Bronxgirl48

>Bronxie!> >>I don't think a Grant/Hepburn pairing would have helped THE IRON PETTICOAT, and certainly not if she tried playing it with that unfortunate accent.>> >>I've been waiting for someone to say that for a while now! Heehee! That's awesome, Bronxie!>> Scotchie, THE IRON PETTICOAT was dead in the vodka from the get-go. I doubt if anything could have molded it into caviar. The only nice thing I can say about it is that I really liked Kate's coming-out-of-her-Soviet-shell dress, that incredibly chic and flattering gray and black number.

I'll bet a movie could have been made of your grandmother's life. Just saw THE STRANGE AFFAIR OF UNCLE HARRY, thanks to your YouTube link. I adored Georgie as a milquetoast! I wanted to hug him! (he also looked very fit and trim) So sweet, shy, vulnerable, suffocated by a pathologically possessive sister and the musty weight of small-town family tradition, desirous of starting a new life in Manhattan with sharp, sexy, urban Ella Raines, who is marvelous going head-to-head with manipulative Geraldine Fitzgerald. There's a scene where Ella is sitting in a chair that completely defines her character -- unconventional, sensuous, and thoroughly independent. Some SHADOW OF A DOUBT vibes and I also felt a bit of LADIES IN RETIREMENT. But there was no excuse for that ridiculous ending. I got good and mad! John Carradine makes a good Dracula physically -- he's got that lean and hungry look (for blood). His body is even shaped like a coffin. But his interpretation is not well served by the scripts in HOF and HOD. I trust everyone will be getting ready for DRACULA'S DAUGHTER. I haven't seen it in ages. When I first saw Eleanor Parker in A HOLE IN THE HEAD, I marvelled at how un-actressy she was in this part, which is not normally her "style". At the other end of the spectrum, I find her terrific in OF HUMAN BONDAGE acting up a storm (like in THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM) but being extremely believable, and with the best Cockney accent I've ever heard from an American performer. Butterscotch, here's Mom's review of THE IRON PETTICOAT: "Those two are NO pair!" Edited by: Bronxgirl48 on Dec 1, 2012 6:42 AM

For the most efficacy, the potato chips must actually be nestled INSIDE the tuna fish sandwich, making for a wonderful taste sensation. In this way, your road to recovery will be assured. I don't think a Grant/Hepburn pairing would have helped THE IRON PETTICOAT, and certainly not if she tried playing it with that unfortunate accent. Edited by: Bronxgirl48 on Nov 30, 2012 11:46 AM

Unfortunately there are no redeeming features to THE IRON PETTICOAT. It's dreadful from start to finish. To my mind, even worse casting than Kate, (if that can be believed) is the great, burly, British James Robertson Justice playing a scheming Soviet operative. In one scene, Bob is held in a cell watched over by two guards, and naturally he starts bantering with them as a distraction so he can make his escape. I swear I thought for one moment this was going to devolve into either a solo version of the patty-cake routine, with Hope somehow using his own hands, or that Bing Crosby would magically walk through the door. I think you've got a little crush going on with ZaSu.

I recorded THE GOOD DIE YOUNG. Fascinating cast. I have a feeling it's either going to be a sleeper or just short of the mark. Apparently Gloria plays a movie star married to John Ireland. I'm sure he's going to be his usual surly, ironic self, lol.

lol, my mother the newt entrepeneur! I guess it's three months of McCann's Irish Oatmeal every morning (which however I really love, and especially delicious topped with real butter, cream, and maple syrup. Oh, no, wait...), tofu, Benecol margarine, turkey burgers, cruciferous veggies, egg white omelets (sob!) and Metamucil.

So as a Hope completist you've probably seen him as the ice-cream vendor in THE MUPPET MOVIE, lol. I don't know why Bob apparently felt so insecure as to bring along personal gag writers for THE IRON PETTICOAT, thus making Kate look like a hapless foil (not intentionally, I'm sure, since he must have respected her as an actress) but it was probably because Bob knew that the original choice for the role was Cary Grant. I don't think Hope viewed himself as anything other than a comedian, even though he did have the looks and manner to also be a credible light romantic leading man, as he was in THE SEVEN LITTLE FOYS. Mo-go on the go-go-go can be cured with time, patience, love, and tuna fish and potato chip sandwiches on white bread with mayonnaise. Ah, THAT ZaSu! Now I understand, and agree, she could be very "cozy". I enjoy her with lovely Thelma Todd in those Hal Roach shorts. Edited by: Bronxgirl48 on Nov 30, 2012 11:44 AM

Yes, Phyliss Kirk (paired with Richard Denning) in Mr. and Mrs. North. I think she was actually called "Nora". An interesting face, lol. I don't remember that show at all, or if she and Dick had any chemistry. Bob and Steph definitely did in Hart To Hart, although I didn't watch it regularly. Wait a minute, I'm confused as heck. Phyliss Kirk DID play Nora -- but in The Thin Man television version! Peter Lawford was Nick. Richard Denning's co-star in Mr. and Mrs. North was Barbara Britton. My head is hurting, lol. Edited by: Bronxgirl48 on Nov 29, 2012 7:48 PM

I actually told my boss he looked like Archie Bunker, and he started singing, "Boy the way Glenn Miller played...." It's good to know the people you work for have a sense of humor, lol.

There are now three, count 'em three, tiny lizards in Mom's apartment. Normally she dispatches them with ruthless accuracy, but her aim with the broom has been a little random of late. So I went back for a cholesterol check this morning, and the LDL was up 15 points. I was devastated, but the other numbers were perfect, so I managed to cajole my doctor into giving me yet another three months to get it down before his dispensation of the statins. It seems I must contain my enthusiasm for egg yolks, which for me are one of the best things on earth, lapped up with mounds of toasted Pepperidge Farm white bread.

Forgive me, Frank, but when I came home from work last night I lay down on my sofa and the next thing I knew, it was four in the morning, lol. Wow, your grandmother was a librarian? And at a state mental institution, fascinating! I've never seen GIRL, INTERRUPTED. My mother and I enjoyed our Thanksgiving out but truth be told felt the restaurant had a get-'em-in, get-'em-out philosophy. The waiter started hovering about just as we were digging into the pumpkin pie. But come Friday I was at Chez Mom's where we enjoyed her little bird with fixings and all the mouth-watering desserts. I gained my usual five holiday pounds. I can't improve on your L'ATALANTE comments, especially when you state it's a film for the senses, which it definitely is. I also appreciate what you say about longing and loss, and the difficulties in reconciling life and love, how they can hit the shoals more often than not. I love the scene where Juliette, in the city, is already getting nostalgic for what she's left behind, and listens wistfully to the barge song. It seemed as if the whole world was contained and represented by Pere Jules and his box of trinkets and memories. I tend to get the title CRY TERROR! (which I've never seen) mixed up with the film starring bank teller Lee Remick, Stephanie Powers as her young sister, and Ross Martin. Brain freeze time. Have not seen THE TARNISHED ANGELS, RAMROD, THE STRANGE AFFAIR OF UNCLE HARRY, THE ALAMO, SIMON OF THE DESERT, DOUBLE WEDDING, THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US, CIRCUS WORLD, TWO WEEKS IN SEPTEMBER, PICASSO SUMMER, MURDER AT THE VANITIES, or STORM IN A TEACUP. Don't remember THE INVISIBLE MAN'S REVENGE. Yes, THE MUMMY'S CURSE has a certain winding-down quality, despite some "novelty" with the female mummy and bayou setting. I'm not crazy about John Carradine as Dracula in HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN -- he's unceremoniously dispatched a bit too quickly for my liking in order to bring on the next batch of monsters, and his dialogue's a bit lazy (also used in HOUSE OF DRACULA; "my world is coming closer", etc.) I'm in accord with how you feel about WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION. (and I love what Jackie says about how the heart and meat of the story is about Sir Wilfred loving his job) I've always noticed a certain dark, noirish quality about Tyrone Power (except THE RAZOR'S EDGE, lol, where he could have used some, um, edginess) way back even in 1939 -- ROSE OF WASHINGTON SQUARE. He played an anti-hero who drove Alice Faye to tears if I recall correctly. The "Nicky Arnstein" character. There's something unsettling about the way Power can so believably display mendacity and duplicity; witness NIGHTMARE ALLEY. But in NA you also saw his vulnerability. In WFTP he's a pure sociopath. SansFin hits the nail on the head with SOME LIKE IT HOT. I view this movie as Marilyn's NORTH BY NORTHWEST, if that makes any sense. I can't explain further. I'm not a fan of ACE IN THE HOLE. It's a little too bitter for me to assimilate. Kirk is normally an in-your-face kind of actor, but here he ratchets it up so much I can't stand it, lol. I literally get a headache watching him. I like Eleanor Parker's performance in A HOLE IN THE HEAD. She underplays beautifully, and is totally believable as an "everyday" woman working through loss and grief. I've noticed that whenever Frank works with great veteran iconic co-stars like Edward G. Robinson, Lee J. Cobb, Rita Hayworth, etc. you can actually see his admiration for them, just by his body language, how he looks at them, etc. It's as if he almost comes out of character. Edited by: Bronxgirl48 on Nov 29, 2012 11:01 PM

My dear Elwood (say hello to the pooka for me), please lie down on the couch. There, isn't that better? Don't worry, Lilith Ritter is not recording anything. You are merely suffering from mo-go on the go-go-go, which simply means seasonal regression which takes the form of wanting to only watch movies which take you back to a sense of childhood security and lack of responsibility. Hence, A&C and Charlie Chan. I am not, however, exactly sure how ZaSu Pitts enters into this comfort zone, because she's brilliantly terrifying in GREED. Edited by: Bronxgirl48 on Nov 29, 2012 7:19 PM

Baby Peggy seemed to keep the same face, too, lol. Oh I certainly agree about Henry as Moriarty. Didn't George Zucco also play the Professor? Oooh, I've never seen HYSTERIA! Thanks, Miss G.! I'm not sure how gripping it's going to be with Robert Webber, lol. (I've got to get to CHAMBER OF HORRORS first though. Patrick O'Neal (I don't remember if I stated that either he's a step up or down from Peter Lawford. I think down), Cesare Danova (sigh) and sweet Bertha Duncan. Is everyone girding their loins for Kate and Ski Nose this evening? I know I am. Edited by: Bronxgirl48 on Nov 29, 2012 7:02 PM

> I loved Henry Daniell in WFTP; oh, I just love him in anything. > Henry is vastly underrated in my opinion. Did you see him in JANE EYRE? Piously offering up prayers over Taylor's bedridden, consumptive body -- shudder! (by the way, Elizabeth has only about, what, ten minutes if even that of screen time, but she is so haunting as a truly angelic little soul refusing to give in to bitterness or despair brought about by cruel masters...I actually think it's one of the best performances of her career!)

Frank, ooooh, so many movies to discuss, so little time! I just want to do nothing else in life but watch them all, then sit in front of the computer and write...and write...and write. I'll be back tonight to chat about the latest ones you saw. Quickly, though, I loved L'ATALANTE and agree about Michel Simon being the heart of the story. (I almost feel the same way about Warner Oland as Dr. Yogami in WEREWOLF OF LONDON, lol) I agree with the SUNRISE comparison. I was absolutely floored by A PROPOS DE NICE. Like a firebrand version of MR. HULOT'S HOLIDAY! See you later!

Hey, Boo! (Boo) The doctor (who needs her own, of course, lol) will be in later this evening. We will then discuss your flights from reality with Bud and Lou, Honolulu's number one detective, plus various and sundry Boo(gie) men. My best wishes to Gloria today. I woke up early and tried to catch BLONDE FEVER but unfortunately fell back to sleep again. (it seemed to be at the moment Philip Dorn appeared on screen)

Hi, newclassic. "I Love Lucy" and Twinkies -- they'll last forever! I remember when "All In The Family" first aired. Carroll O'Connor WAS Archie Bunker -- he really nailed that character. I love "The Honeymooners". For me, it's still the best "sitcom" ever made. That set was almost existential, lol. "Little House On The Prairie" was not my cup of tea. I never saw "Combat"; it was a guy thing. By the way, our program director at work looks just like Carroll O'Connor. But at least he doesn't call any of us "dingbats". (he probably thinks it, though) Edited by: Bronxgirl48 on Nov 24, 2012 8:37 PM

To my mind Mildred Natwick "walks" away with the movie! She's hilarious, but somehow manages to keep it real. Herb Edelman is the phone guy. He was a familiar face during that period. I think he shows up in the movie or t.v. The Odd Couple. With the exception of THE GREAT GATSBY, I don't think Robert Redford has ever been sexier. THE WAY WE WERE might be the third runner-up, lol.

I love this book jacket (I'm assuming that's what it is): Edited by: Bronxgirl48 on Nov 24, 2012 7:58 PM

The only Black Friday I'm ever interested in:

You're right, Sans. I meant vinegar and SUGAR! I include chocolate as a food group.

Nothing says turkey better than THE GIANT CLAW. Hope everyone had a brilliant Thanksgiving.

Oh, no! Now I remember -- It was Joanne Dru as Mark Miller's wife in "Guestward Ho". Mark was Pat Crowley's hubbie on "Please Don't Eat The Daisies". Miss G., there's my "great" memory for you! Edited by: Bronxgirl48 on Nov 24, 2012 2:15 PM

wouldbestar, I was pretty young (well, okay, not THAT young) when "Guestward Ho" first aired, but even then I appreciated a certain Kennedy-era hipness to it, like with Dick Van Dyke. Naish is one of my favorite character actors (except in HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, lol) and he was indeed a lot of fun here. Pat Crowley (didn't she also do the t.v. version of "Please Don't Eat The Daisies?") was very pleasant, and I had a mild crush on Mark Miller as her husband. Edited by: Bronxgirl48 on Nov 24, 2012 2:12 PM

Oh my goodness, Goddess, THANK YOU for the Classic TV link for the "Hong Kong" shows!! I'd been looking for them so long yet never hooked into the right "nostalgia" channel. You're BRILLIANT!