TopBilled

I think you are referring to the Columbia sets, not Fox. Titles like THE KILLER THAT STALKED NEW YORK and CITY OF FEAR are considered noir, though the story is about a deadly contaminant. Fox's PANIC IN THE STREETS covers similar territory and is also regarded as a noir.

What I find interesting is that Fox never releases its B-films. Or very few of them. The Warners Archive has plenty of B-titles on DVD.

THESE ARE THE DAMNED aired on TCM last year. I did not record it and have been hoping they will show it again.

Thanks Terry...sounds like you are giving it a thumbs down. I like to read what everyone else's preferences are as consumers. It helps me make more informed decisions when I am contemplating buying some of these items.

Alexander Knox has a strong supporting role in SISTER KENNY, made just after WILSON. He's great as Irene Dunne's husband in OVER 21, a screwball comedy made for Columbia that costars Charles Coburn. He pairs up with Bogey in Columbia's TOKYO JOE, made in 1949. And my personal favorite is his lead role in the comedy THE JUDGE STEPS OUT with Ann Sothern. He is credited as one of the screenwriters for this late-40s RKO classic.

>Did anyone else catch Barbara Britton in the Chorus suring the beginning of the film. Yes, she was one of the Louisiana belles. Also, very early in their careers, were Jean Wallace, Karin Booth (credited here as Katherine Booth), and Margaret Hayes who had an extensive career, mostly on television as Maggie Hayes.

Good deal. Great information. Too bad they didn't make a set like this: MY FRIEND FLICKA, THUNDERHEAD SON OF FLICKA, GREEN GRASS OF WYOMING and SMOKY.

Thanks Arturo for letting folks know.

Still there...Hot Topics, currently on page 2.

One thing we need to add is that in the days before television, folks read the newspaper a lot more. Brando spent awhile on Broadway as Stanley and he was written about frequently in the papers. Granted, someone in Idaho probably did not get to see a Broadway play, but it is possible that many people around the country knew about Marlon Brando before his first film. Hedda included many mentions of him in her column, anticipating his first Hollywood film, and she was syndicated nationally. Some of these stage performers also made it into national magazines like Time or Life before their big picture debuts. Plus, if they happened to be married to someone who was already an established motion picture star that increased their visibility. Orson Welles is another one that the public knew about, largely due to his spectacular work on radio, before he even stepped foot on a Hollywood studio lot.

The upper and lower half of the double-bill is an interesting concept and should have its own thread, if one has not already been created. I have read several articles where actors claimed that their programmers would be the upper part of a bill, only to have the studio renege and put them as the lower feature. My guess is that studio politics were often involved, or that a film did not turn out well and after editing, it was decided to downgrade its status.

>I bought the melodrama's one and I was not disappointed at all. They come in a nice sturdy set, have the slip case, and for the price you can't beat it. However, the discs are the same as the ones that were originally distributed by Fox. Glad to hear that. Sounds like a real bargain.

I was wondering about that, too. Here's an article about these (and the prices online are double what one finds at Target): http://www.movieweb.com/news/20th-century-fox-celebrates-its-75th-anniversary-with-brand-new-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases Apparently, they have been on sale since April. I am always happy when I see classic films on display at Target, Best Buy or Walmart.

I was at Target earlier and I noticed the Fox 4-packs that are on sale. They have been on the shelves for awhile, but I have not purchased any. It's a special series celebrating the studio's 75th anniversary. I have many of these titles already, but for $10 I think that's a good deal ($2.50 each). The classic quads seem arranged by theme, instead of by artists. Melodramas: PEYTON PLACE, AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER (with Cary & Deborah); LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN and A LETTER TO THREE WIVES. Literary Adaptations: ANNA KARENINA; A FAREWELL TO ARMS (with Rock & Jennifer); LES MISERABLES; THE SUN ALSO RISES Musicals: CAN-CAN; DADDY LONG LEGS; ANNA AND THE KING OF SIAM; STAR! Obviously, these are not B-films. Has anyone bought these? If so, how is the video quality?

Interesting you mention Natalie. I was going to add that Tab and Natalie made a few films together. Of course, when the programmers made last night's schedule, they had no idea Wagner would be introducing the films.

He was already in the stratosphere having scored on Broadway in Streetcar with Jessica Tandy. He had his choice of roles for his first picture, and he wound up doing Stanley Kramer's paraplegic story THE MEN. I think it's good he started with this one, so he could learn cinematic techniques better before Kazan shot the film version of Williams' play. There was likely the fact they had to wait for its stage run to end. Again, it gave Brando time to get familiar with filmmaking methods. His work in THE MEN is raw, spectacular. It helps that Teresa Wright is so soft and sensitive. When he loses control, she is like the china, and he's the bull in the china shop.

I really enjoyed GUNMAN'S WALK, which I thought was the best of the lot. Loved Tab singing I'm a Runaway. Wagner did a great job, and I am assuming he's back on Wednesday.

Maybe they will just have Ben do it...?

During the intro for RETURN TO TREASURE ISLAND (not a sequel), Wagner said that better things were ahead for Tab. He praised Tab's work in DAMN YANKEES. I agree. I think it would've nice if DAMN YANKEES had been shown this evening. This film, the TREASURE ISLAND adventure, was an early one for the actor and a production cheapie. Did you see the beard he wore? LOL

>There is a terrific book on the history of Technicolor called, appropriately enough, Glorious Technicolor. Thanks. I will have to look for it on Amazon.

It looks like the same congressional set was used in these classics: MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON, LOUISIANA PURCHASE, BLOSSOMS IN THE DUST, and HEAVENLY DAYS.

Someone needs to write a book about Natalie Kalmus, if it hasn't been written already.

Welcome to the forum, JanetLee.

Terry, There's a musical number where the girls all have very brightly colored dresses (each in a different color). It is just gorgeous. The costumes were carefully coordinated with the Technicolor cinematography.

I loved his intro for GUNMAN'S WALK. Seems like he and Tab Hunter are good friends. It is Tab's 80th birthday.