Stephan55
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Posts
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Joined
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Days Won
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Posts posted by Stephan55
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Although I never considered her a "major" star, I certainly enjoyed seeing her in any movie that she appeared in.
She always appeared to be the intelligent sort that for some reason should have been smart enough to be wary of the Frank Sinatra type,.... i.e. The Tender Trap (1955), And deserved much better than she got in her on-screen romances.
Some say that she was beginning to experience some memory loss as recent as 2002. Shoot, I sometimes experience that now....
Interesting that in real life she married a man less than half her age when she was 87, in 2004.
Sorta like the flipside of Tony Randal, only without the child.... I should be so lucky to have a woman less than half my age interested in me "if" I ever reach 87????
I hope he made her happy during their last 8 years together...
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I grew up on Black & White movies from a black & white TV. As a child, color movies was something I got to see when the family went to the drive-in.
I was in my late teens before we owned a color TV and the color wasn't all that accurate, though we all thoug t it was something great. That was when I first discovered that some of my old black & white favorites had actually been made in color.
I enjoy color movies, but I appreciate the black and white films that I grew up on, and those producers and directors that chose & choose to make their movies in Black & White for artistic purposes, even though color was and is an affordable option for them.
I've heard some say that films like "Pride & Prejudice" were originally planned to be made in color, but all the available color film stock at that time had been gobbled up by the "Gone With The Wind" project. With that in mind, when I see "Pride & Prejudice" I wonder what those flowing gown scenes would look like in color.
I am not offended by a good colorization of a beloved "classic" film. My taste is diverse enough to allow me to enjoy both vanilla & chocolate, as well as neopolitan & even rainbow sherbert.
My favorite single film of all time is "King Kong" (1933), I long loved it in black & white, but every now and then I like to pull out a colorized edition that I acquired and look at what those artists eyes imagined the color of Kong's world to be.
It may not be the true color that I'm seeing, but I know that I'm looking at someone's labor of love to render my favorite into an image of beauty that can only be seen through the eyes of an artist.
Nope, good artistic coloring of a "classic" does not offend me.
However a badly shot film, be it color or black & white, is sometimes painful to watch.
But a well done film in practically any shade of dark & light, or color, is still a film done well.
So long as I can have my cake and eat it too (both the original & a decent color rendition, when available), though I may have my preferences, if its worth enjoying, I will enjoy it, either way.
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Hi Sophalee,
Next to 'The Music Man," I remember "The Dark At The Top Of The Stairs" as one of my favorite Robert Preston movies.
Now that you folks have brought it up, I can't remember for sure when I last saw it. But I remember it from my high school days being shown late at night when I got of work during a weekend.
It wasn't that old a movie then.
Robert Preston was a traveling salesman (farm implements, I think), a proud man that lost his job and was having a hard time of it, because he couldn't give his daughter a prom dress? and didn't want his family to know what he was going through.
I remember Shirley Knight as a young, innocent ****, who fell for this sensitive young Jewish kid who was a cadet at some military academy, I think he commited suicide late in the movie. And the moma's boy son that kept getting between Robert Preston & Dorothy McGuire when they needed some alone time. I think Angela Lansbury was a hairdresser in this small town that had the hots for her old flame, Robert, and she was one whom he could confide in, when his wife would turn him away.
I think at the end Preston gives his son some money for him and his friend to go to the movies, and orders them to stay and see it twice, so that he and Dorothy would have enough time... The boys had a little conversation as they were walking away, and one says to the other something to the effect that he wasn't sure why parents were sometimes so generous, but it seemed to happen like clockwork evey Saturady? at his house...
Anyway, I may not have the dialogue precise, but the scene made me smile then, when I first saw it, and now as I try my best to remember it.
I sure would like to see this movie again myself, perhaps TCM will air it for us????
I did a little searching around, Amazon doesn't have the DVD, but does have several of the plays by William Inge, whom I just found out also wrote: "Come Back Little Sheba," "Picnic," "Bus Stop," as well as "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs." All turned into hit movies that I enjoy!
I had no idea that before Delbert Mann directed the 1960 Warner Bros. film version, that in 1957, Elia Kazan directed the hit play version, which also had a stellar cast: Eileen Heckart, Pat Hingle, and Teresa Wright, & Frank Overton, among others.
I did find the DVD title at this link:
[orders@urbanclassicmovies.com|mailto:orders@urbanclassicmovies.com] "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs" (DVD) Item# 9052 $9.95
http://yhst-128241803912219.stores.yahoo.net/9052.html
I can't vouch for the credibility of the site, or the quality of the product, but thought I'd pass the info on for anybody willing to make a chance order and pass the info back on to the rest of us.
I can't remember TCM ever showing it, sure wish they would if they can.
I'd like to see it again before I die, but if I don't I still can remember the movie pretty well, and I guess now I can order the play from Amazon and at least read it.
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Whoops, looks like I was typing when ugaarte was posting.
After reading his? post, I can hear those lines coming back to me as well. Thanks for the screenshot links as well
looks like we can't post a link to another website even though this title does not appear to be available through the TCM store... Oh well, maybe you can find it by googling like I did.
Let us know with another post if you end up ordering the movie and if the DVD quality is good I'll likely order one for myself as well.
Edited by: Stephan55 on Jul 11, 2012 7:15 PM
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Yes, married to Will Kopelman, on June 2, 2012.
I've heard they are expecting their first child.
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misswonderly reminds me of an elementary school teacher I once had....
I find her and finance's banter hilariously amusing...
Maybe Drew sounds like a "valley girl" because she was born in Culver (studio) City, and grew up in Southern California?
Most of my admiration for her is as a survivor.
She has come a very long way in her tender years... from her turbulent childhood w/an estranged father and drug and alcohol abusive preadolesence, as a wild and precocious teenager with juvenile emancipation and failed marriages,... she could have long ago made the deep six, but instead she has managed to pull herself together and clean herself up, and instead of the lost doldrums, or worse, has a potentially very bright and productive future ahead of herself.
She has become successfull in business and the business that she grew up in.
No one can deny that she was a very talented child actress from her roles in Altered States, E.T. & Firestarter, Irreconcilable Differences & Cat's Eye and was able to successfully make her teen transition into a sultry and seductive, psychologically twisted, vamp in Poison Ivy & Guncrazy, and the made-for-TV Amy Fisher Story. From a dark and seedy world to the light of lite and sometimes quite silly comedic roles, Drew appears to have been on a long quest to find herself and her place in the world.
Her autobiography, "Little Girl Lost," is as revealing about herself as it is an inspiration for all who've tread a similar path to potential self-destruction and manage to pull themselves through.
Yes, many of her adult films are light, quirky and silly to watch, but Drew is still growing, and whose to say what the future may do with her innate talents?
I get the feeling that she doesn't take herself too seriously, and yet is learning to appreciate and take very seriously the craft that she was born into, the talented gifts that she has and the place that she is...
From actress, to producer, and now a budding director,... From author to model, to an Ambassador Against Hunger for the UN World Food Program, Drew has shown herself to be a very talented, very remarkable young woman, and a positive female role-model.
I find her a very likeable personality.
I enjoy her as Robert's TCM essentials co-host and look forward to seeing her and hearing her speak ala "valley girl" et al.
But I'm not as critical as others might be, except when it comes to environmental issues, and people who act unneccessarily rude and cruel to those beings unable to defend themselves, be they human or animal.
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Somehow I was drawn to the title of this thread.
There are so many, many things that are "new" that are so incredibly inferior to the "old" that I scarce know whit to make my comment.
.....One thing that I find very annoying on commercial television is all these auto adds that claim high milage.
And people that I talk to that think they are getting great miles per gallon when their expensive new compact gets 30 miles per gallon on the highway.
I knew an original owner of a 1928 model A ford with a 4 cylinder engine who still got (with an original, unmodified engine) 33 miles per gallon. He said that he could drive that car 45 miles an hr all day long without a sputter. That car was built like a tank, to last, and it has. And 45 doesn't sound like much to day, but that was long before the interstates were built, and rough, unpaved roads were the norm.
But then, at the dawn of the age of the gasoline powered engine, the original "Tin Lizzy" model-T Ford was designed to run on biofuels.
When I was a kid, and gas cost around 25 cents per gallon (I even remember "gas wars" with 12 cent per gallon gas), I had a friend who bought one of the first US Honda car imports, a two cylinder 600 cc air cooled motorcycle engine that got 40+ MPG and could keep up with 65-70 mph frwy traffic speed limits. I bought one, a coupe, & drove it cross country, no sweat! It was built out of heavier and sturdier steel than the later versions and still had both pep & economy.
I had a VW van that got 30 mpg hwy. Datsan (Nisson) had a 1200 cc car that got 35 on the hwy. Fiat had a cute little "Spyder" two seater sports car that got 35 hwy.
The US reached peak oil in 1970 and for the first time we "needed" to import foreign oil to meet our energy demands.
In the early 1970s diesel fuel was cheaper than gasoline, & could be had for 15 cents per gallon. VW had both a diesel Rabbit car and what they called a rabbit "truck" that got 45 mpg.
After the 1974 Arab oil embargo, President Carter reduced the hwy speed limit to 55 mph (among other things) to conserve energy. Many auto makers, including American ones, began focusing more on economy and less on unneeded horsepower.
In 1980 when the US national debt reached its first trillion, the price of a US gallon of gasoline averaged 50 cents. Presidential candidate Anderson wanted to double that to a dollar and use the difference to pay off the national debt. He was the only candidate that did more than play the blame game and actually had a tangible, if unpopular solution to that big and growing problem. But truck drivers claimed the high cost of fuel would drive them out of business causing the US economy to collapse, and the US citizenry balked at paying $1 per gallon at the pump, so it didn't happen, and the debt continued to grow unchecked, and what are we paying now for fuel?
From the late 70s through to the early 1990s one could purchase "reasonably" priced vehicles in the U.S. (sadly mostly imports) that routinely got better than 30 mpg on the hwy. Toyota had a "Starlit' that got 49 mpg hwy, Honda had economical 4 cylinder "Civics" that got from 35-45 mpg, depending on the grade level, and a little 2 seater CRV that got 59 mpg hwy.
VW kept up with their Rabbit line in both gas & diesel, Ford sold their import "Fiesta" & later "Festiva" that got 42 mpg hwy. Chevy marketed a 3 cylinder Suzuki as the "Sprint" (later sold as the GEO Metro) they had a low grade model which got 59+ per gallon on the hwy. I bought a higher grade Metro in 1993 that was marketed to only get 50 mpg hwy, but I squeaked 59 mpg out of it several times on cross-country trips.
There were numerous small trucks that routinely got 25-35 mpg hwy in gasoline models: the Ford "Courier" (by Mazda), the Dodge "mini-Ram" (by Mitsubishi), the Chevy "Luv" (by Isuzu). Throughout the 1980s the same manufacturers went on a diesel engine kick and Mazda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Toyota and Isuzu mini-pickups could be had that topped 39-45 mpg, with the additional torque of a durable, high-speed diesel engine. I had both an unmodified Nissan gasoline 4 cylinder 2.4 L short-bed mini-truck that I was able to get 33 mpg on the hwy, and an Isuzu long-bed (7') diesel that routinely achieved 42-44 mpg hwy with no effort.
GM was even pioneering an electric car.
Then came the mid 1990's. Strangely, as we became ever more dependant on foreign oil, the need to conserve apparently became (and is) no longer neccessary. The speed limit was lifted and continues accelerate. And for some strange reason most of those once common 40+ mpg vehicles vanished from U.S. sales floor shores.
Here, Today, one has to spend a small fortune on a hybrid to achieve what was once a commonality with a non-hybrid gas or diesel powered car or small truck. We have more horsepower than we know what to do with it, and a new generation, blinded by false advertisements, thinks that getting a car that acheives 30 plus mpg is something really special.
While in Europe Ford markets a diesel-hybrid car that gets 65 mpg but will not sell it over here.
Instead of using what native fossil fuel is left to transition us to an age of "newer" (really very old) renewable, sustainable source/s of energy, we have an energy "plan" to poison our even more precious fossil ground water in an effort to postpone the inevitable for perhaps another 25-30 years....
No, in my experience, "New" isn't always new, and in many ways something new is far inferior to what it is attempting to replace.
So much for my rant... on this subject.
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Haaaa! I knew you were listening
I do agree with you regarding Jean, Lana & Betty... But I see a year hasn't yet changed your taste or mellowed your sensibilities when it comes to our sweet little Hayley!
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Luv Hayley,
Had a childhood crush on her that hasn't gone away!
Was devastated when I heard she'd married that lucky old ****.
I'm sure that I haven't seen every one of her films, but I've enjoyed all of those that I have seen....
Hey Fred, "The Family Way" was recently aired, did you get a chance to see it again?
If you did I bet you probably changed your mind, given a second chance to reassess that little scene that caused you such angst last year... lol
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I just took a little stroll back to memory lane and reread the thread.
Many thanks slaytonf & lzcutter for the help and links.
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Alittle over a year ago tcm played "The Family Way" (1966)
I caught the tail end of it when it was played again yesterday, but unfortunetly missed the classic little fleeting scene that Fred C. Dobbs made such a fuss over last year regarding Hayley Mills' exposed little tail end.
I recall that we had a very humourous discussion, and now I can not see this film or any Hayley Mills film without hearing some of Freddy's comments ring in my mind. I always smile.
Unfortunetly I cannot find either his or my own posts from that time anywhere. Have all our old posts and threads from a year or so ago dissappeared?
It used to be that when you clicked on your own, or another member's name that you could find links to every one of the posts that they or you ever made on the TCM fan boards.
Is there anyway to access our old posts?
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The debate goes on as to what exactly is an "essential" movie.
The word itself is highly subjective and as yet not clearly defined for film.
Everyone's taste is not the same and what may seem essential for one may not be for another.
According to Robert Osborne, both he and his "essentials" co-host (now Drew Barrymore) pick the "essentials" movies they show.
I may not always agree with Robert's, or Alec's, or Drew's, or whomever's, "essential" picks, as such, but most often I find their comments and dialogue as to why they think it is so, both interesting and informative.
I've seen all of James Dean's films numerous times, and certainly respect him as a very gifted actor cut short in life.
Of the three, my personal favorite is his first, "East of Eden."
I think all of his films are classics (whatever that may mean), and may certainly be essential in their representation of a certain time and attitude in America. All three represent some of the best work of their respective directors, Elia Kazan, Nicholas Ray, & George Stevens, respectively, are excellently scripted, cast and photographed, with numerous overt and underlying subliminal messages.
Perhaps all 3 are essentials to many, but not for all viewers.
As to why they are showing " Rebel" again, when it has already been shown 2 or 3 times earlier this year?.?.?.... My guess is that it is a prime-time weekend slot and an "essential" one at that. Perhaps to air the film as an "essential" to an audiance that may only watch that timeslot. Perhaps to draw on a different audiance that may be watching simply because Drew Barrymore is the co-host and perhaps turn them on to what a great thing the TCM channel is? Who knows?
Personally, I may not watch the whole movie again, but I will record it to at least hear what Robert & Drew have to say about it.
So far I've seen every one of their "essential" picks at one time or another, since Drew has been Robert's co-host, and I have a great appreciation for all of them,... for my own reasons.
I enjoy the commentary of Robert (and now Drew Barrymore) as well, and when they show a movie that I already know that I like, and discuss why they appreciate it, I not only find a kinship, but often learn something new from their perspectives,... something perhaps I never thought of before.
i've found that since I became a TCM viewer and fan many years ago, that my appreciation for all films, including many that I had not previously cared for, has grown, as result of the tidbits of information I receive from the intro and end commentary of Robert Osborne, Ben Mankiewicz, Alec Baldwin, & their guest hosts... and now Drew Barrymore.
When she comments about an old movie that may be new to her, I share in the delight of her observations and experience. It re-refreshes me to the delights that I may have experienced the first time that I saw that same film.
I enjoy that.
So I record and listen to what they have to say and maybe I'm intrigued or stimulated to save that recording and watch that movie again, with fresher eyes.
TCM and Robert Osborne, et al, have expanded my horizons, & broadened my outlook, and in more than just film.
I find myself both more discriminating and yet less judgemental, if that is possible.
I've grown extremely eclectic in my taste for movies, as well as many other things.
I find that I can find something to appreciate in even a seemingly "bad" movie, even if only as an example of a poorly worded or implemented script, poor acting and direction, incongruent filming or bizarre music. whatever may be the case. I may not watch that movie again, but if I have stayed to watch it at all, I am seldom sorry that I did.
I watch movies for so many reasons,... sometimes to see the style of dress, transportation, & architecture of a bygone era, or from a different culture, preserved on film.
Or attitudes toward social politics, morality, medicine, romance, war, etc. from another time. Similarities & disimilarities between now & then.
Like a good book, only archived in film.
Sometimes I watch to see how an actor or director (or writer of words or music) of interest has grown (or not) in the course of their career.
I find movies to be history on film, and so it is easy for someone such as myself to be easily entertained, and welcoming to different thoughts and perpectives.
I see Robert as an older & wiser generation, and Drew is a younger and newer one.
On TCM essentials I see two generations coming together, joined by a common appreciation of film. Perhaps for different reasons, but on common ground. It thrills me as a meeting of minds.
Their discourse is both entertaining and educational. I find myself growing whenever I am allowed the privilege to listen-in upon their conversation. I often wish that there was an option to hear a running commentary of their observations throughout the film. Pretty strange, huh?
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Gee, folks, I thought Alec Baldwin was a step-up from the previous essentials co-host, but i really like the chemistry between Robert Osborne & Drew Barrymore.
IMHO I think that this is the best match I've seen on the essentials since it's been on.
Robert, with his sage wisdom and willingness to both share what he knows as a gentle mentor, and learn from a younger and sometimes different perspective, and Drew, young, fresh, female, with a heritage as old as film, and a willingness to both learn from Robert's experience and at the same time introduce her own perspectives, from in-front of & behind the camera, as both an actress and a budding director, as a young woman and a Barrymore.
I find her enthusiasm unpretentious, sincere, fresh and contagious.
No they are not Siskel & Ebert, but she is a young lady that I've watched grow up on the big screen. I've read about her real-life foibles as she has managed to survive the transition from child star, through adolescence and young adulthood through turbulent times and under the long shadow of the Barrymore name.
She is a survivor and yes, she is quite charming,... and I think I notice a twinkle in Robert's eyes that I never saw when Alex sat across from him.
She really loves TCM as we do! She is both a fan, and a student of film. I can see her stretch and grow on each episode of the essentials and I am learning right along with her!
I really enjoy Robert & Drew's interraction and I find myself looking forward to the essentials more than ever before.
I find them very appealing together, and I hope that she sticks around, for a long, long time!
IMO Drew & Robert are a very good fit!
TCM... You finally put it together right on the essentials... for me anyway.
I Thank you -
*TerryEllsworth said: "I think I just did Bob Hope in The Road to Utopia and spit out my coffee"*
Slightly off topic, but IMHO the best scene in "The Road To Morocco," is early in the film when the boys are stranded in the backlot "desert" and the camel luggies (spits) on Bob, and Bing laughs and says "good girl."
All camelidae including llamas & alpacas, etc. "spit" when upset or threatened, so it's likely that the boys & crew were warned that it could happen... yet nothing can actually prepare you for the event when it occurs, and it appeared totally unexpected, and unplanned,... Bob trying to dodge the gob & Bing's smirking impromptu response,... so Bing!... and they left it in... Luv it!
But I've never heard Robert or Ben make any comment about this hilarious event whenever this road tour farce is frequently shown....?
I'll usually watch just enough of TRTM to catch that one scene so I can get a laugh before doing something else.
Regarding "Lion In The Desert," guess I'm one of those few odd balls who liked it. But then I like to watch most historical epics.
Yeah, I was a little wary about any hidden agenda's from a major producer/financer, such as Gaddafi (?spell?), but then every writer/director/producer has some sort of subjective agenda that they are promoting, so one can't let that be so great an issue to prevent one from watching (or reading) & being either entertained or maybe learning something new.
I also enjoyed the movie "Scipio Africanus (Scipio the African): The Defeat of Hannibal" (1937) which was heavily funded by Mussolini at the time. But it was a historical epic depicting a time in history and historical characters that I am fascinated with, so I watched it and learned something.
I also think that the late "Leni" Riefenstahl was a very talented film maker and photographer, et al, and her film "Triumph of the Will" (1934) (regardless of the Nazi propaganda) was cinematically striking for its time. One doesn't have to agree with the personal politics of the artist to appreciate or enjoy the art.
It's too easy to throw the baby out with the bathwater, and I find that even with politically popular and unpopular (incorrect) films/books I'm able to strain something of value from most of them if I try.
But, I'm sort of an oddball that way.
Oh, and i also liked "Heaven's Gate" (the movie) a western epic based on the 1892 Johnson County War in Wyoming, and when I'm involved with a film that I'm enjoying, time is of no consequence.
But then I'm one of those whose attracted to Michael Cimino films, whether they were lauded by the "critics" or made money at the box office or not. Like i said, I'm kindofan oddball.
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Thank you Izzy, for the RO update & the links.
My current connection is as slow as molasses, but I was finally able to read through them.
It's been said that "absence makes the heart grow fonder."
I find it very true for me, esp. in this case.
The last couple of years I've noticed his voice quavering a bit, and like others, I've been concerned about his state of overall health. I hope that Mr. Osbornes sx was truly minor and that he has a full and speedy recovery and a very refreshing extended vacation...
Most everything else on TCM is replaceable, this petty technical BS, etc. can come and go and is relatively minor annoying stuff to b**** about when we haven't got anything better to do or say.
But the TCM personalities, those shown in the classic movies that are no longer with us... Robert, Ben, Alec, & guest hosts, and the people that write on these boards, are irreplaceable human beings that have become like extended family for many of us.
As others have said, I will now be able to enjoy the flavor of the different guest hosts, so long as I know that Robert is coming back to us!
Mr. Osborne occupies a special place in my heart and for as long as he is willing and able he will always be welcome in my home... wherever that home may be.
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Good Grief,
I return to the states after a sojourn in europe, find myself in western alaska and discover that there isn't even a time zone in the schedule acknowleging the 49th (or 50th) state/s....
Robert Osbourne is on "vacation" (i hope) and Robert Wagner is standing in as a "temporary guest" host (i hope)...
Fortunately this Alaskan community provides TCM access, but (as previous members have already mentioned) I find that i now can't access either my own or any other members previous posts by simply clicking on their, or my own, name
It appears that these member boards and the schedule are still as buggy and degraded as when i left them 3 mos ago, and this "wonderful," "upgrade" is now several months old.
The overall membership still appear as disappointed and ignored as before, and problems introduced by this overwhelmingly unpopular makeover continue to persist.
Ahhhh... it's so nice to come home and find that everything is just as you left it.... so comforting...
Except that now i can look out my window and see... russia??? oh, pardon my mistake, that's only visible from further east in wassilla...
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PETA would have a field day with these vintage Tarzan movies if they were being filmed today.
Big African elephant ears glued or taped to the heads of Indian elephants.
Raw footage of a lioness actually being shot, because some stupid broad didn't have sense enough to leave baby lion cubs alone.
and those were scenes they didn't edit out!
The proverbial water wrestling and stabbing of an oversized rubber croc by Tarzan... always makes me smile, today
But when I was a kid I ate these films up. And they did get me to read Burroughs.
Heck, I wanted to BE Tarzan, or Bowen Tyler, or John Carter, or any of a host of his eugenically superior male characters...
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*FredCDobbs*
*YAY! "Expand All" works for me too!!*
*JackFavell*
*Remember back in the old days,...*
This reminds me of basic training, when you are stripped naked and then given back your underwear. Some of the guys felt so greatful. They thought something really special had happened...
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Well, Ben Mankiewicz is always promoting the IPhone TCM applications... Maybe all this is to make the site more compatible with IPhones?
I don't have one, so I wouldn't be able to confirm that on my own, but maybe he knows?
Anybody have his number?
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Nope, you were not alone. They were down for most of the afternoon and evening, just came back up alittle while ago.
*I kept hoping that when I got back on, everything would be back the way it used to be. Wishful thinking*
Likewise
Edited by: Stephan55 on Apr 10, 2011 12:18 AM
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I suppose one of the earliest "subversive" films was D.W. Griffith's *The Birth Of A Nation (1915).*
Even President Woodrow Wilson, former President of Princeton University and Governor of New Jersey (albeit a Southerner by birth), proclaimed from his office the veracity of the epic film.
This movie was instrumental in setting a tone of "white" public acceptance (in both South and North) that allowed a resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan influence, with repercusions that survived well into the 1960's.
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In the "old" American south, it was the cotton gin (a northern invention) that changed the economic base of the south.
Still cotton was/is a very labor intensive crop, without machines to plant, tend and pick the crop, the plantation owners required vast amounts of cheap energy in the form of human labor... Slaves, to make cotton as profitable as it was.
The lions share of the southern export economy was based on "King" cotton.
A culture of cotton and slavery became intertwined and flourished. It was the economic heart of the prosperous south.
Although most southerners did not own vast plantations or slaves, it was something that they aspired to.
Most people today will never become millionaire CEO's, in fact, are preyed upon by certain rich corporations. But we Americans still harbor the illusion that by supporting otherwise predatory corporate policies with our dollars and our vote that we are supporting our opportunity to one day become a shark ourselves, instead of a minnow.
Such it was in the old south, as it has always been. The poor seek to emulate the rich.
I suppose that it could be said, that were it not for Eli Whitney and cotton, that slavery may have run its course and died out in the south as it had in the north.
There may have been no need for a Civil War and history would have taken an entirely different path.
But because the southern economy was based upon a single, labor intensive crop at that time, the south chose to retain its slave based culture, which ultimately led to division and a devastating civil (civilian) war.
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*C.Bogle*
*I was being entertained by the studio era movies before I ever heard of*
*Uncle Bob.*
Likewise.
But when we rent or buy a DVD today, it often comes with some bonus material. Extras that add alittle insight into the making of the movie &/or the history behind it.
What those brief 1-3 minute intros and end comments by Robert and Ben do (at their best) is provide a few tidbits of, what may be for the viewer, otherwise unknown information.
Sometimes this information can add to the enjoyment of the movie, and sometimes just make one smile. At its most influential it may stimulate the vewer to check things out more indepth on their own, through a variety of sources. When this happens the viewer has an opportunity to become more well rounded &/or discriminating in their taste and appreciation of specific movies and their genres. The viewer grows.
Of course, some people, perhaps most, never watch the bonus material on a DVD, or stay to watch a movies credits and/or listen to the exit music while still in their seat.
They came to be entertained; to see the movie, and nothing else, and that's okay.
But there are some of us that do sit and stay. we watch the previews and look to see who's in the picture, who produced and directed it, wrote the screenplay and score and what book it's based on (if any). We crave to know the background and history.
For us those tiny trivia tid bits are like appetisers or after dinner mints, that round out a fuller movie experience.
For that reason I have grown to enjoy and appreciate Mr. Osborne and Mr. Mankiewicz.
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You are very correct, whereas the total number of U.S. dead & wounded was far greater in WW2, The total number of Americans Killed during the Civil War was greater than U.S. dead in both World Wars combined.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_military_casualties_of_war
According to the U.S. Constitution, the "male dominated white" South had the right to secede from a government that they believed no longer represented them.
I say "male dominated white" because women and children had no vote and blacks were considered chattel property in the south.
The Northern states actually violated the Constitution by forcing the Confederate states to remain in the Union.
I find it ironically interesting how U.S. foreign policy alternately supports or abhors revolution and secession in other parts of the world depending upon the convenience of circumstance and corporate influence.
A wise sage once said if you want to know the cause & effect of most events in human history you need to "follow the money."
People have a habit of putting all manner of righteous rationalization to justify their stance and actions but generally where ever their treasure is, that's where you'll also find their heart.
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*finance*
*Did Robert Osborne ever appear in a film?*
Yes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Osborne
http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/488%7C0/Robert-Osborne-Biography.html
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0651737/
Edited by: Stephan55 on Apr 9, 2011 1:26 PM
"Alice Adams"
in General Discussions
Posted
I learned long ago to generally expect disappointment when watching a movie rendition of a book that I may have enjoyed,
Likewise when I go to the book after enjoying the movie.
They seldom are equal to each other. Though, on rare occassions, they may be equally as good in their own right, despite the differences.
I find that generally, either too much dramatic license is taken that it renders the movie unrecognizable from its hardback namesake, in all except perhaps the "title," or the book is so epic in scope that the cost of putting all the scenes I'd like to see on the big-screen are simply too cost/time prohibitive.
i.e. it took three Jurrasic Park sequels to get most of the first Michael Crichton novel on the screen.
Anyways... Robert enlightened Drew at the end commentary, to her obvious surprize, that Tarkington's book ending was a polar opposite to the screen ending. Such is Hollywood