bansi4

Movie critic Leonard Maltin has said "Wood's films are so uniformly, absolutely awful that they are great fun to watch". Such titles as "Jail Bait", "Bride of the Monster", "Glen or Glenda?", Night of the Ghouls" and his 'masterpiece' "Plan Nine from Outer Space" are all doing well on VHS and DVD. Mr. Wood had a passion for filmmaking and in his heart he assumed he was making good movies. More famous now than he ever was when alive, more so than some of Hollywoods more prestigeous directors. To get a look into the life and times of Edward Wood see the movie "Ed Wood" with Johnny Depp which shows just how low budget he had to go in making his films. Since TCM runs low budget East Side Kids films it should be fun to see an Ed Wood marathon. Mongo

lolite I can sympathize with you since I just got over a severe flu/bronchitis illness and it was a pip. Do as the doctor says and take your meds and you will be as good as new in no time. I will miss you since you are one of the brighter candles gracing our boards. Get well soon! Mongo

I would like to see Claudette Colbert in "Three Came Home" (1950) in which she gave a stunning performance. In fact this is the movie where she hurt her back and had to pass on starring in "All About Eve". Another cute comedy is "Family Honeymoon" in which she starred with Fred MacMurray her co-star in the funny "The Egg and I". Mongo

After all is said and done regarding "The Phantom of the Opera" my favorite remains the 1943 version with the masterful Claude Rains as the unfortunate Claudin. With Nelson Eddy and the lovely Susanna Foster in fine voice it is a lavish production which won two Oscars for Art Direction and Cinematography (got 4 nominations). At 80 years old Susanna Foster is ailing and resides at The Actors Fund Nursing Home, 155-175 W. Hudson Ave., Englewood, NJ 07631. I understand she enjoys hearing from fans if you wish to send her a card. Mongo

TCM will pay a tribute to the late Virginia Mayo with 7 of her films on January 21st. beginning at 7AM. Mongo

feaito you hit the jackpot. Congratulations! It's your turn to play.

Clue # 3 Making a comeback

Clue # 2 A meglomaniacal mogul

Thank you lolite. I knew I was familiar with the names Martha and Mallory and finally thought of Diana Lynn. I saw "Ruthless" years ago and it is indeed a good drama. ******************************************************** Clue # 1 A gorgeous blonde

"RUTHLESS"?

I for one didn't have intentions of being scared while viewing the musical "The Phantom of the Opera". I did enjoy some of the lavish production values of the movie and the settings were spectactular (that chandelier is magnificent). The players were beautiful and handsome in their costumes of a time gone by and may I add, in good voice. Last but not least I couldn't resist the haunting "Music of the Night". Although not great, in these times of stupid comedies, the musical is a welcome change of pace. Mongo

therealfuster you just about covered it all regarding the delightful WWII Canteen flicks. Spotting all those wonderful stars is which made it that much more fun especially gathered all together for the one purpose of entertaining and serving our men in uniform. I always get a kick out of watching the fabulous Andrews Sisters getting the joint jumpin' with the boogie woogie. It was a time for harmony and those fabulous Holywood stars didn't disappoint us. Now I would like to see Paramounts tribute to the war effort in the movie "Star Spangled Rhythm" (1942) featuring Bob Hope, Veronica Lake, Bing Crosby, Paulette Goddard, Dick Powell, Alan Ladd, Dorothy Lamour, Betty Hutton, Ray Milland and oodles more. Good stuff indeed! Mongo

All this hullaballu and buzz about "The Aviator"...and wouldn't you know it...a movie titled "Meet the Fockers" is #1 at the box office for the 3rd week in a row closing in on $200 million! While "The Aviator" in its 3rd week hardly reaches $50 million at the box office! Yet "The Aviator" will be wined and dined at the Oscars while "Meet the Fockers" will not even be mentioned (except perhaps in a monologue). Go figure. Mongo

Bernice Frank in "Grumpy" w/ Conrad Nagel Conrad Nagel in "The Man Who Understood Women" w/ Henry Fonda Henry Fonda in "Advise and Conscent" w/Burgess Meredith Burgess Meredith in "Rocky" w/ Lloyd Kaufman Connect Dasha Perkins to Stanton Heck

*************HAPPY NEW YEAR 2005!*********************** ****************TO ONE & ALL****************************

Zella Ingraham in "Flyin' Thru" w/ Al Wilson Al Wilson in "The Cloud Dodger" w/ George Chandler George Chandler in "Sinbad the Sailor" w/ Jane Greer Jane Greer in "The Company She Keeps" w/ Jeff Bridges Jeff Bridges in "The Fabulous Baker Boys" w/ Ellie Raab Connect Lauren Mandel to Lyn Donelson

I just caught the TCM year-end salute to the performers who died this past year and as usual it was inspiring and sad. I was glad that they didn't forget Jan Sterling, Anna Lee and Virginia Grey who they failed to give a separate spot to at the time of their demise. The dimmed bar with the lone patron and the song as usual) fit the occasion properly.

************GWTW************

******************************************************** ****************HAPPY HOLIDAYS ONE & ALL**************** Mongo

De Niro and Scorses also acted together in "Guilty by Suspicion".

Harrison Ford in "Love in High Gear" w/ Arthur Hoyt Arthur Hoyt in "The Great Moment" w/ Joel McCrea Joel McCrea in "Gunfight at Dodge City" w/ James Westerfield James Westerfield in "Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round" w/ Harrison Ford Connect Brendon Boyd to W.S. Percy

Ruby Stevens aka Barbara Stanwyck.

correction: The name is Evelyn Axzell

Herman Rottger in "Bunny's Mistake" w/ Flora Finch Flora Finch in "The Women" w/ Rosalind Russell Rosalind Russell in "Auntie Mame" w/ Dub Taylor Dub Taylor in "Falling From Grace" w/ John Mellencamp Connect Trinity Stiles to Ecelyn Axzell

I had a nice surprise today when I watched the movie "Pennies From Heaven" (1981) on HBO. Set in the bleak Depression the film featured some stunning 1930s style musical numbers with all that jazz. It starred Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters (perfect for the era) and Christopher Walken who performed a dazzling tap dance striptease number. A really remarkable movie to say the least. If you haven't seen it yet by all means do since your in for a real treat. Mongo