ThelmaTodd

I've learned a long time ago around here that saying anything critical of a star can draw the ire of their devoted fans. I predict a lot of posts and hits to this thread, as it encourages this "argument-counter argument" dialogue. These often become flame wars!

Hi Dargo! They say: "blood is thicker than water"!

Hi scsu, Exactly. I remember that incident. It's a good example of what species "Pan Troglodytes" is capable of. They would be an animal control officer's nightmare, as they can run, jump and climb like no human can. They can also bite, rip and generally mess you up real bad! I think of that foolish, clueless and lost person, the ex-wife of Hulk Hogan. She adopted a chimp on his reality show when they were still together, and had to change diapers more than ten times a day! She should have gotten a job instead as well as tended more to her family. I'm also reminded of people who want tigers and lions, thinking them no different than housecats! I have nothing against professional animal trainers having them, as they should do so with eyes open, knowing full well the risks as well as how to take the appropriate safeguards. Use of chimps on-screen is almost as old as film itself. Their appeal was obvious from the earliest days. Agents in Hollywood have represented trainers who would make them available for studio roles. Note that "Cheetah" was very young when used in the Weismuller films. They are safer to work with and more pliant before adolescence, which comes at around 8-9 years of age.

Some foolish people get the idea of adopting chimps as pets. Two reasons why you shouldn't: they can become dangerous and unmanageable after adolescence (they are physically far more powerful than humans) and they are very long lived.(Average life expectancy is 60 years in captivity) They can easily outlast their owners. But then there's no talking sense to people who have no sense.

Hi musicalnovelty! I'm glad you enjoyed the latest submission to the *filmography thread* http://forums.tcm.com/thread.jspa?threadID=161844&tstart=0 *MADAM SATAN (1930)* *Since you like pictures of her, I decided to post a few more here. She took many stunning pictures! Those interested in her are strongly urged to read her two autobiographies: I'll Cry Tomorrow (1954) and Beyond My Worth (1958). She had a very checkered personal life that was afflicted with alcoholism. The first bio details her descent, her commitment to a hospital for treatment and the beginning of her recovery. The second is more affirmative, when her career and personal recovery had experienced a revival. Both might be available at your local public library.* *I have included a wonderful Fleischer cartoon that has live footage of her singing. It's one of those "follow the bouncing ball" audience sing along pictures, complete with lyrics posted onscreen!* ** *A scene from Madam Satan. I'm liking tumblr.com!* ** ** ** *The pride before the fall. She was to experience her share of reversals later on.* ** *A 1933 film, that was one of her last film appearances.* ** ** ** *With Frances Dee* ** *A record album recorded by her when her career had experienced a revival.* ** *Homage to film stars can come from the most unlikely places!* *DOWN AMONG THE SUGAR CANE (1932)* ** *Max Fleischer Studios w/ Lillian Roth* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmW0pDxf5N8* *Full cartoon with live footage of Lillian Roth, accompanied by the "bouncing ball" for audience sing along, with on screen lyrics. The nice thing about this link, if you like these sing along cartoons, are the links to many more such features on the right of the youtube page. They were very popular with theater audiences, and the Fleischer Studios made a number of them.* Edited by: ThelmaTodd on Dec 28, 2011 11:25 AM

Lillian Roth Lillian Roth publicity still *MADAM SATAN (1930)* *MGM Dir. by Cecil B. DeMille, w/ Kay Johnson, Lilian Roth, Reginald Denny, Roland Young* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTLrPO_o55Y *Full movie* *This film leaves me almost speechless! I've posted more than the usual number of illustrative stills here, as the visuals almost compel me to. They give you some idea of what a strange experience the viewer is in for.* *The first half of the film is an amusing bedroom farce. The latter half shows an art deco themed zeppelin party where everyone ends up having to abandon ship (it's a comedy so no one gets killed.). A very whimsical take on the then current popularity and mystique of airships. A "Jazz Age" Out Of Control! Features Lillian Roth, who had her real life troubles with alcoholism recounted in her autobiographies I'll Cry Tomorrow (1954), made into a film by the same title the year after starring Susan Hayward, and Beyond My Worth (1958)* *Madam Satan (1930) is a dramatic pre-Code musical film produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille for MGM, one of the few DeMille made for the Culver City studio. It has been called one of the oddest films DeMille made and certainly one of the oddest MGM made during its "golden age."* ** *Angela and Bob Brooks are an upper class couple. Unfortunately, Bob is an unfaithful husband. But Angela has a plan to win back her husband's affections. An elaborate masquerade ball is to be held aboard a magnificent dirigible. Angela will attend and disguise herself as a mysterious devil woman. Hidden behind her mask, and wrapped in an alluring gown, Angela as the devil woman will to try to seduce her unknowing husband and teach him a lesson.*

Not from the movie, but a very nice picture! *SEVEN FOOTPRINTS TO SATAN (1929)* *First National Pictures, w/ Thelma Todd* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PghjjRvwuHA *Full movie, silent* A seldom seen movie, featuring my namesake,*Thelma Todd. Not typical of her later pictures. The film is deteriorated and the facial features are often washed/whited out. This title is badly in need of a restoration. Features a surprise ending. Filmed as a silent, despite it being a 1929 film. The fashion imprint of the late 1920's is Thelma's glittering knee length skirt. Hemlines took a dive come the thirties.* *Shot as a part soundie, but the sound dialogue version is not available. Features* *Loretta Young* *as an uncredited extra.* *A young man of society wants to make an expedition to Africa, but his fiancée asks him for help about one of her fathers guests shortly before his planed departure. Her suspects about that guest were serious, this man tries to steal one of her fathers rubin, and she and her fiance are kidnapped and brought to a house, where strange things happen. The whole thing becomes a nightmare under the direction of a mysterious Mr. Satan.*

Hi gwenny, When you do go visit your dad in the facility, check with them about tuning in to TCM on the rec room TV's and other monitors. I firmly believe that TCM is great entertainment therapy for the elderly residents of a nursing home. Many of the movies will take them back to their youth, and the channel will likely not upset them as much as some contemporary programming.

Korda and his brothers were from Hungary, and here is a biographical article with some embedded youtube of some of his films published on an English language website from Budapest: http://www.pestiside.hu/20100827/lift-up-your-hearts-a-tribute-to-hungarian-filmmaking-great-alexander-korda/ A number of the vieos have been withdrawn over time, but you can still se some of his less often seen films, like *Sanders Of The River (1935), Conquest Of the Air (1936) and Q Planes (1939)*.

Hi Fred! Glad you could join the fun! There was a fair amount of such music recorded back then, "Willie The Weeper" the Cab Calloway music etc. I liked the tune in your clip; it was superimposed onto a segment of *Marihuana, Weed With Roots In Hell (1936)* and not part of it's original soundtrack. I posted that film link on the earliest page of the *filmography* thread, for those who would like to see it. It sensationalises the subject like *Reefer Madness* did.

Hi gagman, Feel free to post anything you want! I would look forward to your submissions. It would be like old times! Men's magazine covers go well with the theme of this thread! I'm going to post *Seven Footprints To Satan (1929)* on the *filmography* thread. I sure hope UCLA restores it. The movie was considered lost for years. The copy that was posted to youtube looks deteriorated. About *Haxan (1922)* What disturbed me the most when I first saw the film was that all that persecution was based on real life history (as was the mass hysteria in the convent). The film did not exaggerate the role of the church.

Hi Dan! Thanks for the film poster. This would be the second youtube film I know of that charges. More people are making a business out of youtube, as I'm noticing an increase in commercials. "Tiburon" means shark in Spanish. This is great, when more of us put our heads together, more film references come up!

Gagman dude! *Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year* to you! Your picture wasn't film related BUT it was exploitational, and that's the "house" specialty! I've been waiting for you around here! Your knowledge about silents is phenomenal! We've been discussing some Dante *Inferno films, versions 1911, 1924 and 1935* which I have posted to the *filmography* thread in *Your Favorites*. I have included some other silents as well, like *Witchcraft Through The Ages (1922)*. Currently I am reviewing a little known *Thelma Todd* silent from 1929 called "*Seven Footprints To Satan*", as well as *Erotikon (1929)* for suitability. What say you? Check out some of the shorts I have posted to this discussion thread- it's all a hoot!

Most of us will be able to afford the Dante/Dore originals or the Easton Press reprint, as the Hindus say: "*In your next life!"!* For the benefit of the proles and 99%-ers, *Dore's Divine Comedy* illustrations have been reproduced in paperback and are available for as low as $10 through Amazon:

Wow Dan! Those look familiar indeed; I've seen the originals in university libraries and antiquarian bookshops! It blows my mind that any modern publisher would dream of attempting a full reproduction of the originals! Kudos to the *Easton Press*. Both publisher and printing house would need some real balls to try and duplicate this type of high Victorian bookmanship! (Most printers don't have the talent, personnel or resources to create a duplication like this) Few publishers would have the resources to finance the project nor would they have the clientele to sell it to. It's nice to see that in our day and age we can still do things that match the grandeur of the past. The problem with something so utterly fine is that such books should not be handled and read in order to preserve their collectible value. Worn old copies for reading can be bought from *abebooks.com* for a few hundred. To quote from the weblink you provided: As one critic wrote in 1861 upon publication of the illustrated Inferno: "we are inclined to believe that the conception and the interpretation come from the same source, that Dante and Gustave Doré are communicating by occult and solemn conversations the secret of this Hell plowed by their souls, traveled, explored by them in every sense." You said it dude! The Italian version *Inferno (1911)* film was visually inspired by Doré. You have really made my day with this one! I hope it is of interest to the others to see how this subject has so inspired books, artists and filmmakers over the centuries. Hopefully they will take a look at the films! Thanks much!

*A CHINESE FANTASY from SHOW OF SHOWS (1929)* *Warner Brothers W/ Myrna loy, Rin-Tin-Tin* ** *8 minute* *two strip Technicolor clip.* ** *A very colorful and imginative segment from* *Show Of Shows.* *The geometric chorus girl deployment has to be seen to be believed.*

*"CHECK YOUR HUSBAND" from OVER THE COUNTER (1932)* *MGM* **http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkUO3g188jc *8 minute clip in* *two strip Technicolor* *A department store offers a husband sitting service while the wives are about shopping! Makes the man not want to leave the store! Another short that airs on TCM from time to time*.

*"DANCING THE DEVIL AWAY" from "CUCKOOS" (1930)* *RKO W/ Dorothy Lee, Wheeler & Woolsey* ** *Three minute clip* *Satirising hell and the devil appears to have been popular around this time. From* *Cuckoos (1930) a Wheeler & Woolsey* *film, shot mostly in black and white. I'm a big fan of early* *two strip Technicolor, especially the musicals! The chance to see that era is pseudo-color is fascinating!*

*DEVIL'S CABARET (1930)* *MGM* ** *Full short in two parts* *This is a hilarious must see in early* *two strip Technicolor! A satire with a great punch line!* *At "Satan & Co., Inc.", the Devil is upset because too many people are going up to Heaven rather than down to Hades. He gives his assistant, Mr. Burns the task of getting more people to his domain. In front of a nightclub, Mr. Burns invites a crowd of people to come inside to "The Devil's Cabaret" and be entertained. After they enjoy songs and dancing, the people go willingly to Hades*.

*MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR to:* *The executive managment of Time Warner, it's CEO Jeffrey Bewkes, to TCM management and the web administrator and finally to the esteemed readership of these message boards and their participants, from whose contributions and interactions I learn so much and am so enriched by throughout the year!* *The best of wishes to all!*

*MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYBODY!* *Best wishes to all and a hearty thanks to the readers and contributors to the exploitation film threads. I am gratified and encouraged in my efforts by your interest and support!* *********************************************************************************** ** That's the ceiling they are sitting on! *DANCING ON THE CEILING (1937)* *MGM* ** *Full 9 minute short* *This whimsical, cheesy short has to be seen to be believed! A real sensational piece of fluff. Nothing like this would ever be made today! Airs on TCM from time to time, usually in the wee hours of the morning.* *A female dentist caters to a male clientele with a whole host of dancing assistants and chorus girls! When a patient is given nitrous, he trips that the chorus women are- dancing on the ceiling!*

*MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYBODY!* *Best wishes to all and a hearty thanks to the readers and contributors to the exploitation film threads. I am gratified and encouraged in my efforts by your interest and support!* ***************************************************************************************************************** *Up to this point in the project, I have focused on providing complete films for the viewers of the filmography thread:* ** http://forums.tcm.com/thread.jspa?threadID=161844&tstart=0 *I will continue to do that. A great many extraordinary films and scenes in this genre are available on the internet in only abridged clips, as most posters do not oblige us with a complete film upload. I've decided to present some of the more worthy fragments on this discussion thread. This can serve to greatly expand the range and availability of titles that I can present to the reader's attention. I will start by presenting some today. The readers are more than welcome to submit material, links and commentary of their own, as always!*

Hi Dan, Merry Christmas! I'm so glad that you had a chance to view and enjoy those films! All three of the "Inferno" films are unique and have something to offer. I haven't seen the other two films you saw, but I will and then I'll get back to you about it. Jess Franco made some other films around then that look like possible candidates for our gallery. Often, finding out about one film leads to finding out about others. My foray into the "incubus/succubus" theme was spurred by your submission of The Sprit Is Willing. It illustrates how I can thrive off the feedback of others, so keep it up! Good luck with Dante. You will have to read the annotations provided by the translator in order to have a clue about a lot of the textual and name references. Dante's sensationalism was putting some then famous people into hell. He becomes reunited with Beatrice in Paradiso, the third part of the Divine Comedy. I'm going to load some more stuff today!

Hi gwenny, For many, the guilt issue over commitment can be dealt with by letting the attending physician make the decision. If the doctor feels the elderly patient is no longer competent to care for themselves, he can order commitment to a care facility. If your dad is in the same town you are living in, you should see him more often. If he lives in a distant state, then it's more understandable if you don't end up visiting him frequently. Sadly, one thing they see a lot of down in Florida is people who have retired there, having moved from other states, and end up in nursing homes far away from their families. Moving away from your family and friends for retirement sounds alluring to a great many, but only makes sense while you have your health and can take care of yourself. Once you can no longer do that and are committed to a care facility, you are a person alone, with no freedom to travel, away from your family. I cringe when I read hype articles on yahoo! touting places like Costa Rica or Ecuador for retirement! That's moving far away from your loved ones at a time in your life when you might be needing them.

Fred that is one of my favorite films from the 30's! Although *If I Had a Million (1932)* has aired on TCM, it is a rarely seen movie and has not ever come out on video. Each of it's 6 segments were filmed by a different director, and one of them faetures *WC Fields*! The one that you provided is stark, although it has a happy ending. Ay one time is was customary to put the aged poor into county homes, along with the insane.