[I'd like to thank all the little people!]

On 2/17/2018 at 7:52 PM, Sepiatone said:

RICHARD ERDMAN, who played erstwhile McNULTY in the Twilight Zone episode "A Kind Of Stopwatch" can be spotted in many older movies and TV shows.  But not here, as the site won't let me post an image.

Sepiatone

 

 

 

Love that guy, Sepia! Such an everyman type. Thanks!

[This Is Murder!]

37 minutes ago, Dargo said:

Murder on a Honeymoon, another teaming of Edna and James Gleason, and this one being set and filmed on the island of Catalina during its 1930's heyday for tourism, is another good one in this series, CG.

Those two were a laugh riot, Dargo!

[*Leo DiCaprio to star in *Tarentino's Manson/Tate film]

The tv movie called "Helter Skelter" had Steve Railsback playing Manson and he did a good job playing Charlie.

Except he wasn't as good a singer.

[Who else loves the old Ken Murray Hollywood Home Movies?]

I also love them, Spence! Seems maybe one of his montages has color footage of W.C. Fields? 

[How do you delete your account completely???]

I've  heard, Lawrence that for a small fee and a self-addressed stamped manila envelope, a selective list of poster names can be supplied that might explain why some other posters would want to delete their accounts. No names will have been changed to protect the guilty.

Sergeant Josephine Friday

[Mad Scientist Review Board]

On 2/17/2018 at 9:45 PM, NipkowDisc said:

the actress who played the shrunken babe in Dr. Cyclops was hot. that has gotta be the earliest science fiction movie filmed in full technicolor. love that green radium glow illuminating that stone hut in the beginning then thorkel murders paul fix by shoving his head into a glass tube giving his skull that nice radium x-ray glow.

Nip, nothing like a green radium glow on the pate of a bald man to make him appear so alluring!

[This Is Murder!]

Tom, though I am more typically a devotee of the typical murder plot where a spouse kills a spouse, which is why I watch marathons on the ID channel, for this question I am going to be atypical and say my favorite film with "murder" in the title is "Murder Inc."

I pick this film because it was the first film I ever saw with Peter Falk in it, and I remember as a kid thinking he reminded me so much of John Garfield, who I loved and missed. And I love Peter Falk just as much! The film is about a crime syndicate and also stars Stuart Whitman. Another distinction is having a performance by the incredibly snide and sarcastic Henry Morgan of "I've Got a Secret" and "What's My Line" fame. You want to talk about murder, I've always wondered who murdered his proboscis with such a bad nose job!

If I had to pick a second film, it would be "Murder on the Blackboard" because if you want someone smart investigating a murder, then who would be better than Edna Mae Oliver, I ask you?

[I'd like to thank all the little people!]

6 minutes ago, Stephan55 said:

Haha, I recognize that guy. But I can't put my finger on from where?

I recognize him too! It's Uncle Martin, from "My Favorite Martian" as played by Ray Walston!

Nah, just kidding, but ya gotta admit they do resemble each other a bit...

[I'd like to thank all the little people!]

Just now, Stephan55 said:

Not "little" enough, eh. I got the distinction though.
We could even include RO in that crowd (i.e. a soldier in Spartacus, a man (likely the pastor at the door) in Psycho, and a handful of other nondescript little parts that added a little essential flavor to the movies in question. But RO's filmography is too minuscule to even mention when contrasted with Bess and Cosmo.

I am reminded of the thousands of unknowns that made up the HUGE essential cast in BEN HUR (1925). Several that within the next decade would become well recognized notables.

Okay, I'll have to see if I can up up with a few more apropos names. 

BTW, in our twenties a lot of us were considered to be "quite handsome" (or at least at our "most handsomeness")

I always liked in classic books when they would describe a female as a "quite handsome woman". It always brought to my mind the visage of someone like Judith Anderson. Your choices were good but if you can come up with even more obscure ones, that would be dandy.

[Mad Scientist Review Board]

All great choices, Stephan and you don't have to tout old Pretorius to me since I've always found his skeletal face to be the cat's meow, even if old Una O'Connor didn't. I guess the fact that he was in as Hollywood called it, a "lavender marriage" though, would have dampened my desires. Lorre as Doctor Gogol is just unearthly, and those scenes where his bald head is front and center and the cockatoo is flying around, really do look like outtakes from "Citizen Kane" as many have implied. The voice, the eyes, the general mien...all too creepy for words.

Loved all "The Fly" manifestations, especially the Cronenberg one, but I will admit to being sentimentally attached to the original from the late 1950's, since I love Al [David] Hedison as Andre Delambre, which is such a romantic French name. And little Charles Herbert, is adorable as the kiddie. Now with the wife, Helene as played by Patricia Owen I sometimes get confused as to who she was married to, since I keep thinking about her role in the AHP episode called "The Crystal Trench" where she waits like a gadzillion years for her hubby to come up out of the frozen ice, because she thought he was the love of her life. And then well, she finds out that he was about as true to her as a certain president is to his spouses. Poor Patricia, always getting the short end of the stick with men, some of whom turn into a zillion fly atoms and end up flying around flowers while Vincent Price watches.

Good teleportation theory, by the way!

[Professional Critiques of Movie Vocations]

On 2/15/2018 at 10:20 PM, sewhite2000 said:

What I learned about plumbing from Cluny Brown is you don't even have to use a wrench properly. You just whack it upside the pipe a few times like it was a hammer, and everything is magically fixed!

So funny! That certainly does explain how the Lubitsch touch was manifest in films though since he could make even plumbing seem appealing.

[I Just Watched...]

Hey, Lawrence, never noticed till I looked at your thumbnail pic, how much Georges Melies looked like Jose Ferrer if he wore a mustache.

Thanks!

[Bud Cort Film Festival]

1 hour ago, Stephan55 said:

Ha ha, I trust that we are both referencing Marcel Proust's "Remembrance of Things Past" aka "In Search of Lost Time"
I have a digital compilation of his work in French with English translation.
Even in english I really get a kick from his very nuanced discriptions.

“No sooner had the warm liquid mixed with the crumbs touched my palate than a shudder ran through me and I stopped, intent upon the extraordinary thing that was happening to me.”

I'd like another one of those cookies, please.
 

Hard to believe with such a poetic lilt to his words, that he was heard to enjoy torturing rats, ain't it, Stephan?

[I'd like to thank all the little people!]

1 hour ago, Stephan55 said:

Cosmo Sardo, the name was unfamilar, but I did recognize the familiar face!  Thanks!

My immediate contribution is James Flavin (1906-1976)

I first noticed him credited in my all time favorite KING KONG (1933), from which I eventually sought to identify every actor that I could. So whenever his name shows up in a long list of credits, like another obscurity, Leonid Kinskey, I perk up with diligent eyes waiting for his "scene" to appear. And even when uncredited, I generally stop and say to myself, "hey, there's James Flavin" and begin to pay even more attention to whatever it is I may be watching.

Flavin began acting at least as early as 1932. And though certainly not as prolific as either Cosmo or Bess, a partial list credits his appearance in at least 106 movies, and he remained active in film until the year he died from a massive heart attack in 1976.
 
In Kong, as second, he had one line. In many of his other appearances his dialogue was a bit more substantial, but generally not by much.
He was a tough appearing "mug" with a forceful, commanding demeanor, which often lent him to play many bit roles as military and police officers, but despite the repetitiveness (for me) his parts were always distinctive and appreciated.

There are so many of these "mentionable" "Little People" that are now coming to mind, but because I'm still thinking about Kong I will say a few others from that classic that might fit this bill:
Victor Wong (as Charlie the Cook, luv his pidgin english lines), Steve Clemente (the Witch doctor), Noble Johnson (the Chief, All that native lingo was made up, but they sure delivered it with enthusiastic credibility), Sam Hardy (as Weston, the talent scout who couldn't find a "dame" adventurous enough to join Denham on this mysterious cruise), and the beloved Frank Reicher (Captain Englehorn), who later went on to play many despicable Nazi's during the war).

All of these guys had long "bit-part" careers playing those small parts that put vitality in the flesh on the bones of those "old" movies that we've grown to treasure over the years.
Too, when I notice the same names down those long lists of credits appearing again, and again in so many different movies, it perks an interest in me to be able to identify who they are and the parts they play.
Bess Flowers is certainly one of those names that has stood out and I am thankful to TomJH for bringing her to better light!

Thanks for doing likewise with Cosmo Sardo, CG, and Thanks for another great topic.
I hope others bring up many more names to ponder and look up.

Flavin was a quite handsome guy in Kong, and always had an authoritative air to him. Less film to his credit than Cosmo but Flavin had a real career with notable character parts and is part of the classic Hollywood period. As for Kong having some notables, Frank Reicher is always great as is Noble Johnson. I guess I just am more attuned to the backup characters in films, who seem to do the real work, more than the stars. I guess we need both though, so a little credit to the ones who support the stars is always pleasureable. Thanks!

[I'd like to thank all the little people!]

Tom, I adore Bess Flowers. I always watch the end of AAE just to see her congratulate Eve on her Sarah Siddons award. She's everywhere, it's true and looking for her in one of her patented society lady roles is always enjoyable. My mother used to say she fit the mold of the term "dowager queen" type, but if I had picked a hubby in the film for Bess, I would have chosen perennial drunken boytoy, Jack Norton. I can just see Bess doing her best to pick him up from the ballroom floor as he blacks out for the third time or more.
 

Great choice and thanks for participating!

 

[Mad Scientist Review Board]

Imagine you are part of the special counsel reviewing the mental stability of some of filmdom's maddest scientists. Just who who make the grade as being over the top and certifiable, and who would be allowed to continue in their quest to take over the world, find guinea pigs to experiment on or clone giant spiders that would threaten humanity, amongst other ventures?

Now a certain person named Thesiger is one of my favorites, but I am going to first examine the case of noted scientist and generally all around creepy personage, Albert Dekker. In one of the best sci-fi films of the 1930's he portrayed Dr. Cyclops [aka Doctor Thorkel] who just for fun liked to miniaturize people to do his bidding. If you've seen John Hoyt in "Attack of the Puppet People" you've seen a much milder, teen drive-in version of some parts of the original tale, which is a lot creepier. Hoyt though an incredible actor just cannot match the malice of Albert Dekker, who always was freaky in almost anything like his amazing role in the cult classic "Among the Living". But I digress...

So I will start the mental examinations by nominating Dekker as one of the maddest of the mad scientists on film. Who do you choose as your nominee to win top wackadoodle doctor of science? Oddly enough, about the only film I can think of where the scientist is not a nutjob, is "The Day the Earth Stood Still" where Sam Jaffe seemed reasonable and able minded and not a lunatic trying to take over the world.

[Bud Cort Film Festival]

1 hour ago, Stephan55 said:

Luv Ruth in everything. Even in that, ahem, "uncomfortable" scene with a much younger Cort.

In my later years when, I would "date" a girl considerably younger than myself, and the question of our "age difference" invariably popped up, I'd always respond, sort-of, off-cuff, with "I don't mind if you refer to me as your 'Daddy,' if you incest." (pun on "insist") that generally would elicit (pun for "illicit") a nice little seductive smile....  

Uh, I think I smell an enforced thread deletion coming up, Stephan.

[Bud Cort Film Festival]

On 2/15/2018 at 8:49 PM, Stephan55 said:

CaveGirl said:

I love the part where Maude shows Harold the Odorifics machine, and he gets to enjoy the subway smells but finally, the snow one. It's a magical scene...

 

I used to have an "Odorifics machine"  (well, sorta)
I carried it around beneath my nose.
All I had to do to recreate a "magical scene" was raise my upper lip and sniff.

This is very reminiscent [scent...get it?] of the Madeleines scene in Proust's ROTP, Stephan. He should have had an Odette Odorific Machine.

[Bud Cort Film Festival]

On 2/15/2018 at 11:39 PM, Stephan55 said:

You Lucky Guy!
I think Ruth Gordon was such an incredibly talented lady. Great writer (esp. with her husband, partner and collaborator Garson Kanin, very funny stuff), and wonderful actress. Whether the part was small or large, drama or comedy, always a joy to see her on the screen. Though I think that she really excelled in comedy.
She is one of those people that I would just like to sit and listen to her talk about anything in her life for as long as possible. She seemed to have lived life to its fullest. And I am envious of any one who could say that they actually met her, leave off knew her well enough to have conversed with. Do you treasure that book? I bet you do!

 

I remember that scene well and there seemed to be a small group of people who found it distasteful, probably due to the age gap. But oddly enough, I always thought Ruth Gordon looked and acted like a teenager, so thought it was the greatest romance since Errol Flynn and Beverly Aadland!

Ruth Gordon could even make you like her as a Satanist working with Anton LaVey. Remember how she offered Rosemary the tea, after she was on to the plot about her hubby, Guy working with the satanic group to get the baby, and Ruth said something like "It's just Lipton tea, drink it!" Yep, a really nice Satanic lady for sure that only Ruth Gordon could bring to life. I don't actually believe in Satan, but if I did, I would want Ruth Gordon to be his earthly emissary.

[Bud Cort Film Festival]

Wouldn't you have loved to go out on the town with Bud Cort AND Groucho!

That would have been a night to remember.

Almost like the one you had with Jayne Mansfield!!!

[Movie Mysteries]

22 hours ago, Bethluvsfilms said:

Once was one time too many for my taste. It's praised for it's technical achievements so much that a lot of people are willing to overlook the racist overtones and stereotypes, but I just could not.

However, to ban it, would be wrong. No matter how much I despise the film, I have to acknowledge that it is considered one of the 'icons' of early cinema, despite its whitewashing of the Klu Klux Klan. If anything, it should be shown just to show the ludicrousy of making a terrorist group out of something they're not....heroes...and the demonization of African Americans who were just struggling to survive in a country that had held them in slavery for so long.

Agreed, Beth! But as you say in terms of film history, and seeing the developments Griffith instituted like having multiple storylines coinciding or interesting camera work by folks like Billy Bitzer, we still do need to retain such films for viewing. Also to see early work by actors like Henry B. Walthall or Mae Marsh or Richard Barthelmess, Griffith's films are necessary. Thanks!

[Movie Mysteries]

On 2/16/2018 at 8:44 AM, Sepiatone said:

MY first mystery would be wanting to know how anyone can WATCH "The Birth Of A Nation" more than once?

But, in the spirit of things, one I would mention is...

Who was that old man in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE that nearly gets run down by a car in the scene where George, Bert and Ernie are watching Violet Bick walk away and cross the street at the corner, an old guy slows and turns to look too and causes a car to hit the brakes and horn.    For all we know, that spot could have been the highlight of his "career".

Sepiatone

OMG! I worked with a guy who was totally into owning 16mm films from Blackhawk and particularly like David Wark's stuff. He'd have parties and show things like BOAN. We did a lot of drinking to get through some of those early gems with Lillian as a wandering waif. As for the old guy in IAWL, I wonder if he is mentioned in that book all about the film. I'll have to check my copy and see. Thanks, Sepia!

[Movie Mysteries]

22 hours ago, Dargo said:

Oh, yeah. That guy.

Well, after doing some extensive archival research here, it appears his name was Ezekiel Hoffman.

(...and so CG, it looks like maybe your observation about the guy's appearance might be closer to home than you thought!)

You kill me, Dargo!

But that's still better than a few people here who would like to kill me literally.

[Movie Mysteries]

13 hours ago, MovieCollectorOH said:

A Freeman named William perhaps?
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0293622/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t36

Yeah! That does seem to be him. For years, in books I have and online no one seemed to know his identity. I hadn't thought about him for over ten or more years, but it seems the mystery is solved. I guess with the internet a lot more of these mysteries get a solution. Thanks so much, MovieCollector for finding out the latest and sharing it!

[I'd like to thank all the little people!]

No, not the little people like Billy Barty or Harry Earles, though they have brought much to films also in their personages. I'm talking about all the often uncredited performers who make up the background of so many films. Where would John Wayne be in leading a cavalry if there were not men in the cavalry? How would Cary Grant and Errol Flynn and others have won the war, without all the soldiers and numerous enlistees in WWII they needed to command. How could you have Burt Lancaster on the trapeze without a nice audience below watching him risk his life? For that matter, how crummy would so many Hollywood parties in films look without a multitude of guests, some dancing, some drinking and with someone playing the piano?

 

Therefore I say, give tribute where it is due. For me my favorite uncredited actor is someone named Cosmo Sardo. Can't remember when I first caught his act, but since then I look for him in films since he is as fun to find as Waldo. The guy has 437 credits. Being born in 1909 and dying in 1989, he had quite a long career in films and in his latter years also was appearing on many tv shows also. Cosmo [great name too and he was more sophisticated than Cosmo Topper in my mind] being almost always impeccably dressed in sartorial splendour [that's for Dargo!] was a natural to play Maitre D's, nightclub patrons, party guests, and the like. He must have been totally burnt out and an original member of AA due to all the time in movies he spent partying. But he also has played a shipboard guest, a pilot, a gambler, a convict and a barber which seems appropriate since he owned his own hair salon in Hollywood apparently.

Some movies Cosmo was in were things like "Imitation of Life", "The Joker is Wild", where he was the Maitre D', "To Catch a Thief" where he was a Frenchman interestingly, a party guest in "Singin' in the Rain", a waiter in "All About Eve", the bartender in "In a Lonely Place", a theatre guest in the noir "Phantom Lady", a Lothario in "Love Me or Leave Me" and my favorite, a "man" in "Gilda", which was not much of a stretch. He also appeared in things like "Oceans 11", "North by Northwest", "The Hypnotic Eye" and "Tales of Terror" and even appeared as a Wine Society Member, which would seemingly make him a candidate for an all day film festival at TCM to promote their own fine wine club, in my opinion.

Check out his photo online or at IMDB. By the way, Cosmo's first uncredited appearance was in "Power Dive" from 1941 where he played the 2nd bartender, so he did really advance in his roles ending up always as first bartender after that less than auspicious beginning. Name your favorite uncredited but highly used performer in films, if you would like to share. 

If not...go back to sleep!