JamesJazGuitar

I watched all of these films. First time I had seen any of them. While I enjoyed them and I generally agree with your comments on Young, to me these movies are also examples of the limited production values of the films from that era. Like the movie Taxi, some of these 'values' are neat; fast paced, sharp edged editing (boom, the scene was here, NOW, it is there!), snappy dialog,,, But then we get mostly one dimensional character's (expect maybe the star), plot twists that are completly illogical or just 'out there', and ending that, well, kind of end like bomb was dropped. Thus while I enjoyed these movies they do give off the vibe that the studio was cranking them out as quickly as they could one after the other. Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Jan 10, 2013 1:03 PM

Well all of the people that I know from the Caribbean did NOT wish to be called or even associated with African-Americans. The main two reasons were; that they didn't live the 'black American experience' i.e. they didn't grow up in America as a black person so they were not part of that group. The other reason is they didn't wish whites to be racist towards them. i.e. for whites to treat them as a black person that grew up in America. They understood the racial tensions in America and felt they might escape from it IF they were NOT consider part of that group. A few told me that when they went to interview for jobs they would ensure their native accent was stressed. This would say to the white person interviewing them 'see I'm not from Compton, I'm from the Caribbean'. My dad worked in West Africa for many years, when he moved back to the USA he helped many of them move to the USA. Most of these people had a similar POV.

Ok, I understand your point and it is logical and makes sense. But then Young clearly placed her career above the 'need' for Judy to know her bio dad. Of course maybe there was no such need.

Not to sound like I'm rubbing salt into a wound, but I believe that Philadelphia has the worst record as it relates to winning titles in the 4 major sports. I just listened to a great interview with Reid on the Jim Rome show. He says the people there are very intense as it relates to sports. As someone from that area do you believe it might have something to do with them having a lot of very good teams (i.e. getting close), but rarely winning it all?

Well I don't know if I would say you're being understanding here but more onesided. i.e. understanding to the feelings and reputation of Young but not so much to Judy, her child. Most offspring wish they had a relationship with their parents even if that relationship cannot take place until after the offspring is an adult. So by the 50s (when Young film career was dying down, and out of wedlock births were not as big of an issue as they were in the 30s), Young could of told her so that she could of had a relationship with Gable for around 10 years. So while one might be 100% team Young, how about being at least 70% for team Judy?

In my personal experience this 'local connection' can depend of a few factors but in most cases it is highly tied to one's childhood. i.e. if one grew up as a Red Soxes fan (e.g. went to the games with Dad), one would remain a Red Soxes fan for life regardless of where one lives as an adult. The teams in the city where this person lives as an adult often become the second tier teams they root for.

Hey, what did you think of this film? I liked it, but then I like these French crime stories. I felt the ending was a hoot. Bob was one lucky guy. I missed some of the start. Was the young man his son (I didn't think so), or what? Bob treated him like family.

Well I assume that this season, by halftime, most of the folks have left! Reid will help the Chiefs. The bad news for them is that there is no Luck, RGIII or Wilson to draft. Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Jan 9, 2013 5:50 PM

I agree that while Bogie and Davis did many movies together (more than just the 2 listed as I'm sure you know), it would of been great if they were together in a movie after Bogie had the same status as Bette. e.g. a production done after Calablanca.

I don't think anyone (i.e. any side of the family), questions if Judy was the daughter of Gable and Young while Gable was married to another women, and that Young adopted Judy after hiding her pregnancy. Young confirmed that. This is why I raised the question of what the Levis family (the NON Judy side but instead the offspring of Young marriage to Lewis), can disclose now that will put Young in a better light (maybe throwing Gable under the bus???). For the record I can understand, (which isn't the same as condoning) the actions of both Young and Gable, given the times. But I'm curious what spin the Lewis family can have now all these years later.

No one here cares about this. This is TCM. Let me know about them when they make a classic movie!

Bildwasser: well I see you understand my POV here since you wrote ',,,though that is as much a matter of chance,,,". George Carlin had a great routine about this related to T-Shirts with "Proud to be Irish'. It was a funny bit but of course being Carlin an intellectual rant as well. I have had discussion with my Laker buddies about this. A few claim they would be Laker fans regardless of where they lived the majority of their lives (my friends and I are from So Cal). One even went as far to say that even if he was born in Boston he would of hated them and loved the Lakers because the Lakers are class and the Celtics were not. I told him that was total BS. If he was born in Boston the odds are great he would hate the Lakers, love the Celtics and have a green car! Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Jan 9, 2013 11:58 AM

Sad to see that Lori is gone. She will be missed. As for *Between Two Worlds*. I'm interested in how you would judge Garfield's acting in this movie since I haven't see the film (I have only see the Leslie Howard version Outward Bound). The book about the Warner Brothers Studio had this to say 'Another minus factor was the miscasting of Garfield in the role of a breezy newspaper reporter. Lacking directorial control (and confidence in the whole project), he overacted badly - as he was apt to do on such occasions.

I agree with you. So use of the term is meaningless and thus folly.

Richard Barthelmess was the husband of Rita in the movie. (assuming you remember Rita was in the film). His part was one of the top 4 or so parts in the movie. i.e. a key role as it relates to the plot. But he was somewhat wooden so maybe that is why you don't remember him. Only Angels Have Wings is one of my favorite films.

Note that according to the L.A. Times article by Susan King (who did reply to my e-mail today), the Lewis family is going to release details about the Young Gable "incidence" that should help boost the knock to Young's reputation associated with the incidence. I really don't know what the Lewis family could release that would put Young in a better light (to those that place her in a bad light). I mean I understand why, given the times, she didn't let the public know about the incidence. It could of ended her career. The only thing I can think the family might say is that Gable's child was told a lot sooner than she says she was and that unknown to the public Gable and her did have a relationship. But note according to the article any info is coming from the Lewis side of the family NOT associated with Gable's daughter. So are they going to shove Gable's daughter under the bus??? Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Jan 9, 2013 12:04 PM

Generally I believe people themselves are the ones that like to (in many cases feel a strong need to), self identify with the so called ' the land of their ancestors'. I'm not one of them but then my ancestors were from two very different lands; Japan and Pennsylvania. I just don't support the notion of being proud of one's ancestors. Instead I support the concept of being proud of something one is actually responsible for. e.g. learning to play a musical instrument, getting a college degree, having a strong and sound relationship, etc..... Being too tied to one's ancestors can limit personal growth.

Nice picture from Beat The Devil. I have a funny story about that movie. My wife and I were on our honeymoon in Italy (more for me since she lived there and this is where we got married), and we went to Ravello. She had never been there before. Well we are walking around and I felt I had been there before. I knew where certain things were going to be and this surprised her and me. It took me a while before I remembered that I had seen the place in Beat The Devil. We stood at the same place where Bogie first makes a pass and Jones (where the little white statues are and that wonderful view of the coast).

Well I did read something negative about Bogie in Dark Victory BEFORE seeing the film and I believe that tainted me. I got into classic movies because of Bogie films. It wasn't until a few years later I got into studio era actresses like Davis. So I made a point to watch Dark Victory because Bogie was in it. But I see now that the performance has merit.

Another thing commercial stations often do now is show the credits of the show while the last scene of the show is playing. They do this on TVLand. I'm watching Bonanza episodes. The early years have a lot of classic movie stars (e.g. in the last few weeks or so I have seen Jane Greer and Ruth Roman, both looking fine I might add). So I like to look at the credits, but the type is so small I cannot read it! I assume stations do this so they have more time for more commercial or promos.

It is almost unbelievable that in the year 2013, color is still an issue! Well to me the question here is: WHO is it an issue for? For example, in Asia many of the well off are getting plastic surgery to 'correct' their eyes so they are rounder. No one is pushing them to do this other then themselves.

This weeks classic movie article in the L.A. Times was all about Young, the museum, and TCM having her as SOTM. Note I have written Susan King the L.A. Times writer but she didn't reply back (typically Times reporters reply back to e-mails I send to them). I'm going to send her another one. I think someone like her would make a great guess programmer (well maybe,,, I asked her why the Times picked her to write these weekly article,, i.e. what is her background and how does that relate to studio era movies..

A lot of commerical stations put up promo (duh). This is why most of us are fans of TCM and don't really care about stations like TMT.

Well Calvinneme has seen the film and posted this " I never felt that her being sent to prison unjustly was intended to be part of the plot as in "Chain Gang". If unjust imprisonment had been the point, I would be OK with the plot device". So someone that has seen the film clearly disagree with you (assuming I understood her POV).

Funny you mention "Every Breath You Take". I had a girlfriend that was just in love with Sting (like so many other gals at the time), and felt this song as well as Can't Stand Losing You were soooo romantic. I told her to listen to the words. These songs were written by someone with mental issues. i.e. Someone unable to let go, controlling and a bully. She refused to see it but since she liked the 'message' in these songs I decided to play the Lennon song 'Run for Your Life' when we were together! Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Jan 7, 2013 7:01 PM