Lori3

h1. I read that during or before the making of "Thank Your Lucky Stars" all of the actors in the film were willing to give their salaries to some WWII fund, except Cantor. It was Flynn and Garfield who tracked him down in some bar and talked him into it. I guess he wasn't too happy about agreeing to give up his salary, from what I read a lot of the Warner stars didn't care for him because he was so "tight" with his money. Just to follow-up on W.C .Fields's story Tom shared. I read or head that a friend went to visit Fields when he was dying and he found Fields reading the Bible. The friend asked why he was reading the Bible, and Fields replied "Looking for loop holes." Thanks Tom for the info regarding Flynn's son, very sad. Is it possible that you know more about Flynn than I know about Garfield? Just a FYI http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-the-breaking-point-screens-at-laff-on-saturday-afternoon-20120620,0,6260121.story Arturo I hope you get that picture posted. Lori Edited by: Lori3 on Jul 14, 2012 2:56 PM

Thanks Tom and Arturo for the info. Tom did they have any children together? Sounds like maybe they fought like "wild cats." Not good if she broke a bottle over his head, even if he was unfaithful, but also not good if he hit her. I have never heard of her before. I would of thought that if she remarried he (Flynn) would not had to contiune to pay her clear in to the 50s Yes they were a lovely looking couple, but that obviously does not make for a happy marriage. How many times was Flynn married? Thanks Lori

Chico Marx, Ray Bolger, John Garfield, Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel take a break during the USO tour of defense bases in 1941.

Wow when was that picture taken of Flynn and the 3 ladies? Again, kind of sad, he was soooo young and really "beautiful" in this picture and then to think of what happened to him toward the end! I mean I realize we all age, but at the end his looks took a real "hard" hit. Alcohol and drugs don't make for "graceful" aging. I am sure those three didn't mind having their picture taken with Errol Flynn on that day. Lori

Tom, I'll take # 4. See what a nice guy is was now is out with Lana Turner. Just found this one another shot of the one you shared Tom. Wait Garfield is holding hands with Lucillie Ball with one hand, and some other lady has her arm wrapped in his other arm. Oh he was a "bad boy!" h1. Edited by: Lori3 on Jul 13, 2012 10:20 PM Edited by: Lori3 on Jul 13, 2012 10:25 PM

That is fine ginnyfan, answer when you have the time. I just don't understand how you got into the "Classic Film Union" site. I read a thread yesterday that it was down and something about "they" not renewing the certificate in time. I can't get into it and I was going to post another blog myself. When I click on your link it just took me to your Virginia's Facebook page, no blog to read. I am very confused. Lori

Huh, why is John Garfield holding Lucille Ball's hand, or why is Lucille Ball holding John Garfield's hand? Lori

TopBilled makes a lot of sense in regards to "Ginny's" career. Too bad she didn't have a chance with another studio. ginnyfan, what did she actually do in her "act?" Sing and dance I guess? Do you know if she was successful when she went on tour? Thanks Lori

Yes, my favorite dancer and my favorite actor. It may be odd to picture Garfield and Kelly as friends, but the two got along well. They played [poker|http://jake-weird.blogspot.com/2012/03/happy-anniversary-john-garfield.html|Powered by Text-Enhance] together -with Kelly usually winning- and worked out practical jokes to perpetrate on the public, including one where Kelly would pretend to be a purse-snatcher and Julie (John Garfield) would pursue him through crowded streets. Kelly thought the world of Garfield: “He was a lovely guy and a fine actor,” he said. According to Rosemary DeCamp, John Garfield joined pal Gene Kelly in an all-night drinking binge that ended in the destruction of a [san Diego hotel|http://jake-weird.blogspot.com/2012/03/happy-anniversary-john-garfield.html|Powered by Text-Enhance] room. “He (Garfield) really tied one on because he was bitter about not being a real veteran,” and he was force by WB to go to the Veteran's hospital in San Diego and perform a scene from The Pride of the Marines in front of "real" wounded men, she recalled. “If he and Gene Kelly were in a hotel together, they tore it up.” Supposedly, Gene's character in "It's Always Fair Weather" was a tribute to his "fallen" friend John Garfield. Thanks Lori Edited by: Lori3 on Jul 12, 2012 9:11 PM

Thanks Tom for the photo. I think maybe Peter was just "acting" in the photo. I mean please everyone loved John Garfield jokes. I mean he was such a tough guy he probably would smack you around if you didn't laugh. (Sir! ha,ha,ha, Sir!) Thanks Lori

Izcutter, beautifully written and I agree with you completely. As a nurse I have cared for addicts and I have had friends who have struggled with the "powerful" disease of addiction, and it is heartbreaking to watch. I mentioned this before in another thread but I read that Robert Downey Jr. said the one thing that helped the most in remaining clean and sober was attending AA meetings, and according to the article which I read probably fours ago now said he still attends these meetings. You are so right though the first step is that the alcoholic or addict must admit they have a problem they are powerless over, and they must want to quit. I know that AA was founded in the 1940's but with Flynn and all the others their studios I believe would not allow them to so openly admit they had a problem or attend such meetings. Very sad indeed. Lori

Thank you Izcutter, that makes a lot of sense and I shouldn't of thought of that. Yeah, and darn the luck for years I lived in Orange County Calif. not far from Hollywood, but never had the chance to attend the festival. Then six years ago the company my husband works for transfers him out here to beautiful "sunny" Oregon, and since I love the guy, I followed.. Oh well one of these years maybe I will make it out to Hollywood for the festival. Kriegerg69 I LOVE your idea. It seems like it would save money for TCM and it would be fun to view everyone's contributions. Let's see, what actor or films would I want to talk about? For some reason the initials JG keep coming to my mind. I wonder what that means? Thanks Lori Edited by: Lori3 on Jul 12, 2012 4:51 PM

I am just curious, how does TCM decide which "average Joe or Josephine" (well some really aren't all that average) gets to tell how they got interested in classic films or what these old films mean to them? Just this morning there was some lady dressed all in red, 1940's style with one of those (in my opinion) God awful dead fox fur pieces talking about her favorite movies and actors. What, do people send in a video clip of themselves or something? Like I said, I am just curious, and if anyone knows please let me know. Thanks Lori

Yes, Topbilled I have been watching the films. Some off and on, but all have been very enjoyable. Were Vincent Sherman and Joan Crawford married? Just wondering why she is in so many of his films. Not that I am complaining, I love Joan Crawford and now thanks to you I have a new appreciation for the director Vincent Sherman. Thanks Lori

Huh, Tom Flynn's tuberculosis had to have TB infection, not TB disease. With TB infection the person is not contagious, the TB bug stays encapsulated in the person's lungs, but they can't spread the disease to other people. If he had TB disease he would have mostly like infected everyone at WB's studio and been very sick himself. Too bad he also smoked and he had a heart murmur as well. (Well he wasn't alone, a lot of people smoked back then and they really shouldn't have.) I know alot of the actors during WWII who were not allowed to serve in the military were heartbroken, because it was a very patriotic time and all Americans stood together for Victory. Yes, again I agree Flynn's performance was very touching and quite poignant in the film. And it does show how "powerful" the disease of addiction is. Of, course Flynn's appearance (I don't mean to be nasty) shows how destructive addiction can be as well. I know it is very easy to make judgements on the actions of others, but don't you think Flynn would have looked in the mirror and said to himself, "Look what all this alcohol and drug use is doing to me, and would have gotten help? I am sorry he wasn't able to get help and / or didn't want help, but he was an amazing artist and he left us with a lot of beautiful performances to cherish. Thanks Lori

What about Greer Garson playing the mother to Richard Ney in "Mrs.Miniver" She was born in 1904 and he was born in 1916. 12 years difference. I guess she could of been a mother at 12, but it would be kind of weird don't you all think? Thanks Lori

Hi ginnyfan, very nice facebook page for The Virginia Weidler Rememberance Society. I liked it. Keep up the great work! Lori

TopBilled is so right, Ginny would have been great as a sassy girl, giving it right back to the Dead End Kids! Too bad it wasn't meant to be. I did love her as "Little Mary" in the Women. She is really funny with Joan Crawford in the bathroom scene, and I always cry when she is told about the divorce of her parents and goes into the bathroom and cries. She reacts just how I believe a child would on hearing such traumatic news. Thanks Lori

Hi Tom, thanks for informing us about this film. I agree with you Flynn played Barrymore very well and he was quite poignant in the role. However, it was very distressing to see what all the abuse had done to his once "beautiful" face. The film on the whole was pretty good, it kept my interest, and as sad as it was to see Flynn with that puffy and aged face, I wish he were in the film a little longer. I don't think I will inform my husband about this film though. He admires Flynn so much in his early roles, almost like a little boy, so I think I will let him remember how Flynn was in his prime. I know I am probably the only one that noticed this,but toward the end of the film where Dorothy meets up with Martin Milner, he is standing in front of the Gramercy Park hotel, and that is where John Garfield died. It was just a quick shot but for some reason I caught it. Although I think in the film it was Gramercy Park North and Garfield died in Gramercy Park East. Weird I noticed that huh? I know that both Flynn and Garfield had heart murmurs which classified them as 4F for the service. Garfield's was due to a rheumatic heart, do you know what caused Flynn's murmur? I Oh well, thanks again for all the Flynn info. Lori

Thanks TopBilled for the info. I checked out the link, and I didn't realize that Sherman directed all those great films. One really does learn a lot from these message boards. I only knew of him as the director of "Saturday's Children" 1940 with John Garfield and Anne Shirley. Sherman is mentioned quite frequently in Robert Nott's biography on John Garfield. In fact it was Sherman who found Garfield stumbling down Hollywood Blvd, crying in anguish after his 6 year old daughter Katherine had suddenly died from an allergic reaction. I am looking forward to viewing the films you mentioned on Thursday. Thanks Lori

hey classicstarletsfan, I forgot all about "Out West With The Hardy's" and yes Ginny is a real hoot in the scene you posted. I can't remember when TCM lasted aired that film, but maybe it's time to air it again? Thanks Lori3

Tom wrote: Those are certainly not the words of a practitioner of The Method. Tom, I don't mean to be nasty or start an argument, but I think maybe you misunderstood what Mr. Flynn was referring to when he said, "nothing prevents a natural performance more than heavy thought." From my understanding the Method trained actor does not use heavy thought but rather they recall inner emotions they had during their life to help them "connect" with what the character is going through during a particular scene. The Method actor uses more the right side of their brain than their left if you will. Here is a definition of the method technique, an acting technique introduced by Stanislavsky in which the actor recalls emotions or reactions from his or her own life and uses them to identify with the character being portrayed. I don't think heavy thought enters into it at all. The Method trained actor also brings into their roles the physical actions of the character. That is why you always hear of those actors spending time with a blind person or in a prison, so they can observe and use those actions with the characters they portray. Make sense? I do agree with Mr.Flynn though that any "heavy thought" on the part of an actor would prevent a natural performance. Mr.Flynn was one of the lucky or blessed one in that he had the natural talent to be a wonderful actor, and his good looks, charm and personality were extra assets that assisted him in giving very believable and natural performances. Still friends? Lori Edited by: Lori3 on Jul 8, 2012 3:18 AM

Helenbaby wrote: "She was so upset about the Sobbin' Women number & subsequent "abduction" of the girls that she left the film in hysterics & convinced the film festival comittee to delete the film from the line up to "protect" other women from seeing such horrible acts." This woman has a right to her opinion, however leaving the film in hysterics is a little too much IMHO. The really sad thing is that the "film festival committee" agreed to her demand to delete the film from their line up. That to me is so wrong and ridiculous. What gives her the right or power to decide she needs to "protect" other women from seeing this film. This kind of thing just makes me "nuts." The committee should of told her, no we won't delete the film from our line up just based on your opinion, and if you have a problem with the film just don't watch it. The other thing is she didn't even stay and view the film in it's entirity, which I believe is so unfair. I mean what if the film's story line redeemed it's self at the end. Just ridiculous. Lori

Hi Tom Thanks for all the info on Flynn, very interesting and I will definately make a point to watch the film. Over at the Ravin Maven site where my favorite's fan club is housed, there is a Errol Flynn site and I thought I would just check it out. Maybe you are aware of this already but someone just posted the following in May; {font:Arial}"A new book about Errol Flynn has been published by BearManor Media. It is entitled 'Errol Flynn: The quest for an Oscar' by James Turiello and is available on Amazon or by visiting the BearManor website. (Sorry I am unable to include a link to the website on this guest book but please google BearManor Media and you will find us.)" {font} {font:Arial}Also there is someone who offers vacation type cruises to Havana{font} {font:Arial}Cuba and Port Antonio Jamaica.where Flynn frequently visited. It sounds like it is a combination vacation and Errol Flynn celebration of sorts. {font} {font:Arial}Any ways, I just thought I would let you know about this and you can check it out more if you are interested.{font} {font:Arial}Thanks{font} {font:Arial}Lori {font} {font:Arial} {font} Edited by: Lori3 on Jul 7, 2012 3:25 PM

I just had to share that one of my friends from the "Garfield Gang" fan club I belong too sent me a copy of The Fallen Sparrow! It was so sweet of her because I don't have a DVD recorder, and since there is unemployment in our family I don't think my husband would agree to buy one at this time. Poor me, I can't even buy any of Garfield films that are on DVD right now. Oh well, I am very excited about this, and just thought I share how nice the fans of his are. Thanks Lori