daneldorado

I've always found it interesting that the initials for Pre Code are P.C.... because that's exactly what those films were NOT. They were not "P.C." as in "Politically Correct." In Pre Code films, you'll see life in the raw, unencumbered by an industry-imposed Moral Imperative. You can see guys slapping around dames, dames slapping around guys, and sometimes you'll see them living together without benefit of a marriage certificate. In other words: Life as it was really lived -- by some -- back in those days. But that is not to say that anything goes. Society, I think, knows where to draw the line on morally objectionable material. The old-time film makers knew that line, and they observed it scrupulously. When the Production Code began to be enforced, in July 1934, it severely limited the material that movies could use. They couldn't cuss, they couldn't show intimate body parts, and all married couples slept in twin beds... even those who happened to be married to each other in real life! I like the fact that we can see a pre code movie like THE LOVE PARADE (1929) and see the beautiful Jeanette MacDonald raising her skirt to show off her legs. And in IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934), Claudette Colbert doing the same thing. And the skimpy costumes worn by Fay Wray in KING KONG (1933) were far, far more enticing than the complete nudity in films today. Ditto the loincloth that almost, but not quite, covered Maureen O'Sullivan in TARZAN AND HIS MATE (1934) -- which, fortunately for us, had its U.S. premiere in April 1934, beating the Production Code enforcement by three months. Today's wide-open film making is NOT a return to "pre code" movies. The old films had class, and though they were frank and often a little vulgar, they knew where to draw the line. Today's film makers don't know that. Pity. Dan N. http://dan-navarros-blog.blogspot.com

Kinston wrote: "I have one for you: Who said this, and in what movie? "Peace.Peace". I don't know if this is the answer you wanted... but Peter O'Toole spoke that line, in THE LION IN WINTER (1968). Dan N. http://www.silentfilmguide.com

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"What was the real first name of John Wayne's character in TRUE GRIT and ROOSTER COGBURN (AND THE LADY)?" As I recall, it was Reuben. Dan N. http://dan-navarros-blog.blogspot.com

aftermath wrote: "Horace McMahon to William Bendix in "The Detective Story" No. Listen, I'm leaving town tomorrow morning and I will be gone until Monday (Nov. 13). I won't be near a computer until then. So, I'll end the speculation over this line and give you the correct answer. The film is BLACK ANGEL (1946), a film noir from Hollywood's Golden Era. In the film, a woman is murdered and her lover -- who is innocent -- is tried and convicted of the crime. He is sentenced to be executed. Early on the morning of the man's execution date, chief of detectives Broderick Crawford comes into some vital evidence that casts doubt on the condemned man's guilt. But he must call the governor, immediately, to stay the execution. He dials the governor's mansion. We hear only Crawford's side of the conversation. We watch him listening. Then he says: "Well, I'm afraid you'll have to wake him, then." Those are the last words in the movie. Fade to black. The End. Dunno if I'm allowed to do this... but if I can, I'd like to nominate Aftermath to give us a new "Famous line from the movies." Go for it, Mr. math, and I'll see you on Monday. Dan N. http://dan-navarros-blog.blogspot.com

Well, it's time to put this puppy to sleep. I posted my trivia question on October 28, ten days ago. That's long enough. The correct answer is: Ted Danson, in BODY HEAT (1981). He played a small role in support of the stars, William Hurt and Kathleen Turner, and in one scene he says (to Hurt): "Last night I had a dream that was so boring, it woke me up. I was afraid to go back to sleep." In another scene, the Hurt character tries to pay Danson's check at the lunch counter, but Danson -- who plays an assistant D.A. -- demurs and says: "You can't buy me. I don't come cheap." As I'm sure everyone knows, a year later Ted Danson began his starring role in CHEERS (NBC-TV), and soared to the top of the TV ratings. The show ran for ten (10!) years. Even after CHEERS ended, Danson continued in TV, with BECKER, which ran on CBS for six (6) seasons. And just this year, he began a new series, this time on ABC, called HELP ME HELP YOU. This fabulously successful former bit player owns two Emmys (out of 11 nominations) and two Golden Globe awards. He is married to actress Mary Steenburgen, who has a Golden Globe and an Oscar for her performance in MELVIN AND HOWARD (1980). My heartfelt thanks to all you Forum fans, who posted replies to my trivia question. Dan N. http://dan-navarros-blog.blogspot.com Message was edited by: daneldorado

Right you are, Bill! Charles Winninger is the guy! He created the role of Cap'n Andy in the 1927 stage version of "Show Boat," and played the same role in the 1936 movie of the same name. And he played the role of Santa Claus in his last film. Good luck in Asheville! By the way, I agree that Jane Withers is a treat to be with. I took her to dinner one evening in 1980, and wrote an interview about her for a national magazine. She's great! Dan N. http://www.silentfilmguide.com

Mr. Potter wasn't loveable. But the critics say my character was. Who am I? Dan N.

Nice to hear from you, Charlie. Well, the Sheen/Estevez family has been and still is very successful. But none of these family members took part in the quotes I've been asking about. I don't want anyone to think I am misleading them, so... when I say the person in question (who said the quotes) is "a member of a multiple award-winning family," please understand that that doesn't necessarily mean they are related by blood. In the case of my mystery person, he is an award-winning actor, and he is married to an award-winning actress. They are both still involved in the biz. Now, THAT should tell you who it is, right there! Dan N. http://www.silentfilmguide.com

Do you mind if I try something a little different? Here's a line from a Golden Era film noir. The thing that's "different" is that I am telling you, up front, this is the FINAL LINE from the movie. "Well, I'm afraid you'll have to wake him, then." Who said that, and in what film? Dan N. http://dan-navarros-blog.blogspot.com

vallo13 wrote: "Am I -Alastair Sim?" Nope, afraid not. Alastair Sim was a great Scottish actor who essayed the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, but never Santa Claus. Also, I can't find where he ever created a role on stage that was acclaimed as "loveable." He did portray Captain Hook in some productions of "Peter Pan," but of course Hook was a villain. Don't forget the new clue I just gave you: After creating a role on stage that was called "beloved," I later got to act the same role in the film version of that play. Who am I? Dan N. http://dan-navarros-blog.blogspot.com

I'll guess REAR WINDOW (1954). I think Thelma Ritter said it. Dan N. http://www.silentfilmguide.com Message was edited by: daneldorado

Thanks, Bill, for taking part in this quiz. However, John Bunny is not the answer. Our guy, remember, was a stage performer from a very early age. According to the Internet Movie Database, John Bunny was born in 1863, and then his bio says he worked as a grocery clerk before joining a touring mistrel show "in the late 1800s." Even if we were to assume that meant 1890, he would already have been 27 years of age. And what role did he ever create -- on stage -- that is widely regarded as "loveable?" But your post led me to read Bunny's bio (say that, five times, REAL fast), and I was surprised to learn that -- at five feet four -- he was even shorter than Charlie Chaplin! (CC was 5 ft. 5.) I have seen only one John Bunny film, and it was probably the one his bio mentions as A CURE FOR POKERITIS. However: Our mystery guest has a new "hint" for you: On the stage, I created a role that was acclaimed as "loveable" and "beloved." To my great joy, later on I got to recreate that same role in the movies! Okay, now you've GOT to know this one. Bill? Aftermath? Carol? Judith? Anybody? I'm laying it wide open for you now. Who am I? Dan N. http://www.silentfilmguide.com Message was edited by: daneldorado

Dick Shawn will always, to me, be remembered for this great line: "One and one's two/ Two and two's four/ I feel so bad 'cause I'm losin' the war!" That's from the comedy hit THE PRODUCERS (1968), in which Shawn played a character named L.S.D., and portrayed Adolf Hitler in the show within the show. I haven't seen or heard anything funnier since. Sadly, though, the memorable Dick Shawn was not the speaker of the two quotes I submitted for your approval. Neither was Alan Alda. Remember: The speaker of those two immortal lines was a mere supporting player at the time, but he made a large impact in this film. He later became a VERY BIG television star. And... he's still in TV to this day (unless they've cancelled his show in the last 24 hours)! Also: This dude is a member of a multiple award-winning family. They've got Emmys, they've got Golden Globes, even an Oscar. Who is he, and in what movie did he utter those immortal words? Dan N. http://dan-navarros-blog.blogspot.com

Aftermath wrote: " Thanks for reading, and may the days ahead be all happy ones for all of us!" I agree. May all our days be happy ones. Meanwhile, does anyone have any answers to my trivia question? I posted the question on October 28, and since no one has guessed the movie title or the speaker of the quotes, here's another hint: The actor who said those words is a member of a multiple award-winning family, with Emmys, Golden Globes, and an Oscar. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Not bad, for a guy who was merely an obscure supporting player in the movie I'm asking about. Who is he, and in what movie did he say these immortal words: "I had a dream last night that was so boring, it woke me up. I was afraid to go back to sleep." and "You can't buy me. I don't come cheap." Dan N. http://www.silentfilmguide.com

Hi again Carol... Nope, it isn't Mickey Rooney. Scanning through Rooney's credits on the IMDb just now, I see that he apparently supplied the VOICE of a character called "Santa" in THE HAPPY ELF (2005), a TV movie. But I don't believe he ever actually portrayed Santa Claus -- in the flesh -- on screen. Hmmm... nope. I just ran the character name of Santa Claus on the IMDb, and Rooney's name does not appear. Rooney DID make his stage debut as a young child -- 15 months old! But nothing in his bio indicates that he created a character on stage that was hailed as "loveable" by the critics. Rooney went into films in 1933, when he was 13 years old. The gentleman we are searching for was on stage from his childhood years to maturity, and it was there, on the Broadway stage, that he created a character acclaimed as "loveable" and also as "beloved." As he would say: Later I went into films, and in one movie I portrayed Santa Claus. Who am I? Dan N. http://dan-navarros-blog.blogspot.com

Aftermath, I am as sorry as I can be that you were hurt by some of the previous posts. Analyzing them, I suppose the most hurtful was by the person who said: "First, we have had some really nasty experiences in the last few months with posters who got more than a little carried away with their self-perceived clever responses, and turned into raging, foul-worded, threatening trolls...." But I don't think she intentionally maligned you. This is, after all, supposed to be a fun place where film buffs can trade questions (and occasional banter), and should not be anyone's whipping post. As a King said, a while back: "Can't we all just get along?" Dan N.

YESSS!!! Carol, you nailed it! Joel McRea spoke that line in one of the opening scenes of SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS (1941). Now you can lay one on us. Dan N. http://www.silentfilmguide.com

Carol... Yes, your choices are always good. Please, do try again. Scotty: No, it isn't Jean Hersholt. I don't find that Hersholt ever essayed the role of Santa Claus. Also, it's true that Hersholt created the role of loveable Dr. Christian, but that was in the movies and radio. Our guy created a "beloved" role on stage. And he played Santa Claus in a movie. Why not try again? Dan N. http://www.silentfilmguide.com

Know what would be nice? In order to properly address this person or that, it would be good to know what gender they represent. Over time, I've come to learn that jdb1 is female; so is Ayres. I think inglis is female as well, though I'm not sure. Brad is, well, Brad; Charlie T. is probably male as well. But I haven't a clue as to aftermath. Who you? Dan N. (I'm a guy.)

How about "Four Jills in a Jeep" (1944)? Dan N.

Hmmm... I'm beginning to sense what YOU meant when you said to me, on another thread: "Great! Now it's your turn to get unjustly blasted...." Doesn't feel so good. Anyway, Grodin is not the correct answer. Dan N. http://dan-navarros-blog.blogspot.com

Nice guess, aftermath! But no. The line is: "How can you think of musicals at a time like this, with the world committing suicide?" Who said that, and in what film? Seriously, I thought that this was one line that was familiar to ALL lovers of Golden Age films. I expect the correct answer will come in today. Dan N. http://dan-navarros-blog.blogspot.com

Aftermath wrote: "He had his own talk show on CNBC between 1995-1998 that's when" Well, I guess I don't consider a talk show on basic cable an apt vehicle for a TV superstar. Anyway, the speaker of the quotes is not Charles Grodin. Dan N.

tcv wrote: "He didn't ask you spank him. Did he?" No, he didn't. The doctor and I were batting for the same team. Dan N.