CCerini

I just discovered your great thread. Most posters have seen it grow page by page. Imagine how thrilling it was to go through 47 pages of memory evoking photos. It's possible I missed them, but shouldn't two people whom I number among the greatest character actors be included, Ward Bond, and Alan Hale (senior)? Their photos are on the Internet, but I don't have a clue as to how to insert them in this reply. If they aren't already shown, I hope someone will post them. --Gus

Jack: Thanks for the concise clear explanation. I'm looking at old postings by Mongo and the photos are no longer up. Makes sense. I'm sorry I didn't see his thread earlier. --Gus

Mongo: I have just recently found your "In the Spotlight" thread which I find fascinating. Up until the end of December, the photos you posted show on my screen as a window with a link that reads "Photobucket - video and image hosting". I connected to this site, registered, and tried everything I could think of to see the photos you posted with no luck. Is it my computer or am I not going at it the right way? --Gus

As the guy who initially posed the question that started this thread, I want to point out that I didn't get any answers to it, but, wow, did I get a lot of information from you and the other movie pundits that communicate on these boards about "It's a Wonderful Life" (lots of undercurrents flowing in these communications I notice). Because of its wide appeal "It's a Wonderful Life" was a bad choice to use as an example for a specific observation, but it's the only example I know of where a mistake (if it was a mistake?) was allowed to remain in the final film. I wondered if it had occurred in other films. I don't routinely contribute to the TCM message board, but enjoy all there is to learn from what I consider the extremely knowledgeable contributions that most of you make. But when I notice something in a film which sparks that tiny flame of curiosity, I ask about it, and almost always the replies are more rewarding than I would have expected. When, in the future, I come upon more observations that interest me as a classic movie buff, I will continue to look forward to your comments, opinions and views.

We're very familiar with mistakes that can be recognized in films. However, while reading trivia on "It's a Wonderful Life", I learned that some mistakes can be taken advantage of. When a tipsy Uncle Billy leaves Harry Bailey's party, George Bailey sets him in the right direction, only to hear him crash into what we assume are garbage cans. Uncle Billy replies that he's OK and George laughs it off. Actually, the crash of garbage cans was due to a stagehand dropping equipment. Capra thought that the noise and Thomas Mitchell's ad lib fit the scene and let it stand. This is really interesting trivia that can only be gleaned from insiders. I am curious to know from the stalwart movie buffs that frequent these boards if there are other instances where a mistake is taken advantage of and results in such a perfect fit.

Clara Bow was in the 1927 movie titled "It". Hence, the "It Girl".

Wow! What knowledgeable responses. You guys are really fantastic with the fine points about this art form that we all love. Also, some really great stretching to get a character in, but I was expecting to see a lot of those. I loved Kevin Costner in the coffin, even though we see him. I thought of one more. Wasn't it a Turk who sold Gutman the fake Falcon? He affected the plot. If it wasn't for him Sam probably wouldn't have sent Brigit over(?) and everyone else would have been happy.

I hope this is not a duplicate reply. My previous one seems to have gone into unknown cyberspace. Harry Lime is seen, and very dramatically, well into the film. I can think of many similar plot twists, a prominent one being "Laura". This device could be the subject of another thread. I was looking for situations where there is no picture, and no voice. Apparently, there aren't many.

After watching the two versions of "The Maltese Falcon", I realized that Floyd Thursby, who is never seen or heard, plays a significant role in the story. I began wondering where this device is used in other movies. "Rebecca" is an obvious one. Can anyone think of other instances where a major character is never seen or heard?

Can any of you really knowledgeable people tell me about James Craig? I remember him distinctly in the "Devil and Daniel Webster", and "Kitty Foyle", and have caught him here and there in minor roles. His filmography indicates that he made many movies and did TV in later life, but I know nothing about his personal life. He seemed to be a reasonably good actor, had a really distinctive voice, appealed to women, and I thought he dominated the scenes he was in. Is there an explanation for why he did not rise to more prominence?

SB: Agree wholeheartedly on Lizabeth Scott. Sophisticated, erotic, and what a sultry voice. Perfect for her genre of film. Would appreciate seeing a group of her films on TCM.

Having grown up with movies, I have many memorable movie theater related experiences, and it is difficult to single out one. I'll list only a few: It wasn?t until I saw the color version of ? The Wizard of Oz? on TV, that I remembered my father bought me a miniature hourglass with red sand in it in the lobby of the theater where we first saw ?The Wizard of Oz?. That color presentation unplugged a channel of memory flowing to a childhood theater experience. One of my first memories of a movie theater experience was as a child being brought to a revival performance of ?The Sheik?, with my parents and other relatives. I was overwhelmed by the sight of that elegant and now long-gone Mastbaum Theater on Market Street in Philadelphia. A very vivid memory was in an unconventional theater, a mess hall in Korea, where they were showing ?The Thing?. To this day I can?t forget the image of seven or eight of my soldier buddies, including me, huddled close together watching what was then a ?scary? movie. One more memory is that of my wife and I going to a neighborhood theater to see ?The Sting?. We were a few minutes late and there were no cashier or ushers in sight. We took seats and saw the entire movie free. While there was applause and cheering during the movie, it was one of the few times we heard spontaneous, genuine, appreciative applause after the movie ended and while the credits were rolling.

When I went to movies as a youngster, I thought Lizabeth Scott had an unusual kind of a beauty. Sort of calculatingly sophisticated, but I guess not what you would call pretty?

GM: I share your feelings about "Random Harvest". No matter how often I see it, it's tough to watch without choking up.

A memorable one is when Heathcliff picks Cathy up from her deathbed and says (if I remember correctly), ?What do they know of Heaven and Hell, Cathy, who know nothing of love!?

Inglis and Cinemabuff64: Yes, it was a great way to spend 3 or 4 childhood years. And during that time many memories associated with movies resulted. Everyone in my generation knows where they were and what they were doing on December 7, 1941. I was leaving the Allegheny movie theater and first heard the news about Pearl Harbor in the lobby. This thread has reminded me that I have always meant to go to the Philadelphia newspaper archives to find out what movie was playing.

When my Mom and Dad were both working during the War years, our babysitters were the Cambria and Allegheny movies in Philadelphia. My brother and I would come home from school, find 12 cents each on the table, and instructions to go to the movies. We grew up along with Warner Brothers Studios.

Having lunch with Alan Hale would be like eating with the entire Warner Brothers company. The stories he could tell!

Wow! What great responses and what great movies! These are exactly the kinds of insights I was hoping to elicit. It is so interesting to learn how particular movies have affected and shaped our outlook on life. I'm glad to see that Cinemabuff64 came back with a title. I hope we can get a few others to let us know which movies impressed them enough to have an impact on their lives.

A number of years ago, a friend who was in the distribution end of the movie business told me that he didn't think he was making a substantial contribution to society compared to most of his friends who were in the professions. I disagreed, pointing out that movies make one significant contribution by way of inspiration. Seeing "The Story of Louis Pasteur" was what first interested me in microbiology and resulted in my career as a research scientist. Since then, I often bring this subject up with friends, who are not movie buffs and I do occasionally find others who have been similarly inspired. I have only recently discovered the TCM message boards and am fascinated by the insights and knowledge displayed by you movie cognoscenti in your postings. I would be interested to know if, in this group, there are more individuals who can cite a movie that helped them define a path in life.

When I first saw "The Thief of Bagdad" as a child, I was startled in the beginning of the picture to see the top of a woman's garment whisked from her during a slave auction, in order to get a better price for her. I can't remember seeing that scene when the picture is shown on TCM, or any other commercial channel, and I assume it was removed to keep the "family movie" image. Since I understand TCM does not censor movies, the print TCM owns probably has the scene deleted?

Thanks to you and the others that replied with suggestions on how to catch this little gem. I've just discovered the TCM message boards. What a wealth of information is out there! --GusC

A few years ago as part of TCM's Academy Award month, they showed an Award winning 20 minute short film entitled "I Won't Play". It was set on a US Marine occupied Pacific Island in World War II and starred Dane Clark who bragged to his mates that he was a great piano player who was responsible for starting out many headliners on their careers. However, he refuses to play for his buddies who think he is a blowhard. The plot takes a twist when Janis Paige, playing a famous singer arrives on the Island with a USO group. I have watched TCM carefully during their subsequent Academy Award months, trying to catch it again. The one reelers that TCM uses as fillers are not listed on the TV guides, so I really don't know if TCM has ever shown it again. I have suggested it to TCM a number of times, and wonder if anyone has seen it on TCM in the last 3 or 4 years? Gus Cerini

Thanks to all who replied re "The Cheaters". I guess the only recourse is to keep pestering TCM to license the movie from Paramount. I certainly will.

Is there anyone out there that remembers, and would like TCM to air the 1945 Christmas movie "The Cheaters", with Joseph Schildkraut, Eugene Pallette, Billie Burke, Ruth Terry and others. I don't think this movie has been on TV for over 30 years. It was my understanding that whoever controlled the rights to the movie, would not release it for TV, much like John Wayne's estate did with "The High and The Mighty". However, I now see that it is available on VCR, and would imagine that TCM can obtain the rights to show it. I hope they do, because it is a true 1940's CLASSIC about a family that learns the true meaning of Christmas from a homeless unemployed actor. I can't help but believe that if it is aired, it will become a Holiday tradition. much like "Scrooge" and "It's a Wonderful Life". Please join me in listing it under "Suggested Movies" to bring it to the attention of the TCM officials who can make it happen. --Gus Cerini