bagladymimi
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Posts posted by bagladymimi
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Okay, I have just gotten involved in this discussion so pardon me if I sound repetitive. First of all I love GWTW. For its time, it is a terrific adventure. The fact that it was produced in 1939 is remarkable. The special effects were not the same as special effects are today. They actually had hundreds of extras lying on the ground (alongside dummies) as wounded soldiers. They actually burned down Atlanta on the back lot of MGM. The artwork done on the sets was very involved and painstaking. And the cinematography was actually filmed where it looked like it was filmed. They didn't have the resources to do what they did in later years. And the story was from the best selling novel in the country for years. Lets face it, it was a great movie then and to me it still holds up. So it was melodramatic at times - it was about the a spoiled woman having to live through tough times. But it was also about the Civil War. Maybe I am wrong, but I don't think at that time there had been a film that showed just how much the south suffered through the Civil War. I had no idea what the women had to go through to survive. Everytime I watch it, I feel the fear that Melanie and Scarlett felt when that Union soldier walked in the house. I also feel the revulsion about Victor Jory and the Carpetbaggers that the southerners must have felt. Margaret Mitchell wrote a great book. And David O Selznick wrote (and he actually did write most of it) and produced a wonderful movie.
But, you really cannot compare it to Lawrence of Arabia. They are two different stories, one historical fiction, the other a biography, and two entirely different films about life in different times. What David Lean produced is probably one of the best things ever done on film. It was and still is a remarkable adventure about a remarkable man. And it, like GWTW, was about something that most of us up until that time (early 1960's) knew very little about - the Middle East. Lean did have the advantages of technology that Selznick did not, but it still was early on- compared with what we have today. Lean was a master at sweeping cinematography. He did it Zhivago and Bridge On The River Kwai as well as Lawrence. And the life of T E Lawrence made for a fantastic tale of courage & outright boldness in the face of unbelievable odds - I guess somewhat like what the south faced in the Civil War.
I actually didn't see GWTW until after I saw Lawrence Of Arabia. We didn't have VCR's and neither film was shown on tv for years to come. Forgive me for lecturing, I go on much too long. There is so much more that could be said about GWTW in particular. And I respect all of your opinions and enjoy reading them. Everyone sees different things in every movie. That is what makes this forum fun.
Thanks for reading.
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James Stewart was in You Can't Take It With You with Mischa Auer.
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Joan Fontaine is also an actress that seemed stuck in the sweet, victim roles.( Rebecca, Suspicion, The Women, etc.) However, I think that there is a dark side to her that was not really well known. Seems to me that I saw her in a movie with Robert Ryan and that she was not a very nice person in it. Or maybe I have her confused with Barbara Stanwyck. Also, I never saw the Constant Nymph and I forgot to DVR it the other night. I have also never read a book about her or Olivia de Havilland. More than likely when one dies, the other one will write a biography - should be very interesting.
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As bronxgirl48 mentioned, The Shrike really shows an almost evil side of June Allyson. Sometimes, I think that she was too squeaky clean. It was nice to see her "bite" into some meaty roles.
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Paul Douglas was in A Letter To Three Wives with Ann Southern.
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Grace Kelly was in Dial M For Murder with John Williams.
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I too am not crazy about Baldwin or his political views, but I think he has been a very good co-host for The Essentials. He really does his homework. Sidney Pollack was the last co-host who was able to discuss essential elements of these movies with RO. Others after Pollack were able to say why they liked a particular film but didn't bring much of anything else to the table. Carrie Fisher was awful (in my opinion.) I was totally surprised when Baldwin was able to discuss writers, directors, cinematograghers, and even musical directors. I couldn't believe it! But, he has been co-hosting long enough. I am looking forward to someone new. And I, like you, am really looking forward to Robert Osborne coming back into my living room again. I feel like he is an old friend and am so pleased he is feeling well enough to return to work.
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The caption under the picture of Jimmy Stewart on the dance floor, says he is dancing with Bette Davis. That looks like Norma Shearer to me.
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Allgood was born in Dublin. She played mostly motherly parts involving tragedies of one kind or another. Although it seems as though she was around a long time, she only worked in Hollywood for 10 years, from 1940 to 1950 when she died from Bright's Disease. And you are right - she did kind of resemble Donald Crisp. She was nominated for a supporting Oscar for "How Green Was My Valley" in which she played Crisp's wife.
I also very fond of the supporting actors. Quite often they are the ones who make the leading actors look good. So many, particularly in the older movies are not given they credit they deserve.
Here's one for you:
She played wisecracking but lovable maids or nurses. She was in "Now, Voyager", "Young At Heart", "The Man Who Came To Dinner" and "I'll See You In My Dreams". She later moved to TV in the same type of roles - worked right up until her death in 1995. I thought she was great!
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Clar Gable was in Teacher's Pet with Gig Young.
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Clar Gable was in Teacher's Pet with Gig Young.
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Let's face it - Peter Finch starred in some depressing movies. I guess you can say he was truly a dramatic actor. He was a very good actor but certainly didn't play any parts that endeared me to him.
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Another actress who didn't get as much attention as Bette (like Tierney) was Jeanne Crain. I liked everything that I saw her in. I think that she wanted family more than movie "stardom". Gene Tierney had a depression problem that might have limited her exposure. Davis, Crawford, Stanwyck, Lombard, Gail Patrick, and countless others worked really hard. Look at the amount of movies they made. I am 63 years old and have been watching old movies since I was about 10 years old, and still have not seen them all - probably never will!
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Louis Prima was in Manhattan Merry-Go-Round with James Gleason
I had to look this one up.
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I have just started getting into these discussions, so if I repeat what others have said earlier I apogize. First of all, isn't Mabel Albertson the actress who played Samantha's mother-in-law in Bewitched?
Also, I am thrilled that Andy Griffith is coming back on TV Land. I started watching TV Land in 1993.
They used to have "Life With Elizabeth" with a very young Betty White, Mr. Peepers, and all kinds of other early TV shows. Now the shows are too recent for me. I am delighted to see Dick Van Dyke - hopefully we will see more shows like that.
I live south of Nashville,TN and have Directv. There are no Perry Mason reruns - would love to see those.
Since this is TCM, I don't think I have ever seen Mabel Albertson in any movies. Set me straight, please!
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At the TCM Festival this year, Robert O interviewed Louise Rainer. She said that the whole time that Muni was acting, his wife was below the camera man to make sure Muni was photographed the way
he (Muni) wanted to be. She also said that she thought he was a pain to work with.(I cannot remember
the way she put it.) So, it sounds like actors as well as directors were not necessarily thrilled to work
with him. That interview was very interesting. I hope some of you saw it.
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Billie Burke was in Dinner At Eight with Lionel Barrymore.
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Mia Farrow was in Rosemary's Baby with Ruth Gordon.
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Mia Farrow was in Rosemary's Baby with Ruth Gordon.
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I love Joel McCrea. Little known movie "Stars In My Crown" is a great little film. And "Foreign Correspondent" is one of my favorite Hitchcock films. All the films listed by others are terrific.
It's time for him to be Star Of The Month!
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I am sorry if I offend anyone but I think Marilyn Monroe was a terrible actress. "The Misfits" was the only role that I saw her in where I think she actually acted. But even beyond that, she made this movie miserable for the other actors. As usual she was painfully late for every shoot and made the actors wait in the heat for her to show up. She couldn't remember her lines and scenes had to be shot over and over. This was not that unusual for her. She did this on just about every movie she worked on with the exception with "All About Eve". She really didn't do too badly on that, but then she only had a brief supporting part. I know that she was very unhappy, but that didn't excuse her lack of concern for the people she worked with. In my opinion she was a primary reason why Clark Gable died shortly after making "The Misfits".
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Martha Hyer was in "Sabrina" with William Holden.
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Martha Hyer was in "Sabrina" with William Holden.
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"Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy night!"
Bette Davis in "All About Eve"
*CANDIDS* 2
in Films and Filmmakers
Posted
Happy Birthday Joe. I am fairly new to this forum and have had fun catching up on all your "Candids".
How do you get these great pictures. It is so much fun to see stars I know and also stars that I have seen countless times and didn't know their names. And I love the fact that you find so many of the overlooked supporting actors. It is just great. Thanks a bunch!