Arturo

Since receiving.the dvd of GLI ULTIMI CINQUE MINUTI / THE LAST FIVE MINUTES (also released in some English speaking countries as IT HAPPENED IN ROMA), I have watched it several times. I was thrilled with this purchase. First of all, it looks great, with crisp, clear black and white images. Secondly, I had always heard the film was terrible, but it definitely is not, as far as I can tell. My imperfect Italian has not yet allowed me to catch all.of the dialogue, especially when they go into rapid fire speech, which is quite often. However, it is obviously a good romantic comedy, and the players are great. Vittorio de.Sica.and Linda Darnell both wish to rent the same apartment in Rome near the Vatican. Their solution, is they get married, wigh the understanding that Linda can continue to look for Mr. Right. Naturally, De Sica finds fault.with all her potential mates, and revels in pointing it out to Darnell. He tags.along with her and the champion speed boat racer on the racers vessel, and pulls something in the engine which leaves them afloat for hours; later he saves the day. The French Shakespearian thespian he shows to be quite a bore, and the musician has another woman fawning over him. But it is the playboy, Rossano Brazzi, who proves effective in possibly winning Linda for good. De Sica realizes he loves her, and ends up pointing out her own feelings for him, in literally, the last five minutes of the title, on a very ancient elevator cage. The playing is quite good, with De Sica droll and amusing at all times, Darnell giving as good as she gets, and all others quite effective. Director Giuseppe Amato added some deft directorial touches,.and opened it up a bit,.from its stagebound predecessor. All in all, I was very pleasantly surprised.

Yes, even her Disney movies would be great on TCM.

Last night I watched partially (since I fell asleep) BOOM! (1968), with Liz and Dick, and Noel Coward as the Witch of Capri. Scripted by Tennessee Williams from his play "The Milk Train Doesn't Run Here Anymore", I always heard it was bad, but it seems like campy fun from what I saw, with gorgeous scenery. Will have to try watching it earlier next time.

Well 3:10 TO YUMA, or to Bangor Maine, or Bellingham Washinton, or Key West Florida......and points in befween, the Supreme Court has weighed in.

Well, those little faux fedoras are really popular, among all ages too.

Thanks for the heads up.

It's all.relative. Back then, during these "good old days", there were probably older folks talking about the "good old days" of their youth.

The phrase "Too precious for words" in this thread's title reminds me if it being uttered by Hildegard Neff in the noirish NIGHT WITHOUT SLEEP (1952), as she interrogates Gary Merrill on being two hours late for their dinner date. His excuse falls on flat ears, and she says the phrase, dripping with sarcasm, with an initial, "Now isn't that...........". It sound amusing to me because she is saying it with her heavy German accent.

Maybe he can get an honorary title like "Star of the Centory"

These are hilarious.....thanks for sharing.

Tbis sounds like the Twentieth Century Vole thread.

I think it's a great film with fine performances, but DiCaprio didn't quite have the gravitas then. Seemed too young, unlike a few years later, when he came off so much better as J. Edgar. And Jude Law and Kate Beckinsdale, as pretty as they are, do not quite match the beauty of Flynn and Gardner.

Have you heard "On the Tor Ship Lollipop"?

Fox had an interest.in promoting.their contract.players Suzy Parker, Hope Lange and Diane Baker. They chose to focus on their stories, and cut footage from the Crawford storyline, since she was signed for this film only.

I too like westerns from these decades. Please ask your questions.

A couple of weeks ago, I received a dvd I ordered from Amazon, for the film GLI ULTIMI CINQUE MINUTI / THE LAST FIVE MINUTES (1955). I had been eying this for months, as it was one of the few films with Linda Darnell for which I didn't have in any form. I had not purchased it because it is an Italian import, and a.Region 2 dvd; this meant that it would not be compatible with most dvd players in the US or Canada, which are Region 1. When the listing on Amazon stated "only one copy left", I started.to feel I needed.to get.it. I did minimal research, and found out that Bluray players could supposedly play all regions. So I purchased one at Frye's, recommended by the.salesperson as one that should play all regions. I was pleasantly surprised when it arrive in like ten day, about a month earlier than they said it would. Unfortunately the Bluray could.not.read it. Somehow I vaguely remembered that my laptop should be able to play it, so I tried it there. I was prompted to change the Region from 1 to 2, which is apparently a finite option. It worked beautifully, and the picture looked great, especially as my laptop is hooked up to the tv in my room. I was so happy with this, that I decided to leave the Region 2 as the default player on my laptop. This way, not only could I continue to play this film.at any time, I could get some more of those Region 2 rarities and watch this way. I have since ordered several other Region 2 dvds, including three with Linda Darnell. More on that later.

I remember it for Barbara Carrera.

Not only hairdos, but clothing often had anachronisms.

Tor Johnson for Star of the Month He's.never been chosen, not.once With.all.his films.that.are.great This star should definitely.rate Next.to him, all the others are.runts

Ok. I didn't think of that one. But once he hit full stardom with LAURA, etc. he was insistent that he not be cast in musicals. I don't think that his studios even knew he could sing, because he did not want to get typecast in that direction. Better for us too,.as we got.him in some great non-musical films,.including.several excellent.noirs.

On FMC (all times eastern): Wednesday, 7/8: 3:30 am: ON THE SUNNY SIDE (1942)....................4:45 am: THE THREE MUSKETEERS (1939).....................6 am: LLOYDS OF LONDON (1936)...................8 am: HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY (1941).......................10 am: INFERNO (1953).......................11:30 am: BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL (1956)..................1:15 pm: BIGGER THAN LIFE (1956)............ Thursday, 7/9: 3:30 pm: CAPTAIN FROM CASTILE (1947).....................6 am: HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY (1941)....................8 am: BIGGER THAN LIFE (1956)......................9:45 am: CAPTAIN FROM CASTILE (1947).....................12:15 pm: THE SONG OF BERNADETTE (1943).................. Friday, 7/10: 3 am: THE SONG OF BERNADETTE (1943).....................6 am: DRESSED TO KILL (1941).......................7:15 am: ON THE SUNNY SIDE (1942).............8:30 am: TAILSPIN (1939).......................9:55 am: THREE LITTLE GIRLS IN BLUE (1946)....................11:30 am: HOLIDAY FOR LOVERS (1959)........................1:15 pm: IT HAPPENED IN ATHENS (1962)..................

What may change the schedule, is due to a preemption to do a tribute for a deceased star. Some got one right away, others maybe months later.

So the call sheet probably callled for a Busty Blonde and a Thin Blonde. Now to see the call sheet and the name for the latter.

Re. The nakesake statue of this thread, Rachel Maddow referenced it a week or two back, and even showed a pic of it. Really weird.

Did you see my entry in this thread ua couple of weeks back re. Tor Jonhson's starring role in THE RED SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN? One of his most acclaimed hits, and on Variety's list of all time moneymakers. EDIT......it might have been on the 20th Century Vole thread.