deeanddaisy666

Well, I'll accept that the films I love, those of the 1930s and 1940s, weren't 'realistic' (and I don't really WANT realism in my movies), but I don't see much 'reality' in today's films either. As I've said, I don't go to movies, but in the promos for today's films, I haven't seen any which feature an overweight or less than attractive person, have I? If Jennifer Lopez is an example of the intelligence of the average woman and Brad Pitt is an example of the countenance of the average man, then I am living in a parallel version of realism.

Well, gwtwbooklover, I'm afraid I'm of the opposite opinion, I believe in the past couple of decades that there have been a few 'golden' apples in a 'rotten' bunch. Unfortunately, I can't go to a movie during the day until I retire, and I won't go NEAR a movie theater on the weekend, so I can't speak for recent movies. But they, for the MOST part, look like a barrel of crap. I just have to go to Crankycritic.com to find that I'm not far off the mark in my opinion. HAH! grsshrp, I'm a 54 year old woman too. I guess we both grew up in THE heyday of television, and for my part, I was weaned on the glory of movies on the Late Late Show and the Million Dollar Movies. The classics, the black and whites. I agree, wholeheartedly, re the English language. Do you REMEMBER grammar and a well constructed sentence? Not a mumbled, expletive filled, um, like, you know filled so-called sentence uttered by the moronic likes of Jennifer Lopez in a 'movie' such as 'The Cell'? Unimaginable in the days of the studio system. I wonder if foreign movies are as moronic in their dialogue? Yes, again, it is ALL about the money. Money, money, money. The movie MUST make a boat load of money, in its first weekend out, and then it's a forgotten item. Off to video, where...be still my heart...they add more scenes of drek and make MORE money. Quickly, name two or three movies that came out last month! Last week? See my point? OUR demographic? Forget it. BRAVO would rather program the 'brilliance' of 'Queer Eye' and A&E would rather program, over and over and over, the sensationalistic crap hosted by Bill Kurtis, who must either own 50% of Hearst or have pictures of William Randolph with a donkey. I too have turned into my father. I'm a cranky curmudgeon who dislikes so many of the 'necessary' evils of the media industry. Apologize? Not at all. You know how to write, you write well, and you're at a site where we are free to voice our opinion on the magic that is film. Yes, this site is wonderful.

Yup, on imdb.com, namvet. 'Hot Rod' was a TV movie in 1979. Phew, talk about the vapors. Pernell Roberts is as gorgeous now as he was in 1959. Don't know on whom I had the bigger crush, Pernell or Robert Fuller.

venerados, absolutely right. Just as Clear Channel has taken over the radio world, and Rupert Murdoch has taken over televised news, so the likes of Rainbow Media, Time Warner, and Hearst are taking over the airwaves. Thanks to all the questionable practices at the FCC, which is allowing this to happen, we in America will soon be subjected to the same homogenized pap, from coast to coast, with Canada and Mexico only a short acquisition away. TCM manages to hang on with individual programming in a lobotomized cookie cutter world. I don't know how they do it (although if what I've been reading about their 'new and improved' graphics is an indication of Things To Come), but I do hope they keep it up. With the exception of Pay Television, there is not one other station on regular 'Family Cable' that is decent, intelligent, and distinctive. Not...........one.

Thanks, bansi, but no, I meant the young, slender blonde woman. I just 'googled' it, and it was Thelma Todd. She was in 'Horsefeathers'. I just like watching that 'type'. Probably because I am head over heels in love with the clothes of Orry-Kelly (and designers like him), and they wore them best.

Vivien Leigh, carolelombard01? Not on a bet. Carole Lombard, according to what I've read, could cuss like a sailor and then wear an evening gown with the best of them. She even hunted when she was with Gable. She was gorgeous, talented, ahead of her time, and cut down in the prime of her life. I adored her. She was, to me, like Jean Arthur, Myrna Loy and the socialite who was in the Marx Brothers movies...Thelma Todd, was that her name? Women ahead of their time. They had the chutzpah of a Davis or a Crawford, but without the bad press. They and especially Lombard, made a mark on cinematic history, and, to my mind, never became the great big giant stars in doing so. 'In Name Only' could have been SO schmaltzty, but Lombard touched the heart. Her timing was impeccable, she was eminently believable, and...did I say she was gorgeous? A tragic loss to Hollywood. By the way, welcome carolelombard01!

There could BE no other Nora Charles than Myrna Loy! The way she held that martini glass (before they 'cleaned' up their act), the way she said 'Nicky', the way she wore her clothes...oh, those clothes...the way she played to Nick's co-horts........sigh, there will always be only one Nora Charles for me. And only one Mrs. Blandings, for that matter. She is an icon. She was talented, gorgeous, smart, and communicated strength, independence, and diversity without being sappy, vulnerable, or pompous. I hold Myrna Loy in the same stead as Carole Lombard, Jean Arthur and Mary Astor. Versatile, intelligent actresses who were flexible and made me, the viewer, BELIEVE them in their part. What more could one ask for?

Why no, keith, none of what I say is a 'fact', it's all opinion. And thank you for the compliment, I think you're pretty cool, too! bansi, of those in your list, I believe 'Detective Story' and 'Anatomy of a Murder' were worth a look-see at least once. But they weren't worth my taping them. The others were dismissable, in my opinion. Finally, 'Quiet Man' and 'Seven Brides...' made my skin crawl, as does Charlie Chaplin. See, I'm a particularly divergent film lover, aren't I? Isn't that what makes this place great? On the other hand, I can watch the Thin Man, Philo Vance, and Perry Mason movies over and over and over and over, so I repeat, I am only giving one person's opinion. But, just as I am neither fish nor fowl, Republican nor Democrat, I do not like the movies (for the most part) made after 1950. Never have, never will. I also didn't like the writing style of 'The Da Vinci Code', not one little bit, and it has been on the Times bestseller list for umpteen weeks. So go figure.

Really, keith? I push it even further back, to 1950. And it has nothing to DO with the studio system. It has to do with my personal tastes, and 8 months of TCM haven't changed my mind one bit. The majority of films that appeal to me were made in the 1930s and 1940s. Period. So, I disagree that there were MANY good films made after 1950. Yes, of COURSE there are good films made today, some which mesmerize me, but would I watch them again and again? No. 'The Usual Suspects' was a crackerjack of a movie, as was 'The Good Thief'. But, would I tape them and watch them again? Would I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to watch them again? No to both. Meanwhile, and I forget who here was talking about seeing Brent as a cop, I just watched 'One Way Passage' and the very next movie is 'Till We Meet Again'. The opening refrain plays, and I knew the latter was a remake of the former. So, I'm thrilled to be given the chance to watch George Brent take the role that an actor whose name I don't even know played in the original. And to see Merle Oberon take the role that Kay Francis had in the original. I'm rambling, but when Steve Martin takes on the role that Spencer Tracy did in the original, I don't anticipate the remake with glee. Same with just about every other remake being made today. And if it's not a remake, it's a shoot 'em up or bed 'em down movie. Yawn. There are so very few movies in the last 50 years that interest me, sorry to say. So, it's an opinion. But that's how I feel. And I understand what edge has said. TCM, keep up the good work.

kenwal, I envy you your memories, ramble at will, please! I grew up in a somewhat big city, 60K if I remember correctly, and I wasn't allowed to go very far alone. Being a good little girl, I never ventured very far even when I was a teenager. Heck, I wasn't 'allowed' to go see the Beatles...THE BEATLES...when I was 14 because it would have involved going ALL the way to the Bronx. Horrors. So I missed THE Beatles at Shea Stadium. *sigh* At any rate, the only movies I remember being taken to were 'That Darn Cat' and 'Rodan', if you can believe it! How I got out of my childhood with a fanatical love of the movies of the Golden Era (or perhaps it was because of that childhood) is beyond me! There were no classic radio programs by the time I was growing up, and television was indeed my baby sitter. And I still have an abiding love for Harvey Comics.

Same here, feaito. In my opinion, good movie making stopped after 1950. The early 1930s, especially the pre-hypocrite Hays movies, were gold, pure gold. Even if they were clunkers, they were enjoyable for their sets, costumes, dialogue...check out Basil Rathbone in 'Last of Mrs. Cheyney'...and mood. Yup, I was born too late.

Even Monogram was part of the studio system? I have to pay more attention to the company behind the films I am watching. Interesting, loco, thanks.

ML, you DID see where I said I was KIDDING about the dive downhill, DIDN'T YOU?? And I believe I am entitled to say here that Charlie Chaplin makes my skin crawl, aren't I?

Or 'Impact'? Be still my heart. I adored "indies" from that era. How do you classify "indies", though loco? Thought these favorites of mine were just 'B' movies. You know, the movies with Lizabeth Scott? Loved 'em, just loved 'em. Watching 'Outward Bound' with Leslie Howard and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. right now on tape. They intro'ed it with three screens of text, which the audience of today wouldn't even be able to read. Wonderful fantasy movie, there's no other type of movie that better defines my soul than these movies. I still wish TCM could get 'Stairway to Heaven' with David Niven. Ah well, can't be everything to everybody, right TCM? Thankfully...I know, I know, you're not...if you went away right now, I have enough glorious b/w movies to keep me happy for a long, long time.

In the vein of 'downhill', C. Chaplin was on ALL day yesterday. Funny, he still affects me the SAME way he did 20 years ago...he makes my skin crawl. I couldn't explain it if I tried!!!! JK re the 'downhill'....

bunder, now you make a good point. I think I am 'AMC'-shy. After being figuratively slapped upside the head by AMC, A&E and BRAVO, I don't know what to think anymore. I'd like TCM to remain just as they are now, but I don't trust corporations. tcmprogrammer can 'say' they won't ever, never change, but he/she doesn't know the entire story either. ML is right, to a certain extent, but how much 'I love TCM, I love TCM' stuff can a person read and write? You have a point, this IS America and aside from wanting to see films burnt, anyone should be able to post anything they want here. Finally, my point was that I value all the b/w films that TCM shows, I ignore for the most part the color movies, and we should all be happy to pick and choose. But yes, you're right, if you want to complain, why NOT be able to complain? Again, though, TCM compared to the aforementioned abominable stations is gold right now.

ML, I am not "worrying", my post was an illustration for the opening post to this thread. RATHER than posing the question about whether or not TCM is still as good as it was, I was expounding on where we would BE withOUT TCM. I agree with you, and was merely saying in my own way that we SHOULD BE HAPPY with what we have on TCM, and not complaining about it all the time. Sorry you misunderstood.

Wow, bansi, yes I can picture Marc Lawrence! So, what's his email? Can I write to tell him how grateful I am for his work in movies during the last FIFTY years? Same with Charles Lane, danthemoviefan. The guy from 'I Love Lucy', the man always behind the counter, right? Has anyone lately told him how MUCH they have enjoyed his work, how movies would NOT have been the same without these wonderful character actors? Too bad. A regular everyday fan SHOULD be able to express their appreciation to these older/old folks. They're not going to be on this planet that much longer. And I would IMAGINE they're not a member of the 'Tom Cruise Pompus ****' club, sitting there in Hollyweird, counting their millions and millions of dollars. Eddie Albert, another guy who probably just 'did his job' and turned in damned fine performances in movies from the 1930s and 1940s and then starred in a television comedy ('Green Acres') that STILL holds up as clever and quirky...watch a few, and see if you don't appreciate Albert and Gabor doing an amazing job with an 'out there' show. Too bad. Goes back to my question on the Actors Nursing Home. Too bad the average Joe Schmo fan can't tell one of the few remaining actors from the old, old movie days how MUCH they appreciate them. Well, maybe the Actors Nursing Home has the Internet and they're watching this site right now. So, to all the Eddie Alberts and Charles Lanes still with us right now, a big THANK YOU. I still think it's sad that just about all the 'stars' from the old time movies are gone. Yes, there ARE some very good actors today, but imho, all the good ones are character actors. The 'stars', again imho, are overpaid hacks.

ML and Markfp2, you're both exactly right. Let TCM go the way of AMC, and then see how much good our griping would do. TCM holds the purse strings, and the viewer can do nothing about the fate of a station. Nothing. So enjoy it while it's here. I've only had it for a little over 8 months, thanks to the idiots at Cablevision, so I am grateful for every b/w movie I can get my hands on. Again, LET them go the way of AMC. And THEN try and find another station to watch that has the intelligent adult quality of TCM. Go ahead, I dare ya, find a peer of TCM. BRAVO? Nope, finished. AMC? Toast. A&E? Sensationalistic crap.

Wonderful, Powell was wonderful, and sexy too. Thanks for the bio.

Welcome, sosmgy12. Isn't it nice when a cable company finally deigns to add a 10 year old classic movie station to their lineup of roller derby and bug eating reality shows? Good of 'em, ain't it? Cablevision *just* added TCM in January. Watching a tape of 'Libeled Lady' today, talk about movie 'stars'!! Wonderful, glorious performances and crisp, beautifully delivered lines. William Powell, Spencer Tracy, Myrna Loy and Jean Harlow, it don't get any better than this.

'sturm und drang'......perfect, grsshrp, just perfect!!! Wish I'd thought of it! EXACTLY what I like to see in my performances, whether they're theater, movie or television. OT, 'Homicide' and 'Boomtown' were two wonderful shows where the lead characters had 'demons'. Of course, the idiot network NBC cancelled both shows. Demons. I like my characters, literary as well as visual, to have DEMONS. I despise pretty boys who can't communicate demons. Clark Gable was one of these. And sorry, Errol Flynn never did it for me. And you are soooo right, John Garfield had plenty of demons. As did Paul Muni. And Richard Burton. John Barrymore....lovely face, but demons. Robert Shaw was only 51??? Ouch. You're also right on Gregory Peck. Now Humphrey Bogart...you could see in that face that he had a few bumps in his road. Gee, ya think that means Madonna will never have a successful career as an actress? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.......

Thanks, joe and lady. So that's it, eh? Such a shame. I saw Kitty Carlisle somewhere and she was quite competent. Ah well, I guess all the 'greats' are gone.

I tried Googling, to no avail. Does anyone know who are the oldest living movie actor and actress? Also, are mere mortals permitted in the Actor's (Nursing)Home in CA? I always wish I had visited Bud Abbott...he apparently died there. Thanks.

Wow, that does sound familiar and it might be a movie from the 1930s. I don't remember the main players, but the old guy's daughter then runs for a position in the union to clean it up. Her opponent...was it Cagney, Tracy?...I believe, ends up falling in love with her.