Lori3
-
Posts
902 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Never
Posts posted by Lori3
-
-
Some girls get all the luck, like Janet Leigh.
John Garfield on one arm and Gene Kelly on the other arm!
Talk about Heaven on earth.
-
HI. That is neat who you were able to take a picture of that film. Well, from the style of clothing and hair the picture, I would say is from the 30's. I at first thought that the man looked like Lon Chaney Jr, but I don't think he made any films in the 30s.Of course I could be wrong, it has happened before!
I have no idea who the woman is.
Good luck.
I am sure there will be someone on these boards who can identify these two.
Lori
-
Thanks Hibi. That is right, Act of Violence was the name of the film and a very good film indeed.
I wonder if TCM is going to do some special programming for Miss Thaxter?
Lori
-
Ginnyfan, I think the director of TPART did a great job in keeping the censors happy and still making a "sexy" film. Of course the chemistry between Garfield and Turner help a lot too. Yeah, "The Power of Passion" fits.
Max Bloom's Cafe Noir has a Facebook page and "they" are now promoting the up coming screening of TPART and my petition.
Here is the web address to the cafe's Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/maxblooms.
. From the "Classic Film Guide."
"The Postman Always Rings Twice, 1946, Starring the beautiful Lana Turner as Cora Smith and the always exciting John Garfield as Frank Chambers, this film noir classic is a must-see!"
I agree!
I think if the box-set of John Garfield's films does come to pass, WB's will have to include The Postman Always Rings Twice" in the box-set.
Thanks
Lori
Here is the link to my petition, just in chance someone is reading this for the first time.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/778/073/466/give-star-recognition-back-to-a-legendary-star/
Edited by: Lori3 on Aug 17, 2012 4:53 AM
-
Thanks Tom for another interesting and information thread. Lee Tracy was great, and I remember discovering him in Bombshell and then Dinner at Eight. I also could never figure out what happen to him. I never saw him in any films in the late 30s or the 40s. Well now I know why, thanks to you.
You are right though, he would have been a perfect fit at the Warners studio. What a shame, because he really was a terrific actor. It was such recently that I discovered that the actor who played the President in The Best Man was Lee Tracy. I kept thinking who is this old guy, he is really good.
As far as Joan Blondell goes, well she is just so great "forget about it." I could see Tracy and Blondell in films together and the lines would be just "bouncing back and forth" with those two.
I love Joan in Footlight Parade with Cagney. She and Cagney had great chemistry together in that film and she could sure deliver those snappy lines, e.g. "You said it Papa!"
I think you are right Tracy and Blondell would had made a great team!
Lori
-
Thanks Tom for the very interesting story regarding Liston and Clay. Wow, that is really something. I asked my husband about this substance that maybe some boxers or their corners my use, and he had heard of it before, but could think what the name of the substance was.
I am going to tell him about the Liston and Clay fight.
However, it brings me back to sort of my orginial question which is "Why didn't Cagney's character tell his corner "there feels like there is something in my eyes?"
Oh well, I guess it is one of those Hollywood "things" and it doesn't matter that much since the film it self was pretty good. Not one of my favorite Cagney films but it was entertaining.
Thanks
Lori
-
ginnyfan, that was a great blog on Ginny. I too agree, that she (Ginny) would be very popular today, and I could see her in a lot of Disney movies.
Jenny mentioned "The Philadelphia Story, and Ginny was hysterical in the film. She was so good she came real close to stealing the movie from all those "big gun" actors, e.g. Hepburn, Grant and Stewart.
I also remember her in the bathroom scene with Joan Crawford from the film "The Women." I wonder how Crawford treated her?
She really was a solid and talented young actress who could hold her own with Hollywood's most iconic stars.
If only she would have written a book about working with all stars, I am sure it would have been a best seller.
I forgot too, that Ginny was in "Babes on Broadway."
So, ginnyfan, how many years was Ginny in films,and how many films did she appear in? I think she started at a pretty young age, didn't she?
Thanks
Lori
Oh and I want to thank you for "introducing" me to a very talented young actress, who I knew the face but not really the name until you started the thread on her. I now consider myself to be a "fan" of Virginia Weidler.
Thank you too on the info regarding Jean Muir. I have seen the entire blacklist before and it is pretty long, with JG being the most prominent name on the list at that time. I still find it unbelievable that those HUAC monsters were given such power and were basically allowed to destroy the careers and lives of so many innocent people. And I still don't know what happened to"innocent until proven guilty." Shameful and disgusting period in the history of this country.
Edited by: Lori3 on Aug 17, 2012 3:40 AM
-
Tom, wrote: Thaxter was the last surviving cast member of this terrific little drama. Not quite right Tom.
Sherry Jackson, the child actress who played the youngest daughter of Harry and Lucy in The Breaking Point is still alive, she is 70 years old now. I not sure of the name of the other child actress who played the older daughter but she might still be alive as well.
I came across an interview Sherry Jackson gave just a year or so ago, and she was asked about working on the film "The Breaking Point." Another lovely memory from a child actress who worked with Garfield. I will post the highlights of the interview on another thread sometime, along with the link.
I had forgotten Phyllis Thaxter also played the wife of Robert Ryan in a film with Van Heflin, but I can't remember the name of the film.Ryan is trying to kill Heflin, and Janet Leigh is also in it. It was a good film and she (Thaxter) gave another solid performance.
TCM does need to get on the ball and start interviewing some of these stars of the classic era before they are all gone. They also should start interviewing the child actors / actress of the classic era, because they too are getting up there in age.
Lori
Edited by: Lori3 on Aug 17, 2012 2:57 AM
-
Dargo, you might be right! I know Kazan was in some of the "Group's" productions in the 1930's, and I am not sure what type of reviews he received while on the stage.
Maybe comedy roles would have worked out better for Kazan, who knows. It is amazing though with the photos you posted he and Mel Brooks could be brothers.
All I know is that I read somewhere that Kazan turned to directing because he couldn't make it in films as an actor. Again, I freely admit Kazan was a great director, there are just other things about him that I don't care for.
I have a question about the film City for Conquest. You know when during the fight scene the other actor's "corner" puts something on his gloves, which ended up at least for awhile blinding Cagney? Well, wouldn't Cagney as a boxer or this manager stop the fight and said, "check the other guys gloves?" I mean Cagney's kept trying to rub his eyes, like there was something in them. Also, what did the doctor say was the reason for Cagney's character losing his sight? I had to step out the room for a minute and maybe I missed the diagnoses.
Lori
-
R.I.P. Miss Thaxter.
Tom, are you reading this? Just today, Tom sent me her address and / or contact information. I was thinking of writing her and asking her if she would add her name to my petition.
Oh my goodness, that is strange.
She was a lovely, natural actress, very good in the 1950 film "The Breaking Point" and many other films as well.
Lori
-
Yes Tom, I did see part of the interview Blake did with Morgan and Blake did get a little "crazy" there for a bit. However, when Blake said, John Garfield gave me the greatest line ever, which was, "Robert remember this for the rest of your life, your life is a rehearsal and your performance is real" had the members of the "fan" club I belong to going crazy trying to figure out what Garfield really meant by that statement.
I posted Garfield's statement over on the Hot Topics threads, and there were a couple of people who had pretty good ideas on what they thought Garfield was really trying to teach Blake.
Blake does still obviously has some pain and anger issues he needs to deal with, and I do feel sorry for him, especially if all the abuse he says his parents did to him is true. (And I don't know why he would lie about such stuff.)
Blake was a cute little boy and a good child actor, and as an adult I do think he gave some pretty amazing performances. Sad kind of that he fell it to the TV series trap, and then I am not sure what happened to him.
I shared some of Blake's Garfield story with Julie Garfield and she responded that she was very appreciative of hearing this story about her father.
Thanks
Lori
-
finance, I was going to say something here (or rather write something) regarding your statement that City for Conquest was Kazan's most significant role, but I decided better not start anything and just let it be.
Oh heck, I am not having a good day, so all I will say is Kazan's face and talent really belonged behind the camera, not in front of it. That of course is my opinion.
Just wondering too, if WBs offered him a 7 year contract, like they did to his former friend from the Group theater?
Lori
-
Wow, Tom thank you for providing me with Phyllis Thaxter's address. I just might try her. I know also that Maureen O'Hara is still alive, and she co-stared with him in "The Fallen Sparrow" but she is having some personal problems right now and not in the greatest of health so I won't want to bother her.
Robert Blake, is still alive and he has a web page where people can write him so I might try him as well. He is a little out there at times, but he does share a "lovely" story of how Garfield got him to do a crying scene in Humoresque. The story is really quite touching, almost like two little boys sharing the "hurts and traumas" of their childhood with each other.
Also, some of the authors who have written biographies about Garfield have Facebook pages, so I am planning on asking them for add their name to my petition. Robert Nott use to have a Facebook page, but now it seems to have disappeared.
My petition can stay active on the website until 10/26/12 then it will be sent to the powers that be. However, even if my petition fails to get the results I want, I figure I will send Julie Garfield a copy of it. I am hoping she will want to read all the supportive and loving comments that people are writing about her Daddy, and the supporters are coming from all over the world. I just got someone who signed who is from Qatar!
Thanks again Tom
Lori
-
Thanks Fred for the info I appreciate it..
A little off topic, but did anyone catch that "Foy Family short" from 1928, that aired right before "The Seven Little Foys?" OMG, that was some scary, weird stuff. I am glad I wasn't around in 1928 because that was NOT Entertainment. I am sorry, it just sort of gave me the creeps watching it. I thought, this is the stuff nightmares are made of. (Mommy, Daddy, make them stop!)
In my opinion, we should run that short continuously for hour after hour, day after day, to terrorists who we need info from, and I swear I think it would not be long before they would start to talk, just to get that "vision" to stop.
WOW, again I am sorry, but that to me was really, really weird.
People in 1928 must of been desperate for entertainment.
Lori
-
Tom, I think that maybe The Breaking Point is getting more notice now. I know I sent you that article where the Film Noir Foundation had restored the film and it aired in L.A. this June. Also, the Film Noir Foundation did an article on John Garfield and his role as Harry Morgan in The Breaking Point. I can't remember if I sent it to you through e-mail or not. It is titled "John Garfield, Real Life Noir Hero." It is an excellent article on how Garfield's life towards the end, paralleled with that of Harry Morgan.
If I didn't send it to you and you want to read it let me know and I with e-mail you a copy.
It is really difficult for me to pick a favorite film of Garfield, too many great ones in my opinion, but The Breaking Point is really at the top. When I watch that film I see no acting, I see no actor, I just see the character of Harry Morgan and how his life falling apart.
I know that Garfield felt that in TBP he gave his best performance since Body and Soul.
It seems that Curtiz could alway get the best out of Garfield.
Myself and other Garfield fans still feel sad that he died so young. We believe that had he lived longer he would be right up there with Cagney and Bogart and the others. He would have been a "contender" for sure in your opinions.
Thanks
Lori
-
Dargo, that is a good one, love it. Hey he sang like a "stool pigeon" and he freely admitted that he "sang" to the committee to save his career, period. He was looking out for himself only.
I will always admit that Kazan was an excellent director, and he his an important part of our film heritage, BUT (just from my research and reading) I would say he was not a very good friend.
Just finished watching Footlight Parade, 1933 amazing that movie still holds up. I even got my husband to watch some of it, the last 3 numbers are so fun, and Cagney was utterly charming in the film.
I don't think he ever had any children, did he?
I remember seeing an interview with him years ago and he said the one thing that stopped him from becoming a criminal back in NY when he was growing up was that he had a mother who cared!
I guess Jimmy's mother wasn't going to have her little boy fall into the life of crime.
Thank you Mrs.Cagney.
Lori
-
This is the first time I was able to see "City of Conquest" all the way through. While I agree with Cagney being a little to old for the part, his talent and charm as an actor made it work. I thought the film was really pretty good. I will say that I think it was for the best that Elia Kazan went into directing rather than acting. In this film I felt his acting was a little "forced" or not believable to me at least.
I have loved James Cagney since I was a small girl and I saw him in Yankee Doodle Dandy. There really are so many films of Cagney's that are just so super, e.g. Footlight Parade, White Heat and One, Two, Three (which I love). Years ago I saw White Heat at a revisal theater, on a big screen and it was a really exciting event.
James Cagney was really a national treasure. I am so glad he got into acting and thankful he left us with so many performances we can enjoy and cherish.
Thanks Mr.Cagney.
Lori
-
Thank you Tom, I appreciate you posting the link to this interesting article on "Force of Evil." It is interesting how much "talk" this film still produces today. Many film noir "people" consider it one of the great film noir films. It is up there as one of my favorite Garfield performances, but I still say he was at his very best in "The Breaking Point."
Thanks again,
Lori
-
This is just a different shot of a photo I posted sometime ago on this thread. I was looking for something else for one of my "Garfield Gang" buddies, and came across this, photo I have never seen before. Plus it a picture of my favorite dancer and my favorite actor.
Lori
-
Thanks ginnyfan for the info, it makes sense.
James M. Cain (noir author) last and lost book will come out this September. It is called "The Cocktail Waitress." Cain of course is the author of "Double Indemnity" in 1944 and "Mildred Pierce" in 1945, and "The Postman Always Rings Twice" 1946
Two lucky people will receive a copy of Cain's book at the screening of TPART in Fullerton, Calif on August 28th. That is after they add their name to my petition.
Little trivia about TPART
Tay Garnett the director of TPART said his chief problem with "Postman" would be "getting that much sex past the Hays Office censors." His answer: "Dressing Lana in white somehow made everything she did less sensuous." What? I think it worked out just the opposite and her white short-short outfit at the beginning of the film set a trend for other ladies to follow in 1946.
One of my favorite photo's from the film.
I am sure I am taking to myself here, well ginnyfan might be reading this, (Thanks ginnyfan), MP where are you?
I probably will be posting a few more updates post here, until I hear how the August 28th screening went.
Here is the link to Max Bloom's Cafe Noir: August 28th special screening of The Postman Always Rings Twice, 1946.
http://www.maxbloomscafenoir.com/index.html
Thanks
Lori
-
Yeah, Dargo nobody better list "you know who" here!!! I am just kidding, we all have our own individual tastes and that is fine with me.
I did think of one more actor I don't really care for and that is Van Johnson. Maybe it is because he usually plays, the good guy, innocent and all that hogwash stuff, it just doesn't come off as believable to me. (I personally like the "bad boy" type but with a good heart.)
My husband told me to mention Red Buttons here. I agree with my spouse, Red Buttons has very often "over-acted" in the films he was in ,and to me he comes off like a big "ham."
Someone else mentioned these two fifties stars, and both of them never did a thing for me, and they both were IMHO terrible actors, Tab Hunter and Troy Donahue. I really don't consider them "big time actors" so maybe they shouldn't be listed here.
Thanks
Lori
-
Hey Dargo, I am here just reading the posts and I am amazed at how many classic film actors / actress people don't care for.
Well, truth be told, I never really cared for Robert Taylor as an actor too stiff for my tastes, and this is even before I saw his testimony to HUAC on YouTube. Only thing I liked him in was, Above and Beyond, and he was ok in Waterloo Bridge but that was because he was acting with Vivian Leigh, one of my favorite actresses.
I don't care for Anthony Perkins he just kind of gives me the creeps.(He was good in Psycho, but in that part he was suppose to give one the creeps.)
June Allyson and Doris Day are two I really don't care for, all that sweetness and innocence is too "good girl" like for my tastes.
That is of course just IMHO.
Thanks
Lori
-
It is very hard to pick a favorite dance number from Fred and Ginger's films because to me they were are so very beautiful.
If I had to pick I would say the "Cheek to Cheek" dance for "Top Hat." I get big time "chills" every time I watch that number.
It is just pure "Hollywood Magic" to me and I love it.
Thanks
Lori
-
{font:Verdana, Arial, sans-serif}{size:11px}The following is a small section of a review on the release of the 1947 boxing drama "Body and Soul.
But Garfield's magnetism and ability to project openness, decency and idealism, however tarnished, elevate{font}*Body and Soul*{font:Verdana, Arial, sans-serif}{size:11px} {font}{font:Verdana, Arial, sans-serif}{size:11px}to the level of its lofty ambitions. Garfield paved the way for fellow New Yorkers Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, and, before them, outsider icons James Dean and Marlon Brando. And he was brave, putting his convictions on the line by hiring Canada Lee, then in disfavor owing to the witch hunts of the House Un-American Committee. Garfield and his left-leaning colleagues, many from his Group Theater days, were raked over the coals by HUAC.{font}{font:Verdana, Arial, sans-serif}{size:11px} {font}*Body and Soul*{font:Verdana, Arial, sans-serif}{size:11px} {font}{font:Verdana, Arial, sans-serif}{size:11px}cast and crew members Garfield, Revere, Lee, Gough, Art Smith, Shimon Ruskin, and Howe ran afoul of HUAC and were blacklisted or greylisted, as was producer Bob Roberts. Rossen named names, as the committee demanded, and was unscathed. Garfield declared that he never was a Communist, but refused to name names (if he had, his wife, Roberta Seidman, would have been one of them). Still, his brushes with HUAC hurt his career, to say nothing of his scarlet-fever-damaged heart.{font}{font:Verdana, Arial, sans-serif}{size:11px} {font}
{font:Verdana, Arial, sans-serif}{size:11px}For more information about{font}{font:Verdana, Arial, sans-serif}{size:11px} {font}*Body and Soul*{font:Verdana, Arial, sans-serif}{size:11px}, visit{font}{font:Verdana, Arial, sans-serif}{size:11px} {font}[Olive Films|http://www.olivefilms.com/]{font:Verdana, Arial, sans-serif}{size:11px}.{font}{font:Verdana, Arial, sans-serif}{size:11px}
Here is a link to the full review, right here on TCM Movie News site if anyone cares to read it.
{font}
Captains Courageous and Two Great Performances
in General Discussions
Posted
Tom, I agree completely with what you wrote. Captains Courageous is a wonderful film with beautiful performances by Tracy and Bartholomew. I have seen the film probably over 15 times and I cry at the same place in the film you mentioned every time.
The film does such a wonderful job in allowing us to see the "growth" of Bartholomew's character. This growth is all due to the love and understanding a "simple" but wise man gives to this child.
This film always confirms to me that sometimes in life things might happen that at first we might fight and not understand why this is happening. However, once time has passed, we then can finally see that what we fought and couldn't understand why it was happening turned out to be a real blessing for us, and we are grateful that it did happen the way it did.
I hope I made sense. Anyway, it is a great film that has stood the test of time, and I believe is an Essential for adults and children a like.
Thanks for another beautiful write up.
Lori