CaveGirl

I can dig it!!!

I too love seeing the icy and sophisticated Hilary in anything, even as Vern's girlfriend in old "My Little Margie" reruns and sometimes I like Tom Conway even more than his bro, George. Always thought that Hilary was British till I too read her bio. As for "Skin Game" I've seen that but once long ago, but need to give it a second look based on your fine review. Thanks for both detailed takes on films not so famous but well worth seeing, CJ!

I think Akira Kurosawa answered this question years ago at a dinner honoring him, saying that making sequels et cetera for sure thing money, was pretty much against the grain if one wants to be remembered for quality films. Did I mention Spielberg was in the audience but seemed not to be listening?

Yeah, one doesn't often get to see a guy named Quasimodo, with only one functioning eye, swooping down from any bell towers, so I get your drift. Love that Laughton in anything. Thanks, Thenryb!

Now working on Panel #4, Top Row, 2nd Box from Left...looks like Ingrid Bergman to me. And in Panel # 4, on the bottom Row #4, the 4th Box over from the left, could be Robert Cummings possibly. And continuing on Panel #4, Row #4, Box # 6 to the extreme right, could be Dick Powell. And another possibility for Panel #4, Row #1, Box #4 from the left is Gypsy Rose Lee. And on Panel #4 again, Row #4, Box #3 from the left, looks a bit like Claire Trevor. Panel #4, Row #3, Box #4 from the left, possibly Laraine Day. If they'd only put Joe E. Brown's or Gloria Grahame's mouths on this, it would be so easy!

I love that line from Mantegna as he is in the Western Union office and is showing how to give "confidence" to get it, by telling the young soldier he will give him money if Mantegna's stuff comes in first. What a great and convincing scam it is, and a great lesson to those who are gullible on how a con man thinks! Having never been gullible since birth, I didn't need to know it but I still enjoy the whole film tremendously. Thanks for your excellent exegesis of the film!

Great list, James and I have no problem with others defining "noir" to their own taste. Just by my standards I feel TMF doesn't fit my pattern and I think men and women often see noir in differing ways also. Your list would definitely make any fan's Top Ten for neophytes or professional noir addicts for sure! Here's my list slanted a bit more towards less sited noir classics: "Lonelyhearts" with Clift as a lovelorn columnist finding tragedy an everyday affair. "Ace in the Hole" proving Billy Wilder can be as downbeat as anyone "In A Lonely Place" with Grahame the ideal mate for Bogie on film, which he destroys "Force of Evil" with blacklisted angst personified "The Amazing Mr. X" and Turhan Bey being perverse "La Chienne" is Renoir's original and more gritty take on what later became known as "Scarlet Street" "The Letter" and Bette Davis as a most diabolical female "Among the Living" has Albert Dekker times two "Kiss the Blood Off My Hands" definitely the most noirish title ever

Love Rags Ragland and he does deserve more attention, as does Connie Gilchrist TB. Do you want me to compare the official list in the book from the hardcover version from 1979 called "MGM: The Complete History" with your list and see if anything is missing? Probably isn't but this book seems pretty complete. You sure did a lot of checking to be sure but what if a film with Rags Ragland slipped through the cracks??? images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Zpcy9%2BYSL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Limey, thanks for printing up all five pages. Based on five screen shot panels, with the first two having the female and male combined giant mouth shots, I am working below on the third panel, with the many noses and mouths. First row on Panel #3, to the far left with Box #1, an early shot possibly of Marilyn Monroe, before she achieved her later overdrawn lips outline. Same Panel #3, Row #3 and 4, Box # 3 coming from the left, Alla Nazimova possibly. Same Panel #3, Row #3 and 4, Box #4 coming from the left, Charles Boyer possibly.

They say Vasquez Rocks was used for location shooting in that wonderfully odd vampire film, "Werewolf of London" starring the incredible Henry Hull. Thus began my love affair with any films that also starred Vasquez Rocks as a backdrop, frontdrop or mediumdrop. It is so unearthly looking and to me that's a real plus. It serves well for outer space drama and any "Star Trek" episode or one from "The Outer Limits" would immediately be improved by being shot at the site. Name you favorite movie location...

I'm going to take on this wonderfully "adjacent" topic, even though I would hardly align myself with the "noir savvy members of the board" and am going to go rogue for a second about classifying films as noir, by saying what is NOT noir first in my compendium, and that would be John Huston's "The Maltese Falcon". I don't think it is noir, or noirish, or even grey for that matter and should be taken out of all the books that say it is. It might be greige, but not even a charcoal grey in my opinion. Take that baby out of contention, and the list becomes a lot easier to define in comparison. I will say "Stranger on the Third Floor" is noir, to start though and since noir in essence is a chimera...I will be back soon with more but brunch is calling.

I did not get that, probably because I had been watching too much CNN about Robert Mueller so thought it was a joke about him needing wine to get through the day. Thanks for clearing that up, James. As for Lizbeth Scott, it always kills me that her real name was Emma Matzo proving once again that a rose by any other name is still as sweet, or deadly sweet in her case. She's excellent in that film as she is in "TLFT" and something about her diabolical conniving antics, plus the fashion plate looks, killer voice and her jaw and dental formation, makes her irresistible on film. Some people just come alive on film and Liz is one of them. She's definitely a woman in noir, that would take all the noir boys here and around the world as fans, and chew them up and spit them out. One part of the Scott legend, being that she might have assumed a bit of the Tallulah Bankhead vocal sound due to working with her as understudy is still unproven, as is the bit about their tempestuous relationship on stage lending to the theory of an alternative "All About Eve" origin, past the Elizabeth Bergner tale which all know. Thanks, James!

Errol...sorry I was overtaken by your beauty! I mean Speed, yes that's a good one from MMISL. Depending on my mood, there are so many moments in that film to rewatch and often I go for the bit with Margaret and Judy doing "Under the Bamboo Tree". Besides the song being adorable, I like to watch the party participants like Tom Drake really seeming to enjoy watching and it seems so real and spontaneous, even like when those in the front have to move a bit to let Margaret continue her dancing. Wonderful movie in all its seasonal aspects and also fun to hear Tom Drake's beautiful voice.

Oh, yeah, Addison DeWitt telling off Eve is a classic gotta see over and over! Thanks, Christine.

Such fun to read all those entries, TB. Just curious, did you get this list from that giant compendium of supposedly all films put out by MGM through the years? I can't think of the name of it right now, but my shelf is weighted down by that giant book and others on WB, Universal, RKO and Fox I think. A friend gave me the entire series of such books and they are a joy to read with the year by year listings. Thanks for posting such a fine list to reflect upon being that I doubt we have so many great films produced now by all entities!

Being the holidays, I've been enjoying some very tantalizing MacGuffins from various entities. Anyone who has ever consumed a MacGuffin, knows that the best kind don't lay it on too thick with icing or accoutrements, which might ruin one's own concept of the delicacy. A heady whiff of the item, will not spoil the mystery in searching out where one can find the item, but those who try too hard to crack that walnut and put the poor thing under a microscope are always disappointed plus their lack of imagination in accepting the MacGuffin without knowing all its ingredients, ruins things for others. Such people are downers and would try to find the Lost Chord or Nessie's DNA. Name your favorite MacGuffin, but not if it was on the menu at Alfred Hitchcock's meal in which all the food was blue.

Tyrone is actually so much prettier than Norma. Love it! Thanks, Rayban.

I applaud those, who are vigilantes at ascertaining just who is who here, and are being overt Nancy Drew replicants [or even Hardy Boy followers] at uncovering such dastardly multiple personalities and posters with aliases, James. I will contribute to a fund to help raise money for more research and will be happy to give to sign my name [or names] to any petition so that this quest may become an integral part of the TCM board, as a site segment mayhaps. It might be more circumspect though for Lavender Blue and others to take such vendettas to the Chit Chat Room since the investigation into such poster identity theft is off-topic to films in general, as I'm sure you would agree. Personally I am just here to discuss films, not debate exactly who is who and who is not who. I like films, like to talk about films with other like-minded folk and really don't care much who says what, but care what they say and what I can learn about films from them.

In the annals of films [and real life] there have been some con men and women, who in spite of their nefarious qualities are quite personable, like Willie Sutton. Sometimes they take one on a ride which though a bit painful has some exhilirating moments which make it less distasteful. I will eschew the usual suspects like Dan, Sydney, Zachary, Lizbeth and leave others to acclaim their assets, since my choice is Joe Mantegna as Mike, in David Mamet's infinitely appealing movie from 1987, called "House of Games". Mike is consummately entertaining, informative, amusing and likable, which helps as he says in his gambit of giving confidence to a target to get their confidence back. The con game in this film is multi-level since even the audience can be in on the con and also be conned at the same time. Starring also, Mamet's then wife, Lindsay Crouse as Margaret Ford, and with a unique cast with quality folk like Lilia Skala, J.T.Walsh and even famed magician, Ricky Jay one gets to be in on The Tell, and learn to love it, just like kerosene cucumbers! Mamet, who has written much psychological drama in bits like "Glengary Glen Ross" and "The Spanish Prisoner" gives one a true look at who's playing who in "House of Games" and is terminally successful. Name your favorite con man or woman in films, or even in real life...

Very insightful take, Beth and I have actually not seen this film so will look forward to it, with your knowledgeable input about it in the back of my mind. Thanks!

Top of the world, Ma? Yes, quite a sendoff but that bit where Cagney flips out in the prison cafeteria is great too, doncha think? Thanks, Beth!

You are very astute, LavenderBlue. But have you figured out yet the other aliases comprising three more posters here, that CGGCRM are using? Now that would show real fortitude in your detecting skills!

I do remember that, and it's a good one. Thanks, CI!

True, and as our TCM Poster, GordonCole has said, that name itself of Gordon Cole was based on a real life production worker in Hollywood, as a bit of an in-joke or tribute by DeMille. Our Gordon told us as I recall, due to his affinity for such people during his entertainment career, he was aware of the earlier meaning of using Gordon Cole as a moniker, in the minor "Sunset Blvd" reference. I believe our Gordon might have even said he knew the person the role was based on, but I could be wrong about that. This is a bit of a door opening a door opening a door sequence like in the film "Spellbound". Thanks for your thoughts, SEWhite.

Reading Errol's book "My Wicked Wicked Ways" as a teenager, made me interested in Lily's career. Their joint entry into Hollywood lore was fascinating reading and she had the spirit and spunk of a Clara Bow, but that kind of temperament often does not bode well for long term careers. Sadly the supposed death of their son, Sean Flynn coming many years later was never totally solved. Thanks!