JamesJazGuitar

I watched The Racket and I was surprised that the movie with this type of complex part would be made as a Silent Movie. Now I had seen the Mitchum version a few times so I know the story, but if one didn't know the story how would they follow the plot? In the book Film Noir they said that this was a losted movie. The edition I had was released in the 90s and I guess than this movie was 'losted'. I see by the credits that the movie was restored around 2004.

If Valance didn't do well at the box office when it was released I assume it was because Wayne is a very flawed character in this movie. There really isn't much to like about his character other than his act of killing Valance. Thus while the movie is my favorite Wayne performance to a Wayne fan expecting a hero the movie would of been a turn off.

Note: Spoiler alert!!! Andy, I was a first confused about how Hayden's character did a 180 with regards to the ex-con but it was because of the note that he left. With that note it finally dawned on Hayden that the ex-con was on the up and up. Anyhow that is how I explained the ending to myself. Yea, Hayden is a unique actor and an interesting one at that. I would love to see him as SOTM.

Funny Dargo2 but I had the exact same experience with Crime Wave as you. First I enjoyed the movie. As you noted a good noir that packed a lot in those 77 minutes. Each time I would see those shots of City Hall I would laugh. The wife asked why. I said, 'look at LA back than and were City Hall clearly stands out as the tallest building'.

Yes, the "irish jig" scene is one a great one. I saw this movie with my mentor. He was a close friend of my dad and when my dad left I moved in with him. Treasure was is favorite movie and he saw it as a teen when it first came out in the late 40s. So we watched the movie together and it all hit me. No wonder this was his favorite movie. He was the 'old man' now! Something I used to think that he was mean because he would make me feel just I was such a fool. Well after seeing this movie I was able to accept this more. Like the two younger guys in the movie I was a fool! I did need direction or I wasn't going to make it. So this movie really helped us bond and easier for me to accept what he was trying to teach me. As for Dunne; I agree that she was on of the most talented actresses. Very versatile. One of my favorites.

Mine would be Two Marvelous for Words from Dark Passage, followed by I Remember You from The Fleets In.

I will have to watch the exchanges between Hallie and Ranse when they are older to see if Hallie really is if she is no longer happy. I really never viewed the relationship that way. Yea, I always felt she was full of guilt and that she felt bad for how Tom and how things ended up, but not that she was no longer happy. That she still didn't feel Ranse was a good man to have as a husband. While Ranse got his break based on a myth (lie), he was still a man of solid character. i.e. it wasn't like he didn't earn his station in life just because that lie gave him a big push. Great exchange here BTW. The depth in all of the lead characters is what makes this western a stop above in this genre.

Maybe from Doniphon's POV saving Ranse ended his life as he knows but that POV assumes that if Valance had killed Ranse Hallie would of stayed with Doniphon. That is a key question here isn't it? I assume Hallie was done with Doniphon as a potential husband regardless of if Ranse lived or died. But of course I make this assumption as part of my way at looking at relationships. i.e. once Hallie understood the differenes in the two type of men and fell in 'true love' with one type (Ranse's type), she couldn't (wouldn't), go back to the Doniphon type. Of course mayby Hallie would of married Doniphon anyhow out of loyality or duty. But if Doniphon didn't change (i.e. change in the same way the west was changing), I don't think their marriage would of been a happy one. You're POV on all of this is interesting to me. I get what you mean by "killing" himself. But of course he had other options after doing so. He could of reinvented himself. So in many ways Doniphon was like Valance; both where no longer of value in the new west.

Well I for one do NOT agree as far as the order of my favorite Thin Man movies. My order would flop Song and Goes Home. The main reason being Song has a jazz music theme and most of all it has Gloria Grahame. Now it isn't a big part but she does add a noir feel to the movie since she is one a female noir icon. *The Thin Man* *After the Thin Man* *Song of the Thin Man* *Shadow of the Thin Man* *Another Thin Man* *The Thin Man Goes Home*

Wayne's character didn't own Hallie so he didn't have the power to give her up. Like I said Hallie was going to leave him for a different man regardless of if it was the Steward character or, if he was killed by Valance, someone like the Steward character. A man of the future. A man that didn't have to use violence. A thinking, book reading man, etc... The movie is about the changing of the old west. We see a macro version of this with statehood and the settling of the open range. We see a micro version of this with Hallie falling out of love with Wayne's character and falling in love with Steward's. I do see the sacrifice that Wayne's character had to make regarding his own values; i.e. that he didn't give Valance a chance to defend himself and that was part of the code of the west. So I agree with you there.

The main reason I watched Elephant Walk was because of how Liz looked. At here peak in my view. See Ava and than Liz back to back in movies about African was nice, but the Ava Gable Kelly trio was a lot better than the trio in Elephant Walk.

Today's L.A. Times had a story on Griffith and of course they had pictures. There was Obie with that bird cage in his hands. Why that picture? Because that episode was one of the all time favorites? Either way I got a little choked up while eating my oatmeal!

I agree with Darkblue and you; Tombstone is the better version and in my view the best movie made about Wyatt Earp. First the early versions (i.e. the studio era ones), were so 'off' as it relates to the actual events. Yea, I understand the 'well these were movies, not bios' POV but these early ones were so off, they only 'work' for those that do NOT know the history. So well I was young I didn't know the difference but after I had read up on the actual live of Earp those movies just didn't cut it. Of course the Lancaster Douglas pairing has a lot of merit since they were a great team in many fine films but they were a little too 'clean' as it relates to how Earp and Doc really were. To me the Costner version was just weak so I would rate it below even the studio era versions. i.e even though it was more true to history, it lacked in other ways that makes it a dud.

Yes, it is just acting. All one has to do is see A Face in the Crowd and compare that to his Taylor performance. As for the MayBerry show. In many ways I'm not into the 'middle american values' thing, but that show really does get to me. If there is a message (and often there was), it wasn't overbearing. It was done with grace and humor. The interplay between father and son is just great. My father wasn't around much so maybe that is why this show gets to me. I learned things from Taylor that my dad wasn't around to teach. The episode where Obie kills a mother bird and then takes cares of the babies until they can fly away on their own is something that I will never forget. I cry like a baby every time I see it. Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Jul 4, 2012 2:18 PM

Thanks for pointing out what so many people continue to miss, over and over again. The main thing when there is need for a schedule change is what gets bumped. That is KEY folks! What gets replaced? The same concept applies to SOTM. I often see people saying 'this actor should of been SOTM this year'. Yea, anyone can say that about many, many actors. But the key again is if XYZ is SOTM who should NOT be SOTM? i.e. who will XYZ replace? This reminds me of budget debates. It is easy to say 'more money for schools'. But what should get LESS money? That is key. It is easy to complain when one ignores what is KEY.

Do you have Katharine Whalen's Jazz Squad album? (she is the female lead singer of the Zippers). Great album especially for fans of classic movies and 40s era music. I highly recommend it.

With regards to Liberty Valance, is the sacrifice Wayne's character makes, saving the live of the Steward character? I'm not sure I would call that a sacrifice. First it assume that Hallie would of gone back to Wayne after Valance killed Steward. I don't think she would of. She was done with a man like Wayne. This is key to the plot. So she would of not gone back to Wayne even if Steward was killed. Instead she would of tried to fine another man like Steward. A man looking forward instead of backwards like the Wayne character. So while Wayne saved Steward because of his live for Hallie I don't see where the sacrifice occurs. Valance is one of my favorite westerns and Wayne movies because of the non heroic character he plays.

When I go see a jazz show at a small club I'll ask them to Play Two Marvelous For Words. It has become my wife's and my song as well, all because of that Dark Passage connection. The song isn't that popular with jazz singers but a few jazz guitar players have covered the song. One of my favorite for sure. Kern, who wrote Long Ago and Far Away is one of my favorite composers. It is very enjoyable to play his music since his harmonies are just complex enough but 'sweet' sounding at the same time. Right up there with Cole Porter. Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Jun 30, 2012 4:32 PM

I like the B-52's cover of Downtown better. NOT really! One of the strangest covers ever.

Yes, happy birthday to my favorite hollywood star (3rd in my actress ranking behind Bette and Babs, but first in my heart!). Olivia is what really got me into more 'women picture' type classic movies. i.e. movies beyond WB movies with Bogie, Cagney, and E.G., noirs, and adventure movies. I got into Flynn movies and of course was exposed to Olivia. So then I got into her non Flynn movies. My 5 Olivia favorites would be: It's Love I'm After Captain Blood Strawberry Blond The Heiress Robin Hood

While I'm a major Olivia DeHavilland fan The Male Animal isn't one of her better movies. Too much of a message picture instead of a full on comedy. Tighter direction and better editing would of helped since the casting is sound.

Well Bette is the only sane one in It's Love I'm After! She is the stoic one, while most everyone else is over the top. This is one of the reasons the movie 'works' so well. Bette keeps the movie grounded just enough to keep it from being too crazy.

I agree with you Fred. I think The Bribe is a fine noir and one of Taylor's best. Of course any black and white 40s movie with Ava is a movie I like, but the entire cast of The Bribe was good. A true classic in my view also.

I know the song I Know a Place and of course Downtown, but those are the only two I can hum by memory. While I'm a big fan of 60s music especially British music, I like bands and not individual (and thus mostly pop), performers. The type of individual performers I like sing the classic American songbook; Frank, Ella, etc...

You are always the wiseguy (which is why I enjoy your comments) but I do wonder if classical music fans have an era they define as the classic, classical music era. i.e. a certain range of years known as the classic era of classical music! Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Jun 29, 2012 6:17 PM