CaveGirl

I'm so sorry I missed this in your original thread but glad you reposted it here, Miss W.! Excellent write-up and synopsis of the plot. I too had not seen this film before. I think it was on once but I only caught the beginning so was really looking forward to seeing it, and in REAL TIME. I so agree with all your takes, about Eddie G., Kevin's seeming lack of any interest in his girlfriend [who was she by the way as her name was unfamiliar to me and I wondered if that was really her singing?]. You mentioned "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" and I thought about that too knowing it was the same year, and got a creepy feeling when Virginia Christine showed up as McCarthy's sister since she played his patient in IOTBS. I was getting into my own weird game of thinking one movie is connected to another and that Kevin had his brain implanted by the seed pods and this was his new life as a jazz musician and now he thinks his patient is really his sister. Also as you say the New Orleans setting was perfect and I too was amazed at how rude they all were when they just busted into that house and made themselves at home, drinking tea and sleeping on the couch. Thanks for the great review!

Oh, GPF you brought up such a great story. The press agent who worked for people like Tab and Rock and was continually renaming them, with off the wall first names like Rock and so on. Tab, I mean before it was a soft drink it was a teenage girl's crush, right. I just looked the guy up on Google. Here's what it says about him and thanks, GPF!: Henry Leroy Willson (July 31, 1911 – November 2, 1978) was an American Hollywood talent agent who played a large role in popularizing the beefcake craze of the 1950s. He was known for his stable of young, attractive clients, including Rock Hudson, Tab Hunter, Chad Everett, Robert Wagner, Nick Adams, Guy Madison, Troy Donahue, Mike Connors, Rory Calhoun,John Saxon, Yale Summers, Clint Walker, Doug McClure, Dack Rambo, Ty Hardin, and John Derek. He was famous for renaming clients with wild and crazy abandon in the selection of first and last names like Tab, Dack, Rock et cetera.

Oh, I love it! "Onanistic". I have not heard that term for quite a while. See now, Miss Wonderly, you have taught all how to get away with dangerous speech without being bleeped. Neophytes take note at the master's talent. One must just use a more delicate and erudite word to express the same nasty topic or behaviour and all is well with the world. I'm so sure Doctor Freud would find you to be, his most ardent pupil, Miss W.!

Hibi, was it something we said?

Thanks, GPF! I was kinda wondering about that myself, I mean the influx of devotees of the LOD. Did seem a bit odd but then stranger things have happened. Like when Bing Crosby would try to dance while singing and they actually left it in the movie. Boy, did he stink!

Okay, so Hibi as I recall in 1915 the Supreme Court had ruled [i know this since I just read a book on Adolph Zukor and the Production Code] against some movie studio saying that free speech as protected by the First Amendment was not applicable to motion pictures or their production companies. This overwhelming decision ushered in the problems encountered by studios in the 1920's by censorial detractors, which resulted in the Production Code being set up in 1934. It was not till the time of the film "L'Amore" by Rossellini that the original 1915 decision was tested resulting in the Supreme Court giving films the right of First Amendment free speech standards, which allowed the Rossellini film wider exposure after complaints from the LOD had lessened its viewing audience. Hope that helps. Your friend, Cave!

The birthday post about Doris Day got me to thinking about stars who had serious name changes. Would they have made it under their original monikers? Some were pretty unphotogenic on a marquee to be sure. I always get a kick out of knowing the real names of some people in the entertainment world, but lately I've been losing some of that knowledge probably because my brain is full and emptying regularly. One that I still remember is Arlington Spangler Brugh, or is it Spangler Arlington Brugh, or well, something like that. I believe that is Robert Taylor's name. which actually is much more impressive. Isn't Merle Oberon's, Queenie O'Brien or something, which sounds like a burlesque queen which would never do. What are your favorite original names of stars or even less than stars?

I wonder if Miss Von Kappelhoff [sp?] will be partying? My great aunt says she used to go see her sing at some joint in Kentucky, and even then she sounded great. Happy Birthday, Doris and many more!

Miss Wonderly, have you ever been watching a movie while reading a book and right when you are looking at a really not so common word, like "smorgasbord" the person in the film says it right as your eyes are upon it? That is really spooky. I guess "coincidence" is the more likely response for that, whereas harmonic convergence does seem more "mystical". Both are interesting concepts. Makes me think of the movie with Tyrone Power, "Nightmare Alley" which starts out being about trickery but then makes one wonder. Your phantom music story must have given you pause. Thanks for sharing. I love hearing psychic phenomena true life tales!

TCM is showing "The Trial" this coming Monday. This film has been receiving reconsideration as a classic in recent years. I've seen it but plan to rewatch since it is such a mindblowing experience and I've only seen it once. Having read Kafka in college and been particularly impressed by my favorite of his stories, "Metamorphosis" in which he seems to be somewhat representing himself in the form of a big, ugly beetle or some such oddity that has transformed the body of the character of Gregor Samsa, I can understand why some might find his works too off the wall for enjoyment. Orson Welles seemed to think "The Trial" was one of his best, if not greatest directorial efforts and when I first saw it I was only about fourteen so really need to see it again to assess. I liked the feeling of complete abandonment of rationale after reading it and seeing the film, and wonder if it still contains that miasma of a counter universe that is spinning out of control. Anyone else planning to watch? Any other Kafka fans or Kafka denouncers here? I remember that Franz most certainly had some sexual problems that were almost on the level of those suffered by the artist Munch, who painted "The Scream" which may have added to his neurotic tendencies in print.

GPF, I find it fascinating that you only make jokes in bad taste when you have not gotten any sleep and I make jokes in bad taste when I have gotten lots of sleep. By the way, I love Ralph Meeker, particularly in that episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" where he kills for that dumb wife of his, as played by Vera Miles. Of course he is also good as Mike Hammer, and so much better than when Mickey Spillane played the part.

It's called Harmonic Convergence, Sepia. All things in the universe come into alignment and this time you were the lucky one. I had a similar experience today at Walgreen's. I was thinking about the Keystone Kops and I saw a Keychain with a Peeps chick on it that I had to buy. Okay, so your experience was a bit more exciting.

Just reading the words "Lynn Belvedere" brings a smile to my face. Thanks, TB!

Love Judy! She can do no wrong in my eyes on film. Anything she was ever in was enlivened and lifted by her participation. I'm not so big on Liza though...

The final installment of Sister Rose and the Condemned series was rather inauspicious. Both her stand and the LOD's on "The Moon is Blue" seemed to concentrate on the poor innocent as played by Maggie MacNamara being seduced by both William Holden and David Niven, when any person in their right mind could see that it was Maggie who was doing most of the seducing. I would think the bishops that were judging this picture should have been able to understand that certain women are born with an innate ability to play men for all they are worth and reap the benefits, but alas no such luck. My guess is that maybe the LOD team had not dated any such women so were totally taken in by the seemingly innocent wiles of Maggie. Sister Rose may not have had much experience out in the world either, or she would have seen that it was Holden and Niven who needed to be protected from a rather clever predator, who was sizing them up as to their incomes and possibilities from the first moment of introduction. The LOD called her a "wide-eyed innocent" but most worldly women would have seen through that subterfuge, just as Holden's former fiancee as played by Dawn Addams did, but sadly no women probably were ever asked to be a member of the Legion of Decency. One also wonders why the LOD objection to the term “virgin” as if only the Catholic Church is granted usage of titles like “Virgin Mary” or “Blessed Virgin”. We find its usage even in biblical translations from Matthew 1:23, in which it is stated “Behold, a virgin shall be with child” et cetera, so obviously it is a word in existence from eons ago. Hopefully Mary was not the only virgin in existence even then, and the only female who merited this appellation. Though there are further obfuscating factors as to whether the term was even apt way back then as to Mary, since the translation of the Hebrew word seemed to have only really meant “young girl or woman”, I shall not digress further. We move on to “Baby Doll” which the LOD found to be “repellent” in “subject matter” and that it “dwells on carnal suggestiveness” among other issues. Other than some minor pronunciation gaffes on key personnel by Sister, there is not much to say about her take other than that she seemed to have some conception of the internal male/female relationship issues and she did mention the revised Catholic review of later years. As a Gothic Comedy it is hilarious in parts, and the semi-cuckolding of Malden well deserved, but I doubt the Legion was laughing. Finally we reach “L’Amore” which supposedly is about a woman who knows enough about the bible to know who Saint Joseph is, yet still thinks he is around almost a couple thousand years later and has come back to visit her and commingle. It is always enjoyable to see Magnani emote and Sister informed us of Rossellini’s empathetic response to Cardinal Spellman for understanding, but what is not mentioned is Spellman’s remarks back which might prove instructive. Two great performances by Magnani in an interesting film to be sure. No major insights other than the bit about the Supreme Courts decision which overturned the lack of First Amendment rights previously enforced concerning movies. All in all, even though I did not agree with all stated by Sister Rose I do thank TCM for having the chutzpah to put on this festival as it was interesting and revelatory, no matter what side of the fence one was on about having any unnamed group of people be the judges for what others may see and enjoy on film.

Play it with the sound off, and put on Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon". Oh yeah, Vautrin and drink some Southern Comfort in a jug and you will find it so much more exciting. Remember too, it is a Gothic Comedy a much neglected genre in our age.

GPF, make a novena to Saint Ariadne of Phrygia to help you overcome your sin of scrupulosity. According to legend, she was a slave in the household of a prince. She refused to participate in rites to a pagan god as part of the prince's birthday celebration. As she was fleeing the Roman authorities, she fell through a chasm in a ridge and was entombed. Pray to her, but do not emulate her escape route, if you flee the message board.

Excellent choice!

Thank you, I shall check it out.

Boy, this topic has gone wildly astray, Dargo from Leda and the Swan to Dagmar. Good work!

I read in my "History of Television" book that host Jerry Lester resented the attention Dagmar got with her "bumpers" and got her fired from the show.

I say either read it the way it was written or forget it. What's the point of reading Mark Twain if you want to change his words. It should be taken in the context of when it was written and discussed in those terms. Consider it a history lesson to see how people talked then or it makes no sense anyway to read it. Expurgating words would be like when the Vatican had an artist paint clothing over some of the people depicted in the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo. The only real experience would be to view an artist's work in situ as it was created.

Uh, you were given the last rites the day you were born? I can see now where the fear comes from. Look at it this way with respect to the advertising campaig for "Last House on the Left" and keep repeating "It is only a movie message board, it is only a movie message board!" I mean, it's not like you will be strung up and drawn and quartered for any bad posts.

You are so bad, SF! I heard your real name is Jenny Talia. Am I right?

Goodness gracious, GPF even Shirley Temple would not worry as much as thou about posting here. I think you are a victim of scrupulosity. Did you attend a Catholic school and did they force you to go to confession weekly? I had friends who basically had no sins as grade schoolers, but would make some up just so they'd have something to say to the priest while in the confessional. You need to take a big breath, post whatever you want and let the chips fall where they may. Remember the sage words of Traci Lords who once said "If you like what I do, great and if you don't like what I do, that's great too." I never saw any of her movies, but that is not a bad maxim for anyone. I will support what you say here, even if I disagree since I enjoy hearing contrary viewpoints and that is what makes for interesting discussions. P.S. You can write comments to me all in caps too, and I won't yell at you for shouting!