JamesJazGuitar

My understanding was that the few others that stood up had to go to the restroom.

Note that the Kaiser stations did NOT have to pull them due to pressure. Instead they DECIDED to pull them. Big difference there.

I don't understand why you believe that your opinion is the opinion of the entire world. e.g. But that popularity is today non-existent That statement is flat out incorrect. How do I know this? Because there are a few right here that love DK (e.g. the people you're replying to). Thus right there saying "that popularity is today non-existent' is just another over the top statement. Can't you see that by saying what you did, it is like you're saying those people right here in this forum that love DK, are non-existent. But yea, I know that your self-aware of your style. As for Kaye: Yea, I find his 'stick' dated. I'm not a major fan of his. But I don't have a need to imply those that feel differently don't exist.

Alice Joyce was the mom in The Squall, right? Yea, I think she gave the best performances and I also felt she looked to young for her part (but I guess in reality she wasn't). It was the acting by the guys in the movie that I felt was sub-par. Note I'm not saying it was because they were just not very good actors, per se. i.e. maybe it was because this was one of their first talking pictures.

Well I have to disagree that "Whatever holes may exist in the storyline are compensated for the film's typical fast pace and street atmosphere". While I love the WB style of the 30s in this case the Cagney's character was so one dimensional and the plot so full of holes I don't feel the WB "feel and pace" compensated for that. I was also disapointed that while the movie started out with a very interesting angle related to independent working men that angle was quickly droped for the 'Cagney as hothead' only angle. I do agree that both Cagney and Young gave good performances. Being a romantic I was hoping Cagney's character would show some signs of growth and maturity. Oh well I wasn't married to the guy! Take that final scene; To me it would of been a lot better if Young told the cops the killer was behind the door (that would of been the most logical thing for her to do to help her husband instead of telling the cops her husband had a gun and was about to kill the guy), and when the cops open the door Cagney shoots the killer and the cops shoot and kills Cagney. Sorry but the mix of hardboiled and then complete sappyness, just didn't work for me. Of course one cannot use logic as it relates to the plot. How was Cagney not put in jail for at least 5 years or more. This was NYC. I assume they had gun laws similar to the ones they have now. So how does one expect me to view the movie as an "authentic urban drama". But I would recommend people see this movie, flaws and all, for the reasons you give. Also note that this movie was one of the biggest hits for WB that year.

I watched The Squall. This is a movie that I can now add to that thread of 'really bad movies with big stars'. Loy and Young are big female stars (but not in 29) but this movies was a major stinker. Now to be fair it was the first talkie movie Korda produced and there are clearly technical problems with the sound. The performance of Loy was camp to the max! The male actors were bad. Real bad. But I do recommend people check out the movie but only for an historical education related to transition from the silent to the talkie era.

With regards to "music out of a can" etc.. while music from all modern eras have this. To me this is similar to discussion about movies. While I like 'older' music a lot more than current music, a lot of 'older' music was very cookie cutter. I would say a vast majority. Like the movies with the studio system, the 'system' associated with music in America also pushed a certain formula, but like we see with movies there were great artist that broke the mode (as well as artist that put out cookie cutter stuff but once in a while broke the mode). Yes, I have heard the McLaughlin's "Apocalypse" and "Mediterranean Concerto" and like you feel. Paul's oratorio IS a "meatier" piece of music. Funny you mention: "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"; This is a song the gang and I started to do. So I got the music from the Internet. It was easy to play at it related to what was on paper but what I was doing sounded very weak. I had to really listen to the Animals play the song to get the feel down right.

Any women that doesn't fine Cagney's character annoying must be just like Young's character was; A sap! Cagney was so immature, sexist and proud of being so. While I can enjoy this type of alpha male to a degree, I like it better when they are killed off at the end since those type of little boys don't deserve a happy, sappy ending.

Great observations Andy and similar to mine. As for actors and their characters; Well how much of that is associated with the persona of the actor verses what the actor is asked to do by the director producers? With Tracy I would say he did what was asked; i.e. the Type A on Steroid was NOT his persona. With Williams; Well just not enough history to know. Regardless the general public must of wanted these type of alpha males (e.g. Cagney in many early WB movies), so this is what the studios gave the public. As for Young and Harlow; Well indeed Young was eye candy. In both Blonde and Taxi I felt she looked really great (but I'm a sucker for big round eyes!). While Harlow can be good looking in films (but I admit her look is something I do NOT find attractive), she was indeed very good at comedy. But in Blonde I felt she was weak. To me fair her character wasn't likeable and Harlow didn't have much experience at the time. The plots in both Blonde and Taxi were weak and full of holes. At first it looked like Taxi might have an interesting plot about big city corruption, the independent working man verses corporations, but then it just became a revenge movie. In Blonde the fact Williams appear to not know Young was a fine look all around great gal until AFTER he got married just made zero sense. If they were going to use that angle at least they should of had Young look less attractive (e.g. wear glasses), and then blossom into a beauty. Now, I enjoyed both movies (I have seen Blonde before but not Taxi), but both movies are good examples of some of the flaws of the studio system. When people say pre-codes are the greatest they also should be able to see the limits with these 'crank them out as quick as possible' movies.

Well the book Film Noir (Ward Silver), provides many solid reasons why the few color films they classify as film noir (e.g. Leave Her to Heaven, Niagara, China Town). In fact they go to extra lengths to explain it (I assume because they expect some to question their judgement). For example, for Niagara they start with 'On the surface Niagara may seem less a film noir than a melodramatic showcase,,,,,", than go on to explain why they feel it is noir. I agree with you that when people make black and white statements (pun intended!), there isn't much of a discussion one can have with them. It is a lot more interesting when one provides some type of substance.

Well I would need to see a little more to make an educated guess (a little more of the face that is!).

I know it was your comment (which is why I replied to you), but I still don't know which country you mean. (and this latest reply doesn't clarity it but it doesn't matter). As for '"ramming" their heritage down the general public's throat', well sorry, but I somewhat understand that POV. For example, here in Southern California, there are battles all the time over signs on the freeway to let drivers know they are passing by an area associated with a specific heritage. Groups have been fighting each other when multiple groups live in an area (which is common in So Cal and one of the reasons I love living here). Each wants their own sign! In fact I have seen a few times where there are multiple signs. To me this is funny. Thus I say the goverment shouldn't recogize any holidays tied to a heritage. Just have some generic heritage day. But of course Congress could never agree on what day that was (since all the groups would again be fighting each other about that). Note, I'm saying this all with humor. I find it funny, but then I'm one that feel it is best to forget one's so called heritage. But I clearly understand I'm in the minority and that most people feel a need to be proud of their so called heritage and if their group doesn't get their due they feel slighted.

When you say "otherwise the country would know exactly what Cinco Mayo is about", what country do you mean? USA or Mexico? Just wonder.

This was the type of plot that each time one of the suspects is discovered to have lied, there was a reason for the lie that was NOT related to the murder. i.e. the person was covering something up but that doesn't mean they were covering up a murder. In fact I started to wonder if the plot was going to have Tierney's character NOT be at her moms the day of the killing. i.e. that she was in NYC that day and thus she could than be yet another suspect! Yea, crazy but not really based on how the plot was set up. Possible spoiler: NOTE: I did NOT see the ending so I don't know who the actual killer was. I had to go to band practice and I was late as it was because of this movie!. I had to leave when Ginger's character was exposed and there was the flashback of her going to see Nancy. BUT, as noted, that doesn't mean she was the killer. i.e. maybe there was yet another plot twist???? If she wasn't the killer than the only one left was the young man (brother), that was in love with Nancy. In fact I had picked him from the very start.

Sepiatone I was just about to reply to a post that followed yours, and then I read your reply and now I don't need to. You said what I would of said. AND, I was going to use Brando as an example BEFORE I read your post. The POV that later poor (weak), work somehow negates earlier great work is just silly to me. NOW, when one tries to judge someone's entire career one should look at the history of all their work, but that is a different POV all together. As for Sir Paul; Well like I said to you before I judge a songwriter by their written music as well as performances of said music. Us jazz guys don't play a lot of standard rock tunes but we will play some of Paul's songs since the chord changes are not your standard rock changes. e.g. Here There and Everywhere. Now this song is kind of wimpy (yes, Paul was known for that), but the chord charges are interesting and with a few simple upgrades (e.g. making major chords major 7th chords), the song can be played as an instrumental tune with a lot of 'room' for solos.

Well in those 2 scenes I would say that George did outshine Laurence. The first time I saw that car scene I said to myself; I have to find out more about this actor that does wickedness with such style.

I found this sentence interesting: There are things held as true by public consensus. I made the same point with regards to if color films could be film noirs. I stated that various sources (book) and movie critics consider color films to be film noirs. I don't know if I would say that view is 'true' but there is a difference between one offering their own singular opinion and stating a public consensus. The only issue with stating a public consensus is how does one back it up. Even my point about color noirs could be 'off'' since I only checked a few noir sources. I didn't survey all major noir publications to produce a more representive stat like '8 out of 10' books on noir say,,,,,,

Silly me. I had Twinkeee on ignore by mistake. Funny how they say we don't see things that are right in front of us. The title for each of the post say 'you currently have this person on ignore'! I didn't see that until now! Anyhow I learned something about the ignore feature. i.e. one can see that the ignored person posted a message, just not what is posted.

I love Dorothy Lamour and I don't think she gets as much respect as she should around here. She has a very exotic look and she was great in various genres, but many just know her for the Road pictures. I assume TCM might have limited access to some of her best NON Road pictures. Too bad because I would love to see them again.

Yes, I have seen the French version called LE CORBEAU. (that is what I meant when I said I saw both versions). Both are good, interesting movies. Look forward to future reviews. Will you be doing this AFTER TCM shows the movies or BEFORE? If before it would be nice if you put down the date time TCM would show the film (yea, sorry for being so demanding.).

Fred, can you see what Twinkeee is posting? It appears you can since you replied to the post AND you 'copy pasted' what was posted in your reply to the post. I see 4 post by Twinkeee but with NO words. i.e. just a blank post. So I wonder if the 'issue' is my system or if others are seeing the same thing (or not seeing in this case!).

All holidays are 'made up'. i.e. created by mankind for some purpose. To me this is similar to the 'that religion is a cult' type of discussion. In a lot of cases people believe only their religion or holidays are 'legit' while the others are not. I say all religions are cults, they are all equally legit, and all holidays are made up, but I don't mean that as an insult to those that practice these things.

Well, great job! I have seen this US version as well as the French one and like them both. I found this comment interesting: Though the film is technically a noir,,,, Use of the word 'technically' related to how film noir is defined can open up a whole can of worms, as it what are the technical requirements of noir. As you know that type of discussion can go on forever! (but I do agree with your comments).

TopBilled; Did you write this?

What would be more interesting when discussing highly rated actors (ones generally praised by the majority) would be what other actors one feels are better. For example, if someone was to say they felt June Alyson was a better actress than the standard crop of highly praised actresses like Davis, Stanwyck, Kate Hepburn, Bergman, etc... I know you mentioned Dunne and I have seen her mentioned in this way; e.g. people that feel Dunne should be remembered more so than some of the standard crop. (PS: the use of Alyson was a wise crack!).