CineMaven

Vecchiolarry, thank you for the correction of which one of Bergman's children was born 'out-of-wedlock' to cause the world's furor (Robertino NOT Isabella). I am a big fan of Bergman's having seen her Broadway in "Captain Brassbound's Conversion" with Pernell ( "Bonanza" ) Roberts. I wasn't crazy about the play. I just wanted to actually see Ingrid Bergman in the flesh. I'm so glad I did. I saw a photo exhibit of her a coupla months ago at NYC's Scandanavia House. (Garbo had an exhibit there as well). As I looked at the home movies of Bergman as a child, and walked around and looked at her photographs, I felt it slightly harder to breath. Her beauty. Her beauty simply took my breath away). I have not much to add to what you all have said about Bergman save one thing. There are no qualifications on her beauty. She was absolutely and simply beautiful. I'm not talking Hedy Lamarr beautiful 'cuz that's beyond beyond. But think Bergman in "Spellbound" and "Notorious" and of course, the iconic "Casablanca." She didn't need any special lighting or makeup. She didn't look mannish, manly or masculine. Yeah, she was a big woman (5'9" or so) but masculine...not in the least. There's a short that TCM runs on Ingrid Bergman that I believe Patricia Clarkson narrates. There's a shot of Bergman laughing as the prostitute in "Dr. Jekyll..." that is incredibly sexy. The first date I ever had with a boy was as high school junior. He took me to the movies. We saw "Cactus Flower" with that girl from "Laugh-in." Imagine walking with her, talking with her, having her whisper in your ear. Ingrid Bergman is simply and absolutely beautiful, period.

John Ridgely and Louis Jean Heydt. They were in every single motion picture made (bar non studio-wise). Yeah...tough guy Timothy Carey. I really bled for him in "Paths of Glory." Heart wrenching. Who says you have to be Clark Gable?

Speaking of Jennifer Jones I have to also go with her in "The Portrait of Jennie" and "Love Letters." Yeah, it ultimately had a happy Hollywood ending...but her trying to pull the lettes from the fireplace and then getting beaten by her husband...sad. Jennifer Jones is a heartbreaker!! (Even in "The Towering Inferno" she falls out of an elevator). Hey...ya think Robert Osborne can interview HER?? She worked with some of the legends of Hollywood.

You mean after kissing Alexis Smith, Olivia DeHavilland, Rosalind Russell, Bette Davis and Tyrone Power in "The Sun Also Rises" you think Errol Flynn would want to play second fiddle to a chimp?? I dunno Bronxgirl. I dunno. Saw a little of "King's Row" and I thought Ronnie did a great job as Drake. Robert Cummings was so cute and so sincere and innocent. He really just tugged at my heartstrings. Ann Sheridan? Well she's my girl so I've got nothing but love for her. "King's Row" is kind of dated but a good solid film. And that soaring score in the beginning gives me chills! Luv it! Korngold, right?

Esther Williams films...dull? I disagree.

I am HOWLING at the shot of Madame though. Awmigawd!!!

Well said, P. I think "Mommie Dearest" did irreparable damage to her credibility amongst her peers. I saw Dunaway's films back when they first came out and it's surprising to me that these stars age and I have stayed the same [ ;-) ]. I loved her in films; thought she was the height of style and fashion. She worked with some great actors (Newman, Nicholson, McQueen, Holden, Redford to name a few) and should have come to realize that sometimes a face lift is not the answer. The same way she & Candice Bergen & Ann-Margret, Charlotte Rampling & Jackie Bissett & Vanessa Redgrave, Jane Fonda (easy there Mekongdelta) & the (ultra ULTRA) Julie Christie burst on the scene in the 60's and pushed aside the old Guard (Kim Novak and, I dare say, Marilyn had she lived), she should have realized that she, too, must stand aside for those coming behind her. Have you seen Julie Christie's latest movie where she's an Alzheimer's victim?? Canadian film. She's older, looks it and is MAHVELOUS in it. The title escapes me and I don't want to 'imdb' it, but I suspect she will be nominated for an Academy Award next year. [MARK MY WORDS: You heard it from CineMaven FIRST, right here!) Check out Jane Fonda in "Monster-In-Law." Okay the plot is a little yeeech, but Jane is 70 and looks fantastic. Did she have a nip & tuck here and there...I dunno, but she looks damned good. Robert Osborne SHOULD interview Faye Dunaway. She has made a substantial contribution to film history. I wish someone would give her another shot. And I hope she gives herself another chance to. No high-maintenance tantrums. Just be the good solid actress that she is.

Allison, Jane, Jayne, Mari, Mamie, Rhonda, Sophia, Bardot, Lollabrigida, Monica Bellucci, Silvana Mangano, Sylva Koscina, that big blonde from Stanwyck's "Lady of Burlesque" and Joi Lansing (who I just read died from breast cancer). So much for the bodacious ta-ta's. Now moving along to well-endowed males, we'll start with the legendary Forrest Tucker. Want to continue, boys?

Where's the rest of me??????

Just say "NO!"

I've heard that story about her make up in "Marked Woman." And today, who wants to look unglamorous. Go on. Ya can count 'em on one finger I suspect. Glad you're a fan.

LOL!!! Oh you kid!

I remember seeing "The Innocents" on tv in the 60's and getting a funny feeling in my stomach when Deborah Kerr kissed the little boy full on the mouth. Whoaaaaaa Nelly!

What makes Bette one of the great ones Judy (IMHO), is that she is not afraid to play unlikeable characters. Regina in "The Little Foxes" is one of those. I mainly watch the film for (my favorite) Teresa Wright. But Bette is magnificent. You don't wanna be around her if you're sick. Yikes! "Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night!" "After I used to let you kiss me, I used to wipe my mouth. Wipe my mouth!!" "Don't let's ask for the moon [when] we have the stars." "But'cha are Blanche. Ya ARE in that chair!" And of course the red dress of "Jezebel." You've made a good start with Bette, Judy. Now you've got to keep it going with: "In This Our Life" "Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte" "The Great Lie" and "Marked Woman" which has one of the great lines: "If I find out anything has happened to my sister...I'll get you. Even if I have to come back from the grave to do it!" Chilling.

There you go again Marnello. Ingrid Bergman... ;-) In "High Noon" I thought Katy Jurado was a bit more than Coop could handle though. (HOT!) That's why he stuck with Grace Kelly.

Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten in "LOVE LETTERS." Oh my when she tries to retrieve the letters from the fire. Jennifer Jones breaks my heart in many of her films; some of which has been mentioned on this thread. Why doesn't Robert Osborne talk to her in "Private Screenings"????

I'm glad to see Edgar G. Ulmer's "DETOUR" didn't make your list for over-rated noir. If you haven't seen it I hope you get a chance to. If you HAVE seen it, then you know this dialogue exchange below. In my book, I think it's the greatest piece of dialogue I've heard in all of noir. Oh yeah...I see the list of essential noir to watch. But I'll stick my ever-lovin' neck out here and say it's the best exchange I've ever heard. Nope, it's not in an alley or a rain-soaked street or in a dingy hotel room. It's on a dusty sunny Californica highway. I've heard Ann Savage described as so tough, she could wear a mohair sweater in the Mojave desert. Here goes: Vera: "From now on you and I are like the Siamese twins." Roberts: "Have it your way, but I don't get the point." Vera: "The point is I don't want you to get lost." Roberts: "I'm not going to beat it if that's what you're afraid of." Vera: "I'll say you're not. Why, I'm going to see that you sell this car so you DON'T get caught." Roberts: "Thanks. 'Course your interest wouldn't be financial, would it? You wouldn't want a small percentage of the profits?" Vera: "Well now that you insist, how can I refuse. 100%'ll do." Roberts: "Fine, I'm relieved. I thought for a moment you were going to take it all." Vera: "I don't want to be a hog." When that scene fades-out ( my favorite movie transition ) I am wiped out on the floor!! I think Vera could even beat Margot Shelby. She spits out her lines tougher than Lupino or Davis.

As Cary Grant would say "Judy! Judy! Judy!!" Do NOT feel dumb (let's save that for the shell-shocked vets on the Jane Fonda thread in General Discussion. Whew! It's heated over there. Moreso than the Bette vs. Joan thread you started. P.S. How did you start that thread and NOT know "The Letter." 'Jes askin' just asking?? ;-) If you didn't know, you didn't know. No one'll hold that against ya. "Dark Victory" WAS great wasn't it? LOVED Geraldine Fitzgerald in it, though many say Bogart was mis-cast. I've heard in a Davis interview that she did NOT want music to follow her up the stairs when she was going to go to her bedroom to die. (Too maudlin & she's a no-nonsense Yankee). She did NOT want Max Steiner's music to follow her. She said either she goes up withOUT the music or Steiner's music goes UP withOUT her. Look at the movie again to see WHO won.

Who needs an excuse??? Some husbands are such S.O.B.'s that women don't need the musical accompaniement to shoot 'em. They're humming and whistling while they shoot to kill.

I second your testification. (Wyler WAS perfect! Look who he had to work with.) Yeah, that's right...I made up the word.

He was a harmless passable actor who worked with some of those feisty Warner Brother ladies making them (Bette, Olivia, Alexis) look even stronger. A great head of hair he had.

Jesus Christ! You know today's moguls. They don't know who Michael Rennie and Patricia Neal are. They think the pulic won't really know 'em either. They feel they won't make money if they don't put a recognizable star in the film. Too bad. Could give these classics and celebrities a second life. Or would the public say: "I don't want to pay $11.00 to see a movie I can rent on Netflix." John Q. Public. Ya can't go wrong listening to him. Oh...Jesus Christ wasn't being blasphemous, but the answer to a question below.

Hope you get a definitive answer. I got nuttin' but bad jokes. :-) :-) :-)

You beat me to the punch jemjb. Wasn't that a great movie?

Okay everyone...let's say it in unison: " T H E L E T T E R " One of the greatest testimonies to why Bette Davis was Queen of motion pictures throughout the forties. "The Letter" Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall, Gale Sondergaard etc. See the film, tell us wha'cha think in one of the other threads. (There was a thread about Joan Crawford vs. Bette Davis). Quite lively!