ChristineHoard

topbilled, how could you leave out DUEL?!? Dennis is great in this tense, taut thriller! I know that technically it's a TV movie but I believe it was released overseas and it's on DVD. Early Spielberg; I know you know about it. You mention Dennis' TV work so please give DUEL a shout-out (oh, wait, I just did). If anybody hasn't seen DUEL, check it out. It is really, really good.

Don't mess with anything that will eat its own mate!

Just think of all the movies/plays that could be remade as they were originally intended to be, like CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, which is often mentioned because of the censorship of the times.

Are you serious about this or were you making a joke? Can you provide your source if true? I never heard this story. Garner did get a nomination for MURPHY'S ROMANCE but he really thought he'd win for CHILDREN'S HOUR? I think you could do a revival of CHILDREN'S HOUR but it would have to be set in the past and casting would be crucial, especially the little girl.

You got my curiosity going so I looked at that IMDb website, too. I guess I saw her in HENNESSEY and LUCY when I was a kid. It does seem she was in more things but I think you're right about "one of those faces."

I swear I've seen Karen Balkin in other stuff - maybe just TV? Totally agree about Bonita Granville - excellent actress and makes THESE THREE work in spite of all the Code restrictions. I think I like the earlier version better due to Granville and the lead actors. I saw the second version first and remember feeling so sad because Shirley hanged herself. I thought it was because of unrequited love but maybe it was something more from reading some of the comments here. Thanks for the "food for thought."

I watched He Walked by Night which I recorded when it was on Noir Alley. I really like it and the end in the sewer tunnels was quite exciting. This was the second time I've seen the LA tunnels - the first time was in THEM! (no ants in these tunnels - just Richard Basehart).The camera work was excellent. Some other observations: Eddie Mueller said Joseph Breen and some gangster guy were behind the studio's financing. Roy Roberts, whom I remember from 50's and 60's tv shows, played Captain Breen. Big ego,Joe Breen? I guess enforcing the Code wasn't enough for you. Pay heed immediately when your dog notices something going on. Do not take time to smoke cigarettes and wash your face. Dogs are smart and pick up on stuff before humans do! Yes to Richard Basehart; loved him in Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea TV show which my mom and I watched every.week. Whit Bissell - it seems like he's always playing a scientist (mad or sane) or in some related field when I see him. If I am in an alternative movie world, I want Whit to be my doctor/scientist (preferably sane) or electronics guy.

I recommend The Monster That Challenged the World (1a.m.) on Creature Features night. It's one of the better giant monster movies of the 1950's and stars Tim Holt. Pretty good special effects - a monster that sort of looks like a giant caterpillar with jaws may not sound very scary but it is! Good fun.

No. It was meant to be.

Something for everybody: sweet little Margaret in the daytime and manly man Gable at night.

That is a great scene. And speaking of great, how about Elaine Stewart in that dress?!?

I am looking forward to the Gable-Crawford movies, especially the pre-code ones.

Yes! I also saw both movies when released. My theory: If Henry had won for GRAPES OF WRATH like he should have, Burt would have won for ATLANTIC CITY like he should have. If Jimmy Stewart had won for MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON, he wouldn't have gotten the "make up" Oscar for PHILADELPHIA STORY and Henry would've won his for GRAPES.

I absolutely adore Burt in ATLANTIC CITY!

Yes, John Wayne in THE SHOOTIST is quite good. Right up there with THE SEARCHERS, in my opinion. I like that phrase "phoning it in" and I've heard it many, many times before. It certainly fits a lot of acting performances I've seen over the years.

Yes, I also think LONELY ARE THE BRAVE is one of Kirk's best and most likable roles. It's also a role still relevant today with fracking, oil pipelines, highways, housing developments, etc. continuing to chew up the landscape. As far as Kirk's involvements with the ladies, I, too, also read that he and Doris weren't pals on YOUNG MAN WITH A HORN but I agree that it may be because Kirk and Lauren Bacall knew each other from before so they had more of a connection. I never read anything about Natalie Wood and Kirk. This is news to me. I have read that Natalie was "deflowered" by Nicholas Ray on REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE but that's another topic altogether. One thing I appreciate about Kirk Douglas as an actor is that he was willing to play "bad guys" and do it very well. Some actors won't take on those kinds of roles and just want to play heroes. I didn't think of LONELY ARE THE BRAVE when I posted earlier and I should have because he is really good in it. Dito LUST FOR LIFE. I think my favorite "bad" Kirk is ACE IN THE HOLE. He is just so bad but I can't take my eyes off him.

Maybe the hard-boiled Kirk Douglas in THE DETECTIVE STORY and ACE IN THE HOLE is the real Kirk Douglas. Who knows? Like him or not, he really could play a bad*** (and apparently act like one in real life sometimes as per Dargo's experience). I don't know. I liked him when he played bad and played almost normal like in SEVEN DAYS IN MAY.

Vincent Price is great. I love him in Tower of London. Nobody's mentioned that one yet, He shares a great drinking scene with Basil Rathbone. Great film and they are both excellent in it. Plus, Karloff is in it, too. Re' The Fly: some time ago I read that Vincent and Herbert Marshall laughed so hard during filming that near-final scene in the garden (the spider web scene) it took them a bit to get it together.

It's not a Top Ten because I like everyone's choices. I think Lugosi's best performance was in SON OF FRANKENSTEIN. Ygor was a great character. After that, I go with Dracula, White Zombie,The Black Cat and The Raven. I also like his work in BODY SNATCHER and ISLAND OF LOST SOULS. He had smaller roles in these but they were memorable performances.

Good point.

I'm not familiar with this movie. It looks interesting and it seems like it was a great experience at the Film Forum. Yes, nice mix of cast - newcomers and veterans. Don't mean to pick nits, but as far as Thelma Ritter goes, Det. Jim writes it was a style she did not like but would try. TopBilled infers that because of her involvement with THE MISFITS, she would have been used to The Method. I think she could have been used to Method acting (due to her participation in MISFITS) but that doesn't mean she liked it. Ritter was a great actress who didn't need any "method" to play a character. Speaking of THE MISFITS, I wonder what Clark Gable, an old school kind of actor if there ever was one, thought of all this Method stuff. Maybe TCM will pick up THE INCIDENT someday.

She may not be the most beautiful, but I find Eleanor Boardman's look has a modern quality and she's extremely pretty (for those not familiar, she was in silents like THE CROWD - which plays down her looks - and made a few talkies and was married to director King Vidor). Ava Gardner, Hedy Lamarr, Greta Garbo also come to mind. A lot of credit goes to camermen who knew how to light these actresses and the great still photographers who took their portraits.

Yes, that was some speech. I had pretty much the same reaction as I could imagine somebody giving that exact speech today. A lot of good moments in this movie. I certainly respect and understand your decision to turn away from watching the ending. Everyone's different - my family had severe issues with alcoholism and yet I watch LOST WEEKEND and DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES, etc. When my husband asked me how could I watch those movies, I reminded him that as a combat veteran in Viet Nam, he still watched all the Viet Nam flicks. Same reason. I hope that some day maybe you will watch the entire BIGGER THAN LIFE if/when the time is right for you. I know it's a personal decision.

Fans of Mary Pickford might want to check out SPARROWS this coming Silent Sunday. It's one of her best.

Thanks for your reply; I appreciate it.