markbeckuaf

Well, it's THIS month now and I've been grooving to quite a few of The Mick's films so far! I'm not a huge fan of his bouncy stuff with MGM in it's heyday but I'm enough of a classic studio era fan to appreciate it. And I've been mostly grooving to his off-beat stuff, like KILLER MCCOY, QUICKSAND and THE STRIP! All of it is good when it's a living legend though, only actor to still be rocking who appeared in silent films...and man, that stands for something in my book!!! This week we have all (I think) of the Andy Hardy films, and though again not a huge fan of those, I will probably check a few of them out! I love the Mick and I love that period of film!

Sorry that happened for you! I watched it without any difficulties here!

Getting ready to groove to another flick in this series this morning, thanks to TCM!!!! BOWERY TO BAGDAD!! Dig it!

I love THERE GOES MY HEART also! It rocks! And yeah, I dig Patsy! Definitely!

> {quote:title=filmlover wrote:}{quote} > First review is in for VCI's "remastered" Meet John Doe...and it isn't good: > > http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film3/dvd_reviews53/meet_john_doe.htm > > I'm quite disappointed. I would really love for there to be a great print of it some day. Filmlover, that's too bad! Thanks for the link to the review, as I had this one in my Amazon queue for consideration. The extras still look great....decisions, decisions!

MFF, great one! I also watched that flick and thought it awesome! It's actually the first time I'd seen it. It's not quite the same in terms of noir and crime (two of my faves), but I agree it did seem right in line with an MGM film with Mickey Rooney and in some ways an extension of what he'd been doing there for so many years. I'm glad that he had the opportunity to branch out and show what else he was capable of doing, but I wonder why MGM couldn't figure out how to effectively utilize The Mick in the type of films he could be so great at. It's unfortunate, but I guess a sign of those changing times.

> {quote:title=kingrat wrote:}{quote} > According to Charlie Tabesh at a panel discussion at this year's festival, the TCM programmers work about six months in advance, which means that now they are probably working on the June 2011 schedule. Wow! Let me get my plug for Bela Lugosi for SOTM for October 2011 now then!!!

I'm with you 100%!!! They do show a fair amount, but not as frequently as I'd love to see! So yeah, more of them, for sure!

Miss Wonderly--BINGO!!! You nailed it! It started out with the $20 for the dame...which by the way he was owed $20 by a friend, who was going to pay him back but not until the next day-payday. Yet another small detail that led to the Mick's downward spiral. For my money this was a GREAT noir in that sense...one thing piled onto another...and before you knew it, bam....you're in some quicksand there buddy, hence the title and it's a perfect one. I'll agree with a couple of the criticisms raised, even though despite them I totally loved this film. The first time I saw it, I was like...wow, man, he's just getting deeper and deeper! You could see some of it coming, some of it hit you like a 2x4! The criticism about more Lorre---well, heck yeah, that can always be a good thing! Not sure how that would have played out, but yeah...although someone on imdb had a great comment about him that I totally thought hilarious and spot on: he looked like he was one drink over the line, and man it was true. But in a way it suited him in this particular film, given his character and role. The other was...yeah, the Barbara Bates character was a bit much...but I could accept it generally. What I couldn't get was...ok, Mick....Jeanne was ok looking, IMO, but Babs was hot, man! She was waaaaaaay prettier I thought AND she was willing to do pretty much whatever you wanted to and for nothing! Mick! What *were* you thinking dude??!!! Funny thing is his character kind of did the same thing in another noir shown earlier in the week (and again later this month on one of Mick's SOTM day), THE STRIP. I also liked that one, but it wasn't quite as intense as this one. But again, man, Mick....there is a hot looking babe just wanting you BAD, and you're ignoring her and getting into trouble deep! But I guess if the protagonists in these don't do that...we might not have as many good noir flicks! The ending...don't wanna spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it, but yeah, a lot of the noirs had to tack on those types of endings in order to stay in line with the code, so I could accept it even if I didn't like it much. I personally think this one is one of the GREATEST noirs around!

Oh and about THE HITCH-HIKER, really have to give that another go! It's on a box set at Amazon (one that is also in my queue) put out by Kino, that also has SCARLET STREET, STRANGE IMPERSONATION, THEY MADE ME A FUGITIVE and CONTRABAND, all for pretty much a song! Well, the price ranges from mid-20's through mid-40's US. And according to the review, the prints are cleaned up nicely. Talman is eerily sadistic in that one, and well, I just totally dig pretty much anything that Frank Bigelow...errr, Edmond O'Brien and Frank Lovejoy are in! Ida Lupino did an outstanding job directing that film--the intense claustrophobia of the desert and these 3 dudes in that car...man!

Miss Wonderly, I am with you on that about the lack of commentaries on Vol 5! In fact, I'll admit it's the only reason I haven't snatched it up just yet. I've seen all the films on it before, with the exception of BACKFIRE, so I don't have a lot of urgency to get it just yet. If there were commentaries though I'd be so curious to hear them that I'd have broken down long before now! I don't know why they don't have them, they can't be *that* expensive can they? And I feel they'd be an attraction. Oh well! As it is though it's a nice collection of mostly lesser-known noir films. I'd love to see the series continue with or without the commentaries, instead of the DVD-R stuff in the Archives. I'd at least like to see pressed discs and in these nicely priced collections.

That was a pretty sweet looking print compared to most of the PD prints I'd seen before. Nice job, TCM!

Oh and totally forgot to mention another DRACULA'S DAUGHTER tie-in, as QUICKSAND was directed by none other than Irving Pichel, that creepy Sandor dude from the 36 Dracula sequel!

Oh yes, QUICKSAND is just about to start!!! I love it, it's a great noir through most of it's run time, I'd say! The Mick is great in this role, Jeanne Cagney is a decent femme fatale, and Peter Lorre--well, wow, he's Peter Lorre!!! I also dug another "lite noir" earlier today, KILLER MCCOY, I thought that had some decent elements of noir and crime in some unique ways. Miss Wonderly, I'm glad you're digging those flix on Vol 5! I have yet to get that one but it's on my list for sure, soon I hope! Those flix with Steve Brodie are very good B noirs, particularly a scene between he and Raymond Burr in DESPERATE, man to me that is one of the best scenes in all of noir, the one in the kitchen! Seems like most of those supposed forces of law from the "Perry Mason" TV show sure made for some mean and bad dudes in some great noir flix through the 40's and early 50's! Raymond Burr often turns up as a bad dude, but William Talman had them all beat! As you say, he's one bad dude in ARMORED CAR ROBBERY, and check him out in 2 other flix, I MARRIED A COMMUNIST (aka THE WOMAN ON PIER 13) and THE HITCH-HIKER. That dude was as mean and nasty as they come!

I really dug KILLER MCCOY, I'd say it was kinda "noir-lite" while QUICKSAND is a much heavier, IMO, dose, which is about to start in a few moments on TCM! KILLER MCCOY had a great cast, The Mick shows he can act outside of a narrow range, James Dunn wow even though he is sorta covering ground he did before, but still, wow, his character, man. This film is filled with pathos, moral dilemmas and enough heavies around who seem to mean business. Boxing films are generally pretty good for those things, and this is no exception. Also dug Sam Levene as the trainer, and a brief, but dynamic, turn by "Dracula's Daughter" herself, Ms. Gloria Holden! And of course, my man Brian Donlevy, who I always enjoy!!! Ann Blyth seemed a little out of place at times, but she grew on me. QUICKSAND is coming up next and really looking forward to it! Jimmy Cagney's sis does a turn as a femme fatale, and Peter Lorre is the most menacing (and sleazy) arcade owner you'd ever want to meet! And another great dramatic turn for The Mick! Can't wait to check out this story which has the most appropriate title given the plot!

Thanks, MFF! It's some fun in the afternoon for sure!

Love today's posters, Kyle, my man!!! Especially looking forward to a re-visit with QUICKSAND!!

> {quote:title=mavfan4life wrote:}{quote} > > {quote:title=clore wrote:}{quote} > > Ironically, while UPPERWORLD is airing as part of a Mickey Rooney salute, his part was actually deleted from the film prior to release. > > > I went backwards and forwards through this film looking for him after not seeing him in it during the actual viewing. Couldn't find him until I saw somewhere his scenes were deleted. With all the films TCM is showing this month, it is really odd they would show one he's NOT in. > > David in Seattle Yeah, it's wild, but whatever got this on, it's all good! Warren William is WAAAAAAY overdue for either a SUTS or SOTM or both!!!

I don't think I mentioned LOVE IS A HEADACHE for things to watch for, but wow, home sick today and really enjoyed this relatively unknown gem! Digging on character actors like Frank Jenks and Ted Healy among others, as well as leading lady Gladys George (of THE ROARING TWENTIES fame)!! Since I'm home sick, I can watch today's flix live (if the cold meds let me that is!) and I'm looking forward to KILLER MCCOY, THE BIG WHEEL and for sure QUICKSAND (most of all!) in today's all-Mick lineup!

I'm home sick with a terrible cold and I had the pleasure of watching this great flick in between cold meds knocking me out! Nothing special, nothing earth-shaking, but just the type of flick that you won't see anywhere else, not on DVD, not on cable TV, not anywhere, but right here on good old TCM! And I dig Gladys George along with a delightful cast of supporting players! Thanks for making a sick man a very happy one, TCM!!

> {quote:title=misswonderly wrote:}{quote} > Sorry, mark, I am not a pushover for *Pushover*. It just doesn't "work" for me. I don't sense any "chemistry" between MacMurray and Novak, and the window-spying business is clumsily done and just strikes me as silly. I wanted to like it, but in my mind it's definitely a lesser noir. Oh wow, I guess I will agree that it's a lesser Noir, but I think I liked it a bit better than you did! Sorry you were disappointed though! Did you happen to catch CONVICTED??

> {quote:title=bOb39 wrote:}{quote} > That would have been Jungle Gents, right? I guess most folks on these boards already know this, but the actor who played Tarzan in the final scene was Clint Walker, billed as Jet Norman. This was Walker's first film appearance. Yes, that was him and yes it was JUNGLE GENTS. Fun film!!

Thank you, Sewannie!!! I'm glad you are digging on many of the flix on TCM!!! Please let us know how you like PUSHOVER?

> {quote:title=margarita_salt wrote:}{quote} > Is there anything better than watching Powell/ Loy. I am thinking that Nora Charles could drink Nick under the table. Who's with me! TCM, thanks for showing the Thin Man, I had to make myself a martini. > I would love it if TCM would devote a whole day of Powell/Loy films. Nice christmas gift to me! They are awesome I agree!!!! I'm not sure about that, though, Nick could knock them down! It would be fun to watch them try! I'd be all for it, martinis, for sure! They did air all of them for NY Eve a while ago and that was great! Would love to see something like that again, but really any evening on a weekend (Fri or Sat) works well for me! Tip of the glass to ya!

I agree, Jack, that's a great pre-code flick!!!! Geez, I would have to win the lottery to get all the Archives titles I want!!!