faceinthecrowd

I have a vague recollection of the short-lived CHINA SMITH series on TV. There, Dan was a rascal who lived on the fringes of the law, but he wasn't a bad guy. Contrast that with CRISS CROSS. With all the villains he played, that one takes the cake. As Slim Dundee he's just vicious, with no charm at all. I'm not complaining -- Dan was great in that movie. And the last scene is unforgettable.

When I visited France, someone there thought I was English. And someone in England thought I was Canadian. My Noo Yawk accent must have confused them.

How can you go wrong with villains played by Robert Ryan, Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine? And Walter Brennan has a great line: Asked how he sees things, he replies: "With the innocence of a fresh-laid egg."

If you take a poll, count me as saying that Hedy Lamarr and Marta Toren were, and are, the two most beautiful actresses ever. I'm even including Garbo in that statement, although I have a photograph that shows that she was *really* beautiful before Hollywood got hold of her. Some day I may figure out how to post photos; when I do, I predict that there will be gasps all over this forum.

After the Drifter says, "Yes, you do," the camera immediately moves to the tombstone, which reads, "Marshal Jim Duncan, Rest in Peace." So that's the Drifter's name: Jim Duncan, the murdered marshal. Then as the Drifter rides away, he fades away and disappears -- like the ghost that he is.

But when Ned tells Shirley (Janice Rule) that his wife and daughters are waiting for him at home, she looks startled and says, "Oh my God" (or something like that). That's when she realizes that he's flipped and is living in the past because he can't deal with the present. No doubt there are many interpretations of this picture; I wonder if any articles have been written for a film magazine. In addition to the weightier nuances of this film, there is Burt Lancaster wearing swimming trunks for the entire picture; and for the gents, Janice Rule. So there is eye candy for everyone, as well as plenty for the brain to ponder.

What always strikes me about NIGHTMARE ALLEY, in addition to Ty, is Helen Walker's performance as psychotherapist Lilith Ritter. She's just as amoral as Stanton, but smarter and more ruthless. It's the only picture I've seen that really makes use of Walker's talent and beauty.

The first time I saw Toni Basil dance was, I think, on Saturday Night Live, when she and The Lockers did "Street Life." That's still my favorite of her performances, and happily it's on YouTube.

It took me some time to recognize Merle Oberon's beauty; then one day I saw it, and I thought, "I must have been blind." The same thing happened to me with regard to Barbara Stanwyck's sexuality. I think it was DOUBLE INDEMNITY that opened my eyes.

Bette Davis was one of the all-time greats -- a Movie Star, in capital letters. I won't even try to pick my favorite of her films, but mention of NOW, VOYAGER reminds me of the scene in which Paul Henreid puts two cigarettes in his mouth, lights both of them, then gives one to her. After the picture was released, young men started lighting their dates' cigarettes that way -- the power of the silver screen. If I had to pick just one actress whose films I would be allowed to watch for the rest of my life, Bette would be the one. There was no one else like her.

I think the picture was taking place in real time. But Ned's delusional world slowly became chipped away, piece by piece, as he encountered more people from his past. At least, that was the way I understood it.

It was the Woh to End All Wohs. (Unfortunately, it didn't.)

There are many British-made films where I keep the English subtitles on. It reminds me of the saying, "If they were any more English I wouldn't be able to understand them at all." It makes me wonder, though: what do Americans sound like to the English?

Of course, Ty's service in the Marines transcends anything he did in films, even for us movie buffs. But as to the silver screen, he felt that NIGHTMARE ALLEY was his best, and I agree (with the bonus being that it was Helen Walker's best, too). The story goes that it flopped at the box office because his fans didn't like to see him playing a heel.

Sure, there are more recent films. In 1964 there was ADVANCE TO THE REAR. You're right, though: it's what's up front that counts. This sounds like the start of a promising new thread....

Christine Baranski in CRACKERS knocks me out. In THE OMEN, Billie Whitelaw plays a nanny who is supposed to be rather frumpy, but I could never see how Gregory Peck could keep his hands off her, even though he was married to Lee Remick.

It seems it was the eyes, not the nose. Wikipedia states that he was becoming blind, and his depression over this caused him to commit suicide.

It's interesting that this movie was brought up. It was only yesterday, I think, that I requested that TCM show this. Great minds think alike.... The clue that tipped off detective Greenstreet was one that an alert viewer might have caught (I didn't). The movie plays fair with the audience.

A note to tawdry: I love your user name!

"Patterns" has fine performances from all concerned, but especially from Everett Sloane, who once again showed his range as an actor -- and he didn't even get an Oscar nomination for this picture! The ending seemed like a bit of a copout: Heflin doesn't quit -- he keeps his job, but he's going to ride Sloane at every opportunity (as if the latter would care). I've seen this picture three or four times, and it keeps getting better. I always look forward to Sloane's scenes -- he's the man you love to hate. It must have been tempting to have some music, but not having any was a wise decision.

Gloria Grahame Barbara Stanwyck Helen Mirren Anjelica Huston (especially in "The Grifters") Kathleen Turner Hazel Court Jessica Rabbit Jill St. John Suzanne Pleshette Anita Morris Barbara Parkins Paula Prentiss Elizabeth Ashley Viveca Lindfors Diana Rigg Janice Rule Valentina Cortesa Rita Moreno Lee Grant Carolyn Jones Joan Chen Diana Sands Faye Dunaway (in "The Thomas Crown Affair") Inger Stevens Leno Olin (in "Romeo Is Bleeding") Helen Walker (in "Nightmare Alley") Sally Kellerman (in M*A*S*H) Jodie Foster Isabelle Huppert Mariangela Melato Jamie Lee Curtis Gina Gershon ...and TV actresses Stepfanie Kramer ("Hunter") and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (in her "Seinfeld" days) Actors: Paul Newman Charles Bronson Victor Mature Ronald Colman Burt Lancaster Kirk Douglas Edited by: faceinthecrowd on Nov 9, 2013 9:51 PM

Which brings to mind Jack Elam.

Some that come to mind at this moment are: Marta Toren Gaby Rodgers ("Kiss Me Deadly") -- those wonderful, demented eyes Diana Ross -- HUGE eyes! ...and two great pairs of bedroom eyes (in addition to the aforementioned Charles Boyer): Marie Windsor Victor Mature

Thank you for your perceptive comments on LILITH, the novel and the movie. The book haunted me after I read it for the first time. (Looking through my treasured copy -- complete with dust jacket -- I see that I got one of the words in the wall inscription wrong. It should read: HIARA PIRLU RESH KAVAWN. Not that many people will notice the difference -- it's just for the record.) Your mention of "succubus" is especially interesting in view of the fact that Lilith was the mythological first wife of Adam. The images are worth Googling. I'll conclude by saying that, although BREATHLESS retains its hold on me, I feel that LILITH is Seberg's finest performance.

Yeah, how about her!