Swithin

Does one express opinions here thinking only to sway? Are the repeated expressions of positive opinions therefore also de trop? I don't understand. Btw, I don't know how to post photos either!

First, I do indeed hold the sincerely held belief that she is overrated; second, when one feels that way, and is so in the minority, I think it becomes more of a responsibility to express it. Third, I have never, and will never, call anything anyone ever posts on this board presumptuous. And I will always try to retain my sense of humor. Happy New Year Filmgoddess!

I agree with Prince Saliano, *Mantan Moreland* for SOTM. His immortal line at the end of that seminal film, King of the Zombies: "If there's one thing I wouldn't want to be twice, zombies is both of them!" Also may I put in a word for *Madame Sul-Te-Wan*, perhaps the first African-American actor to have signed a contract with a major studio. She worked with D.W. Griffith; played Tahama (Cook and High Priestess) brilliantly in the aforementioned King of the Zombies; and played Dorothy Dandridge's grandmother in Carmen Jones. People erroneously thought she was Dandridge's grandmother after that portrayal. Her best line in King of the Zombies: "Tahama cooks for the living, not the dead!"

Yes, *The Time Machine* !

*Every Day's a Holiday,* a Mae West rarity, which opens on New Year's Eve of the 20th Century; *Show Boat* (1936), which has a great New Year's Eve scene; and of course *Radio Days*, which ends with a New Year's Eve scene.

Great, diverse list, TopBilled! So -- here are my degrees of separation from this group. I have four connections: 1. Lily Tomlin and I shared a personal friend. I met Lily at lunch once, at our friend's table (I would guess around 2004, or something like that). It was a big event, so we didn't get to chat much. 2. I met Eva Le Gallienne once (Miss Le G), in the 1980s, I think. She was carrying a small dog -- perhaps a Yorkie. 3. Angela Lansbury did a professional favor for me. We had a nice chat on the phone, then follow ups via fax and mail, then she did this incredible kindness. She is lovely, professional, and not the least bit grand. 4. I worked on a brief project with Lynn Redgrave. I also worked with her niece, Natasha Richardson, at which time I met Vanessa Redgrave. I met Lynn's mother, Rachel Kempsen, when she was in a revival of The Cocktail Party at the Phoenix Theatre in London, in 1986. An acquaintance of mine was in the cast, and a friend of mine gave us all a lift home, including Ms. Kempson. So that's it for my personal connections to your lovely January group! Happy New Year!!

As I posted in another thread, I saw Golden Boy on TCM the morning after having seen the revival of the play on Broadway (which has gotten terrific reviews). I either had never seen the film or hadn't seen it in years. I agree with you about the film acting not being good -- Holden was miscast (except in the fight scenes), BS was not very good, Lee J. Cobb was OTT for a movie. But, oddly, for me, having just seen the splendid revival the night before, I felt the happy Hollywood ending made more sense in this one case, then the car accident/presumed joint suicide in Odets' play.

Eugenia, you are among the most gentle of us. Regarding influencing, though, I don't know if you've done it or not, but I think it's ok -- that's what open-minded arguments/discussions can do. If everyone stuck to their, you'll pardon the expression, guns, that would be pretty tedious. Sometimes we won't/can't be influenced; sometimes a good argument can influence us. Regarding the lady in question (BS), I like her and love many of her films (will somebody PLEASE tell me to stop saying that -- I've repeated it TOO often!) But I just offer some critique to help tone down what I feel is too-effusive praise. But, Eugenia, though you seem evidently to be a big BS fan, you've said that you don't think she is without flaws. I think there are others who may have actually said she is flawless! (You see I use words like "seem," instead of "are," and "may," rather than the "two cents" or "it's my opinion," etc. I guess that's MY way of conveying an opinion.

And let's not forget that it was Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians. That is for me the purest sound of New Year's Eve, from my childhood. Btw, HM The Queen is still considered monarch of Canada, right? Or has that changed?

Enjoy, Miss W., and Happy New Year! *Radio Days* is my favorite Woody Allen film, and I love that New Year's Eve scene! (And just about every other scene in that film). I'm going to a party about ten blocks north of where I live.

"When a man wants to murder a tiger, it's called sport; when the tiger wants to murder him, it's called ferocity." -- George Bernard Shaw

I understand that, and certainly see your point. I used to put in the abbreviation "IMHO" fairly often, meaning (as everyone knows), "in my humble opinion," but I realized I was offending myself by sounding too Uriah Heep-ish. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uriah_Heep

I've been putting up some quotes from *Slaughterhouse-Five,* one of my favorite films, in the quotes thread. But maybe this one is relevant here: When Billy Pilgrim, who is unstuck in time, is asked if he can see into the future, he responds that he has even seen his own death, many times: "I died in Philadelphia, where I was giving a speech on the subject of Tralfamadore."

Looking forward to Prestige, perhaps the only Tay Garnett/"exotic" location film that I haven't seen. And I love Ann Harding! And I haven't seen Burn, Witch, Burn for decades, it's a great thriller!

I agree that "Unchained Melody" is a great song. I particularly remember the Al Hibbler rendition. On another note, I had a philosophy teacher who positively HATED the song Georgy Girl. It was almost a "slowly I turn..." situation for him. I like it!

(I must have been in the midst of typing this when the thread was locked. Since I took pains to write it, I wanted to post it. This is in response to Arturo.) I apologize to Santa Barbara and to the cities of Santa Barbara! In future I will confine my criticisms to Ms. Stanwyck herself, and not use the others even metaphorically! I'd like to go to either or both cities sometimes. I love cold weather and am really enjoying our current cold snap in NYC. But as I get older, I do yearn for a bit of winter warmth, on occasion. Regarding PMs, I've gotten relatively few PMs, and all have been pleasant. I know -- as Michael points out -- that some posters can be offended by just about anything. I think real offensive chat should be punished. But that would be along the lines of personal nastiness, NOT disagreements about a movie, or actor, or talking about sexual (or other sensitive) topics related to film. Some people have used expressions in their posts such as "just my two cents;" or "this is just my opinion...;" or even apologizing for not agreeing about a film. Those, of course, go without saying. Anything we post is obviously just our two cents and just our opinion, apart from hard, verifiable facts. And this board is here (presumably) so that we can agree and disagree! And we are from all over the country, and from Canada, and so should understand and accept that something that may come across as rude in one region is merely part of the way we communicate in another. I don't mind OT chats too much. We after all are human beings, and we get to know each other a little, if we post regularly. So I think it's natural (and not necessarily a bad thing) if we segue into an off-topic chat for a bit. It keeps the board live, and makes a nice personal touch without getting too personal.

Quite right, one musn't diss the saints of Santaria or Voodoo, for whom I have the greatest respect! I studied theology with Jesuits. One of the best books I ever read in college was Voodoo in Haiti by Alfred Metraux, a fascinating study of the subject. I've never been to Santa Barbara and will confine my criticisms to Ms. Stanwyck! I've actually barely been to California. Only a short visit to a cousin in SF many years ago, and four hours in LA airport on the way to Hawaii, earlier in that trip.

Anthony Hopkins is a great stage actor as well. I've seen many great King Lears on stage -- Brian Cox, Ian Holm, Alan Howard, John Wood, and, just recently, Jonathan Pryce. But the best was Hopkins, at the National Theatre, London, in 1986. The next year, at the same venue, I saw him in Antony and Cleopatra, with Judi Dench.

I saw How the West Was Won when it came out, I was a kid and it was very impressive to me, to see the Cinerama; also I like long movies that span alot of time and space. I still have a soft spot for it. It's not perfect; I put that down to too many directors. (That's also my problem with GWTW ). But I enjoy watching parts of it. I have the DVD -- not a great print. Of course, the triple screen that I'd love to see again is the one I saw at Radio City in 1980: Abel Gance's Napoleon, with a live orchestra conducted by Carmine Coppola. I'm waiting for a screening or DVD with every bit of footage of every version of Gance's film!

Hi Filmgoddess, Forgive me, I thought it would be clearer than it obviously was! I made the reference to a California city in another post. But the meaning (which was clear to me and no one else I guess) was that it's Barbara Stanwyck! Santa Barbara means St. Barbara, and my whole "shtick" on this subject is the way she is sanctified here! A bit far-fetched as reference go, I fear! (I guess it's sort of the idea of the Movie titles AKA game) In any case, I hope you have a wonderful New Year!

I wish all the anti-Santa Barbara people would come out of the closet, so that I don't have to carry that important and enormous burden alone! (And as I've always said, I'm not anti-her; I'm anti-overdoing the sanctification bit with this workmanlike pretty good actress).

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I'm usually hopeless at identifying photos, unless it's something I'm fairly familiar with. I think I know two of the blokes -- Ronnie Reagan, and Dick Powell, so it must be Hollywood Hotel.

I think that's Bonita Granville and Alma Kruger in These Three.

Kiss Me Deadly is a CRAZY film. I was taken to see it when I was about four and had nightmares about that glowing box for years! One of the great, late noirs.