Bogie56

The filmmakers of the 1930's can be commended for the many cute and innovative ways in which they got around the code or suggested things that were taboo in forms of entertainment at the time. But thank goodness we don't have to play those games today.

Norma Shearer, born August 10, 1902 in Montreal, Quebec.

Tuesday, November 3 Lots of Robert Mitchum films Tuesday. 12:30 p.m. One Minute to Zero (1952) 4:40 p.m. The Angry Hills (1959) … I haven’t seen either of these two before

I just took a very quick look at January. It seems a bit better but this is on Jan 2 ... Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) True story of boxer Rocky Graziano's rise from juvenile delinquent to world champ. Dir: Robert Wise Cast: Joseph Buloff , Sal Mineo , Everett Sloane .

Yes, lots of innovations in this one. Infrared stock to make the plants look white for one. Cameras on guy-wires which predates the overhead stadium cam shots of today by a long shot. Going from the roof of a building to an underwater shot in one go was pretty impressive too - it was copied in a commercial a few years ago.

In case you didn't notice NipkowDisc I lead off my TCM Program Challenge last month with Hot Spell in your honour. I thought I might scrape one vote by doing so. It might be in the archive.

I just watched Jacques Tourneur's Experiment Perilous (1944) for the first time. I had trouble following the first 40 minutes because it was so boring. And am I wrong in saying that George Brent outdoes himself with what could be his most wooden performance of his career? And that is saying something. Perry Como is like a manic Jim Carrey in comparison to Brent in this one. Even Hedy Lamarr is dull. No fire whatsoever. Albert Dekker tries his best but his part is so inconsequential as to save the film. Paul Lukas' English had improved a lot since films like Behind the Make-Up (1930) when he was very hard to understand but I could hardly care one way or another about any of the characters. EP was a total clunker in my books. It's no Gaslight that's for sure!

I guess there was the danger that I might steal the picture from under Gary and Jerry.

Well, there you go. I was in Class of '44 as well. Though my big Panavision close up ended up on the cutting room floor.

Quite by accident I once watched the scene where Candy drops his cigarette while driving and gets his arms caught up in the seat belts without any sound. The construction of the scene and the reactions of John in that sequence are as good as any by the silent comedy masters.

Perhaps this should be qualified as being Hollywood's Golden Era as mandersoke points out. Arguably the Golden Era for Japanese, French, Italian, Swedish, British and Russian films began in the late 1950's and carried on through the 1960's.

Nice points. And where is what's 'is name now? He is quite late clocking in on this one.

Monday, November 2 I see Christmas decorations are in some stores already! Geesh. 11:30 p.m. Duck Soup (1933). I never tire of some of the gags in this film. And Louis Calhern is a hoot too.

I saw John on stage at Second City's Old Firehall a number of times. Then years later he retuned there for an after hours party that I was invited to and I got the opportunity to speak with him for a bit. A completely gracious down-to-earth chap as you would expect. His beloved Toronto Argonauts had just won the Grey Cup and he was in heaven. And so happy to be back in his home town with friends. He had a high-ball in one hand and a cigarette in the other as we spoke. I must say he was even larger in life than he looked in film. His shoulders were enormous. Later in the 'morning' he got on stage and sang songs with his gang. He was still there partying when I went home. It was not long after that that I went to his memorial in Toronto which was standing room only. God bless him. What a great guy. Thanks of thinking of him, Tom!

Hey Fred, what was Verdi like?

Groucho Marx in Horse Feathers

I wonder if the friends of Speedy Gonzales were based on the characters that Qualen, Leonard and Jenkins played in Tortilla Flat?

Sunday, November 1 8 a.m. Tortilla Flat (1942) Wonderful Victor Fleming comedy with great supporting performances by Frank Morgan, Akim Tamiroff, John Qualen, Sheldon Leonard and Allen Jenkins. midnight. The Crowd (1928). Good King Vidor film!

I do not object to someone chiming in with their opinion or starting a thread that has three others just like it on page one. Even you are free to comment. But to then keep posting the same old tired comments just for the sake of having the last word is - how can I put it - horrible behaviour. Say your piece and move on for crying out loud. Must you rule every topic of conversation?

Repetition for repetition's sake is not discussion. You have seen the statistics and want to keep pushing your own p.o.v. ad infinitum. I have the right to say I find this tiresome and loathsome behaviour.

More from the doomsday soothsayers? Why not give this boring subject a rest and get a life.

i can barely remember The Seventh Victim and I saw it only 10 years ago. I gave it one and a half stars out of four in my little film diary.