CineMaven

Hey, did someone mention John Wayne???

Ms. Douglas can be seen in a new webseries: "Easy to Assemble." Very funny. http://www.easytoassemble.tv/episodes.php

Thirty-five posts in two years rings as much alarms as those that post ad nauseum. "Color become the new default..."? Oh brother. I'll take the "apologists" over the haters.

< Spit take! > Love Mary Anderson (she had a bit part in the beginning of "The Women") and Rutherford and DeHavilland.

Suffered from an unrequited love years years back. Down in the dumps. "The Gang's All Here" came on tv and totally lifted me from my doldrums. Love Alice Faye.

Fred, I don't know how to respond to that.

> "I'm not afraid to state that my hatred for that film makes my hatred for My Fair Lady seem like a love story!" Gee, you sure hate a lot, John. :-(

Helllllllllloo there Moira. Always love seeing you in this neck of the woods. > "Hi CineMaven: The Chinese woman played by Sondergaard in one of your (and many of ours) favorite films in the original version of Maugham's story was the mistress of the deceased Geoffrey Hammond character. This also appears to be the case in the above clip from the 1929 The Letter, though of course, you are absolutely correct...In the Wyler version, Sondergaard was Mrs. Hammond and some blue nose at the Production Ofc. probably conducted the ceremony marrying the pair during a story conference when the movie was in pre-production. ? Yes, the Chinese woman in Maugham's story was The Mistress. I watched the clip and heard Herbert Marshall say this: "The Chinese woman is my mistress." And you got a laugh outta me: the Production Office probably was loading up for a shotgun wedding between Hammond and her. > ?I did not intend to cast any aspersions on the Bette Davis version of The Letter at all, CM, but was simply struck by how the different the versions of the story were on the page and the screen...? I didn't pick up any aspersions cast by you at all. Not one whit. Perhaps my writing was a little misleading. I didn't mean my comment about Bette's version of "THE LETTER" to be a defense of the movie. Those two sentences in close proximity to each other may make it read like a defense. But that wasn't my intention. It's all good between you and I. ( Let me make a space and new paragraph here to avoid any confusion in my writing. ) Looking at the clips provided of Jeanne Eagels' version of "THE LETTER" I was struck by the difference in the two films. Allow me to make these observations: In looking at the clips from Jeanne Eagels? ?THE LETTER? I do prefer the Bette Davis version and her interpretation. I liked it?s unveiling of the story better. I liked not seeing what went on between Jeffrey and Leslie until (Davis?) Leslie finally reveals it. But I so found Jeanne Eagels differently interesting (or should that be interestingly different?) She reminds me of a combination of Madeleine Carroll, Marlene Dietrich and (?The Little Rascals??) Miss Crabtree along with a touch of Gladys Cooper. Her voice kind of sounds like Tallulah Bankhead though not as husky or drawl-y. In the 1929 version, the characters talk as though their lines were written; a kind of stilted syntax rather than the more relaxed colloquial way of speaking in Wyler's version. The second clip was a little more natural for me on Eagels' part. (Ugh! There?s nothing you can do about Reggie Owen?s stiff upper lip). I loved loved loved Eagels? the way she answered: Crosbie: ?Exactly what does it mean?? Leslie: ?Don?t ask me.? Her voice drops and she says it declaratively...not an ounce of hesitation. I re-played that many times. As the scene played out she was thrilling, I say thrilling to watch. Her hysteria was growing while Bette played it cool. I loved Eagels' mannerisms. Was she a junkie...a love junkie. She couldn't let Hammond go (ooh wasn't Herbert a cutie back then?) and she was fairly twitching. I loved her defiance in her confession once she couldn't back away from Crosbie's insistence. In fact, she was spitting her confession right in his face, sort of a dare. Now, take that!!! And send me away!!! Quite an interesting difference in even the way (my favorite) line is used and said: "With all my heart, I still love the man I killed!" Why do lovers ask for the truth, and then get their feelings all hurt when they hear it; when what they really want is just their curiosity satisfied. I do prefer Bette Davis' version of "THE LETTER" over Jeanne Eagels and how things are revealed. But from the clips I saw of Jeanne Eagels, she gives a real thrilling and edgy performance. Now on a different matter...on the matter of Kim Novak, I don't care WHAT movie she does...I'm a fan. And on a different different matter, I love your writing!

> "...his version seems a bit closer to Maugham's original story, which emphasized that the woman's punishment was not as tidy as having Gale Sondergaard mete out some Asian justice, granting Bette Davis release from her existence." I took it as Sondergaard meting out wifely justice. Bette Davis' "THE LETTER" is one of my favorite films.

Hi there Baby T. I'm not such a musicals lover. My genre is noir...the "B"-er, the better. But I do love watching the Astaire-Rogers films. I think they were absolute sublime perfection. There are many individual musical numbers I love. And I really enjoyed "THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT." The three other musicals that I do enjoy are "CAMELOT" "WEST SIDE STORY" and I guess my favorite would have to be..."BYE BYE BIRDIE." But now...I would loathe to see someone walking down the street in a movie, with their iPOD plugged in and just break out in song. No, I do not watch tv's new 'hit sensation' "GLEE." Summer is winding down. I hope all my Ramblers out there are well and happy. :-) Now where are my fedora and trenchcoat....

Are you related to Dorothy D Barber from "The Little Rascals"?

Why Baby T. How have you been? Hope all's well. I've seen a number of classic films on the big screen, the last being "All About Eve" at NYC's Ziegfeld theatre, when TCM hosted an event there. Unfortunately I just blew the chance(s) to see some Hitchcock films at the Symphony Space. "Rear Window" and "The Birds" will be shown tonite. But another dream screening was to see "West Side Story" and "Psycho" at Radio City Music Hall's magnificent theatre. Wow! Hitchcock and Norman Bates, in all their glory. Take good care Butterscotch. :-)

Thank you. Elizabeth Taylor disguised her voice wonderfully. And I watched Ava Gardner as a mystery guest as well. WoW! John Daly was literally beside himself sitting beside Ava. ...And who wouldn't be.

"I hope we've got a crop of actors these days that will last 40 years as 'Second Bananas' like Qualen. I don't think most of them last 10." Whoa...you're giving them ten???

Bronxie, wonderful. I don't think I can eloquently express how good your writing is. But let me just say again, wonderfully written. Funny, I agree with many many of your points when you describe why the movie is just ho-hum for you, but they work for me. And you're right...there is something rather off-putting about Susan Oliver. A touch of smugness. I always liked Dina Merrill...classy rich type yup. Oh yeah...THIS is not the type of man you stand by. I agree. I like how you would have directed Gloria's confession of her childhood abuse. "I LIKED IT!!!" But you know how Hollywood was; I think with their big stars...Hollywood wanted to give the public its money worth. Let us see their million dollar stars emoting...in glorious close-ups.Why didn't Gloria and Steve hook up. How could Gloria fall for an s.o.b. like Wes? C'mon Bronxie. You know we girls do that all the time... fall for the 'bad boy', the man that's not good for us. Stable, patient, under-standing Steve, Bronxie??? HA < ( boring ) >. We sometimes want a guy who gives us a hard time...makes us "earn" his love. Oh yeah, and that too can be boring and tiresome. Great writing. Anybody got a Queen of Diamonds?

How could I get my Bessie(s) and Bebe(s) mixed up. Thank you for the correction, Dred. Now let me skedaddle outta here.

C0CK-A-D00DLE D0000!

Just saw your boy, the ubiquitous John Qualen as the jailer in "Anatomy of a Murder." That accent is unmistakable.

The twenties into the very early thirties (or 1927-1930) looked like a very deadly time for many movie stars due to the studio. Perhaps both sides thought good times would last forever. I saw Bebe Daniels in a small role in "The Barefoot Contessa." Jesus. It looked like only the strong survived. Hooray for Hollywood??? Hmmm...

Say Sue (x2)...isn't that picture way below, a picture of Osa Massen not Ona Munsen?? The pix of Elizabeth Taylor are lovely...especially the one of her in that yellow blouse.

?The way you quoted me it makes it seem like I said that about the Texas accent but it was King Vidor. Just to be clear. In truth I am not sure if I agree or disagree with him.? - < ( Kinokima ) > Kinokima...I most certainly did attribute that quote to you. I went back in and re-read your post. And clearly you write: > ?An interview I have in a book with King Vidor in the 1970's and since I thought it was relevant I thought I would post it:? Please accept my apologies, Kinokima.

"Edited by: JackFavell on Aug 25, 2010 3:08 PM Fixing the OOPS! I'm in General Discussions thread.... is that ever gonna get FIXED?" Re: (1.) GD ever being fixed...nah! (2.) Love the pix you posted of Elizabeth. (3.) I've gotta clean out my inbox.

Chocolate covered cherries. Yup, Roh...my favorites. Thanx!

Hey Jackaaay, glad you loved the John Gilbert day. No doubt, he was dashing looking!! "The words destroyed the image. You'll see that a lot in life. Somebody will look like something and they'll start to talk with a deep Texas accent and it changes the image." - << ( Kinokima ) >> Oh I don't know...with my sister living in Killeen and having been throughout some of Texas on my visits to her over the years, that drawl sounds kind of sexy to me.

Well...you've expressed my thoughts to a "T" Madame Cutter.