sagebrush

I liked Mr Robertson in some non-wetern films: THE FARMER TAKES A WIFE and CALL ME MR., both with Betty Grable, and in the anthology film O. HENRY'S FULL HOUSE opposite Richard Widmark.

Happy centennial birthday to Gordon MacRae, born Albert Gordon MacRae in East Orange, New Jersey, on March 12th, 1921!

Since Ms Darwell was a 20th Century Fox contract player, I think I've spotted her in just about all of Shirley Temple's films! It's hard to imagine anyone but Darwell as Ma Joad in THE GRAPES OF WRATH. As was already mentioned, she was also fantastic in THE OX BOW INCIDENT and THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER. Some other films I liked her in were THE LEMON DROP KID, MY DARLING CLEMENTINE, ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT, and of course as the Bird Lady in MARY POPPINS.

Wow, those are some constraining contract clauses, especially for Hollywood!

Raymond Burr was perfect for Film Noirs. I liked him in CRIME OF PASSION, HIS KIND OF WOMAN and THE BLUE GARDENIA. He is so memorable in REAR WINDOW although he has no lines until the last part of the film. I used to watch reruns of PERRY MASON and IRONSIDE on a basic cable channel, back when basic cable was more than just reality shows.

I thought HAMILTON was originally made for the big screen but then premiered on Disney+ because of the theater closures?

I have a habit of starting to watch a film from the Watch TCM menu, and realizing I have about 3 weeks to finish watching it before it disappears, I pause it to return to later or the next day. Usually, I have to start the process all over again, but I have the time marker on the screen written down so I can fast forward to were I left off. Every now and again, though, the film will start where I paused it all on it's own. 🤔

Mitzi Gaynor is (in my opinion) one of the most underrated musical performers from the second half of the 20th Century. That also might be the exact problem; she was just getting her feet wet at Fox in the early 1950's, when they were putting most of their $$ into Marilyn Monroe. A beautiful triple threat performer, she finally hit the jackpot with SOUTH PACIFIC and LES GIRLS. By then, the golden age of musicals were starting to wane. She had a great career in TV specials and nightclubs, though. I liked her from the very first time I saw her dance in MY BLUE HEAVEN and BLOODHOUNDS OF BROADWAY. I would love to see ANYTHING GOES with Bing Crosby, Donald O'Conner and Ms Gaynor.

I thought Mr Boles was also good in another pairing with Irene Dunne, BACKSTREET. I also liked him in FRANKENSTEIN and he was so patient in STELLA DALLAS and also two pairings with Shirley Temple, CURLY TOP and THE LITTLEST REBEL. He made some early sound-era musicals which I've never seen but would love to hear his singing voice.

Happy centennial birthday to Alan Hale, Jr, born Alan Hale MacKahan in Los Angeles, CA, on March 8th, 1921!

IvIv52, if you download the "Watch TCM" app, you can go back to the listings which have already aired. The REFRAMED discussions preclude and conclude the films which were already shown. The series is still set to air the remaining Thursdays this month: https://www.tcm.com/articles/Programming-Article/020930/reframed-classic-films-in-the-rearview-mirror

Sybil Jason was very cute opposite Shirley Temple in two films, THE LITTLE PRINCESS and THE BLUE BIRD. I thought her Becky character in THE LITTLE PRINCESS was very charming. The two girls worked well together. I also liked her in THE GREAT O'MALLEY with Humphrey Bogart and Pat O'Brien.

Yes, it is a Paramount film, David. You can see the logo at the bottom on this poster.

OK- I'm glad this was mentioned. Every time I see the segment "The History Of Blackface In Hollywood", I think of what Donald Bogle says about Fred Astaire's tribute to Bill Robinson: (paraphrasing) "I want to be fair to Fred Astaire because I think he did appreciate Bill Robinson, but it still comes across in another way. Why did you have to wear those clothes? There is film of Robinson dancing and he's well tailored." So, my question is- is a performer such as Astaire responsible for the clothing he wears for a musical number in a film? Isn't costume produced by someone working on the set? Please, I'm not trying to contradict what Mr. Boyle says just because I'm an Astaire fan; I'm merely asking a question.

I liked George Segal in SHIP OF FOOLS and WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? In both films he is a fine supporting performer.

I think the only film of Vera Ralston's I've seen is DAKOTA. I liked her charming accent. I do know she was also an ice skater who competed in the 1936 Olympic Games. Apparently, she was approached by Hitler, who asked her if she would like to skate for the swastika. She told him she'd rather skate on the swastika. Bravo!

George Burns was great in all of the films he made in older age. Another one was 1979's GOING IN STYLE. I liked him in The Big Broadcast films, but my favorite is A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS. I love the "I've Just Begun To Live" dance with Fred Astaire, Burns and Gracie Allen. I love this sentiment that George Burns once said of Gracie Allen after they started performing together: "And all of a sudden, the audience realized I had a talent. They were right. I did have a talent—and I was married to her for 38 years."

Simone Simon was really good in THE DEVIL AND DANIEL WEBSTER and the CAT PEOPLE films. I also liked her as the chambermaid in LA RONDE. She was really young but showed promise in GIRL'S DORMITORY, although at the time it was very hard to understand her English.

Bill Robinson was wonderful in all of his film performances. It's too bad his only starring role, in STORMY WEATHER, was his last in film. Most of us have seen the dance number he performed with Shirley Temple in THE LITTLE COLONEL, but have you seen the original choreography on which it was based? According to Ms Temple herself, Mr. Robinson tried to teach her his famous stair dance, but she was having trouble with the intricate rhythm and steps (she was 7 at the time!) so he taught her a variation, which she mastered, and he had it filmed. He then watched the film of her and matched his taps to hers so they would match. Talk about an unselfish performer! Here is video of his famous stair dance, in its original form:

I liked DEVIL AND THE DEEP, too. Many years ago I saw FAITHLESS with Bankhead and Robert Montgomery. I thought it was a really good depiction of the effects of The Great Depression. I don't recall seeing it on TCM, though. She did a good job of not over-acting as part of the ensemble of LIFEBOAT.

There really was nothing Mr. Chaplin couldn't do. I'm constantly amazed.

He and Jodie Foster were so cute in NAPOLEON AND SAMANTHA (along with a young Michael Douglas!) and I remember his character "Jody" in TV's THE FAMILY AFFAIR.

I love Marsha Mason, especially in the Neil Simon comedies in which she appeared. She was neurotically adorable in THE GOODBYE GIRL and I loved her in ONLY WHEN I LAUGH. I liked her as part of the ensemble cast of THE CHEAP DETECTIVE, too. On TV, she was very funny as Martin Crane's girlfriend on "Frazier" and as Patricia Heaton's hip mother on "The Middle."

Happy centennial birthday to Betty Hutton, born Elizabeth June Thornburg in Battle Creek, Michigan, on February 26th, 1921!

I thought Fields was perfectly cast as Wilkins Micawber in the 1935 version of DAVID COPPERFIELD.