Ellaisgood

Notorius nw=faint

"The Best Days of Our Lives" haunts me as my husband is in the Army. After a 15 month deployment Iraq's "triangle of death" and another one comming up to Afghanistan, the movie is eerily on point. I had seen the movie before he returned and as fate would have it, it was played within a month of his return. Reconnecting with your family and friends seems like it would be no problem. Without getting too personal...it is heartbreaking and confusing at times. The movie could not have had more of an impact that second time. I watched Myrna Loy's character for answers. "Being There" reminds me to hug my kids and do the best I can each day. The movie started a habit I have now of never watching the news or reading the papers. Other people's thoughts, advise or behavior I now try to temper. I've also tried to stop interrupting people and to listen, listen, listen. "Limelight" Life can really stink but with a kick in the can, love and faith in yourself and with determination that includes ignoring dirty looks, rolling eyes, and whispers...you can accomplish a goal. Even if it's effort put forth only day by day or breathing through an anxiety attack. No one can purely accept happiness but you...UPS does not deliver it and there are no announcements made in public letting all those you know and even yourself that YOU ARE NOW HAPPY.

Of course! You'd have to be dressed elegantly to vacation in Monaco with Cary! Like you, I love watching the movies of the 30's and 40's for the clothes. I always find it fascinating that an actress will get out of bed and don a morning gown that I'd wear to the Oscars. I think the (still-hanging-on art deco) lines and form fitting pieces were equisite. I also love watching the ritual of women sitting down in a restaurant or a club, removing her gloves, hat, fur coat and lighting up cigarette while downing a martini and then perfectly dancing when asked. I also like Doris Day's wardrobe like the other threadling. Immaculate but with a hint of naughty. The outfit she wears avec chapeau the morning of David Niven's slap in "Don't Eat the Daisies". I already mentioned Elizabeth Taylor but two pieces really stay with me. The white gown she wears in "A Place in the Sun" where she sees Monty playing pool and the fabulous white day dress in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof".

Georgiegirl, You do have great ideas for threads! This one on a scale of 1-10. 1 Let me explain. As stated below by another threadling, as long as people can understand you on a point your making, your golden. The threadlings like Law Guy, Fred, and Cin are also correct by advising the rules described or used by various literary establishments. What makes me confused about a writer who wants to write like Harper Lee or Fitzgerald or Woolf is a writer that wants to write like Harper Lee or Fitzgerald, Faulkner or Woolf. Hemingway, for example, did not use unnecessary words. Other 20th century writers found truth in regional colloquialism, i.e. HARPER LEE, Flannery O'Connor and the earlier Twain, in order that their character's dialogue accurately expressed issues of the time. I would bet that any attempt to inflict the accepted grammar rules of the day would only have stifled and distorted the verisimilitude each author presented to their readers. In other words, you are obviously creative and enthusiastic to share your ideas. If you are writing for National Geographic or Smithsonian...italics vs. bold matters. But you suggest that you strive to create something of your own that readers will react to and find their own lives in. THROW THE GRAMMAR BOOKS OUT. NOW. I'LL WAIT. I want you to write the best piece of art possible. If you are going to sculpt it with rules and agreed upon technique...then stick with Time. When your OWN work has been published and blown us way, I doubt your audience will think of your grammar (or purposeful lack thereof)...but only how your character's journey (unless it's about an English Literature contest) sunk so easily and permanently into our minds. Now think of another fun thread and let this mess stop!

Cell-I am bewitched with Joan Crawford. My knowledge of the specifics pale in comparison to yours. The more movies I see of hers, the more I appreciate her intensity and sometimes a "matter of fact" way of approaching a scene. I think she had so much skill...and I know she was appreciated for it (Oscar noms/win). She never turns out a bad performance in my view, although the subject matter may be silly and ourageous. But...she had the guts to follow through with impressive performances, regardless of extenuating circumstances. Mildred=her performance is flawless. Her moods are acted with a gradual precision. Her ability to command the pace and audience loyalty in the movie is spellbinding. Rain=I love it. I've heard such awful jokes made about it but the tension between sin and moral standards are palatable. Autumn Leaves=Blew me away. The dedication and lonliness of her character are painful. Again, acting alone in so many scenes her craft is defined. The facial expressions, the extreme-almost clinical-shyness of her character, and the ability of Miss Joan to tightrope an obvious age difference is fine. The age thing is noticed, but not really, quite a feat to keep the audience on track and not obssessing. Humoresque=I'll watch the last 5 minutes anytime Possessed=I just saw it and thought that her job was not an easy one. How easy it would have been for her to over/under do it. The different phases of the illness are given to us in bits, not misunderstood ranting and hysteria. We actually get sicker with her character...as she paces the symptoms and presents them as character flaws up to psychosis. What a beast to sign up for. The Women=She plays a woman. Sorry other females...but there is a gal like her for every man. Because of the all-star cast...Her role could have been forgotten, but by truly acting like a woman with bad goals...we, each generation of us wives, will never forget our ability to betray.

Fred, your threads are hilarious. You just happen to provide the exact gas chamber scene, and my particular favorite was the in-depth directions to the DI house. (I've added all the info to my stalking notebook)! Such a great sense of humor. I may give these folks a call tonight and just say "Fred MacMurray believes your house was at one time all the rage but is now "passe"....any comments"? My film noire favs are "Don't Bother to Knock" and "White Heat". The latter is arguably a gangster film....but the dark aspect is Cagney's discussions with his mother. And yes...the monkey mortitioner, New Year's party for 2, and the funky cigarette holder, and of course THE CLOSE-UP in "Sunset Blvd" screams dark. Very Dark.

Grace Kelly (esp in Rear Window), Constance Bennet, Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, Lauren Bacall

This talk of watching yourselves glammed up made me think of another question! Are any of you "making" a night of it? Throwing a party etc? Perhaps this seems sophomoric, but I have never been on TV, let alone having an intelligent conversation with Mr. O. I'd have someplace rented out and invite everyone that I love and people that I want to make envious as they listened to my brilliant analysis of the movie I chose and how Mr. O was awed by my appearance. (okay that last part was my imagination taking over) Is anyone going to do something special? If so....details please!

I saw Limelight for the first time last week and think it may be my one of my favorites next to Being There. I am so glad to honor his name in this thread...His dad must have been one heck of an influence. I hope he never suffered from the need to "add up". Hopefully, he was his own person and realized his own importance in the business of constantly giving to others. With his Tony and another nomination...he certainly was admired and will be missed.

Here, 43 minutes north of NYC we have Time Warner and the Free Movies station. I love it..just wish the movies would rotate more. I'm not complaining...well a little...but I also stand in front of the microwave in disbelief that my popcorn takes 2 minutes. All the Pink Panthers are on that station if you scroll through the chanels at the bottom of the screen that also offer free flicks

izcutter...I have been a fan since you recommended the book Sex in Pre-Code Hollywood. Which one are you....considering the photo below?

Interesting thoughts. I kick myself for saying something my Dad used to say but perhaps you answered your own question. The Wall of Sound reference is hillarious but true. But do you think it was lost because of Vietnam? What admirable points you bring up about the cast and plot. Perhaps the audience was, at this time, either at home watching the draft or at home trying to forget. It never ceases to amaze me when Mr. O or Ben mention that a movie was not well received at the time but now considered a masterpiece. A Bridge is one of them...

Wow...I am thrilled to read these wonderful stories. I hope that I am not your first stalker. I DIDN'T MEAN THAT. not really. The pictures below say so much. You look like your in the biz. Relaxed and conversing. Mr. O is ( as all of you have testified to) really taking an interest and caring about your input. How incredibly gracious and down to earth and what a memory to recall. Gosh...I just can't imagine him being a disinterested poop. Like eating a sandwhich while the cameras where on you and rolling his eyes. How great that such a historian and knower of the stars is unaffected by fame. Perhaps the scholar in him is as it should be. Constantly seeking knowledge and being refreshed by folks like you who may just know the pulse and range of intelligence of TCM watchers. thanks for making me look good too! P.S. FYI the formula for Coke was developed by a Doctor in Columbus. GA. Trust me...Fort Benning the "army base" that is featured in Reflections in a Golden Eye-which gives me no end of ways to tease my he-man husband , Carson McCullers, oppressive heat, and the Coke formula historic house are the bragging points of this city. Oh...and the haunted Opera house. Too bad the Trolley from Hell didn't take you an hour SE for a real "taste" of hell.

Arsnic and Old Lace nw-birthday

Okay...first of all. Not only would I pass out copies of the group picture (with my mug blown up at the side) or a big arrow pointing to me to everyone I now BUT I may just blow the photo up life sized and keep in my living room. I love these stories so much!!!! If someone has already answered this....please forgive. Okay...I get it that you had to choose a film that meant something to you and that you could discuss with Mr. O. Did you have (kindly hinted to) time limits? I means you guys seemed to wisely have chosen your personal choices for various reasons....but did the urge to start comparative film making/eras/directors ever want to release its wild self while on camera? I mean you guys could really have had a tete a tete with THE GREAT ONE. Was it difficult to "hold back" or did Mr. O politely keep you focused. Did you folks get a little "prep" from the staff or where you all on track as you seem to have been from the thread. I'm so envious and proud! I have lived in Georgia 5 or 6 times and Hotlanta never ceases to amaze me. I have proudly lived in California twice and NY for the last 6 years, Spain for awhile and am soon moving again. But what I would have done to be a fly on the wall just that one week!

Right on about hair. I used to get Sandra Bullock a lot. So much that on a cruise people asked to have pictures taken of me. This was an international cruise...and the association was made by the mostly Indonesian staff. Then one nutty night I decided that I was a hairdresser and chopped off my hair and bleached it blond. Now...I look like me with bleached hair and grey roots.

All of the movies that night were top-notch. Possessed, which I had never seen, completely consumed me. Hell, I started wondering if some of the scenes I watched were really there or if Hollywood 1947 was out to get me. Then I took my meds and was okay. Piper Laurie as the daughter sniffing, "and I LIKED it" chuckling-during-the-female sin talk, and of course her choice of interior decorating in Carrie really says abbie-normal to me!

I will visit this thread everyday. All of you who had this opportunity deserved it. I have learned so much from these message boards...so much so that you have made a terrific impact on my views of history, creativity, and the art of film-admiration and the amazing performances that I am now aware of. Cudos to all. Now a few questions... Were you nervous? If you goofed do they "cut" and redo? Or do you just converse and they edit? Were you told what to wear and how to sit and where to look? Does Mr. O smell good? I mean, he's so dashing I just figured he must use great scents. No one has to answer that if it seems freaky.

for snorky=20,000 Leagues Under the Sea nw=class

Yankee Doodle Dandy nw=gold

wow...I had no idea that it has been since July since the last posting. Helenbaby...totally appreciate your comments. You are right. I have learned how to use the remote and the swirly thing on my computer much better since then. I avoid political threads or shots at my beliefs in a thread like the plague now. TCM is my get-a-way place thats all. I also have family that are left-left. Like not even talking to my husband last Christmas after he'd returned from Iraq a month before. Now perhaps, a year later, I think it was their way of not discussing it....as you said your family does. Maybe it was their own way of "keeping the peace". Although I wish some sort of casual conversation could have been elicited from them...they probably knew something would eventually lead to a possibly horrible reuinion if they spoke. One's own beliefs, if strong enough, can break hearts. They my not have been cordial...but no hearts were broken that night. Nothing on these boards, from now on, will I take personally. It's just not the direction I want to go in in my life.

Butt Three On a Match nw=equipoise

Okay Professors Emeritus Lynn and Kyle...I see your point. Spread the joy and therefore the possibility of newbies winning. Heck...I may try next year. Gotta love you two for the 86ing of the bell curve...where were you in college? Those smarty pants at the top of the perverbial bell curve lowered my self-esteem and grade point average!

IZ....If your schedule is voted the best...that means all the movie-brainiacs on this thread not only appreciate your choices but your knowledege of movies. I liked all of the progamming examples and again feel dissillusionment with my own movie ignorance. (Thanks guys) I loved the character actress nod! Please accept these movie experts acknowledgement of your programming, if you do indeed win. As someone who could maybe come up with 2 days of disjointed, overlapping made-up-names and times for movies....you should relish the fact that an entire country would watch YOUR choices for a week. (hypothetically). All of the programming and thought that went into this challenge blew me away. You all need to apply for the job at TCM. IZ...I read that you have won the most times...therefore to not vote for you. What? Baby...if you got it...you got it!!

Izcutter...Thank you for recommending "Sin in Soft Focus" to me last Spring. Dynamite book. The stills are pure art. The information edifying. I cannot get the page size photo of "Human Wreckage" our of my mind. You have created a new Pre-Code fanatic! Thanks...Lisa