Bill_McCrary
-
Posts
666 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Never
Posts posted by Bill_McCrary
-
-
One place where an incredible job of restoration has been done is for the box sets that WB has done of the Looney Tunes cartoons....
Yes, but...... Some of them have been "oversharpened," to the point where they don't look like movies anymore, rather video. They certainly have snapped the color to max, and one or two that looked (almost?) b/w on their most recent showings (the BBunny baseball one where he is up against the "bully," has to chase the ball all over NYC to catch it and get it back to the park to have the fellow "out") now have color back like I saw them (and taped) back in the '80s.
So far, a LARGE percentage of the ones on Laserdisc have not been in the new boxes -- good for those of us who invested in the lasers. There was nothing on those after 1948-49, and the new boxes have lots of the newer ones.
-
am I the only one who has to turn the volume down anytime I change the station from TCM? Does it seem like every station is louder than TCM?
But that's basically for a very good thing - in general TCM's level means that (like a good DVD) when something in a movie is supposed to get LOUD, it does... not like the other stations where everything is loud, so you turn down the volume (or get a headache) so that nothing is (or even can be) loud. Our public radio network in SC does the same thing now (for several years) - even on the classical stations. Everything is boosted near to maximum; fine for driving (and for some stores where they play it), but lousy for serious listening at home.
Besides - WHEN do you turn away from TCM??!!! Surely, it must be for a similar, "civilized," considerate-volumed channel? (And yes, even History Channel, on DirecTV, is loud, I know.) (Irony rears its head.) I'm back to BBC/America for the time being, since I have seen tonight's musicals enough times - but I REALLY want to be to sure to have all systems "go" for the Charley's Aunt version showing at 6.
Bill
-
I love Jeannette MacDonald/Nelson Eddy movies, yet I think there have only been TWO (2) total on since I've started watching TCM religiously in June.
We were both replying at the same time, so I didn't see yours yet (of course).
No, you're far from being the only one. And TCM does go all out for them once in a while, sometimes four back-to-back. I've only been posting since (a few) in August - reading for about a month before that. I've been downloading schedules for over three years and never realized the rest of this was even here! Everything runs in cycles. We can even hope for Grace Moore's Columbia efforts now.
I never would have thought (with over 1000 posts) you were so new to TCM. One of the two (major) reasons I got my satellite dish (DirecTV) in September '06 was because cable didn't do stereo for TCM (or PBS, either, and still doesn't!). I've been watching it since it "took over" from TNT in 1994. Since I retired from teaching over 4 years ago, it has become (even more of) an obsession.
Now that they have access to Paramount, I'm looking forward to Jeanette's pre-Merry Widow movies. I have only a poor (eBay'd) VHS of Monte Carlo, but good (from TV) of the other major ones. Lottery Bride was even on AMC (the "real" one) during a film preservation weekend. Waiting for Vagabond King (does the color still exist?) and hoping they'll find the original pre-code sections of some of her cut-only ones. For Nelson, "Northwest Outpost" is hard-to-find. I have the commercial VHS, but it badly needs a fresh mastering. The 78s from that one put the soundtrack in the shade.
-
Horror lovers get 4 nights a month devoted to their unusual appetites, why must it overflow to a fifth day and night? I know, before you say it, change the channel if I don't like it. The problem is, what do I change to?
Gee, now I know what people are saying when I get to feast on TCM musicals every so often - like every Tuesday and Thursday of a certain month, a year or so ago!
Read a book; go shopping. Sleep (which is something I never do enough of).
Try the horror movies - maybe you only think you don't like them.
-
If it was on after Buck Privates it was Let's Do Things.
Thanks for this. I only got about 1/2 of it that night on my hard-drive machine; I must have switched over from something else I was watching. Thought I had only missed a couple of minutes, but missed almost 15 minutes (I know now). Their first short, 3 reels instead of 2. Had guessed (from a list) at a title, but was way off. Now I know, at least (and can wait till the next round of Pitts shorts - sometime in the 40-year lease period!).
BTW, that was 2 days before MGMWBRKO started his wonderful service (and about 2 weeks before I discovered it - darn!).
-
By the way it was singer Buddy Clark who dubbed the crooning for Holden in "Father Is a Bachelor".
It was driving me "fool" hearing him (as WH) singing "Love's Old Sweet Song" -- "I KNOW that voice! Who, who...." And just before I saw your post it had come to me - but I'm thinking - 1951? Buddy Clark died in a plane crash in '48, didn't he? Travelling coast to coast for radio broadcasts, etc. (Knew about it from an old LP cover, but checked again just now.)
Obviously they had some (unused?) soundtracks.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0163739/
Message was edited by:
Bill_McCrary
because "soundtrack" DOES have a "d." (And travelling has 2 L's, despite what spellcheck and others say these days!)
-
just my damn luck. the trailer on the TCM EOO site doesnt work, lol
http://www.tcm.com/2006/edgeofoutside/multimedia.jsp
That one plays for me, but there are no lyrics, just narration of what's to come. On the other hand I can't get the "On Dangerous Ground" one to play, so....
I don't think it was for a specific movie. I think it was for the month of maverick filmmakers (or whatever it was called). It may have survived on one disc I recorded where I forgot(slept through) to turn it off and it went too far for me to use the rest of the disc. If I find it, I'll get back.
But try these (I didn't open them):
MUSE LYRICS - Time Is Running Out
www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/muse/timeisrunningout.html
-----
YouTube - Muse - Time Is Running Out
Muse - 14 - Time Is Running Out - Palacio de los Deportes ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIcr_KWiPwA
null
-
Good News(1930), and Chasing Rainbows (1930) both have a color finale, but sadly, the color elements did not survive, so TCM has not shown either since 1995.
I'm pretty certain they've been shown a good deal more recently than that. I may have GN, at least, straight to DVD. I know (without checking, though) that both have been shown since I got my dish in Sept '96. Both are completely b/w these days, though. LOTS of movies (musicals, mostly) were at least part-Technicolor (two-strip) in the early sound era. McFarland publishers has a wonderfully informative book about early musicals (up to about 1933 - nicely dovetails with pre-code movies!).
For sepia - one fantastic (in several senses) movie is "Bad Man," with Lionel Barrymore and Wallace Beery (and Ronald Reagan and.......). Wonderful, deep sepia throughout; you've NEVER seen a Lionel Barrymore like THIS LB!
-
I was watching tmc...
I'm guessing you meant TCM...
Black-and-white? Color? More about the dancer? Can you remember more closely the date you were watching? What time of day (time zone?)? They're not that many with split-screen, so if you can give just a little more help, like those things.....
-
Almost always shows around Fathers' Day. (Surprise!)
-
How about "Melody for Two," for which Warren wrote "September in the Rain," sung most memorably by James Melton. Is that ever shown?
You bet'cha! Check the monthly schedules (not just the current one); do a CTRL+F and type in names (movies, performers) you're looking for. (Careful with spelling!) Some of us routinely download and print these, but we're also learning that if we print them too far in advance we need to double-check, since changes get made (and not just when someone dies). This morning was a good example; it was right (almost) in the "Now Playing" magazine, but not three months ago when I printed it out.
Bill
-
But Gone with the Wind (seems to me) has always had less color saturation (i.e. less vivid color) than "Showboat", and GWTW color seems more natural.
And I remember a discussion "somewhere" several years ago (maybe it was on NPR) about one of the newest restorations (to film) of GWTW - something to the effect that Selznick wanted a very particular look to the film. Not the "Technicolor Standard," but darker, etc. Supposedly (I think I remember hearing), they got out "his" print to make a match; possibly this was even after having printed it up and the heirs saying something like, "No, No, NO!!!"
Anybody remember that? Am I close?
Speaking of "Show Boat" and its history on video (not in the theater): What we see now of that one and MMIStL (and Camelot, too) is light-years ahead of early VHS issues from what one presumes were the best prints MGM/UA could provide at the time for transfer! '
My "Wizard" is from 5 or so years ago; don't know if the newest one out is a new transfer (sounds like) or just repackaging. Comment?
Bill
-
Elegance - Astaire.
Everyday guy - Kelly.
Together (like "Ziegfeld Follies") - nitro!
-
Seeing the wind blow Kong's fur is simply awesome.
What we view as one of the "coolest" things today bothered Willis O'Brien (sp?) no end. The model had to be handled and at least some part of it moved for each frame of film. All that handling made impressions on its fur, and when the film was projected there was a rippling/"wind blowing" effect. He was quite upset (today it would have been digitally removed; well, actually it would have been a CGI), but there was just nothing to be done about it back then.
Now, maybe I missed something (I have never really "studied" the film), but the fur is quite obvious. The info above was from at least one documentary about its making; plus, Ray Harryhausen may have mentioned it in one of his talks. If there's a particular "wind blowing" sequence, I just don't recall it right now.
Another case of something wonderful coming from something that just couldn't be helped!
-
The original Alien.
SPOILER ALERT!!!!!************%%%%%%%%%!!!!!!!!!! If you've never seen the movie!
Most of us know about and are prepared for it now, but sitting in that theater (with a bunch of friends, late-20s or so..... When that "thing" burst forth - I'm glad I was in full command of my bodily functions! NEVER has anything stayed with me like that - and, yes, The Exorcist profoundly "got to" me - but not like that "thing" - the alien - and, then, of course all that came afterwards. Watching the sequels, one is prepared, and it's just gross, but...... Whew!
-
There was a scene where black actors were performing a dance scene on stage. There were 3 woman singing on a balcony.
In my original post I thought you were describing the short that came right afterwards (I didn't watch/DVD "Irene" this time around). I was wrong, of course.
But about the short - about Stephen Foster, Melodies and Memories (or similar title). Beautiful color from 1935, made by the same fellow who did the "Travel Talks." No comment as to its political correctness [and I'd thought THAT was the part that brought up DD], but beautiful early color work.
The "Shorts" forum further down the page has a thread, "Upcoming Shorts," provided as a service (it is NOT part of his job, just a labor of love for us) by an employee of TCM, naming himself MGMWBRKO - it is hugely helpful in allowing us to know what shorts are coming when. Check that out and be amazed! A new list should be up in the next two days, I'd think.
Message was edited by Bill:
because I was off-track with what you were describing!
Bill_McCrary
-
Top Hat DVD has a bonus cartoon titled, "Page Miss Glory,"
Some places, including the Laserdisc set of Looney Tunes, Vol I, call this one "Miss Glory." One of the 'toons sites (at least) has it listed that way. On the title card the "Page" is in MUCH smaller typeface than the other two words - all in glorious "moderne" lettering. It's easy to miss, as did apparently the people who put the set together. But, yes, the real title is the same as the movie.
-
...only a few piano bars to accompany her.
I'd love to have accompanied her to a few piano bars! (Sorry, I just had to......)
My DVD is at my mother's, or I would check the number she's singing.
-
I'd have to go with the following changes (see below) the first set is their list. The second is my revamp.
Decent list(s), but where are "Flying Down to Rio" and "Dames"?????
And almost all the rest of the similar early WB musicals?
No Nelson/Jeanette?
"Chacun a son gout," I guess. (Sorry about the missing French diacritical markings!)
Bill
-
But "Who Will Buy This Wonderful Feeling" gets heavy handed, dull and cliche,
I keep thinking I was still a child when this movie came out; but, given its year, I had to have been out of high school. The "Who Will Buy" had me (and a lot of others in the theater) just stunned. Starting with that incredible vocal by Mark Lester, the beauties just kept piling on. The different fruit and flower sellers were incredibly affecting on my sensibilities. On the huge screen, I just couldn't get enough. For years they kept issuing it (and TCM was showing it) with the mono soundtrack. FINALLY it got the proper remastering! Yes, I can hear some vocal edits I never noticed before, but..... Woo-woo!!!, as Hugh Herbert (and Andy Hardy) would say... And before all that, Harry Secombe in "Boy for Sale."
I knew the musical from the Broadway show album (and loved it), but the movie impressed me beyond belief. Now, the (original) soundtrack LP was good, but it couldn't quite duplicate the thrill(s) of the movie. Several bonuses on the DVD, too.
Bill
-
Got one, Bill?
Nope - feel free, anyone.
And I'm ashamed of myself to admit - I COMPLETELY forgot about M.A.S.H. when I started searching! War? Hyphenated-Americans? Oh, duh! Well, it was a late night....
-
1. Harry did not like to appear in public. He never played out or got any "face time" on camera. He simply liked to write music.
(I thought I was replying to this when I interjected on the other HW thread):
But there is that marvellous short (with supporting players) of him at the piano, doing his hits from/for "Forty-Second Street." TCM has been showing it every few months.
See the other thread for info about his gold record for "Chattanooga Choo-Choo" (Glenn Miller).
-
INTERESTING HARRY WARREN FACTS
-The first Gold record ever was for his song ?Chattanooga Choo-Choo?
The RIAA would beg to differ with you:
http://www.riaa.com/gp/history/default.asp
No, he's correct about that - RCA Victor presented him with a gold (sprayed?), framed/certificated record of it in 1942. Not the RIAA, but RCA itself.
This may be the first "real" million seller. Certainly many records were called, probably starting with Alma Gluck (Aloha Oe, Carry Me Back to Old Virginny) in the acoustic age; but those figures were grossly inflated, some not even reaching past 99,000 (or less!). Nobody before then (that I've ever heard) got a ceremony and a gold record.
-
Harry Warren (1893-1981) wrote more than 400 songs for close to 90 different movies from 1928 through 1981.
Except, of course, that 42nd Street's music (the stage version) was all written MUCH earlier for, at least mostly if not entirely, for the movies and compiled for a stage score. He wasn't writing (not for publication, at any rate) the musical's score up to his death in 1981.
And he may have been a poor subject for publicity; but there is that WONDERFUL short that TCM shows a couple of times a year, with several marvelous co-performers as he presides at the piano.
Al Jolson & Ruby Keeler on late tonight
in General Discussions
Posted
Is it my imagination or does TCM hardly ever play The Jazz Singer?
Mostly imagination. I don't think a year goes by without it. These things run in cycles. With all the Columbia and Paramount (among others) that are making their TCM debuts, some of the "usuals" will probably be given a rest.
Please, TCM, consider showing this again at a reasonable hour (NOT 4am) along with Wonder Bar (1934) and Hallelujah, I'm a Bum (1933).
Wonder Bar's finale, more than anything else, usually keeps it a late-night one - not one for the children to emulate; Hallelujah is about the only Jolon one I don't think TCM has shown. I have it on commercial VHS (and I think it may be in DVD now); it's unusual, everything rhyming, Rodgers-Hart score, Harry Langdon.....