CineMaven

Hello Frank, Howdy Molo. I know you've been waiting with baited breath for my thoughts of Gloria Grahame in films. A slew of her films came on about two months ago and I wanted to talk about them. Of course, please feel free to offer your comments. These are my humble thoughts on her: The 30?s had Harlow and Harding, Shearer and Dunne and let's not forget little Shirley. The peek-a-boo 40?s had bettys: Grable and Davis, Crawford and Stanwyck, sarongs and oomph and let's throw in a Sweater Girl for good measure. Marilyn blew the 1950?s wide open, with Kim Novak bringing the rear and (a lovely one at that) and Doris Day kept us honest and homespun. But there was one more actress that defined the 50?s. And she is glorious Gloria Grahame. She was shown to good measure in "Crossfire." CROSSFIRE [1947] Robert Young, Robert Ryan and Robert Mitchum, directed by Edward Dymytryk. A detective enlists the aide of a soldier to find the murderer of a Jewish man. The blare of a trumpet and an out of focus shot coming into focus announces the appearance of Gloria Grahame as Ginny. For some reason her as Ginny reminds me of a young Joan Blondell. Grahame plays a dance hall girl (to put it politely). And the young soldier the police is searching for ends up here. Mitchell, the soldier (played wonderfully earnest and sensitively by George Cooper, who I've got to imdb) could have been a soldier coming home in ?The Best Years of Our Lives.? He?s a soldier having a hard time adjusting. Clearly, he just needs a pretty girl to talk to. Grahame could be that pretty girl-next-door with her delicate features and shoulder-length hair softly cascading onto her shoulders. But she?s not. She doesn?t readily have a sympathetic ear. It?s all about the cash. It probably usually is with the men she meets in this place. He hooks up with her. They talk. She bitingly tells him she knows she reminds him of the 'girl he left behind.' He forthrightly tells her she does remind him of his wife. (You just know she?s already heard every line a guy could throw). She thinks that?s a rotten thing for him to say. She leaves him at the bar and goes out back to the garden patio. Gloria's angry and hurt. She?s hurt because she?s no one?s wife; hurt because being a dance hall girl probably ruined her chances of ever becoming anyone?s wife. As she says, ?I?ve been working for a long time.? She finds him corny. She dances with him...close. Very close. Her arms are around him; she looks him squarely in the eyes when they dance. Slowly, softly, tentatively she puts her cheek next to his; her body is pressed up against his. We can see her letting her guard down. The hard, cynical edge she?s hidden behind to protect her is now melting. She finds him corny but it?s probably because she misses what she never had...one guy, one steady guy to love her. Oh no doubt, she?s probably had lots of guys. But one steady guy, I doubt. She?s letting him in. And you get the feeling other guys didn?t get that much from her even if they did get her in bed. There?s something about this soldier. Look, I?ve seen lots of movies. (Hell, I?m a CineMaven after all) but how can Gloria merely dancing feel like one of the sexiest things I?ve ever seen in movies? I?m puzzled, but I shouldn?t be. The answer is right there. It?s her...it's the way about her. She invites the soldier to her place. She wants to cook for him. She gets to play house but in a different way. She gives the soldier a key to her apartment. Director Dymytryk chooses to use a very long dissolve from her face to her apartment building. We linger on the close-up image of her face. The next time we see Gloria she?s changed into a robe. And she?s cold and hard as the soldier?s wife and detective Robert Young are at her door. They want to see if she can serve as an alibi to the soldier?s whereabouts, but she is unwilling to help. Why? The soldier was sweet and gentle and didn?t want to use her. What?s turned Gloria against him to not want to help? Well, she could be sore that he wasn?t there when she came back to her apartment. She could be upset that the soldier's wife is now at her door. She could be sad and hurt at the realization that she?ll never get a decent break with a guy...for hearth and home. She is all those things. No one could play sad, hurt & defiant in one fell swoop like Gloria Grahame. We see her catch a glimpse of what she could have had: welcoming home her soldier with dancing, dinner and a sweet homecoming. But alas that was not to be. And who DOES she have? She has a crazy old coot of a lover/husband, played sympathetically by character actor Paul Kelly; probably a shell-shocked vet from the Great War; a crazy old coot who loves her and who she still lets in after sending him away. I thought in Gloria's small part in this murder mystery, she did a wonderful job as the girl-left-behind. So many guys probably "sat under the apple tree" with the likes of Gloria. Ohhh, not that she let anybody in that she didn't want. Doing it for the money just isn't the same thing. Because you get the idea that for Gloria, she does things on HER terms. She did a lot with this small but pivotal role. In fact, I can?t think of another actress who could show pain and hurt and vulnerability and hardness and sexiness all done simultaneously besides Gloria Grahame. "Crossfire" was a good post-war noir film. All three Bobs (Young, Ryan & Mitchum) were well-cast, George Cooper was wonderful as the soldier. But Gloria Grahame...just adds that lovely piquant edge of cold sarcasm softened by her sexy vulnerability. She's a wonderful addition to this classic motion picture. There's more of her films to talk about. But I'll wait on "The Bad and the Beautiful" until you've seen it Frank. Message was edited by: CineMaven- Editing trying to get this down perfectly...sorry!

Hi Lafitte...as a native Noo Yawker, I am totally embarassed that I didn't remember Ray's Pizza was on Sixth Avenue. I have eaten there...how could I have forgotten. Well, Saturday was a nice sunny day in Manhattan. And I went to 11th & 6th and there it was: Ray's Pizza. I had a slice of pepperoni and anchovies on ricotta cheese. It was delicious. Wish I had a picture of me in front of Ray's but I wouldn't want anyone to lose their appetite. Now...to satisfy everyone's appetite on this Gloria Grahame thread, above you'll see my next installment in talking about this wonderfully unsung actress. I give you my thoughts on "CROSSFIRE."

What a lovely picture of Ellen Burstyn. Why d'ya suppose, Frank, that Burstyn is not lauded like Meryl Streep or Glenn Close? She has range and is quite fearless in her choices. I loved her in "The Last Picture Show." Is it crazy to think she reminded me of Lee Remick in "Anatomy of a Murder" with her hairstyle and tight clothes??

Hmmm...what good taste the Creature has. Yummy! Thank you Frank.

Hi Rob...you've made quite a hit with some of us while posting your thoughts on one of our favorite films: "Vertigo." Well-written!

You have taken me back. My folks took us to see this in the movies when it originally came out. POW! WOW! ZOWEE!!! Hey Frank...where is Julie Adams??

Don't forget his luck starring opposite that 40's **** PAULETTE GODDARD In "So Proudly We Hail." He was an attractive big galoote, wasn't he??

YOU are diabolical! That does it. When I come home tonite from hanging out (it's supposed to be 75 today in NYC) I will put in that DVD. He's absolutely gorgeous. I saw him in "Son of Fury" and I tell ya...I tell you!

CHANDLER: "Re Tyrone in the Rains Came - don't be on anything you can fall off of when he takes the turban off and does that monologue in close-up. TO DIE FOR." Thank you for that tip. I have the movie sitting here, just waiting for me to make some quality time to sit & enjoy it. Forewarned is forearmed. And damn, I can't wait!

They probably deliberately purposefully tried to destroy her career since she didn't want to play ball. And by play ball I mean that she didn't want to do what they wanted her to do to do to sustain a "Hollywood" career. Aaaah Lulu.

Okay...the Preakness. Enjoy "The Big Heat." I liked Jeanette Nolan in this. Can;t wait to hear your review. http://forums.tcm.com/jive/tcm/thread.jspa?messageID=8094500#8094500 Go here and check out the photo.

...And "The Omen" and "Anatomy of a Murder" with that lucky little doggie in her lap and her stretch pants (Capris) and sunglasses and little bruise on her face. Gee. My late aunt & uncle took me to my first fancy restaurant and my first Broadway play as a gift for graduating J.H.S. back in 1966. I don't remember where we went to eat, but my first Broadway play was "WAIT UNTIL DARK" starring Lee Remick. I've been in love with her ever since. So sad her passing. Thanxx for bringing her up Mr. Holman.

I take it Jake, that you used to live here in NY. BTW, give us some of your thoughts about Gloria Grahame...

I'm sorry. Yes sir. Greenwich Village.

HI LAFITTE: "On a happier note, is Ray's Pizza still there on about 14ths St and Seventh Avenue? I know there are more than one Ray's, but this was one of the definitive. Long lines around the corner (but well worth the wait), by the slice with gobs of cheese, and delicious." Today was a dreary rainy day, all day, but I went to a movie and drinks with a friend in the Village. When we parted I usually take the 14th Street train and enter on 12th Street...but in the rain I walked two drench-soaking blocks to see what exactly is on the corner(s) of 14th Street & 7th Avenue. There is no Ray's Pizza there. What there is are: Duane Reade, Papaya King, a deli and a Vitamin Shoppe. I'm wet...and Ray-less. BTW...Gloria ROCKS!

I'll buy that Caramia...as soon as I get my stimulus check. It's probably in the mail.

Oh Bargar, I see you'll have company with MovieLover. Whew!! Where's the bunker? You'll be sitting at the cafeteria table with the not-cool kids.

Enjoyed her screen personae and she's just so gorgeous to look at. Nope, I have no info to add other than Message was edited by: CineMaven:

SCSU: "I think we need a new government department which handles insect infestations." But tell me who'll handle the government department that's infested with politicians?

Halle Berry's boyfriend and father of her daughter is a gorgeous hunk of a model named Gabriel Aubry. He looks exactly like John Philip Law. I remember Law in "The Love Machine" and Visconti's "The Damned." Sad news. Rest in Peace.

When I was in high school (Benjamin Franklin in NYC) I was on the school newspaper (the Ben Jay Flash) and was sent to the movies to review "Support Your Local Sheriff." A bunch of reporters from school papers got a chance to interview Mr. Garner. I didn't ask a question...but I got his autograph.

Oooooh "PORTRAIT IN BLACK" Great title too. James Craig OR Craig Stevens?

MEANIE: "Thumbs up ... a very innovative comedy ... and plus it's got Jeff Goldblum in it." Uh...I forgot my mantra.

Alright now...so careful careful on your choice of over/under-rated movie stars.

Hold on...hold on Arkadin. Please tell me...how do I get in on that contest. I love a good challenge and I'll defend "OUT OF THE PAST" to the death. Tell me.