Dargo

Isn't it funny how the internet seems to know what might be of interest to us, James? And by this I mean, today I was looking on YouTube for a clip of Anton Walbrook in the Col. Blimp movie in order to post it within the Red Shoes thread, and after I found it and ran it, the very next YT clip that came up on screen was a discussion which touched upon this topic and that took place on the Dick Cavett Show in the 1970s with filmmakers Robert Altman, Mel Brooks, Peter Bogdanovich and Frank Capra...

LOL Damn good (and of course, pointed) question here, rj! My guess would be that because there seemed to be a whole heck of a lot less crybabies in my parents' generation of the 1940s than there is now days, maybe not. But then again, because the change of genders from Pat O'Brien in the original '31 version to Roz Russell in the 1940 remake was a rare thing done in films during the studio era, perhaps the Greatest Generation audiences of that time didn't see this as a trend challenging the male-dominated status quo of that time. (...btw, I can't wait to see if the poster--who in my case shall remain nameless--and who offered up this little bent in this discussion, will ever reply to your post here...but if he doesn't, it won't of course be of any great loss)

Was just gonna mention this one myself here, Mr.G. (...lemme guess...TB's mentioning of those Agatha Christie movies brought it to mind, right?)

And don't forget Walbrook's terrific performance in this film, Bronxie. All brilliantly done in one long take. Gets me every time I watch it... (...this was the film that first brought forth my appreciation of his talents, and later would come via the films you mentioned above)

Bad Day at Black Rock (1955) Grand Hotel (1932) The Great Escape (1963) Executive Suite (1954) Command Decision (1948) Give 'Em Hell, Harry (1975...naaah, just kiddin' with this last one here, of course)

So, kind'a like the Farkel family on Laugh-In, maybe?! (...except of course with redheaded children. not blonde)

Sorry Cid, but once again I was just kiddin' up there. (...ya know if I keep this sort'a thing up, what little credibility I still have left around here will be TOTALLY lost, won't it!) LOL

What, Lily? No mention (other than his image) of Anton Walbrook in your OP here??? That guy was great in every movie I've ever seen him in. (...and especially so in this film)

Yeah yeah, I know they dressed her down in order for her to contrast even more against MM overt sexiness, but I've always found it hard to believe that a doofus like Max there could get as hot a babe as Jean Peters there to marry him in this flick.

Yeah, I'd say including those interviews of ALL the Golddiggers in it was a bit too much. (...I mean, wouldn't ya think having just one blonde, one brunette and one redhead interviewed in it would've been enough?!!)

I once had a dictionary in which if you looked up the word "doofus"...... (...yeah, you guessed it...Max -Casey Adams- Showalter's picture was right below it)

It would be another two years for me to get to the point where I had to worry about this sort'a thing, Cid. (...but my usual luck in life would again prevail...my Draft Lottery number wasn't pulled out of that bin until the 360th time)

LOL Ya know Gerald, if you were implying the use of the third person format here, you really should have placed quotation marks around the words "a great man" here, ya know. (...btw, sorry I missed ya at the Red Car again this year)

Maybe like the two old biddies did in THIS one?...

Well, if it makes ya feel any better here slayton, there was always that movie titled SOUP de Jour that was released in 1968. Uh-huh, you know. That early neo-noir message movie which pressed that old saw about never playing poker with a guy named "Pops" and never eating at any place named "Mom's". It of course especially promotes the second part of this, as the soup served inside Mom's Diner in this movie is killer, and don't mean this in a good way. Nope, it actually kills people. (...btw...don't take the time to IMDb this one either...I'm just kiddin' again here...well, I thought this was funny anyway, dude...but then of course I would, wouldn't I)

I dunno. Maybe it all boils down to that old saw which is often mis-attributed to John Lennon (he used a version of it as lyrics in a song he wrote), but which actually should be credited to American writer/journalist/cartoonist Allen Saunders (1899-1986): "Life is what happens to us while we are busy making other plans."

Well shucks, NS! Okay, alright. I guess I do have to admit that back in the day I was sometimes called (among many OTHER things, mind you) a "child prodigy". Of course, MOSTLY by my mother, but THAT still counts, RIGHT?! BUT, you know how it is. They say only about 1% of "child prodigies" ever live up to their true potential, and we OTHER 99% just end up coasting through life, and sometimes just ending up working for an airline...for 35 years. (...oh sure, EASILY coasting through life because of being "child prodigies" and ultimately to a comfortable retirement like I have, but STILL, oh how I could've maybe changed the world for the better IF I had ONLY applied myself a little more!!!) LOL

Oh yeah, I remember this too, NS! In fact, back when they were showing Krakatoa, East of Java (which btw, is actually WEST of Java) there, I was fond of referring to it as "Cinerama, West of La Brea"! (...and even though IT was actually EAST of La Brea!!!)

I thought Dick Powell was very believable in the titular role. I also thought every actor was on their game in this film. Also liked the direction, the cinematography, and even didn't mind what might now days in hindsight be considered "cliched" dialogue. And sorry, but I don't get the idea that this film's narriative was "confusing" at all. Nope, it pretty much spelled out the idea that O'Clock had had a dallince with his partner's wife, had a vague idea but no comfired thought until later that his partner had killed the crooked cop and his girlfried, and that the later attempted hit on him was motivated because of the aforementioned dalliance. (...in other words, it was in essence pretty much "A-B-C" as the story unfolded for me)

Ah yes. The age of the expanded strike zone. (...good point, NS)

Absolutely! Don't know why I even bothered to communicate directly with you in the first place here. (...as I had to know this would end up as it did when we first decided to keep our distance from each other a while back)

And "Un-huh" is RIGHT here, sir! (...like I said up there, TRY IT)

I hear ya here, unwatchable. I too have now gotten to the point where I've grown a little tired of this. BUT, what say we put to rest ONCE AND FOR ALL the idea that you've brought here about "there is a Hollywood Blacklist going on right now, against anyone in the industry who dares to hold conservative views." Nope sir, there is NOT, and let me repeat this here, NOT anything CLOSE to a "blacklist" going on in Hollywood against celebs holding convervative views and like that which existed during the Red Scare era. I invite you check out the IMDb filmography of some of these actors, say, actors such as Jon Voight and Mel Gibson, and see how much work film THEY'VE gotten in recent years. It's a LOT! (...go ahead, DO IT, and then maybe THIS little lament I hear ALL the damn time coming from the more conservative element in this country now days might be lessened TOO and so I won't have to hear THIS damned sort of whinning anymore)

Yep, except for the lack of a wandering eye here, maybe.

Sorry to be the proverbial "wet blanket" here guys, but sure,1968 might have been a "good year" for MOVIES, but I doubt either RFK or MLK Jr. cared for it much. (...hey, just sayin') LOL