[Joel McCrea for Star of the Month]

COUNTDOWN ; It is only 9 days to the beginning of the month of May, otherwise known as JOEL McCREA month. Anyone getting excited yet?

[I Walk Alone(1948)]

Good observation , JJG. Burt was still "learning his craft" while Kirk had the edge in acting experience at this time. Burt had to rely on his director a lot I'm sure. And yet Burt got the early big break (his role in *The Killers* ) while Kirk had to wait awhile for a real starring role. Its still fun watching Burt and Kirk "spar" and its an indication of their future joint efforts.

[DOA(1950)]

Edmond O'Brien was a very good actor and he really shines here (around the same time he was also in *White Heat* with Cagney ). Really neat story line (doomed man gets to solve his own murder) and the on location street scenes are excellent. Neville Brand plays a really scary thug in this one. A "must see" noir classic.

[Dr. Strangelove....A comedy?!!!]

Today we can look at this film and focus on the "comedy" aspects. I wasn't old enough to see the movie and really understand it until the mid 70's. So it was "scary" (the Cold War was still very real in the mid 70's) but it satirized the authority figures so well it was also funny to me. I am not sure the film seemed very funny to most people when it first came out, but apparently it was still popular. Any "old timers" out there who saw this when it was originally done and can comment on their first impressions?

[Impact(1949)]

This is a really good film, much under appreciated, or at least unknown. I have a dvd (very decent print too). Brian Donlevy is an actor I really like and this is one of his rather rare starring roles. Charles Coburn seems an odd choice for the "cop" , but he does a good job. And the gal is very good as the "femme fatale". The "crash" scene is obviously done using models, but it looks very "real", someone put some effort into that one.

[JImmy Stewart's Movies and Roles in the 1960s]

Both Stewart and Peck were outstanding actors, I think most would agree with that. I believe the better question to ask is how different the other actor would have played the role. Stewart did a great job in *Harvey* . I think Peck could have done a good job as well, but it would have been a different character. So we can only speculate if Peck's "Elwood" would have entertained us as well. --- Even though I am an American (US brand) , I hope I can make opinion about all of those non American actors , there are so many you know .

[JImmy Stewart's Movies and Roles in the 1960s]

For me *Anatomy Of A Murder* is Stewart's best film of all time; in the 60's *The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance* and *Shenandoah* come close to matching that . Some good comments made by others. Jimmy's career is winding down in the 60's, the possible roles are getting limited and his "appeal" to the young audience is as well. I do believe he still did well in his work and choosing his roles. His career ended much better than many of his age group.

[Beach Blanket Bingo]

Eric Von Zipper is my idol, or is it my ideal? They should have given Robert Strauss a part in one of the beach movies. Reuniting Animal and Harry Shapiro (from Stalag 17)

[Richard Widmark]

Just want to bump this thread back on top, Richard Widmark is on TCM tonight in one of his best performances, *Night And The City* . Maybe we can get some new talk about this great, somewhat underappreciated, actor.

[The NEW Site Design Format Is HORRIBLE!]

I am getting the same results as movieman1957. I am not the most computer savy guy but it appears that we all don't get the same results when trying to access these features. I assume that is not the TCM site's fault, individual visitors here have to look on their end for solving the problems.

[Night And The City , 1950]

*Night And The City* . From 1950, one of the high points of the film noir era of movies. Starring Richard Widmark, in one of his very best performances. A fine supporting cast including the wonderful Gene Tierney. Filmed in England with lots of great London location background (only a few years after WW2 here). TCM is showing this Fox movie classic this Sunday at 8 pm est. Hopefully many people will watch, if you've never seen it before, you will be in for a treat.

[Heads Up ! Night and the City March 25]

*Night And The City* ,The always very good Richard Widmark at the top of his game.

[You Are Granted 3 Wishes]

I would like to spend a "quiet" evening at home in the Bullock house (as in My Man Godfrey) , just Irene (Carole) and me. Then I would like to see a live performance of Henry Fonda doing "Mister Roberts" on the stage. Finally, I would like to spend a day at the studio just watching William Powell and Myrna Loy doing a "Thin Man" movie.

[Why do the English drink tea and Americans prefer coffee?]

This northerner, Pennsylvanian, never really developed a taste for coffee. I drink tea, hot or iced. Probably more than I should. And no fancy, flavored stuff. Either straight (no sugar here) or with some lemon or lime.

[Laurel and Hardy]

Stan and Ollie can always count on my vote.

[William Powell]

This coming Tuesday, March 20, at 10 pm est, TCM is showing *My Man Godfrey*

[Carole Lombard]

This coming Tuesday, March 20, 10 pm est, *My Man Godfrey* is on TCM.

[BURT REYNOLDS]

Burt certainly had a run of big hit movies in that time period. Some were quite entertaining, others were really bad (I wanted to walk out in the middle of Cannonball Run 2). *The Longest Yard* , *Hooper* , and *The End* were the best Burt movies in that period IMO. The best Burt car flick is definitely *White Lightning* , saw that in the theatre and was very impressed, I was just starting to drive around that time. After *Sharky's Machine* (a good film as well) I think Burt's movies took a bad tumble, it took years for him to recover and it took tv to make that happen. Burt would make a good guest for a TCM night.

[Frisco Jenny on Monday morning]

*Frisco Jenny* has my favorite "obscure" star gal , Noel Francis , in it. I have seen the clips on youtube, but you can bet the recorder will be running tomorrow morning to catch this one.

[Plainest woman who became a star?]

Finance says he "allegedly" beat up on June Allyson in an old thread. If I recall, he was holding a smoking gun in one hand and a lead pipe in the other.

[Plainest woman who became a star?]

I sense another "beat up on June" thread

[Who was the best screen gangster?]

I like all of the previous nominees, but Eddie G is the clear winner here IMO.

[Plainest woman who became a star?]

I am a little surprised that someone (guess who?) didn't suggest Barbara Stanwyck. "Plainest" doesn't suggest to me unattractive, and how are we defining "star"? Hollywood make up artists and the wardrobe department can go a long way in making someone beautiful or handsome. So lack of make up and costume can make most anyone look "plain", just like the rest of us, right? Speaking of Olivia De, how about her appearance in *The Snake Pit* ? Or sister Joan, who made being plain a big part of her career. Along with Barbara S. I would agree with nominating Bette Davis for this category. As for the male counterpart, how about Edward G?

[Stars Who Won the Oscar for Their Best Performance]

Earlier I suggested Burt Lancaster and his performance in *Elmer Gantry* . Maybe the title for this thread is a little too restrictive. I wouldn't rate Burt's one performance in this one movie above all of his others (obviously I believe he gave many great performances in his career.) But his Elmer Gantry role is right at the top of his game, and I can't imagine any other actor matching Burt's work in this role. Its a case of a perfect match of actor and character here. Burt's Oscar win was a slam dunk that year. All due respect to the other nominees for best actor 1960, but Burt was the clear winner. And if he could only get one Oscar in his life, it would have to be for this role.

[Stars Who Won the Oscar for Their Best Performance]

Burt Lancaster for *Elmer Gantry*