JamesJazGuitar
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Posts posted by JamesJazGuitar
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Well with regards to the plot of The Big Sleep, I don't fault anyone for not being certain about specific plot points.
Even the killing of Owen by Joe is only a guess (but again, to me it is clear), but maybe it was the gay guy Carol who did the killing (just like he kills Brodie for revenge), and Joe really did get those photos of Carmen off the already dead Owen and thus all he did was push Joe's car into the Pacific.
So it is understandable that even a very detail description of the plot wouldn't have that level of detail since there is a lot of speculation.
Now back to these summaries; Do you read the 'full' ones prior to viewing a movie you have never seen before? If so, does that sometimes take away from the enjoyment of viewing the film? e.g. spoilers decrease the enjoyment.
Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Dec 5, 2011 4:13 PM
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Yes, Chatterton was born in 1892 and Young in 1913. So 'about 20 years' is on target.
Note that when Baldwin and Osborn were discussing Dodsworth Baldwin knocked Chatteron's acting while Osborn defended it.
Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Dec 5, 2011 4:04 PM
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My picks would be very close to you but I have to admit favorite director is the most difficult of the favorite type rankings for me.
If I had to pick a director that directed my most favorite movies it would be Howard Hawks. He was the director of many great movies in many different genres. But he didn't have a very strong style.
Hitchcock had a very strong style and thus he tops Hawks in this regard. Of course he made many great movies that I enjoy.
Then their would be Wyler. Many of the best performances from my favorite actresses (e.g. Davis, DeHavilland), where with Wyler as director.
So those would be my top 3.
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I also don't view Brass in the Pocket as one of their best songs. I would say Back on the Chain Gang is my favorite but that is because it has that Brit type sound. A lot of picking inside the chord type of guitar playing that is so common in Beatles and other Brit bands.
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I didn't like it much at all but that is because I just don't really like that accent (say compared to a sexy Italian or French accent). But I felt Olivia did OK as far as pulling off that accent. Henry Morgan (best known by many for TV show Mash), I found funny with that accent. His role was of a backwards type of guy and the accent played that up even more.
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One's placement in the billing typically is based on one's contract. So what her low placement indicates is her lack of ability to demand a higher billing placement. It doesn't reflect on her acting ability (but I assume you were not implying that).
Of course Airport 79 was made after the studio era. In the studio era contract players placement in the billing was really well defined in their contract. For example, take the 41 release of the Maltese Falcon. Gladdy George, who is a very minor player in the movie has 3rd billing. But she was a long time Warner contract player. So I assume she got this high billing because of that.
Greenstreet, who has a lot bigger and more important role in the movie is listed 6th or 7th. But the Falcon was his first Warner movie I believe.
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The Bishop's Wife is my favorite Christmas movie and I don't even celebrate Christmas.
The movie has a very sound message without being overly preaching.
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Grahame was NOT miscasted in Not As A Stranger. The role fit her type of sexuality very well.
Olivia did a very good job but she was miscasted to some degree. Of course maybe just the washed out blond hair distracted me.
As for the males in the movie, Frank does an Ok job. His role as a glib, self centered type was a good fit for Frank but he isn't the doctor type in my view. The small town doctor role by Bickford was the best male acting in the movie in my opinion.
Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Dec 5, 2011 2:02 PM
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I have to say that the 31 days of oscar period is NOT one of my favorites. Mostly because I have seen most of the films that have won oscars for best picture, director, or actor actress etc.. These films are typically the popular ones TCM shows anyhow.
So it isn't the quality of the movies as much as the lack of variety.
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If there was a moral merit for actors to get an oscar, they wouldn't be able to give one out.
Note that I have criticized Spenser Tracy for some of his actions (i.e. I think he should of just got a divorce,, but hey I didn't live his life), but of course I don't think he should of had his awards taken away. As I have said many times I separate an artist's personal lives from their art.
Thus the POV some have here that a dishonest actor will likely create dishonest work is complete folly in my view. Ok, I can understand why some (many?), don't think Young is a very good actress. This has been discussed at various threads here for years, but I don't see any connection between her acting ability and the facts regarding her child with Gable.
Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Dec 5, 2011 3:06 PM
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Are you saying there is sometype of connection between Young's personal phoniness as it relates to Gable and her's child and Young's acting in the movies you mention?
It isn't news that there are people that don't like Young's acting. Hey, many don't like Bette Davis or Kate Hepburn etc.. (i.e. other well known, awarded actresses). But if Young had married Gable and they raised the child as their own, would Young's acting be less phony in those movies? I find that concept to be folly.
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The basic quesion there is what is the purpose of these "plot summaries".
If the plot summary is detailed than the purpose isn't to provoke interest in the said movie. i.e. too detailed of a summary might decrease interest in watching the actual movie.
So I'm in the camp that a detail plot summary is of little to no use. If I have NOT seen the movie I don't want to learn too much about it. If I have seen the movie I don't need to be reminded of all the detail. Instead I'm more interested in an analysis of the movie (e.g. why the director film a scene in such a way,,,, plot elements in the book that were changed or left out of the film, etc....
I have many movie books and I have to be carefull how I use them for movies I have NOT seen. I try hard NOT to read about movies I'm planning on seeing but I often fail, learn too much and this changes how I view the movie when I do see it.
So I like the books that just give a short and vague plot summary. I skip the analysis part until I have seen the movie.
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Yes, it does appear that Judy turned out A-OK and had a good life. I have to assume that those that are so full of bitterness associated with this situation have their own, unresolved, personal issues.
Gable and Young both made mistakes. Afterall they are just human beings.
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Note that 4 out of 5 of Ford's best director nominations were for NON westerns.
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Do you know what is so special about the uncut version of MATA HARI?
I know there were some concerns 'back in the day' about the guy making love to Garbo and disrespecting his religion but in the version I have (recorded 20 years ago from TV), those scenes are there.
I just wonder what was cut out and why, and who did this cutting (i.e. who is responsible for the version TCM is showing).
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I don't understand the POV that the Academy should of taken away Young's Oscar, but I admit I don't know much about the history of the Academy with regards to taking away Oscars. e.g. Who else has had their Oscar taken away? What was their so called crime?
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Why would you be banging on his door? To call him names?
With my own dad, who I didn't see for 26 years, I asked my half brother if he was interested in seeing any of the children from his first family. We didn't see any benefit in meeting a man that had no interest in us.
Note one of my brothers was still angry that our dad abandoned us but I advised him that if all he was going to do was be angry there was no need to see our father. We all agreed that forgiveness and moving forward was the only sensible option. Just saw my dad for Thanksgivings. We are happy we will have at least a few years to spend as father and son. Bitterness doesn't lead to happyness.
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It is never only one persons decision. It might be their wish or preference but it isn't their decision.
i.e. Young might of asked Gable to keep quite but he made a CHOICE to do so.
So Gable still had a choice and he made one to NOT have his child in his life.
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Powell is full of charm and class and this is what sets him apart. Only a few had his level of these qualities as well as the look (Grant and Colman come to mind).
Yea, if looks were the #1 priority for women generally Mick Jagger would never of got a date! Look at some of the gals he has been with. Just goes to show how shallow us men are.
(since to many looks are everything). -
No exceptions? How about if there is a death? i.e. they just showed Captian Blood on Tuesday, but if Olivia was to pass away, I wouldn't mind them showing it again within 30 days.
But generally I do agree with some type of programming 'rule'.
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I assume you are not really asking 'why deny the fact,,,', since the various reasons are obvious. Instead you just don't agree with the decision.
But to me your post here appears to be rather harsh towards Young. For example, Young isn't the only one to blame for Judy not having a relationship with Gable. Gable also made some choices.
I hadn't seen my dad for 26 years and only in the last year did I found out he was still alive. I was contacted by a half brother I never knew existed (the Internet and facebook does it yet again!). I found out that I have 3 half brothers and a half sister. The oldest brother was born while my parents were still married. My dad has been a great dad and granddad to his new family. To his first family he was a cad.
I only point out the above to show that these type of issues are complex and people deal with them differently.
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Well I would hope that people don't only have two categories for those in their community that came before them as in Hero or chicken-hearted traitor. We all have to remember the times and it is unfair and unjust to expect everyone to be, say, a Rosa Parks.
I'll have to check out that mini series on Gandhi. Unlike Swithin, I found the movie very moving but if that mini series does even a better job at getting at the heart of what this man was about, I want to check it out.
Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Nov 29, 2011 3:19 PM
Edited by: jamesjazzguitar on Nov 29, 2011 3:21 PM
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Yes, an interesting sub-text of Shane is the taming of the west and how both Shane and Riker are now obsolete. I always felt a key, but understated, part of the story was the discussion Riker had with the Heflin character about, as you noted, Riker tamed the area years before the settlers got there. This gave Riker a human quality and made one thing that maybe these later day settlers did owe something to the Rikers that tamed the land. But of course Riker was asking away to much and any compassion for him was fleeting.
As I'm sure you are aware this sub-text is also a key there to another great western; The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.
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You know I really never liked Doris Day much until the last 4 or so years. I didn't like those 60 comedies she made and this is how I viewed her since I grew up with those movies. But then I started to listen to her recordings. I really liked her voice and she really swings. So then I started checking out her 40s and 50s movies. Those where she didn't play the virgin queen. She was great in many of these also.
So I love Doris Day, but I do fault the studios, her agent, or maybe just the times for taking away her edge and showcasing too much sweetness.
Seriously Miscast
in General Discussions
Posted
I believe MItchum would tell you that he was hired to do a role and thus he did it.
i.e. if he is miscasted (which he is in this role) fault those that asked him to do the part (e.g. Stanley Kramer).
But what I also see here is support for typecasting. Based on that POV most of Bogie's work in the 50s is bogus because he didn't play the Casablanca type of character. To me this is folly.