TomJH
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Posts posted by TomJH
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Thanks, indeed, ginnyfan, for this sad reminder of the sacrifice made by many, including the wives and lovers on home soil.
My only viewing, I believe, of Jimmy Butler has been as a youth in No Greater Glory, which TCM has broadcast several times. Butler was cast as the leader of one of two gangs of boys who operate as small military groups, skirmishing with their "enemies" but also operating by codes of honour and willing to extend a respectful salute to a member of the enemy, on rare occasion.
No Greater Glory was an unexpectedly poignant little drama that dealt with alienated youth and the need to belong, but, primarily, the film served as an anti-war statement. Ironic indeed, considering the fate that awaited one of its young stars.
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No Greater Glory. Jimmy Butler's in the foreground.
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Dargo, I read that link on Ty Hardin. Interesting post film career. Doubt that he voted for Obama.
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As an artifact, so to speak, of what Friganza's vaudeville act would have been like, it's quite fascinating viewing My Bag O Trix, I think. I thought the material was rather awful (she wouldn't survive America's Got Talent today, I suspect) but Friganza had a ton of personality. Am I alone in thinking that she reminds one of Marie Dressler, both physically as well as in comic expressiveness.
There's quite a writeup on her on Wikipedia, for those interested. She was quite the feminist and had a long show biz career before health problems ended it.
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classiccinemafan, it's my understanding that DVD recorders with hard drives (which is what I have) are no longer manufactured. I hope someone who knows differently would let us know because I'm very concerned what to do when my (now) four year old machine finally breaks down.
What I have is a Pioneer DVR-660H, if you can find it second hand somewhere because they stopped making it some years ago. It's a great machine, that holds over 100 hours on the hard drive (if you do it on the 2 hour quality SP speed, the only way I record). However, Panasonic also produced some good machines, though, again, I don't believe they do it anymore. You'd have to settle for a second hand one.
As far as discs are concerned, I have found that Sony, Maxell and Verbatim have all given me good service. I record on DVD-Rs, as opposed to DVD+Rs because my Pioneer machine never shows the menu page for some reason after finalizing the latter discs (the one peculiarity of the machine I've never understood).
Good luck on finding a recorder with a hard drive. It's the only way to do it since a hard drive will allow you to temporaily store a lot and you can edit the recordings down to precisely what you want before transfering the recording to a shiny little disc, to be viewed when you wish then tucked away for safe storage.
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Well, James, Ann Sheridan got third billing in Dodge City but her screen time was more like that of tenth main player. Of greater concern, is the standard story line. Nor surprises, as you say.
Originally Jack Warner wanted to cast Frederic March as Wyatt Earp in a tale about a frontier marshall. (I can see how the right makeup could have made March a reasonable physical facsimile for Earp). March wasn't available, however, so it evolved into being a big budget Flynn production instead. Dodge City a likable film, worth seeing if only for what was probably the most lavish western saloon brawl of its time.
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***RayFaiola wrote:* *But contrast it with Warners' DODGE CITY - which has one of the greatest horse opera scores of all times (nothing subtle - just wonderful spacious pastorales and thrilling action cues). DODGE CITY is a fan favorite and JESSE JAMES is, to many, a "meh" as originally stated below.*
I guess there isn't much of anything about Dodge City that could be called subtle. But certainly its great epic-sounding musical score by Max Steiner is classic stuff, to be later reused by the same composer for another western six years later, San Antonio.
But when I say that Dodge City isn't subtle because it is so deliberately bigger than life, that's not a knock on it. The adult western of the '50s, which were often more psychologically driven and mature as entertainments, were still a good decade or so away.
The characterizations in Dodge City are strictly two dimensional, pretty standard stuff for the time, though, interestingly, it does offer Olivia de Havilland as a career woman wanting to get into the newspaper trade, unheard of for a woman at that time, I suppose. The screenplay has hero Errol Flynn giving her a bit of a gentle, chauvanistic chiding (in his own courtly gentlemanly way, of course) saying that she should, in essence, be home sewing buttons on a man's shirt instead
The film doesn't belabour that point because the emphasis of Dodge City is upon splashy Technicolor and (quite impressive) action scenes. I wonder how many women in the audience in 1939 agreed with Olivia's character's career ambitions, as opposed to the men, who probably sided with Flynn
In defense of the somewhat blander Jesse James (and bringing this back to the topic of the thread), I must say that I have always enjoyed Henry Fonda's laconic charm as Frank. I particularly like that moment near the film's beginning in which Fonda gets into a fight/half wrestling match with railroad baddie Brian Donlevy. The moment I love in that in which Fonda, with a struggling Donlevy pinned under his arm, takes the time to first casually spit out some tobacco juice before proceeding to knock his opponent to the ground
Tyrone Power strikes me as a tad glamourous as Jesse (but then the same thing applies in spades to Flynn as a town taming marshall in Dodge City). I thought that Power showed his first career signs of starting to mature as an actor, however, in the film's final scenes depicting Jesse as a family man hiding from the law while living under a false ID. Power would, though, be far more impressive the following year when he played another bandit, though of a swashbuckling kind, as Zorro, a film heavily influenced by the Flynn swashbucklers, in particular, Robin Hood.
The real Jesse
The reel Jesse
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The appeal of Menjou to me is that he was a heck of a good actor. The fact that a lot of the characters that he played were not likable is perhaps a distraction from that reality. Who better portrayed on screen a continental man about town than Menjou, immaculately dressed in sartorial splendour. Perhaps that's not a type with appeals to many people but, when it comes to playing those roles, no one did it better than Menjou in his prime.
He brought a subtle urbane sophistication to the role that first put him on the filmland map, as Edna Purviance's wealthy suitor in Chaplin's A Woman of Paris. That's a wonderful perrformance, with Menjou actually surprisingly sympathetic in the role.
In complete contrast to that there is the conniving cold blooded arrogance that Menjou brought to the role as, arguably, the most morally corrupt of all the French generals in Kubrick's memorable Paths of Glory. That great cathartic moment for the audience in which Kirk Douglas tells the General that he is not his boy and he can go to hell would not be nearly so effective if Menjou had not already made that same audience totally despise him as a human being.
Menjou instills intelligence in all of his portrayals. Perhaps some may regard his character in Morocco, that of Dietrich's wealthy patron who is clearly second fiddle to Gary Cooper's legionnaire in the lady's affections a bit of a chump but I thought Menjou brought a sense of decency to the role.
But my favourite Menjou performance of all was as theatrical, over-the-top lawyer Billy Flynn in William's Wellman's often hilarious Roaring 20s satire Roxie Hart. He plays a slimy attorney with no scruples with a diamond hard comic brilliance, in my opinion. This is a conniver for whom scruples would only get in the way of his next courtroom scheme.
Roxie Hart, with a brassy sexy Ginger Rogers more than matched by Adolphe Menjou's slimeball lawyer performance
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*ginnyfan wrote:... Jack Kelly, on the other hand, as you say, wasn't all that good in the role...*
{font:arial, helvetica, sans-serif}*I know these posts were a day ago, but as a big Maverick fan I take exception.*
ginnyfan, I agree with you. In fact, I never said Kelly wasn't good in the show. I said, compared to Garner, that he was fairly hopeless at playing comedy. Aside from that, however, he was quite charming in Maverick. He pales, however, next to Garner, in my opinion (as would just about anybody else, I might add).
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lavenderblue, I just hope that you don't wind up having a date with the Ty Power from the closing scenes in Nightmare Alley. Your romantic evening could end in a carny side show with your date brandishing a chicken head in his mouth.
I can't claim to be an expert on the romantic sensitivities of all ladies but I'm willing to bet that that a date like that might be a turnoff for some.
Hi lavenderblue. Your dream date is here! Feel like having some chicken?
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{font:arial, helvetica, sans-serif}*Tom, or should I say Errol, you'd be right after Robert, but you look much too occupied*
Much too occupied? With one woman only? We're talking Errol Flynn here! (Sorry, Annie).{font}
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*lavenderblue wrote:* {font:arial, helvetica, sans-serif}*Only thing is, if Joan or Ida or Ava, etc, show up as that character, are you going to show up as their leading man character?*
Yes. It's the only decent thing to do. If Ann Sheridan suddenly rematerialized for my fantasy date with her, I would show up as Errol Flynn.
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!
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And there I am, out on my hot date with Annie. {font}
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lavenderblue, I can fully understand your attraction to James Garner. As charming as he was in his early days I think that by the time he was playing Rockford on TV he was at his peak as a performer. Anything I've read about Garner indicates that he was a no B.S.kind of guy, loyal to his work crew, who really didn't care as much about the final product (be it film or TV show) as it was his love in the making of it.
And, yes, Garner strikes me as a real straight shooter just like Ann Sheridan. I suspect he's a good guy to know.
Curiously, I dont know how well, if at all, you remember the TV series Maverick, which first made a star of Garner. It was in that series that everyone discovered Garner's great facility at playing comedy, while co-star Jack Kelly, playing brother Bart to Garner's Bret, was rather hopeless at it. The producer of the series, however, said that on the set Kelly was the funny one, far more amusing, in fact, than Garner.
Actually, I think that when it comes to mature gentle humourous bantering between any actor and actress, one of the most potent illustartions was when Garner made those Kodak commercials with Mariette Hartley back in the '70s. They had wonderful chemistry together, so great, in fact, that Hartley use to wear a shirt that said, "No, I am NOT Mrs James Garner" when in public. When she later had a baby the baby then wore a shirt saying "No, I am NOT James Garner's son."
Here's a sample of that gentle magic between Garner and Hartley. If only they could have put it on film together:
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*jamesjazzguitar wrote:* {font:arial, helvetica, sans-serif}*I see you picked the lovely Ann Sheridan. Based on her screen persona it would take multiple romantic evenings to break her down, since she is one tough nut (which is why we love her so much).*
Actually, James, I don't get the impression that Sheridan was tough, at all. I think she was cynical and that jadedness we see in her screen performances at times is a reflection of that. But I read a report from a writer who interviewed the lady within a year of her death, and she was incredibly good natured and down-to-earth. The lady had no illusions about herself or the business she was in. She was a realist.
As an illustration of her personality, the writer met her twice for interviews. The first time she didn't have much makeup on and had streaks of grey in her hair. Diplomatically the writer told her, words to the effect, that she looked just like he thought she would (which, of course, was not true).
Sheridan's reply was something like, "Yes, darling, I know."
The next time they met the writer was thrilled that she had dyed her hair, had the makeup on and looked like a glamourous movie star. After the interview, as they parted, Sheridan shouted out to him, "Oh, darling, you know I did this all for you." (referring to her Max factor look).
And that is why I would have loved to have met a down-to-earth, unaffected star like her. My impression is that Ann Sheridan was a real straight-from-the-shoulder kind of person, and I like people like that. Plus, of course, she was Ann Sheridan! And, yes, there's a lot of hubba hubba in my mind when I say that.
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*jamesjazzguitar wrote:* {font:arial, helvetica, sans-serif}*I don't see how this question is any different than the many threads we see about who is the sexiest, best looking actor actress.*
I don't see this question as being quite the same as the other though it is certainly a close variation on it. To me, however, the difference between the two is that one is just asking about looks/sexiness alone, while going out on a date would also possibly take into account perceptions of the star's personality, as well.
Thus I provided different answers to the two questions. {font}
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*{font:arial, helvetica, sans-serif}The {font}{font:arial, helvetica, sans-serif}skyline {font}*{font:arial, helvetica, sans-serif}*is so different. Look how "small" the buildings are.*
I'm not familiar with New York City. Possibly there are others who may recognize this street, though clearly this shot is a time capsule of 1955.
A lot has changed since an anonymous Garbo explored those streets. {font}
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Exactly, MissW. Congratulations on pin pointing the lady.
I've seen a few of the photos taken of Garbo as she skirted about the streets enjoying her anonymity, but I think that this perfectly framed shot is one of the best.
This picture was taken on January 24, 1955 in New York City. There's something about seeing those buildings stretching in the background while, in the foreground, is a figure dressed in black no one notices who, a quarter of a century earlier, was possibly the most famous woman in the world.
Looking at those shoes, too, it strikes me that the tales about the actress having big feet may have some validity to them.
A photo like this is very much a part of the mystique and legend of Garbo, though as the years go by, I wonder how much longer that legend may last. How many outside of someone on a movie board like this would be able to identify that figure in the photo?
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This is the highlight day of the month for me. My DVD recorder will be going hot and heavy during the evening and overnight.
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To me, this is a fascinating photograph, particularly considering the identity of the individual. Anyone care to guess who it is?
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Ann Sheridan, whom I'm convinced was a down-to-earth, humourous person unaffected by her own star status.
I suppose it would be a good thing for me if it was a one date only situation, too. If it was any more than that Sheridan would find me a terrible bore as I'd try to get her to quit those damn cigarettes of her's.
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Just a reminder for those that may be interested, The Steel Trap plays on TCM today at 2:30pm (EST)
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Andy, Blueprint for Murder falls into the same category as The Steel Trap, both good little '50s mysteries that keep the viewers hooked to the end.
And both, of course, with the great Joe Cotten.
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Dothery, I can well understand the inspiration that those inside show biz tales that you heard as a little girl must have had upon you. And I envy you for hearing them.
Pardon me if I go a little off topic on a thread devoted to the wonderful Edna May but I'm referring here to a David Copperfield co-star of her's. Basil Rathbone was a curious contradiction in many ways. On the one hand, seeing him on screen as either Sherlock Holmes or one of his consumate dastardly villains, he is an intelligent man that seems to be so in control.
Yet in real life he was apparently quite submissive to a dominant, self promoting, party throwing wife, the legendary Ouida. Her extravagance was such that he had to keep constantly working in order to keep out of the poor house. Thus, we saw the later sad career spectacle of a fine actor in Rathbone reduced to appear in shoddy grade B horror features in order to still keep the money coming in.
Far better to remember Rathbone in his glorious prime as an actor, the late '30s and early 40s, as Sir Guy of Gisbourne, going nose to nose in a duel to the death with Errol Flynn's Robin Hood, as Sherlock Holmes, or as David Copperfield's cruel, sadistic step father tormenting the boy as well as his weak willed mother. And, yes, also in contrast to those villains that Rathbone played, he was also one of the really nice guys in Hollywood society (unfortunately, though, maybe a little too nice for his own sake to that egotistical, high flying wife of his).
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Tracy had originated the role on stage of the reporter in The Front Page, the part that would eventually morph into being Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday. Actually, Tracy is so good I could easily envision him playing the manipulative newspaper editor role, as well.
Tracy lacked Cary Grant's charm and sex appeal, of course, which is a large contributing fact to the success of the Howard Hawks comedy. When it came to fast talk and comedy timing, however, he could have given Cary a run for the money, though with Tracy there would have been a harder edge.
Still, I can't help but think of the contrast between these two actors, one a movie legend, the other a largely forgottten performer.
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Dothery, it's nice to hear that you have a connection, of sorts, to the great Edna May Oliver.
With her horse-shaped face and eccentric mannerisms, Edna May has always been one of the great character actor joys for me from the studio era of filmmaking. My two favourite performances of her's would be in David Copperfield and Drums Along the Mohawk.
There was a comforting quality about Edna May because you always knew that beneath the often initially crusty exterior there beat a heart of gold that would turn out to be more than a little sentimental. And you also knew, a la David Copperfield, that she could turn into a fierce mother hen protecting her chicks.
Perhaps that kind of movie characterization will be dismissed by some as a film cliche but Oliver's unique personality and personal integrity as a performer always made you believe in her on screen. I can't help but think that it would have been terrific to have known Edna May Oliver, not only for her own personality but to hear any anecdotes that she cared to pass on regarding her stage or film career. What a character, indeed!
If there's anyone who looks like a turn-of-the-century stage actor who toured the big cities and the sticks, it's dear Edna May!
David Copperfield, of course, is renowned for the remarkable performances of its character actors: Roland Young as oily Uriah Heep, constantly rubbing his hands together as he plotted his next deceit, Basil Rathbone, bringing a particular satanic glee to his eye as he sadistically beat young David, and W. C. Fields (surrounded by children, yet!!!) as the poverty stricken, good hearted Micawber, a kindred soulmate for the young Copperfield.
But I always thought that the magnificent Edna May Oliver, as Aunt Betsey, gave a performance that was a match for any of them in that film. A particular highlight moment of the production, one that I always look for, is the scene in which Edna May has just been informed by the doctor that the baby just born (to be David, of course) was a boy, rather than the girl she desired. Oliver rises to full height indignation and then whacks the helpless doctor twice over the head with a purse that looks like it could contain a bowling ball, before rushing from the room in disgust. A boy! The very idea!
The inspired eccenticity of Oliver's body language, with the film speeded up to emphasize it, as she does that purse whack is pure Edna May. I can't see any other performer doing it quite like this lady.
Long live Edna May Oliver through her films on TCM and, yes, I hope, laurelnhardy, that you and we all get to enjoy a day's tribute to this unique personality and character star.
The mother hen protecting her chick
Great Hams
in General Discussions
Posted
Excellent thread topic, MissW. And, yes, I can enjoy some deliberately fruity or hammy performances.
There was the great Charles Laughton. Particularly in his later career, when the material was not quite so inspirational, or he found himself working as a pirate working with Abbott and Costello, his lip smacking performances were a sight to behold. Think of him as Captain Kidd in the film of that name or King Herod in Salome. Still fun to watch, but you just knew that the great man was slumming it a bit and it showed in his performance.
Then there's the following performance, Robert Newton as Long John Silver. Ouch! One of the most outragious eye rolling performances ever captured on celluloid. Yes, Newton is knowingly out of control when he does his piratical antics but, personally, a little bit of Newton (like five minutes) goes an awful long way for me.
Subtle this is not.
And I hope you don't mind if I include a piece of ham acting from an actor that was normally understated, that being Claude Rains when he played a nasty blaggard in Anthony Adverse. To this day I still can't get out of my mind the sight of Rains when he looked straight at the camera in one scene and indulged in one of the most over-the-top hysterical bursts of prolooooonged laughter that I've ever seen on film. Oh, please, Mr. Director, yell CUT!!, I thought, or, at least, bring us a fade out.
Finally, what conversation about thickly sliced ham would be complete without mention of Basil Rathbone with his over-the-top French accent as Captain Lavasseur in Captain Blood?
Yes, there seemed to be something about the freedom of playing a costumed piratical scoundrel that brought out ham in some actors. Maybe they're all the more enjoyable to watch because of it, too.