women room together . . .
But on the whole, I've had to investigate a lot of Hollywood rumors over the years, and at least 90 percent of them were just that -- rumors, with no factual backing. I developed a pretty good BS detector in my newspaper days, but I was still amazed at what a few people with idle minds and busy tongues could do.
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Tuesday's question: What film actor was known as "The Gentleman from Virginia"?
Good luck!
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Hm . . . no other takers? I thought this was going to be an easy one!
Yesterday's answer: The title of Max Fleischer's second and last cartoon feature was MR. BUG GOES TO TOWN (1941), aka HOPPITY GOES TO TOWN. (I would have accepted either title.) His first animated feature was GULLIVER'S TRAVELS in 1939.
And folks, don't feel shy about responding to my "trivial thoughts" that open each weekly thread. One of the reasons for such posts is that I know there are a lot of "lurkers" who read these threads, but choose not to guess at the questions. I like to throw in a little extra something for them, and for you as well. And it also gives me something to do with trivia that I find difficult to post in the form of a question -- as well as other related matters!
So -- have no fears! We're all friends here!
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How about SWING TIME?
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Monday's question: What was the title of the last cartoon feature produced by the Max Fleischer studio?
Good luck!
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Greetings, everybody! First of all, thanks for not noticing that I misdated last week's trivia thread (it should have been April 18, rather than April 17). My work schedule changed slightly last week, but as a result, I was thinking a day behind just about everywhere, and it took me nearly the whole week to get back on keel!
In last week's mail, I received a package that seemed to signal the end of an era -- my last order from the Columbia House Video Club. (Or maybe my next-to-last order, considering I still have a few items on my wishlist.) The five movies I purchased -- THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD (1935), SOULS AT SEA, CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT, THE EGG AND I, and QUO VADIS -- are still unavailable on DVD, so it seemed practical to get them on VHS, even though CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT and QUO VADIS have turned up on TCM from time to time, and can be easily taped. But at $8.95 apiece, I couldn't pass up the opportunity.
Still, it was a sad day. I have seen the number of classic movies on VHS dwindle down to a precious few on the Columbia House website, so I thought I had better grab as many of my favorites as I could before they turned out the lights forever. Even sadder is the fact that since I am already a member of Columbia House DVD club, and most new movie releases are on DVD only, I probably wouldn't miss the video club if it went under.
But in today's mail, I got some good news from Columbia House -- after a fashion. Starting on May 1, all video club members will get a DVD club membership, and have all the rights and privileges that DVD club members have. Since I am already a DVD club member, I don't know how that will affect me, but it's good news to hear that the video club is not going the way of the Betamax just yet. At least, I'll be able to order videos and DVDs through the same club, much the same as I can do through Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and similar online movie outlets. (Funny, you still can't order videos through the DVD club. Wonder if that's going to change?)
While I doubt that VHS will completely fade from the scene -- as it is still an easier, less expensive medium for home recording than DVD -- the pickings are getting fewer and less diverse. All things considered, though, I think VHS will be around as long as there are popular movies still unavailable on DVD. And that situation could take a long time to resolve.
Whew! Now, on to this week's movie trivia . . .
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Cecil Adams tackled this question in his weekly column The Straight Dope, and his answer is as thorough as anybody is likely to get on the topic. Here's the link:
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_006.html
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Friday's question: What acerbic film actor reportedly inspired the character of Mickey Borden (played by John Garfield) in the 1938 film FOUR DAUGHTERS?
(Hint: Like Borden, he was also a pianist and composer.)
Good luck!
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Thursday's question: What film takes place aboard Trans American Flight 209?
Good luck!
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Feaito, you got this one! John Barrymore said this about Katharine Hepburn in A BILL OF DIVORCEMENT after he had seen the finished film.
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Larry, belated thanks for the info on Louise Fazenda, Laura LaPlante and Theda Bara. You've added a lot to my impressions of these fabulous women -- thanks again for sharing!
I'm dying to hear your take on Betty Blythe. I just found a picture of her in a 1924 issue of Liberty I recently bought, and she looks LUSCIOUS!
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Wednesday's question: Which of his co-stars did John Barrymore say "could be the greatest actress of her generation"?
Good luck!
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Good job, moviejoe! You are correct!
And Peter Sellers was brilliant times four in that movie -- if you know what I mean.
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-- Vincent Sherman, who is still with us and still full of pep and ginger at the age of 98. He has recorded several audio commentaries and a seperate interview for the upcoming Bette Davis and Joan Crawford box sets that Warner Home Video will release in June. Maybe there we'll find the answers!
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Sorry, folks -- had to remove some troublesome software from my computer this morning, and it took WAY longer than I thought!
Tuesday's question: What is the name of the ultimate weapon that Tully Bascombe (Peter Sellers) and his army capture in the 1959 film THE MOUSE THAT ROARED?
Good luck!
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No other takers? Yesterday's answer: All three of these gentlemen were film critics who became screenwriters.
Pare Lorentz (THE PLOW THAT BROKE THE PLAINS, THE RIVER) reviewed films for Judge, Vanity Fair, and McCall's magazines.
Robert E. Sherwood (REBECCA, THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES) reviewed films for the humor magazine Life.
And Frank S. Nugent (FORT APACHE, THE QUIET MAN) reviewed films for the New York Times.
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I've been dreaming, too -- I saw Harold Lloyd holding on for dear life near the top of Leo's ego. And Leo is screaming, "LEGGO MY EGO!"
Just my humble contribution to Leopalooza . . .
But seriously, does anybody besides me think that Leo gets rip-roaring drunk before he posts here?
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Not quite, hillspan -- but you're on the right track.
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We better brace ourselves right now. There's a Mexican film festival on TCM next month!
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Well, I have a foot on both sides of the issue at hand -- I think Holly has contributed some good posts, but at the same time, I've wondered if she might have too much time on her hands.
When anyone posts an average of 14 times a day on these boards, showing up just about everywhere you click, it's pretty hard to ignore. But having been in Holly's shoes at the same time in life, I can also understand her enthusiasm. In my late teens, I loved old movies so much, I scared some people to death!
After reading your posts, Holly (if I may address you personally), I can sense that not only do you love old movies, but you also love to write. And you can find outlets for both those loves on these message boards.
Speaking from a writer's viewpoint, you should write as much as you can. But as a writer, you need to put down the writing instrument every once in a while and refresh yourself by reading good writing. That's how you get good at it -- alternating those periods of writing and refreshing. And in this case, you should also be educating yourself by watching more old movies (that shouldn't be too difficult!).
When I discovered the TCM website four years ago, I spent about three or four weeks just reading everybody else's posts, feeling out the currents. I wanted to make a unique contribution to the boards, so I paid attention to what they were saying, but more importantly to what wasn't being said. Then I chose a catchy but appropriate username, started posting, and . . . well, I'll let my work speak for itself.
I don't want to chase you off the lawn, but I don't want you tearing it up, either. Enthusiasm can be like live steam -- suddenly released, it can do great damage. But contained within the right channels, it can do wonderful work. You've picked a good place to let off steam here, but just a little at a time -- otherwise, you might hurt somebody.
I'd also liken the experience to playing jazz. You have to learn the standards and how to blend in with other people before you introduce your own variations. That way, the conversation flows, and everybody involved plays better.
In any conversation, it's just as important to listen as to speak -- perhaps more so. I've spent a lot of time listening here; you might have noticed I don't post as frequently as others who have been here as long as I have. I probably fret over my posts more than anybody else does, due to my writing and editing background, and I listen carefully to what other people are saying. I don't always take their advice, but at least I listen to them. Go and do likewise.
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Monday's question: What singular cinematic career arc was shared by Pare Lorentz, Robert E. Sherwood, and Frank S. Nugent?
(Hint: It has to do with going from one job to another.)
Good luck!
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Greetings, everybody! It's a beautiful spring day in the Queen City, and unfortunately, the allergy season is also getting under way. So far, I haven't had anything more serious than an occasional sneezing fit (I'm doing much better than in previous years), but the season is still young.
More old Liberty magazines in the mail this morning, and here's a brief early profile/review of one of our TCM favorites from the issue of April 16, 1927:
"While on the subject of optical recreation, it is easy to consider Joan Crawford, another member of the younger set getting along in the films. She is the Charleston and Black Bottom champion of Hollywood, and has more prize cups than Big Bill Tilden and Gene Sarazen put together.
"Miss Crawford gives San Antonio, Texas as her birthplace. She reached the East by easy stages, going to school in Kansas City and one or two other Middle Western cities. In New York she worked in the chorus of several Manhattan revues. She was for a time a chorine at the Winter Garden. Then her name was Lucille La Sueur.
"The movie magnates gave Lucille her chance, but they frowned upon her native name. They decided to hold a contest for a new one, and the person who thought up Joan Crawford got a trip to Hollywood before being lost to immortality. However, the new name seems to have been a help. Today Miss Crawford has a Hollywood bungelow, a motor, and a police dog.
"She has the leading feminine role in a new Metro-Goldwyn effort, THE TAXI DANCER. Here is the perennial yarn of the country girl who comes to Manhattan, is beset by all the regulation evils, but wins the right man after all. The right man is Owen Moore, who just now seems to be the most employed upright young hero in the Hollywood films."
Now, on to this week's movie trivia . . .
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No, TCM and its library is owned by Time Warner. The library includes the pre-1986 MGM film library, the pre-1949 Warner Bros. library, and the entire RKO library of films -- a total of about 3,500 films.
When Ted Turner bought MGM in 1986, he got in a little over his head financially, and gradually had to sell the MGM studio and its other assets so he could keep the film library. What Sony bought recently was the current MGM assets and their post-1986 films.
Trivia -- Week of April 25, 2005
in Games and Trivia
Posted
Wednesday's question: The 1962 Warner Brothers cartoon HONEY'S MONEY featured what popular WB cartoon character in his only starring role?
Good luck!