JackFavell
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Posts posted by JackFavell
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I don't know why the Dorothy Sebastian photos caught my eye so much. She is not the most beautiful star of the twenties. But she has a "look" that is very expressive and she know how to charm the camera. Maybe her slightly crooked nose and features make for a more interesting photo session. It does to me anyway. She's not just relying on looks.
Edited by: JackFavell on Oct 8, 2011 10:12 AM
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>*As Liz & Dick are to glamour, and Fred & Ginger are to dancing...and as Laurel & Hardy are to comedy, I would liken Tracy & Hepburn to Acting. It was a good point Miss G. brings up when she says she "enjoys more of the work they did apart from each other..." because it makes me sit down and really think about their individual work.*
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>*I find what Tracy & Hepburn bring to the table is their own strength. They are not two halves of a whole like the teams above. Tracy & Hepburn are fully realized screen personas...strong and equal partners. I have a feeling that individually, Kate and Spence had the admiration (and envy) of their peers in reference to how they were seen as Actors.*
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>*As Miss G. mentioned, it's been said that Gable was a little jealous of Spence for really being considered the Actor. (And I suspect in maybe some of Spence's tortured "boozy" moments, he wished he had the sheen of popularity that The King had. Oh yes everyone wants to be Respected; ooooh, but to be Desired...now that's the ticket).*
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>*And the man who brings them together is director George Stevens. He's worked with Kate before but not Tracy. And a good director wants to work with an Actor, not a personality. He wants to work with someone who can dig his teeth into a role and communicate such an amorphous thing as Emotion. Stevens has that with Tracy and Hepburn.*
Wow! This was just beautiful, Mava! I LOVE the NOT TWO HALVES OF A WHOLE premise, that they are individual, fully realized before they meet. In other words, they are grownups.
I think this is why they are SO enjoyable to watch, seeing them hit against one another as separates, but then snuggle in together as one whole by the end. That's where the sparks come from. They have it all - in spades.
Edited by: JackFavell on Oct 8, 2011 9:57 AM
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It's not that I DON'T like *A Place in the Sun* and *Giant* - I do! A lot even. They are just further down the list than the others right now.
Again, there are movies by Stevens where I like certain parts of the movie a huge amount, then other parts of the same movie that don't always fit for me. *Giant* is one of those (like *Talk of the Town*) where the tone changes but it doesn't bother me. Maybe because it is epic in scale, it's got to go somewhere else after a while. And Elizabeth Taylor is just great at bridging both drama and comedy.
Old James Dean though.... yikes!
*A Place in the Sun* is pretty near perfect, like *Shane*. But I definitely have to be in the right tragic mood.
Oh, and I'm with Goddess on *Beau Geste* over *Gunga Din*. I'm guessing Gunga Din will be more your style too. I think the last third will surprise you, how much modern moviemakers have lifted from it.
Vic is a darling! I'm so glad you have enjoyed him, You know he's one of my favorite actors. And Doug Jr. ain't bad either. Have you seen much of his films? You might like a couple of the pre-codes. *Gunga Din* a romp with those three goofing around. Lots of fun. Kind of like the Marx Brothers meet *The Lost Patrol.*
Edited by: JackFavell on Oct 8, 2011 9:51 AM
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Wow! Another beautifully done photo Jeff!
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Whoa! That is kind of bizarre. I didn't think Nazimova played character parts that early. And what a "notable" cast!
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Well that explains it! I couldn't tell if the artist had fussed with her hair as to the color.
Here are my Dorothy Sebastian photos. I could keep going. She really took great photos.
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That's a great title!
The artwork doesn't do Jacqueline Logan justice.
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Sweet!
That photo of Dorothy Sebastian rocks! I think she was one of the most photogenic of actresses.
I have a few of her that are just stunning.
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So sorry to hear about your computer troubles Jeff.
I can't wait to see The Loves of Pharoah!
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I'm so dumb, I didn't even realize it was the same movie, even after I read Moira's description.
what a cast! I love them all!
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Oh, I think I remember now.
I must have seen it on Woody Strode day, and I was so concerned with all these other actors, that I just ignored poor Roger.
That's the one where Woody is this powerful scary chief or medicine man or something and he has such a presence! Yes, Finch definitely made an impression on me here. He made me think maybe I had misjudged him as an actor. The movie was just on the other night wasn't it? I didn't remember the title or I would have recorded and watched it.
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Isn't that weird?
I don;t even remember Roger Moore...I must have been so taken with Peter that I didn't notice him. It seems impossible to not notice Roger Moore!
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I like Albert Finney, but of course, he has more movies since he's still going strong nowadays.
I actually like Finney better the older he gets.
Maybe Ill see if I can find Rachel Cade again. I don't know if I ever found out how it ends.
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Yes, I like those! I know he's a good actor, but maybe too good. I probably don't care for him because the movies I saw first he played loonies or cold almost evil people. I just HATE him in The Pumpkin Eater.
I remember him most as the creepy Mr. Boldwood in Far from the Madding Crowd, and Liz's crazy husband in Elephant Walk. Then there's Network..... you see my problem.... I guess I need a few more nice guy roles thrown in before I can really warm up to him.
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I think he would have been a very good Mr. Rochester... he certainly has the brooding part down. I am not a huge fan of his, but I do like him as a doctor.... was it in The Nun's Story, or was there another with Angie Dickinson? I'm confused now, maybe he was two doctors?
I like him as a doctor. And I think he showed a delicacy there and also a bit of humor. Was it The Nun's Story? Sheesh, where is my brain???
Edited by: JackFavell on Oct 7, 2011 12:04 PM
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That's hilarious! You have good taste, too.
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I listed *Long Days Journey* - she's fabulous. I wonder if Frank would like that one... it's so dark... but 3 hours long.
I forgot *The Rainmaker*! She IS good in that one, another of her unsure of herself roles.
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I'd be curious to see what you would think of *Judgment at Nuremberg* and *Inherit the Wind*, since you like courtroom drama.
>You're doomed! If Sam would be funny about his being upset and frustrated, I'd probably like the film in its entirety.
That's the problem with tone I have trouble with. At first it's funny, and i love the sparks they strike off each other, but it continues until some very serious things happen between them. I usually like a mixture like that, drama in my comedy and comedy in my drama. But with Stevens he seems to make two different movies that don't come together - the tones aren't the same which is very frustrating. Even Sturges can introduce drama into his comedies while retaining the same TONE. I think of *Sullivan's Travels*, or *The Miracle of Morgan's Creek* ... though I do understand that some people hate Sullivan's for that mix of comedy and drama.
I like the idea of *Woman of the Year*, the story of modern people trying to fit their incredibly complicated lives together...but Stevens seems to think that it all boils down to whether she can cook a breakfast for her man! Ugh.
>I've now seen ten Stevens films and they rank as follows:
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>1. Shane
>2. The More the Merrier
>3. A Place in the Sun
>4. Giant
>5. The Talk of the Town
>6. Vivacious Lady
>7. Penny Serenade
>8. Woman of the Year
>9. Quality Street
>10. Alice Adams
My favorites ranked:
1. Shane
2. The More the Merrier
3. The Talk of the Town ( despite tone shifts)
4. Annie Oakley
5. Alice Adams
6. Quality Street
7. Penny Serenade
8. I Remember Mama
9. Swing Time
10. Giant
11. A Place in the Sun
12. Woman of the Year
13. Gunga Din
13. Vivacious Lady
14. Vigil in the Night
George Stevens most perfect films (no tone shifts)
1. Shane
2. A Place in the Sun
3. I Remember Mama
4. The More the Merrier
5. Annie Oakley
6. Alice Adams
7. Swing Time
8. Penny Serenade
9. Gunga Din - (reservations about this one. I am not crazy about the climax of the film, but I'm not sure that it's because of tone that I dislike it.)
10. Quality Street
11. Vigil in the Night
And i might as well list my Kate and Spence favorite performances here too, while I'm at it. OY! Do you know how much I hate list making??!!
_Kate_ ( a very subjective list):
The Philadelphia Story
Summertime
The Lion in Winter
Long Day's Journey into Night
The African Queen
Alice Adams
Holiday
Desk Set
Adam's Rib
The Little Minister
Woman of the Year
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Bringing Up Baby
Pat and Mike
Little Women
Quality Street
Stage Door
Spitfire
Suddenly Last Summer
I can include some more, but by the time you get down here, they aren't as interesting to me anymore so it's not worth wasting the page.
_Spence_:
Bad Day at Black Rock
The Last Hurrah
Father of the Bride
Judgment at Nuremberg
The Actress
Test Pilot
Captain's Courageous
Boy's Town
A Guy Named Joe
Fury
20,000 Years in Sing SIng
Inherit the Wind
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
The Old Man and the Sea
Pat and Mike
Adam's Rib
A Man's Castle
Riff Raff
Desk Set
Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Edward My Son
The Mountain
There are a few more here too, but at this point it's not a question of listing all the movies of his I've seen, just the favorites.
Spence is very hard to rank because some of his best performances are the ones that look so easy, like in *Father of the Bride* or *Judgment at Nuremberg*. He's SO natural, it doesn't look like acting.
And speaking of subjective, I think the Kate/Spence films are very subjective, that's why everyone has their differences as far as favorites. However, I think everyone here might say something different if they were asked which was their best film.
For me it's *Adam's Rib*.
And I love both Kate and Spence in *Guess Who's Coming to Dinner* . It's just that parts of the movie make me not like the movie as much. In thinking about THEIR performances, I think I could move this one up my Kate/Spence movies list quite a bit, probably over *Keeper of the Flame*.
Edited by: JackFavell on Oct 7, 2011 9:29 AM
Edited by: JackFavell on Oct 7, 2011 9:33 AM
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Ha ha! That's hilarious, Maven! I never ever thought about the oddness of Coburn siring the two men! Oh my! A bit implausible when you think about it.
I watched almost all of *Vivacious Lady*, but fell asleep before the end. I have to say, it came close to bugging me, that whole thing with Jimmy not telling his family.... about the third time he couldn't do it I was screaming at Ginger to just leave him! But then the fourth time came around, and I started to see it as funny, the more times it happened. Jimmy is s-s-so doggone ...um...well.... g-g-g-good at his role that I forgot to be bugged and started enjoying the ways that the family thwarted him.
Loved the cat fight, especially the way that it ended - with Ginger trying to look composed with her hands full of the other girl's hair and the other girl's face not even showing from amidst the ripped up fluff and finery.
Other scenes I very much liked were the ones with Beulah Bondi. She was just great, dancing around the room only to find Coburn staring her down.
I recorded it so now I have to go back and watch the end to see if I really enjoy it, or if Stevens is going to make me suffer through a movie I half like and half hate.
BTW- I really like Shane, Giant, Alice Adams (even though there is embarrassment and suffering in that one), A Place in the Sun, Talk of the Town, The More the Merrier, Penny Serenade, Vigil in the Night, Annie Oakley, Swing Time and A Damsel in Distress. I like 2/3rds of Gunga Din.
I just wish he weren't so scattered sometimes, his mixtures of comedy and drama don't always gel for me. Even Talk of the Town, which I love, has problems with it's direction and tone at points.
Edited by: JackFavell on Oct 6, 2011 2:27 PM
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Woman of the Year is an absolute must see for Tracy and Hepburn's chemistry. I don't dislike the movie at all, I just get bogged down waiting for Tracy to quit being stubborn so they can get together.
I LOVE the way they meet, her stocking adjustment, the baseball game, that smoking jacket(!!)... the way he comes back to the house at the end... many many scenes that are just great. But the way the story concludes just doesn't sit right with me.
I actually find it rather funny watching Tracy squirm while Hepburn gives him the masculine treatment - telling him his hat is "cute" while brushing him off because she is busy with her work. I guess I just wish that this one had been written more even handedly... not Spence fuming over her career for so long before it gets to the point. I wish there was one scene where he has to acknowledge that he needs to change a little too. SHe shouldn't be the only one to compromise. His just showing back up is not enough for me.
I guess I have a love/hate relationship with Stevens... his insistence on embarrassing his main characters by putting them in awkward situations sometimes grates on me, like in that last scene.
Other than that, It's a terrific movie, and a brilliant start to their careers together. I ALWAYS love them together.
Edited by: JackFavell on Oct 6, 2011 12:31 PM
Edited by: JackFavell on Oct 6, 2011 12:34 PM
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I love anything pumpkin.
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> {quote:title=FrankGrimes wrote:}{quote}*Oh no! Watch out Menzies! Hank is coming after you!*
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> She's an easy mark. I think I'll ask her to dance, first. Put her in the mood.
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Harry, don't come looking for me, my purse is just as empty. But I have some patent medicine I can sell you.....
A dance? Sure, but don't get too friendly with your hands. I can take care of myself.
MissG - thanks for the Menzies reference! :x
Maven - my list of Hepburn Tracy films is just about opposite of yours.
1. Desk Set
2. Adam's Rib
3. Pat and Mike
4. Woman of the Year
5. Keeper of the Flame
6. Sea of Grass
7. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
State of the Union (I think this one might rank as high as number 4 but I can't really remember it.)
Without Love - can't remember this one either.
I hate to say, I am with Frankie on his review of Woman of the Year. I like it, but wish it retained the spark of their early scenes.
And I'm totally with you on that last scene.... it just bugs me!
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Hey! Ben made your list!
RAMBLES Part II
in Films and Filmmakers
Posted
June's also good as the crazy daughter in *The Secret Heart.*
Edouardo Cianelli shows off some nice gams in Gunga Din. Who knew he had those shapely legs?