[A Walk on the Noir Side]

Oh my golly!!! Bogie!!! Love the PUPPIES!!!!! (and the big dog TOO!!) And PS:Jackie I AM starting to learn to LOVE the HB movies.. slowly but surely.. the longer I hang around this place I am finding more of his films that I truly do enjoy!! And if the great stories and "better than I expected" acting didn't win me over.. ha... the PUPPIES are scoring the extra points for him now! ha. Thanks, little darlin'

[A Walk on the Noir Side]

HIYA Mad Hat the Swede!!! (ha) My rope is on ice and READY to string you up.. as soon as I finish my CAKE!! ha. (how did you know I always wanted to be called "Ethel"?) ha. (oh.. and PS: WHO is older????????? I seem to recall YOUR b-day being a month + earlier than MINE!!!)

[A Walk on the Noir Side]

HELLLOOOOOOOOO Harry.. ha. You look WORRIED in that last picture there.. And you SHOULD!! ha. What you don't REALIZE is that Miss G and I got rid of the money then set you up so we could catch you trying to steal from her.. ha. We are ON to your little schemes, sir. HA!! (and now I think we will have to hire Jackie to run you down with her Buick! ha)

 

OH MY GOLLY Grey Dude.. ha. You have me rolling in the aisles w/ that one.. ha (and I don't even HAVE an aisle anywhere close by me! ha) That was so funny, I am ALMOST inclined to forgive you... I must be getting soft in my old age...

 

On second thought.. I think I will hold this over your head for a while longer... ha. This will be good "dirt" to use against you for maybe even decades to come!! Everytime you give me grief now I can say something like...

 

"Yeah.. but at least I did not forget YOUR birthday!!"

 

(PS: all kidding aside..ha. NO worries sir.. I still manage to get older every year whether folks remember it or NOT! ha. And BOY am I starting to figure THAT one out in a hurry..ha.)

[A Walk on the Noir Side]

Have you seen "Secret Beyond the Door"

 

No, Miss Maven.. dadgummit. I TOTALLY missed it the other day when it was on. (I did not even KNOW about it until it was too late to do anything about it.. duh) I did find a short clip (of his tour of the "murder rooms") that told me I WISH I had seen the whole thing. (and then there is the whole discussion going on over in films and filmmakers that I catch bits and pieces of the last few days.. yep.. I WISH I had seen the whole thing for SURE. ha. BUt I will keep an eye out for it.. maybe can find it at the library.. but won't likely be able to check on it for a few days yet.. I am pretty much "booked" this whole week.... sigh... so many movies... so little time.

[EARTHQUAKE -- "You've just rammed into Zsa Zsa Gabor's hedges!"]

Now stop picking on me!

 

Now what would be the fun in that?????? :p

[EARTHQUAKE -- "You've just rammed into Zsa Zsa Gabor's hedges!"]

Eventually they move on after a few minutes of my yelling. They act like Hey! Is he talking to us?

 

Now that is just not right. Those deer should give you more respect... I bet they even call you Molo Dangerfield behind your back.... :p

[EARTHQUAKE -- "You've just rammed into Zsa Zsa Gabor's hedges!"]

OH me... ha. . THANKS Miss B for all those PUPPIES and KITTIES!! ha. (love it!!) They were so sweet, I am having a sugar rush now for sure. ha

 

Though to be truthful I MIGHT not be able to blame it all on the little furry friends..ha. We went out to my fave restaurant today for lunch.. and of course after mentioning the white chocolate raspberry cheesecake earlier this week.. I had to splurge and have a slice.(and PS.. that is just what it was.. a HUGE splurge.. ha. I absolutley only get to eat it about once or twice a year. ha) And I was so full from lunch I had to bring it home and wait a while. So instead of having it as dessert... I ate it for... (drum roll please) ...SUPPER!! ha. (Oh what a bad girl am I!! Ha.. now all the "fitness foodies' will be "tsk tsking" me for sure.. ha. but I can live with that!! ha)

 

I was still just too full from lunch to eat much else.. and by golly, I did NOT want to waste what little room I had left in my tummy on anything else for supper BUT the one thing I had been dreaming of since I mentioned it earlier in this thread. ha. I have been having white chocolate raspberry cheesecake withdrawl!! ha. I am NOT kidding. ha. I have known we were going out to eat today all week long and truly.. I have been literally just almost sitting on the edge of my seat w/ a fork in my hand WAITING or the moment.. ha. (OH.. and PS: thank goodness I was only eating it for supper tonight and not because of that whole "end of the world thing" ha)

 

(But of course I had to share some of it w/ the kidling.. because the minute she found out I was getting a slice, she pulls out the secret weapon I always use on her when she is having a sweet treat... ha... "But it's NICE to share" So what could I do?? I was trapped. ha. But she had to eat her real supper first.. (so at least that gave me plenty of time to enjoy the better part of it w/ out her snatching it from me!! ha.

 

Yeah.. it's NICE to share.. but my "nice" only goes so far when it comes to some things (ha) Did I mention we are talking about WHITE CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE for crying out loud???

 

PS: Mr Molo.. you are just a mess... what in the world is going ON with you??????????? After reading your story about your drive by shrub attack I am having visions of you on your knees in front of the poor decapitated thing.... shaking your fist at the sky.. ha. (and meanwhile... your lawnmower engine is still revving in the background)

 

I imagine it is safe to say we will NOT be seeing you as a guest host on HGTV's "Curb Appeal" anytime soon. ha. (but then who am I to point fingers..ha.. my thumb is so UNgreen... Plants and bushes wilt up and die simply at the mention of my name. ha.)

 

Oh and RE: the neighbor watering the plants for you... EEWW!! TOO scary to even contemplate. I can't even read anymore. .ha. What I don't know won't creep me out!! ha Picture me w/ my eyes closed and my fingers in my ears right now just singing lalalalalalalalalalalalala.

[EARTHQUAKE -- "You've just rammed into Zsa Zsa Gabor's hedges!"]

So adorable to see those fuzzy babies make "touchdowns", lol

 

We also like the "kitty half time show" ha. TOO cute. Oh.. and we love the "bowl" cam too.. where they have a camera in the water bowl. It is so cute to see the little puppies just lapping up the water with their little pink tongues. ha. Oh golly.. I am on "sweetness" overload right now just thinking of it. ha.

[A Walk on the Noir Side]

I admire you, Quiet Gal

 

Oh sure.. try and distract me with flowery speeches.. just when I was reaching for my ROPE!! ha.

 

You are too nice to me, Grey Guy.. ha. Last week I did work all weekend at a big (no, I mean HUGE, ha) fundraiser bake sale booth w/ the scout troop that I work with.. (though truthfully.. it was more fun for me than work) but I have to come clean and confess... I was not doing anything today but goofing OFF! ha.

 

The fact is, we have a LOT of diffferent festivals and street fairs in various towns all around our area this time of year... this makes the fourth week in a row for us to "hit the streets" ha. Counting the one we had a bake sale at last weekend, we have visited a total of 5 different street fairs in 4 weekends. (OH my golly, you should see how the kidling can work the freebie tables, ha. By now, she knows which ones have ALL the best stuff) Truth is.. it is a nice way to get out and about and not have to spend a whole lot of cash to entertain her (or us) so we try to get to as many as we can when the weather is nice... today we got caught in the rain toward the end of our visit at one of them.. but it was still a lot of fun to wander about and see all the various vendors and different craft booths, etc.

 

So don't be TOO impressed..ha. I wasn't doing any "good deeds" today..ha. I was just being "thrifty" by dragging the QT out w/ me and the kidling for some "free" entertainment. ha. But it was nice of you to say all that... Though I am sure you have me pegged all wrong.. keep this up and you will ruin my whole "peacemaker" image. HA!

 

I'm glad you predicted what I'd say because that tells me I've been somewhat consistent with viewpoint

 

You have. One thing I can say for sure is that you do not "waffle". (or is that "flip flop") without just cause and without careful examination of the facts. And then I would not necessarily call it flip flopping so much as just re-examining the evidence to form a better conclusion. (a la the whole Wuthering Heights thing, etc) I have to give you credit for that.

 

I understood him! He was a hustler, like many salesmen, promoters are, and he saw an opening to start his own promotion on the back of Gregorius. Yeah, he used others to do this, but that's usually what happens

 

Someone uses someone and gets rich off of them. That's being an agent. Harry was a "businessman." He was trying to be "Vince McMahon," which is who Kristo is.

 

But does the end really justify the means if someone is free to use someone else that way? Is it "ok' to do that so long as you don't really "hurt" anyone. (and I maintain that Harry did hurt others.. more than you think he did but even if he had not.. would it still really be ok for him to do this?) And if you took Webb's murder of John out of the equation how would these two men REALLY be all that different? What if Webb had found a way to swindle John's money (through Susan) without killing anyone? Would it have been ok for him to do that?

 

I think the biggest beef you and others have with Harry is that you believe he should have a "normal" job where he's handed a paycheck. His way of life is dishonest. Well, the world he's in and the world he's trying to become a big shot in is more dishonest than he is.

 

Hmmmmm I don't know if I would say that him not having a normal job was my biggest beef with him. I think my issues lie more in the second part of what you said.. that his way of life is dishonest. He was a liar and a scammer and thought very little of anyone or anything but himself. He wanted HIS big slice of pie and did not really mind using shady or underhanded or (let's just say it like it is) "dishonest" means to get it. I really just had NO respect for him whatever. Did I respect his competition? No.. not really.. but I also did not feel sorry for Harry when he bit off more pie than he could chew and it more or less came back on him. He got what guys like him usually get when they mix and mess around with bigger "thugs" than themselves. I never once felt like he deserved any of the "breaks" you thought he did.. because he wasn't trying to get them in any way that was honest.. but let's not go down THAT road all over again.. ha. (or did we just go there anyway.. HA!)

 

I see Webb as a different kind of guy. They are both opportunists, though.

 

I found Webb to be very cold, far more so than Harry. I thought Harry was likable. I'm not saying Harry was some saint. Far, far from it. He was a user. But I associate that with business. He was no different than the other "honest" businessmen in the city. I don't like Kristo one damn bit and Harry wanted to be Kristo, so I would have eventually hated him, too.

 

To be truthful.. I expected you to say that Webb was NOT likeable at all and that you found him much worse than Harry because that was what he was. And I see him that way too. There ARE degrees of wrong.. just like there are degrees of right sometimes... so I guess this would be a DARK grey/black sort of character and maybe Harry would be "less dark" to me. (because he was a lot of things.. but he wasn't "sinister" the way Webb was, that is for sure.)

 

But to me.. what he did was very similar to the same sorts of thing Harry did.. only Webb just took them to a "darker" level.

 

And I guess that is my point.. you (and all these noirs I have been watching) are teaching me to appreciate the degrees of "gray/greyness" in film characters way more than I ever imagined. And I really do like that. I am finding that Films Noir are a great place for seeing the various shades of gray and I can see now why you enjoy them so much (coming from a mindset that leans more to the gray in most things as you often do). Sometimes there ARE no easy "black and white" answers for certain characters.. and in a noir, that is OK... it makes for a more interesting story to see the characters have to struggle and strangle (sometimes literally) over the various degress of right and wrong that are set in motion in these stories.

 

But having said all that.. I still maintain.. that despite ALL the gray/grey floating around and about and all throughout these films.. there IS a "black and white" truth in nearly EVERY grey moment that likely WOULD have solved almost each and every issue these characters face.. if only they had stopped and THOUGHT about the things they were doing before they did them..

 

Ah life.. live and learn.. or steal, cheat, maybe kill and get caught by the police as you are climbing up a big hill trying to get away at the end of the movie. HA!.

 

OH and PS: My country grandma was willed the house and property next door to her by her aunt. Every month, she gets a check from the renter. Hard work, ain't it?

 

Actually.. it CAN be hard work being a property owner and being responsible for the home while you have tenents living there. At the very least she is financially responsible for the taxes and insuranc and ultimate upkeep of the property. And even if she never has to lift a finger to take care of anything...she did not "swindle" the property to attain it.. so it is her right to do w/ it what she pleases since it belongs to her. She is not taking advantage of others to keep it or earn money off of it.. unless she is some sort of slum lord or something.. and let's face it.. I cannot picture your country gradnma in THAT sort of role. ha. Somehow "evil landlord" doesn't fit the whole "country grandma" image I have of her. :-)

 

Edited by: rohanaka on Sep 26, 2010 2:06 AM

[A Walk on the Noir Side]

Hello Mr. Grey,

 

You're just itchin' to hang me, aren't you

 

Only because I have had you on my list for OH so many reasons..ha.

 

Well.. you got back to me faster than I expected.. what has happened to your whole "shiftless" thing lately. ha.

 

And you have given me a lot to think about here.. but you answered more or less about the way I was thinking you would. So I have a few more "posers" for you, because I wanted to ask you about some of what you said... (because PS: it may surprise you that we are in agreement on SOME things.. but oh gee.. we are STILL so very far apart in others..ha.. I know.. big surprise)

 

But I will have to get back with you because I am about to head out for a fun filled "street fair" extravaganza as there are TWO (count 'em TWO) big festivals going on in our area this weekend... so I am going to have to answer you a bit later on all this. Just wanted to get a little "pot stirring" action started..ha.. .and in the meantime.. anyone else feel free to jump in. I will be back later to ask you my follow up questions.. ha. (Will she have her rope with her or WON'T she?? hmmmmm....)

[A Walk on the Noir Side]

Hiya Mad Hat..

 

I thought it was kind of important to see John just to see how Webb handled the whole thing

 

It would have been ok if they had just shown John from behind.. or from the neck down. I just think it would have been more fun to never really get a chance to put a face with the name.

 

SPOILER STUFF:

 

Little things like firing the gun in John's hand would be important in the inquest. It also left no doubt about the cold bloodiness of it all.

 

I thought Heflin was wonderful during the scene where he convinces her that it was all an accident. He almost convinced me!

 

And see... I've been thinking about this.. that whole scene where he shoots John could have been handled in such a way that we never see either man as the bullets start flying and then WE would be wondering right along with Susan.. maybe. (But of course then they would also have had to do away with the who bit where Webb creaks the gate back and forth, etc, making it seem like there really IS a prowler running around out there.. because that was a pretty big clue that things were NOT going to end well for John, ha.)

 

But wouldn't it have been fun to have just the tiniest bit of a shadow of doubt about whether Webb really WAS telling the truth or not... and then we he makes his big revealing comment about how some men kill for millions and he did it for (was it?) 62 grand... that would have been all the more shocking.

 

Oh well.. who am I to say.. I am NOT the one getting paid the big bucks to figure all that stuff out and write it down. ha.

[A Walk on the Noir Side]

Hello there Grey Dude...

 

I really like what you have here:

 

I cannot imagine being in her position, either. You cheat on your husband. Your husband then gets killed by your lover. He tells you it's self-defense. You don't believe him. Then he convinces you that it's true. Meanwhile, you're pregnant with his child! What a mess

 

True!! All true.. ha. And you have her situation laid out so well, THIS could almost be a "tag line" for the movie. ha. :-)

 

OK.. let's stir the pot a little.. you have pounded and pounded on me (and others) that your old buddy Harry was NOT a bad guy and that you felt like he deserved to win out in the end. Rather than go back down THAT long and winding and twisting road with you again.. let me pose THIS for you to mull around a bit instead...

 

Since Miss G pointed out some of the comparisons between Harry and Webb (and I agreed w/ her on the similarites and so did you) where would YOU place Webb (in terms of likability and sympathy) along side of Harry??

 

Both men were smooth talking "silver tongued devils" who used a woman's love for them to get what they wanted. And both men misled and lied repeatedly to the women they used. Both men believed life OWED them something and they deserved all the "good stuff" they were missing out on (and rather than work for what they wanted like most, they looked for opportunites to get a "quick' trip to easy street) Both men bought themselves a business with money they got not through their own labor but at the expense of others and then set themselves up as "the big boss". Both men even caused the death of someone else in the pursuit of their dreams. And then ultimately.. both men were brought down when the truth about how they attained their dreams finally comes to light.

 

So... is Webb just a guy like Harry.. was he just a poor sap who never got a break and was being denied a "piece of the pie?" (similar to what you felt about Harry?) Do they both stand equal? Does Webb get your sympathy too? (because you really felt sorry for Harry and wanted him to win out in the end) I guess what I am wanting to know is did you root for Webb that way as well? And if not.. why not. If you found one man more sympathetic than the other what was it that tipped the scale for you?

 

And PS: ha.. I know.. I am being "ornery" here because I THINK I already know what you are going to say.. ha. but I just want to see if I am right. And PS: we MAY have a similar point of view on whether or not one man was more sympathetic.. but we will likely STILL be polar opposites on HOW sympathetic each and/or either man really was)

 

PS Jackie.. ask and ye shall receive.. The Prowler is showing again on the morning of Nov 13th..

 

Meanwhile.. BAH!! I thought "Out of the Fog" was on TODAY (instead of yesterday) so I totally missed it. (and I am STILL kicking myself over missing SBTD earlier this week too, (double BAH!)

 

Just another (in a long stream of) "I'm too DOOFY to read a schedule" moments for ME, HA!!

 

Edited by: rohanaka on Sep 25, 2010 12:31 PM

[Gloria Grahame a complete package]

Congrats on the 10K Miss Maven.. here's a little something to help you celebrate!!

 

[A Walk on the Noir Side]

he's no different than many in an increasingly materialistic society. He's a dangerous reflection of what was happening in the world

 

And still IS happening.. (with even more frequency these days), sad to say. (sigh)

 

I believe her fear was of herself and her attraction to Webb at that point

 

I think she was a good example of that whole "idle hands" expression.. when you have TOO much time on your hands and TOO little to look forward to in a days time.. or if you feel like you are sitting on the sidelines and life is passing you by (as I imagine she must have felt) then you are ripe for the picking for someone like Webb.. unless you have a lot more "moral fiber" or at the very least a lot more backbone than she had. (I know.. I sound like I am judging her awfully harshly.. but really.. he was only successful in all the things he did because she allowed him to be. She was a victim, but she was also very much to blame) I am glad she came to her senses.. although I wish for her sake it had been a little sooner rather than later. (but THEN we would not be able to sit around here and gab about her.. ha. And what would be the fun in THAT?? ha)

 

I really need to watch again because I missed that part where she tells Webb what she did with the baby

 

Oh golly.. ha. It all happened so quickly in the story (and it was two nights ago now since I watched it) now you have me hoping I am remembering it right. Go watch and let me know if I have my facts straight, because now that you are not recalling it, I'm worried and I am second guessing myself, ha. I hate when I can't remember stuff exactly.. but that is all what I am recalling for this part of the story... at the very least I think I am close. ("Clutter Brain Syndrome" can be very debilitating sometimes!! ha)

[A Walk on the Noir Side]

Howdy there Miss G,

 

looking at Evelyn, one of the reasons I didn't recognize her at first, aside from her appearance, is her demeanor. She acts frightened so much of the time, that I couldn't always tell if she was really falling for Webb or just sort of psyched by him into believing she was in love with him. She looked like a frightened rabbit being charmed by a cobra

 

That is a great way to describe her.. she was quite "mesmerized" wasn't she... and re: her appearance.. I have to confess.. I am not as familiar with her as I likely should be (though once I found out who was playing her I was like, "OH YEAH.. that's it!" but I really could not place her until after the movie was over and they showed the credits. She did not look like I was picturing her in my mind for sure. (but then..ha. THAT is no indicator as my mind IS a bit cluttered.. ha. I can't say how reliable it is for pulling up names and faces these days.. must be "old fogey-ness" creeping in on me... ha.)

 

You know what you just made me think of to compare her husband to? Another "Webb": Clifton. Clifton Webb's "Waldo Lydecker" was ALSO this sort of sentimental slob in his radio show ("Sentiment comes easily at 50 cents a word") so there's yet ANOTHER connection to another film noir. I'm beginning to think this movie is an "homage" of sorts, to film noir, lol

 

I had to look him up.. ha. (see. I TOLD you I was getting "clutter brained" ha) I am searching my memory banks and I am not sure if I have seen Laura or not. I THINK I might have.. but remember so little about it.. I could be wrong.. (remember I thought I had seen WOTRW only to find out it was the OTHER John Wayne movie with an octopus in it??? ha) But I bet you are right.. based on some of the comparisons you are making this could very well be a type of "homage" to other noirs.. or at least a send up to some favorites anyway... guess it would depend on when this film was made and when the others came out.. but I am NO one to ask about that.. ha. they all sort of run together (time wise) for me. :-)

 

I didn't think at first that he was locking things away from her...I thought maybe he was trying to cut down on smoking, hence her comment about "delaying" (another great line). Didn't she say something about how a delay getting something sometimes caused you to lose interest in it?

 

I am not sure why but for some reason I am remembering that exchange differently. Because I am remember thinking she was implying that "delay" or " getting slowed down" was something that would enable a person to catch you when you were doing something wrong. (sort of like.. she was warning him to not get caught in the trap her husband had set) It is what made me think her husband did not trust her to stay out of his stuff.. and also maybe she was referreing to "other things" as well because it almost sounded like another one of those "dripping with suggestion" moments only this time on HER part.. sort of an early veiled warning that they could not get involved because if they "fooled around" too long her husband would find out somehow. But I MIGHT be reading more into that was meant.. and I totally could be wrong about it anyway.. I would need to hear it again.. because. ha.. Did I mention my brain was "cluttered?" HA!

 

He was a real CAT...he could insinuate himself almost anywhere he wanted to be. But oddly enough, he didn't even strike me as the kind of guy who'd need to make so much effort if he didn't have such lofty ambitions where money is concerned. His partner liked him and all his fellow officers seemed to cheer for him when the inquest was over. That's why I think he had it made all the time but didn't know it. He never seemed to get over his background...remember how he went on about their childhood with Evelyn? He kept pointing out the differences in their level of privilege.

 

Ha.. maybe he was some sort of mutant hybrid.. "snake cat" ha. They both are good at stealth AND at "hypnotizing" their victims. But you are right.. He COULD have had a pretty happy life (it seems) just be being satisfied with what he DID have instead of lusting (literally) after what he did not. He strikes me as on of those people who will NEVER have enough to make him happy. Once he gets what he thinks he wants.. then he finds one MORE thing to want.. and then all he can do is try and figure out a way to get it.. no matter what. What a selfish (and sad) way to live. (and VERY dangerous to the people he comes in contact with as well)

 

SPOILER ALERT

I must have stepped away when she gave the baby to the doc because I didn't know that

 

They don't show her giving him the baby.. the doctor just comes outside carrying the baby and then when Webb goes in to check on her.. the doc gets in his car and drives off (taking Web's keys w/ him) But then later she tells Webb what she did and why. I still am remembering what a huge suprise it was because I just did not see that coming. (I had forgotten that she found his gun in his suitcase on their wedding night.. so she knew he had lied about how he felt about the shooting, etc)

 

OH those seeds of doubt.. they DO sprout up eventually.. and when hers finally opened up and started to grow..WOW did she ever "bloom" into action .ha. Ok.. that was a bit of a stretch.. ha. (But hey.. what can you expect from a cluttered mind like mine??? ha.)

 

Edited by: rohanaka on Sep 22, 2010 10:30 AM

[Western Movie Rambles]

Gary and Walter Brennan are good together

 

I meant to say last night (but was just too worn out and weary, ha) that I always liked The Westerner. Espcially Brennan's take on Judge Roy Bean.. It might not be TOO historically accurate, ha. but I think he did a GOOD job (of being bad and YET sympathetic). It is not my fave role for him.. but I did enjoy it very much.

 

PS Jackie: Don't forget Fort Defiance with Ben Johnson earlier in the day at 4:30 pm ET. I've never seen it, but it has Peter Graves and Dane Clark, and the story looks interesting. Probably not a classic but worth looking at for Ben.

 

Woo hoo.... a day of Westerns.. and Ben too!! I don't know if I am going to be able to catch that one or not.. I will have to try and see if I can get it recorded. (but not sure if I can get my VCR to work for that or not)

 

PS: Fredb.. also meant to say thanks on the tip for the two movies I was wanting to catch.. I wish I was less technophobic, (and less "chicken" about ordering online) I am lucky to be able to just check emails and post on here.. ha So I have to find all my movies at the library (and/or buy in the store) and that limits me a bit. But it would be great to find them somewhere. I will keep an eye out.

[A Walk on the Noir Side]

Hellooooooooooo Miss G!!

 

More Prowling Spoilers:

 

I think even if I had not heard the plot description already, I would have been nervous

about Heflin from the moment he picked up that photograph (I assume it was the one

of her from her acting days). And then, nice foreshadowing with Heflin's appearance

at the window. But beyond his behavior, his body language and tone were perfect to

suggest a man with something unsettling in his nature

 

I got my first "uneasy" feeling for him very early on, especially when he made that crack to his partner about her "imagining' a prowler... more or less right in front of her. The very tone of his voice was dripping w/ "suggestion". (or at least it seemed that way to me)

 

And then when he comes back later that night.. he makes himself right at home.. sitting first on the couch.. then in the "easy" chair.. putting his feet up... drinking his milk... acting like he just naturally "belonged" there. VERY assuming.

 

I guess we had to see that the victim was a real human being, not just a faceless, disembodied voice who was being murdered

 

I am sure that must have been it.. but I still think it might have been more fun to just "imagine" him.

 

I liked the kind of things his character would say on his radio show...everything was very "homey" and almost "folksy", suggesting a very settled man, older certainly, but there was even something insidious going on in Losey's depiction of his character

 

He was "folksy" and his on air persona DID seem a lot different from his home environment (even if we had NEVER seen him, that would have stood out for me) He was doing alright for himself playing an "average guy" on the radio even if he did not live so "average" a life at home. And he was fairly vain too.. you could tell by the things she said about how he expected her to listen (so she had to always have the radio on) He kept all his cigarettes and other "important stuff" locked up so she couldn't get in them (even though she wasn't a smoker.. maybe he THOUGHT she might get into his stuff) To me it was like he just did not trust her to think for herself at all. He wanted a "pretty wife" waiting JUST for him in his pretty home, with no life for her own. Maybe I am reading too much into it all.. but GEE, no WONDER she was such an easy vicitm for someone like Webb.

 

In some ways, the movie kind of points up some mockeries people make of the

whole institution of marriage. Because it's real value is neglected by BOTH of

the principal characters. Evelen Keyes thinks she's missing something so

she embarks on a passionate affair, only realizing too, too late that what she

thought was "the real thing" was emptier than what she had before. Then there's

Webb, who actually ended up having it all and because he only focused on the

money and as you say, being "Boss", he lost it at the end. I point this out about

marriage because the irony struck me as they were leaving the church to rice

and old shoes and driving off, supposedly to happily ever after. It all seemed so

mocking.

 

You may have a point. It did seem "ironic" that they went to a church and had such a "big" public show of their wedding. Even IF Webb had been innocent and it really HAD been just an accident.. golly you would NOT want to make such a big production for the press to have a field day. A quiet little "private" ceremony to me would seem to be more "tasteful". (if only out of respect for the dead husband's memory)

 

By the way, WHAT did you think of the BROTHER in law being so dadgum GOOD natured about Webb? (Oh gee.. you killed my brother but it was only an accident.. now you are marrying his wife.. let's be pals. HA! That would have to be the OTHER "plausability" issue I had with this movie)

 

And then you have the two truly happy marriages and who they are: two very

"ordinary" couples: Webb's partner's and Evelyn's brother-in-law and his wife.

 

There may be no excitement (I mean, Losey kind of hammers at us about his

partner's "hobby" with old rocks, ha) but each couple was very happy with what

they had. Webb couldn't fit into that, he looked about ready to die when he

went to have dinner at his partner's house.

 

He seemed to be absolutely REPELLED (or at the very least disgusted) by ANYTHING "ordinary" as if he was SO far above it all (and deserving of a much more "exciting" life. He sure thought an awful lot of himself, didn't he? I haven't seen On Dangerous Ground.. I will have to try and check that one out sometime. (also will check into the Spencer Tracy one you mentioned too)

 

Oh boy, but weren't you afraid Webb was going to kill him? I really thought that's how

that part was going to end up. It's really sad, because look here's another area where

Webb was so fortunate and didn't appreciate it: his partner REALLY cared about him

 

I was worried that it MIGHT happen.. but I really did think it was going to be more of a thing where he catches Webb about to do in the doctor and has to take him out to save the other man. I wasn't sure..but I just knew it would be something like that. (OR I also half expected him to meet up w/ the doctor on the road and found out about the baby...before he got there and maybe put two and two together. I was not sure. I did expect him to play more a part in the end of it all than he did, though. He WAS a decent guy. I am glad he and his wife did not get hurt when Webb was trying to get him out of his way.

 

I also noted how he looked over the

house Evelyn lived in, speculating how she could afford it and probably figuring

her more attractive just because she was loaded

 

And his eyes.. did you notice.. it seemed to me like they NEVER stopped moving.. he was taking in EVERYTHING around him, looking for any and every possible "clue" as to how best to get it all for himself.. the woman, and all the "extras" that went along with her. You could almost see the "drool" drip off his lips, ha. (ok.. that was maybe a bit more "graphic" than necessary.. ha... but he REALLY was openly covetous.. at least for the camera anyway)

 

But either way, he was looking for some playtime, no doubt. This is where I give Hefiln credit. Robert Ryan, listen, NO PROBLEM believing any woman would flip her girdle for HIM (especially in a uniform) but Heflin has to ACT attractive, ha hahahaah

 

Ha... well the police uniform DID help a little.. he wasn't TOO purty of a guy in most of his films generally speaking (at least the ones I am recalling, ha) But he DID seem to have a "smooth" charm about him in this movie.. oily smooth you might say.. (ick)

 

And UNLIKE Michael Redgrave, he did. (Oh, poor Mike!)

 

Dadgum (ha.. that is my WORD this week it seems, ha) I MISSED that movie yesterday. I did not even KNOW about it at all until TOO late. I am so doofy w/ my apparent inability to LOOK at a schedule sometimes.

 

He definitely made excuses for himself, too,

it all came out in the end there, where he was pitifully declaring "I'm not different

than anybody else. what difference if it's for a million dollars or 62 thousand..."

In a way, he was right. Not to justify him on my part, but he knew that fraud and murder for

money was something that the Big Boys got away with every day, and just

like Harry Fabian in Night and the City he used that as a kind of justification

for his own motives. Ha! Sorry to open up THAT can of worms but this movie really

did touch on a lot of other films noir for me.

 

Fabian in NATC is a great comparison. He was very similar to that character in the way he only wanted to "justify" his bad behavior and make it seem like he was the victim when his scheming plans did not work out. (OH great. ha... I can hear the Grey Guy revving up his engines right now!! ha. He is going to run me over or something for saying that about his beloved Harry. Ha!)

 

Now my question for YOU (and anyone else), is, do you believe Webb was

being straight when he said at the very end there, he really did love her? Or

was he so far in denial of his true self and feelings that even if he meant the

words, they weren't based on reality?

 

I do think he loved her.. or at the very least he loved that she was "his". But he CERTAINLY loved himself MORE. I don't know if he would have hurt her (physically) or not.. He MIGHT have... but I am not sure. If he had wanted to kill her.. or if he thought he could kill both of them.. I think he'd have left her out in the middle of the desert somewhere while she was trying to have that baby.. and then waited for her to die so he could bury her where no one would find her.. and then go back home and make up some sort of story about how she got lost.. or fell into a hole.. or SOMETHING ha.. At the very least he would not have risked going into town for that doctor. So I really do think on some level he cared about what happened to her.. and to the baby as well. I think he was ABSOLUTELY shocked and suprised when he found out she had given the baby to the doctor (to get them both out safely) That was a smart move on her part. (and it took me by surprise as much as it did him too, ha) I liked that twist in the story.. it showed a lot more "inner strength" for her than she seemed to have up that point. Those "Mama" instincts must have kicked in for her pretty quick, ha.

 

I see what you're saying about the choice of hide-out. I think this is where

the director wanted to maybe create a setting that had some real resonance

for the finale. There is something haunted, empty and horrifyingly inhuman

about the place...prehistoric, like his partner and his wife said. "Best place

for old rocks"! Ha! But I doubt any old western pioneer woman had it as bad

to have her baby

 

It was a bit of a stretch for my imagination to see them choosing THAT as the place to hide.. but I guess it really WAS a good "desolate" hole to stay out of sight for a long time.. but GOSH.. still not "private enough" appearantly. ha

 

There wasn't even four walls! There was something ghostly

about how that white sheet kept blowing off on Webb and he'd pin it back up.

Like the "ghost" of his murdered victim

 

It was creepy, wasn't it?? That wind beating against everything around them was relentless and seemed to be "driving" the emotions for the characters at that moment too.

 

And how unlikely that a place like that had electricity to run the record player...or did they bring a generator? I may have overlooked that.

 

I wondered about that too.. and then I saw some big batteries hooked up to the record player... so I guess they had to have SOME modern conveniences despite their primitive surroundings.

 

Oh! And his death scene...classic. He was trying to get to the top of the mountain.

Here is where I really, REALLY felt for the man. He looked so pitiful, scrambling

and flailing and by setting the camera up really far, where the cops where and

having him die...how? By a marksman's bullet

 

He DID look pitiful didn't he? VERY tragic end and such a waste of effort. That reminded me a lot of other "escape" attempts I have seen in movies. (it reminded me of when I started singing "Nowhere to run to baby, nowhere to hide" as Harry Fabian was trying to get away, in the part near the end of the movie just before HE at least got smart enough to figure out that it was over and he was a goner)

 

OH WHEN will the bad guys ever learn, ha. They KNOW there is NO way out.. but they just gotta try. ha.

 

Edited by: rohanaka on Sep 21, 2010 1:46 PM

[A Walk on the Noir Side]

Hello there Miss G!!

 

Boy it sure feels good to be back in this thread again.. ha. I haven't watched anything "noirish" in quite a while it seems.

 

Do you know The Prowler is now in my top ten favorite films noir, I enjoyed it that much.

 

I don't know if I can rate it as high.. it MIGHT be in my top 10.. ha.. but that would be more because I just haven't SEEN as many noirs as you (HA!!) But I REALLY did enjoy it a lot. It really had me HOOKED right away. We started watching just as the opening credits were ending and I did not know what it was (but could tell it was some sort of crime drama by the music and opening set up... and then I saw Van Heflin and said. "Hey.. that's Van Heflin!" (leave it to me to state the obvious, ha) But that is what made the QT keep from turning the channel. (ha.. he was in "let's see how many channels we can surf in 60 seconds" mode last night, ha)

 

SPOILERS ON THE PROWL:

 

So we started watching and BOY... it did not take long to get old Web's number did it. You really get a sense that he is NOT just your average "Officer Friendly" by only a few minutes into the story.

 

I mean it really was well done, very emotional and the director's way of shooting scenes that

felt laced with irony and haunted by the husband even BEFORE he...well, you know

 

I wish they had not even shown his face at that "pivotal" moment. I think it would have been more fun to always just WONDER about him (as far as what he looked like) but you are right.. he had a haunting presence throughout the story. (WOW.. when that record started playing when they were holed up in their secret hideway waiting out her delivery.. I KNEW what was coming at the end of the recording.. ha. BOY they could not get in to that shack fast enough to try and shut it off, could they? Talk about an awful reminder...)

 

As it stands, the story doesn't need to show everything to give you a very forceful idea of the nature of the crimesand twisted morality before us

 

I thought it was all handled very well. And you are right. It was made at a time when film makers seemed to use better sense about what to show (and what NOT to show) to tell the story. These days (especially) it seems like all bets are off in that department, sad to say.

 

Wasn't Heflin terrific in what I consider a classic "Robert Ryan" part? I must say I wasn't sure if he could pull it off but he did and he was REALLY good at the end. I was putting a lot on the ending of this movie because it could have played out really ordinarily but though what happened was expected, the WAY it happened was poetic justice

 

I had it set up in my mind that his old partner would come in at the last minute and have to take him down.. in a way I guess he DID sort of stop him.. ha.. just not the way you would expect him to.

 

I think the way it played out she was the one who became obsessed with him (just as he wanted her to) and that his only interest from the start was the money she would inherit

 

I don't know if he started out only focusing on the money.. I think he was just looking for an "easy prey" to have a good time. But BOY once he saw he could have that.. AND the money.. well.. he really pulled out all the stops and turned on the "steam" with her. She did become obsessed with him... and then he had her right where he wanted her.

 

OH I can't even believe the things he said to her (at her house after the coroner's inquest) making her feel guilty for suspecting him of doing just exactly what he really did. I say again... WHAT a piece of work he was.

 

If I could speculate about any of the plausibility aspects, it would be that it seems a man as perceptive, intelligent and manipulative as Heflin would have risen to be Chief of police, if not mayor, had he tried

 

I think he just wanted as quick a route to "easy street" and being a big shot as he could get. Look what he did w/ her money.. buying himself a motel to be "the boss" but really it was just a sit back and let the money roll in while everyone else does the work" sort of opportunity for him.

 

For me, if I had any issues w/ "plausability" it was the place they went to "hide out". I just did not see that as being as believable as I thought it would be. I was expecting him to get her up there and "accidently" push her off a rock or something.. ha. Nothing TOO harsh (that would kill her) but just enough to make her lose the baby.. a la "Leave Her To Heaven". Thank goodness I was wrong about that.

 

As it turns out I think he really DID want that baby... though he saw the timing of it all as the major problem (rather than the child itself) I might be wrong.. but it just seemed that way to me.

 

PS: Ollie.. ha... OH that crazy guy.. you are right.. he should have read the script.. he MIGHT have stood a chance.

 

Oh yeah... and PS some more.. "sweet and innocent????" are you KIDDING????????????

 

Edited by: rohanaka on Sep 21, 2010 10:41 AM

[RAMBLES Part II]

Hiya Mad Hat!! :-)

 

Thanks for the feedback on my post.. you know me... ha.. I just like to blab, blab, blab. ha.

 

It is very "GREY" in that the characters all seem to have (at least) that one moment where we gain some sympathetic insight that allows us to say "yes, but.." every time they behave or act badly or out of spite

 

True.. all true. I still wanted to knock them around a bit, though. ha. (but I mean that in a very "I'm only doing this for your own good" sort of way.. much like I have to wield my ROPE from time to time.. ha)

 

It was clear, very shortly on, with Hindley's behavior that the message hadn't gotten through

 

That's the whole problem as far as I could see. I mean.. it is ONE thing to tell a kid to do something.. but it is a WHOLE other thing to expect a kid to do something... (and then reinforce the expectation if they do not follow through) He just did not seem to be much of an "enforcer".

 

By simply living at Wuthering Heights and existing in her world, Heathcliff is haunting her, tormenting her.

 

I guess you could say he haunted her in life.. so she haunted HIM in death. ha.

 

Now hurry up and read the book

 

Thanks for the "kick in the pants" ha. I NEEDED that. I have not been able to get to the library (other than to return my movies) yet. I will MAYBE have some time later this week to stop by there and see if they have a copy of it. (SURELY they will) Anyway.. I do hope to get to it SOMEtime this fall.. (it's nice to have a goal, ha) :-)

[Western Movie Rambles]

Wowsa... now that's quite a line up. I have seen some of them... but several I have not. (will have to see if I can take a look at the ones I have not seen to find out more.. ) woo hoo.... sounds like a "busy" movie watching night for the Western folk for sure!

[A Walk on the Noir Side]

Dadgum... WHY oh why can't we ever get a "Noir" festival.. or any OTHER cool sort of classic film festival out HERE (you know.... in the great midwestern uncivilized wilderness) ha. Color ME green with envy Mr. Movieman.. enjoy yourself, sir!

 

Meanwhile... PS: my "Noir Walk" pals.. I watched The Prowler this evening.. OH wow.. talk about "dadgum" ha... OH that VAN HEFLIN!!! What a piece of work HE was.

[EARTHQUAKE -- "You've just rammed into Zsa Zsa Gabor's hedges!"]

> {quote:title=JackFavell wrote:}{quote}

> At the end of the world I think I would opt for watching Laurel and Hardy with my kid.

>

> In Provence, with snacks.

>

> And lots and lots of puppies.

 

Ha... sounds great!

 

For us.. we'd have to have dad along too... and would be skipping Provence and going for... a nice shady spot under a giant oak tree in a big open field full of daisies.

 

And we'd each get our MOST favorite choices for our snacks. Carmel corn (for dad) and big purple grapes for the kidling (no kidding.. she'd rather have that than ANYTHING else for a snack) And let's see... for mom... perhaps a giant white chocolate raspberry cheescake...mmm!!

 

OH.. and to drink we would let the kidling choose HER favorite... raspberry lemondade made with REAL lemons and raspberries floating around in it, ha.. (she LOVES that)

 

And PS: I agree... Lot and lots (and LOTS) of puppies. REAL ones and stuffed ones.. and puppies on TV even because instead of watching Laurel and Hardy, we would likely even be watching reruns of The Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet. ha! Because after all, if it is the end of the world.. by golly, you just can't have TOO many puppies. ha. :-)

[RAMBLES Part II]

it has two villains, and two Ronald Colmans!

 

Woo hoo!! ha. Well now I KNOW I will have to check it out!! Thanks for the tip!!

[Western Movie Rambles]

Oh golly, Jackie.. I am FAIRLY drooling over those BEAUTIFUL screencaps, little gal. So far I have had NO luck finding a copy of this movie.. drat. Between missing this one (AND Shepherd of the Hills too) I am having a severe case of "backwoodsy mountain folk, hill-ishbilly" WITHDRAWL for sure. ha.) Maybe someday I will be able to catch up w/ you folks on either (or both) of these movies. In the meantime.. THANKS for the fun read (and for lovely caps to look at too)

[RAMBLES Part II]

Howdy there Ms Favell!

 

I agree completely about Linton - even if I was a bit harsh on him for his position. David Niven is marvelous in the role, perfect in fact. He is another reason I love this movie so much....He was able to dig a little deeper and play that bloodless, slightly corrupted British upper class gentleman who has only an inkling of what is really going on

 

I agree. I was really surprised how MUCH he stood out for me when I watched it all again this time. I love the line where he tells her that he is not afraid for her to smile at Heathcliff because now when she smiles at him it would be as his wife... sigh.. poor guy. ha. It was spoken with such love.. but alas.. he did NOT really know what he was saying, did he?

 

It's great that Niven got the chance at such a great role - I would hate for him to have gone on playing Fritz in Prisoner of Zenda all his life

 

Ha.. I have never SEEN Prisoner of Zenda.. I need to check that out

 

As it is, he ended up playing variations on this deeper role all his life

 

He did seem to have a knack for that proper Endlish gentleman, didn't he.

 

PS: Miss G:

 

The book is not that long, so maybe you will be able to read through it one day and find out.

 

It is on my library list.. but not sure when I am going to make it back up there again.. I have a lot going on lately. And THEN when (oh when) am I going to find time to read it..ha. (maybe will have to make it a "lunch break" kinda thing, ha. I have read a LOT of books that way.. it takes longer.. but at least they DO eventually get read :-) )

 

the story seems to contrasting natural impulse...and love...with the calculated contrivances (and temptations to self-indulgence) of the world

 

They don't usually mix well, do they? It make for a very tragic tale when they do.

 

Emily Bronte loved the wild, isolated moors where she was raised and always resisted the new or the worldly. I think she feared its snares.The "natural man" seemed to her closer to purity and to nobility than the bloodless aristocrat.Her real skilll seems to be in creating a complex character like Cathy, who is torn between the two

 

Thanks for the info on Bronte.. I know next to nothing about her. (and you are right about her "strong suit" on creating complex "torn" characters. (at least from what I can tell) I love your insight into the literary styles and the personality of the authors.. You have helped me better understand a lot of stories (that were movies) that way. You are a pretty well read kid. I think I would have to take a LOT of lunch breaks to catch up with you. ha.

 

PS: Miss B!! I am with Miss G.. hope you will get a chance to chime in soon on WH!! (oh.. and golly.. I can only IMAGINE what mom would say about it all!! ha)

 

Edited by: rohanaka on Sep 17, 2010 12:09 PM