MovieFanLaura

This would be a great title for TCM to show as they are supposed to be showing more Universal and Paramount movies next year, in conjunction with their "On Demand" DVD program. I recently caved in and ordered a Region 2 DVD of CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY from Amazon.UK. We got an all-region player for our anniversary this year . Hope to see if for the first time in the near future.

I've been watching a lot of Fred MacMurray's films of the '30s and '40s over the last year or so. It's been a pleasant revelation, rather undoing my image of him from MY THREE SONS and Disney movies. I was particularly impressed by REMEMBER THE NIGHT (coming out on DVD soon from the new TCM "on demand" DVD program) and NO TIME FOR LOVE, which is in the new Claudette Colbert set -- he was quite the hunk in that. Who knew?!

"Hey Laura, very nice blog there! I saw that several people in the comments section liked it as well! Such a shame her films aren't better known today." Thanks very much, I appreciate the compliment. I have been rather amazed as I've watched many of Durbin's films over the last couple years -- she is a remarkable all-around talent, not what I was expecting before I was familiar with her work. A unique personality with great comic timing as well as singing ability. I hope at some point she receives the attention she deserves. And turning this back to the topic at hand, Durbin and Cummings appeared in three films together: in addition to IT STARTED WITH EVE, he courted her sister in THREE SMART GIRLS GROW UP and they costarred in the hard-to-find SPRING PARADE.

I second the mention of IT STARTED WITH EVE, a truly wonderful comedy Cummings starred in with Charles Laughton and Deanna Durbin. I wrote about it here: http://laurasmiscmusings.blogspot.com/2009/07/tonights-movie-it-started-with-eve-1941.html Cummings may be a bit of an acquired taste but I started watching more of his movies in part because one of my teenage daughters likes him a lot. PRINCESS O'ROURKE with Olivia deHavilland is a lot of fun. SABOTEUR, THE DEVIL AND MISS JONES, THREE SMART GIRLS GROW UP, MOON OVER MIAMI and DIAL M FOR MURDER are Cummings movies I've enjoyed. Edited by: MovieFanLaura on Nov 15, 2009 2:29 AM

Great minds think alike (grin) -- my order also included MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, IVANHOE, and LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON. Just saw LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON at the L.A. Co. Museum of Art a couple weeks ago and had to have my own copy. I'm thinking about going back for Round 2 and buying a couple more this weekend. There are some movies I have recorded from TCM that would be nice to upgrade to DVD at this price. My dad also bought a few from Amazon's sale after I passed the word to him! Thanks again --

There are some good deals to be had if you shop carefully, although it's definitely not as impressive as in sales past. I keep an Excel spreadsheet with the Amazon and DDD prices for titles on my wish list. I got good prices from DDD on a few things including Esther Williams Vol. 1 and Mr. Moto Vol. 1. On the other hand the prices in that Amazon sale Filmlover alerted us to were amazingly good. (It does make you wonder if those titles are going out of print...) I picked up half a dozen titles from Amazon for $5.79, and over at B&N I got Criterion's THAT HAMILTON WOMAN half price. I am Christmas shopping for a family of 6 -- all of us are classic film fans -- so hearing about and finding these deals is greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the Amazon sale tip, Filmlover. There are some titles listed I've been wanting.

Kyle, that is a good thought you have about those high-end prices possibly including lodging. Let's hope that's the explanation. If the rates include lodging, it's curious that TCM PR didn't realize right off the bat that the rates quoted in their article would be offputting without including that explanatory detail. Feeling more optimistic --

Those pass prices surprised me...I attended Disney's D23 Expo in September and was expecting comparable pricing...D23 was well under $150 for a four-day pass. I could see $200 or even $250 for four days...but the prices suggested in the article just aren't realistic, especially if more than one person in a family wants to attend. Hopefully there will be other options which make more financial sense...

Thanks for sharing about your call to DDD, Filmlover --

I was wondering if anyone's heard any rumbles about the (hopefully) upcoming DDD sale. I did a little Googling and didn't find anything. A post at Home Theater Forum indicated last year the sale started November 6th; over the last few years it's started anywhere between the 6th and the 14th. I always do a large part of my Christmas shopping during this sale and have my list ready to go!

Hi Lynn, So great to know someone else has the same memories of Filmex. I was sad when those Plitt Theaters were torn down -- so many great movie memories were made there. Ron Haver was just the greatest. My family spent a lot of time at LACMA on the weekends when I was a teen. My favorite memory is the time he announced that a movie had arrived at the museum missing a reel, but someone in the audience had saved the day by going home and getting their personal copy out of their garage! Perhaps we'll meet come April! Best wishes, Laura

I'm thrilled by this news. It reminds me of the Filmex festivals in Century City my dad took me to when I was a teenager. I saw Olivia deHavilland and Loretta Young in person...and attended round-the-clock marathons of musicals one year and Oscar winners the next. (Sounds crazy, but this was in the '70s before VHS, let alone cable TV, DVDs, or TCM! It was a lot of fun.) I remember sitting near Mel Torme at one of the screenings. I'm looking forward to hearing more! I live in Orange County so it will be very doable for me as long as it's affordable.

PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET is an amazing movie, I strongly recommend it for those who haven't seen it yet. I am also encouraged by the Fox titles...I keep hoping for CENTENNIAL SUMMER with Jeanne Crain and Linda Darnell, which I've never been able to see. Hope you're reading this, TCMProgrammer...

A dull month compared to January's terrific schedule...I also thought that 2009 was the most interesting "31 Days of Oscar" month in a long time, but 2010 isn't as creative. That said, I'm excited they have the Paramount film KITTY with Goddard and Milland on the schedule...I've been wanting to see it! And I'm glad they rescheduled ARTISTS AND MODELS since the last screening had technical problems.

I can still remember big chunks of it..."We, in this quiet corner of England..." Neat to know it's widely available on YouTube. It's a great piece of cinema and WWII history.

"Was this in America or in the UK?" In the U.S. -- California to be exact.

Another thing to remember is that actually movies were extremely important to the war effort. They had their own particular roles to play right along with troops, and getting at least some of them to Europe was thus worth the investment. In my schooldays I memorized the concluding speech from MRS. MINIVER for a history/speech project and did some research on it. Churchill is said to have called MRS. MINIVER "more powerful to the war effort than the combined work of six military divisions." Other movies played similar roles, either directly providing inspiration for the war effort or simply diverting people during times of extreme stress, as well as indirectly communicating American values to European audiences.

I ordered tickets today for the double bill of SABRINA and LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON. Yay!!

There's a nice review of the Williams set published by Glenn Erickson at DVD Savant: http://www.dvdtalk.com/dvdsavant/s3032will.html Edited by: MovieFanLaura on Oct 5, 2009 3:41 PM Edited by: MovieFanLaura on Oct 5, 2009 3:41 PM

It's really sad, I know from speaking with him that Drew Casper had completed extras for a Fox Betty Grable Volume 2...and now it seems it might never be released.

Esther Williams movies played a huge role in hooking my now 14-year-old daughter on classic films. The movies were unique for their era and, as has been mentioned, were an important part of MGM history. I think it's important to realize that TCM provides something for everyone. There are plenty of films shown that don't appeal to me but I recognize they are liked by others. I appreciate that TCM provides many diverse titles.

I'd like to add my kudos for January's schedule, which is very diverse and has something for everyone. I'm particularly excited about the chance to see PARTY GIRL with Robert Taylor and Cyd Charisse in widescreen; I've only seen it on pan and scan video. I'm also enthused about the pre-Codes, especially a couple early Loretta Young titles I've not seen; THE NORTH STAR with Dana Andrews and Anne Baxter; and relatively lesser-known films with personal favorites like Dennis Morgan, George Brent, and Brian Aherne. I'm another Margaret O'Brien fan who is happy to be able to see BIG CITY! Thank you!

I loved the look of the blue and green hotel bathroom... Also the opening credits which almost glowed neon. The movie had great visuals.

Ward Bond, Henry Stephenson, Sir C. Aubrey Smith, and Charles Coleman are some of my faves...