movieman1957

*Yellow Submarine IS a Beatles movie. Yes, the voices weren't even theirs' ( I'll never forget how disillusioned I was when I found that out), but in every other way it is. It's got the Beatles as characters, and more importantly, it's got the Beatles' music. It's full of Beatles songs, how could it not be a Beatles movie?* And it counted toward fulfilling their contract with UA.

*So what's the story behind the lack of musical numbers for Chico and Harpo?* Good morning Sir Francis: I don't think there is a real story to there not being musical numbers for them. The story doesn't lend itself to one, I feel. But the numbers were very popular and the fact that there weren't any disappointed many fans. "Duck Soup" did not do well at the box office and caused Paramount not to renews their contract. Enter Irving Thalberg.

Don't be too hard on yourself. Threads go into the doldrums at times. I used to think of myself as a thread killer. Someone will either go watch one or two. I'll admit I've never heard of any of them. At some point they may continue the postings and go right around us. I have always admired your knowledge and wide range of interests. It will pick up again. Fear not!

I saw it when TCM broadcast as part of a salute to Joseph Cotten. And in my opinion that is the part they could have well left off the film. The first segment is around 40 minutes long and I don't think it adds anything to the film. After that it is still long but I don't think it is the mess that it has been made out to be. One thing I do agree with one critic who thought it was so brown. It is almost devoid of any color. I realize that would be a decision be Cimino, though I'm not sure the point. One thing I did like was the scene at the end. Kristofferson on his boat with the lady. It struck me that she was so lazy she couldn't bother to lean forward for him to light her cigarette. He goes on the deck of the boat and I get the sense he is just depressed and empty. It's not exactly something I would be in a hurry to see again though.

You Win! Good heavens what a collection. I have several things from itunes. Jack Benny is my favorite. Very funny all the way around. Martin and Lewis are also fun. There is one that is kind of a catch-all that gives Red Skelton, Fred Allen, Fibber McGee, Mel Blanc and various lesser known shows. It's been fun getting to know some of them. There are so many comedies I haven't ventured into the dramas.

Seems some others forgot that feeding the trolls is a no-no. Remember, it just makes them cranky.

Sir Francis: I'm glad you finally got around to "Duck Soup." I'm happier that you liked it. You mentioned your surprise at the lack of musical numbers for Harpo and Chico. One of the few films that didn't happen. Apparently they heard about it too. Plenty of fun and some great lines. In "Katie Elder" I like the byplay of the brothers. They manage to make if feel that way. If you try not t othink about the math of the age differences it comes off pretty well. I always felt kind of bad for Earl Holliman. He's kind of extra with not a lot to do. I guess that's what happens when you're in the middle. (I'm the oldest brother.) Some of my favorite parts are when various townspeople take turns telling them what a great lady Kate was and how they didn't do enough for her. From a personl point I like the way Wayne refers to his parents by their first name. Partly, it's hard to imagine someone as old as Wayne referring to "Dad" all the time. By my father and his older brothers referred to my grandfather by first name. Oh, and James Gregory is evil.

Seeing "The Pink Panther" is a matter of what kind of comedy you like. In the first film, 1964, Sellers is a rather small part and a more sedate level of comedy as I recall. When you get to "A Shot In The Dark" that one is about Clouseau and it heads toward a broader style. In the 70's "Return of..." and "... Strikes Again" yo are now in a very broad slapstick and crazy dialogue set of films. There were two more but they trailed off on quality. Then there was Steve Martin. I have not seen any of those.

Seeing you and SIr Francis talk about Harpo made me think that you are quite right in that he is beloved. He has an appeal to all ages because he can be that innocent kid. He is also mischievous but never really mean. Chico always has something going on. Even when Harpo is in on it it feels more like loyalty than anything sinister. I love to watch him play. No matter what he has been before in the picture when he sits at the harp his whole character changes. He is very serious about his music. He is not stylish or flashy in the way Chico is, though he has a great talent as well, but there is a calmness that takes hold of him. He is not a distraction from the music. But when he hits the last note it is as if he wakes up and ta-dah Harpo is back. Chico is all about style. He rarely plays anything serious. They are complicated pieces but it is more the way he plays them than how well he plays them. Two very talented musicians with two very differnent approaches.

If my hometown Orioles could have hit in the post season anything like they did during the year they may have been the ones being swept by the Tigers. It was obvious if the Tigers had any kind of pitching they were going to beat NY. And so they did.

Glad you liked *"North To Alaska."* It is a bit of an odd film. It doesn't seem like the type Wayne would make. But you're right it is fun. Sorry to hear you didn't like *"Horse Feathers"* better. Parts of the climax are a bit out of whack but mostly I like it just fine. Lots of good one liners and I love the whole thing going on around Thema Todd's apartment. On to "Duck Soup"? I saw *"And Then There Were None"* years ago and thought it first rate. Once I can figure out what Brian Keith says *"The Rare Breed"* is fun and not deep. Odd is a good description for *"The Bride Came COD."* The idea of Bette Davis being held "captive" is a stretch but I'm with you on Davenport. Since we've hit on the others I've seen I'll leave it to the ladies.

OH MY! What a treat. And so are the M&Ms. It was an okay day. Nothing exciting but we're stretching it out through the weekend. Thanks Ro. I appreciate it.

I'm a slacker. I've only seen 14 of them. The one thing I agree with MissG about in "The Shootist" is the power of Wayne's performance. Maybe after Ethan Edwards it is his strongest role. I like Bacall but most of the rest of the castisn't in the same league. I would have liked to have learned a little more about the trio he meets at the end. Not much information to build up more tension for me. I'd like to hear more about "Horse Feathers." - Swordifsh!

Nothing serious. A little sore but she'll be fine. Thanks.

I always liked Holden too. His list of films in the 50s is quite impressive. He played sarcastic as well as anyone. Recently saw him on the big screen in "Bridge on The River Kwai." One of my favorites is "Escape From Rt. Bravo." Too bad his 60's films didn't fare as well. I think he had a drinking problem which likely aided his looks before his age. If I remember correctly he fell in his home and hit his head on a table. The story was that he wasn't completely sober at the time.

Not today. I have band practice at church tonight. We were going to have a nice dinner last night but my daughter was involved in a slight auto accident. (She was rear ended.) SO we spent most of the evening having her checked out. The Bride did bring me a crabcake for lunch today. My parents are taking us to dinner tomorrow. It will probably be Friday before we get to celebrate, such as it is. (I'd love to have dinner with Quiet Gal. I bet even you'd like it. ) Thanks Wendy. A lovely greeting from you and Ginger.

Thank you my friend. It is a long standing tradition in our house to play that song for the birthday person. Today, I get it twice. Very nice. Whee indeed!

The problem I had with "Rio Lobo" was similar to yours. Young actors who weren't all that interesting but it also felt like two different movies. I sort of like the first half and the nit seems to wander. Though they sort of keep the base reason of the story it gets lost for me. Jack Elam is fun but he's not enough. The thing I always remember about the film is that George Plimpton, who has a very small part in the picture, made a documentary on his experience on the film. It was done back in the 70's and it detailed about some of the stunts and some setups for the climax.

When you record a one-hour-and-forty-minute movie under the two-hour recording time you must record in the remaining twenty-minute portion and then delete it or it will show there are two items on that disk even although one of them is blank space which can not be viewed. That may depend on the recorder. I have two and if there is time left it only shows as one item on either recorder. Also, they both have a kind of flex time recording so that the speed is adjusted to either compress or expand to fill up the remaining time. **************************************** As to the original question about as far as RW discs are concerned my experience is +RW do not have to be finalized and have a much slower FF speed. -RW and -R do have to be finalized and the help on screen menu should have pretty easy steps to finalize the discs. It only takes a couple of minutes.

Good morning: I agree that the best thing about "The Train Robbers" is the end. "McQ" is better than "Brannigan." As long as "Chisum" stays away from the young ones I like it. Though I deduct points for the big fight scene at the end between Wayne and Tucker. (The stunt men are a little too obvious.) "Hellfighters," hmmm. I like Vera Miles very much but the film isn't all that much. They spend a lot of time, as I recall, just going from one oil fire to another. It's not that big a deal. On that note we could work our way through his 60's films that we haven't discussed yet. For me some highlights for the 60's are "Liberty Valance," "The Sons of Katie Elder," "El Dorado,"and most of "True Grit." Even "In Harm's Way" is a pretty good film. For me the least of the films would include "Circus World" and "The Green Beret." Everything else I'd put in the middle. We already know how you feel about "Donovan's Reef" and "McLintock" so we needn't go down that road again. But back to the discussion at hand.....

It's most likely a rights issue. I think they were Columbia productions and even though TCM has had a pretty extensive relationship with Columbia they have never been, as far as I know, included in the package.

I haven't seen "Susan Slept Here" but I'll change that. Powell was fun in "Christmas In July" but you are right in what you say about the way he delivers a line. Dry is good.

Good morning Sir Francis and MissG: Dick Powell is one of those "under the radar" actors. For people who only know him from early musicals and light comedy they are in for a treat. Having seen him in "Pitfall" (long enough ago to not remember much about it) but to know that this along with "Murder My Sweet" and "The Tall Target" that there was a darker side to his work. There weren't a lot of them but enough to make them interesting by comparison to his early work.

1. Jean Arthur. 2. Claudette Colbert. 3. Ginger Rogers. 4. Katharine Hepburn. 5. Myrna Loy

It was a Mel Brooks' series. I guess TV wasn't ready for him. I liked it.