johnnyweekes70

On your list, feaito, are some of my favourite films, and films that, when I was younger, never dreamt I'd ever get to see. One of the beauties, as we all know, about TCM. The Star Witness is a remarkable little film, a tight example of William Wellman's artistry and command of actors; The Beast of the City (playing next month, I think) is simple staggering (and sexy); The Keyhole features a hilarious (though not unexpected) turn by Allen Jenkins and some good interplay between George Brent and Francis; Arsene Lupin is simply my favourite John Barrymore film, a wonderful excuse to fritter away an hour-and-a-half; Aggie Appleby I first saw when I picked up the VHS and I wasn't expecting much but, wow! And Up the River. I taped this back in the late eighties off television and I wonder, has it been played on FMC or TCM? My print's awful, but Bogart and Tracy, so young, so fresh; it's irresistable! I was thinking about Forbidden this morning actually. I came across the title and, since I've never seen it, I thought about posting a query about it. Ironic you did! There's no end to the joys of pre-codes and Jewel Robbery sums a lot of that joy up, as well as illustrating why William Dieterle was such a fine director. I think that film moves as fast as Pat O'Brien could deliever dialogue; barely lets you take a breath! I haven't seen Fog Over Frisco, but I would expect a similar treatment. But what's The Common Law? Off the top of my head, am I missing something?

Lon (not Long) Chaney Sr never played the Wolf Man; his son, Lon Chaney Jr did. Chaney Sr died in 1930 and starred in loads of wonderful film, of which only 30-odd exist in complete form. His work is treasure-trove of pleasure waiting for people to discover if they are unaware of his work. Lon Chaney Jr play in all kind of films, from westerns to gangster films, from comedies to dramas. One of my favourite appearances by Chaney Jr is in a Randolph Scott western, Alburqurque. Ray Enright must have loved his face; there's tons of unique close-ups of him in it. Check out the imdb's list of films for both father and son and discover their work. If you're interested in this sort of thing, you'll be impressed.

A Stolen Life was directed by Curtis Bernhardt in 1948. Dead Ringer was helmed by Paul Henried, Davis' co-star from Now, Voyager and Deception. Davis was born in 1908, so I guess that makes her 40 in the first and 56 in the second, depending on her birthday and release dates. Check the imdb if you want accurate info. I haven't seen A Stolen Life but Dead Ringer is a hoot! Can't wait for the upcoming Anchor Bay release of The Anniversary.

I certainly will!

Alix, I made inquiries about the O'Brien book back in September. I can't remember if they were in the Information forum or the General Discussions forum. Either way, this is irrelevant coz I don't think anyone had any insight into this title. I saw the book on a web-page and it looked interesting...but you can never judge a book by it's cover (I'm so full of cliches). I never order over the Internet so I'll have to seek it out as I do most biographical books---at library book-sales. The stuff I find at those are fantastic, though I passed on Lillian Gish's autobiography a month ago and I'm regretting it now!

I'm looking forward to seeing Transgression. From what I've read about in Complicated Women, it sounds very interesting. Alix, nice to learn you love Madam Satan. Personally, I know one other soul who's watched it (and she watched it with me) and absolutely loathed, and I mean loathed, it! Perhaps she couldn't understand the pomp and circumstance involved. Some people miss the point in everything, and everything DeMille did was worthwhile, I think, even Four Frightened People. All this talk about Passion Flower makes me want to see it now more than I did when it just another title I never thought I'd view. Like feaito, I like to know more about it (or do I? I generally don't like to know too much about a film before I see it. Kinda ruins it a bit). Maybe it'll air this year. I do think Jewel Robbery and One Way Passage are two of Francis' best pre-codes. One for the sheer slickness of it and the other for the sheer romanticism involved. Very fine films, indeed. I think Jewel Robbery is far more enjoyable and witty than Trouble in Paradise, but you can call me sinner if you like.

Hi Bob, Fox released this film on video in the nineties. It's listed on amazon.com but if you don't want to pay a ridiculous sum for it maybe FMC will play it, if you get that channel.

Spencer Tracy in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.

I'm sure it will air again. Next time TCM is going to run it I'll be sure to make a point of it here. You've got to see it to believe it!

Yes, Julia Faye! There's always been something about Julia Faye that I thoroughly approve of, even if it seems from superficiality. I think it's always been to DeMille's lasting credit that he never forgot the people he worked with, like Faye, and continually kept them in employment until his death. He even found room for her in The Story of Dr. Wassell. As for the pre-code banner, what about Madam Satan? I don't even know if words can come close to describing the experience of watching that film! Amazing, considering the direction he'd take in his remake of The Squaw Man. What a strange fellow, that C.B. DeMille.

Passion Flower is in the Turner library. I'd love to see that, too. I've recently been re-educating myself about Charles Bickford since I watched Dynamtie and The Big Country. What a gruff guy!

Alfred Hitchcock.

As with other viewers, I've noticed that many of the silent films TCM broadcasts are not aired in Canada. Today, for instance, Scaramouche and The Lost World were substituted with a couple of Gregory Peck films (and nothing wrong with that!). I can see why The Lost World would be, being a Milestone release and something that TCM would have to license, but doesn't Scaramouche belong to the Turner library? La Boheme is scheduled to air later in the month and, if this film can be shown, as Across to Singapore was as a substitute itself for Mother India the other night, I'm entirely confused. I certainly can't see any Canadian broadcaster picking up the rights for Scaramouche. Input?

If you can't wait for it to air again, it is available on the DVD edition of The Postman Always Rings Twice.

Once again, Kay Francis gets her birthday spotlight, on January 13, but the titles seem to be similar to last year's. Transgression, Jewel Robbery, Man Wanted and One Way Passage are scheduled, as is I Loved a Woman, with EGR. My Eddie Robinson collection has been hurting since I lost TCM a few years back, so now that I've got it again (and driving my wife crazy), I'm looking forward to snagging better copies of films like these. Gotta love Kay Francis, but I still haven't seen the new books about her yet. Johnny

I suppose this is dated now but I couldn't resist sticking up for TCM. If I'm not mistaken, and I don't think I am, I've noticed several occasions---actually, quite a lot---where responses from the tcmprogrammer have addressed issues and complaints from core members and others. The new forum was altered to fit suggestions from members so if there's a con job going on, I guess I've missed it. Maybe you should investigate the matter further.

"...and that sepia faded look they use for key photos in the studio classic series that extends to the spine of each DVD case." My favourite sepia spine photo is on Number 34, The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit. It's a picture of Tyrone Power. Like the Gary Cooper Universal set which includes a photo from the Colman silent Beau Geste, I sometimes wonder who's in charge of authorizing the go-ahead for artwork when it seems people are employed to do these jobs who really don't know a thing about the films! I know mishaps occur but, come on, Tyrone Power doesn't look a thing like Gregory Peck.

I don't mind programming replacements at all when it's something like what was rescheduled today. Canadian viewers got Keep Your Power Dry and The Youngest Profession in lieu of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and the Brownlow Chaney documentary. Not a bad swap, indeed.

It would appear that sometimes the replacement films for those TCM cannot show in Canada are more favourable titles. Today, Canadian viewers got Keep Your Power Dry and The Youngest Profession in lieu of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and the Brownlow Chaney documentary. Not a bad swap, indeed.

I watched Death of a Scoundrel this morning, which I've wanted to see for ages, and I caught one complete picture drop-out, one instance where the picture skipped for a few second, and again towards the end. Was this a Canadian signal problem or a TCM problem? Not complaining coz it's been over two years since I last watched TCM and to catch Big Hearted Herbert, Death of a Scoundrel and Thunder Bay (currently on), I more than happy. Just hope the picture problems end.

I just checked Star Choice, which I have, and found TCM on 539. Wow!! I never thought the day would come where I could watch TCM in my own living room!

One of Lorre's most interesting performances, full of sexual what-ifs and bizarre kinkiness that one could go into great depth analyzing and which certainly makes it a unique production coming from, of all studios, MGM. It is interesting to note that while not noted for horror films, MGM produced four of the most fascinating films of the genre of the 1930s: The Mask of Fu Manchu, Freaks, Mad Love and The Devil-Doll. Each film can easily hold its own against any other of the period and I keep crossing my fingers that it will not be just Freaks that is accorded a treasured Warner DVD release.

I've been off these boards for awhile now but what great news to find upon returning! As others have happily exclaimed, Hooray!!!!

Yes, more people need to watch Kinski films, especially if they think they've got problems or are in need of a therapist. I love Kinski, though I usually have to suspend my judgment and my code-of-ethics a bit, especially when I read his autobiography. Wow! His partnership, for lack of a better term, with Herzog, as you suggested, produced some of the finest films I've ever seen, even Cobra Verde. A superb actor, Kinski turned down Pasolini, Visconti, many of the great of cinema to appear in schlock because the paycheck was higher. What a guy!!!!

That should read, "far more interesting..." My backspace button must be sticking!