FrankGrimes

Thank you for the birthday wish, Movieman. I'm hoping for some happy returns.

Thank you for the gift of Grace for my b-day, Barbarella! I do love MY Grace.

Thank you, Quiet Gal, for the b-day wishes and delicious elder bury! We vampires love it!

*Plenty of intrigue going on so they can be "together" throughout the movie.* That's the film! It's all about consumation. *The scene at the boatyard and Stewart trying to sneak up to her place with his pajamas in his briefcase. (Though if it were realistic enough he most likely wouldn't need them.)* The boatyard scene was funny. I didn't expect that. They were acting like teenagers. *I think the scene with Stewart in bed and ready even though he is all covered up is sweet. He's shy and anticipating things at the same time. When Keith puts the little doll from the cake next to him on the pillow I feel his pain. But a little gentle humor takes the edge off of it.* It's funny seeing Jimmy in such a state and room. *Once with a group of friends I showed them the girl fight. It was clearly the most popular scene of the night. The odd thing is once it gets going there is something almost masculine about it. That makes if funnier because of the way it escalates.* That's Ginger for ya. She knows how to play tough. She's very believable as a "dame." She knows how to deliver the zingers during such a scene.

*"Cute" is good.* I think so. *Several things I like about it are the girl fight.* Movieman! I can't believe you'd say such a thing! *Also where Peter (Stewart) and Keith (Ellison) get drunk and have their little fight in the closet of the classroom. The sound of the fight I think is funnier than if we saw it. Topped off with the door easing open to show Keith in a heap on the floor tops it off well.* That was a nicely staged scene. I liked how Keith was on Peter's side despite his running off with his girl. James Ellison was very good in the film. *Beulah Bondi was terrific. I think it was funny that she faked that heart ailment just to keep peace.* She really was. I loved the dancing scene with her. So did her husband! And she sure did know her husband. The "faking" was all about him. *It's not deep or profound but it is a lovely little unlikely love story that just hits all the right notes for me.* I couldn't believe how sexual it was! "Walter"!

*But don't feel that way about jumping in, I wish you and others would.* And I second that. I watched *Vivacious Lady* because of you, after all.

*It's an embarrassing milestone to say the least!* No, not at all. But I will say that I thought you were the most recognizable poster on the board before I joined. "Who the heck is that Jabber Jaws?" *So you evidently didn't like Let Us Live as much as me. That's not surprising.* Why are you not surprised? You ranked it first! *I found it incredibly moving and I loved Maureen's ferocious tenacity.* I typically adore Maureen, but I didn't like her in this kind of role, particularly in the second half. I thought she was in over her head.

Are you trying to get him drunk again?!

It sounds very good, actually. I tend to like stage-bound dramas if the drama and characters are good.

*Have you seen* *Dead End yet?* No, not yet.

*Not always, no.* Yes, I know. Some women see themselves as a "Jean" but you're one who doesn't. You're more of a "Lana." *So you heard about that.* Thanks to Robert Osborne's comments before and after the film. *I do want to mention Claire Trevor before I forget. She's so good with him that I wish Clark and Claire could have been given a movie to star in together as a couple.* She was excellent as "Belle Watling." Claire is so very good.

*I like her a lot. I may not see all the romance you guys do, but I'm a girl.* You're not big on Jean's kind of "cute." *I really think she's marvelous in Mr Smith Goes to Washington. I love the scene where she asks Thomas Mitchell to marry her. That is some scene I can't imagine any other actress pulling off.* You know, it's been forever since I've seen that film. I can't even remember that scene. *I will, I want to see it again, it's a movie I really enjoy.* That's a girl. *They sure like to buy whatever he's selling.* That makes the selling easy, my dear. *ha! no, but I bet Lana liked it.* Not with Mrs. Gable on set!

*I just find her funny.* Jean Arthur isn't your kind of leading lady. *I wish I could remember the way it begins, and that I had time to re-watch it. I took it out and started to watch last night but I fell asleep even before the opening credits stopped rolling.* Watch it! It was a very good recommendation by you. It's a really nice love story. Very "relaxed." *Yes, it's very much the classic Gable personality. He's so much better like this than in movies like last night's Possessed, where he's locked into a somewhat priggish character. I never like Gable characters as much when they play by the rules. He's a natural rebel or con man.* He's arguably the best rascal of all. A real salesman, especially with the ladies. *I like best the scene where he flirts with Marjorie Main.* Are you sure you didn't like the "Rhett/Scarlett" scene of him breaking down the door? Oh wait, that's one of my favorite scenes.

*you sure have a sharp eye.* I just know the Stooges. *i think i prefer wayne's version. anyway, I prefer Wayne.* Oh, I'm sure of that. Duke is very good with comedy. He doesn't mind looking ridiculous. And that's not about country and city! That's man/woman! *did you like any of the others on your list?* I liked *Vivacious Lady* and ***** Tonk* (mostly).

*I'll have to watch it again, I don't remember that. You're obsessed with Moe.* *I hadn't thought about that aspect of it. I was just thinking more "city girl", "country boy".* There's defintiely that. But there's a lot of man/woman going on.

*What about the John Wayne movie.* It was a very pleasant surprise. A very sweet movie. I think it's a must for a Jean Arthur fan. She's adorable. And I really liked the Duke in this one. The dinner scene is really good. I think it captures man and woman really well.

COME AND GET IT SPOILED... BIG TIME! *What do you mean by "man picture"? Are you referring to a love story?* Typically, a "woman's picture" focuses on a woman, her decisions, and the consequences. It's a straight drama, for the most part. A "man's picture" would place a man in a similar role in a straight drama. I suppose *Citizen Kane* can be seen as a "man's picture." In *Come and Get It*, Barney (Edward Arnold) is in love with Lotta (Frances Farmer) but he chooses to marry Emma (Mary Nash) because of money, power, and station. That's often associated with women more so than men unless it's royalty. Later on, Barney hits 50 years old and he meets Lotta's daughter (Frances Farmer). He wants to relive his past, this time taking the path of Lotta. Lotta knows what Barney is up to and uses him to get where she wants in life, mirroring Barney's own choice many years ago. Lotta even sticks the dagger in him, saying he's "old." He is now faced with the reality of where he is in life. This is "Bette Davis" country ( *All About Eve* )... but with tears! I ended up feeling for Barney. I couldn't believe it.

*I always felt he was a character actor more than able to carry a leading role. it's very good movie.* But a love interest? Wow! And Walter Brennan gets married! Amazing!

*You know, I'm so out of it that I just realized that we've been talking about two different movies. I had* *Platinum Blonde in my head, with Robert Williams. That's the one I don't care much for.* I haven't seen that one just yet. *I do like* *Bombshell,* Oh! Very good! *it's pretty frenetic but it's funny and satirical about Hollywood and mooching relatives, and I think the bit about Jean wanting to adopt a kid so modern what with the little United Nations dames, Madonna and Jolie.* It really is rather modern. It's all about publicity, both good and bad. I like the old-fashioned approach of showing Lola at home... cooking. "She's like you, ladies." *And Tracy is perfect as that type, even if I can't say he's attractive.* I don't find him appealing, but I like that Lola loved his attention. *It sounds like you're describing Bette Davis.* It's almost like a waddle.

*Probably, but the whole thing just doesn't do much for me. I like Jean better almost everywhere else.* That's really interesting since I really responded to her. I enjoyed how she wanted to kill Space (Lee Tracy) but she was mostly crazy about him. *I never would have noticed.* I've always thought Joan's little walk/run was really cute. It looks like she took it from Jean.

*I'm not a fan of the movie or Lee Tracy.* Yeah, I can't see you being a fan of Lee Tracy. He annoyed me to start. But then I came to like him. I liked that Lola (Jean Harlow) loved him despite his being such a rascal. Is Lee Tracy the primary reason why you don't like the film? *how?* Jean does a lot of physical acting in the film. She particularly likes to use her upper-body, namely her shoulders and arms when she walks. Joan does the same.

If you're off one or two places, that's not bad.

So where would you now place it?

I have watched seven more films. How do you think I handled them, Fordy Guns? Bombshell Come and Get It **** Tonk A Lady Takes a Chance Let Us Live My Forbidden Past Vivacious Lady

*I am glad you rank Paper Moon so high.... I probably should have ranked it higher on my list. I do own it (for me to pay money for a movie is high praise), and I have tremendously great memories of seeing it with my mom when it came out.* It's the perfect mix of comedy and heart. I laugh quite often and then cry. "You like Mickey the Mouse?" *You and I rank* *His Girl Friday almost the same.* Yes, I believe you and I like that film the most of those who opined. *Even looking back at my rankings, I could switch most of them up differently today, except for my top five. Like I said, the top thirty can almost go in any order, depending on how I feel that day.* You're such a girl, Moody! *Are there any on my list that you want to be pushed to watch? * I'd say the comedies on your list that I'm most curious about are the two Grant flicks I don't have yet ( *Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House* and *My Favorite Wife* ), *The Major and the Minor*, and *Quality Street*. It seems like the last two films are somewhat similar. *Of course! I should have known the ones that would be first - Hitch is your gateway to classic films.* You've got it! *I said earlier that I watched a Marx Brothers movie, Room Service, and that they were my gateway to classic films. I knew my dad liked old movies, and especially The Marx Brothers. I don't remember which came first, watching that movie or getting a book about the Bros. for my birthday from my dad. I just know that when I watched that movie, I fell instantly in love with the Marx Bros. - they were so subversive, and I was a little kid and wanted that kind of anarchy to reign in my very controlled life. The Marxes are great for kids, who always want to let loose and say just what they think, or do something outrageous in their heart of hearts.* *I lived near Chicago, and they always had old movies on at that time, on weekends, on a couple of channels at 8:00, and then late at night. I could easily find more movies to watch. Maybe they were showing a Marx Bros. movie every week? It seems like I rapidly saw all their movies, except* *Animal Crackers, which was not available for years and years.* Oh! But where did you go from the Marx brothers? You see, when I was a kid, I watched the Three Stooges and some Abbott & Costello but that didn't lead me to classic film. It wasn't until I watched Hitch on my own and then my brother suggested *12 Angry Men* and *Inherit the Wind* to me that I really got going. *The Wild Bunch* was another "spark" film for me. *Cary is King, no doubt. I think my first was Bringing Up Baby, though I'm not sure.* Oh, you started with a biggie. I believe my very first "Cary" flick was *Suspicion*. In fact, I believe that or *Psycho* was my very first Hitch film. I watched both with my brother. I believe *Strangers on a Train* was the first one I watched by myself. *Let's face it, any guy who'd wear that hat has got to have a sense of humor!* And self-confidence! I wish I could make that look work for me! *I don't think he was insecure, I think he thought he was better than they were, at heart. In fact, I think he actually hated the wealthy, because he wanted to be them.* Oh, I see. I'm only going off of how I remembered the film after first watching it. I thought he was worrying about his appearances to others. That he was "just like them." *He had a drinking problem, and she couldn't understand it. She simply thought it made him weak, and unattractive. She couldn't acknowledge his demons lurking underneath, or understand and try to help him. She was harsh instead of trying to find the underlying problem.* Hmmmm, now that's interesting. So it had nothing to do with her feelings, it was simply that drinking made him unattractive to her. It makes sense because her feelings later kick in. *It was just on yesterday! I was watching, and she is still my favorite character in the whole movie - I love the way she says her lines. I want to be Liz Imbrie. She is my role model. I really admire dry wit.* She's definitely "you." I love how much she loves Macaulay (James Stewart) and he's completely oblivious to how much she loves him. I feel it's where the greatest heart lies in the film. *He said that a man's infidelity had nothing to do with his wife, that it was a search for youth, and that if he has a kind, girlish daughter who looks up to him, he's less likely to stray.* Oh, that's right. While there can be truth with that, it still doesn't make the act right. Weakness is the problem. Weakness overtakes you and you use reasons to validate your weakness. It really is "passing the buck" for your own weakness in character, your own failure. "You forced me to cheat." Yeah, right. There are always reasons behind behavior, but actions almost always fall on that person.