therealfuster

Judex was really interesting. I enjoyed it so much. And it was a nice, clear print which added to the fun. I can't wait to see the next installments. Thanks, TCM!

I unfortunately had to work, so am looking forward to seeing all the Keaton films I taped from TCM. I've seen most of them, but in rentals which I did not own, so I will enjoy having them for future perusal and multiple viewings. As I recall, watching some of the them really perturbed me, knowing that Keaton was being pushed into things that he did not really feel were comically feasible. I also was irked once seeing Jimmy Durante hogging things, and Keaton not being given space to perform...but I digress. But no matter what, Buster is always a joy to watch, even in some of his bit parts in the '40's. The "This is Your Life" television segment with Buster, done in the 1950's, when he was being heralded again for his lifetime achievements on film, is a most fascinating glimpse into his life after his heyday, with people like Red Skelton giving Buster credit for uncreditted gags in Red's films.

but I may have neglected to mention that the majority of the American film buffs I am referring to, who watched Sanders in films during WWII, pronounce his name to rhyme with "fond" and not to rhyme with "land" like Robert Osbourne. So I'd like an official judgment from someone who heard his name pronounced during the time he appeared in films. Much thanks for your input though, and one wonders if fans in Britain did pronounce it different, but surely there was one correct way to say Sanders, of which George approved.

I find it a bit amusing, when someone says some film was a letdown and usually attributes it to the film's worth, and not their own perception of it. For example, if one has no knowledge of the three languages on the Rosetta Stone, then when they encounter it they might say "Gee, what's the big deal...I don't find this jibberish very interesting." So...even if I see something that has been praised, that I personally did not like, I do try to think about what might be lacking in me, that cannot appreciate it. This is not to say that some things praised deserve all merit, but when something has stood the test of time for over 25 years by credible sources, it must have something a bit noteworthy. For example, I'm not an aviation expert so films about flying don't engage me as much as something I know more about. But I don't think that denigrates the film as not being a classic or worthy of attention. Often I see people who are raised on action movies, who cannot sit still to watch an old film, just because there is dialogue...hence miss a classic of wit and sophistication like "All About Eve" or "Nothing Sacred". So...my modus operandi is to watch films praised by people whose taste I can admire due to their track record, and always consider the source when someone says a movie is a must see.

Recently while watching TCM, I saw Robert Osbourne discussing a film of Sanders, and I noted that he pronounced Sanders' name, to rhyme with "land". Perhaps I have always heard it pronounced wrong, and by people who are affected, but I've more often heard it pronounced to rhyme with the word "fond". Now the people I've heard say it the latter way, are people who were alive in the 1940's, and actually saw his films when they first appeared, and one of them is British also, which might explain the discrepancy and maybe they are giving it a bit of a posh accent. So which is it? Does anyone have an authorative source of how Sanders pronounced his own name, and not just what someone born in 1985 thinks who never knew him obviously. I really am curious. I've seen supposed film critics or cognescenti mispronounce the last name of director Michael Curtiz, as if it was like the name of Tony Curtis, so I would prefer a source who either actually knew Sanders, worked with or was married to him...like Zsa Zsa. I am reminded of a rerun I saw of Truman Capote appearing on the Dick Cavett show, and Dick corrected Truman's pronunciation of author Willa Cather's name [not knowing Capote was friends with her] and Truman said "Thank you Dick....I will be sure to tell her that she has been pronouncing her last name incorrectly since infancy." Thank you for any assistance!

I always detested that woman. Anyone could see from watching one of her film performances that she had barely any talent. Yet after she lived off poor Fields for years, she later tried to say that he had ruined her movie career, and had tried to dissuade her from acting. As if she was chained in the mansion, or something. What career? So typical... As for Fields, though some attributed his rather bulbous nose to the drinking, in one book I own it was stated it was more due to being caned a few times by his rather violent father. My favorite story about Fields is about how as a vaudevillian, he was used to being hated by many hotel owners in places, for trying to sneak out having little money to pay for his bills. Apparently there was one nice man in Ohio, who upon finding out that Fields was bereft of funds, was kind and allowed him to stay on, and with no qualms of paying. I think I read that Fields said it was about the only nice person he had ever met during those years as the Tramp Juggler. Due to this kindness, Fields kept in touch with the man, and would invite him to Hollywood festivities over the years. Maybe apocryphal but a nice story.

I always detested that woman. Anyone could see from watching one of her film performances that she had barely any talent. Yet after she lived off poor Fields for years, she later tried to say that he had ruined her movie career, and had tried to dissuade her from acting. As if she was chained in the mansion, or something. What career? So typical... As for Fields, though some attributed his rather bulbous nose to the drinking, in one book I own it was stated it was more due to being caned a few times by his rather violent father. My favorite story about Fields is about how as a vaudevillian, he was used to being hated by many hotel owners in places, for trying to sneak out having little money to pay for his bills. Apparently there was one nice man in Ohio, who upon finding out that Fields was bereft of funds, was kind and allowed him to stay on, and with no qualms of paying. I think I read that Fields said it was about the only nice person he had ever met during those years as the Tramp Juggler. Due to this kindness, Fields kept in touch with the man, and would invite him to Hollywood festivities over the years. Maybe apocryphal but a nice story.

I always detested that woman. Anyone could see from watching one of her film performances that she had barely any talent. Yet after she lived off poor Fields for years, she later tried to say that he had ruined her movie career, and had tried to dissuade her from acting. As if she was chained in the mansion, or something. What career? So typical... As for Fields, though some attributed his rather bulbous nose to the drinking, in one book I own it was stated it was more due to being caned a few times by his rather violent father. My favorite story about Fields is about how as a vaudevillian, he was used to being hated by many hotel owners in places, for trying to sneak out having little money to pay for his bills. Apparently there was one nice man in Ohio, who upon finding out that Fields was bereft of funds, was kind and allowed him to stay on, and with no qualms of paying. I think I read that Fields said it was about the only nice person he had ever met during those years as the Tramp Juggler. Due to this kindness, Fields kept in touch with the man, and would invite him to Hollywood festivities over the years. Maybe apocryphal but a nice story.

I always detested that woman. Anyone could see from watching one of her film performances that she had barely any talent. Yet after she lived off poor Fields for years, she later tried to say that he had ruined her movie career, and had tried to dissuade her from acting. As if she was chained in the mansion, or something. What career? So typical... As for Fields, though some attributed his rather bulbous nose to the drinking, in one book I own it was stated it was more due to being caned a few times by his rather violent father. My favorite story about Fields is about how as a vaudevillian, he was used to being hated by many hotel owners in places, for trying to sneak out having little money to pay for his bills. Apparently there was one nice man in Ohio, who upon finding out that Fields was bereft of funds, was kind and allowed him to stay on, and with no qualms of paying. I think I read that Fields said it was about the only nice person he had ever met during those years as the Tramp Juggler. Due to this kindness, Fields kept in touch with the man, and would invite him to Hollywood festivities over the years. Maybe apocryphal but a nice story.

Ivan Albright. That decayed painting was about as horrid as some by Bosch. I rather liked that film with Robin Williams that had so many paintings which inspired the supposed scenes in Hell. Thank you for the information!

Carlotta Valdez. I forgot that one. I wonder what happened to the painting supposedly done by Midge, to taunt Scotty? Both of those were interesting variations on each other. Thanks!

For some reason, I always find it interesting to find out who painted the works featured in some of my favorite movies. For example, the well known commercial artist John Decker, friend to Barrymore and others, painted the works in "Scarlet Street' as all probably knew. While watching "Portrait of Jennie" recently on TCM, I kept wondering who had really done the portrait attributed to Eban Adams. Other great portraits in films could include Scarlett's in GWTW, and Lady Caroline's in "Rebecca" and of course who can forget the changing portrait in "The Picture of Dorian Gray"> Any other favorites that you wonder about?

Yes, I love William Claude and would love to see some of his early sound films with Baby Leroy on TCM. The Old Fashioned Way is my favorite, because I like ones where he shows off his most excellent Tramp Juggler skills. Those cigar box mishaps are hilarious. I think The Man on the Flying Trapeze would be fun, and International House [even though he's not in it much] and It's a Gift.

I was really just speaking tongue in cheek, as how can one really like one Sanders brother over the other? They're both marvelous! I just gave the nod to Tom, since George gets a lot more attention usually as his films were more big budget and mainstream. I must say though, I can never forget Tom as Max Collodi, in that Alfred Hitchcock Presents tv episode "The Glass Eye" with Shatner and Jessica Tandy. Very bloodcurdling.... I sure would have liked to have met the father of the Sanders boys, and seen if that is where they got their savoir faire.

will it be the snide George Sanders or the sinister Tom Conway? Well, TCM has a whole six hours of The Falcon today...and it made me think about which Sanders frere, that I like more. Natch, George is the front runner, being the A-film actor, the glamorous one who married not one, but two Gabor sisters...but in my heart of hearts, I may have to pick Tom [sanders] Conway. Though Georgie-Porgie did win the AA for his acid-tongued portrayal of Eve Harrington's equal in "All About Eve" and many other infamous roles, who but slithering Tom Conway could play the role of Dr. Lewis Judd in two classics, "Cat People" and "The Seventh Victim" and also play an animated dummy for Hitchcock on television, who still could charm the ladies. Yes, I'm going with Conway. Who do you choose as your favorite brother in Falconry?

It seems to me that there are a few differences between the stage version of this play, and the movie, from what I remember. By the way, Jimmy did not originate the role on-stage. It was first played by Frank Fay I think, who was the husband of Barbara Stanwyck, before she married Robert Taylor. The most famous film with Fay, probably is "Nothing Sacred". It was said that Stewart emulated much of the fine performance of Fay on stage, but still brought his own incredible talents to the role.

though I think she was right on to say that Kidman was not old enough to be a legend, one must remember that when Bacall started, people would have laughed at the thought of the former model [who was called Ladder Legs by Bogie's friends] being known as a legend in the future. They would have pointed to Gloria Swanson or Vilma Banky being legends, but not this young upstart who could barely act, could not sing and had her voice dubbed by Andy Williams, and who was romancing the star of the pic. I don't think the projection would have been that she would become anyone of stature or legendary status. As for having to be old enough to be a legend...that doesn't always fit either, since James Dean did it at a young age, and with only one movie released. The culminating two films confirmed and cemented his legend image. Of course it does help if one dies, to achieve that status so young. Another almost instant legend, was Brando...who was noticed in "The Men" but made a breakout claim to fame in "Streetcar..". But to achieve true legend status, it has to be someone [in my boring opinion] who is more than just a good actress in famous films. For example..Bette Davis is a legend, but not just because she was a good actress, and not just because she was in famous films. Bogart is a legend. It has a lot to do with the person's offscreen charisma too or sheer magnetism even if they try to repulse their fans, and many of today's stars have none. And that is why few around today will become legends in my opinion.

And thank you for the welcome. My name means nothing. It is a moniker that I used on another movie board, which I input by mistake and was a typo, but then I liked it as it is so silly and meaningless, a lot like a name from a Monty Python sketch. I tried to put just plain Fuster in here, but it said another user already was using it. Could that be your wife? Thanks again!

Ohmigosh, Oscar Homolka was so funny in that film. Remember how he scared all the children, even Barbara Bel Geddes. I think she has a different nose in that film, than she did as Miss Ellie. Yes, the topic of nose jobs in Hollywood could fill a book.

I will have to check. It's been at least a year since I watched my tape, so I don't remember. I did enjoy it, but it is not by far my favorite of his films. Seemed to be a bit off the wall stylistically for him. I'll get back to you on this.

That's so funny that you mentioned Bernardi. I saw his name in the cast, and was thinking...how can he be old enough to be in this film. Not really paying attention to the year of production, I kept looking for him, and looking for him...but as a young man. Then I realize that this young, callow kid in the film was him! Really was a shocker. It would be like seeing Zero Mostel at twelve years of age in a film.

Besides the films already mentioned, I know "Topper" has been colorized. I remember it distinctly, because they had Billie Burke's hair the wrong color. Not that you probably care, but a bunch of those Shirley Temple moppet films from the 1930's, were also colorized.

As far as I'm concerned, any cable channel which shows Dreyer's "Ordet" and "The Passion of Joan of Arc" can show cartoon graphics of an elephant vomiting and music which is ritualistic Voudun chicken sacrifice tom toms beating, as the packaging on the channel between films, matters little to me. It's what is inside the packaging, that makes TCM the best!

For some reason, I cannot ever turn this film off, if I am flipping through channels. Consequently I almost know the dialogue between Henry Jones and Patty McCormack by heart. To my surprise, when it was on recently, I was not looking at the screen during the part where the radio announcement comes on about a child drowned at the school picnic...and I realized it is Henry Jones making the announcement. I guess they thought he could do double duty, since the person was never seen, and maybe he did that on stage. He is a magical actor and can play both downtrodden low lifes, or a classy, brainy judge type, as in "Vertigo". I bet Tom Cruise could not do as much.

I have a tape I made of The Reckless Moment, but I cannot remember how far back I taped it, or from where. I also have old tapes of "The Earrings..." and "La Ronde" but I constantly look for these on DVD and am continually disappointed. I can only hope that TCM may do a tribute to Ophuls in the near future.