midnight08
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Posts posted by midnight08
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I enjoy watching all of Jean's movies too (even the lesser ones) as it's an opportunity to see her.
She really was unique and one of a kind. For that reason I believe it's best not to try to do any film bio. No one could ever equal the real Jean. Those two feeble attempts in 1965 were awful. Plus they were based on the scathing and untrue bio penned by Irving Shulman. It was a piece of trash.
Even the costumes, hairstyle and shoes that Carroll Baker wore in "Harlow" didn't represent what Jean wore. Leave well enough alone. No one can ever imitate her.
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I'm pretty sure that the remark by Jean "well ain't that a bag of clams" (or something to that effect) was from Bombshell.
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I've bought a number of movies from the Warner Archives and I've never had any problems. In fact, I was amazed at the great quality as all the movies I bought were from 1929-1931.
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I never assumed that everyone would share my point of view. Neither does everyone share your point of view. The pre codes from any of the studios weren't all classics but they are fun to watch. Some are better than others. Some are worth the fuss especially if they are difficult to find. I've exchanged correspondence with many film collectors over the past 20 years searching for films and I've found that the rarest films that most of them search for are either from Fox or Universal. Maybe it's curiosity. Who knows? Yes, some may prefer Paramount to Universal or Fox but it's easier to find Paramount pre codes in either the public domain or "bootleg" copies than the other two studios mentioned.
I wouldn't call the 1933 version of "State Fair" inferior to the 1945 version. They are different. The 1933 version is not a musical. It's not in color nor does it have the polish or gloss. Some people prefer the simpler version while some people prefer the glossier version. Same goes for other remakes. Some people prefer the 1934 version of Imitation of Life while others prefer the glossier 1959 version. In a previous thread posters were comparing the 1925 and 1959 versions of Ben Hur.
It's all a matter of opinion.
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You missed my point. Yes, people have a right to complain within reason but sometimes their complaining is just plain bellyaching.
Fox films are very hard to come by and when you do get to see them they aren't all in the best condition. In December 2006 I went to Film Forum in NYC as they were having a special film presentation of pre code Fox films. This was a rare opportunity to see some of the old Fox pre codes not available commercially or anywhere else. Some of the films were almost pristine condition and some of them were really worn looking. But these were the best available and sometimes the only prints in existence. I didn't complain to Film Forum for paying admission to watch films in worn condition. I was happy to see them. And I'm sure that Film Forum searched for the best prints they could obtain.
I thought the print of State Fair was rather good. Some people may be complaining simply because they preferred the 1945 or 1962 versions. I actually preferred this version. I enjoyed the homespun humor and the glimpse into rural life during the depression years. It wasn't filmed on a backlot or Hollywood soundstage so it was very realistic. It was also a hit with the film goers at the time as it made a substantial profit for the struggling studio.
If you don't like something on TCM then don't watch it. TCM has plenty for everyone. Not every movie they obtain will be in pristine condition especially if the movie is almost 80 years old.
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When I received the "Murnau, Borzage and Fox" boxed set of discs each disk had a few sentences at the start explaining that these films were taken from the best prints available. Fox had a terrible fire in their vaults in 1937 which destroyed most of their nitrate prints. This is the main reason why Theda Bara (a Fox silent film star) only has about 2-3 silent Fox films still in existence.
Most of the Fox films (pre 20th Century Fox) were obtained from private collectors and wherever they could find an available print.
I agree with a previous poster who stated that they are happy simply to be able to see some of these rare gems from Fox films. So for those people complaining about the quality of this film-hey be happy we still have it available to watch. I'm sure it isn't easy for TCM to obtain these films for us.
I hope TCM can obtain more Fox films for us to enjoy.
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I'd hardly call Garbo a Hollywood tragedy. The woman had a very successful career, retired at a young age, wanted and maintained her privacy, travelled the world, wisely invested her money in real estate so she remained wealthy till her death, had a close circle of friends (including Aristotle Onassis) and lived to the ripe old age of 84. As far as her career, she was already losing her appeal to viewers who were looking for new and fresh faces. Her time came and went yet she remains an icon. No tragedy here.
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It's amazing that in the previous photo Nils Asther looks almost "boyish" without his mustache yet
with his mustache he looked anything from alluring and sexy to sinister.
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RIP Carole. From everything I've read she was a wonderful, caring, considerate person. No one ever had a bad word to say about her. She gave her life while helping to sell war bonds. No doubt had she lived she would have been out there entertaining troops as that's the kind of woman she was.
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Although I haven't watched any TV soap operas in years I am still saddened by their gradual cancellations as it's another "end of an era" for me. I remember coming home from grade school for lunch and my Mom would be watching "Search For Tomorrow" followed by "Guiding Light". I still remember them as 15 minute programs with the organ music in the background and most of the activity either taking place in a hospital (it seems most of the people in those mythical towns worked in the hospital) or in the kitchen while drinking coffee and discussing their issues.
Once I went to college (I commuted each day) I got used to watching these soaps with my Mom
when I came home each day from classes. I remember watching the very last episode of "Search For Tomorrow" in 1986. At that time it was the longest running TV soap having begun in 1951. My Mom still continued watching "Guiding Light" until she died in the 1990's.
I can certainly understand how "gagman66" must feel with the cancellation of OLTL.
I don't watch any of the TV reality trash on nowadays. It really is a "dumbing of America". I can't understand why people get so hyped up over such no-talent nonsense people as Paris Hilton and the Kardashians.
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I can imagine Hersholt saying "Now girls, there's enough room at Warner Brothers for both of you so can't we all be friends"? LOL
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I had to chuckle when I saw the photo of Jean Hersholt between Davis and Crawford. If I remember correctly the Academy Awards presents a special humanitarian award in memory of Hersholt as during his lifetime he was a great humanitarian. It would take a great humanitarian to get Davis and Crawford together and get them both to smile. LOL.
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Even though I had most of these movies already on VHS tapes I had my DVD running today to catch all the Marion Davies movies. I'm always looking to improve the quality of the films I have in my collection. What a disappointment! I didn't view all these films but for the most part they were very poor, scratchy, grainy copies. I was very surprised as these were MGM and Warner Bros. films which I thought TCM already had great prints in their hands. I'm sure that the old prints I have on VHS tape are better quality then what I recorded today.
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In response to "migsly" what makes you think Ben Mankiewicz is Jewish?
Last names endng in "cz" are Polish. Last names ending in "tz" are Jewish.
I have many relatives whose last names end in "cz" and they are all Polish Catholics.
Edited by: midnight08 on Dec 27, 2011 12:54 AM
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I much more prefer the silent version.
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In the "Now Playing" magazine it gave a running time of 73 minutes for Thirteen Women but when I watched it this morning it barely ran an hour. Were there scenes cut from the film? Does anyone know why the discrepancy in minutes? There's about 13-14 minutes difference.
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It would be wonderful if TCM could get a hold of some of the other Janet Gaynor/Charles Farrell movies. I believe they made 12 movies in all (3 silents and 9 talkies). They've shown two of their silents and 2 of their talkies already. All 12 movies still exist.
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Is it Clara Bow?
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I do somewhat agree with Eddiec but would also add that many public people (actors, politicians, etc.) simply think they are better than everyone else and as such deserve better treatment. They aren't content to wait in line or go thru the other situations that the vast majority of us go thru in everyday life. Their egos are inflated.
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I cancelled all my plans for 12/14 as I'll be sitting in front of the TV watching all the rare movie gems that day on TCM. I'm looking forward to the entire schedule but I'm especially excited about Huckleberry Finn, The Trespasser, The Valiant and Delicious.
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Is that photo of Davis and Crawford from when they worked together on "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane" or from "Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte" ? I know that Crawford left the latter movie apparently due to illness but some believed it was because she couldn't work again with Davis.
Olivia de Havilland took over the role from Crawford.
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Man, I should not have made that joke in my last post. There have been heavy rainstorms in my area all day today and would you believe my cable went out for 20 minutes-at exactly 8pm when the movie was just about to start. I can't believe it! It finally came back on but I missed the first 20 minutes of "The Mystery Of Edwin Drood". If anyone is recording this movie PLEASE PLEASE private message me. I have been waiting for years to see this movie and now I missed the first part.
I even had my DVD all ready for recording.
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Well cinemafan let's hope that the cable company doesn't shut off your cable before the movie starts. LOL.
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Speaking of Colleen Moore and the fragment of "Flaming Youth" shown last night I believe
I had read somewhere that Colleen donated her personal copy of "Flaming Youth" to one of the film archives but they neglected to do anything about the film and either it deteriorated or was victim to a vault fire at the archive. Does anyone else know about this or am I wrong?
Don't miss tonight's killer groovy lineup!!!
in General Discussions
Posted
Awesome film line-up tonight! I'll be up all night watching and recording.
And Harold Lloyd's "Movie Crazy" is his best talkie. Don't miss it! Record it
if you can't stay up to watch it.