therealfuster

that's a good one. I wonder if famous dancing star, Tula Ellice Finklea dated either of them? As for Leonard Slye, I saw an old interview with him once, where he said he was back in Cincinnati, and ran into an old schoolmate. They guy said "Why it's Leonard Slye! How are you? What have you been doing since high school?" Apparently the guy never recognized him as Roy Rogers in all the years he'd been on tv. I think it was nice that he had Trigger stuffed, so that he could always be with him on his ranch. I wonder if Dale ever worried that she might be next..

at a camera counter once, and the salesman was trying to sell me some telephoto lense. He said "Do you like movies?" I said "Yes." He said "If you can tell me what movie star's name was Spangler Arlington Brugh, I'll take 20 dollars off this lense." Well sorry to say, the guy did not know I was a classics film buff, so I said "Robert Taylor, of course." He about fainted! Said he'd been using the line for twenty years, and no one had ever guessed it correctly. I didn't even try to remember it...but who can forget a name like that once they've read it? I love hearing the real names of the stars, as some are just so hilarious and unlike their screen image. Isn't Merle Oberon's something like Queenie O'Brien or something? Good topic!

"Nightmare Alley" is, Moira! I have a tv VHS tape of it, made back in the 1970's. I've had people beg to borrow it, but I will not let it leave my premises. Personally, I think it is Tyrone Power's best work. From his days as the son of actor Tyrone Power Senior, as an actor at Xavier University in Cincinnati, to his early days onscreen when they ambushed his larger than life eyebrows [which met a bit in the center a la Richard Nixon] Power was somewhat wasted on only pretty boy roles like like Zorro, which he did make the most of though. Thankfully the studio let his eyebrows grow back in, and then he got this meaty role in NA. His descent into the maelstrom, from a tuxedoed fake in night clubs using a code to defraud the customers to the completely revolting geek in the circus who bites off the heads of chickens, is a mighty fall from grace. For anyone not familiar with the novel by William Gresham, I found it in a sceond hand shop a few years ago and it is absorbing reading and adds to one's enjoyment of the film, but is not a necessity as the film does up the story well with all the carny type trimmings. Besides Power, this film stars the great Joan Blondell, being her usual lovable bleached blonde semi-floozy, and great stage and silent screen actors Taylor Holmes [father of Phillip of "An American Tragedy"] and Julia Dean who played the dowager in "Curse of the Cat People". "Nightmare Alley" is true to life, gritty melodrama which transcends the story to become much more. Oddly this film was produced by vaudeville's Georgie Jessel and cinematographer, Lee Garmes who is famous not only for shooting "Shanghai Express" but for doing the cinematography on a film even more rare and strange perhaps than NA, which is "Spectre of the Rose". Ben Hecht's story, perhaps based somewhat on deranged Russian dancer Nijinsky, is certifiably strange in the best way, with people dancing off walls way, before Donald O'Connor. Thanks Moira for the heads up on these upcoming releases. I've seen every one of them, but am happy to see them on dvd especially the Laird Cregar ones.

for her husband at a local store, affiliated with Macy's. We did open it, just to make sure that all the pieces were intact and the dvd worked [sure...right!] and it looks to be well worth the money for any film buff. I think I could pick up some bucks by challenging folks and playing dumb at parties, like a pool hustler. Go for it, I think you'll consider it money well spent.

Being that I don't look a gift horse in the mouth, I just spent my spare time watching all the great movies on TCM on the days I could not access the web site. It was time well spent! Much appreciation for the update and solution to the log in situation.

I've been watching the Howard Hughes films. It was great to see the colour sequence last night, in "Hell's Angels" with Jean Harlow. Howard Hughes is a perfect subject for a movie, even if it is mostly imaginary like "Melvin and Howard". Personally I liked Tommy Lee Jones in the part, but even though at first I was shocked at thinking of Leonardo as him, I realized that I thought Kurt Russell would be ridiculous as Elvis, but he was really good when I saw it. Leo looks a bit more callow than Hughes did, but still he may be decent from what I've seen in promos. What I'd like is to see a film about the Clifford Irving hoax book, and the tv press conference with Hughes calling in to deny that he had anything to do with Irving's book. As for Scorcese, I too think "The Last Waltz" is a major performance film, and parodying it in "This Is Spinal Tap" with Rob Reiner as Marty di Bergi or a name something like that...was hilarious. My favorite part is the sequence with Van Morrison, and Dylan. Oh...and Ferlinghetti, fer shure. Speaking of hilarious..."After Hours" is one of the funniest black comedies ever made. The Tropic of Cancer book reading scene with Arquette, the sign saying "This way to dead body", the burn victim's book, the overflowing toilet, Catherine O'Hara chasing Griffin Dunne in her ice cream truck. Well, I get tired just thinking of that film. Oh...who can forget the plaster of paris cream cheese bagels, and the mohawk shaving scene at the nightclub? I like Scorcese films, and particularly "Mean Streets" and "Taxi Driver" and he has astounding film knowledge. Sometimes he reminds me of choir boys I knew from Catholic school though...haha! Great filmmaker though, to be sure. Cate Blanchett is my favorite current film actress too.

To be honest, when I get to the Trivia section, I really don't quite understand what the regimen is or rules are. It is a bit confusing to a new person. Of course, I was being a bit facetious anyway with the Shirley guesses, because it seems she was always an orphan, even more so than Little Orphan Annie...but could you please explain how this section works? I noticed in another section, where someone had to stand in the corner, for answering without waiting for another clue or something, which did not make sense to me. See, I really need some rules here to abide by. Please...could you kindly elucidate on how this joint works for those of us in the dark?

I just checked and "Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol", the tv production from 1962, is available on dvd in the States and Canada. I also love Jim Backus, who did such a great job with the voice. The Christmas special also utilizes the voice of the great June Foray [Rocket J. Squirrel] and also other voice specialists like Paul Frees...with assists from actors like Morey Amsterdam, Jack Cassidy, Royal Dano, and Les Tremayne. I may have to pick up a copy, if this does not show up somewhere on tv this year. I wonder what Dickens would think of Mister Magoo essaying his character, Ebenezer Scrooge?

Let's see, I'll guess Shirley Temple in any of the following: Bright Eyes, Curly Top, Captain January, Stowaway, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Little Miss Broadway, The Little Princess [pseudo-orphan!] or Susanna of the Mounties? I may have missed a few of her other orphan incarnations on film...sorry!

Moira, you have given me a new name I think, but I like it...realelf! A real elf would be appropriate for this season, so I may change my user name. I'm assuming that you know that "Koyaanisqatsi" which you've seen and like, is available on dvd and is reasonably priced. I've seen it for like max...$14.99 at Borders, and sometimes cheaper. That's where I got my copy. I am so happy to see there is a fellow Powell & Pressburger fan here. Their films are masterpieces and defy description. Just the beginning of "Black Narcissus" is like a Vermeer painting, with the nun at the window and Kerr is wonderful in the film, plus the cinematography is so much better than one sees in modern films. The Criterion version of "Peeping Tom" is well worth the money also. I have "Tales of Hoffman" on a VHS copy, but would like to see it on DVD. Even in the bargain bin, if that's where you shop till after the holidays...one can find some treats. I found "Strangler of the Swamp" in a bin for $5.99, and was thrilled. Keith, wow...you are so lucky to have seen Glass and orchestra perform "BATB" live. Now I am envious! I keep looking for the rerelease of "Dracula" with his alternate score, but have not been able to find it recently. I realize now, that I probably liked the films "Candyman" and "Suspiria" somewhat because of Glass and his contributions, but did not even know who he was at the time. Bizarrely, Glass is mentioned on IMDb as an "acknowledgement" to the film, "Being John Malkovich" so I may have to rewatch my copy to see where he fits in. Some people hate that movie, but I find it incredibly entertaining and think by the year 2050, it will be in the top ten cult hits of all time list.

I stupidly said in my post below that "Louisiana Story" has a long interview with Robert "Florey's" widow. Obviously, I should have said Robert Flaherty's widow. Duh! Pardonnez-moi, all! Very embarrassing and I apologize to Flaherty, who was an amazing filmmaker and should not be confused with anyone. Last night I watched my new dvd of "Nanook of the North" which is a Flaherty masterpiece, and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes wants to see a real adventure yarn. It also has some nice extras and is definitely worth the money...around 25 bucks.

Oh, it is coming back to me now. That was the week that all we posters were invited to the big TCM festival in Atlanta. Free hotel suites and food for everyone. Weren't you invited?

Is there any other version besides the Alistair Sim one? I think not! He just has to be the definitive Scrooge. As a kid, I remember seeing the Reginald Gardiner one first. He seemed okay in the part. Then...I saw Sim's version. After that...there was no going back. It is a great role, but for some reason only Sim seems to be able to pull off the really mean, nasty parts and then the conversion to being silly, nice and kind...with a true portrayal of both extremes being so believable. Probably due to the fact that he was a really great actor.

For DVD's with some fun extras I like: The Bad Seed [interesting interview with Patty MacCormack concerning the stage version of the play] Beauty and the Beast [Cocteau version with alternate Philip Glass score which though some consider travesty, I find makes the whole film seem different] The Dark Shadows boxed sets [each one has interviews with former cast members like Frid, etc.] Carnival of Souls [Criterion edition -great interviews with cast members and background on the industrial film career of Herk Hervey] City of the Dead aka Horror Hotel [fun interview with Venetia Stevenson, famous for being married to Russ Tamblyn, then Don Everly, by whom she had a daughter hence making her later the mother-in-law of Axl Rose] I, Claudius boxed set [contains additionally the tv documentary done on the aborted Korda version, with interviews with those involved like Oberon and hosted by Dirk Bogarde] The boxed set with How Green Was My Valley, Gentleman's Agreement and All About Eve, has the extra film, Sunrise as a bonus. Rashomon has the original story on the disc, from which the idea was adapted, and other Kurosawa features. Knife in the Water has some early Polanski short films, like Two Men and a Wardrobe Louisiana Story has a long interview with Robert Florey's widow Que Viva Mexico has the whole background with participants of the Eisenstein saga making and then abandoning the film Strangers on a Train has both the British version, with a longer meeting scene of Guy and Bruno and the American version, and with different alternate endings. This is Spinal Tap [hilarious outtakes from the movie] I buy loads of cheapie B-films, but if something cultish does show up on alternate company listings, i would go for the more expensive one. For example I already had two versions of Carnival of Souls, but when I saw Criterion was putting out a special version, I bought it and was not disappointed, due to all the extras and outtakes. Enjoy your new DVD player, Moira! Don't be like me...I bought almost a hundred DVD's in about three months when I first got mine.

since everyone is advertising, I'm looking for a lookalike for James Craig, who is a good cook, has his own real teeth, likes to watch foreign films like "Au Hazard, Balthazar" or "Viridiana" for fun and read me the subtitles, and has a car which works, with a sunroof and a cd player for my Bjork singing with Eddie Fisher recordings. Oh...and who is employed and likes to visit museums worldwide. Call me at Northside-777.

Since you've mentioned the Fieldsian milieu, I'll go with: Waldo Lydecker, Horace Femm, John D. Hackensacker III, Captain McGlew, and Rockwell P. Hunter [aka Lover Doll]

Since you've mentioned the Fieldsian milieu, I'll go with: Waldo Lydecker, Horace Femm, John D. Hackensacker III, Captain McGlew, and Rockwell P. Hunter [aka Lover Doll]

the originator of the original charity concert, with the Concert for Bangladesh. He assembled an impressive cast of musicians, like Dylan, Clapton et al and to this day, that is still one of the great concert films. A true humanitarian, George did not seem as phoney as many celebrities. He also popularized the use of exotic instruments in rock music, like the Sitar and was instrumental, with producer George Martin at crafting a unique Beatle sound, even though Lennon and McCartney got more credit at the time, George being the youngest Beatle. Anyone who would call the man who stole his wife, Patti, a fellow husband-in-law, as he did Clapton, is a person without vengeance and true good humor.

I like Whit Bissell, even though his name sounds like it should be a sweeper salesman. Next you will be saying Gary Merrill is not cute looking.

every one you have mentioned, and have seen them all except for "Warlock". I would add, "Tall in the Saddle", "Blood on the Moon", "Rancho Notorious", "One Eyed Jacks", "Johnny Guitar", and "Cat Ballou". Some of these may have been mentioned...

Ayres, your comments made me think of the beginning of "Kwaidan", which is really neat and arty. Those Japanese films are always creative visually.

and thomas Fadden look exactly alike. Other twin or triplet types include Iris Adrian, Marian Martin and Joyce Compton. Also Cathleen Nesbitt and Gladys Cooper. And definitely Lloyd Corrigan and Charles Winninger.

Tasmanian, well....send the 8x10 glossy asap! I look a little bit like Lily Damita.

is so snide and cold. How about a Bent Brent?

but you slept with Vincent Sherman, just like Lucille LeSeuer did...right? I may have spelled Lucille's last name wrong...sorry!