CaveGirl

I woke up last night and the tv was still on and there was Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet in a movie I'd never seen so I had to watch. Basically Greenstreet as Grodman of Scotland Yard had been sacked and replaced by the great George Coulouris, of Kane fame, as his successor, Buckley due to a rather upsetting malfeasance of justice. Now we see a murdered boarder being found by Rosalind Ivan, as the annoying landlady, pounding on doors of the boarding house and windows on nearby dwellings, which could wake the dead, but didn't in this case. Who has killed this stiff, is now the big question. Many people are questioned, including the stately Paul Cavanaugh, who has some secrets about other men's wives and also stage performer, Lottie who is played by Joan Lorring. I wasn't too big on her Cockney sounding accent but otherwise she was okay. The air of a Jack the Ripper infused London is swathing the entire atmosphere of the film, though I have no idea about what time period it is set in. Lorre as usual, as an offbeat artist named Victor is superb, staying unflappable no matter what happens. Those eyes, those downward glances, the voice! Who cannot love seeing him say things in his typically lanquid manner like "Oh...you got blood on my shirt. I just may have to kill you." Okay, he didn't say that in this film but he could have which is all that counts. He and Greenstreet just make the perfect team and all their interplay is enjoyable to watch. The movie was nearing its end, I was mesmerized and then...the mesmerizing resulted in my accidentally going back to sleep on my down-filled couch and now I will never know who did the nasty deed. If anyone can tell me who the murderer was, I will be appreciative. I was leaning towards it being Greenstreet so please inform me if I was right.

I love k.d. lang! Unfortunately I'm not gay so when I went to one of her concerts once, I wondered why many women in the restroom and food line were being so chatty to me. When I got back to my seat and was telling about it my boyfriend said "Boy, are you dense." I said "Oh, duh!" I need to get out my old videotape of her singing Roy's "Crying" at that tribute show for him, which is so amazing. Thanks, darkblue.

In a Spence versus Maltin competition, you have my vote, Spence!

I bet you are hell on wheels, Dargo. Or at least a hellion, or should that be hellioun?

Geez, rattling our brains for old tv police codes, are you, Dargo? I think Adam-12 had some good ones that would stick in anyone's brain like a 459 for burglary or a 502 for a DUI. Wasn't there one of their shows where a guy ate some uncooked cake batter and then went to sleep on the porch and his stomach swelled up like a balloon due to the yeast? What a great show that was with unique plot lines! Of course some here might be more familiar with ones like a 687 for lewd conduct with citrus fruits or a 187 for murdering the English language online while driving and typing at the same time.

Angus Young just called shotgun on your next dead man's curve ride, Dargo. So you think Tiki was just kidding, eh? I was hoping not because I could make perhaps some big money based on how much antipathy I can stir up here, and then promise to leave for good to other environs for undisclosed funds. Just tell Tiki to contact my now disbarred attorney, Michael Cohen and we can work something out, if she's prepared to pay up big time in multiple figures, to get her dream realized. Gee, you're the first man who's said I was "fun" without me doing any previous imbibing, that I've ever met. Quite a compliment and thanks!

Doesn't everyone? Just like toothpaste, some Guinness and Fritos...all homes should contain both movies.

Dreyer believed in the perfect shot and framing for every scene in a film. As a visual medium this was his mantra and perhaps those attuned to other attributes of movies, find it difficult to understand or appreciate the Dreyer modus operandi. Nonwithstanding who is being described as an "atheist" in this instance, there would seem to be in your theory a belief that any atheist is lacking in knowledge of religion, hence making such an invalid spectator of its values or deficits. That presupposes that an atheist is less informed than a believer, when often the opposite is true. The atheist could have had sixteen or more years of constant religious training in biblical studies or works based on religious principles and then that very knowledge is what makes the atheist decide that all is naught and not to be believed. I've met many priests who have become atheists and nonbelievers due to their overwhelming pedigree in studying theological subjects. Other than that defense of any atheist making a movie about religion, and that I don't think the comparison to being white or black crippling one's ability to see the other side being a valid point, I am fully behind you not liking Dreyer's film and more power to you and please keep telling it like it is from your vantage point. Personally though, I don't think Dreyer made films that he wanted people to exactly like and admire, but he had different motives in his film work so he would be okay with your criticism.

I'll make this short and sweet. I like seeing that wall broken in a movie, but I particularly like it when it is done at the very beginning in the credits. I think it sets the tone for the film, to possibly be outrageous, creative or at least a bit outre. There is a good example of this technique tonight in the film "Mad Love" with Peter Lorre. Not only is it give the viewer a jolt as it occurs, it almost brings a three-dimensional aspect to the sequence. Being that the film was directed by master cinematographer, Karl Freund, it's no surprise that he would be so inventive right from the start of the film, and follow through with other surprise touches as the story progresses. Name a film in which the fourth wall is broken and get extra points for ones that have opening credits where that wall goes tumbling down more shockingly than Jack's and Jill's fall from grace.

Oh! Sorry about that. I feel as badly as if I insulted e e cummings. Duh! Lower case rules...

Now that is an exemplary choice! The more famous films we've all seen probably yet how many people actually know his name and face, but I shall get out my copies of "The Wasp Woman" and "Beast from Haunted Cave" tonight, just to catch his earlier roles too. Thanks, CJ!

As a child, I used to enjoy opening the cedar closet and sniffing the naphthalene in moth balls, but no illicit substances are allowed in the cave, except for banned in Boston movies, Cigar Joe.

Spence, I was going to say I just couldn't see these two actors in the roles but just did a search on Google and they look pretty believable, with Reilly looking a lot like Babe for sure. Thanks for bringing this bio to our attention.

Wow, you were right on that subterranean streak, Cigar Joe! Thanks for sharing your review which was fascinating reading and on the money. I didn't mention before, but think it is tangential now, that our family friend was gay and had been involved with Tennessee in that context, so would be the first to admit to understanding this concept you mention, which he eluded to often in his transpositions for staging of plays with possibly hidden agendas. I think he said such things perhaps should remain shrouded as they just added another layer to the story by staying a bit of a mystery. I've always admired "All Fall Down" and "Midnight Cowboy" and also the works of Inge, like the obvious ones and "The Dark at the Top of the Stairs". Moving on past Williams, Herlihy, and Inge might lead one on to Cheever, who has a bit of a different way of coping with his life choices by becoming more of a typical suburban male breadwinner with family, but that's for another time. Please share more reviews in the future.

I will start with one of my favorites that only the esteemed members of this forum would probably know. William "Billy" Benedict! I have loved him since birth. My birth, not his! I can hardly remember a time when I was watching a movie that Billy did not seem to just show up accidentally, and make the whole film seem more real. Born in Tulsa, in 1917, Billy migrated to California hoping to become a dancer, but when he was offered roles in films starting in 1935, he took to it and just never stopped, working in over 307 movies in his career. Okay, so he was not the lead or even the support to the lead, but he always brings a smile to one's face, with his shock of blonde hair, his half opened eyes, his air of complete innocence and sincerity. Looking like a pre-teen for eons, his career credits consisted of roles always followed by the word "boy" in parts like Newsboy, Telegraph Boy, Singing Telegraph Boy, Cabin Boy, Office Boy, Copy Boy, Delivery Boy, Elevator Boy, Bellhop, Caddy, Soda Jerk and so on. Finally at an advanced age, Billy finally achieved the right to be called a man in parts and was assigned roles like Ice Cream Man, and Hotel Desk Clerk, which required more maturity than he had previously needed in serials or work at Monogram, with the likes of the Bowery Boys and others. Billy died in 1999, at the age of 83 and ended up playing many parts on tv shows, where he finally even got to play parts classified as "old man" yet he still retained that youthful innocence of his early days. I was always happy to see him in anything and it was a serendipitous moment every time I saw his face in any film or tv show. One of his last most significant parts was as a Roulette Dealer in "The Sting" with Redford and Newman, who obviously knew a good thing when they saw it, and he brought joy to that film as he did to all the others. Billy is buried at Forest Lawn under a tombstone which mentions he was "Beloved by Son, Brother, Uncle, Actor and Friend" and it also mentions he was "Adored by All" which I can believe. I saw some had left flowers on the site for Billy, so maybe I am not his only fan which makes me happy, that others also appreciated his talents at being just an average human being in films. Share your tribute to your favorite unheralded actor here with us. P.S. If the name really does not ring a bell, just do a search on Google for Billy Benedict, and I'm sure all will come clear...

But do you REALLY know what Rosebud meant, besides the sled iconography? Hmmm...

The mustache factor is not unlike the Max Factor in films, Lorna. To don one or not to don one, that is the question just like should I not wear make-up and look like Jane Wyman in "Johnny Belinda" and possibly win an Oscar or not. I was watching one of my favorite Errol films recently, "The Sisters" and really thought he looked quite dishy without the upper lip adornment. But of course, he also knew how to work that mustache as in playing the Earl of Essex and so on. Both he and Scott could look appealing either way, unlike Sebastian Cabot who without a beard and mustache, was just not quite as cute.

I only saw that once and can't remember hardly anything about the film. I wish TCM would show it since you make it sound very interesting. I wonder if it has anything about the Wolf Man patient in it. Clift would seem to be a good choice to play Sigmund. Thanks, DarkBlue!

I love "Eating Raoul"! The guy [Robert Beltran?] doing the Eric Estrada-like imitation is hilarious and the Mid-Century Modern furnishings just put the perfect take on the whole kit and kaboodle. A true cult movie that still stands up today.

I wouldn't care either if he was an escaped prisoner or was friends with Carrot Top. It's Zachary Scott for gosh sakes! So suave and sophisticated. Now you know you will have a good time with him, unless you've got a daughter named Veda.

I agree. I can dig it. Too bad though years ago they didn't hire Lindsay Wagner to play Bond. I can just hear her saying "Bond, Jaime Sommers Bond!"

Thanks, Cigar Joe! You bring up some interesting films which explore the all the boundaries of the concept I feel. Now just recently I was reading up on Charles Willeford, who wrote the novel for "Miami Blues" and I can see why you recommend it. I've not seen Jarmusch's "Down by Law" but shall look for it being also a fan of Tom Waits. I'm not sure why Tennessee Williams made a point of calling his play, a Gothic Comedy specifically, but our family friend who knew him well, was adamant that this was specifically the take Williams had of it, without the added Southern connection being needed, though no doubt it does also fit into Southern melodrama. Our friend was a noted stage director who had worked with Williams, and enjoyed discussing the many meanings of his milieu, just to see what the author would say, about concepts like that many of the romance sequences in his plays mentioned were actually based on male to male relationships, and not male to female. Also way too deep things like how the abodes of the characters represented more than just a house to Williams. I do remember my friend saying that Tennessee saw the delapidated home of Archie Lee in "Baby Doll" as being representative of the original Gothic standard of fantastical tales set in ruins, with fear, gloom and doom being prevalent. Tennessee, being a fan of Ibsen and even Jane Austen, also saw her "Northanger Abbey" as being totally Gothic Comedy, which in her day might have been called parody only. Now a lot of Williams' works definitely fit into a Southern Gothic tradition too, and I admire all your choices in that category. Much appreciation for your sage thoughts.

This is what I call great movie detection work. Thanks for sharing with us all, TheCid!

I first became aware of the term Gothic Comedy in a discussion with a family friend who was friends with Tennessee Williams. He said Tennessee used the term "Gothic Comedy" about the movie, "Baby Doll" based on his play "27 Wagons Full of Cotton" and was always surprised that so many, including people like Cardinal Spellman, could not see the humor in it. Also mentioned as forerunners of this type of work by him, were some books by noted authors of the distant past, and said books were very subtle and might not be seen by the general public as comedy ostensibly. Nowadays if you put in a search for Gothic Comedy online, you will most likely be treated to a slew of films starring people like Elvira, but the more sophisticated Gothic Comedy is a bit more hard to ascertain. Nevertheless, name your favorite Gothic Comedy and if it is a Southern Gothic Comedy, all the better. With the many astute film aficianados here, I'm sure there are a lot of films I've not seen which would qualify and thanks in advance for your responses.

And apologies, Tiki, to you personally for the disappointment engendered by the post. We can discuss this though about your unrealized as yet "dream" for me to leave the forum. Just how much in actual money is it worth to you? It's all negotiable and just show me the moola!