LornaHansonForbes

Funny how history repeats itself. I was in the seventh grade in 1990-1991 when the DARK SHADOWS revival with Jean Simmons in the Joan Bennett role ran in prime time on NBC. It was a big-budget, very well-done and well-cast redo of the Barnabas story from the original sixties show and it also was constantly preempted by news from the Gulf War and was cancelled after a very promising first season with several unresolved plotlines.

the second part is pretty funny too.

And the song CRAWFORD performs is named TWO-FACED WOMAN. History came full circle on this one. 2:45 in is when it really starts to take off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OCDM-LftEU

I want to say that they were releasing one of those old MGM COMING ATTRACTIONS things and it showed a scene from I'LL CRY TOMORROW wherein SUSAN was singing HAPPINESS IS JUST A THING CALLED JOE. It did not sound like her, but it sounded good.

Thank you, I did not know that.

for some reason, the discussion brings this to mind: (pic could be better, but it's complete.)

Lord have mercy no. I don't think Susan ever sang with her real voice- I know she's dubbed in WITH A SONG IN MY HEART and I'LL CRY TOMORROW, and maybe SMASH-UP too.... VALLEY OF THE DOLLS makes for an intriguing double bill with TORCH SONG (1953) as they share similarly audacious storylines wherein numerous characters put up with the leading lady's sadistic temperament under the pretense that "she's such a talent she's worth it"- and in both cases both actresses are obviously dubbed when demonstrating said "talent", which sort of undercuts the validity of the whole thing even more (and the story in both examples is on shaky ground to begin with...) They also share two similarly ludicrous scenes wherein two preview audiences enthusiastically lap up the sort of musical number that in the real world would elicit a SPRINGTIME FOR HITLER-level reaction from an actual audience. (TORCH SONG- the TWO-FACED WOMAN number, I'LL PLANT...in VALLEY.)

OMG, Just rewatched the Sammy clip from the Academy Awards, He is wearing boots with heels. Love.

Yes, a loser in every sense except for the fact that it won Best Song! (According to INSIDE OSCAR there were audible groans when it was announced.) One interesting facet in watching SAMMY DAVIS JUNIOR perform the number in March 1968 is the fact that MARTIN LUTHER KING had been shot days before and he had debated going on, but in ULTIMATE SHOW BIZ TROOPER fashion, he did, and he gives it his PATENTED SAMMY-BRAND ALL.

DAVID NIVEN is DAVID NIVEN as DAVID NIVEN. Although for slight variation, sometimes he plays repressed lotharios as opposed to outright lotharios, and on a couple (ONE?) occasions he did it without the mustache (a look I prefer.) WUTHERING HEIGHTS: (This picture doesn't do him justice, but I couldn't find any better. In the actual film itself he is quite handsome minus the stache: which appears to be permanent POST-HEIGHTS.) PS- how obviously is Merle thinking "Oh yeah, Mama's gonna have you for a snack" to herself in this pic? PSS- I have NEVER NOTICED the IVY DETAIL on that gown. That is gorgeous.

FEEL LIKE SHARING?

It's a real damn shame I'LL PLANT MY OWN TREE was not nominated for BEST ORIGINAL SONG at the Oscars that year. Sammy Davis Jr. could've done a killer medley of it and TALK TO THE ANIMALS:

Susan at the 1974 Academy awards, presenting Best Actress with Charlton Heston (their entrance is not part of the clip, but Susan looks terrific and love her pronunciation of "The Ex Or Cyst" and "Summahwishes, Wintahdreams.") (Also notable, but on a non-Susan note, is Ellen Burstyn's reaction to Glenda Jackson's second Oscar victory. It is some HEAVY SHADE. )

All things must come to pass. I know I'll miss this thread, it's been a fun one.

I'm sorry, I still can't work up any enthusiasm for David Niven.

it won't let you say the French equivalent of "the s word," so I'm surprised le chienne gets le pass.

In searching BING IMAGES for SPAM, I came across this little nugget and had to share. Who the hell feeds their children olives and tinned meat product for lunch? and as a follow up: Who the hell takes the time to make RADISH ROSES for their children YET FEEDS THEM MEAT FROM A TIN?! Follow up follow up: are those COCKTAIL ONIONS in the center?!

SPAMALOT II: THE SPAMPOCALYPSE

Yes, it's a curiosity in this and the later THE BLACK SLEEP, Lugosi is reduced to non-speaking parts; and I can only speculate is to why.

Her decapitated head does as it rolls into the orchestra pit.

I WISH I could find the interview, but I couldn't.

I wish I lived in an alternate universe where DARIO ARGENTO'S VALLEY OF THE DOLLS (1980) was an actual film. During the I'LL PLANT MY OWN TREE number, Helen Lawson is impaled by a giant red isosceles triangle and decapitated by a big blue rhombus....

I brought this up in the SON OF FRANKENSTEIN thread: DONNIE DUNAGAN, who played the young son in that film gave an interview years later where he claimed Atwill took him aside and touched him inappropriately on the set and (as I recall it) he told BASIL RATHBONE, who shut the situation down. I wonder if Atwill having a tiny role (but top billing) in NIGHT MONSTER (done about 2 years after SON OF FRANKENSTEIN)was a way of having him finish a contract out with a minimum of scandal.

I am disgusted.