MissGoddess
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Posts posted by MissGoddess
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> BTW, since you liked "A Night In Casablanca" so much you should read some of the back story about getting it made. There are letters Groucho exchanged with Warner Bros. about their threat to sue the Marxes over their use of "Casablanca" in the title. Groucho's repsonses to Jack Warner are just great.
It's worth reading and the biggest laughs I've gotten in many a day:
Abstract: While preparing to film a movie entitled A Night in Casablanca, the Marx brothers received a letter from Warner Bros. threatening legal action if they did not change the film’s title. Warner Bros. deemed the film’s title too similar to their own Casablanca, released almost five years earlier in 1942, with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. In response Groucho Marx dispatched the following letter to the studio’s legal department:
Dear Warner Brothers,
Apparently there is more than one way of conquering a city and holding it as your own. For example, up to the time that we contemplated making this picture, I had no idea that the city of Casablanca belonged exclusively to Warner Brothers. However, it was only a few days after our announcement appeared that we received your long, ominous legal document warning us not to use the name Casablanca.
It seems that in 1471, Ferdinand Balboa Warner, your great-great-grandfather, while looking for a shortcut to the city of Burbank, had stumbled on the shores of Africa and, raising his alpenstock (which he later turned in for a hundred shares of common), named it Casablanca.
I just don’t understand your attitude. Even if you plan on releasing your picture, I am sure that the average movie fan could learn in time to distinguish between Ingrid Bergman and Harpo. I don’t know whether I could, but I certainly would like to try.
You claim that you own Casablanca and that no one else can use that name without permission. What about “Warner Brothers”? Do you own that too? You probably have the right to use the name Warner, but what about the name Brothers? Professionally, we were brothers long before you were. We were touring the sticks as the Marx Brothers when Vitaphone was still a gleam in the inventor’s eye, and even before there had been other brothers—the Smith Brothers; the Brothers Karamazov; Dan Brothers, an outfielder with Detroit; and “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” (This was originally “Brothers, Can You Spare a Dime?” but this was spreading a dime pretty thin, so they threw out one brother, gave all the money to the other one, and whittled it down to “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?”)
Now Jack, how about you? Do you maintain that yours is an original name? Well it’s not. It was used long before you were born. Offhand, I can think of two Jacks—Jack of “Jack and the Beanstalk,” and Jack the Ripper, who cut quite a figure in his day.
As for you, Harry, you probably sign your checks sure in the belief that you are the first Harry of all time and that all other Harrys are impostors. I can think of two Harrys that preceded you. There was Lighthouse Harry of Revolutionary fame and a Harry Appelbaum who lived on the corner of 93rd Street and Lexington Avenue. Unfortunately, Appelbaum wasn’t too well-known. The last I heard of him, he was selling neckties at Weber and Heilbroner.
Now about the Burbank studio. I believe this is what you brothers call your place. Old man Burbank is gone. Perhaps you remember him. He was a great man in a garden. His wife often said Luther had ten green thumbs. What a witty woman she must have been! Burbank was the wizard who crossed all those fruits and vegetables until he had the poor plants in such confused and jittery condition that they could never decide whether to enter the dining room on the meat platter or the dessert dish.
This is pure conjecture, of course, but who knows—perhaps Burbank’s survivors aren’t too happy with the fact that a plant that grinds out pictures on a quota settled in their town, appropriated Burbank’s name and uses it as a front for their films. It is even possible that the Burbank family is prouder of the potato produced by the old man than they are of the fact that your studio emerged “Casablanca” or even “Gold Diggers of 1931.”
This all seems to add up to a pretty bitter tirade, but I assure you it’s not meant to. I love Warners. Some of my best friends are Warner Brothers. It is even possible that I am doing you an injustice and that you, yourselves, know nothing about this dog-in-the-Wanger attitude. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to discover that the heads of your legal department are unaware of this absurd dispute, for I am acquainted with many of them and they are fine fellows with curly black hair, double-breasted suits and a love of their fellow man that out-Saroyans Saroyan.
I have a hunch that his attempt to prevent us from using the title is the brainchild of some ferret-faced shyster, serving a brief apprenticeship in your legal department. I know the type well—hot out of law school, hungry for success, and too ambitious to follow the natural laws of promotion. This bar sinister probably needled your attorneys, most of whom are fine fellows with curly black hair, double-breasted suits, etc., into attempting to enjoin us. Well, he won’t get away with it! We’ll fight him to the highest court! No pasty-faced legal adventurer is going to cause bad blood between the Warners and the Marxes. We are all brothers under the skin, and we’ll remain friends till the last reel of “A Night in Casablanca” goes tumbling over the spool.
Sincerely,
Groucho Marx
Unamused, Warner Bros. requested that the Marx Brothers at least outline the premise of their film. Groucho responded with an utterly ridiculous storyline, and, sure enough, received another stern letter requesting clarification. He obliged and went on to describe a plot even more preposterous than the first, claiming that he, Groucho, would be playing “Bordello, the sweetheart of Humphrey Bogart.” No doubt exasperated, Warner Bros. did not respond. A Night in Casablanca was released in 1946.
Edited by: MissGoddess on Mar 6, 2012 3:32 PM
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Good grief! Well, you made MM and butterscotch happy.
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> When he's around, it's like Columbo. When he's not around, it's a zany 60s film. The 60s have quite a few comedies, unlike the 50s.
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I never really thought about it, but you may be right. I admit to enjoying quite a few, even if they are beyond silly.
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> There are some good "Whale" touches in the film. The opening sequence is sensational. The usage of the mirror is also wonderful.
>
I just watched a movie with a mirror aspect:
> Yes! That damn outfit! I would have slugged some women because of that, too!
>
But really, he had no call to be so horrid to those poor kids.> Now she's "wearing" some really nice "outfits" in the film.
And I like Joan's trunk!>
I just bet you did, you and half the interns peeking in.
Joan is a peach in *Night Nurse*.
> Yeah, Hitch did use some vivid colors, especially red and green. But the look of *Party Girl* and Hitch is different.
>
More lurid, I'm sure.
> That happens to me quite a bit, too. It's discussions like these that get me to see things I wouldn't otherwise. And that's something I love.
>
>
Me, too.
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> And Kate beats him up and calls him the "small one"! I bet he had a death wish for her! He really does look tiny in the film.
>
ha! yes, that was funny.
> I think this is the first film I've seen Falk in. He was highly entertaining in *Penelope*. They gave him some great lines, but his delivery is superb.
>
He seemed very sure of his persona, the one that was going to carry him well in his career. It really is like a movie-size "Columbo" episode!
> What makes "Scarlett" so impressive is that it was Viv's first American film and very early on in her career. For such a young actress to carry such a big film is hard to top. But to see the emotional depths she has to play with "Blanche" is remarkable. And what's great is she's playing a mature woman but with a young vision of herself. Lots of desperation. Amazing.
>
I think she had an unblocked access to her most deeply motivating emotions, kinds that you know a person has been dealing with from childhood through maturity and they've been twisted, dressed up. minimized and exaggerated. Wow, that Williams really knew the tangled insides of womens' emotions.
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I've got *Comanche Station* coming later this week from Netflix, if I can get two Barbara Stanwyck movies watched tomorrow and returned Wednesday. I also added *Party Girl* to my ClassicFlix queue, but that won't come until next week I'm sure.
Edited by: MissGoddess on Mar 5, 2012 11:03 PM
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> Yes. Frank Morgan is a lawyer who tries to get his friend (Paul Lukas) off for his passion killing, all the while, he starts to suspect his wife (Nancy Carroll) is cheating on him.
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Now I really should watch it again. I honestly don't remember the individual characters.
> Yes, on both accounts! I've never seen Gable that mean before. I think I know why he was so angry:
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ha! Because they made him wear that outfit?
"They got me playing Stanwyck's blankety-blank chauffeur! I think I'll slug someone!"
> Yes, it's rather garish, awfully red.
>
I also remember green...didn't she wear a green dress at one point? The colors remind me of Hitchcock.
> Yes, it's exactly that. I didn't catch this. It's a wonderful observation by you.
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I actually didn't think of it until tonight.
> I think it's all played to make a point more than anything else.
>
That makes sense. There are some funny lines and the supporting actors are all good. It's amazing to see Charles Bronson with Spencer Tracy and Kate Hepburn. He seems so much "later" than them.
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> So did this vault Peter to Columbo or was he already playing detectives like this?
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I wondered that myself. I really have no idea. The only other movie I remember him in was on of the Sinatra "rat pack" films. I forget which. He always seemed to play "mugs".
> Oh, now we see why! You see yourself!
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No.
> Even though she carries *Gone with the Wind* for four hours, I believe "Blanche" is her best performance You won't find too many greater performances.
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Oh yes. And they are interesting to compare, as both are Southern Belles, and both rather deluded creatures. They almost represent the South itself in its glory and demise.
> Too overpowering!
>
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Seven Sinners. The Divine Miss G and I disagree on this one. I don't care much for it as Wayne spends a lot of his time groveling at Miss Dietrich's feet. A fine cast to be sure but it's Wayne's attitude that brings me down on this one.
I admit I was rather surprised when I first saw this movie. I did not expect to see John Wayne in such a role. I guess it's because he really had not yet become a superstar and Marlene was the bigger star at the time. -
> You're right, some of these Karloffs run together. This one is about a serum that reverses aging. Karloff is the doctor/scientist. He's in prison for a "mercy killing." He killed a guy who wanted to try the serum versus deal with the pain of old age.
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Oh! I haven't seen that one and it sounds really good! I wonder if it's in my "to watch" pile.
> *SPOILER*
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> *So what do you think? Did he* *really show "yellow" or was it for the kids?*
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> I think he did it for the kids. It makes the film redemptive.
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What did you think of the movie?
> The beginning of the film is very moody and well done.
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Doesn't it veer off into a court drama? I can't remember.
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> He's really bad in this one. He slugs Barbara!
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It takes some guts to even try that!
This was one of his meanest characters.>
> *What surprises you?*
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> That it placed as highly as it did for you.
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I was surprised at how well I liked it, too. I like the look of the movie, the use of color was interesting. I liked Cyd and I even liked *The Big Heat* rip-off with the coffee pot.
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> *This movie reminds a little of an urban Man of the West. Maybe Lee J. Cobb is part of the reason.*
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> Very good! I like that! It really is the same.
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Isn't it? The prot?g? wants to go straight but the gang won't let him, or rather the "Papa" won't let him and feels betrayed by his 'son'.
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> *What can I say? Spence's accent grates on my noives.*
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> I don't believe the theme is to your liking, either.
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It's okay, I do find Kate curiously subdued in this one. I don't care for her that way, I admit. I can't picture her so wrapped up in a guy like that boyfriend that she'd become all knotted up.
> But what about your bank?! Falk is excellent.
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If the bank has to come with a stick like that as my husband, I think I'll do without the bank. Peter is more fun.
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> It's a fun film.
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I think so. I love Marlene's character.
> She's phenomenal.
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The whole cast is great, but Vivien really is sublime and transcendent.
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> Poor Vilma! She's just as pretty as the pretty boys, Silly Goose.
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ha! she's boring. they needed someone like Marlene to spice things up!
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> And I love that you added the pics.
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> Really? I thought it would be a "lesser" list for you. I did know some were favorites of yours because that's why I watched them.
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No, it's a great mix.
> *Before I Hang*
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> Lon Chaney, *Boris Karloff*, and German Expressionism.
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I wonder if I've seen *Before I Hang* and just forgot. I watched several of Karloff's movies in the past year. Many of them seemed alike.
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> *12. Angels with Dirty Faces (9)*
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> So you rank a gangster film rather highly. That's interesting.
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Angels is one of the few I really enjoy. It's a classic ending and I enjoy Cagney and Sheridan.
SPOILER
So what do you think? Did he really show "yellow" or was it for the kids?
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> *5. The Kiss Before the Mirror (13)*
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>
> And you said you liked this one!
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I do! It's just I like the others more. However, I have only seen it once and that was a couple of years ago. It did linger with me. I liked the mood James Whale set.
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> *15. Night Nurse (12)*
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> You must like seeing your Clark being really bad.
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He's deliciously naughty. I only wish he had more screen time. I may be one of the few who loves his villainous roles. He plays them with such hairy relish.
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> *3. Party Girl (11)*
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> That surprises me, Party Girl.
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What surprises you? This movie reminds a little of an urban *Man of the West*. Maybe Lee J. Cobb is part of the reason.
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> *7. Pat and Mike (19)*
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> That doesn't surprise me!
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What can I say? Spence's accent grates on my noives.
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> *21. Penelope (4)*
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> You and your jewels!
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I know it's trash but I just find Natalie's character so adorable. Only I wished she'd gone off with Peter Falk.
> *9. Seven Sinners (1)*
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> Numero uno! Wow!
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You bet, Doc.
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> *18. A Star Is Born (1937) (20)*
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> Do you like any of the incarnations?
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I guess I tend to prefer some aspects of the later one. Jack Carson, James Mason and Judy's rendition of "The Man That Go Away", principally. The story just never really did anything for me. Even though, ironically, I left a small town and went to Hollywood with big dreams.
Fred March is excellent.
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> *8. A Streetcar Named Desire (3)*
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> You like it but it's a tough watch?
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Very, very tough. I think it contains one of the best performances by a screen actress in Viv's portrayal, but it's like torture to sit through.
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> *19. The Winning of Barbara Worth (21)*
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> I thought you wanted this one played on TCM!
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I do, I haven't seen it in ages. Gary and Ronald Colman are reason enough and it's a handsome looking western. I didn't like the girl, though.
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My goodness, what an interesting group of films. There are several I really like this time, and a few I never heard of.
These three I never heard of so I'm leaving them off the list:
The Ace of Hearts
Before I Hang
Secrets of a Soul
How *you* may have liked them, and *my* rankings in parentheses:
12. *Angels with Dirty Faces* (9)
13. *The Bribe* (7)
4. *Comanche Station* (10)
11. *Desire Me* (14)
14. *Flesh and the Devil* (15)
16. *Frisco Jenny* (17)
5. *The Kiss Before the Mirror* (13)
17. *Life Begins at Forty* (8)
2. *The Long, Hot Summer* (5)
15. *A Night in Casablanca* (18)
16. *Night Nurse* (12)
3. *Party Girl* (11)
6. *The Passionate Friends* (6)
7. *Pat and Mike* (19)
21. *Penelope* (4)
10. *Picnic at Hanging Rock* (2)
9. *Seven Sinners* (1)
20. *Shall We Dance* (13)
18. *A Star Is Born (1937)* (20)
8. *A Streetcar Named Desire* (3)
1. *Warlock* (16)
19. *The Winning of Barbara Worth* (21)
Edited by: MissGoddess on Mar 5, 2012 8:54 PM
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> {quote:title=FrankGrimes wrote:}{quote}My favorite actors as villains:
>
> 1. Robert Mitchum
> 2. Robert Ryan
> 3. Dan Duryea
> 4. Boris Karloff
> 5. Lee Marvin
> 6. Richard Boone
> 7. Peter Lorre
> 8. Charles McGraw
> 9. Orson Welles
> 10. George Sanders
> 11. Raymond Burr
> 12. Humphrey Bogart
> 13. Laird Cregar
> 14. Thomas Gomez
> 15. Burl IvesThat's a great list! So what movie is Burl Ives a villain? Are you thinking of *The Big Country* I guess? How could I have forgotten Peter Lorre. Another I should have included is Laurence Tierney.
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> {quote:title=rohanaka wrote:}{quote}
> Let's just hope he doesn't have Long Hair's greasy long HAIR!!
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*Portrait of FrankGrimes*
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Then tell her so! You have Long Hair's manners!
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Oops! That reminds me you haven't replied to Ro, Long Hair.
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See!
Where's your list of villains?!
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Good, you'll finally watch it.
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He pursued her.
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> {quote:title=FrankGrimes wrote:}{quote}*She did go to dinner with Roy but she wasn't sacked for that. And Roy asked her to dinner, she didn't chase him.*
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> But she gives up her career for a dinner! She has to sneak out to make it happen. That's going after something.
If you want to see it that way, but there's no way she was chasing Roy. He chose to go to the ballet instead of to a colonel's dinner so he chose love over his career.
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> It doesn't have to be primary. Basil is Sherlock Holmes!
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Mostly he's known for either Holmes or villains.
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> But that's not how it starts, is it? She breaks curfew and talks back, doesn't she?
She did go to dinner with Roy but she wasn't sacked for that. And Roy asked her to dinner, she didn't chase him.
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> Yes.. I must confess.. oh WHAT a crush I used to have on my beloved Brett Maverick. ha.
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Believe it or not I never saw this show until years later. Either my mother wasn't a fan or it jsut wasn't syndicated in our area. The Garner I knew was "Jim Rockford."
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> HA.. I know this will sound so very UN-"pc" but my brothers and I used to just sit and WAIT all the way through that cartoon intro to see if he was going to SLUG that gal with knife (or just tip his hat.. ha) We'd get so mad if he just tipped the hat. but OH how we used to cheer when he slugged her. ha (what can I say.. she had it coming!!)
>
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I forgot about that! You're right, you never knew what would happen. I believe Robert Conrad would slug her!
Wasn't he the one who "dared" you to knock the battery off his shoulder in the commercials? -
> {quote:title=FrankGrimes wrote:}{quote}*He was exceptional but I don't think of him as a "villain" actor. If you were asking for characters, then he'd be in there.*
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> He played two great villains! He's also played a couple of shady guys.
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You get on my nerves! You said actors who play villains...that suggests to me that their career was primarily slanted that way. Mitchum was NOT a villain actor except on occasion.
> He's probably second for me. He knows how to make a villain human.
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He does.
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> {quote:title=FrankGrimes wrote:}{quote}*I don't know what movie you were watching, but in mine Myra wasn't seeking anything, she was found and pursued quite determinedly.*
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> Doesn't she choose to leave the ballet to chase after Roy? She gets in trouble for this.
He came for her and said they were getting married! Then she had to see him off at the train station...too late (in a scene that is repeated almost exactly in Summertime) and that's what cost her her job. You didn't watch it at all!
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> {quote:title=FrankGrimes wrote:}{quote}*So you didn't believe her as Myra?*
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> What's not to believe? She's a rebellious ballerina who seeks love. That's definitely Viv. I can see her slapping the guys before shacking up with them, though. That girl sounds familiar.
I don't know what movie you were watching, but in mine Myra wasn't seeking anything, she was found and pursued quite determinedly.
But really, he had no call to be so horrid to those poor kids.
The Annual FrankGrimes Torture Thread
in Your Favorites
Posted
Edited by: MissGoddess on Mar 6, 2012 11:49 PM