JackFavell

Lynn, I am so glad you are here on the boards. I always look forward to your opinions and appreciate the posts you make so much. Your opinion is highly valued here. Congratulations!

The Aunts are gruesome! I almost thought my daughter would run screaming from the room if she saw them and the way they behave, but I monitored her closely, and she had no problem realizing that they were kind of cartoony. She wasn't a bit afraid of this movie, and I have always been surprised at that, since she is a bit of a weenie when it comes to anything with scary music in it or dark lighting....I do have one point at the end where I actually feel sorry for the Aunts. But not much. I like centipede the best. Although he starts out being a bit of a cad, he turns out to be a true hero, and I always like that kind of change.....

I think Sam does love Brigid - or at least as close as he can come to love. He is not a particularly romantic fellow, as we see from his treatment of Miles' widow ( and if you read the book you know he is a ladies man, and not very nice at that). Miles' widow is just playing a game and Sam is an all too willing participant. With Sam and Brigid, I think it is more a recognition that they are the same type of people - amoral SOB's. His speech at the end is a giveaway, though and I always think that here is where Bogie reaches his finest acting - his face squinches all up in agony when he realizes that he can't have her love if he is just another patsy......Truly I think Sam can't love anyone who really loves him and so he loves the woman who cannot love, the psychopath who would betray him at the drop of a hat. He can't love a woman he doesn't know, so he forces her to tell him the truth. But when she finally comes clean with him, he can't protect her anymore. He realizes that he is hooked even more. And he is caught- he cannot earn her love without sending her up the river. I think in that last scene there are many clues to Sam's feelings. The main one for me is the way he delivers that last line: "It's the stuff that dreams are made of..." Look at his face... he is not talking about money.... his eyes follow Brigid out the door.... The dream is Sam and Bridgid together. Brigid on the other hand, I believe was simply expecting Sam to be like all the others - to let her go. She may love him, but would she if he bailed her out? I suspect not, but we can't know.... this is what makes the movie great, it tatalizingly holds the truth just beyond our reach even at the end..... Message was edited by: JackFavell

Hey, Scotchie! Don't apologize! I am glad you are here....especially if you agree with me though it's not necessary..... I just love the movie, and I forgot to mention the songs too--- I know you are a musical buff as well. I really like the songs in this movie. "My Name is James" at the beginning always makes me cry..... And also, one of my favorite actors is in it- Pete Postlethwaite. He should do tons and tons of movies. He's been fantastic in the few movies I've seen him in.

oh my gosh. I sat right there and watched High Noon, watched Frank Miller talking about it, and NEVER ONCE thought about him having the same name! Until I just read this post. How funny is that....

Yes, Mica, it was. I forgot to mention how beautiful and imaginative it is, as well as having a great story and theme. My daughter saw it when she was little, and although she didn't watch the very beginnig (it's a little too rough for the age she was at the time), she loved the rest of the story. In fact, we made a bag for preschool with James and the Giant Peach characters all over it! I printed pictures of the individual characters, and then put pictures of Alice, our family and her friends with them. On one side of the bag, Alice is riding in the balloon pulled by seagulls with all the bug and insect friends. On the other side of the bag, the peach is stuck on top of the Empire State Building with our friends and family (and pets) watching from below. I am really proud of our artistic effort. I can't for the life of me understand why this movie, of all the Tim Burton movies, just sort of fell thorgh the cracks.... I like it so much better than A Nightmare Bfore Christmas, and The Corpse Bride......

I liked the Tim Burton one too, I think because he didn't try in any way to copy the Gene Wilder film. He had his own vision of the story, and that is a good reason to remake a movie. So many remakes now are simply cashing in on a commodity, but Burton seems to have wanted to bring out a different part of the story. My favorite Burton film of all time is *James and the Giant Peach*. It is a marvelous film, and I think any kid (or adult) who's had a rough childhood should see it. Actually, everybody should see it, regardless of their childhood! The themes of making your own family, fighting your fears, and not letting a bad childhood stop you from having a great life make this one very emotional for me. Burton has made a very empowering kids movie here, and hopefully, many kids were influenced by the film to make their own happiness, to believe in their own goodness and worthiness in spite of harsh adult treatment.

I am so glad that Ford was able to sit quietly back while the "big stars" battled themselves out of the movie! I wouldn't be surprised if he put a bee in their bonnets, instigating the whole thing in the first place..... > Ha! It's true! It seems like all of a sudden EVERYTHING came together---theme, character, > pathos, imagery in such a seamless, perfect manner! This movie totally took me by surprise, > I had not been prepared to love it and admire it so much. I was very surprised by the movie as well. I just love surprises, don't you? I think this is the best way to discover a movie, not by reading some film critic's analysis.... > As I read the novel, their faces and aspects were described just as they > appear in the movie! It was perfect casting. His casting is brillant. He couldn't have found any better trio.... I am always amazed at how he seems to start from the books and find the perfect alter egos on film. It belies the haphazard, "regular guy" personality that he liked to put on, and shows a respect for literature and books. I like this secret "wussy" side of Ford so much. it's very attractive.... if only he had known that, he might have let it out once in a while......outside of film.

I'm thinking Rod LaRocque as well......and I do believe that is the dress I've seen Gish wearing in other stills from One Romantic Night. Jeff- that Gilbert portrait is by far my favorite of your pics so far - the color just illuminates his eyes so well, and it is the most stunning of the clean shaven photos....... what a beautiful shot! I priced the Murnau-Borzage as well... it's not going to happen in this economy. I'll have to hope for a rich uncle to leave me all his money.....

Ro- this is by far my favorite of your rambles. You have put into words so much that I could not. First of all- I don't like the two sided discs.....they bug me for some reason. They don't label them well. Anyway, your story had me laughing till .... no I didn't spit water out my nose... but just about. Your description of *Three Bad Men* made me want to cry. The way that Ford just turns everything upside down in this movie is grand - like the "heroes" coming OUT of the sun..... I loved this movie so much and you just helped me relive it all over again. In some ways, I think this film goes to the heart of Ford's themes better than any of his films. He brings forth the idea that "good" does not always mean "pure". That the heart of a man is more important than where he's been or even what he's done. That friendship can mean something deeper than just "talk". And that love between a man and a woman does not always have to be consummated, and it is borne of respect. Ford explores these subjects, but he entertains us "purty well" the whole time! Where did this movie come from? I want to know! I have watched The Iron Horse and Hangman's House, and though they are interesting and historic movies, I cannot see Ford's soul in them, only little glimpses. But in Three Bad Men - It's suddenly all there, the twisting of the villain into hero by the redeeming power of love, the fact that there are three heroes (actually four) instead of just one, the multi-plotted story, the rough and tumble lifestyle of the old west, the feisty but sweet heroine, the slow picking off of favorite characters in noble sacrifice.......everything..... how did it happen? and in one fell swoop? And when did he decide to make the hero three old men? He takes the focus off of the young lovers, and places where it belongs - in the most interesting place, looking at the most interesting characters, the Three "Bad" Men.

Izcutter- These are exactly my feelings about Jack Nicholson. When he gets lazy, I simply don't like him. He starts hamming it up all over the place and doesn't even try to act. But Reds proved he had it in him to make a very deep, multi-MULTI-layered performance. The way he can say a line and make it mean five different things at the same time is just astounding. He is just awesome. And it made me realize why he became "Jack Nicholson" the star in the first place. I would love Reds anyway, even if he weren't in it. It's an astoundingly wonderful romantic historical epic with documentary overtones, and is about a period and place in history that we just don't get to see very often. It's a very emotional picture. But oh, what Nicholson adds to this movie is immense..... I prefer him in movies like this, and yes, Chinatown, and Five Easy Pieces. The Last Detail is the one I really want to check out next. But, please, NO Terms of Endearment.....

Oh, man..... My brain hurts already. Now you're actually going to impose restrictions?

I just watched Naked City last night. I can't remember the guy's name (is it Garza?), but at the end, he was shot and fell over the railing of the Manhattan Tower at the Williamsburg Bridge. Which reminded me of Norman Lloyd falling off the Statue of Liberty in Saboteur......

Iz - I just adore the Three and Four Musketeers. They are super fun movies, full of bawdy adventure and silly comic characters - including Michael York, the leading man but also the most ridiculous and endearing D'Artagnan ever. I also have a huge soft spot for Roy Kinnear. But, I have a secret love..... Oliver Reed (although I don't know why, since the first movie I saw him in was Oliver! in which he played the meanest, most awful !@#$% ever)..... Anyway, he is really, really good as Athos. So good, I can't watch anyone else play the part without thinking of Reed and wishing I were watching this version. I don't think Reed made many good movies, but he should have, because in this movie he shows how good an actor he was. It's a wonderful scene, revealing his love, showing all the torment and torture this brave musketeer (my favorite) has gone through. Sigh.

dred- what you said about Fountain I will second. She was surprisingly fair and did her homework well. I was a bit surprised that she was so objective......

Oh, my gosh! I was going to say the same thing, Izcutter. Reds is a fantastic movie, and I recommend it highly. And it's true - if you don't think Jack can act.... go rent this movie. To me, it's as good as he gets....

I liked your list, too. I was especially interested in the breakdown of directors - I didn't realize that some of my favorites were directed by the same person....like Jim Sheridan with In the Name of the Father and My Left Foot. Or the Alan J. Pakula movies. And was it really only 7 years between The Man Who Would Be King and Star Trek: Wrath of Khan? That's just weird to me. Thank you for listing The Musketeers movies, and Dog Day Afternoon, Lone Star (John Sayles is one of my favorite directors and he never gets remembered.)

I also read that he was related by marriage to Lionel Barrymore ....

Oh super! I can't wait for the coming discussion.....

He was quite the busy bee in 1915/1916 ..... Wonder what made him give it up....I guess I'm glad he did, because I certainly love to see him acting..... I knew that he started Actor's Equity with Eddie Foy, but not that he was a director....

Oooh, I would love to know what Scott Eyman says... tell him how much I loved his book on Ford....no no that's OK.... drednm - I still think I read that Leatrice Fountain tried to confirm the story by interviewing others.... however, if it really does come down to one person's version, I am inclined to be skeptical. No matter how truthful Ms. Boardman might be, I unfortunately would not trust the story without verification.....

William Daniels played John Adams in *1776* and (ack) The Rebels. He also played Sam Adams in (ack) The Bastard and John Quincy Adams in (wonderful) *The Adams Chronicles*

I have to agree with you about Norma! I liked her so much more in this movie than later in her upper-crust roles.... I hate to say that I cannot remember Gilbert well in this movie. I was so touched by Chaney that I can only remember his performance.... It's time to revisit this old favorite movie......

I saw it too. It made me stop what I was doing to stand and watch in respect----I think TCM is pretty good at remembering everyone....

But when it comes to slaughter You will do your work on water, An' you'll lick the bloomin' boots of 'im that's got it.