Swithin

*The Secret of the Blue Room* and *The Spider Woman Strikes Back* were regulars on the old Shock Theater in NYC decades ago, I'd love to see them on TCM. Two other Shock Theater regulars I'd like to see are *The Mad Doctor of Market Street*, and *The Mystery of Marie Roget*.

What about Bonanza? They seem to have the film I want.

(As I've been saying alot lately): It sounds pretty kinky to me!

The low-calorie option was not successful.

I sort of thought that's what it might mean, but since "dreck" is a much worse word than the one you avoided, I wasn't sure! (I was scolded in high school for writing "****" on one of my classmate's French notebooks). ****, as you know = dreck.

Hi Eugenia -- I know what "dreck" is; but what does "danged" mean?

I SO agree with you about "Raindrops..." I remember watching the Oscars that year, hoping the winner for Best Song would be "Jean," or "Come Saturday Morning." I hated "Raindrops..." and the film from which it came. I should see it again -- I was very young then. But I know I still dislike the song.

Hi LadyE, thanks, yes that's the film. I wonder about the reliability of the vendors, but that has quite sensibly become a subject on another more specific thread. I don't think I can supply spice in this thread. Regarding Stanwyck, as I've often said, I like her and love many of her movies. I don't think she's anywhere near as good as her fans on this board make her out to be. I get cranky when people go OTT about someone or something that I feel doesn't deserve it. I feel the same way about GWTW. I think her roles were incredibly versatile, but she always remained the same; maybe a small adjustment. I've quoted William Demerest in The Lady Eve : "it's the same dame" (no matter what the film) . But I understand she is beloved, and perhaps in this her month I should be kind. (Not that she needs it, with all the adulation here!) I guess if I had to critique her, I would say that she started as a showgirl (which is fine), but she remained a version of that showgirl no matter what the role -- even the rich women she played come across as showgirls with a few bucks. Looking at her that way, as I write this, it actually makes her more interesting to me!

I just found one called Bonanza, I don't know anything about it. I've only purchased online from Amazon and Amazon UK, and in my VHS days, from Video Yesteryear and another UK company. http://www.bonanza.com/listings/The-Creeper-1948-DVD-Rare-Horror/30505481

*The Squall* ?

I love Night Nurse, saw it at the Film Forum's pre-code series several years ago. My mother used to talk about it as a film she remembered fondly -- she's 90 now. Here's a question I've been meaning to ask. This is an odd thread to ask it in, but there is a connection to you devoted Stanwyck fans. A film I have been looking for is a trashy (and thoroughly enjoyable) old horror film called The Creeper (1948). I ask my question here because one of the leads is Janis Wilson, who was in two Stanwyck films -- she was the girl who grew up to be Stanwyck in ...Martha Ivers and was in My Reputation. (She was also Tina in Now Voyager. ) I have fond memories of The Creeper. It used to be shown on the old Shock-o-Rama horror film series on Channel 13 in NYC, before Channel 13 became PBS. Is the DVD of The Creeper available? I can't find any reputable information online. The TCM page gives information about it but has a DVD link to a totally unrelated film with the same title. So all you Stanwyck fans, perhaps you can take a moment off from your hagiography to help me find a film with the girl who grew up to be BS in Martha Ivers.

Was this a repost, or a riposte? Judging from the responses, methinks maybe the latter. In any case, Happy Boxing Day to all!

classiccinemafan: Much as I'd like to think you heard correctly, which would underscore my comments in the "Babes in Toyland" thread, where I pointed out some (presumably controversial) theories about the film, I actually think Robert said "shady." However, if you are right, it would underscore my comments because it would show that the murkiness of the film brings low even the gentlemanly Mr. Osborne!

Omigod! I didn't know it was on! It's an odd (and surprisingly stodgy for the most part) adaptation, to be sure. I saw the movie when I came out -- many in the audience dozed through it but awakened with a ****? when the great Elisabeth Welch emerges out of nowhere to sing "Stormy Weather" at the end. One of the great camp endings, and, although maybe not a great adaptation of Shakespeare's possibly last play, a memorable one. I do have the PAL DVD. I've seen the play on stage many times, most recently with Ralph Fiennes in London a couple of years ago. He was brilliant.

I'm so sorry to hear that. I worked with Richard twice, once in 2001 and once in 2003. He was a great composer and pianist and a fun person as well.

You mean you don't approve of highbrow stuff?

No, seriously, although I'm perfectly capable of being a wise guy, there has been alot of discussion over the years about the "subversive" elements in that film. I didn't know about what Ray mentioned earlier, and that there are documents attesting to it in the archives, but it only underscores what many people have been saying for years. Slightly O.T.: I once heard there was a "sex store" in LA called "Toys in Babeland!"

Well, it was more challenging during the Code, because they had to be more subversive and subtle. But check out Ray Faiola's earlier post in this thread. By the late 40s, when a remake was proposed, they were much more attuned to this sort of stuff than they were right after the Code came in. Sometimes a kiss may just be a kiss. But not in Babes, when she wouldn't "kiss" him until he put her in the stocks!

A Code film, yes. One good thing about the Code was that the film's creators had to convey meaning between the lines, with images, etc. Babes does that in spades! P.S. Sex isn't "sicko."

Just saw it, finally. Not sure what I think. I'm afraid all that panning to the sky reminded me of the scene at the beginning of The Brainiac, a crazy Mexican horror film, when they're all looking at the comet. I'm really sorry they didn't include *Joyce Redman*, who died on May 10, and her eating scene from Tom Jones. But I'm glad they included the screenwriter *Frank Pierson*, whose parents (played by Rosalind Russell and Jack Carson) were the subjects of the film Roughly Speaking, which was based on a book by Pierson's mother, Louise Randall Pierson.

Good morning, and Merry Christmas! Harmless romantic comedy! This movie is subversive. The actor Henry Brandon, who played Barnaby at the age of 22, lived a long life and was interviewed in old age. He talked about how bizarre the whole thing was. But -- we can all enjoy in our own ways!

Perhaps the kinkiest bit is when Tom-Tom asks Bo-Peep if she's interested in him. She shakes her head no. Then he puts her feet in the stocks (bondage) -- and asks her again, and she says she *is* interested. Then a pause, then cut to her feet in the stocks which are wiggling intensely (presumably they're having sex), then a pause, then a shot of both of them from the rear; then the (presumed) post-coital sigh. Then the camera pulls back -- the whole town has been watching! Oy vay! The existential tragedy of it all is that these characters -- like Tantalus and Sisyphus et. al. of Greek myths -- have to repeat their lot again and again. Bo-Peep keeps losing her sheep; Miss Muffet is eternally being frightened by the spider, and so forth. And near the very start of the film, Stannie and Ollie sleeping together, awfully close! What a movie!

One of his lesser-known credits: He played Herbie in the original Broadway production of Gypsy with Ethel Merman, and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor. The part was played by Karl Malden in the movie.

Love that film! It is very creepy, particularly the soldier whose head comes off. And I do like that mouse! But my favorite part is the between-the-lines kinky sex scene between Bo-Peep and Tom-Tom!

You make very good points. What I don't understand is why so many people have a fear of accepting climate change. I can understand why big corporations fear it -- it costs money to begin to fix it. But I don't understand why individuals get so worked up against the idea, unless it has been assigned its place on the agenda of the right and is simply accepted part and parcel, like opposition to any form of gun control. But I would think traditionally religious people would want to go the extra mile to protect the Earth, as God's appointed caretakers of the Earth: "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." Regarding Mr. Mander (who gives his usual fine performance in The Scarlet Claw ), he did indeed have cause to fear for his life. Beware of housekeepers in drag!