CaveGirl
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Posts posted by CaveGirl
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As an oneiric entity in CK the snow globe for me is the heart of the storyline. Historically...though snowglobes go back in Europe to the 16th century, possibly beginning production in Thuringia they first received mass adoration during the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1878 and became a Victorian phenomenon, which figures as a time period in Orson's exposition, just as it did in TMA.
Many believe that early snow globes with scenes and landscapes originally represented Marie Antoinette and her search for the past in her charming replica of a peasant village and chalet at Petit Trianon.
Much like Kane, Marie fantasized a bourgeous life of continual contentment in a past time yet this type of artificial sentimentalized setting never really existed and would have probably proved boring to her in reality, as would Kane's life if he has persisted with his beloved Rosebud and lived on in dire poverty.
Time trapped and suspended in animation in a blizzard globe, is an artificial and petrified state of nature and the snow globe in CK is a still life, with Kane's memories crystallized in a static state expressing his melancholic view of times gone by.
Some say that every souvenir one collects is a symptom of the subconscious knowledge of impending death which is why a mania for collecting objects is known as "collectionism" in neurology.
The only difference between a hoarder and a collector, is the value of such and the way one houses their objects of adoration, and Kane was definitely a hoarder with the first object hoarded being the blizzard form of a presse-papier which represented the lost Rosebud.
The mnemonic landscape of the film portends perhaps that actually it was Welles pinning his own story onto the Hearst bandwagon, to disguise his own evanescent images of reminiscences of his childhood, as that is why travel souvenirs and dream spheres, as they were named by Ludwig II, the mad king of Bavaria who had his own demons, became so popular...to reestablish one's past in one's memory.
This is my exegesis of the importance of snow globes in CK but you may disagree or have other ideas as relevant. Perhaps the resemblance of Kane in old age to Peter Lorre in "Mad Love" or the infamous cockatoo scene.
By the way, speaking of "Rosebud" it seems odd that it is continually Robert Osborne introducing CK in the prologues, when TCM has an actual Mankiewicz relative on the payroll. I feel perhaps Ben could add some pertinent insights into the gynecological connections that have been referenced in books on Hearst, the word "Rosebud" vis a vis Marion Davies, and W.R.'s distaste for the film.
Please extrapolate at your leisure!
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Hey, lzcutter...you're right I was referring to the bits shown on TCM, but I still say TCM should be mining their own field here, what with all these fabulous film fanatics who post.
Now I realize many might not even want to be featured, but there still is a goldmine of talent here right under TCM's nose.
But you know what they say...the shoe cobbler's son is always the one going without shoes.
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Rover, I have an older relative in her 90's who saw John Boles in person in the 1930's.
She said he was appearing at a local theatre in a stage production, and she says he came out of the joint and was heading right toward her and her girlfriends on the sidewalk.
She says he had beautiful blue eyes, and pink cheeks and shiny brilliantined black hair, and was the handsomest man she'd ever seen.
And he smiled at them and they all were smitten and almost fainted.
Cute, ain't it?
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Thanks, Holden for clearing that up.
I love Capote and have seen him talk on so many shows I'm getting all his old tales confused. I do remember though that he was neighbors with the famed Honeymoon Killer, so that's good.
Yes, Dill does seem more like the Truman as depicted in his own story, "A Christmas Memory" which was filmed with Geraldine Page I think for tv.
I've seen BD and you would enjoy it. Actually it is rather bold for the 1950's in its content of the unwed mother theme. And as always, Brandon is fabulous.
Great as a kid actor and as a young adult. I always liked him in "Hud" and wasn't it "All Fall Down"?
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Thanks, mrroberts! I love Herbert Lom and Patrick McGoohan and shal watch this based on your recommendation.
And after that I may get out my boxed set of "The Prisoner" and pretend I'm Number 6.
Or Number 2 or even Number 1...
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Yeah, but first of all hasn't Ellroy milked the death of his mother long enough in print and on tv, and should be on to a new genre?
And Muller is not really a Czar of Noir but more like a spear-toting private in that field.
They need a woman to address the Noir genre on TCM and not all these guys who would be just pawns in the hands of a real femme fatale.
No, no more male noir blather. Find a real noirish type chick and go with her as the historian.
I think it would rock!
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I love personal attacks, but only when they are made on me.
Perhaps those who don't like silent films, don't like them because they enjoy auditory pleasures more than visual delights.
Some people are auditory learners and others are more visual.
I like all films of any genre, as long as they have something to offer, and sometimes even when they seemingly do not.
Matter of fact, I tend to enjoy really cheap films occasionally, just to see the clothes and furnishings which are more representative of the time period being not studio sets.
I once read that furniture historians in the US like to watch old porno films, because they know the sets are things which were really marketed at the time like Heywood Wakefield and others.
I only dislike subtitles when they are not clearly defined and blend into the background of the film.
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Dobbsy, are there any channels showing old Senor Wences routines?
Now that would be a winner.
I think I'll go visit Youtube right now to view one of his most surrealistic routines.
The guy was a genius. All he needed as props was his hand, a scarf and trunk and some lipstick...
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Thanks to all for the interesting comments.
And to The Grand Master, doncha wish TCM would show the 3-D version of DMFM?
That telephone strangulation scene and scissor killing is so much more effective in 3-D!
And why could they not? They could promote it and sell the glasses at convenience stores and give the profits to the old actors homes in Hollywood or maybe take Mickey Rooney out to lunch?
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Now for years I've been waiting to see the proposed biopic of this rather interesting Hollywood starlet, but unless I blinked and missed it...it never came to fruition.
Just thinking of all the women who would die to get a chance to play this gorgeous blonde in her heyday and then in her bloated, knocked out teeth and ravaged later persona, gives one pause.
I'm sure Renee Zellwegger would come out of retirement and Charlize Theron would think another Oscar is on the way.
For me, it should be played by that Anna Faris.
But what do you think?
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Thanks so much, Dougie! I hate to be a pain but being such a MCM fanatic, I actually bought the dvd of DWL just hoping it would have fun '50's interiors and it did.
I have most of the great films you mention but have not seen NDP or SSH for years but shall look for them as I do kind of recall Dick's apartment being atomic!
I shall also look for some of your other suggestions. Thank you!
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Rover, only an "astute film fan" would watch TBP to begin with, so accept the compliment as intended.
As for my spectral crush, it would have to be John Boles.
Yum-O!
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Being that I gotta love Harlan Ellison who used to go on tv decrying folks who mispronounce the word "Neanderthal" and I also love L.Q. Jones, why I'm not sure...this film is a winner!
Don Johnson looks cute in it too, and reminds me of Rudolph Valentino. I know I know...should have my head examined.
But really, one knows that deep down, a boy DOES love his dog and who can revile that?
Just like Elvis loved Old Shep and Travis loved Old Yeller I love this film!
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May I compliment you, Roverrocks on your sublime taste and thank you for all the beautiful photos.
They really did such a better work then on portraits I feel.
Renee is lovely and reminds me a bit of Lila Lee, who was in TUT with Lon Senior.
Have you thought of contacting the Long Island Medium and maybe arranging a spectral date?
I'm sure Miss Adoree would adore you, being that you are such an astute film fan...
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One I've always wanted to see is "The Falcon in SF" as I love Tom Conway.
"TMDOMS" is also a winner!
Julia Ross film has Dame May Whitty in it and the always scary, George MacReady who is completely perverse.
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You forgot "Blonde in Bondage" from 1957.
It's available on dvd, as I own it and always enjoy seeing poor Mark Miller.
So unfair that Rock Hudson ruined his career, doncha think?
I've seen all but one of your list, "The Frightened Woman". Is it worth watching or just a seedy potboiler?
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Was it Bo Belinsky that Mamie was married to? He may have dumped her but I'm still watching and enjoying her and TCM showed a heap of her films a couple months ago.
I remember best "Untamed Youth" with Eddie Cochran singing "Cotton Picker" which is never shown on tv much.
The best film with him is probably "The Girl Can't Help It" and even though he was a big rock and roll star at the time, next to Mamie in UY he looked like a twelve-year old boy!
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Were they those black and white cookie types that they used to talk about on Seinfeld?
If they fight in his tum-tum there is gonna be trouble in jail.
I bet O. J. was wearing gloves when he snatched them and ran away.
He always was good at running, remember his luggage and airport ads?
I bet Kato is mad he can't use this to further his career...
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Well, Ginger...I mean Sue Sue, that is an incredible movie.
Peggy Cummins is so alluring and magnetic in it, and Dall is fine too.
I love Joseph H. Lewis films. Have you ever seen "My Name is Julia Ross" as that is one of his best methinks.
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Not to be Debbie Downer but the filmed bits with fans that I've seen on TCM for this category, do not usually seem to be portraying what I would call an "Ultimate Fan" unless knowing five famous films which won Academy Awards or being aware of ten stars buried at Forest Lawn are good qualifiers.
I've seen more Ultimate Fans here at the Message Board than I've ever seen highlighted in a filmed sequence on the channel.
Maybe the more serious fans just are not so eager to be placed in the spotlight and never apply???
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Yay, Miss Wonderly...we finally have found something to disagree on.
I love TMOTW, not that I can't see why many might find it annoying.
I think I saw it at a young age, loved Julie Harris always in anything and totally dug Brandon DeWilde's portrayal and he was so amazing in Shane also..
I may be wrong but...seems like long ago I read that Brandon's character was based on Truman Capote, who was of course a friend of McCullers.
My personal, unrational dislike is directed unfairly toward Ethel Waters who I've never liked ever since I saw an interview with Butterfly MCQueen saying how nasty she was in real life.
But that's not reel life, and she is good in this film...though it still does NOT make me like her...haha!
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This is such a great film! And that kid was amazing. Can't think of his name but I remember seeing him in that "Legend" film and I enjoyed his performance so much more than Tom Mapothers.
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You're right Holden, that kid doomed her dollie to death by not taking care of her and leaving her alone with Uncle Dave..
Probably because Penny was played by Linda Bennett who learned her diabolical ways from Joan Crawford, cuz I think the kid was in Queen Bee with her...
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Oh, forgot to mention Roverrocks, that quoting Blanche DuBois from ASND could be suspect in a wussiness trial.
That "kindness of strangers" bit only works when one is being carted off to the funny farm anyway.
Sincerely Yours, Miss White Wood
Desperate for Mid-Century assistance!
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Thanks so much, swimminginaqua and by the way, aqua is my favorite color and Aquanetta my favorite actress and I use the word loosely!
I shall reference and rewatch all the great films you mention...