JamesJazGuitar

Thanks for the clarity but I don't see why you felt the need to make that last comment (since I clearly stated I didn't wish to assume). But whatever rocks you're boat.

While I love Julie London (she did a recording with Barney Kessel one of the best jazz guitar players ever), I assume you're not suggesting that Julie is one of the best female singer/actresses. i.e. someone you would place above some of the other gals mentioned already.

darkblue, I read all your replies and I have to admit I don't know where you really stand. i.e. it is hard to tell if you're being sarcastic or not. I'm not tying to knock you or what you posted. I just don't wish to assume what you're intent was. When you posted the comment that race should never be discussed that sure sounded like sarcasm to me. Why? Because it was an over the top statement. No one said race or racial issues should NEVER be discussed (as they relate to the movie). So to me that post was mocking those that said the thread should be closed. The concern (and I'm one of the ones that started this), was the direction this thread was going. For the record I don't think the thread should be closed down but some people (not you) need to be less clueless about what they post as it relates to this topic in my opinion.

Well to me Audrey didn't look realistic at the start as the dumpy gal. So while I agree Audrey after the transformation was better looking than either Hiller was or I suspect Andrews would of been (since I didn't see the play), I think Hiller played the dumpy role a lot better than Audrey and my guess is that Andrews did as well. Than of course these is the singing. My Fair Lady is a musical for crying out loud. Audrey was picked because of her box office clout and NOT because she was the best actress available for the part.

Well there are groups of people that claim to love freedom, except when it is expressed by others.

We generally have a common understanding! (but I will admit I enjoy that picture of the gals drinking from that keg!, but sadlly it wasn't like that in my college days!). Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Jan 16, 2013 3:38 PM

It was a rock. I have edited this post because I understood the question to be what did Joel hit the guy at the train with not what Joel was hit with. I'm clueless about that scene. Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Jan 16, 2013 2:52 PM

I would feel better about where this topic has gone if people were posting 'side by side' pictures of, say, the early Beatles compared to the late Beatles (just using one example), or the fashion of, say, a Kristen Steward (the trend to wear sheer clothes in public), or a Kardashian, Madonna, etc... Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Jan 16, 2013 6:30 PM

I really like the movie "I Know Where I'm Going" and I'm a big fan of Wendy Hiller. Pygmalion is one of my favorite films (but than Leslie Howard is my favorite actor). As much as I love Audrey, Hiller is the true Eliza (and if they had to make it into a musical they should of use Julie).

I see a lot of intolerance here and a need of people to control other people's kids. The same type of attitude I got when I had long hair in the 70s. I'll admit I laugh at some of the current fashion trends but that is about it for me.

Well, after reading your reply I still think we mostly agree here. My point was that Raft was a middle of the road actor. You say it didn't take much acting ability to play the type of roles Raft was in (and I agree with that 100%). Ok, so maybe IF Raft had taken roles that required him to stretch he could of pulled it off and those movies would be the type of 'classics' they are today (well at least to those couch potato critics). e.g. Casablanca with Raft would be as well known as it is today. We will never know. All I have is the actual movies actors like Raft, Cagney, Bogart, and noir actors like Mitchum and Ryan were actually in. Based on that I don't think I was being unfair when I said Raft had a middle of the road career.

I imagine that to some Lansbury fans calling her a character actor would be an insult. She was a star in the early years for sure, always playing roles of women that were older than her. Just loved her in State of The Union as well as other films. As for her playing a mother in MC. Well the old saying is 'that is a child only a mother could love'. Well in this case this was a mother no one would dare love To reply to someone use the icon on the upper right hand corner of a post.

Not sure what you mean by sock puppets (well maybe I do!), but as for individual judgement; Well I did wondered is that 'new' poster was really an old one just using a new nickname.

Kids and teen care a lot more about their appearance today than they did back 'in the day' (say the 50s). A lot more. Now I don't like a lot of the fashion choices kids and teens make today but the amount of time and energy (and their parents money), they spend on their looks is a lot more today than it was back then. I mean to wear pants that don't fit just too look cool? That is a sign of someone that care TOO much about fitting in.

I'm a big fan of noir. As for The Big Shot, well since it has Bogie it has it good moments but like I said it was the last film Bogie made that has the look and feel of a programmer. The Third Man is one of the best movies from that era and yes, there is no better 'minor' role than Welles. I have seen the movie many times but when it is on TCM I always ensure I watch the scene where Welles is introduced with the cat. That smirk and look in his eyes! Gold!

I love Betty Hutton but only in the movies, like The Fleet's In' where she is one of the supporting players. A little of Betty goes a long way and in the movies build around her, well, there is just a little too much Betty for my taste.

While what you says about an "apples and oranges" arguement" is spot on, but us here are just a bunch of people having a friendly discussion about what is 'best' (or one's favorite). So all we want is ONE name, with the implied understanding this ONE name is just a reflection of each person's taste. (and thus not a true reflection of who is really best, since that concept is folly to begin with). Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Jan 15, 2013 12:44 PM

Yes, Mr Roberts I believe you have the correct medicine! Babs S it is! But yea, I'm busted, and I let Stanwyck get the best of me.

I guess you don't know my stance on this. I was a fool to use the term 'classic' and only did because Fred and others likes to use this term. 'Classic' as it relates to movies has NO meaning to me. (classic in music has meaning since it relates to a genre). I view TCM as a 'mostly studio era movie', and as you noted a lot of studio era movies are NOT 'classic' (if classic = good). Also, post studio era movies can be very good. So I have no problem with TCM showing them. I just would like TCM to limit their viewing to around 10% of the programming (just my preference). But yea, I do find it silly when I see people say that all the 30 - 50 movies were great and that after this nothing good was done. There are good movies from every era. BUT as a brand I hope TCM sticks to studio era movies, showing even the not so good ones. Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Jan 15, 2013 11:42 AM

I think the characters actors should be honored but as you noted there are some 'technical' issues in doing so. For example, take one guy that I love; Frank Pangborn. Well two of the most famous movies he was in, Now Voyager and My Man Godfrey. Great movies but showing them as part of a day (or time period), for Frank? Doesn't really made much sense to me. Now, as you noted, a lot of interesting things could be done with someone like Charles Scour, since his roles in the movie often cover the entire span (or a vast majority) of the movie screen time. But I agree: Let's do it. It is about time.

If this is your first time here, you should reserve judgement until you have read more than a few posts.

Well we agree that Raft wasn't a very good actor, but to me if one is an actor it helps if they know now to act. Yea, there are people that make music that are not very good musicians, but the musicians I like the best tend to be, well, good musicians. But yes, Raft did have style and class. I think this is what carried him as far as he went (which was a middle of the road career).

I think you might of misunderstood me. I never said anyone walked over George Brent. My point was that he was utilized by Jack Warner and company in the best way they could use someone of his ability. He wasn't used in the same way as, say, Cagney, because he didn't have the ability, charisma, and screen persona of a Cagney.

Well I can see why a modern audience wouldn't accept the behavior of her daddy in The Women. The guy was a total cad. It wasn't so much that he had a relationship outside the marriage (not that this isn't bad enough), but that he had one with someone like the Crawford character. That he was so weak he had to buy her whatever she wanted. Take another movie released around the same time; Intermezzo. In this movie one can at least understand why the married man failed to be faithful. Thus at the end when he decides to go back to his wife AND she decided to take him back, one can see hope there; i.e. they might be able to save the marriage they both wish to save. Just not the case with The Women. Mary was a fool to take the cad back and the odds are high he falls for another Joan type within months.

We agree that TCM has shown some 70's movies that are NOT classic to me (by a long shot). But TCM didn't show those movies because they had profanity. For some reason the programmer felt they were classic movies. Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Jan 14, 2013 6:20 PM