film lover 293

starlit, lavender--the actress recently appeared on TCM in a supporting role in a late 50's comedy.

I don't know WHAT is going on; I've cleared my cache, reloaded schedule time and again, even clicked on the Canadian schedule and then back--the U. S. Online schedule still shows The Desert Song on 12/2, at 11:15 a.m. EST. BTW, our Canadian friends aren't getting The Desert Song--their schedule is the same as what cnnmovieviewer posted at 3:40 p.m. EST. Weird.

Monday, Nov. 28th/29th--All times E.S.T.: 12:30 p.m. "The Cobweb" (1955)--A crisis at a private mental health institution is prompted by--New Curtains. Some of the staff and their spouses are loonier than the patients. All this is treated with the utmost solemnity by the director and cast (except Oscar Levant, who tosses off one liners like he's one of Groucho's relations). 3:15 a.m. "Burden of Dreams" (1982)--Documentary of the filming of "Fitzcarraldo" (1982), where difficulties were legion.

As of 3:04 p.m. EST, the 1929 Desert Song is still scheduled on the Online schedule for Dec. 2nd, 11:15 a.m. EST. We will find out then what is showing.

MovieCollector OH--Click on "schedule" on top of webpage--once at online schedule forward to December 2nd--the 1929 "The Desert Song" is on the schedule at 11:15 a.m. E.S.T. Sorry for any confusion.

calvinnme--1927's "The Jazz Singer" is scheduled Dec. 5th at 6:00 p.m. E.S.T. 1926's "Don Juan" is scheduled for Dec. 6th at 6:00 a.m. E.S.T.

Final hint--Actress was Oscar nominated for her first two films, and later won multiple Tony Awards.

Lawrence--There's not a color in either title. Fay Wray is the leading lady for the first film. Lionel Atwill is not in either film I wanted. Wrong director and wrong studio. Hint--the leading lady of the second film is famous for being hypnotized.

Men and women--student? Women--model?

As of 10:09 a.m. E.S.T. Sun. Nov. 27th--"The Desert Song" (1929) is back On the online schedule, but with no playing time on the TCM webpage--and the substitution film(s) are scratched. Is this a rights issue, or what? Time will tell, I guess.

I saw seven films for the first time last week. "The Bed Sitting Room" (1969)--Richard Lester comedy of London after WW III is intermittently amusing, occasionally "laugh out loud" funny. But too often the film is just unfunny; the atmosphere, the situation, and the dogged insistence of the characters refusing to admit anything wrong about their attitudes becomes infuriating. It kills the impulse to laugh. Points are scored off organized Religion and Mao. The best line has to do with Charlton Heston wrestling the Pope on BBC television. Marty Feldman, Dudley Moore, and Peter Cook are the most consistently funny performers in the film. Found on YouTube. "War Gods of the Deep" (1965)--Jacques Tourneur's final film stars Vincent Price, Tab Hunter, and David Tomlinson in an AIP adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's "City Under the Sea". Price does the narration and the mountains of exposition the script gives him. Hunter and Tomlinson are acceptable horror film good guys. Film is an odd mix of horror and absurdist humor (Tomlinson worries about a pet rooster all film long). Good cinematography, good to so-so acting, and source material a muddled script can't destroy makes for a film worth seeing. Saw on YT. "The Big Store" (1941)--Lesser Marx Bros. MGM film doesn't have the stranglehold of Plot that destroyed The Bros. spontaneity in"Go West" (1940) , and so one liners are scattered through the script. Virginia O'Brien has a good number, a Swing version of "Rockabye Baby", and she and Groucho do a fast Jitterbug. The silent comedy influenced finale is memorable, as a store is demolished by The Bros. on roller skates. Film is better than its' reputation. "The Rains of Ranchipur" (1955)--Starring Lana Turner, Richard Burton, and Oscar nominated Special Effects. Talky remake of "The Rains Came" (1939) has Turner as the predatory Lady Esketh, who uses and then discards men like Kleenex, and Burton as the saintly Dr. Safti, who is torn between his love for Turner and India. All this is merely an excuse for Turner to model her Helen Rose wardrobe, throw off occasional waspish remarks, and watch Burton's impression of a robot. Finally, the earthquake/flood hits--and it's worth waiting for. Impressively well done, with state of the art Special Effects, sequence conclusively proves Twentieth-Century Foxs' need for waterproof makeup (watch Burton's makeup disappear, never to return--except for copious amounts of mascara). Entertaining watch, if only to see the predecessor of some of the set-pieces from "Earthquake" (1974). Found on archivedotorg. "Dragonwyck" (1946)--Mankiewicz Gothic starring Gene Tierney and Vincent Price in 1840's New York. Film is overlong but literate, and the secret had to be less detailed than in Anya Seton's novel, but film is entertaining nonetheless. Tierney and Price do justice to their roles; Spring Byington adds a memorable cameo as Magda. An ok watch. Saw on YT. "Blood From The Mummy's Tomb" (1971)--Hammer Gothic about the desecration of a Cursed Egyptian princess's tomb. Each member of the archaeological expedition takes an object from the tomb. The daughter of the leader is subsequently possessed by the spirit of the princess, and tries to get the objects back for eternal life. Film is very good. Saw on YT. "Son of Paleface" (1952)--Frank Tashlin directed sequel to "The Paleface" (1948), reteaming Bob Hope and Jane Russell, and adding Roy Rogers and Trigger to the mix. Hope is the even more obnoxious son, who's gone West to collect his fathers' fortune--which he finds is nonexistent. Russell is the lady bandit, Torch, and Rogers is the Federal man. Trigger gets some of the best gags; the scene with Trigger and Hope in bed together is a classic of sorts. Watch Hope's pipe when Russell caresses him during her song "What a Night For a Wingding". Film repeatedly takes accurate aim at The Code, with verbal and sight gags. Tashlin's tendency to use women as cartoon figures is shown in this early film, and Russell goes along with his parody of her image as a sex kitten. Watch for cameo appearances. Very enjoyable film. Favorite--Son of Paleface (1952). Least consistent--The Big Store (1941).

Hint--One film starred one of filmdoms' most underrated actresses and best screamers.

Lawremce--Exactly right! Your Thread.

TomJH--Add "The Wicker Man" (1973) to your list and I'll be a happy camper. TWM was pulled from the schedule sometime in 2015.

"Son of Paleface" (1952)--Starring Bob Hope, Jane Russell, Roy Rogers, and Trigger. Directed by Frank Tashlin. This sequel to "The Paleface" (1948) reunites Hope and Russell to fine comic effect. Add Rogers, who spoofs his squeaky clean image, and Trigger, who gets some of the films' best gags, and it adds up to one of Hopes' best films of the 1950's. The plot has Painless Potter Jr. inheriting his fathers' fortune. When he arrives out West, he finds there isn't any fortune, and a lady bandit (Russell) determines to steal his gold. Multiple complications ensue. Two of the best lines: Hope, to a gunman: "Yeah, leave my yellow liver alone, it matches my spine." Rogers to Hope during an Indian attack: "How big a coward are you?" Hope: "I was Captain of the Olympic Team. There are multiple shots at The Code, verbal and sight gags. Watch Hope's pipe when Russell does a decorous striptease and she caresses him. There are parodies aimed at two different directors. The scene with Hope and Trigger in bed together is a highlight, as is the Indian attack. Russell has two numbers to herself, as well as a reprise of "Buttons and Bows". The cast seemed to be absolutely gleeful at times, especially when sticking it to the Code. I had just as good a time watching the film. 3.4/4. Source--YouTube.

Hint--Singing portraits.

Hint--Film is based on a work by an ancient author.

Hint #4--Director's final film starred his daughter.

As of 1:17 p.m. E.S.T. "The Desert Song" (1929) has been yanked from the online schedule and replaced. *******!

Terrence1--I see my question has more than one correct answer. You got the director, but not the actor I was thinking of, but your answer is correct. I'll rephrase my question and try it later. Thanks for the knowledge Terrence1--Your Thread.

"Blood From The Mummy's Tomb" (1971)--Starring Valerie Leon, Andrew Keir,and James Villiers. Directed by Seth Holt. Good low-budget supernatural chiller from Hammer. This one is based on Bram Stokers' "Jewel of the Seven Stars". The plot--A woman dreams she is in Ancient Egypt, being ceremonially consigned to the Netherworld and forever cursed by a team of priests. It turns out the Princess' tomb has been violated by a team of archeologists, with each member of the team taking an object they fancy from the tomb. The fun begins when a woman is possessed and the princess starts taking objects back. Valerie Leon isn't the greatest actress, but she looks her dual parts, and is very beautiful. The rest of the cast does well. Films' script is witty and ironic. Special Effects are passable. Read the credits when this one's over. Effective horror movie should be better known. 3/4. Source--YouTube.

"Just Imagine" (1930).

Hint #3--"Not Since Ninevah".

This actor made three films for this spectacle loving director. The last film featured some unconventional casting that wasn't wise. Name the actor, director, and their three films together. Bonus for naming the odd casting.

"Dragonwyck" (1946)--Starring Gene Tierney, Vincent Price, and Walter Huston. Effective, literate Gothic directed and adapted by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Main problem is it's overlong; that dissipates some of the tension, but it's a fun watch nonetheless. Miranda (Tierney) is a girl in 1840's Connecticut who's given a chance to visit her married cousin, Nicholas Van Ryn (Price), a wealthy landowner. She visits his mansion, Dragonwyck, and discovers all is Not well. Film goes from there. Tierney is quite good as the damsel in distress, although she tries too hard to register as a teenager in films' first third; all her "Gee!"s and "Golly Moses!" got on my nerves. She has one scene where she and Price dance, and they practically float across the floor; Tierney looks an 1800's Cinderella. Price is good as Van Ryn. The specificities of Anya Seton's novel had to be toned down for The Code, but there are two mangled quotes from Coleridge that give the game away, if the viewer hasn't already figured things out. Spring Byington as Magda makes an effective appearance. Her dithery manner covers up something darker, as she relates the sinister history of Dragonwyck. Alfred Newman contributed a good musical score. 2.8/4 Edit;--Source--YouTube. Click on the one written up,in Spanish.