MissGoddess

>>>And who is the beauty above Dana? She's looks familiar but I'm stumped.<<< I'm guessing that is *Ann Sothern* .

Yeah! congrats on solving the picture problem---I did the exact same thing with moving my photobucket pictures which is why some are blank in my "Noir Gallery". Those pix of La Dietrich, Tyrone Power and Betty Grable were gorgeous and nice and big.

Yes, Ford saved the closeups so that when they did happen, they had a stronger impact but if you're not used to that it can seem strange. I had to grow into loving that way of filming a movie. Dinah Shore, you really have such a wide range of tastes, Theresa, that's phenomenal. I think she had a beautiful voice and I understand her television show was one of the most successful of the time. I think even Frank did a duet with her on either her show or his which was really cute. There are lots of singers I still have to widen out to appreciate, a new one lately is Nelson Eddy. I was trying to think if Walter ever played a villain and then I remembered he played a man who turned bad in a John Wayne movie called *The Dark Command* . I think he played the character that was supposed to be Quantrell, the famous raider during civil war times. I don't recall any other villains that he played, though.

You guys are too funny! Frank, I can't believe you're too far for a plane, train or automobile to take you to your heart's delight in Queens and I hope you get there. I'm sorry I missed *Fury* and *M* (which, blow me down, I've never seen)---those two are the real carrots dangling before me. At least I have my John Ford movie tickets secured for the NYFF, so I must not complain. And thanks for the compliment, but I possess not a shred of divinity---my predilictions and peccadillos are all much too earthy I'm afraid.

Wow, Theresa, I'm curious what you think John Ford could have done to better *How Green Was My Valley* ---which scenes? Because I think its a nearly perfect movie and that he's the greatest American director by far. I can say, though, that I don't admire Walter Pidgeon's character, Mr. Gruffydd, very much because he gives up the woman he loves so passively. However, I've not yet read Llewellyn's book so I don't know how much of that is how it was originally conceived or how much had to do with Ford and Philip Dunne (screenwriter) wanting to convey the sense of time and progress damaging family and community ties. This makes the movie so sad at the end, and I always weep buckets of tears. I love the theme song to *The Last Time I Saw Paris* , it's very bittersweet.

>>>I'm sure it played at the Paramount originally and it's just such a neat feeling to know that somebody sat in the same seat as me and saw all those old movies when they were new<<< I never thought of that before but you're right! I saw a movie at the Egyptian once in L.A., and I can't even remember which one it was, but that was the only time I was in a theater which has shown first-run movies since the old days. The Film Forum in New York is one of the best places in terms of the amount of old movies they show, but the theater itself is very dingy and badly in need of restoring. I actually prefer the modern, but soul-less Museum of Modern Art screening rooms which are at least cleaner. There is no old time movie palace in the city that I know of. Not a fabulous looking one, anyway.

Hi Theresa, Of course, one of my favorites by him is Mr Gruffydd in *How Green Was My Valley* , one of his most poignant roles. After that, I love him as the worldly, charming father of Elizabeth Taylor and Donna Reed in *The Last Time I Saw Paris.* He provides the only real levity in the film, with lines like: * "Marion married, Helen married---a father abandoned in middle age. What more can a man ask for!" * And yes, he was a beautiful man who aged gracefully. In fact, everything he did, he did with grace.

Angie that is so marvelous that you got to see those costumes when you went to the movie!!! What a remarkable opportunity---I'd give anything to have been there. GWTW is a must to see on the big screen---when those opening credits literally sweep across to the swelling Max Steiner score, you don't get half the impact on a smaller television screen. I get goose bumps just writing about it. I never realized how tiny actresses were in general until I went to several auctions to see their wardrobe. Even ones that people tend to think of as taller and voluptuous were really much smaller than the screen made them seem, including Marilyn Monroe. Her waist was very small and overall she was smaller than she seems. I think also the way they appear to us on screen "magnifies" them a bit in our minds, so we forget they are human, ha!

Hi Angie With this remake I have the impression they ramped up the action (and of course, the violence) as well as probably threw in an awful lot of psychological introspection, which may get on my nerves. If Russell Crowe wasn't starring I wouldn't be as tempted to go, but I like to see him gettnig positive reviews again for his work. On the contrary, I've heard mostly downer reviews of the Brad Pitt movie about Jesse James, which I have no interest in seenig anyway.

I'm as enthusiastic about *The Harder They Fall* as you are, Dewey. Bogart went out swinging with this one.

>>>Meanwhile, Joe is completely taken by Ann (Marsha Hunt). She has his motor revvin'. Why? Opposites attract. Boy, do they ever. Ann challenges Joe's criminal ways and Joe challenges Ann's sensibilities. Both find this to be very stimulating.<<< Ain't it the truth, though. Your take on Ann's reaction to just having shot one was interesting and one I hadn't considered. I was thinking it also showed her how easily you can find yourself doing the very thing you find unthinkable---that kind of deed which she was silently judging O'Keefe for having committed. Nicely quoted at the end of your post, Frank, you have an amazing memory.

With *Robert Ryan* , you'd better *Beware My Lovely* because your *On Dangerous Ground*

*The first film noir, Stranger on the Third Floor*

Scenes from Fritz Lang's *The Big Heat*

Nicely done imagery from *Woman in the Window* , from the German website, Uschis Film Collagen:

I think this is a great picture of the rugged but sensitive actor, *Dana Andrews*

Bronxie---so far I'm not finding any good pictures of Helen Walker on the inernet, but I'll keep looking. We need some Gene Tierney and *Laura* here.

I don't know what happened to the Audrey Totter picture, I'll try to post it again here, below because this wise-acre site is not letting me edit it for some reason. Bronxie---I will look for Helen Walker pictures right now. ChiO---Glad you responded to Bogie's "baby". *Audrey Totter's return engagement* :

I didn't know that Peter B. does a commentary---onto my list it goes. I want to begin building up my Spence dvd collection but I wasn't sure if this title was available individually or only as part of that "Controversial Classics" set.

Miss G(ulch): I may board the 3:10 to Yuma this week, if so, I'll post my own impressions here.

Those in the New York area may want to visit the Museum of Moving Image for their tribute to the director. The chance to see Spencer Tracy on the big screen (in *Fury* ) is tempting to me. http://www.nysun.com/article/62169?page_no=1

Hi FG---I apparently cannot see any of your photos you've posted lately, which is too bad, I know they must be beauties.

Hi FG----unfortunately, I can't see any of your pictures---only those ominous boxes with the red "X".

Finally I'm able to post in this thread---all day Friday I tried and it would let me post everywhere but here. Frank - Thank you for your words of caution about posting personal pictures---I'm afraid you may be right. I agree with Angie about the *High Noon* story working out perfectly, but that Grace's limited performance left something to be desired. However, I can't remember where or who said it but I once read that someone thought Grace's inexperience and subsequent "woodenness" was actually perfect for her character. I believe it was someone connected with the film itself. Perhaps it was only gallantry on their part, who knows? I can't believe that a deeper performance by a more experienced actress might have hurt the characterization. It's funny but over time the reviews and reaction to High Noon still seem to be somewhat split; most think it a great western, some the best western ever made and then many seem to go the other way and say it's third rate. However, the one thing everyone seems to agree on is the merit of Gary's performance (excepting those who carp on his age or appearance). In one respect, I feel compelled based on experience and observation of life and men that Grace's characterization was perfection: Older men generally do favor young, pretty, and *vacant* wives. lol!

Well said, Angie. I too have seen more revivals than new releases at the theaters this year and next year may be the same. I always hope I won't be disappointed when I go to see a new movie, whereas I am usually more sanguine about what to expect from a classic. By the way, enjoy *Gone With the Wind* on the big screen this weekend!