JackFavell

> {quote:title=FrankGrimes wrote:}{quote}*You mean you are actually going to watch another? Wow. You are good.* > > I have the box set, so yeah. Whoa! Maybe they will grow on you. Now that you own them, you might as well get your money's worth! > That's pretty much it. It's all about the song and dance. I liked Helen Broderick, though. Helen is a stitch! I love her too. Another smart mouth dame who can deliver a sharp line. > *Oh the final scene is great though!* > > The entire prison scene is what bothers me. Oh I like it now. The movie does lag a bit in that last third, though. I agree. I just watch Cary's reactions to everything. He's so good at never getting a word in, all through the movie he is just trying to get someone to listen to him. And in the jail scene, he is even more ignored, so much so that he actually gets out of the cell without anyone even noticing him. Imagine not noticing Cary Grant! Walter Catlett makes me laugh too. He's my favorite, more so in the scene where he tries to give Kate a ticket. Right now, you are in my territory, comedies and the Astaire Rogers musicals. But I've been travelling through your territory lately.

> Oh, I see. This was my first Fred & Ginger, so all of it is new to me. Maybe I'll be more inclined to handle the singing and dancing in the next flick. You mean you are actually going to watch another? Wow. You are good. > I can definitely believe that. I was definitely impressed with the dancing. It's just that's not going to get me to like a film. I need to care about the story and characters or like the visuals, mood, and atmosphere. I'm not a "singing and dancing" guy. I like the characters. The story is only the thinnest of excuses to get them together to spark and play together. > I like the film, despite a weak final act. Oh the final scene is great though! > I wouldn't want to live there. Anybody who judges people on standing and possessions ain't for me. Not everyone is like that, but there seems to be a very different mindset here. Most of that snobbery is masked by either a stodgy reliance on old ways and family connections, or by a go getter mentality that I also don't understand. The people don't think they are snobs, they just want to do things the same way they have always been done. New blood is suspect. Or they don't have time to bother with anyone they don't already know - these are the folks who have high powered jobs in NY and commute or think they are the be all end all in business here in CT. Of course there are some exceptions which it is always nice to run across. > I liked how the story grew and grew until the quake hit. I enjoyed how **** (Clark Gable) and Mary (Jeanette MacDonald) fed off of each other. One of my favorite moments was when Mary performs in the contest for ****'s club and he ends up turning down her winning gesture. I thought that was great. I liked the lesson of love. What did you think of Spence?

> {quote:title=FrankGrimes wrote:}{quote} > That's my second favorite song and dance in the film. I didn't like "The Piccolino." it's very much a studio creation, it doesn't have the creativity of the other numbers that Astaire and Hermes Pan choreographed. It was supposed to be "the next big thing" after their previous picture's "The Continental" became a best selling song. I still like it, but not as much as the other numbers. The numbers in the Astaire/Rogers movies are so far above anything anyone else was doing at the time, one can forgive the movie plots for being a little lame. Frankly, I don't think anyone ever was able to match the quality of those numbers. I love the way Fred and Ginger relate. If you watch some of their earlier films, when they were second fiddles, it's fascinating how fresh they are compared to the couple playing the leading parts. > *I like that too, he's a good hearted man. I really like Franchot Tone in this movie a lot. I tend to like him as an actor as long as the plot makes sense. Some of his early 30's films are a little silly. he gets stuck in the callow leading man role a little too much. he really blew my mind in Phantom Lady.* > I also liked Franchot in both *Quality Street* and *Phantom Lady*. What a double bill that would make! I'm afraid there wouldn't be too many people who would like both films! Maybe only you and me. But I'd love it! > *She was Thomas Mitchell's wife. The hateful one who gets upset at the card party.* > > She played you?! Hey, I don't play cards! > Kate is why I even like *Bringing Up Baby*. She's so playful and full of love. I think I am on an upswing with BUB. Sometimes I can't take it. Other times I love it. > I agree with that. But I still believe women fuss and worry about their looks far more than is needed. They concern themselves with "coloring" more than a guy would even care about. That's true. > That is rather boring. I like getting to know people. I just don't understand it. They are very class conscious here which is something I really don't get. It's not a part of my makeup to worry first about what kind of car someone drives or where they live, before finding out whether you have similar tastes in things. It's stupid. What did you like best about San Fran? Gable?

> {quote:title=FrankGrimes wrote:}{quote}*Um, a snippy girl and a goofy guy fall for each other while bantering back and forth.....* > > That's fine with me! The story isn't the greatest. I agree. > It's very jarring for me. When Jerry (Fred Astaire) starts tapping in front of Horace (Edward Everett Horton), I knew I was in trouble. But I did like when Jerry and Dale (Ginger Rogers) danced to "Cheek to Cheek." I didn't like the last act of the film. I thought you might like the "Isn't this a Lovely Day" number where they dance in the rain. They look like they are having so much fun together, it's my favorite of their numbers of all time. And it's hard to choose. > I'm gonna watch that again. The beginning of the film was tough for me to get into because I didn't know the characters yet. Now that I know who Susan is and what she's all about, I'll probably like the scene just as you do. Fay really knocks it out of the park. > That was wonderfully expressed. It's her sweetness and her shyness that draws me to her. I like that Valentine (Franchot Tone) looked after her, too. I like that too, he's a good hearted man. I really like Franchot Tone in this movie a lot. I tend to like him as an actor as long as the plot makes sense. Some of his early 30's films are a little silly. he gets stuck in the callow leading man role a little too much. he really blew my mind in Phantom Lady. > The only other film I've seen her in is *Make Way for Tomorrow*, and I can't remember who she played. She was Thomas Mitchell's wife. The hateful one who gets upset at the card party. > I like when Kate is playing a "little girl." There's a freshness to her. That's the "breezy" I speak of. Oh, yes! Like in Bringing Up Baby. That goofy side of her. > Nicely said. You're right, Kate provides some nice subtle emotions throughout the film. I think Hepburn is one of the best cry-ers on film. When she cries her whole face stretches and then crumples up. And she gets that quivering lip. That quiver you wish you could control but can't when you are trying to hide that you are crying. > I don't think either sex likes a slob, but I believe most guys like how their woman looks, naturally. I usually like a girl who isn't overly done. Less is quite often more. Men say they like a girl who isn't wearing any makeup, but don't like a girl who actually isn't wearing any.....unless she is blessed with perfect features and coloring already. I think they like the appearance of naturalness, but not so much the real thing. > Stuck?! New England is a nice place to be stuck in. Yes, it's pretty here. But the people are very clannish. they aren't very willing to get to know you if you are an outsider. > I liked how Charlotte (Jean Simmons) and Jake (Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.) would spend time together at the docks, early in the morning. Oh that was lovely! I really enjoyed those scenes. > Our area is starting to improve. Lots of clean-up around the Swatara Creek (Hershey, Hummelstown) and downtown Harrisburg, along the Susquehanna River. I hope it gets some drying time. > My dad is doing just fine. We were able to save his basement from any major damage. We dumped over a 1000 gallons of water via the ShopVac. We'd get it as it came into the basement. The 10-gallon ShopVac would fill up in a minute to a minute and a half. Then we'd dump it in the deep sink and go right back for the next wave of water. We were able to keep up and then eventually get ahead of it. How dedicated you are. I've filled and emptied those shop vacs, at my own dad's basement. It awfully hard work. Your dad is lucky to have you.

> {quote:title=FrankGrimes wrote:}{quote}Hey there, Little Red Buick -- *I am shocked you are being so complementary about Quality Street! Or that you watched it in the first place.* > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G75cORqX_oQ lol! > Hmmmmmmmmm... Um, a snippy girl and a goofy guy fall for each other while bantering back and forth..... did you... like the dancing? Don't tell me.... > I don't even remember the wedding dress scene! That's bad on me. When does it occur? Early on? It's very early on, she gives her wedding dress to Phoebe when they think Franchot is going to propose. > She really is. I think Susan (Fay) is very cute. I liked her downing the cordials. She's adorable, very wide eyed and girlish, self effacing. I don't think I've ever seen Fay like this before. Her obvious emotions betray every nervous moment of their scheme, but she is never over the top in any way. She's delicate, very shy, and still really fun to watch. I keep looking to her for her reactions. In other movies she always seems very womanly. I really love that she plays perfect accompaniment to so many of Hollywood's headstrong women. She even played a horrible evil-minded sister in law who goes mad in The Shining Hour with Joan Crawford. > Estelle has such distinctive eyes. I liked Patty's (Cora) scene at the window. Her longing for a guy; a soldier with a wooden leg that needed taking care of. I forgot that part. It is kind of sweet, the way she isn't asking too much, but probably still won't get it. > Really? I never knew that. This is the kind of Kate I like. She's very breezy. I thought she was good. I agree, I think she does very well with the material. I think Hepburn makes a big change in the mid-thirties. She stops trying so hard to act, and starts letting herself react to others. This one gives her a chance to do both. I think she's quite touching as Phoebe, who only sits and waits, and callow but charming as Livvy, her idea of what men want. I also like her shock and attempt to hide her feelings when misunderstanding Franchot's intentions at the beginning. > The humor is very light, which is befitting the women. It's very much a "comedy of manners." VERY light. The tone is just right to make the silly contrived romance plausible. There is no reason this film should work, except for the great cast who ALL hit the right notes, and George Stevens extremely gentle treatment of the story. > I completely agree with that. But you women just can't get that through your thick skull! And then you blame it on us men! My grandma likes to say, "the trouble we women go through to look nice for you men." Wrong! The trouble you women go through to look nice for yourself! Yes, but if a woman doesn't fit a certain standard or take care of herself, you don't take a second look. I can't tell you how many women I have heard say, "Why doesn't he like me just for me? not see the person I am, instead of what I look like?" Of course, I have just as many male friends who say the same thing. > I thought it was very good. I usually like Jean. Jean really shines in this one for me, and she doesn't have that icy remove. She seems very open and human to me. I really identify with her character. Stuck in New England. I'll add my sentiments to everyone else's.... I hope the floods do subside there soon! Is your dad alright? I hope the basement or things in it didn't have too much damage. Flood is a terrible thing to deal with afterwards, as is fire. Mold and the smell of mildew or smoke is hard to deal with as well. I've missed the discussion of *Under Capricorn*. I probably lost track of the Hitch thread somewhere along the way. You are the second person to mention conversation there. What makes you a ****?

I agree! I have been in a mothering mood lately since I found out about Wallace Ford's singular past, so anyone who has that lost painful look is going to find a home in my heart. You are making me want to watch Forever Amber again... love George, speaking of mothering the soul underneath. I am amazed they couldn't get ahold of it for Linda's day.

I am shocked you are being so complementary about *Quality Street!* Or that you watched it in the first place. Even more of a shock is that you placed it above Top Hat, which I thought you would really like. Fay Bainter is just terrific in this movie - she's my favorite too. It's the movie that made me really notice her - that scene with the wedding dress makes me choke up, it's just a tiny scene but she invests it with such reality, it's amazing. I wish she had had leading parts in whcih she carried a film. She has that same power as Beulah Bondi, to calmly carry any scene, play any side of the coin. And she's funny, scurrying around, helping Kate with her little plot. And it's always fun to see Cora and Estelle Winwood in a movie. Estelle is such a nutty old lady. Really odd. I am so glad you see the charm of *Quality Street.* It's one of the movies that put Kate on the "box office poison" list, and I'm afraid most people think of her as just grating or irritating in this film. I really like her two characters here, and how Franchot sees the real Phoebe. But mostly, I just like how the movie builds up to her having to run back and forth, changing from one to the other. And how Franchot saves the day with the removal of Livvy. The conventions of our time are really lambasted in the movie and our silly thoughts about youth and age - I wish more people thought this way nowadays, with our foolish notions of what's attractive, women actually take the hatchet to themselves in search of eternal "beauty" now. I can't think of anything uglier than a woman of sixty trying to look twenty. I really enjoy *Home Before Dark.* It's my favorite jean Simmons film. And *San Francisco?* Guess it wasn't too religious for you. Edited by: JackFavell on Sep 10, 2011 9:37 AM

Goodness knows, Danny is probably the only one who could do that modern version without coming off as utterly ridiculous. A little schmaltz is good for you. Did I just say that? Oh, no, I'm my grandmother.

lol!

No problem, metsie! Connie is mesmerizing. While perhaps not traditionally handsome, he's soo attractive. Here are my favorite photos of him, both posted by metsie some time ago: and another I love for his hands:

I am a huge Arlo fan, and also his father Woody. Arlo is a sadly underrated musician, who can make a guitar, harmonica or piano really convey a lot without getting too fancy. Here is a Woody Guthrie song performed by Arlo from 1972. It's one of the most poignant versions I've heard, thanks to a beautifully simple arrangement. Arlo recorded it five years after his dad died. Hobo's Lullaby Here's another favorite Woody song performed by Arlo: Ramblin' Round http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoRYWqt4410&feature=related My favorite Woody Guthrie song: Pretty Boy Floyd *Some will rob you with a six gun, some with a fountain pen.*

Once we had a King Charles spaniel walk into the bank where i worked, but he didn't come with his owner. At closing time, he was still there, maybe he had the scent of doggie biscuits from the drive through window in his nostrils, lol. I took him home with me and put a note on the door of the bank - unfortunately someone came and picked him up that night at eight. He had escaped through a tear in the screen door of his house and happily wandered the neighborhood all day. Sweetest dog I ever met.

I totally agree, laverderblue. Happy B-day! Butter T! Are you the same birth sign or month as Greer? How fitting! I agree with movieman, you aren't here often enough.

I'll have to look for his credits on that show and find out if he did any others - I'd love to watch them. He really had a great grasp of directing.

no problem!

I am going to try to repost the link here, hopefully more people will see the trailer. How fitting that it is having it's premiere at The Egyptian. Thanks for the info on the European television premiere, I think you meant September 26th, for the date. I will pass it along to some friends there. Edited by: JackFavell on Sep 7, 2011 8:29 AM

Wow, I love that one!

This is wonderful news, Jeff!

Whoa, mama!

I think in the silent thread, someone mentioned that the soundtrack for this version was different than the one the last time they showed it. I'll have to check my copy from the last showing - If the music annoys me or is too distracting, I just turn the sound down. I did that with one of the Lon Chaney films recently. Electronics are not my favorite either when it comes to silent film. Edited by: JackFavell on Sep 6, 2011 10:25 AM

Geez! Hawks just referenced himself! "I saw Gary Cooper in Sergeant York." !!!!

Hey, Bronxie, you mentioned *The Thing* the other day, and I am watching it for the first time today. You are right, I've been watching for only 10 minutes and am absolutely convinced that Hawks directed it, no question at all in my mind. The naturalistic overlapping banter, the female scientist laughing and teasing the military officer who's tied up, it all points to Hawks. Not to belabor the point, but Bill's hair in *Young and Willing* seemed to have a mind of it's own, standing straight up where it shouldn't have as if it were under it's own power. It was like a separate entity. I agree about his v.o.'s in *Sunset Blvd*. - they are exceptionally nuanced and humorously bitter. How does he retain that sweetness underneath it all? He and Milland could do the most vile things on earth, but still keep their innate charm and grace, plus a little boyish appeal thrown in. They are both "too beguiling." I think Holden has sweetness in spades. The scene that caught my eye most recently (out of a movie bursting with great scenes) is the one where he finally tells Betty the truth, inviting her over to 10086 SUNSET BLVD. to see for herself what's really going on. He is horrible, laughing at the pain he is causing, coming clean with a vengeance. But all along his derision is focused on himself, and this is what makes me cry every time I see it. It is selfless, or at least he thinks it is, the way he pushes her away. The kind, gentle way he takes her arm and guides her out the door - as if he were escorting her out of the gates of hell, and the grief stricken look on his face when she does leave break my heart. It's as if he were throwing the last good thing in his life away, and clinging to it at the same time. I totally understand about Shirley. I really love those performances you mentioned, and I think it's tremendous that she broke from the chorus and actually became such a good actress, she is like no one else in the movies, and always seemed to have that natural quality in her. I don't think you can teach someone that. Edited by: JackFavell on Sep 6, 2011 9:50 AM

Ha! You have Favell-itis.

Oh I'm the same way! every time I looked up at the screen his hair was flopping in his face, and I wanted tofrush it aside to see that face! It was driving me crazy. At first I wasn't paying too close attention, but then, as I kept looking, I decided it wasn't worth the trouble to try and peer around that mop so I turned it off. Usually longish hair doesn't bother me, but in this case it did. You'd never know it was William Holden at all, because I literally never saw his cute kisser. You know, we all talk over here about favorite actors and good looking men, and I realize that William Holden scores on both counts. He is definitely on my list of stars for my video.

I saw the beginning of *Young and Willing*, but Bill's hair was driving me crazy and I had to stop watching. I really liked *Force of Arms*, after I settled into it - I thought it was going to be a WAR film, in capital letters, but the love story was sweet and touching, and I really liked his chemistry with Nancy Olsen, I always find them so sweet together. I wonder what year Bill became a good actor? Somewhere in the forties he changes into a terribly romantic disillusioned man, and I find his persona after that time to be like catnip to me. Does anyone know if he went to war? He has a gap in his credits from 1943 to 1947. I think *Rachel and the Stranger* is the first role where he really catches my attention besides being a pretty face. Or maybe it's Billy Wilder's influence? Even in Sabrina, when he's playing the dissolute younger brother (a part he could play in his sleep) I get more from him than in anything he did before 1947. As for *Two for the Seesaw*, I am attracted and repelled by it. I like Shirley, but agree with Bronxgal that the role starts to feel uncomfortably familiar for me. Mitchum is fantastic in it - I wish he had played more like this one. The trick is to come in on *Kisses for my President* in the middle - I tried to watch it once before, and hated it. But I came in this time on a very sexy scene with Fred and Polly in bed and who knew? Fred is kissing her, in her scanty nightgown, and his lips linger open mouthed (in a good way) on hers several times! There is a little Valentino in all men I guess given the right circumstances. The rest was idiotic. Edited by: JackFavell on Sep 5, 2011 9:24 AM Edited by: JackFavell on Sep 5, 2011 9:26 AM