richardny4me
-
Posts
299 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by richardny4me
-
-
I have never seen any of the MAISIE films so I am disappointed I miss this one. Ann Sothern is so under-rated.
I hope TCM airs all of them all in one day, that would be a great opportunity to see them all, as I doubt they will be on DVD any time soon.
-
Yes it is happening at the Bam Rose Cinemas, which means it should cost just $10. I agree I hope he speaks about "Strangers On A Train" as well.
-
I don't know how many of you live in NYC but some of you may be interested in this event:
There will be a Q&A appearance with Farley Granger immediately after the December 1 6:50 pm screening at the Brooklyn Academy of Music of a 1954 Luchino Visconti film he starred in entitled SENSO. Alida Valli is the co-star.
I have to admit I have never heard of the film, which is described as an "operatic melodrama", but these types of events happen rather infrequently these days, so some of you may find it interesting.
-
Edge did you get your CD in the mail yet? It definitely is one of the most complete CDs of an classic film I have ever own. The liner notes are excellent.
The one thing that made me almost drop the booklet as I read it was that MGM originally wanted to film this with June Allyson as the star and Charles Walters directing! I love June Allyson, and maybe she might have delivered a surprising performance, but it never would not with Charles Walters as director. Can you imagine what it would have been like?
-
I am certain the lyrics will be found in "The Complete Lyrics of Lorenz Hart" , complied by Robert Kimball and published by Da Capo Press.
I have seen it in the Barnes and Noble at Lincoln Center. It is definitely available for purchase from Amazon or Barnes and Noble.com. I am not sure where you are, but maybe some of your local libraries have the book, in which case you can just copy the page with those lyrics.
-
Oh yes, especially THE RAZOR'S EDGE. That was a great version and rather faithful to the original book, which I read twice.
After I posted I thought of FALLEN ANGEL. I would love to see this released as a special version. This terrific film noir was supposed to be Alice Faye's "LAURA", but the rumor was Daryl Zanuck eliminated quite a bit of her footage from the final film in order to boost the role and career of the film's supporting player, Linda Darnell. This was a major reason Faye decided to quit Fox and the film business.
-
FORCE OF EVIL is being shown in a new 35 mm restored print on November 30. That alone is worth seeing, but it is on a double feature with THE NAKED CITY - which, like FORCE OF EVIL was also filmed in classic black and white right on the streets of New York.
Films shot in "real" NYC are nothing special now but this was highly unusual for 1948. And both films feature a very different NYC from the limited filming in NYC of the "On The Town" musical number and the opening and closing dock scenes in ON THE TOWN, which also was filmed in the city around that time.
-
FOX is releasing some great films next year! A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN is such a great film. I think it is a forgotten classic. Besides the story, it has a very good ensemble cast, with a terrific performance by Joan Blondell, who was just the best as the Aunt. I am really looking forward to watching this DVD.
And in addition to the two upcoming DVDs you mentioned, I am really eager to see LAURA. Thanks for the info!
-
I love that film, and I have not seen it for some time. I have never seen the 1933 version so including it would be a great bonus. I also once saw a clip on some documentary of a deleted song which had Dick Haymes singing in the shower, so I would think the whole number would be included as well.
-
I just watched THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN last night, and there was that great Universal logo with the plane circling the globe opening the film. I immediately thought of this thread.
I know we are talking about film beginning's here, but at the film's end, I saw a logo or motto, I guess, at the top of the cast list which read "A Good Cast Is Worth Repeating." Was that also unique to Universal?
I loved it, and BTW, it sure was true of the "BRIDE" cast.
-
What a great interview and thanks for informing us.
I cannot believe the amount of DVDs he and Warners are producing for next year. The Gangsters Box set sounds really interesting, especially with the "new" footage of PUBLIC ENEMY. I am also really looking forward to the Errol Flynn and the Film Noir 2 Box sets.
But isn't it still fascinating how many "lost" films and pieces of films turn up in mislabeled cans or in dusty archives? I did not even realize an earlier version of PUBLIC ENEMY even existed. It makes you wonder what is still out there awaiting discovery.
I loved reading about the whole process of making and marketing laser discs and DVDs. And I know the majority of people will purchase a "MATRIX" box set instead of a Vitaphone Box set, but I was shocked to read production amounts of the lasers were usually around 2000 to 3000 per set, much like the Rhino releases George Feltenstein also develops. I gather the production amounts are higher on the DVD side, but it does not sound like that much more.
-
I agree, any of those documentaries mentioned in both posts would be great to have on TCM. I would even add that TCM should air its own documentaries more often. (I did not have TCM on my cable system until after their Pre-code month, and I would love to see their Pre-code documentaries.)
And more short films!
-
TCM programmer, when will TCM announce who will be the next guests?
Are any of our suggested names under consideration?
-
I read someplace the excellent Judy Garland "American Masters" biography that was on PBS this year will be an extra on the EASTER PARADE disc.
In regard to OKLAHOMA, that movie was also filmed in two different aspect ratios, so maybe we will see both versions, like Warner did with SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS.
I hope they have a great print of BROADWAY MELODY OF 1928, I love those early musicals and I have never seen this one.
-
Both are phenomonal, what a tough question! If I had to choose, I would say Cyd Charisse was the better dancer, but Ann Miller was the better entertainer.
Any time Ann Miller came on screen, her dancing, her sense of humor and (her own) singing voice made it the highlight of the picture. But Cyd Charisse, (who's songs were usually-dubbed as many of you probably know,) danced on screen with both style and total power. In "Silk Stockings", for example, she had that great scene dancing "The Red Blues" and yet in the same picture she had a simple solo which consisted of her just getting dressed in her new silk stockings. Her movements made it into a unique dance unlike anything found in most other musicals.
-
KING OF KINGS is the first silent film I ever saw.
But I never realized there was a longer version. So regarding the restored "roadshow"? footage - what "miracles" of Jesus were left on the cutting room floor?
What else could the missing footage represent? (Although seeing some of DeMille's later biblical epics I do wonder.)
?
In any case, I am sure the footage will be awesome. I am a fan of DeMille's pictures, and I am glad Criterion has restored it. Also all of the extras sound like it will be a real collectors item.
-
Artist (and stepfather to Clinton's Secretary of State Madeleine Albright) Ivan Albright did the final portrait used in MGM's THE PORTRAIT OF DORIAN GRAY." There was a retrospective at the Metropolitan Museum of Art maybe 8-10 years ago and the actual painting used in the film was on display there. Ironically, all of his other paintings were in that "decayed" style.
And as I recall from reading Gene Tierney's autobiography, the "portrait" of her used was actually a photograph touched up with paint.
-
Hey, thanks! I just ordered it. It looks like it has an extra Susan Hayward number in it as well that was not released in the original film. There are so many new CD and DVD releases this fall, and this one looks great. I have the film on laser disc, but I have not watched it in years, maybe I will have to watch it again one of these nights. Susan Hayward really was terrific in this film, she really made the most of the role.
-
I love Myrna Loy. She was amazing and the term under-rated really applies to her reputation. One of her very best films is not included, and that is THE RAINS CAME. Oh she was terrific in that film and even received an Oscar nomination for best actress, but lost to Vivien Leigh.
As I recall from her autobiography, she wondered if one of the reasons she worked less as she got older was the impact of the Hollywood blacklist. She was very liberal and politically active.
Fortunately though she did work in various parts, and I wish one of these tv networks would air the Myrna Loy episode of "Love, Sidney" which some of you may remember was Tony Randall's sitcom in which he played a gay man in NYC. I saw it when I was 17 but I recall Myrna Loy played a great scene with Tony on a bench in Central Park.
-
Edgecliff that is great!
I have to admit I am anticipating the October 12 release of that MGM box set in the same way most everyone else seems to be looking forward to today's release of the Star Wars box set. Except I doubt Tower Records will stay open past midnight the night before to sell That's Entertainment (- but if they would I would be there.)
I am really looking forward to Part 2 as well, just for that innovative opening credits sequence.
BTW, did they give any indication of which deleted numbers would be as outtakes?
-
In her autobiography, Esther herself complained about the awful scripts and weak leading men the studio gave her. However, the success (at that time) of these films proves that she had something special. That being said, I agree some of them are almost unwatchable today, although she still shines.
One exception, in my opinion, is "Duchess Of Idaho" which I recently saw for the first time, and I was amazed at how funny and sharp the script was, and the musical scenes were terrific. Plus she had real chemistry with Van Johnson, who also was quite good.
-
Producer Arthur Freed originally considered Judy Garland for the role of Julie in MGM's "Showboat" remake, her problems with the studio eliminated that role. Lena Horne was up for the same role but of course she did not get it either. Ava Gardner who finally won the role may have had her songs ultimately dubbed by another singer, but I thought she was so perfect in that part.
Judy Garland was also thought of for Mama Rose in "Gypsy", but sadly, Warners did not want to risk the expensive project with her history. I think she would have been brilliant in that role.
Norma Shearer did not want to play the mother of a grown son, so Greer Garson (thank God and Louie B. Mayer) got "Mrs. Miniver."
-
Mickey Rooney as a child made silent films as a cigar smoking midget(!) in the mid-1920's. He was born in 1920 and is still active and performing and this I can personally attest to since I saw Mickey and his wife perform togther at the Irish Repertory Theater in Manhattan this past Friday night.
Anita Page may very well be the last silent movie actress, although in terms of actually performing through the years, Gloria Stuart and maybe Luise Rainer qualify, since both have made at least 1 film in the last few years.
-
I vote for more silents as well! It was such a rich period of film-making, and it should not be ignored.
I have the book which contains all of the films made by MGM, (The MGM Story) and during the years of the mid to late twenties, leading up to the dawn of sound, there really did seem to be quite a number of popular and artistic films produced which look fascinating.
Although it would be a real novelty to see one or two air in primetime, I realize TCM is still a business, then perhaps a few more 3 am time slots can be turned over to silent films.
FILMS THAT CANNOT BE SEEN...DUE TO LEGAL PROBLEMS
in Hot Topics
Posted
I think the Gershwin estate is preventing the film of PORGY ABD BESS starring Dorothy Dandridge from being released. It may have something to do with the quality of the film, which was not very successful upon its initial release back in the 1950's.
THE DIVINE WOMAN is another "lost" film I have always wanted to see. Did you know about 10 minutes of footage was found and it is on the Garbo laser disc box set released about 10 years ago?
Great idea for a thread, btw!