CaveGirl

I read the McGraw book quite a while ago, but already own at least two to three serious books on Michael Curtiz I've inherited or bought over the years, that run the gamut about the career and life of Curtiz, so would not be interested in any new revelations by the Rode book. I've had someone here on the TCM message board reference a really good book on Curtiz by Murray Pomerance I think, that supposedly is quite well written and insightful, if anyone is looking for more books on Curtiz and his films. I haven't read it but it was highly recommended.

You've mentioned all the important films, TB but I agree with Kingrat that it's fun to see a final or close to final film by any star, which is why I would pick "Parrish" from 1961. Such a soapy potboiler with her as Troy Donahue's mother and using some of the Warner Brothers tv stable, from shows like "Hawaiian Eye" with Connie Stevens as his love interest.

Hi, Cigar Joe! No, Kingrat mentioned that Rode had written books on Film Noir. I was not referring to this newest one he is promoting on TCM about Curtiz. I'd never seen Rode before being interviewed, but have read his previous books, given to me by a friend online who had received them gratis. I was not personally impressed with his writing or takes on the subject matter, but perhaps others will be. I realize Rode is part of the group appropriating the noir banner as the sole intelligentsia who unearth what is acceptable noir fare, for that group called the Film Noir Foundation, along with Muller. Its a cash cow which seems to have both keenly on the bandwagon, and good for them in finding a way to remarket films which are lying around and can be repackaged and resold, for their benefit or whatever. As for Rode's credentials though as a Noir Scholar I find it highly instructive that his IMDB bio states that not only is "Alan K. Rode knowledgeable about and has written about the history of film noir" but he is also a: "Renaissance Man". That seems a bit of hyperbole but perhaps not to him. If you do read any of Rode's books though, don't listen to me and I hope you enjoy them.

Have you read that book by Alan K. Rode?

Johannes Vermeer! Not the crapola spewed out by that horrid book, called something like "Girl in a Pearl Earring" which I keep trying to destroy in my mind, since the person who wrote it was a nescient fool, who was as usual trying to make a scandalous story contending the poor artist was having an affair with a housemaid when anyone who took the time to study the work of Vermeer is aware that he used the women in his family as models, including his wife and daughters and the girl the asinine movie tries to make as his courtesan would have been his one daughter. Make a movie about his real life, which is way more interesting than this sex and scurrilous saga, which stunk! Oh, also a movie about all the gay artists during the Renaissance, who were having affairs with men, and not ladies like they tried to pretend Michelangelo was interested in, in "The Agony and the Ecstasy". I guess it is hard for Hollywood to imagine Charlton Heston being more interested in someone like an Alan Rickman type than a Gina Lollobrigida type.

I turned off the daily slaughtering of hubbies and wives on the Investigation Discovery Channel just in time to watch "Gaslight". Great movie but I actually like the Anton Walbrook version better. I love the "Too Mrs. Carrolls" movie thought for that absolutely horrid portrait of Barbara Stanwyck! It is unearthly and looks like one of the portraits on the wall in the "Thriller" boxed set.

Recently I have been noticing a spate of people purporting to be "film historians" being interviewed in various milieus for their opinions on movies. I realize that many true historians, who worked in the field of film criticism for years, have often quibbled about what should be the qualifications for awarding oneself this honorary title, as the term is now used. Just as I would not be amenable to a person saying they can fix my plumbing, who accords themself the title of master plumber, without some proof of having achieved this standard, so too I find it a bit disingenuous to auto-title oneself as any kind of "historian" [much less a film one] without a bit more basis for the honor than having written a few books, or gotten a gig talking about films they dig with some of their friends, who also deal in film aggrandizement, and not always a high standard of scholarship. Even in the world of film verbiage, there are contentions that this term of "film historian" is bandied about way too much. A quote online states admirably that the term "Film historian is considered a nebulous title because so many claim it, yet are believed beneath it and so many others credited with it, disclaim it." In the olden days when there was more of a serious realm of film thought with no pandering to monetary forces, only a critic with a very long track record and scholarship, could be accorded the status of film historian. One would guess that just as in all endeavors, there are some, perhaps neophytes who would applaud any and all who have achieved a modicum of knowledge about the subject matter. But there are also those with some acumen in the field, who would expect and demand more from one purporting to lead the masses as "historian". A book alone is not demonstrable as an instrument of where one's mastery of the subject matter places one in the hierarchy, since merely the cataloguing of facts found by research in the public record does not make for any true insights into the personage or film history being depicted in print. Otherwise we might call anyone writing any film connected book, to be a verified film historian in good standing, if they have researched every facet of the extensive film career of someone like Pia Zadora, and had this tome published. I bring this up having recently seen someone named Alan K. Rode publicizing one of his books on TCM, and notice he too was using this moniker of distinction, like many others I have seen in the last year online and on tv. Thoughts pro or con on the current standard of too many Chiefs and not enough Native Americans in this subculture of the egregious numbers of "film historians" currently in print and on the media espousing their brilliance daily. To paraphrase Traci Lords though..."If you like Alan K. Rodes that's fine, and if you don't like Alan K. Rodes, that's fine too." To each his/her own.

Love it! If only he had a more powerful Ray Gun... Hopefully if he leaves footprints in the snow, they will be of shoes and not bare feet like Claude Rains did in TIM. By the way, nothing I like more than a Happy Face with a bullet hole adorning the visage.

Why thank you, Spence! It is rather abominable, isn't it? I really don't personally have anything against Jackie, but an Honorary Oscar??? Really??? What next, will Rafael Campos be receiving a posthumous Honorary one for his many roles as a J.D. in films like "Blackboard Jungle". And I say that thinking that I would much rather see Rafael get one than Chan. Thanks again!

Thanks, Limey! British funds will also be appreciated. I wonder if the Jackal is still available to off annoying people. I promise to all to collect the money and put it in a secure account, after I find out what kind of fee is needed.

Anyone want to contribute to a fund to, as Eddie G. might say, rub out a certain person who keeps posting inane gibberish which I can't find in my I-Ching, whose name supposedly is?: GNJFFOD7724 Content count 41 Joined 3 Hours ago Last Visited 1 minute ago "온라인경마 인터넷경마ゅへ 사설경마" or so he/she/it says! 1 minute a gnjffod7724 Members Content count40 Joined3 hours ago Last visited 2 minutes ago CurrentlyCreating Topic in: General Discussions

It really is almost unbelievable that Myrna never got a nod for her always outstanding work, isn't it, Beth? She was in major films, was a wonderful co-star to many males, could trade a quip with anyone or be totally serious, but never was a winner. A shame but as long as her films survive we are lucky to see her wonderful body of work.

Hey, Princess, I too am never as enthused nowadays on seeing the awards, since in the olden days you'd see someone like Cary Grant or Chaplin or Groucho getting an honorary Oscar, but now you'd only get to see Jackie Chan! What a comedown... I came up with a way to avoid Oscar tedium by just taping the whole show, but not watching a moment of it as it rolls on and on ad nauseam. Then when you are sure it has ended, start off at the beginning ceremonies and just keep fast forwarding and only stop when you see someone of interest, and then watch that only. I watched the whole three or more hours debacles of the last few years, with each spin taking only about eighteen minutes to peruse. That way I really got to see the whole show but in fast motion. I'm sure Warren will be happy to hear you just might tune in since he will be back onstage again for one more try! Thanks for your thoughts.

The original entry was pretty bad. I think Johnson's ears looked the size of an elephant and there was definitely no flattery. I'm sure the much more complimentary realism of Rockwell appealed more to LBJ.

I just watched Nicolas Cage as Peter Loew in "Vampire's Kiss" from 1988. There are really no words to describe this movie. Truly bizarre, with awful acting and yet, well I kind of enjoyed it. Cage's performance is indescribable. Way beyond even anything Ed Wood could have dreamed up. I had to laugh, since someone on the IMDB listing asked the burning question "Why didn't anyone notice Peter's strange behaviour and report it?" As if this off the wall movie should be taken seriously. Ahem! I do think it would make a nice companion film to "Secretary" from 2002 with James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhaal, since both films have a rather tortuous relationship between boss and female employee.

A Do-Over is still better than a Comb-Over!

I was going to say Garbo too, Christine. Good call. Her feet looked gigantic in movies! But they looked very appropriate when she played the male part in "Queen Christina".

Amazing research, Stephan! I had that book about Errol and his films from way back that had the cute photos of him and Lily Damita, so I really enjoyed your expose. I'd like to know the full story on the woman who worked for the studio, who supposedly was not so attractive [according to the legend] who was thrilled beyond belief that Flynn had hit on her. She probably really would have a good story! As for good old Beverly Aadland, there's a cute video of her from when she was on "You Bet Your Life" with Groucho, on Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoU0JCHwnys

When you are doing an oil painting, you had better know how to mix up a batch of Cerulean blue or your client might be unhappy with the sky's appearance that they requested; I know this from experience. Dargo, this is my favorite scene in the whole movie, as it is so true to life. As an artist one gets all kinds of odd requests from clients. I was once told by a wife that she wanted her hubby's portrait to have a twinkle and sparkle in his eyes. Another person wanted a bald man to have all his hair back in the upcoming portrait and brought in old photos from WWII. Oh, also...please remove all wrinkles. Reminds me of the uproar over LBJ's WH portrait which when unveiled Lyndon said was the ugliest thing he'd ever seen I think! Color theory doesn't even play into many of these people's requests because they probably don't realize the setting surrounding the portrait in the home can also affect background colors and so on. Bridget Riley would be the Queen of understanding how colors can vibrate against each other, or two closely aligned areas can create a new color. I love the ending of the Myrna Loy scene where the painter says something like "Blue, green, pink and yellow" for his notes, after her lengthy extrapolation. Mixing colors is an art and many know how to do it without books, but it can be time consuming. Amateur artists don't seem to get the concept of a limited palette but in the hands of a master, like Vermeer or even in films with someone like Pasolini, the rewards are great for the viewer. Great topic!

I pretty much love her in anything. Always liked that movie, "The Innocents" and always meant to read "The Turn of the Screw" by James to be a little more informed about how he conceived it. Recently found a copy at the library and reading it really added to my appreciation of the film, though I think the book is better at conveying a completely unbiased view of whether she is sane or not.

Good golly, Miss Molly! What I meant to say was: I've never regretted buying those four disc "Doo W-O-P" boxed sets, with Volume One and Two. Lots of hard to find songs with a great booklet and photos too.

Dvorak's New World Symphony definitely counts, Dargo. Heck, a lot of film score soundtracks I want have additional classical pieces like Terence Malick's "Badlands" which had Carl Orff's "Musica Poetica" and Eric Satie's "Trois Morceaux en Forme de Poire" which really added to the movie with Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek. Thanks for your entries.

Ya didn't happen to encounter George Maharis at any men's roadside rest room stops, did you, Dargo? Just teasing!

Gosh, I'm never moving if they lose things like that, Janet! I'd like to have TWM and KK on cd for sure. Thanks.

OMG! Love the music from "Suspiria" but never had the album. You mentioning the compilation albums made me remember I own a great one called "Nino Rota: Amarcord" but it also contains his themes for films like "La Strada" and so on. Has a great cover with a photo of Fellini's mistress, Sandro Milo on it. www.discogs.com/Various-Amarcord-Nino-Rota/release/1608571