ChipHeartsMovies

Often the problem is that TCM doesn't own the rights to films to show them. Generally, you can see MGM, Warner Brothers (before, I believe, 1956), RKO, and some Columbia, as well as live-action Disney (but not animated). They also license some others for limited or one-time showings --- that's why you saw so many Paramount movies during this month's Carole Lombard tribute. You'll often see Universal horror films like *Frankenstein* around Halloween. This explains why, for instance, you rarely see Abbott & Costello on TCM; they were primarily in Universal films. *The Apple Dumpling Gang*, as a live-action Disney, is available (and it seems to have been shown). On the TCM homepage, you will see a button called "Request a Movie." Try that. The TCM programmer reads through these boards and often answers questions, and has even taken programming suggestions. TCM's programming is announced about three months in advance. Welcome to the boards!

Looking into it, the *A Star is Born* remake was originally pitched as a film called *Rainbow Road*.

You are most welcome, from all of us. I see you are a new member of the TCM boards. We are a lively bunch, and if you love classic movies you will make many friends here --- that's why we are all on the boards. Please browse through the many different topics and chime in whenever you have something to say. We're all glad to meet you!

CelluloidKid -- LOL, the remakes that you listed as the worst ... I saw all of the originals in the theatres, and wouldn't even watch the remakes on TV.

It's available in Europe. That's Region 2; the US is Region 1, and the average American DVD player won't play other Regions. If you get a region-free DVD player, or if your computer plays DVDs without regard to origin, you can get it from Amazon UK. I live in NYC, and I've seen region-free players for about $125. Message was edited by: ChipHeartsMovies

From the Wikipedia entry on *Re-Animator* (1986): Dr. Hill discovers West's work, imprisons and eventually lobotomizes Halsey, while forcing West to continue the research so that Hill can take credit for the serum's discovery. West kills Hill, decapitating him with a shovel, then re-animates both his head and body. Hill knocks out West and escapes, carrying his head, stealing the serum and sending the lobotomized Halsey out to kidnap Megan.

*They Saved Hitler's Brain* (1966)...well, actually they saved his whole head, and it's floating in a jar. It is available on DVD, which gives us hope for America yet!

There is a HYSTERICAL recap of the plot of *Susan Slade* here, with many screencaps: http://www.coolcinematrash.com/movies/susanSlade.htm WANT TO SEE IT, WANT TO SEE IT, WANT TO SEE IT!

Liza Minnelli was offered *The Great Gatsby* (Mia Farrow) Robert Redford turned down *The Graduate* (Dustin Hoffman) and *Whos Afraid of Virgina Woolf* (George Segal) Jane Fonda supposedly turned down *Network* (Faye Dunaway), *Norma Rae* (Sally Field), *Rosemary's Baby* (Mia Farrow), *Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice* (Natalie Wood), *An Unmarried Woman* (Jill Clayburgh), *Bonnie and Clyde* (Faye Dunaway), *Doctor Zhivago* (Julie Christie), *Fahrenheit 451* (Julie Christie), *The Exorcist* (Ellen Burstyn), and *Kramer Vs. Kramer* (Meryl Streep)

The remake of *A Star is Born* was pitched to Elvis Presley but Elvis wouldn't consider it. Streisand's company ended up producing it with her and Kris Kristofferson. I think Elvis is awfully limited in most of his movies (although there are some gems like *Viva las Vegas* ), but imagine Elvis playing a washed-up rock star on drugs a year before his death! (There were early rumors that it might be Elvis with Liza Minnelli, but that could have been just to get the press of Judy Garland's daughter considering the role --- something she was unlikely to do). Elvis supposedly also turned down include Brick in *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof* and Chance in *Sweet Bird of Youth* (thank God) --- both went to Paul Newman.

Thanks CCerini! I can't wait to watch.

It is indeed the one with Elizabeth Montgomery.

Lynn, I didn't see *Mamma Mia*, but based on your statement I await its appearance on cable. I also thought of another, the 2004 Japanese movie *Nobody Knows* ( *Dare Mo Shiranai* ). It's the story, based on a real-life occurance, of a mother who abandons her four children. The summary from IMDB is below. It's absolutely searing. It was barely released in the US (I'm lucky to live in NYC, and got to see it in the theatre), but I noticed it has been cropping up on IFC or Sundance, one or the other). I absolutely recommend finding it on DVD or cable, it was the best movie I saw that year. Remember, based on a true story. From IMDB: Four siblings live happily with their mother in a small apartment in Tokyo. The children all have different fathers and have never been to school. The very existence of three of them has been hidden from the landlord. One day, the mother leaves behind a little money and a note, charging her oldest boy to look after the others. And so begins the children's odyssey, a journey nobody knows. Though engulfed by the cruel fate of abandonment, the four children do their best to survive in their own little world, devising and following their own set of rules. When they are forced to engage with the world outside their cocooned universe, the fragile balance that has sustained them collapses. Their innocent longing for their mother, their wary fascination toward the outside world, their anxiety over their increasingly desperate situation, their inarticulate cries, their kindness to each other, their determination to survive on wits and courage. Message was edited by: ChipHeartsMovies. Damn Plain Text!

...and (to paraphrase an earlier post), if you don't cry at the end of *Love, Actually* you aren't human.

I dunno who "Pearl and Dean" are (who conducted this poll), and I can't be bothered to Google them to find out. What a misguided list they came up with. Of their choices, only *Bambi* and *Philadelphia* work for me as a genuine tear-jerker --- a movie that can manipulate me, willingly, into crying a little at the end. As Scottman and others say, excluding *Yeller* is ridiculous. That movie is so upsetting that I can't watch a single minute of it. Seriously, the king of the tear-jerker (and it makes me so distressed I genuinely cannot watch it). It's all subjective. I don't tear up from 80's/90's schmaltz like *Beaches* or *Moonstruck* or *Steel Magnolias* or *Ghost* (or God help us, *Titanic* ) --- in fact, I kind of snicker at a couple of them --- but I inevitably cry at the end of *Sleepless in Seattle.* I'll join WhyaDuck in the *It's a Wonderful Life* line, too.

Ann Blyth was in *Kismet* with Dolores Gray

Buddy Lester was in *The Patsy* with Nancy Kulp

I'll PM you an illicit source...

I DID find something very interesting --- the Lux Radio Theatre version of *The Constant Nymph*. For those of you unfamiliar, Lux Radio Theatre presented radio versions of popular films, often starring the original stars. The Lux Radio Theatre version of *Nymph* stars Charles Boyer and Alexis Smith from the original film, with Maureen O'Sullivan replacing Joan Fontaine. The entire show streams for free at http://odeo.com/episodes/23247842-lux-radio-theatre-constant-nymph-01-10-1944 FYI, odeo.com has many other vintage radio plays.

Movielead.com is a service that searches for movies like this. They can be pricey, and you have to fill out the formal request before they give you the info, but they confirmed that they have *The Constant Nymph*.

CelluloidKid, *Letty Lynton* is pretty easy to snag on a bootleg. I'll PM you the place I got it. The print quality isn't terrific, but it's great to see a Crawfortd you've never seen.

If you Google " *The Awakening Land* DVD" you will find several sellers. Be aware that sometimes these sellers are not entirely on the up-and-up, although I only had a bad experience specifically with dvdavenue.tv. (Avoid them for sure). TCM rarely shows anything made for TV --- the rare exception is the occasional Dick Cavett TV interview with stars like Bette Davis, which are unique in their approach. Most of us are in agreement that, with so many films to choose among, we'd prefer they keep it that way. I've personally always wished that TVLand would run old TV movies and miniseries. Lots of them do turn up on the Hallmark Channel, Sleuth TV, and American Life TV, so you might check there.

I was at the premiere of *Even Cowgirls Get the Blues* and the reaction in the audience was so aghast that almost no one went to the party afterward --- of the stars, I only remember Lorraine Bracco being there, although I didn't stay that long. That said, *Milk* looks great. When Gus van Sant gets it right, he's one of the best. *Drugstore Cowboy* is one of my favorites.

Like Sugarpuss, I really miss the "Sunny Side of the Street" morning opener. It was so relaxed yet still upbeat. And like Kyle, I am also hearing the ratings music. Maybe that was a glitch in some areas.

To me, it would depend on how severe the emotional abuse was and how early it started. If someone talked to a child from infancy the way Homer talks to the adult Hud, he'd be in therapy for life. If he was this aggressive toward him increasingly more as Hud grew older and started screwing up, that's a different story. I'm not saying Hud shouldn't bear responsibility for his current actions, only trying to understand them. In any case, Hud pays for his ways by driving away everyone who loves him. There's really no answer to this, since we're not given the information in the film. That's one of the things that make this movie so exceptional --- you can interpret it in so many ways, and look at the relationships in different ways.