Arturo
-
Posts
13,696 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
9
Posts posted by Arturo
-
-
Isn't it interesting that Bruce co-starred with two great actors nearing the end of their careers (and lives)? Gilbert (my not-so-secret crush) and Barrymore - and their movies turned out pretty good with fine performances by all. Plus Virginia co-starred with my other heartthrob, William Powell, in THE GREAT ZIEGFELD. Lucky girl!
And with both, self-induced. Tragic.
-
BLUE DENIM aired again, and I missed it again.
Sigh . . .
Holden, I will try to remember to alert.you, when I next.see it scheduled.
-
I missed it this time, but had seen it before, and recorded it. I too enjoyed this frank precode, and agree that John Gilbert's career could have survived the transition to sound, had the moguls not had it in for him, based on his voice and performance here.
-
2
-
-
A couple more observations:
I agree that Tallulah, for awhile a serious contender, was a bit old for the role; I believe Scarlett was supposed to be 16 or so at the beginning of the film. Bankhead might not have carried it off convincingly. Plus, I think her oversized personality would have seriously jeopardized the film's balance, moreso than Paulette Goddard's supposed niceness.
Scarlett was bitchy and unscrupulous from the beginning, not above stealing another's beau, if it suited her needs of the moment. She was never an innocent, at least not at the start of the movie.
I too think Andrea Leeds resembles Olivia DeHavilland, more than Olivia's sister Joan Fontaine.does.
-
2
-
-
In the quest to find the perfect.Scarlett, and to receive.ongoing.publicity, Selznick tested.most.of the possibly suitable actresses.in Hollywood, stars.and unknowns alike. Big stars that mau seem.wrong nowadays, like Jean Arthur or Katherine Hepburn, were serious contenders. Little known actresses,.with or without much experience were also tested, including some that later hit stardom, like the teenaged Lana Turner, and the young Edith Marriner (Susan Hayward).
Perhaps Selznick settled on the perfect choice, an experienced.young beauty little known to American audiences. While there was a bit of an outcry that a Brit was selected,.this was a.non-issue once the film was released, and Vivien Leigh's performance.was.acclaimed.
-
I agree and I think Leslie Howard would also agree with you. The documentary discussed how much Howard disliked being in Gone With the Wind and didn't even bother to read the novel--even Clark Gable (who didn't want to particularly be in the film either) read the book. Howard didn't want to be the film as he disliked his costumes and felt that he was too old to be playing the 20-something Ashley Wilkes. The only reason he accepted the role was because Selznick offered him a producer credit in his next film. Looking over pictures of Leslie Howard and hearing what Ashley was supposed to look like, I'll agree that the 40-something Howard was not believable as a man half his age. While they were casting British actors for the roles, I think that Errol Flynn would have been a better choice, or even the American Douglas Fairbanks Jr. I feel like the role of Ashley was supposed to be played by someone that was dashing and handsome, but younger than Rhett Butler. I suppose if Flynn got the role and de Havilland also got her role, then Gone With the Wind would have turned into another Flynn/de Havilland vehicle and that may not have gone over well with Clark Gable. At least they didn't cast someone dull like Patric Knowles.
Leslie Howard is fine as Ashley imho, if a bit old. I never did.get his romantic.appeal, lookswise, but neither did Rhett Butler; this helps in his portrayal.
Ashley is supposed to be noble, upright and dull, so Errol Flynn would.not have been right, but Patric Knowles have been. Ironically, early on, especially when WB was interested in acquiring GWTW, Flynn was.mentioned as a potential Rhett Butler, and Bette Davis as Scarlett. But the public clamor favored Clark Gable, and Bette agreed. Once she was no longer.a serious contender, Davis got her own vehicle, tailored for her by Warners, where she played a Scarlett-type willful Southern Belle in JEZEBEL, which beat GWTW into movie houses by a year and a half.
-
1
-
-
Joan Bennett's too urbane and smoky and worldly and modern and mature for the part.
She's fabulous, but not right for Scarlett.
That is the latter-day image of Joan, after all her noirs in the 40s. But she spent most of the 1930s playing pert blonde ingenues, spunky maybe, but not nearly as worldly as sister.Connie. I think she would have also been a good choice as Scarlett.
-
Joan Bennett's too urbane and smoky and worldly and modern and mature for the part.
She's fabulous, but not right for Scarlett.
That is the latter-day image of Joan, after her many noirs in the 40s. But she spent most of the 1930s as a blonde ingenue, notquite as urbane or sophisticated as sister.Connie.
Well, filmgoer, I've had the novel in my house for years now without ever going near it. Somehow I can't muster the energy to open its covers, mainly because there are so darned many pages in between them. I am, at heart, a Raymond Chandler kind of reader (though, I admit, it's been years since I've read any of his stuff either). I've always had the impression that other readers (in particular, female) may be more enthralled with the soapy southern belle antics of the novel than someone one like myself into Philip Marlowe punchy one liners and cynical observations.
But thanks for confirming that Scarlett is a super **** in the novel, even more so than in the film. You read my own spectulation that perhaps Goddard's niceness in the role (compared to that beee-itch Vivien Leigh, at least) might undermine the power of the ending. That is obviously your take, as well.
I always thought of Goddard as quite right for Scarlett, as she had the requisite feistiness for thw role. Even in a supporting role that year in THE WOMEN, this trait, and even an incipient bitchiness, come through. She could be equally bitchy as Leigh (I've heard it pronounced both ways btw, but mostly as LEE); what she didn't have was Vivien's high strung quality.
The main reason that Goddard didn't get the role.was.because.of her unclear marital status to Charlie Chaplin; they were either unwilling or unable to produce a marriage certificate. Selznick didn't want to endanger his expensive project by have women's groups and the Legion of Decency boycotting the film. Gable married Carole Lombard early in 1939 to avoid just this outcry.
-
1
-
-
Tuesday, 8/25:
4.am: THE SHERIFF OF FRACTURED JAW (1958).........................6 am: THAT WONDERFUL URGE (1948).......................7:25: DREAMBOAT (1952)..........................8:50 am: I WAS AN ADVENTURESS (1940)......................10:15 am: THE SECRET OF THE PURPLE REEF (1960)...................11:40 am: THE QUILLER MEMORANDUM (1966).........................1:30 pm: THE IRON CURTAIN (1948)................
Wednesday, 8/26:
3 am: THE QUILLER MEMORANDUM (1966).........................4:46 am: DAYTIME WIFE (1939)..........................6 am: I WAS AN ADVENTURESS (19(1940)................................7:25 am: TAILSPIN (1939).........................8:50 am: NO HIGHWAY IN THE SKY (1951).........................10:30 am: HALF ANGEL (1951).............................11:50 am: THE IRON CURTAIN (1948).............................1:20 pm: WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS (1950)...........
Thursday, 8/27:
3:30 am: HALF ANGEL (1951)...........................4:48 am: ON THE SUNNY SIDE (1942).............................6 am: WAY DOWN EAST (1935)........................7:25 am: CALL OF THE WILD (1935)............................8:50 am: THE SECRET OF CONVICT LAKE (1951)............................10:15 am: SIERRA BARON 2958)....................11:40 am: WHITE FEATHER (1955)...............................1:25 am: THE REWARD (1965)
-
Me neither. They always seem to be a bit too long (I'm only 5'2) and a bit baggy in the front.
While it probably wouldn't have been appropriate in the 1950s, Elizabeth totally could have worn this as a dress! She'd be wearing a lot more than some people do these days.
If I remember correctly, she also wears a slip, and again looks quite sexy in it, in BUTTERFIELD 8. I think its the first scene, where she scrawls "No sale" on the mirror in lipstick, and leaves with a mink coat over the slip.
-
3
-
-
The scene after she leaves the theater has two posters, advertising two productions, one, "Chu Chin Chow", says "First Year"; the other "The Bing Boys", says "next" (I think....it's partially covered). She gets into the sugar daddy's car.Thanks for that clarification, HelenBaby.
I guess it makes sense. Still, even for those short early '30s movies, a little more explanation in the film would have been helpful. As far as I could make out, there is nothing to indicate a couple of years have gone by. I know brevity was important to these pre-code filmmakers, but shirley an extra five minutes of an explicatory scene or two wouldn't have hurt.
As for the American/Canadian thing, they seem to change their minds. At first Roy says he's a fellow American ( right there you have a bond between him and Myra), and then later in the film, more than once, he's definitely referred to as Canadian. Oh well, this is nit-picking, I suppose...
Next scene, she and Doris Lloyd are standing outside the theater, playing "Chu Chin Chow", where signs say "Third Year" and "over 750 performances". Mae tells Doris that she could have been in CCC, had she wanted to, but went into The Bing Boys, which apparently folded early. She says she hadn't worked in two years, but had she chosen the other play, she would still be a chorus girl.
-
1
-
-
Well, Elizabeth Taylor was reputedly quite short. While her official height was given as 5'3" (I think), I've read where she was shorter than that.Me neither. They always seem to be a bit too long (I'm only 5'2) and a bit baggy in the front.
While it probably wouldn't have been appropriate in the 1950s, Elizabeth totally could have worn this as a dress! She'd be wearing a lot more than some people do these days.
-
1
-
-
Another great noirish 20th Century Fox film with Richard Conte, HOUSE OF STRANGERS (1949), will be on FMC the next couple of ::mornings: Friday @ 10 am est, and Saturday @ 8 am est.I was going to add that I too hope FOX relents and we can see these fine movies on TCM. Come to think of it, Richard Conte reminds me of John Garfield too! OF course there are variations too, but I see what you mean. I am a fan of both, but prefer RIchard. Cry of the CIty was another good film noir with Richard, The only one I have not seen yet is 13 Rue Madeleine! One to look forward to! Best Regards
Imho Conte's best starring role, it has him pitted against his three brothers by their father, Edward G. Robinson, self made immigrant banker, takes the fall for him, and is jailed. Very good drama, with an outstanding cast, and Richard Conte and Susan Hayward's scenes together sizzle with their palpable sexual chemistry.
-
1
-
-
On FMC (all times eastern):
Friday, 8/21:
4 am: PRINCE OF PLAYERS (1955)...........................6 am: IN LOVE AND WAR (1958)..........................8 am: HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY (1941)........................10 am: HOUSE OF STRANGERS (1949)...........................11:45 am: TEENAGE REBEL (1956)............................1:20 pm: BLUE DENIM (1959)...................
Saturday, 8/22:
3:30 am: TALES OF MANHATTAN (1942)..........................6 am: HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY (1941)........................8 am: HOUSE OF STRANGERS (1949)............................9:45 am: TEENAGE REBEL (1956)...........................11;20 am: BLUE DENIM (1959).........................1 pm: DECLINE AND FALL......OF A BIRDWATCHER (1968)..................
Sunday, 8/23:
3:30 am: HOW TO STEAL A MILLION (1966).........................6 am: DECLINE AND FALL.......OF A BIRDWATCHER =1968).....................8 am: THREE LITTLE GIRLS IN BLUE (1946)........................9:40 am: THE I DON'T CARE GIRL (1953)......................11 am: HOLIDAY FOR LOVERS (1959).....................12:45 pm: HOW TO STEAL A MILLION (1966)...........
Monday, 8/24:
3:30 am: SURF PARTY (1964).......................4:40 am: WILD ON THE BEACH (1965).........................6 am: HOLIDAY FOR LOVERS (1959).................7:45 am: THAT WONDERFUL URGE (1948)........................9:15 am: DREAMBOAT (1952)........................10:45 am: THE SHERIFF OF FRACTURED JAW (1958)...........................12:30 pm: SURF PARTY (1964)........................1:40 pm: WILD ON THE BEACH (1965)..........
-
Robert Ryan and Ida Lupino are both great, and greatly appreciated here on the TCM website. They get plenty of TCM love, all year every year, with many of each actor's films shown often on the channel. That they have not been featured as SOTM, if true, is rather surprising, considering their popularity from fans, and the availability of enough of their movies on TCM to be feasible.
-
Thanks for that info, Bogie.
I knew I'd seen Valentina Cortese before. Of course, Day for Night. Severine. It's 25 years later, but she still looks good.
LornaHansenForbes is right in that Thieves' Highway isn't what you'd call a great or even particularly memorable film ( I believe the way Lorna put it was "underwhelming".)
However, I actually really enjoyed it, for the reasons I mentioned below.
Valentina Career.was in another good Fox noir(ish) film, THE HOUSE ON TELEGRAPH HILL (1951). She plays a concentration camp refugee who takes on the identity of another woman who didn't survive. In San Francisco, she is soon feeling.menaced. With Richard Barbary and William Lundigan.
-
1
-
-
Well,.I forgot to post here earlier, to mention that Linda Darnell would be seen late Monday on TCM,.as part of Lee J. Cobb's SUTS, in ANNA AND THE KING OF SIAM (1946). She plays the decorative, if decidedly brief role of Tuptim, reluctant concubine to the king. She is suitably exotic, wearing the Siamese.version of the sarong. During thr filming of the burning sequence, she was burned slightly, causing her to comment that she preferred dying.on screen (she usually ended up dead on film at this time) by shooting or strangling; ironically, she would be burned while filming three different movies.
This expensive movie, the first of the postwar blockbusters without the wartime restrictions on sets, costumes, etc., needed the boxoffice insurance of Darnell,.along with Dunne; Harrison meant next to nothing in America up to this point. Linda's image in the costumes and makeup were featured prominently in the promotional materials for the film, and in the fan magazines, to help sell the movie. Her role was probably substantially larger originally. Darryl Zanuck did his usual job of editing, especially with its long running time, and must've cut out much of her role.
-
On FMC (all times eastern):
Tuesday, 8/18:
3:30 am: SUSANNAH OF.THE MOUNTIES (1939).................4:50 am: ISLAND IN THE SKY (1938).................6 am: BRIGHAM YOUNG (1940)..................8 am: BRIGHAM YOUNG (1940).......................10:40 am: WABASH AVENUE (1950).......................12:15 pm: PIN UP GIRL (1944)......................1:40 pm: SUSANNAH OF THE MOUNTIES (1939)............
Wednesday, 8/19:
3 am: THE SONG OF BERNADETTE (1943)......................6 am: PRINCE OF PLAYERS (1955)......................7:45 am:NO HIGHWAY IN THE SKY (1951)......................9:30 am: CRASH DIVE (1943).....................11:20 am: BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL (1956).......................1 pm ISLAND IN THE SUN (1957).............
Thursday, 8/20:
4 am: CIRCLE OF DECEPTION (1961)..................6 am: ISLAND IN THE SUN (1957).....................8 am: CRASH DIVE (1943)....................9:50 am: BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL (1956)..............
11:30 am: IN LOVE AND WAR (1958).....................1:20 pm: CIRCLE OF DECEPTION (1961)........
-
Tor Johnson was always huge star
Fan mail came from.near and from far
Though not critics' pet
And AFI didn't select
His popularity did high raise the bar
-
I suspect # 6 is TORA LAS VEGAS
I suspect # 6 is TORA LAS VEGAS
I believe it was the alternate title, as released in some areas, VIVA LAS TORGAS, per anecdotal evidence, which seemed to get more search hits than the better known title you mentioned.
-
AUGUST RELEASESSTARRING JOHN GILBERT
•GENTLEMAN'S FATE (1931) - John Gilbert, Leila Hyams, Louis Wolheim, Anita Page
•THE PHANTOM OF PARIS (1931) - John Gilbert, Leila Hyams, Lewis Stone
•REDEMPTION (1930) - John Gilbert, Renee Adoree, Conrad Nagel, Eleanor Boardman
•WAY FOR A SAILER (1930) - John Gilbert, Wallace Beery, Leila Hyams
Proof positive here that John Gilbert could have remained a star in the talkie era.
-
More.catchup.......Robert Mitchum and Ann Margret
1. TILL THE END OF TOR
2. MY TORBIDDEN PAST
3. RACHEL AND THE STRANGE TOR
4. NIGHT OF THE HUNTOR
5. THUNDER TORS
6. THE TORKUZA
7. BLOOD ON THE TOR
8. TORACAO
9. WHITE WITCH DOCTOR
10. THE LUSTY TORS
8/13:
1. BYE BYE TORDIE
2. THE PLEASTOR SEEKERS
3. ONCE A TORF
4. THE TORAIN ROBBERS
5. MADE.IN TORIS
6.
7. THE TORNCINNATI KID
8. THE CHEAP DETECTOR
9. TORMY
10. TORNAL KNOWLEDGE
-
Joan Crawford and Rex Ingram's SUTS were.soon reflected.in the top ten.
8/10:
1. STRANGE TORGO
2. A TORMAN'S FACE
3. FLAMINGO TOR
4. TORSESSED (1947)
5. .DANCE, TOR, DANCE
6. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY TOR
7. TORSESSED (1931)
8. TORSAKING ALL OTHERS
9. SUSAN AND TOR
10. TORG
8/11:
1. THE TOR OF BAGHDAD
2. TORZAN'A HIDDEN JUNGLE
3. GOD'S LITTLE.ATOR
4. WATORSI
5. A THOUSAND AND ONE TORS
6.
7. THE ADVENTORS OF HUCKLEBERRY TOR
8. GREEN PASTORS
9. ESTORT WEST
10. THE TALK OF THE TOR
-
On FMC (all times eastern):
Thursday, 8/13:
3:30 am: HOW TO STEAL A MILLION (1966).................6 am: THE SHERIFF OF FRACTURED JAW (1958).....................7:45 am: LLOYD'S OF LONDON (1936)......................9:45 am: KING OF THE KHYBER RIFLES (1953).......................11:30 am: THE LITTLE SHEPHERD OF KINGDOM COME (1961).......................1:20 on: BIGGER THAN LIFE (1956)...........
Friday, 8/14:
4 am: TROUBLE MAN (1972).....................6 am: LLOYD'S OF LONDON (1936)........................8 am: THE LITTLE SHEPHERD OF KINGDOM COME (1961)........................9:50 am: BIGGER THAN LIFE (1956)....................11:30 am: THE LAST AMERICAN HERO (1973)........................1:15 on: TROUBLE MAN (1972)..........
Saturday, 8/15:
3 am: THE LAST AMERICAN HERO (1973)...................4:40 am: BORN RECKLESS (1930)......................6 am: THE SECRET OF THE PURPLE REEF (1960)....................7:30 am: CIRCLE OF DECEPTION (1961)..................9:15 am: THREE CAME HOME (1950)....................11:15 am: BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL (1956)....................1 pm: IN LOVE AND WAR (1958)..............
-
1
-
Virginia Bruce
in General Discussions
Posted
Besides some of the films shown, and mentioned here, I also like Virginia Bruce in a 1937 20th Century Fox triangle drama, neatly summed up by its title, WIFE,.DOCTOR AND NURSE. Loretta Young and Warner Baxter are the wife and doctor. A later screwball comedy, 1939s WIFE HUSBAND AND FRIEND,.had Loretta and Warner, but Binnie Barnes played the third part.of the triangle. The latter film is shown occasionly on FMC, but its been over ten years since I've seen the one with Virginia. It would be nice of it got a DVD release, like the other has had recently.