MCannady1

I really like the Charlie Chan films and the humor between Charlie and his son here. I think he (Warner) did take his role seriously and enjoyed it. Sadly, he died too young as did Sidney Toler, his Charlie Chan replacement. They are both great in their roles as Charlie Chan and in other performances. Some years ago I came to enjoy the series. I like Charlie Chan in Shangai which contained an interesting story as well as comic relief.

A very good Pre-Code with my favorites, Claudette and Fredric March. They both turned in stellar performances.

I saw this one awhile ago. I love Pre-/Codes and am a big fan of Helen Chandler and Douglass Montgomery. I really liked this one and the great acting.

Yes, the book illustrates the tragedy of Cassie's family and also Nancy Coleman's family. As the daughter of the revered Doctor (Charles Coburn) she is not allowed to marry and goes into a depression, as does her mother who spends her days reading books. Robert Cummings is outstanding as PArris who wants to help his friends. He had hoped to help Cassie run away, but intervention by her parent precludes this. Her mother spends her days in a depression because her husband will not recognize her abilities; only those of their daughter Cassie who is not allowed friends or a boyfriend. He has his plan for her.

I agree. Kings Row is well worth watching. I love Maria Ouspenskaya as Robert Cummings's talented grand- mother and the rest of the cast. My mother had the book, so I have since read it. It seems that the town was even more sinister than portrayed on screen. The code precluded some of the things, but they were ably hinted at. Ronald Reagan and Anne Sheridan were exceptional here, as well as CLaude Rains, Charles Coburn and Betty Field. The sadistic nature of Charles Coburn's performance as the doctor was brilliantly evident, as well as the frightening behavior of Claude Rains, the strict father of "Cassie" It was painfully evident that the victims of Kings Row were trapped by fear of their parents and supposed "pillars of the community". Wonderful to see Robert Cummings in another great serious role. I loved him in Saboteur and Lost Moment too. Yes, the ending is abrupt here, but but so is the book.

This is another great film. Love the professor and Coco, the lovely Myrna Loy. Your post reminds me to re-watch it!

She will live on as a superb actress. I loved everything I had seen her in. Johnny Trouble was (her last film?) a very good film and had pathos and honor. It was an outstanding performance and different from anything she had ever played. It was from '57 and was very timely with Ethel hinting that her pregnant friend (played beautifully by Carolyn Jones) should continue her plan of staying single. After all, freedom came first. Naturally she was encouraging her friend psychologically from her viewpoint and the baby's future, as well as the baby's father (Stuart Whitman). She hopes to bring about a change of heart... At the end was a huge surprise but I nearly saw it coming. IT was a real curve ball! Not to spoil it for anyone who had not seen it. I think Cecil Kellaway was brilliant as her butler (and friend). Secrets abound in this story of a proud widow and her college friends. In short, Ethel was superb. I am going to watch Rasputin and the Empress again this afternoon. Great and stirring film. Ethel could even play a proud empress! She brings to life the real tragedy. And, I may just re-watch Johnny TRouble I recently acquired. IT takes me back to my teens - only last year! (Smile) when I first saw it and was so stirred by it.

I had read about the drinking of both Lionel and John. They were superb actors. I just love Dolores Costello, and feel that (of course I was not born yet!) Lionel was doing her an injustice about the dress patterns. Okay, so she was great at being a seamstress, but may have read many fine books her husband was not aware of. My mother for example. often made great dresses from Butterick patterns in the 50's and 60's when we were children. She was a very gifted schoolteacher and had won the teacher of the year award here in Redondo Beach, California twice over the years. Mention of Butterick patterns reminded me of watching her sew several lovely garments when I was very young. She did engender a love of reading fine books in my sister and myself, which went hand in hand with her long-tune teaching of 4th and 5th grade... I have always loved older films and have come to admire Silent films in the last few years. I really like Dolores and Helene in their Silent films. I just saw Helene in a Special about Silent films, a 3 part series. Though she was a gifted actress, it does not sound like the Barrymores had a happy marriage. That is sad about Lionel in the wheelchair. I thought it was only in the films. as Dr. Gillespie. He and his brother John were really superb actors. But this is not a measure of their intelligence.

I shall say no more, for I would not want to spoil you seeing it. Suffice it to say that Ethel could play a scary role or a kindly one like in Portrait of Jennie. One of her stellar performances was in The Spiral Staircase which I saw as a young child on TV. Today I am still impressed. Whatever the role, this special actress was unforgettable, as were John and Lionel, her famous brothers. If you have trouble getting Moss ROse, I have it and would be glad to send it to you.

You just reminded me of the great FIlm Noir with Peggy Cummins, THe Moss Rose. This fantastic film was a tour de force from her spectacular role in The Spiral Staircase! In both our Ethel was beyond superb!

I really love Nancy Carroll films and Phillips Holmes. They played the principal roles. Yes, Louis Calhern was in his first talkie. I was very touched with the story. I felt kind of conflicted with the ending. They did get away from the handcuffs, if I remember rightly. It has been a long time since I had seen it.

Yes, Lizabeth Scctt was great in Martha Ivers and Dead Reckoning. She turned in a great performance whether in a tearjerker like Paid in Full or s femme fatale in Dead Reckoning and Too Late for Tears. In I Walk Alone she was a sympathetic singer in a nightclub owned by Kirk Douglas's character. Her kindness and eventual love for Burt Lancaster, a wronged convict who was sent to jail in Kirk's place, is very touching. The story has ultimate murder and revenge. Wendell Corey is great here too in an early role. This film is enhanced by a lovely musical background.

Beautifully said. Will look forward to watching it soon. I was born with a twisted spine from Scoliosis. I learned to live with it until a few years ago my spine collapsed. I have had three surgeries which aided me a lot, but I cannot walk without the aid of a walker. Often I have to remind myself to keep on feeling more positive for a better future. At this point there is only exercise which I endeavor to keep up I have a great empathy also for others. I realize some people have worse afflictions. I am happy to be your friend here on the TCM Message Boards.

Glad you are giving it another shot. THe movie came out when I was real young, about 8 or 9, so I did not see it until later. About 20 years ago I taped the film, but footage was missing. At the time I was not aware of this. Now I have the complete film and it is so touching! Sandra Dee and TRoy Donahue are wonderful here and I loved Dorothy McGUire's performance as Johnny's mom who has the struggle of wanting to be with her old sweetheart of years ago. The key thing here is romance. Without being goody-goody, the story comes through beautifully. Not long ago I happened to find the book in a used book store. It is well-worth reading and illustrates Johnny's character and Molly's more completely. ALso, the motivations of Molly's mom, the prim character outstandingly portrayed by Constance Ford.

Hope to see this one. I had almost forgotten that Ella was in The Second Face, Impact, The Web and Uncle Harry! She reminds me of Catherine McLeod. Both can play gentle and kind characters, but give an impressive impact to every film.

Me too! I like this one a lot too and would give it an 8 out of 10. This lady was heartless where money was concerned. She and Dan Duryea were impressive, as well as Kristine Miller and Don DeFore. I had heard about the loss of Lizabeth Scott, but not Kristine Miller. I like both actresses very much. Kristine is great in I Walk Alone with Lizabeth Scott and in Shadow on the Wall with Ann Sothern. I like Lizabeth Scott here as well as in I Walk Alone, Desert Fury and Bad for Each Other. Just recently I was very touched watching Lizabeth Scott's first film, You Came Along, a tearjerker with Robert Cummings. I could go on and on, but forgot to mention her marvelous performance in The Stolen Face with Paul Henreid which I had seen on TV as a young child. I saw it again recently and it seems even better than I recalled!

I liked Ella Raines very much in Phantom Lady and Time Out of Mind. I was not familiar with her until just a few years ago, but now really enjoy her films.

Sorry, I am afraid this response will merge with your text here as well. It is showing up in the gray area. I was very young when Marilyn Monroe passed away. From the very start I did not believe she committed suicide, nor did my parents. Despite her many troubles, it seems that she was really an intellectual and beautiful lady with a lot of talent. Of course, desperation gets in the way sometimes. We may never know the truth, but I did read that her housekeeper/friend wants to break a fifty year silence and reveal what really happened. Have not seen an update yet..... The book My Story sounds very good.

I can't resist responding to this one. I love the film and book (by AGatha Christie) ANd Then There Were None. If you have not read P.D. James murder mysteries, let me just say that you picked the top notch one. I was very saddened by her passing not long ago, but her books brilliantly written and televised will live on indefinitely. Shroud for a NIghtingale is my very favorite that P.D. James wrote. First I saw the BBC 5 part series which was superb (made in the 90's). Without giving anything away, P.D. has given us a story that is fantastic. The murders are very unique - and so is the motive. If you ever view the series you will know that they slightly altered things. Thought everything i s on TV today. I am sorry. My responses are merging with text just shown! Anyway, just wanted to remark on what a superb book (and subsequent BBC Series of the 90's) Shroud for a Nightingale is. You are reading a marvelous book by P.D. James. In my opinion it is shocking and superb! You would never guess the identity of the killer -- and motive.

Yes, I love the TV show and did as a kid. I love the camaraderie between Perry, Paul, and Della. Yes, the 30's movies about Perry were with Warren William. Some co-starred Claire Dodd as Della. Though I really admire Mr. William in his other 30's films, I greatly prefer Perry Mason with Raymond Burr. In the books it is hinted at Perry and Della marrying eventually. It is never quite clear. I read two or three a year or so ago. They are entertaining and well-written, but our Raymond and Barbara Hale top everything, I think. With the show we always feel part of the story.

Thanks for the wonderful info.! I just found two novels I had not read by Ruth Rendell, one of my favorite Mystery writers. Like you were saying, their prices are very reasonable too.

Thank you. IT is a Thanks! It is quite wonderful when a film can move us spiritually. I wanted to share and see how my TCM MEssage Board friends feel. Too bad I didn't know about Mr. Green's wonderful novel when I was still in school. It would have made an inspiring book report. (Though we often don't approve of everything in a book and subsequent film, we can still see its intrinsic value. You will see what I mean).

Since the nearly 80's I have collected Ann Harding films. I read about an early one, EAST LYNNE 31, that was never available. For a long time it was tied up at UCLA in a vault. About ten years ago I located and read the book East Lynne in an old bookstore. It is a very beautifully written and sad novel. Yesterday on a message board I discovered that the film is now available at Loving the Classics. I went ahead and ordered the priceless gem for $14.95! I hope that the picture quality will be (more than) fair.