TomJH
-
Posts
19,359 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
105
Posts posted by TomJH
-
-
Calamity, that's a good point. Cotten's character does have some luck on his side at that point.
-
For lovers of crime dramas, with film noir elements, I highly recommend a 1952 drama, *The Steel Trap*, scheduled for broadcast this Wednesday at 2:30pm (EST). While no classic, the film is a surprisingly satisfying “will-he-get-away-with-it” crime drama. It also deserves honourable mention to be included in the “good little films you’ve never heard of” category.
This is a medium budgeted, tight little drama starring Joseph Cotten in one of the favorite roles of film noir culture, that of a respectable member of society who is discontented and bored, which leads to trouble. In this case he’s a long time employee of a bank who day dreams of how easy it would be to embezzle one million dollars from his bank over a weekend.
Cotten has a likable everyman quality about him, so as he decides one day to make his day dream become a reality it’s easy for the audience to identify with him. Yes, he’s breaking the law and by all the moral codes of society he is wrong to do so. Yet we can’t help but root for him because of the intelligence, audacity and, well, balls that his character displays.
This film is quite suspenseful at times and tightly paced by director Andrew Stone. It’s a short little 85 minute feature and doesn’t waste any time in telling it’s simple but involving tale, with all the unexpected complications that arise threatening to scuttle Cotten and his plans for a new life with all that loot.
Since The Steel Trap was made in the ‘50s when the Hollywood production code dictated that no film character can attempt such a plan without paying a price for it, I was pleasantly surprised at the film’s resolution, which I found to be both unexpected and satisfying.
One more thing for film noir buffs. Visually The Steel Trap has none of the chiaroscuro lighting effects that we so love about ‘40s noirs. In fact, the visuals of this film are the least of its virtues. The emphasis is upon plot development and, increasingly as the film progresses, its pacing. The film also reunites Cotten with his Shadow of a Doubt co-star, Teresa Wright. Wright gives a lovely performance (the moral conscience of the film) as Cotten’s wife who initially hadn’t got a clue as to her husband’s plans. Her character eventually turns out to play an important role in the flow of the narrative.
*A final warning:* Do *NOT* read either the TCM website plot summary of this film or Leonard Maltin’s review before seeing The Steel Trap! Both give away an unexpected twist in the story. I was glad that I saw this film without having read either because they would have partially spoiled the film for me.
Joseph Cotten was a fine actor, capable of playing a smooth talking charming psychopath (Shadow of a Doubt) as well as personifying an everyman, as an earnest, slightly awkward leading man (The Third Man). He also gets my nomination as the actor who possibly appeared in more outstanding Hollywood productions during the 1940s than any other.
While The Steel Trap hardly rates among Cotten’s best films, it does have something in common with the actor, that of being good, largely neglected and underrated.
-
Calvinme, thanks very much for your hard investigative work in pulling together the August schedule for us.
Highlight of the month for me will be on Gregory Peck Day when, finally(!!!), TCM has scheduled *THE MACOMBER AFFAIR.*
This has remained the rarest of all film adaptions of a Hemingwork work to see.
An intelligently scripted, well acted tale of a troubled married couple seeking escape with a hunting expedition on the African plains, this Zoltan Korda-directed film has long been curiously absent from any kind of viewing. For fans of Peck, Macomber Affair remains the foremost film of his career that many have yet to see, though it can be argued that the film is even more of a triumph for his two co-stars, Joan Bennett and Robert Preston.
The tagged on Hollywood ending can be criticized but all that has preceded it makes this film a strong candidate for being one of the two best screen adaptions (along with Michael Curtiz's Breaking Point) of Hemingway.
I will definitely be recording this one.
Macomber[/i]Affair+.jpg]
-
Alan Ladd's life story of how his insecurities robbed him of any real happiness, even when he was at the peak of a stardom that he thought might be snatched away from him any moment, with his eventual decline into alcoholism, is really one of Hollywood's sadder tales. Alan Ladd - the Hollywood star who never understood why people went to see him at the theatres.
With all this Great Gatsby talk these days, it would have been great if it had resulted in Universal having made the Ladd version available. Alas, I doubt that it will happen. I figure that the Ladd take on the novel would already been available now with the release of the new version.
You're certainly right about The Deep Six, Fred. It's a forgettable war drama, but at least partially redeemed by William Bendix's fine performance. At least the two friends had the opportunity to play together one more time.
-
It would appear that there is as much viewer disagreement about the perception of gay sub text found in film noirs as there is as to whether a particular film qualifies to be included as a member of that particular film genre.
I must admit that I regarded the characters played by both William Bendix in The Glass Key and Frank Faylen in The Lost Weekend to be film noirish sadists but nothing more. It never occured to me that either characterization gave subtle hints of homosexuality, nor am I convinced now that they do.
By the way, while shooting the Glass Key scene in which Bendix's thug character beats up on Alan Ladd, at one point Bendix accidentally knocked Ladd out. When the latter came to he saw a remorseful Bendix repeatedly apologizing to him. Ladd was touched by this, and it lead to a lifelong friendship between the two actors. After becoming a major Paramount star, Ladd made a point of trying to find a part for Bendix in his films, if he could.
The two men would both die in 1964, 11 months apart, Ladd quite possibly a suicide. A depressed, heavily drinking Ladd, who always blamed himself for his own mother's suicide, had made a lot of middle of the night calls to Bendix in his last few years. Ladd's death, needless to say, caused Bendix great distress.
-
*finance wrote: EGR, in DI, may have been having a gay relationship with his "little man".*
Oh, yeah, wise guy, here's a little something for you:
-
You want gay sub-text in a film noir?
How about Fred MacMurray and Edward G. Robinson in Double Indemnity?
Well, Fred does say, "I love you, too, Keyes," doesn't he?
Okay, okay, just kidding. But with the bad luck that Fred has with his taste in women in this film, he might have been better off if he had. (On the other hand, the mental picture of Fred and Eddie G. getting touchy-feely is not a pretty one).
If there's anyone reading this posting that is big enough to forgive me for despoiling this thread by bringing that mental image to mind, it is much appreciated.
!data:image/jpeg;base64,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!
Edited scene from the film in which Eddie started to make a move on Fred.
(Just kidding again).
I'm sorry, Eddie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it!
-
{font:arial, helvetica, sans-serif}*"That was before my time" is the one-size-fits-all response to what they consider "ancient history".*
I really despise that attitude that so many younger people have today.To so many of them cinema began in 1977 when Star Wars was released.
I remember once making reference to Captain Bligh to a man in, I suppose, his mid to late '30s. "Who?" was his immediate response.
When I replied, "Captain Bligh. You know, Mutiny on the Bounty," he gave a little chuckle and gave the pattened, "Sorry. A little before my time," response. And he had a little smugness about it, too, like it was information that couldn't possibly be worthy of his interest. He had that proud-of-his-own-ignorance attitude that seems to be so persuasive today.
"Well, Abraham Lincoln was before your time, too," I replied, "But I hope you've heard of him."
{font}
-
musicalnovelty, the singing voice in the trailer sounds like it could have been Jack Haley's. Since he doesn't even appear in the film, though, I assume that I'm wrong. Sure as heck it's not W. C. Fields!
-
*{font:arial, helvetica, sans-serif}bundie wrote: Tyrone Power wasn't the best looking 44 year old when he died. Have you seen him in his last few films? Take a look at The Sun Also Rises or Witness for the Prosecution. Power was clearly starting to lose his looks, and getting middle aged in appearance.{font}*
*I absolutely agree! He didn't look as bad as Errol Fynn, but looked much older than his years toward the end. I said this on another thread a couple of years ago and had darts thrown at me...*
I'm not certain that, as a man, Ty Power would have been all that concerned about his increasingly ragged appearance, though it caused distress for some of his friends. Power, above all, wanted good work as an actor, thinking that his good looks had helped to keep him largely stuck in sterotypical heroic roles.
Take a look at his appearance and performance in the little known Abandon Ship, released the year before his death. It's a grim realistic film to begin with and Power's rough appearance clearly reflects that. It's also one of his finest films performances, in my opinion, pretty close to flawless, in fact.
The unfortunate thing, however, is that Power should have been concerned about his increasingly tired looking appearance for health reasons. (He looked particularly aged in The Sun Also Rises, in my opinion, but, apparently, he was going without much sleep at that time) But he also drank and smoked incessantly.
When Power became part producer for the big Solomon and Sheba epic he ignored signs of tiredness, and made a point of not being tested to see if he had any heart issues. In fact, he said he didn't want to know if he had heart problems for fear that it would impact his insurability if he did.
In November, 1958 Tyrone Power paid the biggest price that a man can pay for ignoring those heart warnings when he was on the set of Solomon and Sheba. He was only 44 but could have passed for a man in his early '50s.
-
{font:arial, helvetica, sans-serif}*Health nut? Grant smoked a lot. I've seen photos of him, cigarette in hand (maybe he just kept it in his hand, and didn't puff it).*
Grant had a reputation as one of Hollywood's biggest health nuts. He, in fact, quit smoking through hypnosis because he knew it was bad for him.
Curiously, though, he didn't feel the same way about LSD, which he took before it was an illegal drug. Grant after claimed that LSD sessions with a noted doctor helped free him from insecurities and guilt complexes dealing with his mother and wives. Oh, well, whatever.
The point is Grant made it to 82 and still looked terrific. Chain smoking Ty Power died of a heart attack at age 44 and his once renowned handsome good looks were getting increasingly ragged towards the end.
{font}
{font:arial, helvetica, sans-serif}
Power on the Solomon and Sheba location shoot, within weeks of his death. {font}
-
*Misswonderly wrote: And there is something very touching about Alice's encounter with the White Knight, a gentle, Don Quixote-like person, whom I have heard is supposed to stand in for Lewis Carroll himself.*
MissW, it's interesting that you should write that, epecially since you didn't see the film. Indeed, one of the best moments in the film is Gary Cooper's appearance as the White Knight. It's a sweet, gently comic sequence in which the noble knight keeps falling off his horse, even as he talks to Alice, and has to use a step ladder to get back on his horse again.
And all the while the White Knight's mind is working on inventions, even as he lies in a ditch after tumbling off his horse yet again. Cooper brings a certain sweetness to the small role, and Alice calls him the nicest of all the characters that she has met in Wonderland.
Yep, this is Gary Cooper:
-
Did anyone know that a then unknown Ida Lupino was up for the role of Alice in the 1933 production before Paramount had second thoughts about that casting?
This is just one of a slew of facts about the making of this production that can be found at this website:
http://www.tauspace.co.uk/alice/film_tv_1933.htm
It includes information on the making of the film, based on film magazine promotion pieces, rundowns on the screenplay and musical score, a biography of Charlotte Henry, film-related promotional advertisements for the film (for example, Charlotte Henry as Alice posing with Wrigling's Double Mint Chewing Gum), and tons of photographs, of course.
The website also deals with the possibility that the '33 Alice may have been a 90 minute film. There are photos reproduced of scenes filmed there are not included in the 77 minute version. However, the author of the website makes a point of stating that Paramount may have decided to cut those scenes before its original release. Still, the photos provide food for thought (and speculation).
Here's a sample for you from the website, a wonderful behind-the-scenes shot of the movie, with Charlotte Henry, director Norman McLeod and Sterling Holloway as Frog:
-
*finance wrote:* {font:arial, helvetica, sans-serif}*He would have been the handsomest 99 year old in the U.S.*
Why? Tyrone Power wasn't the best looking 44 year old when he died. Have you seen him in his last few films? Take a look at The Sun Also Rises or Witness for the Prosecution. Power was clearly starting to lose his looks, and getting middle aged in appearance.
Cary Grant might have been the handsomest 99 year old if he had made it that long. Being the health nut that Grant was, at age 80 he was looking better than the drinking, chain smoking Power was at 44. {font}
-
James, Stewart's image clearly evolved throughout his career. I always thought he was just doing a variation on Gary Cooper during the Capra period of his career (which is to take nothing away from his great performance as Mr. Smith).
The Jimmy Stewart of the Mann westerns, starting with Winchester 73, doesn't have much in common with that character. But it was in The Philadelphia Story that Stewart broke from the Capra types that had been his stock and trade until then and played a cynic. And, much as some reviewers on this thread dislike either Stewart or the character in that film, it netted him his one Oscar (even if it may have been a consolation prize from not receiving that award for Mr. Smith).
My favourite period of Stewart's career is, without doubt, the '50s, because of the Mann westerns and Hitchcock thrillers. Stewart had truly matured as an actor and personality by then. His everyman screen persona was tinged with a cynicism about the world in which he lived, something with which I think a lot of viewers could identify. At the same time, however, the actor brought a sense of decency to his parts, though he could be provoked at times to physical violence (those Mann westerns, again).
Jimmy Stewart came to represent for me comfort food, feeling, ultimately, that if you knew him in real life, he wouldn't let you down. In fact, the Stewart we saw on screen in the latter part of his career was pretty much the same Jimmy Stewart appearing on Johnny Carson or some other talk shows, spouting poetry, on one memorable occasion, about a dog that he had loved and lost.
-
*nicoley13 wrote:*{font:arial, helvetica, sans-serif}*Haha! I've come across a few people who dislike Jimmy Stewart. Maybe not quite HATED. But that threw me for a loop. I'd nominate Stewart's male costar in The Philadelphia Story for Classic Movie Star Least Likely To Be Hated. No one out there despises Cary Grant, do they? If so, I'd like to hear about it! Or maybe I wouldn't.*
I picked Jimmy Stewart because I figured that he was almost impossible for ANYONE to hate. (However, I did say almost because somewhere you just know somebody really has it in for good ol' Jimmy). Heck, you say you actually know some who do dislike him. Personally I've never met, to the best of my knowledge, a James Stewart disliker, let alone hater. (Not that I ask many people about this burning issue).
But you may well be right about Cary Grant, though. He may be the most beloved male film star of the classic era on these message boards. Somewhere, though, even Mr. Grant probably has someone who finds him just too, too perfect and can't stand him for that reason, or whatever other one they can drum up. Maybe somebody even hates Grant because they're jealous of his continuing popularity. Or is that a bit of a stretch?
{font}
-
*nicoley13 wrote:*{font:arial, helvetica, sans-serif} *I've never been able to understand the antipathy from some quarters; it's like he's Jerry Lewis and some people just HATE him. Look, you don't have to love him, you don't even have to like him, but what's to hate? Unless it IS his personal life, in which case a lot of it isn't true, but it's hard to convince people of that.*
Nicoley, you articulated my feelings about people hating Crosby better than I did. I think that any hatred (and I'm talking real hatred, not just dislike) would have to be based on stories about his personal life more than what they see of him as a performer.
Some may find him bland or boring as a singer or actor but who really hates bland or boring? Obviously, though, it's easier for some people to work up hatreds for any of about five million different reasons than it is for other people.
Somewhere I'm sure that there are people who just HATE Jimmy Stewart (though please don't ask me why).
{font}
{font:arial, helvetica, sans-serif}
Somebody hates ME? Gosh, why? What did I ever do to them?
{font}
-
Andy, there's no question that Sinatra's strongest dramatics efforts were edgier than Crosby's. Having said that, though, you made no reference to The Country Girl, the most complex part that Crosby ever played (quite magnificiently, I feel).
Obviously, what you find bland in Crosby (Father Chuck on Going My Way, for example), I find charming and relaxing. Crosby had the gift of acting so matter of fact natural on screen, in the same manner as Gary Cooper or Jimmy Stewart at their best. And I also think that the best of the Road films made in the '40s finds in Bing and Bob one of the great chemistry collaborations between two male stars. The fact that I grew up with the Road films perhaps prejudices me towards them a little but I never really liked either Crosby or Hope quite so much as when they were bouncing off each other. Obviously, you don't have the same affection for those films.
I just love the inside humour of those Road films. In one of them (I forget which one) there's a moment in which Hope makes reference to the fact that the audience was just returning to their seats in the theatre, whereupon an upset Bing yells, "You mean they missed my song?"
In their primes during the 1940s, one of the great screen teams, in my opinion
-
{font:arial, helvetica, sans-serif}*Tom while I tend to view (judge) movie stars, athlete, musicians etc... only on their work my personal observations is that most people view them based on factors OUTSIDE of their work.*
Fair enough, James and I understand that. That's precisely why, when it came to analyzing why someone might HATE Bing Crosby, I made a point of saying that I try to judge him ONLY by what I see of him as a performer. If willbefree or someone else hates Crosby, I'm baffled by it if is based on his persona and talent only. If it is based on personal issues regarding him, that is another issue.{font}
-
*willbefree wrote: I find it interesting (and a bit baffling) to read some people who have negative, or even hostile, feelings towards Crosby.*
*Really? After all your time on this board, you still find it interesting and baffling to find that people have the courage of their own convictions, enough to HATE a star even in the face of the rest of the board who LOVES that same star?*
*Hmmmm........now that is interesting indeed.
*I suppose there's not a celebrity in the world, past or present, that someone has not found a reason to work up a strong hatred over. Still, what I find a bit baffling is what there is about the laid back screen persona of Crosby that would produce such strong emotions. If, indeed, that's all you're judging him on.
Again, though, I like to think that I can make an observation about a performer based strictly upon what I see on the screen. Negative information about that same star in his or her private life may disappoint me in that person (and alter my opinion about wanting to meet them, for example) but not change my opinion about their overall talent and screen likeability. As a matter of fact, having heard a few things about Crosby in his personal life that don't make him sound like a particularly warm or nice guy in turn makes me appreciate his ability as an actor all the more since it doesn't show on screen.
-
*Dargo wrote:* *Interesting you made special mention of Chuck Connors here, Tom. When I said earlier that I've loved this film since I first watched it in the late '60s, one of the key "revelations" I remember having at that time was discovering that Connors could act so well as a "lowlife" character, as up until that time I had really only known him as the good "Lucas McCain" on that TV show.*
Dargo, if memory serves me correctly, there was a fun Rifleman episode in which Chuck Connors got to play dual parts, one as clean cut great father-figure Lucas McCain, of course, but the other as a lookalike low life nastier than a rattlesnake that just got kicked.
I think that Connors' performance is one of the real joys of THE BIG COUNTRY, smarmy and a repulsive bully who, at the end, looks to his father for help when he's about to be shot and cringes on the ground behind a wagon wheel.
Connors was a real TV hero of mine as a kid, along with Fess Parker as Davy Crockett, and Guy Williams as Zorro. But Parker and Williams never got the opportunity to show their wares as villains the way that Chuck did in this William Wyler-Gregory Peck production.
A memorable low life performance
-
I find it interesting (and a bit baffling) to read some people who have negative, or even hostile, feelings towards Crosby. During the mid and late '40s it's not inconceivable that he may have been the most popular person in show business. Sinatra was challenging him as a crooner but he still had song hit after song hit, and he would later be ranked as the Number One star at the movie box office for that decade.
I enjoy his laid back charm and easy manner on screen (and, yes, I can ignore the reports about his off screen life), and find that he can do small miracles with some song lyrics. I have far more CDs of Sinatra than I do Crosby so I guess I obviously prefer his singing, but as a screen presence, certainly during the '40s, especially when he was teamed with Bob Hope, I find Crosby a genuine pleasure to watch (and hear).
The Road films also proved that Crosby could be highly amusing as a comedian. He's almost as funny as Hope in those films. I enjoy the fact that he would good naturedly poke fun at himself as not the best of dancers. Watching him dance with Hope it's obvious that Bob was the better hoofer but I can't take my eyes off Bing because of his spirited, if awkward, dancing attempt.
-
I've never been a particular fan of High Society.
However, when Bing and Satchmo do that jazz number together it is sheer bliss. I like the respect that Crosby shows for the jazz musicians, too, by introducing them by name as part of his lyrics. I'm glad this film was made if ONLY for that number. Aside from that, however, it is interesting to see Crosby and Sinatra do their number together, as well.
!data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBhQSERQUExQVFBQWFx0VGBgYGBgXGhwYGBkYFxccGBcXHCYeFxkjGhYZHy8gJCcpLCwsHB4xNTAqNSYrLCkBCQoKDgwOGg8PGi0kHyUsKSwsLCwsLCkpLCwsLCwsLCwsKSwsLCksLCwsKSwsLCwsLCwsLCwpLCwsKSwpLCwsLP/AABEIAMMBAgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xAAcAAAABwEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIEBQYHAwj/xABOEAACAQIEAgcEBwMIBwcFAAABAhEAAwQSITEFQQYHEyJRYXEygZGhFCNCUrHB0WJyghUzkqKy4fDxJFNUY2Rz0iVDRHSjs8IINIST4v/EABkBAAMBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwAEBf/EACgRAAICAgIBBAIBBQAAAAAAAAABAhEDMRIhQQQTUWEiMrGBkaHh8P/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8Ax8Yhvvt/Sb9aPtrn3n/pH9aK5h2RirAqwMFTRhRzU4mgAUt25zdh/EZ9wmhevOGjO2n7RPxg70AY2GXz3P91SVnonefCDFWwXWWDKNWAUjvQN11ifLwrGsb4DEt21rvMe/94/e9a9N8PJDMddFU/Nq8w4aBdtGYGffM16g4a/fJ37in5tQYrHOOthlEEkk6QTtHhTbDXlTQlpnU7jw8dgKXh/b2O8iOXjp4Gl3rYUMfaJU0K8kRvxXDyRlJLaz3jEaQdTpvScPiFEKGbwkjSfj46aUnhy71IETyg7T4RQxyqiZRqTzYHlWrqxAYy0M0gmIEnMTB56PlTrDYlT3QSI8ZGn70zNNsCmZDuM255T61yx5gKq8jMPI0KMLuWAHJlsknWSSfTx1rlx3pBZw1jPdZzPdVEB7R2jZBOvnNOrNkG2BJAGuumnPXnzqEwAsYjELiLkXPs4dYJCJ94KJlnPeLHYZRpGqukXw43OX0RFrpkUIZsPcCwGH1q59P2OZAUmJ8PSrebq3rQcEkECBMGZiCJgmpB8JbC95Fj0FUDpVbfB4zCX7bsMM91bV1JJC5jAOUmI1mdxHnQ4yjs6cmGLVx6os1hwm5afASRHxrrj7MgEEkzyJiI3jlTi7bCszHU7x4e6meB9rnI25iDFNSOIPC3QsLmMneZIn4xHpXDHWe9IJ217xIHv5eldeJ37WHstcvOqLtnYwBOoA8SY2GpqiYrrZwtrMBbvvIgmFUaHwc5tvEUrQUm9Gg4bEAjKGOg5yP63jTe4kOe82Wd5M486r/AumExihbLlbvtFHGV9Brl1IYehqzWcOCgGoE5tR/ia30AcJdDr7RgaHUg7fOmFrumSSPDU/hQxRGaACABBHM067EGCSdBERBPurUAXehknMfKDznYijwFwLuxnw1On4UzRpuc9TIAGx9KkEQAljr/jnSNIBFdLnPYXYP8A4e7t6a83riXj223H2m8PWvRvScf6Pc/8td/sGvPPBOHNiL1uwhVWuMFBbYaHUxTYurOhaE2nfkzMRuuYg7TK0DxBthcYeRZho+VXTpf1fvbFtsODdC2wLmX2s4mWUeB008qpT3iTDhWI0OaVf0PnVU0zXYX8oOpkXCP4p/KuL4tzrncnxLH9aXcQfZWB72e1WDo30FvYkqzqbdo7uwgkfsDn67Vm0hiAW8e239I/rQrW16NYNRlyWe7p3n100113oUnuoFkc3BsHxNc9pwWjUbXV/eXn661Ev1S3Z7t0B2SpABqi2iynMhKlYMqSCJ8xtU9a6dcQVVAxDkH2SwVjp0wJ506i1oBdsB1aYfDr2l9u3K65QStoebs0SPKB76X0N6eWhjfo3dNtpRGQQgM5oiJZTlifyrNeKcfxOK1v37lzXYnTXfujTl4Uno/xc4Wt0AMQGAmDEiJE6TE/Gs4Wahz0ksdnjLqRGW9cAAEAAXWiB4RFejuHuQznwRfxaqH0fe1iXe7fsWLlx1GYtbUwNhlnaPHfxNXXhl6L1xcwYdmGUWYggxvEj40kciloeeNxXZJJdygNvO/lXO7fcjMIynlG3KPKk3dV3jXbxoYd8ogsNeRVMcoRvi1OkggN5T4edMMTiHJ7xlWj9RBGulOKKYGvu/xvTK0mXMCfXby/zrNinexjsgyRrMKT586MZmbK58TP8AlvtUbiCc41J9eVSuGxE7EMRzG8em1KYa8d4gfol5VhbjWbirJ1JFtgAo5kArjwThDWbaLmVLS2lByznLAad6dh4EHnXDj1hmBywzKTqRqBBBjwO1cRxYfQ8LrB4QiyrM401y5dR60jf5Uz0vSwXC097J/Fdq6qFhoAzK0AGd5OVuXgKp3WArXMNYswUN7EW0g0AW11EzEHXwqT6NcVtK1wW3xRYgSmIDgqF0GTONtfE1zxd/6TeBETZOjkEhHYEAgSATE77TtTyro6uLaaRYMTinPeWAswNJ/xM0rDwh1khhJ93Lzpvh7kbsPCDp76eMp01jWI/Q86Y8YxfrM48J4mbJaLWG7oA2zkAu0czJyiddOEdGrN62e07RpMkxqNQdABJ2qt8Svm7jsTdCsDcus4BAZhLExEQSNhp4b1ZeA3LiunZm5LHK/aMrp46KugaBtAPPyqGR92ejjjUaOHSXglqw2eyrWrgHaW3EiCIymoNad0V6RHGYOzcAAdlh/Jk7rR6kT6EVlvE8NcYk3EvB57zG4cuXaVWAuUbfkDWhdXeByYCxynO8TOx5n/GlNBkvUR6TLBJMk7rGgHypRxBacmkb89T6FOMkjQpGutNcMIMzHrzqpxM7WTHfOskzH4VOFusYIjLtEe6ud0Su8D/HOuuBIA1I9KmxSL6VL/o93/wAtd/sGsQ6srU8RsQqsRmIBjfIuu5HhW6dKR9ReH/D3v7BrKqDg4sxhbWz3ADoAGUlnJOhgHb6hHTOhaHHGemhwWOuLczXrThbiXVgXFDDYfZdAwIynbXWpZOkfDsZBuHC3CdzeXsbg3IEneNBoaybimIe9evXLjZySSTy1b7I5DWQKatY3/dBJqntqg0jbUxnDLC55waAEQQ/bNoATA1OlVXpH1phlNvCBpO95xBA/YTl6n4Vn/0QDs/2gWPpJA/CiH2oEAaUVjRqQDcY6lmJOpJPM70KVtpRU9DWTeOw2TG3LZGjl1j97vL8mBqLYTh18bdyPjP6VYG9IlxN1DdsrcKMCCoW3cyvtL7egUQwMcqieI4UI2Ktj2dLqeakhlRpceS/xewzhx78EUywbg8DPwbuUgPqNAxpxeUgsT9q2GIH5iuGITU/H5U7AmW/gr2Q4e4XuKZVlUqvddSujFgDvOkVoPQDCAXGVLjFLKkPIWGzeyoKkggbyDBNZVwtWuXrNuwrXWyKxAVWIOX6yA0gqNSTppPhNa70YuWsGezuMqtctq2aGW0zkklEZgBKiAQYJMmOQ5VCmWyZLi6LB9JVXAZ1UzIUkAkenhTW/wAUtAn66zJOVQXABcglROwmoPpjwpntXbz4kraRS/ZtaV1GUaZSCCCTsRrqKzG01trYZVBDbkkyGESNPUGNdxWk5LwHBgxZFvs2Toxx/wClo7EZGUlChkx4QTvUR056UWuHIoYZ71zVEBywoPtMeQnQaa6Bqu9FuM/Rrr3nIyXB3guUayYMN79ornxrrPwwa49vC2rl9k7PPcUPCgQBLco5CJowlaDm9IlJyTpDZOt5YObDvJ8HEe7u08sdbeHAH1V5W5wwjw9oVlNCr8EcvBGice61WvhbNgPZQuA90kdrlJE5YkJz1kn0q04bjyYC6GxKsVUwrbyORPujWsTy6ValHTp8VctkhSqWrS7ANmFte0ltz9YW3mOW5pJw1RfDJQdPRofFOsTDexYzu7aKoB1Y6KJPnU3wnCiwoUkFycztyLn2gD90bDyFZBb49hbdi4FR3xFxMquIVLRMZjqczsBIkAAcp0NTXRTrU7PKmLUsBp2o1byLr9r1GvkaHF7N6ibl1HRqxQSWbaunD8RqJO3I/wCN6jsLxJLqh7RW5bbZgZB8f8qe4WF35itZwmY9ZHCjheILdAUpfsVRyYEBwfMt3v4qTg8dirt8tbuQ2gM2XuqkagAhctseOutWPrcxNo4RA38j57UamP8DD7pUT6qKq/Rnj94Ath3twRDW3YoQfEEb840NSaV2jvxZG4UDi/E71l3RrhZ2/nE7M2VZfsOEYDXQjNrM76Vp3RS3/AKBhhGvZqT7xP51m/FL13G4oW2y3LzgQLTZoRFZmLPlEDLmjTdp9bvwfpzg76KLV1AcoAtscjAAbQYmNtJpkvJPPK0kT9xhMAwNjXdrcwTERvTdLk6kf312aDtT2cgSN3tNBMinaIJkxB2rhb0Mmu4edhpQYBh0hE4e4P8Ah7v9g1l3Qmz/ANjYoXIWxcLDNmIOYIIz6aLMAR4mRWqccWbLjxs3B7yhrK8dw69hBHD3JtPIvOp0LK9xRlnxAIJX08KX/RZaM9uiO0HkB8xR3dM38ICzSrqe3o/Ggwkx964R8IFdAwq7o37ttR7zFcVTur0Z/Cl4lv50/tZfhNG6QV8kn5Uxhm51NCugtHwoUBrNP4d0bSzir1i07WmQGzeuAgkIVDG6F3VAQoHMsyid6rHGhbOJQIwdLlnscy7ZlkEjxE1W73EHYklySTJI0zT4kamfOnlpitoE72bo08m/wAqhhxcZcmGcm1RG3bzaAn2Rlj0n86PCYV7txUQS7mAPMZ2HnXFVmTV1wuAt4XDYa/Ba7ftO4OukM6EAbaKqk88dY0qk5cVYYRt0aD0Bwgt4dMMyrmAcdouk6MTOzR3403HhtURxTjyWMbfwF6zZFi5o7pmkh1DIzZtjBHLQ61XegXSL64W/r7hZ1AGaVAeVuNB9nddfCRTTp1xG2eNYl7yuyLdysqFVY5EVYBYEASvhtU1Fvex3JRlS0NulPCMVgJtXHdrF4BkZWPZ3EDKdtgw0kcj5QaTwvE2reDW4XYMt6OzQwzG4tkINtEC22YsNZygbyJDH9LUxHwEIWw1u63ZM7fVdm6mFdvsnOFE7DNOgFVjEcMZLptPNi4rZWD6BWHiRqAJ3101p6tUySdPoVxniSsStu2bY1mcuxgzGY7AHkBuNZgRE1bMR1V8SUZhhzcETNt0f5BpVVrGYG5ZbJdtvbb7rqUPwYA06VKg8rOFHQoUTHW0JBraupfojhLGXEvaVr9u9tswDgrllQUaVGjgzE6CsVsHeto/wDp4x3/AN5Z5Tbuj35kb8FrCkp1p9AcI9i7ct21s3rFlrw7NAodBIysBpo8Gd4J93n9hrXq7rMxHZ8Kxjf7kp/****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!
-
Dargo, I've always regarded THE BIG COUNTRY as one of the most impressive westerns that I've seen. My main complaint about the film would be its excessive length.
Wonderful cast, with Burl Ives a standout but terrific work, too, by Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston and a wonderful Chuck Connors, a far cry from the same character that he would play as The Rifleman on TV. AND The Big Country has one of the truly GREAT western film scores by Jerome Moross. Few westerns have had musical as epic or rousing as this one.
However, western buffs simply don't talk about this William Wyler film the way they do about the Ford westerns or Magnificent Seven or Shane or countless others. And I think the reason for it may be twofold 1) the film doesn't have any big shoot 'em up scenes, and 2) fatal for a western, the film has a pacifist message. Macho heroics will trump an intelligent screenplay that advocates non-violence every time for most western film buffs. This is NOT the kind of material which would have been offered to John Wayne.
As for the over-the-top Duel in the Sun, this film has too many virtues to be dismissed. The great cinematography as well as musical score by Dimitri Tiomkin, plus the performances of many of the members of its supporting cast, Lionel Barrymore, memerably hard and vindictive, Herbert Marshall, Lillian Gish and, my favourite, Walter Huston as the sinkiller gunslinging minister. I love that look of lust in Huston's eye even as he prays for poor Pearl Chavez, as well as those cowpokes that he thinks will need some consoling if Pearl isn't around for them.
Even that over-the-top ending, in which the two lovers kill each other. I can understand the difficulty that people may have in taking it seriously. However, I have to appreciate, as well, the sheer audacity of filmmakers Selznick and King Vidor daring to have a climax that is so passionate even if it is ludicrous at the same time.
However, as much as I like Gregory Peck in The Big Country (an ideal role for him, really), I find him to be miserably miscast in Duel in the Sun.
Here's a link to that wonderful Jerome Moross score for the Big Country (skip the ad):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifxqOVt_YE8
And here's a link with Gregory Peck discussing the Big Country and problems that he has with the film:
*
"Mr. Smith" played by Lee Tracy in 1932 !
in General Discussions
Posted
Lee Tracy is a favourite of mine, too. Few actors of the pre-code era were quite such natural casting as fast talking reporters or fast talking con men or fast talking politicians or fast talking anything than Tracy. Perhaps only Pat O'Brien or Glenda Farrell had tongues quite so quick at that time.
It's been a while since I saw Washington Merry Go Round but, yes, I couldn't help but think of the later Capra film when I watched it too. As a matter of fact, I combined the two films together on a single disc because I thought they were such an appropriate double bill.