speedracer5

Lol. Thanks. I'll check out the Three Wise Girls, thank goodness he doesn't talk. The voice is what ruins him for me. I can take quirky voices, but his voice is just grating. Plus in Torrid Zone he was so dopey on top of everything else.

Joan Leslie I believe is one of the few actors who doesn't portray themselves in Thank Your Lucky Stars. Looking over her filmography in Wikipedia, she's appeared in a lot more films (fairly big films at that) than I realized: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Leslie#Filmography It looks like she left movies in the late 50s and did a few television roles here and there. She's still with us too. She just celebrated her 90th birthday in January.

Novak probably had her best role in Vertigo and her most complex. A few years ago, my husband and I stayed a night at The Hotel Vertigo in San Francisco. It was known as Empire Hotel in Vertigo. I requested to stay up on the top floor because I wanted to see the staircase (and I like being up high to get more of a view), well the top floor was a penthouse (not going to splurge on that) so I was in the second to top floor. This was pretty much the view of the staircase from our room (I didn't take this photo). It was pretty sweet. I want to see her role in the remake of Of Human Bondage, and The Legend of Lylah Clare because it sounds so campy. Looking over her filmography, she's been in quite a few films that I liked--aside from Vertigo, I liked her in Picnic, Bell Book and Candle, The Man With the Golden Arm and Pffft!. I can't say I enjoyed her in Kiss Me Stupid, but that's not her fault, I didn't enjoy anyone in that film.

Lol. I guess I'm alone in the Helen Crump dislike camp. Oh well... ---- For me, most of Gene Kelly's musicals are rewatchable, fun and entertaining each and every time I watch them. I could re-watch Singin' in the Rain, An American in Paris, On the Town, Summer Stock, For Me and My Gal and The Pirate over and over. I could even watch Xanadu over and over. I'll even watch Anchors Aweigh just for Kelly and Sinatra, it's entertaining but I like the other ones I mentioned better-- the only blight on this great film is Kathryn Grayson. I find her and her singing voice so incredibly irritating that I usually fast forward or get a snack or something while she's singing. I also feel the same for Take Me Out to the Ballgame except sub out Kathryn Grayson and sub in Esther Williams. Not a fan of Williams, she's so dull. Anyway... the one Kelly musical that I don't need to watch again is Brigadoon. As much as I like Kelly and Cyd Charisse, this movie, while having an interesting plot, was just so dull and I can't remember anything about it except for Van Johnson's red plaid pants. Even though I own most of Gene Kelly's films, I don't need to add this one to my collection.

So do I. Because on the days that feature people I like, then it's an exciting day on TCM and usually there are quite a few films featured that I haven't seen. If only I could take the entire month off from work. Lol.

I was watching The Moon is Blue last night and it gave me an idea for a thread that I think would be interesting. Apparently, The Moon is Blue was very controversial when it was made in 1953. Director Otto Preminger tried to get a seal of approval from Breen and the other Production Code people, but they refused, citing the frank discussion of sexuality in the film. Breen didn't like that words like "seduce," "virgin," and "mistress," were being thrown around so freely. In addition to refusal by Breen, the Legion of Decency also refused to endorse the film. Preminger and his studio, United Artists, did something unprecedented--they released their film without approval by Breen or the Legion. Word got out about how scandalous this film was and it was a box office smash in 1953. The actions of Preminger and United Artists was the beginning of the end of The Production Code. From then on, other filmmakers followed suit and slowly pushed the boundaries and out right defied the Production Code standards. By 1961, movies had changed so much that when The Moon is Blue was re-released, it instantly won approval without any question. What other films can you think of that pushed the boundaries and made an impact on the film industry?

According to imdb it was Anita Ellis. They picked a really good person to dub Rita's voice, it sounded like it really could have been her singing. Rita was also excellent at lip syncing. Apparently Rita wanted to do her own singing in her films and Columbia even went as far as paying for voice lessons for her. Harry Cohn, however, never thought Rita's voice was strong enough, so she was always dubbed. Apparently Rita was very bitter about this for much of her career.

Lol. When I saw The Blob was disappointed that Helen Crump (Andy's main squeeze on The Andy Griffith Show and a total shrew if you ask me) didn't get consumed by The Blob.

I've found that she's a bit stiff, especially in the beginning of Picnic. When I first saw the movie (which I grew to really enjoy, mostly on the strength of William Holden, Rosalind Russell and Susan Strasberg's performances) and heard Novak's first lines in the film, I immediately thought "ugh. She's terrible." Her performance seems to improve throughout the film and she eventually grows on you. I've had the same impression of her in Vertigo and Bell, Book and Candle which I also grew to enjoy. I don't know what it is about her, but she kind of grew on me after awhile. Kind of like Grace Kelly. When I first saw her, I thought she was a little stiff too, but she grew on me as well. Now I really enjoy her. She epitomizes the ice queen, lol.

Thanks! I'll have to check it out. I believe it's still on Netflix Instant and I think the most recent season is on HBO Go.

I love Steve Buscemi. He's so unusual looking, but he's managed to use that to his advantage. I loved him as the drunken best man (or maybe just groomsman) in The Wedding Singer. I agree he was good in Fargo and I liked him in The Big Lebowski. Buscemi plays "the weirdo" very well. Lol. Has anyone seen his Boardwalk Empire show on HBO? I haven't watched it yet but have considered doing so. The era it takes place appeals to me and it sounds like the type of show I would enjoy.

I'm watching this movie right now. I love this movie, it never gets old. Rita Hayworth is so gorgeous in this film. While she's pretty in color films, she's a knockout in black and white. Glenn Ford doesn't seem to have many fans on this board, but I think he and Hayworth make a great pair in this film. Columbia and audiences must have liked them together too because they made many films together, but this one is their best, imo. I love Rita's costumes in this film. Aside from the famous strapless gown she wears in her "Put the Blame on Mame" number toward the end of the film, I love the shiny, glittery striped dress she wears at the beginning of the film. I also love her costume at the Carnival masquerade party. The story is engaging in both the film noir aspect and the Hayworth-Ford-George Macready love triangle. I especially love Hayworth and Ford's love-hate relationship. "...I hate you too Johnny. I hate you so much, I think I'm going to die from it. Darling..." Hayworth and Ford then share a passionate kiss. I love the big nightclub that Macready and Ford run. In fact, one thing I love about studio era films are all the swanky nightclubs that are present. I wish I could visit one of these cool places. Instead of the lame nightclubs nowadays, with lines, $20 covers, overpriced drinks (I suppose they could have been overpriced back then too) and bad techno music. I don't know why Gilda doesn't get more attention. It is definitely one of the best noirs and the film that cemented Rita Hayworth's spot in the echelon of huge Hollywood stars. In fact, TCM's entry for this film says that Gilda is unavailable on DVD... which is a funny thing since I'm currently watching it on DVD--a legit, Columbia issued DVD that I bought at Barnes and Noble. Great film and it'll be airing on June 3 and June 19 as part of TCM's Summer of Darkness series. I hope we'll be studying it in the online film noir class!

Lol. He needed the extra space for that set of Encyclopedias that he brought along on the three hour tour. Remember how he always seemed to find just the right book containing just the right information needed for whatever situation Gilligan had gotten them into at that time.

I always thought the Professor was kind of hunky. Plus, he was the only one who had his own hut--no roommate.

Mr. Howell. ::ba-dum tshh::

One of my picks is Bataan, airing tomorrow. This film stars Robert Taylor, George Murphy and Robert Walker. The film is a telling of the story of the Battle of Bataan in The Philippines. A bunch of soldiers from different companies were assembled and were assigned to blow up a large bridge and then sabotage the Japanese's efforts in rebuilding. The soldiers set up shop in the hillside prepared to defend. The rest of the movie involves the various defenders being killed by the enemy and succumbing to other maladies, like malaria. Believe it or not, in my opinion, the highlight of the film is the performance of a young Desi Arnaz portraying Mexican-American, Felix Ramirez. On Tuesday, May 26, I recommend The Crimson Pirate, starring Burt Lancaster. This is a fun Technicolor swashbuckler. Burt Lancaster performed his own acrobatics and fills out a pair of torn pirate pants very well. While there is a dramatic storyline, Lancaster and co-star Nick Cravat (who portrays a mute pirate) provide many comedic touches to lighten up the mood of the film. I also second Holden's recommendation of The Star on Wednesday, May 27.

Lol. I've never thought Robert Mitchum was all that sexy. Though I can see why women would. Mitchum's got that rough, rugged look going on and was a good actor to boot. I haven't watched River of No Return forever so I can't form an opinion. Her leading men: -Tony Curtis (Some Like it Hot)- I thought he was kind of attractive, but I don't think he's in the same league as some of the other men I love (Flynn, Holden). He definitely wasn't ugly by any means, and did a good Cary Grant impression. (Dargo, I do agree that he does somewhat look like Eve Arden! I never realized that before) -Richard Widmark (Don't Bother to Knock), meh. He doesn't do much for me. I never was much into blonde guys, except I do think Paul Newman's cute. -Robert Mitchum (River of No Return), he doesn't do anything for me, but I can see why women like him. He took over the rugged outdoorsman type role from Clark Gable. He's definitely got the right look for a sexy man for Marilyn to hook up with in a Western. -Jack Lemmon (Some Like it Hot), I never thought Lemmon was "hot" or "sexy" but I think he's cute. Though, I suppose he isn't really Marilyn's leading "man" in this film, he's Joe E. Brown's, lol. Brown, btw, is definitely NOT sexy. -Clark Gable (The Misfits), I've never found Gable hot but in some of his films I thought he was attractive. Sometimes he's attractive and sometimes he's kind of goofy looking. -Yves Montand (Let's Make Love), Another man I don't find all that attractive, but apparently Marilyn did. They had an affair during the making of this film. -Laurence Olivier (The Prince and the Showgirl), Ick. Next. -Tom Ewell (The Seven Year Itch). Next. -David Wayne (How to Marry a Millionaire). No! Next. -Joseph Cotten (Niagara). While I like him as an actor, he is not attractive. -Cary Grant (Monkey Business). Yes! Now we're talking. -Don Murray (Bus Stop). He's okay. But I hated his character so much in this film. -Donald O'Conner (There's No Business Like Show Business). I like O'Conner, but cute? Not so much. ...I'd have to give the winner of the sexiest Monroe co-star to probably either Cary Grant or Tony Curtis. Tony Curtis might have the edge, if only because he and Monroe shared such a steamy moment in their film together. If only Monroe had been able to finish Something's Got to Give with Dean Martin... He might have given these men a run for their money... While he's not the hottest guy, I love him. He's so cool. Lol. Okay. I spent way too much time on this post. I need to get up and do other things.

Interesting. I'll have to look out for this one, if only to see the dance numbers. I'll admit that I haven't been impressed by Powell. Not that I think she's bad or anything, maybe I just haven't seen the right Jane Powell film. I thought she was so-so in Royal Wedding (a film really only interesting for Fred Astaire's dancing on the ceiling number imo). I understand that Powell and Reynolds share a birthday and always celebrate together every year. I love Reynolds in pretty much everything I've seen her in, she's a very likeable person and very talented. It's a shame that the talent in this film didn't come together in the right way to make a great film.

How could I forget about All About Eve? I love that film. It never gets old for me--it's pretty much the perfect film. I only wish that Thelma Ritter had come back after leaving to go get the guests' coats. I can only guess that Anne Baxter pretty much replaced her and perhaps Ritter bailed? I can't imagine that Bette Davis would have let her go. It would make sense that Ritter would leave, or that Baxter would make sure she was gone--after all, she was the only character who was suspicious of Baxter from the get-go. Lol. I know what you mean about bad TV. For the most part, I've been trying to watch quality things like the offerings on TCM or, because I'm like 80, watching Antiques Roadshow on PBS. Lol. I'll admit though, that I probably watch more cartoons than one needs to, but what can I say, I love cartoons. I used to watch the occasional Toddlers and Tiaras on TLC because that show is such a trainwreck and so creepy I kept watching, but I think I've curbed that habit for now. I do love watching Forensic Files though. That show never gets old... unless they start showing the same cases over and over.

Now I'm watching On Moonlight Bay another Doris Day film. Sorry for all you non-DD fans... I recorded a lot of these films, so there will be more of my mini-reviews coming. Lol. Anyway... In this film, Day is paired up with Gordon MacRae, who after looking at the cast list of all the other Doris Day films I recorded, appears to have been paired up with Day multiple times. MacRae reminds me of Richard Long (who we're discussing on another thread). They look very similar. While handsome, MacRae's looks are very bland. He doesn't have that extra pizazz that his contemporaries had. I'll have to admit that while his singing voice doesn't irritate me like Howard Keel's does, I find Day's singing much more pleasant to listen to. Anyway, I liked the film. It was a very entertaining musical--even though I thought Day seemed a bit too old for this part, but that didn't ruin the enjoyment of the film. Her little brothers were funny. What is with all these films that has the older sibling and the way younger (by at least 10 years) siblings? It seems to be a common characteristic in many of these older films. Rosemary DeCamp and Leon Ames as the parents were effective. They reminded me of Leon Ames and Mary Astor as the parents in Meet Me in St. Louis, except Astor's mother character was a warmer person. I just saw DeCamp in Nora Prentiss and she played a similar character, except a little colder. DeCamp does the cold humorless mother character very well. Apparently this film has a sequel... By the Light of the Silvery Moon, which I'll have to watch later. I think I still prefer the films from the later part of Day's career, but I'm finding that her early musicals are entertaining and good ways to pass time or serve as background noise when working on other chores. My comment in this post reminds me of another film I just watched... Nora Prentiss. I recorded this the other day because I've been trying to see more Ann Sheridan films. I loved this film. It was ridiculous which is a trait that I look forward to in melodramas. For half of the film, I thought that it was Ann Sheridan and George Brent paired up again, until I realized that it wasn't Brent at all, but someone named Kent Smith. Anyway... I loved the craziness of this film. Smith, a doctor and married to the cold emotionless Rosemary DeCamp, is unhappy in his relationship. He meets Ann Sheridan, a beautiful nightclub singer. They begin an affair and are very much in love. Smith promises Sheridan that he's going to divorce DeCamp and then they can start their life together. Smith then finds out that leaving his wife isn't going to be as easy as he thought it would be. A patient dies in Smith's office. While looking at his records, Dr. Smith realizes that the patient's physical appearance and age matches his own. He steals the patient's identity and somehow makes it look like he's the one who has died. Smith (with his new identity) and Sheridan run away together. Whatever could go wrong with this scheme? Sheridan was fantastic per usual. Her co-star Kent Smith, was good in this film, but he didn't make any major impression on me that would make me want to see more of his work. He's very George Brent like, meaning, he's very interchangeable with a variety of different handsome, albeit, plain, actors.

I agree with you MissWonderly regarding The Prince and the Showgirl-- perhaps that is what is wrong with it. I don't believe that Olivier and Monroe are into each other at all. I could see Monroe's character being more easily taken with OIivier's only because of his royal standing... but not the other way around. I'm all for movies that have a great romance, but this movie didn't convince me that any romance was happening. Aside from Monroe (who I find likeable in pretty much every role she's in), the only other part of the film I liked was that the date of the King's coronation was also my birthday. Thanks for the recommendation on The Pajama Game. I just bought this Doris Day boxed set a while back and The Pajama Game was included. I haven't seen that one yet.

Lol. I'm glad to see more love for Clue. Madeline Kahn's Mrs. White was hilarious. Such a fun film--especially when you watch all three alternate endings in a row. I think Mr. Green's ending is my favorite. Yes. Yes I did it. I killed Yvette. I hated her so much... it-it-the-f-it-flam-flames. Flames, on the side of my face, breathing-breathl-heaving breaths. Heaving breaths... Heathing. I also love when Jane Weidlin (of The Go-Gos) shows up and no sooner than she announces that she's a singing telegram, the unseen assailant shoots her. Thank you unseen assailant. Now I'm going to have to watch Clue tonight. Lol.

I found Gary Cooper more bearable in 'Mr. Deeds' than I found him in that terrible Love in the Afternoon. In Mr. Deeds, I can see why he was a heartthrob, he wouldn't be someone I'd swoon over, but I can see it. I also did like how he was giving his money to the farmers, that was very admirable. I didn't find him to be that bad in Ball of Fire either. It seems he fares better if he's paired with a more interesting leading lady-- except for in the case of Love in the Afternoon, even Audrey Hepburn couldn't make it more interesting. They could have cast a mannequin in Cooper's part and it would have been better.

Well I didn't see your photo you posted, but I know what you mean about Rudd. I completely agree. He is very versatile too. He can play completely outrageous slob characters like in The 40-year Old Virgin or sleazy personalities in Anchorman, but can play ordinary, but handsome and charming guys like in This is 40 and Knocked Up. I remember when he started to get more popular, like with his role as Phoebe's husband in the last couple of seasons of Friends and his Judd Apatow films... then I saw Clueless again and realized that he was Alicia Silverstone's ex-step brother Josh. I always thought he was way cuter than stupid Christian that she was pursuing and now I know why-- It was Paul Rudd! Suffice it to say, I'm very happy that his career took off and we can look forward to many Paul Rudd films in the future.

My pick for this morning is Dive Bomber with Errol Flynn, Fred MacMurray, Ralph Bellamy and Alexis Smith. In this film, MacMurray actually has the showier part as the dive bomber. Flynn and Bellamy play doctors at the military base who spend most of the film trying to invent a flight suit that will protect pilots from altitude sickness. For much of the film, Flynn and MacMurray are rivals as MacMurray blames Flynn for his friend's death on the operating table. This film is also notable for being the first credited role for Alexis Smith. Her character is introduced as a means to drive a further wedge between Flynn and MacMurray. She meets MacMurray at a party and agrees to go to dinner with him, only to spot Flynn at the same party. She and Flynn dated in the past and old embers are re-ignited when they see each other again... much to MacMurray's chagrin. My only complaints with this film is that it is a bit long and the minor subplot of the pilot trying to escape his Brooklyn wife. Those brief scenes are annoying and not funny. The real star of the film is the Technicolor. This film looks so beautiful that it (for me at least), makes up for any of the shortcomings that it may have. (I might add that for me, the whole point of this film is Errol Flynn in uniform and white tuxedos... But the film is very good too, lol)