CaveGirl

I agree, Sepia and like Modine a lot too. You make very good points and just last night I saw someone who could fit into my imposed category of "Elusive Star" which would be Brandon de Wilde. They were showing the banned from original run of the "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" series, episode called "The Sorcerer's Apprentice". DeWilde stars as a less than up to reality youth, who is taken in by carny workers, Diana Dors and her magician hubby, who looks a lot like Mephistopheles [sp?]. Due to the cutting in half scene of Dors executed by Brandon, it originally was removed from tv viewing on first run. Sadly, DeWilde's career was aborted by his being killed in an accident in New York as I recall when he was hit by a car. This leaves a very short body of work but a brilliant one, with "Shane" and "The Member of the Wedding" in his resume at such a young age, and later things like "Hud". I still miss seeing him grow up and be in films as an adult actor. I think he would have continued on to much glory.

OMG! Poor little Skippy Homeier as a Nazi youth! I feel for him each time this film is on. It possibly destroyed his future career but he is so impressive in the role. I always enjoy him in his later and many other television roles, on things like "Science Fiction Theatre" but this part remains his best known role possibly. Fab review of the film!

Using miniatures to force one to view something as being distantly located, or to make the miniature building appear to be larger, is a form of forced perspective, even if the film's dialogue is admitting that this is just a model, as the Python boys would be wont to do. There are many adjuncts to the original concept of forced perspective, even in architecture, so the list is long and contains some things which might seem to many just visual tricks but still belong in the category. And Caligari being in the German silent pantheon is definitely a part of the process as it evolved. Thanks for your thoughts, Overeasy!

I read once, though I may be hallucinating, that the human body enjoys a bit of disorientation achieved as a child by spinning oneself around or getting on a roller coaster. As an adult though, if you crave continually riding on a roller coaster for that high, that you may have a very high threshhold for pleasure, which could predict bouts of trying to achieve it in dangerous ways via drugs or whatever. But the study said that normal humans who don't need major endorphins to feel good, can get that high by being slightly tipsy from one glass of champagne and all is right with their world. I like to achieve said state of disorientation by watching the film "The Big Sleep". I never really thought about it, till the other day when I caught it on some channel and had only missed the credits. Realizing I've probably seen it over twenty-five times, I started laughing to myself, saying "Maybe for once, I will really try to actually follow the storyline and figure out what really happened." Now the sad part is, why in the world had I never figured this out before. I mean, I know the story from front to back, and even sideways. I know all the characters and have read many books by Chandler, and even Faulkner so I should have some idea of the plot. I mean we start off with Marlowe entering General Sternwood's house and I should be paying attention as he talks about nutso daughter, Carmen and his concern for employee, Sean Regan, and how Mr. Geiger is sending him debt messages, but I never do as I'm looking at all the hothouse plant displays which remind me of Hepburn's in "Suddenly Last Summer" and I think about the name Sternwood, meaning something about the character just like the name, Blanche du Bois, meaning White Wood is important. Then we have the muddle of all that Mad Dog Riley stuff, Vivian Rutledge's machinations and the Acme Bookstore, and fattish Geiger and Agnes, and meeting up with Harry Jones, and the great bungalow setting with all that cool Asian furnishings with hidden cameras, and Eddie Mars and Canino and did Owen Taylor off himself or not, and who just shot Joe Brody and this becomes a whirlwind. I always get to the end of this film, and have basically not even tried to follow its plot, but this time I buckled down and really paid strict attention to all the threads and must admit by the end, I could have explained it to Chandler and even Faulkner, in detail. But now I'm wondering...was this really necessary for enjoyment of the film? I kind of don't think so, and it probably is just more fun to let the whole morass of cryptic details wash over one, and not be bothered by where it is going or ends up. I think there are movies like this which are just enjoyable to peruse without making a big deal of the plot issues. I feel I may be in good company here, since noted critic and author, James Agee apparently gave this review of the film back in its heyday which seems prescient, unlike many then who criticized the convoluted storyline: "Time film critic, James Agee, called the film "wakeful fare for folks who don't care what is going on, or why, so long as the talk is hard and the action harder" but insists that "the plot's crazily mystifying, nightmare blur is an asset, and only one of many"." I think Agee got it. And I think there are other movies in which one should just let the film wash over them, like a light rainfall with a rainbow up above to look at. What other movies have ridiculous plots yet are great films and a pleasure to watch over and over?

Speaking of Dorothy Comingore, I noticed a movie she was in prior to CK is on later tonight at TCM. If you'd like to see her previously to her turn as Susan Alexander Kane, check her out in the film "Five Little Peppers and How They Grew" from 1939, in the bit role of an uncredited "nurse". If you blink and miss her you can still enjoy seeing "Butch" [aka Tommy Bond] from the "Our Gang" comedies as a Pepper in one of his less bullying roles.

I was a bit confused by Dargo's comment since I do not think of Ava as a brunette. I always think of her as having raven hair, which is more black than a dark brown. So I added Martha to the mix, being that she did seemingly have brown hair, which occasionally they seemed to lighten a bit. We women are very particular about what color someone's hair is, so don't call a women with platinum blonde hair a Clairol #6 Wheat tone if one doesn't want to be upbraided publically. I think of Vivien Leigh and Ava as having similar hair colors, a very dark ravenish tone, but not brown. Brown hair is brown, and brown is not the new black! Cary Grant has black hair and Jimmy Stewart has brown hair, as an example. For shame, Dargo...for creating this controversy in the first place.

I love both performances by those you mention, Kingrat! I had no idea though at career bumps of these two due to such personality issues so thanks for the update. Tom Bell was so convincing in "The L-Shaped Room" at being a serious pain in the you-know-what, but now I'm wondering if he could have just been playing himself? Who knew!

I knew you would figure out my Lucy reference, Sepia! Wasn't Dylan's song banned from being performed on the "Ed Sullivan" show? It is rather amusing, even with references to other cult figures in it, like George Lincoln Rockwell. Thanks for the nod to Simon's song "A Simple Desultory Philippic" which I am not familiar with but shall now search out. I like to learn at least one new thing daily, so you have filled the quota for today. Ya know, in Latin class we learned that the word for "left" was the basis of the word, "sinister" so no wonder you were suspected of Commie leanings...haha!

So wonderful to see the boys from Oxford and Cambridge together again, Eric! My most profuse appreciation for your very apt post.

I am very open to extrapolation on my post's themes, TB so yes, using miniatures as fulfilling a concept optically fit in well. Thanks for the info on Hitch's use of miniatures in "Rebecca". Speaking of Hitch, we all know that he used the real mission for the dramatic falls of women in "Vertigo" but that tower of course was added later to the shots. Being a fan of Luis Bunuel, of course I find it fascinating that Hitch's bell tower scene was inspired by the scene in Bunuel's classic story of jealousy, "El" which is not shown much. Every time I see it, I am thrilled at the similar bell tower setting and how one thing can influence another. Hitch made it clear that he was a fan of Bunuel too, on one of those interviews he did with Dick Cavett on television. Sorry for the digression. Thanks, TB for responding so now I will not have to use any martial force on you for a proper reply as requested.

There was a lot of interesting stuff she lived through though before the "drink" got her, Spence. That's what could make a movie. Thanks for your thoughts!

I'll assume you mean the one of Mickey's eight or more wives like Martha Vickers or Ava?

Okay, people, as Mick Jagger would say. I expect to come back here in a couple days and find some nice posts about Forced Perspective or else I may have to take the law into my own hands. And Spence, if you are reading this, one would think you at least would comment since you yourself have complained about the laziness of some posters at responding to our most sanguine posts, which surely deserve at the very least a few comments by our supposed TCM "friends" [and I use the term loosely]. Get with the program, TCM posters or you will need to leave this site. Respondez-vous asap!

What a wonderful choice! You are a true film fan to appreciate her talents, Starliteyes. Thanks for reminding us all of such a superlative talent who is still missed...

Well, I will say Danny had really nice hair and quite a nice physique.

Speaking of "Flop Threads" I would like to propose a competition to see who can write the best "Flop Thread", TB though I highly doubt you would be good at it. I hate to brag but I think I am highly talented in this area and could win. Spence, some of us are extremely old and decrepit and don't have long attention spans as we have to get our walkers every few minutes to go to the medicine cabinet and dole out some medicinal support, and perhaps this is why we cannot respond to your threads, which can be consuming. Also I might not have long to live, being a total couch potato who can barely move to hit the remote button for my tv, and my brain is addled so I got a bit confused reading all the requirements of your post on this spot. I wanted to answer but my brain was unable to totally comprehend the question of my choices being both a favorite performer and a talented one, with both needs met. Perhaps you could make the questions a bit easier for those of us who are failing rapidly? Also, less CAPS would help as my eyesight goes in and out as I read, which means I have to reach constantly for my spectacles. Enjoy your posts, Spence but take some pity on those of us in the geriatric mold who can't see, can't move much and can't type well or fast enough to satisfy your hopes and aspirations.

Let's not even go there. Trump might have asked FOX news to ban all "I Love Lucy" episodes due to that "better dead than Red" aphorism!

I just watched "Werewolf in a Girls' Dormitory" from 1963. I really enjoyed it but missed the beginning. I caught it on Comet and actually am just guessing that it is WIAGD because I missed the credits but one of the main actors looked German and like a Nazi Youth Guard member or one of the SS, and I think both leads in this film were German so I hope I'm right. One is Carl Shell [not related to Maximilian probably since no "c" in the name but could be part of the oil dynasty maybe] and Curt Lowens, who I don't know anything about. One of them has really pretty platinum hair which attracted me since I think blonde men are very cute, unless of course they really are Nazis. The werewolf effects were fun to watch but being in black and white the bloody bits were a bit boring. The girls looked a bit long in the teeth [get it?] to be still in dormitories but their baby doll pajamas were cute and all in all the film was fun.

OMG! That's one I've never heard, but I think Larry was much too handsome to make a nice looking couple with Danny. But then Truman Capote said Larry was a great actor but not too smart, and even Larry would agree with this assessment so maybe he liked Danny for his dancing and singing talents since Larry could not sing a note as witnessed in his performance in "The Entertainer". I do think Larry [I call him Larry since we were so close!] would appreciate Kaye's talents in that respect, since Larry once said the actor he envied most was Mickey Rooney since he could sing, dance, do comedy and do dramatic roles.

Just think, now...if the Hollywood Ten were alive and writing tales with a Red Slant for films, they might get an invite to the White House, and Scott Pruitt would send an enclave of security officers to protect them on the way from the airport, Vautrin.

When one first becomes a movie buff, they receive every new film they watch, even if it is decades old, as fodder for future choices. Occasionally one becomes a fan of an actor or actress and hopes to see them again, then finally realizes that perhaps they didn't appear in much after the film one just saw. I remember being a fan of Ross Alexander from my first viewing of "Captain Blood" at the age of about twelve. A local station must have owned a Warner Bros. package of films so I did see him in a few more flicks, mostly light hearted but then realized I'd never seen him in any films of the 1950's. I then looked him up in one of my film books and realized why...he had committed suicide. Such a sad revelation, and in the film world, not so surprising an end. Reading about the whys was engrossing and depressing. Another star who seemingly disappeared is Dorothy Comingore of "Citizen Kane" fame. Such a sterling performance and then...whammo! She seems to have mostly disappeared from films, but when one reads up on her they find another tragedy of the HUAC days and blacklisting times. They really could make a movie of her life and if so, I suggest Naomi Watts play her since they seem to resemble each other in my eyes, but I digress. Name a star who you wished to see in more things, but finally realized they had disappeared almost as quickly as Ambrose Bierce did, and future films were not to be seen by you sadly. Potential stars who willingly left show biz on their own volition, are also of interest if you would like to submit their names for the title of an Elusive Star.

Hey, Film Snob...I never was too into that film since I find Jennifer Jones after she dumped poor old Robert Walker, a bit too sacchariney for my taste, but I simply LOVE the green tints at the end! I like to be difficult! Oh, also like that portrait by, was it...uh, Brackman? Very ethereal!

I watch "Mommy Dearest" every time it is on and thank Buddah that I had a sane mother who didn't care if I used wire hangers.

Hmmm, so perhaps Larry Olivier was privy to some dalliances with men, or he just was pushed into it by continually having to go down to the wharf to get Vivien to come home and stop hitting on sailors during their marriage??? I know nothing about this Burt controversy but shall consult my old book "Did He or Didn't He" when I have time later to see if Lancaster is listed. There are quite a few surprises in it, that would never have occurred to me, as men who liked men, but as Seinfeld once said...not that there's anything wrong with that! I probably would never believe anything I read in any of the recent spate of books on celebrities by people who probably never knew anything about them until they decided to dust the surface and try to make a few big bucks by commandeering their name and career info for book cover artistry. I can say though that Cheever was interested in men, from reading about him and I can also say after immersing myself in his book "The Short Stories of John Cheever" I ended the volume with an acute case of complete depression and hopelessness, which comes through continually in his stories. Usually such things do not affect me but reading endless tales by Cheever can do that to one. He seemed infinitely in a morass of dejection and in "The Swimmer" reached its zenith of disaffection for his life as a father and husband in the milieu of which he usually wrote his stories...suburbia!

Isn't that funny and I get your drift! I found that story so funny, and it proves that for some, movies are not about real life maybe?