MissGoddess

[nobr]From Marjorie Morningstar, here with Gene Kelly[/nobr] [nobr] [/nobr]

> What an extraordinary library of photos this board > showcases. > > Many I surely have never seen. > > Wonderful stuff! > > Thanks, loads. Hee! Gary is our "eye candy" and we never get enough of him.

Hi John, I'm so glad you see much that is worthwhile in Gary's performance in Ten North Frederick---I like to champion it as his great "undiscovered" performance, because the film is so rarely shown. I also agree about finding it the most faithful of all O'Hara adaptations and that is primarily because Gary really made "Joe Chapin" come to life. And there are still countless "Joe Chapin's" out here that could relate to this film, and so it deserves to be seen and counted among Coop's grandest accomplishments. But I'll settle for a decent dvd release. I have always suspected that people who make the least of their qualities possess them in the greatest measure. It's a spin on the adage, "show me what you brag about and I'll show you what you don't have." Coop was just a little too quiet about things for me ever to believe he was anything but shrewd (he obviously understood the cardinal rule, those that keep quiet never make fools of themselves---and often are credited with wisdom). And he always struck me as a curious man, and curiousity is usually sign of real wisdom and intelligence. That is too touching about Kirk Douglas. He is always so passionate about what he believes, and I love that quality.

Glad to see you back, Theresa!

Maybe I had better start putting my own list together---and some of those on your list, filmlover, are good ideas. However, I am awaiting that Ford at Fox set for December, so November purchases shall have to be curbed. One that I definitely will wait to get in November is the latest Powell/Loy collection.

Thank you for enlightening me a little on Vera Miles' background. I am beginning to warm up on her, having previously at best lukewarm feelings about her. I always found a bit dull and never understood how she got such big roles. However, believe it or not it was seeing her, a litte more mature, in Hellfighters that spurred me to be less harsh in my evaluation. She showed a little sensuality and looked smashing in the more assertive make-up and colorful wardrobe. I am even becoming reconciled to her character in Liberty Valance, but not quite. Miss G

What really got me is how he > said he looked older than his years in '42 yet in '43 > he looks maybe the best he ever did (at least to me) > in For Whom the Bell Tolls. I don't care who > you are man or woman, you can't watch that movie and > say that not's a good looking man. I still insist FWTBT is Gary's "beauty movie", hee! I never saw anything approach such Adonis-like proportions. His Robert Jordan could be any knight or hero in history, take your pick.

> Larry Swindell's "The Last Hero" is an aweful > book -- end of story. I swear, this week I'm gonna go > out into the woods and burn it. Of course first...I'm > going to rip the pictures out and tape them to my > wall.... Hee! Good idea...I say we all get together for a bonfire....

I thought Alan Ladd did fine as Shane, and most cowboys probably were on the small side, if realism is the barometer. But I think of acting and film as being more about illusion than realism and I think Stevens' managed a pretty fair job of setting up the shots to minimize his shortcomings. I never even realized Ladd was short until much later into my movie viewing history. Today, I notice how short most actors and actresses are then and now and I wish I didn't have such a critical eye, it subtracts from my enjoyment somehow. Douglas is probably my least favorite of the screen cowboys, but he was really interesting in Lonely Are the Brave.

It's a theme I love perhaps above all others, and it's the film of Kirk's I most admire.

duped, again!

[nobr]Hi Sue-Sue---your comment about how Marnie could resist Mark was echoed by Tippi herself, to the director. She said it would not be believable that her character could not fall for someone as gorgeous as Sean Connery, to which he replied, "That is why it's called 'acting', my dear." Indeed! I don't think I could have finished the kissing scenes without fainting, if I were in her place. [/nobr] [nobr]And I love this movie, after To Catch A Thief it's my favorite by Hitch. [/nobr] [nobr] [/nobr]

Hi Angie---I'm glad to know I wasn't the only one to react that way to The Last Hero. You are right, after 1942 the author basically wrote off everything Gary did except High Noon, and he criticizes his appearance in a very catty way, if you ask me, which should be no part of an objective, serious biography. I really spat fire when he dismissed his performance in Ten North Frederick---if he'd only criticized the film itself I could live with it, but to fail to see anything worthwhile in that highly moving portrayal is just plain blindness.

LuckyD---I'll post more pictures for you to focus on later.

FG--thank you for the pix of little and big Natalie. She has the same smile at any age.