Arturo
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Posts posted by Arturo
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Other rarely seen highlights include:
WHERE LOVE HAS GONE (1964), based on a Harold Robbins novel based on the Lana Turner-Johnny Stompanato-Cheryl Crane tragedy. With Bette Davis, Joey Heatherton and Mike Connors. Trashy fun.
BACK STREET(1961), where Susan Hayward's character is now a prosperous designer living in Europe.
STOLEN HOURS (1963), Susan takes on the Bette Davis role in this remake of DARK VICTORY.
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One that's being shown for (I think) the first time on TCM is I Can Get It For You Wholesale, whose brief summary reads
"A ruthless fashion designer steps on everyone in her way in order to reach the top of her profession. Eventually she is forced to choose between her ambition and the man she loves."
In addition to Hayward, it's got George Sanders and Sam Jaffe, and the presence of those three alone should tell you that this is a movie you won't want to miss. Good thing it's being given the 8:00 PM slot instead of in the wee hours of the morning. The Fox Movie Channel used to show it all the time, and it was one of their better offerings.
I agree this movie is very good. Dan Dailey costars as Susan's love interest and business partner. I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE has been described as "ALL ABOUT EVE in the rag trade", and in fact, George Sanders plays a variation of his Addison DeWitt role.
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I've always found myself drooling over the Bacall of To Have and Have Not and Dark Passage, indifferent to the Bacall of How to Marry a Millionaire, and very enamored of Bacall as she got into her 40's and older. Maybe it's just that I like those first two movies and not the third one, but maybe it's just the hair styles. Bacall in her early 20's seems older than that, but in a good way, while Bacall in her late 20's and early 30's seems much older than that in a not-so-good way. And Bacall in her 40's up through the time of her passing seems to have aged better than almost any actress I can think of.
Does any of that make sense?
Makes sense to me. Bacall is another of those actresses I have mentioned here, like Ann Sheridan and Linda Darnell, whose adoption of fhe shorter hairstyles of the late 40s and the 50s ended up detracting from their looks, making them look older than their actual age. I agree that Bacall later in life looked quite good.
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Obviously William Powell wasn't Robert Taylor or Errol Flynn in terms of matinee idol looks, but then leading men of the movies have always been able to sport a far wider range of facial and body characteristics than their female counterparts, not to mention that there are plenty of them (like Powell or Gable) whose charismatic personality adds a lot to their appeal.
There are a few non-Loretta Young level of beauty women (Rosalind Russell would be one) whose engaging personalities have enabled them to play credible romantic leads on occasion, but usually they wind up as the "best friend" (see Celeste Holm in Gentleman's Agreement).
And if there's ever been a female counterpart to "ruggedly handsome" who's showed up as a romantic lead, I'd like to know who she might have been. In fact it's not all that uncommon that these women (like Mercedes McCambridge) often get typecast as lesbians.
Even in the past, when the beauty standards weren't so rigid, and non-glamorous women occasionally got cast in romantic leads, we often tend to look at their movies now and kind of scratch our heads about the casting. Ruth Chatterton and Mae West* come to mind here, but they weren't the only ones. And while the aging Stewarts and the Bogarts were allowed to grab the likes of Kim Novak and Lauren Bacall without causing too many guffaws, the second that actresses like Miriam Hopkins started putting on the old double chin, there they'd go straight into "character" roles.
I'm not defending this double standard, but it'd be silly not to recognize it.
*Though in West's case, she's much more of a conscious self-parody of a certain type of glamor queen than any real romantic lead.
I vaguely recall a contemporaneous critic of Mae West referring to her as "your grandfather's sex symbol".
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An even scarier scenario was TOR'S COMPANY. Maybe it was a good thing that the pilot didn't sell.
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The recent focus on Disney films led to several children's films, Disney and otherwise, to make the list of the most-sesrched titles.
1. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN TORS
2. FANTORSIA
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4. THE WIZARD OF TOR
5. TOR THUMB
6. ALICE IN WONTORLAND AND TOR THE LOOKING GLASS
7. WALTZ OF THE TOREADORS
8. BABES IN TORLAND/MARCH OF THE WOODEN SOLTORS
9. THE TORLING
10. THE ADVENTURES OF TOR SAYWER
10. THE TOR OF BAGHDAD
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1959's BLUE DENIM was controversial its day, dealing as it did with teenage pregnancy, underage marriage, and especially, back alley abortion. These days, it may be a bit dated, but it still is fairly engrossing. It's on this week on FMC, where it should be repeated.in the near future.
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THE RED SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN:
Tor Johnson plays a Catholic clergyman in Russia during the Cold War. The Soviet government send him to a gulag in Siberia, where his exile allows him to take the ballet lessons he longed for all his life from a fellow political prisoner. Later, upon securing his release, he tours in the Bolshoi Ballet throughout the West,.as.their star dancer. When he gets to Rome, he defects and finds sanctuary in the Vatican see. There his talents.in theology and pliets have him rise quickly up the church hierarchy, and when the pope dies, he is chosen the new pope. He uses his position to start funding and sending missions throughout the Third World,.fostering Vatican Ballet courses for impoverished youth.
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I'd just like to know how Ida got the carcass into the "oven" all by herself.
With the adrenaline rush she must've gotten after killing her, Lupino was probably as strong as Tor Johnson.
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There are many, many film actors that went pretty much exclusively to TV in the '50s and '60s.
And many apologised for it or felt "badly" about it. It's as if there was some sort of unspoken boycott of TV because so many felt it was the death of the film industry. Was it? Or are we now realizing media changes, since it's changing so quickly these days?
These actors needed WORK. They needed money and acting (or directing, or sound or photography) was their job.
And I too loved Elizabeth Montgomery, she was a role model for young girls. I learned hard work is a noble and honest thing, not to take the "easy" way just because it's available to me. Bewitched also showed me what a good marriage should look like.
Now that I'm older, I'm so impressed what a great job she did as Serena! Amazing!
Loretta Young was probably the first really big golden era Hollywood star to actually choose to give up films and move into a tv series, and with spectacular success, becoming even bigger, perhaps, than as a movie star. Despite this, back in the mid 50s it was considered the death knell careerwise, for A List actors to venture into tv, signifying the end as a viable movie star.
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I think you know more than that!.
But yes, Gloria is clearly one of my favorite noir gals. Gloria was also great in the noirs Macao (with Mitchum), Odds Against Tomorrow (with Ryan), Crossfire (semi-noir with 3 Bobs), and Sudden Fear (with Crawford).
Well, I don't want to wade into the "is it or isn't it" quagmire, other than to state that a murder is not the defining trait.
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Tor Johnson's family has released some pictures from Tor's family photo album. I was fortunate enough to discover some of them.
Here are his parents, Sigrid and Olaf, on their wedding day.
You can certainly see where Tor got his good looks from.
Tor started wrestling at an early age.
He was the heavyweight champion of his nursery school.
Growing up, Tor was quite the party animal. For this Halloween party, he went dressed (or undressed as it were) as a pitcher of Kool-Aid.
He met his future wife, Greta, at a masquerade party. She was dressed as "Super Fem".
They had a big (and I do mean BIG) wedding.
Later they had a lovely daughter, Bibi. Here she is with some of her friends. Can you tell which one she is?
Tor was always a very flexible athlete.
One of his signature wrestling ploys was to make a face so ugly that his opponents would give up just so they could get out of there.
And of course, Tor was most proud of his work as an actor. He had such piercing eyes. He truly was one of a kind.
Miles, thank you for sharing. Tor was obviously part of a distinguished, and distinguished looking, family.
His mother kinda looks like Edith Massey, of John Waters fame, and a cougar to boot.
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Well the estate does have that seasonal income from Tor Johnson masks, and body padding, etc. His enduring iconic popularity makes that quite a tidy sum come October, from what I've read.Further to the Variety story above, Judge Squalo has awarded the defendants damages in the amount of ten million dollars.
"This will leave the Tor Johsnon estate in tatters" said Gordon Howe, lawyer for the plaintiffs. "T-shirt sales will not cover the costs I'm afraid."
And those amazing photos just posted,.some enterprising descendant should gather them and have it published. They could make a killing with that one. That would make one big coffee table book.
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Do I see BLUE DENIM?
I really hope I have this channel.
TCM has been showing BLUE DENIM rather often in the last several months. I've been meaning to post this title on the Controversial When They Were Released thread, but haven't gotten around to it.
Hopefully, you have this channel Holden.
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All I know is that Gloria Grahame was in several superb noir(ish) films, including THE BIG HEAT, and the following year's HUMAN DESIRE, which reunited her, Glenn Ford, and Fritz Lang, and my own favorite, IN A LONELY PLACE.
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The ongoing spotlight by TCM on series films had several Tor Johnson titles make the top ten; it's a toss up between Tor and Glenda Farrell as to the definitive character.
1. TOR-J BLANE IN CHINATOWN
2. TOR-J RUNS FOR MAYOR
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4. TOR FLAGS WEST
5. TOR-J GETS HIS MAN
6. YOUNG TORLESS
7. TOR-J BLANE IN PANAMA
8. TORTILLA FLAT
9. TOR-J BLANE PLAYING WITH DYNAMITE
10. ADVENTOROUS BLONDE
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On FMC (all times eastern):
Monday, 6/22:
4 am: THE GIFT OF LOVE (1958)....................6 am: JUST OFF BROADWAY (1942)..................7:10 am: YOU CAN'T HAVE EVERYTHING (1937)....................8:50 am: YOU WERE MEANT FOR ME (1948)...................10:25 am: THAT WONDERFUL.URGE (1948)....................11:50 am: BOBBIKINS (1959).....................1:25 pm: MADISON AVENUE (1962)...........
Tuesday, 6/23:
3 am: MADISON AVENUE (1962)...................4:35 am: THAT WONDERFUL URGE (1948)..................6 am: YOU CAN'T HAVE EVERYTHING (1937)..................7:45 am: YOU WERE MEANT FOR ME (1948)...................9:30 am: BLUE DENIM (1959)..................11:15 am: JOHN AND MARY (1969)..................1 pm: CINDERELLA LIBERTY (1973)..............
Wednesday, 6/24:
6 am: BLUE DENIM (1959)..................7:40 am: DECLINE AND FALL.....OF A BIRD WATCHER (1968).................9:40 am: JOHN AND MARY (1969).....................11:15 am: CINDERELLA LIBERTY (1973).....................
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I think the 2014 showing was during "Road Trip" movies TCM offered up one month. Dennis Weaver was great in that one. The mysterious driver and that souped-up older model rig he was in really freaked me out when I first saw this as part of ABC's "Movie of the Week"!
Road Trip movies.in TCM?. How did I miss that one. Did they show STAGECOACH?
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I guess the Film Noir class members are doing their homework. Noir and noirish titles have invaded the boards, whether they have a murder or not.
1. OUT OF THE TORK
2. TOAURA
3. NOTORIUS
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5. THE FILE ON THELMA TORDAN
6. PICKUP ON TOR STREET
7. HOLLOW TORIUMPH
8. MINISTRY OF TOR
9. THE STRANGE LOVE OF MARTHA TORVERS
10. THE TORK CORNER
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I am most.eager.to see STOLEN HOURS, the remake.of DARK VICTORY, since.it's.been like forever. I would have liked to see more Parsmount movies; there are only two from.the.studio where she made her name, and a name to fear from female stars that felt that as second lead,.Hayward.might upstage them.
Well we do get seven films from 20th Century Fox, including five TCM premieres, but if you've had FMC, you may have seen them over.the course of the.last.few years.
But no Republic films, and I wished that Universal rarities from the 40s, like like TAP ROOTS and,.especially, THE LOST MOMENT, had been acquired, or the films.she fought to do at UA when she was in the process of ending her contract with Paramount, JACK LONDON and THE HAIRY APE.
All.in all, not a great.schedule, but a good one, and I am thrilled that TCM is honoring Susan Hayward. Thank you, TCM.
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It's a testament to Ruth Chatterton that the audience is still able to feel some sympathy for Fran when Kurt's mother refuses to accept her as a future wife for her son. The sympathy, of course, is mixed with some feeling that Fran is getting what she deserves.
So true. I feel so bad for her, and embarrassed for her, despite having a sort.of satisfaction for her receiving her comeuppance. Beautifully directed, written and played, I love DODSWORTH for the ambivalent feelings it creates in you.
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For many years in Ontario, Canada we had a show called Saturday Night at the Movies on public television (TVO) and it was hosted by Elwy Yost, the father of Graham Yost.
Once a year Elwy would do these junkets to LA to interview all of the old stars, screenwriters and cameramen, etc. and then they would play these clips in between the movies. Most of these interviews were done right in the homes of the stars.
I caught his interview with Richard Widmark, and yes he seemed to be an incredibly well-grounded individual with none of the airs of a 'star.'
As an aside, TVO did not have the funds to store this treasure-trove of interviews so at some point it was all donated to the American Academy of Motion Pictures, the Oscars.
It would be great if TCM could get its hands on these interviews. Some of my favourites were with Stanley Cortez, Lee Garmes, and Preston Sturges' secretary (Sturges dictated all his screenplays). But he had all the biggies too like Henry Fonda, James Stewart, etc.
That would be amazing of TCM could.acquire and show these.
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Well, if The Sound of Music had stuck to its original casting of Lizabeth Scott as Maria and Robert Ryan as Captain von Trapp, I think you might really have been onto something.
Really? I remember reading that Von Trapp had been conceived with Tor Johnson in mind. I'm not sure what happened, but I think he objected to the casting of Hope Emerson as Maria, fearkng she might overshadow him. Hmmmm.
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"And she put the thermometer in.... And my temperature went up to 110.
Love that line, love that movie.
First saw & heard it as a kid and remembered it ever since!
What a great night to watch TCM!
My favorite Ameche movies from that evening were:
So Goes My Love (1946), romantic biopic about Hiram S. Maxim, inventer of the devastating Maxim machine gun, among other things.
The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939), romantic biopic about the inventer of the Ameche, er telephone.
And of course, Heaven Can Wait (1943) romantic comedy fantasy about a rascally rogue who loves his wife, among many other women.
All had great support casts and were very enjoyable to watch.
Gene Tierney was absolutely beautiful, and wasn't Laird Cregar great as an amused devil?
Myrna Loy was at her charming "wifely" best, and what a wonderful opportunity to see ALL four of the stunning Young siblings in the same movie!!!
One of my favorite bits in HEAVEN CAN WAIT is with Florence Bates, when she turns a calf and coyly smiles, nauseating devil Laird Cregar to open the trapdoor on her. Hilarious.
Reinventing One's Career in Show Biz
in General Discussions
Posted
Linda Darnell may not have reinvented her career in the mid 40s, but she sure reinvigorated it when she drastically changed.her image from the sweet young girl next door, to that of a sexy femme fatale.
A decade later, as.decent film offers grew.scarce in the second half of the 50s, like with many other stars, she went into tv and stage work. She had less success with a nightclub act in the early 60s; although she got good reviews and attracted large appreciative crowds on the road, she got poor notices and hostile drunk.audiences when she showcased the act in Las Vegas.