daddysprimadonna

Yeah,so I'm an insomniac. Anyway, I just watched the Marlene Dietrich documentary featuring interviews with her daughter,Burt Bacharach,her nephew(sister's son),Jean Gabin's biographer,Rosemary Clooney,and others. All I can say is,what a woman! I've seen and loved a few of her movies(Blue Angel,both versions),Shanghai Express,Morocco...but I didn't really know anything about her personally. It was amazing to hear how she not only entertained the troops in WWII,but eschewed the usual USO tours to go to the front lines,and share the conditions of the men there-sleeping on the ground,braving the weather,ducking German bullets-and turning her back on Nazi Germany,her homeland and family there,to assume American citizenship. The OSS(forerunner of the CIA) considered her the only star trustworthy enough to actually give a mission to! Just amazing,especially considering her original nationality. She accompanied the troops when they entered the first German city taken-Aachen-and the citizenry there recognised her,and one housewife went from house to house in order to gather ingredients to bake Marlene a cake. (If I'd a-known you wuz a-coming,I woulda baked ya a cake,LOL). She went on to Berlin to check on her mother,who was OK,but had had a bad time because of Marlene's position. Marlene revisited Germany one time,to do a concert tour,and then never returned. Amongst other things,she was appalled at what was found in the extermination camps. Her own sister and brother-in-law ran a theater for years in the town of Belsen,outside the Bergen-Belsen camp,where the Nazi guards would come to watch movies. After the war,Marlene vouched for them,but when she saw the Belsen-Bergen camp,she never spoke to them or her nephew again. So many more things in the documentary-there was so much more to her than the femme fatale who couldn't help "falling in love again". So much more. I'm really impressed with her as a woman.

You do get to see Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, and Clark Gable. All the time. Me too, as I happen to love many of their films myself. In fact, Bette Davis is probably my favorite actress of all-time, and I'm 24-years old. I've come to love the classics as well. Anyway, my point is, have a bit of tolerance when concerning movies you may not like. It's incredibly unfair to bash something simply based on the fact that it doesn't meet your personal tastes. You could just change the channel for a few hours you know. No need to get so irate that you have to resort to caps. My goodness. >> First things first. As I've already stated,the point in question is not movies that I like or dislike. I tried to be very clear and specific about that.I can and do change the channel when TCM shows movies that I just don't like,and I've never made a peep about them,in this way,here or anywhere else.Why? Because they were simply movies,that I didn't care for. Can you not see the difference? Those of us who are concerned about this,are concerned at it portending a trend. If it does,then the only place most of us can see truly classic movies,will be devoting less and less time to them(and there are many still that are seldom if ever seen),as it devotes more and more time to "expanding our horizons"(give me a break). I'm not irate,I'm passionate. I will be irate down the road,if I have to just to cancel my cable,because the only reason I ever got it just went down the pipes. Again,it's NOT a matter of personal preference. I don't know how I can make this concept any plainer. The caps,if read in contaxt,are obviously for emphasis,not shouting. Context. It's all about context. So many things are. Definition for classical movies aside, Nausicaa happens to be two decades old. But I'm not one to gripe and complain over exactness. I'm not so ****-retentive, or bitter. I'm not bitter.Where did that come from? ****-retentive~~yeah,I can be,but I don't consider this one of those times. I have a right to expect classic movies from a station advertising itself as a "classic movie" station. Nope,I won't cop to that one in this case. As for Princess Mononoke's violence, it's violence of a methodical nature. Not needless nonsense like children can watch any day of the week on the various police dramas on basic television. Personally, I find mind-numbing material to be more deplorable than violence. The United States happens to be very fickle when it comes to such matters. Anyhow, I don't see how it matters if an adult is there to put it into context. Hence the 'PG' rating. This wasn't my post,but since it's in the reply to me,I'll bite. Oh,so it's violence of a METHODICAL nature(not shouting,that's emphasis,as I don't feel like doing the tags for bold or italic that often). Oh,well THAT makes it more palatable.It's still as violent as the non-methodical kind,but as long as it's methodical... **Edit: Actually, you know what else is funny? When I'm fifty or sixty years old, movies like 'The Goonies' and 'Risky Business' will be classics. But I can't see myself having a fit over one night taken from me, where I can't watch Tom Cruise dance around in his underpants. I think I'd rather share something new, on my favorite channel, with my children or grandchildren. Then maybe they'd toss in a day for one of my old favorites. Anyway, it's all about family, I think. I could be wrong, but at least I'm willing to be objective. This is why I insist that "classic movies" are a specific category,and one that's actually already been set in stone for the most part,using era of production as a rough guide. Going back to my "classic rock" analogy-classic rock has long been recognised as a specific category of music from a certain era of rock. That's all classic rock will ever be,forevermore. Other songs can and will be classic,but they won't be "classic rock". It will be what it has been(unless someone else somewhere decides to attain their 15 minutes by screwing it up) for lo these many years. A specific genre of music. NOT songs that someone somewhere,considers to be a "classic". Message was edited by: Melanie-for a couple of dreadful typos,LOL Melanie

I've gotten my nieces into classic movies,even some silents,and they really enjoy them.I've noticed that a lot of kids at least like the splashy Technicolor musicals,even if they can't yet appreciate other classic movies. My nieces' parents are really strict,and even they don't have a problem with most of the pre-Codes,as those movies deal a lot in innuendo and double entendre,though more blatantly than the post-Codes.So most kids watching them wouldn't "get it",anyway,but it's not obvious enough that they realise that there's something that they "don't get". Kinda neat how that works,huh;)

pathposter, you got that right-Turner CLASSIC MOVIES is going to show anime in primetime,and put a Kay Francis tribute-the very defintion of classic film-on in the early morning?!

I'll just say,that when I first signed on for Turner CLASSIC MOVIES,I thought to myself,"Yeaaayyyy,Self,now you'll get to see all those Bette Davis and Joan Crawford and Clark Gable,etc,movies you've wanted to see all your life!" When I discovered that they also showed silents,and even later became aware of even more classic actors and actresses and movies,I was in TV heaven. I knew even then that would be times when I'd turn to my own(now widely expanded,since discovering other classic era movies)little film library because I wouldn't care for some of the classic movie selections. That was expected,of course I wouldn't like every single classic movie ever made. But when I told myself that there would days like that,I NEVER dreamed that I would forego watching because Turner CLASSIC MOVIES was playing ANIME!! And the point is NOT how good it may be,it's that it's ANIME,on a CLASSIC MOVIE channel!

I must add, the Miyazake festival would give new viewers a total misconception of what TCM has always been about-especially if it is,as many are maintaining,a short aberration that we who think it is out of place on TCM, can tolerate for one night every week for four weeks. Unless it's indeed NOT an aberration,and TCM IS expanding their definition of classic movies-and that would be ominous.

Hi lzcutter,it's me again;) This issue just really means a lot to me,because TCM,classic movies,and a standard of excellence for both mean a lot to me. OK,my quick answer is-movies made during the studio system era. Not necessarily movies made under the studio system,or even in Hollywood,but through the time of the studio system. This will include Bollywood and other foreign films,animated films,documentaries,and other forms. I know you'll pose questions on this that I'll need to answer,but I'll need a little time:) As to who gets to decide(as far as TCM programming is concerned)-I'd say,along the lines of a republican form of democracy-it would be impossible to have direct "majority rules",but TCM should make a point of at least determining what the majority of its viewers,and potential viewers who are seeking to view classic movies,would like to see,and then of course using their necessary discretion based upon that. I include early silents based simply on the fact of their being the foundation of all that came afterwards. OK,now you are welcome to pick my definitions apart,so that I may upon further thought refine and defend them:)

Where do you draw the line and who makes the decision for all of us of which movies deserve to be called classic? In that case,since there's no one(not the programming managers,not the viewers,no one)in whom we can agree to give the authority to set the limits,and since it would be unfair to SOMEone in the world to even set any,let's not bother calling it Turner Classic Movies-it can just be The Turner Movie Channel,because everything ever filmed is a classic to someone somewhere. Actually,this concept just fits right in with the way everything is done nowadays anyway. I can't wait until someone sues the Olympics as unfair to those who don't meet the standards,LOL.

I applaud TCM for showing us international cinema. Not every classic is silent or black and white or made prior to 1950 or American made. I don't mind the international films at all,as long as SOMETHING-era they were produced,usually-keeps them in the category of "classic". I quite like many of them. As for a TCM mandate of only showing us "classic" movies. I never knew TCM had a mandate other than to show us quality classic films (from all decades and all countries), uncut and commercial free. What I consider "classic" others may not and what they consider "classic", I may not. TCM tries to keep us all happy even though we all have different definitions of "classic" I would think that there needs to be some sort of generally accepted standard of what makes a film,a "classic"-other than the arbitrary one of "SOMEone considers it a "classic"-because I'm sure that there are more than a few people out there who consider "Friday The 13th" or "Emmanuelle" or "Flashdance" ,"classics" of their genre or time-so why shouldn't TCM show those movies,in that case? There really do have be some boundaries,and at one time,there were some generally,fairly loose ones of what was a "classic" movie-but they're becoming SO ambiguous that before it's over,it'll just be that "SOMEone considers it a 'classic'".

I'll amend that to add,that every once in a great while,I like the National Geographic and History International channels.

True,but my point is still the same,and it's TCM that I'm concerned with,as they are the only reason that I even pay for cable-I couldn't care less about the other channels. I used to like The Disney Channel before they discontinued the Disney Vault,which was totally unnecesary,as they only showed it for a short period beginning in the wee hours-way past their targeted "tween" viewer's bedtimes. But when they pulled that,I took them out of my programmed channels.

Turner CLASSIC Movies has lately been trying to put a LOT of things under the umbrella of CLASSIC movie,when by all the formerly accepted definitions of "classic movie",it doesn't belong there. So Turner CLASSIC Movies showing something,doesn't automatically mean that it's a CLASSIC movie-not anymore. It might well be a classic of some sort,but it's NOT what Turner CLASSIC Movies purported to play,and used to accept,along with the rest of the world,as a "classic" movie. I didn't even mind the Bollywood programming,at least it could fall under the category of "classic" movies because of era,if nothing else.There has to be some kind of a limit,or else the boundaries of "classic" movie,as it has long been accepted,is meaningless,and they might as well show anything,as long as it's a "classic" of its category. But that won't make it a "classic" movie belonging on TCM,as the mutually agreed-upon definition was from the start. That's why they have to show that irritating disingenuous clip about "it doesn't have to old to be a classic"-because they KNOW that they're trying to force the definition to change.

I do not pay Turner CLASSIC Movies to "broaden my outlook" outside of the mutually agreed-upon parameters of the unviversally accepted definition of a "classic" movie. I am not a child who needs to be coaxed to try something new,I am an adult who PAYS Turner CLASSIC Movies in order to see CLASSIC movies. I resent being treated as if I don't know my own mind and tastes,when I PAY for a service called "Turner CLASSIC Movies". I don't mind when sub-categories of CLASSIC movies are shown that aren't my thing,because it still falls under the mututal agreement I have with TCM to show CLASSIC movies. It's when they start trying to "broaden my horizens" OUTSIDE of the scope of that agreement,that I have a problem. Again,we have an agreement,and since I am enough of an adult to keep MY end of the bargain by PAYING my bill for the agreed-upon CLASSIC movie service,TCM needs to treat me as an adult and allow me to know my own mind and keep THEIR end of the agreement.

> Just wondering but why are they playing anime??? I > mean it has nothing to do with what they ususally > show... I agree...

I haven't had it lately,but a few months ago when TCM finally showed "Chance At Heaven",which I'd requested,the whole second half was messed up doing something like that. I was so mad,I'd waited for this movie,and was taping it,and that had to happen. I don't know what caused it,or when TCM will show "Chance At Heaven" again either:(

I think they're called "mitts". I know that long evening gloves are also called "opera gloves", so perhaps the long fingerless gloves(I usually see them in lace) might be "opera mitts" ?

I also love that clip, but I can never watch the whole thing,because I always to have leave when the part from "The Exorcist" comes on-I despise that movie,and wish I'd never seen what I did see of it, and I hate that part of "100 Years At The Movies". If it wasn't for that one little part,I would want to tape it. I love the part when the Jamed Bond theme starts to play,and that "twinkly" music at the very beginning and the very end. And the crescendo of music before the "Gone With The Wind" clip,with the huge scene showing the wounded laid out at the train depot and beyond. What a grand movie.

Back before The Disney Channel changed its programming in order to "modernise" and "widen its appeal" by targeting younger viewers,thereby losing me as a viewer,they used to sometimes show a wonderful movie from 1966 called 'Ballerina". It was filmed in Denmark and featured some performances by the Royal Danish Ballet,and starred Mette Honningen as an aspiring ballerina and Kirsten Simone of the Royal Danish Ballet as the prima ballerina who mentors her. I really loved this movie,and didn't have the foresight at the time to realise what was about to happen to The Disney Channel,and therefore I didn't hurry to tape it as I should have. Does anyone know where a copy of this movie could be found? I've looked everywhere,Ebay and overseas places,I'm even willing to buy it in PAL format and pay to get it converted(it wouldn't be worth it for me to buy the equipment for one or two movies),if I could only see this movie again,yet ANOTHER gem that Disney has chosen for some unfathomable reason to put away and let it be forgotten. If anyone could help, I'd be eternally grateful:) PS-Is there any chance that TCM could ever show this movie? Do they ever license classic Disney movies? Since Disney doesn't seem to be interested in releasing it in any form,could TCM ever show it? I know that I'm showing my ignorance here,but I really want to know if there's any chance of ever seeing this movie again.

I've mostly seen him in his early roles-I've seen him in one detective story,I forget the name,he played Philip Marlowe-and in those early roles,I liked him. He always seemed like he had just a touch of cynicism about him,but without bitterness. But he also did sincerity well,like with Joan Crawford in "Untamed". I appreciate a good-looking man who doesn't seem to take himself or life too seriously:)

I love that movie so much, I bought the tape a couple of years ago. Bette Davis actually pulls off playing a beauty in that movie,and I love hearing the changes of her voice that go along with her progression in appearance throughout the movie. I love Claude Rains as Job Skeffington-he manages to make the character sympathetic without being a ninny-he maintains a wryness and knowing tolerance that keeps him from being annoying as he patiently waits for Fanny to "see" him. I love the ending-that Fanny finally finds her humanity,and that Job Skeffington has a resting place,and the one he wanted,after all his patience and the things he's been through. I like to think that the daughter realises what has occurred,and comes back into their lives.

I love him too,in all his aspects-I adored him in "The Divorcee" and "Mrs Cheney". I like the way he has such a deft touch with humor,light and breezy without ever becoming buffoonish. He and Cary Grant were two really good-looking men who could pull that off. Robert Montgomery always seems like he'd fun to date,if you didn't expect anything. You'd always just have a really good time with him:)

The songs from 'Kiss Me Kate' get stuck in my head too,particularly that one 'Wonderbar'. I don't mind most of the ones I've named getting stuck,but there are some that even though I may like the song,it's annoying when it gets stuck in my head-as someone below mentioned,some of the songs from 'My Fair Lady',like 'I Could Have Danced All Night'. And 'Come and meeeeet,those dancing feee--eeee-eeet,on the avenue I'm taking you to,42nd street'-that one really gets stuck!

Luck Be A Lady Tonight,gets stuck in my head too,which reminds me that so does Sit Down You're Rockin' The Boat,especially the last part where Stubby Kaye sings it really fast and repeatedly, "Sit down Sit down Sit down sit down,sit down you're rockin the boat"

All I have to do is just think of the movie "Love Me Tonight" and that song "Mimi,you funny leetle honey of a Mimi...". I also love the "Apache" number,though it doesn't get stuck. "Isn't It Romantic" gets stuck in my head too,annoyingly so.But I like the song.

Two of my most-used--and two of the most obvious in all Christendom--"Tomorrow is another day" and "Frankly my dear I don't give a damn" from GWTW.Also, for no particular reason,because I've never yet been in a situation in which it would be suitable, I love to say "Meet me at the Casbah" in as cheesy an accent as possible. And the immortal "I vant to be aloooone",LOL.