JackFavell

Tikisoo! What a great thread! I am sorry it seems to have been buried here. George Tobias is one of my favorite actors - even in Ninotchka he gives a dry spin to his tiny role of the Russian underling.... there is a whole character there in his one scene. How did he do that? I have to say that I always knew who George Tobias was, not because of his many varied roles, or his appearances on Bewitched (well, maybe this is where I saw him first), but because my maiden name is Tobias.... in fact, in high school, I got a graduation card from my Uncle George (no relation), and passed it off as coming from the actor... (sheepish grin). I always wish I could go back and interview these wonderful character actors - did they enjoy their film work? Did they keep thinking they would "make it big" someday? How do you keep it so fresh when you are playing virtually the same character in every movie? What was it like working with Cagney, Cooper and Garbo? Tobias was very versatile - I am always amazed and pleased when he turns up as a Greek, Polish, Russian or just plain American joe. I especially like him in Between Two Worlds. He also gets sooo many great character names- Tobias played characters named Lug, Pusher, Gabby, Maxie, Blimp, Peewee, Slug, and Sloppy Joe...... Geroge Tobias as Blimp Lebec in Captain of the Clouds. With Reginald Gardner, Alan Hale, and James Cagney

> {quote:title=FrankGrimes wrote:}{quote} > I'm still sweet! > > Yeah, well, prove it, Yucky Amy. I suppose I deserve that nickname, I should have known better than to spill my guts to you.... > O' Canada protests everything. I watched the NHL All-Star game tonight (the lone > American), so I'm in good with them. There are stars in hockey? > What's that newspaper cap from? Newspaper cap courtesy of Preston Sturges......it's from "The Miracle of Morgan's Creek".....

> > I think Jean Arthur as Babe Bennett is pretty close to my personality. I am still idealistic, > but have an edge that has been created by disappointments. > > "An edge created by disappointments." I love that line! So are you telling me you used to be sweet? I'm still sweet! > I get indignant at hypocrisy and am very emotional like Helen, > > You? Emotional? Noooooooooooooo... > Bite your emotional tongue! Lamby is not yucky. She's sweet and pure.

Kathy, It feels cold here as I type, even though I am in the house. I need to go bundle up in my blankies soon! Faded red! That's a riot... Andrew is so happy to see the livng room NOT pink that he has been going like gangbusters painting the trim .... Border Incident is really a film noir that takes place in the west, not really a western, but it does have Arthur Hunnicutt in it.... I do love Jimmy Stewart's westerns, although I do think I understand MissG's comments about his darker side having no redeeming qualities in Two Rode Together. If it's anything like the dark side he showed in Vertigo, one doesn't see so much the agony propelling Stewart, just a sort of vicious blackness. Wayne's dark side always has a boundary, and a cause. He is more like a hurt animal. He is definitely in agony, and so we can empathize with his character. We know that Wayne will come out of his black pit - Stewart has a nasty, mean quality that I find hard to watch, and I am not so sure he will be redeemed. But his acting is compelling and interesting nevertheless. Alas, I missed Silverado. I have seen some scenes from it, and noticed Kevin Kline most favorably in those few scenes. Anyway, keep warm and well. I am sure you are probably off to bed already, since there is school tomorrow. I''ll catch you later!

You may be right....

Hey, Ang, I loved that list, and how specific you got for each character. I would never have thought of you as a cold fish, either... I think Jean Arthur as Babe Bennett is pretty close to my personality. I am still idealistic, but have an edge that has been created by disappointments. And although it sounds impossible, I think I am equal parts of Helen Ramirez and Amy in High Noon. I get indignant at hypocrisy and am very emotional like Helen, but I have a cold streak - a hesitance to commit like Amy.... and an intolerance of guns. Oh, I don't believe I actually just compared myself to yucky Amy.....

I hate to say this, but one of the reasons I have never gotten into the movie is the appearance of Del Rio, who looks like a screen diva, but who is playing a woman of the people. This is the point where I usually drop off, because her eyebrows irritate me.....

I have "The Fugitive" on dvdr, but have not been able to get through it without falling asleep, I am ashamed to say. I saw the beginning of "Stars" last time it was on, but had to leave shortly after it started. I'm dying to see what happens....

It does seem like a pre-code doesn't it? I never thought of that. I have always been amazed at this one for getting past the censors somehow. I assume that the Hays office simply didn't get it. I love the McGinty/Boss brackets as well.

Howdy, ma'am! Yes, a more beautiful or artistic vision of reality - that's what I meant when I said super-real, I guess. I guess mere reality is not really what I want from a movie, but certainly, I don't want to be pulled back out of a movie by the sight of plastic bushes either...... I did not watch Silverado, though I meant to. I was busy getting my little one to bed and then catching up here on the boards....

Hey, everyone! How's it going? I've been painting my living room (no fireplace). Kathy, I would love to paint a mirror for your mantle, providing it fits in with Bronxie's ideas.....however, I think you should remember that I also painted my living room pink just a few short years ago.... My talent is extremely questionable...... Chris, I am glad you got to see *The Iron Horse*. I enjoyed it very much, mainly for the same reasons you gave. Though long, I liked the epic quality it had, and the personal stories of that same epic tale. I alos liked the way it eventually built up steam. I am starting to realize that I admire the Ford movies for their sense of reality - I was just thinking of this the other day when watching some other westerns on AMC. When you watch a Ford western, there is no question that the background is real, or maybe even super-real (you don't get distracted by fake bushes or backdrops painted with a sunset)......or that you will see actual indians playing indians (mostly).... but anyway, getting back to the topic, I thought that the most incredible scene in "The Iron Horse" was the one in which George O'Brien's dad is killed. I couldn't stop thinking about it. The suspense is amazing, and it sets up the whole rest of the picture. I wish I could remember the actual shots from that scene, because it is filmed so well. Since I was last here, I have watched maybe four westerns..... and I swear, every one of them had Arthur Hunnicutt in it! I would start watching, look down for a minute, and then I would hear that nasal drawl and look up to see this actor. Was he in every western ever made? *Border Incident* was very interesting. I would call it a Noir Western, with Ricardo Montalban giving a really great performance as a Mexican border cop posing as a farm worker. The film was so inventive I had to get up and go to the computer to find out who directed it. It was, of course, Anthony Mann. The movie was a tad slow, but so creative and suspenseful that I had to watch it, even though I hadn't meant to. I loved the viewpoint of the movie as well. Then, on Saturday morning, I watched the first part of *Broken Arrow*, a favorite of mine since before I liked westerns. This is the movie that made me long for Ford's realism. Almost everything in BA was phony or fake - except the acting, and the fine script, which seemed so refreshingly real in it's description of race relations. I still think that, in spite of all the Hollywood junk that got in the way (the ridiculous New York-accented indians, the silly hair and costumes, and the dumb love story), this is still a great western. Jimmy Stewart and Geoff Chandler gave extremely good performances - I was especially impressed with Chandler, who(m) I really haven't noticed in anything else. I am curious how other people here feel about the movie. I really liked the way the movie started, with Jimmy Stewart's voice-over explaining how he became open-minded enough to sympathize with the Apaches. The scene with Will Geer and the other white men was really strong - Stewart trying to ignore the ignorant and offensively racist Geer, until finally Geer pushed one button too many, and Stewart almost socked him. I always enjoy snotty western characters who have no guts, but talk too much.....

I remember seeing this movie with my mom when I was a kid of eleven or twelve. I liked the sort of cynical screwball viewpoint it had. Unfortunately, I don't get the channel it's on....

I just love that, Kimpunkrock! I especially like the photo of him sitting back in the chair all lit up from above..... Nice job!

GWTW- I am so glad you gave the movie a second chance - you are right, it is a gem. William Demarest plays Constable Kochenlocker, and to me, it is a great performance. Demarest gets to be his usual irascible self, but he also has some rather tender scenes in the second half of the movie - a very unusual occurrence for the actor at this time. His irritation hides a heart of gold. "You've got to have more confidence. You might be waiting for the president of the United States." And there are the pratfalls - oh, the man could take a dive like no one else, except maybe Keaton. It is a joy to watch him fall flat on his......face! Diana Lynn plays the 14 year old sister, Emmy. She gets the best lines - my favorite being: "You're not the first dumb cluck who couldn't find her husband. What with the war and all, there must be millions of them. They say they have much the prettiest babies..... " or: "Nobody's gonna believe it. Nobody believes good unless they have to if they've got a chance to believe something bad." There are also some great character actors thrown into the mix: like Al Bridge as Mr. Johnson the lawyer or Porter Hall as the Justice of the Peace and Julius Tannen as Mr Rafferty Other great actors taking bit parts in the movie are Akim Tamiroff, Brian Donlevy, J. Farrell MacDonald, Jack Norton, Byron Foulger, and Bobby Watson, making another appearance as Hitler.

Thanks for the info, Jeff. Gilbert certainly looks romantic in that sleigh with Boardman. I love the look on his face.... It's funny, too, knowing that they were probably good friends just having a nice hug for the publicity dept......

Hey, Jeff! How are you? Yes, I have caught up with this thread - but haven't yet on most others.... I loved that pic - it was GORGEOUS! I had never heard of the film, either.... Did you like Downstairs? It was very enjoyable, with absolutely no voice problems whatsoever.... in fact, I actually forgot that John was "John Gilbert" for the duration of the film. It was such a solid plot - it reminded me of the British show Upstairs, Downstairs (which wasn't produced until the late seventies)in so many ways. Makes me wonder if the women who wrote the series had seen the movie....? Probably not.....

Honor Blackman

*Downstairs* rocked! I loved it, and I am still excited to have gotten this one on dvd-r for posterity! It was a gem of a movie, and great fun to watch. However, the day before, while watching the 30 seconds that was allotted to Gilbert in "MGM, When the Lion Roars" I realized something. - I am heartily sick and tired of seeing Gilbert portrayed as a victim on specials and in books. Do you actually think that he thought of himself as a victim? I think he probably didn't have the time. He may have had a rough time because of studio troubles, money troubles or wife troubles, but I think there is the possibility that he had many plans for moving on in his life. He just didn't have time to make that comeback. After watching *Downstairs*, I am more and more sure that Gilbert would have rebounded in some way, had he not been ill. His energy and creativity would have found an outlet somewhere. Maybe he wouldn't have been the big star anymore, but Gilbert strikes me as a character actor stuck in a movie star body anyway. I think he had many gifts to share, and that, unfortunately for us is the real tragedy of Gilbert's short life - we can't see another *Downstairs* or a movie directed by Gilbert because he died too soon. What a pity for us. I would have loved to see Gilbert in a slew of films written for him, by him.

Oh, my gosh! I just loved that "Quiet Man, 2008"! What fun they all seemed to be having.... I think I'll watch that one anytime I am feeling blue. And for some reason, I liked the Maroon 5 music on the second one. Of course, anything will sound good when paired with the images from TQM.... Hey Bronxie..... are you ok? Bronxie? Tom sets my heart to palpitating too. I really like that picture a lot, his shoulders look so broad and manly.....yowza! I painted an old mirror yesterday that we had in the foyer. It was a yard sale find - big (about 45 inches wide, 38 inches in height), but with some icky gold paint on it that is supposed to look like gold leaf. We've had it for about 8 years, and it just screams "cheap bedroom mirror". Well, I am not the most crafty person in the world, but I decided to paint it not having a clue how to go about it. I wanted to either go with a green, to go with the colors of my living room (green and yellow); or maybe a bronze, to go with the metal furnishings (the lamps and such are all sort of bronzy brown). Anyway, I started with a light green we bought at the paint store to do some accent color inside the bookcases - it is called Spring Break. then I mixed up a little yellow and dark green from my daughters acrylic paints and mixed a separate batch adding the Spring Break to it. Then I put on a coat of "Brown Leather" from a can we had in the basement, which had a metallic finish - and when I got done, it looked like a patina'd copper! I just couldn't believe how well it came out! I highlighted the raised filigree in the frame with more Spring Break, and it looks like an aged copper mirror! We hung it up last night and it looks SO good next to the pal cheddar walls...... Andrew even noticed (and if I impress him, then I really have to have done something good! I am sorry to brag here, but I am so proud of myself I can barely even speak.....

just a nice stretch of the legs" :-) I have to go - my little one here has not gotten to bed yet..... Oh, Lordy! She is gonna be cranky tomorrow! Anyway, ladies, have a nice evening, and we'll chit chat tomorrow..... PS. I started painting my living room "Golden Farm" by Benjamin Moore ..... It's pretty pale, the color of white cheddar cheese.... Bronxie inspired me.... maybe it will look like White o' Morn when I am done.....

I'm still waiting for that T-shirt! If only Norman were like that little cottage in Ireland.... can you imagine growing up there? It's just flat in Norman and there are big bugs there. Not like in dreamy Tombstone.....

Oooh, Good choices rayallen! Phantom of the Opera with Chaney is a great one, and I love that you picked The Uninvited......

Well, Miss Kathy, I think we all will need our things around us - like a decent bathroom! White o' Morn IS gorgeous.... and I forgot that little cottage in How Green Was MY Valley..... maybe Wy, Doc and I will have to take a little trip to Wales....... I was born in Austin, TX, and raised in Norman..... cue Twilight Zone music......

That sounds divine. I'd forgotten about The Fugitive - it's another storybook place isn't it? And so beautiful. You described Tombstone so perfectly.... now how am I going to get rid of that simpering Clementine Carter? She'll just be in the way....

Oh my gosh..... I was born in Texas...... SIS! Not Alaska, Alabama, or Kentucky, alas. I have not been in the deep south much at all. Just New Orleans, and I never lived there. I guess that is where we headed our separate ways... down the old dusty trail.....