JackFavell

TOR??? I thought you were talking about BEN Johnson. Yeah, my sugar bun. Sweet. :x

I love this article because it totally re-assesses Mary Astor and her career, starting with *Act of Violence*, one of my favorite of her roles: http://www.brightlightsfilm.com/67/67maryastorsmith.php

Only my own sense of honor (such as it is) prevents me.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedailymirror/2009/01/movie-star-my-2.html

I believe it was George S. Kaufman (WHA???? ), not Clifford Odets who was involved in the Mary Astor scandal. A diary was produced by her husband, Richard Thorpe's, lawyers, who said it was Mary's. The contents was sequestered from the public almost right after it was presented in court (and excerpts published in TIME magazine, which pronounced that the prose found inside the diary was as "Purple as the ink it was written in.") In it, Astor is supposed to have gushed over Kaufman's lovemaking abilities, sexual prowess and ... um... "perfect fitting" nether regions. According to Astor, the diary was used as a ploy by her husband to take their child away from her, and wreck her career. She did admit to the affair under oath, however, but only after mentioning her husband's numerous affairs, with women coming in and out of the house where their daughter was a witness. One of his lovers allegedly chased after him in the dining room and stabbed him in the thigh with a fork. Astor said that her husband knew all about her affair with Kaufman and condoned it, until the custody trial came up. Astor said that the diary was tampered with by her husband and his attorneys, and that is when the diasry was barred from the public. 182 pages of the 200 page diary then disappeared while in Thorpe's attorney's brother's possession, and has never been found. Edited by: JackFavell on Aug 14, 2011 2:00 PM

Oooh, enjoy yourself (and Mary and Claudette), Cinderella. sometimes I wish I had picked Baroness Czerny as my nickname here at TCM message boards. Edited by: JackFavell on Aug 14, 2011 1:32 PM

What a super review of Three on a Match, and especially Ann Dvorak. She really runs the gamut in this one, she's heartbreaking. I agree that Bette wasn't ready yet for this role - but she'd get her chance! I also didn't realize that Jack LaRue was in this one! Dang! I should have recorded it. Your description of him as "beautifully ugly" really fits him to a T (of course) I find him fascinating to watch, as you say, at his worst, from the safety of my living room. Hubba Hubba. And the whole drug thing was really hard hitting, one just doesn't expect it in 1932. Very well done, I think Ann really did a great job with this character and her problems, without being over the top - she is very modern in her acting style, not at all what the average person would think an "old" movie was like. That's thanks to Ann. She starts out vaguely dissatified, and her scenes with Warren William make him look like a great actor. (I'm sorry, I've never liked him, except here and in The Match King). I'm sure many housewives have felt this vague ennui, wondering if life could hold more for them, not wanting to settle for cooking and cleaning or dining out with dull friends. It's an empty life, and you can feel Ann's ache. For some women a child helps, they can pour their love into the children, but I do understand, some women are just not made that way. It's too bad she couldn't have had a career, gone the Ruth Chatterton route instead of falling into drug addition, wasting herself on men who were not worth her time. I have a growing fondness for Lyle Talbot, he's a good actor, far better than some who had more fame over time. He's also in *Heat Lightning*, as Preston Foster's nervous buddy, on the run from the law; and Douglas Faurbanks, Jr.'s "pal" who convinces him that he killed a guy while drunk in *The Life of Jimmy Dolan*. I think it's a little sad, in 1932 he was the up and coming star, but he just kept slogging away in B pictures.... he had a great, healthy, long career, but it just makes me wonder in these cases if he wanted more..... and why didn't he get the "big" roles or stardom? Edited by: JackFavell on Aug 14, 2011 11:42 AM

Thanks. That's what I've been doing and it seems to work... somewhat.

Look at what Gloria got you for your birthday! A brand new shiny car! Pay no attention to that sleazy used car salesman showing her the sunroof..... h1. Happy Birthday, Molo! :x

> {quote:title=wouldbestar wrote:}{quote} Are you back to reality yet? > Barely! I'm floating down to the ground.... >I loved *Wagon Master.* I've heard this inspired *Wagon Train* and since Ward Bond is in both and played the same type of character I believe it. I don't smoke but the sight of Joanne Dru with the cigarette hanging from her mouth is one I'll not forget. I'm glad you loved Wagon Master. It's such a fluid emotional movie for me, I find it uncommonly beautiful, the way it looks and it's message. I never really thought about it before, but it must have resonated with post war audiences, starting fresh. Ward is just wonderful in it, strong and funny and brave and emotional. >I tried to sit through *The Last Picture Show* last year for Ben's performance but it's still too raunchy for me. I couldn't stay awake for *The Wild Bunch* but now that TCM's shown it they will during waking hours and I'll finally get to. Most of the rest I've seen and liked. If you weren't too thrilled with Last Picture Show, I wonder if you will enjoy The Wild Bunch. It's pretty raw. It has a very good message, if you can get through the vinegar.

Man you have a good eye! I never would have caught that, especially as you can only see him on a fade in.... I think you're right, it sure looks like Odets.

That's awesome! I'll try to look for him too, but probably tomorrow. I don't have time tonight - It's a sleepover night and I'm on popcorn duty. Talk to you tomorrow, if I survive.

Hey, have a great time - and say hi to Chip :x Movies for me.

> {quote:title=Bronxgirl48 wrote:}{quote}And I don't even smoke anymore. Me neither. Here. Have another drag off mine. :x

I knew as soon as you said it it was him, but it NEVER occurred to me that they were the same actor before now.

> {quote:title=MissGoddess wrote:}{quote}Jackie, > If you hit reply and in your reply box go to the Rich Text tab...the second to last icon is the quote function (two "balloons"). Unfortunately, if you want to break up the quote, you have to then switch back to Plain Text. It's a pain. Yeah, I've noticed that if I post pictures, if I go back and forth between rich text and plain, the picture ends up all screwed up, with half the URL sticking out of the photo. That really bugs me. I finally figured out this week that you can pre-set to whichever text style you want by using the "always use this editor" thingy - up in the right hand corner. I know, it's obvious but somehow I missed this function, probably due to sensory overload after the 'upgrade'. I decided to use plain text as a default because it doesn't mess as much stuff up as rich text does.

> {quote:title=scsu1975 wrote:}{quote} > > {quote:title=JackFavell wrote:}{quote} > > > > OK. Where is it? > > > When you reply, make sure you use the Rich Text button, then look just to the right of the smiley icon and you'll see "quote bubbles" like in comic strips. Click on that. Then when you respond to the quote, make sure your response is a few lines below the quoted box (and not in the box as well). Otherwise, your response may show up in the quoted text. Thanks, everyone. I thought I looked everywhere, but missed the stuff to the right of the smileys. I appreciate it!

OK. Where is it?

HOLY COW! He was Ryker??? I should have known the voice. Chastise me!

Now that things have quieted down, and I am finally able to figure out rich text without screwing up post after post, I hate to even suggest one more thing that could possibly screw things up further.... but.... Are we ever going to get the quote feature back?

Oh, man! That Harry Carey is to die for!

I cry at the end you didn't like. When he's begging the judge or whoever it is to let them keep their little girl, I always lose it. I know it's a manipulative scene, but for goodness sake, it's CARY GRANT and HE"S CRYING.... I find him tremendously moving there, talking about how they did everything a real parent would do, and when his voice starts to shake.....well so do I. It's so out of character for him, but fits the movie. I might find that scene suspect in the hands of a less capable actor. I love the scene at the play, it's adorable and funny without being too cloying. Edited by: JackFavell on Aug 12, 2011 4:24 PM

Oh my gosh, you liked Penny Serenade! At least relatively, amongst the group. Did Cary make you cry like he does me?

I like Ralph Bellamy a lot and will definitely be watching on his day. In case anyone has doubts about his acting ability, watch Sunrise at Campobello - he's superb in it. Thanks for the comment on SSOS. Sometimes it takes me a while to get my brain working. I can watch and appreciate, but writing about a movie doesn't always come very easily to me. Understanding what it is about a film that gets to me is sometimes really difficult.

Hahaha! That would be great! And I'd get some peace and quiet. But I'd have to boot her out of her own home. I have a lot of faves this month - in order: JOAN BLONDELL - in a class by herself Conrad Veidt Lon Chaney Carole Marlene Burt Linda Darnell I won't miss Bogie, Jimmy, Cary or Joan, because they are always good, always deliver. Jean Gabin is the unknown quantity for me. I can't wait to see his day.