Ralph
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Posts posted by Ralph
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Thank you, Liz - I'd been wondering where you were. I don't get here that often and always look for your postings. Your posting on Shelley Winters death brought a tear to these old eyes.
Mango and Vecchiolarry - thanks to the both of you for always being so kind and responsive.
Ralph
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I guess I'm in the minority here, but this is ridiculous. I subscribe to TCM and watch it daily and have never seen Mr. Osborne. I know (because I asked the question and was told by someone on these boards) that he is a presenter/commentator on movies for TCM, but they don't even show him here in Southeast Asia.
But that's not my problem. I just question the decision to give him (or sell him!) a star on the Walk of Fame. Who's next - Nick Clooney?
Remember the discussions here some time ago about people who are NOT on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? The indignation that Marjorie Main isn't (among many others)?
It really makes the Walk meaningless, doesn't it?
I know this isn't the criteria, but how many prople have ever heard of Robert Osborne (outside of TCM, that is)? And don't tell me that many people don't know who Carole Lombard, Norma Shearer or Tyrone Power is - the true film lover knows them all.
But I seem to remember that Ryan Seacrest has a Star. I hope Mr. Osborne's is next to Ryan's.
Ask yourself: Is there any criteria at all as to who gets a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame? Is there? What is it?
I'm sorry; this just irks me. Talk about the dumbing of America!
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Mongo -
Today is the 21st and I just heard. I was reading Tony Franciosa's obituary on Theatermania.com and it said that Shelley Winter had passed away a short time ago. I was floored and came right over here, hoping that you had written something. Thank you.
Thanks also to Vecchiolarry - a warm and loving tribute.
It's funny (strange), but Shelley seems to have always been a part of my life. I will miss her but never forget her. She was a wonderful actress with great range. People forget that she worked in the theatre often and to great acclaim. I saw her once in The Effect of Gamma-Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds. She was mesmerizing. Shelley was an actress and she acted; if she didn't have a film role, she was usually out on tour or on Broadway.
Tony and Shelley met in the Broadway production of A Hatful of Rain; she writes about that production in Actors Talk About Acting.
As for Career, it is one of my favorite plays and movies of all time. Read the play - the script is better than the movie (they had to beef up the roles played by Dean Martin and Shirley MacLaine for the movie version). Still, a good movie, and Tony is terrific - and heartbreaking.
Both Shelley and Tony made movies which will live on long after them. Remember Wild is the Wind? With the incredible Anna Magnani? Anna is also gone; I guess it's true that if we live long enough we outlive all our friends.
I send my best wishes to Shelley's daughter and to Tony's children; their parents were much loved and will never be forgotten.
Where is lzcutter? I'm surprised she hasn't been heard from (I always enjoy reading her comments).
Thanks again, Mongo. I agree with you completely; the lady was an actress and won't be forgotten. I also remember her as Frenchie, during her sex-symbol days. And remember her in The Big Knife? A terrific movie about Hollywood. And those sexy farces she made with Farley Granger? I think he's still around, isn't he? I saw him on Broadway years ago in Deathtrap.
Keep up the good work, Mongo. It's reassuring to know that you are always here.
Ralph
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I couldn't decipher that one!
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Being But Men by Dylan Thomas.
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I agree with Leo - one of the most heartbreaking scenes I have ever seen was at the end of Career. Tony Franciosa's character has given up family, security, peer approval - just about everything - in pursuit of his dream. Finally, after many years, he had gotten a role and some acclaim in an off-Broadway production and someone asks, just before he goes on, "Was it all worth it?" For me (an actor) it was devastating.
Another scene I haven't forgotten: when Celie in The Color Purple is standing on the porch of her house and sees her returning children off in the distance - african robes billowing in the wind. There is a God!!!
So many others . . . and more to come, I hope.
Ralph
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Thanks, Eric. I'll look into www.talkinbroadway.com.
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Does anyone know if there are similar sites on the internet where people discuss theatre or books? I've looked at many Broadway sites and the ibdb but can find no discussion groups. Same with books - doesn't anyone read and enjoy discussing books? Thanks for any help you can give me.
Ralph
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Jaguar Jack -
Montgomery Clift is NOT underappreciated - if you took a poll of film critics as to the best screen actors of all time, his name would appear near the top of the list, probably in the top two (the other being Marlon Brando). I do agree that he is not idolized by the general public as are James Dean and Marilyn Monroe - probably because Clift did not die as young or tragically (or in mysterious circumstances) as did the other two. But in the acting community, Clift is still considered one of the very best - ever.
Clift had a brief career on Broadway (notably with the Lunts) before he was discovered by Hollywood. He was a star from his first film and remained so until the day he died, although (like Monroe) he was self-destructing long before his life actually ended.
Patricia Bosworth's biography is considered the definitive biography of Montgomery Clift.
Thanks for bringing his name up, though. I think he was number one.
Ralph
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Tracey -
I got rid of mt credit cards years ago - would you please tell me what PayPal is? I saw something for sale on the internet once and they took PayPal - I didn't know what it was.
Also, do you know who this "Susan" is who Deborah mentions - is it someone with a website?
Thanks a lot -
Ralph
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Rudy Vallee - The Palm Beach Story.
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Hedy Lamar is the Star of the Month here in Laos - no Joan Fontaine at all! Why?
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Yes, and the Fontaine book is terrible - a mishmash from cover to cover. Plus the fact of $29.95 for a 132 page book with lots of familiar pictures - that's obscene! And I'm sorry, but I won't be buying your new book on the "fabulous" Marjorie Main - also way overpriced at $45 for a 200 page biography. Marjorie Main was many things, and a wonderful actress - but "fabulous?" I don't think so. As they say on these boards,"IMHO" of course.
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Helenbaby - you really are HelenWheels, aren't you? But you (and Mongo) are absolutely right - TCM is the best.
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Right on, Mongo!
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Hi Smithus -
I've been away for a few days and just found your material on Katharine Hepburn - thanks for your help. I knew I had the ladies mixed up - and we haven't even mentioned Laura Harding.
I tend to be a little skeptical (no, a lot skeptical) of autobiographies; they are too often just self-serving and ego-stroking. I remember reading Bette Davis and Tallulah Bankhead autobiographies years ago and enjoying them a lot - only to find that neither had written hers (and there was very little truth in either book). Still, they were fun to read and not to be taken too seriously. But for the whole story, I'd much rather read a good biography anytime.
So I got a good laugh when last month I picked up an old paperback copy (in Thailand!) of "Me" by Ms. Hepburn - of course it was called "Me;" I don't think there was really anyone else in her world. But I enjoyed it; she was a good actress with a gargantuan ego and personality. I just never put much credence in what she said (I know I am in the minority here - many people think she could walk on water).
Have you seen the recently published biography, "Katharine Hepburn: An Untold Story?" Certainly, it's a diferent take on the woman - and not for her fans. But there lots of biographies out there by people who idolized her.
Again, thanks for the information.
Ralph
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I'm sure you've said this to each other around the office: "No matter what we do (or don't do), somebody is always going to **** about it." True!!
To paraphrase: You can please some of the people all the time, you can please all the people some of the time, but you can't please all the people all the time.
Keep up the good work - TCM is much appreciated by most of us.
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Joan McCracken - another name from the past. Wonderful dancer and comedienne. Did lots of broadway and television in the late forties and early fifties. Originated the role of Dixie Evans on Broadway in "The Big Knife," the role which Shelley Winters later played in the movie. Also in "Hollywood Canteen." Married to Bob Fosse and Jack Dunphy (yes, the same Jack Dunphy who was Truman Capote's partner for years). Died far too young from lifelong diabetes.
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A guess: Rudy Vallee (My Time is Your Time, theme song)????
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Goofygirl -
Have you seen "Craig's Wife" with Rosalind Russell (1936)? "Harriet Craig," 1950, is a re-make. The 1936 version was directed by probably the best female director ever, Dorothy Arzner. I'd like to see both versions right now - both strong leading ladies! Good luck on your search.
Now there's a good topic: Best Female Director . . . . maybe it's already been done.
Ralph
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Hi Mongo -
I'm watching CNN from here in Laos; I hope you are safe and dry and have survived Wilma intact!!!!
Bella Darvi - they changed her last name and used a combination of Daryl and Virginia (Zanuck's wife) to come up with Darvi. They did the same thing with Irina Demick (another of Zanuck's "discoveries" who went nowhere).
Sybil Burton - boy, that name sure brings back memories. Remember when Richard dumped Sybil to marry Elizabeth? And then Sybil opened a very popular disco in NYC ("Arthur's") and married a much younger man - Jordan Christopher? Wow, that was hot stuff for a while. I hope Sybil and Jordan are both doing well.
Do you hear anything about Shelley Winters - how is she doing? I didn't know she and her daughter were on the outs - that's the girl she had with Vittorio Gassman, right? I hope they've patched things up. I've always admired her and her often outrageous antics. Let's not forget what a terrific actress she was!
Keep up the good work, Mongo. Your thread always prompts something in my memory.
All the best,
Ralph
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Spencer Tracy to Ernest Borgnine in "Bad Day at Black Rock."
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Hi Moviebuff -
You're probably thinking of "Harlow," starring Carroll Baker as Harlow, Angela Lansbury as Mama, and Peter Lawford as the impotent husband (Paul Bern). Released in 1965 when Carroll Baker was being touted as the next Marilyn Monroe (she made several "blond sex-bomb" movies, none of which really worked).
Just to show you how imaginative Hollywood is (and was), there was another movie also named "Harlow" released in 1965 starring Carol Lynley as Harlow, Ginger Rogers as Mama and Hurd Hatfield (chewing up the scenery) as Paul Bern.
Neither movie did well at the box-office.
Ralph
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Hi Sam -
I'm in Laos and have the same problem - I never know what's on until it's over. But it's the same with HBO, Cinemax and the others - no advance warning so I just have to keep my eyes open. Fortunately, TCM repeats often so if I miss it the first time I can usually catch it later. Good luck on trying to find information on Asian schedules; I wrote to TCM but got no answer.
Ralph
Robert Osborne to get star
in Hot Topics
Posted
Fan driven? I don't think so. Do you think the fans nominated Mr. Osborne or will pay the $15,000 which it costs to get a star on the Walk of Fame? No - I think that just maybe TCM itself had some role in this venture.
But I was wrong and I apologize; after seeing who is on the Walk of Fame and who is not, it is obvious that there is really no criteria. I had thought that you must have some connection with the movie business, but that isn't the case. Pat Boone has two stars - no problem (Gene Autry has five). But Debbie Boone? C'mon! Marge Champion has a star - but not Gower. Henry and Peter Fonda each have a star - Jane doesn't (politics, anyone)? But Bob Eubanks has a star, as do Kenny G and Magic Johnson. And who can forget the legendary Fabian; he has a star. Judge Judy gets her star this year!
Peter O'Toole. Warren Beatty. Lizabeth Scott. Sterling Hayden. Beulah Bondi (the wonderful Beulah Bondi). Richard Chamberlain. Butterfly McQueen. Elizabeth Hartman (remember "A Patch of Blue")? None of these people have stars!
But The Rugrats have a star (Snow White doesn't). Elvis has a star; Priscilla doesn't. Tom Cruz has a star (so does Nicole, but neither Penelope Cruz or Mimi Rogers have a star). Mamie Van Doren has a star; Diana Dors doesn't. Debbie Gibson has a star; Debbie Harry doesn't. Loni Anderson has a star; Judith Anderson doesn't - that's obscene! Judy Canova has two stars (deservedly), but Marjorie Main has none. Neither does Percy Kilbride. And the list goes on . . .
So, there just ain't no justice, is there? Welcome to the real world.
Anyway, I apologize to Mr. Osborne - who is probably a very nice man and quite knowledgeable about the movies, as many of you have told me. If he is willing to show up at the ceremony and TCM is willing to foot the bill - why not? Join the list of "greats, near greats and who-was-that's?" (from the LA Times).
I read somewhere that the average high school graduate in the 1950's had a vocabulary of 25,000 words but that average high school graduate today has a vocabulary of 5,000 words. This is not off the subject; I think it applies.
I'm sorry if I offended anyone, particularly Mr. Osborne and his fans.
One last question: Is it just a coincidence that you (Path40) started this thread? I've read several of your postings and note that you live in Georgia; do you have a direct line to TCM?
Ralph (I'm-eating-my-words) in Laos.