[Why was this person not a bigger star?]

I want to explore the opposite view point of the very entertaining and popular "why is this person a star?" thread.

 

Is there a person who wowed you with their talent or presence yet did not seem to reach a higher level of stardom? Or maybe had a much shorter career than you would have liked? Or did not seem to realize his/her full potential?

 

 

 

[Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid]

Thanks for the nice welcome, FredCDobbs. That is kind of you.

 

It is great to find a forum that holds so many passionate cinephiles! and the threads aren't reduced to name calling or simply stating "that sucked"!

 

I can agree with many of the posts on this thread that *Peabody* is not a great movie, but I found it so sweet and gentle, especially after a rough week at work. My love of cinema ranges from the acknowledged great films, to some more controversial choices of "greatness", to even some wonderful trash and I hope I will always be open to movies that try to speak to the "magic" of love or possibility. Whether is embodied by a mermaid or an angel or unicorn or whatever. And most movies even those not very great have a moment that makes one go hmmmm. And I stated before the very forward female friend character was so modern to me and almost out of place in the movie.

 

I also agree that "Mrs. Peabody" did seem to be written either for or was heavily influenced on Myrna Loy.

 

I was disappointed that I was not able to see more of the mermaid themed pics that tcm aired that night. Maybe next time.

[Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid]

I stayed home last Friday night and was so pleasantly surprised by tcm's offerings of movies with mermaids. I read about *Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid* in an old Life magazine and somehow it stuck with me all these years later. *Peabody* was really charming! It took away so much stress I was encountering over the week. Ann Blythe was so charming and communicated a lot without any dialogue. I found her vulnerable, lusty, spiteful and believable. She was also so very pretty! I was also struck by how sexually forward Andrea King's character was (especially for the 1940's and in a slight romantic fantasy film) - she seemed so modern and emancipated!

 

I'd like to hear what other's think of this film and the characters.....

[Marlena Detreich]

I agree wholeheartedly with you regarding the great choice to end "Summer of Stars" with a day dedicated to Marlene Dietrich! My ownly regret was that I had to spend most of the day at work instead in front of the tv with Marlene. I was lucky enough to finally see "The Scarlet Empress", a movie I've known of since I was in junior high (I was an early classic movie fan)! Well, I fell asleep during the last ten minutes, so hopefully I'll get to see the remaining minutes on tcm sooner than later. But I fell in love with this movie and even more in love with Marlene. She was so exquisitely shot! I could have almost watched a movie entirely of her close-ups. I'd never seen or really heard of John Lodge before and was really impressed. I truly cannot believe he was not a bigger star. The two of them had such chemistry. The film is as beautiful and at times grotesquely beautiful as its reputation. It did not disappoint.