jdb1

If all cynics were like Levant, we might have a better perspective on the world around us. I remember him so well - a smart, trenchant, nervous wreck, by the time I was aware of his presence (mostly on TV with Jack Paar). Like many of a cynical nature, he had the guts to speak his mind, however negatively perceived his comments might be. Does anyone remember -- was it Levant who said he couldn't take too much of Dinah Shore at one sitting because he was a diabetic? Tee hee.

> Hillary Brooke is actually Beatrice Peterson from > Long Island.In "Road to Utopia",a Hope-Crosby-Lamour > comedy she is even sexier than Dorothy.Which is quite > a feat! Well, there you go! It just makes Brooke's character in the A&C shows all the more interesting and puzzling. Perhaps she was supposed to be one of those "distressed gentlewomen" the English upper classes are always holding fund-raisers for. I loved the way she always addressed Costello as "Louis."

Now you're making me a little too old. There were live shows and celebrity appearances at the Fox and the Paramount theaters well into the 60s. Probably you just weren't aware of it. I'm beginning to remember seeing other stars (or star-like people). My time period would have been the mid-50s to mid-60s, although I was pretty young in the 50s and I'm not too firm on details of that time. I think I saw Nancy Sinatra, who probably appeared with Tommy Sands, whom I mentioned earlier, since she was married to him. I think I also saw Patty Duke, and I have a vague recollection of seeing Alan Young (pre-Mr. Ed). I'm sure I saw the Stooges, with Curly Joe, and I saw Eddie Fisher, possibly with Debbie Reynolds. I remember my mother taking me to see Martin & Lewis in person, but it was too crowded, and we couldn't even get close. These performers would come on stage in between screenings for about a minute, wave, say hello, how wonderful to be here in Brooklyn, etc., maybe do a minute or more of shtick, and leave. But we didn't care - it was so exciting to see real, live movie stars.

So there were these two ants who came upon an unopened package of mozzarella cheese sticks (this was, of course, in Brooklyn). And one ant started to run at top ant speed to the end of the package, and then he stopped short, turned on three legs, and ran as fast as he could to the other end of the package. He did this over and over, until the other ant stopped him in mid-run, and asked "What the heck are you doing?" The first ant said "Can't you see the writing on this thing? It says 'To open, tear long dotted line!'"

I agree with you, GM. I didn't like Crawford at all when I was younger. I thought she was grotesque looking and that her acting was terrible. Now, however, I understand the purpose of her "look," and I find her performances quite good, especially when she is cast in an role that is appropriate for her skills. Once you get past the eyebrows, the "gash" mouth and the shoulder pads, you see a quite beautiful woman with classic, even features and lovely eyes. I do think, though, that once she got older perhaps she tried a little too hard, and her last few performances, save for "Baby Jane," are pretty awful - all grimaces and head tosses. If she had had better parts, she probably would have given better performances.

> Hillary Brooke-What a beauty! But how did she wind up > on the old Abbott & Costello show? speaking of THAT > show,Joe Besser was good,as the "the kid",or > "stinky",or whatever he was called on that show,but > as a Stooge-BAD!! I've often wondered that about Hillary Brooke myself. Not only was she beautiful and elegant, she was ENGLISH. I concluded, when I was little, that her character on A&C must be one of those still lovely, but heavy-drinking, failed actress/models that were commonly found in the brownstones of the West 40s in Manhattan up until about 20 years ago. Nowadays, of course, that area is full of ambitious, successful, young people. If only TCM profiled her, maybe we would get the answer. I think posters on the "Stooges" thread agree with your Besser assessment (he was "Stinky" on A&C).

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson? A rarified form, but buddies nonetheless I think the kind of film that we think of as a "buddy film" these days didn't really come into existence until the demise of the studios. The star system was too entrenched to allow any one lead actor to be overshadowed, or even equalled, by another. For example, John Wayne had many sidekicks, but I don't think of very many of his films as "buddy movies." That genre would be more evident in B pictures like those of Gene Autry and Roy Rogers; the Cisco Kid with his pal Pancho, the Lone Ranger and his loyal Tonto. Even there, there is definitely a hero, and a supporter. There were, of course, exceptions - pairings of two major male stars, with one usually dying nobly in some way or other. When you think of films like "Butch & Sundance" or "The Man Who Would Be King," it's evident that both of the buddies are given equal status. The movie in which I first became aware of the "buddy" aspect was, I think, "Davy Crockett." Many Disney films of the 50s were of the buddy type, even if one or more of the principals wasn't human. I guess you could call the various "Lassie" movies buddy movies too. Two pals having adventures together, testing their friendship, and ending up more devoted than ever.

I think he simply retired from films. I believe he was successful in real estate. Maybe he had just had enough, and with his Hollywood connections, he had a lucrative client base for his business. I don't recall any scandal or other calumny associated with his name. Does anyone know of any?

Good start. Of course, it would help if we had the TCM schedule -- I'm sure I've missed plenty of the "What A Character" segments already, and we don't know who else will be featured. (Dontcha just LOVE Horton? Even when he was so impossibly ancient and wrinkly, he was soooo cute!! Remember him as "Roaring Chicken" on "F Troop?") Now let's see . . . how about S.Z. Sakall Elisha Cooke, Jr. Moroni Olsen DeForest Kelly Mary Boland Gale Sondergaard Mae Busch Louise Beavers Keye Luke Hillary Brooke And....?

Well, GM, if anyone at TCM were to ask us here, the Character Lovers, who we would like to see profiled, I'm sure we would be happy to offer our expert opinions. Who'd like to start the list?

Well, howdy there, neighbor! I've lived in both Bensonhurst and Bay Ridge myself, and Boro Park, too. Was LIU your school? I took a paralegal certificate there 20 years ago, and had lunches at Junior's. The sandwiches were so big that you could bring a buddy and share the sandwich and the expense. Unfortunately, I bought a cheesecake for a birthday party a few years ago at the Junior's counter in Grand Central Station, and it was pretty bad - it was embarrassing, after giving the Junior's cake such a big build-up to my friends. I hope that was an isolated incident. I haven't had any of their cake since -- calories, calories. Do you recall that we had a "Senior's" as well in Bklyn? On Nostrand Avenue. Not as good as Jr's or Wolfie's, which was further down Nostrand at the Flatbush Ave. Junction (ah, Wolfie's). Both of the latter are gone now. We can work movies and Brewer into this thread -- downtown Brooklyn -- the Fox, the Paramount. I'm trying to remember which actors I saw at those theaters making personal appearances. I can remember Tommy Sands, I think, and Connie Stevens, and possibly Sandra Dee at some point - I'm sure I saw lots of others. I seem to remember Frankie Laine, or someone like him, saying or singing something on stage at one of the big downtown theaters, and everyone cheering. Have you had any similar experiences? Of course, I wasn't counting in the Murray the K rock 'n' roll shows. And I wonder if Teresa Brewer likes Junior's cheesecake?

I would be very happy to see the "What a Character" segments in printed form, or on DVD. Having all those wonderful actors together in one place would be a treat!

Don't overlook supporting player Jameel Farah as the "different" student (the quiet one with the glasses). You all know his face - he became Jamie Farr. Message was edited by: jdb1

Over to you, JackB

> However, I have been doing some thinking recently > about those dramatic films which exhibit a noble > friendship such as that of David and Johnathin or > Galilgamesh and Inkido (sp?). > I think you mean David and Jonathan, and Gilgamesh and Enkidu. And rounding out the analogy, what greater and more devoted buddies than Laurel & Hardy? Finding female buddies is harder, because women were treated differently by society and by the movies. My impression is that generally women in film look upon each other as rivals for that oh-so-necessary husband that each one had to acquire by the end of the picture. However, in situations like war movies, or in other extreme situations, women could put aside the cattiness Hollywood endowed them with and act selflessly to help each other. There were exceptions, of course. The first that comes to mind is Mildred and Ida in "Mildred Pierce."

Yes!!!! You are so right!!! I've been having traumatic flashbacks for weeks since we discussed "Invaders From Mars," and now I see that "Dr. T" is in my mental mix as well. Going through those weird underground passageways and up and down those crazy stone stairways (no Freudians, please). Well, thanks a lot - I"ll never get to sleep tonight. Good thing you didn't mention "Forbidden Planet," my other childhood movie trauma.

John Carradine - The Grapes of Wrath

Hey, Character Fans, This post appeared in "Genres" and it's a very good idea: " Does anyone know if there is a schedule out on those shorts about different character actors and actresses. I have just happen to be tuned in when some of them have run, but I don't know how many I have missed. They are really great. Also, thanks for the schedule which includes those wonderful Thelma Todd/Zasu Pitts shorts. I am really enjoying them. Dickson"

I second your suggestion. We have a thread going in "Your Favorites" about character actors. I'm sure we'd all love to know who is being featured on which night, and then we can make suggestions as to who else we would like to see profiled.

Here's another good source: http://womenshistory.about.com/cs/quotes/a/qu_k_hepburn.htm

You know, Marco, I have a morbid fascination with this film, and I watch it every time it's broadcast. I'm glad to hear that it is appreciated, but I honestly don't think it was intended to be a celebration. I think it was intended as just the opposite, given the time frame. And if not, it was surely interpreted that way by early 1950s audiences. I'm glad to know that something snide has been turned into a positive experience. And why not -- it's so over the top -- who would want to take it seriously? And I still do a double-take every time I see "A Stanley Kramer Production." It is a very odd duck of a movie, and I didn't like it at all when I was a child -- too intense, too nightmarish, to moiling (all those little boys in striped shirts!) and, dare I say it -- too sadistic. I like it better now - at least, I can sit through it. I am a big fan of Conried, and I think he was terrific in this movie. I especially like the Do-Mi-Do number - it's very clever, but it's also a little icky. I loved Tommy Rettig, and I suffer with him on so many levels while I'm watching this movie (those endless, boring, piano scales!). My impression of Dr. Seuss, after reading about him here and there, is that he was anything but sweet in reality. I suppose I therefore tend to ascribe baser intentions to his work. By the way, did you happen to see a broadcast of the opera "Turandot" a few years ago? The sets (David Hockney?) looked very much like the sets for "Dr. T." Message was edited by: jdb1

Yes, I do agree about the "Carry On" films, they sort of 'devolved' - but they are so representative of British cinema of their time - they were wildly popular in their home country, and since we in the US have been exposed to Benny Hill, maybe we can stand it. I remember one set in Roman times - the sergeant calling the marching cadence: "Sinister. Dexter. Sinister. Dexter." Too funny. The "St. Trinians" series is another example of something very, very British, but on the upper class side, and that can well be a point of interest to us on this side of the Atlantic. Besides, anything with Alistair Sim in it gets my vote. Maybe British night could be an "Upstairs/Downstairs" cinematic survey. I'm sure Mr. Osborne could explain it all to us.

Have you seen "The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T" lately? The dance of the imprisoned musicians in Dr. T's dungeon - it's like musical gay porn. The choreography looks like a depiction of a bad acid trip. And Hans Conreid's "Dress Me" number - wow. It's so groteque and so homophobic. The lyrics are really over the top - if you've ever seen the Mr. Burns and the puppies number on the Simpsons, wherein he extols the virtues of animal skins as clothing, you'll get the idea.

Well, we are getting somewhat off the Brewer topic, but I feel I have to say something in defense of Sheepshead Bay (where I still live, incidentally). When you come back again you will find most things environmental greatly improved and, in fact, the fish called the sheepshead, once thought wiped out, have returned to the Bay. I can't in good conscience, though, say much in defense of the restaurant called Lundy's. Not much has made a comeback there. I think it could well use a "Teresa Brewer Room" now. I don't know if you remember the comedy club Pip's across the street from Lundy's (one of the original East Coast comedy clubs - it was there for decades before anyone ever heard of Caroline's). Sorry to say, it has gone, and there is now a sushi restaurant in its place. Sic transit gloria, and all that.

I loved Demarest as Officer Kockenlocker in "Miracle of Morgan's Creek." He was the consummate exasperated father of girls. And he took some amazing falls, too. When he came to his daughter's rescue, and chided the Eddie Bracken character, sarcastically, with "Maybe you live 50 years, you learn a thing or two!" - I believed him with all my heart. I so wanted Officer Kockenlocker to be my dad. Demarest was an ideal Preston Sturges character -- all you had to do was look at him, or hear him speak, and you immediately knew what he was all about.