movieman1957

This is only a guess but "Rio Grande" has been available on DVD for awhile. There is a "Collector's Edition" with some commentary from Maureen O'Hara. Including it may appear redundant.

Congratulations to all who posted a schedule. It is obvious that a great deal of thought and time went into this process. The level of these schedules can be an imposing target to attain for those of us toying with the idea of getting in on the next one. My thoughts were based on how likely it fit in the TCM schedule. How close was it to a real schedule. They are all very clever and interesting. Back and forth, picking which I liked a little better. Several visits to each list only made the decision harder. So, since I can only vote for one I vote for MattHelm. It was really hard and each of you should be very proud of your work.

I think you are right. Moods or atmosphere have a great deal to do with any film. Like your point about "West Side Story" when I originally saw "Das Boot" I felt like I could almost smell the mildew in those wet wool sweaters. Characters moods often carry a picture. Whether it's desperation, jealousy, revenge or even a temper they can give an edge to a movie. So maybe it was one of your moods that brought it up but that's a good thing.

Don't worry. We've been down this road several times before. See thread "The End Is Near". No commercials. This is a rare instance but probably necessary instance to try and increase (broaden) their viewership. The TCM programmer who sometimes comments here has emphatically answered "No" to your question.

For me it's less about the politics of the actor than it is about the politics of the movie. Like one of the others I don't listen much to today's lot, maybe as some make their politics so out front. I don't see where their opinions are any more important than our own. We might know what the politics of old stars were but I'm not so sure they were "in your face about it". Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda could be life long friends as long as they didn't talk politics. Current stars could do the same.

The thing I find interesting about Murphy is when you find out about him you might think - "That guy did all that?" That sense of small modest looking type played well against how tough his characters could be. It's odd that he might not have been such a nice guy in real life because he seemed nothing but one on the screen. Visited his grave at Arlington years ago. The closest I've ever been to a movie star.

I forgot about Avalon in "The Alamo". You're right, he did seem out of place. There wasn't a beach in sight. (A little early fo that.) I remember he was a bit too excited all the time. While I'm picking on John Wayne (I really do like him) what is worse that Jerry Van Dyke in "McLintock"? I don't necessarily mean him as much as that character. Is there really a chance Stephanie Powers would take him over Patrick Wayne? If he was to be a goofball Van Dyke did him right. Vera Ralston was in two John Wayne westerns, "Dakota" and "The Fighting Kentuckian" but you're right we can't hold Duke responsible for those. Message was edited by: Me

I just saw Frances and McCrea together in Four Faces West. It was ok but now it is more interesting knowing they were married. Her part was nothing great but she sure can ride a horse.

Vinton is not in"Big Jake" very much. In fact his biggest scene is when he gets shot. Richard Boone is properly nasty. It's not a great movie but Boone sure helps.

John Wayne's odd knack for putting popstars or athletes in secondary roles. Think Ricky Nelson in "Rio Bravo." Glen Campbell in "True Grit". Fabian in "North To Alsaka" Worst of all Bobby Vinton in "Big Jake." Then there was several of the cast if "The Undefeated" courtesy of the LA Rams. Does Jennifer O'Neill in "Rio Lobo" count? Message was edited by: Me

"Putting Pants On Philip" if I remember correctly. A funny silent short about getting him out of the kilt and into a pair of pants. It was not an easy task.

Hi inglis: The other war movie I recall is "The Red Badge of Courage." A Civil War picture that had a history all its own. Differences between directir and studio. It turns up on TCM once in awhile. Chris

Cagney in the "The Oklahoma Kid." I think he matured into "Run For Cover" and "Tribute To A Bad Man" pretty well. Bogart in "Virginia City". Isn't that the one where he had the Mexican accent? Good idea. I'll work on some more. (Maybe this needs its own thread.)

I do remember. The annoying part is having that big "9" in the corner. The other funny part is when I wasn't able to monitor the taping I now get to see how lame 15 year old commercials are. Have you checked your public library? I have found the rare DVD that has one or two shorts on it. Sometimes they're matched up with a Charley Chase short.

Hi Larry: Annoying? No, just a little envy on their part, I'm sure. Chris

"L&H are the Apollonian to the Marx's Dionysian." I think Stanley would say "thank you", take off his hat, scratch his head, put his hat back on, then smile that big smile. My wife howled at "Towed In A Hole" when it was on TCM. Her favorite bit was Stan poking his finger in the eye of the drawing of Ollie and the Tic Tac Toe game when he was being punished. Noting you are from NY and depending on your age I taped a lot of the shorts on WOR when it was part of the cable channel. Maybe we were watching the same show.

patypancake: I was thinking that since TCM is the only place you can see the occasional Laurel & Hardy short wouldn't it be nice to feature those films on a Saturday or Sunday time slot.(Especially their silent shorts.) TCM did an overnight showing for Chaplin last year so L & H could get the same treatment. I could use new recordings.

Seven Year Itch = Tom Ewell.

Sometimes seeing where the tangents go can be a sport all by itself. I've seen other threads where you might not even remember what the basic subject was about. Eventually they work themselves back around. It's a good way to learn about our fellow posters too.

Tracey: Wonderful list. In fact it's so good I have to revise or remove several ideas I was thinking of for the next challenge. In one way it's good to know I was on the right track. A pat on the back to all.

I'm strange, I like to watch the opening credits. (You learn a lot of names that way.) The movie has the Technicolor credit in rather large type so you know something's coming but the fun is in how it's done. You're right in that with a chance to use color battle footage it is going to have to mesh with the film.

The first thing I thought when I saw your heading was "No Marx Bros.". That would have been more than many of us could bear. There would have been a mass of humanity that would have stayed in NY. I think the likes of Keaton, Chaplin and Laurel & Hardy would have been fine. I think the production code still would have come in. People would have missed the gunfire in gangster pictures (that maybe they didn't miss in westerns.) I doubt Disney would have been as successful as early. What do you think?

Here's a site dedicated to the "paradummies". http://home.att.net/~1.elliott/paratrooperdummyhistorysite.html

You might even think everyone was miscast in "Man of La Mancha." On another thread several people as well as myself nominated for worst musical. It's tough going when most of the major roles are populated by people who can't sing. On another note, would Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. or David Niven have worked in "Camille"? Donat I think would have been a good choice. It seems the part would have come off better if done by an Englishman. (it has been awhile since I saw it though.)

I'm in the Balt/DC area and there are hardly any local movie broadcasts at all. The few times when one is on they certainly don't go back very far. Maybe for Christmas but that's all. P.S. I've been enjoying your website. I love all those old pictures.