JamesJazGuitar

Well my experience is that 'light' moderation increases value. For example, I have seen people post the same thing over and over and over again. If that was allowed here, when one clicked on, say, General Discussions, all one would see is threads by that same person OR that person would go to threads and just post the same message over and over again, so we would have to scroll down to read messages from mature members. I do agree that people should feel free to express themselves but I don't support making physical threats, using racial slurs, or vulgar name calling. I have seen that type of behavior on unmonitored sites.

Well the WAMPUS clue didn't make it easy for me! While I as able to get a list of all the WAMPUS gals there were a lot and I gave up after checking early photos of the ones I knew. So good job!

Well I'm one that feels Black Widow is good; i.e. I would give it a B- rating. I liked that the All About Eve type of theme was hidden at the start of the picture (i.e. Nancy appeared to be just an eager gal) and we only find out about her true nature via flashbacks. I think the film would of been better if Heflin's character was did do something that wasn't right. e.g. having sex with some gal, but not Nancy. Thus Nancy's scheme to blackmail him would make more sense. So I was glad to see a film I hadn't seen before even if it was a great one.

Well note that the original poster said the movie was recorded by a family member. I assume this family member knew exactly what they were doing but didn't expect other family members were going to sit down and see what "Johnny" recorded last night!

Well sometimes MA stands for mature audience, other times most awful, and too often BOTH!

Well it appears that a movie with that rating (MA) may also be unsuitable for those over 17!

Are you really saying that those with musical training are better at determining what is well written music or not? Now, to we really wish to be elitist? Hey, I do!

I have received 2 PMs from the Admin since I have been here. In both cases I was asked not to reply back to certain individuals. In both cases these individuals were banned from the site shortly after I received my PM. So my own personal experience is that the admin is very fair. As for Helen; well I find it hard to believe her 'style' would offend anyone. I find her a delight. As others have said, Helen, like all of us, should feel free to post on any thread created by anyone. When I have a riff with someone here (rare but it does happen), I'll still post or reply to them but I clearly stick to the subject at hand.

Fiance: I'm confused since you posted this: Ginger's versatility exceeded Stanwyck's, or any other actress. Did you forget to put a question mark on that sentence? I only ask since it appears you're now saying you never said Ginger was versatile.

I really wasn't asking Rogers to match Arden, but instead pointing out how Rogers wasn't right for this role and also that Rogers wasn't a good enough actress to pull off the role.

I see Fiance's point that Ginger was very versatile but in my opinion Ginger wasn't half as good in the different genres she played in as Stanwyck. I enjoy Gingers 30s comedies and her dance films with Fred and that is about it. Her later movies just don't move me like her 30s ones did.

I felt that Ginger Rogers gave the worst performance in this movie. Her attempt to play a catty women just fell flat. Someone like Eve Arden would of been 100 times better; Arden would of made the catty comments sting and be funny at the same time.

Note that I save 4 key strokes by using Babs. This was a common nickname for her and one her fans should be aware of. I don't know what 'case' you're talking about, but it could be interpreted as saying that the opinions of others are bogus. i.e. that someone that favors Davis over Stanwyck as their favorite actress is full of it.

So even Kevin Costner could of done Big? Really? Hey, I'm no fan of Hanks so go ahead and knock him down, but I don't feel the POV you have expressed here represents reality.

Fred, I don't disagree with what you posted here. In fact it supports the point I was making that the movie Black Widow shouldn't be considered as a noir. The somewhat "norish" story still isn't "noir enough" in my opinion (as well as the characters as I mentioned before, regardless that many noir actors played these characters). As RO noted the plot is more of a combination of All About Eve and a typical 'who done it' murder mystery. Thus even if this movie was filmed as a typical film noir I would still NOT classify it as a noir. Instead I would be discussion how there were many black and white movies made prior to this one that used film noir visual techniques but where the plot and associated characters where not 'noir enough' for me to classify the movie as a noir.

I disagree that list mean nothing; A list can tell us a lot about the person or group that created the list. What is included and just as important what is NOT included can provided great insight into a person and their taste. For example; There was a thread about one's favorite 25 films. One person's post had NO films prior to 1954 and only that one 54 film; The rest were mostly action films from the 90s on. This person's list told us a lot about that person's interest. As for film list like the National Film Registry: Of course it would be NICE if any and all films were preserved, but that just isn't going to happen and the proof is that films have been lost forever. Thus we are left to address; what films should society (as represented by the US government), preserve? While I disagree with a lot of the choices I support the goal here. With regards to Hanks what actor of his generation would you of preferred been used in some of Hanks most famous movie roles?

Yes, it would be nice if the host would mention more about the version that is being shown. e.g. comparing the version they showed to other versions that were released to the public, why TCM is showing that one instead of the others (or why the others are just not available) etc... This is the type of historical information would be interesting and useful to us movie buffs.

I agree with the take here as it relates to Bette and Babs. The things mentioned here are the reason Bette is my favorite and Babs is second. Why that order? Well this line says it all: I'd take Bette at her best anyday, but Stanwyck's library is much richer and, therefore, there is so much more to enjoy there.

Well misswonderly, I have read the exchanges here and I agree with your take; Black Widow isn't a noir in my opinion. The main reason being the Van Heflin character is NOT a noir man. He is too mainstream. He didn't commit any guilty acts that would justify him being placed in a noir world (e.g. like Jeff in Out of The Past by hiding the girl from the gangsters). So as you noted it isn't the lack of noir visuals in the movie but more the lack of noir characters. I will say I did like the movie more than I felt I would (based on what I had read here before I saw the film for the first time last night). Hey, I see those weaknesses that others have pointed out but Van Heflin was good enough to keep me interested.

I'm not going to comment on if Coster or Hanks for that matter were 'hot' or not but there is a need in movies for everyday type of guys because there are lead roles (characters), where the director producers don't wish the guys looks or his persona to be a distraction. So in some ways Fiance is right; almost any guy could play these roles; but hey someone has to play them and these guys were the one chosen.

Chaplin, is my guess. I'm very proud of getting Bille Burke right, but I have done research on her after I saw The Great Zigfield, where Burke was played by Myrna Loy and I found out she was known for being a beautful young women (I, like many knew her mostly from Oz). So when I saw that picture of that young gal I said to myself, 'hey, if one doesn't focus on the hair and only the face,,, this could be Bille'.

How can wood give a bad performance?

Yes, Sullivan was very one-note in that movie. I just don't think he fits in a western. He was better (but not by a lot) in some of the gangster noir movies I have seen him in.

Bille Burke as a child?

I agree with you 100%; I never found Grable that sexy, even the famous poster, but Rita pin-up shots done in the early 40s were very sexy. But the Grable poster shot is neat and smart and I guess that is why it became so iconic.