Swithin

Here's a little tribute to Frank Thornton from British television:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI_pXAPebSs

Right, Lavender, your thread.

Floating Rolex, in Germany.

Frank Thornton has died in London at the age of 93. Although he appeared on stage and in films, he is best known as a superstar of British television. American audiences will know him as Captain Peacock in "Are You Being Served" and as Truly on "Last of the Summer Wine."

Fiddler on the Roof ?

And another mother-love-sacrifice courtroom scene: Kay Francis in *Confession:*

And then there's the courtroom scene that leads to one of the saddest Hollywood endings of all: Ruth Chatterton in *Frisco Jenny.* **

http://archive.org/search.php?query=L.%20Frank%20Baum%20AND%20mediatype%3Amovies

Ginny, I long for a copy of the dubbed version of The Black Pit of Dr. M. My favorite lines from which, dubbed by the American actor, is "Yes it's me. I came back in Elmer's body." I can't even begin to try to explain the circumstances that precede those lines!

Two favorite lines from *Horror Hotel*, aka *City of the Dead* : Valentine Dyall as Jethrow Keane: "To see me is a special privilege, reserved for a chosen few!" Patricia Jessel as Mrs. Newless, spoken to Venetia Stevenson as Nan Barlow, just before she stabs her during the sacrifice: "I AM ELIZABETH SELWYN!"

Speaking of Sherlock Holmes, the housekeeper in Sherlock Holmes and the House of Fear is great -- she's the personification of dourness. The actress is Sally Shepherd, playing Mrs. Monteith. This is the film with the orange pips.

So many great courtroom scenes! Two of my favorites -- though not typical -- are the "Citizens: VOTE!" scene in A Tale of Two Cities with Blanche Yurka as Madame Defarge; and the sort of courtroom scene toward the end of Stanley and Livingstone. The latter really takes place at the Royal Geographical Society, but the members are judging whether to accept Stanley's evidence or not. Then a message comes of Dr. Livingstone's death, mentioning that he had met Stanley. It's a great scene.Of more typical court scenes, I like the scene at the end of The Young Philadelphians very much.

I think A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a great Irish-American film. Also The Last Hurrah.

Skimpole, when I saw A Day in the Country on your schedule, it not only reminded me of how great and beautiful that film is, it reminded me of the way I felt the first time I saw it, nearly 30 years ago. Is there any film more exquisitely evocative?

What about a nun in high heels, Mr. Froy?

I agree. I went to one of her concerts years ago, when she came to NY. It was at the Community Church (Unitarian) on 35th Street. I had many of her LPs; now I have one CD, it's just called "Jean Redpath." Has a tree and horses on the cover. Great songs, including two of my favorites: "Dancing at Whitsun," and "The Grey Silkie."

Email from an English friend:"The last time an Argentinian in a white dress came out onto a big balcony, she sang "Don't Cry for Me Argentina."

I used to run into Tommy Makem at the old John Barleycorn restaurant; and also at the Irish Pavilion, which he then made his own place. As long as you've moved from Odessa to the UK and Ireland, here are two of my favorites -- very different songs. The first, the deeply disturbing and challenging Child Ballad 104, sung by the divine English folksinger Frankie Armstrong; the second, one of my favorite Robbie Burns songs, sung by the angelic Scottish folksinger Jean Redpath, and timely, considering the lovely weather in NYC at the moment:

I fear I did not read the rules thoroughly! Though I will live up to my responsibilities. It's certainly a nice touch to have the winner set the next challenge. I'm sure it will be fun in its own way.

Welcome back, SansFin. I guess the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, and Capuchin is now temporarily absent. I did not know when I entered that I would have the pleasure of setting the next challenge. It's akin to choosing a pope, I think. Capuchin said no later than October, so I have time. I must confess I don't really understand it all, though he has given me guidance. Maybe I will try for July -- I have to go to London then, and sometimes it's nice to indulge in some persiflage whilst having breakfast, watching the boats go by on the Thames.

Thank you Lonesome Polecat! I must congratulate you on your schedule -- I particularly love the Oklahoma series, having made many visits there; the brilliant juxtaposition of the Carol Burnett bits with the films; and most of all, thank you for making me aware of two additional Charters and Caldecott films! (And thank you -- I think -- for your vote. I didn't realize when I entered that the winner has the responsibility to set the next challenge.)

Thank you filmlover, countess, and lydecker. Lydecker, your beautiful schedule reads like a love letter to the classic film. I look forward to your next one!

I remember seeing The Greengage Summer as a kid when it came out in NYC. That's what it was called, so I'm suprised now to read that in the US it had a different title. Lovely film. I still think of it when I go to England in the summer and eat greengages (which come mostly from France).

Golly, Capuchin, I'm amazed! Thank you for your hard work. You did a brilliant hosting/moderating job. And with early voting! Basically, I think we have a tie with five diverse and imaginative schedules. Fedya, Lonesome Polecat, Lydecker, and Skimpole -- you produced schedules as creative as we've seen on TCM on the best of days! And as I've learned -- it's not easy. Suddenly you realize you need to squeeze in a short, or another movie, etc. When I had finished the arduous task at last, I realized I had two premieres too many. So I had to delete The Undead -- Roger Corman's bizarre take on the Bridey Murphy story -- from the time travel series; and I had to replace Mountains of the Moon, which would have gone so well with Stanley and Livingstone -- in the Africa series. But those are the travails of a programmer! Until next time...

Lady in the Dark, the Weill/Ira Gershwin musical with Ginger Rogers, used to be on tv alot, in the old days. It has a famous dream sequence, as does Murder, My Sweet (I think). Could that be a connection? But I'm afraid the Chandler connection makes more sense, and that it's that other Lady.