lzcutter

While I agree that Mirren, Dench and Redgrave deserve to be on this list, I don't agree that their US counterparts aren't talented enough to be in that same orbit. Some that certainly due, in my opinion, of course: Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, Annette Bening, Michelle Williams, Charlize Theron, and from the other side of the pond, Kate Winslet.

> I wonder why Welles was sent to Rio? FredC, Welles was approached by Nelson Rockfeller and the government to go to Brazil on a goodwill tour. The government was concerned that South America would join Germany in the war. They also approached Walt Disney about doing a larger tour of South America. There is a documentary about the Disney goodwill tour called *El Grupo*. According to Scott Eyman who wrote a great bio on John Ford, when Welles was trying to make the decision whether or not to go to Rio on the tour, he approached John Ford for advice. Ford told him he shouldn't trust the studio and should finish editing *Ambersons* before leaving the country. Welles didn't take his advice. Edited by: lzcutter because advice and advise are two different things.

> But really, any UK actress is miles ahead of any U.S. actress. Then again, they TRAIN to do their JOB in the UK, they just don't make a movie, get overpaid, and become a STAR. Meryl Streep trained to be an actress. After graduating Vassar, she went, like so many of her contemporaries, to the Yale School of Drama before continuing on to the stage. Others went to Julliard or the American Conservatory Theater among other schools of training. There is a big difference between actors, like Streep, that have long careers and the likes of Paris Hilton or the Kardashians who are famous for the sake of being famous or actresses like Megan Fox who are famous not so much for their talent as for their looks. But the world has long celebrated beauty over talent since the beginning.

According to Robert Wise, Welles sent word from Rio to cut 22 minutes out of the film. This was prior to the preview screening in Pomona and prior to RKO ordering Wise to cut the film further. Wise sent a print of Welles original 132 minute cut to the director in Rio. Welles didn't bring the print back with him from Rio and according to records the film was not returned to the studio either. The studio sent a cable to the studio that Welles was using in Rio and told them to destroy the film. There seems to be no conclusive evidence that they followed those orders. The original cut (prior to Welles' directed cuts and RKOs ordered cuts) is one of the holy grails of lost films.

> It is just talk, talk, talk, just like Norma said, and the talk is not interesting. Guess that's what makes us all different here and should make us aware of those differences. This is my favorite Welles film, even more than *Citizen Kane*, cuts and all. And all that talking, I love the language and the story and don't find it dull at all. I think Welles did a good job with the script, especially capturing a by-gone era. And the performances are all terrific. If Mr. Peabody really had a way-back machine, I'd stop Welles from going to South America.

I never grow tired of watching Georgie Minafer get his comeuppance.

Roy, Ron Haver's sister, Paddy, is the publisher of Angel City Press which specializes in Southern California history. Their latest offering is Hollywood Rides a Bike - look at the stars biking around the lots, around Los Angeles and in the movies. Might be worth a look: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywood-rides-bike-book-love-la-marathon-301287 Edited by: lzcutter on Mar 17, 2012 6:15 PM

To promote her new CD that honors her son Terry Melcher, Day has been giving audio interviews. She seems comfortable doing that versus appearing on camera. Unfortunately, for TCM and all of us, a sit down interview with Robert O doesn't seem to be in the cards.

Roy, Ron Haver was a great guy. When I first got to the City of Angels back in the mid-1970s, Haver was the film coordinator at LACMA. I used to go to the weekend screenings all the time. I saw a great program on film restoration there in the mid-1980s. He also spearheaded the restoration of *A Star is Born* and wrote a book about the experience. When he died too young, we lost a major Los Angeles voice in film. I don't have the Selznick book but am adding it to my Amazon wish list pronto!

Otis Redding Jim Croce Stevie Ray Vaughn (helicopter) Bill Graham (helicopter)

Roy, Thank you for remembering Lash LaRue! He was another of my favorites. I love the "B" western that Tim Holt made with Harry Carey, Sr. TCM ran it last year. Unfortunately when it comes to names, there's only "Wild Bill" for me, Wild Bill Wellman!

Saturday, June 2nd has a series of films with the name Alice in the titles. Saturday, June 9th's night selections look to be centered around Henry Fonda. Saturday evening, June 30th looks like it is a tribute to Preston Sturges.

> it looks like Andy Devine in drag Anyway you slice it, that's better than Andy Devine in swim trunks. Trust all of us who have seen *Island in the Sky* on that one.

I'm a big fan of Tim Holt's for this thread. Have to say it reminds me of that old Statler Brothers song from a thousand (or so) years ago, Cowboy Buckaroo.

> In the movie Drums along the Mohawk 1939, I remember seeing this a long long time ago as a little kid, and remember the battle scene in the woods, where the General gets wounded in the knee. In all the reruns that I have seen, I have never ever seen that scene again, Did I dream it? I know Henry Fonda describes the battle to Lana, but I remember see it in the movie, DID I? or did I not? Unfortunately, as film buffs, as we get older our memory tends to create false memories of scenes in films we saw years ago. If it's any consolation, you aren't alone. It happens to all of us.

She has a small but pivotal role in Douglas Fairbanks, Jr's film, The Exile and she is quite good in it. Her contract at the time gave her star billing in the credits though she is only in the film about ten minutes.

> This is a case of life imitating art, or art imitating life, or people imitating actors. Rich, I think it goes without saying that you now owe me not only a new keyboard but a bottle of wine. The spit take I did over the sentence above required me finishing off the rest of the bottle while I cleaned the computer screen multiple times as I read your recap. You are the top of the pyramid, the outside of the envelope when it comes to not only recapping these films for us but your dedication in doing so. I love your writing style! All hail, Rich!!!!!!

> The Bomba series is interrupted again for some unknown reason. If you are talking about this Saturday (3/17), there's a known reason: it's St. Patrick's Day. Looks like TCM is celebrating the daytime hours by getting it's Irish on and celebrating films with an Irish theme.

I believe that screening occurred right after the clocks were turned back an hour for the fall and winter. Hopefully, that won't happen as we just sprung ahead for spring and summer. The fact that the screening is a little over a week from now, the theaters should have their clocks adjusted by the time the screening happens.

Coming down to the wire- it's my history with the Program Challenge- with a little over an hour left in the voting, I realized that the polls were, thankfully, still open. A major shout-out to all the Challengers. I was reading long-ago posts by the founder of the Program Challenge, Path40a, this weekend. He would be so thrilled that all these years later the Challenge is still such an active part of this message board. When he started the Challenge all those years ago, I doubt he realized it would have such legs. And he would be so proud of all of you for not only carrying on this noble tradition but being so creative in the process. I've been in your shoes, I know how difficult it can be to put together a schedule, let alone one as good as all the ones this time. The downside of all of this is that a vote must be placed. In my world I would want all of you to win. In the reality of TCM City, only one can. The rules of the Challenge (and my affection for Kingrat) dictates that a vote must be placed. So, in that regard, I place my vote for BetteDavis19 but wish that I could vote for all of you. And major props to Kingrat for moderating another great Challenge. All hail!!!!

*The Last of the Mohicans* with Daniel Day Lewis and *A River Runs Through It*.

Val, Fox restored the film about two years ago. They showed the restored version at the first TCM Film Festival and it was a revelation. It is an incredibly beautiful film. TCM aired that restored version either in 2010 or 2011 but it has aired and is definitely worth watching.

Markb, Thanks for the recommendation on *Frisco Jenny*. One of Wild Bill Wellman's best!

> The legend has it that some producer or agent or someone like that, brought Leigh along for the ride when it was hastily decided to film the backlot fire to use later for tha Atlanta burning scenes That would have been agent Myron Selznick, David's brother. He brought Leigh and Olivier with him and told his brother, (paraphrasing), "Here's your Scarlett."

> She's supposed to know film history, right? Not necessarily. The prerequisites for hosting *The Essentials* changes with the host. Rose McGowan wasn't well versed in film history but she was invited to be a co-host because she likes classic films and because she loves the channel. Carrie Fisher was invited because she's Debbie Reynolds daughter and loves classic film. Did she provide deep historical background on the films from her season of *The Essentials*? Not really. During his first season as co-host Alec Baldwin didn't either but the following two seasons he seems to have immersed himself in the films chosen and talked much deeper in depth about them. I was a little surprised that Drew didn't know who directed *Grand Hotel* but I didn't realize off the top of my head that Edmund Goulding had directed both that film and *The Razor's Edge*. One thing we tend forget as film buffs that sitting across from Robert O and talking about classic films is not always easy and not everyone has the ability to speak eloquently about a film even if they are used to being on camera. I give Barrymore props, she's willing to learn about films. Prior to this she hadn't seen *The Razor's Edge* and from her conversation last night, it is one that made a impression on her.