MCannady1

Sounds like a good film to watch. Lately I have been re-watching some melodrama-type films of the 50's and 60's like Portrait in Black and Madame X. Lana Turner was great in those too.

I love this film too! William Powell was great as Nick Charles and wonderful as Philo Vance. The wonderful William Powell and lovely Myrna Loy teamed beautifully together as the world's beloved detective couple. Yes, Nick and Nora Charles will long be remembered. With sophisticated wit and finesse, a difficult case would be solved. Both were very appealing in their roles.

Yes, you are right. MY Son John was a powerful movie. It really stayed with me long after I had seen it. Poor Robert Walker. I have always been sorry about him too! MY mom used to talk about how it destroyed him when Jennifer left him to marry Selznick. He was excellent in Strangers on a Train too. Though I am a Jennifer Jones fan too, I can't help feeling an empathy with Robert. I did not know that they could not complete the movie (My Son John) with Robert, for he was already gone. Leo McCarey did the last scenes along with the Strangers on a Train shots? That was clever that they were able to do that. I did read that poor Jean Harlow's last film Saratoga could not be completed with Jean who died soon afterwards. They had a double and the camera shots were taken from the back. (The show went on, which is probably what the star would have wanted)/ I cannot imagine how horrible that would be at 26 years old! She had everything to live for; beauty, brains and talent. If she had gotten to a doctor in time in might have saved her. Jean left us a lot of great films to enjoy. In every decade this lovely and talented lady acquires more fans. Me, for one.

On the subject of film restoration, I recently acquired a copy of THe Chase '44 with Robert Cummings and Michele Morgan. There are numerous dark spots in the film where we cannot see what is happening. There is an explanation of the film problem at the beginning of the DVD. Apparently, the best surviving print had the film out of some of the sprockets. So the outdoor scenes are sustained. It appears that the film restorers did their best with it. I was glad to get it, as I remember seeing the complete film at one time. Some of the images are lost, though. A friend in Texas told me about a TV station in the 80's that showed the film and it had all the essential aspects! He had seen it twice when the Toronto-based station showed a number of films that were difficult to acquire. The station is not functioning now, but it would have been great to see this great Cornell Woolrich story in complete version. Not only do we have numerous dark spots, we are left with a guessing game along the way. Hsving read the book a number of years ago, I could fill in the blanks. IT is good to get the best copy we can, so I was glad to acquire it in a boxed set.

Me too! It is sad when the availability of a worthwhile film is lost because of political commands. (We can understand technical issues).

I would love to see The Rogue Song especially and The Cat Creeps. I may have a copy of Phantom of the Opera and London After Midnight. (The Cat Creeps is an early performance of Helen Twelvetrees. I love her films). I too love early horror films.

Yes, the very best thing is to restore these wonderful films and make them legit. and available to TCM. Or sell them, as you were saying (once they are restored and legit).. Great that you found a good copy of Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back! I will look at my Moulin Rouge and THe Last Gentleman again and see what I think. I recall seeing both before adding them to my collection.

Footnote: The lady's name is Martha Sleeper. She was in a lot of film shorts, but in a handful of other films in the 30's and 40's. Her last role was in The Bells of St. Mary's. Watching her in a 30's film, it is easy to mistake her for Joan Crawford. I just noticed this recently. Just thought I would comment on the amazing resemblance.

That is unfortunate, but it explains how I have Letty Lynton, though it is rare right now. My friend in Sweden has a great collection of films in PAL format and this is one he sent to me about ten or twelve years ago. He adds to his collection often. (I first made the acquaintance of Per-Inge in Sweden through a film magazine called Films of the Golden Age). I was watching another movie and thought I spotted an early appearance of Joan Crawford in it. She looked very much as Joan looked in the late 20's and early 30's. She is in the movie Huddle with Ramon Novarro and Madge Evans. I am going to check it out on IMDB. I do not think she made many films, but could have been a Joan Crawford twin! Sometimes rare films can be found,but not in great quality. I would call this one pretty watchable, though not super clear on faces. I would be happy to make a copy. That is great that you found the covers for the film! It is a shame that many films go on for years in vaults and others we would rather not have are right out there.

Would love to see even one of her films! IT is a real tragedy that many, many films of the Golden Age no longer survive.

I know what you mean. These are not in the best quality, but are enjoyable to see. I have most in my collection. I love Moulin Rouge and Broadway Thru a Keyhole. I am glad to have the latter film since it is a rare surviving performance by Russ Columbo. I was reading about the tragedy of his short life in a shooting accident in a film magazine. It happened while he was showing his guns to a friend during a party. With Moulin Rouge, it is neat to see an early performance of Constance Bennett. She sings beautifully in this film. It is a catchy number I have heard before, but could not quite identify the title at the time.. The Bulldog Drummond films are in my boxed set and it is neat to see an early Joan Bennett performance! THough she does not have much screen time, she radiates with personality and talent (as with every film).

THe book is good too called The Forbidden Garden by Ursula Curtiss. I used to work in a library when I was very young. I happened to run across the book one day when looking at Mysteries Section. About a year later he movie came out. By the title, I knew it was based on this book. There are some changes, but I don't want to spoil it by revealing them. Geraldine, Ruth and Mildred were all very good. ... Yes, MRs. Marable planted a new tree every time she found an "investment" victim. THe book is even more grim!

I like the close-up pictures of Patty and Frances too! Thanks so much! I am sorry I did not see your messages earlier. I really appreciate the help! Best, Janet P.S. It seems I was in another thread talking about great classics!

Thanks for latest response. So the ladies are Frances and Patty. That is good to know. We here were not certain, as it seemed to be someone else. I guess the performers could seem a little different in one photo to the next. Thanks for sharing the soldier's writings in his journal. That is a rare thing and nice to see. As for the last photo, I will have to wait and see about the identification of the mystery man! Best regards and thanks!, Janet

My friend in Sweden who collects many rare pre-codes sent me Letty Lynton a few years ago. Joan Crawford and Robert Montgomery are very good in it. He also had Holiday (the 30's one) with Ann Harding. I will ask about THe Other Side of the Wind, which I hadn't heard of. Anything of Orson Welles acting or directing would be great to see. I am a big fan of Joan Blondell too and would love to read her book. I love watching her pre-code films especially, but loved her in Nightmare Alley and A Tree Grow in Brooklyn.

Me too! I love Mary Pickford, Clara Bow and Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. Wish they could find those films!

There are some wonderful films that are lost and then there are some that are simply not available. I wait and wait but it never seems to surface. THe film I most desire to see is East Lynne '35 with the wonderful Ann Harding and Conrad Nagle. Also in the film is Clive BRook. My mother loved this film and I have since collected Ann Harding's films. I did find the rare film Holiday from the early 30's, but not the other one. It co-stars Mary Astor. Every film of Ann's is wonderful and I hope to find this one some day. A friend found a "fragment" of the film and sent it to me. IT has the first hour (looking like double images and triple images) and the rest cuts off. I have heard that UCLA has the film here in CA. but one has to go there to view it. It is impossible to watch it, only to hear. Another film I would love to see is the silent version of Ramona with Dolores Del Rio. I read that it has become available to collectors, but cannot find it myself. Upon reading a review on You Tube, it sounds like a wonderful film to see. I have always been enthralled by this lovely story, though it is very sad. THe one that is available is the Loretta Young/Don Ameche version, which is good too. I am hoping they find the lost footage of Lost Horizon with the great Ronald Colman. Not long ago I was watching a 50's or 60's film and the footage was lost, so they had stills. Can't think of the title!

I wonder about that too? Judy was always in great form and was lovely in that film. Hope we find out. It is neat to hear the fragment on YouTube!

Thanks again to Everyone! With the combined help of my Message Board friends, I have had a neat time viewing the links and seeing Bob introducing the celebrities. IT was fun clicking on a picture and getting more info. Frances and Patty were glamorous and talented and the rest of the troop were great in keeping up the morale of the servicemen overseas, I love Bob's jokes and one-liners. THey did a great rendition of the Ink Spots singing. It is fun going back and viewing the wonderful pictures. Just now I went back again and am reading about Bob's career. Coincidentally, I just acquired a CD that evokes the WWII time period too. A friend lent me the CD called We'll Meet Again. There are some lovely songs on there, including The Ink Spots performing. Two lovely songs really stand out additionally.. One is called A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square by Anne Shelton and the other is a lovely Spanish rendition of Time Was by Xavier Cugat. Even Marlene Dietrich is in the collection, singing Lili Marlene. I can well understand why people were caught up in the lovely performers and music of the times. Thanks again for everyone's kindness! If anyone knows or guesses who the other entertainer (not Charles or Kay) might be, or the other mystery lady, that would be nice too. It was certainly a time to commemorate in history too. Best Regards to Everyone, Janet

I first saw Ben Lyon in Hell's Angels and was really drawn to him with easy easygoing manner and inate kindness. Also, he was very good in 42nd Street and Night Nurse with Barbara Stanwyck. What a hero in the latter film! Clark was quite an adversary.. My favorite with Ben is Bought! with Dorothy Mackail. I have a friend (in Sweden!) who has many pre-code films and started sending them to me about 10 years ago. I began to see Bebe Daniels in films too. I really liked her in My Past and Registered Nurse. I like her acting style too. IT was nice seeing her in films with her husband. I read that later Ben married MArian Nixon a few years after losing Bebe. I had enjoyed her performance in Tango and Sensation Hunters. They were all a good part of the Golden Age of the 30's.

I am sorry about the heart-wrenching story in THe Sin of Madelon Claudet. Yes, some of the great films are tear-jerkers. There is another one with Irene Dunne called The Secret of MAdame Blanche that has a tear-jerking aspect to it. I cried over that one lately and over Madame X with Lana Turner, Though I knew the outcome, they still affected me. Helen Hayes is great in many films. I really admired her in What Every Woman Knows, The Son-Daughter, Arrowsmith, Fairwell to Arms, '32, (etc.). SHe was really wonderful in My Son with Robert Walker and Vanessa, Her Love Story. What a rich cavalcade of films! And such an assortment of characters too! Tonight I am watching The Stolen Life with Bette Davis. What a magnificent film! And what a superb actress in every role. I am awed to see Bette playing twin sisters here. I had not seen the film for awhile, and was newly impressed. Also, Glenn Ford and Dane Clark were quite wonderful here. Next, I am watching THe Blackboard Jungle and Human Desire.. A friend wanted copies of these Glenn Ford films and I know I will enjoy seeing them again. Of all Glenn's films I have seen, Gilda is my top favorite. With your mention of loving cats, I feel the same. We have two and have come to love them very much.

I love Robert Young's films too. The Enchanted Cottage is a lovely and spiritual story. Dorothy McGuire and Robert Young were outstanding in their roles. I also enjoyed Herbert Marshall's performance as well. Crossfire is a good and frightening story. IT really stayed with me long after I had seen it. The Sin of Madelon Claudet is a very good film I think you will like too. What a nice idea to honor a star by watching a good film on his or her birthday.!

I am also Charles Laughton's fan. He is wonderful in all of his films. I just saw him in two performances from the early 30's in which he was very young. One was the frightening THe Old Dark House, '32, about an assortment of people stranded at a spooky old house (with Boris Karloff as butler! - lol). Charles was one of the motorists who was traveling with a young girl he was trying to help. Other notables are Gloria Stuart and Melvyn Doglas as newlyweds and Ernest Thesiger who lives in the spooky house. In the other film Payment Deferred, Charles is excellent as a man who is broke during the Depression.. He commits murder when tempted by seeing the bulging wallet of his visiting nephew (Ray Milland in a very early role). An unforeseen circumstance leads to further complications. IT does bring to mind The Postman Always Rings Twice. Mention of Elsa and Charles in The Big Clock reminds me of that entertaining film. Here we have Ray Milland many years later. They were all superb in their roles.

What a girl! I had forgotten about Elsa being in the wonderful Secret Garden with Margaret O'Brien. She was the not very helpful landlady of a murder victim in Mystery Street, as you were saying. I like both of these films too! Since the days of Bride of Frankenstein, Elsa has given us many entertaining film performances.

I love Elsa's performance in Come to the Stable too, She and Loretta Young and Celeste Holm were really terrific here.