JarrodMcDonald

Filed Under: *ADVENTURE REMAKES* Today's Picks: *THE PRISONER OF ZENDA (1937)* & *THE PRISONER OF ZENDA (1952)* The Prisoner of Zenda is producer David Selznick?s 1937 adaptation of Anthony Hope?s novel. The adventure tale has been filmed several times, but this is probably the definitive version. The production stars Ronald Colman, Madeleine Carroll and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Art Direction and Original Music Score. In 1991, the film was selected for preservation in the the National Film Registry. Fifteen years after the Selznick version, MGM remade Zenda in Technicolor. The screenplay was virtually identical to the one used in the 1937 version, with additional dialogue by Donald Ogden Stewart. The 1952 film stars Stewart Granger, Deborah Kerr and James Mason.

Glad you started a thread for it. I have never seen it. And I'm counting the days till TCM shows it again.

Good points...we cannot discount Lubitsch.

On March 18, TCM is airing John Ford?s classic western about the life and legend of Wyatt Earp: MY DARLING CLEMENTINE. The film stars Henry Fonda in the lead role and also features Walter Brennan, Victor Mature and Linda Darnell. At the heart of the story is the historic shoot-out that occurred between Earp and the Clanton gang in Tombstone, Arizona on October 26, 1881. The real-life Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp was an officer of the law in various frontier towns. He is best known for his participation in the 'Gunfight at the O.K. Corral,' along with Doc Holliday, and two of his brothers, Virgil Earp and Morgan Earp. The screenplay for this production is based on Stuart Lake?s book Wyatt Earp: Frontier Marshal. The movie's title originates with the folk tune "Oh My Darling, Clementine," which is the theme song. In 1991, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. In addition to MY DARLING CLEMENTINE, TCM is showing four other westerns about Wyatt Earp. These include: GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL with Kirk Douglas & Burt Lancaster; HOUR OF THE GUN starring James Garner; MASTERSON OF KANSAS with George Murphy; and Errol Flynn in DODGE CITY.

You may want to add that information to the wikipedia page (see the link I posted).

Thanks...aren't they wonderful films. The performances are so good from the lead actors, and from the rich array of character actors.

According to Wikipedia, 42ND STREET was never colorized. But this may be an incomplete list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_black_and_white_films_that_have_been_colorized P.S. I can't believe they colorized the beginning and end of THE WIZARD OF OZ. The contrast from Dorothy's dreary farm life to her arrival in OZ is made even more powerful with the shift to color.

I'm assuming it was released on VHS. That would be fun to find. I would think that the intricacy and detail of Berkeley's musical numbers would be very painstaking to colorize.

By the way, I do know that HOW GREEN is about a Welsh family. I chose it because of the Ford-O'Hara connection.

Filed Under: *ST. PATRICK?S DAY* Today's Picks: *HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY (1941)* & *THE QUIET MAN (1952)* How Green Was My Valley is a 1941 drama directed by John Ford. Based on a novel by Richard Llewellyn, it is about a mining family that faces the struggles of life together. The production is notable for being the first time that the Irish-American Ford worked with Irish actress Maureen O'Hara. Other stars include Walter Pidgeon, Ford-favorite Anna Lee, Donald Crisp, and Roddy McDowall. It was nominated for ten Academy Awards and won Best Picture (beating out Citizen Kane). In 1990, the movie was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. John Ford directs Maureen O?Hara again in The Quiet Man, this time with John Wayne. A 'Saturday Evening Post' short story is the basis for the film, and it includes costars Victor McLaglen and Barry Fitzgerald. The action focuses on an ex-boxer that retires to Ireland and searches for the proper wife. Known for its lush photography of the Irish countryside; and its climactic, semi-comic fist fight between Wayne and McLaglen, the movie inspired the Broadway musical Donnybrook!. (Source for both: Wikipedia)

That's a great line, Fred. I'd forgotten about it. LOL Everything just sort of clicked with this production. It is one of the best from that era...I think it nudges ahead of FOOTLIGHT PARADE and GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933, which are also spectacular. I wonder how these early Berkeley numbers would've looked in Technicolor. I'm surprised these films were not colorized during that craze in the 80s.

I agree, Tracey. She couldn't win. But such a wonderfully talented lady.

You're going out a youngster, but you've got to come back a star! On March 17, TCM will air Warner Brothers' greatest pre-code musical. 42ND STREET. The film tells the story of hopefuls vying for a chance to perform in a big stage production. It was a box-office sensation and helped make household names of its featured performers. Directed by Lloyd Bacon, 42ND STREET receives a considerable boost from choreographer Busby Berkeley. And the cast is truly exceptional. Among those in early roles: Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Bebe Daniels, Ginger Rogers and George Brent. Songs were written by Harry Warren (music) and Al Dubin (lyrics). They include: 'You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me" by Daniels; "It Must Be June" by Daniels, Powell and the chorus; "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" by Keeler and Rogers dancing with the chorus; "Young and Healthy" by Powell and the chorus; and the infectious title tune "42nd Street" by Keeler and Powell. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. It ranks 13th on the American Film Institute's list of best musicals. In 1980, it was adapted for Broadway and became a Tony-winning smash. There was a Broadway revival in 2001. And in 2007, it went on tour in the U.K.

I can't tell you how eager I am to see this film. I'm glad they're doing this tribute, because it has really turned me on to Kurosawa's work.

I don't know all the details about the origins of the Laughton-Lanchester relationship. But these are definitely fun films to watch. So is THE PRIVATE LIVES OF ELIZABETH AND ESSEX.

I just saw it...I had recorded DESIRABLE...and didn't get around to it till now. I love the new 'NOW PLAYING' segment. It's spectacular.

Filed Under: *16TH CENTURY* Today's Picks: *THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HENRY VIII (1933)* & *MARY OF SCOTLAND (1936)* The Private Life of Henry VIII is a British film that was made in 1933 film by Alexander Korda. It stars Charles Laughton as Henry VIII, King of England. It was the first British film to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. Laughton won for his performance as Best Actor. He is joined in the production by Robert Donat, Merle Oberon, and his real-life wife Elsa Lanchester. Mary of Scotland is a 1936 film directed by John Ford that stars Katharine Hepburn as the 16th century ruler. It is based on a Maxwell Anderson play. In this version, Mary is depicted as a wronged martyr. Her husband, the 4th Earl of Bothwell (played by Fredric March) is presented as a romantic hero. Also appearing in the film is March?s real-life wife Florence Eldridge as Queen Elizabeth I. The film was not successful in its time but is highly regarded today.

Is it the same character/actor?

Of course, we have to say that Fred Astaire had a strong work ethic, too. I do think that if Astaire were starting out today, he'd be denied opportunities because he's not conventionally handsome. There are probably some guys now on Broadway or off-Broadway that can really dance and sing, but they don't quite have the perfect body or the right look. The casting directors and talent scouts won't pick them unless they are highly original in some way. Maybe that means they have to be funny and do comic relief if they aren't drop-dead gorgeous.

Yes, that is what I read...about the two-act structure of the narrative. The film IKIRU had two different sections (before and after the death of the protagonist). I have not seen it yet.

It's definitely a talented family!