ElCid
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Posts posted by ElCid
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99 River Street was another good Noir and Eddie's wraparounds were excellent information.
Personally I think Payne was better in Kansas City Confidential, which was made the year before. The movie was also better. That one featured Payne, Colleen Gray, Preston Foster, Lee Van Cleef, Jack Elam and Neville Brand and a "Mexican" location.
I remember Brad Dexter from Las Vegas Story (1952) with Victor Mature, Jane Russell and Vincent Price. He was a sleaze in that one as well, although he started off honorably.
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On 4/2/2019 at 11:32 AM, LornaHansonForbes said:
ps- It also was probably not a Studebaker Battery they had GEORGE strapped to, if El Cid (or anyone else) wants to fill in the specifics of what the make and model was, feel free (it was a surprising scene because you just know there were guys in the audience in 1949 who were like "whoa, we gotta do this!")
I didn't pay attention to the car as the scene was so good. Don't really recall anything about the car. Searched on imcdb.org. for cars in Border Incident, but none for the "shocking" scene.
21 hours ago, cigarjoe said:I actually never ran into any in Montana but I actually ran into some here in NY. But I'm sure it's around anywhere you have flood channels.
I'm a fishing guide so I'm in floodplains and river bottoms a lot. One day I trying to make my way to the edge of the river I'm weaving my way through the brush. It's slow going with a rod in hand. I come across a dry overflow channel its a dry gravel sandy bottom. Hey I'll just follow it to the river. I going along the generally "U" shaped trough. I'm getting closer to the river, I can hear it. I come to a little wider part of the trough it looks like the same sun baked dry sandy bottom I've been walking on. But it wasn't. Apparently it was a deeper hole gouged out by flood waters that had filled up with just enough sand mixed with water to hold it in a suspension. A suspension that was just thick enough that the top of it, exposed to the sun and air was completely dry looking so it matched perfectly the solid channel bottom I was hiking down. Luckily I just took one step into it and jumped back onto solid ground.
So in the film in the bottom of a canyon that probably has occasional flash floods I could see the same scenario as I ran into.
When I was young and dumber, some of us guys used to go and explore the "desert" near where we lived. It was a huge open area with high banks all around it. You could walk on it and the "dirt" was mostly cracked into lots of sections less than about a square foot. On some occasions though, you would hit a spot and sink up to your knees. Then have to explain to your mother how you got your pants, socks and shoes so filthy.
Of course, it wasn't a desert in coastal South Carolina, but the area next to the harbor where they dumped all the sediment whenever they dredged the harbor. I guess at the right time, you could have sank much lower depending on how fresh the "product" was. As Cigarjoe pointed out, the top layer of something like this could dry very quickly and appear solid.
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9 hours ago, Vautrin said:
Well, there goes Murph's dancing career.
7 hours ago, Princess of Tap said:And George Murphy's dance career went up in smoke the day that MGM signed Gene Kelly. LOL
But he got to go to Washington and learn new dance steps as a US Senator.
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My favorites would be From Noon till Three, Telefon, and Breakheart Pass. Assassination with Jill Ireland is a sentimental favorite as well. Came across Man With A Camera TV series on a local station a couple of years ago. Typical of the period, but entertaining.
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I think Richard Erdman deserves all the recognition he received. He was one of those character actors that was in so many movies and TV shows and made his presence known. I first recognized his talents in Cry Danger, but then later on noticed him in many other movies and TV shows. He appeared regularly in TV's Perry Mason. He also did well in a nice guy role in The Monolith Monsters as a doctor.
As for Deana Durbin, she was much promoted, but I have never been particularly impressed with her roles. She did OK, but hundreds of other starlets could probably have done as well. Durbin had better publicists personally and at the studios.
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On 3/5/2019 at 12:08 PM, LawrenceA said:
The show limped to a tepid, budget-limited conclusion last night. The main girl character, when finally unloading on her grandfather* Dr. Hodel, tells him that while he thinks he's making high art, he's just "boring, a cliche." I couldn't have described the show better myself.
I gave up on it after episode four.
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7 hours ago, Det Jim McLeod said:
American Graffiti (1973) 6/10
The first time watching this George Lucas film with many future TV and movie stars.
I loved the soundtrack and the cars (see the pic I posted on the "nice car" thread. I found it interesting though not one of the great films of all time as many have said. It's episodic with some parts more intriguing than others, but it mostly kept my interest. Richard Dreyfuss gives probably the best performance as the soon to be college boy who searches for an elusive goddess (Suzanne Somers) and gets kidnapped by some street toughs. Candy Clark is a cute blond is pretty good though I don't know why she was the only one in the ensemble cast to be nominated for an Oscar.
First and foremost for me is the songs in the movie. I purchased the record when it came out and had it shipped to my mother-in-laws house as wife and I were in college at the time. I asked her to open it when she called to say we had a package and she said it was a record of American Giraffe. My wife and I still refer to it as American Giraffe.
I picked up a CD several years ago of Music That Inspired American Graffiti (notnowmusic). It is pretty good and between it and some over CD's I have all of the songs from the movie. More importantly to me, I have the music without the voice overs by Wolfman Jack.
As for the movie, I watch it frequently when it comes on. It is a far better movie than some give it credit for. Good story, good acting, good directing, great soundtrack.
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One of the things I have learned (and my wife constantly reminds me about), it's a movie (or TV show). Don't pick at it, just enjoy it. We are big fans of The Thin Man series and it was probably among the first boxed sets of DVD's we purchased. For those who missed it, it also contained a DVD with the featuretes TCM did on Loy and Powell - excellent.
As for Loy drinking while pregnant. She didn't know she was and more importantly this did not become a health issue until much, much later.
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Entirely possible that someone purchased a used hearse for another business. Not likely, but have seen hearses converted to personal vehicles. Or perhaps the mortuary also owns the cemetery and needed to chip some limbs and such?
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14 minutes ago, slaytonf said:
Experts? Experts? I don't need no stinking experts. I grew up in that time. I grew up in the Great Washed, the greatest Great Washed of 'em all. I know what went on, and I know what people thought of the different vehicles.
I also grew up in that period, have an extensive library of automotive history books and long-time subscriber to two classic car magazines.
Sgt_Markoff's advice: "Good debate between both you guys. Exemplary car knowledge. Break clean and back to your corners! We've all benefited from the points you've raised." Maybe time for us to follow it.
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1 minute ago, Fedya said:
She's the woman Kirk Douglas ditches Lana Turner for in The Bad and the Beautiful:
She was also married to Merrill Heatter, who co-created The Hollywood Squares.
And the daughter in law of Gabriel Heatter. Of course you have to be old to know who he was. I just remember the name.
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1 hour ago, Michael Rennie said:
I have driven the AMC Eagle shown above. Same color too. Drove the AMC Gremlin, but had to draw the line at driving John Denver's AMC Pacer.
My Granny had a Rambler Rebel.
Mechanics hated these cars.
Here is my favorite car:
Another car with a super low rating, but mostly because it is small, tight, uncomfortable, etc. But does get fairly good gas mileage. Not the best product of Daimler-Benz.
As for the Eagle, not something in which I was interested. But the huge amount of space required for the 4WD system is really off-putting.
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53 minutes ago, TikiSoo said:
Would hold my attention too if I was under that giant armpit
Not to worry; she's using Right Guard.
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You For Me (1952), Jane Greer, Peter Lawford, Gig Young. Saw it many years ago on TCM and remembered it when I saw it in a DVD catalog. Amusing little romantic comedy movie, but I think the real star is Jane Greer. It is also the type movie in which I like Lawford. Elaine Stewart has a very short scene at end of movie. One of those people you recognize the face and probably the name. She was in several movies and TV shows.
Down 3 Dark Streets (1954), Broderick Crawford, Ruth Roman, Martha Hyer, Kenneth Toby. Cover refers to at having Noir flavor, but definitely a police (FBI) procedural/mystery. After beginning it realized I had seen it before on TCM long time ago. The three dark streets refers to three cases that Crawford has to take over.
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17 hours ago, TopBilled said:
March 8, 2019:
ANN-MARGRET
8:00 p.m. Bye Bye Birdie (1963)
10:00 p.m. The Cincinnati Kid (1965)
12:00 a.m. Viva Las Vegas (1964)
2:00 a.m. Rabid (1977)
4:00 a.m. Scanners (1981)
One of hers I would like to see again is Kitten with a Whip (1964), her fifth movie. Not great, but entertaining if I remember correctly. For those interested, The Pleasure Seekers (1964) shows up on FXMovies farily often. It is a remake of Three Coins in a Fountain and again is entertaining. Lots of Spanish scenery and locations.
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Spectrum is going through some changes, but one of real interest is their On Demand features. For some reason, they are loading in most, if not all, of the series for each network. Such as HBO, Showtime, Starz, etc. A lot of old ones are showing up, as well as all seasons of others. Also appears older series for the other non-premium networks as well may be available.
For example, I missed Deadwood and have been watching it.
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9 hours ago, slaytonf said:
What matters is what served as the immediate vector for the current SUV epidemic. And that is the Suburban.
If that were true, GM would never have created the Chevy Blazer. Regardless, the experts consider the Jeep station wagon as the "granddaddy" of the SUV. Time for you to concede the point. The Suburban of the 30's-60's was a working vehicle and marketed as a truck with an enclosed body that could carry passengers.
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2 hours ago, LawrenceA said:
I own Rabid on Blu-ray. It ain't no They Came from Within, but it's a mite bit better than, say, Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers or Rabid Grannies.
How do you store all the DVD's & Blu-Rays that you must have? This is a problem I am approaching. Of course, I could just throw the really bad ones I will never watch again away. However, I do tend to keep the cases they come in as I frequently drop one and break the case. Also, the danged little thingies in center that are supposed to hold the disc are very fragile.
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19 hours ago, jamesjazzguitar said:
With regards to D.O.A.: is hothead, sadistic Chester one of the best things about the film or one of the worst, most unrealistic?
I'm torn; the role is unrealistic because no head of a criminal organization would have someone like that one their payroll. A small group of criminals that are friends \ relative might, but not a well financed, professional criminal organization. Such a group might hire someone like Chester for a one-time job but then remove him after the job is over.
But at the same time watching what Chester does is one of the pleasures of D.O.A. (especially the part where he finds out one can't scare a man that has already been murdered!).
I view it as the boss wanted someone who would do whatever he was told, no questions asked or remorse. Also he was good as a threat to someone. Remember, we're talking criminals here, not your local bank - or real estate developer. Although that might be the same.
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On 3/4/2019 at 11:16 PM, slaytonf said:
The Suburban goes back to the 30s. Regardless of the first appearance of a cargo carrying vehicle, what I was talking about was the first definitive manifestation of the phenomenon that has infected our transportation universe. You can see that in the Suburban, certainly by the 60s. Chevrolet hit on the right design, and to my mind it hasn't been surpassed. Other companies have tried, but nothing has ever been even as good.
While the Suburban was around for a long time, it was not a pre-SUV vehicle the way the Jeep station wagon was. The Suburban really was a working vehicle. Later it became fancier, more comfortable, etc. to expand to its current appeal.
On 3/5/2019 at 7:03 AM, Sepiatone said:What model year? Back when I first hired in at GM ('71) I was driving a '64 Dart( after some jerk ran into my '65 Dodge Coronet 500 and totaled it!
). Put that "slant 6" through more punishment than other engines would endure.
Had the "push-button" trans and I didn't even mind the "How many quarters do you need to drive to work" jokes.
Sepiatone
'65 and '67 respectively.
18 hours ago, twharry42 said:I've been away for a while, but watching the forum lately as I have just joined TCM Baclkot. This thread referencing Dodge Darts is just too interesting to ignore. As a former owner of six slant six cars, three Valiants and three Darts, I can attest to the durability of these cars. They take a licking and keep on kicking. Aka the Valiant in Duel, starring Dennis Weaver. And I've owned six Chrysler minivans, my current van being the best car I've ever owned. Interesting thing here is that SUV owners ask me to haul things that wont fit in the SUV, but will fit in my van. Huh? Lower floor provides more height, fitting taller cargo. I think the Chrysler minivan is the ultimate working mans vehicle. I'll get plenty of argument from the F150 people, but I'll argue to the death.
So today, I return home to the midwest with a 99 Chrysler Sebring convertible that I purchased in Florida. $3500 bucks for a low miles rust free gorgeous car. After looking at more modern cars, like Toyota Solara's, twice the price, with three times the miles, oil sludging engines, Takata airbags, and frumpy looks. Somebody please explain this to me. Is it just perception that Chrysler cars are junk. I know they built some bad cars, just like all the others, but I think the 99 Sebring convertible and my 01 Voyager LX are masterpieces.The Chrysler minivan was created for women and families, not working men. Although it definitely fits that purpose very well. It was built to replace the station wagon.
The Sebring has a bad reputation because it earned it. It was usually rated as most unreliable vehicle sold in America by numerous sources. Number one on Do Not Buy lists. They are nice looking, but....
Most vehicles sold in America have Takata airbag issues.
I had a '71 Dodge Challenger and it was the second worst of the many cars I have owned, including a Fiat 124. Worst was a Saab 900 Turbo. Friend had a '70 Plymouth Barracuda which was worse than my Challenger. Chrysler made a lot of crappy cars after about 1970 and continues to this day. Although they did pull it out a couple of times - K cars for one. But that was mostly from a sales perspective.
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2 minutes ago, LawrenceA said:
IMDb is now owned by Amazon. It has never been a "TCM product". IMDb is also a lot more comprehensive than Wikipedia.
Another reason not to use it. I don't like Amazon and do not patronize it. When I have gone to the IMDB site, it seemed to have very scanty information. Don't you have to sign in (register) or something to get the full details? Maybe I just find Wiki easier to use at this point.
Thanks though.
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24 minutes ago, fxreyman said:
There is literally no compelling reason to access or use the TCM database.
I always use Wikipedia. It seems to have lots more information, more easily accessed. Don't use IMDB either, but I think it is a TCM product.
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3 minutes ago, Sgt_Markoff said:
Just speaking generally, I know I'm right, right, right. The country in general, was harder-working then, more so than it is now. Thanks to the information age, and the rise of the service sector, if nothing else. No need to specify or single out individual family members to support your viewpoint; individual exceptions don't really signify when discussing macro trends on this scale.
And as usual, you have no "macro trends on this scale" (whatever the hell that is) to prove your point either. Many of the compacts of the 60's and 70's were purchased by men for their wives or daughters to actually use. Financing of the time discriminated against women, as well as insurance, etc.
You seem to imply that men working at labor intensive jobs were harder working than men and women working in service, technical and many other jobs today. BS! Working hard is working hard. Growing up in the 50's and 60's I knew a lot of lazy men who did minimal enough work to keep from getting fired. As well as many who did not work at all.
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10 hours ago, slaytonf said:
Per'aps. Everyone takes their own cup'a. To my mind the cars you listed appear as steroided descendants of their originals. Cars of the early and mid-60s (not all of them) had a cleanness and sharpness of line, and balance of proportion that stands out in all the history of design. It echoed, or paralleled contemporary styling in other areas of culture, like clothing and architecture. And for SUV function-to-form, I submit to you the grandaddy of 'em, the Chevrolet Suburban:
Actually, the granddaddy of them all (SUV's) was the Jeep "station wagon" of late 40's.
As for design, I am a big fan of cars from 1940 through the 70's, but many of them were God awful ugly, especially in the mid to late 50's. Impressive in their own way, but not what people today would want. My favorite is 1959 De Soto.
But the people who actually purchase cars today in large numbers want pick-ups, SUV's, Crossovers and small, economical sedans. Except for the few who still purchase muscle cars.
As for Cadillac, I never have liked them and the new ones just look weird to me.
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). Put that "slant 6" through more punishment than other engines would endure.
HITS & MISSES: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow on TCM
in General Discussions
Posted
Mon, 11:00 AM Come Live With Me with Hedy Lamar, James Stewart appears to be an interesting one. Not sure about the Stewart role, but can't go wrong with Hedy. She is in love with a married man in US and marries Stewart for convenience so she can stay in US instead of being sent back to Nazis.