MovieFanLaura
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Posts posted by MovieFanLaura
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"Didn't they just do a Kathryn Grayson day?"
No, but they showed 2 Grayson films back to back a month or so ago. The Summer Under the Stars tribute is at least in part to honor her career because TCM didn't wish to suspend its Oscars schedule when she passed on in February.
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"I am looking forward to The Way to the Stars too. I didn't realize it might be a TCM premiere."
I taped THE WAY TO THE STARS when it was on TCM in the past. Just FYI for anyone wondering if it was a premiere.
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NINE GIRLS wasn't on today, it was replaced by Marjorie Reynolds in MEET ME ON BROADWAY. I suspect they couldn't get a print.
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This day-long schedule change is affecting everyone with a DVR or who set a VCR for a specific time. I lost the openings of FLIGHT LIEUTENANT and MEET ME ON BROADWAY because my Verizon Fios DVR didn't pick up the changes. The changes are in the DVR schedule now, but I didn't get an alert I needed to re-set these films to record and they went off at the times originally scheduled.
Fortunately I've got all of STRANGE AFFAIR, the one I *really* wanted today, although it's split over 2 DVR time slots which is going to cause a jump when I transfer it to videotape.
I was able to reset JOHNNY O'CLOCK for the right time slot later today, at least!
I have no problem with schedule changes but I do wish they'd alert us to a time change. I was aware two of today's movies had changed but erroneously assumed that the time slots would remain the same.
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I absolutely love the NOW PLAYING guide and use it to make out a recording schedule for the month.
However, given the lead time with the printers that others have pointed out, the TCM website is an essential supplement. Movies become unavailable or scheduling mistakes occur now and then (for instance, two movies from next Monday's Evelyn Keyes day are no longer in my DVR schedule), and it strikes me as appropriate to pay tribute to deceased actors fairly soon after they pass on. Some flexibility and willingness to use "new technology" to supplement the printed word strikes me as a reasonable approach for TCM's fans, rather than expecting the station to stay rigidly locked in to something that was printed many weeks in advance. The vast majority of the films in NOW PLAYING, after all, air exactly as scheduled in the guide.
Fortunately TCM is sensitive to the disappointment when they must reschedule films due to tributes, and I would expect THE LAVENDER HILL MOB or other preempted films to show up on the schedule a few weeks from now!
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Hi Moira -- I haven't yet seen THE LAST HUNT and RIDE, VAQUERO!, but I think the tormented man in HIGH WALL is one of the very best of Taylor's performances I've seen to date. It's one of several films which made me realize that he was much more than his reputation as a handsome face.
I don't think I've seen Taylor in enough comedies to truly judge his abilities in that genre, but I did think he did well in the "Robert Montgomery role" in the remake of WHEN LADIES MEET (1941). He was charming and funny. SMALL TOWN GIRL (1936) was enjoyable, although he had a more serious role as the doctor who's not sure he wants to be married.
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If you have Encore Westerns Channel, they showed RETURN OF THE GUNFIGHTER a few weeks ago, and they tend to run the same movies over and over again so it may turn up again in the future. Encore isn't always the ideal channel (pans & scans, plus frequently using onscreen logos), but every so often things turn up there I can't find anywhere else. (They show a beautiful print of Ray Milland's A MAN ALONE.)
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"But for me, I really love Robert Taylor's voice. (His looks for me go without saying). But his voice, I lervvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv!"
Yes! He has one of my favorite movie voices -- it's so low and masculine.
It was strange watching SOCIETY DOCTOR and TIMES SQUARE LADY, because he was so young his voice didn't yet sound quite like "Robert Taylor" all the way through, though there were glimpses of it every so often.
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PS Would love to hear your thoughts on RIDE, VAQUERO! I saw a little of it a few years ago but need to sit down and watch the whole thing. Interesting cast with Gardner and Keel costarring with Taylor.
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What a great writeup, Moira! Loved hearing your take on SONG OF RUSSIA. So much to analyze about this film!
How interesting about some of the original casting rumors. I can kind of see Walter Pidgeon in this part -- but I'm glad Taylor played it. (Though it doesn't seem he was...) Love your line about the baby bird.
"One other note about the music that made me kind of wistful: there was a time when American audiences regularly attended movies featuring classical music and this wasn't considered unusual, (-sigh-)"
So true. One of the interesting things about older movies is the way they shared bits of "culture" with the general public, such as the music in this film.
The lavish scenes in make-believe Moscow were neat -- I loved the scene with "And Russia is Her Name," a Kern song I'd never heard before. Fun comment about Dorothy Draper style. (I have her book ENTERTAINING IS FUN here somewhere...)
Glad to hear your thoughts on this very interesting movie. Hope more people had the chance to check out a unique slice of Hollywood history.
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Thank you very much for the encouragement, CinemaFan! I appreciate it.
I love the photos posted!!
Edited by: MovieFanLaura on Apr 22, 2010 9:25 PM - typo
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You're very kind, Jack. I'm glad I have a forum to help more people learn about great movies such as WESTWARD THE WOMEN. I appreciate your feedback!
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Thanks, WouldBeStar. I personally abhor trashy, speculative gossip which has no bearing on the films and is simply meant to be destructive.
What is definitely true is that Taylor was one of the most widely liked actors in all of Hollywood. He had a reputation for being easy to get along with and kind to his costars. William Wellman, director of WESTWARD THE WOMEN -- a film many of us in this thread greatly admire -- said that Taylor was "one of the finest men I've ever known."
Those who want to know more about Taylor -- including what is known about the pressure placed on him to star in SONG OF RUSSIA (which I just watched: http://laurasmiscmusings.blogspot.com/2010/04/tonights-movie-song-of-russia-1944.html) can learn more from RELUCTANT WITNESS by Linda Alexander, or the forthcoming bio by reputable author Charles Tranberg, books which were mentioned previously in this thread.
...BUT I HAVE PROMISES TO KEEP by Taylor's second wife, Ursula Thiess, is another interesting book -- by someone who actually knew him.
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Personally, I'm leery of anything by Jane Ellen Wayne...I've looked at a couple of her titles and feel books tend toward the negative and sensationalistic. I don't think she paints fully rounded, fair portraits of her subjects. JMHO.
Charles Tranberg has a book coming out on Taylor from Bear Manor Media later this year. From my limited exposure to Tranberg (currently reading a book he recently wrote on Fred MacMurray) his books seem to be extensively researched, with many interviews, and I am expecting/hoping that his book on Taylor will be a good one.
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WouldBeStar, IMDb says that WESTWARD THE WOMEN was based on a story written by Frank Capra, isn' t that interesting? I'd love to know more on this angle.
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I'm so glad WESTWARD THE WOMEN was enjoyed so much. When I first saw the film nearly three years ago, I felt like it was a really meaty, page-turning good book and I was very sorry when it ended...I wanted it to keep going! How many movies make you feel that way?
This is the film which really sold me on Robert Taylor when I first saw it in 2007. Those of you who liked it might enjoy reading the post I wrote at that time:
http://laurasmiscmusings.blogspot.com/2007/05/tonights-movie-westward-women-1951.html
I also hope more people will be watching this one next time it airs. It's a film which -- like Mr. Taylor -- really needs to be rediscovered by fans of the classic film era.
Thanks to JackFavell for taking the time to share your thoughts in such detail, I really enjoyed your comments.
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I'm excited about BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK with Robert Montgomery...I just watched the remake with Robert Cummings. THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUTH with Loretta Young and ABOVE SUSPICION with Fred MacMurray and Joan Crawford are exciting as well.
Thanks for posting this!!
Laura
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Yes, Taylor's father was an osteopath. Before he became an actor, Taylor was torn between medicine and music as a career (he was a cellist).
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"I am surprised, because RT is growing on me. He has a very good-natured presence, generally speaking. The inside of the man seems like it was kind of at odds with the outside physical appearance. He seems far removed from the handsome movie idol in real life, like it was the last thing in the world he thought about. He reminds me of Johnny Carson a bit... very midwestern, but relaxed and happy, like a big kid in an adult body. Very down to earth."
Great description. Everything I've read about him suggests that he was always grateful for his career, which almost fell into his lap (he came to CA to follow a music professor to Pomona College) and was very down to earth, kind-natured and well liked by all his costars.
He was a real outdoorsman and that shows through with how authentic he is in Westerns.
I'm recording SONG OF RUSSIA to tape right now -- another pairing of Taylor and Hodiak. I know it's supposed to be kind of bizarre Russian propaganda from today's perspective, but I love Susan Peters and really look forward to the Taylor-Peters pairing in this, along with hearing some classical music.
Just read the other day that Charles Tranberg's book on Taylor should be out from Bear Manor Media later this year. Tranberg wrote an excellent book on Fred MacMurray which I'm reading now.
Linda Alexander's book on Taylor (RELUCTANT WITNESS) is very informative although it didn't spend a great deal of time on the specifics of his performances, lacked a filmography, etc. There's definitely room for another Taylor book on my shelf.
(The old Citadel THE FILMS OF ROBERT TAYLOR is a must-have for major Taylor fans...) -
A lovely tribute to one of my all-time favorite movies. It is perfection.
When my husband and I met two years after EMPIRE came out, we later figured out we'd been in the same theater at the same time on the film's opening day.
It's a little scary that it's 30!
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Well, I can tell you the TCM app works on the iTouch as well as the iPhone...I've assumed the iPad uses the same apps but I'd like to know for sure myself!
Edit: P.S. I forgot -- you got an iTouch, didn't you? So you're aware of that.
Edited by: MovieFanLaura on Apr 4, 2010 3:43 PM
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I think Fred inspiring the appearance of Captain Marvel came about about Fred appeared as Superman in a dream sequence in NO TIME FOR LOVE. If I recall correctly, that was the first time Superman was played on screen.
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My nominees are Ray Milland and Fred MacMurray. I'm sure they haven't been chosen in the past because so much of their work was at Paramount, but now that TCM will have access to more Paramount titles in the future -- in conjunction with their new "on demand" DVD program -- maybe they could be included. Milland's Paramount film KITTY was recently shown, and ARISE MY LOVE is coming soon. (LADY IN THE DARK was originally on the schedule but replaced by ARISE MY LOVE.)
Loretta Young also totally deserves it. Again, the issue with her may be the number of movies she made at Fox, but TCM seems to have access to a number of her pre-Codes and other work, and maybe they could license some of her Fox films for such an event.
I also give a big thumbs up to the Joel McCrea suggestion elsewhere on the boards!!
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I have recorded TOMORROW IS FOREVER on a past TCM showing...it's an excellent film.
(The old Citadel THE FILMS OF ROBERT TAYLOR is a must-have for major Taylor fans...)
AUGUST 2010 SUMMER UNDER THE STARS PROGRAM SCHEDULE
in General Discussions
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Universal/Paramount: Milland (!!!), MacMurray, Durbin, Goddard, Lake...