therealfuster

and that does make the real film even scarier. Thanks, BG!

a movie about a man falling off a bridge. I think I was about three. I still think I'll recognize the scene someday in a film. The next film I remember seeing, was with my mother and it was called "Slightly Dangerous" and had Lana Turner as a shop girl I think, who was pretending to be the long lost heiress to some fortune. Robert Young may have been her suitor, not sure. Fun question and I can't wait to see what films others remember.

Does it not drive you crazy on some tv channels [but not the wonderful TCM] when they run those compressed credits, and you cannot read any of the names, unless you have an anamorphic lens on your glasses? That is if you wear glasses.... I too am a big fan of cinematography, and often will watch just the beginning credits on a TCM movie I might not be that interested in, and if I see a name like Stanley Cortez, or John Alton then I have to watch. I too always look at the movie marquees, and for goof ups in clothing, like Lee Remick's in "Anatomy of a Murder" et cetera. As for "constructive criticism", feel free to give it whenever you feel the need. I have a very thick skin and am not easily offended, nevertheless I still will remain true to my own regime of behaviour that I find appropriate as an adult, and not do things, just to "keep the peace" so as to be popular and accepted by the powers that be, or follow the methods that would be theirs in the same situation. I do believe in always being polite though, whatever occurrence. If....I were one to expect apologies from anyone for false Internet accusations, and to then "thank" them for "apologizing"...it would not be for being accused of using a thesaurus, but perhaps for being accused of being insulting, "demeaning" and "belittling" to fellow posters erroneously. That would be the most tangible evidence for sincere recriminations, that would warrant any "thank you". But I don't want or expect an apology for those charges either, and just like to go with the flow, and allow people to say what they think concerning any post I make, regardless of what is said negative or positive. I much more treasure honesty and openness in people, than apologies for remarks they've made which flow off my back like water on a duck's. I believe that I was quite "cordial" in dealing with accusations based on another's ungrounded personal interpretations and semantic splitting of hairs of my original post, and I wish only the best to Mary Lou [who I don't really know at all by the way] and she is always welcome in my posts, if she so chooses to join in and I shall look forward to reading hers. Please accept my candor in the spirit of good will in which it is meant, with freedom of expression for all. Thanks for your very astute remarks concerning continuity and your addictions in films, Moviejoe.

me, not Liz, Ucrsue! As the non-refugee.... Did you know that Liz was supposedly born with a double set of eyelashes? Maybe it's legend, or maybe it's Maybelline!

..Twice Shy! Coming up on the TCM schedule for July 16th and 26th of 2005, is the gem of a movie, known as "Angel Face"! If ambulance driver Frank Jessup [Robert Mitchum] had followed this Aesopian admonition, when dealing with prim yet still femme fatale, Diane Tremayne [Jean Simmons] in Otto Preminger's black ode to obsession "Angel Face"[1952]...he would have been a lot more lucky in love. Spoilers ahead! I once read...if in your dreams, you are at the helm of whatever vehicle is being depicted, it shows that you are seemingly in control of your life. This Freudian perception never took into account though, the wily machinations of one Diane Tremayne, who put Frank into the driver's seat in his nightmare world of noir, and was the real power behind the dashboard. After the suspicious gas poisoning of Diane's stepmother [barbara O'Neil] Frank encounters the refined yet seductive Diane, during one of her expositions on the piano, of a fine and moody Dimitri Tiomkin score. Frank's slap to reduce her seeming hysteria, is met with a slap back and as he says later.."It might be love..but with a girl like you, who knows?" Immediately Diane sets her cap for Frank, by promising financial help for his fantasy of owning a car repair shop, and her encouragement in using her Jaguar in an upcoming race, and like Hertz..putting him in the proverbial driver's seat again. In conniving attempts to control all aspects of his life [like the encroachment over his girlfriend Mary as played by perennial good girl Mona Freeman] that would make Honore de Balzac's character "Cousin Bette" proud, Diane manages to have Frank hired as the family chauffeur for her father [a noted but currently wordless wordsmith and novelist, played by the genial and talented Herbert Marshall] and her stepmother, who holds all the pursestrings, due to her prior holdings. Once Frank becomes ensnared, Diane does all she can to isolate him from others, and entreat him to join in her distaste for the hated [perhaps unfairly] stepmother. Due to Simmons striking good looks and ability to portray many sides of a character, some redeeming [such as her honest love and adoration of her father] but also the deceitful and manipulative side, which wants Mrs. Tremayne out of the way, we are presented with a complex picture of a woman looking for love in all the wrong places, and ending up on trial with a possible sojourn in the gas chamber. The shocking and resounding denouement, which occurs due to Diane's fear of being alone, brings into sharp focus the concept that Mitchum has been usurped of all power, in spite of his belief that he is the captain of his own destiny, but rather he is but a dupe for Diane's predestination, as she takes the wheel of the fateful Jag for the last time... This film was admirably directed by Otto Preminger, and written by Chester Erskine and supposedly based loosely on the true life story of Beulah Louise Onerall [sp?] who blew up her parents on a yacht. An able cast make it a success including Leon Ames, Kenneth Tobey, and Jim Backus. Background on...the Gas Chamber. Poisonous gas, which had first been introduced in WWI by the Germans with chlorine gas and later mustard gas, and the Americans who came up with phosgene, was finally outlawed in war...but was thought to be ideal in the 1920's for public executions. Major D.A. Turner of the U.S. Army Medical Corps developed the prototype of the modern gas chamber, where various mixtures of water, sulfuric acid or cyanide pellets could be combined to produce deadly fumes. California introduced the most famous chair at San Quentin in 1938, and one of the most famous executees was Caryl Chessman in 1960. As there were questions of how humane it was, to ask a person to auto-suffocate themself in a tortuous asphyxiation, which sometimes took up to eleven minutes, eventually the search was on for new, more kindly methods of termination. Who else is a fan of this noirish Preminger classic?

I was rereading this entire thread, since I missed some posts before and could not access them when I first answered, but I think I don't get this reference you are using to "666". What is this "666" in reference to, Classicsfan? Could you elaborate for me what the point is in reference to this "Delores"? Seven being a magic number, the number 6 was used biblically to show a step just below greatness, and to use three "6"s in a row, was to amplify the power contained in the being or object. It is not in essence, naturally a pejorative, but I still don't understand the meaning as you are using it in this thread about profanity on TCM, Classicsfan. Reading more of the posts, does make me wonder if TCM would get complaints about films on witch burnings or diabolic possession, as dangerous fodder for programming also.

there is only one Gable, no matter how one spells it. And talking about two other heartthrobs like Grant and Peck, does tend to make one's mind wander to Gable as a natural transition. He was a lot more earthy than Peck or Grant, who were each great in their way, but could not have been so viriile and Alpha-male, and forcefully played a scene like the walls of Jericho one in IHON, with such aplomb. Did you ever talk to Colbert about any of her movies?

such a consummate actor, jmpomar2004! And you are right, his work in that denouncing of a famous radio personage, called "The Great Man" is an indictment of all the folksy caricatures who proliferated on tv in the '50's, who were not quite so nice and down to earth as they appeared. Godfrey, who has been mentioned as the source material, seems to inspire hatred in many individuals, but no one can beat him for his work on those Lipton soup commercials or his ukelele playing. I think he may have also inspired aspects of Kazan's "A Face in the Crowd". My favorite Ferrer role, is as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in "Moulin Rouge". I just bought this on dvd, and look forward to rewatching him walking around on his knees, which must have been as painful as some of those Chaney roles. The film is a masterpiece and many scenes start off with exact duplicates in reel life, of many of his paintings, drawings and posters. A true joy for any art lover of Lautrec. Ferrer did have a wonderfully rich, mellifluous voice and his son Miquel sounds a bit like him, and really looks like him. I enjoy seeing his dead pan portrayal of that FBI guy, Albert in the "Twin Peaks" series. I too wish TCM might show some of Jose's best movies!

"Purple Rose of Cairo" is one of Woody's best and a interesting film. I remember seeing Keaton's "Sherlock Junior" and being amazed how similar to it were some of the scenes set in the theatre where he was projectionist, where people would walk onstage into the movie action. I've seen the Steve Martin version of "Pennies From Heaven" and really enjoyed it too, as I love anything set in the 1920's and 1930's, particularly musicals and ones with Christopher Walken in them. You did mean that one didn't you, as I' ve not seen the British mini-series of the Potter story, but keep thinking I should buy it, along with "The Singing Detective". Thanks for your response!

to never walk on all fours again! Great choices! Sadly, I have not seen "The Professional" but have heard only good things about it so shall look for it. Thinking of the song "Singing in the Rain" did make me think of Alex in "Clockwork Orange" but I won't go there. Thanks for your input!

in seeing the true humanity [though often it be the eviscerated dregs of it] being celebrated in these films with such pathos, is incredibly insightful. I'd never really thought about it, but even in "The Mighty Wind" [which you've really got to see] the portrait of the former partner of Catherine O'Hara, who seems to be in still substained drug stupor, as played by Eugene Levy, is not ridiculed but portrayed sympathetically in his meanderings and wandering off, both tangibly and in his mind. Probably only Levy could bring this Jerry Garcia looking musician, with a touch of Keith Richard's sometimes comatose states, to life with such kindness. Of course, anyone who could do a dead on takeoff of Floyd the Barber, as Levy did on SCTV, should find this easy. Get the movie, and I swear I'm not a paid shill to promote all Tap material to potential customers here, though I see that such behaviour is not frowned on.

I think a lot of filmmakers used to want to reward those who stayed till the bitter end, and would put fun things at the very close of the credits to entertain. Right off the spot, I'm drawing a blank...but I know I've seen films with fun rewards at the very end. Maybe someone else can come up with some films to look for...with this attribute. Thanks, Stoney!

as being too much of a die hard fan, can run one out of house and home, what with collecting tapes and dvd's and memorabilia. So there is the good and the bad of it. A friend of mine said they actually watched so much TCM that they were never leaving their house, and decided to give up their cable. No, that's just too exteme a move for me! The Wilhelm Scream is a sound bite that may have been made by actor and novelty song purveyor, Sheb Wooley. No one knows for sure. It has been utilized in many movies, after first being recorded ostensibly for the death gasp of Private Wilhelm in the film "Distant Drums". Sound tech men actually request it by name, it is still used in many current films due to its legendary status, and it can be found on the Net in recorded form.

enjoyed reading all of your interesting takes on this film which I've often thought was overlooked in the Hitch oeuvre. It made me think about how the author, Somerset Maugham still has so many of his works being made into films. I think there is even an upcoming version of "The Painted Veil" to be made. What with the recent Julia tale, and other stories that have been made into films like "The Letter", "Of Human Bondage", and "Rain" there may be much fodder for more remakes than have already been made. My favorite of Maugham's tales is the basis for the film "Christmas Holiday" with Deanna Durbin and Gene Kelly. Thanks for sharing the great review, Lolite!

you are dead on! Kelly was gorgeous, but he was not a vision of sartorial splendor. That was the province of Adolph Menjou, who though not the best looking, was known in Hollywood for being natty on screen and off. Though Kelly's wardrobe might have been chosen by him, specifically to illustrate his average Joe persona in films, with an athletic bent, what with all those loafers, and typical Americana type outfits, I can see exactly what you are saying, when I think about his clothing. Astaire was just more of a clothes horse, what with doing outre things like making his socks match his handkerchief, and using a scarf as a belt. The man was so casually elegant, that he makes George Hamilton look like a slouch in his custom tailored jeans which are pressed. I think you make an interesting point, but for really poor tailoring, look for Bing Crosby's wardrobe choices! Not to compare him to Kelly as an exponent of bad couture, because Kelly is splendid comparitively. Fun topic...whose clothes in films, do you think are wonderful? Males and females? I'll go with Fernando Lamas as a splendid specimen clotheswise and Lynn Bari as model perfect!

within movies and movies about movies, always intrigue me. While watching my dvd of "Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment" I enjoyed the part where David Warner goes to the movies, and watches the film "King Kong" which becames a catalyst for his later actions. It is always fun to see an earlier film, used in a new film as a type of shorthand or tribute. One fun instance of this is in the Steve McQueen film "The Blob" wherein there is the famous shot of Adrienne Barrett from the cult film by John Parker, "Dementia" [aka "Daughter of Horror"]. Seeing this clip always made me want to see "Dementia" and it is a great little film, albeit it silent with musical accompaniment. But it still packs some psychological thrills even if some of them are due to the shock of hearing Ed MacMahon narrate a horror film! Films about films, or paying homage to them, are also a breed unto themselves. One of my favorites is Minnelli's "Two Weeks in Another Town" which utilizes clips from his earlier "The Bad and the Beautiful" artfully blended into the drama. Though Truffaut's "Day for Night" and Godard's "Contempt" both are wonderful exercises about filmmaking, the ultimate journey into filmic onanism, has to be in Wilder's "Sunset Boulevard" where Norma Desmond lustfully idolizes her own image on screen, from "Queen Kelly" along with her paid lothario, Joe Gillis. Do you have any special films about filmmaking, or films with clips of previous films within, which you would recommend to other movie fans?

of both the real Maria von Trapp and "The Sound of Mucus" directed me to your post. It was my high school play, and I had to turn pages for my friend who was playing piano. The score is beautiful, but if I never hear it again, by the current Trapp Family Singers, it won't be too soon. To this day, I just have to leave the room if the movie is on, though I do like Eleanor Parker and Christopher Plummer. For those who love it and the movie, don't let me spoil it for you, but I heard from neighbors that the real Maria was nothing like the lovely Julie Andrews, and used to work those kids like dogs, and make them go up and down the hill with pails of water daily.

updates because I do try to buy about every boxed set that comes out, that is of interest to me. I've found that often these things will go OOP not that long after, and one can kick oneself then for passing them up. Who needs food, if one has DVD's anyway? Usually one gets a wee bit better buy in boxed set form, so that makes it acceptable. Some of the ones I've bought recently that have been out a while, are the complete Monty Python tv episodes and all the Twilight Zones, the Alec Guinness set, a Dirk Bogarde collection, Betty Page films, the Eisenstein set, Film Noir Classics, and that Kubrick collection, along with all Chaplin's films and shorts, and the W.C. Fields collection, and all those wonderful Universal classics like The Mummy and Dracula, plus the Sherlock Holmes boxed sets. I also splurged and bought the Monterey Pop Festival and the Cocteau box. I admit it, I've become a boxed set fanatic! I sure wish they'd finally release more seasons of the Twin Peaks tv series, as it was most memorable viewing. So yes, I do buy a lot but there is always more coming out and one must pace oneself a bit, to not become overwhelmed with finding space for all these dvd's. Thanks for the heads up, and keep up the good work!

What a wonderfully entertaining movie. They don't make them like that anymore, and the settings and costumes are gorgeous. I just looked up RWJ too at IMDb, and saw he was in that Bob Hoskins' film, "The Long Good Friday" but I don't remember him at all. I hope he has not changed as much as Jan-Michael Vincent! Have fun watching Louis Jourdan. Did you ever see him as Dracula in that BBC production? He equitted himself quite well as a charming vampire.

your sentiments! TCM does not just show the usual suspects, but goes deep into the vaults and pulls out some of the lesser gems that are not regularly seen, which is magnificent. It is like when most radio stations only play the top ten oldies of any year continually, instead of some of the other 30 hits of each week of previous year's Top Forty, that would be so refreshing to hear occasionally.

Reminds me of a trivia question I used to pose to people. Who played Bob Mathias, the decathalon champ from Tulare, California, in "The Bob Mathias Story"? No one ever said...Bob Mathias, as it was too obvious. Robert Walker, Junior, seemed to have disappeared. Wonder where he is today?

but I wish they'd reissue Antonioni's "Red Desert". Also Jacques Tati's "Playtime" and Cronenberg's "Dead Ringers". Oh, I forgot....Pasolini's "Salo" and that Gary Oldman flick, "Sid and Nancy".

second all the finely expressed sentiments in this post. Bravo, TCM!

rather fascinate, even for non-refugees from the Island of Lesbos. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I can just stare at her in films, and admire the perfection of her heart shaped face and lovely countenance. Liz, though I know she hates that name, is just fun to look at, and my favorite pic to do that in, is either "Giant", "Raintree County" or "Cleopatra". I just bought her giant jewelry book, called something like "My Love Affair with Jewelry" and it is a fun read. She talks about looking into the depths of the Krupp diamond, and seeing eternity within its facets, and how Burton said he could give her a ten dollar trinket or a ten thousand dollar bracelet, and she loved both the same and was just a jewelry maven. It's a cute book, and the story about how Elizabeth cajoled Rex Harrison to buy her some jewels, and override his incipient cheapness, is entertaining.

talk to Bogie or Spencer that way? I think not... Fuster