therealfuster

Anna too! And yes, Dietrich in the gorilla suit is a must see.

as I recall, the girls had paid the old guy to write some missive to put off the inevitable, and make June feel good. The friends assumed that the hubby was probably dead. When she got the letter, they figured the old guy had written it, and thought that would keep June going for awhile. But the man had not written any bogus message from the husband, so that meant that the letter was really for real, and June's hubby would be coming home. Hope this helps. I forget some of the specific details, but I'm sure he was not dead at the end of the film.

I beg to differ. Bakelite did not crack, witness the many items still around today made of it in jewelry and other items, which look as good as when they were made. And plastic as a word goes way back, being from the Latin "plasticus" and meaning something molded and was just appropriated for the plastics industry which somewhat began with Bakelite....in the early days of the 1900's. Dr. Baekland while trying to develop a bowling alley floor shellac, came up with a resin compound that was insoluable, and realized it would be profitable for molding purposes. Bakelite Corporation was started in 1910. For all intents and purposes, this phenolic resin was the forerunner of what we know as plastic that is molded or cast today. First it was used for industrial products, but then began being utilized for novelty and jewelry items, which explains my interest, as I have a large Bakelite collection. The Bakelite patent expired in 1927, yet it was adapted by others to produce multitudinous items of plastic all through the Depression and War Years. The word plastics, was in common usage in the 1930's and afterwards, witness the founding of The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. in 1937. They represent one of the largest manufacturing industries in the US. My contention is that the product of "plastics" was hence not a new invention by far in 1967 when The Graduate came out, which means that the word was not used by itself as a foil for humor, but rather in the context of the film. Don't hate me for loving plastics and splitting hairs. I know some many people who are, I've gotten interested in its origins. I've always thought the use of the word "plastics" in the film, was a tip off to the empty type of persons who Ben did not want to emulate, who frequented his parents parties. You're invited over any time to see my Bakelite collection of radios, jewlery, flatware and assorted items, Stoney!

you are making me want to go directly home, not pass Go and watch my DVD of That Obscure Object of Desire, which I've owned for a couple months on DVD. Being that I buy so many DVD's that I have no time to watch them all, I had kind of forgotten about it. I've seen it a few times, but only owned a videocassette previously. I've never seen the Dietrich version either. I doubt that Sternberg would have been allowed by Marlena to farm out half of her role to another actress though, as Bunuel did in his film. My favorite part is when the girl has the corsetlike thing all tied up in knots, just to torture Fernando Rey. I can never see him, without also thinking of those jump rope handles in the film, Viridiana. That film is more scary than most horror films, especially the necrotic bride on the bed sequence. Well if you see The Devil is a Woman show up on DVD, please tell me!

till it got to around 4:30am and I was tired. I felt sad, as I hate to miss a movie with Minna Gombell in it. Though I've seen TOSM a million times, I enjoy seeing Huston without his teeth. Having read a biography about B.Traven the author, it makes the film even more interesting. I have to go along with someone who said West of Zanzibar with Chaney is a lot grimmer vision of such malevolence than Kongo, but Huston did fairly well in a hard to please role. I almost bought again last weekend, the $39.99 dvd of The Devil and Daniel Webster, as I really want to see it. Maybe I should give TCM a couple more months to show it?

Finally a chance to see the Wienie King on nice clear DVD. I love character actor Robert Dudley's interchanges with Claudette in that film. Also Rudy Vallee is a stitch as stuffed shirt Hackensacker. Perennial film drunk Jack Norton with the Ale and Quail Club, accompanied by character greats Jimmy Conlin, Robert Warwick, Bill Demarest, Roscoe Ates, and Chester Conklin...and an appearance by always screen extra, Bess Flowers. Who could ask for anything more! Thanks for the DVD heads up...

and I'll go with the following as my favorite Stewart roles in films: Call Northside 777 Anatomy of a Murder Harvey, The Shop Around the Corner, It's a Wondeful LIfe [sure it's corny but he is great!] Destry Rides Again The Philadelphia Story Bell, Book and Candle I have an obsession about Vertigo, which I've seen around 25 times, and he is wonderful with Novak in that film. I may have to disagree with you on one film. Being that I am kind of a fan of Charles Lindbergh, I found Stewart a bit laughable in The Spirit of St. Louis, being that he was way too old to play Lucky Lindy. Other than that it is a decent film and so is his portrayal. Viva, Jimmy!

you are reading too much into it, as the word itself being funny. Which it is not. Just as in the book, the whole raison d'etre of the circle of friends of Ben's parents was to make it in the business world and become a suit. Ben, being of the counter culture generation of that time of the 1960's, is not really into his parent's ideals for him. The man at the party, does not really give Ben the sage personal advice that it appears might be forthcoming, but gives him a succinct one word answer to Ben's much more complicated vision of what his life will become. Now that is funny. One word, as if it is an Open, Sesame type magic mantra, which will unlock all doors. The word "plastics" in itself is not meant to be funny. The author could have said any word which connoted a business product that was saleable. It is just the certainty with which the older man seems to regard his advice to Ben which is funny. Plastics go back a long way, to Bakelite in the 1920's, and it just became a catch word for the movie, being that the phrase was a bit pithy. Why was Steve Martin funny when he used to say "Excuse me"? Excuse me is not funny, but it was, in the way Martin used it in response.

Josef von Sternberg? I noticed that Shanghai Express is on today. I get such a kick out of looking at old photos of Josef von Sternberg. Is he not the epitome of what one imagines as a director in the 1920's? With his beret, jodphurs, riding crops and other accoutrements, he just looks the part so totally. Who cares if it was a bit of a put on and he was not exactly what he seemed? Not me! And the man could direct, and had specific influences on the visual allure of his films to be sure. His obsession with Dietrich caused him to film her like a goddess, which surely benefitted her career. My favorite film of his has to be....Scarlet Empress, which is just a Baroque masterpiece, unrivalled in grotesqueries and quaint characterizations, and loaded with symbolism and layered visual effects with a lot of horsing around to boot. I would go next with Blonde Venus, and then The Shanghai Gesture which is truly odd in an enchanting way. I also like An American Tragedy, which is an interesting contrast to the later Liz Taylor film. Name your favorite Sternberg....

appreciative of the other woman in films, because some of the most fun actresses got such parts continually. People like Rita Johnson, could play the part to a T! I always liked the cool types as exemplified by people like Hillary Brooke too. Nora Prentiss as played by Ann Sheridan is a more sympathetic version of this type in my opinion. In that film, it is really the attached male who comes to ruination, and that makes it a good noir as the female should always survive, just like a black widow spider. As for the films you mention, I always felt that one of Mary Astor's most endearing roles was that of the paramour of Walter Huston, being that his wife as played by Chatterton was such an airhead, phoney ninny. Just as in The Best Years of Our Lives, when Teresa Wright expresses the desire to break up Dana Andrews loveless marriage to Virginia Mayo, one roots for Astor to save Huston from his ridiculous nuptial choice. I've seen all the films you mention except this Homecoming film with Gable, and the "other women" in them are of very different types to be sure. Back Street is the quintessential melodrama about such entanglements, and even the remakes are sort of corny. I'm remembering Susan Hayward and John Gavin I think. I would say that in films of a noir nature, it follows that rarely does the other woman come to any realization, since her very attitude of superiority in ensnaring the male, does not rest on the old chestnut of the poor, mistreated kept woman...as she is the master. In non-noir films though, Hollywood did tend to perpetuate a type of other woman, who paid dearly for her "sins" and often became a better woman for it. The ultimate "other woman" film has to be "In the Realm of the Senses" in which the married male carries on with the geisha woman, who eventually not only emasculates him mentally, but does so in a most disturbing physical way, leading to ecstasy and death. She suffers but he pays the price of their unsacred union. Good question!

I have written down all your user names, as I did appreciate all your most sincere and elucidating comments. Watch out...I will now be looking for threads by you all since you all seem like such super film fans. I may have been reading too many posts by some refugees from the Peanut Gallery. I now feel much better, having been given some input that made lots of sense. I got some insights from all of your most thought provoking posts and agree with Blonde Rabbit that time is a wasting, when there are a hundred years of films to discuss. To clear up any confusion, I believe that just criticism is always equitable, I just felt bad when I thought there were so many posts criticizing the TCM schedule, which to my mind is a movie lover's dream, and quite amazing. It made me sad. I feared that such chronic whining might cause TCM to eventually just close its doors, and wanted to express to them how much this film fan does appreciate their fantastic schedule and elicit support from others who also love the place. Wow....the silent shorts shown on Sunday nite were super. Charley [Charlie?] Bowers and his matchbox friend were simply out of this world! I laughed out loud at the ship labelled S.S. Hoot Mon. And getting to see Rin Tin Tin saving his pups from the fire was a trip. I also really liked the Fleischer brothers bit about how to treat one's office phone. Historically, it was a most enervating night of film and I really enjoyed it. Who else but TCM would devote time to such shorts? Thanks, TCM! Thanks again everyone for your opinions on my plight.

I stayed up last night, just to watch that film. Seeing Kay Francis in all her glory, in a bit of a Gibson girl get-up, and then as a 1920's type of woman was too much fun. I always like listening for her slight lisp too, which sounds great when coming from her beautifully manicured personage. The Florey film was quite good, and went off into unexpected places one would not have suspected. As Osborne said the clothing, chapeaus and coiffures were simply amazing. The film was enjoyable though just on its own merits, and Kay did equit herself well as a card dealer. Ricardo Cortez is a type of man that we do not see anymore sadly; a bit of a lounge lizard but in this film with a much more likable part than sometimes. This was a nice request to fulfill for some lucky fan by TCM.

and you will find that Black Angel has been released in the near past on DVD, and it is a fine version of it. I found a copy at Borders for a most reasonable price, of around $14.99. Being that it also stars the inimitable Dan Duryea, you know it is worth the money! Time for me to hit the road, and go home and watch TCM!

and say it... This board confuses me! Not the mechanics of it by TCM, but the people who inhabit it. This promises to be boring, as even I am bored writing it, so prepare yourself. I just decided to show up here recently, as I've been watching TCM for a long time now. Having been on other Internet discussion boards on movies, I was not surprised by some of what I saw. Internecine comments, superfluous rancor and narcissism. On the other hand, there were also many posts which showed a real appreciation of film history, so that was encouraging and gave me hope that there could be some redeeming exchanges on silent cinema, world cinema and the finer films of Hollywood. Being that TCM is the creme de la creme of cable movie channels, maybe I expected too much. I did not have anyone really say welcome or anything, so I just assumed that the status quo accepted each person as a new member, with equal stature. But though it seems to have a lot of people here, it does not seem like anyone is hardly here whenever I am. Or else many are hiding when they see me coming. I am rather obnoxious, being that I am a female, and do have that effect on people. I noticed no one welcomed me here as they did some others who were new, so that should have been a sign...haha! Are the majority of the posters in Borneo, and posting in other time zones? Just how many people really post here daily...does anyone know? I may be used to a faster exchange of ideas from hitting other sites with a big turnover. I will look at the boards, and see not too much action on posts which seem really interesting to me, which further confounds me. If I post, I seem to be the only person doing so, and my name starts showing up all over the place, which is embarrassing. I guess though I thought this would be a spot for film lovers, giving positive reinforcement. I see people saying that all they want is someone to talk about films with, and yet I don't see too much of that in actuality. I'd like to share some film lore with those of a like nature, but I don't see that will be happening. Yes, films are being discussed but more in a negative way often to my mind. But that is neither here nor there. Just ignore this, unless you are a film fan who seems a bit discombobulated here yourself and really want to talk film. If so, then I'd like to hear from you. Maybe we can start a support group for each other? I don't blame TCM or their programmers [whose posts I have appreciated] since the cable channel was nice enough to provide this fine site. I blame myself for thinking there could be more. I keep thinking when I stop in every few days, as Peggy Lee once sang..."Is that all there is?" Well...is it?

in some film, when I was little. He just got such a big kick out of her deadpan singing approach. Now when I see her in any film, it takes me back as if I were alive during WWII, as she did add such charm to many films of those days. Venerados, you have an interesting list there with Elsa Lanchester, Martha Raye, and Betty Compson. I have always admired the talents of the distaff half of Laughton, in so many parts including Bell, Book and Candle and Martha Raye showed some talent beyond the comedic as Chaplin's foil in Monsieur Verdoux. I have not seen enough films with Betty Compson, but as the B's are what I look for mostly now, I do hope to.

a bunch of my favorites with "Jean Arthur. Irene Dunne. Joan Blondell. Glenda Farrell. Ann Sothern" I could add Claire Trevor, though she is not known for her comedy, but if she had to I bet she could do it.

heavy weights in the scene are, I am always drawn to watching Peter Lorre. Interestingly, while other actors raise the volume, he lowers his voice, and makes you have to listen to each word. Some of my favorite of his films besides the obvious one or even M, are Mad Love, Stranger on the Third Floor, Quicksand, Black Angel and The Mask of Dimitrios. And then who can forget his performance on tv in Alfred Hitchcock Presents, playing with the Zippo [?] lighter opposite Steve McQueen in that Man from the South episode? The only Lorre I'm not too into, is at the very end where he made a few hammy performances with other screen horror heroes.

a real film buff? I'm not saying that it is pretty or something to aspire to, but there are things that separate the men from the boys, and the women from the girls. Let's see...I'll start. If you saw a film you've looked for for years on Ebay, that is obscure and in the thousand dollar range...you'd figure out how to cut back on eating to afford it. You disdain people who won't watch films made in black and white, as riff raff and unworthy to associate with long term. You would cancel your wedding date, if you found out that TCM found a pristine copy of London After Midnight, and are giving it a one time tv presentation. People that talk only of the stars of the films....are of no interest to you, since you are into the directors and cinematographers. You can take on 26 people alone, in playing Silver Screen Trivial Pursuit and win with one hand tied behind your back. You will drive a hundred miles to see a film in a proper theatre with old fashioned seats and not in a multiplex with a squished screen. You have a film cataloguing system for your dvd's and videotapes, so that you can find a film in a second's notice. You can talk about the silent films of Rex Ingram and know to which movie star he was married. Being a Valentino fan, you want to see Hayley Mills in the film The Moonspinners since you know Pola Negri is in it. You always stay till all the credits have run in a theatre. You have signed photos of Wanda Hendrix, Steffi Duna and Robert Newton in your collection and are looking for ones of Sybil Jason, Billy Benedict, Dan Tobin and George Coulouris. Nothing ever filmed is necessarily not worthy of at least a slight peek, unless you know the makers track record for drek. Even a hack can occasionally make a masterpiece.... What other proofs are there that one is totally obsessed and a "real" film buff?

man's woman. I remember reading about her slugging Errol Flynn for getting a bit risque with her when she came to Hollywood. I've always liked her performance in Jamaica Inn, though she is so young one hardly can recognize her. Thanks!

one can never have too many Claude films to watch! I just bought that Legacy package with the Invisible Man, so that I can stop rewatching it every time it shows up on tv. Of course I also have it on tape, and that never stopped me sitting down to rewatch. Mr. Rains graced and complemented so many films with his style, exceptional voice and delivery and panache, that he certainly does deserve a birthday bash. The ones I've never seen are Stolen Holiday, though I've seen the Resnais film, Deception, and of course rewatching all the classics I've already seen. By the way, Claude can the the father of Lon, just like Jessie Royce Landis can be Cary Grant's mother in North by Northwest [in spite of being born the same year]. Claude doesn't even resemble an iota of a hair on Creighton Chaney's head...alas! Thanks for the reminder on Mr. Rains.

in Indiana, and it looked fine. The Hedy Lamarr film I mean. So sorry you missed it; maybe they will reshow it soon. Must have been your cable system maybe?

the Pre-codes too! Who can beat the TCM schedule? I just perused and see that today we got a dose of the lovely Virginia Bruce and legendary Ann Dvorak, and then some early Ruth Warrick. Though it's not an obscure film, who can not like any movie with both James Mason AND Alan Bates as tonight in Georgy Girl? One starts off Tuesday with Josephine Hutchison, who played the robot grandmother in that great TZ episode of Bradbury's story "I Sing the Body Electric". Next a Curtiz directed gem with the mellifluous Claude Rains and the inimitable Kay Francis, whose lisp was endearing. I'm skipping over the fine Hardy family to envision how great it is to see a Tod Browning film with the marvelous man from Tennessee, Henry Hull [the original Wolf Man and actor of both stage and screen], Edna May Oliver makes it worth watching Larry Olivier be the original version of the dour suitor Mr. Darcy who is hiding mucho character in Austen's Pride and Prejudice, and in Waterloo Bridge we get the tearjerker of all time, with Vivien Leigh being the ballet dancer driven to prostitution, due to the supposed war death of her fiancee. This is just one day of viewing at TCM, and look at all the great stuff to see. Other films I've seen but look forward to seeing again this month are Mr. Skeffington, Strange Cargo, Clash by Night, I Walked With a Zombie, Dodsworth, Rollerball, Fury, A Face in the Crowd, and He Walked By Night. Some films I am really looking foward to are Night Nurse with Stanwyck, Mann's The Naked Spur, Mother India, Gabriel Over The White House with the astounding Karen Morley, Mark Robson's Roughshod, Ulmer's Strange Illusion, Joseph Losey's Finger of Guilt, Cast a Dark Shadow with the incredibly talented Dirk Bogarde, The Honey Pot by Joe Mankiewicz, the first lady of the American theatre in The White Sister and lastly...All Fall Down, which is a classic by Frankenheimer. We even get to see the wonderful Ann Sothern as Maisie and Marx Brothers classics that even Minnie would approve of, and end up the month with Murnau's film Phantom and some Busby Berkeley tasty morsels with the likes of screen beauty Dolores Del Rio, who still looked good as the mother of Elvis in her dotage. They don't make high cheekbones like that anymore, at least not without some Botox and major surgery. There are so many films to watch on TCM, but so little time to watch them all. Fus

He Said is a decent film, but from the same year I think, one can look for Two Lane Blacktop by Monte Hellman, which is a better film in my opinion. Get into a whole time warp, and rent all the films from a five year period then, like 200 Motels, Head and maybe Buster and Billie. There are lots of good films from all decades, including the Seventies. One just has to separate the wheat from the chaff, as in all things.

does Mary know of your crush on Norma? Personally, I'm more of a Constance fan but I thought I had seen some of Norma's stuff at Movies Unlimited's online catalogue. Here's what they have on video: Norma Talmadge Video Titles Available from Movies Unlimited Going Straight (1916) The Forbidden City (1918) DuBarry, Woman Of Passion (1930) I think Show People is out on vhs, but I have not seen it for awhile. Good luck! Just do a search online for the Movies Unlimited catalogue.

an impossible question. These ten films [plus one Lon Chaney silent perverse classic] just popped into my mind: Viridiana The Passion of Joan of Arc The Searchers The Miracle of Morgan's Creek The Cameraman Au Hazard Balthazar The Tenant Written on the Wind Hiroshima Mon Amour La Ronde The Unknown I'm leaving out 99% of the rest of my film collection...alas!