richardny4me
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Posts posted by richardny4me
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Edge, what a great list of titles, many I have never seen and are at the top of my wish list, especially ACE IN THE HOLE. This was shown at the Museum of Modern Art just last week but I missed it since I was out of the city on vacation.
I have the Films of Paramount, and IMO next to The Films of MGM it is the best book in that series. Looking through it, the only film I would add to your list is Betty Hutton's last big musical, SOMEBODY LOVES ME from 1952.
I guess I can understand that film not being available, but it seems impossible that a brilliant film like THE HEIRESS is still not out on DVD, especially with Olivia de Havilland still around to provide a commentary track. Based on her recent appearance in the Errol Flynn documentary, can you imagine how entertaining a commentary that would be?
Speaking of Paramount, if you happen to be in NYC anytime between June 24 to July 21, the Film Forum is having a film festival entitled "Paramount Before The Code." The vast majority of the films to be shown are not on DVD - and many never even made it to video.
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Sorry, I meant to write "and organized" just once!
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Larry, I agree with you about Arlene Dahl. Years ago I met her once at a Halloween party at a club called Doubles in Manhattan and she was very nice and sweet. I told my friends afterward that she was a movie star who worked with Fred Astaire and they all looked at me quite strangely and I knew immediately some thought I was making it up, whereas others never heard of either Astaire or Dahl.
So I had to laugh when I saw the Turner-Dahl feud, which I agree was fiction, because it reminded me of a story that appeared in the papers just a few years ago about a still on-going feud Esther Williams had with Arlene Dahl, over (I believe) Fernando Lamas.
Around the time of the last Carnegie Hall MGM Musical Tribute that Michael Feinstein organized and organized a few years ago, apparently Esther, who was advertised as appearing, (almost at the last minute) backed out of that first Carnegie Hall MGM Musical Tribute simply because Arlene Dahl was scheduled to appear on the program. They did a second tribute just a year or two later since the first was such a success, so Esther, who had a book to sell, agreed to appear. Arlene Dahl was not on the program.
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"Cary Grant vs Randolph Scott"
Based on the gossip I have read, the way these two were linked was, um, not exactly by feuding. What is the story of the feud?
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I cannot believe I have yet to see any of Buster Keaton's silent films. And it is not like they are hard to find - his films play the Film Forum and MOMA here in New York more than any other silent film star's work. Plus Kino and TCM have released DVD sets of his work.
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Did any of you see the op-ed piece in yesterday's New York Times about the end of MGM by the film writer David Thomson? It was very an excellent and well written (and unvarnished) appreciation of the studio. For example, he points out that while MGM was the studio where King Vidor filmed Judy Garland singing Over The Rainbow, it was also the studio where the executives wanted to cut that very scene.
(I am sure if you go to NYTimes.com you can still find it on line, I do not think I can post a link since registration for that site is required.)
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Bravo Larry, your reminiscences are just amazing. Tell me, did you ever meet or know Gloria Swanson, she always seemed like an interesting and amazing character.
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Thanks, I got my "Patricias" mixed up!
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MovieJoe, what a great post - I wish they had such big shows in New York, but I guess they would be too expensive to produce, with so many stars living in LA it is probably easier as well.
I too remember Carol Lynley, and I always wondered why she never ended up on one of those nighttime soaps, like Falcon Crest or Knots Landing, she would have been perfect for them.
Patricia Morison was also in GOOD NEWS with June Allyson, I once worked with and knew her niece quite well and she used to say "Aunt Patricia" was a hoot and she loved having her as an aunt. But she always rolled her eyes and said even at home, she was always a "star."
Jane Russell sounds like a great lady, what a terrific experience that was for you. I wish I could meet her, I would ask her to autograph the book Return Engagement, since she is now one of the few remaining ladies featured in it that are still alive - by the way was it you who posted that you ordered it on Ebay? Did you ever get it?
Anyway, I wish I could attend the one happening in a few weeks, meeting Joan Leslie in particular would be worth the trip!
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For the ladies there would be 2 : Judy Garland, just for her voice and her personality. I love watching and listening to her on screen. And Vivien Leigh is definitely up there as well, for her beauty and her brilliant performances.
I have been watching quite a few Errol Flynn movies lately, and I can see why he had such appeal to men and woman, so he is up there for me. But I would have to put Burt Lancaster on the top of the lisr, he just exploded on screen. He needs to be "re-discovered" someday.
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I was about 10 or 11, and I felt sick during a family party during one Sunday before Christmas, so Iw ent upstairs to watch TV, and YANKEE DOODLE DANDY was on television. I was hooked immediately.
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That's really great ! - Of all the surviving stars of the "Golden Age of Hollywood", she has always been the most elusive - and IMO the most deserving of praise.
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The documentary was superb, I learned so much. His widow, was really interesting, and without a doubt Olivia de Havilland added tremendously to the program.
I never knew he wrote 2 novels. And the analysis of the rape trial, where even Olivia de Havilland alluded to the financial "support" provided by Jack Warner to LA government officials was fascinating. I can see why Jack Warner kept him under contract for so many years, even after most other big stars like Cagney and Davis were gone from the studio roster. Plus finally seeing pieces of the long lost Jack Cardiff footage from the unfinished "William Tell" was a real treat.
In the last few months I have seen several of his films for the first time, including the very enjoyable GENTLEMEN JIM, and NORTHERN PURSUIT, and THE DAWN PATROL. As the documentary makes clear, he really was quite a good actor. I have the videos of THAT FORSYTHE SAGA and UNCERTAIN GLORY, both of which I have never seen, but now really want to see.
There are a few things I wanted more info about, such as why did they not even mention Bette Davis and Errol Flynn's first picture together, THE SISTERS made in 1938? And why were the other 2 daughters not even shown or mentioned? And finally, LOL, who owns those 3 impressionist masterpieces now? They must be worth a fortune! But without a doubt it was one of the best documentaries I have seen about a Hollywood star.
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Billy Wilder originally intended SUNSET BOULEVARD to be a satire, not a documentary, but such was the impact of that great film that actresses of a certain age and era too often were written off and characterized as "Norma Desmonds." However Larry your posting of your remembrances is so illuminating, you portray these women as unique and real people, not caricatures.
Larry, did you know that other pair of sisters/movie stars, Joan and Constance Bennett? The reason I ask is around 1983, I attended a Carnegie Hall tribute to Myrna Loy, where during the intermission I met Joan Bennett in the cafe off to the side of the first level. I was about 19 at the time, and I approached her for an autograph, and she seemed very nice and even amused someone recognized her, and she signed my program. Once she walked away, I recall 2 or 3 men, all older then I, just pounced on me immediately and said "Who was that?" I replied, "Joan Bennett of course." And they all sort of went OHHH at the same time. So since both ladies are rarely discussed anymore, I was wondering if you knew either of them.
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TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME just ended with them breaking character and a song about Kelly getting Williams or something like that. They did not even try to give it an ending.....I know it was an MGM musical, but really.
I like the idea of this thread by the way, I just wish I could remember more examples.
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I watched this with their commentary on Friday night, and I agree it was a terrific commentary. Their enthusiam and their knowledge of the behind the scenes details as well as film artistry in general was outstanding. I hope they do a commentary track on more of Minnelli's films.
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Really? I actually would have loved to have seen it, Minnelli did a great job with the Cinemascope screen, but this is a film that would have benefitted from being normally filmed. Especially the "Almost Like Being In Love" number. This should have been an extra on the DVD release.
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Great news, thanks EDGD.
CROSSFIRE is the only one of these films I have seen, so and I am very eager to get this set. I am especially happy NARROW MARGIN was included. I never bought it when it was on video, and I have always wanted to see it.
However I have to admit I never heard of DILLINGER, so I am glad this was included, because otherwise I might have missed it if they released it separately.
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First if anyone from Universal is reading, thanks for the inexpensive DVD box sets of horror films but please release THE BLACK CAT, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1943)and TOWER OF LONDON. I would love it if TCM airs them, but I do understand the rights issues.
And if there is an audio track, get Clive Barker or somebody other than Rudy Belhmer, his commentary on GONE WITH THE WIND was very disappointing, and his commentary on the new LAURA dvd is not so great either.
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I missed the film this week but I have a copy of it so maybe I will watch it, Judy is wonderful in it and her version of "A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow" has always been my favorite highlight. When I saw MILLION DOLLAR BABY in the theater a few months ago, I think I might be the only person who knew what the translation of Clint Eastwood's "Mo Kushna" (sp) name for Hilary Swank meant ONLY because Garland sings those words in that song, LOL.
Incidentally, that film is the only film she made in which a character she plays actually dies on screen.
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The only current star I am aware of who actually funds film restoration is Jody Foster. I definitely remember her name on the screen as "responsible for the restoration" of an early film directed by either George Cukor or Dorothy Arzner. I saw it at an event at the Film Forum in New York a few years ago. Francis Dee was in the audience, and in the film.
IMO, TCM ought to seek her to be guest host for a day.
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At first I was exited about that title, but I am thinking I already have DARK VICTORY, NOW VOYAGER and
THE LETTER on DVD. There are so many other titles of hers not released on DVD, so I wonder why they are releasing such a box set. Since I have the restored MR. SKEFFINGTON on laser disc, the DVD of THE STAR is the only purchase for me. And I agree Davis is great in that film, I love when she talks to her Oscar.
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Really!? Copyright issues on Lanza's voice? Wow, I have that cd set and I never that.
Does anyone know if there are some sort of similar issues with the complete Rhino release of THE BAD AND THE BEAUTIFUL soundtrack? I tried ordering that several times and that just disappeared.
In any case, last night I pulled the Rhino soundtrack of FOR ME AND MY GAL off my shelf and began listening to that, it is really good.
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Yesterday I purchased the THE BAND WAGON as part of the DVD box set 5 MGM musicals + the superb Judy Garland PBS American Masters documentary all for just 49.99 at J & R in New York. There is so much contained in this package!I only began to explore it yesterday, focusing on BELLS ARE RINGING and EASTER PARADE.
The transfers are amazing. The colors on BELLS seem much richer in comparison to the brownish quality of the laser disc I own. Three musical numbers were included, however it is also easy to see why all 3 were not used. The one new to me was Dean Martin performing a song called My Guiding Star, as he walks around a backlot recreation of Brooklyn Heights.
The colors on EASTER PARADE just pop out, especially in the opening toy shop sequence and on the hats during the parade finale. The second disc contains great extras, has a terrific making of documentary, "On the Avenue" - even the little boy from the Drum Crazy number is interviewed, now he is a choreographer. I have not yet heard the audio track with Fred Astaire's daughter Ava and author John Fricke, but I hope to get to it this weekend. The best part (for me) about the disc is it contains over 20 minutes of unedited footage of the Mr. Monotony number. We get to see silent footage of Judy Garland joking and preparing and then just bursting into character when the prerecording is played. We also see her after each take is finished and at one point she looks quite annoyed at someone, perhaps the director yelled cut too soon. Really fascinating stuff.
I also hope to watch THE BAND WAGON this weekend.
Has anyone else purchased or watched these yet?
FOX CLASSICS ON CRITERION
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I have been waiting to see UNFAITHFULLY YOURS for years, so I am definitely going to get this one. Criterion's DVDs are always priced higher, but as I am sure you are aware, the quality of their DVDs is always miles ahead of almost every company - most of their DVDs are on the level of the special editions that Warners produces.
I have HEAVEN CAN WAIT on laser disc so I have to see what the extras will be prior to my purchase.