[Kate Winslet goes frumpy for Mildred Pierce shoot! Nice Pics!! Can't wait!]

Frankly, I don't get it! First I agree with the comments regarding the fact that Los Angeles is highly integrated into the plot and the "feel" of the story of Mildred Pierce. Whether the Movie is made in NYC, Chicago or Cairo...Los Angeles as a City has its own unique context; which lends itself to the texture of film noir. I grew up in New York City but I lived in Los Angeles and I know from experience that although they are both "big cities"...they have a completely different "rhythm and style".

 

Los Angeles with its constant sunshine and glamour has a unique "undertone" of desperation! Imagine, being in an environment that is sunny and energetic and yet...there is a gaudiness, a peculiar sleaziness associated with living on the margins. If you read James Ellroy; he is, in my opinion, the only present day Writer who is able to capture the essence of living a life of despair in Los Angeles. The stories written by Raymond Chandler, James Cain and James Ellroy are to a great extent stories about life in the City of the Angels. Similarly, every City or small town has its unique social setting and characters. Can you tell a story about Las Vegas in Iowa...can you tell a story about New Orleans in Chicago!

 

Mildred Pierce is a story about many things including life in Los Angeles at a particular point in time. Finally, the issues related to the art of film in Black & White vs. Color; with specific regard to the Film Noir style introduces a topic that would take pages to discuss...the headline being that they are two unrelated means of expression!

 

Bottomline; although I would probably watch the HBO version...you really can not copy the Mona Lisa...neither should we assume that it should be "redrawn" in a modern style to allow a new generation to understand its meaning...certain works of art are unique to when they were created...the original Mildred Pierce is one example of my theory!

 

Comotte

[Jean Harlow Rare Films]

I guess that I was directed to general discussion but I actually wanted to be in the section that would allow you to request films to be viewed on TCM. Anyway, I believe that TCM should make Jean Harlow one of the featured artists for a day. In my opinion Jean Harlow was the prototype for the "Blond Bombshell" since the beginning of "talking pictures". Every Blond comedic/light drama actress can trace their style back to Jean Harlow. Tragically, we will never know what she may have accomplished as she died at the age of 26...ironically, even her death at an early age is prototypical of her inheritors.

 

Unfortunately, TCM and the other Cable/Satellite channels usually program the most well known Harlow vehicles, Red Headed Woman, Hell's Angels, Libeled Lady, Red Dust,China Seas...etc. I think that it would be interesting to see some of Harlow's films that are rarely seen...this would include "Goldie", "The Saturday Night Kid" and the "Iron Man". TCM has presented a number of rare Jean Harlow films however I do not recall seeing these three movies and I have been a loyal TCM subscriber for many years. Personally I believe that each of these films should be viewed. Goldie is probably one of Spencer Tracy's first starring roles. The Saturday Night Kid features Clara Bow and Jean Arthur and the Iron Man features Lew Ayres, Robert Armstrong and the interesting character Actor Ned Sparks.

 

Finally, although I hope that it will not take a year to program a "Salute to Jean Harlow"...next year 2011 will be the 100th anniversary of her birth. As a devoted movie and TCM fan; I believe that TCM should take a day to allow viewers to see all of the films of this screen legend and trail blazer who contributed so much to the art of motion picture entertainment...yet tragically she passed on at such a young age.

 

Comotte