EugeniaH

Stanwyck never worked with Grant and Stewart. I'd read somewhere that she wanted to do something with Grant but it didn't work out (I'm really hazy on this so I can't say that it's at all true). With Gable she did *To Please a Lady*. One great idea for casting that never came off: Stanwyck and Cagney in a pre-code! That would have been cool!

*The original proposal was to have been Stanwyck in THE FOUNTAINHEAD, starring with Humphrey Bogart.* *Babs brought it to Jack Warner's attention and was livid when she wasn't cast.* Interesting, Arturo, considering Stanwyck and Bogart teamed in "The Two Mrs. Carrolls" in 1947, also for Warners. (I don't know if there's any connection there, but...)

Yeah, I knew I was taking a chance with my post! But just to clarify, I'm talking about George's front end! As if this thread isn't irreverent enough at times...

Some "sexless" stars are more obvious than others, like Mr. Ives (or is it Mt. Ives)? Getting back to the idea of actors who are considered good looking, but who don't have "oomph" onscreen, for me, I would pick George Brent (off the top of my head).

I remembered the words "walk on water" because Stanwyck herself used this expression more than once to refer to herself, saying, "I can't walk on water!" She had said this after a long ovation she got at an awards ceremony. Of course, I didn't know her personally, but she seemed to be a relatively down-to-earth person who never forgot her struggle from the bottom.

*Like many, I've watched an "old" movie and at some point in the film, a reference was made to a person or some sort of custom, situation or behavior that I didn't "get". On the lucky occasions, I "got it" but knew that others younger than me probably wouldn't.* I love this thread idea, and it's something that's crossed my mind over the years as well. I know this is going to sound silly, but when I was a kid (in the 1970s) I came across a lot of then-"confusing" references in classic Bugs Bunny cartoons. For example, there were references to World War II, not only topical news of the day but also the 1940s jargon. Sorry, I can't think of specific examples now, but I think I learned a lot from Bugs. Once I was with a group of friends and I told someone to throw something in the "ashcan" (!!) It just flew out of my mouth unexpectedly. I don't know if that was from a cartoon or an old movie, but it's funny how things stick with you (my parents were born in the 1920s, so that also may have something to do with it).

I know, that's cool...

Howeeeever.... I give her more credit than you do.

At my job at the university, when I talk to other staff and faculty about the college students, I always refer to them as "kids". I had to laugh when I thought about it later, that I'm now at an age where college-aged people are young enough to be my kids. The first time someone referred to me as "ma'am", I was flabbergasted. :^0

*This ain't no Bette Davis or Meryl Streep we're talkin' about!* Whether or not that's true, Swithin, for me personally I just enjoy her in films. I respect that there could be 100 actresses considered "better" than Stanwyck, but I just like the gal. I don't think she - or any other actress - could walk on water. (Not that you were addressing me, I just wanted to comment. )

Even I have to say that Stanwyck could never be Scarlett O'Hara!! :^0 I think someone mentioned Stanwyck in the Sexless thread... She wasn't a beautiful actress, no, but she was sexy in The Lady Eve and Ball of Fire. She could telegraph a vibe through her eyes that was sexy.

Oh, I'm sorry! I just used the post as an excuse to plug Dana Andrews. I really like him (in other films, too). I love Joe Lilac - tough but suave with the smooth voice. Even if he fits his enemies with cement shoes!

*I think the reason Stanwyck did not get The Fountainhead was because King Vidor didn't think she was sexy enough for the role* Interesting, LadyE, I didn't know that. On the same theme, according to the Samuel Goldwyn biography, Goldwyn didn't want to cast Stanwyck in *Stella Dallas* because he didn't think she had sex appeal (as if Stella Dallas was a sexy character!). Anyway, Stanwyck's good friend Joel McCrea went to bat for her and finally convinced Goldwyn to try her out...

LOL... Nah, I'm not gonna go there... On the other hand, as for Stanwyck and Cooper in *Ball of Fire*, huh? Sugarpuss went for Pottsie when she had sexy-as-all-get-out Joe Lilac in her life? Yeesh, if I were in her shoes, I would be buying him silk pajamas, too!

*Yeah, but the scene of Barbara whipping Cooper, what a loss for cinema!* * * * :^0

*To Please a Lady* starred Stanwyck and Gable. Stanwyck and Gable were friends off the set and Stanwyck/Taylor and Gable/Lombard used to have social outings together. I would love to have been a fly on the wall for a conversation between Stanwyck and Lombard, my two favorite actresses, as they let the four-letter word invectives fly!

*Leisen also directed Barbara's 1950 lesser-known triumph No Man of Her Own. I've brought up the fact that I love this movie numerous times, here's one more: I love this movie.* Oh, how I love this movie, too!! I think Stanwyck had her share of less-than-great roles in the 1950s, but this one is among the best (with *Titanic*, *The Furies*, *Clash by Night* - though I know you don't agree with me about *Clash*, Addison ). The beginning where she drags herself up to Morley's apartment begging for help is a powerhouse. Actually, I really liked the play between these two actors (as well as later in the film). I thought John Lund was kind of drippy, but that's a minor criticism. Hibi, to answer your post, the NMOHO film with Gable and Lombard was from 1932, and was a different script.

Here's ol' Zeff:

Hey, I know her! From The Little Rascals!! (She may have been in a movie, too...)

Man, he's "HUGE Daddy" to me...

I think Stanwyck and Kruger are a great team in this movie. Kruger is also a sensitive actor. The scene with the son, with the poor dog... So sad, but it never merges into the melodramatic. Oh, all those Capra movies! Leisure, Miracle Woman, and Forbidden. They are terrific. (General Yen is also good, but I like the others more). Have you ever seen Internes Can't Take Money? There's another sensitive, understated performance. I like this film even better than "Heart". The storyline has a lot more depth to it, and the scenes in the orphanage are heartbreakers (even more so when you know that Stanwyck herself went from one orphanage to the next). Edited by: EugeniaH because Otto Kruger deserves to have his name spelled correctly!

But, we'd better not start talking politics. If this thread gets locked, I'll cry. LOL.

The thing that most surprised me personally about this movie was Fred MacMurray. As I've said in the past, I'm not a MacMurray fan at all, but when I saw him RTN again, I realized that he seemed to have grown as an actor compared to his 1930s films with Carole Lombard. It's probably a no-brainer for most, but I appreciated him just a tiny bit more.

I'd read that Stanwyck lobbied hard to do *The Fountainhead*, and was disappointed when Patricia Neal got the role.

*(like he's faking it and is really an axe murderer or something.......)* It's funny - I know someone like that in my life. He's really dorky, and he has a quiet voice and a creepy quality so I always joke that he probably has bodies buried under his floorboards.