CelluloidKid

*Sometimes life is strange than fiction...Mercedes McCambridge....* *_PER WIKIPEDIA_:* Her Hollywood break came when she was cast opposite Broderick Crawford in the 1949 film _All the King's Men_. McCambridge won the 1949 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film, which won Best Picture for that year. McCambridge also won the Golden Globe Awards for Best Supporting Actress and New Star of the Year - Actress for her performance. McCambridge married her first husband, William Fifield, when she was 23 years old. The couple had a son, John Lawrence Fifield. The couple divorced in 1946. In 1950, McCambridge married Canadian Fletcher Markle, a radio director. Her son, John, later took Markle's name, thereafter being known as John Markle. During the marriage and afterward, McCambridge battled alcoholicism, often hospitalized after episodes of heavy drinking.She and Markle divorced in 1962. In 1969, after years with Alcoholics Anonymous, she achieved sobriety. McCambridge's son, John Markle, a UCLA graduate, had a PhD in Economics.After being fired from his position as a futures trader at Stephens and Company for mishandling funds, a $5 million lawsuit was filed against him and McCambridge. Although some of the mishandled funds had been handled under McCambridge's name through Markle's power of attorney, she was subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing. Markle killed his family and then himself in a murder/suicide in 1987. He reportedly left a bitter thirteen page note to his mother. McCambridge has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: One for motion pictures, located at: 1722 Vine Street, The 2nd for television located at: 6243 Hollywood Boulevard. She told the story of her life in: _The Quality of Mercy: An Autobiography_. -A must read ..I found a copy on Ebay!

Another strange line in Johnny Guitar ...What does it even mean!? WOW! LOL. Vienna: He makes her feel like a woman and that frightens her. - (Vienna to Johnny, describing Emma's feelings for The Kid.) Another double entendre!??!

Gig Young WAS IN: _Kid Galahad_ (1962) W./Elvis Presley & directed by Phil Karlson! *NEW DIRECTOR: Phil Karlson!* Phil Karlson was a film director who got into the film industry working as a prop man while a law student! Interesting man!

I love films! & I love it even more when films finally come out of the vault, & onto DVD for the 1st time. That is why I'am such a Sony Pictures Home Entertainment "Martini Movies" fan. This retro collection of films are great. The "Martini Movies" gives film buffs (Like me!) a chance to savor these unseen gems! One of the films I;am esp. looking forward to seeing (Waiting for Netflix to send it.) is.. _Getting Straight_ (1970). I like Elliot Gould & Candice Bergen.& with a cast that includes Cecil Kellaway ( _Hush, Sweet Charlotte_ - 1964) this should be a great funny film. A window into another era. *_Getting Straight_ (1970)* Based on Ken Kolb's novel, Getting Straight is directed by Academy Award?-nominee Richard Rush (1980, Best Director, The Stunt Man (1980), produced by Paul Lewis and Rush, with a screenplay by Robert Kaufman. The film stars Academy Award?-nominee Elliot Gould (1969, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice) and Academy Award?-nominee Candice Bergen (1979, Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Starting Over), with Academy Award?-nominee Cecil Kellaway (1967, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner). A Vietnam veteran and former student activist, Harry Bailey (Gould) has returned to college to complete his Master's Degree in Education. When not bedding his classmates, he teaches remedial English and tries to steer clear of the growing student unrest. Things become more complicated when Harry falls in love with Jan (Bergen), a beautiful co-ed, who's become a leader in the movement. As the demonstrations grow violent, however, the ensuing riots force the police to declare martial law. Deciding that 'Getting Straight' is more important than fitting in, Harry denounces his professors, deliberately fails his exams and happily rejoins the movement. *_Per some research on the film_:* _Getting Straight_ was released in an era of change and unrest in the United States in the early 1970s, and was in a long line of films that dealt with these themes. Other films of this period such as _R.P.M._ (1970), directed by Stanley Kramer, and _The Strawberry Statement_ (1970) also typified these themes.

It taught me that in the middle of the Cold-War, tell enemies that vacuum cleaner's are weapons! LOL!

Katy Jurado was in: _Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid_ (1973) directed by: Sam Peckinpah!! *NEW DIRECTOR: Sam Peckinpah!!*

*VERY COOL TCM!! Thank you!! Fianlly a "RARE" _Joan_ film shown on TCM. Good job TCM. I love _Johnny Guitar_ ..Very strange western film. I own an OOP copy on VHS with./an introduction by Martin Scorsese!* Some film buffs & film historians see _Johnny Guitar_ (1954) as a film about the House Un-American Activities Committee, the fear of communists and the drive to have members of the Hollywood community name names. I love Joan...today is a good day!!! Kisses! *_Johnny Guitar_ (1954) - Saturday, March 07, 2009 @ 6:00pm Eastern Time - Check Local Schedule!* *_Stars_:* _Joan Crawford_, Sterling Hayden, Mercedes McCambridge, Scott Brady *_Directed by:_* Nicholas Ray. *_Cinematography by_:* Harry Stradling Sr. *In 2008, _Johnny Guitar_ was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".* *_Trivia_:* _Johnny Guitar_ was the last feature film produced by Republic Pictures in its Trucolor process. Dennis Hopper (although uncredited) made his on-screen debut in _Johnny Guitar_. *_Tagline_:* Gun-Queen of the Arizona Frontier ! .

*VERY COOL TCM!! Thank you! Fianlly a "RARE" Joan film shown on TCM. Good job TCM. I love _Johnny Guitar_ ..Very strange western film. I own an OOP copy on VHS with./an introduction by Martin Scorsese!* Some film buffs & film historians see _Johnny Guitar_ (1954) as a film about the House Un-American Activities Committee, the fear of communists and the drive to have members of the Hollywood community name names. *_Johnny Guitar_ (1954) - Saturday, March 07, 2009 @ 6:00pm Eastern Time - Check Local Schedule!* *_Stars_:* _Joan Crawford_, Sterling Hayden, Mercedes McCambridge, Scott Brady *_Directed by:_* Nicholas Ray. *_Cinematography by_:* Harry Stradling Sr. *In 2008, _Johnny Guitar_ was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".* *_Trivia_:* _Johnny Guitar_ was the last feature film produced by Republic Pictures in its Trucolor process. Dennis Hopper (although uncredited) made his on-screen debut in _Johnny Guitar_. *_Tagline_:* Gun-Queen of the Arizona Frontier ! .

Ralph Meeker was in: _Jeopardy_ (1953) W./Barbara Stanwyck! *NEW STAR: Barbara Stanwyck!*

The Mighty Barnum (1934) starred Adolphe Menjou as Mr. Bailey Walsh ..NEW STAR: Adolphe Menjou ! *NEW STAR: Adolphe Menjou !*

*Happy Birthday - Miss Joan Crawford - March 23, 1905 - May 10, 1977-!!!* *TCM's 7-film Joan-fest* *- All Times Are Eastern - Check Your Local Schedule -* *_March 23, 2009_* *_Today We Live_ (1933) 6:30am* - Joan's 1 & only film W./Gary Cooper. Directed by Howard Hawks. William Faulkner provided the dialogue for the film based off his book: _Turnabout_ Rare Joan & Cooper film. Out-of-Print on VHS. Not on DVD yet. Very excited to see this!! Also this is Joan's first film with future husband Franchot Tone who Co-Stars in the film!! Heaven!! *_Humoresque_ (1946) 8:30am* - Joan Crawford and John Garfield in an older woman/younger man tale about a violinist and his patroness. Not my favorite film Joan film in her body of work. Franz Waxman received an Academy Award nomination for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture. *_Possessed_ (1947) 10:45am* - _Possessed_ received one Academy Award nomination for Best Actress (Crawford). Woo Hoo!!! *_Autumn Leaves_ (1956) 12:45pm* - Best Directorial Award (Aldrich), Berlin International Film Festival 1956. Anyone who's listened to top-40 radio during the past four decades already knows, the film also yielded a hit title song, written by Joseph Kosma, Jacques Prevert, and Johnny Mercer and performed during the credits by Nat King Cole. *_The Caretakers_ (1963) 2:45pm* - Joan Crawford and Robert Stack in a story about a mental hospital. Great fun. Great cvasting. _The Caretakers_ received an Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White:Lucien Ballard. *_Strait-Jacket_ (1964) 4:30pm* - WIlliam Castle & Joan Crawford! B-Movie heaven! Awww! When the film opened, moviegoers were given little cardboard axes. *_Berserk!_ (1967) 6:15pm* - TAGLINE: The Screen Screams out at a Hundred Horrors! - LOL!Monica Rivers (Joan Crawford) is the owner and ringmaster of a traveling circus where mysterious murders occur. Spooky fun.

Carmen Miranda ( I looooove Carmen!) was in: _Week-End in Havana_ (1941) directed by Walter Lang!! *NEW DIRECTOR: Walter Lang!*

*WOW! I just found this out reading my current "Entertainment Weekly" magazine.* *Also, Thanks for posting Film_Fatale ...* *My partner has one question "Why did Congress wait untill his death!?". Great honor however!* *Newman Honored by Congress* Sunday March 1, 2009 By Laurie Boeder, About.com Guide to Classic Movies The long goodbyes to actor Paul Newman continued at the Oscars, where clips of the actor ended the annual tribute to the folks the movie industry lost in 2008, and a couple of days later in Congress, when the actor was honored with a congressional resolution. The congressional tribute honored not only Newman's superb contributions to Hollywood as an actor and a director, but his longtime devotion to charity and his rich generosity. A life well-lived, indeed.

Peter Lawford was in: _Above Suspicion_ (1943) W./Joan Crawford!! *NEW STAR: Joan Crawford!*

I just love Sony's line of "Retro" DVD's called: "Martini Movies". There some really great obscure titles finally seeing the light of day, & coming out of the vaults & out into the world. Being a film buff, this is pure heaven.! This gives a person a chance like me (Who loves film!) to see these wonderful hidden films. The ?Martini Movies? series release of obscure older films finally brought _Five_ to the world of DVD in 2009 ? & in its original non-widescreen format too! Well, 1 of my favorite topics of films has been _Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic_ films... & well 1 of the titles that just came out on DVD was: *_Five_ (1951)* The movie?s title refers to the number of characters in the movie, and the number of people who ? miraculously ? have survived a global nuclear war. Set in the days and months following this holocaust, the movie tries to establish the significance of this sort of near-total annihilation and the difficulty and meaning of being one of the survivors. There?s a pregnant woman (Susan Douglas), a thoughtful philosopher (William Phipps), a good-natured African American (Charles Lampkin), a radiation-poisoned banker (Earl Lee), and a self-obsessed adventurer (James Anderson). According to Robert Osborne of Turner Classic Movies, this film is the first to depict the aftermath of such a catastrophe. I just got my rental copy of _Five_ (1951) from Netflix the other night. A very slow moving film... but very creepy and , and I found it very ahead of it's time for a film that came out the "early" 50's to show the "After"effects of a nuclear attack. I thought _Testament_ (1983) or _The Day After_ (1983) were frightening in their depiction of nuclear war ... Umm _Five_ (1951) push the buttons to! Just like _Night of the Living Dead_ (1968), _Five_ (1951) creeps up on you, then bam! _Five_ (1951) almost has this semi-documentary feel to it. _Five_ (1951) holds up well. Very effective film. Rattles you..shakes you and yes haunts you long after the credits roll! Thanks, ?Martini Movies? *_Atomic Orange Martini_* HOW TO MAKE IT: You will need premium vodka, Bols Melon Liqueur, orange juice and a fresh orange. In a martini shaker filled with about seven ice cubes, mix two parts vodka, three parts Bols Melon Liqueur and four parts orange juice. Shake gently and strain into a chilled martini glass, letting two ice cubes slide into the glass. Slice the orange into round wheels and float a slice on top of the liquid. If mixture proves too strong for your taste buds, add more orange juice or use less vodka in round two. *Wear Sun Glasses!*

WOW! What a film ...I just got done watching: _Our Man in Havana_ (1959) ...and well since some claim that the _The Third Man_ (1949) is "Film noir" ... & _Our Man in Havana_ (1959) was made by the same team .. and then yes I would consider _Our Man in Havana_ (1959) a Film noir! I mean it has spies.....a semi-convoluted plot...but great direction...great cinematography..great cast...Alec Guinness & Maureen O'Hara had chemistry. Ms. O'Hara was smart..funny and sexy ...1st time I have seen her performance in this film, and she really sparkled! I love her water bottle scene. Burl Ives ...WOW! What an actor. What a good role! Another role that the Academy over-looked for an Oscar Nod for Best Supporting Actor. His role as: Dr. Hasselbacher a mix of a man on "Just" on the brink of losing all touch with reality. Very good performance. Alec Guinness ...what can I say ...Another genouis performance ..Again not looked at by the Oscar's. Very funny actor. I love his facial expressions. Priceless. Great..dated ...Still holds up as a window into another era of Cold War espionage. I'm a huge fan of British author Graham Greene. Most of his films lose something in translation to the screen...but they are still worth a look ... _The End of the Affair_ (1955) / _The End of the Affair_ (1999) _The Quiet American_ (2002) ...skip the 1958 film ..I'm serious for once!...Watch the Re-Make Michael Caine & Brendan Fraser ...Very eye-opening. Though provoking film. Very good movie, close to the book, unlike the "Original". This my 1st viewing of _Our Man in Havana_ (1959) ...that it will be 1 fun film that I will add to my DVD classic collection! Final Rating: B+

*I love the "Martini Movies"... There a lot of great films that are finally seeing the light of day for the 1st time. Take _Our Man in Havana_ (1959) another film W./Alec Guinness I havne't seen before!* *Well I keep going through the "Martini Movies" 1 film at a time, and I'm loving every minute of it!* *TONIGHT: _Our Man in Havana_ (1959)* *_Interesting Trivia_:* Filmed on location in Havana three months after Castro's January 1959 Revolution, the script had to be submitted to Cuba's Minister of the Interior, where it was insisted that 39 changes be made to make it appear that life during the Battista regime was more unfavorable. *DVD Verdict Review - _Our Man in Havana_ (1959)* Jan 28, 2009 New Year's Day marked the fiftieth anniversary of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista's departure, which paved the way for the regime of Fidel Castro. Before that happened, author Graham Greene (The Third Man) visited Havana?"this extraordinary city, where every vice was permissible and every trade possible," he said in Ways of Escape, quoted at Greeneland, a tribute site. Greene wrote that he had long been contemplating a story about an agent sending fake reports to British intelligence; now he had found a setting for his latest "entertainment," a term Greene used for his lighter concoctions. Our Man in Havana saw print in 1958, as Batista's era drew to a close. Director Carol Reed, who brought The Third Man to the screen memorably, quickly went to work on Our Man in Havana, with Greene penning the adaptation. However, events overtook the 1959 movie, as you'll note from the words on the screen at the beginning: "This film is set in Cuba before the recent revolution." The latest entry in Sony's "Martini Movies" series is a well-timed release of Our Man in Havana. *_Facts of the Case_* When Hawthorne (Noel Coward, _The Italian Job_ (1969) comes into Jim Wormold's vacuum cleaner shop in Havana, it's easy to tell he wants more than just a Hoover. It's not until Hawthorne catches up to Wormold in a bar that the salesman learns that his new friend's a spy who wants him to join the game. Wormold's reluctant to become a number, No. 59200-5 specifically. "Well, the vacuum cleaners take up a lot of time," he protests. However, his business isn't doing so well, and Hawthorne is offering $150 a week plus expenses. Yeah, that was a lot in the Fifties. Soon Hawthorne's trying to recruit agents, with no luck. His friend Hasselbacher (Burl Ives, Captains and the Kings) has a better idea: Just "invent" the agents and their reports. "As long as you invent, you do no harm." It doesn't turn out that way, though. Wormold attracts the attention of Captain Segura (Ernie Kovacs, Bell, Book and Candle), a Batista torturer who wants to marry Milly (Jo Morrow, 13 Ghosts), Wormold's beautiful daughter. His top secret drawings of an Atomic Pile vacuum cleaner have attracted the attention of the PM. The spy agency is sending a secretary and radio operator. Worse yet, someone's threatening and even killing his "agents." Soon, Wormold will have to take bold action. *_The Evidence_* Our Man in Havana may be just an "entertainment," but scripter Graham Greene and director Carol Reed make sure you know what's up in Batista's Cuba from the start. A solitary swimmer in a rooftop pool is contrasted with the crowds on the street below, complete with lotteries and hustlers. Police roughly question whomever they please and kids hang around anyone who looks like they might have a few bucks. Some real filming in Havana during the early days of the Castro regime gives the movie that extra bit of realism. For the most part, the movie's a comedy, with Greene's world-weary attitude toward espionage coming through. The dialogue is a droll delight, with exchanges like this: "There's not much electric power since the troubles began." "When was that?" "Oh, about the time Queen Victoria died." Wormold's a dangerously incompetent spy, but the rest of the agents aren't much better. The radio operator disrupts traffic outside Wormold's store enough when bringing his equipment in that the whole city must know spies are setting up shop. Even as the officials back in London remark on how much the Cuban installation looks like a vacuum cleaner, they're not suspicious. Alec Guinness initially portrays Wormold as the stereotypical expatriate, hanging out at the bar sipping daquiris with his friend Haselbacher while struggling to make ends meet. He comes across as a meek man early on, following Hawthorne's orders to the letter during their barroom meeting even though he doesn't quite trust his new friend. Later on, as things fall apart, Wormold is clearly frightened, but keeps going on pride. At the end, he turns out to have the right stuff in him after all, creating a surprising dramatic ending. Actually, you might not be surprised if you watch the trailer first, since it uses that lone dramatic scene to tease at something more like The Third Man. Through it all, Guinness keeps viewers rooting for Wormold. The rest of the cast is strong, even though Our Man in Havana is Guinness' operation from start to finish. As Segura, Ernie Kovacs plays tough, but seems to be concealing a silent admiration for the bogus spy. He also shines in one of the movie's silliest scenes, a chess drinking game between Segura and Wormold in which the players drink the miniature bottles of scotch and whiskey they capture. Burl Ives gets a few dramatic moments as Haselbacher, as when he takes in news of a death that may or may not be a fiction or shares with Wormold his own role in the problem. The performances are low-key, so that the implausibilities and absurdity seems almost realistic. You'll laugh out loud a few times, but the futility of it all will hit home as well. It looks like there might have been some remastering on the picture; at any rate, I have no complaints. The tropical retro beat of the music by Frank and Laurence Deniz also excels. *_Release date_:* 27 January 1960 (USA)

Bonita Granville was in: _Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase_ (1939) (I watched it this afternoon!!!) directed by: William Clemens! *NEW DIRECTOR: William Clemens!*

Sylvia Sydney (I love her voice!!) was in: _Violent Saturday_ (1955) directed by Richard Fleischer! *NEW DIRECTOR: Richard Fleischer!*

*_Gumshoe_ (1971)* *_Gumshoe_ (1971) just came to DVD, & I love a good detective film, and a good detective spoof _..Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid_ (1982)!* I really was surprised by _Gumshoe_ (1971). Thank God for DVD, & a lot of films that were in vaults now can see the light of day. Esp. since it was produced early in Stephen Frears's nearly forty-year career (Yes, the man behind _The Queen_ (2006)), "Gumshoe" is an affectionate take on the Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler film adaptations that were popular in the 1940's. Also, _Gumshoe_ (1971) is one of the first films to be scored by Academy Award?-winner Andrew Lloyd Webber (1996, Best Music, Original Song, Evita), Stephen Frear's debut feature is part pastiche and part traditional thriller. Despite its parody approach, Gumshoe works surprisingly well and comes off as an affectionate tribute to The Maltese Falcon ands the hardboiled noir films of yore. Produced by Finney's own company. A Liverpudlian comedian and bingo-caller, Eddie Ginley (Albert Finney, in a BAFTA-nominated performance), fantasizes of becoming a private eye in the style of Raymond Chandler's gumshoe Philip Marlowe. Ginley?s level-headed brother (Frank Finlay) and ex-girlfriend (Billie Whitelaw) try to talk him out of it but he inadvertently stumbles across a real-life murder mystery. _The film stars_: Academy Award?-nominee Albert Finney (2000, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Erin Brockovich), Academy Award?-nominee Frank Finlay (1965, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Othello), Billie Whitelaw (Quills), Janice Rule (Three Women), and Carolyn Seymour (Congo). *The film received a Best Screenplay BAFTA nod.*

Lilli Palmer was in: _Cloak and Dagger_ (1946) W./Gary Cooper directed by Fritz Lang! *NEW DIRECTOR: Fritz Lang!*

*_The Great Gatsby_ (1949)* *This version was the second film version of the novel, after the 1926 silent version, which is now considered a lost film because no prints are known to exist. The story was filmed again in 1974, with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow and in 2000, for television, with Toby Stephens and Mira Sorvino.*

*Mon, Mar 23, 06:30AM - _Today We Live_ - 1933 - MGM - Gary Cooper - Joan Crawford!* Howard Hawks directing Gary Cooper and Joan

*Lana Turner - March 2009 - All Times Eastern - Check Local Schedule Times-* Mon, Mar 9, 7:30 AM _Calling Dr. Kildare_ (1939) Tue, Mar 10, 3:30 AM _The Three Musketeers_ (1948) Tue, Mar 10, 4:00 PM _Johnny Eager_ (1942) - Lana Turner as Lisbeth 'Liz' Bard *_Johnny Eager_ - 1942 - Film Noir - Van Heflin won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.*

Robert Alda was in: _Nora Prentiss_ (1947) W./Ann Sheridan! *NEW STAR: Ann Sheridan!*