JamesJazGuitar

The issue isn't if post studio era movies should be shown but if TCM, as a brand, should show them (really what percent of their programming should be devoted to post studio era movies). Fred and I want to keep that percentage to a minimum (no magic number of course but I would say no more than 10% (or so) of the schedule devoted to post studio era movies). Sorry but the 'don't choose for me' comment is way over the top in my view. People like Fred and I are just expressing our preferences, just like you are. As for "I don't take kindly to people trying to impose their beliefs or tastes on me or anyone else". Well then you must not take kindly to 99% of private businesses since most "impose their beliefs or taste on the public": e.g. a restaurant owner that decides his place will be a Mexican restaurant. A station that decides to show mostly studio era movies etc.... i.e. what they market is a reflection of their beliefs and taste. Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Jan 12, 2013 5:00 PM

Well you do have to choose since those are the rules of this game! You make good points as it relates to comparing Dunne and Garland. As we can see from the posts here who is #1 or #2 isn't all that relevant since it appears most people feel the two are both 'great'. i.e. we are not seeing people say thing like 'no, no,,, this person is #1, and the other one isn't even close'. Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Jan 12, 2013 2:30 PM

Do you think the Ann Sothern Kirk Douglas paring works in 3 Letters? Something just doesn't feel right about it. I just don't see Douglas as a school teacher. Then there is the age difference. But maybe this is what the producers wanted to communicate. i.e. that this marriage was working despite that vibe I was getting?

Well I might be one that underrates Raft based on the comments from his fans here. Why do I say this? Well first let's compare the Warner Brother men; My view is that Bogart, Cagney, E.G. Robinson, and Garfield were all better actors than Raft. Then we can look at the noir crime drama stars. Not one of my favorites there either (say, as compared to Ryan, Mitchum). I even like so called lesser stars like Van Heflin and Dana Andrews more so than Raft. i.e. they bring more 'juice'. Thus after I see a film that Raft is in that I enjoyed (and yes, there are more than a handful of those) I find myself wondering; What really draws me to this movie? Is it Raft that is making this movie enjoyable OR is it more the genre, the style (love that WB vibe), and the noir crime tough guy thing? I also find myself thinking; And would this movie of been better if the Raft role was played by one of those other WB stars? Sorry Raft fans but I think they would of been. Thus for me Raft falls somewhere in the middle of the pack.

Yes, this game is NOT dealing with any movie or actor that did NOT win. i.e. ONLY winners. Thus for Chariots of Fire, you have two options here with this game: Close and Not Unworthly, since you have already indicated there was one picture that year that you feel should of won instead (and thus 'best' is out). Note that 'best' means you believe the movie that did win should of won. Of course the above is only my understanding.

You really would classify Durbin as top notch actress? Durbin mostly stared in light comedies. I just don't see any great performances associated with her.

Well one is also restricted in showing recorded movies to the public, even if there wasn't any financial gain for doing so.

The programmer told me he only does this when that guy is watching just to mess with him!

We might not agree on the other 11 months but we sure agree on June!

Hey, I see your point, but the way I look at things, when one has a troubled personal life, if that has any influence on me, it would tend to be a negative one. i.e. I'm more likly to knock one down a notch or two when their personal life is a mess.

Do you believe your 'peak age' theory is true for the general American public or mostly just celebrities? I can see the point as it relates to celebrities. i.e. I can think of more actors that peak at an older age than actresses. But for the general public, I'm not so sure, especially decades ago where men had to do a lot more physical work, drank and smoked a lot more and where generally more unhealthy than women. Many of these working class fellows aged very quickly and it wasn't a pretty slight. Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Jan 11, 2013 6:49 PM

Well one should be careful when one decides to assume what drives someone else's opinion. I can say that Judy's personal life did NOT influence my choice (and I think I know myself better than you do ). But I will admit that my viewing of Judy's musical performances, OUTSIDE of movies she was in, did influence my choice. That could be unfair to someone like Dunne or Rogers (for example), since I have never seen footage of any performance they did outside of the movies I have seen them in. Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Jan 11, 2013 7:03 PM

One thing that might help people is that all the movies you list DID actually win best picture. That simple fact wasn't clear in your initial post in my opinion (and based on some of the replies others as well). Instead we got this sentence: With that in mind, I'd like the list winners in several categories: actual best movie of the year, close-runner up,,,, All movies were 'actual best pictures' but NOT actual best movie. Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Jan 11, 2013 6:30 PM

Well how one defines what looks 'better or worst' is 100% based on cultural bias so what we are discussing here is this cultural bias. To say this cultural bias is balderdash implies there is some actual 'standard' of what is better looking or not and of course that would be balderdash as well. But I do agree there is no 'truth' to be found on this topic. i.e. on issues like this I'm the one that says 'well it depends'! As for women buying into this; There is a great book on this subject called 'who built the jail'. The basic point of the book is that women, and not men, are the ones that put the pressure on other women as it relates to looks, getting older etc... Linking this to classic movies; Ginger Roger's character in Black Widow is the type of women the book was talking about.

Well even if Virginia Madsen did get better looking with age, it still wouldn't disprove the statement made since the term 'rarely' was used.

For me it would be mostly the type of movies they were in (since they had very fine, professional voices). But to me they also lack the type of powerful persona someone like Judy Garland had.

I'm assuming the poster for They Drive By Night (U.S. Title), was made after Casablanca for some type of French release of the movie. I assume this because Bogie gets top billing. Poor Raft who was the star of the movie gets 4th billing! Funny since Raft always felt Bogie was trying to steal the spotlight from under him! Also the female shown (Gale Page) plays Bogie's wife in the film and is the 3rd female lead. Still neat poster. I just love these things!

I remember RO comment about Day's voice. While not a sweet smooth voice (e.g. Olivia DeHaviland), or a sexy type voice (e.g. Bacall, Greer), I never felt Day's voice was annoying. Look June Allyson had a successfull career and her voice is a lot more annoying than Day's. Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Jan 11, 2013 6:55 PM

I agree with you that Ginger is the best female dancer/singer/actress but for best female singer/actress I'm going with Judy.

I wonder if Marlo was a buddy of Judy (Gable's kid), when they were growing up since Judy was only 2 years older than Marlo. It would be great for Marlo to discuss this. NOT to dig up dirt but just to provided insight into anything Judy might of communicated as it related to her be an adopted child (but adopted by her own mother of course!). But since Marlo appears very protective of Young's image I assume even if she had some insight she would keep it to herself. As for the quality of these Young pre-codes. As I have written below they have some flaws that might turnoff younger viewers not exposed to the early WB style of movie making.

Hey, I don't wish for you to 'out' anyone but I don't think it has been any less civil here than usual. Just don't mention Danny Kaye, Loretta Young, or the Bonds films to certain people! But really even these exchanges, while sometime over the top, haven't been too nasty in my opinion.

Yea, the ego thing is the best way to explain it. For the record I enjoyed the movie and I was floored by it. But there is a camp quality to it. i.e. it is played for laughs. For example, take when Warren gets shot. I have never seen someone be so relaxed when they are going to get shot OR after they have been shot! Add to this when he puts that little dog in the trash can. So trust me that I know that one has to view this type of film from a certain perspective.

With regards to Employees Entrance; William's character is indeed a very selfish guy but one part of the plot made no sense to be (and not only one for sure!). When the banker was demanding that he reduce the size of the store it appeared he didn't wish to do this because '1,000s will lose their jobs'. Now often when employees are fired management can end up making more money. i.e. what is bad for worker bees is good for management. So when I heard this I wondered; Well maybe he does have a heart and isn't going to be just a one dimensional character and this plot twist will add interest. But of course not. What would of made more sense was for him to say to the banker 'yea, lets fire a lot of the useless staff to ensure we can make more profits'. Yea, I know I shouldn't expect logic in the plots of these pre-code quickies.

Funny but when I was first writing my post I had written 'WB studio' but than I wasn't sure all of those movies shown last night were WB films (I knew Young was under contract with WB at the time), thus I hedged by bet and removed 'WB'. Then I saw your reply and felt I should of just said WB! Now I see I was right not to assume. But yea, I think all the studios had what I'm calling 'rushed' productions during that era.

Did you really mean to say mid 20's range or did you mean mid 40's???? (or at least mid 30's). If mid 20's you are saying that generally women only have 3 - 4 'great years', before it is all down hill!