JarrodMcDonald

In the Classic Film Union (CFU) here on the TCM site...each day, new groups are added for the fans. Susan Harris plagiarized Tennessee Williams' work 'A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur,' a one-act play with two scenes written and originally performed in 1979. Williams died in 1983, and 'The Golden Girls' hit NBC's airwaves in the fall of '85. Read the description of the play on the wiki page and you will see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Lovely_Sunday_for_Creve_Coeur The Rose Nylund character is Scandinavian on the television series, but in the play, the character was a German immigrant. The Dorothy character played by Bea Arthur is named Dorothea in Williams' version and she owns the residence (that was reassigned to Rue McClanahan's character on the TV show). All Susan Harris did was change a few of the character traits. And she switched the setting to Miami. It's such a rip-off, and there are no credits at the end of each episode that acknowledge Williams' work as the basis for these characters and the basic scenario. At least Norman Lear credited his British sources.

I've been wanting to ask this for awhile...but who's better: Freddie March or Spencer Tracy in INHERIT THE WIND. Or is it an even match? I like both of them. A lot.

Yes, 'All in the Family' was a true classic. But Norman Lear did not originate the concept. He took it from a BBC program by Johnny Speight called 'Til Death Do Us Part.' 'Sanford & Son' was another British series called 'Steptoe & Son,' retooled as an urban black comedy for American audiences.

It's outrageous. LOL Actually, I hate to burst the bubble of GOLDEN GIRLS fans, but creator Susan Harris stole the entire premise and those characters from a very well-known playwright who had just died. When people watch that show, they are so caught up in the four actresses and the one-line zingers, they don't realize they are watching an extended version of a failed 1970s play. It sort of gets me angry, but the Witt-Thomas-Harris production team never once acknowledges the original source of the material. And since the playwright was gay and had no heirs, who is going to defend him. Me.

There's more to it, and even Aldrich's father failed to recognize what the story was truly about. It was not about money and it was not about exaggerating one's own problems in the land of milk and honey. It was about a life that is bought and paid for by others and a man's awakening to that fact. It was about a man trying to take back control of his destiny. It was about a woman watching him kill himself in the process. There were contracts, conditions, promises, complex relationships and a horrifying realization that the only way out was death. I am unable to stop thinking about this great film. I believe it is truly an underappreciated masterpiece. This is a film I want so desperately to remake. But I think the original is nearly untouchable.

I love Charles Coburn....love,love, love, love, love that actor! And as crazy as I am about his comic performances, I have to say that my favorite Coburn job on film is in one of his most unusual roles. I think he is superb as the sadistic physician in KING'S ROW. He is so cast against type in that story, and he is so chillingly good.

The only one I have not seen in this group is OVER 21. I am so there...LOL

George Lucas is a good one. Looks like someone is a Betty White fan. I didn't realize we were allowed TV-related groups.

Filed Under: *RAOUL WALSH BIRTHDAY* Today's picks: *HIGH SIERRA* (1941) & *COLORADO TERRITORY* (1949) High Sierra is an early heist film and film noir written by W.R. Burnett and John Huston. The movie features Ida Lupino and Humphrey Bogart and was directed by Raoul Walsh on location at Whitney Portal, halfway up Mount Whitney. The film is noted for its climactic final scenes, as the authorities pursue Bogart's character, gangster "Mad Dog" Roy Earle, from Lone Pine up to the foot of the mountain. (Source: Wikipedia) Colorado Territory is a 1949 western film directed by Raoul Walsh. It is a remake of High Sierra. It stars Joel McCrea and Virginia Mayo. It was the first film premiered at a drive-in theater. The story was remade again in 1955 as I Died a Thousand Times with Jack Palance and Shelley Winters. Stuart Heisler directed that later version. (Source: Wikipedia)

That is a fun fact. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Jonas for adding those.

Some have had only ONE star. The air disaster flick they showed recently on TCM, the one with Nancy Davis/Reagan called CRASH LANDING had a one-star rating. I've also seen some without any stars, and I am thinking it's because they were not released into theatres. For example, the Cesar Romero-Roger Mobley tale about a greyhound race called THE RUNAWAY (1962) was never released to the public and had its world premiere on TCM in late 2008. They've shown it a few times since and it never has a rating. It's actually a very good family film.

Great post. I want to clarify, the 3-star rating was for WALK, DON'T RUN. THE MORE THE MERRIER gets 4 stars on my DVR guide. But yeah, I'd give this one five stars for the reasons you cited.

Yes...EGR is very different in this film. Very different. And so is Agnes Moorhead as the mother. The film gives a person much to think about in terms of the sacrifices that are made by parents and the way to control a temper in front of a child. Easier said than done sometimes... In the second film, Celeste Holm shows such warmth. It's amazing that she filmed this role not too long after GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT and THE SNAKE PIT. She's another versatile performer and was rewarded with a lengthy career.

Each day, I like to highlight two films that I enjoy. They're usually related by theme, performer, director, basis in literature, history, or a common keyword. (Feel free to add your thoughts about these films!) Filed Under: *CHILDHOOD MEMORIES* Today's picks: *OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES (1945)* & *CHICKEN EVERY SUNDAY (1949)* Our Vines Have Tender Grapes is an American motion picture released in 1945, directed by Roy Rowland and starring Edward G. Robinson and Margaret O'Brien. The movie is based on the novel by George Victor Martin, about the Norse descended residents of a small Wisconsin farming community. The screenplay was written by Dalton Trumbo, who later in life was a victim of the McCarthy era Hollywood blacklist. Its title comes from Chapter 2, Verse 15 in the Song of Solomon in the King James version of the Bible, which reads, "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes." (Source: Wikipedia) Chicken Every Sunday is a 1949 American comedy film directed by George Seaton. The screenplay by Seaton and Valentine Davies is based on the 1944 play of the same title by Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein, which was based on the novel by Rosemary Taylor. (Source: Wikipedia)

Added today: BETTY WHITE JIM HENSON ELIZABETH MONTGOMERY WEST COAST TCM FANS MARGE CHAMPION

Yeah...totally...Babs (Stanwyck) is super. I think that's one of her bravest performances, and she gave a lot of brave performances over the years. Most women on screen in the 30s wanted to convey glamour like Kay Francis did...but not Babs...she was more than willing to channel the inner tomboy, grab that rifle and blast away. It paid off later in her career, when roles were scarce in the 50s and 60s and she was able to find work in the western genre.

I think Jerry Wald is one of the greats. If we had more people like Jerry Wald and Ross Hunter working in Hollywood today, actresses over 40 would have more roles and opportunities...like Jane Wyman and Lana Turner did.

On my DVR listings guide, it is given 3 stars *** out of 4 stars **** Who decides how many stars a film gets anyway??? Hmmm....

Great pic! Love that expression...!

Don't think we got these yet: Western Biographies...ANNIE OAKLEY (1935) & BUFFALO BILL (1944)

I haven't seen WALK yet, but I have noticed it is on TCM's schedule in the not-so-distant future. When I was researching MERRIER, I learned that Jean Arthur's husband (at the time) cowrote the screenplay. It's such a wonderfully romantic movie. I love it.

On March 11, TCM will broadcast George Stevens' delightful screwball comedy THE MORE THE MERRIER. Released at the height of World War II in 1943, the Columbia Pictures film pokes fun of the housing shortage occurring at that time. The movie stars Jean Arthur and Joel McCrea. The fun starts when a reluctant young woman (Arthur) is persuaded into subletting her Washington D.C. apartment to a retired millionaire (deliciously played by character actor Charles Coburn). He in turn sublets 'half of his half' to a sergeant (McCrea). Of course, this is the beginning of a romance between the sergeant and the woman whose home they have taken over. The film was a smash hit and earned a Best Picture nomination. It also brought a Best Actress nomination for Jean Arthur. Charles Coburn won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. The film has retained its popularity for nearly seventy years and currently has a 100% positive rating on the website Rotten Tomatoes. It was remade in 1966 as WALK, DON'T RUN which was Cary Grant's final film.

The pic didn't work, Audrey.

Yes, they could easily do a follow-up film.