casablancalover

> {quote:title=CCerini wrote:}{quote} > If you are a fan of Its a Wonderful Life, please take a look at the following article in yesterdays New York Times, by Wendell Jamieson. It is a clever, analytical and interesting take on the movie, that could only have been written by someone who loves the film. > > http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/19/movies/19wond.html?_r=1&th&emc=th > > --Gus Cerini *Oh, Gus-- _Thank You_ ! You've made this hopeful writer's day! I was taking a break from reading Kiss of the Spider Woman -when I saw your post. The article is a charmer. It is great.*

Thanks Kyle for all the work; Did you have some help? Or are you the messenger for this effort? Will there be opportunity for acceptance speeches? Ha-ha!

Another one- *Brassed Off* -about a Northern England town's Brass Band, and the harsh reality of the Thatcher Govt of the Mid-Eighties- The closing of their mine, and the hope of winning an award at the Annual Brass Band Contest at Royal Albert Hall. Enjoyed this film very much. And-- *Dead End* - loaded with stars, it is a good Dramatic look at the Haves and Have nots in NYC. Humphrey Bogart, Sylvia Sidney, Claire Trevor, Joel McCrea, Marjorie Main. And-- *Primrose Path* - Ginger Rodgers, Joel McCrea and Living on the edge in California and the choices available to women. And-- *Our Daily Bread* - about the struggles of farmers And a comedy I have not seen in decades, but had a tremendous effect on me, *Mrs Wiggs and the Cabbage Patch* (1934) W.C. Fields and Zazu Pitts. Thanksgiving in a shack. I would love to see that again!

>*Swimming pools. . . . Movie Stars....*

>*They said, Californy is where you ought to be.....*

And another one today; Van Johnson, age 92. Adorable redhead.

h3. So, how do I get Harper Collins to come to my Book Fair?! Message was edited by: casablancalover

lzcutter- And CSJ gets me on punctuation! -casablancalover

Ruthless bussinessmen, FF, ruthless businessmen!

*Welcome to the boards, Chinookteam1* !

> {quote:title=hlywdkjk wrote:}{quote} > *"Dept 56 was started here in Minnesota. It was an outgrowth in the gifts department of a huge Floral and Nursery Company, Bachman's."* - casablancalover > > And, sadly, the Bachman family is the one that suffered the tragedy at the Bejing Olympics when a nutjob killed the tourists from Minnesota. > > I am thinking a nice "Casablanca-themed" Christmas Village could be a popular seller in certain neighborhoods of St. Paul. "Rick's Cafe Americain", "The Blue Parrot", The Air Field, Inspector Reanault's. > Or maybe we could do a "creche" set... with the letters of transit in the manger. Anyone for The Three Wise Men at the roulette table? > > Kyle In Hollywood The attack on the Bachmans in China; that was extremely sad news here back home. It seems everyone personally knows a Bachman here--myself included. I went to school with two of them. both wonderful guys. It was their uncle who was murdered. You know, Kyle, I am normally a GLG, but there is a side of me that would LOVE that! What fun! ! ! I could use soft sand instead of snow... OMG - there was a neighbor many years ago who did do that for her creche scene...

Alistar Sim. Why is this even a discussion?

> {quote:title=alix1929 wrote:}{quote} > I saw at Sears that a company called "Dept. 56" has ceremic houses from A Christmas Story, that you can decorate with and build a Christmas Story villege. It is so awesome! They had Ralphie's House, the Bumpas House, the Department Store, the Chop Suey Palace...all the locations from the movie. In addition, you can add people, like "Scott Farkus' Toadies" or "the Bumpasses Dogs," "Dad and the Major Award," or the boys around the flagpole. > > VERY CUTE! You could drop a bundle designing your own Christmas Story village, but it would be wonderful. Anyone else see these, or OWN them (you lucky dog!)? I may go to Sears after Christmas when they all go 50% off! *I am not a collector, and I do not do Snow Villages, but I am sorely tempted now!* BTW- Dept 56 was started here in Minnesota. It was an outgrowth in the gifts department of a huge Floral and Nursery Company, Bachman's.

> {quote:title=CineSage_jr wrote:}{quote} > I've always liked Peck a great deal, but he was definitely miscast in ROMAN HOLIDAY (something I've written about before), and was only able to make do with a rather thankless role. > > I think that Peck sensed this when he insisted to director William Wyer that Audrey Hepburn receive equal credit with him in the film's Main Title and advertising, though it was her first major film role (she would have received an "Introducing Audrey Hepburn" credit after the film's title card, had Wyler and the studio followed through on that traditional form of cast acknowledgment). > > The problem is that Peck was, by that time, well, Gregory Peck: apart from a couple of early roles, notably DUEL IN THE SUN, Peck made a career of playing good, upstanding -- if conflicted -- men, men with a conscience (even when playing the gunslinger Jimmy Ringo in THE GUNFIGHTER). The bottom line: Gregory Peck's characters always did the right thing. > > Unfortunately, his ROMAN HOLIDAY character, Joe Bradley, spends the whole film doing the wrong thing: manipulating and exploiting a poor young girl, the Princess Ann, for the sole purpose of getting the Big Story and furthering his career (his almost abuse of his "friend," photographer Irving Radovich, to keep him from spilling the beans regarding his identity as a reporter borders on the sadistic -- very un-Peck-like (ironically, the general outline of the film's storyline, a reporter's manipulation of the "news" to milk a story, thereby making a victim a double-victim, mirrors that of Billy Wilder's ACE IN THE HOLE, made by the same studio only two years earlier. The two films obviously have utterly and diametrically opposite tones and purposes; end result: Wilder's film, one of the most uncompromisingly bleak and cynical films ever made, was a flop in its original release, whereas Wyler's movie was a huge hit. Time has pretty much reversed this judgment, however: Wilder's film is now seen as a work of genius, well ahead of its time, but Wilder's film, while still full of pleasures -- most of which are Hepburn -- seems somewhat dated and frivolous). > > A character as morally ambiguous as Joe Bradley simply was not a good match for Peck's screen persona. The actor for whom is was a match is William Holden, who specialized in such roles. This can be seen very clearly in the scene by the fountain where Joe tries to persuade the young schoolgirl (played, by the way, by William Wyler's younger daughter, Judy) to part with her camera. Apart from problems in the writing of this scene (logically, Joe would have tried to barter with the girl, offering his watch, his cigarette lighter -- anything -- in exchange for the camera he needs so desperately to photograph the Princess. The scene would've been more believable and real), the way Joe tries to simply cajole the girl while attempting to lift the camera strap from around her neck might've been pulled off by Holden; with Peck, it plays as though he's trying to slip his hand up the child's dress and seems nothing so much as creepy. > > Another problem is with the film's climax; the scene in which Joe drives Ann to a spot around the corner from her country's embassy. She gets out and begs him not to follow, then runs off and disappears. With the moral ambiguity embodied by Holden, the audience would wonder whether Joe will heed her entreaty, or jump out of the car and chase after her; with Peck, they already know that Peck will always do the right thing, and do exactly as she asks. As a consequence the whole dramatic weight of the scene rests on Hepburn's shoulders, even though she's no longer in the scene, with the balance of it playing out on a close-up of Peck as he sits behind the wheel of his car, wrestling with the consequences of doing the right thing -- doing what's best for Ann and her country -- versus pursuing what he really wants: to be with the woman with whom he's fallen in love. > > Again, Holden could pull it off effortlessly; Peck could not, a victim of his own stalwart screen image. > > Placing the whole weight of this scene and, indeed, most of the film, on the shoulders of the inexperienced Hepburn tied Wyler's hands, dramatically. He was forced to make compromises in how he told his story, and it shows (at 118 minutes, the film is also a bit too long; Wyler clearly fell in love with the glories and romance of Rome, and dwells on the locale a bit more than he really should have). As I said, Peck seemed to sense this, as reflected by his demand that Hepburn receive the credit she most assuredly deserved. Following up with some of the other's views on this, keep in mind that Wyler past in casting his movies. I think casting could be one of those things that when it's done right, no one notices, but when its done wrong, it starts threads on Movie Forums! I really appreciate these observation Plus and Minus about this.

Wow! Cinesage, what a revelatory post! This is the reason I come here! You have noticed something of the character of Joe that I should have noticed. But I fear I am like so many other's who've been just mesmerized by Peck's good looks, I glossed over the fine points in the character's motivations. I have yet to meet a reporter who wasn't morally ambiguous, so your assumptions are spot on! I am passing this post along; great observations!

I've put this on my watch list, because I love to read it. But I think yes you will have to start with the veeerrry eeassy...

>>Mongo said- > Skip Homeier as Emil the Nazi brat in "Tomorrow, the World!" (1944) I swear to God I babysat that kid in the sixties! Except he called himself Scott then.

Very good article, Jake. Thanks for sharing it. I got a real kick out of reading about Adele. She's nobody's role model, but hey, I'm glad she got away with it! Fred always struck me as a gentleman with a tremendous work ethic, and I came away confirmed in that observation as well. I was amazed to read the details about the fantastic stage life. Written by Joe Epstein; I wonder if he's related to the Epstein brothers?

I am right with you there, GS. I think it is a pity. Uncut, shown the way it was meant to be shown, and commercial free is how I like my Holidays. I think they guessed wrong this year. Welcome to the boards!

> {quote:title=lzcutter wrote:}{quote} > *Do you know the longest member here?* > > Casablancalover, > > There are a couple of original message board posters here. Back in 2005, they rejiggered the message board and many of us lost our real registeration dates. *Oh, the cruelty!* > > But in the various searches that I have done in the archives of the message boards, I've discovered that Mongo, Moirafinnie and Sandykpax have been with the message boards since their inception in 2001. > > Alix could very easily be another! *And talk about devoted! Thanks lz!*

>*That turkey's not done yet! You'll get worms!* -Mom, Alix1929, who joined the boards on *12/20/2002* ! That's amazing! Do you know the longest member here? Could it be you?!

Just got back from the Uptown in Minneapolis. *Milk* is --very good-- excellent! I think it is Van Sant's best work to date. Sean Penn is a revelation. He should get the Oscar. I forgot it was him playing the part; he owned the character. It was Harvey Milk. The supporting cast was good as well. Any one else see this terrific movie?

I like Mr. Jon Hamm. Looking forward to it.... But does Keanu Reeves have the gravitas to play Klaatu? I know, its amusing how similar the character's name is to the actor. Insert unintentional laughter here. Seeing Jon Hamm in Mad Men, I think he could have played him. I can't see Keanu as handsome/subtly sinister. . .

Could you be thinking of *The Little Foxes*, with Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall, and playing Zandra (Alexandra), Theresa Wright? I love the movies, and maybe others here have a suggestion as well. You can check it out at this website's movie database. Welcome, to the boards!

*Addams Family Values* ! ! ! What a great movie to watch on Thanksgiving Day ! Seriously! ! I loved Wednesday (Christina Ricci) in that! What is the line in that movie? > *"Now that there is a new baby in the family, one of us must die"* ? Have to look that up.