jdb1

I agree wholeheartedly. "Nashville" is my favorite Altman film, and I think all the performances were Oscar-worthy. Henry Gibson did a lot to bring a note of reality to the proceedings - it's a business, after all, and he was Nashville's hard-headed businessman-entertainer (based on several of the Grand Ole Opry's old favorites). Ronee Blakeley was so touching as the Loretta Lynn character, and Lily Tomlin was great as the gospel singer with family troubles (and what a very bad singer - the actors not only all sang for themselves, but wrote the songs they sang, at Altman's insistance). Keith Carradine was right-on as the love 'em and leave 'em musician-star. And that song of his has stayed with me all these years. The scene in the club where the Carradine character sings "I'm Easy" as other characters look on and register various emotions was terrific. And on and on. My very favorites are Keenan Wynn, as Shelly Duvall's sad uncle, and the amazing Gwen Wells, as the deluded, no-talent, country star wannabe. But they were all wonderful - it's a great American movie.

One of the great thrills of my young life was calling in a pledge to a telethon (maybe MDA), and talking to Mr. Romero. He was very nice to me, and treated it all very seriously (my mother placed the initial call, for extra added gravity, since I was quite young at the time). I've been a fan ever since.

Many people have mentioned "swell" which was so very frequently used in all classic films. Nowadays, I hear it used only in a sarcastic way - I use it myself sometimes, when something goes wrong: "Oh, that's just swell!" meaning it isn't swell at all. Others I hear only in the (classic) movies: screwy dreamy applesauce (as in 'Nonsense!') dish/looker beefcake (supposedly popularized to describe Victor Mature) certainly (for "of course" - not used much these days) hep/hep cat guys and gals/kids (for today's "you guys") piker/chiseler

I'm a legal secretary, a/k/a executive assisant. I love seeing Eve Arden playing the assistant to all sorts of professional people. She's always the most professional of all - in control, good humored, and always has a pithy comment to remind us all of the reality of the situation. On another note, I'm fascinated by George Macready's take on the slavishly loyal assistant to Charles Laughton in "The Big Clock." There are such people in the world, as witnessed by the host of executives in the news these days taking the fall for their superiors. Then there's the always interesting relationship between The Simpsons' Mr. Burns and Smithers.

> No, it's NOT a joke. I'll repeat my earlier post: > > Name the movie in which Tarzan's wife sits on an > egg. > > This is an honest, real, genuine, (here, add your own > synonym for actual) movie-related trivia question. > Any takers? How about "Tarzan Finds a Son?" I recall there's something in it about cooking eggs (ostrich eggs, maybe?)

Oh, by the way, Dan, is this person male or female?

February 13 is also the birthday of Sgt. Alvin York

Another 2/13 celebrant: Lyle Bettger (one of those "What's that guy's name?" guys)

Also a 2/13 birthday: Carol Lynley

February 13. Today's birthdays: Makeup great Wally Westmore

President Merkin J. Muffley. I believe his birthday is September 31st.

Dolores, next week we'll have to clear the decks, and post photos of all the presidents, and all the actors who have portrayed them. James Knox Polk, anyone?

I'm sorry to hear about Ian Richardson, who was one of those steady talents we probably take for granted. After having seen him for years playing government officials, professional men and Shakespearean tragic characters, it was a real revelation to see him in an RSC filmed version of "Midsummer Night's Dream" from the 1970s, wherein he played the most sexy Oberon, King of the Fairies, imaginable. And shirtless, too. Wasn't he wicked in "House of Cards," though. He will be missed.

Another 2/12 birthday:

Harry Bellaver (on the right)

More 2/12 birthdays: Wallace Ford

February 12 birthdays: Forrest Tucker Lorne Greene

Did anyone see "Air Force" this morning? I had never seen it before, and was very pleasantly surprised. This was part of the Special Effects segment of 31 Days of Oscars. The movie, directed by Howard Hawks, had lots of special effects miniatures and stock footage battle scenes. I didn't think they(the miniatures) were great, but I suppose they were OK by 1943 standards. Even though the story and the presentation were rather small-scale and the dialog was of the standard propaganda/patriotic type, the action moved along very briskly, and the performances were really excellent. Harry Carey (Sr.) was especially good as the veteran flight crew chief, and John Garfield and George Tobias were aces as the requisite "ethnic" soldiers, tough and comedic, respectively. I'm sorry to say I hated Gig Young's pencil-thin moustache. Very few men, let alone actors, look good in such a thing, IMO. However, his performance was very good, as were all the others. A well-directed and acted action movie. Very good of that type. You all should try to catch it if it's aired again.

Another 2/11 birthday, Anita Garvin (appeared in several Laurel & Hardy silents)

February 11. Today's birthday, a lovely lady, Eva Gabor

Now Dan, how can I say this nicely? Why are we spending our time researching classic movies if you are posting questions about movies still in first run? If one hasn't actually seen the current film in question, how is one to determine an answer? Where does one not in the Writers' Guild easily find entire movie scripts posted online? OK, OK, I'll stop griping. Maybe I can come up with a new thread to amuse myself.

> Back to Ernest Borgnine, did I read somewhere that he > was actually of Aboriginal origin -- hence the > (stage) name??? He does share some of the facial > features... > No EB fan must miss "Marty"; if you don't know EB and > watch it, you'll be a fan!!! That is a really odd rumor, but maybe it got started by some PT person because Borgnine filmed "The Summer of the 17th Doll" in Australia in the 50s (a very good movie, by the way, rarely shown). He played an Aussie named Roo, with a quite credible accent. As CineSageJr says, the family name is Borgnino, and Ernie's birth name was "Ermes." As in the Greek god Hermes. Cool. And I heartily agree with you about EB's performance in "Marty." Perhaps we should add that to the "Memorable and Loveable" thread. I liked EB's performance a lot better than Rod Steiger's in the original, TV version (although Steiger's performance was fine - it just wasn't particularly warm, as was EB's.)

> It wouldn't surprise me if the people in charge of > the CG's are swamped with work during Oscar month... > hopefully next time they'll be more careful That may be, but just who is it who does the announcements? I've heard him mispronounce and misread many names. You'd think someone working for a classic movie station would have a more professional feel for the names of classic movie stars. The news departments of TV and radio have reference books of standard pronounciations of people and places for the use of their announcers - maybe TCM should have the same.

Well character fans, I am told by a birthday expert of my acquaintance that Gypsy Rose Lee's birthday is very likely January 9 rather than February 9. However, several of the sources I use for reference give it as Feb. 9 (and some as Jan. 9). In any event, she's a lady who deserves to be remembered. Who remembers her modest little talk show (late 60s, early 70s)? It was on one of the local stations here in NYC, either Channel 9 or 11, I think. Always very entertaining - she was a very smart woman, and many of her celebrity guests were her personal friends, which made the conversation friendly, comfortable and very interesting.

Good one, Barlett. Has Hackman been a SAG and Tony nominee?