CineMaven

...it just splits my spleen seeing tiny mean little people running around with sharp instruments...now I know how Gulliver felt. THAT got a guffaw out of me!!! "Splits my spleen." OMG! I would never EVER be unfaithful to my Sammykins. I want to cuddle up with him. With Otto...we'd just walk and talk for hours. Pssst! Don't tell Sammy. Sshhhhh.

*There is something warm and comforting, very humanitarian about these old horror films, the monster or criminal is often the most sympathetic of characters.... if not, there is a sexual undercurrent, something thrilling about the idea of taking people's will and bending to your desires....or losing that will in some way. In fact, desire is often the catalyst in these stories - Cat People, or like in White Zombie, where one man's spurned desire is the opening that Lugosi needs to gain control over everyone....* You're so wonderfully forthright and such a great read on the Board. My sentiments eggsactly, except rarely, if ever, written as expressively as you. You prove my point here: *I like to wrap myself up in these warm dark stories like a blanket, stare into the firelight and cozy up to my deepest fears.* Whoa! You could start an entire novel with that line. Why don't you Jackaaa*A*aay? Don't make small people... write a book. (This way you don't have to deal with family looking for their relatives, or trying to stuff their Aunt Martha in their vest pockets). Speaking of Maureen O'Sullivan, I took *"DRACULA'S DAUGHTER"* and Francis Ford Coppola's *"DRACULA"* to the bar Friday for Halloween. Yes, there was still music popping and hubbub...uhm...hubbing. But I was in my glory watching the movies, especially "Dracula's Daughter." Gloria Holden was handsome and sexy and great. I also kept wishing that Maureen O'Sullivan would have replaced Marguerite Churchill. She is the most unappealing actress I think I've ever seen. What Otto saw in her is beyond me. And Otto was a doll in that movie. I know...two words you don't often hear in a sentence: "Otto" and "doll." Now...where can a girl find a good Dracula when you need him, and don't want to feel guilty. After all...he'll bend you to his will.

Holy Mackeral...I have that book Jackaaa*A*aay. At least I think I do. There's something about that row of pix of Sonja Henie, Wayne Morris, Betty Grable and Richard Greene that looks awfully familiar. I've got to check my library again. So good of you to take a pix of it. I can see a kid getting lost poring over all those glorious black and whites.

Say...saaaaaaaay....That is something that can easily be remedied. It's been talked about on this Message Board for years. A ray of sunlight, perhaps?

Oh yeah?

Haaaa, Ro. Yeah I agree. A bottle to the noggin' of Tierney's character. When you love someone you want their happiness. That's not really what she wanted, was it. And your description of Baxter being "pitiful and tragic" is very very apt.

Thanx for the info, Mr. Dobbs. I remembered that she had a substance abuse problem. I didn't know the Fez was the international symbol for, well...you know. Poor Rosie...trying to make Albert jealous in "BYE BYE BIRDIE" by dancing for men in a hash house. Yikes!!! Thanx again.

WRONG-WAY CORRIGAN... D'Ohhhhhh!!!

Double your pleasure Double your fun With Doublemint Doublemint Doublemint Gum I'll be looking forward to: *"THE BLACK ROOM" (1935)* and *"DEAD MEN WALK." (1943)* I love old "B" movies from the 30's / 40's. Now...how do I back to the Forum Home from here. *&$@!! computer programmers!

Tell those programmers to do something else to justify their jobs. Leave well enough alone. Are they willfully trying to destroy this Board?

I've never seen Gene Tierney look so ugly as the mean-spirited persona she had in this movie. Oooh, she was HATEFUL. Though I don't come to ANNE BAXTER easily and unabashedly say I am a fan...her performance in *"THE RAZOR'S EDGE"* was fantastic. Her smoky voice...the baby fat...the way she lusted after a drink. She was great to watch. Oooh, the way she went over to the group at the table...you feel you have to face people who knew you when...and see you now. She was a hot mess. Baxter was only twenty-three years old when she made this film and gives a very mature performance. I'll have to investigate Baxter's career more closely from here on. Edited by: CineMaven on Oct 28, 2011 9:14 AM

It's CineMaven here. (I say this off the top since now we have to scroll down half the post before you know WHO is posting! Argggh!!) Hey Grimesy. FoxyRey says: *"Goldfinger* *IMHO the best Bond film ever. The best story, best effects, and best villain and the best Bond girl...* *From Russia With Love* *Some have said that this film is the best in the Bond series. I would say that it is the second best, behind Goldfinger..."* Two great Bond films, indeed. Odd Job and Robert Shaw's character. But IMHO, the best of Bond would be *"THUNDERBALL"* Sean Connery is fantastic. The story is strong, the locale - beautiful. And there'll also be Luciana Paluzzi & Claudine Auger for you as an added bonus. Hope you get to watch them. Your view and how you broke down the 60's was funny to me. Morning Lewis & Clark Favell: *Brief Encounter is a perfect film! It's emotional, probably the most true filming of how people think. It's written superbly, and directed superbly. It's a film I get completely lost inside. Celia Johnson plays every possible emotion under the sun, even boredom, exquisitely. The way the film is told in flashback and in memory, is just genius - the way we watch that opening scene is so different than the way we watch it again with meaning at the end. It's tragic, and beautiful, and small, and ends where it should. There isn't a thing about it not to like.* One of the most heartbreakingly romantic movies ever made. One doesn't have to look like Redford & Streisand or Julie Christie & Omar Sharif to feel the joy and pain of love. And the horror...the pain of it all? Them NOT being able to say goodbye. Maybe in a Hollywood movie they would have kissed and had the final goodbye. But not Lean..yeah, that wrenched my soul. I love your comments. *...Plus I like Henry Daniell, so any movie with him is going to rate high with me. He's the only actor capable of being Rathbone's arch nemesis.* Was there ANYone more erudite, astute or haughty as Henry Daniell? He could stand toe-to-toe with any actor. I loved his voice as well. *Stumbled. I stumbled across everything as a kid. I was quite solitary. I had lots of friends, but I always liked my alone time. They didn't have cartoons 24/7. We just played all day or got bored. No one I knew watched anything like what I was watching. I think I just fell in love with black and white, and couldn't get enough. I had a picture book that I found first from the library, then got my own copy later. It was filled with photos from every movie made in each year, starting in 1927. I just loved looking at it, so I memorized the pictures in it. I started seeing the movies they were from on TV, or I would purposely look for those movies that had intriguing photos. I still look at the movies and those moments from the photos leap out at me every once in a while. I could probably tell you what scene was shown in that book for every movie in the 1930's or 40's.* :-) I enjoyed reading about you. Do you still have the book? Recall its title? *...Only certain children long for adventure like I did.* Of that, I am sure. Grown-ups and other children probably don't understand them. By the by, the programmers are doing a bang-up job of making this Message Board difficult to navigate. Are they willfully trying to destroy it from without as well as within? It's like death by a thousand cuts.

Hi Sue. Yes, I'd agree with you. She shouldered such responsibility in that film. Small town girl...looking Evil... betrayal, right in the eye. I can't think of another actress who could have played that heroine so well.

For the h of it... You truly are a pal!!!! Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Doesn't she. She's really one of my favorites. She's so subtle and understated. Oh I love my fire < *Bette Davis* > and I love my ice < *Stanwyck* > ...And I might have picked some different films today to showcase Teresa Wright's talent, but there's no doubt when I see her my heart smiles.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TERESA WRIGHT < 10/27/1918 - 3/6/2005 >

OF ALL THE GIRLS NEXT DOOR... ...The dearest to me is TERESA WRIGHT. She played sweet sincere characters with strong resolve and backbone. No? Fair enough. Who did Hitchcock pick to hold her family together and protect them from a serial killer? Think about her in "THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES." Virginia Mayo might've been the bombshell, but it's Wright who wins the hero's heart and helps him through the horrors of war he's seen. This Academy Award-winning actress has a distinctive voice, and delicately gorgeous looks any young man would be proud to show off as 'his girl.' But he'd also be getting a strong woman...and a gal who was a fine actress. She wouldn't blow you off the screen; you wouldn't see the pyrotechnical strings. She would just quietly bring you closer, with her warmth. She is one of my favorite actresses. And as much and as long as I've loved classic films, I have always been proud to share her name. Thanx again TCM. 6:00AM - "THE LITTLE FOXES" 8:00AM - "CASANOVA BROWN" 9:45AM - "ENCHANTMENT" 11:30AM "CALIFORNIA CONQUEST" 1:00PM - "COUNT THE HOURS" 2:30PM - "ESCAPADE IN JAPAN"

I haven't seen it in years, but I remember Anne Baxter also being very good. ...And at 3:30AM, TCM will show KATHARINE HEPBURN IN "UNDERCURRENT."

Ha! It's funny and eerie when coincidences happen. His beauty made him under-rated as an actor: TCM will have a rare screening of this Tyrone Power film: THE RAZOR'S EDGE A few years before these two starred in: SON OF FURY

Nope Miss G., it wasn't a dream. She has been a blonde AND a brunette in films. I have made a video montage...a couple in fact even before I had the technology that makes it so easy today to do. But on the Mac, you should have the program: iMOVIE which would allow you to do your own montage, with music and everything. I know I saw "KITTY OF FEAR" and I want to tell you, the music put it over the top. Oooh, and how he crouched on top of the pillow as though he was stalking prey. I never EVER EVER knew cats could play "fetch." Whoa...I learned something while being entertained. Your rascals would make good subjects. A few more days before TCM has blonde fever. Get ready folks!

Miss G., You can check this out to hear the theme song. It'll come back to you: http://fan.tcm.com/_The-Chalk-Garden/audio/781588/66470.html *** When you have some time, you might check this on YouTube; it's a nice mix of a Dixie Chicks song with scenes from "The Chalk Garden" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhEw3JMj28U I loved Deborah Kerr's stillness in this film. *** Hey SueSue, glad you like the thread. Offer up some of your movie thoughts. Would love to read 'em. :-)

Miss G., I know *"THE CHALK GARDEN"* like the back of my hand. I've seen this movie so many times, many many years ago. I didn't know this was a Ross Hunter production. No, it doesn't have that slick glossy look. Dame Edith Evans is great...but of course, I'm watching for Deborah Kerr and her by-play with the young teen (Hayley Mills). And then there's her with John Mills. I'm humming the theme song now, and I haven't seen this movie in over ten years. I enjoyed it.

"THE DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES" will air Tuesday morning at 11:00AM on TCM as part of a mini-Lemmon tribute. Listen to this rendition of its theme song sung by Andy Williams. Henry Mancini is a master. He haunts me:

How's THIS for masculine sartorial splendor. My goodness, he's gorgeous!

*Maven, I LOVED Youngblood Hawke. This one is right up there or maybe even surpassing Peyton Place as my favorite potboiler (I had to explain the word potboiler to hubby, who is very literal, growing up with German parents).* Oh boy, Whew! Nothing worse than raving about a movie that folks won't like. Potboiler. Perfect description. I can see how that'd get 'lost in translation. So, you overcame your mechanical difficulties. Good. *The cinematography was superb. it was the most beautiful potboiler I've ever seen, and that included Sirk's colorful extravaganzas. Class. This movie had class, even while it was digging around in the dirt. Too bad we had to spend so much time inside. which wasn't bad either.* Yes, the movie was classy. The studio spared no expense, especially if they went on location. I'm telling you THAT was New York City. That black and white had a sheen to it. * OK. First off, I want Frieda Winter's (what an exceptionally good name for this character) home - the frenchy one with acres of space and dripping with expensive artwork? The sets were to die for - even the 60 dollar a month hole was stylish, and looked like my sister's 1000 dollar apartment when she moved to NYC years and years ago. * Oooooh, you live large I see. I liked the Sutton Place apartment right near the 59th Street bridge that the actor lived in, although that little Brooklyn Heights hovel would have suit my needs as well. Your sister's rent sounds just about right...for a little hole in the wall here in NYC. Not much has changed I see. *I really liked Page, she was a surprise. She totally captured my interest, and I felt sorry for her, even though it was obvious she was no good for Youngblood (His real name is Arthur????). She also had the BEST dress in the whole movie. I wish I could post a picture of it. It was black, had a straight across-boatneck-Givenchy-Audrey Hepburn neckline with no sleeves, a plunging back, triangulated to the tightly fitted waist with a straight pencil line in the front to fall just above the ankles, and with these three ....billows in the back of the skirt that opened it to make it possible for her to walk. It was drop dead design GORGEOUS. As were all the costumes.* OMG! THAT DRESS!!! That dress was to die for. It was drop dead gorgeous. My jaw dropped when I saw it, and I'm no clotheshorse. The last time I had a reaction like that was looking at the dress Julia Roberts wore when she won her Academy Award. When I saw it on the red carpet...Your description astounds me. PERFECT DESCRIPTION. I could never be that descriptive about clothes other than to say skirt, pants, green blue. Girl, I see you at Vogue. Anyway, the "little black dress" that Frieda wore should be copied by some actress today with a gorgeous figure. I wound up liking Genevieve Page. I went in thinking I would dislike her becuz she was the vamp that took Artie Youngblood from Suzanne Pleshette. I kept expecting to diss her. I kind of kept waiting for her to have her fill of him and then dump this Kentucky boy. Hmmm, hey...who was using whom???? He kind of took...took...took ...took...took. Didn't he? But she had a choice as well. He did ask her to marry him. She went through a believable series of emotions after Mama walked in on them. Frieda has it out with him. Yeah yeah yeah...a lot of talk...talk...talk. Just leave, just go. Naaaah, don't go...talk some more (I love it). That's what potboilers are all about. Frieda says: "I suppose her seeing us like that brought back that swift attack of Christian conscience. Then wasn't it rather cheap of you to make love to me after such a...a noble decision. You renounce me like a good repentant sinner. But when that volcanic urge of yours comes back, and it will, you'll have to come to me. I won't come to you." Frieda did get the short end, didn't she. Genevieve Page reminds me of those 1960's European girls that came over here to do movies: Elke Sommer, Camilla Sparv, Catherine Spaak, Senta Berger, Virna Lisi et al. *James Franciscus was also a surprise - he was GOOD! I never felt he was overreaching or out of character, and I liked him, plus he was as gorgeous as Richard Chamberlain but with blonde hair and that cute accent. Adorable, but a good actor.* I thought Franciscus was good too. He was carrying the entire movie so I was watching him. (Well, I was watching him 'cuz I loved him ever since "Mr. Novak." (I think he was married to William Wellman's daughter). Wasn't Chamberlain a blonde as well? Maybe not as blonde but I remember some ash blonde hair. When Youngblood gets the phone call about the suicide, he breaks down right in front of us. That was good. *uzanne was no surprise, she was just herself, wonderful, but I did wish she had more of a role. She was dynamic and beautiful, and has that smoky voice that almost purrs. I love her, and I thought her best moment was when Youngblood asked her down to his pool house in Florida or Palm Springs (?) and she arrived, only to find that Genevieve Page had shown up already, and outmaneuvered her by playing house with him. Her bombshell, telling YH that her steady boss had proposed, had such a profound affect on YH that he couldn't take his eyes off her for the rest of the meal that she indelicately stayed to eat! I just loved it! * This is no secret...I'm a big Suzanne Pleshette fan. Several male friends have told me they couldn't even see past her to 'Tippi' Hedren in "THE BIRDS." She's got such conviction to her character. I always believe her. Over at the Oasis, Sue Sue Applegate sites an Internet Archive five-part interview with Suzanne Pleshette which I highly recommend if you're a fan. If you find time between cooking and sewing a 'straight across-boatneck-Givenchy-Audrey Hepburn neckline with no sleeves, a plunging back...' check it out. And yes you're right, she didn't have much to do in this movie. (Have you ever seen "A RAGE TO LIVE"? She's got a lot to do in that movie!) Ha...outmaneuvered in the Bahamas. Good scene. Both gals were very sophisticated and 'grown-up' about liking the same man. Only in the movies...in real life I see hair pulling and nail scratching. Or maybe not. Is he worth it? Well, I don't care what Pleshette has to do in a movie. That boss of hers was a gem - I don;t' know too many sixties actors, but I really liked this guy! His name is Mark Miller. Did you ever see the tv show: *"PLEASE DON'T EAT THE DAISIES"* with Patricia Crowley? (His daughter is actress Penelope Ann Miller). He was handsome...and in this movie he was a good guy to go on the rebound with. He'd never hurt her...and I believe he respected Pleshette's character as a smart lady who knew her job, and could help his company. < I also enjoyed seeing Mary Astor, who had far too little to do - though her last scene when the play folded was done so graciously I wanted the movie to go on and follow her instead of YH.* Aaaah Mary...Mary. Just give her three days' work, some good lines, fly her down to Nassau and send her a paycheck. She'll elevate your project. Still love her voice. *My favorite after Mary was definitely Edward Andrews, who made a career out of playing uncomfortably slimy individuals and businessmen... this time playing that lowest of the low, a critic. I found his performance really full - he was so evil minded in that first scene, but later, I actually felt he had some principles. In the scene where he lambasted YH's new play... he was somehow cutting and dignified at the same time, and you got the impression that in this most devastating of all the scenes, he was doing YH a favor by telling him the truth, which no one else would do.* The only time I wasn't uncomfortable watching Edward Andrews in a movie, was as the doctor in *"SEND ME NO FLOWERS."* Other than that, I always feel he's going to molest someone. But he did his part here very well, calling on the ghost of Addison DeWitt. No doubt he's a good solid character actor. I liked Don Porter's performance in the office trying to get YH a better contract. He reminded me of Edmond O'Brien in "THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA." *Mildred Dunnock was exceptional, as was John Emery, who I would have run off with at the drop of a hat. He was very John Barrymore, if you ask me. What an old charmer.* Ol' Millie wasn't no mealy mouth Mama-type here. She was a fighter. I thought of John Barrymore too. He was good. Saaaaaay, how 'bout when Emery reached around and tied YH's tuxedo tie. What did you make of that? I laughed. I've never seen that. Then to see it mirrored later by Suzanne, well..... *I watched straight through and had a blast. Movies like this are food for a girl's soul - all those gowns and chic apartments and lovers.... And it was kind of weird watching this publishing world, and then watching the one in Sex and the Single Girl later on in the afternoon!* *Here's hoping TCM runs Youngblood Hawke often!* *LOVED IT!* I'm so glad you did. GUILTY PLEASURES: GOOD FOR THE SOUL! Some of the formatting of my text got messed up. This Message Board's programmers are horrible. It's like dying a death by a thousand cuts. Hopefully you can read this. I don't dare go back again!!!