JackFavell

I agree about the production values. There is one other thing I like about it besides the wonderful Walter Brennan -Coop relationship, and that is the cinematography by the superb Gregg Toland.

Wow! That is amazing. It makes me respect him so much more. That is a superbly well written letter, his class just shines through even the most bitter passages. Like I said, amazing. I Love The Westerner. It is one of my favorites. I hope he came to see it as a good experience.... Maybe they actually acceded to his requests?

Whistlingypsy- somehow, your post made me think of last year's *Stranger than Fiction* - the main character (an IRS auditor) finds that cookies, though not part of his daily routine, are really good. In fact, they lead to true love..... Message was edited by: JackFavell

Great choices, and pictures WG! I think I have seen Eat Drink, but for the life of me I can't remember it. The other two look scrumptious.

and this is Frankie this morning....

I think Frankie is sleeping off a hangover.... He may not remember, but this was our Frankie last night.....

I can't decide whether to have Cary Grant on rye, or Godfrey, straight up.....

God, those are incredible! I am embarrassed to say I have no idea what Blu-ray is. Do you need a special player (probably, since those are so spectacularly clear)? Incredible shot in picture number three- is that John Ford Point? Look how he sets up the trail of mourners coming across the bottom of the screen, then curving up from the left to just inside the top right quadrant of the screen- with the crosses catching your eye? It looks as close to heaven as it could be. The weight of the wagon at the base grounds us, but also leads us to look up at the true focus of the shot. There is a shot I found the other night watching on AMC (commercials ugh) that I just loved. It is a head shot of Wayne and Bond looking over a precipice, maybe? Their heads are both facing the same direction, mimicking each other, it was just a gorgeous set up.

Sorry I wasn't here last night- I was having trouble with posts popping up in my e mail 10 times, and other posts not showing up at all. I gave up and went to bed. Now, is there anything greater or more iconic than John Wayne's face against the blue sky of Monument Valley in the top picture? I love the look on his face in the second from bottom picture- when is that exactly in the movie? I am beginning to appreciate the nuances of Wayne's acting. He really is tremendously good. His face in this picture just says everything. Maybe people would like to know where this discussion started. We were speculating that perhaps Scar, Marty and Ethan were related- not sure quite how, or what happened, but it is possible. Scar and Ethan are like two sided of a coin- they are exactly alike and they hate one another for it. We were discussing the choice of a blue eyed actor to play Scar. In any other movie from that time, I would say it was just a throw away casting decision, but because it was Ford, I think it was definitely on purpose, meant to show how alike these two really are. I am curious also about Marty's heritage- At filmsite.org , the reviewer says that Ethan rescued Marty from a raid on an Indian camp. When he was brought back, Aaron adopted him. Later, Ethan says that one of the scalps Scar shows them was Marty's mother's. How does he know that?

Maybe not a memorable exit- but I love the end of *Purple Rose of Cairo*.

Great choices, CK! I especially love the Mildred Pierce description. I would never have thought that Joan Crawford would be empowered by food! Babette's Feast is one of my favorite movies- I haven't seen it for a while, though. I remember being amazed at the incredible scenes of French culinary art- the amount of time the preparation of really good food takes. It is ravishing in it's depiction of food, and the way a really good meal warms up the townspeople, so used to dried salt cod! Another couple of movies about the transformative effects of food are Tampopo and Chocolat. Tampopo is basically the story of a woman who is left in charge of a noodle shop when her husband dies. She is really not good at cooking, so she hires a roving cowboy to help her make the shop something special. Along the way, there are side stories about people's relationship to food... it's wonderful, though there are some VERY grown-up moments, this one isn't for kids. Chocolat is about how a chocolatiere transforms an entire town- really it is a broad remake of Babette's Feast, but enjoyable all the same. My favorite character is the Mayor, played by the wonderful Alfred Molina ( is there anything he cannot do?), who refuses to be seduced by the sweet confections, which you KNOW would help him warm up and ease his rigid soul....

Blah! I hate Mary Poppins! Just kidding, Butter. But shouldn't we have tea on the ceiling?

Okie dokie. I don't know if I have anything else to contribute, but I'll follow you anywhere, Iz! I'm sure I will think of somethin' Message was edited by: JackFavell

That's my Frankie.....

Frank - I'm warning you: I said NO food fights.... If you're nice maybe winsome Miss G, Buttercutie, Whistlinsweetheart and I will give you a treat.....

I take it back, drinking doesn't always look so good in the movies..... This party is getting out of hand....

Well, I love it, no matter which one sings and which plays trombone....

Theo Von Alten in Hitchcock's *Champagne*

Sorry I didn't get back to you party guests, but I just got enormously hungry! Had to go make some spaghetti. Whistlingypsy- You and I are on the same wavelength! I wanted so much to find a picture of darling Cuddles with a big plate of pancakes, but there simply isn't one on the net. I am heartbroken. I frequently feel like Barbara Stanwyck in my kitchen, but unfortunately, I have no uncle Felix to bail me out. Miss Goddess- I'll go easy on the champagne if someone will please buy me some earrings exactly like those Miss Monroe has on.....

OK. I started it in General Discussions. See ya, unless someone's been done in..... http://forums.tcm.com/jive/tcm/thread.jspa?messageID=8069350#8069350

Whistlin' - you're very welcome. I found one disc of his movies on Netflix, so I will add it to my queue. Frank - you may push her too far. I'd watch out if I were you.....

Chaplin alone had a million great eating scenes-

Why does food and drink (and especially drink) always look so good in the movies? Here are a few obvious examples to get you started. From the queen of martinis: and the king:

I will go ahead on the eating and drinking thread, so get your utensils ready.....

oops, sorry wrong thread....