Film_Fatale
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showing on Thursday, Jan. 15 @ 6am ET:
*Don Juan Quilligan*
A Hudson Riverboat captain (Bendix) fakes his own death to hide from the two women he's married to.
Anne Revere, William Bendix, Joan Blondell, Phil Silvers, Mary Treen, Frank Tuttle
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Oh Wow! I can already tell you're ten paces ahead of me with this film,
and that you saw A LOT more in it than I did. I wonder if it's because,
as I personally feel, it's told in a very male-oriented point of view,
even visually. You picked my favorite scene to illustrate with caps.
Margot Grahame ("Katie") gives a very deeply felt performance
in a remarkably brief part---too brief. I wish to see so much more
of her. Her performance and character remind me STRONGLY of
Karen Morley's in Ford's movie with Wallace Beery, Flesh made
in 1932. In fact, Beery's "Polakai" is a lot like Gypo, too.
It's a good comparison. Of course, Polakai had to rely on his physical strength to a lot greater degree, but I'd say both of them certainly seemed to love beer.
Gypo seems like a, oh, it isn't the right description but "child
of nature" is the closest I can think of right now. He is very
simple, and almost pure in his impulses because there is
never any real calculation behind them. True, he grinds around
the thought of the 20 pounds and turning in Frankie but to me
that's wrestling with temptation, not calculation. Like Kathy
pointed out in her earlier ramble about the film, he couldn't even
go through with an assignment to assassinate someone on
the orders of his IRA superiors. He is gullible and has no
resistance, but he's also very susceptible to good---yes, that's
the rub because WHERE are the good influences? Ford is
at pains to create a bleak, black cesspool of a world where
no one seems in a hurry to urge Gypo to good. I bet he's
just always been used for his brawn. Even Frankie used
him didn't he "Me with my brains you with your brawn, what
a team we make" or words to that effect he says.
Well, sometimes it's hard to find a good influence, especially when it seems like a lot of people don't really care or don't appreciate you.
I'll respond more later to each of your observations but
wanted to get that out. Hopefully, others will chime in.
Always happy to chime in. B-)
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> {quote:title=JakeHolman wrote:}{quote}
> *The Great Gene Hackman...*
> 5. Superman II
The Richard Lester version, or the Richard Donner cut that just came out on video?
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(2000 posts... HA!! NOW who is the blabbermouth??) :-)
Belated congrats, Kathy.
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> {quote:title=lzcutter wrote:}{quote}
> The last time I saw *Mary of Scotland* on TCM was during November 2006's salute to John Ford though it may have been on in October as part of the salute to RKO.
>
> Either way, Fredric March and Katharine Hepburn are quite good in it. According to the extended version of *Directed by John Ford* that ran during that tribute, Hepburn and Ford fell in love during the filming of it.
I remember that! I think they played a phone conversation the two of them had had.
Gotta watch *Directed by John Ford* again soon, I have almost given up any hope that WHV or even TCM could get it released on DVD.
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DarkShadow,
As Frank pointed out, there are two DVD versions currently available. Because the rights to the movie are owned by Universal, it doesn't show up on TCM very often.
Interestingly, the title of a movie-within-the-movie, *O Brother, Where Art Thou?* actually inspired the Coen brothers to make a movie called just that.
Now it would be interesting to see if anybody would try making *Ants in Your Pants of 1939*.
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bigbru,
There is a thread in *Westerns* comparing the 1936 and 1948 versions:
http://forums.tcm.com/jive/tcm/thread.jspa?threadID=138525
Both versions aired within 3 days of each other in December; the '36 version stars Chester Morris and is in black-and-white; the '48 version stars John Wayne and is in Technicolor.
And welcome to the forums! B-)
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> {quote:title=FredCDobbs wrote:}{quote}
> That's interesting. So the dancing should be slightly different for each version. Also, some of the actors should be closer together in scenes shot for the standard version.
>
This DVD review includes screenshots of both versions, so you can compare how the composition was different in each one:
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http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/01/14/arts/AP-Obit-Montalban.html
*Ricardo Montalban, Actor, Dies at 88*
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Ricardo Montalban, the Mexican-born actor who became a star in splashy MGM musicals and later as the wish-fulfilling Mr. Roarke in TV's ''Fantasy Island,'' died Wednesday morning at his home, his family said. He was 88. Montalban's death was first announced at a city council meeting by president Eric Garcetti, who represents the district where the actor lived. He died ''from complications of advancing age,'' his son-in-law, Gilbert Smith, later said.
''He was so gracious, and Aaron was always humbled by Ricardo's gratitude for 'Fantasy Island,'' said Candy Spelling, wife of the late Aaron Spelling, who created the show. ''I miss him already, and wish his family well.''
Montalban had been a star in Mexican movies when MGM brought him to Hollywood in 1946. He was cast in the leading role opposite Esther Williams in ''Fiesta,'' and starred again with the swimming beauty in ''On an Island with You'' and ''Neptune's Daughter.''
But Montalban was best known as the faintly mysterious, white-suited Mr. Roarke, who presided over a tropical island resort where visitors fulfilled their lifelong dreams -- usually at the unexpected expense of a difficult life lesson. ''I am Mr. Roarke, your host. Welcome to Fantasy Island,'' he told arriving guests.
Montalban had already coined a cultural catchphrase before the show, which ran from 1978 to 1984. As the celebrity spokesman for mid-1970s models of the Chrysler Cordoba, Montalban unwittingly opened himself up to endless imitation when he described the car's optional seats as being ''available in soft, Corinthian leather.''
More recently, he appeared as villains in two hits of the 1980s: ''Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan'' and -- in line with his always-apparent sense of humor about himself -- the farcical ''The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad.''
Montalban's longtime friend and publicist David Brokaw said the actor was ''exactly how you'd imagine him to be'' off camera. ''What you saw on the screen and on television and on talk shows, this very courtly, modest, dignified individual, that's exactly who he was,'' Brokaw said.
Raul Yzaguirre, longtime president of National Council of La Raza, called Montalban ''a hero'' and noted the actor's contributions to his community. Montalban helped found the ALMA Awards, which honor and encourage fair portrayals of Latinos in entertainment.
''He was just a marvelous human being and an inspiration to be around,'' Yzaguirre said. ''I hope his spirit pervades more of Hollywood -- the spirit of humility and excellence and giving back to the community and just plain decency.''
Between movie and TV roles, Montalban was active in the theater. He starred on Broadway in the 1957 musical ''Jamaica'' opposite Lena Horne, picking up a Tony nomination for best actor in a musical.
Montalban also toured in Shaw's ''Don Juan in Hell,'' playing Don Juan, a performance critic John Simon later recalled as ''irresistible.'' In 1965 he appeared on tour in the Yul Brynner role in ''The King and I.''
''Fantasy Island'' received high ratings for most of its run on ABC, and still appears in reruns. Mr. Roarke and his sidekick, Tattoo, played by the 3-foot, 11-inch Herve Villechaize, reached the state of TV icons. Villechaize died in 1993.
In a 1978 interview, Montalban analyzed the ethereal quality of his character: ''Was he a magician? A hypnotist? Did he use hallucinogenic drugs? I finally came across a character that works for me. He has the essence of mystery, but I need a point of view so that my performance is consistent. I now play him 95 percent believable and 5 percent mystery. He doesn't have to behave mysteriously; only what he does is mysterious.''
In 1970, Montalban organized fellow Latino actors into an organization called Nosotros (''We''), and he became the first president. Their aim: to improve the image of Spanish-speaking Americans on the screen; to assure that Latin-American actors were not discriminated against; to stimulate Latino actors to study their profession.
Montalban commented in a 1970 interview:
''The Spanish-speaking American boy sees Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid wipe out a regiment of Bolivian soldiers. He sees `The Wild Bunch' annihilate the Mexican army. It's only natural for him to say, `Gee, I wish I were an Anglo.'''
Montalban was no stranger to prejudice. He was born Nov. 25, 1920, in Mexico City, the son of parents who had emigrated from Spain. The boy was brought up to speak the Castilian Spanish of his forebears. To Mexican ears that sounded strange and effeminate, and young Ricardo was jeered by his schoolmates.
His mother also dressed him with old-country formality, and he wore lace collars and short pants ''long after my legs had grown long and hairy,'' he wrote in his 1980 autobiography, ''Reflections: A Life in Two Worlds.''
''It is not easy to grow up in a country that has different customs from your own family's.''
While driving through Texas with his brother, Montalban recalled seeing a sign on a diner: ''No Dogs or Mexicans Allowed.'' In Los Angeles, where he attended Fairfax High School, he and a friend were refused entrance to a dance hall because they were Mexican.
Rather than seek a career in Hollywood, Montalban played summer stock in New York. He returned to Mexico City and played leading roles in movies from 1941 to 1945. That led to an MGM contract.
''Movies were never kind to me; I had to fight for every inch of film,'' he reflected in 1970. ''Usually my best scenes would end up on the cutting-room floor.''
Montalban had better luck after leaving MGM in 1953, though he was usually cast in ethnic roles. He appeared as a Japanese kabuki actor in ''Sayonara'' and an Indian in ''Cheyenne Autumn.'' His other films included ''Madame X,'' ''The Singing Nun,'' ''Sweet Charity,'' ''Escape from the Planet of the Apes'' and ''Conquest of the Planet of the Apes.''
Montalban was sometimes said to be the source of Billy Crystal's ''you look MAHvelous'' character on ''Saturday Night Live,'' though the inspiration was really Argentinian-born actor Fernando Lamas.
In 1944, Montalban married Georgiana Young, actress and model and younger sister of actress Loretta Young. Both Roman Catholics, they remained one of Hollywood's most devoted couples. She died in 2007. They had four children: Laura, Mark, Anita and Victor.
Montalban suffered a spinal injury in a horse fall while making a 1951 Clark Gable Western, ''Across the Wide Missouri,'' and thereafter walked with a limp he managed to mask during his performances.
Despite the constant pain that grew worse as the decades wore on, the actor was able to take a role in an Aaron Spelling TV series, ''Heaven Help Us.'' Twice a month in 1994, he flew to San Antonio for two or three days of filming as an angel who watched over a young couple.
And when asked to play the grandfather in ''Spy Kids 2'' and ''Spy Kids 3,'' Montalban told filmmaker Robert Rodriguez in his self-effacing way: ''I'm old. I'm in a wheelchair. And I have a Mexican accent. Three strikes and you're out,'' recalled Joel Brokaw, another of the actor's spokesmen.
''But Robert Rodriguez idolized Ricardo, and came up to his home in the Hollywood Hills to convince him to do the role,'' Brokaw said. He did, and despite his obvious pain while waiting to do a scene, ''something miraculous would happen,'' Brokaw said. ''As soon as Rodriguez said 'Action,' his pain would completely disappear, time and time again. I asked him about this. He smiled and said, 'It's impossible for my mind to do two things at once.'''
Montalban is survived by daughters Laura and Anita, sons Victor and Mark and six grandchildren.
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AP entertainment writer Sandy Cohen contributed to this story.
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Good point, Charles. Personally I wish they'd go back to the format they had before the billboards, which was extremely simple but didn't draw attention away from the trailer itself.
What they're doing now arguably defeats the purpose of having people be able to focus on the trailer. But I'm sure for TV executives right now, it would seem terribly old-fashioned not to have lots of fancy-looking promos and intros and bells and whistles everywhere.
At least in the TCM Media Room you can just avoid those distracting gizmos.
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> {quote:title=Scottman wrote:}{quote}
> My five pre-1950 films would be:
>
> THE VIKING (1928)
> BECKY SHARP (1935)
> THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
> THE YEARLING (1946)
> BLACK NARCISSUS (1947)
I limited myself to 3-strip technicolor, so that ruled out all pre-1935 movies. As for *Becky Sharp*, it would be nice if the version that was restored by UCLA would be available to the public, but AFAIK all the video versions that are available right now are public domain and look horrible.
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> {quote:title=PrinceSaliano wrote:}{quote}
> Would he have to register as a sex offender or would some type of scarlet letter suffice?
He just said he's not interested in returning to the U.S. but still wants the charges dropped.
Also, as the article indicated, Polanski's victim wants the case dismissed in order to stop renewed waves of publicity.
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Those are awesome photos, Daria! Thank you for sharing, and welcome to the forums.
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> {quote:title=clore wrote:}{quote}
> Nice to know that someone managed to put Ford in his place for a spell. He's one of those of whom I wish that I hadn't learned some personal things.
Oh, tell me about it, Charles, and I'm just barely reading on of his biographies. Sometimes it sounds like he had a lot of demons inside.
I haven't seen *Mary of Scotland* or don't remember it very well, but maybe I'll catch it when it plays again. I do think the cast is appealing, if nothing else.
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Thank you, Joel, that's really an awesome poster, and the movie looks very interesting. I'll be recording that one for sure. B-)
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You'll probably find something to like in this thread, one that I like a lot is this one:
This one that April posted is also a lot of fun in a groovy-60's kinda way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpxKaBLDXDg
we are taking the kidling out for dinner on her Bday...then this weeked she is going to have a "pizza/bowling party" with 3 of her little friends from scouts... the fun never ends around here. :-)
That sounds like fun, Kathy, hope you and your family will have a great time. B-)
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Well I guess I kinda feel the same way.
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I take it we're still skipping U's?
Vera Miles
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Too bad this sale doesn't include *Murnau, Borzage and Fox*.
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> {quote:title=ddalehall wrote:}{quote}
> > {quote:title=Film_Fatale wrote:}{quote}
> > Getting back to *The Third Man*, I watched the Criterion blu-ray disc last night. It looks absolutely marvelous. Watching the movie and being able to notice the film grain is a breathtaking experience.
> Haven't been able to make the jump to blu-ray at our house yet but when we do this one will probably be the first disc we buy. I bet it's gorgeous!
It looks really really awesome. Of course, a lot of folks don't always appreciate being able to see the film grain clearly when they start watching classic movies on blu-ray. But for those of us able to appreciate the fact that this is much closer to what film is actually supposed to look like, it's an amazing experience. The sound also seemed a lot better than I've grown used to with regular DVDs.
This was the first Criterion blu-ray that I've watched and I definitely look forward to watching more of them.
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> {quote:title=texanna wrote:}{quote}
> p.s. how do you post photos here? I liked the one with ford and the other guy
Hi Anita,
I think other folks have already answered your question about the photos. Don't be discouraged, it's actually easier than it looks. Except maybe for the part about resizing certain photos, but you probably won't have to worry about that for now.
The "other guy" in that photo, as you might know, is Victor McLaglen; both Ford and McLaglen won Oscars for their work in *The Informer*. While McLaglen wouldn't win any more Oscars, he was nominated for *The Quiet Man*; Ford went on to win 3 more directing Oscars.
Don't forget to check out http://tcmfans.ning.com, if you haven't already B-)
Oh, did you watch *Appaloosa* when it played in theaters? If you didn't, it's just come out this week on DVD and blu-ray, in case you're interested in a western with modern-day stars.
No, I have not heard of that film. I really like McCrea. He and Stanwyck were making pictures together then. I have a book that shows it from 1936. It gets **1/2 stars. it's about folks living on the Mississippi.
God knows if we'll ever see it.
It does sound like an interesting movie, Chris. I'd be very surprised if it has never been shown on TCM. But you never know.
Hope everyone's enjoying Jack Lemmon night. B-)
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They did the same thing with *Seven Brides for Seven Brothers*, I believe. In fact, I think the DVD for *7Bfor7B* includes both versions.
And yes, you're right, even on a HDTV, a widescreen movie is going to be slightly letterboxed. Of course you could use the zoom function to make it fill the whole screen, effectively cutting off a bit off the sides.
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> {quote:title=patful wrote:}{quote}
> Don't look for it on DVD. Just not enough demand.
I wouldn't be so sure. They can always package it with a bunch of other MGM musicals; they've been releasing compilations of such musicals on a regular basis, and they seem to be doing well.
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How sad!
I've just recently watched his excellent performance in *Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh*.
Off Topic: Favorite Music?
in Your Favorites
Posted
well yes, i looove to sing to everything, literally, and i can sing better to the female voices obviously,
..my entire family constantly teases me about singing anywhere and everywhere. heehee! hey, i can't help myself. i just love to do it! i cant ever not sing to a song playing when i actually know it, unless my throat is bothering me. i actually do love to sing to a lot of male voices too, especially frankie's music, b/c then i love harmonizing with him. i also love harmonizing to Dean Martin, but i love frankie's voice more.
Theresa,
Sounds like your friends must love going to karaoke bars with you.
Personally I like to sing a lot, too, except usually not in the company of others, because I think I have too much respect to torture friends and acquaintances like that!