jdb1
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Posts posted by jdb1
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Also a 2/13 birthday:
Carol Lynley
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February 13. Today's birthdays:
Makeup great Wally Westmore
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President Merkin J. Muffley. I believe his birthday is September 31st.
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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?
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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.
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Happy birthday, Larry. You have been such a seemingly bottomless well of knowledge about Hollywood and its stars, and everything you tell us is not only informative, but fun. I'm always interested in what you have to say, and I hope you keep saying it for years to come.
Best wishes,
Judith
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Another 2/12 birthday:
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Harry Bellaver (on the right)
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More 2/12 birthdays:
Wallace Ford
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February 12 birthdays:
Forrest Tucker
Lorne Greene
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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.
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Another 2/11 birthday, Anita Garvin (appeared in several Laurel & Hardy silents)
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February 11. Today's birthday, a lovely lady, Eva Gabor
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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.
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> 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.)
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> 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.
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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.
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Good one, Barlett. Has Hackman been a SAG and Tony nominee?
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More 2/9 birthdays: Gypsy Rose Lee
Janet Suzman
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Dan, I am assuming this may not be an actor/tress from the "classic" period, since they didn't start giving SAG awards until 1994. In which, we could use some more information, since there aren't many actors these days who haven't played killers, lawyers or Santas.
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Most loveable - that's a tough one (actually, both categories are tough to say). Maybe Sabu in "The Thief of Baghdad," but certainly Stewart's Elwood P. Dowd is a strong contender, as is Danny Kaye in "Hans Christian Andersen." I'm also very fond of Marjorie Main as Ma Kettle, and Hattie McDaniel, generally.
As for most memorable - classic films are so full of memorable characters and performances. The first that comes to mind is the inestimable H.B. Warner as the alcoholic druggist in "It's a Wonderful Life." Audrey Hepburn in "The Nun's Story," Walter Brennan in just about anything, especially as Swan in "Come and Get It," and one of my favorites, Frank Faylen as the smarmy, sadistic nurse in "The Lost Weekend." The list goes on and on, and all of them are the "most" memorable.
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> Wow. Seems, then, that I'm having a serious senior
> moment!
>
> It was at least twenty years ago that Cablevision
> then TCI carried it, so I have to defer to you in
> remembering it.
>
> Must be me doing some transference........
>
> Sorry.
Don't be sorry, my friend. My own memories of I Married Joan are certainly colored by the comments I heard from adults at the time. I do remember Davis' distinctive, dry, midwestern voice, which I liked very much. I believe she was from Minnesota. I can also still sing most of the theme song - "what a girl, what a whirl, what a wife." Notwithstanding my previous comments, I'd love to see some of that show again.
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When we were young.
I had that dress too. -
February 9 birthday: Mia Farrow. Maybe she should more properly be on the "Stars" gallery thread, but I am a big fan of her work, especially since I saw her last year in an Off-Broadway play. She was excellent.
Gallery of Characters
in Your Favorites
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Another 2/13 celebrant: Lyle Bettger (one of those "What's that guy's name?" guys)