LornaHansonForbes
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Posts posted by LornaHansonForbes
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1. Green Mansions (1959). From everything I've read, her then husband Mel Ferrer, bungled the directing job thoroughly--that's supposedly why things seem "off".
2. "Watch on the Rhine"--(1943)--film deals with Nazism & Fascism. Bette Davis in a restrained performance gives the film to Paul Lukas, who won an Oscar for his role. Talky film, but definitely worth watching.
3. "Reflections in a Golden Eye" (1967)--Is my understanding that after initial release (which bombed), RiaGE was only reissued in black & white--is the only way I've ever seen it--if film Has been restored, turn off the color--is very effective in b&w.
1. Yeah, "off" is a good way to describe GREEN MANSIONS...although, to be honest, the source novel deserves some of the credit for the disaster, the whole idea is a mess. Henry Silva is surprisingly hot as an evil native though. But Hepburn and Perkins have no chemistry and Audrey cast as "Rima the Bird Girl"- who the author of the book describes as under five feet tall, dark brown and coarse-feautured- is "John Wayne as Ghengis Khan"-level miscasting. I also don't recall any good scenery, the whole thing was filmed on very obvious soundstages from the best of my recollection.
2. sigh, WATCH ON THE RHINE. I caught this one for the first time this year during the 31 DAYS OF OSCAR and thought about starting a thread on it, but since the boards are always dead during 31 DAYS, I didn't bother. Paul Lukas winning the Best Actor Oscar over Bogart (for CASABLANCA) is one of the most interestingly multi-faceted mistakes in the history of the Academy Awards.
I understand, of course, that a Warner's "B-Player" (as Bogie was still maybe kinda regarded at the time) was never gonna beat someone from The Theatuh, but I am still surprised that the actors voting did not stop for one minute to think about what a challenge the role of Rick was and how, in spite of all the odds, BOGIE MAKES IT WORK and in the process turned his whole image on its head and became a romantic leading man. Lukas' role in RHINE is a Christmas gift to an actor- all tied up in red ribbons, but honestly he doesn't even do a competent job in executing it. His resistance fighter needs fire, passion, anger- Lukas seems to be struggling to even get his lines out. It is a shaky performance and since the film is basically a filmed stage play (Honestly, I don't recall whether or not it ever leaves the living room of the home where it is set)- it's like watching an understudy get his big chance...and blow it. I understand that the sentiment "I FIGHT FASCISTS" is a lot easier to embrace than "I STICK MY NECK OUT FOR NOBODY" but when Bogie succeeds at layering his character so wonderfully (effortlessly, one might say) and then loses to Lukas, who honestly sounds at times like Bela Lugosi- only nowhere near as emotive- it pretty much undercuts the idea that the Oscar is the last word on what is great in film....and of course, there is also the fact that Lukas (maybe?) never did another lead role in a film, went right back to playing second leads and support and never did anything else that proved he deserved anything more than to be in films, period.
And of course, there is also the ridiculous prejudice the prestige-conscious Academy had for THEATUH people- which resulted in quite a few undeserved nominations (and wins) for "slumming" stage actors (Helen Hayes, Lunt and Fontanne, Ethel Barrymoore in NONE BUT THE LONELY HEART...) at the expense of deserving film actors.
I could go on for a long time about this one.
3. REFELECTIONS IN A GOLDEN EYE was on TCM recently, and they have restored it to its original URINE-SCOPE negative. It really did look like it was shot through a jar of pee. With John Huston, the films are either reeeeeally good or reeeeaally bad- he's not a filmmaker who did mid-range work. REFLECTIONS falls in the latter category.
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Someone who 'guys' admire and would aspire to be like?
Maybe another thing she got wrong.
Oh come on, guys:
who amongst us that have seen that scene in THE PIRATE where Gene does his ballet number in tattered hot pants and pirate garb- spins that flaming baton amid the explosions and demi-entrechants like tomorrow won't come, and not had the urge to hardcore Bro-out with him- y'know, crack open a PBR, dig into some wings and catch whatever game is on at the local sports bar?
ps- I forget, does that band on his right arm mean he's a top or a bottom?
pss- nevermind, I think I can guess the answer.
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DEATHTRAP is scheduled air again on TCM in September as part of the tribute to Sidney Lumet.
I caught some of it yesterday afternoon.
Not one of Dyan Cannon's more subtle performances.
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I cannot post a link until I get to my computer, but if any of you are curious for a new take on the tale, there is a radio version of SHADOW OF A DOUBT in which Teresa Wright reprises her film role and- get this- William Powell plays Uncle Charlie, quite surprisingly well. the entire speech about swine living behind the walls of houses is kept intact and Powell knocks it out of the park. When I get the chance I'll post the link, but til then, the radio version can be found in full on YouTube and is highly recommended.
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Thank you, for you kind words Frau Wunderbar...honestly, I feel a little guilty for ripping so viciously at Ms. Werts (well, as much guilt as I can feel in my shriveled little artichoke heart). It's done. Were she ever to see it, I'd say "my bad" t'wards maybe being a little too vicious and just remind her to "cool it" with the "whole" "putting everything in quotes" "thing" that she does.
It's not "professional."
Dammit. There I go again...I just can't be nice sometimes...most times...all the time.
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For anyone who might not be aware of the book, Karen Hannsberry's classic Femme Noir: Bad Girls of Film has a chapter devoted to Gray, with parts devoted to Kiss of Death, Nightmare Alley, The Sleeping City, Kansas City Confidential, and The Killing. Too bad that The Sleeping City is a Universal film and TCM doesn't seem to be able to get it.
I know not this Sleeping City, but I am in love with the title. Have you seen it?
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I've never seen the love for Shadow Of A Doubt, which IMO is among Hitchcock's very few bad films. Uncle Charlie gave off so many creepy and paranoid vibes throughout the whole movie that I find it impossible to believe that any real life family could have been taken him at face value for as long as they did, in spite of any past relationships with him.
But they don't.
The father clearly doesn't buy the act, even more after Uncle Charlie visits him at the bank and makes such an **** of himself. And neither do the children- Anne (the bespectacled girl child) immediately doesn't trust him, the little boy later almost flat-out refuses to sit by him at dinner, and only obliges after his mother gives him a nasty look. And even the mother has the vaguest frame of a suspicion- there's a wonderful tight shot of Paticia Collinge as she drives off to attend the party once little little Charlie has been rescued from the garage (and earlier avoids falling through the rigged stairs), she mouths the words to herself about how strange it all has been "first the steps, now this..." She knows.
It's, again, a film where a lot happens beneath the surface- wonderfully directed and acted, and not in a showy way.
I think if it does have any flaws, it's in the scene where the detectives use the extended rouse to get in to the house.
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Patricia Collinge makes one of her rare film appearances as the mother - such a delicate, fragile characterization.
Yes!
Really enjoyed the double feature last night of Collinge's films, first THE LITTLE FOXES, wherein she gives one of the finest supporting turns of the whole decade (just masterful work), and then SHADOW OF A DOUBT (which for the record, is a film I'd put in my Top Ten of all Time if ever I were forced.)
She says SO MUCH without saying a word in both films...God, I wish she had made more movies, just a fantastic actress.
ps- you just know her fragile mother in SHADOW OF A DOUBT probably won't live long after getting the news about Uncle Charlie.
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Are the two little dots on top of the 'U' an 'umlaut': Ü
Yes, they are and how did you manage to do one?
Hats off to you, Good Sir.
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The Vista Theatre in LA had a grand reopening, several years ago, after its beautiful interior restoration to its original 1930's Egyptian design, complete with bigger screen, new furnishings, seats and an awesome sound system. It had declined to being a seedy (gay) porn theatre in the late seventies.
Damn. I hate to hear about a nice, seedy gay porn theater going out of business. Especially one with such colorful decor. It's getting to where all the nice "Mom and Pop" gay porn theaters are getting shut down or going corporate.
(at least they replaced the seats!)
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I wonder if TCM plans a Remembers tribute? Has anyone seen one?
No. And at this point, I think we would've seen it by now. It's a shame, she was in five major classics (THE KILLING, KISS OF DEATH, NIGHTMARE ALLEY, RED RIVER and KANSAS CITY CONFIDENTIAL)- so she certainly warrants it.
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And his hair was perfect.
A-woo.
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I'll also offer up that WEREWOLF OF LONDON is excellent, just a charming, eccentric and wonderfully acted and stylish little film, rather unlike most of the Universal horrors in that it has a fair amount of comedy going on (but the humor is not out of place.) Great art direction and quintessentially British- you'd think it was a James Whale film, but it's not.
It's not entirely unlike DOWNTON ABBEY with werewolves.
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my comments in red- LHF
I've finally gotten a chance to peruse the schedule, this is what's catching my eye right now:
Nov 5
-Sweet Bird of Youth, a Paul Newman film I haven't seen
S'allright, but not a great movie. Newman is at MAXIMUM hotness in this one though; and it is a startling 180 for Geraldine Page from the film roles she had previously played. Shirley Knight is also very good, and the woman who plays "Sister Woman" in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF! has a memorable role.
Nov 13-Mogambo. I keep trying to watch this movie and I don't know what happens, but I don't think I've ever made it through the first 30 mins or so. It has a good cast, I feel like I want to like it. Feel no guilt about this, you're in good company. It's really not worth your time.
Nov 16
-Kiss of Death. I believe this movie has Richard Widmark's evil character. I also really liked Coleen Gray in Nightmare Alley and would like to see her in more films. HOLY [.NUTS IN A BUCKET.] They're showing KISS OF DEATH!? Awesome! A really good movie almost ruined by a dumb ending and some sloppy voiceover narration, one of Victor Mature's sturdiest performances and a turn for the ages by Richard Widmark- his performance is really one of THE FIRST really graphic interpretations of a psychopath on screen and he earned a really well-deserved Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor- losing to Edmund Gwenn for what is really a lead role in MIRACLE ON 34th STREET. DON'T MISS THIS ONE.
Nov 17
-A Watch on the Rhine. A Bette Davis film I haven't seen.
Skip it. One of Hellman's more heavy-handed moralistic plays (and that's really saying something), a weak performance by Davis, a grating performance by the usually likeable Lucille Watson (she played Shearer's mother in THE WOMEN) and one of the most unremarkable performances to ever win a leading Oscar by Paul Lukas. Not good at all.
-More Norma Shearer pre-codes. Some of them sound pretty good.
I'm going to note here that while A FREE SOUL and THE DIVORCEE are quite flawed, they're interesting artifacts of the time and important for studying the history of HOLLYWOOD. It's a shame Norma won for THE DIVORCEE though, because it pales next to her later accomplishments like THE BARRETS OF WIMPOLE STREET and MARIE ANTIONETTE. PRIVATE LIVES is a do not miss.
Nov 18
-Reflections in a Golden Eye. While I'm not a fan of Marlon Brando ( I like you ), I do like Elizabeth Taylor and John Huston. This sounds like a good film.
It does, doesn't it? It's not. It is also the only major HOLLYWOOD film to ever be filmed through a jar of urine. Seriously, the whole thing is pee-tinted.
Nov 26
-State of the Union. A Hepburn/Tracy film I haven't seen.
And an interesting one, much like the little-known SEA OF GRASS where Tracy and Hepburn play a complicated couple working out problems, instead of the usual romantic fare. A little long and a little light on humor, it's still a good movie and very contemporary today, especially with the upcoming election.
I'm sure I'll find more I'll want to record when it's November. A lot of great Errol movies on this month, but I own all of them except for Kim which I'm hoping to see. It looks like a great schedule.
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Flabby underarms.LornaHansonForbes--Shearer had to evolve her image to keep her acting career going. She managed well through the 20's & 30's--then made two disastrous choices in the 40's (Her Cardboard Lover & We Were Dancing, both 1942)--& retired. For what reason(s), I don't know.
(According to Osborne.)
Ps- seriously.
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a study of the filmography of Norma Shearer is also a fascinating study of the transition from silents and expressions to sound and dialogue in movies, and her acting is an interesting carryover from Silent into sound, with evolutions along the way (although she always does have a certain theatricality to her style, which can be campy at times. )
It's really impressive that the same Norma Shearer who was so vampy in silents and uninhibited in pre codes matured into high level fare like Private Lives and The Barretts of Whimple Street and then Marie Antoinette- as well as survive the transition from Silent to sound and managed to be so popular with the public...and it's owing to her own talent, the fact that she was married to Thalberg didn't hurt, but like Jennifer Jones, she might have married in to the big leagues, but she had the goods to deliver and stay there.
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. My only question is will TCM the appreciation of Norma narrated by Janet Leigh. Norma saw Janet`s photo at her photo`s ski lodge that he managed. Janet gave such a nice tribute. I would not mind hearing the piece again.
I wouldn't mind seeing a montage done to modern music like they did for Crawford when she was star of the month in January.
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Wasn't Ragsdale also in something called "The" (A)? Reaping in 2005?. Semi effective horror film shot in Maine? Louisiana? I keep thinking Stephen King had something to do with this film.
If it was at least semi effective, then I have a suspicion your gut is telling you wrong about King's involvement.
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Take us the
foxes, the little
foxes, who spoil the
vines. for our vines
have tender
grapes.
"The
world's
open for people
like you and me.
There's thousands of
us all over the world.
We'll ownthe country
some day. They
won't try to
stop us. We'll get
along." The ones that
are rich enough to give
are smart enough to
want. There's some
folks out there who
wants to eat the
earth, and some
who stand by
and watch
them do it.
I hope you
DIE! I hope
you DIE soon!
Bette Davis
Teresa Wright
Herbert Marshall
Patricia Collinge
and Dan Duryea as Leo
in a film by William Wyler
Based on the play by Lillian Hellman
THE LITTLE FOXES
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Midnight--a.m.
damn it.
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SCARLET STREET is scheduled to air on TCM in October.
Thanks for the heads up.
BTW, SCARLET STREET is one of the best- if not the best- films in the public domain, which means you might be able to find a good, clean copy on the internets just in case you don't feel like waiting that long.
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Monday, Nov. 16th, at 12:00 (E.S.T.)--don't know if this is your time zone or not.
am or pm?
(sorry i'm making you do all the work here, i forget how to search ahead in the schedule.)
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Good. She deserves it.
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THE EGYPTIAN is scheduled to air again on TCM in November.
Oh goody! What time? (Hope its not the graveyard hours.)
Are they really "stars"? Some questionable SUTS selections.
in General Discussions
Posted
Yeah, PBR is awful.
We're on the same team though when it comes to dem thighs.
ps- a tiny mustache bothers you on Gene, but works on Errol?
pss- mustache, smustache, when Gene is working dem thighs. who cares about a mustache?
#demthighs