ChristineHoard

I played all the versions of "Cry Me A River" on this thread (except Justin Timberlake) and I liked Julie London's version the best, Sam Cooke at #2. The instrumentals are soft and don't get in the way of the vocals. It is a torch song and I think Julie did the best to convey this. I like Barbra Streisand overall but she does sing this as a show tune and the instrumentals interfere. Sorry; just my opinion. I'm also going to contradict myself somewhat and say I like the Joe Cocker's interpretation, too, but this may be part nostalgia as I recall fondly his performances with his passionate voice backed by Leon Russell with his flowing hair and tall hat. Overall, Julie London's version is #1 for my taste. Plus, as a little kid, I remember Julie as the great singer before she did the EMERGENCY TV show.

I know it's kind of corny but I love the "Indian Love Call" number from Rose Marie. I can't help it; I find it romantic and sweet. I just watched Inferno on TCM. Taut thriller that is part western, part adventure story with noir elements even though it takes place in the desert sun and heat. Robert Ryan is excellent, as always, as the cuckold husband left to die in the desert by his wife and her boyfriend. Can he survive with a broken leg and hardly any food and water? I especially liked the ending. Rhonda Fleming looks good in her western/desert wardrobe as well as her glamorous gowns when she's in her mansion and the mandatory swimsuit scene at a pool. A girl has to look good when she's pretending to care about her missing husband, right?

It's been mentioned on other threads but Into the Wild is excellent and I highly recommend it. I cried when I saw it and I cried when I read the book and I'm not much of a crier. Fine performances, especially by Oscar-nominated Hal Holbrook. I may also check out Inferno but it'll be for Robert Ryan, not so much Rhonda Fleming (sorry, fellas).

If TCM isn't going to run classic movies that don't have racism or racial stereotypes, we're going to see fewer movies and we'll really see some overplayed films. We can learn from our film history and how it reflects our real history.

Good point, I wouldn't want something good to slip into obscurity, especially at the expense of something well known played over and over, either. Maybe TCM can strike the right balance by expanding their liibrary/film rental arrangements. I imagine this is a goal of TCM.

Joan Taylor, co-star in EARTH VS. THE FLYING SAUCERS, was an acquaintance of my mother's. Joan's dad ran the old Deerpath movie theater in Lake Forest, Illinois, where my mom watched movies when she was a youngster.

I am not in favor of Rex Reed being a TCM host. He's been such a shill for movies regardless of merit over the years I wouldn't buy anything he's selling. Ever notice how there are enthusiastic critic quotes for some movies regardless of merit so critics see their names in the ads? Rex Reed is like that, or at least he used to be like that.

Most of the movies on this list are worth overplaying because they're great films. If TCM is going to overplay something, at least they make it something that stands up to repeated viewings. I imagine with all the hours in the day, every day, to be filled with programming, there are bound to be overplayed movies.

I watched Don't Bother to Knock on the Fox Movie Channel last night with Richard Widmark, Marilyn Monroe and, in her movie debut, Anne Bancroft plus a supporting cast full of familiar faces like Laurene Tuttle, Jim Backus and Elisha Cook, Jr. It's early in Monroe's career (1952) and it's a dramatic role about a babysitter (Monroe) with mental problems. The story takes place in a New York hotel where the elevator operator man (Cook) recommends his niece (Monroe) for a babysitting gig. Of course, because it is Marilyn Monroe, we get a "leg" scene of her lifting her hemline to adjust her stocking and a brief scene of her in her slip after she's worn the kid's mother's negligee. I'm not a big Monroe fan but she's decent here, stretching her acting muscles. I like Richard Widmark and he plays a mostly sympathetic character (although he thinks he's going to have some sexy time with Marilyn until he realizes she's off her rocker). Anne Bancroft plays a singer in the hotel lounge. She sings a couple tunes (I don't know if she was dubbed or not but it did sound like it could be her voice) and is Richard's true love. Noreen Corcoran, sister of Disney child actor Kevin and who used to be in the TV show BACHELOR FATHER, is the little girl in danger. Not a great movie but there is some suspense and it's fairly fast-paced.

Yes, that is a funny bit. I like that scene where James Gregory's characters says (paraphrasing) he needs one easy number to remember while he's holding the Heinz 57 bottle and the next scene he says there are 57 card-carrying Communists. It is an excellent film.

Yes, Frances always does her own thing. I'll give her credit for that. I don't think I've ever seen her "Hollywood-glammed" up.

I get what you're saying. Sometimes I want relief from all the political ****, too, and politics and history are usually of much interest to me. Sometimes I need to step away a bit for my own mental health sake and partake of my other interests like classic film. But the wearing black thing was about the "Me Too" movement and supporting women and not specifically about the current administration. I watched the Globes. I don't know how I missed James Franco winning but I did some recording/channel flipping so I could listen to the discussion about Gloria Grahame. Seth said he wasn't going to do Trump jokes and he pretty much stuck to that. Oprah did give a good speech. Even though dresses were black, there was a great variety in designs.

We've talked about Gloria in BAD on other threads and whether or not she was Oscar-worthy in that role. She was also in THE BIG HEAT and SUDDEN FEAR that same year so to be in three fine films in one year (and be excellent in all of them) was maybe one reason she was recognized by the Academy.

Yes, check it out. I think Queen Christina and Ninotchka are her best movies. She has some nice romantic moments with Melvyn Douglas in Ninotchka, too.

I love Queen Christina (Greta Garbo and my darling John Gilbert) and particularly the bedroom scene which is most romantic and it is so sweet when Garbo memorizes the room, "I shall live in this room." His discovery and her reveal that she is indeed a woman; their long stay in the room and sharing grapes - it all works so well.

Good choices. You definitely do need to see Burt in two of his very finest movies, ELMER GANTRY and ATLANTIC CITY. He really should have won an Oscar for ATLANTIC CITY.

Two very funny Fields shorts on late: THE DENTIST and THE FATAL GLASS OF BEER. BEER is probably better known but THE DENTIST is equally great. The lady patient does contortions you have to see to believe.

STREET SMART (1987) is an OK movie but it has a terrific Morgan Freeman performance. It's the opposite of most of his work; here he's a scary pimp with a heart of stone. He was nominated for an Oscar (supporting) for it.

James Rebhorn: I remember him from the Stephen King "Cat's Paw" movie. In the first, and best bit, about James Woods trying to quit smoking, Woods is at a party and everyone is smoking including Rebhorn who has lit cigarettes in his ears, nose and mouth. I seem to remember Rebhorn from one of the soaps but can't remember exactly which one - maybe "Guiding Light" or "As the World Turns." "He Knows Your Alone" was OK and not all that bloody except for the head in the aquarium. Another soap vet was in the film in scenes with Rebhorn - Patsy Pease. No comparison between Hanks and Parks. Hanks is a much better actor and more versatile. Their politics are irrelevant. Case closed.

My favorite of Steve's is ALL OF ME. His physical comedy in it is so funny, so perfect.

Most attractive men from Classic Hollywood era in no particular order: Robert Taylor, Robert Mitchum, Cary Grant, Clark Gable, John Gilbert, Tyrone Power, Errol Flynn, William Holden.

Ingrid Bergman was indeed beautiful; very natural, subtle and sensual without over-the-top sexiness.

speedracer5, I think those are twin beds in the first THE THIN MAN as well. Sepiatone, If there were double beds in a movie, wasn't the rule that a foot had to be kept on the floor? It's amazing that anybody got to have any sexy time in the movies or television with all these rules.

I haven't seen Man on the Flying Trapeze in years but I remember it being very funny, especially the scene where Field gets drunk with the burglars. I wish TCM would run it.

Don't you just hate it when that happens?