[Carl Reiner has died]

2 hours ago, spence said:

all of them are gone already from that show, except of course for Van Dyke, i believe is 95 now

Not quite. Ritchie still lives. I wonder if his neighbours complain about his shouting.

[Noir Alley]

On 7/3/2020 at 2:13 PM, speedracer5 said:

 

Re: Timothy Carey.  I don't really know what to make of him.  He's a very interesting screen presence.  And his way of speaking through clenched teeth is odd, but works for his screen persona.

I once had a dream with Timothy Carey in it in which he had his teeth clenched but the front ones were on hinges and he stuck out his tongue a foot and a half. I woke up screaming and was afraid to go back to sleep the rest of the night. Way too much film noir viewing in my life.

[Hey TCM Programmers! Schedule Canada Day, eh]

2 minutes ago, Dargo said:

(...oh and btw, that "aboot" thing up there that you wrote would of course be more a Scottish accent thing than it ever would be Canadian, and as it seems so many of my fellow Americans also get wrong quite often)

Well, you got that right, Dargo. I can't speak for how any Scots living in Canada may say "about." All bets on pronunciation are off there.

[Hey TCM Programmers! Schedule Canada Day, eh]

7 hours ago, Dargo said:

You're welcome, MissW.

(...but still I insist that my Canadian family there Kelowna BC say "aboat" all the time, and so maybe that's more a western Canada thing than it is prevalent there in your Toronto area)

I'm sure they only talk that way in Kelowna when they say they're getting on a boat. You should take an aboot face on this one, Dargo. While Canada is a large country and there can be some variations in speech, I'm sure, I've never heard any Canadian pronounce "about" any way other than that.

Besides, you Yanks are always thinking that others have accents or "funny speech." I know this after being told about my "Australian" accent when I took a trip to Vegas.

[I Just Watched...]

7 hours ago, rosebette said:

I just saw Silver River (1948) for the first time.  An interesting performance by Flynn as an anti-hero, and the film is a bit of a mess, but a delicious one, kind of like when you have the leftover corned beef (or better yet, ham) and potatoes and fry it up with some eggs and sauce.   Raoul Walsh directed, with Thomas Mitchell in an excellent supporting role.  According to Alicia Malone and other sources, both Flynn and Sheridan were "in their cups" throughout the film.  Flynn doesn't show it, but I think Sheridan does.  At times, she seems to be "mailing it in," and her make-up is much heavier than I've seen on her in comparison to other movies.  I think the film is worth it just to see Flynn in an array of fancy waistcoats swinging his gambler's cane.

 

I think Silver River is one of Flynn's more interesting films with one of his best performances. The writing of the film falls apart at the end and the final 15 minutes feel rushed, like they were trying to wrap the film all up somehow, but the characterizations in this film, particularly Flynn's darker portrayal than usual, are strong. Particularly effective, I feel, is Flynn's scene is a bar in which he is confronted by Thomas Mitchell who gives him a David and Bathsheba lecture. Mitchell is ruffled in appearance and flamboyant, as opposed to the reserved Flynn who stands in elegant attire. The two contrasting actors bounce off one another admirably for a memorable scene.

Bur I can't agree with you, though, rosebette, that Sheridan's performance seems "mailed it"at times or that she seems to be in her cups. She and Flynn have a delicious sexual chemistry in this western. In fact, outside of Olivia, along with Alexis Smith, I think Ann was Flynn's best leading lady. Flynn clearly enjoys playing his role as a scoundrel in this film.

Best scene in the film for me occurs after Sheridan has walked out on Errol and his grand house is being torn apart by creditors taking all his possessions. Flynn is stoic as he walks about the place, uttering a physical threat once only when workmen are about to take down a giant portrait of his wife (Sheridan) hanging on the wall. Flynn's only friend (played by Tom D'Andrea) tries to console him, suggesting he try to reunite with his wife, then adding, "Of course, it's none of my business."

"That's right," a proud Flynn responds, "It's none of your business."

D'Andrea departs, leaving Flynn alone with only a few workmen. Then the actor and director Raoul Walsh have one of their most touching moments together in my opinion, beautifully conveying the emotional vulnerability of Errol's character. Flynn leans against a door jam, trying to act nonchalant as his possessions are taken away. He starts to leave a room, then stops, and, almost as if by irresistible impulse, finally looks up at the wall beside him. The camera pans up to where he is peering to see the portrait of Ann Sheridan.

[Dame Olivia turns 104 -- a tribute]

I sent a fan letter to Olivia de Havilland at her Paris address in 1990. I heard nothing in response at the time, thinking, "Oh, well, I tried."

Then, much to my surprise, I received a response from the lady in 1995. I could hardly believe it when I saw a thick envelope arrive in the mail with her return address in the corner of it.  She sent me a note of apology for the time delay, and thanked me for my letter she called "perceptive," along with all five photos I had sent her autographed.

A very gracious response from one of the legends of Hollywood for which the wait (a little lengthier than expected) was well worth it. I'm glad that I was able to make a brief connection with an actress who has appeared in a larger number of favourite films of mine than most.

Never would I have imagined, though, that after all these years she would still with is. For which I am very grateful.

[I Just Watched...]

9 hours ago, kingrat said:

I'd like to thank the people who mentioned Arthur Hailey's The Moneychangers (1976) in connection with the recent Jean Peters tribute.

 

Big cast for sure in an entertaining "high finance" soaper, kingrat. But I have to say that I thought Christopher Plummer stole the show, if only for his final scene in the four parter.

[Children of Actors who became famous as Actors]

10 hours ago, midnight08 said:

Isn't that photo on the left the last photo ever taken of Sean? It's very haunting. Little did he know what lay ahead for him on this journey.

This is the last known photograph taken of Sean Flynn, along with fellow photojournalist Dana Stone, before they disappeared. Sean struggled for a few years trying to figure put what to do with his life as he lived in the shadow of his famous father. He clearly had the same adventurous spirit (working for a while as a big game hunting safari guide) but, tragically, his dare devil pursuit of a news story behind enemy lines cost him his life. The two disappeared in 1970, with Flynn declared legally dead in 1984. His mother, Lili Damita, spent a fortune in a futile search for her son.

[Children of Actors who became famous as Actors]

Sean Flynn, son of Errol, appeared in a few films (including Son of Captain Blood) before meeting his doom as a photojournalist in Cambodia.

[Carl Reiner has died]

14 minutes ago, Dargo said:

True, but I've heard there wasn't a day in which Carl and Mel didn't get together at one of their homes.

(...well, until this whole Covid thing came about anyway)

 

That's Norman Lear sharing the moment with three of the world's great comedy performers. This photo was taken in May, 2017.

[Carl Reiner has died]

3 minutes ago, Dargo said:

I'm wondering how Mel is taking this news.

And yep Tom, Carl was especially hilarious in that DVDS "Coast-to-Coast Big Mouth" episode. 

(...R.I.P., Carl)

I feel badly for both Mel Brooks and Dick Van Dyke with this sad news about the death of their dear friend after all these years of shared laughter together.

 

[Carl Reiner has died]

I think that one of the funniest episodes on The Dick Van Dyke Show was "Coast to Coast Big Mouth" when Laura blurts out on television that Alan Brady is bald. Carl Reiner and Mary Tyler Moore are both hilarious in this sequence. The magic that special comedy talents could do when blessed with great writing like this.

 

[Noir Alley]

4 minutes ago, sewhite2000 said:

So nice that Errol brought his daughter along for the ... wait (sputter), his WHAT?

Flynn was about 38 at the time while his wife was 23. But as he got older his women got younger.

[Noir Alley]

4 hours ago, misswonderly3 said:

The whole amusement park scene, culminating in the legendary House of MIrrors ending, is fantastic and justifiably famous.  Tom, are you familiar with the Woody Allen film Manhattan Murder Mystery ?  Without giving too much away  (if you  haven't seen it), I'll just say that Woody pays homage to this scene to great effect.  It's always fun when a movie you're watching makes an allusion to  a much earlier work - even some of the dialogue is almost the same !

It's been years since I saw the Allen film, MissW, so I don't recall any LFS reference the Woodster may have included. I've cracked a few mirrors myself when I looked into them first thing in the morning. Maybe that was my own way of paying homage to the film.

[Noir Alley]

4 hours ago, nakano said:

I like  LFS  ,i watched it a few times before.I will be the only one here to say this..Rita Hayworth looks extraordinary in the film,the blonde short hair,enhance her beauty,she is gorgeous.. my  favorite Rita,as for Welles' Irish accent well,when i close my eyes he sounds like Peter Lorre sometimes,Lorre was German as you know, i will try again to see Errol Flynn at the bar(supposed to be there),no luck ,i will make a serious attempt tomorrow...

I suspect this shot of Flynn and his wife and the Welleses (is that the correct spelling?) together on the Zaca while shooting the film is the closest you will ever get to finding Errol.

[Noir Alley]

Well I like Lady from Shanghai, though I will concede some of the criticisms mentioned by posters here. But even acknowledging the confusion of the story and the fact that a Garfield or Mitchum in the lead would have given the film more gravitas (something I hadn't considered before, thanks Dargo), I still  like LFS for its on location Mexican backdrops (include a few shots of Errol Flynn's schooner, the Zaca) with its strong black and white photography, the odd ball angles at times of Welles' direction and the performances, in particular, of Everett Sloane and the very strange Glenn Anders. There's something about the way Anders kept saying "Tarrrrget practice," drawing out the first syllable of 'target' that stays with me.

Of course, the film also climaxes with its legendary house of mirrors shoot up, a justly famous tour de force demonstration of Welles genius behind the camera.

Why Welles made the decision, though, to have Rita shorten her hair and dye it blonde, I don't quite know. I miss those gorgeous Gilda locks and maybe a little bit of the magic was missing with them. There were reportedly squabbles between Hayworth and Welles during the making of the film and they'd be divorced by the end of the year this film was released.

[I Just Watched...]

Mountain of the Cannibal God (1978)

Exploitation Italian cannibal flick with plenty of grisly shock effects (decapitations, an arm snapped off by a gator, a closeup a **** cut off, a head crunched with its brain splattered etc.), this film is distinguished by a bigger budget than many of it type, in addition to the casting of two international stars, Ursula Andress and Stacy Keach, neither of whom was likely to consider this film a highlight in their careers.

Standard jungle adventure about an expedition in search of a man who disappeared on an island off New Guinea, the film has an undeniable nastiness to many of its scenes, particularly in its final portion when the party is taken captive by cannibals. For all those red blooded males interested later scenes include Andress staked out naked with native hand maidens rubbing her down with oils. Andress was 42 when this film was made and, while undeniably still striking in appearance, it feels a bit degrading to see her allowing herself to be exploited this way.

There will also be plenty of gore in the cannibal scenes, as well as an act of beastiality. I strongly suspect that acts of animal cruelty  occurred in this production (one lizard slit open looks uncomfortably real, for instance), much of which was shot on location in Sri Lanka.

Also known as Slave of the Cannibal God and Prisoner of the Cannibal God, this mildly diverting film, if ever shown on TCM, would undoubtedly only be broadcast in the wee hours of a Saturday morning.

2 out of 4

[Iconic “North by Northwest” monument focus of “woke” forces?]

SO WHAT'S ALL THIS GOT TO DO WITH RACISM IN GONE WITH THE WIND!?!

 

Oops, sorry, wrong thread. But wasn't my indignation in bold impressive?

 

Okay, here's a tie-in:

"Mammy, why didn't you have my breakfast ready until now?"

"Because I didn't wanna rush more."

[Black film history at Universal]

Leigh Whipper as Crooks in OF MICE AND MEN (1939). Having played the same role on Broadway, Crooks was a sympathetic character and not the patented black stereotype found in so many other films of that period. Of note, Whipper was also one of the founders of the Negro Actors Guild of America.

[Iconic “North by Northwest” monument focus of “woke” forces?]

Just so long as this doesn't become the future:

[Beach Movies]

1 hour ago, cigarjoe said:

Got a kick out of Ben mentioning how Disney lent Annette Funicello to whatever beach film he was barking last night only if it was guaranteed that she would not have her belly button on display.

 

Walt never did like navel gazers.

[The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1962)]

13 minutes ago, Janet0312 said:

Can you imagine this actor coming home after filming this scene and his wife asks him how his day was?

He'd just say it's tough trying to keep a head of people.

[THEIR WORST FILM]

Errol Flynn's last film, an embarrassingly amateur production, was unquestionably his worst film. It primarily starred his 17 year old girlfriend. If you haven't seen this shoddy little turkey, keep it that way and just remember him as Robin Hood.

[THEIR WORST FILM]

16 minutes ago, Allhallowsday said:

I remember the first time I sat through TORCH SONG and was stunned, disgusted, delighted, and LAUGHING at the JOAN blackface number.  I mean woah!  Y'don't see THAT everyday.  That scene is the highlight of that silly movie!  What crap! 

"Don't cha knows me, Joanie. I'm your little boy!"

[THEIR WORST FILM]

Torch Song is now politically incorrect. Strictly Mammy Dearest stuff.